ple; wherein having satisfied him, he asked me about my Education, and what brought me into this remote Country; I then declared to him the Adventures of my Life, omitting what I thought convenient, and especially forbearing to mention the Stones given me by Irdonozur.
The Strangeness of my Story did much amaze him, and finding in all my Discourse nothing tending to Magick, wherein he hoped by my Means to be instructed, he began to admire the Excellency of my Wit, applauding me for the happiest Man that this World ever saw, and wishing me to repose myself after my long Narration, he for that Time dismissed me. After which the Mandarin took so much Delight in me, that no Day passed wherein he did not send for me: At length he advised me to cloath myself in the Habit of that Country, which I willingly did, and gave me not only the Liberty of his House, but took me also with him when he went to Pequin, whereby I had Opportunity to learn the Disposition of the People, and the Policy of the Country, neither did I by my Attendance on him, gain only the Knowledge of these Things, but the Possibility likewise of being restored to my native Soil, and to those dear Pledges which I value above the World, even my Wife and Children: For by often frequenting Pequin, I at length heard of some Fathers of the Society of Jesus, who were become famous for their extraordinary Favour with the King, to whom they had presented some European, as Clocks, Watches, Dials, and the like, which by them were counted exquisite Curiosities. To these by the Mandarin’s Leave I repaired, and was welcomed by them, they much wondering to see a Lay Spaniard there, whither they had with so much Difficulty obtained Leave to arrive. There did I relate to Father Pon-
