the lawes of the realme, and in the precepts of vrbanity, they are admitted vnto diuers function.  Neither are we to thinke that the Chinians be altogether destitute of other artes.  For, as touching morall philosophy, all those books are fraught with the precepts thereof, which, for their instructions sake, are alwayes conuersant in the hands of the foresayd students, wherein such graue and pithy sentences are set downe, that, in men void of the light of the Gospell, more can not be desired. [Sidenote:  Naturall philosophy.] They haue books also that intreat of things and causes naturall, but herein it is to be supposed, that aswell their books as ours do abound with errors.  There be other books among them, that discourse of herbs and medicines, and others of chiualry and martiall affaires.  Neither can I here omit, that certaine men of China (albeit they be but few, and rare to be found) are excellent in the knowledge of astronomy, by which knowledge of theirs the dayes of the new moone incident to euery moneth are truly disposed and digested, and are committed to writing and published:  besides, they doe most infallibly foretell the eclipses of the Sun and Moone:  and whatsoeuer knowledge in this arte we of Iapon haue, it is deriued from them.  Leo.  We doe freely confesse that (Michael) sithens our books intreating of the same arte are a great part of them, written in the characters or letters of China. [Sidenote:  The politike gouernment of China.] But now, instruct you vs as touching their maner of gouernment, wherein the Chinians are sayd greatly to excell.  Michael.  That, that, in very deed, is their chiefe arte, and vnto that all their learning and exercise of letters is directed.  Whereas therefore, in the kingdome of China, one onely king beares rule ouer so many prouinces, it is strange what a number of Magistrates are by him created to admister publique afiaires.  For (to omit them which in ech Towne and City haue iurisdiction ouer the townesmen and citizens) there are three principall Magistrates in euery prouince.  The first is he that hath to deale in cases criminall, and is called Ganchasu:  the second is the Kings Fosterer, and is called Puchinsu:  the third is the Lieutenant-generall for the warres, named, as we sayd before, Chumpin.  These three therefore haue their place of residence in the chiefe City of the prouince:  and the two former haue certaine associates of their owne order, but of inferiour authority, appointed in diuers Cities and Townes, vnto whom, according to the variety of causes, the Gouernours of Townes and the Maiors of Cities doe appeale.  Howbeit the three forenamed Magistrates are in subjection vnto the Tutan, that is, the Vice-roy, ordained in ech prouince.  And all these Magistrates beare office for the space of three yeeres together:  yet so, that for the gouerning of ech province, not any of the same prouince, but strangers, that is, men of another prouince, are selected:  whereof it commeth to passe, that the Iudges may giue