hidde though they would neuer so faine And therfore many haue taken their iourney towards the Cami though otherwise so poore that they haue ben cōstiained to sell their cloathes off their backs to maintaine their wiues and children vpon the way choosing rather to endure any inconuenience then be false to their Religion Many also of those who had suffred shipwracke of their faith did also depart for the same end vndertakinge a ten or twelue dayes iourney to find a salue for their woundes and wash out their offences with the most holy Sacrament of Penance making profession of Christian Religion euen before those who before had beene witnesses of their weaknesse The exercise of the Christians in Prison IT is the custome in Iaponia to haue at the entrāce of the Prisō a howse for the Keeper which is diuided from the common iayle with two strong grates of wood and some twenty foot distant In this first placewas kept F. de Angelis by a particular fauour as being a stranger yet with Irons vpon him and Leo his host as a friend of the Gouernours The rest were in the inward part but extreamely infested with the darkenes multitude and other circumstances of the place their dyet being nothing but a little rice sod in water with some graines of salt Now Brother Simon preached day and night with so great zeale and feruour that he conuerted forty Gentiles to the Faith of Christ vho were cōmitted for their crimes And had he liued ten daies longer God gaue him hope that all the rest would follow imbrace that Religion which was for that present so much hated and depressed on all sydes Thus did the Good Brother assist the Gentiles by preacheing as he was accustomed being Cōpanion to the Father yet so that he neglected not his fellow Christians whom he incouraged to die And the effects appeared in the chearfullnes of their countenance and resolution of their harts Father de Angelis who was without had lesse matter to worke vpon hauing eight onely Gentiles in his Company whome he cōuerted and baptised and being he was seldom permitted to visit those within the railes with any comfortable exhortation he employed himselfe in making certaine paper couers thereby to relieue the best he could their corporall necessities not being able to affoard them spirituall cōforts and in this occupation was he found by one sent from the Superiour of the Society in Camai with his Irons tyed vp to his necke in a corde the lesse to hinder his worke At first he was visited by many who came vnder colour of visiting Leo but the Gouernour perceiuing it expecting no good effect from thence caused Leo to be put further in with his keepers And to those who resorted vnto him his discourse was onely of heauenly matters shewinge them the onely way thereunto to be true Faith and exhorting them to make light of all things saue onely God He heard the Confessions of the Chrstians and filled them with ioy he alone bewailed his owne distaster who vpon the torment had discouered others and the quantity of his teares had made visible furrowes in his cheekes But wee must not let passe one thinge which befell a certaine Christian who wēt to visit F. de Angelis A certaine gētleman named Lewis going from Cami towards Oxu where he dwelled chanced to passe together with his sonne by the Citty of Iendo and hearing that F. de Angelis his old friend was in prison he determined for his comfort to goe and visit him but the case beinge dangerous if he should chaunce to be discouered and taken for a Christian he thought best to dispose of his affaires before hand as if he had beene going to dy And therefore calling his sonne vnto him he acquainted him with his designe and set downe an order which was to be obserued concerning his wife and the rest of his children in case any thinge should happen vnto him The young man about the age of two and twenty yeares replyed Father I would not haue you thinke that I can leaue you in this dangerous passage temporall respectes alone if all other motiues failed doe sufficiently forbid me I will goe my selfe and salute F. de Angelis in yours and my name In the meane while goe home and hazard not the persons of so many who depende vpon you by exposing your selfe to a personal danger The Gentleman remained conuince and conquered in this holy contention but it not being in his power to passe without seeinge the Father offering vp his owne and his sonnes life they both went vnto the prison resoluing to suffer what soeuer encounter might befall them But it pleased Almighty God that after they had receiued much comfort from F. de Angelis and the other Christians they returned with safety and edified aboue measure with the ioy and constant resolution which they perceiued in the countetenances of those valerous Champions of Christ now aspiring after death How the aboue named fifty Christians were burnt aliue by commaunde from the Xogun The Cubo being returned frō Meaco to Iendo the matters of the Christiās were brought before him and he required to ordaine what his pleasure was concerning them he answered they should demaūde that of the newe Xogun his sonne to whome it appertained The Xogun commaunded that as wel the Priestes who had preached the faith of Christ as those who had embraced it should be burnt aliue Incredible was the ioy of the Christians when they heard the tydings of this cruel sentence F. Hierom de Angelis who some daies before the persecution began was heard oft to cry out and say O that I might be burnt aliue for my Redeemer was now found by a certaine friend of his who came to visit him with a countenance which wel made shew that he had his harts desire No lesse was the ioyfull applause of F. Francis all the rest together with Brother Simon who euer anō cryed out Cupio dissolus esse cum Christo Finally vpon the 4. of December in the morning the ministers of Iustice came vnto the prison to execute the sentence of Xogun and the first they laid hands on was F. de Angelis They tooke his Irons off his feete and in lieu thereof cast a thicke rope about his necke with which they tyed his hands bekinde him the same was done to F. Francis and the rest of the Christians who beinge bound and their number taken went ioyfull to the place of execuriō The first of this happy troope was F. Hierome de Angelis who like their Captaine marched before on horsebacke with a scrole vpon his shoulders in which his name was written in Capital letters There followed him on foot Brother Simon Iempo Leo and others to the number of sixteene after these followed F. Francis likewise on horsebacke and with a scrole written after the same manner accompanied with sixteen more on foot Then followed Iohn Farramundo in like manner on horsebacke with
perticulars which I could relate loaden with the merites of 22 yeares spent in Iaponia and 38 in the Society professed of 4. vowes the six and fifteeth of his age he was burned aliue for professing the faith of Iesus Christ. Brother Simon Iempo was borne in Nosu in the Kingdome of Fingo brought vp from a little one in a Monastery of the Bonzi and imbued in that tender age with the doctrine of Camu and Fotoqui God so disposed that the Bonzo his Master was conuerted vnto the faith of Christ and Simon following his exāple was baptised with some others at the age of 16. yeares at 18 he was admitted into the house of the Society as Dogicus or Alumnus and there liued with extraordinary satisfaction for fiue and twēty yeares full of good example and laudable behaviour his ordinary occupation was to helpe others in company of the Fathers by preaching teaching and reading vnto them spirituall bookes When as the Preachers of Gods word were banished into the Philippins Simon was of the number who the yeare after returned backe to Iaponia and finding the Christians sweating vnder the hearty burden of persecution it cannot be expressed with how much application he serued them The last six yeares of his life he imployed in the Prouinces of Quantom Oxu with still increasing labour and paines redoubled He assisted many Christians and conuerted many Infidels euen in the prison it selfe as hath been already set downe continuing a waies a faithfull companion vnto F. de Augelis in his Missions sparing no labours neither day nor night when occasion required He was euer desirous of two fauours from God one that he might be admitted into the Society the other that he might dy for the confession of his faith Both requestes were signed grāted he dying in flames at 43. yeares of age Howe foure and twenty Christians were put to death for the confession of Christian faith in the Citty of Iendo ALl this fire could not melt or molify the hardened hart of Xogun nor hinder from commaunding a new slaughter the 24. of December of 36. more men women some were burned others crucisied others cut in pieces in whose death many circumstances lay open the extraordinary hatred which he bare against our holy Faith Of these 36.24 were Christians the rest Gentils condemned either because they had lodged Christians in their house or answered for them to others Of the Christians 6 were burned aliue 5 women and one man 7 beheaded and crucisied The constancy of Mary Iagea the mother of Leo Faqucia Gonoxichi was aboue the rest remarquable who had lodged in her house Father Hierome de Angelis The gouernour bent all the forces of his wit to make her relent and therfore left nothing vnsaid which the Diuell could suggest him sometimes promising life otherwhiles threatening death then painting forth the dishonor which her children and husband would receiue a man so well knowne and so much made of in Court But Mary sleighted all answering that she could not but yeeld to a death which made her way to an eternall life and for the dishonors mentioned she esteemed them worthy the name of honors and therefore he should not need spend more wordes in this behalfe The assaultes were frequent but without effect and therfore she was condemned with the rest The day being come when this fatall sentence was to be executed this generous Matron bound vpon a horse marched formost with a smiling countenance vndaunted courage which strucke deepe admiration into the beholders Foure Christian woemē were the next that followed whose names are not yet come to our knowledge and then a man called Francis Cabe This was he who whilest the fifty aboue named were in the flames of Martyrdome went and declared himselfe to the Iudge professing himselfe to be a Christian After these followed eighteen little infantes so little that they knew not how to feare death and therfore they went sporting and playing and carrying in their handes such toyes as children passe their time with all A sight which drue teares euen from the Gentiles themselues Of these 18 sixteen were Christians Being come to the place appointed the first dispatched were these little ones against whom such barbarous cruelty was vsed that the onely rehearsall breeds horrour and amazement some they beheaded ther 's were clouen downe from the head to the foote others were cutt off by the midle others they held by one legge and hacked into seuerall peeces After this slaughter performed in the very eyes of the Christian woemen to strike the greater terrour into them eleuen men were crucified two of which were Christians the one Peter Ienzaimon the other Mathias Buneiemon the cause of their death was written in a table containing this That these men were punished with death for either letting their houses vnto Christians or answering for them to others Of which rancke were these two Christians who pearsed through with lances sent forth their last breath together with the sweet names of Iesus and Maria. This Matthias before this persecution had shewed some signes of weaknesse but going out of the prison he professed publickly before all that he was a Christian and in that quality desired to dy which he entreated the standers by to let the Xogun his Gouernours vnderstād The same was his declaration being now moūted vpon the Crosse To these mens handes being dead were fastned the heads of the little children slaine a little before Meane while the six Christians prepared for the flames with diuerse prayers and Litanies nothing daunted with these bloody spectacles Francis obeying the instinct of God became a Preacher animating his fellowes to suffer manfully and exhorting the lookers on to imbrace that faith which onely can stand with saluatiō Fier being put the Christians were seen with their eves fixed on heauen incessantly calling vpon those holy names of Iesus and Maria to giue vp their spotlesse soules not so much as shrinking or giuing the least signe of griefe or paine The cause of their death was set forth in a table saying These dy because they are Christians The two Gentills who were separated from the rest had also the cause of their death expressed for hauing lodged Faramonde against the Lawes All these ended their happy liues the 29. of December the same yeare by order of the same Xogun of Iende Of other seauenteen Christians burnt aliue in the Towne of Iendo for professing Christian Religion AMong the Gentills put to death the 24. of December one was a Page of the Xogun greatly in fauour for hauing let forth his house vnto Christians This exāple wrought so powerfully with the Gētils that streight they deferred to the Gouernour all the Obristians they knew and among the rest the wife of Laurence who was not summōd by the officers when her hushand was taken and with her twenty other Christians many of which were greatly assaulted but remained immooueable After six moneths imprisonment ten
yeare 1617 he made his profession of 4 vowes and was sent into Ofu he visited three seuerall times the Christians sent into banishment into Sungaru the last shire of Iaponia He went twice to Iezo and was the first Priest that euer saied Masse there He truailed ouer the kingdoms of Oxu and Deua taking the paines we haue else where specified speaking of F. de Angelis in the like occasion He was the first that resided in Aquita Xemboun where he planted in a manner what there was of Christianity here he had his part of a persecutiō raised against Christiās in which many were sent into banishment who perswading him to retire and to saue himself for the good of many he could neuer be induced to abandon his flock which likewise befell him at this time in the Country of Massamune He was infatigable in aduauncing and setting forward Christian Religion and to conclude he was endowed with extraordinary humility charity affability and other like vertues after 30. yeares spent in the Society and 15. in the mission of Iaponia abounding with merits he gaue vp his life for Christ the 46 yeare of his age In the countrey of Camofidadono one of the principall Lordes of the kingdom of Onu diuers Christians were sent into banishmēt others taken and some also newly conuerted shewed how fraile and weake mans nature is three hundred and threescore persons of age receiued baptisme before the persecution which proued to be so terrible that F. Iohn Matthew Adam of our Society had much a doe to hide his head or find sustenance necessary for life Of the persecution in the kingdome of Deud and the death of three Christians WHilst in the yeare 1623 the Xogun put so many Christians to death in Iendo there chaunced to be present in the court Yoxinobu Xataquedone Lord of the greatest part of the kingdome of Deua who fearing the displeasure of the Xogun gaue order vnto Fanyemon his chiefe Gouernour to make diligent inquiry after such Christians as were to be found in his estate and proceede with all rigour against them The Gouernour complyed so exactly with his charge that in a short space he cast into prison aboue two hundred and the greatest part persons of accoūt The first was a gentleman called Iohn Catauneme who being assaulted with all kind of stratagems persisted notwithstanding so constantly and preached Christian faith with such feruour to the standers by that they confessed themselues for conuinced and kept back from imbracing it with only feare This man had a little sonne of 7. yeares old whom he brought vp in this manner to make him constāt in his faith Be sure would he often say that thou vnder goe any death whatsoeuer rather then deny thy faith one day among the rest eare he was taken prisoner looking vpon his chile well saied he art thou resolued rather to be burnt aliue by the hande of the Iustice then to deny thy faith You Father replied the little one what doe you resolue vpon in the like case Why I would burne saith the Father So would I too answered the child I le try saith the Father whether thou be like to resist when occasion shall require Come hither take this burning coale into thy hande and keepe it till I bid the cast it away The childe opened his hand and the Father sayed in it a red hot coale which the child held in his hand till his Father bad him cast it downe though it had already burnt the skinne and singed the flesh His Father demaunding whether he found it hot One answered the child resolute to let himselfe bee burnt aliue as I am hath no great difficulty to hold a ceale in his hand for so short a space I his came to be knowne of both Christians and Gentills these were confounded and those encouraged to see so stronge an example in so weake a subiect With whole troupes of his friendes and kinsfolke was Iohn Fot Cauas Quiemon importuned for the space of 20. dayes who exhorted him at least in wordes to deny his faith But he true vnto Christ answered he would not doe it for all the gold in the world they called him mad-man but all in vaine wherefore despairing to preuaile with him they let vpon Lucy his wife who no lesse constant would not be drawne from her resolution with the consideration of goods children or her owne life and therefore Iohn being led to prison with his two sonnes she was left vnder guarde in her owne howse together with her lesser children as the custome was in the beginning of this persecution obserued towards woemen of quality One of these called Thomas being vnder age and therfore to haue stayed with his mother vsed so many stratagems that at length he found meanes to accompany his father to prison where he became a voluntary seruant of those imprisoned Confessours who were about some forty in number nor could any euer forbid him this worke of charity An other Christian called Alexius Moiemon being diuersly tempted assured them that not only the whole Citty of Cubota bet neither the Teno Ioxinoba though he came in person should be able to remoue him one inche from his faith He was not alone in this resolution but had many followers of which two were beheaded Lewys Tarogt and Mathew Xichyemon these two were in the seruice of a noble man in Iendo when the Christians were put to death and by him greatly solicited to deny their faith which he not obtaining put them out of his seruice giuing them warning not to goe to the kingdome of Deua but they desirous of a crowne of martyrdome went straight thither and obteined their desire and became with dying for Christ of seruants freemen the 7. of Febr. 1624. A certain young maide called Monica of 25 yeares of age was no lesse molested shee had serued some later yeares the wife of Sataquedone who as is mentioned else where not being able herselfe to receiue baptisme perswaded most of her seruants therunto of which Monica was one baptised by F. Diego Caruaglio Her mistresse though a gentill being sont into banishment for the lawe of Christ Monica was forced to leaue her and betake herselfe to the Citty of Cubota where she had many of kindred She grew so much in deuotion that to the end they might not importune her to marry she cut off her haire to giue her selfe more fully to Christian piety The Gouernour vnderstanding that she was Christian endeauoured by meanes of his owne wife to draw her back but Monica stood it out couragiously till one day the Gouernour in presence of many bid her resolue either to deny her faith or loose her head her answere was by stretching forth her neck and saying that her faith was dearer vnto her then her lise and in the saying her head was stroken off in the Citty of Cubota the yeare 1620. Notwithstanding all the troubles there haue been baptised in this kingdome three
began with the wines and children of those whom two yeares before he had put to death by order of the Ienca their cause being not yet ended and he spared neither the maid-seinants nor little intants as it will appeare by the following relation The death of nine Christians of the house and family of Gabriel who had lodged F. Camillus Conitanstius of the Society of IESVS Two yeares agoe a Christian called Gabriel suffereth death in the Citty of Firanâ—o for hauing lodged F. Camillus Constanstius of the Society and euer since both his mother and the rest of his family had liued in daily expectation of their turne their cause yet hanging and they committed to the custody of their neighbours No sooner did the persecution begin but the family of Gabriel was giuen for lost whereupon the Gentiles began to looke to them more narrowly and to abridge them of their former liberty One of the neighbours the second man of the street went to visit Grace the mother of Gabriel and told her after an vpbraiding manner that the persecution raised at that present was a punishment sent by tenxo Daygun the chiefe Cami of Iaponia The holy woman resented exceedingly this blasphemous speech and boldly replyed that she wondred very much he would offend her eares with blaspheming God his holy law and that he might haue done much better in exhorting her to suffer with patience the neere approaching death for the honour and seruice of the only true God then by recounting the fables of the false Idolls to increase her affliction wherfore she desired him if he wished her well to speake of something else And the Paynim thus checked spoke not a word more During this time the Christians of that Citty gathered together in a particular house offered vs many feruent prayers to Almighty God begging of his goodnesse force of spirit and constancy or all but especially for the prisoners Linus the brother of Gabriell was much tempted but he allwaies answered that he would follow the steppes of his Father who had perseuered in the law of Christ vntill the end Some daies before the seruants of God receiued the senteÌ„ce of death they inuited to dinner the principall Paynims of the street and humbly craued pardon of them for some sharp answers which they had giuen earnestly beseeching them to speake no more vnto them of leauing their faith The Physitian of the Tono was the first man of their friendes who had newes of their death wherfore he went to them in a friendly manner acquainting them with what had passed told them that if they would change their mindes he would make meanes that the Tono should recall his sentence Linus made answer in name of the rest thanking him for his good will and told him that all the torments in the world should neuer make them abandon their Religion This newes came soone after to be knowne of the Physitians man who out of meer compassion went bewailing their case and spreading the newes about the Citty There was presently such flocking of friendes and acquaintance to visit them that the chiefe officer of the streete thought fit to turne them all backe for feare of an vprore About midnight came two of the Tonos seruants who confilcating all their goodes carryed them away scarce leauing so much as the cloathes vpoÌ„ their backes Then did the condemned Christians with a loud voice begin ioifully to recite diueise praiers and when the standers by would haue hindered them they answered that their temporall goods being taken away they had no reason to deprius them also of the spirituall riches of the soule their onely substance and possession then remaining The confiscatours admiring their speeches let them go on for the present but hauing sent away all the goods they bound Linus and all the rest sauing Marie the Grandmother of Gabriell and the sonne of a seruing woman who was so little that one of the officers carryed him away vpon his backe Vpon the 3 of March being sunday they were lead forth many Christians meeting them vpon the way who in taking their last leaue with many teares recommended themselues to their prayers earnestly desiring them when they came to heauen where they should be out of all danger that they would be mindfull of those who remained behind subiect to so many dangers and miseries Amongst the rest came one of Graces daughters with her husband of whom she tooke her leaue with a cheerfull countenance and great peace of mind charging them to remaine constant in the Religion in which they had been brought vp from children and promising to pray for them in heauen In like manner did Linus speake to the other Christians with such a pleasant smiling countenance that he made shew of nothing lesse then going to suffer death Finally they arriued at a place distant from Firando a quarter of a league where they found foure boates expecting them in two of which were carried the nine Christians who were to suffer death and in the other two the executioners of that iniustice When they were imbarked Grace tooke a paire of beades from about her necke and cast them a land to her sonne in law Then lifting vp a little Crucifixe in her hand this alone quoth she will serue my turne and with saying to she adored in the sight of all him who comforteth and giueth strength to those that suffer for him and with humble renerence kissed his holy image After this the watermeÌ„ began to launch forth and the deuout seruants of God accompanying the noise of the oares sometimes with singing pious hymnes sometimes reciting seuerall prayers aloud arriued at Coccidomari the place appointed for execution There they all tooke their places and Linus the only man of the company shewed himselfe a man indeed thanking the executioners for his death with a marueilous courage and vndaunted mind Then began they to recomeÌ„d themselues to God Almighty in which action they remained a great while In this time the youngest daughter of Grace of the age of eleuen yeares onely was so farre from being afraid either of death or those whom she saw ready to inflict it that turning to her mother with a great courage ô mother said she how much are we beholding to these seruants of the Tono who haue brought vs hither and will now send vs to heauen I pray you let vs thanke them and be exceeding ioyfull The first tharknelt downe was the good old woman Mary who lifting vp her handes and praying a while then calling vpon the holy names of Iesus and Mary was beheaded by one of her owne kinsmeÌ„ who according to the custome of Iaponia least she should dy by the haÌ„ds of some basefellow or other did himselfe with great respect and reuerence cut off her head at a blow she being about ninty yeares of age The second was the noble Linus of the age of 21. yeares The third his sister Mary of the age of 18. The
in the happie danger of being partakers of the like crownes haue speciall cause to behold with ioie this Iaponian Palme-tree of Christian Fortitude translated and planted on English soile The victories of Martyrs recorded in writing be encouragemēts vnto martyrdomes that the Christian souldier as Saint Gregorie saith eo minus in certamine trepidet quo ante se positos tot virorum fortium triumphos videt so much the lesse doubt of the glorious successe of this combat in that he beholdes the manie conquests of triumphant Chāpiōs displaied to his sight And although you doe not want other examples of great force yet these may seem more potēt besides other respects because they are more recent Their sacred blood newlie issued out of the fornace of their ardent breast doth yet still freshlie euaporate diuine loue and by how much neerer they are to our daies by so much the more efficaciouslie they applie to vs their flames They were members of the same Church professours of the same Religion practisers of the same deuotions according not only the substance but also euerie circumstance which yet be variable with the time and we haue Preachers of all the same Religious Orders that were their guides leaders in those victorious combats The vexations we endure compared with theirs will seeme more tolerable and if they should grow to greater excesses we haue here cōfortable pledges to make vs sure the Faith we professe is able to conquer the most superlatiue rage of the world As from the vttermost coastes we receaue newes of rare crueltie so likewise from thence is brought the rare prize of the valiant woman Here we learne that many waters cannot extinguish her charity nor any frosts benumme harts inflamed therewith The fires of pouertie of disgrace of torment that rage without be not of equall force with the burning of her faith within Nor continuance of sharpe afflictions can be so extended by lēgth of time as to outreach her longing to suffer for her crucified Lord. O fire of heauen ô desire of Martirdome possesse our harts penetrate into our spirits consume the drosse of humane pretences quench in vs the flame of other loues O that to die for Religion that to suffer for Christ that the crowne and purple of martyrdome were the summe of all our wishes the marke of all our ambitions our meditation in the day our dreame in the night that we were in all our prayers still seeking to obtaine it in all our actions still ayming to deserue it in all our cogitations still longing to enioy it O let vs without partiality often view ourselues in this admired mirrour thereby to take away all dissimilitude from them in life whō we desire to paralell in the felicity of their death Of the Temporall State of Iaponia and the present condition of Christian Religion ALthough the Xogun of Iendo Lord of Iaponia hath deposed together with his gouernment the dignity of Xogun vpon his sonne he himself stepping to a greater yet hath this bred no alteration in things touching Christian religion as we hoped for at the change of the Gouernour For the Sonne equall to his Father in the hatred of Christians hath bene the death of many and the number exceeds that of former yeares since from the Moneth of December 1623 vnto Nouember of the yeare following a hundred threescore and fiue Christians haue ended their liues by seuerall torments Eight of which were Religious of S. Dominicke S. Francis and of the Society the rest Lay people Men Woemen and Children which shall be the subiect of our discourse This Persecution rose first in Iendo the head-citty now of Iaponia and the court of Xogun but soone after so dilated it self that no corner was exempt from it where any Christians were to be found Great store were slaine many cast into prison and others into banishment Some hid themselues others abandoned their owne houses fearing to suffer shipwracke of their faith in company of Gentils And many there were who like braue and valiant champions stood it out euen in the middest of a peruerse nation animating some weaker members which are euer found in a great body with the conuincing example of true Magnanimity in the suffrance of most exquisite torments It cannot be expressed what feare and trēbling occupied the harts of many when this tempest rose the more for that euery day new Ministers were apointed by Xogun himself who by all possible meanes of threats and torments sought to extort Religion from the harts of Christians Their industry in ferreting out Religious persōs and hindring their entrance into Iaponia was more then ordinary These oppositions and no marueile haue made our haruest lesse plentifull since some only thousāds haue bene baptized by the hands of ours and others who forward this noble enterprise But we hope for plenty and abundāce in tyme to come the soyle being moist and fatned with the blood of so many glorious Martyrs And to begin with the persecution raised in the Citty of Iendo in which together with forty seauen Christians F. Hierome de Angelis Brother Simon Iempo of the Society of Iesus and F. Francis Galbe of S. Francis Order gaue vp their liues you may note that though for this dozen years and more through the implacable hatred of the Emperour persecution hath still been in force against Christian Religion throughout the whole Empire yet in the Cittyes subiect immediatly to the Tenca Nangasachi only excepted there was a kind of silence or conniuency touching matters of Religion not that it was lawfull to preach or make publique professiō thereof vnder peril of death or banishment but that the Magistrats did either dissemble or neglect to looke after those who embraced Christianity Whilst we lay vnder this shadow of peace the Emperour vnexpectedly by occasion of the new dignity conferred vpon his sonne reuiuing his inuiterate hatred against Christians and especially their Preachers thought it a fitt occasion to destroy the ghospell by renewing the lawes of Iaponia amongst which there is one capitall against Christian faith the preaching whereof and the vsurping of the Empire are held in effect for the same things The Magistrats of Tenca demaunded whether or no it were necessary to insinuate the same by way of Proclamation to other Prin es the Xogun answered no for that it would be sufficient they should see how Christians were handled in Iendo to make them exercise the like in the Citties subiect to their gouernment neither was he deceiued in his opinion For no sooner came it to their knowledge that fifty Christians had been broiled aliue by commaunde from the Xogun but streight waies euery Prince beganne to bestirre himself in his owne dominions banishing imprisoning putting to death such as would not renounce the faith of Christ In the Citty of Iendo were resident F. Hierome de Angelis of the Society of Iesus and F Francis Galbo of the Order of S. Francis greatly fructifying
his name written in a little scrole accompanied with all the rest of the Christians on foot Before behinde on euery side were many officers to hinder that none should approach to the condemned persons And thus with displayed banners they marched in triumph through the streets of the Citty of Iendo where the Faith of Christ did now ly bleeding Out of the Citty in the way leading to Camai appeared fifty pillars or great stakes planted in the place of Iustice The three first next vnto the citty were som what separate from the other forty seauen but all were compassed about with sagots placed in such a distance that the fier beinge kindled those who were tyed to the stakes were distant from the flame neare about an armes length The number of people who came to behould this spectacle was without number For a spatious field and a neere bordering mountaine was quite couered ouer There were among them many principal men of note and Peeres of the Kingdom whom other occasions had called to Iendo not without a particular prouidence of God to the end they might be eye-witnesses of so rare an example and see what strength our holy Faith giueth vnto them that professe it The generous Champions of Christ beinge come to the place appointed were straight bound vnto their stakes those three onely excepted who were on horse backe whome they forbad to come down from their horses There should you haue seene them with their eyes lifted vp to heauen and their hartes panting which the loue of God on whome their hopes were fixed and from whome they expected succour in this last passage F. de Angelis preached which incredible feruour demonstrating that the onely Faith of Christ for which they dyed was true and inuiolable all other being falle and counterfet The same affirmed with his accustomed zeale Brother Simon Iempo now tyed vnto his stake who all the way as he came cealed not to exhort those whome he met to imbrace and constantly defence the holy faith of Christ. True it is there went forth of prison fifty one condemned to be burnt but I haue onely mentioned fifty because that vnhappy one no sooner was come to the place of Iustice but he was let goe by the Officers as hauinge giuen signes of a relenting courage and a hart eisloyall to his Redeemer The cause of their death was written in a great table hanged on high in these ensuinge wordes These men are Christians At length sire was put vnto the heapes of woode and there was heard a voice of all ioyned in one ecchoing forth those happy names of Iesus and Maria. It is not to be spoken with what inuincible courage they suffered this horrible torment For there was not one among so many who so much as shrunke complained or gaue the least token of sorrow by any outward expression This incredible fortitude wrought such admiration in the beholders that the Gentiles themselues began to mutter to one another that it was aboue the reach of nature since men condemned for their deserued crimes dy with quite different expressions The Fathers who stood by on horsebacke looked on with eyes of marble and hartes impregnable rendering many thankes to God but no way dismaied which the Iudges looked for leauing them for no other end after the rest but to fright them with this bloody spectacle therby driue them vnto a new resolution But so farre was this happy death frō breeding frightes in the minds of these goodmen that two others of the standers by a man and a woman inslamed and encouraged at the sight thereof ranne in hast when the flames were at the highest vnto the Tribunall seare of the Iudges cryinge amaine that they were also Christians and professours of the same Faith for which the forty seauen dyed yet could they not obtaine to be cast out of hand into those burninge flames which was the top of their desire who burned within with flames of diuine loue but were by order of the Magistrate carried bound into prison where those that saw them had a continuall moouing obiect before their eyes declaring what power Gods Law hath vpon the hartes of men and what vigour is bestowed from heauen vpon those who desire exactly to performe his will vpon earth The aboue mentioned hauing breathed out their immaculate soules the three on horseback were taken downe and tyed each one to his stake The first next vnto the Citty was Iohn Faramond after him in order F. de Angelis and the third F. Francis Galbe Eare the fire was kindled the three valorous Champions tooke their leaues for a moment to meete after in eternity animating one an other with great zeale affection and F. de Angelis did not cease to put Iohn in minde of the breuity of the torments and the eternity of glory which they expected The sior began to dilate it selfe and mount with fury so that the seruants of God were seene onely by glimpes to sustaine with incredible courage those deuouring flames F. Hierom was first seen turning himselfe towards the Citty in act of prayer for a while and afterwardes to that part whence flames came stifliest vpon him seconded with the wind as well to shew that he feared them not as to haue occasion to speake vnto the people who were there in greatest number and from thence forward he stood vpright on his feet preaching with incredible zeale till the flames preuailing separated his happy soule from his body then falling he light vpon his knees and so remained A litle after Faramond was seen to embrace a cruell flame which came into his bosome as a thing much and long desired and after that immoouable ti ' his stake breaking carried him prostrate vpon the ground But F. Francis who expired the last remained vpon his feet euen after death leaning vnto his stake which he neuer abandoned in the time of so cruell torment Thus ended this Tragedy It is not easily conceaued what different affections were stirred vp in the spectatours at this strange obiect yet all generally agreed that their constancy was worthy of highest praises and aboue the rest they iudged remarquable the magnanimity of F. de Angelis who might well seeme to be their captaine both in life and death The bodies burnt some more some lesse were left in the field with continuall watch vpon them for the space of three daies but the Guarde was no sooner gone then the Christians tooke away the bodies of the two Fathers Which being perceiued so straight order was taken that they could not get the rest as they had determined This execution was performed by Order from the new Xogun the 4. of December and the day after in an eminent and conspicuous place at the sound of the trumpet was recompensed the principall Actour who had accused them the cryer pronouncing that to those who should do the like like reward should be giuen that is a faire house of one of the dead
Christiās and thirty peeces of gold which mount to fifteene hundred crownes Thus was the accuser rewarded but with so many maledictions that euen the Gentiles themselues cursed him for it and wished he might not long enioy it The names of some of the aboue mentioned martyrs according to the order they stood beginning from the Citty 1. Iohn Faramondo 2. F. Hierom de Angelis 3. F. Francis Galbe 4. Leo Taqueua gonsichi 5. Fanzabusi Quaxia 6. Chosaiemon 7. Brother Simon Iempo 8. Peeter Xixabuco 9. Iohn Matazaiemon 10. Michael Quizaiemon 11. Là urence Cagichi 12. Mathias Iazaiemon 13. Laurence Caeuzaiemon 14. Matthias Quizaiem 15. Thomas Iosaeu 16. Peter Santario 17. Peter Sazaiemon 18. Matthias Xegigemon 19. Ignatius Choiemon 20. Simon Muam 21. Dois Ioccunu 22. Isaci 23. Bonauentura Quidairi 24. Iohn Xinocuro 25. Hilary Mangazaiemon 26. Francis Quizaiemon 27. Saximonoia Iinxichir 28. Iohn Chosaiemon 29. Roman Goniemon 30. Emanuel Buyemon 31. Peter Quiheiemon 32. Quizaburo 33. Peter Choiemon 34. Andrew Disuque 35. Raphael Quichaiemon 36. Quizichi 37. Antonio The names of the rest are yet vnknowne vnto vs. A breife Relation of the life of F. Hierom de Angelis and of Brother Simon Iempo of the Society of IESVS F. Hieronyme de Angelis was an Italian borne in Sicily he entred into the Society at 18. yeares of age being yet a scholler he obtained licence to embarke himselfe for the East Indies with a desire to haue passed into Iaponia in cōpany of F. Charles Spinola Eare they arriued into that no lesse dreaded then renowned Promontory of Buona Speranza they were forced to giue back and take land in Brasile where hauing remained some time they tooke their way into Portugall and by the way were taken by English Pyrates and brought into England on the way the ship being in full speedo F. Hierons chaunced to fall into the sea The heretiques made no great hast to helpe him but Allmighty God stretched forth his hand and so ordained that the Father who fell in at the fore-decke passing quite vnder the ship came vp aliue at the sterne and was freed from so great a daunger In England he was for some time prisoner as supposed a Spaniard Thence he was sent to Lisboa where he tooke the degree of Priesthood and then embarked himself for the Indies and remaining in China till the yeare 1602 finally passed into his desired Iaponia After a yeares studie spent in learning of the language he was sent by Superiours into Cami and made Superiour of a house of the Society in Fuximi Here he made his aboade for some yeares taking infinit paines as well in cultiuating and conseruing the auncient Christians as in making new Hence was he called by obedience to Surunga the Courte of Daifù there to found a residence for men of the Society He went couragiously and treading vnder foot all difficulties oppositions he founded a Residence which was the first of the Society in those parts He endeauoured the same ar Iendo But the day appointed for the buying of a house such a persecution was raised that he was forced to retire back to Surunga where he remained till all were generally banished out of Iaponia then by order of obedience he left his Residence and went to Meaco Thus banished with others he went to the Citty Nangasachi and hauing obtained leaue to liue disguised in Iaponia he gaue the bridle to his owne zeale and like a fiery dart passed through al those Kingdoms Prouinces penetrated farther to preach the Ghospell sleighting all paine and perill for so worthy and end Neither was the fruit inferiour to his labours When he went there was not in all those Kingdoms aboue a thousand Christians in Cami but afterwardes they grew by thousands he alone for his part hauing baptised ten thousand in the time of his aboade besides many thousandes more baptised since which may be attributed to the industry of this infatigable workeman who was the first Priest setting only aside the countries of Massamune where a F. of S. Francis Order laboured for a while who carried the light of the holy Ghospell to Fidandono Caguicasu Monganu Nambu Sungara all Prouinces of the great Kingdome of Oxu and thēselues equal to kingdoms more ouer he penetrated into the kingdoms of Yechigo Deua Sādo Masumai or Yezo which is farther then Iaponia He was the first that visited comforted those prime Cōfessours of Christ who the yeare 1614. were banished into Sungaru the last skirte of Iaponia ouercoming all daungers difficulties of a most longe an edious iourney His paines besides those which neceslarily accompany the conuersion of so many may be the better conceiued if you consider the nature of these vast and laborious Prouinces The coldes are intolerable the mountaines frequent and insupetable couered ouer with deepe snowes the waies lie oft times betweene craggy and high mountaines and therfore a Iaponese borne in any other kingdome will neuer come there at least to make his aboade And yet was our Father rauished with this feate conquering with the burning zeale of soules the frozen climat of the country There was a cruell tempest against the Christians in the Citty of Xindai The good Father streight made thither and there more then euer put forth his feruour fortifying them with the Sacraments and other spirituall helps according to their need The Christians might not all goe to him without daunger of discouery and hazard of their liues and therfore in a disguised weed he appointed them certaine place towards the euening where he met them like some ordinary passenger and there sometimes standing sometimes walking as occasion serued he tooke their confessions and gaue them by vertue of the Sacrament force and vigour to stand it out manfully In this Prouince he made his aboade from the yeare 1615. till the year 1621. And then by obedience was commaunded to go to the Citty of Iendo there to receiue the crowne of his labours Here he procured to haue a house though it cost him deare for the paines he tooke to conforme himselfe to the place time and companie so plucked him downe that he seemed quite an other man for whereas before he was fresh and ful faced he nowe became leane and altogether extenuated He remained in the Citty the space of two yeares for the incredible benefit of many Yet could he not refraine from his former missions but found a way into the Kingdoms of Iazu and Cai where numbers were conuerted by the labours of this great seruant of God His zeale was accompanied with many other parts and graces which made him gratious to all With a certaine pleasant affability he came so neere the humours of the Iaponesi that he wonne the hartes of all He embraced all with a smiling countenance and a harto that seemed to leape out of it selfe into others He was often with the sicke yeelding them all comfort and assistance in their necessities Finally to cut of many
men and seauen woemen were burnt aliue out of the Citty gates of Iendo towards the East They indured their torment with incredible constancy for onely being Christians as appeared written in a table ouer each mans head Of these we haue not as yet the relation in particular onely we know that one died through the incommodity of the Prison so that there were eighteen in all who suffered for their Religion A Relation of the Persecution raised in the beginning of the yeare 1624. in the Coūtreies of Massamune in which aboue 24. Christians were put to death together with F. Diego Caruaglio of the Society of IESVS THe barbarous cruelty exercised by the Xogun vpon Christians in Iendo mooned al the chiefe of Iaponia to do the like in their seuerall kingdoms F. Diego Caruaglio of the Society was Residēt for the most part in the Citty of Xindai the Court of Massamune superior ouer those who were in the Country of Date or Idate Massamune He made often excursions into senerall parts to heare Confessions and administer the Sacraments vnto Christians there abouts One of his stations was Miuaque a territory belonging to a noble Christian called Iohn Goto knowne of all euen of Massamune himselfe for a Christian and permitted to be so together with his Vassals Hither was F. Diego come to celebrate with all solemnity the fests of Christinas and the three Kinges with their wonted peace and freedome when vpon the sudden an vnexpected tempest was raised Massamune had been present in Iende when the cruell sentence was executed vpon Christians and vnderstanding by a certaine seruant of his there were many in his kingdome of the same profession he gaue order diligence should be vsed to know their number Iohn Goto onely excepted The seruant departed with this order who had already kindled the coales by bidding his master looke about him otherwise he might incure some disgrace No sooner was he arriued to Xindai but he streight talked with the Gouernours about the businesse and the conclusion was that all those that had any rents from the Tono should be cōmaunded to giue vp the names of the Christians dwelling in their extent A chiefe man amonge the Gouernours was one called Moniau Iuami a capitall enemy of our profession and nothing affected to Iohn Goto and therefore with many bitter wordes he laboured to shew that it could not be the intention of Massamune to except Iohn Goto yea rather he was to be the first assaulted if they meant to root out Christianity Which an other Gouernour perceiuing called Ximonda Daisem straight gaue notice thereof to Iohn coniuring him with many reasons rather to change his opinion then vnder goe the danger of death and endanger the person of Massamune to whom be was so much beholding Iohn made answer that he acknowledged great benefits from Massamune but far greater from the handes of God to whom he was more bound then to all the world and therfore withed him to forbeare all contrary pers wasions which could neuer take place Daisem surcealed for the present but some dayes after inuiting Iohn vnto his house he led him into the most secret roomes thereof shewing him with great familiarity all the rare and pretious things he had without so much as mentioning Religion till vpon the sudden there came in the wife of Daisem who turning to Iohn with words full of tendernesse the contured him to for goe his beleef euen by that loue which had euer been betwixt her sonne and him which if she might obtaine she should testisie the greatnes of her obligation by cutting her haire and shauing her head which was the greatest offer she could make But Iohn kept his ground and gaue her a resolute answer that his faith was more deare vnto him then his life and there vpon tooke occasion to lay it downe in such liuely colours that Daisem in a iesting manner saied it seemes he hà th little mind to deny that faith which he endeauorcth so much to perswade vs so Iohn tooke his leaue victorious At his retourne home he acquainted F. Diego Caruaglio with what had passed and from that time they both beganne to prepare themselues for death Iohn writ a letter to the Gouernours to be shewed to Massamune wherein he prosessed his obligations to the Tono to be of that nature that in counter change he would willingly bestow his life when occasion should serue But as concerning the deposing his Faith he craued pardon if he disobeyed being other wise ready to accept either banishment or death from the hands of the Tono for the maintenance thereof without so much as conceiuing hardly or complaining of vnkindnesse The Father likewise prepared himselfe and heard the Confession of all the Christians and to the end his person or presence might be preiudiciall to none he retired himselfe after many teares of compassion protesting he would dy with them for them to a place not far of called Oroxie where being entertained by a good Christian called Mathias Ifiore he made vnto himselfe a little cottage adioyning vnto Mathias howse and there dwelt He tooke him neither Dogicke nor seruant but was accompanied by two Christians who neuer left him till death sent them all to eternity There passed not many daies when order came from Massamune to one of the principall Gouernours cōmaunding him to proceed with all rigour against Christians and namly that he should banish Iohn Goto vnles he denyed his faith The Gouernour vndertooke the charge with no small passion by reason some monethes before a kinsman of his had been put to death whom he could in no wise diuert from professing Christian Religion He dispatcht presently seuerall messengers into seuerall parts of the Prouince commaunding them to send al such Christans as would not conforme themselues to the prison of Xindai there to receaue their deserued punishment At the same time Massamune writ a letter in his owne hand to the Gouernour Daisem bidding him vse all possible perswasion to withdraw Iohn Goto from the law of Christ which not succeeding he should banish him the Countrey Daisem tooke the letter and went straight to assault him with all kinde of praiers promises and perswasions coniuring him to deny his faith at least in secret and none should know therof but only he and the Tono The generous champion of Christ was highly displeased at this proposition and therefore desired him to vse no more wordes in the businesse the law of Christ not remaining in the hart of him who denies it with his mouth The Daisem hauing heard this resolute answer called together all the nobles of Miuaque and the countrey about who layed their heades together and with common perswasions battered for a whole night the constant harte of Iohn de Goto but all in vaine Whilest this was in doing the officers of the Gouernour Suò made cruell warre vpon the Christians as well in the rerritory of Iohn de Goto as in the place where F.
parting was so dolefull and full of teares on both sides aswel of those who went as those who staied behind that all the lookers on were extreamely moued the mothers wept amaine to part from their children the husbands from their wiues the Masters of houses from their families The very Iaponeses themselues were woūded at the hart to leaue some their friends others their Masters others those from whom they gained their huings and carried in their brests the law proceedings of Xogun Teares and lamentations remained in the harts eyes of those who staied behind the more whē they reflected vpon the good deedes done full often by those who were sent away as the setting of their slaues at liberty whom they might haue made money of giuing to diuers house roome and liberally bestowing both gold and filuer on persons in necessity The last persecution in the Citty of Nangasachi was against the dead For the hatred of the Xogun against our holy faith which he endeauours by all meanes to extirpate could not sufficiently expresse it selfe against the liuing The Christians of Nangasachi had a churchyard where they buried their dead and on certaine daies went thither in numbers to recommend them vnto God on the sepulchers which were some of stone others of bricke others of wood were put diuers crosses of seuerall fashions Against this place the Gentils spent their fury butning the wooden crosses destroying the monuments commaunding the dead to be buried vnder ground The Christians feared so much lest the dead bones of their frends should be taken vp and cast into the sea that some made deeps holes into the ground and there buried them others carried thē home to their houses others tocitties neere about there buried them thus they went all day vp and downe the citty not knowing what way to take admiring the cruelty of the Xogun other Gouernours who would not so much as endure that they dead should have with them any token of their profession A certaine officer at this time passing through the streetes found a Christian selling beads presently he layed hands on him for selling forbidden ware and streightly bound brought him before a Iudge who condemned him made him stand in the publicke view fast bound a whole day and night Of the persecution of Christians in certaine places of the kingdom of Figen THe chiefest mā of Figen is called Nobexima Xinanono Cann who was presers at Court when so many Christians were burned aliue terrified which this exāple for feare of loosing the Xoguns fauour he gaue order to all his subordinate Gouernours that they should quit his dominions from Christians The officers carefull to comply with their Masters will and pleasure put forth a proclamation that all should abandon Christiā Religion other wise to be stripped starke naked and with their eares and noses cut to be sent to the Citty of Sifai together with their wifes and children there to be slaues to the Tono who was allied with the said Xinanono Cami. It cannot be expressed what ioy the Christians of Quizicurra conceiued at this Meslage and by reason diuers torments were threatned in this letter and namely that they should be burned aline they prepared themselues first with the most pretious and holy Sacraments and afterwards with new cloathes to appeare at the day of their death which they both hoped and looked for eare long One and thirty were called at once before a Iustice who with faire speeches exhorted all and euery one to change their mindes and not incurre the displeasure of the Tono But their answer being vndaunted and resolute he fell from faire to bitter threat ning tearmes commaunding them to be carried away in a most ignominious manner The day following he called before him their wines who for ioy put on their best apparell and taking their Children in their armes such as had any to offer them as immaculate sacrifices vnto Christ they went couragiously to the iudgment sear ready to lay open their best veines and let forth their blood for Almighty God The Iudge haning only seene them commaūded they should be sent to a certaine house and there kept as prisoners till they heard more of him The day following a certaine chief person and Christian went to the Gouernour intreating the woemen might goe backe to their howles and offering for to enter bond for their due appearance when it should be required which was accordingly graunted but the good woemen were nothing contented herewith and refused the offer saying that unprisonment for Christ was more deare vnto them then what soeuer liberty and that they would not depart from the prison vnles it were to a stake or gibbet to end their liues Yet finally giuing way to the perswasions of many Christians they retired backe to their houses When these woemen were called to appeare there were wanting by reason of the faire distance those of a certaine towne called Occusa They were counselled not to stifle since the others had been deliuered but they would in no waies obey saying the Gentills should see they were no lesse couragious then their neight urs and as desirous of death and so they wēt forward but were turned backe for the Iudge perceiuing such incredible cōstancy in both texes thought it best to dissemble all with prudencv and so the persecution ended in Oquizu where torments were wanting to the Christians not they to torments The same day that the persecution began in Oquizu it began likewise in Iagami The first assaulted by the Governour were labouring mē yet in a more milde manner for calling before him on of the chief among them he was earnest with him to chaunge his Religion which not succeding to subsoribe at least a certaine list which he had in his hand The honest Coūtreyman answered if the subscribing were taken as a signe of reuolting from his faith he would not put his hand vnto it albeit the deniall should cost him his life But the Gouernour by reiterated oathes gaue him assurance there was no such thing meant whereupon the Coutrey-man after a thousand protestations that he was a Christian and would die so subscribed vnto his paper And after this manner the Gouernour soone induced the rest in great part to subscribe yet some there were who made a scruple of it making choice rather to leaue both goods and houses then to subscribe vpon any tearmes so that three score and three men and woemen betooke themselues to a voluntary banishment of which there was a poore feeble woman through age and sicknes almost brought to her graue who being asked of her husband what course they should take Let vs goe saieth she with the rest into banishment for I had rather dy in the tourney for Gods sake then protract my life a few daies longer with liuing at home and losse of my soule And albeit I am in diuers respects neere vnto my end yet if I should chaunce to dy in the way at
least the good will where with I offer my selfe to death to preserue inuiolable Gods holy truth will be acceptable to his diuine Matesty And so her husband setting her on horsebacke and tying her with cordes for fear of falling brought her by the helpe of God safe and sound to the place he determined Soone after the persecution in Iagami ceased without further preiudice to Catholicke Religion But those good Christians began to haue remorse for hauing put their hands to that writing imagining that thereby they had been decaued Whereupon diuerse of them resolued to go backe to the Iudge and tell him resolutely they were Christians and that he should not for beare to molest them in regard they had subscribed which the Iudge perceiuing answered they might remaine as constant in their Religion as they would and for their greater comfort gane order that those Christians who were departed the Countrey should returne againe and all of them enioy their Religion in peace as formerly they had done There was also neere vnto these partes a Christian named Gaspar much molested by the Lord of Ioysusi who finally seized vpon his goods cast him out of doores and banished him the Countrey keeping his wife and Children in prisons although she within few daies was permitted to go after her husband They assaulted Gaspars Mother in law who dwelt in a village not farr of But his good example had now made her too strong against this battery For being sollicited to comply wtih the Tono his will and go to a Temple of their Idolis she made answer that all they could do should neuer bring her vnto it Hereupō hey threatned to burne her in the forhead with an iron by diuerse other meanes to dilgrace her But she with great courage laughing at their threates and expecting a whole day and a night the effects of their meaning when she law nothing likely to be done finally other owne accord went into banishment there quietly to enioy the liberty of her conscience In like manner did a young man named Mansius a neighbour of Gaspars who being much molested by a seruant of the Lord of that Countrey with his Mother and sister departed thence to free himself from daunger of loosing his Religion So haue many more done who with great alacrity chose rather to be ablent frō their Natiue Countrey then put themselues in daunger or offending God The subiects of the Countrey called Omuradono liuing together with those of Nabexima all of them were commaunded to appeare before the Tono of Fucofori and answer for themselues Thirty of them tooke ship being accompanied to the water sine with their wiues and kindred all full of greef for that they imagined they should meet no more in this world Yet all that accompanied them with one accord exhorted them to spend their blood in defence of their faith Being arriued to Fucofori they were taken and examined each of them a part but they like old beaten so ildiers with great constancy suted words to their profession answering in such fort as the Iudges were little pleased and therfore co nmaunded the principall men amongst them to be stripped and naked as they were to be exoosed to wind and weather the season at that time as in winter being very cold There was a young man who had carried himselfe very couragiously whom the Iudges to make further triall of him cōmaunded since he would not conforme himselfe and obey their wills to put one of his fingers into the fier The noble Christian zealous of Gods honour and deeming that by this act he should giue a pregnant testimony of his faith vndauntedly put his finger into the fire and suffered it there to be burned with great admiration of all the Gentills who being satisfied much herewith and contented that the Christians in thinges extrinsecall to Religion would obey them sent the young man and all the rest full of merites backe to their houses The Christians being returned ioy ull at their good successe were now out of farther feare when the Gouernours Lieutenant being highly offended with a more zealous then prudent act of a Christian sent some Gen ills his seruants with commission to enter in vpon the Christians houses and constraine them to subscribe not alleadging any cause vnto them but adding many threates of future punishments the Christians for the most part conformed themselues some with remorse some without any difficulty subscribing so that their neighbours who had not subscribed reprehended them much and told them that they would not from thence forward haue any communication with them in regard they held them as excommunicated persons Wherupon these poore soules fell into such scruples and afflictions of mind that they would neither sow their corne nor till the ground as the season required but like men distracted let all run at random which one of our Fathers vnderstāding made ha◠vnto them and bidding them be of good courage taught them what they were to doe in like occasions for the time to come Some were of so tender consciences that for feare of future scruples they would by no meanes subscribe vnlesse the cause of their subscription were hrst made knowne vnto them and therfore abandoning their houses village and all other affaires went to seeke a dwelling place else where One there was of that holy company by name Iohn whose sufferance was most remarkable He together with his wife and children hauing notice of the Tonos officers whē they came first to make the Christians deny their faith retired himselfe into a great wood which was vnder the dominion of an other Lord where he made his abode for fifteene daies together in the cold time of winter and howbeit he endured very much yet he was so faue from being dismaied that he shewed himselfe most ready to dy in that distresse rather then hazard the losse of his faith Neither did he want followers of his rare example some remaining two whole daies some three in the woods and deserts without any food at all to speake of When the first storme was ouerblowne this Iohn was called home by his frendes But the forsaid officers returning the second time with their former intentrō he vtterly refured to subscribe and so returning againe into the forrest settled himselfe there in a poore cottage made vp for him by other charitable Christians and as a Father reported who contessed him and his whole family it that wood liued very contentedly deeming it farre better to suffer all temporall miseries then to be in danger of denying his faith The persecution of the Christians of the Citty of Firando and the territory belonging to it in which eight and thirty suffered death MAssura Figendono Lord of the state of Firando knowing how malitiously the Xogun was bēt against Christians thought good to feed his cruell humour the onely meanes as he conceiued to establish himselfe in that place of gouernment Wherefore he resolued vpon a persecution and
his life he was to giue in his last euidence and declaration of his faith he put of his shooes and stockings that so he might goe with all possible reuerence vnto that place where in he was to dy for Christ. Being now euen at the goale where vnto they so willingly made hast the 3 sonnes stoode with eyes fixed vpon the heauens when their Father bad them giue attentiue eare vnto what he should tell them You must then vnderstand said he that you are but earth and that all things contained in this wide vniuerse were created as helpes for man to the saluation of his soule which at this instant you are to offer vnto God who therefore hath created you that he might confer vpon you the blisse of eternall saluation He added heere vnto diuerse other edificatiue speeches when one of the Tonos sonnes a youth of tender yeares arriuing there the officers that he might speake no more tooke occasion to stop their mouthes in such sort that they could not vtter any word The young youth who came purposely to be present at this spectacle was desirous to see how well their Simitars would cut and therfore the officers would not put the condemned persons to death as they were accustomed to doe but in a more inhumane barbarous and cruell fashion to wit taking their blow from aboue the right arme in such sorte that the weapon issue forth vnder the lefte or contrary not vnlike vnto the fashion in which our deacons weare a stole and to giue more content vnto the yoūg Barbarian they tyed euery ones right hand vnto a stake and thus prepared they came forth first Leo and then his sonnes whilst the Barbarous Paynim recreated himselfe with his attendants to see how sharpe those swords or Simitars were which with one blow pearsing both flesh and bones would cut the body from side to side and in an instant deuide a man in two Leo was 60 yeares of age Andrew 25 Thomas 23 and Iohn twenty as well the Father as his sonnes were borne in a part of the kingdom of Bungo called Togi They dyed on the 28 of May 1624 by commaund of Inaba Friocodono Lord of Vsuqui a Principall place of the kingdome of Bungo THE TABLE OF the Temporall state of Iaponia and the present condition of Christian Religion Pag. 1. The exercise of the Christians in prison pag. 10. How the aboue named fifty Christians were burnt aliue by commaund from the Xogun pag. 13. The names of some of the aboue mentioned martyrs according to the order they stood beginning from the Citty pag. 20. A brief relation of the life of F. Hierom de Angelis of B. Simon Iempo of the Society of IESVS pag. 22. How foure and twenty Christians were put to death for the confession of Christian faith in the Citty of Iendo pag 28. Of other seauenteene Christians burnt aliue in the Towne of Iendo for professing Christian Religion pag. 31. A relation of the persecution raised in the beginning of the yeare 1624. in the Countries of Massamune in which aboue 24. Christians were put to death together with F. Diego Caruaglio of the Society of IESVS pag. 32 Of the persecution in the Kingdome of Deua the death of three Christiās pa. 54. Of Christianity in the Coūtry of Cami. pag. 58. The death of Francis Ioyama Sintaro in the Citty of Firoxima pag 68. The death of Mathias Xobora Schizaimō pag. 73. The death of Ioachim Curoyemon in Firoxima pag. 75. The death of Iohn Tananguia Cufroi pag. 76. Of the persecution of Christians in certaine places of the Kingdom of Figen p 86. The persecution of the Christians of the Citty of Firando and the terntory belonging to it in which eight and thirty suffered death pag 95. The death of nine Christiās of the house and family of Gabriel who had lodged F. Camillus Constantius of the Society of IESVS ibid. The death of fiue other Christians in Vsucca pag 104. The death of Isabell Mother of Damianus and Beatrice his wife with their foure children pag. 107. The death of Mary wife to Iohn Sucamoto and her foure sonnes pag. 122. The death of Michaell Iamando Fiemon and Vrsula his wife with three of their children pag. 115. The death of Catherine wife to Iohn Yuqumoura pag. 120. The death of Thomas Mattaicht p. 125. Of foure others put to death for Religion in the Precincte of Firando pag. 126. The death of Calisto Cambo a Christian of the Ilands of Goto pag. 131. The death of Michael Sori and Quinzaiemon in the Ilands of Goto pag. 134. The death of Thomas Nacangaua Mangosuque and Ioseph Gonzalo who suffered in Omura pag. 136. The death of Father Michael Caruaglio of the Society of IESVS and of foure other Religious men of the holy Orders of Saint Dominicke and Saint Francis who suffered for preaching of the holy Ghospell pag. 140. The state of Christianisme in Tacaco pag 153. The residence of Amacusa and missions of the Kingdome of Fingo pag. 155. The residence of the Kingdome of Chigugen and missions thereof pag. 157. The residence of the Kingdome of Bungo pag. 161. The death of Leo Mizaqui Xinyemon and of his three sonnes pag. 165. FINIS