The viceroy's guard: 'Tartars by nation, not Chinese'
Editorial contextIn the account of the Franciscan friars who entered China in 1579, Mendoza describes the Guangdong viceroy's guard of more than two thousand men in silk livery and shining iron helmets with great plumes, swords on the stairs and lances in the courtyards with an arquebusier between each pair. The whole guard, the friars understood, 'was of men who were Tartars by nation, and not Chinese', and they could not find out why, though they asked.
The viceroy's guard (which was more than two thousand men) was drawn up in a line, all dressed in silk livery, and on their heads very shining iron helmets with very large plumes. ... This whole guard (as they understood) was of men who were Tartars by nation, and not Chinese, without their being able to learn the reason, though they inquired diligently.
Working translation
Original wording
Estaua la guarda del Virey (que passauan de dos mill hombres) puesta en hylera, y todos vestidos de librea de seda, y en las cabezas, zeladas de yerro muy relucientes, con muy grandes plumages. … Toda esta guarda (segun entendieron) era de hombres Tartaros de nacion, y no de Chinos, sin poder sauer la caussa, aunque la inquirieron con diligencia.
About Tartar soldiers in Ming service
Keep in mind
The friars saw the guard but could not confirm who the men were; 'Tartars' may mean Mongols or other northern soldiers in Ming service.
Transcribed from the page image; long s normalized.
