of the capital. Long before he could possibly arrive, a gate of the
southern city of Peking was treacherously opened by the eunuch in charge
of it, and the next thing the Emperor saw was his capital in flames.
He then summoned the Empress and the court ladies, and bade them each
provide for her own safety. He sent his three sons into hiding, and
actually killed with his own hand several of his favourites, rather than
let them fall into the hands of the One-Eyed Rebel. He attempted the
same by his daughter, a young girl, covering his face with the sleeve
of his robe; but in his agony of mind he failed in his blow, and only
succeeded in cutting off an arm, leaving the unfortunate princess to
be dispatched later on by the Empress. After this, in concert with a
trusted eunuch and a few attendants, he disguised himself, and made
an attempt to escape from the city by night; but they found the gates
closed, and the guard refused to allow them to pass. Returning to the
palace in the early morning, the Emperor caused the great bell to be
rung as usual to summon the officers of government to audience; but no
one came. He then retired, with his faithful eunuch, to a kiosque, on
what is known as the Coal Hill, in the palace grounds, and there wrote
a last decree on the lapel of his coat:--"I, poor in virtue and of
contemptible personality, have incurred the wrath of God on high. My
Ministers have deceived me. I am ashamed to meet my ancestors; and
therefore I myself take off my crown, and with my hair covering my face,
await dismemberment at the hands of the rebels. Do not hurt a single
one of my people!" Emperor and eunuch then committed suicide by hanging
themselves, and the Great Ming Dynasty was brought to an end.

Li Tz{u}-ch`êng made a grand official entry into Peking, upon which many
of the palace ladies committed suicide. The bodies of the two Empresses
were discovered, and the late Emperor's sons were captured and kindly
treated; but of the Emperor himself there was for some time no trace.