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Show A_m@neml Defcription 29 --- --- alfo'to be had flore of rich Furs, a Sables, Beaver, &c T which they wear in W ter to keep themlelves warm, and traffick with likew fe into other Proyince Fruits ¢ which extraordinary plenty or all neceflary things of its own evowt s o alfo produces curious Pine-Apples, excellent Wheat and Barley, but no R: I yet a great abundanceof Figs, Apples, Pears, Grapes, and fevera] o fOnlce ders it both-pleafant and cheap to live in 5 but much more, inregard of e S,.ren tionupon the Sea, from whence it is furnithed will all manne of Co f; uf from other Countries Their Religion differs very little from the Chinefes bei rea P the Doctrine of the Tran{migration of Souls out offon,e bod)g ir%t :n::tll?e":.o Fhit Thus the Tartarshaving made this Place the Seat of War, whereby they coyl at pleafure invade China, the Emperour and hi Counce] began to confider whic way was the motft likely for them to drive the Tartars out o thejs Territories anc at laft they concluded to raife an Army of 66000 men 5 over and above v\:ho the King of the Ifland Corea fent 12000 valiant Bow-men to t ei affiftance, wh were not inferior for <kill to the Tartars. In the Interim, t e Ninchian Ki was not idle, but drew as many Forces out o his Kingdom to joyn wit him, as from thence could poffibly be fpared. Being t us prepared for Wars o both fides, the Chinefes in the year 1619, marched with that f rmidable Arm againft the Enemy, who hearing of their approach, fet forwar from their Cam to mee them, which foon happened ; but then fuch was the inveterat malice o both Parts, that as foon as they faw each other, the Battcl began, which was V liantly fought for along time by both Armies, fo that the Vitor hung in fyf pence, nor could any judge who would have the better, till at length the Chinefe running away in great diforder and confufion, the flaughter was very great among them, both of Commanders and Souldiers upon the place : thofe that elcaped carrying the news of theOverthrow to the Emperor. This theirViory theNinchia purfued with that expedition, that he took in, feveral Cities and Towns, fom ~whereof they laidin Afhes, and put the Inhabitants to the Sword, harraffing an plundering up to the very Walls of the City of Peking, though they durft not la Stege to 1t, there being a Garrifon of 80000 men, and the place well fortified wit great ftore of Cannon upon the Walls : Notwithftanding which provifion, fuc was the fear of the Pekinger, that if the Tartars had but attempted, they migh have been Mafters of that great City without any very hazardous oppofition 3 fo the Emperour was again refolved, as before, to quit it, and to retire to the Souther Provinces But fome of his Councel, now too late grown wile, . altered his purpole, by telling him, that it would encourage the Enemy, and not only put th whole Empire into confufion, but hazard the ruine, if not the lofsof it. The Tartars by this means being put to a ftand, having enriched themfelves with Booty deftroyed {fome thoufands of poor Creatures with the Sword, and burnt dow their Dwellings, retreated back to their old Quarters in the Province of Leaotung During thefe Troubles, the Emperour Vanliens dyed in the year 1620. ~ Afte whofe death his Son Taichangus, a valiant and prudent Prince, {uccceded him ; b the Conduct of his Affairs, in a fhort time gave fufficiently to underftand, wha great Services his Country was to expe& from him, had he not been unfortunatel cut off by an untimely death ; for he dyed in the fourth month of his Reign : T whom was Succeflor his Son Thienkins, a gallant Perfon, and no ways inferior t his Father for Vertue and Courage This Monarch finding the unfetlement an danger of his Affairs, made it his chiefeft concern to contra& F rienddhip, and fupport hisGovernment with the favour and affe&ion of hisNeighbours:For he had taken notice by Experience,liow much the Empire of China had (Uffered by living alway " |