Page:The history of that great and renowned monarchy of China. Wherein all the particular provinces are accurately described- as also the dispositions, manners, learning, lawes, militia (IA historyofthatgre00seme).pdf/11



Courteous Reader,

Preent thee with that long expected, mot exact Hitory of the Lawes, Government, Manners, and preent tate and condition of that great Monarchy of China;'' in its circuit little les then all Europe; Heretofore (as zealous of its rare treaures) hut and locked up from the curious eyes of trangers: o that this booke (firt) yeilds to thee a full dicovery thereof. & (I dare ay) the mot valuable, that this our world hath been acquainted with, ince that of America; whereby now the furthet Eat, as well as Wet, is dicloed, and laid open to the preent age. For, as for ome former relations, thou mayt have een thereof, thou wilt by this dicerne them to be as fabulous, as they are compendious and imperfect.''

It was written by one, who, after, firt, a trict education in all orts of learning, for two and twenty yeares pace lived in that Kingdome, was reident at the Court, and in the greatet Cities thereof: and in all that time Rh