Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 628

1841.

Life of Father G. Magaillans.

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I make him a present of two hundred taels, and ten large pieces of damask, to show that my design is never to forget our vassals that repair to us from places so remote."

Below were written, the emperor's words.

The sixteenth year of the emperor Kanghe, the sixth day of the fourth month, which answers to the seventh of May, in the year of Christ, 1677, the next day after the father's death.

This eulogy was printed, as also an abstract of the life of the fa- ther, and given about to all the princes, great lords, mandarins, to our friends, and all that were Christians. Which was of great con- sequence and mainly contributory to the credit and reputation of our sacred law, when the world should understand the high esteem which the king had of the preachers of the gospel.

Two days after, the king sent again the same three persons to weep before the corpse of the deceased, because he had ordered them to accompany it to the grave, which was an extraordinary honor. However, the fathers had not as yet given notice to their friends of his death, for fear of the disturbance it would be to their minds: and yet there was a great concourse of friends and mandarins, who came with their presents to perform the usual ceremonies; while others sent their eulogies and encomiums upon the father, written upon white

satin.

Some days before he was buried, the same three persons came to tell us, that it was the king's pleasure, his funeral should be very magnificent. So that the fathers, as well to conform themselves to the will of the prince, as to show their high value of the eulogy which the prince had sent them, made more than ordinary preparations.

Upon the day of the funeral, the saine three persons came in very good time to accompany the corpse, according to the king's command. There came also a great number of mandarins, acquaintances, and other persons to pay the same respects. And as for the ceremony, it was performed after the following manner.

Ten soldiers marched before with their arms to clear the streets; they were followed by ten ushers of several Tribunals, that carried tablets, whereon was written an order of the mandarins, to give way under pain of punishment. Twenty-four trumpeters and hautboys, with several sorts of other instruments followed them, and preceded the king's eulogy, that was written upon yellow satin, and carried in a litter, surrounded with four and twenty pieces of satin of various colors. This eulogy was attended by several Christian eunuchs, of which there were some that waited upon the king's person. Afterwards