The streetes in Cinceo, and in all the rest of the Cities we haue seene are very faire, so large and so straight, that it is wonderfull to behold.  Their houses are built with timber, the foundations onely excepted, the which are layed with stone:  in ech side of the streetes are pentises or continuall porches for the marchants to walke vnder:  the breadth of the streets is neuertheless such, that in them 15. men may ride commodiously side by side.  As they ride they must needs passe vnder many high arches of triumph that crosse ouer the streetes made of timber, and carued diuersly, couered with tiles of fine clay:  vnder these arches the Mercers do vtter their smaller wares, and such as list to stand there are defended from raine and the heate of the Sunne.  The greater gentlemen haue these arches at their doores:  although some of them be not so mightily built as the rest.

I shall haue occasion to speake of a certaine order of gentlemen that are called Louteas.  I wil first therefore expound what this word signifieth.  Loutea is as much to say in our language as Sir, and when any of them calleth his name, he answereth Sir:  and as we do say, that the king hath made some gentlemen, so say they, that there is made a Loutea.  And for that amongst them the degrees are diuers both in name and office, I will tell you onely of some principals, being not able to aduertise you of all.

The maner how gentlemen are created Louteas, and do come to that honour and title, is by the giuing of a broad girdle, not like to the rest, and a cap, at the commaundement of the king.  The name Loutea is more generall and common vnto mo, then the qualitie of honour thereby signified agreeth withall.  Such Louteas as doe serue their prince in weightie matters for iustice, are created after trial made of their learning:  but the other which serue in smaller affaires, as Captaines, constables, sergeants by land and sea, receiuers and such like, whereof there be in euery citie, as also in this, very many, are made for fauour:  the chiefe Louteas are serued kneeling.

The whole prouince of China is diuided, as I haue said, into 13. shires, in euery shire at the least is one gouernour called there Tutan, in some shires there be two.

[Sidenote:  Chian, or, Chaen.] Chiefe in office next vnto them be certaine other named Chians, that is, high Commissioners as you would say, visiters, with full authoritie in such wise, that they doe call vnto an accompt the Tutans themselues, but their authoritie lasteth not in any shire longer then one yere.  Neuerthelesse in euery shire being at the least 7. cities, yea, in some of them 15. or 16. beside other boroughes and townes not well to be numbred, these visiters where they come are so honoured and feared, as though they were some great princes.  At the yeres end, their circuit done, they come vnto that Citie which is chiefe of others in the shire, to do iustice there:  finally busying themselues in the searching out of such as are to receiue the order of Louteas, whereof more shalbe said in another place.