the Whore she polluteth her Father therefore she shall be burnt with fire But the Rabbin Jews are very ignorant in their reckoning of Time in which they commonly make great mistakes as taking Thamar to be Mechisedech's Daughter not onely without testimony but also against apparent truth for there is above two hundred years difference betwixt the Age of Melchisedech and Thamar Anno 2490 after the Creation Abraham and Melchisedech met one with another and Judah committed Adultery with Thamar a hundred and ninety years after that meeting Luther is of opinion that Judah perform'd the Office of a Priest amongst the Canaanites Luthers opinion concerning Thamars burning and that a Daughter in Law was held to be as an own Daughter and therefore Thamar was condemn'd to be burnt being a Priest's Daughter But most judge the chief reason of her condemnation to be for committing Adultery being found with Child when she was promis'd to Shelah Judah's third Son According to the Laws of several People all Adulterers were condemn'd to die and chiefly the Roman Emperor Opilius Macrinus burnt all those alive that were accus'd of that Crime The Antients worshipp'd Fire ¶ IT is worthy our labor to set down the great Reverence the Antients shew'd to the Element of Fire When the Royal Consort and Daughter of Julianus the Emperor appear'd in State they always had holy Fire carry'd before them The Roman Emperors also themselves ever follow'd such a Fire which Custom they learn'd of the Persian Mace-bearers The Romans when any Marriages were solemniz'd made the Bride and Bridegroom touch Fire and Water which they set on an Altar Nimrod by some call'd Ninus the first of the Assyrian Monarchs commanded Fire to be worshipp'd as a god in Ur a City in Babylon so call'd from that kind of religious Worship Hieron Quaest in Genesis St. Jerome relates and besides him the Rabbins Salomon Jarchy and Moses Gervedensis That Abraham was condemn'd to be burnt because he would not worship the Fire in Ur according to the Chaldeans example and when he stood in the midst of the Flame Divine Providence preserving him he fled to Canaan But St. Jerome looks upon the Story as not authentick but one of the Jews Fables Persians worshipp'd Fire The Persians also according to the testimony of Julius Firmicus Maximus Tyrius Hilarius and Isidorus fell down daily on their Knees worshipping Fire as an Image of God Concerning whom also the famous Historiographer Socrates relates a strange Story That Maruthas Bishop of Mesopotamia Socrat. Hist â—â—7 c. 81. being dispatch'd from Constantinople to Isdigerdes King of Persia got exceedingly into his Favor for his great Holiness and obliging Carriage which the chief of the Persians could no ways digest but look'd upon with great envy Isdigerdes us'd daily in his Chappel to worship Fire under which they digg'd a Cave and privately hiding a Man in it order'd him to call to the King as he was kneeling before the Fire telling him That he would certainly lose his Kingdom if he shew'd favor to the Christian Bishop This voyce Isdigerdes took as an Oracle and thereupon resolv'd to put away Maruthas notwithstanding he had cur'd him of an intolerable pain in his Head But Maruthas discovering the Cheat to the King soon after obtain'd free priviledge for the Christians in Persia Ammianus Marcellinus farther adds Ammian Mart. l. 23. That they reported the Fire was faln from Heaven preserv'd on everlasting Hearths Strabo the Greek Geographer averrs Strabo l. 15. That the Cappadocians built several Temples for their consecrated Fires in which about the middle they erected an Altar and set the Fire upon it Rabbi Benj. in Jouthasins Rabbi Benjamin in his famous Hebrew Book of Travels on which several Learned Men have Commented says That he Sail'd from Haanlam now call'd Zeilan to the Asiatick Isles Chenerag inhabited by such Idolaters as were call'd Dug-Bijim where he found their Priests to be the greatest Sorcerers in the World The Greeks and Romans worshipp'd Fire But these were not all for the Egyptians Greeks and Romans also worshipped Fire Amongst the Greeks the chiefest were the famous and Learned Hippasus the Metapontine and Heraclitus the Ephesian wherefore the greatest Offerings were not sacrificed without Fire by the Heathens Lastly the Vestal Virgins in Rome and the like in Greece at Delphos and Athens as its Priestesses tended the Everlasting Fire The Northern Tartars and also the Lituanians worshipp'd Fire for a Deity and Alexander Gaguinus affirms That the Lituanians Alex. Gaguin de prise Lituan Relig. till they embraced the Christian Religion in Anno 1230. continu'd the same sort of Worship The Chaldeans Medians and Assyrians offer'd Sacrifice to Fire presaging by the Flames thereof future Events Those Priests that belong'd to the Temple of Diana Echatana whose care it was to look after the consecrated Fire were not permitted to have any conversation with Women The antient Britains worshipp'd Minerva their Temple being famous for an unquenchable Fire that wasted not into Ashes but into Stones Corps by whom and why burnt ¶ THe Massagetes and also Thales one of the Learnedst among the Grecians maintain'd that the Custom formerly us'd in most Parts of the known World which was to burn dead Corps was to be esteem'd wicked because the Fire being the greatest of the gods was corrupted by dead Bodies But others maintain'd the contrary holding it best to cleanse and purifie the Body by the Flame that so it might neither rot nor occasion any noisomness or stench which Opinion was held by most of the Eastern People as also amongst the Germans Spaniards Gauls and Britains Plin. l. 8 c. 〈◊〉 But this Custom of burning the Dead was a long time after entertain'd by the Romans for which Pliny gives this Reason because their Enemies would oftentimes dig the dead Bones out of the Graves carrying them away as Trophies which to prevent they follow'd that fashion of the Germans and Indians but whether that were the true reason or no sure we are that the first among them recorded to be burnt was the Consul Sylla which he himself commanded fearing to be serv'd in like manner as he had done to his Competitor Marius whom he digg'd up out of his Grave After the Romans had once throughly entertain'd this Custom Pliâ— l. 12. c 18. none were equal to them for the magnificent preparations of Funeral Pyles furnishing the same with the sweetest Perfumes for which they bestowed great sums of Money The Emperor Nero according to the foremention'd Pliny burnt more Perfume with the dead Corps of his Empress Poppea than all Arabia Felix could produce in one year When Germanicus's Lady travell'd with the Ashes of her burnt Husband through Calabria Apulia and Campania to Rome the Inhabitants of those Places through which they pass'd came to meet them all Cloth'd in Black and the Nobility in Purple every one burning according to
Ground heats and causes the Water to boyl as if a Pot hung over a Flame But that Opinion is not grounded on Reason for it is the nature of Fire being inclos'd in Caves under Ground to break forth with great rage if it hath the least vent Here also it is to be observ'd That the Fire dries up the Water or the Water extinguishes the Fire so soon as the one gets the Mastery of the other So that without contradiction the force of the Fire must either dry up the flowing Waters and consume the Earth underneath to Ashes or else the Water which has pass'd through it so many Ages must needs have quench'd the Fire For who will believe that Water and Fire are of one force and power under Ground and so agreeable in Nature that the one should not extinguish the other Moreover where is there any scalding Waters by burning Sulphurous places yet if it be any where it must be there The Italians reckon little less the fifty boyling Waters but not one of them by which any fire hath been found The Mountains Vesuvius Aetna Hecla and others which continually belch out hideous Smokes into the Air and sometimes horrible Flames yet produce no manner of hot moysture The best reason of the hotness of the waters But the wisest Philosophers judge the occasion of the heat in Sulphurous Waters to proceed from the swift motion with which it pours down from steep descents into the Crevises of the Earth and so still running forwards that it becomes hotter and hotter for experience learns us that a quick motion occasions heat This reason seems to our stupid judgments to be nearest the truth yet we must herein acknowledge a great ignorance and a Bridle for our understanding which seems to be wanting and stops as amaz'd at such mysteries Who can disclose the reason why the Fountain near Matilga a City of the Garamantes hath from Noon to Midnight Water boyling hot which from Midnight to Noon is as cold as Ice as Augustin Isidorus and Pliny witness why the Fountain Consecrated to Jupiter Hammon as Diodorus Salinus Amianus Lucretius Plin. lib. Hist 5. cap. 5. Wonders of waters and Pliny thus relate changeth also hot and cold of which Ovid saith Horn'd Hamon's Water in the Morning hot And at the Evening boyling like a Pot Yet from what reason to the Learn'd unknown Grows Chill like Snow and cold as Ice at Noon Who will dive with his judgement into the Mysteries which the Territories of Epirus manifest by a strange Fountain which not onely lights a Torch when held to it but also puts out one that is lighted What man will find out the reason that a Lake in a Jewish Plantation if Isidorus deserves to be credited drys up Sabbatical River or rather stands still every Sabbath day And why the Fountain of the Hill Anthracius when it overflows signifies Plenty and by its scarcity of Water as is to be seen by Pliny foretels Famine Those that are tortur'd with Singoks water Apostatize ¶ BUt to return to those miserable Wretches at Singok who when they began to pant for Breath by reason of their unsufferable Pain were deliver'd up to Chirurgeons to prolong their Lives to enable them to more sufferings for so soon as they recover'd any strength they were sure again to be brought to Singok They spent most part of August in this cruel Persecution insomuch that all those which resolv'd to be constant became Apostates except one Youth who scarce had attain'd the eighteenth year of his age was the onely person that dy'd under the hands of the merciless Torturers Horrible cruelties inflicted on the Japan women The Women generally suffer'd more than the Men for besides dropping Singoks Water upon them they drove the Maids stark naked along the Streets forcing them to creep on their Hands and Feet and causing them to be publickly ravish'd The Widows they stripp'd of their Clothes provoking their Sons to commit Adultery with them some Women they held fast by their arms and legs under Stone-Horses so committing all the outrages of Sodom they forc'd the Children to pour Singoks Water on their Parents and the Parents on the Children standing close together betwixt Stakes drove round about them some of the Women suffer'd no less by shame than other by torture their Privities being stuft full of Flax and Hemp with which also they ty'd up the young Mens Members and the Daughters were forc'd to set fire of the heaps of Wood which were to consume their Fathers Several hundreds went in companies ranging up and down in the Woods all Stigmatiz'd on their Fore-heads every one being commanded on pain of death not to give them any sustenance Tortures with water In several places near the Sea-side many Inclosures were erected in which they lock'd up whole Families which at low Water sate dry but at the time of Flood above half way in the Salt-Water these having leave to eat and drink Of Children with their Parents liv'd generally twelve or thirteen days Moreover the Parents were hoodwink'd whilst their Children which were miserably tortur'd night and day cry'd Fathers and Mothers take pity of us forsake the Christian Religion it is impossible to endure these cruel Torments which doleful cry took such deep impression into some of their hearts that for meer grief they dy'd Several had their Nails par'd off Inhumane cruelties others had their Arms and Legs boar'd thorow with Drill-Irons which occasion'd great pain also they fill'd some of their Bellies with Water which they pour'd into them through a Tunnel then being laid on their backs on the ground the Executioners stamp'd upon them so vehemently that they made them disgorge the same through their Mouths Noses and Ears After these kind of Cruelties they us'd another more barbarous placing the Martyrs on a Bench bending their Arms across on their breasts they made their bodies fast behind to a Post and then drove betwixt the Nails of their Hands and Feet sharp Spikes which tortures they renew'd five six or more days together Moreover they plac'd some Women in a large Coope full of Snakes and Serpents which crept into their Privities eating up their Bowels Hanging them up by the legs an intollerable pain for the Japanners But amongst all the tortures the most cruel was hanging them by their Legs on a Gallows with their Heads down in a Well over which a Gibbet was plac'd and at the end thereof a Block was made fast through which a Rope was drawn and ty'd to the Legs of the sufferer who being thus ty'd was let down with his Head into the Well so low that his Feet appear'd just on the top thereof In the Heads of those that hung several Wounds were cut cross-wise to the end the bloud might by degrees drop out and not overwhelm their hearts some liv'd five six nay more days before they gave up the Ghost Francis Caron relates
false either out of their own ill nature or else their ignorance in the Dutch Tongue And the more because they knew the strictness of the Japan Magistrates who pass the Sentence of Death for the least untruth The Tears which flow'd from their Eyes express'd sufficiently their exceeding Joy and the sudden News made them doubtful to credit it Yet they bow'd their Heads to the Ground after the Japan manner and thank'd Sicungodonne and Sabrosaymondonne for their kind Inclination toward them during their Imprisonment Must leave Elserak's Retinue But whilst the Dutch Prisoners were wish'd Joy by their Countreymen of their Liberty Elserak was call'd back by Sicungodonne and after some Discourse return'd to his Retinue being commanded that the ten Prisoners should walk before in the Streets and for some private Reasons not go amongst his Attendants Schaep and Byleveld entertain'd by Elserak But Elserak invited Schaep and Byleveld to Supper with him and coming to his Inn he receiv'd them with all Friendship At the Table several Discourses pass'd of what had hapned to them on their Voyage and since they were taken Prisoners at Namboe After Supper Schaep and Byleveld return'd to their Companions in their new Lodging whither they were remov'd to make room for Elserak and his Retinue who on the next day invited his two Guests again giving them Clothes and Bedding which they had great need of in Winter Receive order to stay in their Inn. And whilst they were thus busie an Interpreter call'd Sioske came in who commanded the Captain and Merchant to return to their Lodgings and to keep in there till Elserak had made his appearance at the Emperors Court Which Order was sent from Sicungodonne and Sabrosaymondonne so that they immediately obey'd In the Evening they heard that Elserak had been at Court and was return'd home But because Sioske told them That after two Hours time they should again see Elserak which Promise failing and Elserak himself sending them no word concerning his Success at Court they were in great fear that the Business had met with some new hinderance or other Hollanders are again very much troubled which trouble increas'd because they heard not any thing thereof all the next day doing how it stood with their Releasment or the Ambassador Elserak A great Earthquake at Jedo ¶ THey were possess'd with these melancholy Thoughts when on a sudden the Earth was shaken the Timbers and Roofs of Houses tumbling down to the Ground the Walls falling one towards another and much harm in those places where the Motion was greatest Moreover there are reckon'd three sorts of Earthquakes The greatest is a Gaping which often swallows up Houses Villages whole Countreys and Islands The great Lakes and bottomless Waters in Japan hide under them formerly famous Places and People and thereby testifie enough how this Empire is plagu'd by such Evils For the second the Learned reckon that which shakes the Earth heaving it up and down and shakes that which is on the top thereof in such a manner that all things tremble and fall down The third and smallest is when the Ground moves to and again like a Boat on the Waves Such a one was this that hapned at Jedo whilst the Hollanders were there The fore-running Signs thereof It hath also often before as well as now been observ'd That a little before the Earthquake the Air was very calm the Winds being lock'd in the Bosom of the Earth The Air is also colder than at other times it us'd to be in that Season of the year which hinders the breaking forth of the Winds There likewise appear'd a long thin Cloud in the Sky The Sea rag'd exceedingly notwithstanding there was no Wind stirring All Pools and sanding Waters stunk very much and the Water it self tasted of Brimstone This the Learned Gerard Vossius ascribes to the Fire which is under Ground and lies hid in deep places under Mountains Islands and Seas by which the Earth also is shaken many Miles together so that not only Cities Villages Territories but whole Countreys are totter'd and turn'd topsie-turvey by it This Fire vomits out many sulphurous and burning Vapors which Experience hath taught us because the Earth often rending asunder in Earthquakes sends forth hideous Flames The Fountains also smell sulphury because the Spirits ascending mix themselves with the Water By this Sign Phracides Master to Pythagoras the Lacedemonian foretold of an approaching Earthquake which he judg'd would be terrible Plin. lib. 2. cap. 79. because the Waters tasted exceedingly of Brimstone Hereto is added That the Countreys in which Burning Mountains are found are most subject to such Damages Josephus Acosta relates the like of America and our daily Experience of Campania Sicily and other Places wherein Mountains either vomit forth continual Smoke or hideous Flames confirms this Opinion Burning Mountain in Japan About eight Leagues from Meaco near a great Lake lies the Mountain Siurpurama which sends forth horrible Smokes and Flames that ascend into the Sky and below several Sulphurous Streams Sicily is at the present less troubled with Earthquakes than formerly because the Vent or Hale of Mount Aetna being burnt wider and wider affords a freer Passage to the Vapors and the Fire Before the burning of the Mountain Vesuvius where Pliny died a great Earthquake hapned It is also obferv'd by the Japanners That the Mountain Saperjama burns vehementest after an Earthquake ¶ THe eighth of December the imprison'd Hollanders were inform'd by the Interpreter Phatsyosamon That Elserak was that day to appear before the Japan Emperor and his Council and that then they should have their free Liberty But no sooner was Phatsayosamon gone but the Hollanders had order to dress themselves Hollanders appear in the Emperors Castle Their Landlords Son conducted them along without telling them whither or what they were going about So passing from Street to Street through Jedo they came at last to the Emperors Castle which is surrounded with four Moats over which they pass'd through ten stately Gates and coming within next to an Arch whereof the Floor was cover'd with Mats they receiv'd order to stay till they were call'd to appear before his Imperial Majesty Soon after they saw the two Interpreters Tosaymon and Manikebe coming thither and also amongst other Courtiers a Gentleman call'd Pochycennemondonne who shew'd them a great Wooden Portal through which they should be carried to the Emperor Owysamma Magnificence of it And whilst they staid waiting at the foresaid Place they saw with admiration a great many Lords Civility of the Courtiers Secretaries and other Nobles which continually pass'd to and fro shewing such Reverence one to the other that they exceeded the most Complimental People in that kind At last Pochycennemondonne brought the Hollanders over a broad Court pav'd with Free-stone through the Portal which he had shewn them before a rich gilded Gallery where they were commanded
let all Jonks either Coxenga's or Tartarians pass in quietness Mean while some experienc'd in State-Affairs judg'd that if the Japanners observ'd that the Hollanders were in earnest to remove from thence they would then be better natur'd for they would not only miss the Netherland Presents and their great Trade but also that of the Chineses whose Traffick would be spoil'd by the Pyrats that should be sent from Formosa and Batavia And Japan also might fear that the Hollanders joyning with the English Portuguese and Spaniards would do no small mischief to that Empire ¶ WHilst this Controversie was at the highest between the Hollanders and the Chineses the second Governor of Nangesaque Joffiesamma came home from Jedo the twenty second of September and brought no more than thirty Imperial Coats and sixty Boats of Silver from three of the Council which indeed was but a small Return for the Netherland Presents Moreover there was not one Penny receiv'd of all the Debts due from the Nobles at Jedo nor any News from Sicungodonne Remarkable Discourse betwixt Kiemonsamma and Wagenaer ¶ AFter that there hapned a remarkable Treaty between Kiemonsamma and Wagenaer which proceeded from this occasion A Japanner call'd Bozymon had written from Batavia That many died daily there of Hunger wanting Provisions because those of Bantam being at Wars with the Hollanders prevent any Relief from coming to them and also That the Condition of the East-India Company in Canton was but very mean This Letter was given to Kiemonsamma who thereupon sent for Wagenaer to come to him that from his mouth he might receive better Information concerning that business asking him From what occasion the War arose between Bantam and Batavia What hopes they had of Peace What space of Ground was between the two foremention'd Places Wagenaer replied That as for the Famine War with Batavia nor the Affairs of Canton he had not the least Advice which not being mention'd in his Letters from Batavia he look'd upon it to be onely a rais'd Report Moreover Bantam lay about nine Leagues from Batavia Kiemonsamma ask'd again Why do there come so many Frigats of War to Nangesaque whereas heretofore none but Flyboats came to an Anchor there The Emperors Order was to take the Rudder from all Dutch Ships so soon as they came before Nangesaque which could not be done to the great Ships without cutting a hole in the Cabbin to prevent which inconvenience he had permitted that they should keep them on but hereafter they would do so no more but follow his Order Wagenaer replied That most of their Flyboats were gone so that they were forc'd to take what Ships they could get Netherland Interpreters ¶ SHortly after this the Magistrates of Nangesaque made some alteration amongst their Interpreters on Disma for dismissing the old Kitsobe of his Imployment they gave the Place to his Son Sinkits who spake good Portuguese for Chief Interpreter to whom they gave for an Assistant one Firandees Josseyemon otherwise call'd Brasman reasonably well experienc'd in the Dutch Tongue These to be paid by the Ottena that is Overseer of the East-India Companies Store-house who besides fed with no meaner Diet than Quails the Interpreters Mangale Scheseymon Fatsimon Sitsibe Nisfyoye and Josseyemon with out whom no Business can be done for their Voyces must be in it The Emperor sends for two Globes ¶ MEan while News came from Jedo That Sicungodonne demanded for the Emperor a Globe and Sphere the former being burnt in the late Fire with all the other Presents He thought also to get great esteem with the Engine wherefore he commanded strictly that none should see it but that it should be sent with all speed to Jedo But the Magistrates of Nangesaque little regarding Sicungodonne's Commands shew'd it daily to Persons of Quality who to try it play'd Water out of the same The Emperors Sentence concerning the Ship Vrk. With this Advice came other Orders from the Emperor concerning the Ship Urk out of which the Chineses took their Goods The Orders being these were read to Wagenaer and Bouchelyon in Joffiesamma's Hall The Frigot Urk shall with the other Ships go for Batavia the eleven Chinese Prisoners in a Jonk to China The Goods and Jonk taken by the Ship Breukelen must be restor'd to the Owner If the Hollanders at any time hereafter plunder any more Jonks that are coming to Japan they shall for ever be banish'd from the Empire Moreover Wagenaer whom Bouchelyon was to succeed in his place and was ready to go for Batavia should make the Japan Emperor's Edicts read to them known to Coyet Governor of Fermosa Strange Request of Todo ¶ BUt a little before Wagenaer's departure Todotaychosama a mighty Lord of that Countrey came and proffer'd a great Sum of Money for an Ostritch which was brought thither from Batavia with the last Ships but the Magistrates of Nangesaque forbad the selling of it judging it convenient to send this strange Bird to the Emperor for a Present which indeed did not please Bouchelyon because of the great Expences and Charge which the Carriage of them thither amounts to Lastly Todo desir'd by the Interpreters to have six Turkies some Singing Birds two white Harts as many Apes and one Pair of the least flying Crocodiles He received for answer that care should be taken to enquire for them in all places ¶ THe Interpreter Scheseymon brought also Tidings Ambergreece That the Lord of Satsuma had a Piece of Ambergreece that weigh'd a hundred and thirty Pounds which he valued at fourteen thousand Tail Moreover the Japanners also at several times brought small pieces of Ambergreece to sell in their Handkerchiefs It s Original Concerning the Original of this Amber are several Opinions for some think that it is either the Spawn or Dung of a Whale others look upon it to be a Spungy Earth that grows in the Sea under the Rocks by the beating Waves wash'd off in Pieces which by reason of their lightness Swim above the Water But those that seem to come nearest the truth as the Learned Bernard Paludanus judgeth approving of Linschot's Opinion hold Amber to be a sort of Pitch arising up from the Ground and hardned by the Sun and is found not unlike Brimstone or Coral But its Original from a Whale hath not the least appearance of truth for if Amber should proceed from the Spawn or Dung of a Whale it would needs be found most in those places where the greatest number of Whales frequent But it is known to the contrary that Green-Land Spitsbergen or elsewhere where these Sea-Monsters abound never produce any Amber whereas on the contrary Soffala Mosambique Melinde the Maldivian Islands the Promontory of Comoryn the Province of Satsuma in Japan and other Indian Countreys produce Amber before whose Coasts seldom or never any Whales are seen to Swim Which is the best Amber The best Amber is Grey with White
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
prov'd his utter ruine for Nobunanga highly incens'd the breach of Peace march'd up again with all his Forces to Meaco defeating the new-come Party took Vojocata the Emperor and soon after assum'd to himself the Imperial Dignity This absolute Conquest brought him thirty Kingdoms Anno 1573. But no sooner setled in the Imperial Throne but he met with as many or rather more difficulties and troubles to break through than his Predecessors for who-ever thought well of him at first and were helps to his great advancement finding that he took no care of keeping his Promise but suddenly broke the soletm Oath taken at his Coronation to protect the People according to the antient Law and be as a Nursing Father and Mother to them but in stead thereof he prov'd to be a greedy devourer of his People tyrannizing by arbitrary Power making his Will a Law and grew more hated and detestable by his ambition of aspiring to be a god to which purpose he set his own Imperial Crown on an Image representing himself in the Temple at Dubo as beforemention'd Loses the love of all the Poeple because of his persâ—cuting the Bonzi But most of all the People were instigated against this Emperor by the Bonzi who suffer'd extremely by his means in Vojocata the former Emperor's Reign of which hear two principal Examples which were thus ¶ THe Mountain Frenoiama having very high Precipices lies two Leagues Eastward from Meaco eight hundred years since a Japan King built here three thousand eight hundred Temples and by every one a Cloyster for the Bonzi and that they might there without any molestation follow their Devotion and Study he remov'd all the Rustick Inhabitants from thence with their Cattel lest any noise should disturb them in their Retirements At the Foot of this Mountain Frenoiama he built two Villages calling them Upper and Lower Sacomotum from whence the Bonzi fetch daily their Provisions They had also a third Part of the Revenue of the Kingdom of Vomis allow'd them Strange Temple and Cloysters These Edifices from time to time grew more and more in splendor and magnificence because that continually some of the Emperor's Relations or at least a King's Son was kept there which made it so famous that all Matters of consequence were decided by these Monks and all Disputations concerning their Religion were held in this University and there as in the chief Academy all Scholars Commence But in process of time and chiefly by the Wars this vast number of Temples which stood on the top of Frenoiama were reduced to eight hundred and also the wanton and luxurious lives of the Bonzies being given over to all Debaucheries made them break out into all manner of outrages and dissolute courses oftentimes throwing away their Books taking up Arms and whilst they grew formidable to maintain a War they made the High-ways and all Places dangerous by their several Murders and Robberies The Bonzi become villaous Murderers nay they grew so impudent at last that without the least regard to the Dayro by the Japanners honor'd as a god Commit great outrages ic Meaco they set upon and Storm'd Meaco in the Year 1535. burning the whole City to Ashes and not onely slew all those which escap'd the Fire but tender Infants in the Cradle This barbarous piece of Cruelty remain'd unpunish'd a long time until thirty six years after they receiv'd a. sufficient reward for their bloody inhumanities A great War arising between Nobunanga and the King of Nechier the Bonzies furnish'd the Nechiers with all manner of Provisions and other Necessaries and blockt up the Passage and Avenues against Nobunanga which he taking very hainously resolv'd to be reveng'd to the full and accordingly to put his Design in execution he return'd to Boari which he Commanded as being King Nobunanga crucifies the Bonzi and there drove all the Bonzies out of their several Abodes Nailing all he could find on Crosses ¶ On the top or highest Spire of this Mountain stands a stately Temple dedicated to Canon Son of the famous Amida This Image hath thirty Arms and as many Hands in each two Arrows a Face representing a handsom Youth on his Breast seven humane Faces with a Crown of Gold richly inchas'd with Pearls Diamonds and all sorts of Precious Gems The Japanners come hither from all Parts of the Countrey paying there their Devotions because they believe that he grants them a long and happy life A great Fast fet Idol Canon Every year the Bonzies keep a great Fast to the honor of this their god Canon which Day draws such a concourse of People that repair thither that it would seem fabulous to recite In Osacca stands also a Temple of Canon but the Image of the god quite another Figure which is a custom amongst the Japanners never to make the same Deity alike Bonzies fortifie themselves The Bonzies chief place of Defence was on the top of the Mountain near Canon's Temple Thither they Muster'd all those that were able to bear Arms and there they fortifi'd themselves as well as they could whilst Nobunanga burnt the two Villages the Upper and Lower Sacamotum from whence they had formerly all their Provision And as the amazing Flames and Smoke ascended the Sky he and his Army march'd up the Hill having before block'd up all the Passages of the Descents with strong Guards that not one of the Bonzies might escape then giving a general Storm to their Fort which they defended aslong as they could but being over-power'd they shrinking from their Stations were as soon possess'd by the Enemy who falling in like a Deluge made a speedy Execution Are all slam those that escap'd the Sword Were burnt in the Temple and others that escap'd away by the Declivings of the Hill were cut off and hunted up and down like wild Beasts by the Guards Yet this general Massacre little appeas'd the wrath of the Enemy for soon after he also fir'd four hundred Temples with their Cloysters and Colledges Four hundred Temples burnt We may easily conjecture how terrible the Mountain Frenoiama smoak'd having so many Temples and Cloysters towards the Building of which in seven hundred years more than the King's Revenues have been from time to time bestow'd on the same This destruction is reckon'd to have happen'd Anno 1571. The Vehisamidono erects a new Order This done Nobunanga march'd through towards Meaco and fifteen Miles beyond the City he set upon the famous Bonzi Taquieno Vehisamidono who having lately rais'd a new Sect to the honor of Xaca and to that end put away his Wife and his Head and Chin according to their manner Shaven having four hundred Scholars under his Tuition for whose Education at his own Charge he had built a stately Colledge which got him great applause and affection amongst the People of which growing proud he boldly and bitterly inveighed against Nobunanga in the presence of the Emperor
their abilities all manner of Perfumes Tacit. 3. Aunal and other sweet Scents such as Tacitus says are commonly thrown on the Funeral Pyles But the Heathens burnt not onely their Dead but their Living also for certain Crimes The Egyptians stuck the Body of one that had murder'd his Father full of sharp Canes then cutting him in many places they at last threw him on a great heap of Thorns which being set on fire consum'd him Other Nations have condemn'd less Offenders to be burnt partly because that punishment is exceeding painful and partly by the Fire to cleanse them from their offences The Murders of the Emperor in Fissima ¶ AS soon as Conbosama after the decease of his Father possess'd the Imperial Throne he began his Reign as we in part mention'd with exceeding Tyranny for travelling through Fissima he commanded the Governor Ingandono to cause all Christians Men Women and Children to be roasted to death During the Civil Wars since the Dayro lost his sole and unlimited Authority every King in his own Realm play'd the Master And seeing they endeavor'd as we said before to bereave one another of the Profit which the Portuguese Vessels brought them seeking to invite them to their Harbors they were forc'd to keep fair correspondence with the Jesuits they having the sole Command of the Trade and Vessels and so accordingly to grant them free leave to Preach the Catholick Doctrine But after Daifusama became Conqueror in many Battels reducing the whole Countrey of Japan under his subjection the Kings Authorities and Power were all limited so that they all depended on the Emperor and were strictly commanded for no sinister ends to permit the Christians to teach their Belief Being thus order'd all of them were forc'd to obey making great search for the Roman Priests of which he took at last Peter ab Ascensione a Franciscan Johannes Baptista Machada a Jesuit Alphonso Navarre a Dominican and Ferdinand a Santo Josepho an Augustine and caus'd them all to be beheaded in Omura Why the Japanners throw the Ashes of the burnt Christians into the Sea When Peter de Zuniga an Augustine and Lodowick Flores a Dominican born at Antwerp were to be burnt in Nangesaque besides twelve others that were beheaded there came in the Night several Portuguese who had cut from the half-roasted Bodies of Zuniga and Flores great pieces of Flesh which they preserv'd as holy Reliques insomuch that the next day little or nothing was to be seen of either of their Corps This being very ill resented by the Governor of Nangesaque to prevent the same another time on the next Moneth being August Anno 1622. when they had condemn'd Carolus Spinola the Jesuit and Franciscus de Morales the Dominican Hyacinthus Orfanel and Alphonso de Mena caus'd their Bodies to be thrown into a deep Pit full of Wood there burning them to Ashes which being rak'd together was carry'd a good distance from the Shore and there scatter'd abroad into the Sea by the Wind to the end there might nothing of them remain But besides the foremention'd Jesuit and Dominican others were also burnt at the same time amongst which was a Brusseller who coming within the Pyles of Wood would not be ty'd with one Hand to the Post but falling down on his Knees held fast about the bottom of it and so died others which stood upright scorch'd and burnt by degrees till at last they died through excess of most intolerable pain Hyacinthus Orfanel stood most in the Wind and was least hurt by the Flame â—rsanel was sixteen hours 〈◊〉 burning so that he was full sixteen hours miserably tormented before he gave up the Ghost Two of the Company were ty'd out of the Wind which made the Flames strike so vehemently upon the Posts that the Ropes burnt with which they were ty'd by which means they got loose and fled through the burning heaps of Wood desiring that they might apostatize from the Christian Religion But Xuquendaino sitting on a costly Carpet surrounded by Japan Nobles and Souldiers to see the Execution perform'd by order of Goneocu Governor of Nangesaque commanded those that fled to be driven back and push'd into the Fire with Pikes and Staves judging it was not out of zeal that they would embrace the Japan Religion but because they could not endure the pain of the Fire so that it was then too late for them to consider that which they might have done before After this Camilius de Constanzo the Jesuit was in like manner burnt neat Firando and Paulas Navarrus in the City Ximabara Horrible Persecutions in Jedo ¶ AMongst other Persecutions that was very terrible which happen'd at Jedo Anno 1623. Cornelius Hazart in his Church History and the Letter from Japan to Mutius Vetelesius Governor of the Jesuits at Rome differ much in Relation of this unhappy Accident The Letter deserving more credit than Hazart How it happen'd gives this account Daifusama caus'd a Noble-man call'd Fara Mondono to have his Toes and Fingers to be cut off and to be burnt in the Forehead because he inclin'd to the Christian Religion but being receiv'd into Favor and restor'd to his former Dignity by the Emperor Conbosama who was his near Relation he left not to practise in private the same Religion But being betray'd by his Servant to Jenoquidi Cambioie Governor of Jedo was by the Emperors command condemn'd Soon after by means of tortur'd Christians were discover'd the Jesuits Hieronimus ab Angelis and Franciscus Galves a younger Brother The Life of Hieronymus bâ— Angelis ¶ AB Angelis Sailing with Carolus Spinola to the East-Indies was necessitated by a fault of their Vessel to fall upon Brasile and immediately after to Sail back to Portugal in which his Voyage homewards he was taken by the English but making his escape from them not long after coming again to Lisbon he Sail'd again for India and at last came to the Empire of China where he stay'd a considerable time and then went to Japan where being chief Governor of the Jesuits Residence in Fissima he stay'd some years in that City then travelling to Surunga where the Emperor at that time kept his Court purposely to erect a Temple he laid his Design so cunningly that he taught the Roman Religion in private there and having also order'd all things according to his hearts desire when within Jedo he was about buying of a House to make a Temple of he was discover'd and forc'd to fly to Surunga and immediately after to Nangesaque But when Anno 1614. a considerable number of Christians were banish'd from Meaco and Osacca to the cold Countrey Sangaer in the Northermost part of Japan by command of the Emperor Daifusama Ab Angelis travell'd thither and at last back again to Jedo where he undertook again his former Design to buy a large House in which he might perform Divine Service But being busie about these his intentions he was sought
is gone to Sea out of the Haven of Namboe without Officers Do the Hollanders keep such small Command over those that are under them Their Answer Byleveld answer'd That the Pilot in the Captain and Merchants absence according to their Custom bore the chief Command in the Ship which the other Seamen ought to obey But the Pilot must give an account concerning his Command therefore they knew not how he could answer it before the Indian Council at Batavia for he notwithstanding their earnest entreaties by Writing desiring him not to weigh Anchor from Namboe yet on the contrary set Sail without staying for his Captain and the Merchant The Reasons that mov'd him thereto may be better guess'd than poke for truth Perhaps he was fearful of further danger seeing us thus violently carry'd away by which he might judge that the Hollanders were not priviledg'd to come on the North of Japan though the Emperor gave them leave to Trade to Nangesaque Moreover none in the Ship to our knowledge was ever in Japan to know it wherefore the Pilot might think that we could sooner get from Jedo to our Countreymen at Nangesaque than to the Ship in the Haven of Namboe Father Examination and Answer concerning the State of Portugal Samoccysamma reply'd This present Emperor did not onely grant free leave of Trade to the Hollanders but also his Father and Grandfather were no less Courteous to them But how comes it that after a long War with Portugal sworn Enemies to the Japan Empire you have made Peace with them which dealing the Japan Emperor cannot but suspect and dislike Japan Councellors make enquiry after the difference of Religion between the Portuguese and Hollanders But Sammoccysamma went on in his Examination The Portuguese Priests said he teach That they can help themselves and others by Prayers and Offerings to I know not what not onely in this Life but also in the other Do you Hollanders also believe that you can reap any benefit by that means Most mighty Lord replied Schaep how should we be so foolish to expect good from those that prosecute our Souls and Bodies for indeed very great is the difference between the Portuguese and Dutch Clergy which in the time of the Popish Priests were murder'd by thousands and at present since they cannot destroy us by violence they condemn us to everlasting damnation accounting us Vagabonds that must for ever burn in unquenchable Fire so that if they could save us they would not But how can they Why do they not help themselves Ought they not to use that Art and rid themselves from so many tortures We believe that the Emperor of Japan can give us free leave that we may go for Nangesaque Which Discourse of Schaep caused all the Japan Lords to laugh But during this Examination a Secretary sat next to Sicungodonne who took an exact account of and set down all the Questions and Answers that pass'd between the Councel and the Netherlanders Description of a Japan Inkhorn They write in this manner The Inkhorn is like a long Box out of the Top of which appears the Mouth of a long Flask cover'd with a Wax Lid to keep it from breaking the Box is divided into three Partitions one is the Place in which the Writing-Pencils lie inclos'd of which the top is made fast with Pins at the bottom of the Box in which the Flask stands is a place wherein they preserve their Cakes of Ink which are sometimes red but generally black and cost much Money because they use them but little These Cakes must be mark'd with the Emperor's Arms and try'd by his Officers and if they are found to be good they set certain Letters upon them without which mark upon pain of death they may not be put to Sale or us'd Japanners are great Artists in Writing Hereby it plainly appears that the Japanners have great skill in the noble Art of Writing which like a Master domineers over Death because it not onely shews on Paper the Transactions of Man and communicates to us the Knowledge of others in the Mysteries of God and Nature but also preserves things against the wearing of Time to all Posterity therefore the antient Greek Philosopher Anaxagoras judg'd that Man was the wisest and strongest of all Creatures because he had Hands which would write things that Death could not blemish for Learned Books last many Ages and by that means instructed their Successors Japan Pencils after what manner they are made But the Japan Pencils are made of Copper or Silver and at one end eight square and flat on the top on which every ones Arms are Engraven for to Seal their Letters withal under the Seal is a round hollow Joynt full of black or red Powder according to the colour of their Ink about the middle Images are Engraven which serve for Ornament and below appears the Pencil with which they Write in this manner The foremention'd Box hath a round Case on one side for the Pencil and on the other side a long square place wherein are four Indentings at the end thereof are eight Copper or Silver Pins in the four holes they pour their Water for to make their Ink with which they make either black or red according as they please and dipping the Pencil first into the Water they rub it on the Seal'd Cakes of Ink. How they Write They Write quite after another manner than the Europeans for the Japanners take not the Pencil with which they Write between their three Fingers but in their whole Hand so that the upper end thereof appears between the Thumb and Fore-finger and the middle part they grasp in the Palm of their Hand and after that manner they make exceeding good Letters and Write very fast with their Pencil their Paper not unlike the European is somewhat browner but smoother and the one side which is not written represents Silver Checker-work on a blue Ground Several ways of Writing Here also is to be observed their four several ways of placing their Letters The first and oldest hath always been us'd as also to this time by the Hebrews Chaldeans Syrians Arabians and Egyptians Writing from their right Hand towards their left whereas on the contrary the Latines Greeks Celâ—s and other Europeans Write from their left to their right The antient Greeks had another way of Writing as may be seen by the famous Laws of the wise Solon which was where the first Line ended the second began directly and upright and where the second ended there began the third and so accordingly the rest not unlike Roads in Countreys which take a beginning where others end and oftentimes are cut through one another Genial Dies l. 2. c. 36. Lastly the Chineses a great part of the Indians and all the Japanners begin on the right-side and so Write from the top downwards Alexander ab Alexandro relates That the antient Moors in like manner
their Breath squeez'd out of their Bodies and others crawling over all Mean while the Fire approach'd the Sparks and Smoak whereof was ready to choak them Nay the Smoke so darkned the City that the Afternoon seem'd rather to be midnight onely now and then the Sun pierc'd through the thick ascending Cloud and the Night seem'd to come on six Hours too soon None could have known whether to have fled had not the Flame lighted them And the horrible Cry of those that were in danger calling to others that were somewhat safer to fly further enough to deafen the Hearing Wagenaer and his Retinue found themselves straitned on all sides Before them the Street was fill'd with Goods and Men that lay heap'd one upon another On one side the Flame had pass'd them on the other it went somewhat farther from them behind the Fire pursu'd them very closely whilst they stood in a thick Smoke full of innumerable Sparks which were driven by the North Wind like Flakes of Snow The Fronts of Houses sometimes tumbling forwards into the Street so covering in a glowing Grave both Men and Goods which by reason of the Throng could not get away Sometimes falling sidelong or inwards they seem'd to cover the Flame so as at present to keep it from seeking any farther Food Here crack'd the Wainscots and Partitions which suddenly taking Fire hastned the ruine of the Floors and Walls The Roofs cover'd with little Wooden Shingles generally took Fire first unless sometimes one House burning set fire of another either about the middle or the bottom There the Timber and whole Stories tumbled down yonder great Splinters of burning Wood flew into the Streets in another place the Roofs fell through into their Cellars elsewhere the Ground was shaken by falling Towers These kind of Falls and several Blows would have been more distinctly heard had not the miserable Cry of Young and Old or those that lay scorching in the Flames or fear'd being burnt deadned the sound thereof It may easily be guess'd in what an exigence of danger the Holland Ambassador was with his Retinue which they perceiving at last strove to save themselves by helping one another over the Heaps of Goods and Lumber So stepping over Men Chests and all things that lay in their way to get farther and farther out of the Press and breaking through Fences Pales and Walls In which Work had not the Bonjoisen and the Interpreters been great Assistants to them none of the Hollanders had escap'd with Life from the Fire At last getting into an open place not without extraordinary danger they went to seek for shelter against the cold Night They judg'd it convenient to go to Joffiesamma his Palace but the Way thither being exceedingly crowded the Ambassador Wagenaer went to the Lord of Firando's House being not far distant from them Wagenaer can sind no Lodging Their Request of Lodging there was modestly denied notwithstanding the said Lord was indebted a considerable Sum to the East-India Company which had not yet been demanded of him After this Wagenaer went to four places more but could not be admitted So that walking most part of the Night to and again in Jedo he got at last Westward out of the City Gâ—ts out of Jedo into a Hut near the River where he knock'd at the Hut of a poor Rustick who gave him leave to come in but found neither Fire nor Candle Mean while it froze exceeding hard and soon after several that were fled from the Fire came also thither and inform'd Wagenaer that half an Hour after his departure the Hollanders Inn was laid in Ashes The next day views the Fire At day-break Wagenaer went again into the City where he found all the South part of Jedo lying in Ashes and the Fire raging with more fierceness than the day before the Flame about Noon taking hold of the Emperors Castle Here the great Gates were burnt from the Hinges Half the Watch-houses tumbling into the Moats were there quench'd and the remaining part thereof became Fewel for the Fire About the Evening the Imperial Palace also began to kindle The Flame never appear'd more terrible The Palace is burnt than when it blazed out of the high Turrets for it seem'd to threaten the Sky This Spoil went on so ragingly that the Emperor and his Council had scarce time to secure themselves in the Play-houses built on the North side of the Castle In two days time the Imperial City lay all in Ashes above a hundred thousand Houses being burnt to the Ground Wagenaer searches for his melted Silver The fourth of March Wagenaer requested of the chief Bonjois that he would be pleas'd to order some of the Soldiers that attended the Embassy to search if they could find any Silver under the burnt Goddon The Bonjois approving of it provided him Men with which Wagenaer and Verschuren went to the place where the Hollanders Inn stood Approaching the City of which nothing remain'd but the Eastern and Western Suburbs he saw with admiration as far as possible he could discern a great Plain smoaking in several Places where two days before had stood a little World of Houses the Ground heap'd with whole and half-burnt Timber and abundance of Ashes according as the Building had been greater or lesser All the Ways far and near miserable to behold which but a little before were adorn'd with Habitations for above a Million of Souls stately Palaces fair Towers sumptuous Temples and the Imperial Castle no ways inferior to all Amsterdam Now nought but a bare Wall surrounded the Plain whereon Jedo the Metropolis of Japan stood but eight and forty Hours before The Ambassador could scarce go ten Paces but he saw several strange deform'd Bodies of which some had been squeez'd flat under the Timber of Houses some stifled in the Smoke and others had their Limbs burnt off and not a few were so strangely handled by the Flames that it was impossible to know them by what Limbs they had left In some places they lay three or four one upon another being either crowded to death smother'd scorch'd or burnt In the Street along which they pass'd to the Hollanders Inn the Ambassador Wagenaer told above three thousand dead Corps At one of the outmost Points of Jedo lies a corner of the City that is separated from the other by strong Walls and great Gates Thither a great number fled thinking they should there be safe wherefore those within lock'd the Gates But it was not long before the Flame took hold of those Houses that stood along the Walls so that in that small place above eight hundred were destroy'd besides the Emperors Prisoners that were carried thither The Japanners reckon'd the number of those that died by that Calamity Above a hundred thousand People burnt to be above a hundred thousand Wagenaer accompanied with twenty Bonjoises Verschuren and Ginnemon whose House within three Years had been twice burnt came to
at Jedo The eight and twentieth of March Anno 1661. Indiik after he had left Simanda and Lodging at Jesare Missima Odauro and Toska came to Jedo in which City were yet many empty Streets though they went on very vigorously in Building and in regard the Bridges were not yet repair'd Indiik was forc'd to Ride a great way about before he could come to the usual House of Entertainment Which no sooner being enter'd but he sent the Interpreter Fatsiseymon and his Landlord Ginnemon to the Lords Joffiesamma and Hootie Auwanno Camisamma who was chosen in Sicungodonne's place to Negotiate the Hollanders Affairs at Court to acquaint them of his arrival Fatsiseymon and Ginnemon brought answer that the foremention'd Lords were joyful for the safe and speedy Journey of the Hollanders and that on the morrow they would acquaint the Councel of their coming and Order'd moreover that Indiik should get the Presents ready with all speed for they knew not how soon he might be admitted to the Emperors presence Sicungodonne's Secretary demanded in his Masters Name Who dy'd two days before Indiik's entrance into Jedo for the Goods which Sicungodonne had desir'd and given Order for the year before Joffiesamma goes to meet Indiik but Fatsiseymon going again to Joffiesamma desir'd in Indiik's Name some private Conference which was permitted Mean while Joffiesamma told him That he understood of the Councel that the Emperor not long ago out of his own accord should ask Will not the Hollanders come shortly for it grows late in the Year Upon which the Councel reply'd They are expected suddenly This enquiry of the Emperors Joffiesamma judg'd to be an exceeding great favor that the Hollanders should find place in the Emperor's Memory but soon after he chang'd these kind Speeches for when the List of the Presents for the Emperor and other Persons of Quality was shown him that according to Indiik's Request he might either order them to be added to or else diminish'd he began to reckon up the Price of them and what every Piece amounted to which done he flew out in a Rage saying What do the Hollanders lessen their Presents yearly at this rate it will in a short time come to nothing what is this else but a parcel of course Cloth Description of the stately apparel of a Japan Woman ¶ EXceeding costly is the Apparel of the Japan Gentlewomen for as Joffiesamma's Wife came forth to see the Hollanders so most Ladies of that quality go after the same manner It deserves our admiration that the Japan Women exceed all other Females that are known in the World for broad Faces and great Heads their Hair Wash'd everyday with the Whites of Eggs shines like Jet The Maids are distinguish'd from the Marry'd Women by a Coyfe which they wear on their Fore-heads whereas the Marry'd Women wear a loose Lock before and another ty'd behind they all go bare Headed in what Weather soever but yet the primest Ladies wear an Embroyder'd Cap on their Heads which is Peeked on the top their Hair from under it on both sides covers their Shoulders behind hangs a Lock Brayded with Silk Ribbon A large upper Gown folded on their Breasts is not onely rich for the Silken Images thereon but also the broad Selvedges Embroyder'd with Gold This Coat or Gown which hangs loose about the upper part of the Body and their Arms is Girt about their Waste with a broad Tabby-Girdle on which they bestow great Charges from the Girdle downward it hangs close about them but under this Coat Trail after them sometimes eight or twelve Coats more most of them Party-Colour'd and full of Embroyder'd Flowers Sometimes they wear Clogs which they make fast with a Button and Loop betwixt their great and second Toes and at other times the Ladies of Honor use curious white Buskins by the Japanners call'd Taepis but the Noble-men wear them also white and red Moreover all Gentlewomen of great Quality whether Widows Maids or Marry'd Women never walk abroad without some Servant-Maids to attend them of which every one knows her particular Office A Marry'd Lady never comes forth into the Street but is carry'd in a Sedan or else in a cover'd Boat in which she takes her pleasure upon the Water in the Evening onely she goes to walk but not without her Husband How the Japanners make merry But Indiik being Nobly entertain'd in Joffiesamma's House took his leave Cambedonne Chief Commander of the Palace Ficojemon being newly erected to be Deputy-Governor of Nangesaque bore Indiik Company in the Street and forc'd him to follow and go a second time to be merry with him Indiik not daring to deny the Japanners Civility went thither and entering the Palace was courteously welcom'd according to the Japan Custom and desir'd to fit and Smoke Tobacco Drink Tee and Wine out of Dishes with one Foot Moreover there was no Cost or Charges spared in preparing variety of Meat and at Meals their Ears were delighted not onely with Vocal but Instrumental Musick Towards night Indiik got home though most of his Men were overcome with the strong Liquors The Japanners know no Drinking-Houses yet they have convenient Inns for Travellers whilst the Nobility and other People entertain one another in their own Houses and never quarrel but when they are Fuddled but those that are soberest take care to see those that are inebriated asleep Fire in Jedo The next day Indiik return'd the Governor Joffiesamma thanks for his kind Entertainment by two Interpreters and desir'd to know what was done in the Hollanders Business at Court Joffiesamma not giving the Interpreters any particular answer sent one of his Gentlemen to Indiik telling him that two days after being the second of April he should appear before the Emperor whereupon Indiik unpack'd all his Goods laying every Parcel by it self and whilst they were all busie in the night about this Business a sudden Fire broke out not above a Musquet Shot from the Hollanders Inn. The Master thereof made great lamentation his House and all his Goods having been burnt thrice in four years time but Indiik suddenly sever'd all the Goods in the Stone-Ware-house stopping up all the Windows and Doors of it with Clay every one looking to save himself when the Fire after having destroy'd twelve Houses the Weather being very Calm was quench'd The Holland Ambasâ—ador Indiik appears before the Emperor The day being come to appear before the Emperor Indiik sent his Presents yearly to the Court following them himself with a Bonjois and coming before the Gate of the Emperor's Palace went into a Watch-house where he found Joffiesamma and divers other Persons of Quality here they stay'd an hour Joffiesamma at last going from thence soon return'd and conducted Indiik over some fine Mats into the Palace and passing thorow a Gallery into the Guard Chamber he met Hoetie Auwanno who courteously saluted Indiik and told him by Joffiesamma what honor he
Pebble-stones falling from the Hill in abundance In some places Fountains spring up in others flow delightful Rivers which the Fire often swallows or stops up with heaps of burnt Stone There are also great Mill-stones found in the hanging of the Mountain which were cast up Anno 1537. in a terrible Fire The uppermost part of this Mountain smokes continually and sometimes Flames break through it seen above a League in compass the inner parts are consum'd by the Fire a little below the top lyes Snow continually which melts not in the hottest Summer but when the Flames strike downwards it floweth over and pours down into the Valleys like a boyling Stream In the foremention'd year the highest part of Aetna fell into the Hole so that at present it gapes wider but is not so high as formerly The Hole from whence issue the Smoke and Flames emits a continual thundering noise from its fathomless Bottom and the other little Vent-holes always roar Philippus Cluverius says That he saw Stones ejected thence above sixty thousand Paces off and that it also spoil'd a Way with its burning Sulphurous Streams of four Leagues long destroying all things before it Moreover Vesuvius Vesuvius in Italy is also very well known which sometimes boyls over in that manner that it fires Campania Amongst other times this Mountain burnt very terribly the sixth of October Anno 473. the Ashes thereof flying as far as Constantinople The Roman Empire for several years together according to Joseph Scaliger kept a Fast-day in remembrance of that dreadful Conflagration ¶ IT is very well worth bur Labor to make an Inquiry Why those Countreys in which Burning Mountains are found are generally very fruitful as appears by Campania in which Vesuvius vomits continual Smoke and Fire Sicily famous as we said before for Mount Aetna and Siurpurama in the Japan Kingdom Voari The nature of the Earthy Fire It seems without contradiction that there is Fire under Ground which spreads it self through the Bowels of the Earth no otherwise than the natural warmth of a Mans Heart diffuses it self through all his Body This Truth appears plainly because the Earth commonly smokes in the Winter time and the Snow which falls on the Ground that is newly Plowed melts instantly From the Water and Earth Vapors or Mists are drawn up by the Sun and Moon into the Air where being cleansed they fall down again in Hail Rain or Snow which never sink above ten Foot deep into the Ground The Heat of the Sun warming the moist Earth makes the Soil fruitful but the Fire in its Bowels yields no small help thereby as it were thrusting up the Seed and Plants The warm Fountains that spring out of the tops of the Mountains Warm Fountains are no despicable Testimonies for the Water being driven upwards by the Heat forcing its way spouts out not unlike a Still in which the purer Spirits or Moisture goes upwards and through a Pipe come dropping from it or like the Fumes which rise from the Stomach up into the Brain where gathering Substance Nature discharges them through the Mouth or Nose Warm Baths in Japan and other places Also the warm Lakes or Baths do greatly testifie that they are heated by a Fire inclos'd in the Earth for if it were otherwise how could the Japan Water at Singok be of such force that being pour'd on the Body it should scorch the Flesh to the Bone How could the Italian Pool near Parma as Fallopius relates draw Flames to it so that the Water being set on Fire cannot be put out but by throwing Cloth over it or else by a stiff Gale of Wind Sulphur Mountain in Japan It deserves peculiar observation That Siurpurama without ever ceasing should for so many Ages together pour down Sulphurous Streams between decay'd Stones that all the Ground thereabouts is chang'd into a kind of Sulphur Italy about Mutina gives us a sufficient Testimony hereof If the Pits out of which they dig Sulphur are fill'd up with Earth it will in the space of four years be converted into Sulphur Necessity of the Earthy Fire Lastly This Earthly Fire is necessary for the making of Minerals which being boyl'd by the Heat thereof are molted and cleansed The same Fire occasions also Earthquakes wherefore sometimes upon the sinking of the Ground which consum'd underneath falls in terrible Flames break forth To conclude By the abundance of Earthquakes and richness of the Soil may easily be conjectur'd That Japan hides great store of Sulphur in the Bowels of the Earth which there serves for the Food of that Subterranean Fire Indiik's further Journey ¶ BUt Indiik leaving Siurpurama on his Larboard came the fifth of April to Meaco where by his Landlord he immediately made his Return known to the Governor Mackino Sandosamma which presented Indiik with some Silk Coats and gave him leave to depart After which he was carried by the Master of the House where he lodg'd to see a Comedy wherein the Japanners are very neat and exact The Players richly attir'd represent on the Stage all the Transactions of Mankind so well that they are no ways inferior to any of our European Comedians and indeed Indiik would have judg'd better of them could he have understood the Japan Tongue But Indiik having deliver'd a hundred Japan Silk Coats to his Landlord to keep for the East-India Company and seen the great Temple of Dayboth and also several other Temples left Meaco and lodg'd in Fissima where taking Shipping he came to Osacca From the City his Landlord with a great Train of Friends and Servants His Voyage conducted him in two Pleasure-Boats to the Mouth of the River Osacca where the Barque which had the Hollanders Goods aboard lay at Anchor The Wind blowing fresh from the West they could not make Sail. Mean while the Pleasure-Boats lying on each side of the Barque the People went aboard her and made merry with the Japan Wine which they had brought with them to drink at the Ambassadors departure His Journey through Bungo The third of May weighing Anchor on the eleventh with Rowing and Sailing they pass'd by Simonisicci and came to Cokero where Indiik staying a Night hired Horses and Men to travel through Bungo by Land to Nangesaque Description of the Bath at Orismo After he left Cokero he came on the fourteenth day to Orismo where he took great delight in a Stove or Bath which was cover'd with a very handsom Roof The Water came running through Copper Cocks into the Bath from a Brook so hot on one side that none can put in their Fingers without scalding But that which is no less strange and a remarkable Privacy in Nature is that the same Brook on the other side flows extreme cold in one Channel with the hot Water When they prepare a Bath the Master thereof first lets the hot Water run in which he afterwards tempers with the cold as those that
which may be seen a great distance off at Sea In these Temples the Bonzies worshipp'd that great God which formerly not onely Created the Sun Moon and Stars but also the fifteen lesser Deities which some Ages since convers'd upon the Earth The Prime God commanded the Substitute Gods that they should make a Brazen Egg in which they were to enclose the four Elements Water Earth Air and Fire and also the four principal Colours Red Yellow Blue and Green Out of this Egg the four Elements and Colours being tempred ran together in such a nature that the visible World appear'd The World thus created Man was wanting Not long after a Woman growing in the Shell of a Callabash had no Soul which the Chief God pittying made a Stier come to the Callabash who through his Nostrils blew Breath into the Callabash which came to be a Soul in the growing Woman who then coming forth was familiar with the inferior Deities by which means Mankind not onely increas'd in number but also in wickedness differing more and more from their Heavenly Extract growing still worse and worse mocking at Thunder Rainbowes and Fire nay they blasphem'd the great God himself whom when the Interpreter nam'd he bow'd his Head to the Ground whereupon he call'd his inferior Deities about him telling them That he resolv'd to destroy and ruine all things kick the Sun Moon and Stars out of the Firmament mix the Air and Water together and make a round Globe in which the four Elements should be all resolv'd into their former Mass And chiefly he commanded the Idol Topan to make Thunderballs to shoot through the Air and fire all the Kingdoms with Lightning which was no sooner said but it was done the whole World on a sudden lying together like a heap of Rubbish so that none were saved except one Man and his Family that had entertain'd and duely worshipp'd the Gods The Chief and Supreme Deity took care in this general Ruine for the innocent Man locking him in a deep Cave before which he put a great Shell that the Water might not run into the Pit or Cave Japanners acknowledge the Fall of Adam and the Hood Who doth not observe by this Discourse that the remotest Heathens acknowledge though darkly the fall of Adam and the Flood in which Noah and his nearest Relations were sav'd The Romans and Greeks also represented the same in their Golden Silver Copper and Iron Ages and also with Deucalion and Pyrrha strangely preserv'd from a Deluge The foremention'd Japan Interpreter judg'd that the Portuguese Castilians English and Hollanders had also their Original from the Man that was secur'd in the Cave against the Flood the Reasons of which his Discourse were grounded on these Arguments When said he the Supreme God destroy'd all things yet Nipon that is Japan Mangy so they call China and the Kingdom Lechy bordering on China were preserv'd therefore the Inhabitants differ much from those of Europe because they have not such great Heads nor such Camosie Noses hollow Eyes broad Eye-brows and well compact Bodies as the Japanners Strange Relation of the Japan Interpreter Moreover the vertuous Man got out of his Cave when the Idol Canon call'd back the Seas to their respective Bounds and Topan gather'd the scatter'd Thunderbolts together and setled himself in the Province Koejelang where he got several Children which intermarrying grew to a considerable number But when these Generations increas'd so fast the Gods which were commanded up to Heaven ask'd leave of the Supreme Deity that they might return again to the Earth and there be familiar with Men Einholung der gesanten zu mia t Inhalen vand AMBASSADEURS The Reception of the AMBASSADOURS which being granted them they descended into a pleasant Wood where whilst they were consulting how they should best take the Venison the Inhabitants of Koejelang joyning their Heads together said These are the Gods which drown'd our Forefathers let its take Revenge for so hainous a Crime And considering which way it might best be done they judg'd that the readiest would be to set Fire on all parts of the Wood which in few Hours consumed all the Trees Some of the Gods that went to escape from the Flame were cut to pieces by the People that had encompass'd the Wood others were burnt yet seven of them getting up to Heaven complain'd of that execrable Plot to the Chief God who being exceedingly enrag'd at so great a piece of Villany immediately commanded an Angel whom he impower'd to punish them for their Crime The Angel no sooner descended but he drove the Offenders out of the Province Koejelang to the Boyling Waters at Singock in which they are continually tortur'd without the least respite or cessation Holland Ambassadors reception at Mia ¶ MEan while the Holland Ambassador proceeded forward on his Jourhey and Ferried over from Quano to Mia where he had no sooner landed the Emperors Presents but the Governor of Mia with a considerable Train of People came out of the City to receive and conduct him Just without the Gate several Copper Basons were hung on cross Poles on which the Japanners tabering made a great noise Moreover several Norimons or Sedans were carried towards the Water-side every one guarded with a considerable number of Soldiers At the foot of a high Rock stood the Ambassadors four Trumpets each of them sounding a Levit. The Governor Obirham Giantodono had no sooner gotten sight of the Ambassador but stepping out of his Sedan he went to meet him and bow'd himfelf after the Japan manner to the Ground Behind stood some of the Guard with Musquets others with Pikes and Halberds Lastly the Ambassador going from hence soon after arriv'd at Jedo where having staid some time and dispatch'd his Business he had leave to go for Nangesaque again Description of a Whale ¶ NEar Firando he found the Whale-Fishers which go yearly to Corea to catch Whales The bigness of these Sea-monsters is to be most admir'd their Pizzles being generally fourteen Foot long which they hide in their Bellies When they couple they rage with Lust holding their Bellies together and embracing one another with their Fins above an Hour at a time after which according to Julius Caesar Scaliger Dist c. 13. sect 150 they bear their Young ten Months The ordinary Whales are commonly a hundred and twenty Foot long and their Heads are the third part of their Body On their Noses are two round Holes at which they suck in abundance of Water and spout it out again an exceeding height Their Eyes are three Yards long and a Foot and a half broad Their Ears with which they hear any small noise are less without than within they open their Mouths five Fathom wide their Tongue eighteen Foot long and ten broad rests on eight hundred Supporters full of downy Hair The Whale-catchers seldom find any thing in their ripp'd-up Bowels more than some handfuls of Sea-Spiders and
themselves all joyfully and lovingly together Drown themselves Why the Japanners ear no manner of death But nothing more their Religion prompts them to than a sleighting scorn of all the Terrors and Pangs of Death looking upon those that shrink at such fears as Vulgar and Ignoble Persons not fit to be convers'd withal because they all believe that Death is the certain way to Happiness which Opinion hath been anciently receiv'd in Japan and very old in many other places especially amongst the Gauls Brittains and Germanes and several other Nations That the Souls of those that fear'd not Death whether offering themselves for the publick good or the honor of their gods should immediately so dying be translated into Paradice Strange self-murder of the Goths Herodâ—s lib. 4. ¶ HErodotus says That the Goths held for the valliantest amongst the Thracians believe themselves immortal and that they never die but leaving this world they go to their God Zamolxis upon which account every fifth year by Lot they choose an Ambassador whom they send to this their God-amighty in such manner as followeth First Having well instructed him in his Message and made fit for so honorable an Embassy then they lift him up by the Arms and Legs placing under him three Arrows with the barbs upwards which done they let him drop upon the Points by which if he be so well transpierc'd that he dies suddenly then they believe that they have made a good choice but if so it happen that the sharps missing the Vitals he die a lingering death they judge him to be a vicious liver and not fit for the undertaking so presently go to a second Choice giving him the like Instructions The Grave Philosopher Seneca also hints thus concerning the Immortality of the Soul When the time comes that separates the Soul and Body leaving the Material Substance on the Earth the Spirit reascends to God the Donor Then also he makes the Soul thus a Speaker Now free from Earth I dwell in the Air or Etherial Sky This his Description of Dying and leaving this Mortal Life signifies his Opinion of a better and Immortal Residence We must remove says he for death which we fear destroys us not but gives us another and a happier Life which hereafter we shall assuredly know and rejoyce at our so blessed a change This Doctrine of a second Life though wanting the pure light of the Gospel most of the antient Heathens believ'd of which our Western and Eastern World have given notable Testimonies Strabo tells us That one Mandanis a Brachman Strabo lib. 15 Geograph being presented to Alexander the Great and he Courting him with fair Promises and rich Presents to be as his Companion and Councellor look'd upon him though he had Conquer'd the whole World as a contemptible Fellow he being fully satisfi'd from their own Principles of future Hopes Disputes of the old Brachmans concerning the â—â—â—e and after death for his Just and Meritorious Life to receive the great Rewards of Everlasting Beatitude said O Alexander I despise your Gifts neither need I any The saying of Mandanis to receive them from one that is poorer than he that is in the greatest want being hungry and still unsatisfi'd with all the Plunder and Spoil which thou hast got Neither fear I your threats since I by dying already worn out by Age shall remove to a far better and happier life than thou canst expect in the World which thou hast here unjustly gotten or in the World to come Cicero de Dâ—vinat pâ—â—o Calamus the Indian burns himself Cicero also tells of the Indian Calamus Who making a fire under a Gilded Bed covering himself over with Straw kindled the same and so by degrees felt the extremest of all tortures burning to death a brave and noble departure as he says out of this World the day of whose death Alexander the Great appointed to be kept holy and not long after he follow'd him Next he tells us of Hercules who with conjesting Trees which he had himself torn up by the roots erected his own Funeral Pyre where laying himself down and there consum'd to Ashes the greatest of Hero's they after his magnanimous departure reckon'd him among the number of Gods ¶ FUrthermore as to what was said before by the Japan Interpreter concerning the vanishing of one of the Bonzi which annually meet in the Castle on the Mountain Conay The Bouzies are often carry'd away none know whether the like happens as they say in several other meetings in which some of them vanish from thence or are snatch'd away how and by what means we know not Villela relates in his foremention'd Letter That this Romance or Hocus-Pocus of conveying bodies is generally believ'd to be real amongst the Japanners but always lookt upon as a bad Omen And in his time he says there dwelt one of the Bonzi in the City Sacci who being very rich liv'd as vicious a life and being seventy years old lying on his death-bed could not endure to hear of death but one day at high noon he was taken away on a sudden in the presence of all his friends and was never heard of after The Netherland Ambassadors leaving the Palace of the Bonzi Village Cancia they Rode towards the Village Cancia where they rested that night in the morning the Ways being frozen very hard they went on in their Journey and in a short time they reach'd the swift Current Oyengauwa River Oyengauwa which they crost very easily because it had not Rain'd there in a long time for in wet seasons the Floods are so high and the Current so strong that none can pass it but with great trouble There the Emperors Faulkoners met the Ambassadors Stepping on the opposite shore they spy'd three of their Emperors Faulkoners after their Game the Ambassadors Sedans in honor to the Emperor were set down on the ground the Horsemen alighted and the whole Train stood still till the Faulkoners were past by them Then travelling through the Villages Simanda Torisjeda and Ocambe over several steep Ascents and Declivings they enter'd Mirice Surunga a great City but ruinous and uninhabited ¶ SOmewhat farther they came to Surunga a great City but desolate because since the death of the Emperor Toxogunsama who was Crown'd Anno 1629. the Inhabitants deserted it resorting to other places for Trade The Emperor taking some distastes against his Brother forc'd him to rip up his own Belly which cruel Execution they commit in the following manner The manner of the Japanners ripping up their own bellies ¶ THe Criminals sit according to the Eastern manner in an open place before a Temple being bare from the middle upwards behind him stands one with a Cordial if he should faint and six Priests that give him Spiritual Comfort and take care of his Funeral before him sits one with the Knife that must perform the cruel Office on
growing upon their Heads A strange Relation of the Gengues by Father Frojus whom their Master the Devil oftentimes commands to climb to the top of a steep Mountain where they are to expect him at the appointed time Thither they flock in great Numbers and coming to the Place the Evil Spirit according to his Promise appears to them about Noon but most commonly towards the Evening passing oftentimes backward and forward through the whole Assembly of the Gengues who soon after inspir'd with mad desire to follow this their wicked Seducer where-ever he goes though through Fire and Brimstone where he vanishes they throw themselves after which is always at the steep Precipices of the Mountain thus desperately destroying themselves falling down Headlong Which thus happen'd to be discover'd An Old-Man being thus Possess'd and mad to follow the Devil his Son used all means to disswade him yet he would not hearken but thither he went his Son going with him then both scaling the top of the Mountain the Spirit appear'd to them Habited Richly like some Great Person whom the Father Worshipp'd falling on his Knees in a most submissive and humble manner but the Son drawing his Bow shot at the Spectrum which suddenly vanishing turn'd into a wounded Fox which running away he trac'd by the drops of Bloud discolouring the Grass where on the edge of the Precipice Reynard vanish'd but he looking down after him saw abundance of Bones and Skeletons of Dead-men which there broke their Necks so conquering Hell by violence running headlong to the Devil Japan Soothsayings and Conjurings whence proceeded But the fore-mention'd Charms and Conjurations Fortune-telling and other Diabolical Arts used by the Japan Janambuxi Jammaboos Harbore-Bonzi and Gengues have their Original from Asia The Japanners have learn'd these Necromantick Arts and cunning Delusions from their Ancestors which brought them from the Places of their first Original Above two thousand Years ago the Black-Art was us'd through all the Eastern World being perform'd after divers ways and manners Who knows not That in Asia they use for the performing of the foremention'd purposes Water Drinking and Looking-glasses Oyl Rings Fire Children and Birds What was more common to those that would know Future Events or regain Lost or Stoln Goods than to run to the Conjurers or Fortune-tellers which Office the Priest generally perform'd Conjuring with a Bason Sometimes they us'd a Bason full of Water in which they threw several Pieces of Gold and Silver and also Precious Stones mark'd with peculiar Letters Then standing over this Bason muttering their Charms and Incantations calling upon an Infernal Spirit at last asking what they desir'd to know and according to his Demands a Voyce as it were from under the Water made Responses to his several Questions With a Cruse At other times these Jugglers also use a Cruse filling it with clear Water and placing lighted Wax-Candles round about Then calling upon Satan they inquir'd of him concerning those things of which they desir'd to be satisfied Then standing still a Child or great-bellied Woman went to the charm'd Cruse so taking a view of the Shadow which the Water presented by which Appearance the Spirit answer'd their Desires With Glasses Looking-glasses also serv'd them as Instruments to the performing of their Diabolical Arts Glasses a known Cheat. wherein after they had ended their Charmes they saw such Shadows by which they were answer'd to their several Demands The Emperor Didius Julianus us'd the like Glasses Julian the Apostate seeing several things in them that happen'd to him afterwards With Fountains The Greek Writer Pausanius tells us of a Fountain before the Temple of the Goddess Ceres in which Fountain by a small Cord they us'd to let down a Looking-glass wherein if those that were Sick did look and saw a Dead Corps there was no hopes of their Recovery but if a live Person they were certain to live and recover With Oyl and Red-lead When they are desirous to know Future Events then they take Oyl with some Red-lead mixing them both together Then they take a stripling Youth painting his Nails therewith and holding them in the Sun which makes such Shadows that by them they know what they desire Wit a Gold Ring They also take a Gold-Ring and shaking it in the Water judge by its Motion what they desire to be inform'd of With Stones Sometimes throwing three Stones in standing Water by the manner and position of the Circles they answer the Question propounded With Water Varro a Learned Roman tells of a Youth skill'd in Magick that in a Response of a great Question read fifty Verses out of the Water foretelling but in ambiguous sense the various Successes of the long War betwixt the Romans and Mithridates King of Pontus With Wheaten-Cakes Near the Lacedemonian City Epidamnus was a Pool sacred to Juno to which to be resolv'd of doubtful Matters they us'd to resort where they threw in Wheaten Cakes made for that purpose which if they sunk were a good Omen but if they floated up and down they look'd thereon as a Sign of ill success With a Pot. It was also very common to put a Roll upon their Heads on which a Pot of Water then muttering certain Words if the Water boyl'd over that signified good but if it stirr'd not bad luck But discovering of Thieves finding Lost or Stoln Goods and the like which the Japan-Priests the Janambuxi and Gengues pretend so much to was common two thousand Years ago through all Asia Amonst many other of their Experiments this was most us'd by the Ancients With an Ax. They strike an Ax into a round Post so deep that it sticks then amidst their Mutterings they name the several Persons who are most suspected but at the first mention of the guilty Person the Ax trembles or leaps out of the Post With a Sieve Our Foolery of the Sieve and Shears is also much approv'd amongst them for a most certain Discovery of a Theft And as we use for a Charm St. Peter and St. Paul they repeat these non-sensical Words Douwima Touwima Entimemaus With an Asses Head They also do Wonders as they believe with an Asses Head broyl'd upon the Coals And the like Vanity concerning Predictions they observe with a Cock With a Cock. which thus they perform In a smooth Floor they lay so many single Letters cut in Paper that make up their Response with the Negative and Affirmative laying on every one of these a Barley-corn and scattering a few others promiscuously betwixt them then they bring a Cock fresh and fasting who falls to work picking up the Corns as his Choice directs him which done they gather up the Letters from whence the Corn hath been taken and of those by setting and spelling of them several ways they make a Judgment With Mandrakes What did they not ascribe to the Mandrake-root by throwing
those yet alive Thus for a night and a day this misery lasted without any intermission whilst the people that escaped lay in the Fields without either eating or drinking and few of these that thus escaped but were either hurt or struck with sickness and had not a Venetian Ship that lay in the Harbor afforded them Bread they had perish'd with hunger which Vessel also ran as dangerous a Risk for the water forsaking the Haven left them three times on the bare Sand and that often times failing hideously gaping was ready to swallow them up then the Sea returning with such violence that it was a wonder but they had been bilged upon the Shore besides many others suffer'd that lay there living in a most sad condition under beams lighting across amongst the Piles that were hurt and maim'd languishing starv'd to death no possible help to remove the great heaps of Timber and get them out Van Dam at last got aboard of a Ship where the terror was a little mitigated a Magazine of Powder being very near expecting every minute the blowing up when two days after on the eight of April three hundred Turks and Moor-lacks on Horses and Mules descending from the Mountains after some small resistance entred the City there making havock and bloody slaughter where e're they went so clearing the way with a great booty gather'd up amongst the Ruines return'd On the sixth day the Earthquake beginning to abate a little Van Dam went towards the City to look after his Goods and several Presents which the Ambassador Crook had in custody for the Grand Seignior The City was yet in a miserable condition the Earthquake still continu'd though not so furiously as before the Fire also not quench'd and the Streets full of Theeves and Robbers the Ways and Paths cover'd with dead bodies of which some were Burn'd others lying in their own Blood which occasion'd a horrible stench Yet Van Dam found at last some Labourers whom he employ'd to dig out his Goods from under the Rubbish promising them one half for getting the other Two days they spent in prosecution of the design but nothing appearing they were quite disanimated and gave over of six thousand House-keepers remain'd scarce six hundred alive sixteen thousand being Burnt and lost by the Subterranean Fires breaking forth A farther journey in Japan ¶ BUt now to return to our business the Netherland Ambassadors stay'd a night in Odauro and after they had view'd the place where the old Castle was sunk and a new one rais'd upon the Walls of the former they went on in their Journey being the thirtieth of October crossing several Rivers and through many Villages to Hedo and from thence to Osa next they Ferry'd over the Rivers Barueuw and Sanamicauwa over which being got they went through Firaski Banio Tamra and Fovissauwa all fair Villages Description of the Temple Toranga ¶ THis way they met with nothing worthy their observation but a large Temple dedicated to one of their gods call'd Toranga On the four corners of the Roof lay four large Oxen Carv'd to the life curiously Gilded The Roof on each side jutting out above six Foot beyond the Walls the Temple it self built Quadrangular in each Square stood four Figures painted according to the manner of their Antient Hero's whose several Atchievements are by their poor People sung up and down in the Streets above which are Windows of pleited Rushes the upper part fasten'd to the Roof and the lower to the Pictures a white Plaister'd Wall being between the Temple is surrounded with a Stone-Wall like a Breast-Work Plaister'd in the inside near the Front joyns the House of one of the Bonzi whose Cupulo appears in Prospect like the Steeple of a Temple Tempel in t Koninekryck Vaccata Temple in the Kingdome VACCATA Description of the Idol Toranga ¶ VVIthin stands the Idol Toranga who had formerly been a great Hunter in Corca and commonly dwelt in the Metropolis Pingjang some Centuries before the Chinesy King Hiaovus subdu'd and brought under his subjection half the Island Corca which had never before tasted the cruelty of the Tartars nor heard of the Spoils of Sandaracha with which the Japanners and Chineses furnish their Houses Otherwise Toranga the Japanners Mars would have releas'd Corca from those troubles with which they were molested a long time Toranga finding not work enough in Corca went over to Japan at which time there was a grand Rebel that molested many of the Kings putting all to the Fire and Sword where ever he went which Toranga understanding immediately takes up Arms sending for aid from Corca then call'd Leaotung Idol Basanwow ¶ IN like manner Basanwow was also Worshipp'd formerly as a god by the Germanes Trithemius relates That Basanwow youngest Son of Diocles King of the Sicambrians following his Father in the Wars made many glorious Conquests subduing the People of Frier and Meats and slew the powerful Lord Thaboryn so making himself Master of his Countrey and in the Sixteenth year of his Raign he was so arrogantly ambitious that he design'd and affected to be honor'd as a God to which purpose he Summon'd a Parliament amongst whom taking place in his Imperial Throne richly Habited in all his Parliament Robes he on a sudden as was neatly contriv'd was drawn up and the Roof like a chang'd Scene closing again so he in all his glory vanish'd none ever knowing after what became of him so they all voted him nemo contra dicente ascended into Heaven and so from that time forward he was rank'd amongst the Tutonick Deities and honour'd as a god ¶ BUt the Ambassadors leaving this Temple of Toranga proceeded in their Journey from Fovissawa through Toska and Fundage to Cammagawa where they rested a night the next morning being very cold they Rid along the Sea shore about Noon they met with a Noble Lady being the Emperors Neece Great state of the Emperors Neece who was travelling to Meaco there to Marry with a near Relation of the Dayro Her attendance were very rich in Apparel several Persons of Honor riding on stately Horses with Gold Embroyder'd Saddles their Bridles beset with Pearls and Diamonds her other Servants ran a Foot before in very Costly Liveries her Guard also were arm'd with Bowes and Arrows and some with Pikes and Muskets The Ambassadors Frisius and Brockhurst reckon'd up by Leagues from place to place Then Riding on through the Village Cawasacca and the City Sinagawa on the last of October they entred the Imperial City Jedo having undergone a long and tedious Journey since their departure from Osacca for from Osacca to Firaskatta is five Leagues from thence to Jonday three so to Fissima three then to Meaco three from thence to Oets three from Oets to Cusatz three and a half so to Itzibe three then to Minacutz three and a half thence to Zintzamma three so to Sacca two from Sacca to Sicconosory two then to Cammiammi
return again to this World Great Disputations one the Brachmans maintain about their Second Heaven Lela Weicontam Some affirm That the Souls remove from thence to another Elizium Others maintain the contrary The Sect Foqueux worship Xaca Moreover concerning Xaca it is well known That all the Japan Bonzies worship him but chiefly those they call Foqueux For as they are of another Sect so among themselves they are of other Opinions This Sect is so call'd from a Book written by Xaca which treats of attaining to Salvation by saying these Words Namu Mio Foren Qui Quio though no Japanners understand the true meaning thereof being Indian Words The manner how the women ourn themselves ¶ THe Funerals in India if Married People and the Husband die first are commonly double for the Women burn themselves with their Husbands because they will not live after their deceas'd Lords so perfecting the Celebrations of the Funerals Which they willingly expose themselves to in Honor of their God whom they call Rama which they perform thus When the Wife promises her departing Husband that she will die with him then she must lose no time but the same day where her Husband lies burning in the Funeral Pyre she must leap in and be consum'd with him This dreadful Ceremony is strictly observ'd by the Brachmans and Wiensjaes But the Setteraes and Soudraes go farther for there the Women also burn themselves though their Husbands die in other Countreys although it be many Years after their Deaths yet as soon as they receive the sad News they shrink not from the Fiery Trial of their Affections but by burning dispatch themselves Some of the Men also are as mad who in the Worship of their Xaca dig a large Pit without the City in which making a great Fire they desparately leap thereinto where they are in short time consum'd to Ashes whilst the Woman sits on a Stool dress'd up and richly clad before the Door of their House and if she be extracted from the Settera or Soudra she hath in one Hand a Limmon and in the other a Looking-glass calling continually on the Name of their God Naraina or Rama which is Xaca sometimes chewing Betel amongst which they mix an intoxicating Herb that bereaves her of her Senses so taking away all manner of fear of what she is to suffer But if she belongs to the Brachmans or Wiensjaes then they hold red Flowers in their Hands first dedicated to the Idol whose Picture they hang about their Necks Then after she hath taken her Farewel of her Friends she either goeth out of the City or is carried in a Sedan her Countenance being chearful looking merrily which she denotes by several Gesticulations of her Hands and Body crying aloud to the Sound of Trumpets and Drums Rema Rama Saltae Rama Rama Saltae that is God Rama Rama make me happy And thus being led through the chief Streets of the City by some of her nearest Friends and at last approaching near the Place of Execution where her Husband was burnt she withdraws to a neighboring Pool where after having wash'd her self she puts on a yellow Garment and gives her richest Apparel and precious Jewels to her chiefest Relations and to the Brachman-Priest which makes her Funeral-Sermon before the Fire to whom she also makes great Presents The Pit wherein she is to leap is like an Oven full of glowing Coals being hung round about with green Mats to the end she might not be affrighted at such a horrid Face of Death At one end thereof lies a Mount or Heap of Earth thrown out of a small Hill on which she takes her last Farewel of her Friends All which to perpetrate this dreadful Self-murder encourage her to be her own Destroyer whilst she having thrown her beloved Pestle and Mortar and other Housholdstuff which she us'd daily into the Fire they put a Jar of Oyl upon her Head letting some fall upon her Body The Mats being remov'd the Virago leaps in and after her her nearest Relations standing round about contribute to the Flames each throwing in a Fagot the sooner to dispatch their wretched Kinswoman Difference in burning women Thus the Widows end their Lives that are of the Settrean Weinjaen or Soudraen Families But the Brachman Women suffer a more cruel Death for they are laid close by their Husbands on the Funeral-Pyre then the People build a Pile of Wood over them placing about their Heads Oyl Rozin and Turpentine This done the Women standing in order round about make doleful Ullula's mix'd with loud Shrieks and Lamentations during which Clamor the Brachman-Priest lights the Pile which kindling by degrees brings a lingering and terrible Death Women buried alive Besides this way of ridding themselves of the old Females they have another way of destroying themselves which they perform thus They take the Relict and lead her as it were in Triumph amongst the Sound of Pipes Drums and Trumpets to a Pit digg'd square like a Cellar where stands the Body of her departed Husband to which descending on Earthen Steps setting her self down on a Bank she takes the dead Body in her Arms then perfuming the Corps with Frankincense and Myrrhe which done the Mourners begin to throw the Mold into the Pit which she rakes greedily towards her with her Hands and so having cover'd her self at last with Earth to the Chin then hanging a Cloth before the Entry of the Pit they give her Poyson in a little Dish and then on a sudden break her Neck backwards Die of Hunger for the Honor of Xaca Thus also the Japanners both Men and Women make away themselves frantick with mad Zeal in Honor to their God Xaca For those that are his greatest Admirers upon no other account than honoring him dig their own Graves covering the tops leaving onely a small breathing-hole wherein they famish themselves to death These kind of Self-murderers or Sedecedes happen frequently in and about Jedo and in several other Places of Japan ¶ BUt to return again to our Ambassadors Frisius and Brookhurst who had inform'd the Lords Sickingodonne and Sabrosaymondonne of their Arrival on the last of November and staid till the twenty ninth of the following Month in the House of the Chief President for the East India Company before they could be permitted to offer those Presents which they had brought to his Imperial Majesty Netherlanders are commanded to come to Court They had order to prepare themselves against the next Morning to appear before the Emperor Whereupon the Japanners went to a Troo for so they call a Bath that they might cleanse themselves for none must presume to approach before the Emperor otherwise s Kysers hof te JEDO. das Schlos zu Jedo The Emperors Court at JEDO. Description of the Imperial Palace at Jedo ¶ THe Residence or Palace of the Emperor deserves no small Admiration Round about the outermost Wall are large Rails several Foot
Bonzi the Minister that performs the Funeral-Rites in a great Coach which shines being all Silk and Gold Thirty Bonzies more run about the Coach they wear broad-brimm'd Hats over a fine Linnen Surplice a Black Cloke cover'd with a gray upper Garment each carrying a long Torch lighted made of Pine-Branches which they say lights the Defunct that he may not mistake or miss the Way These thirty are follow'd by two hundred more who call aloud upon that God or Idol which he most Worshipp'd when alive They also beat on great Copper Basons and carry two large Baskets full of Artificial Paper-Roses of divers Colours which they tie at the end of a long Stick shaking them as they go in such a manner that the Roses fly out of the Baskets that being a sign as they say That the Soul of the Deceas'd is already gone to the Place of Everlasting Happiness After these follow eight Youths young Bonzies in two Rows who trail after them long Canes with Flags each Inscrib'd with the Name of his Idol They also carry eight Lanthorns with lighted Candles which in stead of Horn are cover'd with fine Cotton Near these Lanthorn-carriers walk two Youths in gray Clothes which carry also Pine-Torches which they light when they come out of the City and with these kindle the Fire that must consume the dead Body The remaining Ceremony Next before the Corps walk a great number of People all in gray Clothes their Heads cover'd with little three-corner'd Caps of black shining Leather on which they pin small Papers written with the Name of his Idol And that it may be more conspicuous a Man follows which carries in a Frame in large Characters the Name of that God he had so much ador'd The Corps it self Then follows the Corps it self which is carried by four Men on a Bier cover'd with a Bed very richly adorn'd on which sits the dead Body with his Head bent forward and his Hands folded together being cloth'd all in white over which hangs a Paper Coat being a Book concerning the Mysterious Devotions belonging to his Deity and full of Prayers That he would be pleas'd in mercy to save him After the Corps follow the Sons of the Deceas'd in comely Habits the youngest Son carrying also a Torch of Pine to kindle the Funeral-Pyre Last of all comes a second Rabble of Common People suited with black Caps as the former How the dead are burnt in Japan When coming near the Pyle they stand in a Ring and soon after make a hideous Noise the Bonzies striking with great force on their Copper Basons and Kettles and all the People calling aloud on the Name of his Idol which continues a whole Hour during which they prepare the Pit being square and Rail'd about and hung with Mats Towards the four Points of Heaven are four Entrances being the East West North and South The Pit is cover'd over with Canvas and on each side of it stands a Table with all manner of Fruits near the Table Pots smoking with Perfumes and Frankincense no sooner they approach near the Inclosed place but they throw a long Rope over the Corps on which every one lays their hands and call on the name of their Idol several times together then they walk three times about the inclosed place At last they set the Bier with the Bed and Corps on the Funeral-pyre to which the Bonzi who Conducted the whole Train steps forth and Mutters several Words which none of those that are present can understand and takes a burning Torch which he Waves three times over the Head of the Dead Body signifying by those Circles that the Soul of the Deceased had never beginning nor shall ever have an end when done he throws away the Torch which two of the nearest Relations to the Deceased whereof one stands at the East end of the Bier and the other at the West as a Ceremony reaching it over the Corps to one another thrice together then they throw it on the Pyle whilest others pour on Sweet Oil then setting Fire which kindles so suddenly and grows to that height that the Body is consum'd in a moment Strange Custom when the body is burnt In the Interim his Sons and kindred walk towards the two Tables where setting Fire to the Pots with Perfumes they fall on their Knees and Worship the Deceased then as they believe to be in Heaven This finish'd their Bonzies are rewarded according to their several Services and the Chief Orderer of the Funeral receives at least twenty Duckets and the other Officers lesser Sums After the departure of the Friends and Bonzies to their several Houses then the Common People and those which were Habited in Grey make merry about the Fire with such Food as stands on the Tables On the next day the Children and Friends of the Deceased repair again to the Funeral Fire where they gather the Ashes Teeth and Bones in a Gilded Pot or Urn which they carry home and covering it over with a Cloth set it in one of the chief Rooms of the House Make repetition Sermon after what manner Thither all the Bonzies come to make a Repetition of the Funeral Sermon On the seventh day they begin their Visit and set the Urn with the Relicks on the Ground others set down a square Stone on which is Engraven the Name of the Idol After this the Sons go daily to their Father's Grave on which they strow Roses and place hot Liquor and set several Dishes of Meat about it so that their Father's Soul may be refresh'd Bon a dead Fast But besides these Funerals which commonly cost those that are able at least three thousand Duckets and the ordinary Citizens generally two or three hundred They keep on one day yearly a general Feast through the whole City which they call Bon dedicated to all the souls of their deceas'd friends on which day each hangs a Lanthorn and Candle at his Door and all visit the Graves of their several Relations great multitudes carrying out of the City Chargers full of Variety of Cates with which they Treat as they believe their departed Spirits then inviting them home to their Houses of which we have already spoke at large The corps of poor people misused The Funerals of the Poor People are no way to be compar'd to those of the Rich for not one Bonzi follows their Dead they having no Money for to satisfie them for their Labor without which they will not budge one Foot so that they onely take care for to provide Food for the Departed Souls and the more because most of them either publick or private are against the Immortality of the Soul therefore the Dead Bodies of the Poor of which there are very great numbers in Japan they throw in the night time in some private place or other or else upon the nearest Dunghil Departure of the Netherland Ambassadors from Jedo ¶ BUt to return
to be pull'd down and because he Govern'd a great number of valiant Men he was the bolder in that his Command Vatadono though he thought himself able to Engage with the other yet stood amaz'd at his peremptory Command to pull down that which brought him in so much Revenue yearly These Orders were sent before which the King of Iquendo follow'd himself and lay down before the Forts with a considerable Army in which at that time Dario Tacajam a resided who immediately sent information to Vatadono being then at Fort Tacacuquim of his present Condition whereupon he Muster'd up all his Forces which were near him and with those he march'd to Encounter the Enemy who had information how in considerable all his Forces were for he could number of all that he had rais'd not above two thousand Men but his Son follow'd him with five hundred more The Enemy which was ready to take all advantages hid most of his Men behind a Mountain and so enticed Vatadono to Battel by shewing onely a few of his Men near the Place where the rest lay ambuscado'd for he feared that else he might have gotten into some Fortification or other and so have worn out the time till fresh Forces might come to his assistance This Plot of the Enemies prov'd very successful for Vatadono who wore a Scarlet Cap given him by the Portuguese as soon as he drew near the Enemy he lighted from his Horse and with one of his Companies assaulted the Enemy very fiercely In the Enceunter Vatadono was slain whilst on a sudden those that lay in Ambuscade appear'd from behind the Hill and set upon him with great eagerness on all Corners yet keeping close together fought very valiantly for a considerable time but seeing no likelihood of those fresh Supplies over which Vatadono's Son was Commander and how unequal the Match was return'd back and took possession of the Fort Tacacuquim A Contest between Nobunanga and he Emperor and the reason Mean while the Emperor and Nobunanra fell at variance for the one boasting continually his Merits that by his sole Conduct he had set the Emperor on his Throne which proud vaunting of his he not being able to bear Princes especially not enduring the good Deeds that have been done for them to be cast in their Dish also judging himself to be under Tutorage and not absolute whilst he boasted and vain-glory'd that he was an Emperor of his own making These Murmurings and Mutterings at last broke forth into open Flames and Civil War the Emperor Mustering all the Forces he could possibly get together against Nobunanga with which he thought to make a sudden end of the business and the better because Nobtmanga was gone to the Kingdom of Boari But he hearing of the Emperor 's great Preparations rais'd also scarce to be believ'd another as vast an Army with which he March'd directly to Meaco and though he sent Messengers daily with all humility imploring and proposing Peace Nobunanga destroys all offering Articles of Agreement yet destroy'd the Imperial Territories with Fire and Sword where-ever he came so that in a short time a hundred Villages and several Cities lay waste being bury'd in their Ashes But the Emperor disdain'd the Proposals relying solely upon the Forces which were promis'd him which incensed Nobunanga the more and therefore he resolv'd to Storm Meaco and taking it to spare neither Woman nor Child his first Vengeance he design'd should be the upper part of the City where most of the Nobility resided which to prevent and to mollifie his fury they sent him proffers of great Sums of Money that so he would be pleas'd in mercy to spare them all which Nobunanga refus'd yet he gave strict command through his whole Army that they should not commit the least outrage in the lower Meaco but the upper part of the City he gave them free leave to Plunder Upper Menco Miserably burnt But before his Army drew near Meaco several Conspirarors had already set Fire on many Places of the City that so they might enrich themselves with Plunder before the Enemy came thither In one Night almost a third part of the upper Meaco lay in Ashes whilst Nobunanga came in on the next Day and destroy'd all what was remaining This Fire consum'd at least eight thousand Houses twenty Cloysters of the Bonzies and the two famous Temples of Amida and Xaca besides eighty lesser Temples Bonzies burnt Into one of these sixty of the poor Bonzies which gather'd Alms at Meaco for the re-building of the decay'd Temple Consecrated to the Idol Dalbud in the Province of thematis taking their refuge there were consum'd by the Fire The lower Meaco escaped this destruction for not one Soldier durst offer to enter there Nobunanga having on pain of Death charged them all to the contrary But whilst one Corner of upper Meaco burnt very fiercely the Fire drawing near the lower City in which was the Temple of Yzum the Bonzies began to be much concern'd for that Idol and the more A strange Idol call'd Yzum because it was his Office to conduct the Souls of the Deeeased to a place of punishment from whence after being purifi'd by Fire he brings them to the place of happiness ptepar'd by Amida This Image is terrible to behold holding in its right Hand a Trident. The Bonzies thus highly concern'd for this their Deity entreated him by Responses to signifie to them whether the Fire would consume his Temple and if he would be remov'd to another place they imagin'd from the Statues fix'd looks that he would be remov'd and secur'd from the Fire Whereupon they immediately prepar'd all things in readiness the Bonzies with many others bringing the Image with great State and Ceremony to a pare of the upper Meaco which lay a great way beyond the Fire But Nobunanga soon after setting all parts of the upper City on Fire their god Yzum was also burnt there and his Temple standing in lower Meaco though not protected by its Deity being spared by Nobunanga was preserv'd The Emperor besieg'd by Nobunauga But the Emperor looking from a high Tower on these horrible outrages saw with an undaunted courage the richest part of the City involv'd in Flames and utter ruine whilst he expected daily fresh Forces to relieve him with whose help he resolv'd to satiate his Revenge but before any came Nobunanga had so straitned the Royal Fort with a strict Leaguer that the Emperor began to hearken to Terms of Peace Nobunanga threatning that he would surrender the Crown to the Dayro to whom it antiently and justly belong'd At last Articles of Agreement were Sign'd Makes Peace with no small diminution of Power and Honor to the Emperor Persons of Quality were sent from both Sides as Pledges to confirm the Agreement all which as soon as the Emperor 's promis'd Assistance came he broke Nobunanga makes himself Emperor But this help
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
Polycrates his Daughter dream'd the Night before her Father went away to wit that she saw him taken up into the Air and wash'd by Jupiter and dry'd again by the Sun which Orcates perform'd in crucifying Polycrates when the Heavens pour'd down upon him and the Sun scorch'd him in such a manner that his Fat dropp'd and ran down by the Cross Plutarch in Vit Herod in Coll. In like manner did Alexander the Great crucifie the Physician Glaucus and two thousand Tyrian Slaves and Xantippus the Athenian the Persian Artyacta They perform'd this bloody Office themselves purposely to delight the Spectators who satisfi'd their Eyes by beholding them shrink up their Bodies working of the Sinews and Veins and pleas'd their Ears with the doleful cries of the miserable Wretches dying by degrees The Germans and Gauls us'd this kind of punishment to Traitors and Rebels But nore were more expert at it than the Africans and amongst them the Carthaginians oftentimes so using their Generals if they came off vanquish'd notwithstanding they had fought valiantly nay sometimes though they came home Victors for if any thing of misdemeanor could be found against them they died without mercy Divers ways of Crucifying But they do not observe in all Places one manner or way of Crucifying for first the Crosses differ'd in shape and when great numbers were condemn'd they oftentimes made Trees serve for that purpose At other times they us'd single Poles on which they Nail'd their Hands and Feet one over another Others were made of two Pieces of Wood or more sometimes both Pieces are of an equal length joyn'd together exactly in the middle so that the hindmost part of the Crucifi'd comes just to the Place where it is joyn'd and his Hands and Feet being stretch'd out are made fast by four great Nails The Church Histories tell us That the Apostle St. Andrew suffer'd in that manner Tertullian adds hereunto the Actions of Jacob Tertul. de Bapt. c. 3. which laid his hands across when he blessed Ephraim and Manasseh whereby he signifi'd that future blessedness should accrew to Mankind from the Cross of our Saviour At other times the Crosses were made of two unequal Poles the longest of which being set in the Ground and the shortest fastned towards the top so that a small part of the longest appear'd above the other on which was Written the Crime for which they suffer'd or else they carry'd the occasion of his Death on a Board before him to the Cross or by a Cryer made it known to all the Spectators Some Crosses had more than two Pieces of Timber for besides the upright and thwart Poles there was a crooked Piece of Wood in which the cross Pole rested or on the upper end of the longest were two Pieces of Timber nail'd cross one above another or else from the middle Piece hung two other Pieces of Timber downwards or else the long Pole had two Sticks nail'd across one above and the other below on the uppermost of which they made fast their Arms and on the undermost the Feet This last was in use amongst the Japanners How the Japanners make them fast But in stead of nailing they ty'd them sometimes laying the Cross down on the Ground and there raising that and the Crucifi'd up together At other times they first made the Cross fast in the Ground setting three Ladders against it on the middlemost of which the Sufferer ascended being pull'd up on both sides by Ropes made fast to his Hands Sometimes they tie the Condemned to a cross Pole by his Hands and then by two Ropes with a Pulley hoise him up to the top The Japanners also torture their Crucifi'd after another manner than the Romans Greeks Syrians Persians Africans and other People The Romans and Greeks caus'd them to be Whipp'd with Scourges full of sharp Rowels either ty'd to a Pillar in the Court-house or else all the Way till they came to the Cross The like relates Philo how that the Roman General Flaccus caus'd a great many Jews in Alexandria to be nail'd to the Cross which had before in the open Court been miserably Whipp'd And Curtius relates Curt. l. 7. That Alexander the Great resolutely caus'd the Sogdian Arimazes to yield up and withdraw from their invincible Rock with thirty thousand Soldiers of which he took the chiefest Commander and Crucifi'd him at the Foot of the Rock How the Japanners Crucifie Moreover others strip them stark naked as they were born but the Japanners tye them on two cross Pieces of Timber with their Clothes on This Custom was also us'd by the Romans though but seldom Concerning the Apostle St. Andrew Abdias Hist Apol. l. 3. the Historian Abdias relates That the Vice-Roy Aegeas in Edessa gave strict command to the Executioners not to nail him to the Cross but to bind him that he might be the longer dying for at other times they use great Nails whose number was left to the pleasure of the Executioner most commonly they drove one through each Hand near the Wrist and the Feet near the Leg but at other times they strike several through their Hands which they doe chiefly when they fear that the Nails will not hold Cruelty us'd in Crucifying but slip through the Hands by which the whole weight of the Body hangs The Martyr Agricola being made fast with divers great Spikes died under the Executioners hands This cruelty seem'd less barbarous than that when they made a great Fire under the Cross so burning the Malefactor or choaking him up with the Smoak This kind of Death thousands of Christians suffer'd while they were persecuted above three hundred years Tertul. Apol. Cult wherefore according to Tertullian they generally went by the Name of Takkebos-Men because they were burnt by the Boughs of Trees on the Cross The same Death the Martyr Polycarpus died Euseb l. 4. c. 17. It is remarkable what Eusebius Writeth concerning him when the Executioners would nail him to the Cross he said Let me stand loose in the Fire I shall be able by Gods assistance to endure it with patience whereupon they onely bound him to the Cross without Nailing It was accounted also a merciful Death to the Crucifi'd to let Lyons Tygers Bears and other Beasts of Prey eat them from their Feet upwards which manner of cruelty Nero us'd to the Christians But commonly the Heathen endeavor'd to make them undergo a long and lingring Death therefore sometimes tying them with their Heads downwards Nailing their Arms athwart underneath and their Feet on the upper part of the Cross The Martyr Victorinus being thus Crucifi'd by order of the Emperor Nerva Martyrâ—l Sep. 5. Mai. 3. liv'd three days and Timotheus and Maura nine admonishing one another to be constant in their Faith so that they oftentimes dy'd of Hunger whilst the Blood slowly dropping from them occasion'd great faintness and at last death nor did their tyrannous rage
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
good out of himself If he be good from whence are these bad Devils Did God create them bad where then is his abundant goodness Or did he give over those to evil which he could have kept from it Was Man created to serve God in holiness why doth he suffer the Devil to tempt him to wickedness Why is Man left to himself that cannot subsist without the Spirit of God How can it also agree with Gods goodness to create Men unable by their weakness to be condemn'd for their sins and by their damnation for ever miserable And why are there such Laws ordain'd that no Creature on Earth is able to perform the least breach of which is eternal damnation insomuch that upon necessity the whole Race of Mankind by the power of that Law must be cursed he being born in sin The Japan Religion was establish'd on better grounds of Gods Mercy in that they had no everlasting Hell The Worshippers and Servants of Amida Xaca Canon and other Japan gods exchanged by death their transitory Life for everlasting Salvation and if it happen'd that after death they suffer'd some torments for their sins committed in this Life that continu'd but a short time according to the Crime Arguments of those Japanners that intended to be Christians These were generally the controverted Questions which Xaverius was to answer but after these arose a new stop in the way The Japanners who by this time gave some ear to the Jesuits could no ways understand why God did make himself known to none but those Strangers which came thither from Portugal they told them That their Forefathers liv'd very retir'd but those which for Theft Adultery Murder or neglect of the Japan Religion as it was taught them from time to time could not be admonish'd in their Life-times must they according to the Japan Christian Faith be therefore tortur'd in everlasting Flames who must bear the blame of that spoil Had the Portuguese Preach'd the Gospel sooner in Japan then they should have been sooner sav'd O miserable Parents and Children which died before the Jesuits came hither A Letter of Fernandes conceâ—ining the Japan contradictions But the better to understand the daily oppositions and contradictions of the Japanners we will give you some Extracts of a Letter Written by Johannes Fernandes from Amangucium to Franciscus Xaverius Anno 1551. wherein he says That since the departure of Xaverius the Japanners came daily slocking to the Jesuits Houses troubling them continually with several Questions particularly they desir'd to know of what Materials God had made the Soul as for the Body they knew that the Earth Fire Water and Air had joyn'd it together Moreover they demanded of what Shape and Colour the Soul was What manner of Creatures the Devils were Why they tempted Men to sin and chiefly aim'd at his destruction How they came to be so wicked since God created all things good They enquir'd what God was and where If he could not be seen Why he had block'd up the way to Heaven with so many troubles where goodness onely resides The Bonzies curse the Jesuits Mean while the Bonzies spent their time continually in their Temples and Cloysters in railing against the Jesuits They Preach'd publickly before the People That the Christians were Cannibals or Men-eaters That the Devil had spoken from a Brazen Image prognosticating that Amangucium should in a short time be utterly destroy'd for their wickedness in embracing the Christian Religion Not long after they say that themselves saw in the Night a of Fire descending from Heaven on the Palace of Amangucium Terrible Fire which suddenly burning made their foretelling true for the City burnt eight days together and then Murder and Cruelties spared neither young nor old not so much as the poor Infants which were Sucking at their Mothers Breasts Those which sought not to escape by flight died a most miserable death whereupon the general Cry of the Bonzies was That the unknown God of the Christians must be a most horrible Monster by whose Religion if it took footing in their Countrey Japan would be utterly destroy'd The Reason why the Roman Religion went on so prosperously in Japan Notwithstanding these grand oppositions yet there is no Countrey either West North or South that hath been discover'd by Navigation which hath taken so large an impression of the true Faith as Japan notwithstanding the Blood-Baths which were made there the cruel Persecutions the barbarousness of their Tortures the meekness of the Sufferers the infinite numbers of Miseries which happen'd in so short a time that can scarcely be paralell'd by any other People in the World for which cause we will relate the way by which the Christians in Japan went on so successfully The first Reason why the Jesuits spoke for the Poor The Jesuits soon after their arrival were much frequented by the poorer sort of People which are very numerous in Japan the Countrey being so exceeding populous that they seem to undo one another the Nobles living on the gain of their Subjects who bring them in so much that they scarce know their own Revenue whilst the meaner sort undergo extreme Poverty and the more because Compassion is banish'd from the Countrey and nothing less found there than Charity to the Poor The Jesuits Preach'd against their hard-heartedness teaching them That the Christian Religion requir'd bountiful hearts towards the Poor that Men should have compassion of one anothers miseries he deserv'd to be forsaken in his misery which will not act for his Neighbors relief what is it that can happen to one but it may happen to another who will forget a poor Man that is himself subject to all frailties This Doctrine the poor Japanners embraced the more willingly because it pleaded for their poverty but yet it took a deeper impression when the action it self follow'd for when the Jesuits had gotten some of the Princes to embrace their Religion Build Alms-houses which allow'd them great Revenues they immediately built Alms-houses dividing them into two several Apartments in one of which those that were infected with the Leprosie had their Lodgings and in the other those that had other Sicknesses great multitudes came flocking thither and at the entring of the Alms-house received Baptism Thus the Jesuits numbers increased daily to their great Cost and Charge none but poor and needy People coming to them out of necessity were Baptized The Letters may be seen wherein they make heavy complaints that the Japan Christians consisted most in diseased and decrepid poor People which were Converted onely to be Maintain'd by them Bonzies are cruel to the Poor And these came the more because the Bonzies never regarded them neither bestowing Alms nor taking care of their Burial or to provide such things as their Religion requires after death to the end they may live in joy and happiness with their gods Amida and Xaca But it is no marvel why the
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
304. The Story in brief this Asclepiades told the Martyr Romanus That he believ'd in a Christ that was nail'd on the damn'd Cross Whereupon Romanus answer'd That he was ready to contradict such Blasphemy did not Christ forbid him to strow Pearls before Swine Mean while Asclepiades had a desire to understand of a Child Whether the Heathen Gods begotten and born according to the course of Nature famous for their Lusts Adultery and other Debaucheries were to be worshipp'd or whether that Honor belong'd to the Savior To which end Asclepiades commanded a Child before him from amongst the Multitude asking him his Opinion concerning the Gods who gave him so excellent an Answer by rendring an Account of the whole Christian Faith that he being displeas'd thereat persecuted him with all imaginable Tortures After having most miserably whipp'd the poor Child he caus'd him to be Beheaded before his Mothers eyes Unusual death of a Christian Child Psal 116. v. 15. who sung whilst the Executioner prepar'd the Ax to perform the cruel Office the words of the Psalmist Precious in the sight of the Lord is the Death of his Saints The Japan Children died with more Holiness under the Hands of their Executioners if they had understood Gods Word in the Old and New Testament than the Waldensian Youths of which the Sorbonne Doctors at Paris gave Information to Lewis the Twelfth King of France That they had lately receiv'd no better Instructions concerning Religion than they had heard from the Waldensian Youths A strange way how the Japanners harden their Children to be constant in the Christian Belief Now the Japanners harden their Children against a cruel Death not with instructing them in the Gospel but by terrifying them with unusual Cruelties which Hazart witnesseth relating That Johannes Catouneme a Nobleman in the Kingdom of Deva had a Son aged seven years whom he daily instructed to be constant I will set down Hazart's own Words concerning it A little before Catouneme was taken Prisoner he said to his Son If it were so that you saw the Executioners coming would you suffer your self to be burnt alive or deny your Faith Whereupon the Child ask'd Father what would you do To which he reply'd I would suffer my self to be burn'd Whereon the Youth again made answer So will I too Then said his Father Come hither I am resolv'd to try if you will be so constant as you say Take and hold this Coal in your hand till I command you to throw it away The Child immediately opening his Hand the Father laid a glowing Coal in the same The Youth held it fast without shewing any concern thereat notwithstanding his Hand was burnt to the Bone yet he threw it not away till his Father gave order When they ask'd him If the Fire had not hurt him he made answer Any one that is ready to burn alive as I am must not make any scruple to hold a burning Coal in their Hand for so short a time as I have done And who can find more of the Aged Japanners Ignorance of the Japan-Christians in any Observation kept by the Jesuits themselves that they either said or did more whilst they were under the Executioners Hands than to hold a Crucifix and the Picture of the Virgin Mary repeating the usual Prayer Jesus Maria. Horrible Tortures with the boyling Waters of Singok ¶ BUt besides their burning them by degrees the Japanners us'd also the Waters of Singok that is to say Hell These Waters being Sulphureous and hot flow from the Foot of an exceeding steep Mountain with such force and noise that it strikes terror and amazement to the Beholder It rushes forth between the Rocks and sends its noysom and choaking Vapors up to the Sky Hither several of the Christians were brought from Arima and their naked Bodies wash'd over with this boyling Water and when notwithstanding the Torture they refus'd to deny their own Religion and embrace the Japan Idolatry they were carried bound to the top of the Mountain and thrown down from thence into the scalding Stream A Priest is a great help o the Japan-Christians in heir Sufferings In Nangesaque the Governor Kauwaytsdo since his return from Jedo proceeded unmercifully in his Persecutions especially against the Priests Amongst others that were condemn'd to the Fire was also a Japan Priest Thomas Soyse by whom was found a Catalogue of some thousands of Christians Which liv'd very privately about Nangesaque Ombra and Arima who not long after fell into great Miseries Kauwaytsdo himself stood amaz'd to see so great a number of them as would make no end of murdering and the Multitude which he was to condemn to death exceeded his Commission which he had from the Emperor So that he thought on a new way There were already according to the Catalogue found by Soyse a great number condemn'd amongst which were two ancient Persons which in the time of the former Emperors had been Governors of Nangesaque and in great esteem at Court for their Quality Riches and Nobility These Kauwaytsdo sent with a Train of eleven of his nearest Relations and Brothers-in-law to the Imperial Court at Jedo Cruel Persecution of them The remaining Numbers he drove out into the Mountains near Nangesaque and plac'd a Guard round about them that the Banish'd might neither come into the City Villages nor any Houses to beg for Provisions Neither would he suffer them to build themselves Huts nor make any other Shelter to keep them from the Heat of the Sun Rain or other Weather so that at last most of them perish'd for want Their Houses are nail'd up In Nangesaque their Windows and Doors were nail'd up so that they and their whole Families were starv'd to death if not reliev'd by their Neighbors which though it was straightly forbidden yet some found ways to give them Sustenance through private Holes None may employ them None durst imploy any Tradesman that was of the Christian Religion nor carry any one to Sea unless he became an Apostate and believ'd in the Japan Doctrine Many seeing themselves in that necessity Many Apostatize forsook their new-gotten Religion and embrac'd the old as also divers of those which were in the Mountains whose Bodies were miserably swoln by Heat Cold Rain Wind Trouble and Hunger and continually tormented by the Cries and Lamentations of their Wives and Children forsook at last the Doctrine Preach'd to them by the Christian Priests yet some remain'd constant their very last Forty two Japan Nobles are banish'd Soon after Kauwaytsdo took five Persons of Quality with their Wives and Children who being strangely preserv'd whilst their Lord Fideri the Lawful Heir of the Japan Crown was burnt as we have before declar'd had embrac'd the Catholique Religion which being known they were Shipp'd aboard a Portuguese Galley that sail'd for Macaw with a Proviso That they should immediately depart for Goa If the Portuguese did
dead Corps Of which the Greek and Latin Writers accuse the Lotophagi The strange Dealings and Cruelty of some People us'd to their dead Corps which threw their Dead without Chests or Coffins into the Sea judging it to be all one if they rotted in the Earth or whether they were consum'd by Fire or decay'd in the Water The Sabeans cast their deceased Friends nay their Kings dead Bodies on the Dunghils The Taxili Iberi and Brachmans gave departed Corps to the Crows and Ravens to eat This Custom also was observ'd by the Barchaei but onely to Valiant Men that were slain in the Wars Those that died a natural Death they burnt The Parthians gave the Flesh of the Dead to Dogs onely burning the Bones The Hyrcanians in their Life-time bred up great Mastiffs that when they died they might be eaten by them The Essedons brought their departed Friends Bodies out at their Doors where calling their nearest Relations together they cut the Corps asunder so mixing and boyling it amongst Sheeps Flesh they eat it as a Solemn Funeral Feast The Massagetes carbonado'd their Dead also and eat them The ancient Jeren accounted it Religious to feed upon the Flesh of their Deceas'd Friends Parents and Relations The Dervices slew all their Men and Women before their Altars when they came to seventy years of age The Hyperboreans made Feasts for their dead Bodies hanging Garlands about their Necks at last throwing them from the Rocks into the Sea On the Island Code those that attain'd to sixty years were forc'd to drink Poyson because their Provisions should not grow scarce The Caspians so soon as their Fathers and Mothers were seventy years old lock'd them into a Chamber or drove them to desolate and uninhabited Wildernesses that there they might die of Hunger Remarkable Ceremonies us'd about the burning of Beasts ¶ BUt although these People wanted Humanity acting such unnatural things with their Dead yet others have bestow'd vast Charges on their Funerals nay some have not stuck with prophaneness to erect Monuments for their Beasts of which Lacys was one who with great Ceremony Entomb'd a Goose that whilst it liv'd would not go from him Alexander the Great made a sumptuous Feast at the Death of his Horse Bucephalus The Emperor Angustus and after him Adrianus and Commodus built every one for their dead Horses a stately Marble Tomb. Cimon and Xantippus famous Generals amongst the Greeks Interr'd their Dogs with Funeral Ceremonies And nothing was more usual and common amongst the Egyptians than to take dead Cats Crowes and Cranes and having Salted and Imbalm'd them to wrap them in fine Linnen and in a Coffen Interre them Japan toomes or burning places Of Men. Yet far greater Cost was bestow'd on the Burying of Men. How famous is the Tomb which Artemisia erected for her deceas'd Husband Mausolus The Stones thereof were all Marble it contain'd in the Circumference four hundred and eleven Foot and five and twenty in Height surrounded by twenty six curiously ingraven Pillars The famous Architects Scopas Briar Timotheus and Leocares had scarce finish'd every one their Parts when Artemisia died after having burnt the Bones of her Husband to Powder and drank them up and spent all her Revenues on the before-mention'd Structure Who hath not heard of the famous Pyramids which were the Burying-places for the Kings of Egypt of which three are yet remaining The greatest is square and runs up sloaping yet on the top so broad that there may stand fifty Men The breadth from one corner to another at the bottom being three hundred twenty four Paces and rising aloft with two hundred and fifty Steps every Step five Foot high and each Foot nine Inches long At each of the four Corners is a low Descent to which none can go but stooping Peter Belloon relates That he found this Pyramid Anno 1548. built within after this manner Creeping through a narrow Passage with a Wax Candle in his Hand he came into an empty Room where turning on the left Hand they found a spacious Place to which a curious Gallery led the way The Gallery was pav'd with great Free-stones curiously polish'd without Steps so that he was forc'd to support himself by the Rails on both sides after which manner he ascended sixteen Paces at the end of which appear'd a handsom square Chamber in which stood a Chest of twelve Foot long five high and as many broad without a Cover hewn out of one entire piece of black Marble wherein the Egyptian King lay Interr'd that built this Pyramid Besides these he found several other Apartments and also a Well fill'd with Stones Moreover the Athenians made so much ado about the Burying of their Dead that they condemn'd ten Commanders because they neglected to do that Office to two departed Soldiers The Hebrews neglected not to bury their Enemies The famous Roman Orator Paulus accounts it Death for those that dig up dead Bodies out of the Ground Alexander the Great kept so magnificent a Funeral in Babylon for Hephestion that the Charges amounted to six hundred Tun of Gold Furthermore the Ancients bestow'd great Sums of Money on Pillars Images Coffins Imbalmings and other strange Ornaments with which they adorn'd the Burying-places every one according to his Capacity This ancient Custom is yet observ'd amongst the Japanners Japanners burn their Dead where the Bodies being burnt after the Roman manner they lay the Ashes under stately Tombs It is certain that the Romans have not always burnt their Dead for their ancient Law commanded Bury none in the City nor burn none Cornelius Sylla a Roman General was the first that order'd his Body to be burnt fearing some might out of revenge do to him what he had done to Marius whose Bones he digg'd up and threw into the River Anienis After that the Romans us'd only Funeral Pyres which Custom decay'd and became void in the Emperor Antoninus his Reign he commanding again That the Dead should be buried in great State and have costly Tombs erected over them Their remarkable and strange Ceremonies used about the Dead The Roman Pride in those Affairs the Japanners have taken an exact Pattern by for when a Person dies they set the Corps on a Bier with his Head bow'd forwards and his Hands folded together in a praying Posture clad in White over which hangs a Paper Coat pasted together whereon is written the Religion of that Idol whom the deceas'd honor'd and worshipp'd In this posture four Men carry it out of the City to the Fire then a great number of his Relations and Friends which attended the Corps stand round about the Fire and call a whole Hour together on the Name of the Idol whether Amida Xaca Canon or any other to whose Service in his Life-time the Departed was most devote whilst the Bonzies play making a horrible noise by striking on Copper Kettles and Basons The Pit wherein the Fire is made is square hung
round about with Mats and hath an Entrance that opens towards the four Winds The Pit it self fill'd full of Wood which is cover'd with a Sail. On both sides thereof stand Tables fill'd with Meats all dress'd in Blood and Vessels fill'd with Perfumes and next them lie great Heaps of Sweet-wood When the Bier with the Corps approaches they fasten a long Rope about it on which every one that can come near lays his Hand and call all together on the Name of the Deceased's Idol Thus they carry the Body three times about the Pyre on the Shoulders of four Men At last setting the Bier with the Corps on the Pile of Wood the chief Bonzie waves a lighted Torch three times over the dead Bodies Head which done he throws it away but it is taken up again by the nearest of the Deceaseds Relations of which one stands on the East and the other on the West side of the Bier Three times they give it from one to the other over the Corps then they set Fire on the Pile of Wood whilst others that stand next to them pour Oyl and Essences thereon so that the Flame suddenly ascends the Sky and consumes the dead Body to Ashes Mean while the Children and nearest Relations go to the Tables kindle the Vessels with Perfumes and shew Worship to him that is burnt Which done every one returns home onely the Common People that follow'd the Corps make themselves merry about the Fire with the Meat that stands on the two Tables by the Funeral Pit The next day the nearest Allies return again to the Fire and there gather the Ashes Teeth and Bones into a gilded Urn which carrying home they set in a private Chamber and cover with a rich Cloth Seven days together they mourn accompanied all the time with some of the Bonzies who receive great Rewards for the time they spend in such Services On the seventh day the gilded Urn is Interr'd without the City in the place where the Body was burnt which done they spare no Cost nor Charges in erecting a stately Monument Description of the Japan Burying-places First great Stones are laid over the gilded Urn sometimes three-square sometimes after an oval fashion and at other times with several Corners The Sides thereof are Ingraven with curious Imagery either a Lion-Rampant making towards a Japanner that holds his Swords in his Hand ready to resist him or of Armed Men deeply engag'd in a Battel or else of Flowers which are commonly the Graves of Women On these Stones are square or round Marble Pillars on which are ingraven in Japan Characters his Birth-day his Life Imployment and other Atchievements and the time of his Death whose Bones lye there Interr'd Next these Graves are to be seen the Representation of the Idol worshipp'd by the Deceas'd which are generally cut to the life out of Marble Then are there Men and Womens Pictures sitting after the Japan manner with their Legs across under them every one dress'd in fashionable Apparel the Men holding their Hands together in a praying posture The Women on the contrary hold theirs asunder and look side-ways over their Shoulders Description of Siquani the deceas'd Childrens Idol ¶ MOreover you do not onely meet with very costly Tombs in Japan but also large Temples dedicated to their Gods that rule over the Dead Not far from Osacca is a stately Temple where the Idols Jene and Siquani are worshipp'd by all Mourners This Idol Sequani sits on a round Pedestal cover'd with a Scollopp'd Cushion adjoyning to which a silver Parrot appears on a Pearch The Face of the Image represents a Youths the Hair of the Head ty'd behind with a String of Pearls one Lock being curl'd standing upright His four Arms are cover'd with wide Sleeves full of sparkling Stars About his right Arm a Serpent is twisted whose Head he holds aloft in his Hand From the Elbow of this Arm grows another which embracing a young Child squeezes it against his Breast In his left Hand he holds a Scymiter in a ready posture to fight Half from the left Arm appears a second with the Hand downwards holding a round String with Beads The Child looks stedfastly towards the Sword with his Hands folded together and with his Legs across under him sits on Siquanies wide Breeches But the Idol Jene is held in great Adoration by the tenth Sect of the Bonzie He sits in State on a High Altar which is curious to behold for at every corner stands a square Pillar a little distance from the Altar and is joyn'd Arch-wise to the uppermost Ledge thereof which is engraven with Stars and other Curiosities and the Spaces betwixt full of Japan Characters On every corner of the Altar stands a flat Dish onely behind the Idol towards the right side stands a deep Platter in which Perfumes are continually burnt The Plates serve to hold the Money which the People offer In the middle Jene sits on a round Scollop'd Cushion being represented with four Bearded Faces the Heads whereof are all joyn'd together behind He wears a Golden Crown with seven Spires on whose tops are round Balls full of Diamonds On his Breast hangs a double String of Pearls and at the end thereof a Rose of Diamonds His left Arm he holds aloft and his folded Hand grasps a Staff which he sticks into a Sun From this Arm hangs a second downwards in the Hand holding a pleited Garland In the uppermost right Hand is a Japan Plant but that which points downwards thrusts a Golden Staff into the Smoke over the Perfuming Vessel Idol Jene rules over ancient deceas'd People This their Idol as they say rewards Good and Bad after Death To him are the Souls of aged and married People committed Wherefore those that mourn for their Fathers Mothers Wives Husbands or any other near Relations come in great numbers to this Temple to offer for the Departed Souls on Jene's Altar Jene's Temple Moreover this Temple is always kept lock'd for the Image stands in an open place under the azure Canopy of Heaven between the Temple and the Bonzies Habitation which look after the performance of their Divine Service to Jene Before the Temple is a square Portal on whose Roof at each end rise two Spires of an exceeding height On one side lies the Temple-Grove which with pleasant and shady Trees takes up a great deal of Ground Moreover though the Lacedemonians according to the Laws of Lycurgus buried their Dead in the City and near the Churches yet it was forbidden by other Grecians In a Field not far from Athens was the Burying-place of the Athenians full of Posts and Pillars on which the Names of the Deceased were Ingraven In the time of the Consul Cnejus Duillius the Romans made a Law by which every one was commanded to bury their Dead either near the Flaminian or Latin way or elfe in his own ground near Rome Nay the Emperor Adrianus order'd That
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
Stones about his Neck Middle and Legs and then to the Honor of Canon jumps into the Sea before the Haven of Saccai after having sat two days before speaking with the Idol in the Portal of his Temple This Self-Murther is not always done out of pretended Zeal but sometimes because they are weary of Life by reason of their Poverty or incurable Sores or Distempers On this Island Pyenes of which the middle is seen at a great distance by reason of two high Hills is a great Temple Dedicated to Canon built of Stone on the hanging of the Mountains and no ways inferior to that belonging to the same Idol in Osacca Moreover round about the Island lie several handsome Sioens and other small Vessels for the purpose aforesaid Opposite to Pyenes appears a Water-Castle built on a Promontory being the Foot of a steep Hill which lies at one end of Saccai This is a most Artificial and stately Building a large Tower of two Stories high and flat on the top standing in the middle of strong square Walls towards the Mountain two great Paths direct the way at the end of which is another Square Tower the top cover'd with a broad Roof that jets over the sides By this Water-Castle no Ships must pass before they pay Custom to the City Haven of Saccai Behind this Fort the Sea makes a Bay before the City and Washes over against the Water-Castle the Foot of a Rock near which others are of an incredible height Walls Moreover the Haven comes just before the Wall of the City that consists of Free-Stone rais'd out of a deep Moat full of Water except where it rises up against the Mountain for Saccai being built on the hanging of a great Hill the Moat is dry half way and although the Wall by its strength and height is a sufficient Defence of its self yet it is Fortifi'd by the two Castles that Crown the top of the Mountain Not far from the Walls that face the Water-Castle is the stately Palace inhabited by the Vice-Roy of Saccai which having an exceeding high Turret in the middle of it is seen at a great distance Saccai is built of Stone All the Buildings both within and without Saccai are of Stone which the Neighboring Rocks afford them in plentiful manner This City is kept in such good order Strange Orders observ'd there that neither Robberies Dissentions or Quarrels at any time disturb the Inhabitants and if any Disturbance hapneth each Street Locks up their Gates and the causer of it taken by an Officer is carry'd before a Magistrate where he is sure to be severely punish'd yet notwithstanding this strict Order in the City every one hath liberty to decide his Quarrel with a drawn Scymiter a Stones cast from the Wall The great Temple of Saccai full of all manner of Images ¶ BUt above all things in Saccai is most remarkable the Temple which exceeds all others in Japan both in costliness and bigness Dedicated to the strange Gods of Aracan Pegu Cambodia Tayovan Couchichina Borneo Philippines Corea China Siam and one terible Idol borrow'd from the Salvage Inhabitants of Jesso Such a Temple of all sorts of Images stood formerly in Rome which being call'd Pantheon was Built by Agrippa the Emperor Augustus Son-in-Law to this day the Foundation of that Temple which Pope Boniface the third about the year six hundred and seven being impower'd by the Emperor Phocas Consecrated to the Virgin Mary and the Apostles is to be seen Temple Maria Rotunda and call'd Santa Maria Rotonda and is held as the experienc'd Artichect Sebastian Serlius relates for the handsomest Building to be found any where and serves as a Pattern to raise other Edifices by notwithstanding there is not the least glance of its first Beauty remaining for being Burnt in Titus Vespasian's time it was Re-built by Domitian and afterwards set on Fire by Lightning in Trajan's Reign and Erected again by the Emperor Adrian the Roof was cover'd with Silver Tiles Gilded which the Emperor Constantine's Son took off and carry'd with him to Sicily where they fell into the Hands of the Saracens that carry'd them to Egypt In this Pantheon stood the Gods Jupiter Mars and Venus and besides other Idol-Images those of Augustus and Agrippa Temples with divers gods where in former tunes Pausanias the Greek Historiographer relates That in Athens and in other places of Greece also stood a general Temple for all manner of Gods The same is found by Zozomenus the Ecclesiastical Writer who relates That in the Village Bethelia where he was born was a very ancient Temple built on a Hill that look'd over all the Village and being Dedicated to all manner of Deities was call'd Bethelia agreeing with the Greek word Pantheon both signifying A Temple of divers Gods Strange Image of a Queen in Saccai borrow'd of Siammers ¶ BUt besides the other several Images in the famous Temple of Saccai the Queens Image of melted Jems which they had from the Siammers deserves no small admiration and will be worth our labour to search after the Original thereof When the Queen to the King of Siam dies A remarkable Funeral of the Queen of Siam her body is kept a whole year wanting six days notwithstanding it stink and putrifie before they lay it into the ground Then the time being come to Burn the Corps in the Market-place they place a most Artificial and Royal Throne about three hundred Foot high whose inside consists of exceeding thick and long Poles pleited about with Rushes but without surrounded with Mats and cloven Reeds curiously Painted and Gilt the whole Edifice shewing like one entire Piece Round about this Throne stand several Turrets each about a hundred and twenty Foot high with a Gallery leading from one to the other Just before the Throne is a Tower three times higher than the other saving four Portals resting within on great Pillars curiously Engraven with Fruitage and stand in order like our Church-Pillars after which manner also they stand within the Throne on whose Pillars lies a Roof six Fathom from the Ground under which about the middle of the Square inner-part stands a very splendid Ascent twelve Foot high not onely adorn'd with Gilt Imagery but also beautifi'd with green Glass on this the Corps is burnt This Edifice stands about six Musquet Shot from the Palace between both a Way is made of Rushes Pleited and Painted Red which keeps off the Multitudes which flock to see the Funeral in incredible numbers Along this Fence stand little Huts the Roofs of which rest on four Turn'd Pillars the sides separated by Gilded Silk Curtains within lie Iron Pots Rice and yellow Cloth for Priests Before the Corps come forth their Players Act publickly in the Market-place whilst several heavy Golden Balls some great and some little are brought thither The Street between the Palace and the Funeral Pire is full of Sledges that stand in two
two days and two nights with the Corps where sitting round about the Altar they may not during that time stir a foot from thence but must cry continually without ceasing to which every one uses her utmost endeavor thereby to express her exceeding forrow for if otherwise they forget this Ceremony they are immediately without regard of their Quality miserably beaten with short thick Cords by Women order'd by the King for that purpose On one side at some distance from the five Towers stood a brave Scaffold cover'd with thick gilded and oyl'd Paper on which the chief Priests of Siam sat Praying for the Deceased sometimes ceasing they gave Alms amongst the common People as abundance of Clothes Pots Pans Beds and other Houshold-stuff and also Carpenters Tools Axes Saws Augers and the like But besides this prime Scaffold there were several less for the ordinary Priests whose numbers amounted to above a thousand which were also employ'd either in Praying or distributing of Alms amongst the People In a spacious Place round about the five Towers stood twenty more out of which after Sun-set for fourteen days together rare and artificial Fire-works were shown The King burns his Daughters Corps The five and twentieth of February the whole Train that attended the Funeral two days before appear'd again in a far more splendid manner The King himself being present Rode on a young Elephant to the Altar on which the Corps stood where dismounting he set fire on it with a lighted Toâ—ch which suddenly grew to that heighth that the Flame took hold of all the five Towers and burnt not onely his Royal Daughters dead Body but all those Riches with which she sat in the Gold Chest when after some hours the heat gone and the Place grown cool he caus'd a search to be made amongst the Coals for the Bones Strange wonder of a piece of Bloody Flesh Ashes and melted Gold himself holding a Golden Urn in his Hand and receiving the gather'd Bones into it when a piece of raw Flesh all bloody which the Fire had not consum'd was found at which the King being exceedingly amaz'd ask'd his Council Oja Sabartiban which stood next to him and help'd him to gather the Reliques that were left what he thought concerning it Sabartiban answer'd Most mighty Lord your great understanding easily apprehends the meaning the business being so very apparent The King struck with a consternation ran immediately like a distracted Person to his Palace saying Now I see it plainly what I so long doubted namely that my Daughter was poyson'd Wherefore he suddenly seised on all the Women not excepting any that ever Serv'd the Princess in her Life-time and committed them all to safe Custody nay he took all those in his whole Dominions that at any time convers'd with her The eight and twentieth of February he began his scrutiny three hundred Ladies of Honor and other great Persons of Quality which had ever been in Company with the King's Daughter whilst she was living were driven through a huge Fire that according to the Siam Law they might be try'd if they were guilty or not which they knew by the Flames hurting or preserving them This Trial was perform'd not without great Charms and Incantations yet all of them passing safe through the Fire without receiving the least hurt were again set at liberty Mean while there was great suspicion that the youngest Daughter to the former King for the present King had in a Rebellion bereav'd his Predecessor both of his Life and Crown might have committed the Fact because being this King's Concubine she had sometime shew'd her self very much dissatisfi'd because he shew'd such exceeding kindness and great respects to his eldest Daughter and regarded not hers who also acknowledg'd him for her Father and indeed the suspicion grew the greater when the King was inform'd that this his Concubine was observ'd to laugh whilst every one present at the Funeral bewail'd the death of the Deceased For this jealousie the Princess with a great Train of her Ladies of Honor was forc'd also to go through the Fire all of them passing through without being hurt except the Princess who was very much burnt on both her Feet therefore she was immediately loaden with Silver Fetters and committed to a Prison where none were suffer'd to speak with her On the second of March she had publick Audience before all the Mandarins or Lords where whether out of fear of exquisite tortures or terrifi'd with the King's anger she freely said If the King will promise upon Oath that he will immediately Execute me and keep me no longer alive to be a scorn and derision to the World there will need but little trouble to find out the mystery of his Daughters death The Mandarins which remembred the former Condition and State of this Princess when her Father was King of Siam were no less amaz'd at her noble courage than inwardly prick'd with compassion to find out a means for her Deliverance but the fear they had of the present King quenched all such motions They reported that which she had said to his Majesty who immediately promis'd upon Oath that the Princess after real confession should not live an hour to be despis'd by the World Upon which she confessed That not without help of her Nurse she had prepar'd a Poyson which was so Charm'd that one piece of his or her Flesh that took it should not be consum'd by Fire whene're the so poyson'd should be burnt This Compound by a mistake the King's Daughter greedily swallow'd which thus prepar'd was intended for her Father that the death of so bloody a Tyrant who like a Villain treacherously took the Scepter out of my Fathers Hand that was lawful King of Siam and oppress'd the true Royal Family might satisfie my Revenge for my Fathers Death and to deliver those of Royal Blood from insupportable slavery No sooner was this Relation of hers carry'd to the King but he caused a great piece of Flesh to be cut out of the Princesses Side which he forc'd her with great threatnings to eat up and whilst she was swallowing the last Bit some of his Executioners appointed for that purpose fell upon her with drawn Swords and left not off till they had chopp'd her into a thousand pieces which they afterwards threw into the River Judia Not long after the Princesses Brother Son to the depos'd King of Siam was also Executed he being in the former Insurrection spar'd alive because he was suppos'd to be frantick but at his Death appear'd the contrary he also subtily contriving with his Sisters to destroy the King and make himself Master of the Crown and had not the Business been untimely betray'd he had no small hopes to repossess his Fathers lost Kingdoms Strange Image in Siam When the fore-mention'd Funeral Ceremonies were ended the King caus'd an Image to be made on which he bestow'd not onely all the melted Gold in the middle
it fell not out so well with a drunken Sea-man belonging to the Graveland who took oft the Emperors Straw Seal with which the Hatches were seal'd when on the Morning the Interpreters coming aboard with the Workmen that brought the Balast which consists of little Chests full of Copper weighing a hundred and fifty pound weight observ'd that the Emperors Arms were torn from one of the Hatches They immediately made it known to the Bonjoises which continually sit on the Prow of the Ship upon a costly Carpet The Bonjoises seal'd the Hatch again and immediately inform'd the Governors who instantly sent twenty of the Emperors Soldiers aboard to demand the Man which had so presumptuously spoil'd the Emperors Arms or else they would carry all the whole Ships Crew to Prison Whereupon he that was guilty discovering himself was carried ashore before the Magistrates who cutting him in at the left Shoulder made their Sword come out under his right Arm. How the Japanners cut their Servants in the middle ¶ In this bloody Office they use no Executioners but every one that buys a new Hanger tries it either by cutting a Man Woman or Child through with both his Hands This kind of Exercise happens often and chiefly when any Christians stand condemned for they take them and hang them up by the Feet on a Gibbet with their Heads downwards into a Well in which they cut several Holes that the Blood may so drop out by degrees Near the Gibbet on one side burns a continual Fire on the other side waves a white Pennon taken in every Evening and put forth in the day-time till the Malefactor be dead and burnt But the nearest Relation to the so tormented Christian as also three of his Neighbors die without sparing either Wives or Children by the foremention'd way of cutting them in at the left Shoulder so bringing their Sword out under the right Arm. Chinese Merchant cannot sell their Goods ¶ AFter this the Chineses in Coxenga's Name complain'd again about the taken Jonk which was call away before Tayovan but were order'd to go to Batavia to seek for redress there Upon which they gave out That if they should come in Batavia they should be murder'd which Report of theirs was but little regarded And they had not much better Success with their raw white Silk of which they sold not one pound at Nangesaque whereas on the contrary the East-India Company exchang'd al their Tonquean and Bengala Silk for good Silver the Japan Merchants having agreed to bestow all their Moneys on the Hollanders before they bought any thing of the Chineses Mean while they finding nothing to do were necessitated to depart from thence with their Merchandize not without great damage and should they but one or two Years more meet with such a bad Market it would without all peradventure weaken and dishearten their great Navigation and hinder them from sending yearly fifty loaden Jonks to Japan to the great prejudice of the East-India Company who in many things are forc'd to give way to the Chineses ¶ WHilst Wagenaer was preparing for his Voyage to Batavia he receiv'd twenty one thousand seven hundred and sixty pieces of the best white Porcelan A Month before the delivery of them another Person had brought a considerable Parcel of Porcelan to sell on the Island Disma but because they were too full of Flowers most of them stuck on his Hands The Japanners have some few years been more eager in making of Porcelan than heretofore Japanners make great store of Porcelan so that not onely the Hollanders but also the Chineses vend a great deal thereof The best place for this Commodity is the Lordship Fesen of the Earth of which place they make it being finer and whiter than elsewhere The Japanners grow every Year more and more experienc'd in this Art so that they make their Porcelan better and better Wagenaer contriv'd a small Flower to be made on a blue Ground but was exceedingly amaz'd when not long after he saw all the Shops full of them But whereas Fesen produces the best Porcelan in Japan so in China the Village Sinktesimo It is worthy our observation That the Earth which is not unlike fine Sand of which they bake their Porcelan is digg'd up near the Metropolis Hoeicheu lying in the Territory of Nankin where they onely knead it into Balls or Pellets How it is made which seal'd with the Emperors Arms are sold at a certain price and sent to Sinktesimo for this Village onely by a hidden Power or Operation in the Waters there makes the best Porcelan Those that bake are Rustical Clowns brought up to that Trade from their Infancy They prepare the Earth two several ways Sometimes they work it so soon as it comes from Hoeichen after the same manner as our European Potters prepare their Clay for their Pots and Pans At other times they let it lye so long till it is grown as hard as a Stone which they afterwards stamp to Powder sift it through a very fine Sieve then mixing it with Water knead it into Balls and at last press it into a Wooden Frame according to what fashion they please Then they are first dry'd in the Wind and put into an Oven which fifteen days together is continually hot and afterwards kept close as many days more that so they may cool by degrees or else they would break all to pieces After thirty days the Oven is open'd in the presence of one of the Emperors Officers who narrowly looks on every Piece thereof and according to the Laws of the Countrey takes away every fifth Piece of Porcelan to the Emperors use The rest the Potters at Sinktesimo sell to the Inhabitants of Uciengen a Village lying at the Lake Poyang on the left hand Shore of the River Can. The Place is above two Miles long rich for Traffick and replenish'd with handsom Buildings every Year so full with those that Trade in Porcelan that one can scarce pass the Throng The River lyes generally full of Barques wherein they load and so transport it over all the World From hence appears the old mistake of their Opinion in Europe believing Great mistake That the Stuff of which they made the Porcelan was the Powder of Sea-Cockles or Egg-shells or else of Earth which their Fore-fathers prepar'd and kept it a hundred Years after under Ground so their Succeffors valu'd it according to its Age. How the Japanners carry the Dutch Ships out of their Haven ¶ WAgenaer setting sail in the Ship Hilversom for Batavia so soon as ever his Guns were brought aboard and the Rudder hung was forc'd to be gone notwithstanding a great part of his Goods lay upon the Deck The Japanners hold it for an ancient Law That as soon as ever the Hollanders Ammunition is brought aboard whether in the Night or Day contrary or fair Winds they must go to Sea but if by reason of contrary
the usual Prizes for Diet and Lodging and Ware-house room but he desir'd that he would please to lend him a thousand Taile upon Interest to build and furnish his House again his Habitation being thrice Burnt down in four Year But Indiik deny'd his Request pretending that his Journey because of the scarcity of Provisions would amount to a great deal of Money so that he knew not whether he should have enough for himself but yet to obliege him he presented him with three Pieces of Perpetuanaes which were spoiled in the Dye Departs from Jods Indiik after having been Nobly Entertain'd left Jedo on the fifteenth of April accompany'd by his Landlord to Cawasacca after which he Lodg'd at Toska Odauro Missima Kaneya and Fannama where he Ferry'd over a Bay of the Southern Ocean to Arei then Lodg'd in the Village Accosacci and Miaco in which City the Hollanders were very nobly Entertain'd in a new Inn Comes to Miaco here he staid till midnight the Water being so low that he could not Ferry over Mean while the Goods and Horses were Ship'd Aboard two hours before day Indiik came to Quana and the five and twentieth of April to Miaco Description of the Fiery Mountain Siurpurama ¶ HE left eight Leagues beyond this City near the great Lake the famous Burning Mountain Siurpurama afterwards Inspected by the Holland Ambassador Seldere This Mountain is of an excessive height Vomits forth Smoke and Flames The Smoke alters its course according as the Wind blows and beats down sometimes in such a manner that it not onely makes the adjacent Countreys at Noon-day seem'd Clouded with Night but also Smothers Men and Beasts Next this Mountain is another but not so high three Sulphurous Streams come flowing from them which sometimes over-flowing rushes into the Vallies making a great Smother and noise which also filling seek their course another way often warning down great Pieces of Rocks and Stones All these three Streams running down on the Champain spreads it self a Mile and a half in length but much more in breath The Countrey round about the Mountains is so excessive hot that none can stand long there but it will burn their Feet Description of the Sulphur of which Gold Silver and other Mettals are made ¶ THis Sulphur taken for a fat yet fine Matter made in the under Grounds producing with mixt Quicksilver Copper Silver Gold and other Mettals The chiefest Philosophers affirm That there are two sorts of these Vapors that lie hid under ground the one being dry and more Earthy than Watery the Earthy Vapors afford Materials for Free-Stone and the other of Sulphur and Quicksilver being mixt both together make Silver Gold and all manner of Mettals Moreover let it not seem strange to any that those Vomitings of the Mountains often send forth firm Bodies as Stones and pieces of Rocks because those kind of Vapors are very thick and often Smother the Miners or if they escape with Life are afterwards troubled with extreme Sickness These Vapors also are sometimes Waterish and mixt with Earth for if they were all Water they could not melt and if all Earth they could not cleave and stick so hard together This Sulphur is the Food of that Fire which burns on the top of Siurpurama and it Represents an undeniable testimony of Fire under the Ground by which the Earth is warm'd as much underneath as the Sun by its Beams heats it on the top Blefken's Voyage to Island ¶ But besides Siurpurama are reckon'd amongst the Burning Mountains Hecla in Island Burning Mountain Hecla an Eye-witness Dithmar Blefken describes Hecla thus On the North of Island lies Hecla by the Sea-shore and Vomits up sometimes besides terrible Flames blackish Water and Flint-Stones Anno 1568. the twenty ninth of October this Mountain gave such a terrible blow that it made the whole Countrey of Island shake at which every one expected utter Ruine the noise ratling in the Air as if a thousand Pieces of Canon had gone off the Flames seem'd to Fire the Skie the Ground trembled and the Smoke so darken'd the Island that sometimes they were not able to distinguish one thing from another sometimes the Flames chang'd the darkness into light The boyling Sulphurous Waters flowing above six Leagues space over the Countrey Burning Mountain on Ternata ¶ No less terrible was the breaking forth of a Mountain on Ternata A Fleet under the Command of Paul van Caerden coming to an Anchor there saw the Fire as it were burning above the Clouds after which follow'd a great Smoke that turn'd it self round in the Air. The first Ships that Sail'd from Holland Near Panarucan under the Command of John Johnson Miller and Cornelius Houtman were not a little afraid when they came near the City Panarucan because of a Mountain that sent forth dreadful Flames and made great Claps like Thunder America according to Joseph de Acosta hath several Burning Mountains Arequipa particularly one call'd Arequipa very Sandy and two days Journey high In Mexico near the Village de Los Angelos lyes another Los Angelis whose Foot carries thirty Leagues in Circumference and from an unmeasurable high top both at Sun-rising and setting casts out abundance of Ashes and Smoke which last rising upright spreads it self in the Air like a Plume of Feathers till at last it vanishes after which appears a thick black Cloud Some Leagues distant lyes another call'd Tlaxcala Tlaxcala Hist Nat. b. 3. l. 24. on which are continually Lightnings seen and Thunders heard But the Mountain Guatimala exceeds them all Guatimala whose spiring top shooting up to the Clouds is seen a great distance off in the South-Sea The three and twentieth of December Anno 1586. it vomited forth whole Rivers of Fire and burning Matter which afterwards descending was found to be nothing but Ashes and burning Stones and thus it continu'd six Months Mean while the Earth also was so shaken that it turn'd the City Guatimala topsie-turvey and buried in its Ruines thousands of People About the same time De Los Râ—yes the Mountain near de Los Reyes threw up so much Ashes that flying about the Countrey it turn'd the Day into Night insomuch that for several Miles none could go out of their Houses Acosta relates Ignorance of a Spanish Priest That a Spanish Priest thought to get Gold out of one of the Burning Mountains in America for which purpose he caus'd Iron Pots and Kettles to be made to catch the several Matters that came flowing from it but they no sooner touch'd the Flame but they melted In Sicily the Mountain Aetna now call'd Mongibelle hath been famous Aetna lying on a Promontory near the Mid-land Sea An Eye-witness Thomas Fazellus describes it thus AEtna says he hath on the South and West sides of it great inhabited Villages planted with extraordinary good Grapes and all manner of other Fruit-Trees The Ground pav'd with
bathe require This Mystery of Nature is grounded on the Earthy Fire by which the Waters being heated in deep Pits spring upwards like a Fountain But some Rivers have several Avenues and narrow Passages under the Earth and so often lose their heat before they come to the top when as others detain their warmth because they flow through wide Channels nearer the Subterranean Fire from whence they rise up directly It therefore happens though very seldom that two Fountains of which one produces warm the other cold Water occasion'd by the foremention'd Reason flow in one Channel because each by its swift Course detains its own Property And so it is with the Brook that in Orismo affords Water for the Bath Baths very ancient and several It appears that the Japanners make use of the Profit which Nature bestows on these Waters according to the Custom of several other People after divers ways For though Bathing was customary in former Ages yet every Countrey observ'd a several way therein The ancient Biscayners took not Water but stinking Piss with which they wash'd their Gums and naked Body The Scythians us'd Women which pour'd Water on Mens Bodies and after painted them with red Stones The Dardanians and Illyrians permitted a Man to Bathe but thrice in his Life-time viz. at his Birth Marriage and Death The ancient Germans made use of a River in which they swam every day though sometimes they went before Meals into a Bath which was formerly observ'd by the Romans as at this day by the Turks Two remarkable Wonders in the Bath at Orismo It will not be amiss to make some inquiry why any one that before he bathes himself makes warm but having bathed it comes cold from him which happens because the Body before bathing is cold but warm'd by bathing makes the Urine cold It is also a strange Mystery that those that when they go to bathe are no ways thirsty by bathing become exceeding dry and on the contrary those that are desirous to drink when they go in shall have no mind at all to it when they come out The Reasons whereof may proceed hence viz. Thirst is occasion'd by Drought wherefore those that begin to bathe when adry the Body draws through the Pores by the inward force of the Vital Spirits the thinnest Moisture by which the Drought is quenched But those that do not go thirsty into the Bath force out their Drink by sweating so that the Body within becomes dry and occasions Thirst The Romans at first had dark and pittiful Baths but when by their Power they had made great Conquests they became Teachers of all Magnificence which amongst other things they express'd in their Baths the erecting and ordering of which Riches of the Baths amaz'd the Eyes of the Beholders A Roman says Seneca thought himself very poor if the Walls of his Bath were not made of Alexandrian Marble and adorn'd with Numidian Ledges a Thesian Stone inclos'd the Water the Floor consisted of pure Silver imboss'd with Pearls and Diamonds and the Edifice rested on stately Pillars being hung round with Pictures drawn by the Hand of the most excellent Masters Moreover they were attended by Barbers Chyrurgeons Men to rub them and help them out and in some to keep their Clothes and other Servants ¶ GReat delight the Holland Ambassador took in this strange Bath at Orismo But at length going forward in his Journey he was nobly entertain'd in the Provinces of Facata and Figen the Lords of which Countreys provided Horses and Men for him causing all the Streets of the Cities through which he pass'd to be clean swept against his coming The Governor of Oenewarimet rode out of the City to meet and fetch in the Ambassador in this order In the first Rank march'd five Japan Soldiers which the Governor follow'd on Horse-back holding a Standard in his Hand behind him came the Emperors Overseer and Warden one after the other under two Umbrelloes made fast on long Sticks each carried by three Men These were follow'd by three Chariots guarded on both sides with Japan Horse and Foot in the middlemost whereof the Holland Ambassador was carried De Stadt OUNEWARI CASTEEL The Citty Ounewari with the Castle Indiik arrives at Nangesaque ¶ THe sixteenth of May Indiik came safe to Nangesaque and found the Servants of the East-India Company on the Island Disma in good health Soon after the Watch on the Nomoan Hills told the Governor of Nangesaque that they descry'd two Sails not far from the Shore Whereupon Indiik having leave to send some small Vessels to discover the Ships sent Ernest Hoogenhoek with three Sloops who saw that it was the Frigat Graveland and the Fly boat call'd the Vinke which were Steering for Nangesaque They brought a Letter with them written the eighteenth of May 1661 in the Fort Zelandia sign'd by Frederick Cojet John Oetjens of Waveren Thomas of Ypre and David Harthouwen The Contents these A Letter from Cojet concerning Coxenga's Onâ—et upon Formosa Coxenga coming with three hundred Sail extraordinarily Mann'd through the Lakjemonian Straights Landed in Formosa the thirteenth of April and instantly made himself Master of the whole Island The Fort Provincia yielded upon the first Assault of the Chineses The Hollanders that liv'd up and down Formosa are all cruelly murder'd The City near the Castle Zealandia lies in Ashes in several places but plunder'd in all The Fort Zelandia was closely besieg'd From the Hector Frigat which engag'd with several Jonks and was blown up by her own Powder none were sav'd The Ships Graveland and Mary found themselves unable to engage with Coxenga's Fleet wherefore they fled from them The Ships de Vink and Immenhorne come hither from Kelang if they should want Provisions or by their Enemies be forc'd to put to Sea again they shall come to Japan to fetch all things that you can send to our Assistance with Provisions as Rice Meal and Japan Wine for our Store in the Castle begins to grow very scarce Indiik immediately made this sorrowful News known by an Interpreter to the Governor of Nangesaque whilst the Ships Graveland and the Vink came to an Anchor before Disma The Governor desir'd to have the whole Business of Formosa in Writing And that he might have a true Account thereof Indiik order'd that the Merchant Nicholas Loenius the Minister Mark Massius and the Captain of the Graveland should come ashore and relate the whole Circumstance Chineses Storm the Fort Zelandia Indiik understood moreover That Coxenga fired day and night from a Platform with twelve Demiculverins against the Fort Zelandia and that already Waveren's House was shot down and a great Breach made in the Wall yet the Besieg'd remain'd not in his debt for Cojet sallying out with a Select Party made himself Master of the Platform and the twelve Guns two of which he carried into the Castle and the rest he made useless and that
after the Storm blowing afresh they were not able to carry out the least Sail till the Gusts were more favorable mean while the Ship being so miserably toss'd sprung a Leak so that they could scarce keep her free with Pumping sometimes a Sea beat over her in such a manner that the Water could scarce find ways to run out again seeming as if it would sink immediately With these inconveniences came far greater for towards the Evening a Sea wash'd away one of the Galleries and soon after another the Head so loosning the Boltsprit yet they had not been in such great danger had not the Ship rowl'd so extremely and the Seas follow'd one another so suddenly they judg'd it convenient to hale up their Mizin and Sail before the Wind the second Watch they discover'd Land but the Ship in the dark was got within Musquet-shot of the Shore before they could see it the steep Shore suffer'd the Ship to run against a Rock which with three blows broke it into a thousand pieces and of sixty four Men escap'd onely thirty six most of which were miserably wounded by the sharp Rocks those that lay in their Cabbins being tir'd with watching died all amongst those that were sav'd was the Captain Reinier Egbertson of Amsterdam From the Wreck they sav'd one Barrel of Flower one Barrel of Salt-Beef some Pork and a Rundlet of Tent which prov'd very happily for the wounded Moreover they gather'd up as many Pieces of the Ship as would make them a Booth to defend them from the Weather for they knew not in what Countrey they were how call'd or whether inhabited or not because the Skie being Clouded for several days they could take no observation On the second day after they suffer'd Shipwrack they saw a Man whom they beckning to come to them ran away soon after came three other of which one carry'd a Musquet the other two Bows and Arrows which also fled from them but one of the Sea-men running after them unarm'd got some Fire which they wanted extremely Against the Evening their Tent or Booth was surrounded with above a hundred Men wearing Hats made of Horse-hair The next day came a small Army being about two thousand Foot and Horse while the Hollanders were making of a bigger Tent. The Commander of them fetch'd the Book-keeper Henry Haemel with the Pilot Quartermaster Strange usage by the Coreans of thirty six Shiâ—wracked Hollanders and a Boy out of the Booth which were all four thrown down on the Earth before the General at which the whole Army made a kind of strange noise The Hollanders that remain'd in the Tent believ'd certainly that their Companions were put to a miserable death but they us'd them not so cruelly for the Coreans onely put an Iron Chain about their Necks to which a great Bell was made fast under their Chin. Then some of the Officers went into the Booth and had a great deal of Discourse which the Hollanders understood not but they signifi'd to them that they intended to go to Japan but suffering Shipwrack they were come ashore there to save themselves The Chineses look'd upon those Goods which they had sav'd and finding onely a little Meal Salt-Beef and Pork they brought some Rice boyl'd in Water which was a great refreshment Not long continu'd their joy that they were not in a barren Countrey for whilst they were eating a great many of the Soldiers came running towards their Tent every one holding a Rope in his hand which made the Hollanders think that they should be bound and kill'd but this fear soon vanish'd when the Coreans ran with all speed towards the Wreck every one laboring to hale the Wood ashore which burning they carry'd the Iron away In the interim the Pilot taking an observation found that it was Quelpaerds-Island where they had lost their Ship and were in thirty three Degrees and thirty two Minutes Latitude Moreover the Coreans still busied themselves in haling ashore the Pieces of the Wreck and burning it for the Iron and lastly they set the whole Wreck on Fire which might have cost them dear for two Brass-Guns deeply loaden went off but it so hapned that the Muzzles of them lay towards the Sea this Blow struck such a fear amongst them that every one fled and coming to the Hollanders desir'd to know of them if it would do the like again but they informing that there were no more Guns that were Charged in the Ship they went on with their work Moreover the Hollanders visited the Governor of Quelpaerds-Isle and presented him with a Bottle of Tent which pleas'd him so well that he became very kind to them sending them boyl'd Rice twice a day and bid them come and see the punishment which would be inflicted on those that had robb'd the wreck'd Vessel The Iron they had stole was tied to their Backs and they themselves laid upon the Ground receiv'd several Drubbings on the Balls of their Feet with a Stick about a Fathom long and as thick as an ordinary Boy 's Arm so beating them unmercifully Their Journey through Quelpaerds-Island After this was over the Hollanders had order to be gone with all their things so travelling with a Guard of Foot and Horse they went that day four Leagues and Lodg'd in a small Town call'd Tadjunch in an old Store-house from thence they went to the City Moggan where the Governor of Quelpaerds keeps his Court here on a great Market place three thousand Armed Men were drawn up in Battel aray The Governor caus'd Henry Hamell with the Pilot and Quartermaster to come to him and ask'd them where they were going at which Hamel cry'd several times Japan and Nangesaque at which the Governor nodding his Head seem'd to understand it The remaining Hollanders were also carry'd four and four to the Governor Examin'd and Lodg'd in a House in which as they afterwards understood the Kings Uncle had a long time been kept Prisoner and at last died there because he endeavor'd to depose his Nephew Every day they had their allowance of boyl'd Rice wheaten Flower and another strange Food which they could not eat wherefore they liv'd most upon Rice The Governor a Man aged about seventy years and of a noble Aspect signifi'd to them that he would Write to the King to know what should be done with them but it would be a considerable time before he could have an Answer for the Place where the King kept his Court was thirteen Leagues over-Sea and above twenty Leagues from Moggan But whilst they waited for it the Hollanders had fresh Meat allow'd them and also leave for six at a time to walk abroad by turns The Governor oftentimes invited them to his Palace bidding them write their Names and cur'd those that were wounded at their Landing and also prepar'd several noble Dinners for them In which kind Hospitality-the Heathens far exceed very many Christians Strange adventure of a Hollander But
them also many Mysteries of the depths and shallowness of Waters and the ebbing and flowing of the Ocean But especially they discoursed at large of Earthquakes because they frequently infest Japan sometimes shaking it like a Skiff toss'd by the Waves at other times lifting it up and down and swallowing whole Villages Towns Cities nay great Tracts of Land leaving in their steads unfathomable Pits all which wrought strange effects in the Japanners But they were much more concern'd even to admiration when the Jesuits told them before-hand the Moneth Week Day Hour and Minute when the Sun or Moon would be Ecclypsed the first by the Moons passing before the Sun the second by the interposition of the Terrestrial Globe betwixt the Sun and Moon Japanners are desirous of Learning These Discourses concerning Lightning Thunder Clouds Rain Hail Fountains Floods and other natural Motions and Meteors delighted the Japanners the more because they are much addicted to learn knowledge of Mysteries Johannes Fernandes relates That they came daily to his House spending the time in asking all manner of Questions concerning God and his Divine Works The fourth Reason may be known by the Bonzies The fourth Reason of the happy and prosperous success of the Catholick Religion in Japan may be drawn from the Bonzies who not onely taught wicked and abominable Doctrine but lead also very debauch'd and vicious Lives What Lodowick Frojus writes in a Letter from Firando to the Indian Jesuits concerning their abominable Religion Their wicked Religion may serve for a pattern He tells us of a Gentlewoman that was ninety years old who had paid her Devotions in several of the Japan Temples and bestow'd great Revenues upon some of them this Bounty of hers was requited by the Bonzies with a Paper Coat which they esteem'd very highly for the Life of Amida was at large written therein and it was accounted an extraordinary and peculiar favor to purchase such a Coat with a great sum of Money for the Woman dying in the same was immediately transported to the happy Place of Amida's Residence without suffering any pain to cleanse her from her former offences But Johannes Fernandes being fetch'd to a sick Person of kindred to the foremention'd Gentlewoman discoursed with her laying open the vainness of the Paper Coat against which he us'd so many arguments that she tore and burnt it The other wickednesses of their Religion appears by murdering themselves to the honor of Amida Their Cruelties Xaca and Canon The Bonzies live very debauch'd And no less abominable were the Lives of the Bonzies whose Debaucheries Drunkenness Whoring Murdering and other outrages were known to most People nay they accounted it no sin to Rob upon the High-ways and go a Pyrating upon the Sea oftentimes venturing to set upon whole Towns and Villages burning the Houses to the ground and putting the Inhabitants all to the Sword not so much as sparing the poor Infants for which their Cruelties the Emperor Nobunanga burnt their Cloysters and as many as he could get of the Bonzies caus'd them to be nail'd on Crosses to die a lingring Death This made the way clear for the Jesuits who told them they were come above six thousand Leagues over the Sea to Japan to no other end but to teach them the right Road to Salvation The fifth Reason is the alliance of the Japan Religion with the Catholick At last the little difference which was between the Japan Religion and the Catholick made an easie way for the Jesuits to settle it And certainly there was a great resemblance of the Japan Religion to the other according to which the Dayro in Meaco governs himself not much unlike the Pope at Rome Moreover the Japanners have an infinite number of Cloysters full of Priestesses and Nuns who punish themselves for their sins and account Marriage unlawful in some of their religious Orders They are perswaded that the more largely they shew their Charity to the Cloysters the sooner they shall go to Amida's happy dwelling so that their Bounty in those particulars makes them equal in their future happiness for the Heirs of the Deceased with Gifts and Presents beseech the Bonzies to deliver them by their means from their Pain They all Read their Prayers by Beads Concerning matters of Religion none may Judge but the Dayro and a Cloyster They account it great Piety in any to visit the Tombs or Shrines of the Japan Saints These were the chiefest Reasons why the Catholick Faith went on so successfully in Japan which nevertheless for divers causes before-mention'd met with such oppositions that at this day there is scarce one Christian to be found in the Countrey Nobunanga Taicosama and Daifusama as we have already mention'd begun to persecute them but being continually busi'd with Civil Wars amongst themselves they found their hands so full that their Cruelties gave some little intermissions The first Persecution of the Christians But when Conbosama took possession of the Imperial Throne he feard none since Fideri was burnt with the chiefest of the Nobility by his Father Daifusama Thus suspecting no manner of Insurrection Anno 1617 he began anew to raise Persecutions endeavoring totally to subvert Christianity and utterly root out all its Professors with the greatest torturing that could be thought on therefore when to be nail'd on Crosses and run through the Sides with two Lances seem'd too easie a Death and to be beheaded was far easier Therefore he resolv'd to make them feel a more painful and lingring Exit and that he perform'd by roasting them to death in this manner Christians are Roasted First a great Post was driven into the Earth placing several Pyles of Wood about it and onely leaving a Gap or Passage open towards that Corner from whence the Wind blew through which those that were to suffer pass'd to the Stake to which they were bound by the Hands with a Rope of twelve Foot long and about the same distance the Wood lay about the Post excepting onely where the Gap was left to the end the Wind might blow away the Smoak that the Martyrs might not suddenly be choaked up and so die sooner and easier than those bloody Persecutors desir'd so that they were roasted by degrees and died if it were possible a thousand Deaths in one undergoing the miserablest torture that could be imagin'd Burning of Men very antient This kind of burning of Mankind had a long time before been us'd in the World but never in so cruel a method as in Japan The Holy Scripture tells us of Juda that he condemn'd his Daughter in Law to be burnt because she had committed Adultery Gen. 38.24 of which Moses saith thus Bring Thamar forth and let her be burnt The Rabbin Jews affirm that Thamar was the Priest Melchisedech's Daughter and therefore for her Uncleanness was to be burnt by order of the holy Law Levit. 31.6 which saith If a Priest's Daughter play
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