And the officers declaring that all his goods were forfetted led him vnto the place of execution a league from Vacamassu where he dwelled His wife and children with diuerse other Christians accompanied him on his waye who streaming forth fludds of teares Calistus intreated them they would forbeare weeping or if they neither would nor could refraine they should powre out teares of ioy and thankes giuing vnto the maiesty of almighty God for that so speciall fauour he had conserred vpon him Being arriued at Tabut the place where he was to dy it was permitted vnto him to write vnto diuerse of his friends and he did it in such sort as it is hard to say whether his words did shew more powerfully his great piety or solid ioy This done he clad him selfe a new that his outward attire might beare better proportion with the inward iubily of his mind and then for he was not yet bound he demaunded of the Sargeants that they would bind him and the rough fellows did it with such cruelty that the sole binding of him laied open a large field of paines vnto his patience Finally he gaue thankes vnto the chief officer so calling vpon the soueraigne names of Iesus and Maria his head was struck of vpon the 19 of Aprill 1624 in the fifty seuenth yeare of his age Calistus was natiue of Fiunga But he was baptized by our Fathers in the kingdom of Bungo when he was 15 yeares of age After he was regenerated by those waters of life he serued in our Church as Dogicke for ten yeares together he exercised the same function for some yeare in the Country of Arima and lastly perseuered in it for 27 yeares in the Ilands of Goto giuing alwaies great testimony of his singular zeale and exactnesse He did reside at Vacamaccu for as much as he might from thence most opportunely giue succour vnto the present necessities of Christians in those Ilands baptizing little infants teaching the Christian doctrine disposing the sicke to dy well burying the dead inducing the liuing vnto workes of piety in the midst of all these imployments extending his care vnto the Gentiles he would be euer with all diligēce instructing them at such time as they were disposing themselues for baptisme At such time as some of our Fathers made yearly visit in that circuit he would euer accompany them procuring that all the Christians should confesse and those who were fit for it receaue the most blessed Sacrament of the Altar In a word for these and the like offices of Christian charity he was esteemed by all the faithfull as their master and a most louing Father When the precedent persecution began he was sent in to banishment but when the fury thereof did relent as indeed he was generally well beloued there was earnest suite made for him and leaue was graunted for his returne Finally the diuine goodnesse disposing to reward his many labours made him worthy to dy in defence of his holy faith by cōmaundment of Vquauagidono Lord of the Ilands of Goto The death of Michael Sori and Quinzaiemon in the Ilandes of Goto MIchael and Quinzaiemon were with great feruour employing their best indeauours to promote the spirituall good and saluation of their neighbours in the Citty of Ochicha when two of the Tono his seruāts came to Michael and sollicited him to abandon the faith of Christ adding that such was the Xogun his pleasure And receiuing such answer as was meet and might be expected from such a seruant of God they full of disdaine intimated vnto him that he must dy At which words abundance of ioy did so powre it selfe downe vpon and redounded euen to the exteriour in such sort as it was a pregnant proof of his vndaunted courage Wherfore giuing thankes vnto thē who had brought him tydings so agreable vnto his harts desire apparelling himselfe in the attire he vsed on festiuall daies with great cheerfullnesse he made haste vnto the place appointed for his death And hauing disposed himselfe by prayer he was beheaded on the 19 of Aprill 1624 being seuenty two yeares of age when he suffered He was baptized by our Fathers being but a child in Ochicha the Citty he where was borne He did exercise himself much in vocall prayer he fasted all fridaies and did often punish himselfe by disciplines He made frequent excursions into the neere bordering places not only of the citty but country all about to assist his neighbours in their spirituall affaires he baptized the children succoured the sick disposing them to a happy passage from this life and with great diligence did bestow himselfe in burying their dead corps At such times as the solemne supplications of 40 houres prayer were celebrated he would be euer first in giuing good example vnto others so that the renowne of his singular piety caused great esteeme and veneration towards him in all men But that which in this seruant of God was most eminent was an ardent desire of suffering for Christ and the diuine Maiestie permitted at length that he should be put to death for defence of our holy faith in the manner we haue said Quinzaiemon a mā of great feruour in spirit liued in the same City wherof he also was natine he was accused vnto the Tono for his pious godly life had easily made him knowne and by his commaundment put to death A seruant of the Gouernour executing that most vniust sentence cut of his head Wee know not the certaine day but sure we are that it hapned the same yeare and by order of the same Tono The death of Thomas Nacangaua Mangosuque and Ioseph Gonzalo who suffred in Omura THomas and Gonzalus were accused vnto the Gouernour as noted Christians and leaders of the rest and peculiarly as fauourers of them of our Society inuiting and lodging them in their houses where they might administer the holy Sacraments vnto the faithfull in Nangaia a place siue leagues distant by sea from Omura Whereupon Thomas was presently cited to appeare And dispatching all busines with his kindred and frinds he departed imagining he was to see them no more Being arriued at Omura the officers came to bind him and he laying a side his poiniard offered him selfe with great humility vnto their bands Being presented to the iudges it was told him his life should be graunted him if he would renounce his faith but he contemning all such preiudiciall offers was sent back vnto his owne house where he remained with a straight guard vpon him till such time as he was condemned to die together with Ioseph Gonzalus who about that time was taken prisoner with diuerse other Christians vpon an accusatiō giuen in against them by the Paynims It is not possible to relate what sense of ioy these two shewed at their meeting to see that the prouidence of allmighty God had aslociated them in their death through whose goodnesse during their life they had been conioyned in the exercise of good workes They gaue
his name written in a little scrole accompanied with all the rest of the Christians on foot Before behinde on euery side were many officers to hinder that none should approach to the condemned persons And thus with displayed banners they marched in triumph through the streets of the Citty of Iendo where the Faith of Christ did now ly bleeding Out of the Citty in the way leading to Camai appeared fifty pillars or great stakes planted in the place of Iustice The three first next vnto the citty were som what separate from the other forty seauen but all were compassed about with sagots placed in such a distance that the fier beinge kindled those who were tyed to the stakes were distant from the flame neare about an armes length The number of people who came to behould this spectacle was without number For a spatious field and a neere bordering mountaine was quite couered ouer There were among them many principal men of note and Peeres of the Kingdom whom other occasions had called to Iendo not without a particular prouidence of God to the end they might be eye-witnesses of so rare an example and see what strength our holy Faith giueth vnto them that professe it The generous Champions of Christ beinge come to the place appointed were straight bound vnto their stakes those three onely excepted who were on horse backe whome they forbad to come down from their horses There should you haue seene them with their eyes lifted vp to heauen and their hartes panting which the loue of God on whome their hopes were fixed and from whome they expected succour in this last passage F. de Angelis preached which incredible feruour demonstrating that the onely Faith of Christ for which they dyed was true and inuiolable all other being falle and counterfet The same affirmed with his accustomed zeale Brother Simon Iempo now tyed vnto his stake who all the way as he came cealed not to exhort those whome he met to imbrace and constantly defence the holy faith of Christ. True it is there went forth of prison fifty one condemned to be burnt but I haue onely mentioned fifty because that vnhappy one no sooner was come to the place of Iustice but he was let goe by the Officers as hauinge giuen signes of a relenting courage and a hart eisloyall to his Redeemer The cause of their death was written in a great table hanged on high in these ensuinge wordes These men are Christians At length sire was put vnto the heapes of woode and there was heard a voice of all ioyned in one ecchoing forth those happy names of Iesus and Maria. It is not to be spoken with what inuincible courage they suffered this horrible torment For there was not one among so many who so much as shrunke complained or gaue the least token of sorrow by any outward expression This incredible fortitude wrought such admiration in the beholders that the Gentiles themselues began to mutter to one another that it was aboue the reach of nature since men condemned for their deserued crimes dy with quite different expressions The Fathers who stood by on horsebacke looked on with eyes of marble and hartes impregnable rendering many thankes to God but no way dismaied which the Iudges looked for leauing them for no other end after the rest but to fright them with this bloody spectacle therby driue them vnto a new resolution But so farre was this happy death frō breeding frightes in the minds of these goodmen that two others of the standers by a man and a woman inslamed and encouraged at the sight thereof ranne in hast when the flames were at the highest vnto the Tribunall seare of the Iudges cryinge amaine that they were also Christians and professours of the same Faith for which the forty seauen dyed yet could they not obtaine to be cast out of hand into those burninge flames which was the top of their desire who burned within with flames of diuine loue but were by order of the Magistrate carried bound into prison where those that saw them had a continuall moouing obiect before their eyes declaring what power Gods Law hath vpon the hartes of men and what vigour is bestowed from heauen vpon those who desire exactly to performe his will vpon earth The aboue mentioned hauing breathed out their immaculate soules the three on horseback were taken downe and tyed each one to his stake The first next vnto the Citty was Iohn Faramond after him in order F. de Angelis and the third F. Francis Galbe Eare the fire was kindled the three valorous Champions tooke their leaues for a moment to meete after in eternity animating one an other with great zeale affection and F. de Angelis did not cease to put Iohn in minde of the breuity of the torments and the eternity of glory which they expected The sior began to dilate it selfe and mount with fury so that the seruants of God were seene onely by glimpes to sustaine with incredible courage those deuouring flames F. Hierom was first seen turning himselfe towards the Citty in act of prayer for a while and afterwardes to that part whence flames came stifliest vpon him seconded with the wind as well to shew that he feared them not as to haue occasion to speake vnto the people who were there in greatest number and from thence forward he stood vpright on his feet preaching with incredible zeale till the flames preuailing separated his happy soule from his body then falling he light vpon his knees and so remained A litle after Faramond was seen to embrace a cruell flame which came into his bosome as a thing much and long desired and after that immoouable ti ' his stake breaking carried him prostrate vpon the ground But F. Francis who expired the last remained vpon his feet euen after death leaning vnto his stake which he neuer abandoned in the time of so cruell torment Thus ended this Tragedy It is not easily conceaued what different affections were stirred vp in the spectatours at this strange obiect yet all generally agreed that their constancy was worthy of highest praises and aboue the rest they iudged remarquable the magnanimity of F. de Angelis who might well seeme to be their captaine both in life and death The bodies burnt some more some lesse were left in the field with continuall watch vpon them for the space of three daies but the Guarde was no sooner gone then the Christians tooke away the bodies of the two Fathers Which being perceiued so straight order was taken that they could not get the rest as they had determined This execution was performed by Order from the new Xogun the 4. of December and the day after in an eminent and conspicuous place at the sound of the trumpet was recompensed the principall Actour who had accused them the cryer pronouncing that to those who should do the like like reward should be giuen that is a faire house of one of the dead
Christiās and thirty peeces of gold which mount to fifteene hundred crownes Thus was the accuser rewarded but with so many maledictions that euen the Gentiles themselues cursed him for it and wished he might not long enioy it The names of some of the aboue mentioned martyrs according to the order they stood beginning from the Citty 1. Iohn Faramondo 2. F. Hierom de Angelis 3. F. Francis Galbe 4. Leo Taqueua gonsichi 5. Fanzabusi Quaxia 6. Chosaiemon 7. Brother Simon Iempo 8. Peeter Xixabuco 9. Iohn Matazaiemon 10. Michael Quizaiemon 11. Là urence Cagichi 12. Mathias Iazaiemon 13. Laurence Caeuzaiemon 14. Matthias Quizaiem 15. Thomas Iosaeu 16. Peter Santario 17. Peter Sazaiemon 18. Matthias Xegigemon 19. Ignatius Choiemon 20. Simon Muam 21. Dois Ioccunu 22. Isaci 23. Bonauentura Quidairi 24. Iohn Xinocuro 25. Hilary Mangazaiemon 26. Francis Quizaiemon 27. Saximonoia Iinxichir 28. Iohn Chosaiemon 29. Roman Goniemon 30. Emanuel Buyemon 31. Peter Quiheiemon 32. Quizaburo 33. Peter Choiemon 34. Andrew Disuque 35. Raphael Quichaiemon 36. Quizichi 37. Antonio The names of the rest are yet vnknowne vnto vs. A breife Relation of the life of F. Hierom de Angelis and of Brother Simon Iempo of the Society of IESVS F. Hieronyme de Angelis was an Italian borne in Sicily he entred into the Society at 18. yeares of age being yet a scholler he obtained licence to embarke himselfe for the East Indies with a desire to haue passed into Iaponia in cōpany of F. Charles Spinola Eare they arriued into that no lesse dreaded then renowned Promontory of Buona Speranza they were forced to giue back and take land in Brasile where hauing remained some time they tooke their way into Portugall and by the way were taken by English Pyrates and brought into England on the way the ship being in full speedo F. Hierons chaunced to fall into the sea The heretiques made no great hast to helpe him but Allmighty God stretched forth his hand and so ordained that the Father who fell in at the fore-decke passing quite vnder the ship came vp aliue at the sterne and was freed from so great a daunger In England he was for some time prisoner as supposed a Spaniard Thence he was sent to Lisboa where he tooke the degree of Priesthood and then embarked himself for the Indies and remaining in China till the yeare 1602 finally passed into his desired Iaponia After a yeares studie spent in learning of the language he was sent by Superiours into Cami and made Superiour of a house of the Society in Fuximi Here he made his aboade for some yeares taking infinit paines as well in cultiuating and conseruing the auncient Christians as in making new Hence was he called by obedience to Surunga the Courte of Daifù there to found a residence for men of the Society He went couragiously and treading vnder foot all difficulties oppositions he founded a Residence which was the first of the Society in those parts He endeauoured the same ar Iendo But the day appointed for the buying of a house such a persecution was raised that he was forced to retire back to Surunga where he remained till all were generally banished out of Iaponia then by order of obedience he left his Residence and went to Meaco Thus banished with others he went to the Citty Nangasachi and hauing obtained leaue to liue disguised in Iaponia he gaue the bridle to his owne zeale and like a fiery dart passed through al those Kingdoms Prouinces penetrated farther to preach the Ghospell sleighting all paine and perill for so worthy and end Neither was the fruit inferiour to his labours When he went there was not in all those Kingdoms aboue a thousand Christians in Cami but afterwardes they grew by thousands he alone for his part hauing baptised ten thousand in the time of his aboade besides many thousandes more baptised since which may be attributed to the industry of this infatigable workeman who was the first Priest setting only aside the countries of Massamune where a F. of S. Francis Order laboured for a while who carried the light of the holy Ghospell to Fidandono Caguicasu Monganu Nambu Sungara all Prouinces of the great Kingdome of Oxu and thēselues equal to kingdoms more ouer he penetrated into the kingdoms of Yechigo Deua Sādo Masumai or Yezo which is farther then Iaponia He was the first that visited comforted those prime Cōfessours of Christ who the yeare 1614. were banished into Sungaru the last skirte of Iaponia ouercoming all daungers difficulties of a most longe an edious iourney His paines besides those which neceslarily accompany the conuersion of so many may be the better conceiued if you consider the nature of these vast and laborious Prouinces The coldes are intolerable the mountaines frequent and insupetable couered ouer with deepe snowes the waies lie oft times betweene craggy and high mountaines and therfore a Iaponese borne in any other kingdome will neuer come there at least to make his aboade And yet was our Father rauished with this feate conquering with the burning zeale of soules the frozen climat of the country There was a cruell tempest against the Christians in the Citty of Xindai The good Father streight made thither and there more then euer put forth his feruour fortifying them with the Sacraments and other spirituall helps according to their need The Christians might not all goe to him without daunger of discouery and hazard of their liues and therfore in a disguised weed he appointed them certaine place towards the euening where he met them like some ordinary passenger and there sometimes standing sometimes walking as occasion serued he tooke their confessions and gaue them by vertue of the Sacrament force and vigour to stand it out manfully In this Prouince he made his aboade from the yeare 1615. till the year 1621. And then by obedience was commaunded to go to the Citty of Iendo there to receiue the crowne of his labours Here he procured to haue a house though it cost him deare for the paines he tooke to conforme himselfe to the place time and companie so plucked him downe that he seemed quite an other man for whereas before he was fresh and ful faced he nowe became leane and altogether extenuated He remained in the Citty the space of two yeares for the incredible benefit of many Yet could he not refraine from his former missions but found a way into the Kingdoms of Iazu and Cai where numbers were conuerted by the labours of this great seruant of God His zeale was accompanied with many other parts and graces which made him gratious to all With a certaine pleasant affability he came so neere the humours of the Iaponesi that he wonne the hartes of all He embraced all with a smiling countenance and a harto that seemed to leape out of it selfe into others He was often with the sicke yeelding them all comfort and assistance in their necessities Finally to cut of many
yeare 1617 he made his profession of 4 vowes and was sent into Ofu he visited three seuerall times the Christians sent into banishment into Sungaru the last shire of Iaponia He went twice to Iezo and was the first Priest that euer saied Masse there He truailed ouer the kingdoms of Oxu and Deua taking the paines we haue else where specified speaking of F. de Angelis in the like occasion He was the first that resided in Aquita Xemboun where he planted in a manner what there was of Christianity here he had his part of a persecutiō raised against Christiās in which many were sent into banishment who perswading him to retire and to saue himself for the good of many he could neuer be induced to abandon his flock which likewise befell him at this time in the Country of Massamune He was infatigable in aduauncing and setting forward Christian Religion and to conclude he was endowed with extraordinary humility charity affability and other like vertues after 30. yeares spent in the Society and 15. in the mission of Iaponia abounding with merits he gaue vp his life for Christ the 46 yeare of his age In the countrey of Camofidadono one of the principall Lordes of the kingdom of Onu diuers Christians were sent into banishmēt others taken and some also newly conuerted shewed how fraile and weake mans nature is three hundred and threescore persons of age receiued baptisme before the persecution which proued to be so terrible that F. Iohn Matthew Adam of our Society had much a doe to hide his head or find sustenance necessary for life Of the persecution in the kingdome of Deud and the death of three Christians WHilst in the yeare 1623 the Xogun put so many Christians to death in Iendo there chaunced to be present in the court Yoxinobu Xataquedone Lord of the greatest part of the kingdome of Deua who fearing the displeasure of the Xogun gaue order vnto Fanyemon his chiefe Gouernour to make diligent inquiry after such Christians as were to be found in his estate and proceede with all rigour against them The Gouernour complyed so exactly with his charge that in a short space he cast into prison aboue two hundred and the greatest part persons of accoūt The first was a gentleman called Iohn Catauneme who being assaulted with all kind of stratagems persisted notwithstanding so constantly and preached Christian faith with such feruour to the standers by that they confessed themselues for conuinced and kept back from imbracing it with only feare This man had a little sonne of 7. yeares old whom he brought vp in this manner to make him constāt in his faith Be sure would he often say that thou vnder goe any death whatsoeuer rather then deny thy faith one day among the rest eare he was taken prisoner looking vpon his chile well saied he art thou resolued rather to be burnt aliue by the hande of the Iustice then to deny thy faith You Father replied the little one what doe you resolue vpon in the like case Why I would burne saith the Father So would I too answered the child I le try saith the Father whether thou be like to resist when occasion shall require Come hither take this burning coale into thy hande and keepe it till I bid the cast it away The childe opened his hand and the Father sayed in it a red hot coale which the child held in his hand till his Father bad him cast it downe though it had already burnt the skinne and singed the flesh His Father demaunding whether he found it hot One answered the child resolute to let himselfe bee burnt aliue as I am hath no great difficulty to hold a ceale in his hand for so short a space I his came to be knowne of both Christians and Gentills these were confounded and those encouraged to see so stronge an example in so weake a subiect With whole troupes of his friendes and kinsfolke was Iohn Fot Cauas Quiemon importuned for the space of 20. dayes who exhorted him at least in wordes to deny his faith But he true vnto Christ answered he would not doe it for all the gold in the world they called him mad-man but all in vaine wherefore despairing to preuaile with him they let vpon Lucy his wife who no lesse constant would not be drawne from her resolution with the consideration of goods children or her owne life and therefore Iohn being led to prison with his two sonnes she was left vnder guarde in her owne howse together with her lesser children as the custome was in the beginning of this persecution obserued towards woemen of quality One of these called Thomas being vnder age and therfore to haue stayed with his mother vsed so many stratagems that at length he found meanes to accompany his father to prison where he became a voluntary seruant of those imprisoned Confessours who were about some forty in number nor could any euer forbid him this worke of charity An other Christian called Alexius Moiemon being diuersly tempted assured them that not only the whole Citty of Cubota bet neither the Teno Ioxinoba though he came in person should be able to remoue him one inche from his faith He was not alone in this resolution but had many followers of which two were beheaded Lewys Tarogt and Mathew Xichyemon these two were in the seruice of a noble man in Iendo when the Christians were put to death and by him greatly solicited to deny their faith which he not obtaining put them out of his seruice giuing them warning not to goe to the kingdome of Deua but they desirous of a crowne of martyrdome went straight thither and obteined their desire and became with dying for Christ of seruants freemen the 7. of Febr. 1624. A certain young maide called Monica of 25 yeares of age was no lesse molested shee had serued some later yeares the wife of Sataquedone who as is mentioned else where not being able herselfe to receiue baptisme perswaded most of her seruants therunto of which Monica was one baptised by F. Diego Caruaglio Her mistresse though a gentill being sont into banishment for the lawe of Christ Monica was forced to leaue her and betake herselfe to the Citty of Cubota where she had many of kindred She grew so much in deuotion that to the end they might not importune her to marry she cut off her haire to giue her selfe more fully to Christian piety The Gouernour vnderstanding that she was Christian endeauoured by meanes of his owne wife to draw her back but Monica stood it out couragiously till one day the Gouernour in presence of many bid her resolue either to deny her faith or loose her head her answere was by stretching forth her neck and saying that her faith was dearer vnto her then her lise and in the saying her head was stroken off in the Citty of Cubota the yeare 1620. Notwithstanding all the troubles there haue been baptised in this kingdome three
side another time by certaine persons sent expresly from her sonne in law in time of the persecution of Iendo to try whether shee were a Christian or no. To the first she made easy resistance by retiring her selfe from them and neuer more permitting them to come neere her for the secōd she seeing her selfe importuned by many espied her oportunity when her sonne was in the company of many Nobles of the kingdom there in the presence of them all she professed her selfe a Christian and resolute so to continue whatsoeuer should happen The Gentill and those about him admiring so great constancy in a woman troubled her no more cōcerning that In the Iland of Gote one of our Fathers tooke the confessiōs of more then ten thousand Christians and gaue the most blessed Sacrament to aboue three hundred ten of those who were gone back were reclaimed and in this many other good workes a Brother of ours had great part who visited the Christians bordering neere about Omura In Nangasachi deuotion is much increased towards our holy S. Ignatius A certaine woman in most cruell and long paines of childbirth making a vow to the Sainct and praying her friends to spend some time vpon their knees before his picture was happily deliuered of a sōne who therefore beares the name of Ignatius Persecution is also much increased by reason of a principall Gouernour who of a Christian turned Renegat seeketh by all meanes to get into his hands the Religious of that Citty He hath for that end employed secret spies promised great rewards and spared no paines or industry to take them prisoners and yet it hath pleased Almighty God to preserue his seruants This said Gouernour set forth a proclamation that all those who had any Religious in their houses should deliuer them vp vnder paine of death not only of the Master of the house but euen of the whole family This proclamatiō strucke a horrour into many yet diuers sent away their slaues to the end they might with the more security lodge Religious persons The same Gouernour vsed an other diligēce which was to set forth an edict forbidding all vpō paine of death to reade any spirituall bookes to Christians and that the Masters of houses should giue vp the names of such as bad serued the church in those functiōs otherwise the whole Neighbourhood should be punishable Vpon this diuers were banished who being required refused to bind themselues by promise to desist from so good a worke Mothers could not lodge their children for this reason without imminent cāger to their neighbours so that diuers were constrained to retire into the countrey not for feare of death but for feare of preiudicing others with small either profit or honour to their Religion Thus farr went the Renegat Gouernour with his officers but the persecution of the Xogun increased much their affliction He first commaunded that no Christian Iaponian should be capable to trafficke by sea out of Iaponia but only Gentils and Renegats A hard and cruell law for that most part of the inhabitants liue vpon the gaines of their voyages into seuerall parts And it was a wonder to see poore Christians starue for hunger rather then offend God or let themselues be transported with the sweetnesse of gaine Among others a certaine Captaine of a ship was not only kept off board but threatned with death and though he auoided this danger yet remaines he in great pouerty which he seasoneth with extraordinary ioy since it is for Almighty Gods cause He made also a prohibition to all Iaponians as well Christians as Gentils so saile to the Philippine Ilands for that notice was giuen that in ships frō those parts were conueied sometimes Religious persons and for this a certaine embassage from the Gouernour of the said Ilands did not succed which happened in this manner The Embassadours coming to the Iland of Iaponia with rich presents and extraordinary charges in a well furnished ship from a certaine port of the kingdom of Farima called Murò 30 leagues of Ozaca coming I say to Meaco were there demaūdeo by the Gouernour of the Citty and the Gouernour of Nangasachi for what end they came who sent them what they carryed what they desired and the like The Embassadours answered conformably to their commissions The Gouernours writ accordingly to the Court but answer was returned that such Embassages came not of themselues but procured by Religious men dwelling in those Ilands and that the Xogun Lord of Iaponia would receiue no Embassages from places broaching a law most false diabolicall seditious turning the state vp side downe and deceiuing the subiects That already he had been deceiued in that kind and that vnder colour of traffick and marchand Ze this pernicious law and the Authours thereof had been brought in whom he now had banished vnder rigorous paines would receiue no more The Embassadours alleadged their reasons but in vaine and sinally were constrained to returne hauing done nothing and guarded day and night like prisoners with armed men which neither permitted them to goe a land nor any of the countrey to come vnto them excepting two only who were to buy necessary prouision to liue vpon and all this for seare of Religious men suspecting the greatest part of the Europeans to be of that profession though disguised in secular cloaths and this was the successe of that Embassage And least Religious mē thus disguised should ship into Iaponia they haue doubled their guards examining very rigorously all strangers registring the names of all and obliging those who lodge them to render account of them whensoeuer it shall be required Moreouer the Xogun hath ordained that all strangers be sent away as well Religious as seculars so they be Spaniards or Portugheses the English Hollanders only excepted for that they betray Priests and are held to be capitall enemies of the Spaniards and Portugheses and of the law of Christ and for this respect they are not only admitted but made much of though they robbe and spoile euen the Iaponians themselues when they meete with them by sea This order came to Nangasachi when suddenly the Ministers of lustice seasing vpon the streets entred all the houses where the Europeans liued and taking their names those of the Coreys Cinezes and Iaponeses themselues whom they found clad like Spaniards or Portugheses they set them a certaine day to be gone out of Nangasachi and all the confins of Iaponia vnder paine of senere punishments for any that should not obey They could not but feele that blow exceedingly yet was it a comfort vnto them to be banished meerely for their Religion The day being come they all shipped themselues excepting some few in prison of whom we spake in the last yeares annuals some for Macao others for Manila the chiefest Citty of the Philippin Ilands but without either wines or seruants such as had them Iaponeses whom they could in no wise carry along with them The
parting was so dolefull and full of teares on both sides aswel of those who went as those who staied behind that all the lookers on were extreamely moued the mothers wept amaine to part from their children the husbands from their wiues the Masters of houses from their families The very Iaponeses themselues were woūded at the hart to leaue some their friends others their Masters others those from whom they gained their huings and carried in their brests the law proceedings of Xogun Teares and lamentations remained in the harts eyes of those who staied behind the more whē they reflected vpon the good deedes done full often by those who were sent away as the setting of their slaues at liberty whom they might haue made money of giuing to diuers house roome and liberally bestowing both gold and filuer on persons in necessity The last persecution in the Citty of Nangasachi was against the dead For the hatred of the Xogun against our holy faith which he endeauours by all meanes to extirpate could not sufficiently expresse it selfe against the liuing The Christians of Nangasachi had a churchyard where they buried their dead and on certaine daies went thither in numbers to recommend them vnto God on the sepulchers which were some of stone others of bricke others of wood were put diuers crosses of seuerall fashions Against this place the Gentils spent their fury butning the wooden crosses destroying the monuments commaunding the dead to be buried vnder ground The Christians feared so much lest the dead bones of their frends should be taken vp and cast into the sea that some made deeps holes into the ground and there buried them others carried thē home to their houses others tocitties neere about there buried them thus they went all day vp and downe the citty not knowing what way to take admiring the cruelty of the Xogun other Gouernours who would not so much as endure that they dead should have with them any token of their profession A certaine officer at this time passing through the streetes found a Christian selling beads presently he layed hands on him for selling forbidden ware and streightly bound brought him before a Iudge who condemned him made him stand in the publicke view fast bound a whole day and night Of the persecution of Christians in certaine places of the kingdom of Figen THe chiefest mā of Figen is called Nobexima Xinanono Cann who was presers at Court when so many Christians were burned aliue terrified which this exāple for feare of loosing the Xoguns fauour he gaue order to all his subordinate Gouernours that they should quit his dominions from Christians The officers carefull to comply with their Masters will and pleasure put forth a proclamation that all should abandon Christiā Religion other wise to be stripped starke naked and with their eares and noses cut to be sent to the Citty of Sifai together with their wifes and children there to be slaues to the Tono who was allied with the said Xinanono Cami. It cannot be expressed what ioy the Christians of Quizicurra conceiued at this Meslage and by reason diuers torments were threatned in this letter and namely that they should be burned aline they prepared themselues first with the most pretious and holy Sacraments and afterwards with new cloathes to appeare at the day of their death which they both hoped and looked for eare long One and thirty were called at once before a Iustice who with faire speeches exhorted all and euery one to change their mindes and not incurre the displeasure of the Tono But their answer being vndaunted and resolute he fell from faire to bitter threat ning tearmes commaunding them to be carried away in a most ignominious manner The day following he called before him their wines who for ioy put on their best apparell and taking their Children in their armes such as had any to offer them as immaculate sacrifices vnto Christ they went couragiously to the iudgment sear ready to lay open their best veines and let forth their blood for Almighty God The Iudge haning only seene them commaūded they should be sent to a certaine house and there kept as prisoners till they heard more of him The day following a certaine chief person and Christian went to the Gouernour intreating the woemen might goe backe to their howles and offering for to enter bond for their due appearance when it should be required which was accordingly graunted but the good woemen were nothing contented herewith and refused the offer saying that unprisonment for Christ was more deare vnto them then what soeuer liberty and that they would not depart from the prison vnles it were to a stake or gibbet to end their liues Yet finally giuing way to the perswasions of many Christians they retired backe to their houses When these woemen were called to appeare there were wanting by reason of the faire distance those of a certaine towne called Occusa They were counselled not to stifle since the others had been deliuered but they would in no waies obey saying the Gentills should see they were no lesse couragious then their neight urs and as desirous of death and so they wēt forward but were turned backe for the Iudge perceiuing such incredible cōstancy in both texes thought it best to dissemble all with prudencv and so the persecution ended in Oquizu where torments were wanting to the Christians not they to torments The same day that the persecution began in Oquizu it began likewise in Iagami The first assaulted by the Governour were labouring mē yet in a more milde manner for calling before him on of the chief among them he was earnest with him to chaunge his Religion which not succeding to subsoribe at least a certaine list which he had in his hand The honest Coūtreyman answered if the subscribing were taken as a signe of reuolting from his faith he would not put his hand vnto it albeit the deniall should cost him his life But the Gouernour by reiterated oathes gaue him assurance there was no such thing meant whereupon the Coutrey-man after a thousand protestations that he was a Christian and would die so subscribed vnto his paper And after this manner the Gouernour soone induced the rest in great part to subscribe yet some there were who made a scruple of it making choice rather to leaue both goods and houses then to subscribe vpon any tearmes so that three score and three men and woemen betooke themselues to a voluntary banishment of which there was a poore feeble woman through age and sicknes almost brought to her graue who being asked of her husband what course they should take Let vs goe saieth she with the rest into banishment for I had rather dy in the tourney for Gods sake then protract my life a few daies longer with liuing at home and losse of my soule And albeit I am in diuers respects neere vnto my end yet if I should chaunce to dy in the way at
fourth the younger sister called also Mary eleuen yeares old who were all beheadeth in the same manner by the handes of principall men of the Gentils hauing first praied and called vpon the holy names of Iesus Maria. Then came the happy and magnanimous mother Grace who seeing with the eyes of liuely faith her two yoūg daughters so well placed esp oused to the true spouse of their soules Christ our-Sauiour and her sonne Linus so rich with heauenly merites yeelded infinite thankes to the diuine Maiesty for so great benefits and then kneeling down with her daughter in law whose name was also Mary both of them inuoking the sweet name Iesus Maria cheerfully offered their heades to be cut of the mother in law being of the age of fifty yeares and the daughter in law of nineteene After these presently followed two woemen-seruants the one called Cecily the other Mary and a little child by name Michaell onely three yeares old which being not capable of feare left him who had brought him thither in his armes and went to Cecily this mother seated in the place where she was to dy she tenderly embracing her little one and deuoutly calling vpon Iesus and Mary was beheaded by a seruant of the Tono who at two blowes cut off the heades first of the mother then of her innocent child The last was the other seruant Mary who nothing daunted with the bloody spectacle of so many headlesse bodies fell downe vpon her knees and with much tendernesse of deuotion imploring the assistance of Christ Iesus and his Virgin Mother bowed her head to the bloody sword and made vp the number of nine glorious martyrs being of the age of two and twenty yeares The seruants of God hauing thus happily triumphed ouer death the Paynims couered their dead bodies with mattes but coming to couer Mary the wife of Gabriel they perceiued that her head was not quite of yea that she still called vpon Iesus Maria so were those blessed names imprinted in her pious hart that her head being almost deuided from her body and she more dead then liuing ceased not to inuoke them vnlesse we will say that after death for confusion of those Gentiles God the Creatour of all spoke by the mouth of his dead scruant The Paynims were much amazed at this sight yet nothing relenting in their cruelty beheaded a new the twise happy martyr and wrapping all the bodies in their seuerall mattes then tying a great stone to each of them cast them into the sea so to preuent the Religious veneration which the Christians would haue giuen to their holy relickes All these seruantes of God were borne with in the state of Firando sixe of them in the Citty it selfe the two seruantes in the Iland Igisuqui and Mary the Wife of Gabriel at a place called Xixi Mary that old woman had been baptized at womans estate was one of the first which receiued the Sacrament of Baptisme in Iaponia all the rest had been Christians from their craule their Fathers and grandfathers hauing been so before them The good old woman Mary was alwaies much giuen to deuotion and Almes-deedes Neither was Grace any whit behind her hauing moreouer a great zeale of soules which she euer shewed towardes the Christians of that Citty She was of the company of Mercy of which as being the head she had an especiall care and therfore procured diuerse waies to aduance Christianity and vertue She lodged our Fathers in her house for a long time she mortified her body with frequent disciplines and fasting euery friday and saterday thorough out the yeare she visited and comforted the sicke she assisted the poore in what she could at Christmasse and Easter she was wont to feast the Christians and with all to giue them good spirituall counsell It happened once vpon the Iaponians new yeares day that there dyed two sicke men one a Cittizen the other a strāger Grace came to know of it and without making any account of the Iaponians superstition who vpon that day will not so much as name the dead much lesse talke of burying them caused the Cittizen to be buried keeping the dead body of the stranger in her house for some daies to auoid the bruit of the Gentiles which afterwardes she buried in the Churchyard of the Christians When the Paynims came to know of this worke of mercy they commended it very much and ceased not openly to prayse the Christians for it The two daughters both Maries imitated very well their mother vertues and Linus was not inferiour to them Neither did Mary the wife of Gabriel come behind the rest and the two seruantes as well in good life as desire of dying for Christ might be compared with their mistresses Finally they all died for the faith of Christ vpon the third of March in the yeare of our Lord 1624. by commaundment of Massura Figendono Lord of Firando The death of fiue other Christians in Vsucca THe very day that the foresaid nine were put to death an old man of the age of seauenty sixe yeares by name Luke Morifebioye was be headed not farre from his owne house for that he constantly reiected two of the Tonos seruantes who perswaded him to deny his faith and his sonne of the age of forty leauen suffered death in like manner for the same cause and by the handes of the same executioner The same day an other old man of the age of fourscore and sixe called Anthony Girobioye inuoking the most blessed names of Iesus and Mary had his head cut off These three seruantes of God were natiue of the Iland Iquisuqui Luke in his old age leauing off worldly affaires as desirous to attend wholly to his deuotions retired himselfe to Vsucca There he instituted a Confraternity of S. Ignatius and as he was very zealous of the spirituall good of his neighbours made a separation in his house for our Fathers to come visit the Christians where he receiued F. Constantius which was a chief cause of his death Alexius the sonne followed his Fathers example in prouiding for the spirituall necessities of Christians for which cause he was made worthy to follow him also in suffering death for Christ. Antony had betaken himselfe to a retired life in the same place for the reasons which had moued Luke to his retirement He was an humble sincere and very charitable man he did not only visit the sicke but kept them also often times in his owne house therby to prouide the better for them he alwaies lodged our Fathers in his house and was ordinarily employed in the exercise of either spirituall or corporall workes of mercy in recompence wherof he was finally rewarded with the palme of martyrdom The day next ensuing after the death of these three was beheaded Mary the wife of Luke who being from home the day before at the time of their combat and returning at night vnderstood what had passed and presently resolued to go and present
beene molested none were ouercome and some not to put themselues into further daūger tooke vpon them a voluntary exile where they remained poore in commodities but rich in merits in the sight of God A certaine Christiā comming vnto an other Citty the Christians of that place demaunded of him wherfore he had abandoned his owne Country he made answer that he might not abandone his faith But the Christians inhabitants of this Citty reprehended him sharply and told him to fly was signe of a dastard and therfore that he should returne and if necessity should so require not doubt to spend his life in such a quarrell The Christian hearing this imagining he was obliged to returne without delay made hast vnto his Country Being returned a Bonzio a friend of his had soone espied him and imagining he had renounced his faith began to congratulate the matter with him But the Christians let him vnderstand that he was not only not chaunged but that the reason of his returne was that he might dy in honour of Christ our Lord. Whereupon the Bonzio grew into such disdaine that he swore he would find out meanes to vexe him But it pleased God that all did fade and fall to nothing for the Gouernour how be it he was informed of the whole matter yet he gaue order the Christian should be no farther molested Father Iulian Nacaura of our Society one of those foure Iaponesi who by meanes of our Fathers came Embassadours to Rome to render obedience in person of their Princes to his Holynesse hath care not only of this kingdom but of those also of Chigugen and Bugen It hath so fallen out that in diuerse places his visits hapned in the very time of the troubles and persecution by which occasion he hath suffered very much and his weaknesse sometimes was so great either in regard of the toyle of his iourney or violent oppression of famine that not being able to moue himselfe he was caried in mens armes The kingdom of Chigugen being deuolued vnto the Kings sonnes by the death of their Father it seemed good vnto the Gouernours to persecute the Christians as deeming that no vnsitt meanes to conserue the Xogun in good liking towards their new Lords but the moderation of the officers hath beene such that no great trouble hath befallen the Christians vpon this occasion The Christians of Aquizuqui haue giuen abundant testimony of their constancy A good Christian woman wife vnto a noble Paynim had heretofore beene much molested by her husband but now the rude barbarian proceeded so far as to clap a hote fire brand to her naked flesh vowing he would vse her yet more hardly if she would not recant Yet she not daunted with this cruelty remaines still constant in confession of Christ begging as saith a Father of ours with great instance of his diuine Maiesty that he will not abandone her and the same Father affirmes that she is most ready to suffer all possible torment in so holy a cause At this present Fosocaua Yeichndono sonne to Nangaochayuchu ruleth in the kingdom of Bugen This man is different from his Father and well affected vnto our affaires resembling therin rather his Mother called Grace whom we haue often mentioned in our former histories for a woman of good life and great feruour in profession of our holy faith The Residence of the Kingdom of Bunge BEfore the persecution began there were 44 of the elder sort baptized in this kingdom besides those who repenting themselues ranne back into the lap of our holy mother the church In some of those the iust chastisement of God hath particularly appeared For of many possessed persons diuerse haue beene found to be such as had abandoned their faith The house of a certaine Christian chaunced to be burned and when the fire had consumed all things to ashes he set himselfe to seeke certaine moneys which he had in a chest when the fire first tooke But in lieu of his money which he looked for he found what he sought not for as much as dispersing the cinders to and fro he found three pictures of Sainctes which were glued vpon a bord and yet had suffered no domage by the fire he found more ouer some payres of wooden beades which he knew to be such as had pardons to them he perceiued that others were burned which had not the Indulgēce as he very wel obserued The Christians hauing vnderstood the accident hold those pictures and hallowed beades in great reuerence and are much confirmed in their faith There doe reside in Bungo two seruants of the Xogun for no other respect then only to giue notice vnder hand of all that passeth in that kingdom and the Gouernours are not ignorant here of So that fearing to be accused they haue began to persecute the Christians in such sort that in mans memory there hath not beene the like either for politicall stratagems edictes threates or troublesome persuasions Father Ioannes de Costa to whom the care of those Christians is deputed hath beene so chaced from place to place that not finding any who durst receaue him he hath beene forced to retire himselfe into the furthest and most remote confines of the kingdom together with one Dogicke and one seruant and the persecution hastned so fast after him that it had almost driuen him out euen from those foilorne places But hauing ouercome all that difficulty he incurred imminent daūger of his life through a deadly sicknesse where into he tell as well through the incommodities of his dwelling as continuall and toylsome iorneies to diuerse places in succour of the Christians of whom howbeit some few are reuolted yet far more are they who hauing indured fierce combats for the faith of Christ remaine valiant and vnuanquishable Linus of whom we haue spoken in our former relations after many banishments formerly endured hath together with many other now latly beene outlawed with his wife and Children he hath suffered wonderfull much nor finding any one who would intertertaine him till at last he chaunced vpon a Christian called Iohn Diogo who hauing friendly receaued him and all them of his company into his house not long after was constrained himselfe to goe into banishment for Christ our Lord and trauell through many places not finding any one who euer would so much as lodge him such was the feare and terrour of Xogun his law Yet he endured all with such patience that many vnderstanding what had befallen him left their country of their owne accord that they might not be in daunger to leaue there faith An other Christian called Organtinus of 76 yeares of age and more hath already beene tryed in 5 seuerall persecutions and remained euer victorious This man as an old soldier and knowne for such of all men was in peculiar manner molested by the Tono but all his indeauours were frustrate for this our experienced warrier did neuer shew any the least signe of leuity or vnconstancy whereopon the Tono
his life he was to giue in his last euidence and declaration of his faith he put of his shooes and stockings that so he might goe with all possible reuerence vnto that place where in he was to dy for Christ. Being now euen at the goale where vnto they so willingly made hast the 3 sonnes stoode with eyes fixed vpon the heauens when their Father bad them giue attentiue eare vnto what he should tell them You must then vnderstand said he that you are but earth and that all things contained in this wide vniuerse were created as helpes for man to the saluation of his soule which at this instant you are to offer vnto God who therefore hath created you that he might confer vpon you the blisse of eternall saluation He added heere vnto diuerse other edificatiue speeches when one of the Tonos sonnes a youth of tender yeares arriuing there the officers that he might speake no more tooke occasion to stop their mouthes in such sort that they could not vtter any word The young youth who came purposely to be present at this spectacle was desirous to see how well their Simitars would cut and therfore the officers would not put the condemned persons to death as they were accustomed to doe but in a more inhumane barbarous and cruell fashion to wit taking their blow from aboue the right arme in such sorte that the weapon issue forth vnder the lefte or contrary not vnlike vnto the fashion in which our deacons weare a stole and to giue more content vnto the yoūg Barbarian they tyed euery ones right hand vnto a stake and thus prepared they came forth first Leo and then his sonnes whilst the Barbarous Paynim recreated himselfe with his attendants to see how sharpe those swords or Simitars were which with one blow pearsing both flesh and bones would cut the body from side to side and in an instant deuide a man in two Leo was 60 yeares of age Andrew 25 Thomas 23 and Iohn twenty as well the Father as his sonnes were borne in a part of the kingdom of Bungo called Togi They dyed on the 28 of May 1624 by commaund of Inaba Friocodono Lord of Vsuqui a Principall place of the kingdome of Bungo THE TABLE OF the Temporall state of Iaponia and the present condition of Christian Religion Pag. 1. The exercise of the Christians in prison pag. 10. How the aboue named fifty Christians were burnt aliue by commaund from the Xogun pag. 13. The names of some of the aboue mentioned martyrs according to the order they stood beginning from the Citty pag. 20. A brief relation of the life of F. Hierom de Angelis of B. Simon Iempo of the Society of IESVS pag. 22. How foure and twenty Christians were put to death for the confession of Christian faith in the Citty of Iendo pag 28. Of other seauenteene Christians burnt aliue in the Towne of Iendo for professing Christian Religion pag. 31. A relation of the persecution raised in the beginning of the yeare 1624. in the Countries of Massamune in which aboue 24. Christians were put to death together with F. Diego Caruaglio of the Society of IESVS pag. 32 Of the persecution in the Kingdome of Deua the death of three Christiās pa. 54. Of Christianity in the Coūtry of Cami. pag. 58. The death of Francis Ioyama Sintaro in the Citty of Firoxima pag 68. The death of Mathias Xobora Schizaimō pag. 73. The death of Ioachim Curoyemon in Firoxima pag. 75. The death of Iohn Tananguia Cufroi pag. 76. Of the persecution of Christians in certaine places of the Kingdom of Figen p 86. The persecution of the Christians of the Citty of Firando and the terntory belonging to it in which eight and thirty suffered death pag 95. The death of nine Christiās of the house and family of Gabriel who had lodged F. Camillus Constantius of the Society of IESVS ibid. The death of fiue other Christians in Vsucca pag 104. The death of Isabell Mother of Damianus and Beatrice his wife with their foure children pag. 107. The death of Mary wife to Iohn Sucamoto and her foure sonnes pag. 122. The death of Michaell Iamando Fiemon and Vrsula his wife with three of their children pag. 115. The death of Catherine wife to Iohn Yuqumoura pag. 120. The death of Thomas Mattaicht p. 125. Of foure others put to death for Religion in the Precincte of Firando pag. 126. The death of Calisto Cambo a Christian of the Ilands of Goto pag. 131. The death of Michael Sori and Quinzaiemon in the Ilands of Goto pag. 134. The death of Thomas Nacangaua Mangosuque and Ioseph Gonzalo who suffered in Omura pag. 136. The death of Father Michael Caruaglio of the Society of IESVS and of foure other Religious men of the holy Orders of Saint Dominicke and Saint Francis who suffered for preaching of the holy Ghospell pag. 140. The state of Christianisme in Tacaco pag 153. The residence of Amacusa and missions of the Kingdome of Fingo pag. 155. The residence of the Kingdome of Chigugen and missions thereof pag. 157. The residence of the Kingdome of Bungo pag. 161. The death of Leo Mizaqui Xinyemon and of his three sonnes pag. 165. FINIS