[DUTCH]

Envoy to the Great (Page 204)

Counsel, who was added to the Tatung as supervisor, would have done without any doubt the same to himself, then the Tartars had him in their hands immediately, who kept him alive, hoping he could be of their service, and to reveal the Countries situation. Though this Lord promoted his loyalty and oath, which he had sworn the Sineeschen Emperor, better; noticing that he did not deign to give the Tarter the Royal title, and to submit himself to a Barbarian (that's how the Sineezen commonly call the Tartars). The Tartars, who were highly surprised about the loyalties and firmness of this Man, give him thereupon his freedom, and gave him his life to show with this, that with them also the virtue and piety, according to value is being rewarded. Then he, who wanted to exceed his enemies in cruelty, and knew what lot would fall to him according to the Sineesche laws, hang himself on a rope: Since it was the custom with the Sineezen, as long as people could remember, that it was an unbreakable law and custom, that all Lieutenant-Colonels, who didn't perform well, but also the ones who fought unluckily, forfeited their neck and life.

The Tartars, after they had conquered the City in this way, and brought under their territory and authority, had proclaimed immediately a ban and order, that not the life of one Citizen or Burger would be shortened, if they would want to cut their hair in the Tartarian way, put down their Sineesche clothes and wear the Tartarian costumes, Since the Sineezen wore, like such is told on page 57, before long hair, but the Tartars shave their hair permanently short, they leave to grow only a long nozzle or lock at the back of their head, which they know to curl and adorn in an elegant way. They pull out the beard entirely, but keep big and long moustaches. Concerning the remaining clothing or costumes, and other morals, there has been spoken off on page 186 widely.

Like this strict order could be somewhat understandable, in this way let on the contrary the Tartars themselves in for a stain on their neck, which brought them with the Sineezen hatred and malice. To know, in this City were at that time many and rich Merchants from the other Sineesche Counties, who were drawn there, to trade their merchandize, and to buy others which fall there in Leaotung. The Tarter gave these Merchants, on their request, safeguard to leave with their goods: whereupon these common people, (who didn't notice the deceit and meanness of the Tartars) left happily the City; though they were hardly three miles [meant is a Dietse or Duitse (=Dutch) mijl which is around 5600 meter] from the City, or they were by the Tartars, who had hidden surreptitiously in certain shrub-woods, unforeseeably, And till the last man chopped down and taken their lives. When the Tartars, plundering and robbing the Goods, and fleecing the dead corpses, there on this place, where the murder had taken place, as prey for birds and wild animals, stayed lying there unburied. The victors of these unable-bodied bunch, came; laden with robbery and booty, proudly and happy riding into the City, and brought the Burgers and residents terror and fear, while they daily could expect nothing else than similar attacks and, cunnings from the Tartars.

Since now the Tartars with the conquering of that City, with so much loss of people, had seized, and the victory had cost them dearly, they dared not proceed to march further into the country, frightened by the defeat and loss of those of them [who died], nor attacking other places of importance, while worrying to find the same defense, and suffer the same setback, which they had found before this City Leaoyang