In 690 Wu usurped the throne and became Emperor herself, which proved a unique event in the history of China.

Crist was a mayde and shapen as a man.

With this sad Hersal of his heavy stress, The warlike Damzel was empassion's sore, And said; Sir Knight, your Cause is nothing less Than is your Sorrow , certes if not more

Valuable as much of the matter thus collected undoubtedly proved itself, and great as was the ability and industry which marked the compilation of its exhaustive tables, the effect of this report as designed to meet the complaints against ratal taxation, was scarcely so great as was probably expected.