by a People which know not one another and by Fountains that never cease to spout forth Waters through undiscoverableble Springs which all have their original under the Earth and either flow gently there or else descend into some deeper Caves and gather together again in several Places by which means swelling they lift up the upper Grounds so shaking the Earth and all that which it bears But Anaxagoras makes Fire to be one reason of Earthquakes so that the Fire hath the same operation in the Earth as in the Air when it drives the Clouds and rents them with Thunder Amongst the Modern Philosophers some are of Opinion That the dreadful gapings and Hiatus of Earth is occasion'd by Fire not unlike a Myne in which Powder being laid and set on Fire blows up the Earth according to the Invention which the Biskainer Peter Naverius being taught by Francis George of Scenen try'd first upon the Castle Ovi close by Naples Pliny also saith Lip 2. c. 79. That the shaking of the Earth is like Thunder in the Air. Moreover it cannot be deny'd but that the Earth feeds Fire under it which appears by the continual Smoak and sometimes by the Flames which ascend the Skie from several Mountains Burning of Mountains whereof Vesuvius in Italy Aetna in Sicily in Island Hecla and in Japan Siurpurama lying eight Leagues beyond Meaco near the great Lake Meacosche are sufficient testimonies The reason of the sinking of Cities It is not therefore improper which some believe That the sinking of Cities and Countreys proceeds from the Earths being consum'd by the Fire which requires Food not unlike a House which the Pillars and other Timber being devour'd by Flames wanting Supporters tumbles down Some also hold that the Fire in the Earth produces continual Smoak which finding no Vent forces and breaks its way out so that if the Smoak be very strong it rents and cleaves the Earth asunder but if it be weak it causeth onely a shaking of the upper Grounds But Anaxagoras judges the Earth it self to be the reason of her own unfirmness for he saith that it is nothing without which moves it but great Pieces within falling either loosned by moisture or consum'd by Fire or the Winds which rage under Ground blown down or else being decay'd by Age like an old Building of which the Foundation being rotted and not able to bear the Superstructure tumble down These Pieces are the great occasion oftentimes of a general sinking or at least a shaking of the upper Grounds by the blow which they give in the fall Winds the reasons of Earthquakes This Opinion is contradicted by Archelaus Aristotle Theophrastus and most of the chief and Learnedst Geographers which ascribe the Reason of Earthquakes to the Winds viz. The Earth produces always Mists either dry or moist which rise so high up into the Air that not able to get farther they descend again and creep into all the Crevises of the Earth which when they have fill'd up and the one Wind seems to force in upon another makes it seek for Vent which kind of striving occasions those violent Emotions oftentimes bursting open and swallowing up all that is on the top Several Opinions concerning it Yet some are of another Opinion concerning the Winds judging that it is with them as with a humane Body which is moistned by Blood and mov'd by the Spirits or Vitals which get in and out by some little Pores but gather in far greater Places so long as the Body is of a good Temper the Pulses beat temperate But if it meets with any stoppage inwardly then the Breath is stopp'd and troubled and sometimes strange Convulsions produced so likewise the Winds in the Earth being molested and wanting Vent make a rumbling and terrible motion till at length they force out their way It hath often been observ'd by the Japanners that the greatest Earthquakes have happen'd in calm Weather when the Winds are shut up into the bosom of the Earth But amongst all others according to our Judgment the famous Philosopher Epicurus seems to come nearest the truth who is of Opinion That Earthquakes may proceed from the falling of the Earth into deep Pits or its consuming by Fire whether the sulphurous Grounds occasion the Flame or whether a collection of fiery Spirits changes into Fire and breaks forth like Lightning or inclosed Winds have the greatest force But the Dutch Prisoners in Jedo were not so much in fear for the Earthquake as for a far more terrible Death than to be kill'd by the fall of a House for they knew the Japanners cruelty neither could they expect any good in their preparation being order'd to come before some of the Council so that they spent the whole Night with melancholly thoughts without sleeping yet in the Morning the Earthquake and their fear ceased both on a sudden at their coming the Interpreters Kitsbioie and Phatsiosaimon who brought them information of the occasion of their being commanded to come forth that day was only to return the Council thanks for the Presents of Japan Coats and accordingly the Interpreters conducting the Hollanders to the Presidents Palace they made humble returns of their thanks Strange dealings of the Councellors with the Hollanders But the Councellors delighted themselves with asking the Hollanders If they knew not where their Ship Breskens was at that present time having weighed Anchor and was gone from the Haven Namboe If they took the Roman Religion to be the onely true Faith Whereupon Captain Schaep answer'd That he did not know whether the Ship was gone to Batavia Taiovan or Nangesaque and that they abhorr'd the Papists Religion After this every Hollander received two Cups of Wine which having drank they were commanded to shew them some antick Postures to make wry Faces and look asquint to go splay-footed and swing their Arms to and again which the Japan Lords took great delight to see when they were at the heighth of their Pleasures they were commanded to depart Costly Buildings in Jedo Being conducted back to their Lodgings by the two Interpreters they saw in the Way which they pass'd several Palaces in which Beauty and Art seem'd to strive with each other being built exceeding high the Roofs in the Front jetting over before each Corner supported by Gilded Dragons and Bulls all the Front adorn'd with Carv'd Imagery the Windows richly Trimm'd with Gold The Dutch Prisoners are much troubled and why In the interim the Hollanders were exceedingly troubled because they had not told the Design of their Voyage at Court which was to Sail for Tartary and the River Polysanga to discover the Western America and the Gold and Silver Islands which Mr. Elserak might possibly have told to the Governor of Nangesaque Wherefore if they should be accus'd with Untruths they had nothing to expect but a miserable Death After serious Consideration of so weighty a Matter they found it convenientest
between Meaco and Quano stands more Northerly into the Countrey the famous City Piongo which in the War that Nobanunga maintain'd after the Emperor Cubus's death was quite ruin'd For when Cavadonis Vocata Brother of the deceased Cubus who was the onely Person that was left alive of that Imperial Family escaping from his Enemies and flying to Vantandonus for Aid which he obtain'd was not onely nobly treated by him in his Castle but also endeavor'd by perswasions to stir up his neighboring Kings to take revenge on the Emperor's Murderers amongst whom Nobanunga King of Voari willingly embraced this opportunity to the end as he pretended to help Vocata to the Crown of his deceased Brother Cubus but contrary in a Civil War he embroil'd the whole Countrey for when Nobanunga had quell'd the Rebels and made Peace with their chief Commanders Mioxidoni and Diondoni he never so much as thought of establishing Vocata in the Throne but turn'd his victorious Army against other Japan Kings of which he brought thirty under his subjection as is said before and by these Conquests made himself Master of the whole Empire Amongst which fluctuating Commotions and Turmoils of an intestine War Piongo bore no small share for being taken by force it had not quite worn out the marks of Nobanunga's cruelties and soon after in the Year 1596. was totally ruin'd by a terrible Earthquake that more than half the City with Houses Temples and People were swallow'd up in the Earth and the remaining part thereof turn'd so topsie-turvie that it represented nothing but a heap of Ruins and Rubbish and miserable marks of Divine severity Terrible Earthquakes in Trugillo ¶ THese Earthquakes in Japan are very common as also in America and amongst other Places Trugillo a City in Peru Anno 1619. the fourth of February was exceedingly shaken by the like Trepidation a little before Noon the Ground began to move and in few Minutes ran the space of an hundred and sixty Leagues continuing very fiercely for fifteen Days all which time a dreadful Comet hung over their Heads which added if possible more terror to the Inhabitants expecting their utter destruction and the end of the World Two being struck with a consternation became dumb Besides those great numbers that were destroy'd and had scarce room to lie buried under the ruin'd Buildings it is worthy our observation how Peter Flores a Councellor Johannes Pontinus de Leon Secretary to the Peruan Bishop both Spaniards were struck with such a wonderful consternation that they became dumb and never spake after A strange accident Amongst others also happen'd another strange Accident which may serve as a fit pattern of Divine Justice A publick Notary coming over thither and being busied about drawing some Articles of Agreement by which a poor Man suffer'd much injury and great damage he having false Witnesses ready to Sign the same one there present discover'd the Cheat who falling out with the false Witnesses was by them drove out of the House and he no sooner being got in the Street but the House tumbled down killing him and his false Witnesses Great Earthquakes in Canada No less terrible was another late Earthquake in Canada The first of February Anno 1663. there arose a great noise and rumbling like Thunder in the Air whereupon soon after the Bells fell a Jangling as if they had Rung of themselves the Walls rent asunder great pieces of Timber and Stones fell on the Ground the Roofs of Houses and the Trees struck and fought one against another Near the Village call'd The Three Rivers two great Mountains with Woods were turn'd with the bottoms upwards Rocks and Mountains thrown into the River so making several Channels in the same and the Waters made new Inroads into the Countrey In other Places Hills were swallow'd up whole Woods remov'd and by Pauwels Village a Mountain was wash'd off by the Floods and became an Island and is still to be seen in the River But no Countrey in the World suffers so many Calamities and more almost total Ruines than this our Japan ¶ FRom Quano the Ambassadors took Shipping for between Quano and Mia the Ocean makes a great Bay so that none can travel by Land but with great Charges loss of Time and through bad Ways for which cause they hir'd sixteen Japan Vessels in which they Shipp'd their Goods Horses and Men so hoising Sail and having a small Gale of Wind it was Midnight before they reach'd Mia the Bay being about seven Leagues over Description of the City Mia ¶ THis City is very curiously built and adorn'd with many Temples and fortifi'd towards the Sea with a strong Castle Here the Hollanders stay'd a whole Night Narromi Siriomi and the stately City Occosacci ¶ THe Ambassadors parted from Mia the twenty fourth of January in the foremention'd Year 1646. travelling through the great Village Narromi and Siriomi to the stately City Occosacci full of curious Buildings and fortifi'd with a strong Castle which defends it from the sudden Onset of the Enemy To this City leads a Bridge of an hundred eighty eight Paces long over which the Hollanders carry'd their Goods Here they Din'd and in the Afternoon march'd on through Fintzara to Accasacci The Road thither is exceeding pleasant in some places of it divided by several Rivulets others with easie Ascents and delightful Valleys but each shaded with Trees The Retinue of the Lord of Bungien very strange About ten a Clock they reach'd the Village Ftagawa where they met with some of the Lord of Bungien's Soldiers who according to the Relation of the Interpreter came with a Commission from the Japan Emperor residing at Jedo to take possession of the Castle and Places belonging to Osacca The first Train was follow'd by the Lord himself who was carried in a Sedan after him follow'd his Ammunition and Houshold stuff guarded both by Foot and Horse which Rid on stately and well-train'd Steeds Arm'd with Bowes and Arrows Launces two Scymiters one short the other long with a Dagger and Helmets on their Heads and Wax-leather Boots The Foot as well as the Horse march'd very orderly and in good Martial Discipline not making the least noise nor any one Voice heard notwithstanding they were half an hour passing by in great Companies About eleven a Clock the Netherlanders descending a Hill entred the Village Siraski Siraski bordering the Sea being wash'd by the same on the right side and the left verg'd by a high Mountain cover'd with Trees Leaving Siraski they reach'd to Arei Arei where the Sea makes a Bay of a League and a half broad but is very shallow which put them to much trouble in carrying over their Goods because the Vessels oftentimes ran aground On the opposite side of this Bay lies on a Promontory Meisacca the Village Meisacca From hence Riding on in their Journey they went through several Villages along a Road on
amongst them Hannibal himself being wounded in the Thigh with a Pike was forc'd to Retreat and the Army rested till their General was cur'd who then mustering his Forces afresh Besieg'd the City closer than before Strange destruction of Saguntus a hundred and fifty thousand being daily in Arms against whom the Saguntines were forc'd to keep Watch on all Corners The Enemies Battering-Engines had by this time made Breaches in the Walls in several Places three Towers undermin'd also turn'd topsie-turvey So that the City lay in a manner open and undefended and the Soldiers which fill'd the Breaches were naked and without shelter having neither Battlements nor Breast-works against which Hannibal drew up his whole Army Hope spurr'd on the Assailants and Desparation kept the Defendants in their Stations so the Storm was very fierce long and well maintaind Hannibal if his Men did their parts not doubting but to carry the City made a fierce Assault the Saguntines making good their Breaches with Throngs of Soldiers match'd with equal Valour the Carthaginians in so close a Body that the Enemies Arrows never mist a Mark. The Saguntines answer'd them with thrown Javelins Strange Darts carrying Wild-fire which were so terrible and did such Execution that Hannibal was forc'd to Retreat Thus both Parties being tired there hapned a short Cessation Onely the Saguntines labour'd day and night to make up the Breaches of their ruin'd Walls Soon after Hannibal giving the Plunder of the City to the Soldiers made a more fierce and general Assault Saguntus is divided in the middle But the Saguntines having divided the Town rais'd a new Wall with the old Houses Here they made fresh Resistance against the Enemy it being then eight Months that they had suffer'd so great a Siege In the interim their Wants began daily to increase and their Hopes of being Reliev'd by the Romans vanish'd the Enemies never ceasing from Storm For though Hannibal went with a part of his Army against the Oretans and Carpetans which he much fear'd yet Maharbal Hamilcar's Son went on so fiercely that none could observe the Generals absence pulling down the new Wall in three several Places and setting upon them with such fury that he made himself Master of some of their Fortifications The Business seeming thus to be finish'd the Besieg'd besought that they might Treat with Hannibal concerning Peace But the disturb'd General was too much incens'd to give ear thereto yet by the Entreaties of the Spaniard Alorcus they obtain'd so much at last that Hannibal would permit the Saguntines to depart and inhabit in such Countreys as he should appoint for them but that they should leave all their Gold Silver and other Treasures behind With these Proposals of Agreement Alorcus went over the Walls into the City at whose coming all the Council gather'd Thither the People also repair'd from all Corners to hear the News The chiefest of the Council without giving any Answer upon the propos'd Articles departed and went away bringing their greatest Treasures into the Market-place where setting Fire on them they also stabb'd themselves The Saguntines burn themselves and their City and fell in the Flames This occasion'd a sudden Alteration which was agitated by a great Cry from the Fortification for a Tower having been storm'd and shaken a long time fell to the Ground which making a great Gap in the Walls a whole Band of Africans seeing the Guards fled to the Market-place throng'd in Of which Hannibal having sudden notice immediately enter'd the City without any resistance with several thousand Men But the Citizens in like manner as Xibatadono in a moment set Fire on all their Houses chusing rather to be burnt with their Wives and Children than to be slain by Hannibal's Sword Thus Toquixiro having Conquer'd Xibatadono's Castle he return'd to Meaco where he not only chang'd his first Name Toquixiro but also his second Faxiba which Nobunanga had given him calling himself Cambacundono that is Supreme Lord of Japan and after that Anno 1504. took upon him the Name of Taicosama that is Mighty Emperor Policy of Taicosama ¶ BUt though he had thus brought under his absolute Subjection the whole Island yet he warily consider'd how to prevent future Inconveniences and what might happen to his prejudice under his new Acquirements For several of his Substitute Kings being of Ancient Royal Blood would not easily submit themselves to an Emperor of so mean an Extract and that if any of them should but once appear against him it might shake his new-laid Foundation and the whole Fabrick of his Government the rest of the Princes being ready to follow their Examples which might suddenly cause a general Defection and so his utter Ruine To prevent all which he had need to be very circumspect Whereupon after serious consideration Taicosama thought no way convenienter than to employ these Princes and busie them where they might spend their Time and show their Valour in some Foreign Countrey Which Design to effect the neighboring Corea gave him a fit Opportunity Description of Corea ¶ THis Countrey is divided into eight Territories namely Kinki Hoanchai Kyangyven Civenlo Kingxan Changoing Kaokiuli and Pingan On the North it joyns to Niuche in Tartary the South respects the Island Fungma the West is wash'd by the Stream Galo and the remaining part the Ocean borders The Chineses call it Chaosie It s Length extends to two hundred and seventy German Miles and its Breadth thirty The Province Kinke is adorn'd with the Metropolis Pingjang The whole Countrey is exceeding Populous The Towns very many most of them built square after the Chinese manner whose Fashions Language Letters Religion and Government the Coreans follow which is no wonder because the Chinese Emperor Hoavus subdu'd them two hundred Years before The Transmigration of the Soul into all manner of Bodies Their Religion is firmly believ'd amongst them Their dead Corps are laid in Coffins curiously adorn'd and not buried before the third Year after their Death Strange customs but to keep in the ill scent which might get through the crevices they glue the Coffins close up with Lime or Clay call'd Cie The Chineses account them barbarous because they give their Women so much liberty suffering them walk in the Streets or come in the company of men when they please and also because their Marriages are perform'd without the liking of any of their Friends and Relations the choice thereof being onely left to the Bride and Bridegroom The Soyl of this Countrey being very fruitful produces Rice and Tares twice a year no place affords better Paper and Cie by some call'd Sandaracha than this Isle This Sandaracha is much us'd by the Chineses and Japanners for they Plaister all their Walls with that Lime Great wars in this half Island ¶ MOreover Corea hath oftentimes been destroy'd and ruin'd and lately in the Year twenty seven it suffer'd extremely both by the hands of
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
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
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
the Treasure of the deceas'd Taycosama and all Necessaries for War In the interim some of these Provincials set upon Dayfusama who entertain'd them so roughly that Eighty thousand Men were either slain by the Sword ripp'd open their own Bowels or were taken Prisoners few of them escaping by Flight Conquest of Dayfusama Hereupon Dayfusama carried his Victorious Army with all speed to Osacca where Morindono was so much astonish'd at his gotten Victory that he left the Invincible Castle Osacca which was provided with double Stores and strong enough to endure the greatest Siege that could be Osacca is taken to Dayfusama before whose Approach he with some of his Nobles forsook the Castle and went to his stately Palace beyond Osacca resolving to submit himself freely to the Mercy of the Conqueror But the King of Sassuma shew'd much more Courage for he with Six hundred Soldiers valiantly fought his way through the Conquering Army of Dayfusama and marching on undiscompos'd towards Osacca got thither some Hours before Dayfusama where he furnish'd himself with such Vessels as he found with which he Sail'd to his own Kingdom Sassuma distant above two hundred Leagues from Osacca to the end that he might there Fortifie himself against Dayfusama A horrible Earthquake in Osacca ¶ BEsides this their suffering by War this City before endur'd a far greater Misery almost to an utter Desolation by a sudden Earthquake happening Anno 1585 the fourth of August about Midnight which was so terrible that they expected nothing less than present Destruction The first shudder or shake was so vehement that in less than half an hours space many hundreds were buried in the Rubbish of their own fallen Houses The fairest Buildings first failed coming to ground with horrible cracks amongst which that stately Palace the fairest and largest that ever the Sun shin'd upon which Taycosama built with ample Galleries and such spacious Courts that therein they say he was able to Exercise a hundred and fifty thousand Men. This stupendious piece of Architect he built on purpose to shew his Power and Magnificence to Ambassadors that were ready with an Embassy from the Emperor of China Their Journey to Menco With this Train the Ambassadors came about Noon to the great Village Firaskatta where they Dined and about four a clock they travell'd through Jonda which is a small City curiously built Fortified with a strong Castle and surrounded with Walls The Governor of this Place came to meet the Ambassadors who having a considerable Train was carried in a Sedan and follow'd by some of his Guards All the way which they pass'd was on a high Bank verg'd with Rice-Fields so far as could be discern'd At that time it was every where Frozen very hard on the top of this Bank and in going down the same they Travell'd through several Villages and the Way it self was planted on both sides with Trees Description of the Japan Cedars Amongst these the Cedars rais'd their lofty tops above all the others to an exceeding height Theophrastus relates That the Syrians and Phenicians us'd Cedars for the Building of their Ships The same Custom is at this day in Japan and no marvel because the Cedar hath a Gummy Moysture which preserves it from rotting which Secret the Japanners not knowing oftentimes look upon the Sudor or Sweating of their Cedar Images as a great Wonder But this is occasion'd by the moist Air and a South Wind which generally draws an Oyl out of that Wood. Moreover this Tree grows higher and thicker according to the several Places it is Planted in On the Mountains of Syria they grow so large-wasted that four Men are scarce able to fathom one of them but these have spiny and slender Bodies considering their wondrous Height whose lofty Crowns seem to mingle with the Clouds Japan also produces Cedars no ways inferior to those The Leaves thereof are soft and downy but prickly at the sharp ends There is also a small kind of Resemblance between the Cedar and the Juniper-Tree but the Leaf of the last is longer and smaller and grows nothing near so high and the Wood thereof being cut asunder and us'd is soon subject to rot And also the Cedars are of a more fragrant smell and bear a kind of Cod not unlike the Myrtle which being open'd hath four white Corns or Grains like Rice inclos'd in them which when ripe are of a deep yellow Colour whereas the Juniper-berry is black bitterish and unpleasant to the Palate Gum of Cedars of what Vertue and Use The Gum which the Cedar produces preserves the dead Corps from decaying and the Berries have three several tastes for the innermost of them is of a sharp rellish the outermost Shell sweet and the Pulp it self between sweet and sowre These Trees either have continually Fruits or Blossoms on them So that whilst one Tree bears Blossoms or Green-fruit the other Ripen This Fruit being hot in Operation helps all Coughs proceeding from cold Defluxions the Cramp opens obstructed Uritories and the Oyl thereof if the Body be annointed therewith defends it from the biting of Venomous Creatures Furthermore the Cedar always flourisheth being constantly green whose stately Branches run up in an exact Line like the Trees themselves but if the Branches grow too heavy for them the Body of the Tree commonly bends growing crooked under the Burthen The Cod which incloses the Berries when it begins to ripen opens it self and in time of Rain or Mists drops off leaving a round Stalk at the Boughs This Stalk decays not till two Years after the dropping off of the Cod which of it self requires a whole Year before it becomes ripe and this happens chiefly in Winter The Ambassadors come to Meaco Along this Bank shaded with Trees verging the River the Netherland Ambassadors going through a Town call'd Iondo came to Meaco where they were Receiv'd and Lodg'd in the House of a Wealthy Merchant ¶ THis Imperial City Meaco lies in the Province of Mino eighteen Leagues beyond Osacca Along this River which takes its Original from a great Lake three Hours Walk beyond Meaco discharging its Waters through Osacca into the Sea stands the Imperial Blood-Grove The Imperial Blood Grove near Meaco why so call'd which Denomination it receiv'd from the Japan Emperor Nobunanga who was murder'd there June 22. Anno 1582. The Emperor Nobunanga would be worshipp'd as a God ¶ THis Nobunanga in the time of his Reign had erected a new City and call'd it Anzuquiama on a pleasant Hill raising within it a stately Temple which to make the more famous he caus'd to be brought thither the most Ador'd and Venerable Idols in all Japan Next to this Temple he Founded a Sumptuous Chappel where on a polish'd Marble he had his Imperial Arms Ingraven and his own Statue delineated to the Life which so soon as finish'd he publish'd his Royal Edicts with strict Commands That after Proclamation and
and buried oftentimes whole Cities But he that Dedicated his Description of the World to Alexander the Great reckons four more The first is a double Trembling that meets and dashes Terrene Billows one against another The second a Breaking of the Ground in all parts The third onely a Rumbling under Ground The fourth shuffling the Earth in a wonderful manner which turns all things topsie-turvey How long they continue Concerning the continuance of Earthquakes sad experience hath taught us that some will last forty days together without little or any intermission according to the easiness or difficulty of the vents which keeps in longer or shorter the shut up Commotions The signs before the Earthquakes There are also several signs that are fore-runners of these miserable effects for growing near as we said before the Air is generally very calm because those Vapors that commonly disturb the Air are confin'd in the close Bowels of the Earth and if any Cloud appear it seems like a thin stroke or white Line athwart the Sky which happens commonly after Sun-set and in fair Weather But the Sea is troubled swelling very much without any apparent cause of molestation and the Water that had been fresh in standing Lakes grows Salt and Brackish Pliny H st 19. Pliny relates That Pheraecides a Grecian Philosopher after he had taken such Water out of a Pit foretold the Lacedemonians of the Destruction of their City then threatned by an approaching Earthquake Another sign is that the Reptilia or all creeping Animals that live under ground forsake their dark Recesses and frighted seek up and down for other abodes The Sun no Clouds appearing grows dark and shines pale and dim The events that follow on an Earthquake The Earthquakes themselves amaze the beholders in such manner that they often bereave men of their Senses for who would not be astonish'd and for ever after stupifi'd into folly or frenzy Stange inconveniencies in Japan occasion'd by Earthquakes to see Houses Towns Cities nay whole Kingdoms turn'd into one Sepulchre great and new Islands thrown up in an instant in the Sea Mountains remov'd and seeming routed to run several ways the sollid and firm Continent turn'd into a crue of segregated Isles and other Lands the Sea quitting them are joyn'd to the main Land Fire and Streams of burning Sulphur are vomited out of the Earth and burning Coals Ashes and heaps of Rubbish spread over Sea and Land for the space of many Miles common Roads turn'd into Rivers then the sickness and mortality that happens after falling on-those that escape from the dire infection of noysome Parbreaks belch'd from the Earth of which dreadful Calamities no Nation suffer more than the Japanners ¶ ANd that we may have a better sence of the miserable condition of those that suffer in this worst of extremities take a brief account from Eye-witnesses of two that happen'd nearer our own doors The first happen'd about 160 years ago at Bononien Horrible Earthquakes at Bononien the second in Ragusa near Illiria Philippus Bernaldus a learned Person liv'd Anno 1505. in Bononien where on the last of October about eleven a Clock at night a horrible noise awaken'd him and all the City soon after Chimneys and Walls tumbled to the ground yet in few hours it beginning to cease they were a little comforted but three days after about the same hour in the night it broke forth with such violence that the Inhabitants expected nothing but their utter ruine hideously roaring and thundering underneath and rouling like a troubled Sea above the Earth great and small Buildings falling with dreadful cracks into a heap of Ruines darkness increasing made the terror the greater Half of Prince Bontivoly's Palace fell with such force tumbling down added so to the Earthquake that it shook the whole City The Walls of St. Jaques St. Peter and St. Francis Churches were rent from the top to the bottom the Steeples and Pinnacles and other Towers coming all down headlong at one blow not one Chimney in the whole City or Suburbs left standing yet by degrees after the great violence abated every night some sudden trepidations gave them new alarms of fresh terror therefore the Inhabitants forsaking their own houses liv'd in Tents in the Corn Fields at least a moneth after most of whom fell into Burning-Feavers of which many dy'd After the second Earthquake began a third which also beginning in the night lasted forty days doing great mischief after the unvaluable damage they had suffer'd before Moreover Boroaldus relates That his friend Falcus Argelatus was struck with such a Consternation that loosing his Senses in a desperate manner cut his own throat who not performing speedily the work he frantickly ran up a pair of Stairs and threw himself headlong out of a Window and broke his own neck whereof he dy'd An Earthquake at Ragousa Not long since Ragousa was in like manner terribly shaken by an Earthquake This Trepidation began on the sixth of April 1667. in the morning between eight and nine of the Clock it being a clear and Sun-shiny day In the twinkling of an eye the whole City was shaken the Legier George Crook being sent by the States of the United Netherlands to take his Residence at Constantinople had also a house at Ragousa which tumbling down kill'd him his Wife Minister Child and two Servant-Maids Jacob Van Dam who was President for the Netherlanders at Smirna was in the same house but in a lower Room He with six others got under a Stone pair of Stairs he was no sooner out of his Lodging scarce half Cloth'd but it tumbled down with three Stories more darkness struck them with fresh terror after which when growing clear Van Dam came forth from his shelter and went to Crook's House where calling as loud as he could and hearkening if possible he could to hear any body answer him he concluded that they lay all swallow'd under the Rubbish and Ruines Neither durst he tarry long there seeing the Walls totter fearing he might suffer under the like Calamity never standing still till he got quite out of the City all the way terrifi'd with imminent danger Stones and pieces of Timber still falling in a terrible manner both before and behind him the ground trembling under him and gaping in several places about him that hundreds of swallowing Gulfs appear'd in the Streets Thus he with six more of his Company with much trouble and terror scap'd out of Rogousa losing one by sudden death in the way but when they had clear'd themselves of the Town the Countrey prov'd no less difficult and dangerous great heaps of torn up Rocks and Rubbish filling the Paths so that they being put to a stand could find no way to get farther whilst looking behind them they saw the City in several parts of fire and three Store-houses of Powder a dreadful thing when e're they catcht would utterly destroy the miserable remainder of
Recess under a Mountain where he spent his time in Study Writing many Books and as the Chineses say Instructed eighty thousand Disciples but out of this number he selected first five thousand five hundred and out of them drew one hundred and at last he reduced that hundred to ten which he made great Masters of this so much follow'd Science And then dying he left them a great Legacy He dies being all those Books that he had Written in the Cave and that there should be no dispute hereafter concerning the Contents of these Written Volumns he Seal'd them and Indorst with this positive Superscription Thus I Xaca have Written the Truth His Opinion concerting the transmigration of the Soul Amongst others of the Pythagorean Assertions he maintains That the Soul is transmutated eighty thousand times into several Bodies and Shapes and that under six vile transformations they committed all sorts of wickedness and impiety and at last turn'd into a white Elephant by the Indians call'd Lothan hoe Laenses then they attain'd to the City of rest and everlasting happiness but before they come thither they Flye with Birds Graze with Oxen Crow with Cocks Swim with Fishes Creep with Serpents and grow with Trees Hermias a Learned Christian Of this their Opinion the Learned Hermias saith thus When I view my Body I am afraid thereof for I know not by what Name to call it whether a Man a Dog a Wolf Stier Bird or Serpent for they say that I exchange into all these several Shapes which live either on the Earth or in the Air and in the Water neither wild tame dumb prudent or foolish I flye in the Air I creep on the Earth I run I sit and sometimes I am enclos'd a Prisoner in the Bark of a Tree The Japanners and the Chineses which are of Xaca's Religion believe that the Soul changes into Trees or Plants A strange Story of a Tree that spake Philip Marimus in his Japan Voyage relates That in Cochinchina Anno 1632 a Tree of an hundred and twenty Foot high and a proportionable thickness was by a Storm blown down to the Ground which a hundred Men could not move whereupon being conjur'd as they say by one of their Exorcists to know the reason why it could not be stirr'd it answer'd I am a Chinse Pince my Soul having been transmigrated into several Bodies a hundred Years at last is setled in this Tree from which as an Oracle I am to tell you of Couchin China that a woful War is ready to fall upon you under whose pressure you shall suffer extremely This Story whether fabulous or an Illusion of the Devil is believ'd both through all China and Japan insomuch that ever since they put Dishes of Rice to the Roots of great Trees that the Souls dwelling within may not languish by long fasting and therefore they feed Animals and living Creatures also that they may not suffer by Hunger Within Camsana if we may credit Bollandus stands a Cloister of the Bonzi Of a Clovster in Camsana Bolland Vit. Sanctor A. â— L. â—an 15. C. 4. near which is a Hill shaded with pleasant Trees thither one of the Priests carry daily at a set time two great Baskets full of all manner of Food when drawing near the Hill he Rings his Bell at the found of which is summon'd all sorts of Creatures that in an incredible number come flocking from their several Shelters and Recesses to which he throws his Alms and so scatters that they are generally satisfi'd which done in the same manner he Rings them back again and they fairly retreat to their respective Receptacles These Animals they believe are animated with the Souls of formerly famous Persons which reside in several Creatures analogizing in their different kinds and natures with the humor and disposition of those Hero's when alive From whom the Japanners have the Opinion of Transmigration It is without contradiction that this Learning of Transmigration took original in Egypt And from them Plato and Pythagoras receiv'd that Doctrine which they Preach'd into Greece the Seminary then of Philosophy which at last spread through several Angles of the World The Gothes had it in the North the Germans and Gauls in the West and at the same time the Chineses and Japanners in the East who receiv'd it from the Indian Brachmans The Brachmans also affirm amongst a world of strange Fancies that some Men for their Crimes after Death become aerial Spirits fantastick Shapes unsubstantial Bodies wandering up and down so long till they have suffer'd enough to expiate their Offences These Spirits are not permitted to Eat the least Blade of Corn Herb Grass nor any thing whatsoever but onely what they receive by Alms to which purpose they throw Meat to Daws and Pies nine days together after their Friends departed Souls that so the wandring of their deceased Relations may pick up something with them These Spirits sometimes also appear in humane Shapes but are not to be fear'd because they are harmless The Brachmans believe there is a Hell Moreover the Brachmans also acknowledge a Hell by them call'd Jamma Locon from whence the Souls after great punishments are released and appear again in the World in several Shapes But besides their Jamma Locon they make mention of a deep dark and dismal Pit by them call'd Antam Tappes which as they say is full of Thorns Vultures and Ravens with Iron Beaks and Claws Mastiff-Dogs Stinging-Wasps and Hornets which heavily afflict and torture the Wicked condemn'd to that Dungeon in a most horrid and petulant manner without any cessation and that which is worse their punishment as they say never ends And also a Life after this They also hold two Conditions of such as are Saved entring into happiness some of them travel to an inferior Heaven call'd Surgam where no sins are committed nor death suffer'd to enter yet the Dewetas for so they call those that after death are believ'd to go to Surgam when their time of residence there is expir'd travel from thence Soul and Body again conjoyn'd but what becomes of the Body in their return the Brachmans have not well made out onely they affirm That some come back to the World and are regenerated and born again and those Feast on all manner of Delicacies and enjoy fair Women but without Issue But this they have not well anvill'd out neither for some they say never remove from Surgam but bear Children there which they number amongst the Stars this they hinted from the antient Astronomers that often as we do sometimes discover new Stars in the Firmament Their Opinion of Heaven But those which worship and obey Wistnou keeping themselves from all Offences are transported to Weicontam where God sits on a most glorious Throne But they say there are two Weicontams calling one Lela Weicontam which is a most pleasant and delightful Heaven but the first onely call'd Weicontam From thence none
falshood towards them an hundred and twenty thousand Pound of Cinamon twelve Diamond Rings and six Elephants yearly For a defence against the Islanders the Fort Colombo was well fortifi'd yet it was not so strongly built but that it decay'd and fell to the Ground which made Lupus Brittus to be sent thither with several Workmen to repair the Fort where arriving and being busie to prepare Mortar Stones and other Necessaries for the re-building the Saracens again spurring up the Ceylonians against the Portuguese they a second time Sally'd out upon them but first the City Colomba refus'd to sell the Portuguese Provisions after that they slew all those that they found stragling from the Fort. The Portuguese being thus troubl'd Sally'd out of their Castle and fell into the City Colomba upon which the Citizens deserted the same leaving their Wives and Children in possession so that Brittus without the least resistance became Master of the City but strictly forbad all his Men from committing any outrages onely he caus'd the Women and Children to be ty'd to the Threshold at their Doors which he did partly to manifest that he intended no cruelty to the Ceylonians and partly that if possible by that his kind dealing with them he might gain their Affections This Conquest had almost prov'd the utter ruinie of the Portuguese for those that fled from Colomba fetch'd all the Forces that they could possibly get together and being spurr'd on by their Affections towards their Wives and Children set like hungry Lyons upon the City Thus the Portuguese seeing utter ruine threaten them they saw no other way to release themselves but by firing the City which the Townsmen perceiving left to Storm and endeavor'd all of them to quench the Fire and to unbind their Wives and Children during which time most of the Portuguese got into their Castle which else would have been taken by the Natives But this business rested not so for the Ceylonians soon gather'd twenty thousand Men together and besieging them in their Fort rais'd Works about the Fort with six hundred Iron Mortar-pieces fix'd on them in the day-time throwing Darts which wounded two hundred Paces distance Remarkable Arms of the Ceylonians and in the night-time Granado's which burnt their Huts The Besieged though few in number yet wanted all manner of Necessaries without which they were not able to subsist a Day and being driven to the worst of Exigencies they made a Vertue of Necessity and Sally'd out with three hundred and fifty Men which Fought so valiantly that with small resistance they beat their Enemies from their Works But the Enemy was not so baffled but drew up one Company for a Field-Battel having two hundred and fifty Elephants in the Front with Wooden Towers Planted with Cannon on their Backs their Noses or Snouts Arm'd with sharp Scythes which whisking to and fro they could Mow down all those which came near them behind these follow'd the Cingalessers being the Foot well Arm'd the right and left Flank Wing'd each with an hundred and fifty Horse At first sight the Portuguese were struck with a general consternation and even ready to quit the Field when one of the Enemies Elephants being wounded retreated disorderly routing those that were next him so opening a Breach at which the Portuguese falling in like a Torrent suddenly dissipated their whole Army and making great slaughters became Master of the Fieldl and at last the Portuguese recruited with fresh Supplies took the City Ceylon destroying all with the Sword and Fire Anno 1654. Pico de Adam ¶ ON this Island is one of the highest Mountains in India call'd Pico de Adam or Adams Hill for the Congaleans affirm that Adam was Created there the print of whose footsteps hewn in Stone as they say are to be seen yet On the top of this Mountain stands a magnificent Temple held then to be full of Treasure and other Rarities of an inestimable value the hope of which Booty drew the lucrative Portuguese thither but found nothing according to the report or their expectation onely a Golden Cabinet inchased with Precious Stones and Diamonds in which lay inclos'd an Apes Tooth An Apes Tooth valued at seventy thousand Ducats In what esteem or adoration the Ceylondians had this Relick may appear by the trouble charges and proffers which they made for the redemption thereof for they in solemn manner sent Ambassadors of special Quality who made Address to the Portuguese tendring seventy thousand Ducats to be re-possess'd of the same The Portuguese would fain have been nibling and at sharing of so vast a Sum for so pitiful a trifle But Gaster the Bishop utterly withstood it affirming that nothing could be more impious or contradictory to the true Believers of the Christian Faith than to uphold by any means directly or indirectly any thing whatsoever belong'd to the maintenance of false Worship and Superstition of the Heathen and therefore order'd the Tooth to be burnt and the Ashes to be thrown into the Sea But besides the Congaleans Strabo Geog. 1.17 the Hemopolitans also according to Strabo worship an Ape ¶ IT deserves no small admiration that the Japanners and other Heathens stoop to such vile Creatures and worship them as their God being themselves Men and Aspirers to greater excellencies Yet we may find that the Antients upon seeming good Reasons held several Beasts and despicable Creatures in such great adoration having by long practice made observation by their Looks and Postures foretelling future Presages and present Discoveries which have oftner hit than otherwise Cicero affirming this Cicero 1.2 de Nat. Deor. saith thus The Egyptians are falsly aspersed concerning the worshipping of Creatures for they adore none but upon good accounts and some benefit or other which they receive from them as in the first place the Bird Ibis a great destroyer of Venomous Serpents I could also say something on the nature of the Indian Mice Crocodiles and Cats but that I am not willing to enlarge this Discourse yet I will conclude that the Heathens worship their Beasts for benefits which they receive from them Lucan also tells us That the Egyptians had found out more than the Moretanians had done heretofore for they divided the Heavens with the Stars into twelve Houses in which Signs are several Constellations look'd upon by their Learning or help of Imagination to personate as fix'd there several sorts of Creatures as Gods Hero's Men Monsters and several sorts of Fishes And therefore the Egyptians have divers Worships for their Soothsayers us'd not onely the Planets which are as their gods but make their Responses from the Configuration of the several Signs which are inferior Creatures First Lucianus de Astrol they worship a Ram which they have from Aries they touch no Fish which resembles the Sign Pisces neither will they kill a Goat because of Capricorn and the Bull for the sake of Taurus they hold in the like estimation The
Silk when they are ready the Drummers beat and the signal being given they start the Race being betwixt a Man and a Horse they thus perform The Man holds the Horse by a single Rein drawn out with which he must not straiten nor hold in the Horse who runs at his full speed and the men by him when drawing near the Goal the foremention'd Posts and Cord the Horse and he must leap over at once together which done with equal dexterity he gains the propos'd Reward or Prize which if he fail making a feeble or no performance he not onely looseth the glory of the Victory but also all manner of Court-Preferment ¶ BUt as to what concerns the Dayro he is the onely true and lawful Heir of Japan and was formerly held in such Veneration by the Japanners that they honor'd him as a god and by this his great respect he kept the Empire a long time in Peace and Quietness till Anno 1550. During the Dayro's Government Japan never tasted the inconveniencies of a Civil War which after his removal from the Throne Civil Wars were terrible in Japan the reasons thereof brake out in that nature that scarce any Countrey in the World was ever a greater Stage or Blood-shed The salvage cruelties which they us'd against one another in that grand Commotion are unexpressable the Conquerors turn'd their new-gotten Provinces top-si-turvey killing not sparing Infants in the Cradle destroying and burning both Towns and Villages of which some to this day lie bury'd in their own Rubbish by which they sufficiently testifie the Destructions which were made by their Civil Wars in which Japan was turmoil'd above fifty years The occasion and beginning was thus The Dayro who is accounted so holy that the Sun must not shine upon him nor his Feet touch the Earth nor his Hair or Nails ever suffer'd to be cut which Custom hath been in use from many Ages to this day had a hundred and eighteen years ago two Sons of which the second according to an antient Law supply'd the place of Captain-General to be ready on all occasions to quell all manner of Insurrections either by substitute Kings or Subjects The eldest expected after his Fathers Decease to possess the Throne during whose life he held no Command Their Mother out of her affections to both prevail'd so far with the Dayro that the General-ship should be so divided betwixt both the Brothers that they might Command their Forces Alternately each his Trienial But the youngest when the time came that he should Resign his Commission to his eldest Brother refus'd and privately chose several Princes of Japan for to assist him if need should require by which means he Fortifi'd himself so strongly that he car'd for no Forces whatsoever no not his Father himself who immediately chose another General granting him Commission not onely to subdue but kill his Rebellious Son Soon after several of his Substitute Kings raising all their Forces brought a mighty Army together in the Field with which they went on so successfully that in short time they utterly defeated and destroy'd the Rebel and all his Forces Insurrection against the Dayro This was the first Rebellion and Insurrection that was made against the Dayro but by the death of his Son the War was no way finish'd For the conquering General taking that opportunity as having all the Forces under his Command after the Decease of the Dayro made himself Emperor of Japan Against him the young Dayro arose notwithstanding the new Emperor allow'd him all his former Revenues and shew'd him the same Respect as had formerly been shown to his Father At last the Dayro march'd towards the new Emperor whom by means of a chosen General by the Japanners call'd Cubo he defeated and slew This Conquering General not regarding the miserable end of the new-slain Emperor aim'd also at the Crown making himself absolute Master of all the Forces The Inland Wars in Japan are very cruel From hence proceeded a bloody War Kings and Princes dividing the Countrey appropriating Territories and Provinces to themselves which was not done without much trouble for by this means not onely Countrey against Countrey and City against City but also petty Villages had peculiar Wars one with another those which were Conquer'd were sure not to find the least mercy for they neither spar'd Houses nor Temples nor indeed poor Infants consuming and destroying all by Sword and Fire so that in short time whole Cities lay bury'd in Ashes Mioxindeu◠opposeth Cubo This new Cubo overcoming all at last setled himself on the Imperial Throne which was but for a small time for when he thought himself surest not thinking of the least Insurrection Mioxindono whom he had entrusted with all his Forces joyn'd in conspiracy with Dajondono Lord of Nara who had gotten an Army as we said before of twelve thousand Men which they drew up close to Meaco Soon after Mioxindono accompany'd with a strong Life-guard enter'd the City under pretence to congratulate the Emperor for some prime favors which he had pleas'd to shew him And to that purpose that he might the better bereave the Emperor of his Life privately and without disturbance he invited him to a Banquet in the Cloyster of the Bonzi near Meaco where he intended to put in Execution his bloody Design But the Emperor Cubo scenting the business suspected it the more because he had information that the Army was drawn up near Meaco made all things in readiness for his escape who being on the Way was perswaded and call'd back by some of his Council telling him that they could not perceive any such danger in the business accounting it ignoble for an Emperor to flye from a Prince which was his own Subject But in the interim Mioxindono entred the City Meaco with all his Forces and drew up towards the Palace but before he committed any hostility he sent to the Emperor Cubo demanding to send him the Heads of some of his Nobles whose insupportable Greatness as he pretended stood in his way which if the Emperor would grant a Peace should immediately be concluded and he would suddenly withdraw his Forces and depart from the City The Herald brought a Letter in which was written the Names of those Grandees which Mioxindono would have Executed An antient Courtier being sent from Cubo receiv'd the Paper which not without many reproaches to the Rebels he tore to pieces and returning again to the Emperors Presence One of the Emperors Courtiers stab himself drew out a Stilletto with which he desperately Stabbing himself fell dead on the Ground at the Emperor's Feet The Revenge of a Son taken for his Father After the same manner six more made away themselves But the Son of the old Courtier seeing his Father weltring in his own Bloud on a sudden ran out amongst the Rebels where having wounded and kill'd several of them he himself was slain Whilst
their Enemies and supposed Friends The Chinesy General Maovenlung had an Army that quarter'd here against the Tartars his Souldiers being spread over all parts of the Countrey and lying idle committed many outrages on the Coreans which at last grew so unsufferable that they call'd in the Tartars for their Aid who imbracing this proffer with great eagerness contriv'd a subtil Plot which redown'd to their great advantage for the Tartars Army came marching with a Van-guard of Coreans in the Front on purpose to surpress Maovenlung by mistaking them to be all Coreans which as contriv'd happen'd for by this means the Tartar fell suddenly into the Chinesi's Quarters and e're he could rally his Forces lying about he suffer'd great losses but after a while gathering and being drawn up in a Body he gave them so sharp an Entertainment which put them to a stand the event thereof doubtful on what side the Victory would fall yet at last the Tartars press'd so upon them that Moavenlung lost ground and retreated so by degrees that getting near the Sea he sav'd most of his Men aboard of several Ships that lay there This Victory cost the Conqueror dear and being the more displeas'd because Moavenlung had thus got off from him which to revenge fell treacherously upon the Coreans The four Northern Territories bordering next to Tartary he had already miserably ruin'd when the King of Corea rais'd an Army to oppose the Tartars who then design'd to Besiege the Metropolis Pingjang chusing a convenient place for Ambuscade to surprise them in their March and as design'd suddenly sallied out upon them suspecting there no Opposition both Sides fighting very fiercely Yet the Coreans for all their Advantage had been utterly defeated A cruel battel betwixt three enemies but that Moavenlung accidentally fell into their assistance being newly Landed galling the Tartars in the Rear who seeing themselves block'd up as in a Sack steep Mountains on each side before them the Coreans and behind the Chineses would not stand still in this exigency or danger for they saw no way to get out but what the Sword must make whereupon they gathering fresh courage a cruel fight began the like scarce ever heard of by Antiquity The Tartars at last made their way through the Chineses and fled Northerly towards the Kingdom of Niuche leaving behind him as they say on the spot fifty thousand men neither had the Chineses nor the Coreans this Victory for nothing for the first bought it with ninety thousand men and the other with seventy thousand insomuch partly that neither could boast their victory or pursue the flying Tartar Taicosama sends a mighty Army of Japanners to war against Corea ¶ TO this Peninsula Anno 1595. Taicosama sent his new-rais'd Army being minded to free himself from the powerful Kings in his Countrey which he fear'd might joyn their Forces together and remove him being of mean Extract from the Imperial Throne he pretended that Japan would be mightily inrich'd if Corea could be joyn'd to that Crown and such a weighty matter might easily be performed being able to raise an Army that should conquer five such places as Corea Whereupon the Kings which he fear'd most were sent for to come to the Emperor who giving them several Commands Imbark'd them with sixty thousand men for Corea where Landing they found more work than they expected so that the War continu'd a long time The war lasts seven years during which Taicosama sent them friendly Letters and fresh Supplies yet it pleas'd them not to be absent so long from their own Countrey Wives and Children and to be amongst their Enemies without seeing any hopes of being releas'd for none durst return home without the Emperors Licence Description of the Philipines ¶ DUring the War in Corea Taicosama's mind was also busi'd with other matters of Consequence he sent in the beginning of his Reign a Letter to the Governor of the Philipines who was the King of Spain's Viceroy and kept his Court within the City Manilla The Castilians discover'd these Islands Anno 1564. and made themselves Masters thereof with little trouble because the Inhabitants belonging formerly to China deserted that Government and since liv'd wildly without any Laws but though the Chineses lost their Government there yet for the fruitfulness of the Islands they still Traded thither sending yearly twenty Jonks or more Bartering Cotton Silk Purceline Brimstone Iron Copper Mille Quicksilver Gunpowder and Linnen for Buffles Deer-Skins and Civet Cats A Letter of Taicosama to the Governor of the Philipines ¶ BUt concerning Taicosama's Letter the Contents of it were thus Japan which hath so long been shaken by a Tempest of War is now calm and settled in quiet which ceased not before the gods fix'd him in the Imperial Throne being the labor of ten years Now I have leisure I will fall upon the Chineses and if you perform your duties acknowledging me with all humbleness to be that which I am your Chief Commander you shall not receive any damage by the Japan Arms which else I will send to you and endeavor to possess the Philipines to your utter destruction The Governor of the Philipines stood amaz'd at this strange Letter very well knowing the Power Pride and Ambition of Taicosama whose Friendship if he would preserve he had no other means but to answer him with all respects for which purpose he sent Lupo de Liano with Missives to signifie to the Emperor That the Philipines Governor had receiv'd a Letter from his Imperial Majesty but without being Sign'd by his Royal Hand therefore he had not the confidence that he could willingly have wish'd for especially because the Jesuites in Nangesaque who held some Correspondency with him had given him no manner of Intelligence thereof This Answer not onely displeas'd the Japan Emperor but he was much startled thereat because no Transactions nor ought else private or publick that was worthy of information could happen Hazart Church Hist 5.6.9 but as Father Hazart says in his Church History the Jesuites gave Intelligence of to their Concerns abroad which they well observ'd and left no stone unturn'd that might improve their intelligence This jealousie of the Emperor was fomented by an Apostate Castilian at Saxuma who being revolted from his Religion became a severe Persecutor of the Christian Faith insinuating to the Emperor that the Jesuites would never be obedient longer than needs must to his Commands and the whole Design was to introduce their Doctrine amongst the Japanners which was no other but to ferment Sedition to such a Rebellion that first might tread down all subordinate Authority and at last supplant the Emperor himself and so bring the whole Nation under the Subjection of that Catholick Tyrant the King of Spain A second Embassy from the Philipines to Taicosama Upon which Taicosama sent another Mandatory Letter to the Governor of the Philipines which the Ship being lost by the way he
manner proceeded Taicosama against all Quabacondon's not only his Ministers of State or whoever he had a kindness for but his Wives Children and Relations not leaving to persecute them till they all suffer'd miserable Ends In Meaco he brought one and thirty Ladies partly Noblemens Daughters partly Persons of Honor belonging to Quabacondono's Consort and part of them his Concubines which last he fetch'd from the Castle Jurazu All these he convey'd in Coaches to the place of Execution with their Children whose innocent Shrieks and Tears mingled with the doleful Lamentations of the Spectators would have made a Tyger relent But there was no room for Compassion for no sooner arriv'd they at the fatal place of their Deaths but the Executioner first shewing them Quabacondono's Head to which they ail reverently bow'd began the Slaughter first with the Children that were one by one beheaded next the Women thrown to the Ground were inhumanely slaughter'd and their Bodies cast into a deep Pit over which the Tyrant built a Structure which he call'd The Temple of Beasts Murder committed by Scirabingo's Widow After that he condemn'd the Widow and Children of Scirabingo to suffer Death but when the Coach that brought her stopp'd before the Palace the Widow to free her self from the opprobrious Insultings of the Tyrant and the Shame of her undeserved Death first stabb'd her three Sons and one Daughter and ere the Fact could be thought of sheath'd the same Dagger in her own Bosom and immediately fell breathless on her murder'd Children These savage Barbarisms perpetrated on Rational Creatures he rag'd next upon inanimates falling upon the Castle of Jurazu which he pull'd down to the Ground with three hundred Palaces more carrying the Timber and Stones to Fissima ¶ BUt this was not Taicosama's first Persecution of the Christians having begun before in Anno 1587. if Father Cornelius Hazart may be credited upon this occasion The first occasion why Taicosama persecuted the Roman Christians The Commander Domingo Montero came from Portugal into the Haven of Firando with an exceeding stout Vessel in the foremention'd Year All the Inhabitants admir'd its Beauty and Largeness that the Fame of it came to Taicosama's Ear who being desirous to see it commanded the Ship to be brought to Facata where he then resided in order whereto he directed the Governor of the Jesuits to write his Pleasure to Montero who so soon as he receiv'd the Letter went with all speed to Facata telling the Emperor the danger of the Voyage by reason of the abundance of blind Rocks Shoals and Shelves that lay in the way between Firando and Facata This Taicosama seem'd to accept as an Excuse but indeed took it exceeding ill to be thus deny'd his Request and resolv'd of a speedy Revenge For on the next day he publish'd Edicts That all the Jesuits should depart Japan in twenty days because they endeavor'd to bring a new Religion amongst them contrary to the Japanners which had been establish'd there many Ages The Emperor would have done this long before but that he staid till he had subdu'd the Kingdom Ximo in which most of the Christian-Teachers resided Five Franciscans and three Jesuits crucifiâ—d But it rested not here For Anno 1596. he proceeded cruelly against the Christians without distinction commanding Gibonoscio Governor of Nangesaque to take five Franciscans and three Jesuits and having Crucified run them through with Spears Hazart reports That the Franciscans were Gonsalves Garcia Philip de las Casas both Mexicans Peter Baptista Franciscus de Saint Michael and Martin de Aguirre three Spaniards The Jesuits Paulus Miki a Japanner Joannes Goto and Jacobus Kisai ¶ AS to what the same Hazart writes concerning the Miracles wrought by these Priests Hazart Ch. Hist l. 6. c. 2. let him believe who according to St. Augustine desires and depends upon new Miracles for establishment of Religion already confirm'd by Wonders Several Miracles However take it as related That Peter Baptista being sent Ambassador from Manilla to Tauglama cur'd a Japan Maid of the Leprosie by touching of her and that at the same time the like Fiery Tongues descended from Heaven upon the whole Congregation present at the Cure as formerly fell on the Apostles in the Feast of Pentecost That Philippo de las Casas sailing from Manilla to Mexico and by stress of Weather driven upon the Coast of Japan by the way saw in the Air a White Cross which soon after turn'd Red and at last was cover'd with a black Cloud This Cross they say had the same shape as that on which he was afterwards Crucified That Franciscus a Saint Michael immediately cur'd a dumb Japan Woman and afterwards an Indian mortally wounded by the Sting of an Adder by signing them with the Cross But concerning the Opinion of these Relations Erasm Argin lib. Conf. August Erasmus says thus What shall I say of you which endeavor to delude the Common People by telling them strange Wonders and Miracles wrought by your Fraternity Certain I am some have judg'd that by these fair Relations and handsom Stories they stirr'd up the People to Zeal and Piety but I hardly give credit to such Tales I will here annex some other Testimonies extracted from the primest of the Catholicks That famous Melchior Canus Bishop of the Canaries Cani Loc. Theol l. 〈◊〉 c. 6. one of the Chiefest in the Council of Trent says I must needs speak it with sorrow That the Lives of the Learned Heathens describ'd by Laertius is with more Uprightness than that of the Christian Saints Most of our Writers follow their own Imaginations and relate so many Fictions that I am asham'd thereof Nicholas de Lyra the younger Brother who flourish'd about Anno 1320 saith Lyr. in Dan. ca. 14. In the Church too many Delusions and vain Fantasies are admitted affirming variety of Wonders perform'd indeed by the Priests and their Associates for Profit sake So also Cornelius Agrippa tells us Agrip. de Vanit Scient cap. 97. That the Writers of the Saints Histories seem to surpass one another in Fabling declaring a new Doctrine and Teaching the Word of God with too great mixture onely for Lucre and Profit And Josephus Acosta who had been through most part of the Western Indies Acost lib. tit 4. cap. 12. de Proc. Indor Saâ—ute cries out saying What is our Preaching What is our Faith We do no Miracles There are no Wonders of our own that we can producce to confirm the Words of the Gospel Taicosama falls sick of the Bloody Flux ¶ BUt to return Taicosama now wearied with murdering fell sick of the Bloody-Flux in the latter end of July Anno 1598 first vomiting up his Gaul with some Blood afterwards in his Stools appear'd the Excoriatings of his Guts at last pieces of corrupted Flesh came from him with a horrible stench and great pain On the fifth of August greater Signs of Death appear'd he being continually
Destruction Daifusama seeks to settle the Crown on his own Family And whilst he was busie with this his bloody Design being over-grown in Age he was exceedingly troubled for his Successor And though he had promis'd to Taicosama by an Oath and Seal'd it with his Blood That Fideri when he attain'd to the age of fifteen Years should possess and enjoy the Imperial Throne yet now forgetting all ties of Oaths or other Obligations he resolv'd to dispatch him out of the way notwithstanding he had married his Daughter or else he could not deliver the Scepter to Conbosama and so establish the Crown in his own Line This Plot requir'd to be hid under some fair Pretence Whereupon seriously debating the matter he at last accus'd Fideri That in the last Civil War he had chosen to be on the side of the Opposers and had privately conspir'd to take the Government from him and that he took an Imperial Authority upon him before he was Crown'd Emperor and also endeavor'd to take away his Father-in-law's Life Besieges Fideri with a great Army These Complaints and Accusations he sent before whilst he with all his Endeavors rais'd a mighty Army in the Kingdom of Surunga Fideri kept his Court in the Castle Osacca Thither Daifusama march'd with his new-rais'd Forces and Besieg'd Fideri Three Months did he valiantly withstand all their fierce Assaults but at last growing too weak sought upon reasonable Articles to deliver up the Castle Fideri's Request deny'd But the Emperor would not hearken thereto for he desir'd nothing more than the Life of Fideri And he understanding his bloody Design said How was it possble that a Father-in-law could thus forget all Natural Affections and desire to make his own Daughter a Widow and his Grandchildren Orphans The cries of the Innocent would move a stony Heart to have compassion If Daifusama judg'd that he was not just and faithful and did not deserve to wear the Imperial Crown notwithstanding it was his Father Taicosama 's Will and Pleasure and though he was the just and lawful Heir to the Throne yet he would freely resign up his Interest and be contented with the least of the Japan Kingdoms nay a mean Lordship Why should he thirst after Blood Why persecute his own Relations If Daifusama fear'd any Rebellion he might easily keep Fideri so low that he should never dare as much as think of enjoying the Japan Empire Why Daifusama resolv'd to kill Fideri These mild and courteous Entreaties Daifusama regarded not for he saw it apparent that if he left him alive the Crown would fall to him he being now come to full Age and the rather because Fideri was exceedingly belov'd amongst the Common People every one acknowleding him as the true and lawful Successor of his late Father Taicosama Therefore he resolv'd to dispatch him or else his Family would be in danger to lose the Japan Scepter Fideri sent his Consort Daifusama's Daughter to her Father humbly to beseech him to spare Fideri's Life who would immediately become his Vassal but she was not permitted to have Audience Storms the Castle Osacca Daifusama had by this time pull'd down the Out-walls of Osacca and thrown them in the Moat and rais'd a Platform therein notwithstanding it was three hundred and ninety Foot broad and three and thirty deep The upper Breast-work made strongly of Clay and Plaister'd on the out-side was some Rods distant from the other Next those Walls which he had undermin'd fell to the Ground and through a Gap made by Storming he broke into the Castle Takes the outmost Castle But in the inclos'd Place where several Palaces were built he met with some Resistance yet the Opposers being over-power'd were forc'd to yield This made Daifusama absolute Master of the outer Castle But now his Career was stopp'd at the second Moat being of the same depth as the outermost but only two hundred and fifty Foot broad The chief Bridge over that Inner Lake hath Rails of massy Gold the Gate is also cover'd with Golden Plates Over this Bridge Daifusama sought to force his way Storms the inner Castle which with little difficulty he did because the Besieg'd neglected to make resistance Takes it The Gate being broke open made room for the Enemy which had soon taken hold of Fideri had he not suddenly hid himself on the inner Mountain inclos'd with Walls and of a noble Aspect by a Palace whose Roof is cover'd with Golden Tyles into which he fled with his Mother Consort and a considerable number of the Prime Nobles Daifusama's cruelty to his Son-in-law Daifusama had by this time secur'd them in the inner Palace and to the end he might destroy all those at once which oppos'd him from setling the Crown on his own Stock he caus'd great Heaps of Wood to be laid round the Palace which being lighted immediately set on fire and burnt the Court with Fideri and the Chief of the Japan Nobility to Ashes so that not the least appearance of any of them was ever seen more After this all those were to suffer which had at any time been familiar or had any Correspondency with Fideri This cursed Tragedy was acted in Japan Anno 1616. ¶ NOt long did Daifusama enjoy the benefit of his bloody Tyranny for dying within ten Months Daifusama dies he left the Japan Crown to his Son Conbosama His Son is made Emperor The beginning of whose Reign became remarkable by two eminent Passages not easily to be forgotten Horrible storm and flood in Japan The first was a mighty Storm which began and so increas'd more and more every Hour that in the Havens the Ships broke their Cables and driving on the Shore were split in pieces Those at Land also were not free from danger the Wind blowing up great Trees by the Roots casting down pieces of old Walls shaking the Houses and Temples and tumbling them down on a sudden In the Streets the Houses often falling down one against another slew those which stood there for shelter Several in the Countrey were lifted up from the ground and carried a good distance from the Place whereon they stood The Sea also rag'd with impetuous Billows that clogging the Rivers with the Surges the Water finding no vent overflow'd the Banks so drowning the adjacent Countreys Where the Rivers were inclos'd with Banks those were all broke by the swelling Waters The Sea beat with such violence against its bordering Coasts that it wash'd away whole Towns and Villages and the Salt Water flow'd into the Countrey for several Miles together After these Tempests and violent Motions of the Wind and Water follow'd another Mischief no way inferior to these Persecution against the Christians being a Bloody Persecution against the Christians rais'd by the Emperor through the Advice of a Japan Councellor call'd Safioie which made it his onely endeavor to destroy the Christians The Reason pretended to
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
in the middle so hoisting and retching their Bodies with the Ropes pulling them up a great height then on a sudden let the Cords go at once that the Tortur'd fell with great force to the ground which in a manner bereav'd them of Life whereupon the Executioners ran to them with all speed pouring Cordial Liquors into their Throats by which means they reviv'd again but no sooner did these miserable Wretches breath but they were afresh afflicted With Canes fill'd with sulphur At other times they fill'd hollow Canes with Sulphur and other strong burning Ingredients shutting their Mouths close together and putting one end of the Reed or Cane into their Nostril and set the other a fire which made not onely the skin come off from their Faces but scorch'd their Heads inwardly With sharp Reeds lighted Torches and Scourges They also cut their flesh with sharp Reeds or Flags tearing the Wound open to the Bone then burning the body with lighted Torches insomuch that the Skin shriveling together hung like Lappets Others were stript stark Naked and ty'd by their Arms and Legs cruelly beaten with Japan Canes Cruelties against the Mothers Mothers of young Children suffer'd above all others for the Executioners with great violence struck their Childrens Faces against theirs and the more the Children cry'd the more the Mothers were tortur'd To others they apply'd green Flags which making very hot they laid them on their naked Bodies till all their Skin from Head to Foot was burn'd black they also put glowing Coals into their Hands which if they threw away should be a sign of their denying the Christian Religion according to the Verdict given by the Japan Judges And Children The Children had their Flesh torn from their Bones with hot Pincers and their Ears and Noses cut off In Ximabara Bungodono kept fifty Christians Prisoners which in a disgraceful manner were led through the Streets of the City to a Plain near the Sea-side against seven of them he was very severe namely Thomas Chibioius Paul Nagata Leonardus Sacuzaiemon Joannes Gonzaiemon Jenixus Dines Maria and Clara Nagata's Wife because they had been instruments to the spreading of Christianity therefore in the foremention'd Field were digg'd seven Pits three Fathom deep and six wide at an equal distance one from the other in each of them stood a thick Post with a piece of Timber nail'd on the top thereof like a Cross the Condemned sate down whilst their Arms being stretch'd out A cursed way of Execution were made fast to the cross piece their Necks were lock'd betwixt two thick Planks made hollow in the middle so that their Heads appear'd immoveable above them Bungodono was one of those that perform'd this Office first Sacuzaiemon's right Arm was leisurely Saw'd off then they began to file the Necks of those that were made fast with sharp tooth Canes strowing Salt into the Wounds five days they continu'd their filing without unbinding them or letting them have the least rest The Executioners releasing one another the Physicians were also ready which thorow small Tunnels pour'd Cordial Liquors down their Throats to the end they might be the longer dying The remaining three and forty stood the first and second day as Spectators but on the third and fourth they were ty'd Hand and Feet and plac'd on a sharp piece of Wood with a great Stone in their Laps close by the Martyrs Against the Evening they were carry'd through the City to their Prison the Japanners shouting and hallowing at them when any chanc'd to fall from their sharp piece of Wood. In the Jayl their Tortures began with lighted Torches pieces of sharp Canes drove betwixt their Nails Pails full of Water pour'd thorow Tunnels into their Bellies and trampling On their Bellies to make them disgorge it but in a short time all the forty three became Apostates The tortur'd Apostatize except Michael Xozaburo a Youth of Conga The seven also which were near Ximabara remain'd not constant for on the first day five forsook their Baptism and on the last night Nagata also deny'd the same onely Thomas Chibioius endur'd all their Tortures full seven days when on the last of May Anno 1630. the Executioners being tired with their bloody work Saw'd off his Head The others were let loose out of the Pits but Nagata Sacuzaiemon and Gonzaiemon though they had renounc'd yet by order of Bungodono were slain Clara dy'd soon after those Tortures which she had endur'd by the excessive pain being so bereav'd of sence she never came to her self again and Gonzaiemon repenting of his Apostacy had his Head cut off by a Woodden Saw Some recal the renouncing of their Religion and cut thorow in the middle with a Scymiter Horrid Prison in Japan ¶ NOt far from the City Tomioca in the Island Xiquo the Governor Tobioio had erected in a Field a large Prison with several Apartments for Men Women and Children but so little that every Prisoner was forc'd to sit on his Knees not being able to rise up nor stir himself the one way nor the other the Walls and Roof being stuck full of sharp Canes and Spikes so that many for want of sleep and continual pain gave up the Ghost in the Prison In Amacusa they nail'd up their houses so starving them to death Emperor Toxogunsama dies ¶ ANno 1653. The Emperor Toxogunsama dy'd without Issue so that Daifusama his Family ended all in the second Generation The next to the Crown was Prince Quane who was immediately after Toxogunsama's death set on the Throne under the tuition of five Overseers Congono Bongono Inhano Oyemo and Sannikino The Christian Religion was now fully rooted up wherefore those strict Edicts heretofore Issu'd out against them began to be forgotten it seem'd as if the Emperors Overseers had a greater mind to a foreign Trade The Peers govern more mildly and therefore Govern'd a quite contrary way to that of the Emperors They first wink'd at those Sanguinary Laws so letting them decay by degrees by which means many Traders suddenly came ashore The Spaniards also had no small hopes to regain their former Trade and the Japanners themselves had leave to Trade in other foreign Countreys which liberty they had been debar'd of a long time Jesuits intend to return to Japan Haz. Church Hist fol. 182. But chiefly the Jesuits took fresh courage who immediately spread themselves over the neighboring Provinces of Japan as Tunquin Councina and other places to the end they might be near at hand that as soon as any fit opportunity presented they might Land on Japan and go on afresh with their former design but it hath to this day had no success for the Overseers of the Emperor Quane kept strict Watch against their incroachings though they seem'd not so eager in erecting the foremention'd Blood-baths according to those strict Edicts publish'd by Toxogunsama Toxogunsama a great Sodomite ¶ IT deserves
also relates that the Lyflanders believe Adders and Serpents to be gods for which reason they shew'd them all honor imaginable every Master of a Family noble or ignoble keeping one in his House which they worshipp'd and fed with Milk and Cocks-flesh It was held for a certain ill Omen if any misfortune or ill happen'd thereto and the unfortunately wicked Offender that hurt the Vermin was generally cut Limb from Limb. The Prusians Antiquit. Boruss l. 1. according to the account of Erasmus Stella liv'd several Ages without acknowledging any Religion till at last they became devoted adorers of Serpents The same ignorance is at this day a Custome amongst the Samogithes if any ill happen to them they presently judge that it proceeds from their House-Serpent which hath not been well treated Sigismund Baron of Herbenstein tells us that he came from Muscovia to Troki Comment Muscovia where his Host in whose House he had Lodged the Year before told him that at that time he had bought some Bee-hives of a Servant to a worshipper of Serpents who by many convincing arguments was become a Christian for which cause he slew his Serpent which till then he had religiously worshipped but afterwards going to the Field to view his Bees he found by their Hives a Man with his Mouth wide open to his very Ears and of strange shape This deformed Creature cry'd out I have laid violent hands on my god the Serpent and am therefore thus purnish'd and if I do not return to my deserted Religion I shall suffer ten thousand times more Of whom the Japanners have learnt to worship Serpents It appears that the Japanners and also other antient and later People have erected the Images of Serpents in their Temples because Eve was deceived by a Serpent for who will contradict that the Heathens do not hide Gods Truth under their seeming Ignorance and shew through their greatest darkness a glimmering of light although by the Devils policy and falsness of Man-kind the glory and splendor of the holy Bible hath been more and more darkned which the Greek and Latine Poets have neatly adorn'd and chiefly that which they relate of the never-sleeping Dragon that kept the Golden Apples in the Garden of Hesperides which Hercules slew at last bringing away the Golden Fruit to his Father Eurystheus Is not this a likeness of the Serpent in Eden whose Head our Saviour bruis'd to pieces and doth it not represent the Religion of the antient Greeks According to the testimony of the Greek Writers Hesychius Clemens and Plutarch the Greeks say they cry aloud on their Feast-days Clem. in Protrept Plut. in Alex. Eva Eva pointing together at a Serpent And what a pudder the Ophites which came forth Anno 132. made about a Snake may be seen in the Church-Histories Ophites what kind of Hereticks They Preach'd that Christ was the Serpent that deluded Eve and afterwards entred into the Virgin Mary in the shape of a Snake They kept not the Sacrament without bringing forth by Charms a Serpent out of her Hole and sometimes out of a Box judging the Bread to be vile and not holy if the Viper had not tasted or at least touched it The Serpent under the Japan Creator of what kind BUt to return again to the Japan Serpent about the Tree whereon the Idol of the Creation fits This Snake stretches its Head to the right side of the Idol where two horrible Fiends stand on the edge of the Wall that incloses the Water and Tortoise before mention'd Description of a Japan Devil The foremost Spirit hath two hairy Feet a long Tail a Scarf wrapt under his Arms which hangs on his Back about his Neck a rich String of Pearls with both the Hands holding the Serpent close by the Head the Ears are great like an Asses that stand upright but Headed like a Dog with a long Snout In former times Anubis a famous Deity amongst the Egyptians appear'd with a Dogs Head because Isis made use of Anubis that thereby she might seek for her lost Husband Osiris King of Egypt who was murder'd by his Brother Typhon and at last in Syene found him in several Pieces Another very terrible Moreover between the Image with the Dogs Head and the chief Idol stands a second Shape likewise laying hold on the Serpent Clothed in a Coat cut sloapingly above the Knees a Scarf about his Neck made fast on his Breast the longest end thereof hanging over his right Arm His Head is most like unto that of a Roe-buck holding its Mouth wide open with large Ears and a pair of Harts-horns These two Monsters as they say us'd all their Force and endeavor to hinder the Creation of the World Why the Japanners offer them Sacrifice The Japanners offer Sacrifice to them when Herbs and Plants are in their first Growth to the end they should not hurt the tender Plants The worshippnig of the Devil brought from China to Japan Maff. Histor. Indie l. 6. ¶ It seemeth that this worshipping of evil Spirits was brought from China to Japan for the Chineses worship the Devil not for any good they desire of him but because he should not hurt them The Images of these Devils rest on horrible Dragons that spit forth Fire from their gaping Mouths and are made after a terrible manner Of them they desire to know the event of such things as they take in hand which they do thus Strange dealings with evil Shapes They have two Woodden Buttons as big as Acorns which are split in the middle and strung on a piece of Thred which they throw down at the Feet of one of these evil Spirits if they both fall with the flat sides downwards or one on the flat and the other on the round side that they look upon as a bad Omen for which cause they rail exceedingly against their Deity but immediately after as if they repented they again flatter him and sue for pardon by offering Sacrifice and whenever their lot falls out unluckily they fall from Words to Blows throwing the Image into the Water or burn some part off from his Body then they fall again to Praying This kind of scolding and worshipping continues so long till both the Buttons fall flat on the Ground whereupon they all rejoyce thanking the evil Spirit presenting him with all manner of Dainties curiously drest as Ducks Geese Rice and Swines Heads accounted one of their best Dishes and a Can of Wine When they have laid a little scrap of the foremention'd Dishes on the Altar before the Image as the Tip of the Hogs Ear the Claws of the foremention'd Fowls and some drops of Wine they fall upon the rest themselves and eat it up with a great deal of mirth and good appetite There are also Priests amongst the Chineses establish'd by Lanzis whose Mother went big with him eighty years These draw on yellow Paper horrible Shapes of evil Spirits which
manner of Handicrafts resided in the City but the number of the Ships which Sailed to Persia Ceylon Cormandel Malacca Siam Molucco-Islands Tayoan and other Places from Batavia was unknown to them They were also ask'd If the Hollanders saw any way by which they might Conquer Nangesaque Are silent in one Question as they had done Quilang But making as if they understood them not this Question was not answer'd Sicungodonne enquir'd of them also Why their Ketch Breskens had fir'd her Guns several times in the Haven of Namboe which had frighted the Fishermen and all the Countrey People thereabouts Also if they had not a Minister aboard The Hollanders acknowledg'd That the hady fir'd with bare Powder on the intreaty of some Japan Gentlemen which came Aboard of them to view the Ship and that they had not the least intentions to scare the People which they not once thought of being accustom'd to do the same before Firando when any Gentlemen desir'd it but out of fear they deny'd that they had a Minister Aboard At last they were ask'd if they could not swim as they had seen many Hollanders do at Nangesaque This Question amaz'd them much not knowing why they should ask it yet they reply'd That some could swim and others not Sicungodonne leaving off to make any farther Examination gave the Hollanders leave to go to their Lodgings where they rested till the three and twentieth of September without any farther molestation Then the Secretary told them that their Landlord was gone to the Lord Sicungodonne's House to ask for some Clothes for them because the cold Weather began to pinch and they were us'd to go warm Cloth'd Sicungodonne promis'd to furnish them with Coats He also signifi'd that the imprison'd Jesuits and Japanners not being able to endure the exquisite Tortures had deny'd Christianity The next day the Interpreters Kitsbioye and Fatsiosaimon with the Renegado Priest Siovan came and brought for every Hollander two Japan Coats made of Cotton by Sicungodonne's Order Which kindness the Hollanders knew not how to return sufficient thanks for A new fear arises amongst them Mean while understanding by some of the Servants that the next day they were to appear before some of the Magistrates they were exceedingly afraid and the more because they very well knew the two Dutch Interpreters expected from Firando could not yet be come to Jedo And whilst they sorrowfully sate considering of these Matters the Walls of the House began to shake the Timber to crack the Roofs to rent the Doors and Windows flying open and the Ground to move under them At which the Japanners signifi'd to them that a horrible Sea-Monster struck his Tail so vehemently against the Shore that he made all things to shake and tremble The Japanners Opinion concerning Earthquakes is antient But under this kind of ignorance seems to lie hid the antient Opinion of some Greek Philosophers which gave to Neptune the Name of Ennosigaeus that is A shaker of the Earth because it creeps into the Crevices thereof and breaks the Foundations with its swelling Waters This Opinion Thales and Democritus Abderita affirm'd with these Arguments viz. Because that in Earthquakes new Fountains often broke forth and great Places lay hid under almost fathomless Lakes and Plashes of Water But others with much more seeming Reasons attribute tke Earthquakes to the Winds inclos'd in the Caverns of the Earth Agellius puts both the said Reasons together Who are not saith he Nost A. A. l. 2. c. 19. sufficiently instructed by Nature whether the shakings and gapings of the Earth are occasion'd by the power of imprison'd Winds or inclos'd Waters swelling within the Earth Wherefore the Romans order'd a solemn Day of Humiliation to be kept when any great Earthquakes happen'd but they express'd not of what God they sought for help because they knew not whether it were Aeolus Commander of the Winds or Neptune Lord of the Seas that shook the World Japanners are much terrifi'd at an Earthquake The Japanners are exceedingly terrifi'd at Earthquakes knowing by dear Experience that Mountains have sunk into deep Pits Villages turn'd topsie-turvey Cities and whole Territories swallow'd up therefore when the inner parts of the Houses began to crack the Walls to totter the Mats which cover'd the Floors to move and other Houses here and there began to tumble every one ran to seek for a Place of safety their amazedness was so exceeding great which indeed was no wonder for who would not be afraid when the firm Earth affords no sure Foot-steps when it falls in under Towns and Villages An enemy may be repuls'd by high Bulwarks and inaccessible Ways against great Storms Harbors are sure Guards Fire follows not those which flye from it raging Sickness though it empties Cities yet swallows them not up but the Earthquakes hide oftentimes under heaps of Rubbish or almost bottomless Pits Mountains Cities nay whole Territories without leaving the least Mark behind so that whole Generations of People are buried with the Ruines of their Habitations Why the Hollanders were less afraid The Hollanders seem'd to be less afraid than any because they not onely knew of their Mortality in what Place soever they were but that they might easily suffer an involuntary Death not yet knowing how they should come off but that they were at the pleasure and dispose of a barbarous Nation It would be no great matter of difference to them if some merciful Japanner if such a one might be found any where cover'd their Bodies with Earth or if the Earth it self perform'd the Office for without doubt they should suffer a far more easie Death under than upon the Earth Strange alteration in Japan by an Earthquake Most part of the Evening this Trepidation continu'd onely giving several shakes for at other times Japan feels greater sorrow by these Earthquakes because it often happens there that the Earth sinks or makes terrible gapings Rivers swelling overflow cooling hot Springs and making hot cold that Flames break forth from the Mountains or on the contrary that burning Mountains are quenched by Earthquakes that plain Countreys become Mountains and Mountains turn into Plains that Islands are blown up out of the Sea and others sink under Water The reasons of Earthquakes descrid d after divers manners We must acknowledge it to be a great Wisdom which is not onely satisfi'd by the outward appearance of such horrible Motions but also searches into the Secrets of Nature to find out the Reasons of such Trepidations The Japanners as we said before ascribe it to the Water or rather according to their Custom and idle Fancies to a Sea-Monster But those that ascribe it to the Water differ in their Opinions Some maintain according to Thales Milesius that the Earth swims upon the Sea and is moved by it almost like a Ship Others say That the Earth is cut through by continual flowing Streams by immense Lakes inhabited round about
Winds they cannot get beyond the Priest-Mountain they have above a hundred Watches about their Ship which cutting their Cables tow them out of the Haven of Nangesaque In the Corean Ocean generally from September to April a Northerly Trade-wind blows so fresh that they can scarce carry out their Top-sails The Bank Pracellis formerly a Kingdom But this Ship Hilversom ran once in this Voyage no small danger falling by Night on the Tail of Pracellis which is a Riff or Bank lying about twenty Leagues from the main Coast of Cambodia being above a hundred Leagues long and forty broad The Indians relate That it was a Kingdom in former Ages but sunk by Earthquakes On both sides of Pracellis lye two Shoals call'd Bruers Sand and Alkmaers wherefore it is very dangerous here for Shipping and this is the place where in Anno 1660. the rich laden Ship Tergoes was split all to pieces Wagenaer would fain have put for the Piscadore Islands to find out the longmiss'd Ship the Bull but durst not go too near the Shore because of the Hazie Weather Yet Anchoring at Pool Timon Miserable condition of the Ship call'd the Sea-Knight he found there the Ship call'd The Sea-Knight miserably torn and shatter'd by foul Weather most part of her Masts being gone and the Fore-castle and Cabins well-nigh wash'd away by the Sea The Merchant Henry Baron and a great many of the Sea-men seem'd more like Skeletons than Living Creatures Baron was struck with a lameness in his Hands and the Palsie in his Feet so seeming to hasten to death while he was yet living which made Wagenaer earnestly to ask him concerning the State and Condition of Tonkin that after his Decease he might relate the same to the Council at Batavia Strange Sickness in Tonkin The Sea-men related That there hapned that Year a great Sickness in Tonkin which suddenly took away abundance of People and seiz'd upon the healthfullest Persons in a Minutes Time first a Giddiness taking them in the Head of which they fell on the Ground and died both senseless and speechless in few Hours after which manner the Netherland Agent in Tonkin Nicholas de Voog died also This Tonkin Sickness was not unlike the Plague in England first known in King Henry the Sevenths Reign Anno 1486. which after forty three Years spreading over Germany swept away an innumerable company of People in a short time Plague After which the Plague began again in England and chiefly in London where Anno 1550. died a very great number in a few Months It is said That a Master of a Family having twelve Children besides his Wife and Servants was well and hearty at Dinner yet all of them dead before Night Those that got the Sickness died in few Hours but if suddenly they sweated out the Poyson they recover'd by Degrees Wagenaer arrives at Batavia ¶ WAgenaer furnishing the Sea-Knight with some Provisions went on his Voyage but missing the Straights of Banka he hapned to come amongst several unknown Islands where he drove up and down three Hours before he got on his right Course again This and the other trouble of getting over the Tail of Pracellis arose from the difference amongst the Officers of the Ship every one willing to Steer a several Course notwithstanding the strong Currents deceiv'd many yet in December Anno 1659. Wagenaer arriv'd safe at Batavia and went ashore with Henry Indiik and Ernest of Hoogenhoek Indiik made Governor of Disma But Indiik staid but a small time in Batavia bein sent back to Japan to take the Place of John Bouchelyon and accordingly he set Sail in the Calf Frigat accomnied with the Hearn and Sparrow on the six and twentieth of November Anno 1660. The Charge and Command of the East-India Companies Treasure in Japan was committed to Indiik whom the Secretaries Sannemondonne and Mootefnostrydonne complemented according to the Custom being establish'd in his new Employ in the Governor of Nangesaque's Name desiring him to take special care of his Fire and Candles to prevent all dangers that might accrew thereby and took also a List of the Netherlanders Names that remain'd on the Island Disma the number whereof were nineteen amongst which were reckon'd Indiik's Son and Daughter besides the Blacks which were in the Service of the East-India Company But the Secretaries that came to Complement the new-elected Governor after some Entertainment return'd home The Hollanders Burying-place in Japan ¶ NOt long after Indiik had leave to Interre the Body of the Deceas'd Merchant Francis Reynerson The Corps put in a Coffin was carried under a Black Cloth through Nangesaque by the Book-keepers Interpreters and other Servants of the East-India Company to a Barque in which they carried it over to the other side of the Haven before Nangesaque and there buried it on a Hill being the Place for that purpose given by the Japanners to the Netherlanders News of Coxenga's Design upon Formesa Mean while the Ottena for so they call the Japan Governor of Disma whereon the Hollanders Store-house stands brought Information from a Chinese Jonk that was come with a rich Cargo from Zaetsin to Nangesaque That Coxenga not long after their departure had a considerable number of Soldiers ready to send under the Conduct of a valiant Chinese General and two Mandarins of which one was his Uncle Sauja to Formosa there to take Tayovan and the Fort Zealande from the East-India Company or at least to pillage the Countrey The Jonk also brought news That the Chinese Admiral Itchien coming with a great many rich Merchandizes to Japan had by a mighty Storm lost all his Upper-works and with much ado sav'd his Life And that in Tonkin since the last great Sickness there which swept away many thousand People after the manner aforemention'd a second Plague had hapned which did no less mischief for the Waters breaking up in all parts of the Countrey Strange poysonous Water had poyson'd all the Soil and sent forth malignant Vapours which destroy'd both Men and Beasts ¶ FUrthermore Indiik engag'd the Servants of the East-India Company not onely to come and hear the usual Evening and Morning Service but also to be present at the hearing of the Sermons and singing of Psalms on the Sunday And whilst they follow'd their Religion thus undisturb'd Tsoemangy Ficojemon came to Nangesaque to Officiate as Governor in the deceased Kaynussio's Place Wherefore Indiik was not negligent to wish Ficojemon Joy by the Interpreters and Ottena of his new Office desiring that himself might have the Honor to Complement and tender him some Presents which being granted Indiik went thither proffer'd his Presents and desir'd Ficojemon's Favor who modestly receiv'd the Presents promis'd his Assistance to the promoting of the Netherland Trade Ficojemon visits Indiik and not long after came with great Attendance to visit Indiik on the Island Disma where he took great delight in the Garden
with the Island Sinoja and in the Morning had sight of Fibi when a stiff Gale out of the North drove them more to the South-ward so that soon after they came near Margan Rocks which rise very high out of the Sea on the highest of them lies a curious neat Town below which the Rock is very artificially hewn out for a convenient Haven against all Winds whatsoever Here the Ambassador drop'd Anchor and when grown somewhat calmer stood out again but could not reach beyond Fibi however at Night he got to Dasacci and although the Storm began to blow afresh yet next day he got to Ousimata from whence he Sail'd over to Wota where he lay at an Anchor all Night and in the Morning Weighing got to the Banks before Muro where he ran a ground the Barque giving a great blow and had without doubt burst asunder had not the Wind blown off from the Shore so that haling out all their Sails they at last got off and afterwards judg'd it convenient to fall down to the Island Jesima so to get into a deeper Water On Jesima as also on all the other little Islands stood a Beacon Beacons built four and twenty years before upon an occasion which the Japan Interpreter related being at the time when the Islands of Bungo and Saykok rebell'd against the Emperor and made the Water between Japan and Tonsa very dangerous by their Piracy wherefore the Islanders so soon as ever they descry'd any Ships from their Beacons gave notice thereof to the Main-Land by fireing them in the Night or making a great Smoke in the day time whereupon they immediately Guarded the Sea-Shore and sent off several Vessels well Man'd since which time they observ'd the same Custom with their Beacons either in bad Weather or when any one endeavors to make his escape that hath by some means or other incur'd the Emperors displeasure On which occasions a certain sign is given so that he who thought to save himself by flight seldom escapes notwithstanding he suddenly gets into some Haven or other for the Water between Bungo Tonsa and the Main-Coast of Japan from Simonisacci to Osacca is full of little Islands on every one of which stands a Beacon Guarded and continually Watch'd by two Men that have three Shillings a day Pleasant Scituation of Swoja The Holland Ambassador after he left Jesima Steer'd his Course Easterly and drop'd Anchor in the Haven which washes Swoja where going Ashore he found the Countrey thereabouts so exceeding pleasant that the whole Earth cannot shew a finer spot of Ground How much have the Romans cry'd up the Countrey about Capua which yields Fruit twice a year where there is a disputable difference whether the Ground be Fruitfuller that produces Corn or Vines The Greeks also spent much time in describing the famous Tempe in Thessalie But certainly both Tempe and Campania may not be compar'd to the pleasantness of Swoja which is on the South Wash'd by the Ocean that makes a convenient Harbor having against Northern Storms a high Shore against Eastern the Promontory of Saccai and against Western the mighty Island Tonsa and the high Rocks on the South-Shore break the violence of the Waves when at any time a South Wind blows the Billows against the Shore Moreover round about the City the Countrey is exceeding delightful because of the several Growths with which it is adorn'd In some places the Ground being Hilly is Crown'd with shady Trees in others the Valleys abound with all manner of Plants there are Plow'd Fields here pleasant Meadows full of Oxen and Sheep The City Swoja it self very curiously built hath many great Store-houses in which the Merchandize from all places are laid to be transported thence to Osacca Saccai Miaco and other places of Trade The Ambassador Zelderen unladed some Hart and Buck Skins here whilst the Sea-men went to see the Neighboring Town Akas because the Citizens of Swoja related a strange Story of an accident which for the most part ruin'd that Town And indeed when they came thither Ruine of the Town Akas they found above half of Akas lying desolate some Houses being faln in others sunk into the Ground yet others appear'd with some part of them lying on the Earth but the other part stood in a pretty good condition The Inhabitants whereof told them That not long since a terrible Earthquake shook the Earth two days together then the Flames broke forth betwixt the crack'd Earth as if it would have devour'd all things and lastly there arose such a Fog that choak'd many Not far from this lies a Sulphurous burning Mountain whose Subterranean Fire having consum'd the Earth at last broke forth The Emperor Toxogunsama allow'd them some of his Revenues to Re-build that part of the Town which was so harras'd Auszug des Stathalters zu miako Vyt Rydinge vande Gouverneur van MIAKO Gouernor of Miaco 's Proyres The Japan Emperor hath in all his Fortifications plac'd Overseers whose Offices are to look after the repairing of the Walls and putting in new Stones so soon as they see any one begin to decay Whilst they Rode here at Anchor the Ambassador Zelderen saw a Japanner Japanner drowns himself who having great Stones ty'd about his Neck Legs and Middle leaping into the Water drown'd himself for the honor of Canon The Vessel in which he was brought from the Shore was immediately burnt being too Holy to be us'd thereafter for any Worldly Affairs Description of the Ambassadors Reception in Meaco ¶ THe Holland Ambassador hasting on his Voyage and passing by Osacca came to an Anchor close under Miaco whereinto he was conducted in great State The foremost that came were eight hundred Horsemen on well-train'd Steeds every one Arm'd with a Bow and Quiver full of Arrows a long Pike two Swords a large Cutting-Knife a Helmet and Waxt Buskins by the Japanners call'd Taepjes Behind them came two Japan Officers Riding one by another the Emperors Standard-Bearer follow'd holding a long Staff at the end whereof Wav'd a great Flag representing on Embroyder'd Gold and Silver round O's and five pointed Stars and below the O's a half Moon a Snails Horn three Stars and the Flower Toxangpenung Then came seven Men playing on Pipes and six with Trumpets behind these follow'd five on Horseback beating on Kettle-Drums then a great square Canopy was brought by four Supporters under which Rode one who held the Emperors and the City Meaco's Arms before his Breast on the Horses Neck next follow'd several Musicians Playing on all manner of Instruments Lastly came the Governor sitting in a very costly Coach the Wheels Waxt and Gilt Great State of the Governor of Meaco went slowly about between which were two great Oval Openings and two other but much lesser the Curtains very handsome being of Flower'd Silk on the top were two Gilded Dragons who with their fore Feet hold a Coat of Arms the four Corners were adorn'd
with Turn'd Cups the Coachman holding a Pike with a Gilded Star at the end of it in his left Hand and in his right four Reins which came thorow as many Holes of the Axel-Tree he sate with his Legs under him on a square Seat cover'd with Flower'd Silk behind the Coach also sate three Musicians on each side went several Servants with Fans The four Horses which drew the Coach were led by four Persons of Quality the Governor looking out sometimes between the Curtains all those that saw him fell down with their Faces flat on the Ground just behind the Coach came a Guard of Souldiers half of them carrying Pikes and the other half Musquets which were follow'd by a Merchant richly Cloth'd his Horses Head whereon he Was Mounted adorn'd with a stately Plume of Feathers some distance after him a Sedan or rather a Throne was carry'd by fourteen Gentlemen seven going on each side carry'd a long Pole to which the Sedan was made fast on their Shoulders this Throne having an ascent of five steps on a Square each corner supported by a curious Turn'd Post about every one of which Silk Curtains were ty'd the Covering also of Silk was adorn'd with Fringe In this Sedan two of the Magistrates of Meaco were carry'd then follow'd several other ordinary Sedans with Noblemen and last of all Rode divers Troops of Horse The Holland Ambassador receiv'd in this State Rode towards the City Description of Meaco ¶ The first Gate of the City Meaco hath three Entrances whereof the middlemost is the biggest built between a Free-Stone-Wall the inner Gate is one Story high from whose Roof Stream'd a Flag with the Citie-Arms Miaco by the Japanners also call'd Cabucoma and Cocquay contain'd formerly in its Circumference one and twenty Miles but is since by the Civil Wars become above a third part less yet at this day it reckons above eighty thousand Families divided into the upper and lower City the lower spreads it self to Fissima and is so costly built that one Edifice seems to be above a Mile long In the upper Miaco the Dayro with his Cungies that is Counsellors keeps a stately Court himself looks like a Savage being never Shav'd nor his Nails par'd besides five Eminent Colledges in the City there are five Free-Schools more about Miaco viz. Coja Wegru Franzon Homi and Bandu every one of which hath above three thousand five hundred Scholars which are there taught the Arts of Rhetorick Oratory Histonography Astronomy Poetry and Arithmetick Strange Tree Here grow Palm Trees of whose Juyce the Japanners make an excellent Drink the Root digg'd up and dry'd in the Sun then Planted again in a short time will grow to be another Tree Not far from Miaco the Mountain Frenojamma riseth with its spiring top towards the Clouds Peter Davity tells us of a very strange Mountain seen in the Kingdom Jetchu which Flames continually In the Meacomean Lake is a Fish not unlike a Poor-Jack which the Japanners dry and send to all parts of the Countrey Pet. Davity in his Description of Asia The foresaid Davity relates also That the French King Lewis the thirteenth had tasted of them Strange Graves in Japan Moreover here as in most places of Japan are several Tombs or Graves rais'd of Free-Stone about two Foot high in which being hollow the Friends to the Deceas'd often times lay Water and raw Rice which the poor People or Birds fetch from thence They also strow the Graves with Flowers and Boughs of Trees Taicosama's Court ¶ VEry admirable is the Palace which Taicosama built in Miaco in which hang a thousand Pieces of Tapistry Embroyder'd with Gold just before the Palace is a spacious open Court in the middle of which stands a Theatre where they Act both Tragedies and Comedies on every side thereof stand four Turrets each four Stories high The Houses and Apartments are for the most part built of Wood yet handsome to behold They seldom Build of Stone because the Earthquakes are so frequent in Japan and though often times whole Villages nay Cities are burnt down yet they all Build again of Timber Wood in Japan wherewith the Woods furnish them plentifully for they not onely produce ordinary Timber but also White Wood not unlike that of which in Europe we make Virginals besides all manner of Fruit-Trees and tall Cedars whose lofty Crowns seem to salute the Skies The Cedars are us'd most for Pillars and Masts The Japanners have strange Orders when a Fire happens in the Night for the Street in which the Fire is must help themselves for none else will come near to assist them by which means many times the Fire gets such a head that the Flame consumes all before it IN Meaco as in most other places of Japan they drive a great Trade in far better order than in any part of Europe for it is no small help or benefit that all the Japan Lordships Dukedoms and Provinces have one Measure both for wet and dry Goods Their Measure call'd Ichin Japan Measure is six Rhyneland Feet long divided into six greater and sixty lesser parts of else every Foot into ten Inches From this Ichin they make their Ell call'd Issiack which is exactly the sixth part of the Ichin but the Issiack hath also ten great and sixty lesser parts the tenths are call'd Isson ten Issons make an Itsiebou and six Itsiebous one Ichin which Measure all Shop-keepers use and is so exact that it differs not a Hairs breadth Their Streets and Miles All the Streets in Japan as well in the Cities as in the Countrey Villages are of an equal length viz. sixty Jekjens or Ichins that is thirty Rhyneland Rods sixty Streets make a Japan Mile or a thousand eight hundred Rods. In the High-ways at every Miles end are little round Hillocks thrown up by Men employ'd for that purpose on which they plant four high Trees which are great Guides and Helps to Travellers Japan Weight Moreover the Japan Weight is full as exact as their Measure which consist of Fiaekin being a hundred and twenty five Dutch Pounds one Fiaekin makes a hundred Cattys one Catty sixteen Taile one Taile ten Maes one Maes ten Coudryn one Coudryn ten Rinnen Japan Coyn very strange The same order they observe with their Coyn. The Mint-Master coyns no Money either of Copper Silver or Gold but every Merchant goes to the Farmers of the Metal-Mines of whom he buyes the gross Silver and Gold as cheap as he can then makes it of an exact weight according to the Emperors Order then he delivers the Pieces to the Emperors Officers of the Mint which meet on certain days to weigh the Money which is brought in to them whether it be full weight and if it wants but half a Grain they cut it in the middle and so return it to the Owner Those that are weight the Officers mark with their Stamp which done it must be
the Elbows on their Helmets they wear Plumes of Feathers Whilst the King eats they beat on Kettle-drums before his Hall The Inhabitants freely proffer their Daughters to the Hollanders to vitiate them Description of Malacca ¶ SOme Ships that sail from Nangesaque go for Malacca which City lies on an even Shore being about three Miles in length well seated for Conveniency of Trade and cut through with a River made passable by a fair Bridge over which the Citizens come to one another At the time when Alphonsus Albuquerque re-took the famous City Goa for Emanuel King of Portugal the Arabian Mamud King of Malacca had contrary to his Oath set upon some Portuguese and kept them close Prisoners But Albuquerque hasting to Malacca to release them met in his way with a Malacca General call'd Naodabeguca who setting upon them bought his Death dearly falling down at last with a hundred gaping Wounds on the Ground It occasion'd no small wonder Strange Wonder of a wounded Malaccan that not one of them bled a drop but so soon as a Golden Armlet was taken from him the Blood gush'd forth from all parts in great abundance so that Naodabeguca instantly gave up the Ghost The Prisoners inform'd that a Bone of the Beast call'd Cabim was inclos'd in the Armlet by whose Power the Blood was stopp'd Strange Wedding-house ¶ MAmud's Daughter marrying to the Prince of the Panenses kept her Wedding in Malacca The Nuptial Ceremonies were perform'd in great State A great House or moving Castle built on thirty Wheels and hung with rich Tapestry was by Elephants drawn through the City within stood the Tables cover'd and the Guests sung danced and acted all manner of pleasant Pastime Whilst thus Malacca was in the height of its pleasure Albuquerque brought his Fleet into the Harbor and demanded the delivery of the Portuguese Prisoners which Mamud out of fear deliver'd him yet the Portuguese set the City on Fire Malacca on Fire and not thus satisfied Albuquerque would have a place in the City to build a Castle that they might drive their Trade without fear Moreover he demanded the Damage and Charges which the Fleet had cost preparing because it was done purposely for this Expedition The Kings Son and Son-in-Law cry'd out They would venture the utmost of it which though the Event prov'd never so bad could not be worse than the insufferable high Ambition of the Portuguese Thus the two young Princes perswaded Mamud to take up Arms who otherwise would have bought Peace though on unequal Terms Whereupon with speed raising some Fortifications but chiefly guarding the Bridge that went over the River with Men and Arms he carried out his Elephants with Towers full of Soldiers to hinder the Landing of the Portuguese Valiant Fight yet they notwithstanding all his resistance Landed John Lima marching directly on towards the smallest part of the City where the Kings Palace stood and also a Mahumetan Temple but hapned to fall in amongst Mamud's Son Alodyn's Soldiers which occasion'd a fierce Battel for a considerable time when Mamud himself came with his Elephants on the Backs of the Portuguese wherefore Lima facing about with a part of his Men broke their Ranks and wounded their Elephants who returning amongst their own Army made such a Rout that they tumbled one over another every one then seeking which way to fly Mamud being cruelly wounded sav'd himself by flight Alodyn also began to give ground But Albuquerque found so great Resistance at the Bridge that he sounded a Retreat yet a few days after he renew'd the Fight when it fortun'd much better for although Mamud had undermin'd the Streets so to blow up the Portuguese with Powder yet they being inform'd of it went along another way into the City led by Albuquerque whilst Anthony Abreus made himself Master of the Bridge But Albuquerque ran great danger for the Malaccans keeping close together in their narrow Streets made fierce resistance the Women and Children throwing Stones and other combustible things out of their Windows yet at last he forc'd them to fly raising a Bulwark at each end of the conquer'd Bridge and cover'd the same over on the top with Sails to keep off the Heat of the Sun Mamud running into the Woods there died of Grief Great Booty in Malacca The City it self was given to the Soldiers for Booty of which the fifth part should be preserv'd for Emanuel King of Portugal whose part amounted to two hundred thousand Golden Crowns Albuquerque building a strong Castle here gave the Command of it to Rhoderick Palatyn Treachery in the Fort. But not long after Alodyn had like to have made himself Master of the new Fort by Treachery for one Maxelys extracted from Bengala made particular acquaintance with Alphonsus Persona Treasurer of the Castle Alodyn giving Maxelys a good Sum of Money that he should admit Soldiers in Merchants Apparel to murder and kill all the Garrison which he had done had not Persona though mortally wounded behind by Maxelys retain'd so much strength that he got open his Door and cry'd out Treason Matelief's Voyage ¶ AFter this the Portuguese liv'd here undisturb'd till Cornelius Matelief sailing from the Texel Anno 1605. with eleven Ships Mann'd with thirteen hundred fifty seven Men fetch'd four great Ships out of the Haven of Malacca rais'd a Platform on Pulo Malacca and landed seven hundred Men which made the Portuguese retreat to their Suburbs fortified with a strong Wall and out of their Suburbs which were set on fire into the City Malacca it self the Portuguese had so fortified with wide Trenches strong Forts Gates and Towers that it would easily endure a great Siege John de Patuan King of Jor brought some Assistance to them but those Countrey People were neither fit to work for laziness nor to fight for faintheartedness Malacca besieg'd In the interim Matelief rais'd another Platform against the corner of the City-Trench from which he fired continually In the City died daily above forty People of Hunger and noysom Smells But the Besiegers also suffer'd almost as great Inconveniences not only a great Sickness hapning among them but being lodg'd under the open Canopy of Heaven were miserably stung by the Wasps so that continual waking had quite tired them yet they took fresh Courage when two Ships came from Holland with two hundred forty five Men to their Assistance But soon after the little Sung Frigat discover'd the Portuguese Fleet sent to relieve Malacca The Fight between the Hollanders and Portuguese Matelief being inform'd thereof fetch'd his Guns from the Platforms aboard brake up the Siege and prepar'd himself for an Engagement The next Morning the Fight began near the Promontory Rachabo Both Parties lost each of them two Ships but Matelief's Gun-powder growing short he resolv'd to clap them aboard and enter Calm Weather twice hinder'd their valiant Design and the third time the Portuguese taking advantage
That he spake with those that had hung three days in that horrible manner but at last forswore the Roman Religion not being able to endure this pain which exceeded Fire and all other imaginable cruelties their Bowels sinking down into their Throats seem'd to force all their intrails out of their Mouths the Blood also dropping out at their Eyes Mouths Noses and Ears The first that was kill'd after this manner The first that was thus Martyr'd if Hazart deserves to be credited was a Japanner one Nicholas Kean Fucananga who dy'd in the Well on the fourth day being the last of June And the next Anno 1633. After that several others were put to death in the same manner as Emmanuel Borges Joseph Reomuy Ignatius Kindo Antonius Giannonius Joannes Kidera Joannes Zama Benedictus Fernandez Paulus Saito Joannes de Acosta Julianus Nacaura Antonius de Souza and Sebastian Viera of which some were Italians and Portuguese but most of them Japanners of whom some hung three others six seven nay nine days before they gave up the Ghost Nacaura being carry'd to the Well cry'd aloud That he had kiss'd his Holiness Pope Gregory the thirteenth his Feet in Rome being sent thither by the Kings of Bungo Arima and Omura Anno 1582. Most of the Japanners Apostate ¶ THis Persecution brought those that remain'd constant to a miserable end and the faint-hearted to Apostacy insomuch that in sixteen years time scarce one was to be found of four hundred thousand How they Apostate Roger Gusbrechtzoon an eye-witness relates That Anno 1626. there were in Nangesaque above forty thousand Christians of which in three years time not one was to be seen for most of them had sign'd it with their own bloud taken from their little finger to shew and perform due Worship to their gods Amida and Xaca The Apostates are in danger of their lives Mean while an account was kept of all Apostates and those that sav'd their lives by betraying of Christians against which a private plot was laid to destroy them all at once just like the French in the Island of Scicily who when the Evening Bell rang for our Savior's Resurrection Anno 1282. were Murder'd in such a rage that the Scicilian Women big with Child by French-men were all slain ¶ TOxogunsama having by this time sufficiently extinguish'd Christianity in Japan sent a special Edict against the Portuguese Traders in Macaco in which it being Sign'd by the Camy's which as much to say as Councellors of State Cangano Sanuquino Voudino Cambuno Runo Bungane and Teuxumano Anno 1639. He forbad strictly that no Shipping should come from Macaco to Japan and if they should offer against his Command to come thither The Japan Emperor banishes the Portuguese their Ships should be broke up and the Seamen punish'd with death because that the Portugese sent privately Priests over thither to teach the Catholick Religion so making the Subjects to rise up against the Emperor as two years before seventy thousand Christians were in Arms near Arima between the Hills and in a well fortifi'd Valley but being so rudely entertain'd most of them dy'd by the Sword Macaco sends an Embassy to the Japan Emperor ¶ IN the interim the Inhabitants of Macaco were much concern'd seeing that profitable Trade of Japan was forbidden them and therefore they thought it convenient to send an Embassy thither to inform the Emperor that the Portuguese never sent any Priests thither nor that they had the least knowledge of the Insurrection at Arima The Ambassadors Lovis Paez Pacheco Roderigo Sanches de Paredes Simon Vaz de Paiva and Gonsaho Monteiro de Carvalho spent a whole years time in their Preparation In the middle of Summer Anno 1640. they set Sail with sixty nine Officers coming in the Haven they were fetch'd in by the Governor Babasuro Zayemon their Guns immediately taken out of the Ships and a Guard set to look after their Seamen The Emperor condemns the Ambassadors and their retinue to be beheaded Immediately Zayemon sent word thereof to the Emperor who sent two Persons of great Quality accompany'd with as many Executioners as there were Portuguese come from Macaco to Nangesaque The Princes Canga Chuminimbu and Novaga Manximbioye sent for the Portugal Ambassadors asking them Who made them so bold to Land in Japan contrary to the Emperors Commands Whereunto they answer'd That the Emperors Edict onely forbade the Trade their Ship brought no Merchandise thither but were onely come on an Embassy to Treat with the Emperor concerning his Prohibiting of their Trade The two Japan Princes gave no reply to their answer but read the Sentence which Toxogunsama had pronounc'd against the Portuguese Contents of the Proclamation The Contents were That since the spreading of the Christian Religion in Japan apparently contrary to the Emperors Edicts Wickedness and Debauchery was grown to a great height in that Empire therefore necessity forc'd them to execute great Punishments upon them and at last to give a stop to all private Dealings with the Portuguese on Forfeiture of his Majesties high Displeasure Those that notwithstanding his Commands ventur'd to come to Japan where to this day many Priests were privately kept whose design was nothing else but to stir up the People against their Just and Lawful Governors to turn the Empire into a Blood-Bath and bring it under the Subjection of a Foreign Tyrant And though the Portugal Ambassdors inform'd them in Person that they neither sent or kept any Priests in Japan yet the Macaco Letters make no mention thereof therefore what was said they dis-own'd and suspected them not without great reasons and for that cause the Emperor Prosecutes such Malefactors that offend his Authority Condemning them all to the Sword except some of the meanest Seamen which were spared alive to the end they might give an account of this Adventure to the Portuguese in Macaco and also that those should expect the same that durst hereafter adventure to Anchor in any Japan Haven The Edict being read and Translated out of the Japan Tongue into Portuguese the Condemned were carry'd on a Hill near Nangesaque being in all sixty one Persons Sixty one beheaded at once some Portuguese Castilians Chineses Bengaloisians Cafrians Malians extracted from the Islands Solor and Simor Malabaer Achenen Lanannen and Macassacren which were Beheaded by sixty one Executioners Their Bodies were bury'd betwixt four Walls the Crime for which they dy'd was Engraven on the Wall twelve were sav'd alive which Sail'd to Macaco being commanded to carry the news thither that if the Spanish King Philip nay the Christian God himself should Land in Japan they should bow their Necks under an Executioners Sword Their tormenting with Ropes after what manner ¶ BUt besides the foremention'd inhumane Cruelties every Persecutor invented still newer and newer ways of tortures sometimes making fast four Ropes near the four corners of the Fire tying the Christians