their Feasts ¶ THe Province of Amangucium was beyond all other Dominions full of Christians because the King embrac'd that Faith and promoted the same the People upon Festival days flock'd to the Temples in great numbers where the Jesuits represented the Sufferings of our Savior hanging a large Vane on the top of the Church with a Crucifi'd Man in the middle which done all the lights were quite put out and every one having stor'd themselves with Whips and Scourges disrobed the upper part of their bodies and Disciplin'd themselves so long till the fiftieth Psalm was read out On Palm-Sunday Also Palm-Sunday they distributed Consecrated Branches and went in Procession having a great Cross carry'd before them locking the Church-doors round about without stood a Jesuit holding a Cross in his hands saying aloud Open O ye Eternal Gates whereupon those within answer'd Who is the King of Honor At last walking two by two into the Temple towards the Altar a Jesuit Celebrated Mass At other times they walk'd about the Churches with Torches Casp Vilela Epist Eirando 1557. when hiding a Man in a Grave they plac'd two Arm'd Portuguese and two Youths with Helmets on to Guard the same then the Man arose out of the Grave so representing the Resurrection of Christ In the middle of the Church stood the great Altar on both sides of it were built several Chappels all hung with stately Pictures and rich Tapistry shewing the Crucifying on Golgotha the Resurrection Several representations in Japan to establish the Roman Religion and Ascention from Mount Olivet round about the Walls were plac'd a great number of Wax-Candles before the Altar in the corner of the Chappel hung a black Cloth behind which stood a Jesuit in the Habit of a Priest Nine times they sung Kyrieeleyson which done the Cloth was suddenly drawn aside and there appear'd on the Altar the Cross and other Images with many Ornaments then also the Jesuit came in open view whereupon the Bells Were rung then their Singers with Garlands about their Heads and lighted Torches in their Hands follow'd the Host who was carry'd through the Church under a rich Canopy The Province and City Amangucium suffer many inconveniencies This manner of Worship the Japanners were mightily taken withal and chiefly in the Province Amangucium where the Catholick Religion was no way less exercis'd than in the middle of Spain or Italy notwithstanding the City Amangucium had suffer'd much for it being in the space of five years twice pull'd down to the ground and was scarce Re-built when Anno 1557. the Drossaert Moridono laid the whole City the third time in Ashes the King with all the Christian Nobility and Souldiers flying to a Castle five Leagues from Amangucium was slain there with all his Retinue ¶ IN other places the Jesuits enjoy'd themselves in Peace and quietness and receiv'd yearly Revenues of the Lords of the Countreys for the promoting and teaching their Doctrine In the Royal City Facuta The Jesuits build several Churches in Japan they had built a stately Church and in Firando one to the honor of the Virgin Mary to which they got three more of the Bonzi which fled from thence In Meaco they bought a large House which they turn'd afterwards into a Church in Cangoxima they nestled first of all The King of Vocoajura proffer'd them a piece of ground twenty Miles in circumference where no heathen Japanners but onely Christians were permitted to live Within the City Saccay Villela built also a stately Church and another not altogether so costly was erected in the City Ximabra But those built by the Jesuits at Nangesaque exceeded all the other in splendor and magnificence The Japan King of Omura becomes first a Christian ¶ AMongst the first of the Japan Kings that receiv'd Baptism was Xumitanda King of Omura whilest the poor and needy also imbrac'd the same Faith because that according to the Testimony of John Peter Maffeus the Roman Priests taught them that every one according to their Abilities must assist the poor with Alms this King at his Baptism took to him the Name of Bartholomew It seems that the Jesuits brought this manner of changing of Names out of Europe to Japan according to a Custom us'd amongst the Popes who leave off their Christian-Name when they take upon them the Supreme Government of the Church Changes his name The first original of this exchanging of Names Onuphrius and Cardinal Baronius ascribe to Pope John the twelfth but most to Sergius the second who would be call'd so when he was chosen Pope Anno 844. upon the dislike of his own Name which before was Bocca de Porco as Platina Stella Bocca de Porco or Swines-snout Suffrid Epist 1. Suffridus and Aeneas Sylvius testifie Civil Wars against Xumitanda King of Omura But Xumitanda soon found great opposition for his relinquishing his old Heathenism for the Bonzies the prime Actors in this Plot stirr'd up Gotondono base Son of the Deceas'd King against Xumitanda pretending for a reason that he broke in pieces his Predecessors Image which before his Conversion he was wont to Perfume with Incense By this seeming zealous Pretext Gotondono soon got great Aid for every one was much inrag'd that the Old Religion should be banish'd from Omura and a New one brought in by the Portuguese Whereupon the Rebels joyning in a Body together set Omura on fire and storm'd the Palace but the King throwing a Tyger skin athwart his shoulders over a white Silk Suit on which was Embroider'd the Name Jesus with a Cross of Massy Gold on his Breast and a Garland of Roses about his Neck made his escape both through the Enemy and Fire to a Castle near the Sea-shore But Gotondono pursu'd him closely and getting several Ships from Goto and Firando Besieg'd him both by Sea and Land How he escap'd great danger Xumitanda could not possibly have escap'd had not his Father Xengandono by a subtile Policy made the Besieg'd fall at variance and fight among themselves for when he proffer'd the King of Arima's Daughter in Marriage to the chief of the Rebels he immediately sided with Xumitanda by which Conjunction being enabled he Sally'd out and slew the greater part of the Enemy and from thence forward for a considerable time he rul'd in Peace and quietness till Isafay his Brother-in-Law made private Combination with the Lord of Firando who sent a Fleet to Sea whilst Isafay laid the City Omura in Ashes Xumitanda at that time resided with a small Train Obtains many victories in a Castle scituate near the Sea Thither Isafay march'd with all speed and had undoubtedly slain the King had not some unexpected Forces happily come to his assistance with which he March'd to meet the Enemy and after a sharp Conflict utterly routed them The Ships belonging to Firando being separated by stress of Weather were lost The last that rose against Xumitanda was
house of Entertainment for Ambassadors and Envoys The description of the mighty City Osacca ¶ AS to what concerns Osacca it is an Imperial City and the Metropolis of the Territory of Quioo Near the mouth of the River an obstructing Rock divides the Channel making it troublesom and dangerous for those that pass the River runs up Northerly branching through the middle of Osacca and also through Meaco making many Sands and Shoals and at last looseth it self in a spreading Lake beyond that City On the utmost Point or Promontory of the River stands the King's Custom-House where all Ships must touch that pass by the same there paying such Customs as belongs to their Cargo with which they are Freighted this House rais'd each Story with a several Roof shews very stately and is to be seen far into the Sea Mountains near Osacca On each side appear two rising Hills which hinder the Prospect of the East and West side of the City onely some of the high Spires appear above The Water-Castle of Osacca Opposite to the Custom-house stands the Kings Block-house surrounded with a strong Wall rais'd out of the River ready and fully replenish'd for all Occasions with well-mounted Cannon The Emperor Xogunsama began to build this Fort but his Son Toxogunsama succeeding him in his Imperial Throne Anno 1629. finish'd and Garison'd it in the space of three Years Store-houses against Fire Behind the same are built ten Store-houses opposite to the Sea with a broad Street and a Stone Cause-way These Ware-houses are exceeding large and built all of Stone that they may not suffer Damage by Fire Imperial Turrets There are also several Towers in which the Emperor keeps his Treasure collected from the Isles Chiccock Saycock and Tonsa Besides these foremention'd Buildings Water-Gate is also seen the Water-Gate through which the Custom'd Goods go in and out having a great and broad pair of Stairs which descend to the Sea and a Guard of five hundred Soldiers constantly attending the same Somewhat further is the Emperors Ship-yard which is of a great Circumference having many Docks in the same wherein continually all manner of Vessels are a building whose Hulls they make generally very broad The other part of the City stands behind the Hills but is divided from them by a Rivulet The Governors House A little way up the River from the Sea is the Governors House curiously built and within full of costly Rooms and rises aloft in manner of a Steeple with four Roofs The Temple of Devils Between this Edifice and the Block-house appears the lofty Roof of the Temple of Infernals within which the Japanners worship a horrible Image Their Idols very horrible His Head represents that of a Wild Boar with two great Tusks sticking out of his Jaws and adorn'd with a stately Crown full of Diamonds and other Precious Stones Over his Breast hangs a Scarf which is parted in the middle and that which makes it the more terrible to behold are four out-spread Arms of which one of the left stands upwards holding a Ring on the longest Finger the other hanging downwards holds a Flower not unlike a Lilly The uppermost Right Hand gripes fast a small Dragons Head spitting Fire the lowermost a Golden Scepter trampling with his Feet upon the Belly and Thigh of another Devil which lies along under him He having his Head all hairy and a pair of Ox Horns graffed thereon with an Iron Chain about his Neck a Girdle with great Buttons about his Middle a long Tail between his Leggs and broad Garters about his Knees the Right Arm stretch'd out and the left bended in to his Side is as dreadful a Spectacle as the other These horrid Shapes they nominate Joosie Tiedebak How they call them and God they call contrarily Joosie Goesar The Japanners honor and worship these resemblances of Devils with all manner of Offerings to the end they might not receive any hurt from them The Image of their Devil Vitziputzli The same Opinion have the Western Indians of their Devil Vitziliputzli whom they Worship and Reverence with great Zeal This Vitziliputzli sits on a Silver Foot-stool which stands upon a Bier whose four ends have as many Props with Serpents or Adders Heads fix'd on them The Forehead of this Idol is painted blue with two Streaks of the same Colour athwart his Nose running to each Ear. His Head like a long-Bill'd Bird is impalled with stately Plume of Feathers the tip of the Bill of massie Gold In his Left Hand he holds a white round Box and five white Plumes pleited cross-ways over one another in the middle a Branch which signifies Victory On his Side hang four Arrows which according to the Opinion of the Mexicans were sent him from Heaven His Right Hand rests on a Staff in manner of a Serpent painted with blue Streaks Upon his Bosom appears the Face of a Man with glaring Eyes a high Nose and a wide Mouth opening before or near the Orifice of his Stomach Thus stood he for the most part vail'd with a Curtain his Body almost cover'd with Chains of Pearls Diamonds and other Precious Stones which hung round with various colour'd Plumes like Labels The Devil Tezcatlipuca They no less fear their Demon Tezcatlipuca made of black Jet and cloath'd in a rich Habit In his mouth he holds a Silver Spike about a Finger long in which sometimes stick Green other times Red Plumes of Feathers which distinguish'd Colours they wear as Favors at their several Festivals Between both his Ears hang many Gems of great Value and about his Neck an Emrauld that covers most part of his Breast also wearing Golden Armlets On his Navil a costly Topaz his Left-hand bearing a Fan of Gold being a Plate so curiously pollish'd that it well perform'd the Office of a Mirror or Looking-glass by the Mexicans call'd Itlachcaia wherein they believe Tezcatlipuca sees all the Transactions of the World by which he Judges Determines and Punishes or Prefers every one according to their well or ill doing Therefore he stands ready with four Darts to distribute upon those which commit the highest Offences The Tempell of the Idoll Canon TEMPEL VAN DEN AFGODT KANON The watch-Watch-house in Osacca is very stately ¶ BUt return again to the Description of the Imperial City Osacca Behind the Diabollical Temple spreading it self along the Shore stands a Watch-Tower a more than Royal Building rais'd extraordinary high in the great Street which leads to the City Saccai At some distance from this next you may behold a large and stately Temple in which is a wonderful Idol being fifty Foot high Its Head all of Silver presented by the King of Bom whose Countrey abounds with Mines of that Metal banqueting- Imperial banqueting-Banquetting-house On the Left-hand at the lower end of the City opens from behind the Hill a fair Prospect of the Imperial Tower crown'd with an almost unmeasurable
according to their merits either to worthier or baser Creatures himself giving out that he had once been Aethalides Son of Mercury who granted him a Boon to ask one favor whatsoever he desir'd excepting Immortality whereupon he requested That he might know and remember what-ever happen'd to him after his death and not be forc'd to drink Lethe the River of Oblivion so after Aethalides his Decease he was transmigrated into Euphorbus a Trojan Heroe slain by Menelaus next Hermotius then Pyrrbus a Fisherman of Delier and lastly the foremention'd Pythagoras the Philosopher who broach'd this so much follow'd Doctrine The Idol Omyto This Sect which they style Xenxus worship the Deity Omyto commonly call'd Amida The Fables which the Japanners relate of this Idol are beyond all apprehensions and above our Faith to believe It will be enough to relate how they ascribe Salvation and everlasting happiness to this their god Amida The Ido Amida always invoking him with these words Namu Amida Buth that is Save us Blessed Amida save us which oft repeated Prayers they number upon Beads as the Roman Catholicks do their Devotions the Image holding a String of Beads like theirs The Secth Foqueux worship the Idol Xaca The third of the Grand Sectaries being Foqueux pay their Devotions to the Idol Xaca to whom they use commonly thus to Pray Namu Mio Foreo Qui Quio which whosoever speaks best and pronounces best seems to them so doing to be a good Omen of their future happiness notwithstanding there is no Japanner extracted from India that well understands these words These Worshippers of the Idol Xaca are Cambadagies and Cacubo's both esteem'd very zealous and religious amongst the Japanners Mord des Keisers Kubo Vermoorde vande Keyser CUBUS The Murdering of the Emperor CUBUS Cambadagi teaches Idolatry Cambadagi taught them first to offer Sacrifices to the Devil and use Necromantick Arts the other Divination and Witchcraft like the Chinese Priests Most of these live in Hills and desolate Places remote from all humane Society In the Village Dubo on the Skirts of the Mountain Dubojamma a Mile from Meaco stands a Temple the Residence of the great Idol Xaca The River which near Osacca discharges it self in the Ocean runs through the City The chief Building of Meaco This City is surrounded by Suburbs and hath a Bridge with two Towers on each side of the River near the Gate through which runs the Way that leads to Oets and Jesi are very strong Watch-houses both for Horse and Foot where constantly they keep a strict Guard Somewhat farther stands the high Tower from whose top the Emperor may behold the great Lake near Jesi and the pleasant Hill Pauromama Temple of the Boâ—zi Next to this is another Tower which is the Emperors Armory On the right side of this Structure appears the magnificent Temple dedicated to the six Orders of Bonzi where the chief of this Priesthood call'd Xaximofins dwell and have their Residence The Palace of the Gayro But in the Center or middle of the City stands what out-shines all the glorious Palace of the Dayro whom they so much reverence esteeming his Royal Person to be so sacred that his Feet are not suffer'd to touch the Earth nor the Sun to shine on any part of his Body nor will they allow him to breathe the common or open Air neither must the Hair of his Beard and Head be Clipt or Shav'd nor his Nails Par'd his Table is always plentifully supply'd and every Course dress'd and serv'd up in new Dishes The Emperor's Court. On the right hand is the Emperors Court built more obscurely under the jetting side of a Mountain and therefore scarce seen by those which travel from Osacca to Meaco onely some of the Pinacles appear above the Hills Great Costs and Charges did Nobunango bestow in the re-building of this Palace after the burning of the same by the Rebels Near this is the Imperial Garden full of Trees and odoriferous Flowers which are so curiously Planted that the Eye which beholds them seems never satisfi'd with so pleasant an Object Palaces of the Japan Kings On both sides of this Garden are the Courts in which the Kings that commonly attend the Emperor have their Residence every one striving to exceed the other in Building so that end of the City seems all one Palace being adorn'd with so many sumptuous Edifices The left side of the Dayro's Palace is shaded by an exceeding high Turret Banquetting-Turrets cover'd with a Golden Plate below the Court towards the River are twelve more large and stately Houses which make one Seraglio The Seraglio in which the Dayro keeps his Concubines Besides all other Buildings the House of the chief Bonsjosen call'd Eglanmith that is The light of understanding makes a most glorious shew Somewhat lower you may see the Wall built by the Emperor Dayfusama when he extended Meaco four Leagues in circumference No less costly is the great square Temple with three Roofs rais'd very high which incloseth the gilded Idol Dai Buth to whose Worship the Japanners repair and flock from all Parts both far and near On the left side of the Custom-house a beautiful Temple shews it self three stately Spires rising from the uppermost Roof which contains as many gods or Idols as there are days in the year Daily in order they take down an Image which with great Ceremony they carry to the Chamber of the Eglamnith where after staying all Night the Priests next Morning waiting upon it carry it with great solemnity to the Temple affixing it in its former Place The Emperors prime Herald or King at Arms call'd Honroccou Racclaybono resides in another fair Court with three Roofs Next this a watch-Watch-house under whose Roof two thousand Men constantly keep Courts of Guard always ready under Duty At the farthermost part of the City stands the Emperors Stables and Store-houses wherein are kept all the Furniture and Arms belonging to Horse and Man within whose utmost Bounds they may exercise forty thousand Horsemen The Citizens themselves dwell also in little Palaces with such variety of Rooms Lodgings and Apartments as they think fit which when they please they divide into many more with Partitions curiously Gilt and Varnish'd after the Indian manner which they set up and remove with small trouble so altering their whole House upon all occasions for their conveniency Meaco flourishes beyond all the Cities in Japan because all others suffer much and often by Civil Wars when this being the Seat of the Dayro after he was degraded of his Imperial Authority they bearing so much respect and reverence to his Person that they never look'd that way nor drew their Armies near that Place not so much as once to disturb him Father progress of the Netherland Ambassadors Oets ¶ ONe Night the Hollanders stay'd in this City and towards Noon on the one and twentieth of January travell'd to the great Village
the Decks unstow'd Nay if there blow a contrary Wind and a Storm yet they must away so soon as their Ammunition is brought aboard again If the Seamen are not quick in weighing their Anchors immediately a hundred Soldiers are sent to every Ship to cut their Cables and carry them out beyond the Priest-Mountain whether it be Night or Day making no distinction In the like hurry the Ambassadors Frisius and Brookhurst came from Japan and at last arriv'd safe in Holland A Second and Later DISCOURSE Concerning the EMPIRE OF JAPAN Japan Kingdoms JAPAN divided into five Provinces viz. Jamaystero Jetsengo Jetsesen Quanti and Ochio besides Saykok and Chiekok therein reckons these several Kingdoms according to Peter Davity that is Nangato Inami Suno Isxumi or Juxumi Aqui Foqui Inaba Bichu Mimazaca Fatima Tanqueina Tamba Tango Barosa Xamixiro Xamato Inzumo Quiy Jechigen Bonni Inga Xma Ixe Mino Cangan Noto Jetchu Fitaqui Ximano Boari Micava Cay Jenchingo Deva Chaneuque Tuttomu Furanga Izu Mucazi Ximonojuque Sangamie Xila Bungo Figen Arima Omura Saxuma or Sucuma Fingo Chicugen Chicungo Buigen Tosa or Tonsa Quiloo Aba or Ava Sanoqui or Samuqui Ho or Hyo besides the Islands Sado Voqui Ceuxima Iqua Abagi and Iniunoxima each of which makes also a Kingdom Chief Cities in Japan Nangato hath for its Metropolis the City Amanguei bordering the Sea and reckons ten thousand Houses The chief City of Mino is Guefu and also Funamaca of the Kingdom Boari The Kingdoms that lye Northerly belonging to Saykok are Buge Figen and Chichugen the Southern Fiunga or Finga Bonzumi or Ozumi Saxuma Bungo and Chungo Finga is divided betwixt two Lords the first Governs over Emacusa and the other over Xiqui But as the Dominion of Nangato is oftentimes call'd by the Name of its Metropolis Amanguei so also for the same Reasons the Kingdom Bonni is call'd Concor in which is very famous the strong Castle Saojama Moreover the Islands Firando and Goto belong to Saykok The Kingdom of Bungo boasts besides other eminent Places the Towns Vozuqui or Uzuqui Funay and the Fort Ximabara Next to Bungo joyns the Territory Figen famous for its Metropolis Riosoge The Dominion Arima borrows its denomination from the chief City besides which are also the Towns Arye Ximaga Canzula Chingia Saigo and Facirao This Realm Arima is by an In-let of the Sea commonly call'd The Bay of Arima divided from Fingo whose most eminent Cities are Uto Cateuxiro Nonzuy Consura Tondo Xiqui Catatinova Fondi and Amacusa The Metropolis of Omura is also call'd by the same Name as the whole Realm besides which there are the Towns Coru and Sonuguy Saxuma is famous for the City Cangoxima Mye and the Invincible Castle Cogiro Chicugen contains the eminent City Facata inhabited by many rich Merchants and also the Towns Chinsuchi and Xataqua In Chicungo stands the great City Corumi fortified with a strong Castle In Quiloo Osacca In Quanto the Imperial Residence Jedo In Caquinay that famous City Meaco Unlimited Power of the Japan Kings ¶ EVery King hath an unlimited Power within his own Territories only such as are too much oppress'd may appeal to the Emperor for Justice Nay every Master hath the same Authority over his Servants and every Father over his Children and yet all Persons even the Kings themselves are in such subjection under the Emperor that he doth with them what he pleases So that the Subjects must do what their Governors are desirous to have them and expect to be put to death when they think fit Pride of the Japan Nobles ¶ NO Persons whatsoever are so ambitious of Honor so high-minded and proud as the Japanners for not only their Kings but Cunixes that is Dukes and Tones which are like our European Barons nay ordinary Noblemen account themselves too good to answer any one with Words scorning almost to give the least Signal by Beck or Nod for what they would have to be done but sometimes write it down in Paper not valuing in the least to be belov'd nor fearing to be hated by their Subjects When any Person is remov'd by the Emperor from one Command to another his Subjects are always remov'd with him It seldom happens that the Crown remains long in one Family because for small occasions according to the Emperors pleasure they are deliver'd to others Not. Pol. It seems strange which Justus Lipsius relates of the Japan Emperors that at their Coronation they promise by Oath Strange Oath of the Japan Emperors To provide Necessary Rains and Sun-shine and also to prevent Storms and Floods hurtful to the Plants ¶ IN the more barren parts of Japan the Inhabitants are valianter than elsewhere Firando and Goto produce much Salt which they barter for Rice The Breeding of their Children in Japan The Japanners breed up their Children not only mildly but very prudently for if they should cry whole Nights they endeavor to silence them by fair means without the least snapping or using hard Language to them Before their Youths come to be seven years old they put them out to School where being tutor'd by the Bonzi they learn to Write and read till they are fourteen of which their Writing is the most troublesom Strange manner of Wriâ—â—â—g having four several sorts of Characters which differ not onely in shape but signification some Letters and Words being us'd in Writing to Noble-men others to the Common-people one Form of Speech in their Verses and a far differing Dialect in Prose The Teaching of Youth 〈◊〉 what manner Their Teaching is perform'd without rashness for there is no Japanner that will do any thing by foul means But they provoke the Children with Honor to strive one against another which seeming to be born in them they seek with their utmost Endeavors to exceed one another in Learning In their twelfth year they begin to wear Swords How they wear their Hair The Hair of their Foreheads the Children pull out with a pair of Pinchers the Burgesses half their Hair the Noblemen shave their Heads quite bare leaving a Tuft behind as a sign of his Nobility if they differ about Buying or Selling Commodities their Children decide the difference Japanners are very mannerly ¶ ABove all things it is much to be admir'd to see the Noble and Ignoble Citizens and Rusticks Youth and Age so mannerly and of a civil Deportment and Carriage as if they had been bred in an Emperors Court They abstain from Beef and Mutton as the Europeans do from Horse-flesh feeding most on Rice Fish and Venison and are very Moderate in all things to prolong their Lives and indeed they attain to a great and healthful Age. Live long Women with Child destroy their Fruit Child-bearing women destroy their fruit when they have not wherewithal to bring up their Children the Bonzies not accounting such Murder for Sin They have not the least Pity or Compassion on Strangers
which flows thorow Congoxuma the City spreads it self running up against a high Mountain and is hid for the most part behind the Rock on which the Beacon stands Then again on the hanging of a Hill about the middle in the South part of the City stands a large Temple whose Roof appears above all the Houses exceeding costly within The King of Saxuma going thither was made and receiv'd into the Orders of the Bonzi so to save his Life which he had forfeited because he refus'd to pay Presents and rebell'd against the Emperor Moreover in the East part of Congoxuma near the foot of a Mountain is the place of Execution Inclos'd within a Stone Wall Whilst the Holland Ambassador staid to refresh himself here being every where kindly entertain'd he saw eleven Japanners and three Portuguese being Christians Nail'd on Crosses and Roasted by a gentle Fire Four Leagues from Coxenga towards the North-West appears a Mountain whose top reaches above the Clouds and is taken for the highest in the World except the Mountain Tereyra on the Island Tenariff for it is a general Opinion that that is nearest to the Heavens and Vomits forth Fire and Brimstone above the Clouds ¶ THe Holland Ambassador finding the Weather fairer and the Wind grown calmer proceeded on his Voyage and past at last by the Village Umbra and in the like still Weather reach'd Mongy where he came to an Anchor When soon after the Inhabitants came to him with all manner of Provision from thence Sailing between several small Isles which in great abundance lie scatter'd before Dungo he got so much ground that against the. Evening he Sail'd into the Bay of Nanatzjamma Zeldron's further Journey But now his Voyage going on more slowly the Ambassador Anchor'd on the eleventh day in the Haven of Cammenosacci over against which lies an Island inhabited by a considerable number of Fishermen Here the Seamen exchang'd Silk Peelings for Silver Flower-Pots of Wyer-Work made so artificially that no Countrey in the World can make the like here they also got all manner of fresh Provisions Not long staid the Holland Ambassador at Cammenosacci but Weighing Anchor in the Night Sail'd between the small Islands Camro Jore and Szuwa and Anchor'd near the Village Caroto lying to the South of the main Coast of Japan The Inhabitants of this place furnish'd them with exceeding good Locusts which kind of Food was us'd above two thousand years ago amongst the Indians and other Eastern People and held in great esteem Aelian relates l. 14. de Animal c. 13. That the Indian King had always a certain Dish of Worms that grew in a Plant and were Roasted John Manardus relates That in India he saw the like Stuff mixt with Rice which Food the Inhabitants love extreamly Sir John Mandevil saw three hundred years ago the Princes on the Island Talache making good Cheer with Wood Worms This kind of Food also was accounted a great Dainty amongst the Romans l. 17. c. 19. and chiefly those Worms that grew in Oaken-Trees which being taken and brought up with Meal were accounted a very choice Dish Moreover The Souldiers which went with the Emperor Charles the Fifth from Ferrara to Tunis as Brasavolus relates observ'd that the Africans liv'd on raw Locusts Besides the Locusts the Holland Ambassador got for his Retinue a Cow which was kill'd in the Village Caroto and some Goats which thereabouts are taken in abundance Thus refresh'd he Sail'd about the Islands Caminagari and Jocosima to Tantonomi a Village full of fair Buildings and Populous lying on a Promontory of the Main Coast of Japan where they Ferry over to Tonsa and where one of the Emperors custom-Custom-Houses stands which brings in above forty thousand Rials of Silver yearly Description of the City Mewarry ¶ THe Ambassador hasting his Voyage reach'd the high Point of Mewarry where he was quite becalm'd four Sea-men and a Japan Interpreter had leave to go a Shore here where they found a City built on Hilly Ground round about which lay many pleasant Meadows that abound with Corn and Rice but chiefly with Plum-Trees the Fruit whereof Preserv'd were sent all over Japan to use in their Drink Tee and Tzia The Citizens of Mewarry look'd very strange upon the Hollanders having seldom or never seen any of them before The Japanners Opinion of the deceased Souls Some of his Retinue desir'd of the Japan Interpreter to see some of the Temples in Mewarry which were sixteen in number but it was not a convenient time because the Inhabitants there that day kept a Festival for the departed Souls The whole City was in a Hurry every one was in his best Apparel carrying his Idol out of the City to the Graves of their nearest Relations where the Idol being set down both young and old fell on their Faces to Worship it and Pray'd very earnestly that Amida Xaca Canon or any other god for every one serves whom he list would be pleas'd to shew Mercy to the Souls of their Deceas'd Friends that they might not be tortur'd with those that dy'd wickedly in the boyling Waters of Singok but that they might be carry'd and remain in the place of Everlasting Happiness Moreover they believe that the Souls of the Deceas'd for some years wander up and down about their Graves This Office of Sacrificing and Praying for the Dead is generally perform'd by the young Men out of the City and when they have done every one takes up his Idol and go one after another into the City after the manner of a Procession But in their return they talk to themselves as if they had a Soul that walk'd with them with which they hold a very serious Discourse And thus they continue till they come to their Houses where they prepare all manner of Dainties for the Soul some place the Dishes with Meat under their Pent-Houses others upon the Roof where they let it stand about half an hour then fetching it in and setting it up very safe the young Men run Hooting and Hollowing out of the City striking in the Air with Boughs of Trees so as they say to drive the Souls of the Deceas'd back again to their Graves Then taking Breath they return home where they spend the whole Night in all manner of Lasciviousness But this Ceremony which they use to the Souls are observ'd several ways in Japan for in other places as we have at large describ'd before they throw Stones against and on the top of the Houses so to drive the Souls back to their Graves Furthermore The King of the Province Mewarry keeps a brave Court in this City Next to which is a Seraglio wherein a considerable number of Ladies are kept for his Concubines Against the Evening the four Hollanders and the Interpreter being Aboard again they made Sail and Steer'd between several Isles to Binga a fair City which appears with several Turrets and high Temples Against the Evening they Stem'd
handsomely having such a numerous Army to come off so basely with so much loss and dishonor which had he the like he would give the Emperor another manner of account or never return alive This the Emperor taking notice of thought fit to employ such a brisk Undertaker and raising a second Army joyn'd him in Commission with his first General who was a soft man yet well belov'd of the Souldiers who when they were thus forc'd to Retreat as they had been before and leave their Siege Rallying up their scatter'd Forces in the foremention'd Plain some distance from the City This Prince coming near the former General as he and the rest of the Captains were consulting how to dispose of their shatter'd Forces the old General said thus boldly to him But whatsoever becomes of us thou shalt be sure to keep the promise which thou madest so bravely to the Emperor never to return alive from Batavia and as he spake ran him through the body and the rest of the Captains and Officers about him fell upon his Lifeguard and Followers leaving eight hundred massacred upon the Spot Since this beating of so powerful an Enemy and such a numerous Army that in probability the Hollanders would scarce have been a Breakfast for being by Divine Providence thus totally dispatch'd they have since enjoy'd such a serene Tranquility that now Batavia is become the greatest and flourishing City of all the European Plantations in the East From hence his Excellency Lord Blockhoff Anno 1649 on the 28 of June as we said before began his Voyage being employ'd Ambassador to the Emperor of Japan Steering first through the Straights which washes the Head-Land of Samutra call'd Sunapara and the Isle of Banca and in eight days ran the length of Paulo Tymon having that Coast on his Starboard Description of Pubo Timon ¶ THe Isle makes out a most delightful Prospect rising from the Shore like a copped Hill the ascent interwove with winding Valleys full of fresh Fountains vested with several sorts of shady and Fruit-bearing Trees The North-East Point of this hath a small adjacent Isle the Straits betwixt which makes a pleasant Passage and a safe and convenient Landing-place on Tymon Description of the Heth Betel Here grows wild and to be gather'd every where the so much esteem'd Herb Betell on the vertue of which the Indians believe their whole Regiment of Health depends so that scarce one is to be found that hath it not in his mouth chawing night and day which to take off the bitterness they commonly commix with Arera and Chalk the better sort compounded with Calphur de Buaneo Aloes and Musk Which they say hath these Operations first That it makes the Breath Sweet keeps White Fastens and Consolidates the Teeth it Corroborates the Stomach making good Digestion and chearing the Spirits adding Strength and Vivacity to the whole Body They take him to be a very ill-bred and uncivil fellow that offers to presume come before and speak with the Governor e're he hath perfum'd his Breath with it This Plant hath most Efficacy and grows best under a temperate Climate The Leaves are not unlike that of an Orange but sharper runs up imbracing Poles like our Hops Some choose the ripe and golden colour'd Leaves as the best others those that are quite wither'd In the first chawing it renders a reddish Juyce like blood which they spit out but what comes after they swallow If the Leaves be kept close and not much handled they will keep their vertue a great while with which the Javanners load whole Fleets of their small Vessels transporting it from thence home to their no little profit near the Shore it is cheap but up in the Countrey being scarcer is much dearer Description of Polu Cecir de Terr ¶ FRom hence they went on in their intended Voyage and on the twelfth day rais'd Pulo Candor a small Isle next Pulo Cecir de Terr so distinguish'd from Pulo Cecir de Mere lying Easterly to the Offin but Cecir de Terr verg'd with a white Sand lies before the main Continent of Cambodia The power of the Cambodian King and is much frequented by the Japanners Portuguese and Couchicinessers and Malayers The King of this Countrey Cambodia hath his Residence in a Palace Fenc'd in stead of Stone with Woodden Pales Guarded with sixteen Elephants who faithfully make good their appointed Stations all Fortifi'd with twenty four Guns made prize from several Villages belonging to Goa and many other places that formerly suffer'd Shipwrack on his Coast They are Painted blue and stand Mounted on black Carriages How the Embassadors are receiv'd The publick place of meeting where the King sits Inthron'd in full State and Glory is built like an Arch but signifies his Court and Temple cover'd and adorn'd with Gilt and Carv'd Work their Floors all Matted where stand three great Idols and three little ones The Embassadors that make their Addresses coming for Audience are plac'd amongst the Okina's five and twenty being sent from the King to receive their Embassy and make Report to his Majesty the Embassadors by an Interpreter deliver their Message to the Cha-bander he to one of the Okinars the Okina with his hands lifted above his head to the King Japanners in Camâ—odia The Japanners which were eight Families driven from their Abode for what reason we know not setled in this Countrey and held in much esteem by the King because they assisted him in a Grand Rebellion against his Son who Conspired to depose and destroy his Father and settle himself in his Throne Strange Rock Leaving Cambodia they crost over to Chiampa and four days after they pass'd by St. John de Fix being a steep Mountain whose Spiry top resembles a man large as the Colossus Hereon the night following being the 15 of August the Embassador himself Lord Blockhoff departed this Life being Inbalm'd his Bowels inclos'd in an Urn or small Chest was with all Solemnity and Honor as if a Funeral discharging their Guns and the like thrown over-board From thence with their single Embassador Andreas Frisius though sad they went on and passing by Pulo Cambier and Catao they rais'd in view the Island Aynam and soon after Macao where they were cumber'd with abundance of Fishermen which seem'd to cover the whole Sea Description of Macao The City Macao or Mavaw stands scituated on a small Isle or Isthmus being joyn'd with a neck of Land to the main Continent of China lying in twenty degrees North-Latitude The middle of this narrow piece of Land a great Arch seems to bestride stopping all passage with shut-up Gates to go thorow which all Portugueses are prohibited and whatever Merchandize and other Commodities carry'd in and out pay Toll and Customs to the Emperor of China but the Mandariens granted the Portuguese to Plant Henpeoao and suffer'd them in Myacaco to Erect their City which they built with strong Walls and Fortifi'd
And soon after they form'd eight several Armies selecting those they thought most likely and fittest for Valour and Conduct to be their Commanders who growing skilful practising dayly Martial Discipline suddenly brought these great Bodies in good Order and Array With these marching as they had well-design'd several ways they made themselves Masters of whole Kingdoms and Provinces none being able to withstand such an universal Inundation of Arms And thus making the whole Riches of the several Countreys which they enter'd their Spoil they gather'd up an inexpressible Mass of Treasure by which enabled as they then thought to wage War with the whole World having in their hopes already devour'd the vast Empire of China all which perhaps might have been done had they unanimously joyn'd to carry on the Work together The Robbers in China fall at variance amongst themselves when their eight Generals every one of them stirr'd up by Ambition began to contrive how he might be Lord and Master of all and either destroy or make the rest his Inferiors Upon these Terms they all stood clashing one at another in their Consultations and Councils and at last the Difference increasing they divided into Factions and began a Civil War amongst themselves which was carried on with so much eagerness and blood-shed that eight Generals were reduc'd to two onely Lycunghus and Changienchunghus And these also not easily suffering any Equal but both ambitious to be absolute and sole Commanders not onely of what the remaining Corrival enjoy'd but also of those Forces which had lost their Leaders in their late Dissentions clandestinely plotted each others Destruction which failing they came to a better understanding of their present Condition from the sad Example of their six slain Competitors So coming to Articles of Agreement That Licunghus should march into and have for his part the Spoil of the two next Southern Provinces Xensi and Honan and the other General Changihen-chungus was contented to Plunder the two Northern Territories Suchuen and Huquang whereupon both seeming well satisfied dividing their Armies they parted Licungzus for Xensi all which Territory he soon Pillag'd and Conquer'd and making his way by force of Arms broke into the pleasant Countrey of Honan where lying down before Caifung meeting a rougher Entertainment than he expected their Cannon always thundering from the Walls though he made furious Assaults yet he was twice repuls'd with the Loss of many Men So finding that Storming would prove in vain he resolv'd by Starving to force them to a Surrender to which purpose he block'd up all the Avenues with a close Leaguer which brought the Besieg'd to that extreme Necessity and Want that their Miseries might have been compar'd with the Calamities of any City suffering in that kind Yet still with an undaunted Courage they held out expecting to be reliev'd by Zung-chinus the Emperor himself who accordingly came with his Army near Caifung This City stands in a Valley on the South-side of the River Huang about three Miles distant whose Waters using to swell very high after great Rains falling in the Mountains they kept off from damaging the City with a Wall built where the Banks were lowest This Water-fence the Emperor broke down designing to destroy the Enemy in his Camp lying near the City in which he fail'd not for such was the violence of the sudden Inundation that Licungzus being surpriz'd with the loss of many Men was forc'd to raise his Siege Destruction of the City Caifung But this comfortable Relief and the Joy of their Delivery from so powerful an Enemy was but of a short continuance a greater Misery soon overtaking them and indeed their utter Destruction for the Waters that were friendly at first swelling to such a height became their deadly Enemies scaling their Walls beating down stately Temples and Houses and at last in a general Deluge swallowing the whole City where perish'd no less than 300000 Souls The Robber Licungzus is Conqueror But the Rebel Licungzus upon this Accident rallying up his scatter'd Forces the had escap'd the Flood March'd on carrying all before him wheresoever he went bringing at last the Emperor to that straight of Necessity that utterly despairing he hang'd himself in his own Palace at Peking The Emperor had three Sons the Eldest escap'd yet was never heard of but the other two the Insulting Conqueror Beheaded Now being Absolute and Reigning as Emperor in Zung-chinus stead looking about saw nothing that could hinder him to settle the Empire upon himself and his Posterity but Usanguejus who with a Standing Army guarded the Walls and Borders keeping out the Incursive Tartar whereupon he sent commanding him to take the Oath of Allegiance But he either scorning to be under a Rebels Subjection or conceiving that it would be more for his Safety and Advantage to trust a Foreign Prince that would undoubtedly hearken to such Proposals and he also having the Opportunity by guarding the Passages mov'd the whole Business to the Emperor of Tartary Vsanguejus fetches in the Tartars against Licungzus who gladly watching all Occasions accepted of it and suddenly March'd in with Eighty thousand Men to try his Fortune against Licungzus who surpriz'd with the News of this sudden Expedition of the Tartars and not able to form so great an Army as might withstand him the Enemy being near at hand he remov'd his Court farther into the Countrey to Sigan making that his Imperial City and with him convey'd from thence the vast Treasure which former Emperors had been gathering Two hundred and eighty Years Vast Treasures of the Chinese Emperor Eight days were spent in carrying away the Wealth through the four Gates of the City upon Cammels Horses and other Beasts of Burthen which from Sun to Sun went laden with Silver and Gold and all manner of costly Gems and Jewels of invaluable Worth But in the way this Prize of prodigious Estimation the Tartar seiz'd on Thus gaining both Wealth and Reputation he soon became Master of Peking Tartars become Masters of China Lycunghus is slain and presently after defeated Lycunghus with his whole Army insomuch that he was never heard of more Then he Rewarded Usanguejus who in the great Distraction of the Nation both Parties setting up several of the Ancient Blood-Royal deposing and killing one another stuck to the Tartar proving so faithful to his Trust that he made him King of Xensi and soon after his Son Xunchi being a Child was chosen Emperor Pyracy at Sen by Iquon ¶ BUt whilst China was thus shatter'd and harras'd by Land arose a great Pyrate at Sea call'd Chinchilung by Strangers and Foreign Traffickers known by the Name of Iquon who serv'd first under the Portuguese at Macaw and afterwards the Hollanders in Formosa Now setting up for himself got a Crew of loose Iquon's strange Rise debauch'd Chineses which daily increasing with their Forces grew not onely Considerable but so Great that he made himself
troubled and the Pilots seeing more Islands opening near the Mouth of the Bay of Nangesaque growing more diffident stood again to the Offin where they discover'd two Japan-Vessels Steering Southward and making towards them they were forc'd being over-power'd by the Gale then growing fresher and fresher to leave their Design of Intelligence But soon after they descry'd another Japan-Vessel to which drawing near and Hailing not understanding one another they lost that Labor also When early on the eighteenth day the Point of Nangesaque appear'd North-North-East about five Leagues and a half distant and the Island Goto North-North-West By which Position of the Course they knew they were in the right Channel which would lead them safely to the Harbor and by Night they reach'd the Point or Promontory of Nomoo which extends it self South-West along to the Bay of Arima Thus they wrought themselves up within four Leagues of Nomoo lying North and by East in thirty Degrees Northern-Latitude from thence plying Easterly onely with their Fore-Sail The next Morning they enter'd Come into the Bay of Nangesaque with all their Sails a-trip running up merrily to the Northern Shore into the Bosom of the Bay of Nangesaque behind the Summit of whose opposite Coast rises a Rock resembling a Steeple beyond which seven Leagues to the Southward stands Nangesaque passing which Sailing on to their Harbor they incounter'd many Isles and some Rocks which all opening seem'd courteously to entertain and give them a Passage So by Noon they Rode before Nangesaque having six Fathom and a half Water and a Clayie Ground where they found six more of their Friends Dutch Vessels Frisius his Entry into Nangesaque ¶ AT this time Derick Sneck was Consul there for their East-India Company where also was Philip Shillemans Governor of Tonking who as soon as the Fleet arriv'd went aboard to wait upon and conduct with all Ceremony of State Andreus Frisius being appointed by the Council at Batavia to succeed in the Place of the deceas'd Ambassador Bloccovius With the like Formality and Honorable Respect the Embalm'd Corps of Bloccovius was brought ashore and interr'd to the Wonder and Admiration of the Natives Derick Sneck Sails to Batavia ¶ THe first of October Derick Sneck went from Nangesaque to Batavia whose Place Antonius Brekhurst supply'd who was also added as Colleague to Andreus Frisius in his Address as Ambassador to Quaeme then Emperor of Japan Residing in his great City of Jedo concerning the Free-Trade and Commerce between the Hollanders and his Subjects According to the great Consequence of this Embassy an answerable Train and Equipage was prepar'd but being not well setled since their coming from Firando to Nangesaque their Store-houses were as yet out of order so that there was a confusion in the carrying on of their Procedure And though Nangesaque is a more Rich and Populous City and more resorted to than Firando yet that Island had better Conveniencies and fitter for the Hollander to Trade upon Description of the Castle Firando ¶ THis Countrey produces nothing worthy nor any thing to show but the Castle in which Firandano Brother to the Lord of the Island inhabits The Castle stands amidst a pleasant Mead to which they pass over a Bridge of blue Slate which leads unto the Base Court guarded on each side with a File of Musquetiers The Gate is cover'd with a double Penthouse one a good distance beneath the other The opposite Jaumes are adorn'd with the Emperors Arms and those of their Noble Family The Castle standing upon a Hill shews it self in Prospect at a great distance because its Tower or Spire being seven Stories tapering in a Pyramidical Form appears afar off Upon each side of the Castle open eight Doors by which on Steps cut out of the hard Rock climbing the steep Ascent they enter through several Doors to the Palace Below are four Arbours of Pleasure or Banquetting-houses standing on square Pillars built round with Galleries and a Cupiloe on the top This is all that Firando boasts But they were much troubled whilest they were preparing to go upon this Embassy being inform'd that never any had Audience from his Imperial Majesty if they did not open their way with rich and costly Presents before-hand It seems not here amiss to say something concerning the Description of the Countrey Customs and Character of the People from a good Author Johannes Petrus Maffeus ¶ THe Countrey Jon Peter Maffeus Historiar lib. 12. Description of Japan commonly call'd Japan says he is not one but three Islands whose Skirts or Margents are sprinkled round with many lesser The greatest and wealthiest stands divided into three and fifty Provinces or petty Kingdoms the chief City call'd Meaco gives its denomination to that Isle The second Island call'd Ximus divides it self into nine Principalities whose most eminent Cities are Vosuquim and Funaium The third Division or Isle is Xicocum Division and hath onely four Vice-gerents and famous for the City Tosa so that the three Isles of Japan number 66 Kingdoms all subordinate under one Emperor The whole Countrey extends in length almost 200 Leagues Bigness the breadth not answerable to the length for the broadest part not being above thirty Leagues and the smallest but ten its circumference is not yet well known and lying in a manner North and South extends it self from thirty two to eight and thirty degrees of Northern Latitude Borders The East looks towards Nova Hispania but at 150 Leagues distance The North Buts upon Seythia or Tartary and other unknown Countreys The West views China but far off for from Liampo a City standing on the most Eastern Point of China to Goto being the most Western Island of Japan where first the Ships arrive makes sixty Leagues and from Amaccen on the most Western Harbor of the East-side of China to the foremention'd Isle is 290 Leagues The South lies border'd with the wide washing Ocean at great distance unknown Territories whence they say a strange People were drove by foul weather on the Coast of Japan which setling there never return'd The Soil ¶ THis Climate for the most part is Snowy and cold and the Soil not very fruitful Rice which is their general Food and grows most plentiful there they Reap in September their Harvest for other sorts of Grain in many places is in May which they Bake not to make Bread of as in Europe but eat it soft being boyl'd to a Pap or Gruel They have several warm Springs or Baths which cure as they say many Distempers Strange Mountains in Japan ¶ THe Countrey appears more Hilly than Plain amongst which are two wonderfull Mountains one of which Vomiting continual Flames with terrible smoke and fragors a horrid Figure fancy'd by some to resemble the Devil appears standing amidst a Circle of Fire on the very top The other call'd Figenoiama reaches as some report several Miles Perpendicular above
affirm and no end Furthermore says he as the Japanners account themselves most apprehensive and also full of Fancy so they believe they are in their serious Affairs not inferior to any Nation of the World upon which account they are so elevated in their own opinion that meeting any Stranger they give him onely a scornful glance and with their Hand a goâ—by as if too mean for their Conversation They very well distinguish good and evil which apperas by the Bonzi who committing all sorts of debauchery in private yet are so conscious of it that these Hypocrites Wolves in Sheeps Clothing seem to be the onely Saints Thus far Cosmus Turrensis De Logie voor NANGASACKI op t Eylandt Schisma The Lodge before NANGâ—â—AQUE on the Iland Schisma Description of the East-India Companies Store-house at Nangesaque ¶ IT will not be amiss in short to describe the chief Staple and Residence of the Netherlanders in Japan near Nangesaque The Portaguese when first they were allow'd to setle there rais'd this Fort or Building out of the Water but after being driven out of Japan and the Netherlanders commanded to remove from Firando they were allow'd to supply the empty and deserted Lodge of the Portuguese This Lodge for by that Name it is known through all Japan lies on a small Island divided by a River of forty Foot wide from Nangesaque which they cross going over a Draw-Bridge which by reason of Floods that happen is an hundred and fifty Steps long This Island or Fortress is defended each way round from the Water with a strong wooden Pail Within in a convenient Place the Governor hath a stately and well-furnish'd Residence Near the Gate of the Draw-Bridge stands their Sale-house or Office where they Vend their several Commodities On the other side stands a pleasant Garden beautifi'd with all sorts of Flowers Two Streets cross-ways lead through the whole Work on each side of which are convenient Store-houses fitted for receiving and Packing theiâ— Merchandise Near an Inlet of the Sea is the second Gate where there is a handsom pair of Stairs to carry down or Land their Bales of Goods The middle of the Lodge shews a plain and open Court built round with Houses whither the Merchants resort bringing thither to Sell and Barter these following viz. White raw Silk Pansjens Peelinx Gielems Chions Gasen Sumongus Flanels Merchandise Vended at Nangesaque colour'd Brokaeden Sattins China Fabitas Damasks Chiowerens Hempen-Cloth Sit-Clothes Sowing-Silk Silk Pee Namrack Japan-Wood black Sugar Cambodia-Nuts Caiman-skins red Leather Aloes Capox Wax white Sugar-Candy Steel Cotton Sublemact Cassia Lignum Spanish-Green Porcelin-colour Camphire Calemback Musk Chinesie-Wares Deer-skins Cow-Hides Paper Pepper Elephants-Teeth and Ager-Wood all these are brought by the Chinesies to Nangesaque Other Nations bring more variety Concerning that Factory of the Netherlander Trade at Nangesaque the Emperor sent these his Royal Mandates Indorsed to the Governors of the City This Edict was receiv'd Anno 1665 and Dated thus In the twelfth Year of Quane Emperor of Japan to our Officers at Nangesaque Sengok Gammatane Camy and Sackibibare Andano Camy This was Sign'd by five of his Privy-Counsellors Congao Camy Bongona Camy Inhano Camy Sannickino Camy and Oyemo Camy But now let us go on with our Embassy The Netherland Ambassadors go from Nangesaque to the Japan Emperor ¶ THe 25th of October 1649 their Excellencies Andreas Frisius and Anthonius van Bronkhorst set forth after Noon attended with a Train of twenty Netherlanders three Bonzies three Interpreters and thirty three Japanners who being equally divided into three Vessels took their leave of Nangesaque This City by the French and Portuguese call'd Nangesaqui by the Italians Nangasachi stands on the Island Bungo otherwise Cikoko Without the Bay about six Leagues from Nangesaque in their Way to Jedo lies a Fisher-Town call'd Duvos Description of the Japan Fishers Those that Fish here and also in most Places of Japan wear Boots but to the middle of their Leg like Buskins and have Wicker-Baskets in their Boats whick keeps their taken Fish alive They have several manners of Fishing and use a kind of Casting-Net with a long Line of Twigs at the same Their manner of Fishing They have also another way of Fishing and chiefly for Pilchards and Sitang a Fish which always lies near the Ground at the bottom of which Nets they lay their Baits But before we proceed any farther from Nangesaque let us take a short view of the Situation thereof Description of Nangesaque ¶ THis City stands in thirty Degrees Northern-Latitude near a convenient Harbor fitter for the Reception of Merchant-Vessels than any other Port or Haven in Japan It is both great and populous but without Walls or Fortifications as most Cities in Japan are Their Towns and Churches The Steeples and Turrets which appear very high above the ordinary Houses give the Town a stately and delightful Prospect especially towards the Sea where they have an open view of the Streets where are many magnificent Buildings The City is divided with several Streams and joyn'd together with as many Wooden Bridges Every Street is parted by a Gate The Streets are unpav'd and therefore in rainy Weather very foul and cloggy every Street hath a great Gate which is shut every Night and guarded with a Watch so that growing late there is neither Theft Murder nor any other Outrages committed The Houses of Nangesaque how built Their Houses are commonly uniform but the Materials which they Build withall differ according to the ability of the Builder They use commonly Wood but the poorer sort raise their meaner Habitations with Walls of Rice-Straw Loam'd over with Clay which closes so well that it easily keeps out Rain and Wind yet the richer sort Plaister their Partitions raising the Foundation four Foot high from the Ground with Planks cover'd over with thick Mats curiously sew'd together They are but sleight built four-square Why they build them not high and for the most part as broad as high which to prevent the ruine by Earthquakes that are frequent in that Countrey they raise them no higher Their Roofs are almost flat but something sloaping jetting out beyond the Wall four Foot like a Pent-house under which is an Entry or Passage that leads to their Gardens which are adorn'd with artificial Rocks Gardens and still flourishing Trees which in a pleasant Prospect they view from their Dining-Rooms The foremention'd Cantilivers defend those that walk the Streets both from the Sun and Rain like our Pent-houses these and the whole Roofs are of Planks clinch'd one over another which carries off the Rain easily On these stand Troughs and Tubs fitted to receive the Water to be ready against accidental Fires They dwell all in the first or lower Story for the second and uppermost is so low as scarce fit to lay their Lumber in The Towns and Cities are very subject to
thousand Pound Sterling Yearly The Kings Matsendeyro Nangato of Sova living in the Castle of Fangy and Mittons Thiunango of Fitayts in the Fort Mit and Nabissima Sinano of Fisien commanding the Castle Logioys and Matsendeyro Sindairo of Inabafoky in the Fortress Tackaham receive Annually Three hundred and ten thousand Pound Sterling Near upon the like Revenue hath Todo Ishumi King of Ingu Iche his Royal Fort or Palace being call'd Sou and Matsendeyro Lonuey of Bisen commanding the Castle Ossajamma and Inno Caimon of Totomy inhabiting the Strong-Hold Sawajamma and Tosso Cauwa Jetchin King of Boyses in his Royal Seat Cokera and Ojesungu Dainsio King of the great Territory of Jatsengo Governing and Residing in the Fortress Gunysauwa and Matseddeyro Denico and also the Lady Jetsengo Queen of Formando and there Residing Revenues of the Japan Dukes Next The Secondary Princes or Dukes as we may stile them are Mansendeyro Auwa Commander of the Countrey Auwa dwelling in Incts and Matsendeyro Jutchigonocamy Duke of Conge the Seat of his Government being Tacato and Matsendeyro Tsiusio Prince or Duke of Joo Residing in his well-fortified Citadel Mats Jamma Each of these supplies his Exchequer with Fifty three Tun of Gold Yearly Arjama Grimba Duke of Tsickingo Commanding the Castle Courme falls short of their Revenues ten Tun of Gold Revenues of the Japan Earls Their Third Degree of Princes which we may call Earls are to be distinguish'd by their Name thus Morino Imasack Earl of Imasacka his principal Fort being Tsiamma next Tory Inganocam Governor of Sewano dwelling in Jammangatta then Matsendeyro Tosa Prince of Tosnacory Residing in his Strong-Hold Tocosiamma and Satake Okiou Governor of Wano keeping his Court in the Fortress Akita as also Matsendeyro Simosaucamy Lord of Simosa dwelling in the Castle Tattebays have each of them Yearly twenty Tun of Gold But these two Lords such as we may term Barons Foriwo Jamaissiro and Ikouno Jokonocamy one Governing Inomo and the other Sanike are well pleas'd with each sharing yearly Eighteen thousand pound Sterling But these though of lesser Dignity as Fonda Kaynokamy of Faryma and Sackay Counay Ruling in the great Territory Wano receive each of them Annually Fifteen Tun of Gold Their Knights Revenues Those which at our Rates we may look upon as no more than Knights are Tarasauwa Simedo commanding Fisen Kiongock Wakasa Ruler of Wakasa Forii Tango in the Countrey Jetchesen Menfio Fiongo in Bingo and Sackosbarra Eskibou Governor of Kooske receive every one yearly Twelve Tun of Gold Mansendeyro Tawayts Commander of the Imperial Fort Quana and Oeckendeyro Imasacka Ruler of Simotske inhabiting in the Fort Oetsnomico and Sanada In s Governor of Sinano residing in the Castle Koske and Taytfibanna Finda in the Countrey Sickingo dwelling in the Strong-Hold Imangouwa being all Knights Every one of these boasts no less Means than Ten thousand Pound a Year And also the Knights Ongasaura Ouckon of Firima Indatiu Vontomiu of Gio and Nambou Sinano of the great Territory Ochio and Niwa Groseymon likewise of Ochio receive a thousand Pound less than the former Abeno Bitchiou Governor of the Imperial Castle Watsuky in the mighty Countrey Mousayes hath for his Yearly Revenue Eighty thousand Pound Sterling The Knights Kiongock Oenieme of Tanga dwelling in the Fort Tanabe and Makino Surnga in the far-spreading Countrey Jethingo Nackangauwa Nisien in Bongo Matsendeyro Camba in Sinano Nayto Samma in Fitayts These have yearly Seventy thousand Pound The Lords Itho Chiutry of Fongo commanding the Castle Orasy and Fourta Fiwo of the Countrey Iwamy ruling the Fort Daysiro Wakisacka Arbays of Sinano residing in the Fortress Ino Touky Nangato in Johe Toba Arima Seymonoske of Nuko Outa Fiwo of Jamatta Matsendeyro Dewado of Jetsesen Inaba Minbou of Bongo Croda Caynocamy of Chinano Matsendeyro Sovodonno of Isumy Tonda Sammon of Socinnocammu Stotfianangu Kemmets of Ichie Fonda Ichenocamy of Micauwa Matsendeyro Jamayssiro of Tamba Mori Caynocamy of Inga Johe Tonda Notanocamio of Farima Ahito Sionoske of Fitaits Assano Oenime of Chione Neyto Cinocamy of Chione Catto's Kibodo of Ochio Sama Daysiennocaniu also of Ochio and Commander of the Castle Sama Fonda Jamatta of Taysima Ouckob Cangato of Mino and Neyto Boysen of Dewano All these Lords have for their yearly Revenue five Tun of Gold apiece The Habit of the Japan Lords ¶ THe Habits of these Lords are very Rich They wear short Coats with wide Sleeves curiously stitch'd with Silver and Gold Under their upper Garment they wear a Silk Wastcoat ty'd close about them with a Girdle in which they put their Scymiters Their Breeches are so exceeding wide and long that they tread upon them as they go for they hang down over their Heels Upon the bottom of their Wastcoats a little above the Waste-band of their Breeches they have Pourtray'd their Coat of Arms. Revenues of their meaner Lords Moreover these following Lords Inawa Aways of Tamba Camy Dyrik of Iwamy Cattayngiri Ismou of Jamatta Chonda Findanocamy of Jetsesen have yearly forty thousand Pound Sterling a Man And Itacoura Sovodonne Governor for the Emperor of the mighty City Meaco receives above the foremention'd Forty thousand Pound four Tun of Gold yearly from the Countreys of Jamaisico The like Revenue the Lords Matsendeyro Bongo of the Countrey Iwamy Fondo Nayky of Firima Matsendeyro Tango of the great Countrey Ochio Canna Mauris Isoumo of Finda and Ciongok Chiury of Tango receive annually The following Lords as Outta Giwe of Mino Matsendeyro Ouckon of Farima Minsonoja Ichenocawy of Kooske Immasacka Kaynocamy of Bitchiou Matsendeyro Jammatto of Jetsesen Inno Fiwo of Costie Matsendeyro Tonnomon of Mikauwa Akisuckis Nangako of Nicko Savo Inaba of Sinano Foyssimo Fongo likewise of Sinano Sunganoma Ouribe of Totowy Simaes Oemanoska of Nicko Kinostay Jemon of Bongo Sono Kussima Governor of the Island Siussima Koyndo Fimano of Tonga Fonda Fimosa Commander of the Imperial Fort Nissiwo in the Countrey Micauwa Gorik Sersnocamy also of Mikauwa Chinsio Suraga of Fitayts Secuma Fisen of Sinano Todo Toiusima of Mino Fonda Isumy of Fitayts Tongauwa Tosa of Bitchiou and Mansendeyro Tosa of Jetsesen All these receive yearly three Tun of God apiece Revenues of other Lords Lastly the Lords Sugifarra Foky of Fitayts Kinostay Counay of Bitchiou Matsendeyro Koysero of Farima Inasacka Tsonnocamy Matsendeyro Kenmots of Tamba Masteysacke of Ochio Omoura Minbou of Fisen Matsendeyro Isumi of Mino Matsendeyro Chinocamy of Tsounocoumy Minsus Faito of Micauwa Nyto Tatewaky of Chiono Ongasawary Wakasa of Simosa Fichicatta Cammon of Chiono Iwaky Sirrosy likewise of Chiono Rikongo Fiongo of Dewano Takanacca Oenieme of Boungo Mourii Ichenocamii and Boungo Wakebe Sackion of Totomy And Isifoys Insnocamy Commanding Oungoury Kourosie Farima Oscca Cammejomme Sanbonmats Daymats Iwamoura Faynctory Coria Iwayffowo Sekyada Mawaffa Jedowra Jurii Founay Ounaus Oumiso Cosiois Receive each of them Twenty thousand Pound Sterling of Yearly Revenue Revenues of their lowest
Degree of Lords Their Lowest Degree of Lords of which some fill their Treasuries with the Revenues of the small Circumjacent Iles are Sangoro Saffioye and Fory Minnasacka each of them having Twenty thousand Pound Sterling yearly Qua Jamma Sammon Fossacauwa Gemba Fackina Deysen Matsendeyra Deysen Gottawais Lord of the Island Goto near Firando Cattayngiry Iwamy Cassima Jetsingo Coubery Tomoty Tackandy Mondo and Miake Jetsingo have each One Tun and a half of Gold per Annum But Odaura Bisen Tojamma Giwo Fira Oucka Giuemon Oseki Jemon Fayssien Gouwas Kibon Outano Tango Fieno Ouribe Auby Ceynocamy Otana Mousoys Majuda Jammatta Taytsibanna Sackon Cackebe Sayngoro Mynangauwa Chinamovani Jaydsio Dewanocamy Coungay Inaba Oictana Caweyts Niwas Kibon Fory Arbays Fosio Mimasacka Sayngo Wacksacka Touda Inaba Miangy Sinsen Sannanda Nyki Iton Tangou Ikenday Jetseses and Touda Nayki Emperors Officers Pay As for the Emperors Chief Officers their Revenues are as followeth His Councellor of State Dayno Idonno Fifteen Tun of Gold a Year Sackay Ontadonno Nangay Sinadonne Ten Tuns of Gold Sackay Sinadonno the like Sum. Sackay Sannickodonno One Tun of Gold less Audo Ouckiondono Six Tun of Gold Inote Cawatsdo Five Inabe Tangedonne Four Sackan Auwado and Sackay Jammassirodonno each have Thirty thousand pound Sterling Nayta Ingado Sintsia Winbondonno Misson Ockiedonno Matsendeyro Jemondonno Jamanguyts Tayssimodonno and Matsendeyro Juedonno receive from the Emperors Treasury Two Tun of Gold a piece Yearly But Ale Boungodonne Auwe Jamma Ouckerodonne Ciongok Sinsendonno Itacoura Nysiendo Narsy Jucdonno and Akimonta Maysimaddonno have each of them Fifteen thousand pound Sterling Yearly Lastly Forita Cangadonne Miura Simaddonne Maynda Gonoskedonno Mesiono Jamatta Fory Itsuocamy Miury Oemenoskedonno and Fondo Sanjadanno have every one One Tun of Gold per annum The Emperors expences in house-keeping and guard ¶ THe Emperors House-keeping consisting of several Boards for all his Officers and his Seraglio of Ladies amounts to 1400000 lib Sterling Annual Pension His Life-Guard also cost him ten Tun of Gold more So that the Pensions for his Lords and several Officers and the whole maintenance of his Court and Militia reckons up 28000345 Tun of Gold yearly Apparel of the Souldiers As for the Souldiers which the Emperor keeps in Service most of them are Noble-men and wear small Helmets but exceeding great Breeches sometimes they are Arm'd with short at other times with long Fire-Locks or Muskets not unlike ours onely the Cock strikes not from them but towards them Instead of Powder-Horns or Cartrage Boxes they use small square Baskets made very artificially of Flags or Rushes In their Girdles they stick one short and one long Scimiter The Netherland Ambassadors go by water from Nangesaque to Osacca ¶ BUt to return again to our Embassadors Andreus Frisius and Anthonius Brookhorst which Sail'd from Nangesaque the 25 of Septemb. 1649. with three great Barks Laden with rich Presents for the Japan Emperor twenty Netherlander three Bongies as guides to direct them in their Journey from Osacca to Jedo three Interpreters and thirty four Japanners besides the beforemention'd Ambassadors In short time they got beyond Foveunda Zotta and Nanatjamma and Sail'd Northwardly between Firando Omodackey and Oysinocuby Towns scituate on Bungo then they reach'd the Islands Auwo Fimissima and Ginkai and left Nangago on the left side of the Coast of Bungo Then they brought the Island Aymissima under their Lee and descry'd the City Assia The City Asia twelve Miles North-East from Aymissima This City stands on a white Sandy shore and is seen a great distance off at Sea by reason of its high Mountains which seem to touch the Clouds After this they discover'd the famous Town Icaminangano-misacco and the City Cocero lying in an Inlet of the Sea The City Cocero Cocero at its first view is very delightful to behold having two Suburbs one above the City and another below towards the Sea Here they directed their Course Easterly into the Straits which in the North washes Japan and on the South Chiekok and Tousa On the left side of Japan stands the City Simonisicci The City Simonysicci within which is a small Fort and opposite to that a strong Castle built on a high Hill near which is the Haven Isacka to which belongs two Villages containing forty houses a piece ¶ VVIthin the foremention'd Straits they met with many Islands Islands several of their names unknown yet at the hither end lies Mettogamma and next Mocko The City Camenosacci Mianosimi and Camero betwixt which the City Cammenosacci stands on the more of Japan In a long Tract from East to West they saw near the Coast of Japan the Islands Icowe Szuwa Caroto Cominagari and Jocosmi all improv'd with Villages Opposite to Caroto are seen in the middle of this Channel between Japan and Tonsa several high Mountains whose tops are crown'd with various Trees here they stood due East and had on their Larboard in the Japan Coast the Towns Tantonomis Mewarri Bignatum and Binga On their Starboard the Inhabited Isle Syrais So Sailing on between Simeia and Samnic Ousimate and Wota Icsima and Muro they met with so strong a Current that their Rowers had great labor to bring them thorow The City Muro ¶ MUro a Town scituate on Japan hath a very fine Haven five Miles beyond which rises Firmensi The City Firmensi a stately City Fortifi'd with a strong Castle near which the Sea is often times very rough which they left on their Larboard and also Ahos Takasima and Swoja and came to Fiongo But when they met with Calms and wanted Wind their Men with a Line hall'd their Barks along the shore Netherland Ambassadors come to Ojacc◠Sailing from hence they kept along the Coast of Amanasacci and came on the thirteenth of January after nineteen days travel to Osacca and getting up the River they came to Anchor before Anissima the Suburb of Osacca Soon after three Pleasure-Boats came thither for to carry the Ambassadors with their Goods and Retinue Fayfena a Japan Pleasure-Boat ¶ THe Japanners build a kind of Pleasure-Boats or Barges by them call'd Fayfena which commonly have forty Oars built before like an Elephants Head and in the Starn a fine Looking-Glass Cabbin and Helm after the Portuguese manner Some of these Fayfena's have above thirty Rowers in them which Row with such speed and make so fresh way that it is to be admir'd for commonly they make a Voyage from Osacca to Nangesaque in twelve days time lying two hundred and twenty Leagues distant from one another Art exact description of the situation of the Cities between Nangesaque and Osacca ¶ FRom Nangesaque to Fouconda is two Leagues from Fouconda to Zitta eight thence to Nanatzjamma three from thence to Omodakey two then to Oysinocubi five so to Firando eight from Firando to Auwo six then to Jobeco seven thence to Fimissima seven from Fimissima to Ginha
seven so to Amissima seven thence to Jammangan-misacci fourteen from hence to Simonisicci seven thence to Motogama seven so to Mocko eleven from Mocko to Mianosimi eight from hence to Cammenosacci ten then to Camro seven so to Jowe three from Jowe to Szuwa two thence to Caroto three from Caroto to Cammagari five from hence to Tantonomi ten so to Jourissiro five thence to Bignatum five from hence to Syzais three from Syzais to Fubi ten then to Oussimato seven so farther to Wota four from Wota to Muro six then to Akas thirteen so to Fiungo five and from Fiungo to the River of Osacca is thirteen Leagues Frisius and Brookhorst are fetch d into Osacca ¶ UPon the first Rumors of the Ambassadors Frisius and Brookhorst's arrival at Osacca both Men and Women throng'd in great multitudes to meet these strangers but the greatest croud was on the Bridge on which they flock'd that from thence they might satisfie their Curiosity in viewing the Netherlanders several of these Bridges were scarce sufficient to bear the burthen of such great multitudes and often cracking so exceedingly that they not onely threaten'd great danger to those which stood on them but also those that Row'd under them The Inhabitants had almost forgot that ever they had seen a people which dwelt in another part of the world and come above three thousand Miles in a stately Embassy to their Emperor which made the chief Citizens and Burgesses of Osacco themselves to venture their lives on the foremention'd Woodden Bridges to see these strangers Jacob Spex and Peter Seaâ—â— on when they came to Osacca ¶ ANno 1611. The Ambassador Jacob Spex and Peter Segerszoon pass'd through Osacco with Presents to the Emperor Goyssio Samma who at that time kept his Court in the City Soringou to the end they might obtain liberty for to Trade there Their journey from Firando thither These Ambassadors went on the 16 of June Anno 1611. from Firando with one Bark So Sailing by the Island Aymissima and the City Assia and Row'd along the Banks of Cocero and in the Evening dropt Anchor in sight of the City Ximontchequi but the Wind rising and blowing in great gusts forc'd them to Weigh and Row back to the Haven Isacky Where arriving the Wind soon after ceas'd and they the second time Weigh'd and Steer'd their Course to Ximontchequi towards the Evening they came to Myands So leaving Cadmenexequi on the Larboard about midnight they drew near Szuwa under which Isle they came to an Anchor From Szuwa they proceeded forward having the Stream with them but the Wind being against them they got but sixty Miles in three days time which was not without great pains and toil of the Rowers who at last being quite tyr'd out the Lord Spex was forc'd to put in for Vosimado where he hired four Japan Vessels which by turns were to ease the weary'd Rowers But they had the Wind still Easterly and blowing often very fresh so that with great difficulty they at last reach'd the Haven Muro where the Sea went so high that two of their Vessels sunk before the Harbor but the Weather growing calmer they betook themselves again to their Oars to Row thorow the hollow Waves but the Tide setting them so hard they were forc'd to come to an Anchor at Firmensi From hence Weighing they pass'd Tackessima to Fiungo and from thence to Osacca a great part of their way the Sea-men were forc'd to hale their Bark along the shore which put them to great pains On the sixth of August the Ambassador Spex came to the River of Osacca and Anchor'd before the City Aussima where he hired several small Vessels to carry him to Fussiny because his Vessel drew too much Water for to carry him over the Shoals In the afternoon he went through Osacca and towards Evening Row'd up the Stream which in many places was so shallow that they were forc'd to put forward their Vessels with great trouble The Citty OSACCO De Stâ—â—t OSACCO The journey of Francis Caron and Henrick Hagenaer from Firandona to Osacca ¶ SInce that time besides several others Francis Caron and Henrick Hagenaer went Anno 1634. the 13 of October in an Embassy to the Emperor of Japan who Sailing from Firando harbour'd that night in the Bay of Tascha the next day Sailing on till the Evening they were forc'd by a violent showre of Rain to Anchor against the Village Jobokki next morning proceeding in their Voyage they pass'd the City Fagatta and the Island Anesma and at last came to an Anchor at Chimano Suky where they were presented with some fresh Provisions by the Agent of the East-India Company residing there After a short refreshment the Ambassador Caron Weighing Anchor with a fresh Gale from the North West about Midnight enter'd the Straits of Camonosiky whose Banks on both sides are continu'd Streets being full of Houses here they were forc'd to produce their Pasports which done they left this place and after some time met with such a hollow Sea between several scatter'd Isles that they were necessitated to get into a small Harbor of a Fish Town But the Weather growing calmer they Row'd to Cammangasie and from thence to Memarry a handsom City crown'd with many Spires The City Mewarry On the utmost Point to the Sea-ward stands a very fair Temple whose Steeple being seen at a great distance at Sea serves for a Beacon or light-Light-House Here they left the City Bignatum on their Larboard and ran East North East by the City Oussimato and came in the Evening to Muro where the Bonjoyes of Nangesaque commanded the Netherlanders Interpreter to inform them who those were that were travelling to the Emperor Out of this Harbor Ambassador Caron set Sail with a Train besides his own of above a hundred Japanners and soon after reach'd the City Akas where they encounter'd with a loud Storm out of the North East furrowing up a very hollow Sea The City Akas ¶ AKas a well fortifi'd City stands fortifi'd at one side with a Castle of Defence surrounded with Stone Walls rais'd out of the Water from hence they set forward and pass'd by Fiungo and after Noon they spy'd the City Osacca and Saccaio about Sun-set they got over the Flats and enter'd the Bay of Osacca where going a shore they were receiv'd by and lodg'd in the house of Grabbidons President there for the East-India Company These were the two onely Embassies that pass'd through Osacca before the Ambassadors Frisius and Brookhurst who after their arrival ashore in the afternoon were conducted to a fair Lodging Frisius and Brookhurst bodyed in a Noble mans house in Osacca with all conveniencies in a stately House in which the Commanders and Governors of Nangesaque in their travelling backward and forward to their Emperor use to take up their Lodgings The Fabrick it self was formerly the Habitation of a Japan Priest but since alter'd into a
Spire beyond which about a League Southward from Osacca may be seen another Tower call'd Lords-Castle where the Noble-men use to meet both for their Serious Occasions and Divertisements The Temple of the Idol Canon But in the Center or middle of the City stands the much celebrated Temple of the Idol Canon whom the Japanners believe hath the absolute Power over all sorts of Fish and Fowl that haunt the Water he being as their Neptune or Sea-commanding God A few Steps from which stands the Porters Lodge with a broad-brimm'd Roof whose Edges shoot far out before the Walls Near this lies a Path leading to the Out-wall which now lies for the most part in its own Ruins yet this Wall hath one very fair Gate resembling a Triumphal Arch through which they walk to a pleasant Plain full of shady Trees but this Pleasure is divided from them by a second Quadrangular Wall Plaister'd with white Loam every Quarter a pleasant Green belonging to it Strange Porch before Canons Temple But the Temple-Porch belonging to the first Wall that incloses the Court is built Orbicular with six Angles making a kind of Cupiloe on the top To this sad Place many wretched People resort who weary of their Lives either suffering under Poverty or Chronical Infirmities or distracted with blind Zeal in Fits of their Religious Melancholy Japanners drown themselves here expecting to be freed from all their Sorrows and to enter into present Happiness by drowning themselves in this their Soul-saving Pool of their Water-God But first they warily consult Canon himself in the Portal seeking his Advice from which as their fond Fancies dictate they either return full of Hopes or desperately throw themselves headlong in and for a quicker dispatch greedily swallow the Water As did also the ancient Germans to the Honor of the Goddess Hertha This kind of dreadful Sedecede or destroying themselves is not unlike the ancient Worship of the Teutonick Goddess Hertha which Tacitus relates thus That in an Isle lying not far out at Sea a Priest waited in a Grove consecrated to the Goddess Hertha in which stood a close Chariot which was profan'd if touch'd by any but this her Attendant His Function was to know at what time the Goddess set forth upon her Holy Voyage to visit the Seats of Joy and Everlasting Happiness to which purpose he made ready the Chariot and Harness'd the Buffles to draw her which he attended with great Zeal and Religious Diligence And what Countreys soever she pass'd through all War turn'd suddenly to Peace Nor finish'd she her Progress till the Priest had fully inform'd her of the several Impieties raging and reigning everywhere which done she driving into a Lake as weary of this World suddenly vanish'd never appearing more and all the Retinue that belong'd to her following the Chariot in like manner drown'd themselves From whence arose that kind of mad Zeal and frantick Desire of thus making themselves away by Water that so they might meet with the Pleasures of the other World In what place the Goddess Hertha was chiefly worshipp'd Philippus Cluverius in his History of Germany affirms That the Island before-mention'd by Tacitus is no other but Rugau where yet to this day near the Promontory Stubbenkamar stands a Thicket call'd De Stubenitz and in the same a Lake of Black Water so deep that it is suppos'd to be bottomless which though it abounds with Fish yet is not frequented by Fishers this proceeding out of a Reverential awe or fear of this thought to be Sacred Water Yet some less scrupulous in Points of that nature undertook lately to leave a Boat in the foremention'd Pool designing to Fish there the next day and coming in the Morning their Boat was gone which after long search they found fix'd in an Oaken Tree Whereupon one of the Fishermen cry'd aloud saying What! were all the Devils joyn'd together to cast my Boat in yonder Tree Strange Relation Upon which he heard a terrible Voyce replying All the Devils were not imploy'd but onely two I and my Brother Claes But not only this Pool belonging to the Nymph Hertha were they Diabollically perswaded to make themselves away in but many other Places in Germany where upon the like account Self-murder was committed by throwing themselves headlong into the Water raging to follow the same Goddess to the foremention'd Seats of Bliss A farther Description of Canons Temple ¶ BUt to return again to the Temple of Canon The same rises aloft with three peculiar Stories whose Roofs are six-square jetting out a great way over the Walls Every Partition hath three double Windows only between the second and lowest Story stands a Gallery supported on twenty eight great Pillars The Walls painted with all manner of Fishes adorn much the outside of the Temple The Chief Buildings in Osacca ¶ ON the right side of Canon's Temple stands the Admirals House and somewhat near this City a stately Cloyster of the Bonzies rising with two high Roofs or Stories a great distance one from the other Next this is the Habitation of the General known by its double Roofs and Gable Ends hard by which stands the Temple with two hundred Images And no less stately is the Palace belonging to the Lord-Treasurer of Japan In the same Street stands a Watch-Tower which is seen by Land six Leagues from the City and at Sea seven The Church in which the Images of the old Bonzies are kept as Holy Reliques is also very curious to behold part of it may be seen at some distance at Sea and the other part conceals it self behind the Hills How it is within Moreover Osacca like most of the other Cities in Japan hath neither Walls nor Bulwarks but is divided in the middle by a Current on both sides of which are stately Buildings made of Clay the outsides cover'd with Boards to keep the Water from soaking through within full of large Chambers In the time of the Emperor Xogunsama Anno 1614. seven Ships with Convicts went from the Haven of Osacca to Nangesaque because they would not desist from the Roman Catholique Religion At that time also the Jesuits Church in Osacca was pull'd down by Sangamido who was impower'd by the Emperor to persecute the Romanists which was perform'd with all manner of Cruelty all imaginable Tortures being us'd on them Osacca is oftentimes ruin'd in the Japan Civil-Wars But above all Osacca suffer'd much by the Civil Wars which the Japanners maintain'd one against another each striving to obtain the Imperial Crown insomuch that the City and Castle fell now into the hands of one and then of the other After the Death of the Emperor Taycosama Anno 1601. Japan was exceedingly turmoyl'd in a Civil War nine Princes joyning against Dayfusama of whom the Chief Commander was Morindono King of nine Provinces out of which he rais'd Forty thousand Men many Great Persons amongst them and had also
the Treasure of the deceas'd Taycosama and all Necessaries for War In the interim some of these Provincials set upon Dayfusama who entertain'd them so roughly that Eighty thousand Men were either slain by the Sword ripp'd open their own Bowels or were taken Prisoners few of them escaping by Flight Conquest of Dayfusama Hereupon Dayfusama carried his Victorious Army with all speed to Osacca where Morindono was so much astonish'd at his gotten Victory that he left the Invincible Castle Osacca which was provided with double Stores and strong enough to endure the greatest Siege that could be Osacca is taken to Dayfusama before whose Approach he with some of his Nobles forsook the Castle and went to his stately Palace beyond Osacca resolving to submit himself freely to the Mercy of the Conqueror But the King of Sassuma shew'd much more Courage for he with Six hundred Soldiers valiantly fought his way through the Conquering Army of Dayfusama and marching on undiscompos'd towards Osacca got thither some Hours before Dayfusama where he furnish'd himself with such Vessels as he found with which he Sail'd to his own Kingdom Sassuma distant above two hundred Leagues from Osacca to the end that he might there Fortifie himself against Dayfusama A horrible Earthquake in Osacca ¶ BEsides this their suffering by War this City before endur'd a far greater Misery almost to an utter Desolation by a sudden Earthquake happening Anno 1585 the fourth of August about Midnight which was so terrible that they expected nothing less than present Destruction The first shudder or shake was so vehement that in less than half an hours space many hundreds were buried in the Rubbish of their own fallen Houses The fairest Buildings first failed coming to ground with horrible cracks amongst which that stately Palace the fairest and largest that ever the Sun shin'd upon which Taycosama built with ample Galleries and such spacious Courts that therein they say he was able to Exercise a hundred and fifty thousand Men. This stupendious piece of Architect he built on purpose to shew his Power and Magnificence to Ambassadors that were ready with an Embassy from the Emperor of China Their Journey to Menco With this Train the Ambassadors came about Noon to the great Village Firaskatta where they Dined and about four a clock they travell'd through Jonda which is a small City curiously built Fortified with a strong Castle and surrounded with Walls The Governor of this Place came to meet the Ambassadors who having a considerable Train was carried in a Sedan and follow'd by some of his Guards All the way which they pass'd was on a high Bank verg'd with Rice-Fields so far as could be discern'd At that time it was every where Frozen very hard on the top of this Bank and in going down the same they Travell'd through several Villages and the Way it self was planted on both sides with Trees Description of the Japan Cedars Amongst these the Cedars rais'd their lofty tops above all the others to an exceeding height Theophrastus relates That the Syrians and Phenicians us'd Cedars for the Building of their Ships The same Custom is at this day in Japan and no marvel because the Cedar hath a Gummy Moysture which preserves it from rotting which Secret the Japanners not knowing oftentimes look upon the Sudor or Sweating of their Cedar Images as a great Wonder But this is occasion'd by the moist Air and a South Wind which generally draws an Oyl out of that Wood. Moreover this Tree grows higher and thicker according to the several Places it is Planted in On the Mountains of Syria they grow so large-wasted that four Men are scarce able to fathom one of them but these have spiny and slender Bodies considering their wondrous Height whose lofty Crowns seem to mingle with the Clouds Japan also produces Cedars no ways inferior to those The Leaves thereof are soft and downy but prickly at the sharp ends There is also a small kind of Resemblance between the Cedar and the Juniper-Tree but the Leaf of the last is longer and smaller and grows nothing near so high and the Wood thereof being cut asunder and us'd is soon subject to rot And also the Cedars are of a more fragrant smell and bear a kind of Cod not unlike the Myrtle which being open'd hath four white Corns or Grains like Rice inclos'd in them which when ripe are of a deep yellow Colour whereas the Juniper-berry is black bitterish and unpleasant to the Palate Gum of Cedars of what Vertue and Use The Gum which the Cedar produces preserves the dead Corps from decaying and the Berries have three several tastes for the innermost of them is of a sharp rellish the outermost Shell sweet and the Pulp it self between sweet and sowre These Trees either have continually Fruits or Blossoms on them So that whilst one Tree bears Blossoms or Green-fruit the other Ripen This Fruit being hot in Operation helps all Coughs proceeding from cold Defluxions the Cramp opens obstructed Uritories and the Oyl thereof if the Body be annointed therewith defends it from the biting of Venomous Creatures Furthermore the Cedar always flourisheth being constantly green whose stately Branches run up in an exact Line like the Trees themselves but if the Branches grow too heavy for them the Body of the Tree commonly bends growing crooked under the Burthen The Cod which incloses the Berries when it begins to ripen opens it self and in time of Rain or Mists drops off leaving a round Stalk at the Boughs This Stalk decays not till two Years after the dropping off of the Cod which of it self requires a whole Year before it becomes ripe and this happens chiefly in Winter The Ambassadors come to Meaco Along this Bank shaded with Trees verging the River the Netherland Ambassadors going through a Town call'd Iondo came to Meaco where they were Receiv'd and Lodg'd in the House of a Wealthy Merchant ¶ THis Imperial City Meaco lies in the Province of Mino eighteen Leagues beyond Osacca Along this River which takes its Original from a great Lake three Hours Walk beyond Meaco discharging its Waters through Osacca into the Sea stands the Imperial Blood-Grove The Imperial Blood Grove near Meaco why so call'd which Denomination it receiv'd from the Japan Emperor Nobunanga who was murder'd there June 22. Anno 1582. The Emperor Nobunanga would be worshipp'd as a God ¶ THis Nobunanga in the time of his Reign had erected a new City and call'd it Anzuquiama on a pleasant Hill raising within it a stately Temple which to make the more famous he caus'd to be brought thither the most Ador'd and Venerable Idols in all Japan Next to this Temple he Founded a Sumptuous Chappel where on a polish'd Marble he had his Imperial Arms Ingraven and his own Statue delineated to the Life which so soon as finish'd he publish'd his Royal Edicts with strict Commands That after Proclamation and
call'd Oets The way which directed thither was between high Mountains on both sides built with Houses one side appearing a stately Fort rais'd on the Promontory of a River In Oets the Ambassadors stay'd some hours to refresh themselves then going forward they went through Jesi a Wall'd City Jesi to which leads an even Path each side beset with pleasant Trees at the end of which Lane stands a Village wash'd by the Water on whose Promontory the Castle Oets is built The Water in this Place makes two Inlets or Greeks over the one a small Wooden Bridge and over the other a Bridge of two hundred and thirty Steps long Japan Beggars ¶ THis Road is much pester'd with Beggars as most Ways of Japan are which commonly have a great many Children with them These poor People carry a Dish in their Hands in which they receive and gather Alms. The Women carry a Budget or Bag and a Callibash which hangs before them and under that their Purse Oftentimes whole Generations of them banish'd by the Emperor from the Cities Range all over the Countrey with their Wives and Children The antient People and Infants they carry in square Baskets which they make fast to the Horns of two Oxen one going before and another behind the rest lead the way and follow Singing Songs and Sonnets of the valiant Acts of the antient Japan Hero's and so passing by several Houses of which the Inhabitants in reward for their Singing bountifully bestow Alms upon them ¶ THe Netherlanders departing from Jesi came towards the Evening over a steep and scraggy Mountain into the Village Cusatz Here grow the best sort of Canes This Place produces the best sort of Japan Canes or Sticks The young Sprigs fill'd with sweet Juice are tough and full of Joints each distinguish'd at equal distance by a round Knot being small at bottom and thick on the top These Canes they use in stead of Ropes to tie with The use and description of them and also make Cables of them for their greatest Ships which last longer than those of Hemp. They also make all manner of Baskets and Hampers of these Canes which are much stronger than the Europeans that are Pleited of Twigs and two Pieces of the said Cane being rubb'd hard together serve in stead of a Flint and Steel for to strike Fire with Fruit-bearing Canes There is a sort of these Canes which bears a sharp Fruit the Shell of a Chesnut colour thorny and full of streaks which grow athwart one another and is about the bigness of a small Apple or Crab on each Bough from the top to the bottom in stead of Leaves are small knotted Branches which being very tough are Pleited together like a Rope The longest of these bears the Fruit which hangs just at the end thereof in a Cluster of six or seven Cods together each containing a hard Kernel out of which they press Oyl of a peculiar Vertue for the curing of Wounds and therefore much us'd by the Slaves to heal those cruel Blows which oftentimes they receive from their Masters with those Canes till the Blood runs down their Backs Moreover there are another sort which grow about Cusatz shooting up from the Roots of small Trees which spread themselves Pleited together a great way ¶ BEfore day-light the Ambassadors proceeded forward in their Journey and ere the Sun appear'd Itzibe they were got to the Village Itzibe About two Leagues beyond Itzibe they Ferry'd over the River Jocatangauwa and about ten a Clock they came to Minacutz Here a strong Castle stands for the securing of the Road which leads to Meaco To Minabutz guides an even Way on both sides Planted with shading Trees and border'd with Rice-Fields as far as they could discern Japan above all other Countreys abounds in Rice Japan Rice and produces much better than any other Place in India whose Coasts it not onely supplies but also all Europe in a plentiful manner they Mowe it in September the whitest sort bearing the higest Price that which is brown growing in Begu and Sian is of a far less value In Japan as also in all India are no Mills to Grind any manner of Corn wherefore they Bake no Bread after our European manner Their Rice serves them in stead of Bread but is boyl'd in Water and brought to their Tables like Pap or Pudding The Rice which is not kneaded but in Lumps is very unwholsom and occasions the griping in the Bowels and weak Eyes They also Roast their Rice after that it is boyl'd making it in Cakes Father Xaverius relates that travelling through Japan he sustain'd himself a long time by those Cakes of Rice which the Japanners call'd Arela carrying some of them with him in his Sleeves The Rice when growing hath a fatty thick Leaf not unlike those of Housleek but broader shooting up half a Yard from the Ground with a Purple-colour'd Flower and a double Root Plinius affirms that the Indians made Oyl of Rice but at present not onely in Japan but in all India they make a very strong Liquor of it The Mountain Coetsecajamma ¶ THe Hollanders leaving Minacutz encountred with that high Mountain call'd Coetsecajamma where they found much trouble in carrying over their Goods and Package yet at last getting through Zintzsamma and Sacca they came to Sicconoziro where they rested all Night An hour before day-light the next Morning the Moon shining the Ways and Rivers also Frozen very hard they proceeded forward in their Journey where afar off they espy'd a costly Edifice Castle Cammiammi being the Castle Cammiammi rising aloft with very high Turrets The Walls built of Free-stone fortifi'd the Castle in such a manner that it seem'd able to endure a hard Siege Beyond this Fortress appears a large Village About two Leagues farther they entred the Town Isacutz PLACE = marg Isacutz and whilst they were there at Dinner some Rusticks came and offer'd them Provisions to sell being Clothed as the ordinary Citizens or Burgers Description of the Japan Rusticks Riding through the Countrey on Buffles having a Hook in his Nose which being made fast to a Chain and coming about his Ears and between his Horns serves them for a Bridle The Women wear Clogs under their Feet which have a Knob that sticks between their great and second Toe to keep them close to their Feet they wear a kind of short Boots or Buskins which they fasten with Strings athwart one another ¶ FRom Isacutz the Ambassadors travell'd through Zono Ojebakitz Owaka Isacutz Jokeitz and Tonuda to Quana The City Quana In the closing of the Evening they entred the City which above all Places in Japan is most artificially built and surrounded with strong Walls on one side fortifi'd with a large Castle all of hewn Stone whose Turrets are seen at a great distance The City Piongo ruin'd by Wars and Earthquakes ¶ ABout half way
it into the Fire and Meal-cakes Vid Virgil Hemes What Observations made not the Augurists out of the Flight and various Voyces of Birds Others of Howling of Wolves With Birds and Barking of Dogs Swarming of Bees Voyces in the Air Numbers Lots and Dreams Of Spirits and imaginary Spectrums Of their certainty of Future Fortunes by Physiognomy and Palmistry The appearing of Blazing Comets and their Astrological Predictions by the various Configurations of the Celestial Bodies Who first found out Soothsaying and Conjuring The Greeks having all their Learning from the East say That Zoroaster was the first of the Magi that studied and brought to light Magical Conclusions whether Natural or Diabolical For such and so abstruse were some of their Practices that not being able to make out the Reason most Ages have suppos'd That many of them have been perform'd by Demons and Cacademons Evil Spirits which after was brought by Osthanes who follow'd Xerxes wonderful Army into Europe Which Juggling Art Democritus describes at large finding the Original Practices in Phenicia Apollonica Captidenes and Dardanus So that Antiquity concludes That the Assyrians Chaldeans and Persians and other Eastern Countreys under which we may reckon China and Tartary were the first Soothsayers and Magicians So that we need not wonder that Japan at this day continuing still under Idolatry nurses great store of Sorcerers and Wizards who without dispute came thither from China the Place of their first Original Netherland Ambassadors proceed in their Journey ¶ BUt the Netherland Ambassadors Frisius and Brookhurst having refresh'd themselves with a good Dinner and delighted in hearing the strange Relation of the Japan-Priests call'd Janambuxi who ascended the top of Fusinojamma they left the Village Jussiwarra and rode along a Sandy-way through Farri The Common Road being very dusty they cross'd over to a Meadow wash'd by the Sea which directed them to a great Village call'd Nomatz Thence going on they came to Missima lying at the Foot of Mount Faccone The Way that led thither was exceeding pleasant both sides being shaded with Trees Missima burnt In this City which was destroy'd by Fire but eight Months before and since rebuilt in that time the Ambassadors lodg'd one Night Ambassadors hire fresh Horses The next Morning they hir'd divers Horses to carry the Netherlanders and their Retinue over the Mountain Faccone for their other Horses were much tired and these fresh ones better us'd to Travel the craggy Paths of Faccone being kept for that purpose Thus fitted about seven a clock they ascended the Mountain and passing through several Villages not without great trouble and danger The Village Faccone of what kind about Noon they enter'd Faccone scituate near a Navigable River on a Mountain and surrounded by many others The River destitute of Fish is seventy and eighty Fathom deep and in some Places ninety and a hundred The Gate of Faccone why so strong Guarded After Dinner they rode through a Gate at the end of the Village which was Fortified by a Castle where all Persons were stopp'd that were carried in Sedans or rid on Horseback except the Japan-Nobility And on each side the Gate stands a Watch-house with four Rooms being square and open the Walls hung with Arms being Muskets Pikes and Scymiters The Soldiers fit on the Ground cross-legg'd Description of the Japan Sentme's They use a Game or Play among them not unlike our Draughts which requires great Leisure and Study In this Exercise they spend much time in their fore-mention'd Watch-houses or else they smoke Tobacco exercise their Pikes Fence with their Swords or shoot at a Mark. At one end of the Watch-house hangs a great Lanthorn with fine Painted Linnen in stead of Glass or Horn at the other end a Flag with the Emperors Arms and those of the Governor of the Castle At each end stands a Sentinel one being Arm'd with a Musket and the other with a Pike Strange manner of Notes to be bought for the Deceas'd ¶ MOreover along the River on whose Banks stands the Village Faccone are also three Temples of the Japan-Priests to which they repair from all parts of the Countrey where for a small piece of Money about the value of Three-pence they buy a Ticket which they stick upon the Stones that lie near the River by which means as they imagine the Souls of their deceas'd Friends have free egress and regress to drink of the Water of the said River THey also spend two days in August in Remembrance of Departed Souls which thus they perform Towards the Evening they light many Torches being curiously painted How the Japanners visit the Souls of the Deceas'd with Dishes of Meat and other things with which walking round about the Town or Village some out of Zeal and some as Spectators when grown dark they proceed out of the City where as they fancy and verily believe they meet with the Departed Souls Here though they see nothing they generally cry aloud saying Ah welcome welcome Where have you been this long time Where have you been Sit down and refresh your selves you must needs be weary and tired with such a Journey Which said they prepare a light Treatment of Rice Fruits and other Provisions and the meaner sort of People bring warm Water after they have been there an Hour as if they had waited on them at their Collation then making Excuses for their mean Fare they invite the Deceas'd Souls to their Houses saying We will go before and prepare your Lodgings and provide better Cheer against your coming Then two days being past they all go out of the City with Torches that so they may light the Souls of the Dead to the end they should not stumble by the way and after they have thus conducted them out every one returns home throwing Stones against and chiefly on the tops of their Houses to the end that none of the Souls may hide themselves for if they stay longer than two days they take it as an ill Omen Moreover they seem also to be very careful of them fearing that if they should stay behind and go alone they would easily lose their way to Paradise or be destroy'd by Tempestuous Weather Distance of the Japan-Paradise ¶ BEsides this their vain Folly of Entertaining the Dead they reckon Paradise exactly to be Eleven hundred thousand Leagues neither more or less distant from them which long Journey the Souls that are Aerial Bodies finish in three Years time Wherefore they set two days apart bringing them Provisions and entertaining them in their Houses that so they may be refresh'd and the better able to proceed on in their Journey Cleansing the Graves At the same time also they make clean all the Graves in which Office the Bonzis's assist them but are well paid for their Labor None though never so poor but will endeavor to get so much Money as to pay their Priest for
the cleansing of the Graves of his Deceas'd Friends and Relations A dangerous way for the Netherland-Ambassadors ¶ THe Ambassadors Frisius and Brookhurst parting from the Village Faccone soon after encounter'd with a steep and craggy Mountain where getting to the top they ran exceeding great hazard in descending the same the Path not being above two Foot broad and full of Stones having a steep Hill rising on one side and a Precepice on the other that a weak-brain'd Person was not able to look down without danger of being taken with a Dizziness for one of the Ambassadors Train looking upon the Descent was taken suddenly with a Vertigo and so dropp'd over the Pummel of his Saddle that he fell from his Horse where he had miserably perish'd but that holding fast by the Reyns his Horse dragg'd him up where he soon after recover'd They enter the City Oudauro and in the Evening they reach'd Oudauro a stately City one side thereof being adorn'd with a sumptuous Palace surrounded with Stone Walls having also many Spires which are seen at a great distance The Japanners residing here relate An Earthquake in Oudauro That a few Years before a terrible Earthquake had shaken the Countrey exceedingly all thereabouts besides what damage the People sustain'd by the loss of their Houses Steeples and Churches also swallowing up a strong Castle the Ground gaping very terribly so devouring the Fort and the Hill whereon it was rais'd which stood in the same place where the new Castle is now built It is no wonder in Japan for whole Cities or Countreys to be swallow'd up or turn'd topsie-turvey A Japan City swallow'd up and shuffled into Ruins and Rubbish At the Foot of the Mountain Faccone stood formerly a famous City which in few Hours both Men Beasts and Buildings was swallow'd up together in one destruction in place whereof onely a great and almost fathomless Lake appear'd by which the Netherland-Ambassadors pass'd The Opinion of the Japanners concerning Earthquakes Concerning the Reason of these Earthquakes or from whence they proceed the Japanners themselves are of several Opinions Most of them hold and affirm That a great Sea-monster or Leviathan beats the Shore with his Tail every blow of which shakes the Neighboring Countreys The Ancient Greek and Latin Philosophers differ also much concerning the Reason of Earthquakes which are the most terrible of all Humane Afflictions Concerning which hear Plato and Seneca in their own Words the first in his Athenian Antiquities Plato in Timeo A terrible Earthquake hapned which a Day and a Night mov'd the Ground towards a Brook which is now call'd the Mediterranean Sea in which were all your Ancestors swallow'd up Sonec Nat. Quest and also a whole Isle then call'd Atlantis Seneca saith You see whole Countreys remov'd out of their Places Main Continents divided into scatter'd Isles So the Sea also parted Calpe from Abile Barbary from Spain and likewise Sicily from Italy As we hold England from France Ireland â—â—om Wales In our time several whole Countreys and Fields have been so shuffled that the Boundaries and Situations were never found again This happens says he by Winds inclos'd in the Bowels of the Earth which pen'd up like a Cholick striving for vent rumbling up and down in getting passage it not onely shakes but tears up the Superficies They say of old That Ossa and Olympus were but one Mountain but since divided as now they stand by an Earthquake Moreover Pliny tells us Plin. Lib. 1. cap. 91 92. That the steep Mountain Cybotus with the City Curite and also the famous Cities Supylum and Tantalis in Magnesia Galanis and Gamales in Phenicia the Mountain Phegium in the Moors Countrey the Cities Pyrha and Antissa in the Lake Meotis Elice and Bura in the Corinthian Bay were all drown'd and swallow'd in like manner Pausanius relates That Elice and Bura sunk thirty seven Years before the Birth of Alexander the Great The Reasons of Earthquakes are adjug'd to be several Also of the Cause of Earthquakes the Variety and several Manners of its Aguish Fits Writers differ much Democritus tells us That abundance of Rain soaking through the Crannies and Porous parts of the Earth swelling its Belly like a Dropsie rises and recoyls towards the Superficies to disembogue it self but wanting vent beats seeking a Passage against the upper Ground which causes that Trepidation Thales held That the Earth being a floating Ball danc'd upon the then more troubled Waters the cause of its Shaking But the more Modern Opinion which seems most likely is That these Shakings of the Earth arise from a Sulphureous and Nitrous Matter which either by Fermentation or some other Accident taking Fire in the Bowels of the Earth blows up like the springing of a Mine which sudden Bounce in like manner shakes all Parts about it and opens the way that in a Train it explodes other like Combustible Matter And after as many times it happens it makes Breaches whence Flashes of Fire breaking forth tear the Surface of the Earth The right opinion of Aristotle concerning Earthquakes The most Learned agree That these Tremblings rather arise from imprison'd Winds in the vast Caverns of the Earth whose former Passages being stopp'd by accidental falls of Earth and Internal Ruins seek a Vent else-where Or whether it be that the Winds descending nearer the Center finding no way back or whether the thirsty Earth being in Nature dry sucks up abundance of Moysture which either by Subterranean Heat or the piercing Warmth of the Sun-beams are rarified into more stirring Vapors which wanting room for its Activity breaks through the very Adamantine Dungeons of the Earth which violent Ruptures shake the Superficies being also torn and rent in like manner Thus holds Aristotle also demonstrating the same with several Philosophical Arguments saying and proving by Experience That the greatest Earthquakes happen always in serene and calm Weather which falls out in September and March when commonly the Air is most turbulent these Meteors seeming to have left the middle Region of the Air and got into the middle Bowels of the Earth Which he makes more apparent saying That the Earthquakes never cease till the Winds break forth through the erupted Earth again And that those Countreys that have most Excrescencies being more Mountainous and nearest the Sea are oftner troubled with this dire and sad Infliction whereas the Champaign and Inland Countreys scarce ever hear of a Terrene Trepidation The differences of Earthquakes Some Philosophers reckon up three sorts of Earthquakes others seven The first is That the Earth tosseth like a Boat upon the Sea which subverting quite overthrows so many fair Buildings The second seems like a Knocking or great strokes under the Ground which makes the Superficies recoyl and fall inclos'd Vapors then seeking a Passage The third a Ripping and Renting of the Earth into yawning Graves in which are swallow'd up
and buried oftentimes whole Cities But he that Dedicated his Description of the World to Alexander the Great reckons four more The first is a double Trembling that meets and dashes Terrene Billows one against another The second a Breaking of the Ground in all parts The third onely a Rumbling under Ground The fourth shuffling the Earth in a wonderful manner which turns all things topsie-turvey How long they continue Concerning the continuance of Earthquakes sad experience hath taught us that some will last forty days together without little or any intermission according to the easiness or difficulty of the vents which keeps in longer or shorter the shut up Commotions The signs before the Earthquakes There are also several signs that are fore-runners of these miserable effects for growing near as we said before the Air is generally very calm because those Vapors that commonly disturb the Air are confin'd in the close Bowels of the Earth and if any Cloud appear it seems like a thin stroke or white Line athwart the Sky which happens commonly after Sun-set and in fair Weather But the Sea is troubled swelling very much without any apparent cause of molestation and the Water that had been fresh in standing Lakes grows Salt and Brackish Pliny H st 19. Pliny relates That Pheraecides a Grecian Philosopher after he had taken such Water out of a Pit foretold the Lacedemonians of the Destruction of their City then threatned by an approaching Earthquake Another sign is that the Reptilia or all creeping Animals that live under ground forsake their dark Recesses and frighted seek up and down for other abodes The Sun no Clouds appearing grows dark and shines pale and dim The events that follow on an Earthquake The Earthquakes themselves amaze the beholders in such manner that they often bereave men of their Senses for who would not be astonish'd and for ever after stupifi'd into folly or frenzy Stange inconveniencies in Japan occasion'd by Earthquakes to see Houses Towns Cities nay whole Kingdoms turn'd into one Sepulchre great and new Islands thrown up in an instant in the Sea Mountains remov'd and seeming routed to run several ways the sollid and firm Continent turn'd into a crue of segregated Isles and other Lands the Sea quitting them are joyn'd to the main Land Fire and Streams of burning Sulphur are vomited out of the Earth and burning Coals Ashes and heaps of Rubbish spread over Sea and Land for the space of many Miles common Roads turn'd into Rivers then the sickness and mortality that happens after falling on-those that escape from the dire infection of noysome Parbreaks belch'd from the Earth of which dreadful Calamities no Nation suffer more than the Japanners ¶ ANd that we may have a better sence of the miserable condition of those that suffer in this worst of extremities take a brief account from Eye-witnesses of two that happen'd nearer our own doors The first happen'd about 160 years ago at Bononien Horrible Earthquakes at Bononien the second in Ragusa near Illiria Philippus Bernaldus a learned Person liv'd Anno 1505. in Bononien where on the last of October about eleven a Clock at night a horrible noise awaken'd him and all the City soon after Chimneys and Walls tumbled to the ground yet in few hours it beginning to cease they were a little comforted but three days after about the same hour in the night it broke forth with such violence that the Inhabitants expected nothing but their utter ruine hideously roaring and thundering underneath and rouling like a troubled Sea above the Earth great and small Buildings falling with dreadful cracks into a heap of Ruines darkness increasing made the terror the greater Half of Prince Bontivoly's Palace fell with such force tumbling down added so to the Earthquake that it shook the whole City The Walls of St. Jaques St. Peter and St. Francis Churches were rent from the top to the bottom the Steeples and Pinnacles and other Towers coming all down headlong at one blow not one Chimney in the whole City or Suburbs left standing yet by degrees after the great violence abated every night some sudden trepidations gave them new alarms of fresh terror therefore the Inhabitants forsaking their own houses liv'd in Tents in the Corn Fields at least a moneth after most of whom fell into Burning-Feavers of which many dy'd After the second Earthquake began a third which also beginning in the night lasted forty days doing great mischief after the unvaluable damage they had suffer'd before Moreover Boroaldus relates That his friend Falcus Argelatus was struck with such a Consternation that loosing his Senses in a desperate manner cut his own throat who not performing speedily the work he frantickly ran up a pair of Stairs and threw himself headlong out of a Window and broke his own neck whereof he dy'd An Earthquake at Ragousa Not long since Ragousa was in like manner terribly shaken by an Earthquake This Trepidation began on the sixth of April 1667. in the morning between eight and nine of the Clock it being a clear and Sun-shiny day In the twinkling of an eye the whole City was shaken the Legier George Crook being sent by the States of the United Netherlands to take his Residence at Constantinople had also a house at Ragousa which tumbling down kill'd him his Wife Minister Child and two Servant-Maids Jacob Van Dam who was President for the Netherlanders at Smirna was in the same house but in a lower Room He with six others got under a Stone pair of Stairs he was no sooner out of his Lodging scarce half Cloth'd but it tumbled down with three Stories more darkness struck them with fresh terror after which when growing clear Van Dam came forth from his shelter and went to Crook's House where calling as loud as he could and hearkening if possible he could to hear any body answer him he concluded that they lay all swallow'd under the Rubbish and Ruines Neither durst he tarry long there seeing the Walls totter fearing he might suffer under the like Calamity never standing still till he got quite out of the City all the way terrifi'd with imminent danger Stones and pieces of Timber still falling in a terrible manner both before and behind him the ground trembling under him and gaping in several places about him that hundreds of swallowing Gulfs appear'd in the Streets Thus he with six more of his Company with much trouble and terror scap'd out of Rogousa losing one by sudden death in the way but when they had clear'd themselves of the Town the Countrey prov'd no less difficult and dangerous great heaps of torn up Rocks and Rubbish filling the Paths so that they being put to a stand could find no way to get farther whilst looking behind them they saw the City in several parts of fire and three Store-houses of Powder a dreadful thing when e're they catcht would utterly destroy the miserable remainder of
one and a half thence to Isacutz two and a half from hence to Jokeitz also two and a half so to Quano three Then the Ambassadors cross'd a Bay seven Leagues broad to Mire from thence to Narroma a Mile and a half then to Siriomi two Mile and a half so to Ocosacci three then to Fintzawa one and a half from hence to Accosacci two then to Goi half a League from Goi to Josenda two and a half so to Ftagawa one and a half from thence to Suriski one and a half so to Arei one then to Meisacca over a Bay one and a half from hence to Fannama three so to Foucorais one and a half then to Cacingaaw two from thence to Nisaca one and a half from Nisaca to Cancia is the like distance so to Simanda one then to Fovisjeda two from hence to Ocambe one and a half then to Mirico two from Mirico to Surunga one so to Jesare two and a half then to Okis one thence to Jui two from hence to Cambaro one so to Jussiwarra two and a half then to Farry two from thence to Nomatz one and a half so to Missima one and a half more then to Facanne four from thence to Odaura is also four from Odaura to Oiso is the like distance from hence to Fraski two so to Fovissaunea three then to Toska two from Toska to Fundaga one and a half thence to Cammagawa three so to Cawasacca two from hence to Sinagawa three from Sinagawa to Jedo is also three Leagues so that their whole Journey from Nangesaque to Jedo was Three hundred forty five Leagues five and twenty Leagues reckon'd to a degree But Nangesaque and Osacca How far Nangesaque lies from Jedo are Two hundred and twenty and Osacca and Jedo One hundred thirty five Leagues distant one from another Frisius and Brookhurst come to Jedo No sooner were the Ambassadors enter'd Jedo and entertain'd in the house where the Agents for the Netherland East-India Company have their Residence but they sent to the Chief Governor Sickingodonne and the Masters of the Ceremonies Sabroiseimondonne to inform them of their Arrival The Street through which they Rid when they enter'd the City before they came to the Inn was at least four Leagues long both sides closely Built with Houses and parted or divided with Fifty three Gates which are lock'd up every night for at every Hundred and eighty Paces distance stands a Gate Description of the Imperial City Jedo ¶ THis City stands in Thirty five Degrees and Thirty eight Minutes Northern Latitude near a Bay of the South-Sea Before it are several Banks and Shelves so that none but small Vessels can come near and though the Water be very shallow in this place yet it produces great store of Flounders Gurnets Plaice Roaches Eels and excellent Oysters but cannot be bought but at great Rates As also all other Provisions are dear the City being very large and exceeding populous After what manner the houses are built in Jedo Most of the Houses are built of Clay the outsides cover'd with Boards serving as a defence against Rain besides the innumerable small Buildings the great Houses of the Nobility adorn the City very much every one of these large Edifices have several stately Entrances amongst which one exceeds all the other in Beauty and Art which is never open except for the Emperor For when a Noble-man builds a House Strange gates at Jedo he makes one Gate or Arch which is cover'd over with Planks it being artificially Carv'd with Imagery all Gilt and Varnish'd after the Indian manner and are also kept so close cover'd that none may or can look upon them but in one Moneth of the Year which is when the Emperor is pleas'd to Dine in the new Edifice then they open their ample Gates through which none but the Emperor passeth and after that they shut them up again because none should be so much honor'd as to Tread in the same place where the Emperor had been before for he never but once makes a Visit Streets in Jedo This City also stands in the Territory of Quanto and like most Cities in Japan without Walls The Streets are generally of a good length every one being sixty Ikins long which is One hundred and fifty Paces at the end of which stands a Gate that is Lock'd and Guarded every night at every end of the Street is a Gate which is a Ward within it self having two Head-boroughs or Constables that look to keep all things in good Order in these their Precincts and deliver up an account Weekly of all Accidents in the same to the Chief Warden of the City This dividing Street from Street is not onely observ'd in the Cities of Japan but also in all their Towns and Villages IEDO Inhabitants are free from Custom ¶ ALl the Inhabitants here are free from paying of Taxes onely giving a certain Sum of Money to their Landlords for the Ground-Rent of their Houses most of which are built of Wood and therefore Jedo and all other places are very subject to Fire often-times whole Cities so being consum'd yet they still Re-build them of the same Materials Every Street hath also a large Store-house built of Stone which in the Fire time they preserve all their Richest and most considerable Goods they all dwell in the lower-most Rooms of their Houses the upper being scarce big enough to hold their Lumber The Mountain Tacajama As you come from Sea to Jedo the Mountain Tacajama stands on the left side of the City rising with its shady top towards the Clouds from which also descends a River running along under a Woodden Bridge by several Houses into the Sea On this Rock stands also the chiefest of the Emperors Towers at whose Foot is a fair Temple Dedicated to the Emperor Emperors Temple for which reason none upon pain of death dare presume to enter the same but onely his Imperial Majesty his nearest Relations and the chief of the Bonzies Village Tonquarba ¶ THe Village Tonquarba lies in a pleasant Grove on the right side of the Mountain somewhat more Easterly the City Algirham is shaded and surrounded by many tall Cedars a Castle belonging to it onely appearing above the Trees about half way between Tacajama and Tonquarba flows the River Toncaw through Jedo into the South-Sea The River Toncaw Without the City is a large Stone-Bridge with nine Arches crossing the foremention'd River Near this Bridge stands the Palace of Toerodono Chief Ranger of Quanto Palaces and Churches in Jedo Near the City is another Stone-Bridge which crosses the River that on one side washes the Village Tonkoujamma opposite against which stands the Castle of a Noble-Man rising aloft with four Galleries like a large Turret Somewhat more Westerly stands another stately Building of one of the Emperors Chief Officers on the top of whose Frontispiece stands a Square Turret At the
upper end of the City close by the River Toncaw appears an exceeding large Watch-Tower being Four-hundred fifty eight Foot and a half high Guarded with twelve hundred Souldiers On the East side of this the Emperors Magazine a large Structure in the West rang'd in order stand several Temples of their Idol Fotoques one consecrated to Camis and another to their Evil Natur'd god which we call the Devil In the middle of the City rises a most delightful Banqueting-House in which the Emperor Chiongon Toxogunsama us'd to Recreate himself The Emperors Garden Moreover those that view the West part of Jedo will first see the Palace of the King of Bungo to which is joyn'd his Imperial Majesties Garden which is so exceeding pleasant and delightful that those famous Orchards of Semiramis being reckon'd amongst the Seven Wonders of the World are much inferior to it Nature and Art striving to out-vye one another Next to this stands the Palaces of the Lords of Chiecow and Firando His Imperial Majesties Councellors Bungono Nognicono Vonemo Ingando Cambano Rimo Cuno and Texinucano The Camies also Resides in a very sumptuous Building Somewhat farther is another fair House in which Utrandono the Emperors Groom-Porter dwells Southward from thence is the Temple of Xaca close by which stands the Custom-house near this are several large Buildings for the Emperors Generalissimo somewhat farther a Wall'd Plain where two thousand Horse may be drawn up and Mustred The Temple of Xantay to what end and by whom built Amongst other Temples is also very Beautiful that which is consecrated to the Idol Xantay having three Roofs one above another The Emperor Nobunanga after he had brought thirty Kingdoms under his Subjection and by that Victory obtain'd the Imperial Crown spar'd no Cost in the building thereof that by that means his Name might be ever after kept in memory He would also have been honor'd as a God and with more Zeal than any other of the Japan Deities but being murther'd by the Prince Aqueche Anno 1582. with his Death the Ceremony of his Service a Divine Worship was utterly ceas'd and his Temple consecrated to Xantay Temples full of Images Not far from thence you pass by the Court of the Chief Governor of the South part of the City Jedo which being built long in Front hath in the middle a Portall with a square Tower Farther into the City are two Temples of the Ickoisen almost touching one another both full of little Images Next to these are two more that belong to the Priests which they call Bulgru within these are no manner of Statues found except one representing the shape of a horrible Monster This City hath also several other fair Buildings in that part which is beyond the Mountain Tocajamma for there is a strong Garrison wherein are Quarter'd Three thousand five hundred Souldiers On one side of which is the Palace of the Mayor or Chief Governor of that part of the City to whom all the Inferior Officers are to render an account weekly of what hath happen'd in that time in their several Wards The Watch-Tower which is seen at a great distance both by Sea and Land and the Garrison with the Chief Governors Court make most ways a Triangular Prospect somewhat farther stands a Temple Dedicated to all sorts of Beasts with a very high double Roof On the North side of which appears a large Court in which four of the prime Bonzies live together having also three Temples built in a Row The Temple of Camis and Fotoques ¶ AT last appears the Temple Consecrated to the Idol Camis and Fotoques which Names are not peculiar for one or two but general for the Japanners call all their gods to whom they Pray for future Bliss in the world to come Fotoques and those from whom they expect Transitory Happiness as Health Wealth and a fair Race of Children that should enjoy what they are possess'd withal after their Deaths they call Camis The Emperors Seraglio In the List of Superior Deities many of their Princes and Emperors for their great Atchievements when living have been Registred by their Subjects and after departure Worshipp'd as their gods as the Antient Greeks and Romans heretofore But on the other side of the Imperial Garden stands the Seraglio for his Women being in thirty large Divisions which the Japanners call the Chandran nearer the Sea are more Palaces belonging to the Kings Quicougeu and Date and beyond those the King of Saxuma hath his Court much resembling Quicougeu his Palace onely the last hath a large Porch built Arch-wise high like a Steeple TEMPEL met Duysend BEELDEN ¶ BUt that which Crowns the City and appears above all the rest is the Empresses Magnificent Palace which they call Miday rising aloft with three Galleries or Stories according to their manner one surmounting the other The King of Figens Court makes also a stately show But on one side of the Empresses Palace are Houses being large built all of Stone wherein lies the Inexhaustable Emperial Treasures and heap'd-up Mountains of Gold and Silver not to be valued within the compass of Arithmetick the Riches of St. Mark and the Golden Mines of Potosi with the whole Revenues of all the European Kings cast up together would scarce Ballance the unimaginable Audits and vast Accompts thereof Phaiglerodano Cammangon the Empresses Brother being the King of Jamaystero dwells here also in a sumptuous Palace near which are three Courts belonging to his Unckles the first being the King 's of One way the second of Mito the third of Cinocuni all three Brothers to the Emperor Xogunsama surnam'd Conbosama These three Palaces stand very near one another the largest and fairest is that in which Cinocuni Resides having two Roofs one above another Xogunsama Son to the Emperor Daifusama succeeded his Father in his Throne Anno 1616. Other Palaces in Jedo Near this place also stands a fair Building belonging to two Brothers of the King Amanguci Somewhat farther is the Court of the King of Tacata and next that the Residences of the Kings of Zanuaquq Fanga and Omura About the middle of the City are five Palaces more in which reside the Princes Amacusa Beyond these the King of Arima hath a large Court The Temples of the two Emperors are also very beautiful on the North end is a light-Light-house of Five hundred ninety four Foot high A light-Light-house for ships to steer into the Harbor Some distance from hence is a fair Cloyster for Widows And near this the Palace in which the Chief Governor of the East part of the City resides Six Streets farther a Temple Dedicated to the Idol with four Heads But that which exceeds all the Buildings at this end of the City is a stately Cloyster whose height largeness and magnificence deserves no small wonder in this Colledge the second and third Son of the Emperor have their Education bred up to several Arts and Eastern
again to our Ambassadors upon their departure from Jedo where having found no opportunity nor time to visit the Emperors Tomb in Niko whose Lustre was made the greater by the Branch'd Candlestick given by the East-India Company to the Japan Emperor as being Cast of Copper and brought from Holland such a long and tedious Voyage The Lords Frisius and Brookhurst taking their leave from Jedo proceeded on in their Journey to Nangesaque on the 16 of April Anno 1650. and having pass'd Sinagawa Rokna Cawasacca Cammagawa Fundaga and Moska they espy'd the famous Temple of Apes the whole world shows not the like if you look upon the strangeness of the Building and the manner of the celebrated Rites it is notoriously known that Egypt was full of the like Superstition and mad Worship holding for their gods which they held in great Adoration all sorts of Beasts and Monsters All Writers commonly affirm That their chief gods were Apis and Osiris the one a living black Ox with a white Head broad Back and shaggy Hair which was to live no longer than the set time limited by the Egyptian Laws then a general Fast-day was order'd to be kept very strictly on which the Ox call'd Serapis Strange dealing with the Ox Apis. was Drowned in a Consecrated Lake on whose death as being their god Apis all Egypt Mourned both Old and Young Lamenting with striking on their Breasts tearing the Hair off their Heads but when they found another of the same Colour and shape the whole Countrey rejoyc'd thereat setting him in the same place they generally Feasted but this their dumb god could not answer as the Delphick Oracle nor the Dodan Oak nor Jupiter Ammon but by eating Fodder out of their hands that was a good Omen to the Inquirer that proffer'd it but if he refus'd that they look'd upon as ill Fortune for which cause when he refus'd the Food which Caesar Germanicus proffer'd him he after despair'd expecting his utter Ruine Osiris what manner of Ox. But their Osiris was a Grey Ox with a Dogs head holding in one Foot a Scepter Emblematically expressing his Omnipotent Power and Godly Authority The Ancient Egyptian Kings us'd to offer Men and Women on the Grave of Osiris yet this cruel Sacrifice in process of time was chang'd Offering onely a red Ox by reason it suited best with Typhon's Colour which they say slew Osiris Of this also hear what Pliny says In Egypt an Ox is worship'd for a god Plin. lib. 8. Cab. which they call Apis who gives Responses of good or bad Fortune by taking or refusing the Food which the Injur'd presents with his own Hands who taking a dislike to that which Germanicus proffer'd refusing would not eat who soon after unfortunately dy'd This Apis is continually kept private but when he appears publickly he is accompany'd with a great number of Children singing Elodiums to his praise which he seems to understand and accept of Strabo says thus In Heliopolis stands a Dedicated Temple to the Sun and Ox Mnevis Strabo Geog. lib. 17. which is fed in an inclos'd corner and by the People Worshipp'd as at Memphis is their Ox Apis. Herodotus tells us That the Egyptians Worshipp'd a Cat Herodot in Euterp which if she dy'd in their Houses they Salted and Bury'd her in a stately manner carrying her to Bubastis to be Inter'd there in the Holy City The like Cicero Diodorus Siculus Plutarch and Juvenal testifie As to what Clemens Romanus or rather an unknown Writer by his Name Clem. Rom. l. 5. Retognit Writes concerning the foremention'd Worship deserves peculiar Observation Some Egyptians says he have learnt That an Ox call'd Apis must be Worshipped and Ador'd others a Goat others Cats some an Egyptian Bird call'd Iphis which feeds on Serpents others held of a Fish call'd Ajun and many other such Ridiculous Creatures that I am asham'd to name for a God Clemens Alexandrinus relates That the Saitae and Thebans Worshipp'd a Sheep Clem. Alex. Adm. ad Gent. and the Lycopolitans a Wolf that those of Leopolis honor'd a Lion as being the King of all four footed Beasts for which reason also the Persians Picture their god Mithra which presents the Sun with a Lions Head Plutarch tells us the reason why a Lion is Dedicated to the Sun Plut. lib. 4. Symp. 4 5. viz. Because Lions amongst all Beasts with Claws bears onely one young one and that they are very watchful and sleep little and their eyes shining being open when they sleep And at last because the Leontines when the Sun passes through the Sign of Leo find all their Fountains and Pits full of Water Strabo writes of the Mendesiers Stran. Goe l. 17. Aelian de Animal l. 10. c. 23. That they promoted a Goat and Buck to Religious Honor. Aelianus relates How the Coptists eat their tame Goats but to their wild ones they shew'd great Adoration because they were a delight to the goddess Isis Other Egyptians reckon their Goats amongst the number of their gods because that according to Diodorus Siculus it hath Genitals like a man for which reason the Greeks and Latins honor'd their Priapus Herodotus relates Herodot In Euterp That the Mendesiers show'd much sorrow upon the death of a great Goat-heard in relation to his Imployment they holding Goats in great Veneration The Egyptians and Greeks also Picture their Idol Pan with a Goats Face and Feet notwithstanding they believ'd that he was like the other gods Women make themselves common with Goats The same Herodotus relates also That the Mendesier Women make themselves common with Goats that so they might obliege them and be big and bear Children by their Sacred Seed Strabo witnesseth That the Athribites held a small Creature brought forth by a Mouse Rat and Weasel for their god Plutarch tells us the reason why these miserable People Worship such a vile Beast as their Creator Because it is Born in a new Moon and his Liver decays at the decrease thereof Strange things done by the Indian Mfee The Indian Rat is Dedicated to Latona and Ilithya or Lucina which maintains a continual War with the Viper and Crocodile with both which Egypt is much troubled and therefore the Rats are accounted worthy of Religious honor because they destroy both But not all the Egyptians Worship the Indian Mice for some Adore the Crocodile and despise the Mice because they break the Crocodiles Eggs and also kill them for when the Crocodiles lie beaking with open mouth in the Sun the Mouse leaps in and there gnaws their Bowels asunder and makes his way out through their Bellies These Worshippers of so opposite a Religion one Adoring the Rat the other the Crocodile are not onely at variance among themselves which often grows to War but they prosecute and destroy the Creatures where ever they find them the Crocodilians destroy all the Rats and Ingnumons where ever they find them and those that
Apes requiring a peculiar Worship the Inhabitants Consecrated a peculiar Prayer Lucan saith That the Lybians worshipp'd the famous Jupiter Ammon in the manner of a Ram as being one of the twelve Celestial Signs to whom the Heathens came from all Parts to know future Events Moreover he saith some of these Worshippers of Beasts did not adore them as gods but because they were Consecrated to their Deities and for their good Deeds shewn either to the gods or men and therefore at Delphis according to Aelianus a Wolf was religiously honor'd because he gave direction of the sacred stoln Gold buried in the Mountain Parnassus The Ambraciots worshipp'd a Lyonness after the Tyrant Phayllus was devour'd by one big with Young Aristotle tells us That the Citizens of Troas worshipp'd the Mice Arist Rhetor. L. 2. because they gnaw'd their Enemies Bow-strings when they were at War with them Moreover some of the Heathens and also the Japanners believ'd That the Souls of Men by death were transmigrated into Beasts and therefore they worship not the Beast it self but the Souls of Men which resided in them Apollonius Tyancus perswaded the Alexandrians Philostr in Vit. Apollon That a tame Lyon which he had was the Egyptian King Amasis for which reason the Priests made Offerings to this suppos'd Amasis adorning the Beast with Golden Armlets and Collars and in that manner sent him to the farthermost Parts in Egypt Singing before him religious Hymns and Praises of their god In Leontopolis they erected a stately Temple because Apollonius said That it was not fitting that the powerful King Amasis whose Soul was transmigrated into a Lyon should go a begging from Door to Door for his Food But chiefly the Apes seem to afford the best Residences for humane Souls because they resemble a Man both in outward Shape and within Humane Bodies as Aristotle affirms wherefore Physicians when they want humane Bodies often Anatomize an Ape Galen calls an Ape an imperfect resemblance of a Man Arist L. 2. Hist Anim. Coel. Resp L. 3. C. 10. as Coelius Rodignius relates of him What more resembles Humane Shape Than the vile ridiculous Ape Moreover the foremention'd Tulp relates That the King of Sambaces told Samuel Blomert that the Baboons in the Island Borneo dare encounter with Armed Men and will set upon Women and if by their kindness and courtship they cannot vitiate they will force them Therefore by reason of the great resemblance of Apes and Men the Japanners are of opinion and chiefly those that believe the Pythagorean Doctrine concerning Transmigration That the Souls of deceased Kings and Emperors reside in Apes The Bonzies call'd Neugori how they live ¶ THe Netherland Ambassadors left the Temple of Apes near Toska and came on the eleventh day after their departure from Jedo on the seven and twentieth of April to Meaco the chiefest City for Trade in Japan wherein are erected several Cloysters of the Bonzi in which the Penitentiaries are Lockt up that will take their leave of this World yet account it no sin to commit all manner of Vices without the least regret in which wickedness those exceed which have promoted Cacubaw to be a god The Sect call'd Neugori are divided into three Degrees or Sections for some of them Pray continually others study and exercise themselves in Martial Discipline and the rest make daily a set number of Arrows And because they acknowledge no Superior nor chief Commander they carry on business in great disorder The oldest give their Votes first which if any one oppose the business falls so that all jangle and disagree which Consultation the Bonzies break up till the Evening and when grown dark they decide their business with the Sword and often kill one another though their Religion strictly forbids them to hurt a Mouse or kill the smallest Flye The Netherland Ambassadors take a survey of Meaco ¶ FUrthermore as to what concerns Meaco it is much adorn'd by the Palaces of the Emperor Cubus Taikosama and also that of the Payro In this City the Ambassadors stay'd till the thirtieth of April and being invited on a Day by the Master of the House where they lay and one of the Bongois to view some of the chiefest Buildings in the City they were carry'd with several other Merchants in Sedans often standing still to admire the costliness and magnificence of their several Temples and Towers after which being scarce satisfi'd with viewing the beauty of the various Edifices they were carry'd to a Musick-Lecture where the Master of their Lodgings had provided a handsom Collation for them which done they in the dusk of the Evening return'd to their House Description of the Emperor Cubo's Palace But amongst those famous Buildings which they view'd none seem'd so rich and stately as the Palace of the Emperor Cubo Lodowick Frojus an eye-witness relates That he had not seen the like Fabrick neither in Europe nor all India The Gardens which encompass it are surrounded with Cedar Cypress Pyne and Orange-Trees besides many others whose Names are to us unknown which are all Planted in such a decent order that they represent many fair Arbors the Lilies Roses and other Flowers which deck the Garden Beds also amaze the beholders not onely for their sweet Smells and various Colours but also their strange manner of Setting them The Governor of Meaco's Palace The Governor's Palace of Meaco merits also observation behind whose Privy-Lodgings is a marvellous Garden which is not onely artificially adorn'd with Imagery Trees and Plants but a River in the middle cut through Rocks and runs up above nine thousand Paces This River or Lake is shaded on both sides with all manner of delightful Trees the middle every where sprinkled with Isles which are all conjoyn'd with Stone-Bridges The Cloysters of the Bonzi in a Grove Not far from the City appears a pleasant Grove which shadeth fifty large and spacious Cloysters of the Bonzi where most of the Royal Youth have their Education sent thither to ease their Parents of the charge of bringing them up yet all pay great Admittances which are to be disbursed in the enlarging and beautifying of their Colledges each striving to outvie one another in greatness lustre and conveniency Lodowick Frojus viewing one of them saith thus I went being led by some that had newly embrac'd the Christian Faith through a Door curiously varnish'd into a Cloyster of the Bonzi behind the fore Gate was an open Court Pav'd with black square Stone and surrounded with a large Gallery the Walls underneath being also Varnish'd shine very curiously next to this Court lay a stately Garden where neither Art nor Cost had been spar'd several rising Grounds or Mounts being made in the same of polish'd Marble neatly joyn'd together the tops of these Hillocks crown'd with Trees were all made passable to one another with Stone-Bridges the Ground underneath being a course and glittering Sand mix'd with small black
by thirteen great Waxen Chests carry'd by the Pallaquin Porters And lastly The whole Procession was clos'd with four hundred Persons all in white Vestments Marching six in a Rank in very good Order Great tumult in Mecae after the Dayro was past ¶ BEfore the Dayro's Train were all past by the Evening came on and innumerable company of People of all sorts the Scaffold and Houses which had been fill'd with Spectators had disgorg'd their burthens into the Streets so that the multitude was so immensly great that many disorders happen'd and several were crowded to death many were so squeez'd that they burst asunder others falling were sure never to rile being immediately trampled under Feet horrible was the general cry of the common People The Horsemen making their way by force through the Foot which tumbled down one over another in great number on both sides so lying prostrate for the Horses to tread o're the Streets flow'd with blood Amongst this miserable Croud were also many Thieves and Robbers which with drawn Scymiters made their way through cutting of Purses Stealing Murthering and Robbing as they wen't immediately killing without mercy all those that offered the least resistance so that in many places several fell down dead and over these tumbled others and the following multitudes still pressing forward oftentimes made a Mountain of Men heap'd one upon another whereof those that were uppermost were happy for those which were underneath were sure never to rise the noise all night was so great as if the City had been in an uprore and the insolencies grew to that height that many persons of Quality who could not get out of the throng or near retiring to their Houses were set upon and many of them spoyl'd and Murder'd among others the Lord of Firando's Secretary saw his Servant Robb'd and a rich Cabinet of his taken from him before his Face whilest he had much ado to defend himself from the violence of these Assaulters The Ambassadors escape strangely ¶ THe Ambassador Conrade Cramer stood and saw from his Scaffold many of these Cruelties and Outrages committed and seeing himself in no safety to stay there all night but that he and all his Retinue would be sure to perish before next morning he also ventur'd amongst the Croud the press being so great that he was born up by the People most of his way being but seldom able to put a Foot to the Ground yet at length so it pleas'd Providence that he and all his Followers got without any considerable loss into their Lodgings How the Dayro is treated by both their Majesties ¶ THe Dayro and his Wives lay there three days and three nights in the Emperors Palace where they were serv'd by their Majesties their Brothers and the greatest Princes of the Court Those which were plac'd by the Emperors as Stewards to prepare the several Dishes for the Dayro was the Lord Chief Justice of the Countrey and City Miaco and also the Lords Ivocomasamma Coberytothomysammay Nacamoramokumonsamma Mannosabroyemonsamma every Meal consisting of one hundred and forty Services and for to attend the Dayro's three Principal Wives were plac'd Ouwandonie Head Councellor of the old Emperors and also the Lords of the Councel Farimadonne Queniemondonne Sioyserondonne and Chirotadonne This Feasting being done the young Emperor gave the Dayro these following Presents being three thousand Boats of Silver each of them four Tails and three Marses two rich Tables cover'd with Golden Plates two hundred Japan Gowns three hundred Pieces of wrought Sattin twelve thousand Pound of raw Silk one great piece of Calombac five great Silver Pots full of Musk and ten beautiful Horses with all their Furniture but those which the old Emperor gave him were much less Thus ended the glory of that Triumphal Procession Sumptuous Palace of the Emperor Taicosama ¶ MEaco by the Japanners call'd Cabucoma is divided into upper and lower Meaco's the lower spreading towards the Fort Tutzumi is so costly built that one Range seeming one House is at least three Miles in length The Dayro hath his Residence in the upper Meaco where is also seen the most Splendant and Magnificent Palace Erected by the Emperor Taycosama Anno 1586. hung round about with a thousand Mats edg'd with fine Damask wrought with Gold The Walls of some of the Rooms all over are Plate◠with Gold the greatest part of the Palace is built of curious Wood and costly Marble before the Palace appears a spacious Court wherein stands an Imperial Theatre where Comedies and Tragedies are Acted Japauners expert in acting Plays At which the Japanners are very exquisite having no want as they say of good Poets whose Theme being either Divine or Moral they boast sufficient and well Written Plots their Commick punish like ours Vice prefering Vertue their Tragick setting forth the great though unfortunate Acts of former Saints and antient Hero's They also adorn their Stages with Scenes shifted according to their various and chang'd Arguments and betwixt every Act appears a full Chorus of Musicians Singing and Playing like the Antient Greeks and Romans on several Instruments but no place elsewhere in Japan exhibits the like Shews or Presentations of the business concerning the Stage than in this Theatre Description of the Japan Races ¶ BEfore this Palace of Taycosama they have a piece of Ground taken in for a Course or Race being a Match betwixt a Man and a Horse about the Walls stand thousands of Spectators on a more eminent Seat Rail'd in sit cross Legg'd by themselves several Drummers on the tops of the Rails hang ready fitted to their hands great Copper Kettles and Basons some also lying on the ground on which they Beat and Taber with such force that the hideous din and shrilness of the noise often deafs the unwilling hearers At the end of this Lane stand two strong Posts having a great Rope made fast from one to the other behind this at a small distance stands a square Pillar on which a Flag or Ensign waves fast on a Staff one mans Office is to imbrace this Post with his left hand and with his right points on the Breast of another who hath on his Breast hanging about his Neck a square Board Painted with a Griffin he also lays his right hand on the top of the Post and his left on his Scymiter next to him stands a third side-ways which holds a long knotted Whip in his right hand which gives the Signal to the Racers behind these three stand others with black Head-Pieces adorn'd also with a Sable Plume which are the Judges of the Course The Prize which they run for is commonly two pair of Wax'd Boots made fast to Woodden Clogs Plated with Silver he that runs hath a thin Silk Habits Lac'd close about the middle their Slceves reaching down to their Elbows their Breeches being wide are ty'd up about the middle of their Thighs like Trunk-Hose on their Legs they wear Buskins of
Silk when they are ready the Drummers beat and the signal being given they start the Race being betwixt a Man and a Horse they thus perform The Man holds the Horse by a single Rein drawn out with which he must not straiten nor hold in the Horse who runs at his full speed and the men by him when drawing near the Goal the foremention'd Posts and Cord the Horse and he must leap over at once together which done with equal dexterity he gains the propos'd Reward or Prize which if he fail making a feeble or no performance he not onely looseth the glory of the Victory but also all manner of Court-Preferment ¶ BUt as to what concerns the Dayro he is the onely true and lawful Heir of Japan and was formerly held in such Veneration by the Japanners that they honor'd him as a god and by this his great respect he kept the Empire a long time in Peace and Quietness till Anno 1550. During the Dayro's Government Japan never tasted the inconveniencies of a Civil War which after his removal from the Throne Civil Wars were terrible in Japan the reasons thereof brake out in that nature that scarce any Countrey in the World was ever a greater Stage or Blood-shed The salvage cruelties which they us'd against one another in that grand Commotion are unexpressable the Conquerors turn'd their new-gotten Provinces top-si-turvey killing not sparing Infants in the Cradle destroying and burning both Towns and Villages of which some to this day lie bury'd in their own Rubbish by which they sufficiently testifie the Destructions which were made by their Civil Wars in which Japan was turmoil'd above fifty years The occasion and beginning was thus The Dayro who is accounted so holy that the Sun must not shine upon him nor his Feet touch the Earth nor his Hair or Nails ever suffer'd to be cut which Custom hath been in use from many Ages to this day had a hundred and eighteen years ago two Sons of which the second according to an antient Law supply'd the place of Captain-General to be ready on all occasions to quell all manner of Insurrections either by substitute Kings or Subjects The eldest expected after his Fathers Decease to possess the Throne during whose life he held no Command Their Mother out of her affections to both prevail'd so far with the Dayro that the General-ship should be so divided betwixt both the Brothers that they might Command their Forces Alternately each his Trienial But the youngest when the time came that he should Resign his Commission to his eldest Brother refus'd and privately chose several Princes of Japan for to assist him if need should require by which means he Fortifi'd himself so strongly that he car'd for no Forces whatsoever no not his Father himself who immediately chose another General granting him Commission not onely to subdue but kill his Rebellious Son Soon after several of his Substitute Kings raising all their Forces brought a mighty Army together in the Field with which they went on so successfully that in short time they utterly defeated and destroy'd the Rebel and all his Forces Insurrection against the Dayro This was the first Rebellion and Insurrection that was made against the Dayro but by the death of his Son the War was no way finish'd For the conquering General taking that opportunity as having all the Forces under his Command after the Decease of the Dayro made himself Emperor of Japan Against him the young Dayro arose notwithstanding the new Emperor allow'd him all his former Revenues and shew'd him the same Respect as had formerly been shown to his Father At last the Dayro march'd towards the new Emperor whom by means of a chosen General by the Japanners call'd Cubo he defeated and slew This Conquering General not regarding the miserable end of the new-slain Emperor aim'd also at the Crown making himself absolute Master of all the Forces The Inland Wars in Japan are very cruel From hence proceeded a bloody War Kings and Princes dividing the Countrey appropriating Territories and Provinces to themselves which was not done without much trouble for by this means not onely Countrey against Countrey and City against City but also petty Villages had peculiar Wars one with another those which were Conquer'd were sure not to find the least mercy for they neither spar'd Houses nor Temples nor indeed poor Infants consuming and destroying all by Sword and Fire so that in short time whole Cities lay bury'd in Ashes Mioxindeu◠opposeth Cubo This new Cubo overcoming all at last setled himself on the Imperial Throne which was but for a small time for when he thought himself surest not thinking of the least Insurrection Mioxindono whom he had entrusted with all his Forces joyn'd in conspiracy with Dajondono Lord of Nara who had gotten an Army as we said before of twelve thousand Men which they drew up close to Meaco Soon after Mioxindono accompany'd with a strong Life-guard enter'd the City under pretence to congratulate the Emperor for some prime favors which he had pleas'd to shew him And to that purpose that he might the better bereave the Emperor of his Life privately and without disturbance he invited him to a Banquet in the Cloyster of the Bonzi near Meaco where he intended to put in Execution his bloody Design But the Emperor Cubo scenting the business suspected it the more because he had information that the Army was drawn up near Meaco made all things in readiness for his escape who being on the Way was perswaded and call'd back by some of his Council telling him that they could not perceive any such danger in the business accounting it ignoble for an Emperor to flye from a Prince which was his own Subject But in the interim Mioxindono entred the City Meaco with all his Forces and drew up towards the Palace but before he committed any hostility he sent to the Emperor Cubo demanding to send him the Heads of some of his Nobles whose insupportable Greatness as he pretended stood in his way which if the Emperor would grant a Peace should immediately be concluded and he would suddenly withdraw his Forces and depart from the City The Herald brought a Letter in which was written the Names of those Grandees which Mioxindono would have Executed An antient Courtier being sent from Cubo receiv'd the Paper which not without many reproaches to the Rebels he tore to pieces and returning again to the Emperors Presence One of the Emperors Courtiers stab himself drew out a Stilletto with which he desperately Stabbing himself fell dead on the Ground at the Emperor's Feet The Revenge of a Son taken for his Father After the same manner six more made away themselves But the Son of the old Courtier seeing his Father weltring in his own Bloud on a sudden ran out amongst the Rebels where having wounded and kill'd several of them he himself was slain Whilst
never saw but soon after hearing thereof sent a second Embassy over The Chief in Commission was Peter Gonsalves his assistance four Franciscan Monks Bartholomew Ruiz Francisco de Sancto Michael Peter Baptista and Gonzales Garcia Anno 1593. they had their Audience before Taicosoma presenting him with Gifts of great value which pleas'd the Emperor so well that his former jealousies being quite blown over The Franciscans built a Church in Japan he granted the Friers leave to build a Church and Cloyster near Meaco provided that they should not meddle with his Subjects nor perswade them neither in private or publick concerning matters of Religion all which they promis'd and in a years time rais'd a Church Consecrating it to the Virgin Mary of Portiuncula but however notwithstanding all this they busied themselves clandestinely and often in publick to raise Proselites which Doctrine spread every where in short time amongst the Japanners who imbrac'd Christianity with such eagerness and came flocking to them in such multitudes that these four were not able to perform their Functions at the Ceremony belonging to their Conversion and Baptism for which cause they sent for assistance to the Manilla's from whence soon after came the Franciscans Augustin Rodrigo Marcello Ribadeneyra and Hieronimo de Jesu with Letters and Gifts from the Governor of the Philipines to Taicosama to whom the Presents were very acceptable but the Letters unpleasing seeing they answer'd him not to what he had written Franciscans build Cloysters in Japan Peter Baptista was the chief of the Friers which so spread their Religion that they built another Cloyster calling it Bethlehem in Osacca Moreover they obtain'd liberty of the Governor of Meaco to build a third Cloyster at Nangesaque under pretence of two sick Brothers Peter Baptista and Hieronimo de Jesu which could not agree with the Air about Osacca so that for their health-sake they were necessitated to remove These two went and resided in a Chappel Dedicated to Lazarus standing near Meaco between two Alms-houses which were govern'd by the two Brothers of Mercy Thither a great number of people flock'd daily from the City to see them perform Mass and hear their Disputations A Japan Nobleman erects an Order of the Virgin Mary ¶ AMongst whom came a Noble Person call'd Didacus Gonnoi who soon after imbracing the Roman Religion was a great Promoter of it in the Territory near the City Macava insomuch that he Indow'd a Brotherhood with Means and built a Colledge Dedicating the Society to the Holy Virgin who also invited the Heathens to the hearing of the Gospel Why Taicosania permitted the Friers to be in Japan Taicosama seem'd to wink at this nestling of the Monks sent from the Philipines to Japan because those Islands brought him in yearly a great Revenue and amongst other Rarities which came from thence were certain Pots or Cruises call'd Boioni which might be had there at a mean Price but by the Japanners valu'd above Gold because no Vessels whatsoever preserves their Liquor mixt with the Powder Chia better than these Cruises This Drink the Noblest men in the Countrey make with their own hands in a peculiar place of their Houses built for that purpose Trades in Cruises Taicosama sent two Persons to the Philipines to buy up all these Pots being certain to make vast profit thereof But these his Factors found in the City Manilla several Japan Christians which bought up all those Vessels with intention to dispose of them again in Japan Taicosama being inform'd thereof took all those Traders and seiz'd upon all their Cruises which he could light on and forbad them upon pain of death not to bring any more thereof into his Dominions so they escaping narrowly with their lives were again released Promotes his Brothers Sons to high dignities ¶ BUt before Taicosama began the Wars with the Coreans he Promoted his Brothers Sons having no Children of his own to high Dignities and Honor the eldest whom he alotted to be his Successor he Crown'd King over five Kingdoms the second over three lying near Meaco and to the youngest he gave two preserving fifteen for himself with the Supreme Command over all The remaining Provinces and Territories were divided amongst his Courtiers Generals and nearest Friends with Proviso's to pay an Annual Tribute to the Emperor But those Princes which were not removed were oppress'd by Taxes that they were scarce able to rebel living continually in fear on one time or other to loose life and all His intention about the common War And indeed it was so design'd for he had no other intention to make Wars with the Coreans but that those Kings which he sent thither might be ruin'd there or at least so much Work to do that they should not disturb him in his Dominions or if they should in any time Conquer Corea then he would give them the Conquer'd Territories in exchange for those in Japan that so he might be absolute Governor over his own Empire at home Pretends to give over his authority And that none might suspect this his Design he pretended that he would no longer Administer but give over his Imperial Authority to his eldest Nephew of twenty five years of age Whereupon he nominated him the Quabacondono which name is onely given to those that are Heir-apparent But this was but dissembled for though he Nominated him yet he no ways intended nor did part with his Authority But the Kings and Princes which he imploy'd for Corea never scented in the least that he had laid this Plot for their destruction and the enjoying of their Estates pretending nothing but the care of theirs and the publick good so that they went chearfully abroad with an Army of sixty thousand men Japan Forces goes to Corea and soon after follow'd a hundred and forty thousand more which Forces Landing in Corea in a short time carrying all before them made themselves Masters of the Metropolis Pingjang and most part of the Island yet oft they met with repulses and great obstructions for the Chinese Auxiliaries Chineses assist the Coreans which still came fresh and fresh maintaining a doubtful War six years and drove them at last towards their Landing-place Beat the Japanners from Corea where they were sorely gall'd by twelve well man'd Fortresses that oft Sally'd out upon them so that they were forc'd to make a dishonorable Peace the relinquishing of all their Conquest in Corea Thus ended the War which exhausted Taicosama's Treasure and spent him a hundred thousand men amongst which his second Nephew whose youngest brother dy'd before Quabacondono commits great outrages in Japan The eldest made Quabacondono was yet living he being witty and quick of apprehension yet was most inhumanely cruel for his greatest delight was Butchering of Men in a humane Shambles which he had thus contriv'd himself in a place near his Palace in the middle of an open Court inclos'd with
Guardian And also gave order That few Nobles should come in his Chamber and his Physicians should not stir from his Bed-side and if possibly they could to study for some Medicines to preserve his Life Causes a great sorrow Upon this parting all the Courtiers began exceedingly to lament seeing their Emperor by whom every one expected to be preferr'd carried away never after to be seen alive The Noise and Cry was so great within that it was heard without the Castle whose Gates were strongly guarded but this coming to the Peoples Ears gave supition that Taicosama was dead The report of his death occasions great Uproars among the People The Report of which spread up and down the Countrey like Wild-fire Whereupon the Thieves sally'd out from their several Recesses robbing and pillaging whom ever they met and in some places the People began to Mutiny not much unlike the Roman Tumults whilst the Cardinals are about the Election of a new Pope But the chief Insurrection here was in Osacca Meaco and Fissima insomuch that the Great Council were too weak to quell the Rebellion This Rumor of Taicosama's Death was credited the more by the Common People because the Council had guarded the Fort of Fissima round about with new Soldiers and Listed Forces in all Parts wheresoever they could get them How it is found not to be true Ten days together this Belief continu'd But the Emperor in this interim growing somewhat better sent two of the Council to Osacca with Orders to get the Castle finish'd that was to be built there with all expedition and also gave to the several Princes design'd to go from Fissima thither divers Bags of Rice and great Sums of Money About the Out-walls of this Castle The Castle of Osacen a strange Fabrick containing three Leagues in Circumference a thousand Men wrought daily all which were paid off every Night Within stood above seventeen thousand Merchants and Artificers Houses which were all pull'd down in three days time and every one commanded upon forfeiture of their Goods to carry away their own Rubbish and to clear the Ground Which done a new Field was alotted them to build new Houses on according to a Platform stak'd out by Surveyors and whosoever was backward in Building should lose his Ground where none might raise a House under two Stories high These Orders once publish'd the Work went on day and night insomuch that a new City and Castle appear'd at once This Building stopp'd the Rumor that went of the Emperor's Death for every one might well judge that the Council would not take so great a Work upon them Taicosama is trouble for his Son Fidery ¶ MEan time on the third and fourth of September Taicosama seem'd more and more to recover so that he spent his time in the firm Establishing of the Empire on his young Son Fidery But on the fifth of September his Sickness began again to increase Grows worse whereupon all the Gates were strongly guarded to the end the noise of the Emperor's Death might not be spread amongst the Common People Thenceforward the Distemper increas'd daily till the fourteenth of the same Month on which day he lay a considerable time without any appearance of Life so that he was judg'd by all his Attendants to be dead But at last fetching a deep Sigh he came to himself Is distracted yet in few Hours after lost his Senses so that he began to talk idly but they might understand by his distracted Expressions that the Establishment of his Son Fidery did still trouble him of whom he spoke till his last gasp Dies which was Anno 1508 the sixteenth of September being sixty four years old and after fifteen years Reign having succeeded Nobunango slain before Meaco by the Prince Aquechi Aquechi aim'd first at the Crown This Prince being encourag'd by his many Victories aim'd at the Crown but being treacherously slain by a Day-laborer left the place for Taicosama who knew exceeding well to take the advantage of such an opportunity Nobunanga had three Sons The eldest Voxequixama lost with his Father the Battel and his Life The second Oxiacen Fongedonu was distracted And for the youngest Son being but three years old Taicosama took upon him the Authority pretending to be his Guardian and to rule the Empire in his behalf and for his advantage till he attain'd fitting years to Govern but soon after tasting the sweetness of Power and Sovereignty he got so many Forces together that Nobunanga's Son was forc'd to be contented with the Kingdom of Mino and deliver up his just Title of the Imperial Crown to Taicosama Taicosama's death is kept private ¶ ONgosschio and the Council kept the Emperor's Death very private binding all those that knew of it by Oath not to divulge it but a blabbing Courtier forgetting his Oath accidentally told it and as a Reward for his Garrulity was immediately Crucified This his Punishment kept all others so in awe that every one held his Tongue and lock'd up the Secret yet not long after it was discover'd Ongosschio and the Council clash In this small time the Council fell at variance with Ongosschio whose Design of getting the Empire they all observ'd Whereupon they consulting together against him decreed That he should not be Guardian over Fidery any longer but should return and satisfie himself with his eight Kingdoms The Councellors seeing the Government lay too heavy upon them chose four Eminent Princes more to their Assistance and being thus strengthned they seem'd not in the least to fear Ongosschio who was not idle during their new Election It is the Custom among the Japanners that Noblemen upon several Accidents change their Names Japanners oftentimes change their Names according to which Ongosschio was call'd Jyavasu and Giciasu but putting off those three he exchang'd the same for Daifusama which Name we will observe in his following Story Taicosama is made a god ¶ ANd now as if free from fear or danger they were busie in Creating Taicosama a God The Temple and his Image being ready for that purpose his Corps was Interr'd in a Vault with all Funeral Solemnity and his Name chang'd into Xin Fachiman as he had before design'd This Exchanging of Names when Men are Registred amongst the number of the Deities was formerly very common both with the Greeks and Romans For Romulus was call'd Quirinus Juno Matuta Leucothoe Albunea Melicerta Palaemon Leda Nemesis Circe Marica Nersilia Hora Rhea Mother of the Gods Idaeda Dindymeda Philena Pissinuntia Cibele Berecynthia To Create Princes for Gods for their Valiant Exploits and Noble Atchievements took not its Original in Japan but was a Custom above two thousand Years since which the ancient Father Lactantius Firmianus witnesses Lactant. de Fals Reâ—g lib. 1. ca. 5. saying Those whom the ignorant and foolish People call Gods worshipping them none can be so weak as not to imagine them
Father when he put off this Body No sooner came the Youth within Osacca but Morindono caus'd him secretly to be Beheaded and sent the Head to Daifusama to obtain his favor but he abhorr'd the deed and would have taken vengeance on him for it had not Morindono been secretly inform'd of his displeasure on which he reported that the Youth had first ripp'd up his own Belly for grief of his Fathers death Daifusama spared many of his enemies as also their Allies and Kindred Besides these three since Daifusama's Conquest he scarce put any to death in cool blood but went on in a milde way that thereby he might draw the minds of the people to him and settle the Empire upon his Son according to the Laws of the Countrey Tzunocamindono's Wife and Children should have suffer'd death as also many other Widows and Orphans whose Fathers and allyance were in Arms against him but he spar'd them all The courage of Acascicamon ¶ NOne more disorder'd and did more mischief to Diafusama's Army than Acasicamon and Sassuma for Acasicamon retreated not but rush'd into the midst of them and made great execution judging it better to die by the Sword of the Enemy than to lay violent hands on himself Where whilest he was hemm'd in and no hope of escape A wonderful accident in the stress of the fight he broke into a Regiment led by Cainocami who knew him by his Behavior and Arms and crying aloud said Save him The Speech of Cainocami Souldiers save him for be shall be my Prisoner upon this Command they stood all still and he going towards Acasicamon embrac'd him about the neck and shedding many Tears said My dear Friend how hard have the Fates been to me to make us Enemies that we should thus in a lamentable dissention which shakes the very Foundations of the Empire Fight one against another because you led the Parliament Forces and I the Kings you have gain'd honor enough though you are defeated by making your way thus through the Conquering Army Which said Acasicami so soon as he was able to speak reply'd thus If you are my true Friend as I believe now or never shew it and presently dispatch me with that Sword with which you would spare my Life But Cainocami on the contrary set him upon his own Horse and assur'd him his life Daifusama distributes Kingdoms and rewards to those that fought for him ¶ FUrthermore Daifusama thought it convenient to distribute his Bounty and Rewards on those that had fought for him against the Council giving some great Kingdoms for lesser ones others had larger or smaller Territories so that all Japan was in confusion Some remov'd from their Houses Cities and Towns with their new King and Government the Inhabitants going from their antient Habitations to other Countreys appointed by Daifusama Nangoioca receiv'd for the small Fort of Tango the Kingdom of Bungo Facuscimadono the Castle Firoscima and the Countries thereunto belonging To some Christians of Noble Extract Daifusama gave several Livings in the Kingdom of Mimaraca because they had bore Arms and fought valiantly for him He releas'd also the five Jesuits without Ransom which were put in Prison by Canzviedono when the Castle of Uto was rendred up giving them free Conduct to Nangesaque To Cainocamio the Son of Quamboiendono he bestow'd the Kingdom of Cicugen Lives in quiet Since that time Daifusama had rest and quiet and rul'd Japan with Imperial Command as Guardian of Fideri He remov'd the Court from Fissima to Surunga and chang'd his Name of Daifusama He chang'd the name of it again into Goyssio Samma Anno sixteen hundred and eleven he was visited by several Ambassadors from Europe and other places The Portuguese and Castilians behav'd themselves so ill that Goyssio Samma seem'd to be much displeas'd thereat Spex and Segerssoon were very acceptable to Daifusama Jacob Spex and Peter Segerssoon having far more free Audience from the Emperor and their Presents being kindly accepted A Copy of their Embassy written in Japan Language and left with the Chancellor Cosequidonne so that they might have a quicker dispatch at their return from Jedo being instructed that it would be fitting to Complement the Emperors Son there which the Castilian Ambassadors had done before them but committed a great error therein by visiting the same before their Father Their journey to Jedo On the eighteenth of August in the foremention'd year they made their Journey thither Cosequidonne prepar'd all things necessary for them in that Expedition But the Netherland Ambassadors going by day-break out of Suringa came by noon to the Village Jesare where they lay that night in which happen'd such a dreadful Tempest of Thunder Lightning and Showres of Rain as if the world had been at an end which constrain'd them to stay till the next day About thirty years after the Ambassadors Frisius and Brookhurst lodg'd there as their Landlord told them In the morning they departed from thence in foul Weather and came to Missina and thence through Fovisauwa and Toska into Jedo â—eir strange adventure â—do Here by means of one William Adams they made their coming known to Sadadonne President in the Council of the Emperors Son and excus'd themselves that for two years when they had visited the Emperor at Suringa they had neglected to pay their respects to the young Emperor which was The Emperors Son is desirous to see the Netherlanders partly because they knew not the way and partly for their speedy return upon which the safety of the Netherlanders Ships depend At which Sadadonne seeming to be satisfi'd said That the Emperors Son had Information that there were Ships come out of remote Countries into the Haven of Firando two years since and he desir'd to see those People whose Warlike Deeds and rational Managements of Affairs were known all over India therefore they need not any way doubt but they should be welcome Besides that they might loose no time he prepar'd all things to get them Audience before the Emperors Son Moreover proffer'd to do them all the kindness the Hollanders themselves would require The next day the Ambassadors repair'd to the House of Sadadonne and presented him with five Ells of Crimson Cloth two Pieces of Black Lute-String one Piece of Black Damask five Pieces of White Sattins three Glass Flasks one Carbine and a Powder-Horn These Presents were thankfully accepted though with intimation that it was against their Custom but being the first time that he had seen the Netherlander Rarities brought so unmeasurable a distance thither not without great labor and charge they should be accepted Further he acquainted them That last night he had made known their coming to the Emperors Son who seem'd to be well-pleas'd thereat The discourse between Spex and Sadadonne This their Discourse together continu'd above half an hour Sadadonne enquiring of them concerning the State and the
the Manillies and complain'd much of the injury done him by the Netherland Mariners who gave out That they prejudic'd onely the Castilians and Portuguese but indeed they made a prey also of the Japanners and said If this misdemeanor should come to the Emperors Ear it would be bad for the Netherlanders Cosequidonne in the mean time towards the Evening sent twenty Japan Shifts to Spex and ten for Segerszoon to demonstrate as the Messenger express'd it his affection towards them The last of August Williams Adams receiv'd the two requested Letters of License with the Imperial Seal instantly the Ambassadors caus'd them to be Translated out of the Japan Tongue into Low-Dutch and found them word for word which were to this effect The contents of the Japan Letters of License The Holland Ships that Sail'd to Japan be they Anchor'd in what Haven soever none under our Command shall any way disturb them but on the contrary shew them respect and afford them all manner of assistance The Ambassadors were much troubled at the expressions in this License being not full enough to their desire and intentions wanting the chief and grand concern viz. That they should not be molested with Searchers and Customers in the Delivery Lading and Sale of their Goods which were vexatious to all Merchants whatsoever especially as they found to the Netherlanders the chiefest being Saphidonne Saphidonne suppress'd the Netherland trade in Japan who exacted Fees Duties and Customs more than any being very greedy and troublesome of which were the Emperor informed would cost him his life though his Sister was one of the Emperors Concubines The condition of the Netherlanders with their Letters of License But it was very difficult to lay the Plot for the destruction of this Saphidonne who was so eminent a Person and certain they were that the Emperor would enquire why the Netherland Ambassadors should insist so particularly upon him that by vertue of the Letters of License their Goods should not be stop'd nor seiz'd by his Majesties Officers of the Custom also they would run no less danger to request the amending or augmenting of a Letter Granted by the Emperors Favor Yet at last they concluded to venture on one of them whereupon on the first of September Spex and William Adams made their Address to Cosequidonne Spex thanking him for the speedy procuring the Letters of License who ask'd if there were not enough inserted in they answer'd Yes onely there wanted the Emperors permission for the Netherland Ship to deliver and sell the Goods without the disturbance of Waiters and overseers whereupon Cosequidonne assur'd them that none should in the least molest them wherefore he had sent a Letter to Saphidonne commanding him not to hinder the Netherlanders in the delivery or sale of their Merchandize for he had receiv'd certain information that Saphidonne according to his own pleasure and not in such a manner as he ought seiz'd their Goods and hinder'd their sale of which they had never complain'd but for great reason Spex requested Cosequidonnes own Hand-writing to make use of if they should hereafter suffer more injury by Saphidonne and also if he found the business of so weighty a concern to procure from the Emperor his Imperial License to deliver and sell without molestation but Cosequidonne judg'd it to be needless so long as William Adams staid in Surunga to whom he might write over concerning any miscarriage against which there should speedy order be taken The cunning management of Spex with Cosoquidonne But Spex fear'd much considering that time run away e're any Order could come from the Court for if they could not be fully Laden in nine Moneths time to come away that then they were necessitated to lie five Moneths at Panama not without great damage to them Cosequidonne apprehending the weight of the matter then promis'd that if the Ambassadors Journey reequir'd speed William Adams might stay to procure of the Emperor the desir'd License of free-delivering and Trading Spex thank'd Cosequidonne for that singular courtesie and presently caus'd a Petition to be drawn in the Japan Tongue to that purpose which the same Evening William Adams deliver'd into Cosequidonne's hands who immediately reading it over order'd William Adams to wait in the Morning at the Court and there deliver the Petition himself that his Imperial Majesty would be pleas'd out of his special favor to grant them their request The Netherlanders obtain'd of the Emperor their request to the admiration of every one It happen'd just the very next day that Sicusabrondonne who especially favor'd the Netherlanders was present at the business These two persons talking together went and found Goysio Samma the Emperor and finding him in a good humor deliver'd the Petition which being Granted Sign'd and Seal'd William Adams presently convey'd it to the Ambassadors with a command from the Emperor That the Netherland Ambassadors should go on their Journey without molestation and next year bring new Merchandize thither Sicusabrondonne and Cosequidonne sent each of them a Nobleman for Spex and Segerszoon about this Express which never any Nation before could presume to commanding them not to stay longer but come the following year with new Netherland Commodities else they would perhaps incur the Emperos displeasure They were maintain'd freely for their Journey William Adams was order'd to conduct them down and to take care for all things in behalf of the Emperor necessary for their Journey The Ambassadors humbly thanking them for their so great Bounties assur'd them that they would never be found ungrateful or to fall into the Emperors just displeasure After having taken their leave they took Horse and rode through Cacingam and by midnight arriv'd at Arei defended by a Castle The City Astanamia ¶ TWo Miles further lieth Astanamia a fair City whose Inhabitants drive a great Trade in Timber all the Streets and Lanes are full of great Wood-yards their Houses built all behind by the way lives a Broker who deals for the Merchants The journey of the Ambassadors ¶ BEtween Mia and Quano the Sea makes a Bay into the Land seven Leagues broad over which Sailing after having Landed they refresh'd at Quanto a handsome City also fortifi'd with a strong Castle In the Evening they arrived within Cammiammi by Day-break mounting on Horseback and going on their Journey they were surpriz'd about Noon near Znitzamma by a Thunder Shore but not stopping though the Weather continu'd foul in the Evening they came to Vitzibe In Oets the Ambassadors parted for Spex and William Adams travel'd to Meaco to deliver Cosequidonne's Letters to Itacura Fovimendonne and once more to present him with four Ells of Crimson Cloth two Pieces of black Lute-string one Piece of Strip'd Silk and some Pounds of Lead After many Apologies he took the Presents rather because the Netherland Ambassadors otherwise might doubt of his affection to them than that ever it was accustom'd
so to be After their departure Spex took some Wax-Work along with him which in his Journey thither he had bespoke and went on to Fissima where Segerszoon and John Cousins were arrived with their Goods Here meeting one another They meet again they went all aboard of a Bark in which they Sail'd to the Suburbs of Osacca where the Wind blew so hard against them that they were forc'd to Land not being able to get further They travel to Saccai to observe trade In the mean time they went on to the City Saccai famous for Trade being three Leagues from Osacca to enquire out the manner of their Dealing and very happily met there with Melchior Zantfoort who suffering Shipwrack on that Coast staid in this City where he had narrowly observ'd all their Customs of which he inform'd Spex who gave them such satisfaction that they no way repented their Journey thither They come to Firando Thence from Cussima the Suburb of Osacca they went on their way and on the nineteenth of September Anno sixteen hundred and eleven they came to an Anchor before Firando where they were honorably entertain'd by old Foyesamma and the young Governor Donnesumi and after the reading of the Letters deliver'd written by the Council in Surunga and Jedo and especially the Emperors the two Waiters were immediately Commanded from the Netherland Ship call'd The Brake then lying in the Harbor The Governor of the Countrey of Firando is the cause of the Trade of the Netherlanders in Japan Foyesamma obliged the East-india Company exceedingly in this Embassy for he not onely provided Spex and Segerzoon with a Gentleman to recommend them at Court but also Anno 1603. fitted out a Jonk at his own Cost and Charge to carry Quackernaek and Melchior Zantroort who lost their Ships on the Japan Shore to Patane there to declare the benefit of the Japan Trade to the Netherlanders This Voyage cost Foyesamma about two thousand Pieces of Eight Afterwards Anno 1609. when the first Ships being the Red Lyon with Arrows and the Griffin that came from Batavia to Firando he furnish'd the chief Merchants which sought for a free Trade by the Emperor with a Galley of fifty six Oars which was out two Moneths and return'd so sadly Weather-beaten that she was soon after broke up Mean while the foremention'd Ships left great store of Pepper at Firando which Foyesamma bought in at the dearest Rate because Saphedonne the Emperor's Governor in Nangesaque should not ingross the Pepper-Trade to himself so that no other Merchant durst proffer any Price for it but Foyesamma losing above twelve hundred Pound thereof the Charges and Damage which he suffer'd for or by the East-India Company was very great Neither were his Losses repair'd though he receiv'd the year before out of ten Chinese Jonks above four thousand weight of Pepper in Presents Presents made to the Governor of Firando The Netherland Council at Firando taking this into consideration that Foyesamma might not be discourag'd for his great Favors and his noble Undertaking they thought it fit to present him with some rich Presents though their small Cargo could scarce allow of the same yet they were as bountiful as they could and gave the old and young Governor and his Unckle such Gifts that they were all kindly received And this was the second Embassy which the Netherlanders sent to Daifusama the Emperor of Japan Why Daifusama promoted the Foreign Trade Daifusama first call'd Ongoschio and at last Goyssio Samma was exceedingly pleas'd with such foreign Courtesies He also endeavor'd by means of the Outlandish Trade to enrich and employ his Subjects and therefore all Strangers were protected by the Emperor and secur'd from all Affronts yet not long after a bloody Persecution of the Christians began in his Empire Persecutes the Roman Christians The Jesuit Cornelius Hazart mentions several Martyrs as Johannes Gorosaimon Simon Giffioje Magdalena Agnes Melchior Bujandono Damianus Leo Xiquigemo Michael and Martha besides several Children which were either beheaded burnt or Nail'd on Crosses Moreover as to what is related concerning Fayaxinda his Wife Martha Daughter Magdalena and his young Son Jacob besides Adrian Tacafaxi Joanna Leo Canyemon and Paulus Danyemon I leave to the pleasure of the Reader to believe Father Hazart relates their Martyrdom thus Hazarts Relation of some Martyrs ¶ HAlf a Mile from Arima stands a House in a Valley built on eight Pillars cover'd with Straw and the Walls of Wood. On the seventeenth of October Anno 1613. they were led out of the City at which time it was present death to be a Christian and yet twenty thousand Christians came together and divided themselves into several Companies carrying lighted Torches and wore red Caps walking six and six in a row in the same manner as they go in Procession in Rome and Antwerp strowing the Paths which they pass'd with Coral and Bays to the honor of all the Saints The Martyrs went forth from amongst the Company into the foremention'd House where every one embrac'd a Wooden Pillar but whilst the Executioner was tying them fast one after another to the Posts Leo Canyenon none knew how got upon the top of the House and call'd from thence with a loud voyce saying Brothers this day appears the power of Faith in Jesus Christ whilst we gladly endure the Flames which can scarce devour our Bodies but we shall be rais'd out of the Ashes to be preserv'd at the day of Judgment from everlasting Fire in a most blessed Life Brothers be constant to the Law of God and account him above your lives and fortunes Thus having finish'd his Discourse he descended and suffer'd himself to be ty'd to the eighth Pillar When they were all bound the Jesuits Commander Gasper shew'd them the Picture of Jesus ty'd to a Post and miserably Whipp'd in the Synagogue and calling upon them said Look how much you resemble our Saviour when he suffer'd under Pontius Pilate This is he for whose love you die who exprest his affections before-hand when he dy'd for you to live in him that arose alive from death He will crown you in Heaven with glorious Crowns The Executioners staid for the finishing of Gasper's Speech then setting the Stakes about the Straw-house on fire the Martyrs standing about three Foot from it that so they might roast by degrees Mean while the Strings with which Magdalen Fayaxinda's Daughter was made fast being burnt she fled not from the Fire but went and took many glowing Coals placing them on her Head like a Crown The Cord of Jacob's young Son was also burnt and he ran to his Mother Martha who bid him call upon Jesus Maria. Thus much in short of what Hazart relates with many Circumstances of Words and Deeds describ'd at large Daifusama persecutes the Roman Christians But it is very well known that Daifusama did persecute the Christians very severely and by strict Edicts commanded all his
when he girdled the Universe by Sailing round about it The Fleet set Sail from the Haven Nativitad under the Command of Michael Lopez de Legaspi who making his way through the South Sea discover'd those Islands which from Philip the Second are call'd Philippines where setling himself in the City Manilla he soon after built a great Church and three Cloysters the first for the Augustine Monks the second for the Franciscans and the third for the Dominicans The Spaniards possess'd these Islands quietly till a Fleet from China gave them disturbance and the first occcasion of War The Spaniards in Manilla are set upon by a Chinese Pyrate call'd Limahon One Limahon born in a City of China by name Trucheo a Person of mean Extract had a long while made the Seas dangerous for in a short time a great Company of Pyrates and Robbers joyn'd with him to the number of two thousand with which he Ransack'd and Pillag'd all the adjoyning Countrey Therefore the King of Cuytan rais'd all the Forces he could possible to take Limahon but he having notice of it retreated to a Sea-Port Town not having a sufficient Army to encounter the Vice-Roys Forces At the same time the Harbour lay full of Ships which his Men taking and setting Sail with them stood off to Sea making all Prize whatever he met with And being forty Sail all well Mann'd on a day he descry'd another Chinese Pyrate call'd Vintoquiam who had twenty Sail more than he yet Limahon resolv'd to set upon them and had such good Success that he conquer'd and made himself Master of fifty five Vessels more Vintoquiam himself hardly escaping with five Thus being encourag'd he resolv'd to set upon all Sea-Port Towns and Villages by which means all China was in an Uproar and in few days the Vice-Roy of Cuytan set out a hundred and thirty Vessels to Sea Mann'd with forty thousand Seamen Limahon having notice thereof made Sail toward the desolate Isle Touzuacotican to hide himself from the Navy Conducted by the Knight Omoncon Limahon's Actions Whilst he lay lurking there he seiz'd on two Ships richly laden and bound from Manilla to China The Prisoners which he took gave him information That there were not above seventy Spanish Soldiers in Manilla the rest being imploy'd to discover the adjacent Isles and how that the Countrey was fruitful and populous and the Inhabitants unprovided for War neither were they us'd to be disturb'd by it This News was very acceptable to him whereupon he steer'd his Course thither and Sailing beyond the Islands Illocos ran in sight of the New City Fernandina built by John de Salzedo and there fell upon a Spanish Galley freighted by Salzedo to fetch Provisions which he set on fire and without mercy put all the Men to the Sword Salzedo affrighted by so great a Fleet which steer'd directly towards Manilla immediately sent thither fifty four Spaniards to make resistance against the Enemy and to give them at Manilla notice of the Invasion to the end they might prepare all things in readiness against their coming But Limahon who was forc'd to Victual at the nearest Islands came after Salzedo whose Fleet was stor'd with all manner of Provisions arriv'd at Manilla in the Evening on the last of October Anno 1574. And had the Wind blown any thing hard that Night would have laid Manilla in Ashes and drown'd the Inhabitants in their own Blood For Limahon sent in the darkest part of the Night four hundred Men on Shore which he commanded to spare neither Fire nor Sword But the Sea going very hollow they could not possibly Land till next Morning at eight of the Clock About a League below the City they leap'd ashore and march'd up along a plain Field in good order with two hundred Musqueteers in the Front and as many Pike-men in the Rere towards the City Manilla The Countrey People discovering them brought the News to the Spaniards of which not one would believe it every one thinking it onely to be an Uproar made on purpose by the Natives Storms Manilla Mean time the Chineses came to the first House of the City in which the Field-Marshal Martin Goyty had his Residence which they fir'd and slew him with all his Family except his Wife which fled desparately wounded into the City By her every one might see how the Business was whereupon some Soldiers ran disorderly to encounter the Enemy but being all slain in a short time made the rest more wary who marching up very orderly against the Enemy forc'd them to retreat and at last drove them back to their Ships Limahon hearing this News weigh'd Anchor and Sail'd to the Haven Cabita two Leagues beyond Manilla At this time Guido de Labassares was Governor of the Philippines in the place of the Deceas'd Michael Lopez de Legaspy Labassares saw no likelihood to keep off so great an Enemy with Pallisadoes with which Manilla at that time was onely defended and to fly from thence would be too great a Reproach and Disgrace for the Spanish Nobles Therefore they thought it convenient to leave the City and on a Hill not far off with all speed to throw up a Platform The Spaniards raise Fortifications Two Days and Nights all those were imploy'd that were able to finish the Work ramming Poles into the Ground against which they nail'd Planks throwing Earth against them and Barrels with Sand. Four Iron Guns for so many they had in the City were planted on a Point of the New Fortification It so fortun'd that Limahon made some stay in the Haven Cabita whilst Salzedo brought fifty four Spaniards to Labassares Assistance Limahon burns Manilla The Fort was scarce finish'd and Salzedo enter'd with his Men when Limahon dropp'd Anchor at break of Day before the City Manilla and put six hundred Men on Shore which ran into the City and set the same on fire That done Storms their Fortification they march'd towards the new Fortification where they met with so stout Resistance that in short time two hundred of the Chineses were slain and as many wounded Is beaten off where on the contrary the Spaniards lost onely two Men an Ensign call'd Sancio Ortiz and another nam'd Francis de Leon. The Pyrates being thus roughly entertain'd durst adventure no more wherefore they Sail'd back to Cabita and from thence forty Leagues up the great Stream Pangasinan Goes to live near the River Pangasinan where he found a pleasant and fruitful Countrey and a convenient place to hide himself from the Chinese Forces So Sailing up a League into the Countrey he rais'd a Fort on a Promontory and forc'd the Inhabitants to pay him Tribute as their Prime Lord. From hence he sent Ships abroad continually which Cruising too and again about that Coast let not one Vessel scape they met with reporting That he had utterly routed the Spaniards from the Philippines These
his Kingdoms yet he resign'd up all his Kingdoms and Dominions and retir'd to the Territory of Fiungo where on a pleasant Plain he resolv'd to build a New City and to People the same with none but Christians to the end they might there all together live after God's Laws and Ordinances Travels to build a new City The fourth of October Anno 1578. he set Sail with his Fleet the Pennons and Flags of white Damask embroyder'd with red Crosses spreading from their Masts and Yards The Jesuits Capriales Lodowick Almeida and John the Japanner with a considerable number of Christians that were to inhabit the new-built City were Shipp'd aboar'd Upon his departure Franciscus commanded his eldest Son whom he appointed his Successor in all his Dominions That he should no ways molest the Christians but rather assist them in all things His Son is kind to the Jesuits The New King promis'd to perform his Fathers Command faithfully and indeed did more than he promis'd for he pull'd down the Temple of the Idol Camis and Fotoques and allow'd the Jesuits Means giving them also a place to build a stately Church in Usuquin and crost the Bonzies in all their undertakings acting all things after the Christian manner Against which resisted many Princes in Bungo being back'd by Riogozes King of Ximo which were too hard for the young King oftentimes loosing many Men in Skirmishes Cities and whole Dominions were taken from him either by Riogoze's Forces or mutinous Subjects in short it was so decree'd that Jacatondono his Son should be Disinherited of all his Jurisdictions Most of the Loyallest Subjects Voted that Jacatondono should Re-possess his former Authority Why he is in great danger to the end that the Crown of Bungo which was near lost might again by his Prudence be settled before it was quite Demolish'd Mean while Jacatondono now call'd Franciscus expecting daily that he should be forc'd out of his new Christian City in Fiunga march'd Arm'd into the Fields and his Necessity requiring Policy he came forth no less Prudent than Circumspect Franciscus re-possesses his throne four Councellors having by their ill advice order'd their Affairs badly those he drove first out of the Countrey then getting a considerable Army together he march'd against Chicacuro the head of the Rebels Both Parties lay Encamp'd one over against the other Franciscus inviting them daily to fight by Embattelling his Men but Chicacuro who had no very good opinion of his People would not hazard his Life in the hands of wavering Fortune during which time most of his Men quitted his Army His Conquest and went over to Franciscus Camp insomuch that all left him but eight hundred which being slain brought Peace and quietness to the Kingdom of Bungo After which the Conqueror went again to his new City Cuchimochi but liv'd not long after to enjoy the advantages of his gotten Victory For being upon his return from the Japan Emperor he was taken with the Plague at Usuquin of which many dy'd at that time yet notwithstanding though the Distemper threatned nothing but death yet he was desirous to be carry'd to Cuchimochi and being come within nine Miles of the place his Sickness so increas'd that he was necessitated to stay at Sucuma where soon after he gave up the Ghost Dies Anno 1587. The Jesuit Laguna had the ordering of the Funeral-Solemnity to which an incredible number of people came flocking from all parts of the adjacent Countreys The Corps was carry'd by four of the chiefest Peers Is bury'd on both sides went meaner Lords carrying Banners with red Crosses next follow'd the Queen and her Daughter and then a great company of Noble-men clos'd up the whole Train ¶ BUt besides the Province of Bungo several others have embrac'd the Christian Religion which happen'd thus When Xaverius Anno 1551. in November travel'd from Japan to Goa he took with him two Christian Japanners Mattheus and Bernard which were sent to salute his Holiness in Rome But Mattheus dying at Goa Bernard us proceeded in his Journey alone and was the first of the Japanners that kiss'd his Holiness Feet He in his return home-ward dy'd at Conimbrica in Spain Xaverius himself travel'd to China Xaverius leaves the Jesuits in Japan there to Preach the Gospel for the Japanners cry'd continually that the Chineses from whom the Japan Religion was Extracted did not imbrace the Christian Faith There stay'd behind in Japan Cosmus Turrianus and Joannes Fernandez besides two Japan Converts being Paul of the Holy Belief and Lawrence One-Eye by whose extraordinary diligence the Christian Religion was imbrac'd by many of the Commonalty the Jesuits teaching them the Commandments and the Gospel of our Saviour Jesus Christ and the Holy Trinity in Cangoxima Firando Amangucium and Bungo Xaverius a little before his death sent from Goa to Japan Balthazar Gago Edward Sylvius and Peter Alcacova after that went over thither also Casper Vilela Lodowick Almeida Gonsalves Fernandes Franciscus Caprialis Lodowick Frojus Joannes Baptista Montanus Organtinus Brixiensis Peter Diasius Arias Blandonius Arias Sanctius Duartes a Sylva Melchior Mugaez Franciscus Perezius and others These effected so much in few years that Christianity began now to increase wonderfully and as an effect of their Zeal they built several Towns Cloysters and Churches being every where highly respected and much esteem'd These successful Progresses gave hopes of a happy Event especially for that now Cosmus Turrianus and Edward Sylvius besides many Citizens in Amangucium Converted two Bonzies of Meaco and indeed Christianity so prevail'd both in strength and number that the Rusticks near Amangucium began to dispute with the Bonzi of which some falling short in the Arguments of their Religion were forc'd to flie for shame Not long after Turrianus built a great Church in the City intending there to perform in publick all Divine Services Some of the Courtiers were by this time also become Proselites and amongst the rest the King's Treasurer Ambrosius Eunadus Faisumius who soon after Dying was Inter'd in the following manner Edvard Sylv Epist Bungo 1555. Besides the Jesuit Edward Sylvius above two hundred young Christians went to his Burial a great Cross was carry'd before the Corps and a considerable number of Torches round about which turn'd the day into night not without great admiration of the Inhabitants by whom the Funeral Solemnities were perform'd quite contrary Fasumius his Widow feasted the Poor four days together after the Funeral A new Almshouse in Funaco distributing much Houshold-stuff and many Clothes among them Moreover Turrianus built a double alms-Alms-house or Hospital in the City Funaco one side being for those that had the Leprosie which came flocking thither from all parts of Japan that Countrey being very subject to that distemper the second partition was for other sickly Persons over both these Turrianus made a Japan Christian Master one that was experienc'd in Physick How the Japanners kept
for by Cambioie's Life-guard of which having notice he privately made his escape and the Soldiers out of Revenge raged against those where he Lodged which coming to his knowledge griev'd him exceedingly that for his sake they should come to any inconveniency who had receiv'd and Lodged him in their House whereupon he travell'd thither and went to Cambioie accompanied with Simon Jempo a Japanner who had spent his youthful days amongst the Bonzies but embracing the Christian Religion Serv'd the Jesuit for a Dogico that is A Clerk Ab Angelis told the Governor that he was a Priest sent from Sicily to Japan there to Preach the Roman Doctrine Galves makes his escape but is taken again The younger Brother Francis Galves being inform'd that he was discover'd fled to Camacura a Mile beyond Jedo where he thought to escape but was overtaken Mean while forty seven Christians were taken in Jedo which were all condemn'd by Conbosama with Ab Angelis Galves and Jempo to be burnt the fourth of December Anno. 1629. their Sentence was put in execution The Executioners put strong Cords about the Necks of the Condemned and ty'd their Hands behind their Backs Ab Angelis Rid on a Horse with a Letter on his Breast on which his Name was written in great Characters behind him came Jempo and fifteen others on foot Franciscus Galves and Fara Mondono were also bound on Horses every one follow'd by a train of Martyrs Fara Mondono the Nephew condemn'd to be burnt But before Fara Mondono Rid a Cryer or Herauld who when the Drummer left off beating on the Copper Bason Read out of an Edict these words The whole World might apparently behold and guess how much the Emperor Conbosama abhorr'd the Christian Religion condemning his own Nephew to be consum'd by Fire because he had embraced it Not far from Jedo towards Cami stood fifteen Stakes three of which were somewhat nearer to the City than the other all surrounded with great heaps of Wood about one Fathom and a half from the Posts The Soldiers though they surrounded the place of Execution to keep off the multitude of Spectators which were innumerable yet could not hinder their sight the Stakes being all driven in a plain Field near which lay a high Mountain that swarm'd with People and several of the chief Nobles had built Scaffolds in the hanging of the Hill to have the clearer view of the Execution in this manner performed First they made fast seven and forty of them Fifty Romans burnt near Jedo tying their Hands to the tops of the several Stakes and their Feet to the bottom their Names were Leo Taqueua Gonfiqui Fanzabusus Quaxia Chesaiemon Simon Jempo Peter Xixabucus Johannes Matagaremon Michael Quizaiemon Laurentius Cacuzaiemon Laurentius Gagiqui Matthias Juraiemon Matthias Quisaiem Thomas Jofacu Peter Santarius Peter Saiemon Matthias Xigigemon Ignatius Chorimon Simon Muam Decius Joccuno Isaacus Bona Ventura Quidairi Johannes Xinocuro Hilarius Mongazaiemon Franciscus Quisaiemon Saximononia Jinxiquir Johannes Chosaiemon Romanus Goniemon Emanuel Buyemon Peter Quicheiemon Quisaburus Peter Choiemon Andreas Disuque Raphael Quichaiemon Quizequi Anthony and thirteen others whose Names are not express'd in the foremention'd Japan Letter Ab Angelis Galves and Mondono saw their Companions burnt first Whilst the Fire flam'd round about and the Martyrs made a doleful and terrible noise Fara Mondono Ab Angelis and Galves sat still on their Horses to the end they might first behold the miserable conditions of those that suffer'd And when Fara Mondono was first ty'd to the Stake and next Ab Angelis and at last Galves there were some of the former that yet struggled betwixt life and death But Hazart relates farther That two Noble-men being amongst the other Spectators lighted from their Horses and crowding through the People Watch and Pyles of Wood one ran to Galves the other to Ab Angelis and holding them about their Necks suffer'd themselves to be burnt with them But of this I have no great testimony onely the foremention'd Japan Letter mentions two Women who when they saw the forty seven miserably roasting they forthwith went to the Judges and declared themselves openly to be Christians whereupon they were immediately carry'd to Execution Farther Cruelties in Jedo But these Cruelties ceased not thus for Maria Jageia Mother of Leo Gonfiqui who was burnt among the last had Lodged Ab Angelis in her House for which cause she with thirty six more that had entertain'd Christians or Let them Houses or were their Security for the Rent amongst which were also Heathen Japanners were condemn'd to the Fire Unheard-of wickedness committed upon Children Nay it rag'd after a most unheard-of barbarity against Children for leading them with the sound of Instruments to the Place of Execution they were before their Parents Eyes either beheaded or split in the middle or cut in small Pieces and with all other imaginable Tortures put to death An Edict against the Romans Immediately after it was proclaim'd in Jedo and other adjacent Countreys That if any one could give information of a Christian or him that entertain'd them or Let them Houses should have for a Reward the Mansion of him that Let it besides thirty Pieces of Gold worth fifteen hundred Crowns Upon this Murdering began to spread it self as Wild-fire all over Japan Are slain at Scondai In the City Xenxai Didacus Cervalio the Jesuit with sixty Christians were discover'd in Myne-diggers Apparel all which were put to death in Scondai in the cold Winter Nights putting them to Freeze up in the Water At Omura In Omura Peter Vasques the Dominican the Franciscan Lodowick Sasandra and Sotello and one Michael Carvalho a Jesuit were condemn'd to be Frozen to death in like manner At Arima In Arima Vincentius Caun a Native of Corea fell into the hands of the Persecutors who broke his Fingers with Iron Pincers setting him up to the Throat in cold Water and at last burnt him At Farina At Farima the Christians were onely banish'd At Fingo In Fingo Michael Maxima was miserably Scourg'd with Rods and hoised up to a high Post The Strappado and so on a sudden let fall to the Ground that done cold Water mix'd with blood was pour'd down his Throat which they made him disgorge by trampling on his Belly then laid they him in the heat of the Sun and at last carry'd him to the boyling sulphureous Waters at Singok and so long wash'd therein that he gave up the Ghost At Tiroxima In Tiroxima dy'd on Crosses and by the Sword Joyama Sintaro Xobara Schizaimon and others In the Province Figen the greatest Persecutor of the Christians was Nobexima Cami who was one of the Spectators at Jedo when Conbosama burnt fifty Christians Persecution in Nangesaque In Nangesaque they also sometimes burnt a Portuguese and a Japanner for Religion but the Governor Gonrocou seem'd not to delight so much in
not perform that Command they should lose both Life and Goods if ever after they hapned to Anchor in any Japan Harbor The banish'd Japanners with their Wives Children and Retinue amounted to thirty two of which in few Weeks none remain'd but one old Woman It is easie to be judg'd that they dispatch'd them by Poyson that so the Portuguese might rid themselves of such troublesom Companions and likewise obtain thanks from the Japan Governors who were fearful to condemn the foremention'd Persons either for their high Extract or their great Relations ¶ WHilst the Portuguese were thus busied Kauwaytsdo according to his Custom went to Jedo to the Court during whose absence those that were driven into the Mountain had some liberty and were permitted privately to come into Nangesaque to visit their Friends and lodge in their Straw Houses But at the return of Kauwaytsdo to Nangesaque the Banish'd being three hundred eighty four that remain'd constant were sent to Arima Horrible Cruelties us'd against the Japan-Christians where they were most inhumanely us'd their Bodies wash'd with scalding Water stigmatiz'd with red hot Irons beaten with sharp Canes or Reeds at Noon-day set naked in the Sun at Night in the Cold and also in Tubs full of Serpents Children destroy'd after a horrible manner before the Parents Eyes and when some were almost ready to give up the ghost by reason of their endless Tortures Physicians were provided to revive them again to the end they might afresh feel their Cruelties These kind of Afflictions some endur'd thirty forty nay sixty days before they would Apostatize Amongst all the rest five remain'd still constant whose Flesh being putrifi'd and rotten stunk though living like Carrion and being thus miserably tir'd out by their fesh Tortures they at last fell down dead under the Executioners Hands The Emperor Conbosama dies ¶ THe foremention'd Blood-baths had their beginning in the Emperor Conbosama's Reign after whose Decease Anno 1631. his Son Toxogunsama succeeded not without too apparent Testimony of inveterate malice to the Christians for soon after he began to Persecute them In Nangesaque he plac'd a new Governor call'd Onemendonne whom the Emperor Conbosama had long us'd as Judge and Overseer of the Japan Empire to the end he might be very vigilant to see that no Insurrections should happen any where Onemendonne being a stern fierce and cruel Man Onemendonne Governor of Nangesaque tyrannizes much was sent to Govern in Kauwaytsdo's Place who notwithstanding his inhumane Cruelties yet seem'd mild and of too good a Nature to destroy all the Christians at once which he thought to be easier because Kauwaytsdo deliver'd him a Catalogue in which were written not onely their Names but also their Dwelling◠places The common report was That Onemondonne came marching on with seven hundred Japan Soldiers but it prov'd to be scarce four hundred amongst which were several Noblemen with their Attendants which at Night lodg'd without Nangesaque and in the Day-time came and attended at Court Onemendonne at his coming set up several Posts in the City piling Erects Burning-posts according to the Japan manner great Heaps of Wood about them None knowing certainly for whom it was done some judg'd it to be for the Governor Moor Hieronimus Masleda and four Portuguese which a considerable time before had been Condemn'd Others thought that those Japanners which had entertain'd any Priests should be burnt for such was their Malice that not onely those that lodg'd a Priest under their Roof keeping them in private were put to death but also the two next Neighbors notwithstanding they were Heathens assuredly known to be so and perchance ignorant of the Entertainment But though Onemendonne drove so many Stakes up and down in the City yet nothing else follow'd than that the thirty Noblemen with some Soldiers made strict search in all the Streets of Nangesaque for the Roman Priests Strict Watch in Nangesaque which was the easilier perform'd because Nangesaque is divided into eighty eight Streets which in the Night are all lock'd up with Gates Every Street having its peculiar Name hath also an Overseer or Master-warden under whom are those whose Business it is to look and watch over five Houses and in the Morning to give an Account to the Master of that Ward what hath pass'd in those Houses who afterwards returns those Accounts to the Chief Overseer of the City who Governs all things except the Matters which are brought before him are of such grand Concern that he dares not take them upon him then the Prime Governor decides them Onemendonne caus'd strong Watches to be set all about the City Nangesaque both by Land and Water the Gates of the Streets to be lock'd up early and not open'd till day-light How they search'd for the Christians After that the Soldiers ran up and down from Street to Street breaking into the Houses wherein the Christians according to the Catalogue written by Kauwaytsdo How treated and deliver'd to Onemendonne dwelt asking them If they had not yet forsworn If they said Yes the Soldiers noted them down if No they perswaded them to Apostatize which refusing they were commanded to appear before the Governor who without hearing them plead lock'd them in a large Store-house built of Stone First the Master of the House was secur'd whilst his Wife Children and the rest of the Family were instructed who when they would not deviate from the Christian Religion they were also sent to Prison an Account being taken of all their Goods and their Windows and Doors nail'd up and seal'd Inhumane Tortures done with the Water of Singok Onemondonne having gotten a considerable number together sent them to the boyling Water at Singok At this place several great Pieces of Timber lie at the foot of the Rock reaching over the Water on which small Huts were built the Floors whereof were bor'd full of holes and the Roofs cover'd with Grass Turf and other Materials In these Hovels he lock'd them in the Nights By each man was plac'd a Sentinel whose Business was to take care and see that if any by reason of the Sulphurous smell which arose from the under running Water should fall into a swoon or be in danger of suffocation they should be taken out of their Houses the rest remaining still within In the day time the Executioners us'd small Dishes with which taking up Water out of Singok they pour'd over their naked Bodies onely preserving their Heads fearing that else they might die sooner than the Torturers would have them For the Water by reason of its corroding quality eats through Skin and Flesh to the Bones There are several other boyling Springs and Rivers but none so venomous as this at Singok The Reasons of the Hot Watters are sought after The Learned have spent much Labor and Time to find out the Reasons of these boyling Springs Some are of Opinion That a Fire under
farther our Observation how Quane obtain'd the Japan Crown Toxogunsama having no Issue he being exceedingly inclin'd to the Sin of Sodom when he had attain'd to some years acknowledg'd no Successor that was sprung from his Seed for which cause not without great reasons Civil Wars were to be fear'd if the Emperor should die without Issue The Dairo himself seem'd to be concern'd about this business wherefore he chooses two beautiful Maids nearly Ally'd to him which he sent to Toxogunsama to the end he might choose one out of the two to honor and make her a Miday which is as much to say Marries as an Empress The Emperor chose her which he judg'd for the most beautiful yet he went on in his old way of Sodomy which the Empress took privately to heart yet bridled her self with patience that she might not incur the Emperors displeasure when her dislike of his actions should be known to him Mean while the Empresses Guardian or Foster-Mother came to hear of it who being held in great Respect for her Age faithful Services and Noble Extract found her self necessitated to watch for a good conveniency and to stir up the Emperor to love his Consort It happen'd that on a time she found Toxogunsama in a fit Humor in which she thought the time was come wherein she might effect her Design The Empress Guardians discourse to the Emperor saying How can your Imperial Majesty take such a contrary course of Love What benefit will such shameful Conversation with Men bring you in the end Leave that wicked course and seek to get a Successor that may be sole Governor over Japan keep the Empire in Peace against all Civil Wars it being the occasion of great Blood-shed when every one may according to his Ambition aim to be Chief Hath Nature also ever brought a more Beautiful Creature into the World than your Empress Would not the World rejoyce with Toxogunsama if Toxogunsama's Stock did not die but that the Japan Government might remain amongst his Issue many Ages The Emperor being incens'd with anger against her presumption was silent but sent for his chief Builders and commanded a Palace to be erected like a Castle with strong Walls deep Moats great Gates and many stately Rooms He locks up the Empress Not long after this Edifice being finish'd he sent the Empress thither with her Sister Mother and Retinue there to keep her from the sight of all Men. And though it look'd so ill to the Empresses Fostress yet it concern'd the Emperor's Guardian to unite him in Marriage To which end she sent into all Parts of Japan for the most beautifullest Women which she cunningly at several times brought before Toxogunsama Matries an ordinary Mans Daughter Amongst many others he fix'd his Eye on an Armorer's Daughter which soon after was with Child by him Her mean Extract occasion'd great murmuring and dislike amongst the Peers of the Empire Courtiers and Ladies of Honor therefore they privately conspir'd to murder the Child in its Birth that there might not one of so mean a Mother ever come to Reign over Japan The Emperors Child is Murder'd This their resolution was at last effected but kept from the knowledge of the Emperor who else would have punish'd such a Crime with the greatest severity By this Accident Quano succeeded he being the nearest in Blood to Toxogunsama Thus far we have spoken of the Persecutions of the Japan Emperors and their Transactions till Quano's Reign Frisius and Brookhurst travel for Nangesaque ¶ THe Netherland Ambassadors Frisius and Brookhurst Anno 1650. took their leave and travel'd for Nangesaque They came on the twenty seventh of April to Meaco where they stay'd three days and a half Come to Meaco which they spent upon their Hosts Invitations in viewing the greatest and most eminent Houses in the City which are already describ'd in their Journey to the Court they were carry'd in Sedans amongst great throngs of Men Women and Children who out of curiosity flock'd together to see them Apparel of the Japan Women ¶ THe Women both Marry'd and Unmarry'd go very neatly dress'd in their Hair Combing it daily and smoothing it with Whites of Eggs insomuch that it shines like Glass and is black as Jet behind hangs a Braid or Tuft thereof over their Shoulders and one Lock on their Forehead by the bigness of their Heads they are known from all other People Both Men and Women wear long Semarrs which reach down somewhat below their Knees and are made with wide Sleeves turn'd up very broad fac'd with Silk or other Stuffs about their Middle they tie a broad Girdle curiously embroider'd There is scarce any Woman that hath not a Fan with a long Handle when she comes abroad Description of the Temple of Daiboth ¶ AMongst other stately Temples which the Ambassadors Frisius and Brookhurst view'd in their Journey was the Temple dedicated to Daiboth being no less costly than large and artificial on each side of the Gate stood two great Images representing two horrible Fiends with Stilletto's in their Hands and Hangers by their Sides the one looking fiercely upon the other seeming just ready for an Encounter Through this Passage they enter'd into a square Court with a Gallery round it supported with Stone Columns on the top of each Pillar hang curious Cabinets like Lanterns before the second Gate are two exceeding great Lyons hewn out of Stone between which the Passage leads into the Church wherein there appears a terrible Image sitting like a Taylor with his Legs across under him yet is of that heighth that it reaches the Vaulted Roof of the Church it is made according to the relation of the Japanners of Wood and Plaister'd over with Mortar and that cover'd with Copper double Gilt the Hair upon the Head shews black and curl'd like a Negro's The bigness of this Idol may be judg'd by his Hands which far exceed those of an ordinary Man yet are but small in proportion to the other parts of his Body the whole Statue represents a Woman sitting in a Ring of darting Beams richly Gilded within the Beams of this Circle are many smaller Images of several shapes and fashions and on both sides several other hewn to the Life with shining Radii about their Heads just as the Saints are drawn in Print all richly Gilt. The Ambassadors Frisius and Brookhurst were each of them carry'd in a Sedan by Japanners into the Temple before behind and on both sides went a great Train consisting in Servants that belong'd to the East-India Company and all degrees of Japan Men and Women which altogether press'd into see them two Trumpetters stay'd at the Entry where they sounded all the time of their tarrying there This noise brought a great number of People together whilst Frisius and Brookhurst view'd with admiration the wonderful great Image The Altar on which it sits is rais'd a little from the Ground over which
they stick on the Walls of the Houses then they run all over the House making a noise as if they were Devils themselves and by this means they pretend to banish the Devil The worshipping of evil Spirits spread far and near Vertoman l. 5. Navigat ¶ BUt this worshipping of evil Spirits is not onely usual in Japan and China but also in the East and West-Indies The Calicuters believe That Tamarini Creator of the World hath resign'd the Government thereof that he might live the better at ease but that he hath given the Command thereof to the Devil Deumam whose Image being made very horrible is religiously worshipp'd by the Brachmans that he should not prejudice them Practis'd in the time of Moses This adoring of diabolical Fiends hath not onely spread it self over a great part of the World but also is very antient for in Moses his time this wickedness had gotten great footing he speaks of it in Levit. 17.7 And they shall no more offer their Offerings unto Devils after whom they have gone a whoring And again in Deut. 32.17 They offer'd unto Devils not to God The unripe Fruit ripp'd from the tender Womb ' Gainst Natures Laws finds a too cruel Tomb On Wooden Altars cover'd with their Gore To shew how highly Devils they adore But on the left hand of the Japanners Creator two Kings and an ancient Philosopher hold the remaining part of the foremention'd Serpent to the Tail The nearest King towards the Image wears a Crown with three Points The first King that holds the Japan-Serpent◠and turns up behind under which hangs a Golden Scarf about his Neck is a double String of Pearls on his Breast a costly Diamond tied with a Silk Ribbon his Coat is open below the Belly his Face represents that of a young Man and looks upon the two Evil Spirits that stand on the right side of the Image This King resided some time near the Sea and joyn'd with the Devils to hinder the Creation of Heaven and Earth The ssecond King hath four Heads The same Intentions that King had which stands next He likewise grasps the Serpent with both his Hands a single String of Pearls hangs on his Breast his Coat covers above half his Legs a Scarf hangs over his Right Shoulder he hath four Heads each with a picked Beard and all cover'd with one Golden Crown like a Bonnet on which are several Tops some smaller than others all running with a Point upwards These four Heads signifie four thousand Years which this King liv'd An ancient Japan Philosopher The old Philosopher with his right Hand holds the Body of the Serpent with his left grasping the Tail His Coat just covers his Knees his Beard long and parted in the middle his Face represents that of an Old Man behind on his Head appears the Image of a Dragon looking towards the right side and towards the left his contorted Tail on his Forehead he hath a golden Circle Gods with many Heads in Japan But as to what concerns the Four-headed Idol the Japanners have divers Gods with several Heads for they oftentimes make Xaca with three which they cover all with one Cap Sometimes they represent Canon the Son of Amida with seven Heads on his Breast Father Gruber relates That he found several Temples in Necbal a Province in Tartary in which were Idols with divers Heads and in some Places six Heads without Bodies were set on a Table with three Ascents on the lowermost of which three of them were plac'd in a row on the middlemost two and on the top one each standing betwixt the Vacancy above the other On both sides stood Vessels all of Oval fashion for the burning Incense and flat Dishes with Offerings to the Heads But to come to our Description Between the foremention'd Ancient Philosopher and Four-headed King an Image appears representing the Sun rising out of the Water cloth'd in a Vest part of it seeming under the Water over his left Arm a Scarf and in the same hand many sharp Spikes his Beard long and on his Head a Crown of golden Rays his right Hand arm'd with a Steeletto or sharp Iron Bodkin with which it seems to prick and push the Tortoise on which the Brazen Tree and the Creator as they call him rest to cause it to turn which moves so slowly that they say it comes but once about in a thousand Years Nothing is less to be admir'd than that the Japanners worship the Sun also in their Temples for no Idolatry whatsoever can boast to be so old in which they did not worship the Sun whose Adoration was more Venerable and spread it self further than any Idol whatsoever concerning whose Antiquity Job speaks thus Job 31.26.27 If I beheld the Sun when it shined or the Moon walking in brightness And my heart hath been secretly enticed or my mouth hath kissed my hand Here this Adoration of the Celestial Bodies after the manner of the Heathens is apparent according to which the first Worshippers of the Sun kiss'd their Hands in token of Honor App. Met. lib. 4. though afterwards according to Apuleius they bent only their foremost right Finger towards the Thumb whilst they turn'd themselves round Deut. 4.19 and pray'd to the Rising Sun Moses also saith And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto Heaven and when thou seest the Sun and the Moon and the Stars even all the Host of Heaven shouldest be driven to worship them and serve them But notwithstanding Gods Commands the Israelites have chiefly learn'd the Sun-worship from the Syrians which call'd the Sun Bahal that is to say Lord the Phenicians Beel-Samen according to Philo from the Ancient Writer Sanchoriathon which is Lord of the Heavens The Inhabitants of the Phenician City Accaron gave the Sun the Name of Baal-zehaim signifying The Lord of Offerings but afterwards that Name was chang'd to Baal-zebub that is The God of Flies to whom in bad Times De Abstinent Animal lib. 2. as droughty Seasons when those Insects ushering great Sicknesses rage they offer'd their Children The Ammonites understood the Sun likewise by their Moloch or Milcom to whose Honor the Parents carried their Sons and Daughters betwixt two Fires or caused them to be led by Priests to be cleansed and at other times they were burnt in that Image of Moloch which was divided into seven Copper Caverns which when they are made red hot with the Image the Officer according to Rabbi Simeon throws into the first Division fine Flower in the second a Turtle-dove in the third a Sheep in the fourth a Ram in the fifth a Calf in the sixth an Ox and in the seventh a Child These seven Chambers represent the seven Planets Saturn Jupiter Mars Sol Venus Mercury and Luna Therefore the Sun of old receiv'd the chiefest Offering being held for the most eminent God The Emssenians in Syria Apomena built for the Sun Saturn l. c. 23.
by them call'd Heliogabalus that is God of the Mountain an exceeding great Temple Macrobius relates That the Assyrians ascrib'd to the Sun call'd Adad the chief Command over all and made the Goddess Adargatis his Vice-Roy Adad's Image shot its Beams downwards and Adargatis upwards By the first they gave to understand That the Power of Heaven consisted in those Sun-beams that reflected on the Earth and by the second That all things were drawn up from the Earth The Arabians offer'd to the Sun daily on Altars made on the Roofs of their Houses Frankincense and Myrrh The same and no other was the Idol Chamis and Baal-Peor of the Moabites and Midianites Hieronymus saith In Esai 15.2 That in the City Nabo was the Consecrated Idol Chemosh which was also call'd by a second denomination Baal-Peor The City Baisampsa near the Red-Sea was exceeding famous amongst the Arabians it being consecrated to the Sun Sampsa in the Arabian Tongue as Stephanus witnesses signifies The Sun So that Baisampsa is as much as to say The House of the Sun Why three peculiar Feasts to the Sun The Persians held the Sun for their Chief and Supreme Deity to whose Honor they kept three Feasts yearly because they observ'd in him Prudence Benignity and Omnipotence and also to express the three Operations of the Sun by Heat Splendor and distinguishing of the Times or lastly for its altering the Days as in Harvest and Summer long and short in Winter The Armenians Massagetes and Persians offer'd to the Sun a White Horse Ovid. l. 1. East To Mithra for so the Persians call the Sun that precious Gem call'd Mithridax is consecrated because according to Pliny and Isidore the Sun-beams shining upon it give it various and still changeable Colours The Egyptians worshipp'd the Sun under the Name of Osiris Heliopolis or The City of the Sun was most famous amongst them wherein the Ox Mnevis was dedicated to that Deity Saturn l. 1. c. 21. But this Statue of the Sun was in the time of the Egyptian King Senemuris carried from thence to Assyria Apias an Agent to the Assyrian Standard-bearer Delebores brought it thither which Macrobius describes thus It is says he of massy Gold without a Beard in the right Hand it holds a Whip after the manner of a Rustick the left Hand holds a Sickle and an Ear of Corn. Strange Sacrifice to the Sun The Moors also took the Sun for the chiefest God calling him Assabin and offer'd him Sacrifice in the following manner Their Priests onely had the Liberty to gather Cinnamon with a Proviso That they should first kill to the Honor of Assabin forty four Oxen and as many Goats and Rams neither should they seek to gather the Cinnamon but either before or after Sun-set The Cinnamon-sticks brought together were divided by the Priests in Holy Ground That part which remain'd for the Merchants was by them carried away as soon as paid for Then the Priests took every one their part but if any was imbezilled in the sharing it was instantly known for if justly divided the Sun-beams fir'd the Fragments and broken Pieces that were neglected and left scatter'd behind otherwise not as Theophrastus Pliny Heophr Hist Ph. l. 9. c 5 Plin. l. 12. c. 19. Solin c. 31. and Solinus aver The Suns Feast The ancient Greek Writer Proclus describes a Solemn Feast amongst them in honor of the Sun which thus they perform They hang upon a great Pole store of Laurel and all manner of Flowers in the first Quarter of the Moon then they plac'd on the top of the Staff a great Copper Ball from which hung many lesser the middle of the Pole adorn'd with three hundred sixty five Garlands the bottom cover'd with a Womans Vestment died yellow The uppermost Ball signified the Sun the lesser the Stars and the number of Garlands the Days of the Year There are scarce any People that have not been guilty or at least made themselves so of that Idolatry of Worshipping the Sun For the far-distant Massagetes worshipp'd the Sun Herod lib. 1. as Herodotus relates The Germans also were ravish'd with the Worship of this Celestial Luminary before they embrac'd the Christian Religion Geothic Rer. lib. 3. cap. 2. Moreover Olaus Magnus relates That the People in the most Northern Parts of the World pray'd to the Sun when after a six Months Night it appears above their Horizon and brings Light and Comfort And what is more common among the Western Indians than the Worship of the Sun For which cause they mock'd at the Spaniards when they told them of a Savior telling them That they had a better God which appear'd every Morning in Glory Josephus Acosta relates peculiarly concerning the Peruvians Hist. Mor. Var. Jud. That they mention'd Viracocha for their Prime Deity and next him the Sun and for the third Ictillapa signifying Thunder a Man arm'd with Stones and a Sling All three of them are worshipp'd after one manner viz. with Hands lifted aloft making a noise like the Smacks of Rusticks and then praying for what ever they want In Lusco they offer'd living Children to the Sun Eastern-Indians have a long time us'd to worship the Sun Amongst the East-Indians the Sun was Religiously worshipp'd long before the Birth of our Savior Ctesias relates of them That they travel yearly fifteen days to an appointed Place to keep a Feast in honor of the Sun praying That it would please him to grant them thirty five days cool Weather that they may not be scorch'd whilst they are coming worshipping and returning home Benjamin Tudelensis the Jew relates also of the Inhabitants of Haaulam if the Learn'd Vossius takes not Haaulam to be Zeilan or rather Sumatra After seven days Travel I came to Haaulam which is the beginning of the Kingdom where they worship the Sun in stead of God A People deriv'd from the Astronomer Chus The Sun is worshipp'd by them on several great Altars built in all Places about two Miles distant from the City They commonly run to meet the Sun early in the Morning to which stand dedicated several Images on all their Altars seeming by Necromantick Art to dart Beams which when the Sun rises seem to crackle at which time both Men and Women offer their Sacrifices Furthermore it is requisite for us to know how the Japanners and besides them many other ancient and late Heathens amongst their other Deities worship the Sun Arist de Coelo lib. 1. cap. 3. The general Opinion of all Men as Aristotle Simplicius Themistius and others witness is to place the Omnipotent Godhead in the uppermost Region that surrounds the Earth Why the Japanners worship the Sun for which cause those that pray lift up their Hands to Heaven And since the Heavens represent nothing more glorious than the Sun that is held for the onely and chief Deity whether it be for its Beauty and Splendor or its Bigness being
one eighteen Paces long two broad and of like thickness and make up the number of fourteen hundred The Defences on both sides are adorn'd besides other curiosities with Lyons hewn out of Stone standing upon high Pedistalls This is the form of the Bridge from the City to the Castle but on the other side of the Castle the remaining part is somewhat smaller Bridge Tiensen The Bridge Tiensen near the City Liping made over the River Tanki consists of one Stone Of this kind of wonderful Stone China it self is able to produce more than all the rest of Asia Europe Africa and America therefore we may easily guess from whence the Japanners learn'd the building of artificial Bridges ¶ THe Netherland Ambassadors leaving the City Jonda got about the Evening beyond the handsom Village Firaskatta and about two a Clock in the Morning to Osacca These wild Saints are in great esteem with the Japanners generally spending their time amongst sick and dead Persons with whom they sit whole Nights muttering in their holy Language which differs quite from the common Japan Tongue without ceasing their Prayers to reconcile the Sick and Dead with their gods Amida Xaca Canon or any other Idol which in their life and prosperity they served A large Description of the strong Castle in Osacca ¶ THe Ambassadors Frisius and Brookhurst being got to Osacca went and addressed themselves on the third of May to the Governor and Commander of the Castle to present them according to the Custom with several Presents By which means they had an opportunity to view the Fortress being three Leagues in the outermost Circumference it stands about two Mile to the Southward of Osacca on a Hill belonging to the City so that it looks down on all the other Buildings and is the glory of the Province of Osacca for here the richest Merchants reside the meanest of which commonly poffess thirty thousand Crowns The Castle is built of blew Stone rarely polish'd and each a Fathom long the Walls are rais'd to an equal heighth Depth and breadth of the Moats The Retinue of the Netherland Ambassadors relate That standing on the Edges of the Walls and looking down on the Moat their Eyes dazled that being also exceeding deep The Ground of the outmost Trench being cover'd with three and thirty Foot Water is three hundred and ninety broad The same depth hath the inner Moat but wants a hundred and forty in breadth Who made the Castle Osacca so big and why None hath bestowed more Cost and Charges towards the building of this Castle making it the eighth wonder of the World than the Emperor Taicosama who falling sick in Fissima troubled himself exceedingly for his young Son Fideri his sole design being to settle him in the Throne and make him Monarch of the Japan Empire Amongst many other cunning and subtile Inventions to bring the foremention'd Design to pass he caus'd the Castle of Osacca to be made much larger and more invincible whilst his Sickness grew daily to a greater heighth he set thousands at work to finish this new Structure Within the Walls stood above seventeen thousand Houses which in three days time were all pull'd down the Rubbish every one was commanded on forfeiture of their Goods to carry away in four and twenty hours Those whose Houses were pull'd down had Ground provided in a spacious Field to build on according to the Marks made by Surveyors in a direct Line The new City went on with no less speed than the enlarged Castle about which Taicosama was exceedingly concern'd sending Messenger after Messenger to forward the Work He had by this time chosen five Councellors of State who with Ongoschio should be Guardians of Fideri binding them all by Oath That when Fideri came to be fifteen years old they should Crown him Emperor but because his Decease might occasion some Insurrection the Japan Kings being ambitious of higher Authority he thought if convenient to get them out of their own Provinces and by securing so disenable them to which purpose the Castle in Osacca was the most convenient Place whether they were commanded to remove their Courts from Fissima The Charges of so great a removal were born by Taicosama Civil War in Japan But though Taicosama had order'd all things with so much prudence before his Death yet notwithstanding soon after all Japan was turmoil'd in a Civil War The Councellors of State took up Arms against Ongoschio who being Conqueror in a Field-Battel march'd with his victorious Army to Osacca where the Castle that being nobly stor'd with all manner of Ammunition and Necessaries might have endur'd the greatest Siege imaginable was by the cowardly Commander thereof Morindono treacherously deliver'd up that otherwise would have proved an invincible Fort. Description of the mighty Out-works of the Castle Osacca After which time Fideri kept a most magnificent Court there but was at last set upon by his Father-in-law Daifusama and burnt with the innermost Castle which Loss at last was renew'd and made good for the Edifice was re-built much costlier than before according to the splendor in which at present to admiration it may be seen The Out-work is rais'd from the bottom of the Moat with gray Stone a Foot above the Ground and built with Inlets according to the Bulwarks Near the three Gates they appear higher and higher and the Stone-Walls about the Moat rise above the Water a hundred and eighty three Foot on whose top stand Breast-works of Clay Plaister'd on both sides with Mortar The chiefest Fortifications have on their Out-points large Towers three Stories high made of Stone two of the Stories have peculiar Roofs that jet over the Walls but the uppermost is smaller yet the Chambers are very pleasant and convenient to discover any Enemy at great distance In these Towers being sixteen in number lies an incredible store of all manner of Ammunition as Darts Armor Helmets Shields Javelins Battel-Axes Swords Pikes Daggers large Knives Skeans Match Bandileers Bowes Mortar-Pieces Builets Musquets Fire-hooks and other Japan Arms. The Way towards the Gate of the Castle after what manner To the chiefest Gate leads a Cawsie made over the Moat on both sides fortifi'd with a Stone-Defence joynd to the Out-works and reaches to the top of the Wall being even with the Gate whose Square is cover'd with a Roof that runs taporing behind and before Passing through this Porch you enter into a Quadrangular Court on all sides Fenced with a high Wall on the left-side stands a great Tower and within on the righ-side of the Entry through the Gate a fair Watch-house from hence a Way leads under the Tower through an Entry into a spacious Court on the left-side thereof is a long square Inlet whose Entrance inwardly faces the interior Castle An Inlet in the Castle full of Palaces Here are divers Palaces which Taicosama caus'd to be built forcing the Japan Princes to remove thither They are
as their true and lawful Wife which onely sits with her Husband at Table whilst the rest are like Servants The Children also which he gets by his Concubines at his Death get but very little of his Estate for those that are born of his lawful Wife inherit all Which Custom is also deriv'd from China where the Emperor before the Tartar made himself Master of that Empire Marry'd besides his Empress thirty other Women being the most beautiful that could be found in all his Dominions of China all which remain'd in the Palace till the Emperors Death when his Successor after the Burial of the deceased Emperor Clothing the thirty Women in rich Apparel carry'd them to his second Palace there placing every one on a stately Throne whereon sitting with their Faces cover'd thirty Chinese Princes chosen by the Emperor entred the Hall every one of them taking one of the said Women by the Hand and instantly Marry'd them Strange kind of Marriage observ'd by the Japanners The Chineses and Japanners observe chiefly that the Brides and Bridegrooms differ not much in their Age Estate and Extract The Betrothed are in the Morning early carry'd in costly Coaches drawn either by Oxen or Horses from their Houses out of the City accompanied with all manner of Vocal and Instrumental Musick to a high Hill attended by a great number of People and sometimes are so crowded that they are forc'd to have Soldiers with them to clear the Way After the Bridegroom's Coach follow several Wayns loaden with Presents with which he buys the Bride Which Manner they have likewise brought out of China for there the Man gives to the new marry'd Woman divers Marriage Goods which she delivers to her Father or Mother as a requital for the bringing of her up so that the chief Riches increase from the number of their Daughters and chiefly when they are beautiful The antient Babylonians bringing their Daughters to Market at a certain time of the year sold them to those that proffer'd most the Price was set according to their Beauty those that were handsomest yielding the best Rate and ordinary Faces were sold for lesser Sums yet the homeliest also went off for the Money which was bestow'd for the fairest was given as Portions for the hard-favor'd so that they in stead of being bought they purchas'd Husbands for themselves Far more shamefully did the Phoenician Maidens order their affairs when they went into the Temple of Venus to proffer their Virginities to sale and with that Money so gotten bought them Husbands The same Custom was observed by the Cyprian Maids who for Money prostituted themselves so long to Strangers till they had gotten Wealth enough to purchase Marriage with some of their election Nay the Armenians had a Law according to which the Maids in the antient Temple dedicated to the Goddess Anetis whose Image was made of Massie Gold should at a set time prostitute themselves in common to all Men after which there were none but desir'd her in Marriage that had been so consecrated to the same Goddess The antient Indians brought their Daughters into the Company of fine Youths that they might chuse one out of the number which in Strength swiftness in Running Wrestling and well-timberdness of Body exceeded the other The Cathaians observe the same manner but upon inviolable promises that she will be burnt with her Husbands Body if he chance to die before her The Indian Women also leap into the same Funeral Fire and those that out of fear do not go in to be burnt with their Husbands are accounted dishonest The Laxamatees near the Lake Meosis may not Marry before they have slain an Enemy and also the Carmani may not betroth themselves before they have brought an Enemy's Head to the King Roman and Greek Brides must bring Portions but in Japan the Bridegrooms The antient Romans and Greeks maintain'd quite another Custom than the Japanners for with them the Brides were to bring Portions to the Bridegrooms wherefore the Roman Consul gave the Daughters of the famous Generals Cneius Scipio and Martus Curius their Portions out of the Treasury because being poor they could not be Marry'd according to their Birth The like did the Athenians to the Daughters of the valiant Heroe Aristides But Solon and Lycurgus both Greek Law-givers commanded strictly That no Bride should bring Money into the Bridegrooms Pocket The Germans took no Marriage to be lawful unless the Man produced his promis'd Estate Which Law was also observ'd by the Biskiners The Egyptians never Marry'd for Estates for if the Woman brought any Riches to the Man then he according to their Laws was to be her Slave Moreover the Lacedemonians durst not seem to Marry for Money wherefore those were severely punish'd that at Lacedemon Courted Lysander's Daughters and after the Decease of their Father forbore their Suit which the Judge interpreted thus That they had not Courted the Persons but their Money Just so it is in Japan where the Man Marries not onely a Bride without a Portion but must give her divers Goods for Marrying of him Which Custom is likewise Extracted from China where the Bride brings no Money to her Bridegroom though she carry all manner of Housholdstuff to his House as Stools Chairs Umbrello's and other things sufficient to fill up a small Street for it is all bought with the Money which the Bridegroom hath given her Iapanische traugeprauge Ceremonie van haer TROUWEN Ceremonie of theyr Merridge How they are Marry'd Before the Idol with a Dogs-head stands a Bonzi or Japan Priest on his right-hand the Bride and on his left the Bridegroom both holding lighted Torches in their Hands the Bride lights her Torch by one of the eight Lamps which stand round about the Tent but not without great mutterings of the Bonzi which done the Bridegroom lights his by the Brides whereupon a joyful shout is made all with a loud voice wishing joy to them whilst the Bonzi gives them his Blessing The antient Romans and Greeks us'd Torches at their Ceremonies of Marriage made of Pine-branches which were carry'd before the Brides in the Night by five Youths But among the Greeks the Brides Mother carry'd it Moreover the Blessing which is spoke by the Bonzi is of a very antient Extract for the Israelites observ'd that Custom when the concern'd Parties in Beth-hillula that is A House of Praise flock'd together and sung joyful Hymns before the Bride and Bridegroom the chief Priest taking a Cup full of Wine said Blessed art thou O Lord our God which hast created joy and mirth give love to the Bride and Bridegroom a Brotherly inclination peace and quiet dwelling I pray O Lord let there immediately he heard in the Cities of Juda and in the Streets of Jerusalem the voice of the Bride and Bridegroom The voice of joy and the Nuptial Bed is sweeter than any Feast and Children more acceptable than the pleasing harmony of delightful Songs
the ruin'd Goddon that there they might if possible dig up some of their Plate but so soon as the Ashes were stirr'd it made such a Smoke and Heat that they could not proceed any farther Wherefore they return'd with no success yet they left a Watch there Wagenaer lost in the said Goddon six thousand six hundred forty three Guilders in ready Money which was lock'd in a Cabinet besides a great deal of Plate for his Table Wagenaer sav'd some Goods and that which remain'd of the Presents yet most of the Treasure was sav'd for Wagenaer upon the advice of the Bonjoises trusted not the same in the Store-house but putting most of the ready Money into a Trunk sent it to Joffiesamma though not without danger Wagenaer's People having much ado to get through the Crowd and afterwards sought all Night through the City for their Lord being troubled for him and their rich Burthen Mean while not one of all the Ambassadors Retinue came to any mischief but onely his Japan Cook Siobe which sometimes serv'd him for his Interpreter who being hemm'd in by a broken Wall Was there smother'd to death and when found was decently buried The burning of Troy Rome and London not to be compar'd to Jedo ¶ WHo will now compare the Destruction of Troy with Jedo though one of Virgil's Master-pieces to describe Or Rome suppos'd to be fir'd by Nero which Suetonius relates rag'd six Days and seven Nights But a Stone yet to be seen near St. Peter's Church in Rome hath an Inscription which signifies that it burnt nine Days Or the deplorable Fire of London which made so miserable a Devastation in few Days the whole City within the Walls swallow'd up in a Deluge of Fire in which perish'd so many thousand Houses and almost a hundred Churches amongst which St. Pauls the stateliest Cathedral in the World But yet if we consider this was nothing to the burning of Jedo where there were an hundred thousand Houses burnt besides above as many Inhabitants and an infinite number of Palaces and Temples So sudden and over-spreading was that dreadful Conflagration ¶ MOreover the Ambassador Wagenaer and his Retinue by Joffiesamma's Order were Lodg'd in a more convenient House than where they shelter'd themselves the first Night after the Fire from the Cold Yet he suffer'd not a little for whilst his European and Indian Provisions and Necessaries were burnt he was forc'd to buy all things at a dear Rate and indeed he was in danger of his Life Wagenaer is in danger of his life in Jedo for the Multitudes being almost starv'd rang'd up and down like hungry Wolves by thousands in Companies with their Wives and Children lying under the cold Canopy of Heaven His Landlord Ginnemon was very earnest though he had been presented with a Piece of black Stammel and Cloth-Serge which he preserv'd from the Fire that he might keep the melted Silver Copper and Lead that should be digg'd out of the ruin'd Goddon The Bonjoises Interpreters and Joffiesamma were not backward in interceding for him wherefore Wagenaer was necessitated though he had great need thereof himself to give the digg'd up Metal to Ginnemon ¶ BEfore Wagenaer went from Nangesaque his Interpreter Fatsiseymon undertook to desire of Sicungodonne to grant longer time for the Ships that Sail'd from Nangesaque to Batavia that they might not be hastned so upon their going away which was to their great damage or at least that their Hatches might be lest unseal'd Gunemon Sicungodonne's Interpreter took also upon him to entreat the same of his Lord but he going to secure his Mother from the Fire was burnt with her Moreover Fatsiseymon durst not venture to speak about the prolonging of time because of this great Calamity that had lately hapned Japan Nobility go away without paying Wagenaer In the interim all things were lost for those Persons of Quality that had the Goods that remain'd or Wagenaer's Presents were spread up and down in the Countrey none having paid him a Penny but Ando Ockiosamma and Mitosamma and he could not see any way to find his Creditors whilst he was in danger of his Life amongst a company of hungry People Wherefore he humbly besought Sicungodonne that he might have leave to depart The Emperor granted this his Request yet told him by his Council It was convenienter to stay somewhat longer at least ten days because the Ways were very dangerous the People that were burnt out ranging all over the Countrey and making Prey of whatever they found and also because the Emperor would furnish him with Rice and other Provisions for fifty Men. The next day Wagenaer receiv'd by Order of his Majesty six Bags of Rice which the Bonjoises took as a Heavenly Gift and for so great an Honor as the Emperors had never shewn to any Ambassador in the World So that they concluded That the Hollanders above all other Nations were in great favor at Court But Wagenaer was left solely at his own choice either to go or stay and whilst he was doubtful of both he at last resolv'd to be gone to Nangesaque because Joffiesamma which had shewn him very great Favors urg'd him to be gone saying The ways were not so dangerous as it was reported And what need you fear since the Holland Ambassador goes not without Bonjoises which Guard conducts you in the Emperors Name therefore what Man dares do do you harm being under their Protection Joffiesamma added moreover The Return said he for your Presents and Payment for the Goods sold I will keep for you when they are paid and deliver you them at Nangesaque Wagenaer travels out of Jedo Upon this Promise and Advice Wagenaer set forward on his Journey the ninth of March and found great trouble to get out of Jedo for the Bridges were every where burnt onely in some places part of an Arch appear'd above the Water yet he could scarce get over any where therefore they judg'd it convenient to find a Way through the Emperors Castle Through the burnt Castle where the Ambassador saw all thing ruin'd the Stones in great Flakes flown asunder the high Towers levell'd with the Ground the Sentinel-houses in Ashes but the Marble Bridge over the first Moat was not so spoil'd but that they might go over it Little less than an Hour was Wagenaer riding through the Castle before he could get out on the other side but having gotten thus far he rode round about the East side of Jedo and at last came into the right Road. The Journey prov'd better than the Councellors foretold for he got on the seven and twentieth of March without any hinderance to Meaco where he was presented by the great Judge Makino Sandosamma with five Japan Coats of Silk and ten Boats of Silver The next day getting to Osacca he took Shipping there and on the seventh of April arriv'd safe at Nangesaque Arrives at Nangesaque and also found all
Tower but also all the Presents amounting to several Tun of Gold which the King's Daughter had receiv'd from the Mandarins This Image representing the Deceased was placed in the chiefest Temple to be worshipp'd and such a kind of Image stands in the great Temple in Saccai Wagenaer's farther Journey to Jedo ¶ WAgenaer having Sail'd past Saccai came on the seventeenth of March to Osacca where he found Provision exceeding dear and scarce occasion'd by a great Storm which had spoil'd all the Corn about the Courttrey so that the Carriage of Goods on Pack-horses amounted to much more than at other times Wagenaer presented the Governor Faitosamona and Tambesamma who furnish'd him with thirty Men to carry the two Bengael Oxen and their Carrs Whilst Wagenaer spent five days in Osacca preparing all things necessary for his Journey by Land news came from Meaco that forty Streets were burnt down in that City and not a few of the Inhabitants destroy'd by the Flame Description of the City Jonda From Osacca Wagenaer took his Journey through Firaskatta to Jonda which is a small Town lying in the Territory Jamaisiro at the River which runs through Osacca and lies eight Leagues distant from thence There is scarce any Place in Japan that for pleasantness surpasseth Jonda for if you look for curious Buildings here are stately Turrets large Churches and very neat Houses the Windows are clos'd with bright glittering Shutters their Chambers are bigger or less according to their several Partitions the Walls painted with all manner of Imagery on gilded Paper and edg'd above below and on all sides with black wax'd Ledges the Doors of the standing Partitions are also adorned like the Walls at the upper end of the Chamber hangs generally a Picture before which stands a Flower-pot which kind of Furniture is us'd in all Japan Near Jonda lies an Imperial Castle surrounded with a Stone Wall raised out of deep Moat within it a stately Palace whose Turret may be seen at a great distance The Countrey about it is Woody on one side and abounds with Deer and wild Boars on the other side appear pleasant Meadows which produce store of Rice and all manner of Plants No Place affords more Swans Geese Ducks Pheasants Pigeons Partridges Woodcocks Quails and all manner of Fowls than this The River yields Breams Place and exceeding good Salmon all which Fish come up the River out of the Sea but those that are taken at Jonda are much better than those which are taken at Osacca It is to be admir'd that their Salmon here though the Heart be cut out will live several hours afterwards and that the Heart cut out dies not till a night and a day after But though this Salmon be acceptable and of a pleasing taste yet the Head thereof is very unwholsom for those that eat much of it are subject to get a Fever Wagenaer arrives at Jedo Wagenaer got on the one and twentieth of March towards the Evening to Meaco and presented there the Grand Judge Mackino Sandosamma from whom he got a free Pass to Jedo where hearriv'd in safety thirteen days after he left Meaco the foul and rainy Weather making the Journey longer than at other times so that the usual time on which the Emperor us'd to give Audience being past the Ambassador was forc'd to stay a considerable time before he could be admitted to the Emperor's Presence Mean while he understood that Sicungodonne had the year before because of his great age given over following all publick Employments and that the Emperor had given his Place to a prime Courtier call'd Hootye Auwanno Cammisamma Yet nevertheless Wagenaer sent an Inventory of all the Presents to Sicungodonne that he might order the dividing of them but the Interpreters went not to Sicungodonne but to Joffiesamma Governor of Nangesaque who Read the Inventory over several times and approv'd at last of the dividing of them onely he would have the Ambassador to add two Pieces of black Cloth to the Emperor's Presents and since Joffiesamma would have it so Wagenaer was forc'd to let the two Pieces of black Cloth go Moreover he judg'd it unhandsom to leave out Sicungodonne notwithstanding he was retir'd from Courtly Employments considering he had been so great a help to the Hollanders on all occasions heretofore Whereupon Wagenaer commanded the Interpreters a second time to give the fore-mention'd Inventory to Sicungodonne but he sent it back without Reading of it and modestly excus'd himself that hence-forward he could not serve them in their Business yet he was satisfi'd that they still acknowledg'd him Sicungodonne's new Successor Hootye Auwanno would not concern himself with the Hollanders this first time therefore they were forc'd to Govern themselves according to Joffiesamma's humors who was a stern and churlish Person Wagenaer found no small trouble about the securing of his Presents for the Inn wherein he Lodg'd being nothing else but a Hut cover'd with Straw having not been re-built since the Fire and indeed all the Houses in Jedo were made after such a manner that it seem'd rather a large Village than a City The Store-house behind the Hollanders Inn lay still buried in Rubbish But Joffiesamma proffer'd Wagenaer his Goddon and a Chamber in the Palace to divide the Presents in when they should be given to the Emperor and although Wagenaer consider'd the removing yet he durst not deny the Proffer but Packing up their Goods sent them thither Mean while there came Orders that the Councellors and Japan Princes were to appear before the Emperor on the eight and twentieth of the new Moon by them call'd Ninguats which time agrees with our ninth and tenth of April Joffiesamma acquainted Wagenaer with it two days before ordering him that he and his Retinue should be in handsom Apparel and come to Court on the appointed day by nine of the Clock in the Morning The day being come Wagenaer rose very early and fetching the Presents from Joffiesamma's House carry'd them to Court where he set them in publick view Appears before the Emperor But that which most troubled him were the Bengael Oxen many hundreds of the Japanners having waited all the day before to see them and indeed they made so great a Crowd that it would have been impossible for him to have gotten through them to prevent which trouble the Oxen that stood in the Hollanders Inn were cover'd with red Flannel with silk Tassels Roses gilded Bells and all manner of Ribbons Before day-break they were led to the Court by the Interpreters where Wagenaer met them at the appointed time he stay'd two hours in the Emperor 's little Palace which stands Westward from the greater in which the Emperor resided since he was burnt out of the biggest two years before What they did with them before the Emperor In the interim Joffiesamma came into the usual Waiting-Hall and taking Wagenaer by the Hand led him through a stately Gallery to the
Jonks which were robb'd the Fact was done by rude Sea-men and without the least knowledge of the Councel at Batavia wherefore the Criminals should be severely punish'd for an example to others Emperors Presents This Answer pleasing the Council exceeding well they caus'd thirty of the Emperors richest Coats to be brought on three long Boards Auwanno said Your Presents O Holland Ambassador are most acceptable to the Emperor wherefore he hath given you these in return and also gives you free leave to go to Nangesaque Which said Wagenaer was by Joffiesamma conducted to the Guard-Hall where he wish'd him much joy of his quick Dispatch and the Emperors Favor and also proffer'd to do him all the Service he could if he requir'd any thing to his Journey Hollanders Presents are not accepted and why Moreover the Kings of Ouwarri Cunocuni and Mito the Emperor's Uncle and also the Councellor Minosamma ask'd for some Strings of Blood-Coral and six Cast of Loopen the form of which was drawn on a piece of Paper and given to Wagenaer Minosamma requir'd also a Perspective-Glass which being accordingly sent was return'd again the same being as he pretended too dark but indeed the fault was in the bad Informations of his Servants who knew not how to use it And just so it was with the costly Book of Plants of Rembert Dodoneus for although the Flowers Trees and Herbs were extraordinary handsom to the Life yet Minosamma sent it back again because he look'd upon the Prints to be too small and not well drawn so desiring a bigger Book and one that was handsomer painted And as little was the Globe esteem'd which with all the Art imaginable was made for the Emperor of Japan in Amsterdam because they knew not the meaning thereof yet some of them could find the chiefest Kingdoms in Europe upon it and pointing to them with their Fingers name them But as for the representation of the Planets they have many strange thoughts for most of them think that certainly such Men and Beasts do invisibly stick to the Clouds others that they inhabit the Heavens Wagenaer's Journey from Jedo to Nangesaque ¶ THirty days Wagenaer spent at Jedo and going out of this Imperial City on the fourth of May he came in fourteen days time safe to Osacca out of whose Haven he set sail the twentieth of the same Month the Wind and Weather favoring him and got to Simonificci where he dropp'd Anchor eight days after he left Osacca The Interpreter and Bonjoises forbad their Pilot to sail into the Straights between Bungo and the Main Coast of Japan towards the Corean Sea layings That the time of the Trade-Wind was gone therefore they should lye longer on the Sea and that they could not possibly get forward the Winds blowing continually against them The Hollanders might according to the Advice of the Council travel over-land to Nangesaque and so chuse a certainty for an uncertainty and they were sure to be safer on Shore than at Sea Yet Wagenaer was doubtful because new Inventions bring new Inconveniencies and Charge wherefore he thought it best to go the usual way by Water and not through Bungo which would increase their Charge that was great enough otherwise Yet it avail'd not that Wagenaer seem'd to dislike the Proposal of the Bonjoises and Interpreters but they went against his will their own way Ferrying over from Simonisicci to the City Cokero lying on Bungo in an Inlet opposite to Simonisicci and landing at Cokero whether Wagenaer would or not he was forc'd to follow them His dangerous Journey though Bungo The Journey was dangerous because of the Rivers which run between the Rocks through which they were forc'd to wade The steep Banks and doubtful Depths made it the more troublesom With these Dangers also came Inconveniences for the Island Bungo otherwise call'd Cikoko is but poorly stock'd from Cokero to Nangesaque so that scarce any thing of the meanest Provisions were to be had there Wagenaer travell'd in that manner five days leaving Jammanganomisacci and Assia on the right hand and passing through the Kingdoms of Facata and Fisen along a dirty way made so by the continual Showrs of Rain that fall there In the City Fisen he refresh'd himself where he got abundance of all manner of Provisions and chiefly was entertain'd with a dainty Fish not unlike a Salmon being taken in the River Day which washes the Castle Daymats Description of the city Fisen and the stately Castle Daymats This Castle is very beautiful to behold The Governor thereof hath a Banquetting-house built in the middle of the River on thick Pillars between which the Stream sets very swift in it are several delightful and spacious Rooms the lowermost jutting Roofs are all adorn'd with Golden Balls underneath them lye several Pleasure-Boats to shelter them from the Weather The Burrough of the Castle Daymats affords a Habitation for the Customers which receive the Custom from the Ships which pass up and down the River and the Revenues of the adjacent Countreys so that there is a continual Concourse of People in this Place not an Hour passing but one or other is carried in a Sedan to the Water-gate others ride thither on Horses some rouling of Packs and Barrels others loading them on Carts drawn by Oxen. Between this Burrough and the River Day lies a Plain very convenient for Landing or Shipping of Goods which are to pay Custom The Burrough it self hath three Gates the chiefest lies on the Shore where the Entrance begins under a Roof with two Trap-doors between two Walls that rise higher and higher to the second Gate made fast in the Wall on each side the top of it appears a little above the Bulwarks These Bulwarks have many Redoubts on some of the outmost of them are square watch-Watch-houses two Stories high within are several fair Houses inhabited by the Customers Lordship and Castle DAâ—MATS Mid-way between the Burrough and the Castle stands a handsom Temple in which the Bonzies daily perform their Service The City Fisen lies for the most part hid in a Valley behind the Castle and appears with several high Temples and Turrets with above twenty thousand lesser Buildings ¶ WAgenaer travelling through the Province Omura left Auwo Tabra Aynoro Oysinucobi Omodakey Nantsjamma Zetta and Focunda on the right hand and came on the second of June five days after he Landed on Cokero to Nangesaque where he had News from Formosa News from Formosa That the Tartars and Coxengans were upon concluding a Peace wherefore he lay before the Nankin Coast to hasten the Confirmation of it There was also News from Tayovan concerning the Chinese Interpreter Cabessa Pingua that privately he demanded the Custom in Coxenga's Name from the Jonks which Traded to Formosa which being known he was committed to Custody and after having receiv'd some small Punishment releas'd but yet was since fled with his Wife and Children to China where
before the Store-house Planted after the Dutch manner and chiefly in the strange European Commodities and also in the Presents which were to be sent to the Emperor Indiik thought to entertain him with Preserv'd Persian Fruits Brandy and Tent but he neither tasting the one nor the other took his leave and departed A sad accident at Nangesaque ¶ SOon after Ficojemon met with some trouble by means of a Citizens Daughter who hang'd her self in the Night in Nangesaque He made strict Inquiry after the Reason that provok'd her thereto which at last he discover'd to this effect A Chinese Commander of a Ship being enamour'd of the Maid had upon great Promises and by the assistance of a Japanner crop'd her Virgin-Flower which she afterwards seriously considering with her self and fearing that if she should be with Child then her Crime would be publickly known and bring her into utter disgrace to prevent the same she laid violent Hands on her self But the Criminals being taken and put in Prison ran great danger of their Lives yet at last by many Intreaties a milder Sentence pass'd on both the Chinese being for ever banish'd from Japan and the Japanner to the Islands Goto and his Goods seiz'd upon by the Law were most part of them given to the Parents of the foremention'd Maid Jeffiesamma's cruelty ¶ NOt long after this Accident Joffiesamma shew'd the People a Pattern of his Cruelty by cutting asunder two of his Servants for a small Offence the one thirteen and the other fifteen years old A Fire in Nangesaque The Night after hapned a Fire Nangesaque which in four of the eminent'st Streets consum'd a hundred Houses which undid many great Merchants for they putting all their Goods in the Stone Store-houses judging them to be very safe they were all burnt ¶ THe nine and twentieth of November Nangesaque was also shaken by an Earthquake which sometimes seeming to abate soon after made the whole Town tremble which was chiefly on the third of January in the following year when this Trepidation threatned no small danger in the night The Joynts of the houses beginning to gape the Timber and Walls tumbling down which occasion'd a general out-cry in the City yet with the day-break the noise and Earthquake ceased but the whole City was in a hurry occasion'd by five and twenty Roman Christians Cruelty us'd to Roman Christians that after intolerable Tortures yet remain'd constant in their Religions and were now going to be led out of Nangesaque there to be hung with their Feet upwards and their Heads flea'd downwards so to die a lingering death when they had hung a day and a night in that miserable manner two of them desir'd that they might appear before the Magistrates of the City of Nangesaque who thereupon coming to the place of Audience heard that they were not able any longer to endure the unsupportable torture but were ready to renounce their Christianity and imbrace the Japanners Doctrine on which promise How the Japanners deny Christianity being let loose they spat at a Woodden Cross then stamp'd upon the Picture of our Saviour Christ and the Virgin Mary to the great grief of their Brother Sufferers which refus'd to be releas'd on these terms but pittifully crying said Surely we shall soon depart out of this Wretched World and go to Paradise where we shall be out of the Power of the Japan Tyrants and enjoy Everlasting Beatitude Seventy four Christians beheaded And when these foremention'd had hung seven days in that manner with their Heads downwards there were seventy four more new discover'd Christians brought thither which were all to be Beheaded these cry'd as loud as their faintness would permit them Remain stedfast in the Christian Faith we shall e're long meet in Heaven The seventy four amongst which were not onely Women and Children but also sucking Babes were altogether Beheaded their Heads set on Iron Pins and their Bodies thrown in a deep pit Indiik being an Eye-witness admir'd at their Constancy and the more because the Martyr'd Japanners had so little knowledge of the Christian Religion but the Netherland Interpreters inform'd him that several of them gave themselves out to be Christians Why they suffer themselves to be Executed that with their Wives and Children which for want of Provisions and chiefly Rice they were not able to maintain they might die together and so be rid of the Miseries of this World Freezes hard in Japan ¶ THe fourth fifth and sixth of February it Froze so hard that the Ice would bear the weight of three Men. Moreover Fire at Miaco News came to Nangesaque that the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the same Moneth a Fire happen'd in Miaco which consum'd not onely seventy Streets to Ashes but also the Dayro's stately Palace Nâ—â—rlyckhydt 〈◊〉 The Lordship ONNAYS The Town Coyo In this part of Japan the Town Coyo Consecrated to a Bonzi call'd Conbodaxi is very famous being held for the Burying-place of the Prince of Bungo or if they chance to be Interr'd elsewhere there must at least a Tooth of theirs be found at Coyo Indiik's Voyage ¶ BUt Indiik Sailing from Cokero to Simonisicci he found the Barque there which he had sent before thorow the Corean Ocean with his Goods So going Aboard on the seventh of March in the Haven of Simonisicci in seven days he arriv'd in Osacca The Hollanders Landlord Icubia Serojemon and the Interpreters made Indiik's arrival known to the two Governors before which he appear'd and brought Presents the next day which by both were kindly accepted And Indiik provided with Horses His Journey by Land to Jedo came thorow Firaskatta Jonda and Fissima to Miaco where the old Host Koffe Sabrojemon carry'd immediate News thereof to the Grand Judge Mackino Sandosamma which that Evening permitted him Audience kindly accepted the Presents and gave him a new Letter of Conduct wherefore he neglected no time but went on his Journey and Lodg'd afterwards in Cusatz and next in Sacca and forcing over from Quano he got late at night to Mia where he rested Moreover he found the House for the Hollanders Entertainment in Occosacci Lock'd and Guarded because the Master thereof being fall'n out with his Neighbors was in danger to be slain by them Leaving this Town he Lodg'd in the Village Accosacci Ferry'd over the Bay between Arei and the Village Meisacca and was forc'd by reason of the great Showres of Rain to stay in Fannama he design'd to Lodge the next night in Caneia but finding the usual Inn there Guarded notwithstanding it was almost dark and Rain'd hard he went on and Ferrying over the River Oyengauwa refresh'd in Simanda At Merico he was again forc'd to pass by the old Inn no body being at home the Master thereof being gone to Surunga there to release his Son who was committed to Prison for fighting with one of the Villagers Arrives
Thus he Sail'd in between steep and high Rocks of which some terrifi'd the Beholders as they were passing by them Within the Harbor appears a strong and Artificial Water-Castle built by Ongoschio the Emperor Chongon's Grand-Father when he design'd to take the Crown from Fideri Taicosama's Son because Congoxuma was a place of great concern to him for this City is not onely the Key of the Province Saxuma but of all Bungo This Water-Castle rais'd out of the Sea with Free-Stones is square with many Redouts like the European Bulwarks Here is kept a strong Garrison where the Ships pay Custom Moreover the Stone-Causey made up out of the Sea and along the Rails on both sides Plated with Copper deserves no small admiration This Causey leads from the Water-Castle to two great Watch-houses the Out-walls of which rest on the said Causey and have an excellent Prospect of all the Haven each of them Garrison'd with five hundred of the Emperors Souldiers which have a continual eye with those in the Water-Castle on all Transactions because the King of Saxuma hath oftentimes boldly taken up Arms against the Emperor refusing to pay him the usual Tribute but still been brought to reason yet notwithstanding his bad Fortune he would now and then take fresh Courage and receive more Losses between the watch-Watch-houses and the Mountain on the North-side of the City is a convenient Harbor in which the Jonks and other Vessels in great numbers come to an Anchor or are moor'd to the Shore Close by are the City Store-Houses built on a Stone-Wall rais'd out of the Water in the middle whereof is a large square Gate with the Stairs of Free-Stone that descend into the Haven at which all the Goods and Merchandizes that are brought to Coxenga are Landed and carry'd into the City The Store-houses on the North-side of the Gate consists of four spacious Halls but that which is on the other side hath a double Roof and fourteen large Rooms besides Garrets Between the North Store-house and the watch-Watch-houses the River flows out of the City into the Haven and is adorn'd on one side with brave large Custom-houses in which Art shews its Master-piece no Charge having been spar'd in the building of them here the Ships must pay a second Custom which brings in a great Revenue yearly to the Emperor Japan Temple in which ley wash their dead ¶ BUt opposite to these Toll-houses appears a stately Temple in which the Bodies of Dead Persons are plac'd for some days before they are burnt after the Japan manner The Bonzies belonging thereto get vast Sums of Money especially from the rich People for cleansing of the dead Bodies that they may appear the more acceptable to their Gods Amida Canon or any other whom they chiefly serv'd in their Life time This kind of Custom of keeping the Dead Bodies Unbury'd for some time to cleanse and then to burn them hath been in use a long time in the World for the Ancient Romans and Greeks observ'd such a Custom with their Dead In Phenissis before the Birth of our Saviour The Greek Tragedy written by Euripides brings in King Creon saying I will withdraw that so Jocasta may From her Sons body cleanse the filth away I understand that the Dardanian Illyrians saith Aelian are wash'd three times Aeliani var. Hist l. 4. c. 1. once when born a second time when Marry'd and lastly when they are dead The Jews also observ'd this Washing of Dead Bodies St. Luke saith of Tabytha And it came to pass in those days Act 9.37 that she was sick and dy'd whom when they had wash'd they laid in an upper Chamber The Embalming of Dead Bodies is full as Ancient Tacitus Herodotus Diodorus Siculus Pomponius Mela Cicero Sextus Philosophus Lucian and other Ancient Greek and Latin Writers ascribe the first Embalming of the Dead to the Egyptians with which Opinion the Gospel agrees for Moses relates that the Patriarchs Jacob and Joseph were Embalm'd by the Egyptians And Joseph commanded his Servants the Physitians to Embalm his Father Gen. 50.2 3 26. and the Physitians Embalmed Ifrael And forty days were fulfilled for him for so are fulfilled the days of those that are Embalmed and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days And Joseph died being a hundred and ten years old and they Embalmed him and he was put in a Coffin Sextus Philosophus tells us Pyrrbâ—n Hypothes 6.24 That the Egyptians took out the Bowels of the deceas'd Bodies and fill'd them with Balsom and other Perfumes to preserve them from stinking and rotting and kept them in their Houses letting them at the Table with them Syl. Ital. l. 12. Of which the Latin Poet Sylvius Italicus saith thus Egypt Embalms her Dead with rich Perfumes And then at Feasts gives them the chiefest Rooms Nay they oftentimes gave the dead Bodies of their Parents or near Relations as a Security to their Creditors which if they did not release whilst they liv'd might not saith Lucian be buried Moreover they us'd for their Embalming Salt Cedar-Oyl Honey Wax Myrrhe Chalk Lime Asphalt and Nitre The Washing of Bodies was perform'd by the Roman and Greek Women Plato brings in Socrates saying In Phadono It is convenient before I drink the Poyson that I wash my self that I may not leave any thing to do for the Women to wash me after I am dead The Japanners seem also to have learnt from the Romans That the preparations for the Burial are to be perform'd in the Temples for all things necessary for Funerals were to be had for Money in the Temple of Libitina Goddess of the Dead And according to the establishment of the Roman King Numa Pompilius every one was bound to throw certain Sums of Money into the Treasury of Juno Lucina when ever they had a Child born and also when any one dy'd into a Pot Consecrated to Venus Libitina But the Embalming of Dead Bodies was perform'd by Men. Moreover not far from this Temple towards the City are several Stone Store-houses against Fire in which the Treasures of all the Province of Saxuma are kept and are once a year by the Emperors Forces fetch'd to Osacca between these Buildings and the Water-Castle stands a fair Temple to which the Countrey People come daily in great numbers there to Pray for a Blessing on their Plants Trees and Cattel to which they shew Reverence almost like the Romans and Greeks who in former times us'd to honor their Idol Pan with a Goats Face and Bucks Feet as a Deity plac'd over all Herdsmen and Hunters and also to the Fauni they attributed Horns and Horses Feet to whom they sacrific'd a Goat as likewise Milk to Sylvanus God of their Forests And in like manner to Bacchus the God of Wine the Deform'd Priapus of the Gardens Ceres the Corn Deity and Oreades of the Mountains Further description of Congoxuma But on the South side of the River
with Turn'd Cups the Coachman holding a Pike with a Gilded Star at the end of it in his left Hand and in his right four Reins which came thorow as many Holes of the Axel-Tree he sate with his Legs under him on a square Seat cover'd with Flower'd Silk behind the Coach also sate three Musicians on each side went several Servants with Fans The four Horses which drew the Coach were led by four Persons of Quality the Governor looking out sometimes between the Curtains all those that saw him fell down with their Faces flat on the Ground just behind the Coach came a Guard of Souldiers half of them carrying Pikes and the other half Musquets which were follow'd by a Merchant richly Cloth'd his Horses Head whereon he Was Mounted adorn'd with a stately Plume of Feathers some distance after him a Sedan or rather a Throne was carry'd by fourteen Gentlemen seven going on each side carry'd a long Pole to which the Sedan was made fast on their Shoulders this Throne having an ascent of five steps on a Square each corner supported by a curious Turn'd Post about every one of which Silk Curtains were ty'd the Covering also of Silk was adorn'd with Fringe In this Sedan two of the Magistrates of Meaco were carry'd then follow'd several other ordinary Sedans with Noblemen and last of all Rode divers Troops of Horse The Holland Ambassador receiv'd in this State Rode towards the City Description of Meaco ¶ The first Gate of the City Meaco hath three Entrances whereof the middlemost is the biggest built between a Free-Stone-Wall the inner Gate is one Story high from whose Roof Stream'd a Flag with the Citie-Arms Miaco by the Japanners also call'd Cabucoma and Cocquay contain'd formerly in its Circumference one and twenty Miles but is since by the Civil Wars become above a third part less yet at this day it reckons above eighty thousand Families divided into the upper and lower City the lower spreads it self to Fissima and is so costly built that one Edifice seems to be above a Mile long In the upper Miaco the Dayro with his Cungies that is Counsellors keeps a stately Court himself looks like a Savage being never Shav'd nor his Nails par'd besides five Eminent Colledges in the City there are five Free-Schools more about Miaco viz. Coja Wegru Franzon Homi and Bandu every one of which hath above three thousand five hundred Scholars which are there taught the Arts of Rhetorick Oratory Histonography Astronomy Poetry and Arithmetick Strange Tree Here grow Palm Trees of whose Juyce the Japanners make an excellent Drink the Root digg'd up and dry'd in the Sun then Planted again in a short time will grow to be another Tree Not far from Miaco the Mountain Frenojamma riseth with its spiring top towards the Clouds Peter Davity tells us of a very strange Mountain seen in the Kingdom Jetchu which Flames continually In the Meacomean Lake is a Fish not unlike a Poor-Jack which the Japanners dry and send to all parts of the Countrey Pet. Davity in his Description of Asia The foresaid Davity relates also That the French King Lewis the thirteenth had tasted of them Strange Graves in Japan Moreover here as in most places of Japan are several Tombs or Graves rais'd of Free-Stone about two Foot high in which being hollow the Friends to the Deceas'd often times lay Water and raw Rice which the poor People or Birds fetch from thence They also strow the Graves with Flowers and Boughs of Trees Taicosama's Court ¶ VEry admirable is the Palace which Taicosama built in Miaco in which hang a thousand Pieces of Tapistry Embroyder'd with Gold just before the Palace is a spacious open Court in the middle of which stands a Theatre where they Act both Tragedies and Comedies on every side thereof stand four Turrets each four Stories high The Houses and Apartments are for the most part built of Wood yet handsome to behold They seldom Build of Stone because the Earthquakes are so frequent in Japan and though often times whole Villages nay Cities are burnt down yet they all Build again of Timber Wood in Japan wherewith the Woods furnish them plentifully for they not onely produce ordinary Timber but also White Wood not unlike that of which in Europe we make Virginals besides all manner of Fruit-Trees and tall Cedars whose lofty Crowns seem to salute the Skies The Cedars are us'd most for Pillars and Masts The Japanners have strange Orders when a Fire happens in the Night for the Street in which the Fire is must help themselves for none else will come near to assist them by which means many times the Fire gets such a head that the Flame consumes all before it IN Meaco as in most other places of Japan they drive a great Trade in far better order than in any part of Europe for it is no small help or benefit that all the Japan Lordships Dukedoms and Provinces have one Measure both for wet and dry Goods Their Measure call'd Ichin Japan Measure is six Rhyneland Feet long divided into six greater and sixty lesser parts of else every Foot into ten Inches From this Ichin they make their Ell call'd Issiack which is exactly the sixth part of the Ichin but the Issiack hath also ten great and sixty lesser parts the tenths are call'd Isson ten Issons make an Itsiebou and six Itsiebous one Ichin which Measure all Shop-keepers use and is so exact that it differs not a Hairs breadth Their Streets and Miles All the Streets in Japan as well in the Cities as in the Countrey Villages are of an equal length viz. sixty Jekjens or Ichins that is thirty Rhyneland Rods sixty Streets make a Japan Mile or a thousand eight hundred Rods. In the High-ways at every Miles end are little round Hillocks thrown up by Men employ'd for that purpose on which they plant four high Trees which are great Guides and Helps to Travellers Japan Weight Moreover the Japan Weight is full as exact as their Measure which consist of Fiaekin being a hundred and twenty five Dutch Pounds one Fiaekin makes a hundred Cattys one Catty sixteen Taile one Taile ten Maes one Maes ten Coudryn one Coudryn ten Rinnen Japan Coyn very strange The same order they observe with their Coyn. The Mint-Master coyns no Money either of Copper Silver or Gold but every Merchant goes to the Farmers of the Metal-Mines of whom he buyes the gross Silver and Gold as cheap as he can then makes it of an exact weight according to the Emperors Order then he delivers the Pieces to the Emperors Officers of the Mint which meet on certain days to weigh the Money which is brought in to them whether it be full weight and if it wants but half a Grain they cut it in the middle and so return it to the Owner Those that are weight the Officers mark with their Stamp which done it must be
the Elbows on their Helmets they wear Plumes of Feathers Whilst the King eats they beat on Kettle-drums before his Hall The Inhabitants freely proffer their Daughters to the Hollanders to vitiate them Description of Malacca ¶ SOme Ships that sail from Nangesaque go for Malacca which City lies on an even Shore being about three Miles in length well seated for Conveniency of Trade and cut through with a River made passable by a fair Bridge over which the Citizens come to one another At the time when Alphonsus Albuquerque re-took the famous City Goa for Emanuel King of Portugal the Arabian Mamud King of Malacca had contrary to his Oath set upon some Portuguese and kept them close Prisoners But Albuquerque hasting to Malacca to release them met in his way with a Malacca General call'd Naodabeguca who setting upon them bought his Death dearly falling down at last with a hundred gaping Wounds on the Ground It occasion'd no small wonder Strange Wonder of a wounded Malaccan that not one of them bled a drop but so soon as a Golden Armlet was taken from him the Blood gush'd forth from all parts in great abundance so that Naodabeguca instantly gave up the Ghost The Prisoners inform'd that a Bone of the Beast call'd Cabim was inclos'd in the Armlet by whose Power the Blood was stopp'd wedding- Strange wedding-Wedding-house ¶ MAmud's Daughter marrying to the Prince of the Panenses kept her Wedding in Malacca The Nuptial Ceremonies were perform'd in great State A great House or moving Castle built on thirty Wheels and hung with rich Tapestry was by Elephants drawn through the City within stood the Tables cover'd and the Guests sung danced and acted all manner of pleasant Pastime Whilst thus Malacca was in the height of its pleasure Albuquerque brought his Fleet into the Harbor and demanded the delivery of the Portuguese Prisoners which Mamud out of fear deliver'd him yet the Portuguese set the City on Fire Malacca on Fire and not thus satisfied Albuquerque would have a place in the City to build a Castle that they might drive their Trade without fear Moreover he demanded the Damage and Charges which the Fleet had cost preparing because it was done purposely for this Expedition The Kings Son and Son-in-Law cry'd out They would venture the utmost of it which though the Event prov'd never so bad could not be worse than the insufferable high Ambition of the Portuguese Thus the two young Princes perswaded Mamud to take up Arms who otherwise would have bought Peace though on unequal Terms Whereupon with speed raising some Fortifications but chiefly guarding the Bridge that went over the River with Men and Arms he carried out his Elephants with Towers full of Soldiers to hinder the Landing of the Portuguese Valiant Fight yet they notwithstanding all his resistance Landed John Lima marching directly on towards the smallest part of the City where the Kings Palace stood and also a Mahumetan Temple but hapned to fall in amongst Mamud's Son Alodyn's Soldiers which occasion'd a fierce Battel for a considerable time when Mamud himself came with his Elephants on the Backs of the Portuguese wherefore Lima facing about with a part of his Men broke their Ranks and wounded their Elephants who returning amongst their own Army made such a Rout that they tumbled one over another every one then seeking which way to fly Mamud being cruelly wounded sav'd himself by flight Alodyn also began to give ground But Albuquerque found so great Resistance at the Bridge that he sounded a Retreat yet a few days after he renew'd the Fight when it fortun'd much better for although Mamud had undermin'd the Streets so to blow up the Portuguese with Powder yet they being inform'd of it went along another way into the City led by Albuquerque whilst Anthony Abreus made himself Master of the Bridge But Albuquerque ran great danger for the Malaccans keeping close together in their narrow Streets made fierce resistance the Women and Children throwing Stones and other combustible things out of their Windows yet at last he forc'd them to fly raising a Bulwark at each end of the conquer'd Bridge and cover'd the same over on the top with Sails to keep off the Heat of the Sun Mamud running into the Woods there died of Grief Great Booty in Malacca The City it self was given to the Soldiers for Booty of which the fifth part should be preserv'd for Emanuel King of Portugal whose part amounted to two hundred thousand Golden Crowns Albuquerque building a strong Castle here gave the Command of it to Rhoderick Palatyn Treachery in the Fort. But not long after Alodyn had like to have made himself Master of the new Fort by Treachery for one Maxelys extracted from Bengala made particular acquaintance with Alphonsus Persona Treasurer of the Castle Alodyn giving Maxelys a good Sum of Money that he should admit Soldiers in Merchants Apparel to murder and kill all the Garrison which he had done had not Persona though mortally wounded behind by Maxelys retain'd so much strength that he got open his Door and cry'd out Treason Matelief's Voyage ¶ AFter this the Portuguese liv'd here undisturb'd till Cornelius Matelief sailing from the Texel Anno 1605. with eleven Ships Mann'd with thirteen hundred fifty seven Men fetch'd four great Ships out of the Haven of Malacca rais'd a Platform on Pulo Malacca and landed seven hundred Men which made the Portuguese retreat to their Suburbs fortified with a strong Wall and out of their Suburbs which were set on fire into the City Malacca it self the Portuguese had so fortified with wide Trenches strong Forts Gates and Towers that it would easily endure a great Siege John de Patuan King of Jor brought some Assistance to them but those Countrey People were neither fit to work for laziness nor to fight for faintheartedness Malacca besieg'd In the interim Matelief rais'd another Platform against the corner of the City-Trench from which he fired continually In the City died daily above forty People of Hunger and noysom Smells But the Besiegers also suffer'd almost as great Inconveniences not only a great Sickness hapning among them but being lodg'd under the open Canopy of Heaven were miserably stung by the Wasps so that continual waking had quite tired them yet they took fresh Courage when two Ships came from Holland with two hundred forty five Men to their Assistance But soon after the little Sung Frigat discover'd the Portuguese Fleet sent to relieve Malacca The Fight between the Hollanders and Portuguese Matelief being inform'd thereof fetch'd his Guns from the Platforms aboard brake up the Siege and prepar'd himself for an Engagement The next Morning the Fight began near the Promontory Rachabo Both Parties lost each of them two Ships but Matelief's Gun-powder growing short he resolv'd to clap them aboard and enter Calm Weather twice hinder'd their valiant Design and the third time the Portuguese taking advantage