Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 624

1841.

Life of Father G. Maguillans.

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China, as he really did. Upon this, a great number of people fled for shelter to the mountains, and the fathers among the rest, with a re- solution to expect the issue of these disorders. In the meantime, the rebel took the capital city, where he made a bloody havoc; and three months after, understanding that great numbers of people were fled to the mountains, and among the rest the fathers, he sent several companies of soldiers who brought back a considerable part, of which number were the fathers. But when they came into his presence, he received them with extraordinary honors, and promised them that as soon as he had secured himself in the quiet possession of the em- pire, he would erect magnificent churches in honor of the God of heaven. In the meantime, he gave them a magnificent house, where the fathers hung up the picture of our Savior, and baptized several persons, and amongst the rest the tyrant's father-in-law. And indeed, during the three years that he usurped the government, for the first year he behaved himself with much justice and liberality. But being provoked by several insurrections in several parts, he resolved to subdue the province of Shense, the inhabitants of which are a war- like sort of people, and before his departure so to secure the province of Szechuen, that it should not be in a condition to revolt. In pur- suance of which cruel resolution, he put to death an infinite number of people by all manner of torments. Some were cut into quarters, others flayed alive, others were cut in pieces by bits, and others were mangled, but not suffered to die. A hundred and forty thousand soldiers, also of the province of Szechuen, he caused to be massacred, so that the province was almost depopulated. Thereupon the fathers, observing these horrid butcheries, and despairing to make any farther progress under the government of so barbarous a tyrant, presented a petition to him, wherein they desired leave to retire till the troubles that harassed the kingdom were appeased. But the tyrant was so euraged at this petition, that about two hours after he sent for the domestic servants belonging to the fathers, and ordered them to be flayed alive; accusing them that they had instilled those thoughts into their masters' heads. Presently the fathers hastened to save their lives, and told the tyrant, which was no more than the truth, that those poor people had not the least knowledge of their design. How- ever, after some discourse, the barbarian ordered the fathers to be laid hold of, and carried to the place of execution, and there to be cut in pieces: which had then been executed, if his chief general who was his adopted son, had not, while they were leading to the place of torment, by his arguments and his intercession obtained their par-

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