For this I doe briefly and by the way giue you to
vnderstand, that all words of the Chinians language
are of one sillable onely, so that if there be any
word that consisteth of more sillables then one, it
consisteth also of more wordes then one. These
sectaries called Cen doe shaue their beards and their
heads, and doe for the most part, together with diuers
of their associates, inhabit the Temples of Xaquam,
or of others which in regard of the same profession
haue in their Kalenders beene canonized for Saints,
and doe rehearse certaine prayers after their maner,
either vpon books or beads, vsing other ceremonies
after the maner of our Bonzi. These men haue
some inckling of the life to come, and of the rewardes
of good men, and the punishments of the wicked:
howbeit all their assertions are fraught with errours.
[Sidenote: The third sect.] The third sect is
of them which are called Tauzu: and those doe
imitate a certaine other man, to be adored, as they
thinke, for his holinesse. These also are Priests
after their kinde, howbeit they let their haire grow,
and doe in other obseruations differ from the former.
Now, because the sect of Confucius is the most famous
of all the three, and the two other sects called Cen
and Tauzu are not much adicted vnto learning, their
religion preuailing onely among the common sort, the
Priests of both the sayd sects doe leade a most base
and seruile life amongst the Chinians, insomuch that
they kneele downe before the Magistrates, and are not
permitted to sit beside them, sometimes, if the Magistrate
please, are abased vnto the punishment of the bastonado:
whereas in our Iles of Iapon it is farre otherwise,
Priests, euen of false religion, being had in so great
honour among vs. [Sidenote: The superstition
of the Saracens.] Leo. I heard also (Michael)
that the Saracens superstition takes place in China:
now, whether it doth or no, you can resolue vs.
Michael. That forren superstition was brought
into China what time the Tartars inuaded the kingdome,
and vsurped the gouernment thereof. All the Saracens
therefore in China are originally descended of the
Tartars, who, because they were an infinite number,
could not vtterly be expelled and rooted out of the
kingdome, but remaining still there, haue propagated
their posterity, though not their religion. These
therefore are souldiers for the greater part of them,
and sometimes doe obtaine martiall dignities:
and except a few ceremonies of their superstition
which is nowe become stale and almost worne out, they
doe liue, altogether after the Chinians fashion, their
predecessours being brought into the same kingdome
about foure hundred yeeres agoe. [Sidenote: Christian
religion planted in China.] Linus. Now (Michael)
let vs heare you say somewhat of the Christian religion,
which as we hope hath set most happy footing in that
kingdome. Michael. I could say much
concerning those most wished and acceptable beginnings
were they not already published in Iapon by the letters


