_How they hold for a certaintie that the soule is immortall,
and that he shal haue another life, in the which it shalbe
punished or rewarded according vnto the workes which he doth
in this world; and how they pray for the dead._
By that aforesaid it appeareth to be of a truth that the apostle S.
Thomas did preach in China, and we may presume that all which wee haue
seene dooth remaine printed in their hearts from his doctrine, and
beareth a similitude of the truth and a conformity with the things of
our catholike religion. Now touching this that wee will treate of in
this chapter, of the immortalitie that they believe of the soule, and of
the rewarde or punishment which they shall have in the other life,
according vnto the workes doone in company with the bodie, which
appeareth to be the occasion that they do not live so euill as they
might, not hauing the knowledge of this truth.
[Sidenote: The soul is immortal.]
[Sidenote: Strange obsequies.]
[Sidenote: They make their sacrifices in the night.]
[Sidenote: Great superstition.]
I do hope by the power of his diuine maiestie that they wil easily be
brought vnto the true knowledge of the gospel. They say and do affirme
it of a truth, that the soule had his first beginning from the heauen,
and shall neuer haue ende, for that the heauen hath given it an eternall
essence. And for the time that it is within the body that God hath
ordained, if it do liue according to such lawes as they have, without
doing euill or deceit vnto his neighbor, then it shalbe caried vnto
heaven, wheras it shal liue eternally with great ioy, and shalbe made an
angel: and to the contrarie, if it liue ill, shall go with the diuels
into darke dungeons and prisons, whereas they shall suffer with them
torments which neuer shall haue end. They doo confesse that there is a
place whither such soules as shalbe made angels doo go to make
themselues cleane of al such euil as did cleaue unto them, being in the
bodie: and for that it should be speedelier doone, the good deeds which
are done by their parents and friends doo helpe them verie much. So that
it is very much vsed throughout al the kingdome to make orations and
praiers for the dead,[69] for the which they have a day appointed in the
moneth of August. They do not make their offrings in their temples, but
in their houses, the which they doo in this manner following. The day
appointed, all such as do beare them companie vntill their sacrifices
are concluded for the dead, which are such as we do cal here religious
men, euery one hath his companion and walketh the streets, and dooth
report the daies and houses where they will be, for that it cannot be
doone altogether. So when they come vnto the house whereas they must doo
their offices, they enter in, and do prepare that euery one do make
oration and sacrifice according to their fashion for the dead of that
house, vnderstanding that by their helpe they shalbe made cleane from
their euils, which is an impediment that they cannot be angels nor inioy
the benefite which is ordained for them in heauen. One of these that is
like vnto a priest, dooth bring with him a taber, and other two little
bords, and another a little bell. Then they do make an altar, wheron
they do set such idols as the dead had for their saints liuing; then do
they perfume them with frankensence and storax and other sweet smels:
then do they put fiue or six tables ful of victuals for the dead and for
the saints: then straightwayes, at the sound of the taber, little bords,
and bels (which is a thing more apt for to dance by, as by report of
them that have heard it), they begin to sing certaine songs which they
haue for that purpose: then do the nouices goe vp vnto the altar, and do
offer in written paper those orations which they did sing to the sound
of those instruments. This being done, they sit down and begin anew to
sing as before. In the end of their prayers and songs, he who doth this
office, doth sing a prayer, and in the end thereof (with a litle borde
that he hath in his hand for the purpose) he striketh a blow vpon the
table, then the other do answere in the same tune, declining their
heades, and doe take certaine painted papers, and guilt papers, and doe
burne them before the altar. In this sort they are all the night, which
is the time that ordinarily they do make their sacrifices, the which
being done, the priests and those that be in the house, do eat the
victuals that was set vpon the tables, wherein they doo spend the
residue of the night till it be day. They say that in doing this they do
purifie and make cleane the soules, that they may goe and become angels.
The common people do beleeue of truth that the soule that liueth not
well, before they go into hell (which shall not be before the end of the
world, according as they do thinke in their error), in recompence of
their euill life, the heauens doo put them into the bodies of buffes and
other beasts; and those which liue well, into the bodies of kings and
lords, whereas they are very much made of and well serued. These and a
thousande toies in like sort, making that the soul dooth mooue out of
one into another, as certaine old philosophers did affirme it to bee,
who were as blind and as far from the truth as they.