foretell and if bad advise how to prevent or at least to mitigate They also profess Exorcism and to drive away evil Spirits to charm and confine the Devil and all such deceitful Tempters which they perform in a Rant with loud hectoring acclamations drawing a Japan Faulchion with which they Fence Strike and Thrust flourishing it in the Air making them believe that thus they Fight the Fiend and slice Satan out in Sippets forcing him thus being mangled and cut almost into Atoms to dive for his better safety into the Sea Formosan become Christians Yet these so salvage People and blind with an over-grown ignorance have lately since the Hollanders East-India Company settled here and built a Fort for their Defence and conveniency of Trade without any great difficulty embraced the Doctrine of the Christian Faith Why they are easier Converted than other Indians which was the easier introduced the Inhabitants being their own Governors and under no supreme Authority who exercising a tyrannical Power would as other Persecutors force them back from Gods true to their false Idol-Worship as at that time most part of India was being either under Heathen or Mahumetan Governors who with great fury obstructed the Gospel which else might have flourish'd through the Oriental World Besides the Formosans kept no Books wherein the bounds of Religion were fix'd and a setled maintain'd Doctrine which still caus'd great variance and hot Disputes amongst themselves the whole Conduct of their Divine Laws being left to a few frantick and ignorant Women who know nothing but by Tradition This made it the more easie to reduce them from their Paganism and Idolatry and finding little in their frenzied Inibs that might perswade them to persist in their former Superstitions many of them with small difficulty became good Christians Trade of the Netherlanders in Formosa ¶ THEre the Netherlanders drive a great Trade with the Chinese Junks which come from the River Chincheo and the City Aymoy The Merchandises which they deal for and Barter are Transported from thence to Japan India and Holland When the Vessels make a slow Return from Aymoy lapsing the usual time when they should freight themselves with their Goods for Japan or Batavia then the Hollanders Sail thither where for ten Tails every Tail being a French Crown they buy a Picol of Silk weighing a hundred and twenty pound Why Formosa is of such great concern ¶ THis Island is of great Consequence to the Hollanders because by this means they obstruct the Spanish Trade both with China and Japan which Inconvenience the Castilian well observing to prevent Anno 1626. going ashore on the North Point of Formosa cast up a Fort with all speed The Castilians set upon the Netherlanders in Formosa calling it Kelang Yet though thus setled they rested not but Rigg'd a great Fleet hoping to drive the Hollanders from Tyovan But foul Weather frustrated their Design After that the Portuguese undertook the like in Macaw but had the same ill Success This was also no small Obstacle to the Japanners who drove a very profitable Trade in Formosa before the Hollanders built their Fort Zelandia there for after being much obstructed by this means and though they complain'd at home could set no Redress Japanners complain of the Netherlanders So whilst the Business was agitated on all sides the Hollanders losing no time but making advantage of the Opportunity took Kelang and made themselves Masters of the whole Isle The Chinese War is the occasion of the loss of Formosa ¶ BUt whilst they thus setled themselves there the State of China was turn'd topsie-turvey and that long and well setled Government fix'd and confirm'd with all the Ligatures of Strength and Cementing Policy was utterly subverted and quite overthrown by a horrid and grand Rebellion This Combustion first brake out in the Province or Kingdom of Suchuen and though but small at first yet afterwards the whole Empire was involv'd in the like Flames and Publick Calamity which thus happen'd This Countrey hath a Tract of barren and inaccessible Mountains which formerly were sculking Receptacles for a few guilty Persons that had committed Theft and Murder and other such hainous Offences Robbers in China after it became the Asylum or Sanctuary for all sorts of petty Criminals such as Cheaters and Bankrupts who suppos'd the open Air better than a close Prison then Hectoring Debouchers made there their Summer-Progress next all sorts of Vagabonds fearing the Whip flock'd thither and at last those that were pinch'd with Poverty and not inamour'd with Labor betook themselves also to this kind of idle Life So growing numerous they began to draw down in Bodies Attaquing whole Villages and carrying away the Booty to their Dens and obscurè Recesses in the Mountains Thus flesh'd and encourag'd deserting the Hills and their former Aboads they pitch their Camps in open Plains and spoiling where-ever they came soon over-run that whole Province and left nothing to Conquer but the Metropolis Chinghi not questioning such was their audacious Resolution to make themselves Masters of that Rich and Populous City Which they had done and without any great difficulty but that a Woman a Virago inspir'd with more than a Masculine Spirit by her Courage Care and Conduct so baffl'd them in all their Endeavors giving them Repulse upon Repulse that at last with Loss and Dishonor they were forc'd to quit their Enterprise which had wholly dissipated their whole Army when two Commanders of the Imperial Forces then drawing thither from Queichew utterly to quell this horrid Insurrection fell at variance betwixt themselves and the Difference grew so high that one of them to be reveng'd of the other quitted his Loyalty and carry'd over his whole Brigade to the despairing Rebels who thus reinforc'd joyning together set on the Emperors remaining Party in which Battel satisfying his Revenge he not onely slew the General his Antagonist but they beat the Vice-Roy of Tutang and routed his whole Army But yet soon after he bestirring himself recruited so his Forces that though he could not utterly dissipate them he brought them to Conditions and to pay him double the Damage of what ever they had gain'd in that Predatory War But the Rebels when thus languishing having nothing left but the Mountains which first foster'd them retreated thither when about that time all things in a manner setled several of the Northern Provinces of China were infested with the destroying Plague of Locusts which covering the whole Countrey devour'd what ever was fit for Humane Sustenance bringing an extreme Famine Great Famine which the Rich were able to bear out but the Poor were so driven to the worst of Exigencies Starving that they every where stirr'd up by the Example of those of Suchuen It makes Robbers fell to pilfering and stealing and gathering at last into Parties to Robbery and Murder setting in like manner upon whole Towns and Villages
the appointed Time none should dare presume thenceforth to worship any other God than that his Image in the Temple within the City Anzuquiama because he was Created by Heaven and Earth A great resort of People to Meaco This being Proclaim'd through all the Empire the great City Meaco was much too little for so vast a Concourse of People that in throngs flock'd daily thither So that several Leagues were taken up round about the City for the Entertainment of these mighty Multitudes the Town being first cramm'd up and many forc'd to ly aboard their Ships A new Idol Xantai On the Day of Celebration the young Prince Nobunanga's Son first began the Ceremony prostrating himself in a devout manner before the new Image Xantai After in order the Kings Princes and Nobles and other Eminent Persons in their respective Degrees At which time appear'd to their great amazement a wonderful Prodigy a Blazing Comet and also at Noon-day Fire falling from Heaven seeming to signifie sudden and sad Misfortunes all threatning and impending over the Head of Nobunanga A Temple and Idol at Dubo About a Mile from Meaco in the Village Dubo Nobunanga also built a fair Temple in which he set up an Image intended for his own and to the Life resembling himself The Idol sits Cross-legg'd in the middle of a Pedestal rais'd with broad Margins curiously Ingraven his Hands lying upon his Belly About his Neck hangs flying a loose Scarf Chains of precious Gems and Jewels adorn his Breast and Bosom and a tripple Chain of Pearl about his Neck Waste and Belly But the greatest Ornament was the Illustrious Crown which impalled his Head which thus Nobunanga made himself Master on MIAKO Thus they destroy'd the whole Royal Family onely preserving Cubo his younger Brother because he had taken the Order of Priesthood and that they might not suspect him hereafter they ty'd him with a Sacerdotal Vow and oblig'd him by the like Religious Promises but he by this means making his Escape he secretly convey'd himself to Vatadomo Governor of Loca who receiv'd him very courteously and perswaded to his assistance Nubunanga King of Boari who joyning together brought an Army of sixty thousand Men into the Field against the Emperors Murderers who finding themselves not able to resist they freely resign'd some of the prime Abettors being punish'd he in stead of putting in the next of Blood made himself absolute Master of the City and Castle of Meaco re-edifying the burnt Palace Meaco taken and the burut Palace re-built which for the sudden perfecting he neither spar'd Cost nor Labor employing fifteen thousand Men daily at Work and going up and down with a drawn Scymiter that none might be idle or lose any time where he cut off a Carpenter's Head for lifting up the Vail of a Woman by chance then passing by At last Nubunanga went on so victoriously that in short time he conquer'd and brought under his subjection thirty several Kingdoms also making himself Master of Cubo setting the Imperial Crown upon his Head as a Trophy of his Victories and afterwards put the same upon his new Idol in Dubo which represented him to the life that so he might whilst living be worshipp'd as a god to which end he wanted not store of Sycophant Courtiers and other City Flatterers that held him up in this his vanity making him believe That nothing could be more just and honorable for a Person that had perform'd such wondrous Acts and made so many Conquests by his Prudence sole Conduct and Valor But others resented hainously this his vain Imagination and proud Design not but that several Princes they had themselves deifi'd for their worthy Actions after they were deceased but that his ambition should aspire so high to be both God and Man at once and whilst he was yet living and subject to all mortal frailties he should blasphemiously presume to take place among the gods and receive Offerings and Sacrifice onely fit for Immortals and the ever blest unless said they we should make him a god for his Cruelty his Promise-breaking and Perjury for whatsoever Countreys were surrendred to him trusting in the Honor of a Prince his Oaths and Clemency he put without mercy to the Sword as if he had taken them by Storm and entred by violence But more than any King Aquechi being a bold and high-spirited Prince chaf'd and storm'd and would not sit down tamely and talk onely of this his prophane arrogance though he had oblig'd him with many great favors and bounty making him King of Tango and General over his whole Army yet in such a Point as this the honor of Religion and the true Worship of their ever just gods at the stake therefore converting the Emperors whole Forces against him he march'd up to Meaco the two and twentieth of June Anno 1582. The Prince Aquechi flays Nubunanga Nubunanga being thus suddenly surpris'd and beleaguer'd with his own Forces had no way to attempt his Escape but being follow'd close by the Enemy he was after some resistance slain in the Wood near the River of Meaco which from thence receiv'd the denomination of The Imperial Blood-Grove Revenues of the Temple at Dubo The Temple which he erected in the Village Dubo hath a Revenue of two hundred thousand Tail of Silver yearly every Japan Tail reckon'd to be five Shillings Sterling But now we will return again to Meaco Description of the City Meaco ¶ ON the side of this Imperial City is the great Mountain Duboyamma which runs to Iondo at whose Foot stands the Village Dubo adorn'd with the stately Temple erected there by Nobunanga whose lofty Roof is seen in some Places above the shading Trees The Idol Xaca at Dubo Within stands the great Idol Xaca taken for the chiefest in Japan for which cause the Temple is constantly Lockt up except at one time in the year when it is open'd with great Ceremony and entred first by that Order of Priesthood call'd Foquexus Several Opinions of the Japanners concerning their Religion ¶ THe Japanners differ so much in their Opinions in matters of Religion that they may be divided into three principal Sects which branch into many The Sect Xenxus The first call'd Xenxus acknowledge the Life to come a Reward for the Good and Punishment for all Evil doers The Bonzi are of this Opinion and chiefly shew great Reverence to their Idol Chamis The Idol Chamis for whose honor they have Founded several Temples and use his Name upon all serious Matters or when they take the Oath of Allegiance to their Emperor To him they bring several Offerings praying him either to remove those troubles which are upon them or else to grant them a victorious and happy success in all their Enterprises Pythagorea◠Doctrine embraced in Japan The second Perswasion allow also of the immortality of the Soul but according to Pythagoras That the Soul should be transmigrated
nothing there and also the Citizens at that time being up in Arms against a crue of Rebels had neither Time nor Ears to hearken after a New Religion They give Presents to the King of Amangucium Thus seeing that nothing could be done here they return'd back with mean success to Amangucium and there presented the King with a curious Watch and many other Rarities which the Portuguese Vice-Roy of the East-Indies and the Bishop of Goa had sent them to give to the Cubus in Meaco But having no Audience there they bestow'd the Presents on the King of Amangucium who was desirous of nothing more than Foreign Rarities yet he proffer'd them in return of their Gifts a great Bag of Silver and Gold but the Jesuits modestly refusing it desir'd onely that he would be pleas'd to permit them to Preach the Doctrine of Jesus Christ which he granted Why he put himself in rich Apparel Mean while Xaverius observing that the Japanners valu'd a Man according to the Richness or Meanness of his Habit having hitherto gone in poor Apparel found that he was little or not at all regarded therefore resolv'd to put on a rich and stately Coat that so he might be better regarded and because the Japanners out of Curiosity would look upon him the more And indeed it prov'd so for teaching therewith in the Streets he had a far greater Congregation than formerly Then the People began private Disputations amongst themselves concerning that Religion and chiefly the Bonzi were at variance amongst themselves concerning the Articles of the Christian Faith A strange accident by which a Japanner became a Christian ¶ THe first Converting of these Heathens in Amangucium was occasion'd by a strange Accident which Tursellinus relates in this manner Johannes Ferdinandez standing in the Street surrounded with a great number of People read the Book of Angar's Translation which a Japanner passing by heard whereupon he made his way through the People and spat Fernandez full in the Face which be suffering with patience wip'd off and proceeded without the least sign of anger in reading of his Doctrine One Auditor amongst the Crowd seeing his admir'd Patience was amaz'd thereat and as if inspir'd judg'd in himself that without doubt it must be the True Religion which was taught by so mild a Person and afterwards being better Instructed by Xaverius was the first which receiv'd Baptism in Amangucium Several others follow'd his example amongst which Bernard Eenoog afterwards by Xaverius made a Jesuit King of Bungo shews great kindness to the Christians ¶ WHilst the Christian Religion went on thus prosperously in Amangucium Xaverius was sent for by Jacotondono King of Bungo in whose Harbor a Portuguese Vessel was come to Anchor He covetous of Lucre proffer'd the Portuguese all Civility and Kindness sending an Embassy to Goa and promoted the Christian Faith at Amangucium His Brother though with great resistance of the Council there being accepted of as their King interceded also for the Christian Religion Notwithstanding all these Favors yet Xaverius found great opposition by the Bonzi insomuch that he Baptiz'd not one in the Province Bungo onely Instructing some in the Christian Doctrine The King seem'd also to have a great inclination to the Christian Belief but fear'd if he should become a Convert from the Japan Heathenism that his Subjects would rebel against him Yet though he remain'd a Heathen he provided for those Jesuits that came after Xaverius a convenient Colledge and gave free leave to Balthazar Gago and Johannes Fernandez to Preach the Gospel Insurrection in the Kingdom of Bungo against the Christians These Actions of the King of Bungo were ill resented by his Subjects who took up Arms against him But soon after Jacotondono took the chief of the Rebels which were commanded speedily with their Relations Wives and Children to be executed Yet after that a Company of fresh Rebels rising again the King brought an Army of sixty thousand Men into the Field and after various Successes became Conqueror and absolute Master getting also by that means Facata Fiuago Amangucium and the Island Taso Anno 1554. he sent from Bungo to Goa a Portuguese call'd Antonius Ferreira sending his Arms to the Vice-Roy with which he had subdu'd Fiuago as also a Letter entreating his Friendship and that he would be pleas'd to let Xaverius come over again Miracles wrought by Xaverius But Xaverius had two years before been kill'd in China not far from Canton after having several times laid Tempests asswag'd Earthquakes rais'd twenty five dead Persons to life again if we will believe those Relations which have been divulg'd thereof Embassy from Goa to the King of Bungo The Vice-Roy of Goa rested not upon this Business but dispatch'd with all possible speed the Jesuits Melchior Nugnez and Ferdinand Mendez Pinto to Jacatondono With a Train of forty Portuguese richly clad they made their appearance before the King who told them at large how many Inconveniences and Troubles he had undergone in his Kingdom since he permitted the Christians to set footing in his Dominions insomuch that not long since he was necessitated to slay thirteen Princes with sixteen thousand of their Confederates in one day besides a great number which he had banish'd and withal he saw it apparent that there would be no end of Blood-shed if he did in the least uphold them in their Proceedings in Japan which before he did he would first see better Times In vain did Nugnez use the Perswasions of the uncertainty of a Mans Life and the certainty of Eternal Damnation for Unbelievers Thus Jacatondono cutting off all hopes of being Converted Depart fruitless Nugnez departed returning fruitless to Goa And after that the King declin'd it daily more and more building in the City Usuquin a stately Cloyster for the Bonzi bestowing great Revenues upon the same and sent for the most Learn'd of the Pagan Priests which had been Tutors to Princes and betook himself to be of their Order King of Bungo becomes 2 Bonzi and daily Study and Endeavors obtain'd so much of their Learning that he surpass'd the best of them Yet notwithstanding all this he molested not the Christians but his Wife on the contrary persecuted them with Fire and Sword Divorces his Wife This her Cruelty so displeas'd the King that he divorc'd her from him and took for his Consort a Princess of a mild and affable disposition whose Daughter was Married to a Christian Prince call Sebastian The King thus Wedded was oftentimes admonish'd of the Christian Religion which his Consort and Daughter embrac'd to which he began now to hearken and receiv'd Baptism of Capriales Is Christned Franciscus and in Commemoration of Xaverius who preach'd the Gospel seventy years before in Usuquin took the name of Franciscus But he chang'd not only his Name but also his manner of Life for though he was not fifty years old Resigns up
his Kingdoms yet he resign'd up all his Kingdoms and Dominions and retir'd to the Territory of Fiungo where on a pleasant Plain he resolv'd to build a New City and to People the same with none but Christians to the end they might there all together live after God's Laws and Ordinances Travels to build a new City The fourth of October Anno 1578. he set Sail with his Fleet the Pennons and Flags of white Damask embroyder'd with red Crosses spreading from their Masts and Yards The Jesuits Capriales Lodowick Almeida and John the Japanner with a considerable number of Christians that were to inhabit the new-built City were Shipp'd aboar'd Upon his departure Franciscus commanded his eldest Son whom he appointed his Successor in all his Dominions That he should no ways molest the Christians but rather assist them in all things His Son is kind to the Jesuits The New King promis'd to perform his Fathers Command faithfully and indeed did more than he promis'd for he pull'd down the Temple of the Idol Camis and Fotoques and allow'd the Jesuits Means giving them also a place to build a stately Church in Usuquin and crost the Bonzies in all their undertakings acting all things after the Christian manner Against which resisted many Princes in Bungo being back'd by Riogozes King of Ximo which were too hard for the young King oftentimes loosing many Men in Skirmishes Cities and whole Dominions were taken from him either by Riogoze's Forces or mutinous Subjects in short it was so decree'd that Jacatondono his Son should be Disinherited of all his Jurisdictions Most of the Loyallest Subjects Voted that Jacatondono should Re-possess his former Authority Why he is in great danger to the end that the Crown of Bungo which was near lost might again by his Prudence be settled before it was quite Demolish'd Mean while Jacatondono now call'd Franciscus expecting daily that he should be forc'd out of his new Christian City in Fiunga march'd Arm'd into the Fields and his Necessity requiring Policy he came forth no less Prudent than Circumspect Franciscus re-possesses his throne four Councellors having by their ill advice order'd their Affairs badly those he drove first out of the Countrey then getting a considerable Army together he march'd against Chicacuro the head of the Rebels Both Parties lay Encamp'd one over against the other Franciscus inviting them daily to fight by Embattelling his Men but Chicacuro who had no very good opinion of his People would not hazard his Life in the hands of wavering Fortune during which time most of his Men quitted his Army His Conquest and went over to Franciscus Camp insomuch that all left him but eight hundred which being slain brought Peace and quietness to the Kingdom of Bungo After which the Conqueror went again to his new City Cuchimochi but liv'd not long after to enjoy the advantages of his gotten Victory For being upon his return from the Japan Emperor he was taken with the Plague at Usuquin of which many dy'd at that time yet notwithstanding though the Distemper threatned nothing but death yet he was desirous to be carry'd to Cuchimochi and being come within nine Miles of the place his Sickness so increas'd that he was necessitated to stay at Sucuma where soon after he gave up the Ghost Dies Anno 1587. The Jesuit Laguna had the ordering of the Funeral-Solemnity to which an incredible number of people came flocking from all parts of the adjacent Countreys The Corps was carry'd by four of the chiefest Peers Is bury'd on both sides went meaner Lords carrying Banners with red Crosses next follow'd the Queen and her Daughter and then a great company of Noble-men clos'd up the whole Train ¶ BUt besides the Province of Bungo several others have embrac'd the Christian Religion which happen'd thus When Xaverius Anno 1551. in November travel'd from Japan to Goa he took with him two Christian Japanners Mattheus and Bernard which were sent to salute his Holiness in Rome But Mattheus dying at Goa Bernard us proceeded in his Journey alone and was the first of the Japanners that kiss'd his Holiness Feet He in his return home-ward dy'd at Conimbrica in Spain Xaverius himself travel'd to China Xaverius leaves the Jesuits in Japan there to Preach the Gospel for the Japanners cry'd continually that the Chineses from whom the Japan Religion was Extracted did not imbrace the Christian Faith There stay'd behind in Japan Cosmus Turrianus and Joannes Fernandez besides two Japan Converts being Paul of the Holy Belief and Lawrence One-Eye by whose extraordinary diligence the Christian Religion was imbrac'd by many of the Commonalty the Jesuits teaching them the Commandments and the Gospel of our Saviour Jesus Christ and the Holy Trinity in Cangoxima Firando Amangucium and Bungo Xaverius a little before his death sent from Goa to Japan Balthazar Gago Edward Sylvius and Peter Alcacova after that went over thither also Casper Vilela Lodowick Almeida Gonsalves Fernandes Franciscus Caprialis Lodowick Frojus Joannes Baptista Montanus Organtinus Brixiensis Peter Diasius Arias Blandonius Arias Sanctius Duartes a Sylva Melchior Mugaez Franciscus Perezius and others These effected so much in few years that Christianity began now to increase wonderfully and as an effect of their Zeal they built several Towns Cloysters and Churches being every where highly respected and much esteem'd These successful Progresses gave hopes of a happy Event especially for that now Cosmus Turrianus and Edward Sylvius besides many Citizens in Amangucium Converted two Bonzies of Meaco and indeed Christianity so prevail'd both in strength and number that the Rusticks near Amangucium began to dispute with the Bonzi of which some falling short in the Arguments of their Religion were forc'd to flie for shame Not long after Turrianus built a great Church in the City intending there to perform in publick all Divine Services Some of the Courtiers were by this time also become Proselites and amongst the rest the King's Treasurer Ambrosius Eunadus Faisumius who soon after Dying was Inter'd in the following manner Edvard Sylv Epist Bungo 1555. Besides the Jesuit Edward Sylvius above two hundred young Christians went to his Burial a great Cross was carry'd before the Corps and a considerable number of Torches round about which turn'd the day into night not without great admiration of the Inhabitants by whom the Funeral Solemnities were perform'd quite contrary Fasumius his Widow feasted the Poor four days together after the Funeral A new Almshouse in Funaco distributing much Houshold-stuff and many Clothes among them Moreover Turrianus built a double Alms-house or Hospital in the City Funaco one side being for those that had the Leprosie which came flocking thither from all parts of Japan that Countrey being very subject to that distemper the second partition was for other sickly Persons over both these Turrianus made a Japan Christian Master one that was experienc'd in Physick How the Japanners kept
good out of himself If he be good from whence are these bad Devils Did God create them bad where then is his abundant goodness Or did he give over those to evil which he could have kept from it Was Man created to serve God in holiness why doth he suffer the Devil to tempt him to wickedness Why is Man left to himself that cannot subsist without the Spirit of God How can it also agree with Gods goodness to create Men unable by their weakness to be condemn'd for their sins and by their damnation for ever miserable And why are there such Laws ordain'd that no Creature on Earth is able to perform the least breach of which is eternal damnation insomuch that upon necessity the whole Race of Mankind by the power of that Law must be cursed he being born in sin The Japan Religion was establish'd on better grounds of Gods Mercy in that they had no everlasting Hell The Worshippers and Servants of Amida Xaca Canon and other Japan gods exchanged by death their transitory Life for everlasting Salvation and if it happen'd that after death they suffer'd some torments for their sins committed in this Life that continu'd but a short time according to the Crime Arguments of those Japanners that intended to be Christians These were generally the controverted Questions which Xaverius was to answer but after these arose a new stop in the way The Japanners who by this time gave some ear to the Jesuits could no ways understand why God did make himself known to none but those Strangers which came thither from Portugal they told them That their Forefathers liv'd very retir'd but those which for Theft Adultery Murder or neglect of the Japan Religion as it was taught them from time to time could not be admonish'd in their Life-times must they according to the Japan Christian Faith be therefore tortur'd in everlasting Flames who must bear the blame of that spoil Had the Portuguese Preach'd the Gospel sooner in Japan then they should have been sooner sav'd O miserable Parents and Children which died before the Jesuits came hither A Letter of Fernandes conceâ—ining the Japan contradictions But the better to understand the daily oppositions and contradictions of the Japanners we will give you some Extracts of a Letter Written by Johannes Fernandes from Amangucium to Franciscus Xaverius Anno 1551. wherein he says That since the departure of Xaverius the Japanners came daily slocking to the Jesuits Houses troubling them continually with several Questions particularly they desir'd to know of what Materials God had made the Soul as for the Body they knew that the Earth Fire Water and Air had joyn'd it together Moreover they demanded of what Shape and Colour the Soul was What manner of Creatures the Devils were Why they tempted Men to sin and chiefly aim'd at his destruction How they came to be so wicked since God created all things good They enquir'd what God was and where If he could not be seen Why he had block'd up the way to Heaven with so many troubles where goodness onely resides The Bonzies curse the Jesuits Mean while the Bonzies spent their time continually in their Temples and Cloysters in railing against the Jesuits They Preach'd publickly before the People That the Christians were Cannibals or Men-eaters That the Devil had spoken from a Brazen Image prognosticating that Amangucium should in a short time be utterly destroy'd for their wickedness in embracing the Christian Religion Not long after they say that themselves saw in the Night a of Fire descending from Heaven on the Palace of Amangucium Terrible Fire which suddenly burning made their foretelling true for the City burnt eight days together and then Murder and Cruelties spared neither young nor old not so much as the poor Infants which were Sucking at their Mothers Breasts Those which sought not to escape by flight died a most miserable death whereupon the general Cry of the Bonzies was That the unknown God of the Christians must be a most horrible Monster by whose Religion if it took footing in their Countrey Japan would be utterly destroy'd The Reason why the Roman Religion went on so prosperously in Japan Notwithstanding these grand oppositions yet there is no Countrey either West North or South that hath been discover'd by Navigation which hath taken so large an impression of the true Faith as Japan notwithstanding the Blood-Baths which were made there the cruel Persecutions the barbarousness of their Tortures the meekness of the Sufferers the infinite numbers of Miseries which happen'd in so short a time that can scarcely be paralell'd by any other People in the World for which cause we will relate the way by which the Christians in Japan went on so successfully The first Reason why the Jesuits spoke for the Poor The Jesuits soon after their arrival were much frequented by the poorer sort of People which are very numerous in Japan the Countrey being so exceeding populous that they seem to undo one another the Nobles living on the gain of their Subjects who bring them in so much that they scarce know their own Revenue whilst the meaner sort undergo extreme Poverty and the more because Compassion is banish'd from the Countrey and nothing less found there than Charity to the Poor The Jesuits Preach'd against their hard-heartedness teaching them That the Christian Religion requir'd bountiful hearts towards the Poor that Men should have compassion of one anothers miseries he deserv'd to be forsaken in his misery which will not act for his Neighbors relief what is it that can happen to one but it may happen to another who will forget a poor Man that is himself subject to all frailties This Doctrine the poor Japanners embraced the more willingly because it pleaded for their poverty but yet it took a deeper impression when the action it self follow'd for when the Jesuits had gotten some of the Princes to embrace their Religion Build Alms-houses which allow'd them great Revenues they immediately built Alms-houses dividing them into two several Apartments in one of which those that were infected with the Leprosie had their Lodgings and in the other those that had other Sicknesses great multitudes came flocking thither and at the entring of the Alms-house received Baptism Thus the Jesuits numbers increased daily to their great Cost and Charge none but poor and needy People coming to them out of necessity were Baptized The Letters may be seen wherein they make heavy complaints that the Japan Christians consisted most in diseased and decrepid poor People which were Converted onely to be Maintain'd by them Bonzies are cruel to the Poor And these came the more because the Bonzies never regarded them neither bestowing Alms nor taking care of their Burial or to provide such things as their Religion requires after death to the end they may live in joy and happiness with their gods Amida and Xaca But it is no marvel why the
their abilities all manner of Perfumes Tacit. 3. Aunal and other sweet Scents such as Tacitus says are commonly thrown on the Funeral Pyles But the Heathens burnt not onely their Dead but their Living also for certain Crimes The Egyptians stuck the Body of one that had murder'd his Father full of sharp Canes then cutting him in many places they at last threw him on a great heap of Thorns which being set on fire consum'd him Other Nations have condemn'd less Offenders to be burnt partly because that punishment is exceeding painful and partly by the Fire to cleanse them from their offences The Murders of the Emperor in Fissima ¶ AS soon as Conbosama after the decease of his Father possess'd the Imperial Throne he began his Reign as we in part mention'd with exceeding Tyranny for travelling through Fissima he commanded the Governor Ingandono to cause all Christians Men Women and Children to be roasted to death During the Civil Wars since the Dayro lost his sole and unlimited Authority every King in his own Realm play'd the Master And seeing they endeavor'd as we said before to bereave one another of the Profit which the Portuguese Vessels brought them seeking to invite them to their Harbors they were forc'd to keep fair correspondence with the Jesuits they having the sole Command of the Trade and Vessels and so accordingly to grant them free leave to Preach the Catholick Doctrine But after Daifusama became Conqueror in many Battels reducing the whole Countrey of Japan under his subjection the Kings Authorities and Power were all limited so that they all depended on the Emperor and were strictly commanded for no sinister ends to permit the Christians to teach their Belief Being thus order'd all of them were forc'd to obey making great search for the Roman Priests of which he took at last Peter ab Ascensione a Franciscan Johannes Baptista Machada a Jesuit Alphonso Navarre a Dominican and Ferdinand a Santo Josepho an Augustine and caus'd them all to be beheaded in Omura Why the Japanners throw the Ashes of the burnt Christians into the Sea When Peter de Zuniga an Augustine and Lodowick Flores a Dominican born at Antwerp were to be burnt in Nangesaque besides twelve others that were beheaded there came in the Night several Portuguese who had cut from the half-roasted Bodies of Zuniga and Flores great pieces of Flesh which they preserv'd as holy Reliques insomuch that the next day little or nothing was to be seen of either of their Corps This being very ill resented by the Governor of Nangesaque to prevent the same another time on the next Moneth being August Anno 1622. when they had condemn'd Carolus Spinola the Jesuit and Franciscus de Morales the Dominican Hyacinthus Orfanel and Alphonso de Mena caus'd their Bodies to be thrown into a deep Pit full of Wood there burning them to Ashes which being rak'd together was carry'd a good distance from the Shore and there scatter'd abroad into the Sea by the Wind to the end there might nothing of them remain But besides the foremention'd Jesuit and Dominican others were also burnt at the same time amongst which was a Brusseller who coming within the Pyles of Wood would not be ty'd with one Hand to the Post but falling down on his Knees held fast about the bottom of it and so died others which stood upright scorch'd and burnt by degrees till at last they died through excess of most intolerable pain Hyacinthus Orfanel stood most in the Wind and was least hurt by the Flame â—rsanel was sixteen hours 〈◊〉 burning so that he was full sixteen hours miserably tormented before he gave up the Ghost Two of the Company were ty'd out of the Wind which made the Flames strike so vehemently upon the Posts that the Ropes burnt with which they were ty'd by which means they got loose and fled through the burning heaps of Wood desiring that they might apostatize from the Christian Religion But Xuquendaino sitting on a costly Carpet surrounded by Japan Nobles and Souldiers to see the Execution perform'd by order of Goneocu Governor of Nangesaque commanded those that fled to be driven back and push'd into the Fire with Pikes and Staves judging it was not out of zeal that they would embrace the Japan Religion but because they could not endure the pain of the Fire so that it was then too late for them to consider that which they might have done before After this Camilius de Constanzo the Jesuit was in like manner burnt neat Firando and Paulas Navarrus in the City Ximabara Horrible Persecutions in Jedo ¶ AMongst other Persecutions that was very terrible which happen'd at Jedo Anno 1623. Cornelius Hazart in his Church History and the Letter from Japan to Mutius Vetelesius Governor of the Jesuits at Rome differ much in Relation of this unhappy Accident The Letter deserving more credit than Hazart How it happen'd gives this account Daifusama caus'd a Noble-man call'd Fara Mondono to have his Toes and Fingers to be cut off and to be burnt in the Forehead because he inclin'd to the Christian Religion but being receiv'd into Favor and restor'd to his former Dignity by the Emperor Conbosama who was his near Relation he left not to practise in private the same Religion But being betray'd by his Servant to Jenoquidi Cambioie Governor of Jedo was by the Emperors command condemn'd Soon after by means of tortur'd Christians were discover'd the Jesuits Hieronimus ab Angelis and Franciscus Galves a younger Brother The Life of Hieronymus bâ— Angelis ¶ AB Angelis Sailing with Carolus Spinola to the East-Indies was necessitated by a fault of their Vessel to fall upon Brasile and immediately after to Sail back to Portugal in which his Voyage homewards he was taken by the English but making his escape from them not long after coming again to Lisbon he Sail'd again for India and at last came to the Empire of China where he stay'd a considerable time and then went to Japan where being chief Governor of the Jesuits Residence in Fissima he stay'd some years in that City then travelling to Surunga where the Emperor at that time kept his Court purposely to erect a Temple he laid his Design so cunningly that he taught the Roman Religion in private there and having also order'd all things according to his hearts desire when within Jedo he was about buying of a House to make a Temple of he was discover'd and forc'd to fly to Surunga and immediately after to Nangesaque But when Anno 1614. a considerable number of Christians were banish'd from Meaco and Osacca to the cold Countrey Sangaer in the Northermost part of Japan by command of the Emperor Daifusama Ab Angelis travell'd thither and at last back again to Jedo where he undertook again his former Design to buy a large House in which he might perform Divine Service But being busie about these his intentions he was sought
Murder as other Commanders who aim'd by their Cruelties to exceed each other he being most commonly troubled with a Distemper that would scarce let him rest either Night or Day So that he regarded the Christians but little being also very intent in desiring his Nobles to let him resign up his Authority Kauwaytsdo is made Governor of Nangesaque This at last was granted him and Kauwaytsdo sent by the Emperor to succeed not without great trouble and amazement to the City Nangesaque and especially to the Christians because Kauwaytsdo was a stern and high-spirited Person and the rather because heretofore Nangesaque had always been Govern'd by ordinary Merchants who by the Command of the Emperor had their Residence there to the end they might buy all things necessary that the Imperial Court requir'd Whereas the Japan Nobles are so exceeding proud and high-minded that they look upon all Tradesmen as Dogs which made every one stand in fear of Kauwaytsdo the New Governor Begins instantly to murder the Christians Anno 1626. in June he came to keep his Court at Nangesaque The second day after his arrival he commanded fifty three Stakes to be drove into the Ground and according to the custom to place Piles of Wood round about them The next day after were led thither the Japan Bishop Franciscus Parquero Balthazar de Torres who had lain a whole Year hid in a Cave under the Floor of a House Baptista Sola Overseer of the Jesuits Cloyster at Arima besides five Japanners which had lodg'd the Priests and as many Portuguese namely Albemen Josse and his Son of fourteen Years old Diego de Costa Johan de Costa and Balthazar de Solse the last two being Pilots The Portuguese became Apostates embracing the Heathen Religion but the rest remain'd constant After that five Men and three Women more were burnt because they had also entertain'd the Priests in their Houses One of the Women saw first her Child of six years old Beheaded Finds out a cunning way to make them apostatize from the Christian Faith But Kauwaytsdo found more Work in this his Murder than he expected for he saw that he must destroy at least a thousand more before he could root the Christian Religion out of Nangesaque Therefore he bethought himself of another way Forcing the Christians to declare by Oath what they were worth and what Moneys they had out either in the Hands of Portuguese Japanners Chineses or their own Servants whether upon Interest or otherwise all which he kept and seiz'd upon for his own use Besides thus depriving them of their Estates he threatned them also with intolerable Tortures and a horrible Death if they continu'd to persist in the Romish Belief But if they would Apostatize they should reap great Benefit Which indeed those that did immediately receiv'd for Kauwaytsdo gave them the Houses and Estates of those that were burnt and also forc'd the Chineses which come yearly with above sixty Vessels to an Anchor before Nangesaque to Lodge in their Houses for which they should pay them Ten in the Hundred of whatever Commodities they sold by which means many poor People on a sudden rais'd themselves to considerable Estates Moreover the Portuguese Merchants might neither lodge with the Christians nor drive any Trade with them Many embrace the Japan Doctrine again In October Kauwaytsdo commanded all those that had Apostatiz'd from Christianity to come before him who being all cloth'd in rich Habies made above fifteen hundred He speaking to them very courteously promis'd to shew them more and greater Favors Cruelty us'd in Mongy ¶ MEan while the heat of Persecution in several Places increas'd A Mile from Nangesaque stands a Village nam'd Mongy belonging to Bongemendo Governor of Arima where seven Men and five Women were put to death Being brought before the Executioners they were first Stigmatiz'd with hot Irons in the Foreheads and immediately after demanded If they would renounce the Christian Religion Which refusing they were again burnt on both Cheeks But still remaining constant they were stripp'd of their Apparel and their Legs and Arms stretch'd abroad with great Scourges so outragiously beaten that they lay a considerable time for dead Then being ask'd anew If they would not change their Opinions which they deny'd with detestations of the Japan Idolatries whereupon the Executioners began their Tortures afresh burning their Privities and other tender parts of the Body with glowing Irons and cutting off their Fingers and Toes It seems a matter worthy no small admiration that a Child of six Years old being amongst these twelve Martyrs endur'd all the foremention'd Tortures with inexpressible Courage Thus punish'd they were cast into Prison Mean while the number of the discover'd Christians amounted to one and forty which all patiently endur'd the foremention'd Afflictions insomuch that at last the Executioners seem'd to be more wearied and tir'd than the Sufferers of which seventeen having large and heavy Stones ty'd about their Middles were carry'd a good distance into the Offin and there thrown over-board amongst which number was a Man and his Wife and three Children the one seventeen the other thirteen and the youngest six years old who being terrifi'd with such strange Preparations began to cry when the Executioners laid hold of him to tye the Stones about his Waste whereupon they asking the Parents if they would have the Child to live and they replying No it was drown'd with the rest Japan Children very hardy enduring the greatest Tortures ¶ IT is very common in Japan to put to death or destroy Children for their Parents Offences Yet the Parents have an unlimited Power over their Children of either Life or Death and it is at their choice to let them live or cause them to suffer with them But there was scarce a Japan Child that went not willingly to encounter Death and endur'd their Tortures with exceeding Courage In the City Usacca two Youths the one ten and the other five years old voluntarily died with their Father Alexius Morifoibioye and a Sister being an Infant of four days old was Decollated On the Island Necaie a whole Noble Family were all condemn'd to the Slaughter amongst which several Children Japanners have little knowledge of the Christian Religion These Examples manifest sufficiently that the Japanners are not only of Noble Hearts but constant Resolutions enduring the greatest Tortures in their Infancy with inexpressible Valour for a Religion the first beginning whereof they scarce understood For besides reading the Pater Noster Ave Maria and some Prayers to the Saints they have little or no knowledge of either the Old or New Testament Therefore we may judge the Japan Martyrs to be very Zealous and Constant Far more holy were the Sufferings of these Infants if they had understood the Grounds of the Christian Faith than the Child which Romanus being tortur'd in Antioch by Asclepiades call'd from amongst the Multitude of Spectators Anno
not perform that Command they should lose both Life and Goods if ever after they hapned to Anchor in any Japan Harbor The banish'd Japanners with their Wives Children and Retinue amounted to thirty two of which in few Weeks none remain'd but one old Woman It is easie to be judg'd that they dispatch'd them by Poyson that so the Portuguese might rid themselves of such troublesom Companions and likewise obtain thanks from the Japan Governors who were fearful to condemn the foremention'd Persons either for their high Extract or their great Relations ¶ WHilst the Portuguese were thus busied Kauwaytsdo according to his Custom went to Jedo to the Court during whose absence those that were driven into the Mountain had some liberty and were permitted privately to come into Nangesaque to visit their Friends and lodge in their Straw Houses But at the return of Kauwaytsdo to Nangesaque the Banish'd being three hundred eighty four that remain'd constant were sent to Arima Horrible Cruelties us'd against the Japan-Christians where they were most inhumanely us'd their Bodies wash'd with scalding Water stigmatiz'd with red hot Irons beaten with sharp Canes or Reeds at Noon-day set naked in the Sun at Night in the Cold and also in Tubs full of Serpents Children destroy'd after a horrible manner before the Parents Eyes and when some were almost ready to give up the ghost by reason of their endless Tortures Physicians were provided to revive them again to the end they might afresh feel their Cruelties These kind of Afflictions some endur'd thirty forty nay sixty days before they would Apostatize Amongst all the rest five remain'd still constant whose Flesh being putrifi'd and rotten stunk though living like Carrion and being thus miserably tir'd out by their fesh Tortures they at last fell down dead under the Executioners Hands The Emperor Conbosama dies ¶ THe foremention'd Blood-baths had their beginning in the Emperor Conbosama's Reign after whose Decease Anno 1631. his Son Toxogunsama succeeded not without too apparent Testimony of inveterate malice to the Christians for soon after he began to Persecute them In Nangesaque he plac'd a new Governor call'd Onemendonne whom the Emperor Conbosama had long us'd as Judge and Overseer of the Japan Empire to the end he might be very vigilant to see that no Insurrections should happen any where Onemendonne being a stern fierce and cruel Man Onemendonne Governor of Nangesaque tyrannizes much was sent to Govern in Kauwaytsdo's Place who notwithstanding his inhumane Cruelties yet seem'd mild and of too good a Nature to destroy all the Christians at once which he thought to be easier because Kauwaytsdo deliver'd him a Catalogue in which were written not onely their Names but also their Dwelling◠places The common report was That Onemondonne came marching on with seven hundred Japan Soldiers but it prov'd to be scarce four hundred amongst which were several Noblemen with their Attendants which at Night lodg'd without Nangesaque and in the Day-time came and attended at Court Onemendonne at his coming set up several Posts in the City piling Erects Burning-posts according to the Japan manner great Heaps of Wood about them None knowing certainly for whom it was done some judg'd it to be for the Governor Moor Hieronimus Masleda and four Portuguese which a considerable time before had been Condemn'd Others thought that those Japanners which had entertain'd any Priests should be burnt for such was their Malice that not onely those that lodg'd a Priest under their Roof keeping them in private were put to death but also the two next Neighbors notwithstanding they were Heathens assuredly known to be so and perchance ignorant of the Entertainment But though Onemendonne drove so many Stakes up and down in the City yet nothing else follow'd than that the thirty Noblemen with some Soldiers made strict search in all the Streets of Nangesaque for the Roman Priests Strict Watch in Nangesaque which was the easilier perform'd because Nangesaque is divided into eighty eight Streets which in the Night are all lock'd up with Gates Every Street having its peculiar Name hath also an Overseer or Master-warden under whom are those whose Business it is to look and watch over five Houses and in the Morning to give an Account to the Master of that Ward what hath pass'd in those Houses who afterwards returns those Accounts to the Chief Overseer of the City who Governs all things except the Matters which are brought before him are of such grand Concern that he dares not take them upon him then the Prime Governor decides them Onemendonne caus'd strong Watches to be set all about the City Nangesaque both by Land and Water the Gates of the Streets to be lock'd up early and not open'd till day-light How they search'd for the Christians After that the Soldiers ran up and down from Street to Street breaking into the Houses wherein the Christians according to the Catalogue written by Kauwaytsdo How treated and deliver'd to Onemendonne dwelt asking them If they had not yet forsworn If they said Yes the Soldiers noted them down if No they perswaded them to Apostatize which refusing they were commanded to appear before the Governor who without hearing them plead lock'd them in a large Store-house built of Stone First the Master of the House was secur'd whilst his Wife Children and the rest of the Family were instructed who when they would not deviate from the Christian Religion they were also sent to Prison an Account being taken of all their Goods and their Windows and Doors nail'd up and seal'd Inhumane Tortures done with the Water of Singok Onemondonne having gotten a considerable number together sent them to the boyling Water at Singok At this place several great Pieces of Timber lie at the foot of the Rock reaching over the Water on which small Huts were built the Floors whereof were bor'd full of holes and the Roofs cover'd with Grass Turf and other Materials In these Hovels he lock'd them in the Nights By each man was plac'd a Sentinel whose Business was to take care and see that if any by reason of the Sulphurous smell which arose from the under running Water should fall into a swoon or be in danger of suffocation they should be taken out of their Houses the rest remaining still within In the day time the Executioners us'd small Dishes with which taking up Water out of Singok they pour'd over their naked Bodies onely preserving their Heads fearing that else they might die sooner than the Torturers would have them For the Water by reason of its corroding quality eats through Skin and Flesh to the Bones There are several other boyling Springs and Rivers but none so venomous as this at Singok The Reasons of the Hot Watters are sought after The Learned have spent much Labor and Time to find out the Reasons of these boyling Springs Some are of Opinion That a Fire under
one hundred and sixty times greater than the Terrestrial Orb or its quick and sudden Motion by which it runs ten hundred thousand Miles in an Hour as they held the Earth being the Center or its fecundating Power whose Warmth preserves all Plants and is the Breeder and Fosterer of all Living Creatures or its necessary Light beneficial for all Humane Affairs or measuring of the Days by a Motion from the East to the West or the Seasons of the Year by a Course from the South to the North or from the North to the South or whether it be that one Sun performs so many excellent Effects All these taken together amaze the Heathens who with great admiration wonder at the Mystery thereof and so honor one of the Celestial Luminaries in stead of him that Created it In Symb. Aposs Thomas Aquinas compares these Idolaters to Countrey People that entring a Princes Palace take the first gay Courtier they see for the King to whom they make Legs and shew Reverence as if he were the same being deceiv'd by his outward Apparel But the Japanners differ from the Ancients in their representation of the Sun which they drew resembling a Beardless young Man in his prime and vigor because the Sun neither grows old by Time or Labor For which reason the Youth at Athens Rome and Italy offer'd to the Sun their Hair when they were first shaven The Japanners would perhaps signifie the Suns Age by its Beard Furthermore the Tortoise which the Sun pricks to turn round was Religiously worshipp'd long before the Japanners came from China Plin. lib. 9. cap. 11. fox Pliny relates That the Troglodites have horn'd Tortoises which guide themselves in the Water with their Horns and where-ever they happen to come ashore they are ador'd as Holy Netherland Ambassadors leave Meaco ¶ But to return again to the Ambassadors Frisius and Brookhurst They departed from Meaco Anno 1650. the thirtieth of April But before they left the City they view'd the great Temple consecrated to Dayboth and the Cloysters inhabited by the Bonzi as well without as within the City A Japan King about nine hundred years since Incredible number of Cloysters belonging to the Bonzi built on the Mountain Fronojama three thousand eight hundred Colledges of which Nobunanga laid a great part in Ashes But the Mountain which lies opposite to Meaco had formerly seven thousand such Buildings in every one of which liv'd ten fifteen twenty or more Priests One of these Cloysters exceeds in Riches and Beauty all the rest The Kings when they prepare for War promise great Sums of Money to them for their Enlargement and Maintenance which they punctually pay after they have gotten the Victory To this place poor People driven by extreme Necessity take their flight Every Cloyster hath an Overseer whom they call Ninxir that is to say The Heart of Truth The Bonzies Employments The Office of the Bonzies bred up there is to Bury and perform the Obsequies of the Dead especially of the Rich reading and praying before the Statues of their Gods every fifteenth Day or once in three Months preaching in publick and unfolding the Mysteries of their Divine Worship These are the Seminaries in which they are bred and here the Masters How they teach their Youth according to their manner give them their Lessons to perfect and Themes to inlarge upon the whole Argument consisting in the several Articles of their Faith and also what they shall say in their Spirit at the last gasp and how to answer Death and the Devil when they appear to them most terrible So setting them their several Tasks commanding them to perform their Exercise well and punishing those that are negligent and dull in their Duty Will not refer their Doctrine to any Princes They keep up their Doctrine to such a height that they suffer not Kings nor the Emperor himself to decide any Controversie or intermeddle with any Matter concerning Religion Father Tursellinus writing the Life of Xaverius tells us That Xaverius had a Hearing granted him before the King of Bungo to declare at large what he could say concerning the Christian Religion and to dispute the Articles of their Faith with any of the Japan Doctors to which the King listning and seeming to be taken with several Reasons unfolding divers Mysteries a Bonzi call'd Faciandono standing by and perceiving the King to be pleas'd too well highly offended broke out in a great rage saying That in Matters of Religion Kings were not competent Judges being altogether unexperienc'd in the Divinity thereof and if he pleas'd he would by the Defence that he should make utterly convince him in all his Arguments that had so lately tickled his Ear. So the King being silent hearkned to and gave them leave to speak Whereupon Faciandono began after having studied a considerable time to discourse upon the Grounds of their Faith and the several Tenents and Mysteries of Religion to prove the Truth of which there needed no more than the exemplary Lives of the Bonzi whose Zeal Piety and strictness of Holy-living must be above all others acceptable to the Gods first for their Chastity and their abstaining from Fresh-fish their pains and diligence in the Schools in instructing of Youth in their Divine Knowledge and Philosophical Learning for giving to those that pleas'd to receive after their Deaths besides Eternal Bliss ten times as much as they lay down in this World of which none doubts or is so impious to question but at sight to have present payment for rising at all Hours in the Night their Watching and Nocturnal Prayers to their Gods for the Health Safety and Preservation of the People But that which advanc'd them to the height of Religious Dignity was their usual Conversation when rapt up into the Heavens with the Sun and Moon and all the Celestial Luminaries Then he turn'd his ranting Discourse and fell upon the King which he not taking well but much displeas'd at his endless Railing wanting not much of distraction the King commanded Silence telling him That he well remembred one of the Bonzi a special Pattern of Piety and Sober Life but he was fitter in his judgment to serve the Devil and the Fiends of Hell than be any ways instrumental in the Worship of the Ever-just Gods Eternal haters of all Debauchery But Faciandono no ways daunted with this smart Expression of the Kings but rather more discompos'd in a rage reply'd thus Well Sir the time will come when such will be my Power and Authority over Mortals in the other World that I shall dispose of them at my Leasure and how I please And you King of Bungo though you look so big in all your Greatness now then shall address your self to me scarce regarding such a Trifle as a King or any Prince whatsoever This arrogant return of his was very ill resented yet Faciandono raising his Voice ranted higher saying May Fire from
prov'd his utter ruine for Nobunanga highly incens'd the breach of Peace march'd up again with all his Forces to Meaco defeating the new-come Party took Vojocata the Emperor and soon after assum'd to himself the Imperial Dignity This absolute Conquest brought him thirty Kingdoms Anno 1573. But no sooner setled in the Imperial Throne but he met with as many or rather more difficulties and troubles to break through than his Predecessors for who-ever thought well of him at first and were helps to his great advancement finding that he took no care of keeping his Promise but suddenly broke the soletm Oath taken at his Coronation to protect the People according to the antient Law and be as a Nursing Father and Mother to them but in stead thereof he prov'd to be a greedy devourer of his People tyrannizing by arbitrary Power making his Will a Law and grew more hated and detestable by his ambition of aspiring to be a god to which purpose he set his own Imperial Crown on an Image representing himself in the Temple at Dubo as beforemention'd Loses the love of all the Poeple because of his persâ—cuting the Bonzi But most of all the People were instigated against this Emperor by the Bonzi who suffer'd extremely by his means in Vojocata the former Emperor's Reign of which hear two principal Examples which were thus ¶ THe Mountain Frenoiama having very high Precipices lies two Leagues Eastward from Meaco eight hundred years since a Japan King built here three thousand eight hundred Temples and by every one a Cloyster for the Bonzi and that they might there without any molestation follow their Devotion and Study he remov'd all the Rustick Inhabitants from thence with their Cattel lest any noise should disturb them in their Retirements At the Foot of this Mountain Frenoiama he built two Villages calling them Upper and Lower Sacomotum from whence the Bonzi fetch daily their Provisions They had also a third Part of the Revenue of the Kingdom of Vomis allow'd them Strange Temple and Cloysters These Edifices from time to time grew more and more in splendor and magnificence because that continually some of the Emperor's Relations or at least a King's Son was kept there which made it so famous that all Matters of consequence were decided by these Monks and all Disputations concerning their Religion were held in this University and there as in the chief Academy all Scholars Commence But in process of time and chiefly by the Wars this vast number of Temples which stood on the top of Frenoiama were reduced to eight hundred and also the wanton and luxurious lives of the Bonzies being given over to all Debaucheries made them break out into all manner of outrages and dissolute courses oftentimes throwing away their Books taking up Arms and whilst they grew formidable to maintain a War they made the High-ways and all Places dangerous by their several Murders and Robberies The Bonzi become villaous Murderers nay they grew so impudent at last that without the least regard to the Dayro by the Japanners honor'd as a god Commit great outrages ic Meaco they set upon and Storm'd Meaco in the Year 1535. burning the whole City to Ashes and not onely slew all those which escap'd the Fire but tender Infants in the Cradle This barbarous piece of Cruelty remain'd unpunish'd a long time until thirty six years after they receiv'd a. sufficient reward for their bloody inhumanities A great War arising between Nobunanga and the King of Nechier the Bonzies furnish'd the Nechiers with all manner of Provisions and other Necessaries and blockt up the Passage and Avenues against Nobunanga which he taking very hainously resolv'd to be reveng'd to the full and accordingly to put his Design in execution he return'd to Boari which he Commanded as being King Nobunanga crucifies the Bonzi and there drove all the Bonzies out of their several Abodes Nailing all he could find on Crosses ¶ On the top or highest Spire of this Mountain stands a stately Temple dedicated to Canon Son of the famous Amida This Image hath thirty Arms and as many Hands in each two Arrows a Face representing a handsom Youth on his Breast seven humane Faces with a Crown of Gold richly inchas'd with Pearls Diamonds and all sorts of Precious Gems The Japanners come hither from all Parts of the Countrey paying there their Devotions because they believe that he grants them a long and happy life A great Fast fet Idol Canon Every year the Bonzies keep a great Fast to the honor of this their god Canon which Day draws such a concourse of People that repair thither that it would seem fabulous to recite In Osacca stands also a Temple of Canon but the Image of the god quite another Figure which is a custom amongst the Japanners never to make the same Deity alike Bonzies fortifie themselves The Bonzies chief place of Defence was on the top of the Mountain near Canon's Temple Thither they Muster'd all those that were able to bear Arms and there they fortifi'd themselves as well as they could whilst Nobunanga burnt the two Villages the Upper and Lower Sacamotum from whence they had formerly all their Provision And as the amazing Flames and Smoke ascended the Sky he and his Army march'd up the Hill having before block'd up all the Passages of the Descents with strong Guards that not one of the Bonzies might escape then giving a general Storm to their Fort which they defended aslong as they could but being over-power'd they shrinking from their Stations were as soon possess'd by the Enemy who falling in like a Deluge made a speedy Execution Are all slam those that escap'd the Sword Were burnt in the Temple and others that escap'd away by the Declivings of the Hill were cut off and hunted up and down like wild Beasts by the Guards Yet this general Massacre little appeas'd the wrath of the Enemy for soon after he also fir'd four hundred Temples with their Cloysters and Colledges Four hundred Temples burnt We may easily conjecture how terrible the Mountain Frenoiama smoak'd having so many Temples and Cloysters towards the Building of which in seven hundred years more than the King's Revenues have been from time to time bestow'd on the same This destruction is reckon'd to have happen'd Anno 1571. The Vehisamidono erects a new Order This done Nobunanga march'd through towards Meaco and fifteen Miles beyond the City he set upon the famous Bonzi Taquieno Vehisamidono who having lately rais'd a new Sect to the honor of Xaca and to that end put away his Wife and his Head and Chin according to their manner Shaven having four hundred Scholars under his Tuition for whose Education at his own Charge he had built a stately Colledge which got him great applause and affection amongst the People of which growing proud he boldly and bitterly inveighed against Nobunanga in the presence of the Emperor
Vojocata saying That Nobunanga though aspir'd to such a heighth would suddenly fall and drop like a rotten Pear from the Tree of which Nobunanga had information and happening to light upon him in his way homewards though the Emperor much perswaded him yet he utterly destroy'd him and all his Relations levelling his Cloysters and banishing nis Wife and Children but all this was not enough to satisfie his revenge The famous School Facusangin He had a long time observ'd the famous School Pacusangin which the Bonzies had been Masters of and possess'd it in peace and quietness six hundred years together To this School or University belongs several Cloysters and a thousand Habitations no less convenient than costly which also to destroy he wanted some fair pretence to hide his unsatisfi'd revenge yet at last he found a way that answer'd his desire Some Robbers having pillag'd the Kingdom of Boari carry'd their Booty to the Facusangin Bonzies which opportunity he neglected not for having his Hands at liberty and a Peace being concluded between him and the Emperor he thought it the best time to satisfie his spleen Is ruin'd by Nobunanga and all the Boinzies slain whereupon he unexpeedctly fell upon Facusangin and destroy'd all the Bonnes setting most of their Houses on fire Anno 1573 which was the same Year that Nobunanga became Emperor These were the occasions that set the Bonzies so much against his being chosen Emperor by whom stirr'd up none more oppos'd than Xinguien King of Cainochuno who having banish'd his Father and also imprison'd his eldest Brother set himself on the Throne and wanting just Claim he betook himself to other practices that might better strengthen and improve his Title and therefore the Cloak of Religion must be his Royal Robe seeming Sanctity his Scepter and so shaving his Head and his Chin close he took the Order of the Bonzi performing all their Ceremonies and religious Duties punctual in all the stiff Formalities of well-dissembled Holiness attended constantly by six hundred Bonzies the rumor of which spread round the Countrey the Japanners not being accustom'd to see a King play the Priest and Officiate at Divine Service and that thrice a day straight believ'd so had he gain'd upon their Affections that he and onely he was appointed to re-establish the shaking Church and restore to its Pristine Glory now almost utterly defac'd their Ancient Religion On which great Multitudes from all Parts resorted to his Palace he giving out That he would Re-erect the destroy'd Temples and Cloysters on the Mountain Frenioama and also the famous Temple Consecrated to Canon These Promises and fair Pretences tickl'd the Ears of the Vulgar for Frenioama was always held to be the Supreme University for the Education of their Youth both in the Mysteries of Religion Study in Philosophy and other abstruse Learning Here also stood Canon's Temple highly esteem'd and so venerable amongst the People to whose Feast yearly great Multitudes from the several Territories round about use to resort invited by the hopes of the propos'd Rewards of Everlasting Bliss for all such as repair annually thither He also boasted That he would out-do if possible the Renown'd Xaca himself in Vindicating and Establishing their pure and ancient Religion under which their Ancestors liv'd happily ever since they first Planted in Japan His Letter to Nobunanga Thus the Business prepar'd and a good Ground-plot laid by this time his Admirers in several Places offer'd themselves and Forts their Lives and Fortunes to serve and be under his Conduct So that suddenly he grew as powerful and as great a Prince as the Emperor of which Nobunanga being sensible and perceiving his Power daily to encrease and also not a little shaken with a ranting Epistle from the high-flying Xinguen who subscribed thus Taindino Taxuxamon Xinguen that is Xinguen the King of Kings and Patriarch of all Religion The Emperor contrarily subscribing thus Dainoquin Tennomavon Nobunanga which is Nobunanga the Great Commander of Devils and Prime Leader of Wandering Spirits Besides Xinguen appear'd also the Prince Aquechi bred a Soldier who after slew Nobunanga before Meaco in the Imperial-Blood-Grove Nobunanga slain so call'd as we said before from his Death Amongst his Captains was a Prime Leader of a Noble Aspect call'd Faxiba whose Extract Life and Right to the Imperial Crown we will here relate Faxiba from whence he got that Name ¶ THis Name Faxiba the Emperor Nobunaga had given him when he led a puissant Army of the Emperors against the King Amanguci for when he was ready upon his March he entreated him to give him a new Name which Nobunanga granting whereas formerly he had been call'd Toquixiro he denominated him Faxiba which is to say Fly above the Wood by which the Emperor express'd his hopeful Success for the King of Amanguci against whom Faxiba was to fight bore the Name of Maridono which two first Syllables signified A Wood and the last Lord By which also Nobunanga would have them to understand That his new foremention'd General should by Conquest of his Enemy fly like a Bird over the Wood. Serves a Rustick to cut his Wood. This Faxiba formerly call'd Toquixiro was of a very mean Extract being Servant to a Rustick his business to cut Wood from a neighboring Hill and carry it home This was hard Labor the Mountain being very steep and craggy and his Master consum'd daily much Fewel who on a time had laid on more than he was us'd to do which Toquixiro observing took some of the Wood from the Fire putting the remaining Sticks up in such order that a few of them cast an exceeding great heat His Master taking much notice of this his handsome contrivance to make a greater and better Fire with much less Fewel judg'd hi◠Servant was fitter for other Employment than to be his Slave Whereupon he not onely commended him and freed him from his bad Service How he gets out of his Service into the Emperors but giving him Money bid him seek his Fortunes in the Wars or elsewhere not doubting but the Gods had better things laid up in store for him Soon after this Toquixiro began to have a more elevated opinion of himself and his swelling Thoughts aiming at something higher he travel'd big with hopes to Meaco where at first he got into the Service of a great Merchant and soon after he was preferr'd to a Noble-man a Prime Favorite of the Emperor Nobunanga's who one day happening to go with the Emperor a Hawking and Toquixiro being amongst the Faulconers and others of the Court-Retinue it chanc'd that one of the best Hawks flying at his Game hung tangled about the Bough of a high Tree by the Vervils and when none of them were able to climb the Tree Toquixiro's Master bid him see what he could do which he perform'd so well and with such comely agility and taking dexterity that the like having not been seen before the
move them to it was this After Antonius Mota Franciscus Zeimot and Antonius Pexot Sailing from Dodra to China were driven by stress of Weather on the Coast of Japan so discovering the same accidentally the Portuguese got still greater Footing to drive their Trade there A Japan Youth as we mention'd before call'd Angar to escape Death whereto he was condemn'd fled as Father Tursellinus tells us Tursell in vita Xaverii lib. 3. cap. 12. with a Merchant nam'd Georgius Alvaresius to Malacca and from thence travell'd to Goa Francis Xaverius Cosmus Turrensis and Joannes Ferdinandes being perswaded by him took upon them the Voyage to Japan where Xaverius staid three years and a half at the Charge of John the Third King of Portugal who spent above a thousand Ducats on that Voyage It will not be amiss to annex here the Letter written by Xaverius from Cocin Xaver Epist ad Ignat. Loyolam the twenty ninth of January Anno 1549. to Ignatius Loyola Master of the Jesuits Order Since I am here inform'd by credible Witnesses that Japan lies not far from China and the Inhabitants thereof having neither Saracens nor Christians amongst them are very desirous of Novelties whether Natural or Spiritual I am resolv'd so soon as possible to travel thither In the Colledge of the Holy Hope in Goa is a Japan Youth by Name Angar of a quick and noble Apprehension who sends a large Letter to you He hath learn'd in eight Months time to speak write and read Portuguese and sufficiently understands the Mysteries of our Christian Faith I hope by God's help to bring many of the Japanners to embrace the Christian Religion for I am assuredly promis'd upon my arrival to speak with the King and have leave to visit their Schools or Colledges In another Letter Xaverius writes thus Xaver Epist 1550. I have oftentimes disputed with the Bonzies which far exceed others in Wisdom and chiefly with him who is accounted the Learnedst among them and higly esteem'd for his Age being eighty years old He is as their Bishop and is call'd Nitrix that is to say according to the Japan Tongue A Heart of Truth With him I have Discours'd and find him oftentimes wavering in his Arguments concerning the Immortality of the Soul Sometimes he acknowledges the same and at other times he denies it It is almost incredible how strangely he affects me and how most of the Bonzies and several others take delight in our Conversation The most they wonder at is That we should come from Portugal to Japan being above six thousand Leagues distance on purpose to treat with them about Matters of Religion The Christian Religion hath but small success amongst the Japanners Tursell in vita Xaverii Yet for all this the Christian Religion went on but slowly partly because Angar according to Tursellinus could not well describe the Articles of the Christian Faith in the Japan Tongue and withal writ so badly that the Japanners could not make any sense thereof and also the Japan Tongue being exceeding difficult Xaverius could not easily learn the same Yet in Cangoxima were those that affected Christianity insomuch that there was some hopes of a few that would embrace the same but this soon vanish'd The King of this Countrey had kept Xaverius a considerable time and permitted him to Preach the Doctrine of Jesus Christ and Baptize those that believ'd therein which he did not that he was any way concern'd for the Christian Faith but because he was inform'd that the Portuguese Merchants Ships brought very rich and costly Commodities from Europe and Goa which might prove very advantageous to Cangoxima if they came thither But because the Portugals in the interim came constantly to an Anchor at Firando the King of Cangoxima was much displeas'd and chiefly had a bad opinion of Xaverius because that he being of great esteem amongst the Portuguese could easily perswade them to remove their Staple or Factory to Cangoxima The Bonzies watching for such an Opportunity stirr'd up the displeas'd King the more because Xaverius had spoil'd their Heathenish Doctrine The King of Cangoxima is enrag'd against the Christians and declar'd their abominable and wicked Lives Whilst thus the Progress or the Christian Faith was stopp'd there was publish'd an Edict That none should Apostatize from their Fore-fathers Religion which was establish'd in the Empire of Japan Xaverius observing that no good was to be done parting from thence went to Firando where he converted about a hundred Persons which he perform'd in this manner First reading to them the Grounds of the Christian Faith concerning the Trinity and of our Savior Christ and that by his means we must be all sav'd Angar had translated these Articles out of the Portuguese Tongue into the Japan Language but not without great Mistakes This done Cosmus Turrensis had a regard over the new Christians whilst Xaverius and Joannes Fernandez travell'd to Amungucium How and what the Jesuits learn'd in Japan where they found several Inquisitive People as well amongst the Nobles as Commons but were never the better for they being not able to speak the Japan Tongue their best way then was to read twice a day at the corners of the Streets Angar's Translation of the Christian Belief which Doctrine seem'd very strange to many some jeering thereat The Children and Boys running after the Jesuits mock'd them with what they had said and chiefly with such Words as they could not pronounce plainly because of the difficultness of the Japan Tongue Yet others invited them into their Houses and besought of them farther Instructions Their Deeds in Amangucium Xaverius and Fernandez having spent some days in Teaching the Amangucians they were commanded to come before the King who demanded of them Of what Countrey they were and why they came to Japan Whereupon they answer'd That they were come from Portugal a place above six thousand Leagues distant from thence to the end they might declare God's Laws and Preach the Gospel in which the Savior Jesus Christ was describ'd without whom none could be sav'd The King desir'd them to declare the Grounds of that never-heard-of Religion which Xaverius perform'd by reading Angar's Translation at which the King laughing order'd them to depart Yet after this Xaverius and Fernandez gave not over but Preach'd along the Streets in the foremention'd manner But seeing their Labor bestow'd in vain they resolv'd to travel to the Metropolis Meaco Xaverius travels to Meaco Two Months and much Money did they spend in this their Journey suffering also much by Robbers and extreme Cold Yet having a Japan Convert in their Company whom they had Baptiz'd Bernard they hop'd with less difficulty to perform their Business having an Interpreter with them But they soon found their expectation frustrated for after long Preaching and using all possible means yet they could not be permitted to the presence of the Cubus Why they could effect
Riogoses King of Ximo who also coming off with great loss paid dearly for his Insurrection But Xumitanda Promotes the Jusuits after having erected forty Churches or Chappels for the Jesuits and banish'd Paganism from his Dominions insomuch that a little before his death not one Heathen was to be found in the Province Omura according to the annual Observations kept by the Jesuits in Japan dy'd Anno 1587. Far less trouble did the King of Arima find when besides those of Bungo and Omura he also embrac'd the Christian Religion Those were the three Kings which Anno 1582. sent to his Holiness at Rome the Ambassadors Munico Ito Michael Cinga Julianus Nacaura and Martinus Fara as we have already related at large The Japan Ambassadors which went to Rome prov'd very beneficial to the Jesuits ¶ COncerning the return of these Japanners Linschot saith thus The Japanners went to Sail from the Haven of Lisbon in the Ship St. Philip which in its return home was taken by the English Admiral Drake and was the first Ship that was lost in the East-India Expedition about which were several opinions at that time because the Ship was by the King of Spain's Name and whilst I was at Goa they came thither Cloth'd in Cloth of Silver and Gold in a most costly manner after the Italian fashion and were receiv'd with great joy by the Jesuits who had finish'd that their great Design to that purpose Publishing a Book in Spanish containing the Voyage and Travels of the Japanners as well by Water as by Land and their several Receptions by the European Princes Going from Goa to Japan they occasion'd no small admiration in their Countreymen the Jesuits desir'd this as they pretended for two several Reasons First To make the Japanners the willinger to embrace the Christian Faith and also that they might be Eye-witnesses of the glorious and excellent Cities which none could possibly perswade them to believe But indeed the chief reason was to make their Order famous and also to get a Mass of Treasure thereby for they kept most of the Presents that were given to the Japan Princes for themselves and they obtain'd likewise an Order from the Pope and the King of Spain that no Portugal nor any other Christian might settle in Japan without their License so that the Jesuits turn'd out other Friers keeping onely a few Priests and Portugal Artificers without which they could not possible be To others of what Estate or Degree soever their admission into the Countrey was on this Proviso That as soon as ever their business was finish'd they should depart but if they were minded to stay longer they should buy that liberty for Money of the Jesuits for they were most Eminent and Powerful in all places of Japan where the Doctrine of Christ was Preached They make the Japanners believe what they list they are honor'd by them like gods and Saints They also obtain'd leave of the Pope that they might out of their Order chose a Bishop over Japan notwithstanding it is against the Law of their Order He that was sent to perform this Office was coming from Portugal but dying by the way another was Elected in his place in short the Jesuits endeavor to get all things here under their Command Thus far Linschot The manner how the Jesuits spread the Christian Religion in Japan ¶ IT is also worthy our Observation how the Jesuits spread the Catholick Religion over most part of Japan Xaverius began first telling them of the Creation of the World and how God had Created all things and that the Son of God in the fulness of time had taken upon him Mans Nature and Dy'd on the Cross was Bury'd rose again and Ascended up to Heaven from whence he will come to Judge the Quick and the Dead This Doctrine Translated out of Portugal in the Japan Tongue Xaverius read the easier to the Japanners because it was written in Portugal Characters Cosmus Turianus and Joannes Ferdinandez Preach'd most of the Miracles which Christ wrought and taught the Auditors to make Crosses with the right-hand and to begin at the Head In the Name of the Father and so Sign themselves down to the Breast In the Name of the Son and then from the left shoulder to the right In the Name of the Holy Ghost They also instructed them to Pray on Garlands of Roses telling them over knob by knob and saying Jesus Maria. A strange way how the Japanners became Christians Paul of the Holy Belief us'd a Picture representing the Image of the Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus sitting in her Lap which he held before the King Cangoxima to the end to make him loathe the Heathenish Idolatry Other Jesuits shew'd them that the Angel Michael was the Guardian over Japan unfolding to them the occasions of Thunder and Lightning gapings of the Sky Rain-bows Storms Hail Snow and such like Meteors grounded on Nature ¶ THe Italian Joannes Baptista Montanus relates in a Letter written from Bungo Anno 1564. That when he set foot on Japan being sent thither by Cosmus Turrianus to the King of Bungo who had above a year and a half desir'd to have a Priest he was courteously receiv'd by him yet the King remain'd still amongst the Sect of the Bonzies None taught the Japanners better than the Jesuit Montanus which deny'd the Mortality of the Soul but shew'd a great respect to all Christians Moreover Montanus relates what course he took in Converting the Japanners in Bungo First He contradicted with strong Arguments the Japan Religion shewing them that it was impossible to attain Salvation thereby When they understood this then he told them That one God had Created all things of nothing and made Men according to his own Image to govern all But the wicked that run headlong and wilfully to the Devil had no share therein and that our Sins had brought Death upon us and how Men were still inclin'd to wickedness acting against the Laws of God and Man nay against God himself and since our Sins provok'd so Omnipotent a God they deserv'd Everlasting Punishment But the second Person of the Holy Trinity had taken upon him Mans Nature in the Virgin Mary to the end he might in Mans Nature which could onely suffer die for our Sins a most cruel Death and by reason of his God-head prepar'd for us after this transitory Life an Everlasting Being where there is the fulness of all Joys Then he explain'd them the Laws Customs and Mysteries of Baptism and at last answer'd the Bonzies to their several Contradictions which they made against the Christian Religion Trojus converts the Japanners after a ridiculous manner Trojus hung a Cross about the Necks of those that were Baptiz'd giving every one a string of Beads and a Consecrated Piece of Wax on one side the Name Jesus surrounded with a Thorn Crown on the other the impression of three Spikes a great Box full
of those Wax-Meddals in Rome call'd Agnus Trojus brought with him from Goa to Japan the value of which was esteem'd the greater because the Pope himself had Consecrated them An antient Woman in Tacata after many intreaties getting one of those Meddals from Trojus shew'd it to every one she met insomuch that the common report went that a great piece of Sanctity being sent from Rome was to be seen at Tacata upon this news whole Vessels with people came from Firando and the adjacent Countries if possible to get some of the same Meddals or at least see them Which Trojus observing seem'd to be very bountiful distributing above fifteen hundred pieces of the Consecrated Wax amongst the people at large declaring to them the Mysteries thereof The Jesuits made Japan songs Some of the Jesuits made Japan Songs containing the Histories of the Old and New Testament When on Christmas they kept holy the time of our Saviours Nativity and before Easter for his Suffering then they sung to one another all that the Prophets had foretold of the Birth and Sufferings of our Savior then walking about they carry'd under a Canopy a Picture which they would have honor'd as Christ being the true God and Man before which walk'd a Jesuit clad in a Priests Habit with a Garland of Roses about his head singing in a Japan Tune and Language Tell us Maria what you mean't And what you look'd at as you went To which an old Japanner striking on a Water-Cruse answer'd in Rhime My Lord they 've taken from me therefore I In piercing Sorrow overwhelmed lie Sometimes the Jesuits represented on Stages made in their Chappels Acted Plays the Transactions of the Old Testament Then they Acted the Children of Israel's departure from Egypt and Pharaoh's Destruction in the Red-Sea in which they us'd many strange Arts never heard of or seen by the Japanners Then they play'd Jonas his part curiously representing the Sea Waves and Ship Then they amaz'd the beholders shewing them the fall of Adam Abraham's Offerings Joseph's Flight Samsou's Death and the like Scripture-Histories Vilela in October and November cover'd a stately Tomb with a black Cloth Preaching over it and describing the Day of Judgment the tortures of Hell-Fire and the happy condition of God's Children Troj Epist 1565. Histor Conc. Erid l. 5. Anno 1565. the Jesuits in Meaco and all the adjacent Countreys kept a Jubilee first commanded by Pope Pius the fourth to the end the Council of Trent might have happy success though the Pope seem'd jealous of the Council judging as it appear'd by his advising with the Cardinal Moronus that by such a Church-Congregation no good was to be expected for the Popes Authority Mean while the year of Jubilee in Japan was Celebrated with all Solemnity the people flocking from all parts of the Countrey to keep the same A strange accident amongst the Japanners with Sanctifi'd Corn and Veronica's Cloth Moreover the Jesuits distributed Consecrated Water on the Sabbath reporting every where that they receiv'd Sanctifi'd Corn from Goa and Veronica's Sweating-Cloth for which cause several people hired Vessels to carry them to Meaco some that liv'd above seventy Leagues off came thither and chiefly from Amangucium and Facata came great numbers notwithstanding the Inhabitants at that time were much in trouble both Cities being burnt down and the people were busi'd in re-building their former Habitations Those that desir'd any Blessed or Sanctifi'd Corn Fasted and Pray'd eight days before-hand then applying themselves to some of the Portuguese not daring to speak to the Jesuits themselves to intercede for them and procure some Among others was Bartholomew King of Omura who also came for Sanctifi'd Corn which he receiv'd of the bountiful Father Turrianus who caus'd it to be laid in Gold for him presenting him also with an Ave Mary made of Sea-Horse Bones both which the King hung about his Neck not without imagining it to be highly Sanctifi'd by them But the greatest care of the People was to see Veronica's Handkerchief in which the Icon of our Saviour Face was Imprinted Jacob Frecensis Aubert Eirâ—i Ber. Relig. Annales 1249. a Coblers Son but afterwards call'd Pope Urban the fourth found Veronicas Cloth when he manag'd the Laudanian Arch-Deaconship giving it to the Cloyster of the Cistercian Monks in the Bishoprick of Laudun Anno 1249. where to this day it is constantly reverenc'd yet notwithstanding this went for the same Cloth in Japan perhaps multiply'd by the same Miracle as our Saviours Cross whose pieces would make up a Ships load and yet they affirm it to be the same Cross on which our Saviour dy'd in Golgotha if you will believe all related thereof Remarkable arguments by the Japanners against the Christian Religion It is to be admir'd that the Jesuits brought their design so forward in Japan having so many grand Oppositions It is very well known that the Japanners are of a quick apprehension and much given to Disputations which the Jesuits found sufficient testimonies of by their several contradictions When Xaverius first Preach'd in Cangoxima and amongst other things terrifi'd them with Hell where the deceas'd had it not been for our Saviours suffering are continually tormented in such a nature that after the expiration of many ages they have no hope of any deliverance or ease of their Torments because that in the Flames they blaspheme God and suffer everlasting Punishment for their sinning against an Omnipotent Judge Whereupon the Japanners reply'd saying Do you O Xaverius place our Parents and Predecessors Children and nearest Relations in an unquenchable Fire do those burn there that received their lives out of our Loins do they die to live there for ever and there live to be always dying for whom if we had a thousand lives would wish to die as many times are those which brought us into the world tormented by Diabolical Fiends without any cessation cannot God help them how can it then be possible that he is Omnipotent or will he not help them how is it then that he is merciful and what enjoyment can Heaven be to us if we should be transported thither through death having so many Relations Children Fathers and Mothers who weep and roar continually for their insufferable torments And what Reasons can there be given that the merciful Creator should take delight in punishing everlastingly the poor Creature Xaverius tells us That he convinc'd and resolv'd them on all their Arguments and Demands but gives us no account with what Reasons he satisfi'd them onely he relates that he shed abundance of Tears when he spake of the damn'd condition of the deceased Japanners Moreover when Xaverius told them That there was a beginning of all things they immediately reply'd That that beginning must be either good or evil and did God create both good and bad at once How can he be God and confine all good in himself and be the onely occasion of all
them also many Mysteries of the depths and shallowness of Waters and the ebbing and flowing of the Ocean But especially they discoursed at large of Earthquakes because they frequently infest Japan sometimes shaking it like a Skiff toss'd by the Waves at other times lifting it up and down and swallowing whole Villages Towns Cities nay great Tracts of Land leaving in their steads unfathomable Pits all which wrought strange effects in the Japanners But they were much more concern'd even to admiration when the Jesuits told them before-hand the Moneth Week Day Hour and Minute when the Sun or Moon would be Ecclypsed the first by the Moons passing before the Sun the second by the interposition of the Terrestrial Globe betwixt the Sun and Moon Japanners are desirous of Learning These Discourses concerning Lightning Thunder Clouds Rain Hail Fountains Floods and other natural Motions and Meteors delighted the Japanners the more because they are much addicted to learn knowledge of Mysteries Johannes Fernandes relates That they came daily to his House spending the time in asking all manner of Questions concerning God and his Divine Works The fourth Reason may be known by the Bonzies The fourth Reason of the happy and prosperous success of the Catholick Religion in Japan may be drawn from the Bonzies who not onely taught wicked and abominable Doctrine but lead also very debauch'd and vicious Lives What Lodowick Frojus writes in a Letter from Firando to the Indian Jesuits concerning their abominable Religion Their wicked Religion may serve for a pattern He tells us of a Gentlewoman that was ninety years old who had paid her Devotions in several of the Japan Temples and bestow'd great Revenues upon some of them this Bounty of hers was requited by the Bonzies with a Paper Coat which they esteem'd very highly for the Life of Amida was at large written therein and it was accounted an extraordinary and peculiar favor to purchase such a Coat with a great sum of Money for the Woman dying in the same was immediately transported to the happy Place of Amida's Residence without suffering any pain to cleanse her from her former offences But Johannes Fernandes being fetch'd to a sick Person of kindred to the foremention'd Gentlewoman discoursed with her laying open the vainness of the Paper Coat against which he us'd so many arguments that she tore and burnt it The other wickednesses of their Religion appears by murdering themselves to the honor of Amida Their Cruelties Xaca and Canon The Bonzies live very debauch'd And no less abominable were the Lives of the Bonzies whose Debaucheries Drunkenness Whoring Murdering and other outrages were known to most People nay they accounted it no sin to Rob upon the High-ways and go a Pyrating upon the Sea oftentimes venturing to set upon whole Towns and Villages burning the Houses to the ground and putting the Inhabitants all to the Sword not so much as sparing the poor Infants for which their Cruelties the Emperor Nobunanga burnt their Cloysters and as many as he could get of the Bonzies caus'd them to be nail'd on Crosses to die a lingring Death This made the way clear for the Jesuits who told them they were come above six thousand Leagues over the Sea to Japan to no other end but to teach them the right Road to Salvation The fifth Reason is the alliance of the Japan Religion with the Catholick At last the little difference which was between the Japan Religion and the Catholick made an easie way for the Jesuits to settle it And certainly there was a great resemblance of the Japan Religion to the other according to which the Dayro in Meaco governs himself not much unlike the Pope at Rome Moreover the Japanners have an infinite number of Cloysters full of Priestesses and Nuns who punish themselves for their sins and account Marriage unlawful in some of their religious Orders They are perswaded that the more largely they shew their Charity to the Cloysters the sooner they shall go to Amida's happy dwelling so that their Bounty in those particulars makes them equal in their future happiness for the Heirs of the Deceased with Gifts and Presents beseech the Bonzies to deliver them by their means from their Pain They all Read their Prayers by Beads Concerning matters of Religion none may Judge but the Dayro and a Cloyster They account it great Piety in any to visit the Tombs or Shrines of the Japan Saints These were the chiefest Reasons why the Catholick Faith went on so successfully in Japan which nevertheless for divers causes before-mention'd met with such oppositions that at this day there is scarce one Christian to be found in the Countrey Nobunanga Taicosama and Daifusama as we have already mention'd begun to persecute them but being continually busi'd with Civil Wars amongst themselves they found their hands so full that their Cruelties gave some little intermissions The first Persecution of the Christians But when Conbosama took possession of the Imperial Throne he feard none since Fideri was burnt with the chiefest of the Nobility by his Father Daifusama Thus suspecting no manner of Insurrection Anno 1617 he began anew to raise Persecutions endeavoring totally to subvert Christianity and utterly root out all its Professors with the greatest torturing that could be thought on therefore when to be nail'd on Crosses and run through the Sides with two Lances seem'd too easie a Death and to be beheaded was far easier Therefore he resolv'd to make them feel a more painful and lingring Exit and that he perform'd by roasting them to death in this manner Christians are Roasted First a great Post was driven into the Earth placing several Pyles of Wood about it and onely leaving a Gap or Passage open towards that Corner from whence the Wind blew through which those that were to suffer pass'd to the Stake to which they were bound by the Hands with a Rope of twelve Foot long and about the same distance the Wood lay about the Post excepting onely where the Gap was left to the end the Wind might blow away the Smoak that the Martyrs might not suddenly be choaked up and so die sooner and easier than those bloody Persecutors desir'd so that they were roasted by degrees and died if it were possible a thousand Deaths in one undergoing the miserablest torture that could be imagin'd Burning of Men very antient This kind of burning of Mankind had a long time before been us'd in the World but never in so cruel a method as in Japan The Holy Scripture tells us of Juda that he condemn'd his Daughter in Law to be burnt because she had committed Adultery Gen. 38.24 of which Moses saith thus Bring Thamar forth and let her be burnt The Rabbin Jews affirm that Thamar was the Priest Melchisedech's Daughter and therefore for her Uncleanness was to be burnt by order of the holy Law Levit. 31.6 which saith If a Priest's Daughter play
the Whore she polluteth her Father therefore she shall be burnt with fire But the Rabbin Jews are very ignorant in their reckoning of Time in which they commonly make great mistakes as taking Thamar to be Mechisedech's Daughter not onely without testimony but also against apparent truth for there is above two hundred years difference betwixt the Age of Melchisedech and Thamar Anno 2490 after the Creation Abraham and Melchisedech met one with another and Judah committed Adultery with Thamar a hundred and ninety years after that meeting Luther is of opinion that Judah perform'd the Office of a Priest amongst the Canaanites Luthers opinion concerning Thamars burning and that a Daughter in Law was held to be as an own Daughter and therefore Thamar was condemn'd to be burnt being a Priest's Daughter But most judge the chief reason of her condemnation to be for committing Adultery being found with Child when she was promis'd to Shelah Judah's third Son According to the Laws of several People all Adulterers were condemn'd to die and chiefly the Roman Emperor Opilius Macrinus burnt all those alive that were accus'd of that Crime The Antients worshipp'd Fire ¶ IT is worthy our labor to set down the great Reverence the Antients shew'd to the Element of Fire When the Royal Consort and Daughter of Julianus the Emperor appear'd in State they always had holy Fire carry'd before them The Roman Emperors also themselves ever follow'd such a Fire which Custom they learn'd of the Persian Mace-bearers The Romans when any Marriages were solemniz'd made the Bride and Bridegroom touch Fire and Water which they set on an Altar Nimrod by some call'd Ninus the first of the Assyrian Monarchs commanded Fire to be worshipp'd as a god in Ur a City in Babylon so call'd from that kind of religious Worship Hieron Quaest in Genesis St. Jerome relates and besides him the Rabbins Salomon Jarchy and Moses Gervedensis That Abraham was condemn'd to be burnt because he would not worship the Fire in Ur according to the Chaldeans example and when he stood in the midst of the Flame Divine Providence preserving him he fled to Canaan But St. Jerome looks upon the Story as not authentick but one of the Jews Fables Persians worshipp'd Fire The Persians also according to the testimony of Julius Firmicus Maximus Tyrius Hilarius and Isidorus fell down daily on their Knees worshipping Fire as an Image of God Concerning whom also the famous Historiographer Socrates relates a strange Story That Maruthas Bishop of Mesopotamia Socrat. Hist â—â—7 c. 81. being dispatch'd from Constantinople to Isdigerdes King of Persia got exceedingly into his Favor for his great Holiness and obliging Carriage which the chief of the Persians could no ways digest but look'd upon with great envy Isdigerdes us'd daily in his Chappel to worship Fire under which they digg'd a Cave and privately hiding a Man in it order'd him to call to the King as he was kneeling before the Fire telling him That he would certainly lose his Kingdom if he shew'd favor to the Christian Bishop This voyce Isdigerdes took as an Oracle and thereupon resolv'd to put away Maruthas notwithstanding he had cur'd him of an intolerable pain in his Head But Maruthas discovering the Cheat to the King soon after obtain'd free priviledge for the Christians in Persia Ammianus Marcellinus farther adds Ammian Mart. l. 23. That they reported the Fire was faln from Heaven preserv'd on everlasting Hearths Strabo the Greek Geographer averrs Strabo l. 15. That the Cappadocians built several Temples for their consecrated Fires in which about the middle they erected an Altar and set the Fire upon it Rabbi Benj. in Jouthasins Rabbi Benjamin in his famous Hebrew Book of Travels on which several Learned Men have Commented says That he Sail'd from Haanlam now call'd Zeilan to the Asiatick Isles Chenerag inhabited by such Idolaters as were call'd Dug-Bijim where he found their Priests to be the greatest Sorcerers in the World The Greeks and Romans worshipp'd Fire But these were not all for the Egyptians Greeks and Romans also worshipped Fire Amongst the Greeks the chiefest were the famous and Learned Hippasus the Metapontine and Heraclitus the Ephesian wherefore the greatest Offerings were not sacrificed without Fire by the Heathens Lastly the Vestal Virgins in Rome and the like in Greece at Delphos and Athens as its Priestesses tended the Everlasting Fire The Northern Tartars and also the Lituanians worshipp'd Fire for a Deity and Alexander Gaguinus affirms That the Lituanians Alex. Gaguin de prise Lituan Relig. till they embraced the Christian Religion in Anno 1230. continu'd the same sort of Worship The Chaldeans Medians and Assyrians offer'd Sacrifice to Fire presaging by the Flames thereof future Events Those Priests that belong'd to the Temple of Diana Echatana whose care it was to look after the consecrated Fire were not permitted to have any conversation with Women The antient Britains worshipp'd Minerva their Temple being famous for an unquenchable Fire that wasted not into Ashes but into Stones Corps by whom and why burnt ¶ THe Massagetes and also Thales one of the Learnedst among the Grecians maintain'd that the Custom formerly us'd in most Parts of the known World which was to burn dead Corps was to be esteem'd wicked because the Fire being the greatest of the gods was corrupted by dead Bodies But others maintain'd the contrary holding it best to cleanse and purifie the Body by the Flame that so it might neither rot nor occasion any noisomness or stench which Opinion was held by most of the Eastern People as also amongst the Germans Spaniards Gauls and Britains Plin. l. 8 c. 〈◊〉 But this Custom of burning the Dead was a long time after entertain'd by the Romans for which Pliny gives this Reason because their Enemies would oftentimes dig the dead Bones out of the Graves carrying them away as Trophies which to prevent they follow'd that fashion of the Germans and Indians but whether that were the true reason or no sure we are that the first among them recorded to be burnt was the Consul Sylla which he himself commanded fearing to be serv'd in like manner as he had done to his Competitor Marius whom he digg'd up out of his Grave After the Romans had once throughly entertain'd this Custom Pliâ— l. 12. c 18. none were equal to them for the magnificent preparations of Funeral Pyles furnishing the same with the sweetest Perfumes for which they bestowed great sums of Money The Emperor Nero according to the foremention'd Pliny burnt more Perfume with the dead Corps of his Empress Poppea than all Arabia Felix could produce in one year When Germanicus's Lady travell'd with the Ashes of her burnt Husband through Calabria Apulia and Campania to Rome the Inhabitants of those Places through which they pass'd came to meet them all Cloth'd in Black and the Nobility in Purple every one burning according to
for by Cambioie's Life-guard of which having notice he privately made his escape and the Soldiers out of Revenge raged against those where he Lodged which coming to his knowledge griev'd him exceedingly that for his sake they should come to any inconveniency who had receiv'd and Lodged him in their House whereupon he travell'd thither and went to Cambioie accompanied with Simon Jempo a Japanner who had spent his youthful days amongst the Bonzies but embracing the Christian Religion Serv'd the Jesuit for a Dogico that is A Clerk Ab Angelis told the Governor that he was a Priest sent from Sicily to Japan there to Preach the Roman Doctrine Galves makes his escape but is taken again The younger Brother Francis Galves being inform'd that he was discover'd fled to Camacura a Mile beyond Jedo where he thought to escape but was overtaken Mean while forty seven Christians were taken in Jedo which were all condemn'd by Conbosama with Ab Angelis Galves and Jempo to be burnt the fourth of December Anno. 1629. their Sentence was put in execution The Executioners put strong Cords about the Necks of the Condemned and ty'd their Hands behind their Backs Ab Angelis Rid on a Horse with a Letter on his Breast on which his Name was written in great Characters behind him came Jempo and fifteen others on foot Franciscus Galves and Fara Mondono were also bound on Horses every one follow'd by a train of Martyrs Fara Mondono the Nephew condemn'd to be burnt But before Fara Mondono Rid a Cryer or Herauld who when the Drummer left off beating on the Copper Bason Read out of an Edict these words The whole World might apparently behold and guess how much the Emperor Conbosama abhorr'd the Christian Religion condemning his own Nephew to be consum'd by Fire because he had embraced it Not far from Jedo towards Cami stood fifteen Stakes three of which were somewhat nearer to the City than the other all surrounded with great heaps of Wood about one Fathom and a half from the Posts The Soldiers though they surrounded the place of Execution to keep off the multitude of Spectators which were innumerable yet could not hinder their sight the Stakes being all driven in a plain Field near which lay a high Mountain that swarm'd with People and several of the chief Nobles had built Scaffolds in the hanging of the Hill to have the clearer view of the Execution in this manner performed First they made fast seven and forty of them Fifty Romans burnt near Jedo tying their Hands to the tops of the several Stakes and their Feet to the bottom their Names were Leo Taqueua Gonfiqui Fanzabusus Quaxia Chesaiemon Simon Jempo Peter Xixabucus Johannes Matagaremon Michael Quizaiemon Laurentius Cacuzaiemon Laurentius Gagiqui Matthias Juraiemon Matthias Quisaiem Thomas Jofacu Peter Santarius Peter Saiemon Matthias Xigigemon Ignatius Chorimon Simon Muam Decius Joccuno Isaacus Bona Ventura Quidairi Johannes Xinocuro Hilarius Mongazaiemon Franciscus Quisaiemon Saximononia Jinxiquir Johannes Chosaiemon Romanus Goniemon Emanuel Buyemon Peter Quicheiemon Quisaburus Peter Choiemon Andreas Disuque Raphael Quichaiemon Quizequi Anthony and thirteen others whose Names are not express'd in the foremention'd Japan Letter Ab Angelis Galves and Mondono saw their Companions burnt first Whilst the Fire flam'd round about and the Martyrs made a doleful and terrible noise Fara Mondono Ab Angelis and Galves sat still on their Horses to the end they might first behold the miserable conditions of those that suffer'd And when Fara Mondono was first ty'd to the Stake and next Ab Angelis and at last Galves there were some of the former that yet struggled betwixt life and death But Hazart relates farther That two Noble-men being amongst the other Spectators lighted from their Horses and crowding through the People Watch and Pyles of Wood one ran to Galves the other to Ab Angelis and holding them about their Necks suffer'd themselves to be burnt with them But of this I have no great testimony onely the foremention'd Japan Letter mentions two Women who when they saw the forty seven miserably roasting they forthwith went to the Judges and declared themselves openly to be Christians whereupon they were immediately carry'd to Execution Farther Cruelties in Jedo But these Cruelties ceased not thus for Maria Jageia Mother of Leo Gonfiqui who was burnt among the last had Lodged Ab Angelis in her House for which cause she with thirty six more that had entertain'd Christians or Let them Houses or were their Security for the Rent amongst which were also Heathen Japanners were condemn'd to the Fire Unheard-of wickedness committed upon Children Nay it rag'd after a most unheard-of barbarity against Children for leading them with the sound of Instruments to the Place of Execution they were before their Parents Eyes either beheaded or split in the middle or cut in small Pieces and with all other imaginable Tortures put to death An Edict against the Romans Immediately after it was proclaim'd in Jedo and other adjacent Countreys That if any one could give information of a Christian or him that entertain'd them or Let them Houses should have for a Reward the Mansion of him that Let it besides thirty Pieces of Gold worth fifteen hundred Crowns Upon this Murdering began to spread it self as Wild-fire all over Japan Are slain at Scondai In the City Xenxai Didacus Cervalio the Jesuit with sixty Christians were discover'd in Myne-diggers Apparel all which were put to death in Scondai in the cold Winter Nights putting them to Freeze up in the Water At Omura In Omura Peter Vasques the Dominican the Franciscan Lodowick Sasandra and Sotello and one Michael Carvalho a Jesuit were condemn'd to be Frozen to death in like manner At Arima In Arima Vincentius Caun a Native of Corea fell into the hands of the Persecutors who broke his Fingers with Iron Pincers setting him up to the Throat in cold Water and at last burnt him At Farina At Farima the Christians were onely banish'd At Fingo In Fingo Michael Maxima was miserably Scourg'd with Rods and hoised up to a high Post The Strappado and so on a sudden let fall to the Ground that done cold Water mix'd with blood was pour'd down his Throat which they made him disgorge by trampling on his Belly then laid they him in the heat of the Sun and at last carry'd him to the boyling sulphureous Waters at Singok and so long wash'd therein that he gave up the Ghost At Tiroxima In Tiroxima dy'd on Crosses and by the Sword Joyama Sintaro Xobara Schizaimon and others In the Province Figen the greatest Persecutor of the Christians was Nobexima Cami who was one of the Spectators at Jedo when Conbosama burnt fifty Christians Persecution in Nangesaque In Nangesaque they also sometimes burnt a Portuguese and a Japanner for Religion but the Governor Gonrocou seem'd not to delight so much in
304. The Story in brief this Asclepiades told the Martyr Romanus That he believ'd in a Christ that was nail'd on the damn'd Cross Whereupon Romanus answer'd That he was ready to contradict such Blasphemy did not Christ forbid him to strow Pearls before Swine Mean while Asclepiades had a desire to understand of a Child Whether the Heathen Gods begotten and born according to the course of Nature famous for their Lusts Adultery and other Debaucheries were to be worshipp'd or whether that Honor belong'd to the Savior To which end Asclepiades commanded a Child before him from amongst the Multitude asking him his Opinion concerning the Gods who gave him so excellent an Answer by rendring an Account of the whole Christian Faith that he being displeas'd thereat persecuted him with all imaginable Tortures After having most miserably whipp'd the poor Child he caus'd him to be Beheaded before his Mothers eyes Unusual death of a Christian Child Psal 116. v. 15. who sung whilst the Executioner prepar'd the Ax to perform the cruel Office the words of the Psalmist Precious in the sight of the Lord is the Death of his Saints The Japan Children died with more Holiness under the Hands of their Executioners if they had understood Gods Word in the Old and New Testament than the Waldensian Youths of which the Sorbonne Doctors at Paris gave Information to Lewis the Twelfth King of France That they had lately receiv'd no better Instructions concerning Religion than they had heard from the Waldensian Youths A strange way how the Japanners harden their Children to be constant in the Christian Belief Now the Japanners harden their Children against a cruel Death not with instructing them in the Gospel but by terrifying them with unusual Cruelties which Hazart witnesseth relating That Johannes Catouneme a Nobleman in the Kingdom of Deva had a Son aged seven years whom he daily instructed to be constant I will set down Hazart's own Words concerning it A little before Catouneme was taken Prisoner he said to his Son If it were so that you saw the Executioners coming would you suffer your self to be burnt alive or deny your Faith Whereupon the Child ask'd Father what would you do To which he reply'd I would suffer my self to be burn'd Whereon the Youth again made answer So will I too Then said his Father Come hither I am resolv'd to try if you will be so constant as you say Take and hold this Coal in your hand till I command you to throw it away The Child immediately opening his Hand the Father laid a glowing Coal in the same The Youth held it fast without shewing any concern thereat notwithstanding his Hand was burnt to the Bone yet he threw it not away till his Father gave order When they ask'd him If the Fire had not hurt him he made answer Any one that is ready to burn alive as I am must not make any scruple to hold a burning Coal in their Hand for so short a time as I have done And who can find more of the Aged Japanners Ignorance of the Japan-Christians in any Observation kept by the Jesuits themselves that they either said or did more whilst they were under the Executioners Hands than to hold a Crucifix and the Picture of the Virgin Mary repeating the usual Prayer Jesus Maria. Horrible Tortures with the boyling Waters of Singok ¶ BUt besides their burning them by degrees the Japanners us'd also the Waters of Singok that is to say Hell These Waters being Sulphureous and hot flow from the Foot of an exceeding steep Mountain with such force and noise that it strikes terror and amazement to the Beholder It rushes forth between the Rocks and sends its noysom and choaking Vapors up to the Sky Hither several of the Christians were brought from Arima and their naked Bodies wash'd over with this boyling Water and when notwithstanding the Torture they refus'd to deny their own Religion and embrace the Japan Idolatry they were carried bound to the top of the Mountain and thrown down from thence into the scalding Stream A Priest is a great help o the Japan-Christians in heir Sufferings In Nangesaque the Governor Kauwaytsdo since his return from Jedo proceeded unmercifully in his Persecutions especially against the Priests Amongst others that were condemn'd to the Fire was also a Japan Priest Thomas Soyse by whom was found a Catalogue of some thousands of Christians Which liv'd very privately about Nangesaque Ombra and Arima who not long after fell into great Miseries Kauwaytsdo himself stood amaz'd to see so great a number of them as would make no end of murdering and the Multitude which he was to condemn to death exceeded his Commission which he had from the Emperor So that he thought on a new way There were already according to the Catalogue found by Soyse a great number condemn'd amongst which were two ancient Persons which in the time of the former Emperors had been Governors of Nangesaque and in great esteem at Court for their Quality Riches and Nobility These Kauwaytsdo sent with a Train of eleven of his nearest Relations and Brothers-in-law to the Imperial Court at Jedo Cruel Persecution of them The remaining Numbers he drove out into the Mountains near Nangesaque and plac'd a Guard round about them that the Banish'd might neither come into the City Villages nor any Houses to beg for Provisions Neither would he suffer them to build themselves Huts nor make any other Shelter to keep them from the Heat of the Sun Rain or other Weather so that at last most of them perish'd for want Their Houses are nail'd up In Nangesaque their Windows and Doors were nail'd up so that they and their whole Families were starv'd to death if not reliev'd by their Neighbors which though it was straightly forbidden yet some found ways to give them Sustenance through private Holes None may employ them None durst imploy any Tradesman that was of the Christian Religion nor carry any one to Sea unless he became an Apostate and believ'd in the Japan Doctrine Many seeing themselves in that necessity Many Apostatize forsook their new-gotten Religion and embrac'd the old as also divers of those which were in the Mountains whose Bodies were miserably swoln by Heat Cold Rain Wind Trouble and Hunger and continually tormented by the Cries and Lamentations of their Wives and Children forsook at last the Doctrine Preach'd to them by the Christian Priests yet some remain'd constant their very last Forty two Japan Nobles are banish'd Soon after Kauwaytsdo took five Persons of Quality with their Wives and Children who being strangely preserv'd whilst their Lord Fideri the Lawful Heir of the Japan Crown was burnt as we have before declar'd had embrac'd the Catholique Religion which being known they were Shipp'd aboard a Portuguese Galley that sail'd for Macaw with a Proviso That they should immediately depart for Goa If the Portuguese did
Ground heats and causes the Water to boyl as if a Pot hung over a Flame But that Opinion is not grounded on Reason for it is the nature of Fire being inclos'd in Caves under Ground to break forth with great rage if it hath the least vent Here also it is to be observ'd That the Fire dries up the Water or the Water extinguishes the Fire so soon as the one gets the Mastery of the other So that without contradiction the force of the Fire must either dry up the flowing Waters and consume the Earth underneath to Ashes or else the Water which has pass'd through it so many Ages must needs have quench'd the Fire For who will believe that Water and Fire are of one force and power under Ground and so agreeable in Nature that the one should not extinguish the other Moreover where is there any scalding Waters by burning Sulphurous places yet if it be any where it must be there The Italians reckon little less the fifty boyling Waters but not one of them by which any fire hath been found The Mountains Vesuvius Aetna Hecla and others which continually belch out hideous Smokes into the Air and sometimes horrible Flames yet produce no manner of hot moysture The best reason of the hotness of the waters But the wisest Philosophers judge the occasion of the heat in Sulphurous Waters to proceed from the swift motion with which it pours down from steep descents into the Crevises of the Earth and so still running forwards that it becomes hotter and hotter for experience learns us that a quick motion occasions heat This reason seems to our stupid judgments to be nearest the truth yet we must herein acknowledge a great ignorance and a Bridle for our understanding which seems to be wanting and stops as amaz'd at such mysteries Who can disclose the reason why the Fountain near Matilga a City of the Garamantes hath from Noon to Midnight Water boyling hot which from Midnight to Noon is as cold as Ice as Augustin Isidorus and Pliny witness why the Fountain Consecrated to Jupiter Hammon as Diodorus Salinus Amianus Lucretius Plin. lib. Hist 5. cap. 5. Wonders of waters and Pliny thus relate changeth also hot and cold of which Ovid saith Horn'd Hamon's Water in the Morning hot And at the Evening boyling like a Pot Yet from what reason to the Learn'd unknown Grows Chill like Snow and cold as Ice at Noon Who will dive with his judgement into the Mysteries which the Territories of Epirus manifest by a strange Fountain which not onely lights a Torch when held to it but also puts out one that is lighted What man will find out the reason that a Lake in a Jewish Plantation if Isidorus deserves to be credited drys up Sabbatical River or rather stands still every Sabbath day And why the Fountain of the Hill Anthracius when it overflows signifies Plenty and by its scarcity of Water as is to be seen by Pliny foretels Famine Those that are tortur'd with Singoks water Apostatize ¶ BUt to return to those miserable Wretches at Singok who when they began to pant for Breath by reason of their unsufferable Pain were deliver'd up to Chirurgeons to prolong their Lives to enable them to more sufferings for so soon as they recover'd any strength they were sure again to be brought to Singok They spent most part of August in this cruel Persecution insomuch that all those which resolv'd to be constant became Apostates except one Youth who scarce had attain'd the eighteenth year of his age was the onely person that dy'd under the hands of the merciless Torturers Horrible cruelties inflicted on the Japan women The Women generally suffer'd more than the Men for besides dropping Singoks Water upon them they drove the Maids stark naked along the Streets forcing them to creep on their Hands and Feet and causing them to be publickly ravish'd The Widows they stripp'd of their Clothes provoking their Sons to commit Adultery with them some Women they held fast by their arms and legs under Stone-Horses so committing all the outrages of Sodom they forc'd the Children to pour Singoks Water on their Parents and the Parents on the Children standing close together betwixt Stakes drove round about them some of the Women suffer'd no less by shame than other by torture their Privities being stuft full of Flax and Hemp with which also they ty'd up the young Mens Members and the Daughters were forc'd to set fire of the heaps of Wood which were to consume their Fathers Several hundreds went in companies ranging up and down in the Woods all Stigmatiz'd on their Fore-heads every one being commanded on pain of death not to give them any sustenance Tortures with water In several places near the Sea-side many Inclosures were erected in which they lock'd up whole Families which at low Water sate dry but at the time of Flood above half way in the Salt-Water these having leave to eat and drink Of Children with their Parents liv'd generally twelve or thirteen days Moreover the Parents were hoodwink'd whilst their Children which were miserably tortur'd night and day cry'd Fathers and Mothers take pity of us forsake the Christian Religion it is impossible to endure these cruel Torments which doleful cry took such deep impression into some of their hearts that for meer grief they dy'd Several had their Nails par'd off Inhumane cruelties others had their Arms and Legs boar'd thorow with Drill-Irons which occasion'd great pain also they fill'd some of their Bellies with Water which they pour'd into them through a Tunnel then being laid on their backs on the ground the Executioners stamp'd upon them so vehemently that they made them disgorge the same through their Mouths Noses and Ears After these kind of Cruelties they us'd another more barbarous placing the Martyrs on a Bench bending their Arms across on their breasts they made their bodies fast behind to a Post and then drove betwixt the Nails of their Hands and Feet sharp Spikes which tortures they renew'd five six or more days together Moreover they plac'd some Women in a large Coope full of Snakes and Serpents which crept into their Privities eating up their Bowels Hanging them up by the legs an intollerable pain for the Japanners But amongst all the tortures the most cruel was hanging them by their Legs on a Gallows with their Heads down in a Well over which a Gibbet was plac'd and at the end thereof a Block was made fast through which a Rope was drawn and ty'd to the Legs of the sufferer who being thus ty'd was let down with his Head into the Well so low that his Feet appear'd just on the top thereof In the Heads of those that hung several Wounds were cut cross-wise to the end the bloud might by degrees drop out and not overwhelm their hearts some liv'd five six nay more days before they gave up the Ghost Francis Caron relates
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
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
manner the antient Egyptians made great Sorrow when one of these Creatures dy'd In the time of King Ptolomy the Wise an Egyptian bestow'd all his ready Money on the Funeral of a dead Ox and borrow'd forty thousand Ducats of the King to make the Funeral the more stately The Learned Julius Scaliger is of opinion Scal. Exer. 258. l. 1. that the Eastern People have learn'd the worshipping of Oxen from the Egyptians As formerly says he the Ox Isis was by the Egyptians held for a god so at this time the Ox call'd Tambaran amongst the Indians Julius Maternus who liv'd in the time of the Emperor Constantine the Great affirms That the Egyptian Apis being a black Ox with a white Head and shag Hair represented the Patriarch Joseph And Ruffinus in his Church-History saith thus Some say Ruff. l. 2. Hist Eccl. that the Image of Apis is erected to the honor of Joseph for his distributing the Corn by which he assisted the Egyptians in the time of Famine It seemeth that the Name Joseph is changed to Apis because the People should serve a more supreme Deity and not worship a Man Augustine or the Writer of the Wonders of Scripture relates That the Egyptians placed an Ox by Joseph's Burying-place because it is the usefullest Creature in Tilling and Joseph's explaining Pharaoh's Dream in which he saw seven fat Oxen climbing out of Nylus and after that seven lean ones There is a great Mystery in it that the Oxen should just come out of the Nyle for Egypts scarcity and plenty depends on the same according as the River flows more or less over the Countrey Pliny saith Plin. l. 5. c. 9. That Egypt suffers Famine when the Nyle is eighteen Foot above the Ground nay that they want still though it be nineteen and a half but one and twenty brings them plenty and four and twenty abundance Moreover Joseph explain'd not onely the King's Dream but gave him exceeding good Counsel That the fifth part of the Growth the Subjects should give to the King and Store-houses were built for the reception thereof Furthermore to represent the plenty and scarcity of Egypt nothing was more convenient than fat and lean Oxen Therefore the Romans in honor to the Overseer of their Provisions Lucius Minutius erected a Gilded Ox without the Portcullis'd Gate because he brought down the Price of the Corn and sold it to the People as Livius relates it Livius lib. 4. According to the fruitfulness of the Year Bread is either cheap or dear But as the Greek Historiographer Diodorus relates Diod. lib. 1. the Oxen have brought the most Profit to the Sowers of Corn by helping them to till the Land and do all other necessary business belonging to Husbandry Varr. l. 2. E. H. c. 5. therefore the Learnedst of the Romans Terentius Varro calls an Ox a Companion for Men in Husbandry and a Servant useful to advantage the Growth of Corn. The Ancients did so much esteem an Ox that they condemn'd those to death that kill'd one Ealianus adds hereunto Aelian l. 5. c. 14. That there was amongst the Athenians this Law establish'd An Ox which draws either Plough or Waggon you shall not kill because he is a Laborer and Companion in humane Society But Pharaoh being amaz'd at Joseph's wisdom and understanding shew'd him exceeding great honor insomuch that he made him Vice-Roy over all Egypt He also gave him a Ring which he put on his Finger not onely for a testimony of his honor but also to Seal his Letters Patents and chang'd his Name Joseph into Saphenath Paneah which Onkelus saith signifies A Man to whom Secrets are disclos'd Hieron Quaest Hebraic but Hieronimus saith in the Egyptian Tongue it is Preserver of the World because he deliver'd it from the threatning Famine The King also gave him Asnah to Wife she being the Daughter of Cohen Governor in On so that Joseph receiv'd all imaginable honor in his Life-time It was then customary amongst the Egyptians to preserve the Memory of those Princes which had done Service for the Publick and to Posterity by erecting their Images But they thought there could be no better Representation to express Joseph's noble and beneficial Deeds than an Ox. And without doubt this honor in the beginning was not common for otherwise Joseph would not have permitted them to make an Idol of him or suffer'd himself to be worshipp'd which the Priests perform'd by keeping an Ox which was shewn to the People to put them in mind of Joseph's goodness in the time of the seven years Faminc Joseph worshipp'd in the shape of an Ox. After the expiration of of some years this private Honor became a publick Religion for valiant Men that had perform'd noble Exploits and Atchievements in their lives were by the Greeks interr'd in stately Tombs with their Images and Characters Engraven and set on them and a peculiar Worship appointed them What wonder is it then if the Egyptians who were wont to acknowledge their deceased Princes as gods which in their Lives had Govern'd their Subjects with wisdom and prudence invented a method for worshipping of Joseph who when he liv'd was call'd Saphena Paneah that is Preserver of the World And so great was the impression his goodness left upon that People that after-Generations without contradiction believ'd and have shewn more honor and reverence to Joseph than to any other Quintus Curtius relates concerning the same Curt. lib. 4. of Calisthenes contradicting the Sicilian Standard-bearer Cleo who would have Alexander the Great whilst alive to be worshipp'd as a Deity saith he For to be taken for a god is very requiste for always their Successors requite noble Hero's with such thanks divine honor oftentimes follows a Man but never accompanies him The humane frailty of Hercules and Bacchus was hid from mortal Eyes when Fame once carry'd them to Heaven Hereto is added That Joseph enrich'd many of the chief Egyptian Princes and without doubt rais'd his Relations to the highest Dignities and therefore was in great esteem and favor and by that means the easier according to the Japan manner worshipp'd under the form of the Ox Apis in the chief City Memphis which would not be inferior to Heliopolis wherein according to Plutarch the black Ox Mnavis was religiously ador'd The original of the word Apis. But the original of the Name Apis the Learned Gerard Vossius looks for in the Egyptian word Ap which is to say Father for so Joseph was call'd nay Pharaoh caus'd to be proclaim'd before him the Name Abrech which Rabbi Salomon Jarchi says is Father King though Hieronimus embraces that Opinion of Rabbi Judah and Jonathan which explain Abrech to signifie a A Tender Father Tender because of Joseph's Youth and Father because of his Wisdom Prudence and Fatherly Care he had for Egypt in the time of Famine Lastly Jun. in Deut. 33.17 it is worthy our observation that Moses
by them call'd Heliogabalus that is God of the Mountain an exceeding great Temple Macrobius relates That the Assyrians ascrib'd to the Sun call'd Adad the chief Command over all and made the Goddess Adargatis his Vice-Roy Adad's Image shot its Beams downwards and Adargatis upwards By the first they gave to understand That the Power of Heaven consisted in those Sun-beams that reflected on the Earth and by the second That all things were drawn up from the Earth The Arabians offer'd to the Sun daily on Altars made on the Roofs of their Houses Frankincense and Myrrh The same and no other was the Idol Chamis and Baal-Peor of the Moabites and Midianites Hieronymus saith In Esai 15.2 That in the City Nabo was the Consecrated Idol Chemosh which was also call'd by a second denomination Baal-Peor The City Baisampsa near the Red-Sea was exceeding famous amongst the Arabians it being consecrated to the Sun Sampsa in the Arabian Tongue as Stephanus witnesses signifies The Sun So that Baisampsa is as much as to say The House of the Sun Why three peculiar Feasts to the Sun The Persians held the Sun for their Chief and Supreme Deity to whose Honor they kept three Feasts yearly because they observ'd in him Prudence Benignity and Omnipotence and also to express the three Operations of the Sun by Heat Splendor and distinguishing of the Times or lastly for its altering the Days as in Harvest and Summer long and short in Winter The Armenians Massagetes and Persians offer'd to the Sun a White Horse Ovid. l. 1. East To Mithra for so the Persians call the Sun that precious Gem call'd Mithridax is consecrated because according to Pliny and Isidore the Sun-beams shining upon it give it various and still changeable Colours The Egyptians worshipp'd the Sun under the Name of Osiris Heliopolis or The City of the Sun was most famous amongst them wherein the Ox Mnevis was dedicated to that Deity Saturn l. 1. c. 21. But this Statue of the Sun was in the time of the Egyptian King Senemuris carried from thence to Assyria Apias an Agent to the Assyrian Standard-bearer Delebores brought it thither which Macrobius describes thus It is says he of massy Gold without a Beard in the right Hand it holds a Whip after the manner of a Rustick the left Hand holds a Sickle and an Ear of Corn. Strange Sacrifice to the Sun The Moors also took the Sun for the chiefest God calling him Assabin and offer'd him Sacrifice in the following manner Their Priests onely had the Liberty to gather Cinnamon with a Proviso That they should first kill to the Honor of Assabin forty four Oxen and as many Goats and Rams neither should they seek to gather the Cinnamon but either before or after Sun-set The Cinnamon-sticks brought together were divided by the Priests in Holy Ground That part which remain'd for the Merchants was by them carried away as soon as paid for Then the Priests took every one their part but if any was imbezilled in the sharing it was instantly known for if justly divided the Sun-beams fir'd the Fragments and broken Pieces that were neglected and left scatter'd behind otherwise not as Theophrastus Pliny Heophr Hist Ph. l. 9. c 5 Plin. l. 12. c. 19. Solin c. 31. and Solinus aver The Suns Feast The ancient Greek Writer Proclus describes a Solemn Feast amongst them in honor of the Sun which thus they perform They hang upon a great Pole store of Laurel and all manner of Flowers in the first Quarter of the Moon then they plac'd on the top of the Staff a great Copper Ball from which hung many lesser the middle of the Pole adorn'd with three hundred sixty five Garlands the bottom cover'd with a Womans Vestment died yellow The uppermost Ball signified the Sun the lesser the Stars and the number of Garlands the Days of the Year There are scarce any People that have not been guilty or at least made themselves so of that Idolatry of Worshipping the Sun For the far-distant Massagetes worshipp'd the Sun Herod lib. 1. as Herodotus relates The Germans also were ravish'd with the Worship of this Celestial Luminary before they embrac'd the Christian Religion Geothic Rer. lib. 3. cap. 2. Moreover Olaus Magnus relates That the People in the most Northern Parts of the World pray'd to the Sun when after a six Months Night it appears above their Horizon and brings Light and Comfort And what is more common among the Western Indians than the Worship of the Sun For which cause they mock'd at the Spaniards when they told them of a Savior telling them That they had a better God which appear'd every Morning in Glory Josephus Acosta relates peculiarly concerning the Peruvians Hist. Mor. Var. Jud. That they mention'd Viracocha for their Prime Deity and next him the Sun and for the third Ictillapa signifying Thunder a Man arm'd with Stones and a Sling All three of them are worshipp'd after one manner viz. with Hands lifted aloft making a noise like the Smacks of Rusticks and then praying for what ever they want In Lusco they offer'd living Children to the Sun Eastern-Indians have a long time us'd to worship the Sun Amongst the East-Indians the Sun was Religiously worshipp'd long before the Birth of our Savior Ctesias relates of them That they travel yearly fifteen days to an appointed Place to keep a Feast in honor of the Sun praying That it would please him to grant them thirty five days cool Weather that they may not be scorch'd whilst they are coming worshipping and returning home Benjamin Tudelensis the Jew relates also of the Inhabitants of Haaulam if the Learn'd Vossius takes not Haaulam to be Zeilan or rather Sumatra After seven days Travel I came to Haaulam which is the beginning of the Kingdom where they worship the Sun in stead of God A People deriv'd from the Astronomer Chus The Sun is worshipp'd by them on several great Altars built in all Places about two Miles distant from the City They commonly run to meet the Sun early in the Morning to which stand dedicated several Images on all their Altars seeming by Necromantick Art to dart Beams which when the Sun rises seem to crackle at which time both Men and Women offer their Sacrifices Furthermore it is requisite for us to know how the Japanners and besides them many other ancient and late Heathens amongst their other Deities worship the Sun Arist de Coelo lib. 1. cap. 3. The general Opinion of all Men as Aristotle Simplicius Themistius and others witness is to place the Omnipotent Godhead in the uppermost Region that surrounds the Earth Why the Japanners worship the Sun for which cause those that pray lift up their Hands to Heaven And since the Heavens represent nothing more glorious than the Sun that is held for the onely and chief Deity whether it be for its Beauty and Splendor or its Bigness being
The Hollanders come to Jedo ¶ THe Hollanders being sometimes thus delighted came within a League of Jedo where the Lord of the Village before which their Ketch lay took his leave telling them That their Seamen had weigh'd Anchor and were gone to Sea but he knew not the time when This caus'd great fear in the Netherlanders who thought they should certainly be taken for Spies that came to make Inspections into the Countrey and according to the Japan Cruelties expected nothing but Death In the Afternoon they enter'd the Imperial City Jedo where they were Lodg'd in the usual place of Residence for the Holland Ambassadors when at a set time they come thither from Nangesaque to present the Emperor with many rich Gifts Here they were inform'd That it was not the City Fitachi but Namboe from whence they went on the fourteenth of August after having staid there fourteen days and also That the Haven wherein they rode at Anchor before the Fishers Village was part of the great Inlet Namboe They rode one day with another ten or eleven Leagues and saw by the way above a hundred close-built and populous Villages In this their Journey from Namboe to Jedo they chang'd their Horses eight times Are very jealous of a Japan Nobleman But the Hollanders had scarce sat half an Hour to rest themselves when Oritido Cansaimondonne who took leave of them in Namboe and they thought long before that time to have been at his own House came into their Chamber to the great amazement of the Hollanders they being always fearful to be unjustly dealt with thinking by that means Oritido might inrich himself with a part of their Ship and Goods if they should be condemn'd at the Court which they fear'd the more because they being Strangers had none to plead for them and declare their Innocency Consaimondonne seem'd to be highly displeas'd that he saw the Hollanders lodg'd in the usual Inn for the Netherland Ambassadors fearing that he might be deceiv'd and frustrated in his expectations yet he shew'd a fain'd Friendship Captain Schaep asking him concerning the two Letters given him in Namboe to deliver receiv'd no Answer which made him judge that he had detain'd and not deliver'd them Hollanders are commanded to come to Court ¶ AGainst the Evening Captain Schaep the Merchant Byleveld and the Youth Jacob de Paw were commanded to appear before the Governor Inovii Sicungodonne and Sabrosaimondonne Governor of Nangesaque whither they went accompanied by their Landlord and two Servants Thus being carried to the Commander Sicungodonnes House How entertain'd there into a stately Hall after a little stay they were led into a Princely Chamber where fitting down a while they were afterwards commanded to draw near Sicungodonne and Sabrosaimondonne Both shewing a friendly Countenance said O Hollande Next to them sat the Spaniard an Apostate Priest which had accompanied the Netherlanders from Namboe Are examin'd about their Journey This Bonzi by the command of the two Lords question'd them From what Place they put to Sea and whither they intended to Sail Why and to what end they came so far to the North Why they put into the Haven Namboe The Hollanders mixing broken Japan Portuguese and Dutch together answer'd them to most of their Questions Then the Spaniard fetching a Map of India commanded the Hollanders to shew them their Voyage in it viz. both what they had already Sail'd and did intend which being perform'd they receiv'd each two Cups of Wine and leave to depart On the next day all the Hollanders appear'd before the same Lords and whilst they stood in the foremention'd Hall the Lords being not ready to come forth they saw several Japanners which also came thither for Audience amongst which were two which spoke very good Portuguese The Japanners seek acquaintance with the Hollanders and said that they were Merchants and liv'd in Nangesaque that they knew Mr. Elsrake Overtwater and other Netherlanders in their Store-house on the Island Disma asking them also if none of them could speak Portuguese and if they had no acquaintance with those Persons which they had nam'd The Hollanders signified to them That they were not experienc'd in the Portuguese Tongue but that they had seen Elsrake and Overtwater in Batavia These Merchants seem'd to be much concern'd at the trouble into which the Hollanders had brought themselves After they had thus waited two Hours came the Secretaries belonging to Sicungodonne accompanied with some Portuguese and Spanish Priests which had apostatiz'd from the Christian Religion Are anew examin'd These inquir'd again concerning their Voyage asking them also what they intended to do in the Bay of Namboe In what Latitude the Inlet lay Which they a second time shew'd them in the Chart that they brought according to which it lay in thirty nine Degrees That they lost their Admiral in the Night before an unknown Countrey in a dreadful Storm and that afterwards they endeavor'd to get up to Nangesaque but through contrary Winds were driven to the Northward During this Discourse Captain Schaep the Merchant and the Youth were led to a spacious Gallery from the other People where Sicungodonne and Sabrosaimondonne sat in State having just before been busie about Trying of Prisoners for their Lives But being set down before the two Lords they were ask'd nothing of any consequence only each of them being commanded to drink a Cup of Wine they had leave to return to their Lodgings In their going out they saw in an open Court of the Palace four old yet strong Sedans made very fast round about in each of them sat a Prisoner Roman Priests Prisoners being Portuguese Fathers Strange Passage which frighted the Hollanders But the remaining seven of the Hollanders which were examin'd by the foremention'd Priests were not a little afraid For whilst they sat there two great Chests of Portuguese Coats Clokes Surplices Books Writings and also Iron Hand-cuffs Fetters Chains and other Instruments for Torture were brought into the Hall every one of them judging that they were fetch'd thither on purpose for them being ask'd also at that very instant if they were not Roman Catholicks This their fear was the more augmented because the Hollandeas had scarce rested half an Hour in their Lodging but they were commanded by Sicungodonne to return again to the Court by which they judg'd that the condemn'd Priests had accus'd them of something that might be prejudicial to them Japanners deal severely with four Jesuits Entring the Palace they found the Executioners busie in torturing four Jesuits of which according as they guess'd the youngest might be forty the other fifty sixty and seventy years old They were Habited after the Japan manner yet might easily be distinguish'd from them The Executioners us'd them very barbarously lock'd their Hands in Iron Cuffs their Feet they loaded with weighty Chains and Pinion'd them up in such a manner that they could
not stir one Limb. This Sight did not a little terrifie the Hollanders who were again strictly examin'd concerning their Voyage and chiefly the Spanish Priest which came with them from Namboe ask'd If their Ship Breskens had not taken in some Portuguese Priests either at the Manilla's or Macau and put them on Shore in the Bay of Namboe at unseasonable hours If they were not Roman Catholicks Both which Demands Captain Schaep answer'd with No Sieuward Johnson opening his Breast shew'd them also the great Wounds scarce whole which he had received from the Portuguese at Ceylon and therefore would never desire a move joyful Day than to revenge himself on the Portuguese Nation in which Relation Sicungodonne and Sabrosaimondonne took peculiar delight The Names Age and Offices of the Hollanders are written down Then the Hollanders return'd again to their Quarters where at Night they were visited by the Spanish Priest and two Commission'd Lords which were to write down every Man's Name Age and Office so that they writ down in a Book Henry Cornelison Schaep Captain aged thirty two years William Byleveld Merchant four and twenty Sieuward Johnson Purser thirty three Peter Gerritson Cooper twenty six Abraham Pieterson Spelt Gunner twenty two Henry Elsford Mate twenty Jurian Sholten also his Mate twenty seven Hans Slee Boatswain twenty Aert Bastianson a Youth fifteen and Jacob de Paw a Boy of fourteen years old Two Japanners discover themselves The Two Lords making themselves known told them That they had served their East-India Company for Interpreters and that one of them was call'd Kitsbioye and the other Phatsiosaimon and were sent from Nangesaque to conduct the four condemned Jesuits thither They told them moreover that there were two Dutch Interpreters coming from Firando to Interpret for them before the Magistrates who would for that purpose be in Jedo within thirty days at last telling them that they should Lodge in the House with a Priest that had apostatiz'd from the Christian Religion yet they should no ways be daunted for there was not the lead danger in their Concern and they ought the less to fear because they assur'd them of the Lords Sicungodonne and Sabrosaimondonnes Favors and Sicungodonne had given order to their Landlord that he should not let them want for any thing After this nothing happen'd to them of any remark in nine days time onely that the Interpreters now and then visited them Hallanders are exceedingly frighted But the first of September seem'd to put an end to their Tragedy so that they all prepar'd themselves for Death for the Interpreters Kitsbioye Phatsiosaimon Siovan and a considerable number of the Emperor's Guard carry'd the Hollanders out of the City Jedo Description of the Japan Horse and Foot the Foot wearing little round Helmets wrought like a Shell on the top their Coats being of Mayl hung half way over their Bellies ty'd about their Middle with a Sash in every ones Girdle stuck two Scymiters one long and the other short which below the Handles have round Shells of Ebony-wood by which they hang their Breeches like the Noblemens hung over their Feet on their Shoulders they carry'd Musquets not unlike the Europeans onely the Cocks thereof struck from them and instead of Bandileers or Powder they had square Baskets pleited of Rushes But others belonging to the Emperors Life-guard Rode on Horses which being train'd up daily by skilfull Riders Curvetted all the way they went with rich Caparisons Edg'd with costly Fringe their Heads also cover'd with a rich Cloth but in Service they wear Helmets adorn'd with Plumes of Feathers and Scarfs coming under their Arms and made fast on their left Shoulders a thick silken Cord with two Tassels hangs about their Necks and on their Backs a great Bowe under their left Arm a Quiver full of Arrows in their Girdles stick two Stilletto's or long Daggers with their left Hands guiding the Bridle in the the right holding a great Lance their Legs cover'd with Wax'd Boots Hollanders prepare for Death The Hollanders thus Guarded on all sides both with Horse and Foot were carry'd out of Jedo Close by the City is a great Palace about the bigness of a small City which entring after having past several Avenues they came before a dismal and dark Prison before the Grates of which the four condemned Jesuits sat loaden with great Fetters and Chains with some other Japan Christians from thence they were conducted into a spacious open Court in which stood Gibbets Crosses Gallows and great Wells full of Water The Place swarm'd with People and chiefly one Leaded Entry Pav'd with Free-stone was continually full of all manner of Courtiers private Officers Executioners and Hang-men which passed to and again expecting Commands At last the Jesuits and the Japanners were brought out of their Dungeon to come before the chief Magistrate of Japan And whilst the Judges were busie in examining them most part of the Day was spent Mean while the Hollanders stood in the open Court next the Guards which had brought them from their Inn thither where they saw all Passages and that they might not faint in so great a Crowd they had Sweet-meats given them to eat which they judg'd was by Sicungodonne's order At last they were led through a small Gate to a very pleasant Place having on one side a Woodden Gallery cover'd with Mats through which passing and entring into a Princely Hall they were commanded to kneel before Sicungodonne sitting on a high Throne surrounded with a great number of Councellors who by the Interpreters ask'd the Hollanders these following Questions Questions ask'd the Hollanders to which they return Answers From whence whither and when they put to Sea Why they Anchor'd in the Haven Namboe The Hollanders answer'd That they set Sail the third of February Anno 1643. from the Road before Batavia and steer'd their Course towards Ternata from whence they weighed Anchor the fourth of April but afterwards driven by great Storms were necessitated to Anchor in the Haven Namboe Then Sicungodonne ask'd them if they were Christians though no Papists If they did not desire to speak with the four Jesuits in private Their Answer hereupon was That they were Christians but no Papists and believe in one God Creator and Governor of Heaven and Earth for which Religion they were ready to die and had nothing to say to the Jesuits but held them for their greatest Enemies The other Questions which they were ask'd were these following How many Netherlanders Chineses and others liv'd in Batavia Where their Governor kept his Court How many Ships hath he in his Service What Places do they Sail to Do all manner of Artificers live in Batavia Do Shoemakers Taylors Weavers and other Handicrafts reside there The Hollanders told them That there liv'd about twelve hundred Hollanders in Batavia besides three thousand Chineses and a considerable number of Malabars Javans Bandaneesen Amboiners and Mardikers and also all
the Questions and Answers that the Japan Council might come to a right and true understanding of the whole Business and free them from further danger Which he promising to perform took his leave Why the Hollanders are kept longer Prisoners After this the Interpreter Phatsyosamon brought them word That the Emperors Mother was fallen exceeding sick wherefore the Court would not hear any Causes whatsoever till such time as she was recover'd Therefore they must have a little longer Patience if they got not leave to go for Nangesaque so soon as they expected See many Novelties The next day Manykebe Syovan Kitsbyoye Phatsyosamon and their Landlord brought a considerable number of Japanners into the Chamber where the ten Hollanders sat which out of curiosity came to see them holding a great Discourse amongst themselves which the Hollanders they speaking the Japan Tongue could not understand only they now and then heard them mention the Names Elserak and Overtwater Manykebe at last interpreting to Schaep said That one of the Japanners there present was lately come thither from Nangesaque and at his departure from thence spoke with Mr. Elserak and Overtwater and several other of their Countreymen which he left all in good health But no other Account would Manykebe give him for when Schaep ask'd him any thing concerning their Releasment he refus'd to answer him and scornfully commanded him to be silent The Youth Paw is examin'd Since this Visit the Hollanders had many that came to see them and the Youth Jacob de Paw was by their Landlords Son carried to Sicungodonne's Palace under a pretence that some Japan Ladies were desirous to see him But returning at night related That he had seen no Ladies but Sicungodonne's Secretary and the Dutch Interpreters Tosaymon and Manykebe who examin'd him concerning their Shooting in Namboe and how often they fired and if the Japanners discharg'd any Pistols or Firelocks on board of the Ship All which the Youth answer'd as the rest had done before A Meeting of the Japan Council before which the Hollanders appear The nineteenth of October the four Interpreters had a Meeting in the Hollanders Inn where the ten Dutch Prisoners were brought before them and told by Tosaymon That they should make themselves ready to morrow Morning an Hour before Day-light because a Meeting was agreed on by the Council at Sicungodonne's House to have another Hearing about their Business They answer'd That they would gladly be ready though in their Hearts they suspected Danger because they were commanded to appear so soon which they had never done before But at the appointed time going thither accompanied with the four Interpreters the Apostate Priest Syovan their Landlord and his Son they staid above an Hour waiting in a Princely Hall which look'd out into an exceeding pleasant Garden But being carried out of this Hall to the usual Waiting place they staid till Noon Mean while Sicungodonne's Secretary treated them with Pieces of Bread and two Cups of Wine apiece and being carried into the Place of Audience they were commanded to sit down on Mats by four Jesuits The Hollanders are plac'd next four Jesuits who look'd exceeding pitifully their Eyes and Cheeks strangely fallen in their Hands black and blew and their whole Bodies sadly misus'd and macerated by Torture This Company amaz'd the Hollanders who were not able to judge the Reason of their being plac'd by the four Jesuits These though they had Apostatiz'd from the Christian Faith yet declar'd publickly to the Interpreters Kytsbyoye and Phatsyosamon That they did not freely Apostatize but the insufferable Torments which had been inflicted upon them had forc'd them to it The Council ask'd them at large concerning their Opinions and the Power of God on which one answer'd faintly but the rest were much more resolute Questions put to the four Jesuits by the Council and their Answer O despairing Jesuits What Confidence can you repose in your God who hath so shamefully forsaken you Is he the Creator and Governor or all Things Why doth he not release you from your Troubles by which your Bodies seem rather to be Anatomies than Living Creatures Cannot the Japan Emperor do with you whatever he pleases without asking leave of the Christian God One of the Jesuits answer'd It is apparent that God hath forsaken us in this World as the Children thereof yet he hath never forsaken those that trust in him because he helps us in our greatest Extremities when a tortur'd Person is not sensible of his Pain the Soul being rapt with Heavenly Contemplations and considers that these Temporal Torments last no longer than Life The third Jesuit said God visits us for our manifold Sins with great and several Afflictions yet the Soul remains untouch'd by any Executioner When the Soul leaves the Body she goes to Purgatory where though not without great pain she is long cleansed and purified till she is fit to go to a Heavenly Elizium there to enjoy all Happiness God therefore forsakes not his Children because he brings them to Everlasting Life notwithstanding the way thither is very troublesom It is true that these poor and miserable Bodies are in the Emperor's Power which he would not have were it not granted him from God Also all Humane Authority ceases over Man when the Soul is departed out of the Body The last Jesuit concluded the propos'd Questions after this manner Without the True God is no Salvation and without his Will and Permittance nothing either good or bad can be done The Japan Council not well experienc'd in the Romish Religion wanted Questions to ask them and therefore call'd for Syovan the Apostate Priest who was there ready for that purpose So soon as he saw the Jesuits he look'd very fiercely upon them notwithstanding he had formerly been one of their Order and in a scoffing manner laid Syovan despises the Jesuits very shrewdly Now fie upon you Jesuits that make this World in an Uproar How you vapor of your God and Salvation Are none sav'd but Jesuits or those that embrace your Opinion In what consists your Interest in Heaven Is it because you privately dissemble with and defraud all Princes and gathering hoard up the Worlds Treasure Had you remain'd still in your usual Pleasures the Japan Prisons had not harbor'd such a crue of Antichrists nay Japan had never shed so much Blood for thousands by your Delusions were taken from their Worship of the ancient Gods Amida Xaca and Canon and embrac'd the Christian Religion for which they suffer'd the cruellest Deaths Was it under a pretence to win Souls Why did you then carry so many Tun of Gold yearly out of Japan And why did you plot to bring Japan under the Subjection of the Spanish Tyrant and so to order all things according to your pleasure But now what is the Power of the Christian God Look upon your miserable Bodies can he not help you Where then is he Omnipotent
is gone to Sea out of the Haven of Namboe without Officers Do the Hollanders keep such small Command over those that are under them Their Answer Byleveld answer'd That the Pilot in the Captain and Merchants absence according to their Custom bore the chief Command in the Ship which the other Seamen ought to obey But the Pilot must give an account concerning his Command therefore they knew not how he could answer it before the Indian Council at Batavia for he notwithstanding their earnest entreaties by Writing desiring him not to weigh Anchor from Namboe yet on the contrary set Sail without staying for his Captain and the Merchant The Reasons that mov'd him thereto may be better guess'd than poke for truth Perhaps he was fearful of further danger seeing us thus violently carry'd away by which he might judge that the Hollanders were not priviledg'd to come on the North of Japan though the Emperor gave them leave to Trade to Nangesaque Moreover none in the Ship to our knowledge was ever in Japan to know it wherefore the Pilot might think that we could sooner get from Jedo to our Countreymen at Nangesaque than to the Ship in the Haven of Namboe Father Examination and Answer concerning the State of Portugal Samoccysamma reply'd This present Emperor did not onely grant free leave of Trade to the Hollanders but also his Father and Grandfather were no less Courteous to them But how comes it that after a long War with Portugal sworn Enemies to the Japan Empire you have made Peace with them which dealing the Japan Emperor cannot but suspect and dislike Japan Councellors make enquiry after the difference of Religion between the Portuguese and Hollanders But Sammoccysamma went on in his Examination The Portuguese Priests said he teach That they can help themselves and others by Prayers and Offerings to I know not what not onely in this Life but also in the other Do you Hollanders also believe that you can reap any benefit by that means Most mighty Lord replied Schaep how should we be so foolish to expect good from those that prosecute our Souls and Bodies for indeed very great is the difference between the Portuguese and Dutch Clergy which in the time of the Popish Priests were murder'd by thousands and at present since they cannot destroy us by violence they condemn us to everlasting damnation accounting us Vagabonds that must for ever burn in unquenchable Fire so that if they could save us they would not But how can they Why do they not help themselves Ought they not to use that Art and rid themselves from so many tortures We believe that the Emperor of Japan can give us free leave that we may go for Nangesaque Which Discourse of Schaep caused all the Japan Lords to laugh But during this Examination a Secretary sat next to Sicungodonne who took an exact account of and set down all the Questions and Answers that pass'd between the Councel and the Netherlanders Description of a Japan Inkhorn They write in this manner The Inkhorn is like a long Box out of the Top of which appears the Mouth of a long Flask cover'd with a Wax Lid to keep it from breaking the Box is divided into three Partitions one is the Place in which the Writing-Pencils lie inclos'd of which the top is made fast with Pins at the bottom of the Box in which the Flask stands is a place wherein they preserve their Cakes of Ink which are sometimes red but generally black and cost much Money because they use them but little These Cakes must be mark'd with the Emperor's Arms and try'd by his Officers and if they are found to be good they set certain Letters upon them without which mark upon pain of death they may not be put to Sale or us'd Japanners are great Artists in Writing Hereby it plainly appears that the Japanners have great skill in the noble Art of Writing which like a Master domineers over Death because it not onely shews on Paper the Transactions of Man and communicates to us the Knowledge of others in the Mysteries of God and Nature but also preserves things against the wearing of Time to all Posterity therefore the antient Greek Philosopher Anaxagoras judg'd that Man was the wisest and strongest of all Creatures because he had Hands which would write things that Death could not blemish for Learned Books last many Ages and by that means instructed their Successors Japan Pencils after what manner they are made But the Japan Pencils are made of Copper or Silver and at one end eight square and flat on the top on which every ones Arms are Engraven for to Seal their Letters withal under the Seal is a round hollow Joynt full of black or red Powder according to the colour of their Ink about the middle Images are Engraven which serve for Ornament and below appears the Pencil with which they Write in this manner The foremention'd Box hath a round Case on one side for the Pencil and on the other side a long square place wherein are four Indentings at the end thereof are eight Copper or Silver Pins in the four holes they pour their Water for to make their Ink with which they make either black or red according as they please and dipping the Pencil first into the Water they rub it on the Seal'd Cakes of Ink. How they Write They Write quite after another manner than the Europeans for the Japanners take not the Pencil with which they Write between their three Fingers but in their whole Hand so that the upper end thereof appears between the Thumb and Fore-finger and the middle part they grasp in the Palm of their Hand and after that manner they make exceeding good Letters and Write very fast with their Pencil their Paper not unlike the European is somewhat browner but smoother and the one side which is not written represents Silver Checker-work on a blue Ground Several ways of Writing Here also is to be observed their four several ways of placing their Letters The first and oldest hath always been us'd as also to this time by the Hebrews Chaldeans Syrians Arabians and Egyptians Writing from their right Hand towards their left whereas on the contrary the Latines Greeks Celâ—s and other Europeans Write from their left to their right The antient Greeks had another way of Writing as may be seen by the famous Laws of the wise Solon which was where the first Line ended the second began directly and upright and where the second ended there began the third and so accordingly the rest not unlike Roads in Countreys which take a beginning where others end and oftentimes are cut through one another Genial Dies l. 2. c. 36. Lastly the Chineses a great part of the Indians and all the Japanners begin on the right-side and so Write from the top downwards Alexander ab Alexandro relates That the antient Moors in like manner
Paw which was also Examin'd to Beat on it who being not altogether ignorant in that Art first beat a March and then an Alarm with which he seem'd exceedingly to please the Lords and presently after they rose up all together and went out and the Hollanders got leave to go to their Inn. Description of a Japan Lady On their Way home they met with some Ladies of Honor attended by a great Train of Servants of which some carry'd wax'd Devices others Handkerchiefs and variety of Sweet-meats in Dishes on the sides went their Waiting-maids with Fans at some distance follow'd two of their Maids of Honor every one holding a crooked Stick between which hung a Silk Canopy to be carry'd over their Ladies Heads Whilst these Persons of Honor engag'd the Hollanders eyes on their Way homewards Schaep and Byleveld had some Discourse with the Interpreters Tosaimon and Manikebe concerning what had pass'd in Sicungodonne's Palace The Hollanders asking Why they were placed next the four Japan Priests which was never done before and also for what reasons the Councellors Sammoccysamma and Ysosamma went away so suddenly Whereupon Tosaimon told them That Sammoccysamma had been incensed against them and told When he saw the Hollanders he must judge by their presence that they were guilty of bringing over Japan Priests and chiefly when they should be placed next the four Portuguese Prisoners Which Answer occasion'd no small joy in the Hollanders who were in all haste to make ready and go to the Emperors Palace before the chief Court the appointed hour of their Audience being at hand Two Jesuits recall their Apostacy Afterwards the Hollanders heard from the Servant of the House That two of the four Roman Priests had recanted their denying of the Christian Faith to embrace the Japan Religion wherefore Siovan who was ready to go for Nangesaque receiv'd a Command to stay in Jedo till farther Order his Presence being requir'd when the two other Priests should be carry'd to their torture The four Interpreters are puzled to translate two Letters Isaiemon one of the Gentlemen th came with the Hollanders from Namboe to Jedo ask'd them for the List of their Men in the Ketch Breskens which they giving him he immediately got it Translated into the Japan Tongue by Manikebe The four and twentieth of November the Interpreters Tosaimon Manikebe Kitsbioye and Phatsiosaimon were exceedingly puzled the foremention'd Councellors giving them two Letters all of one Content but the one written in Low-Dutch and the other in Portuguese by the Governor of Batavia to Sabrosaimondonne at Nangesaque The Letters came from Batavia the four and twentieth of April Anno 1643. of which Samoccysamma was desirous to know the Contents and if they differ'd one from the other The Interpreters having spent a considerable time in Studying to Translate them but could not it was thought convenient to command the Hollanders to assist them in it None were more puzzel'd than the Interpreters Tosaymon and Manikebe because of their little knowledge in that Tongue and yet would be accounted good Interpreters The Hollanders being better able to Correspond with the Portugal Interpreters Kytsbyoye and Phatsayosaymon who both understood Portuguese very well so that at last they read them over so often that they found both the Letters to agree and be all of one Content and Translated them into the Japan Tongue Hollanders receive tidings The next day after Manikebe visited the Hollanders in their Inn and amongst other Discourse he related That the day before he had been with Sicungodonne and other Japan Lords of whom he understood that they should stay in Jedo till Elseracks coming thither Wherefore they desir'd him because the Nights began to grow cold to speak to their Landlord that he would let the ten Prisoners have six Blankets Quilted with Cotton which Manikebe took upon him to do and spoke to their Host who not onely promis'd them the Blankets but all other necessaries that they requir'd Moreover Manikebe told them from Sicungodonne That they should not be melancholly nor troubled but be chearful and merry for Mr. Elserak would shortly set forth on his Journey thither Phatsyosamon told them also That he had receiv'd tidings from Nangesaque wherein he had advice of the Arrival of a Holland Ship Laden with Skins Pepper and Speckel'd Wood and also that a Dutch Flie-Boat accidentally took Fire yet the Flame being suddenly quench'd sustain'd but little damage Soon after the Apostate Priest Syovan went for Nangesaque and came to take his leave of the Hollanders who would willingly have given him a Letter which they had made ready some days before to deliver to Elserak but Syovan excusing himself told them That he had receiv'd Orders from Sicungodonne Commanding him not to carry any Letters for the Hollanders Therefore they desir'd him since he durst not carry their Letter that if he should meet Master Elserak any where by the way to relate the whole circumstance of their condition to him by word of mouth which Syovan promis'd according to their request to perform On the first of October the Interpreters Kytsbyoye Phatsyosamon and Manikebe came again to the Hollanders and brought them advice of a Holland Ship that engaging with the Quinammers was burnt and also that Sicungodonne permitted the Hollanders to cut and shave their Hair which till that time was forbidden them This Design was not mention'd when you were brought Prisoners in Jedo therefore the Emperor to have a true account of the whole Business hath order'd you to be kept close Prisoners till Elserak comes thither that then your innocency in carrying over Portugal Priests and your Design of discovering the rich Golden Islands may plainly appear Byleveld ask'd Tosaymon in what degree and whereabouts these Islands might lie because none of the Hollanders knew the Japanners rich Gold Islands The rich Japan Golden-Islands where they lye Tosaymon told them That they lay sixty Leagues at Sea from the Promontory of Jedo by which Schaep and Byleveld judg'd it to be the same Coast where they lost the Ship Castrecom on May the 19. in the Night namely about fifty six Leagues East-South-East from Jedo Description of a Japan Gentleman Whilst they sat pondering on this News Schaep and Byleveld were call'd by their Landlord into a stately Chamber where they found the Interpreters Kitsbyoye and Phatsyosaymon with a Lord holding a Paper written full of Japan Characters and a square Wax'd Chest fitting in great State on a Carpet in an Embroyder'd Coat Lin'd through with Ermins and bare headed his Hair being ty'd behind on the top of his Head the Coat open before was Clasp'd about the middle of his Breast with a Golden Hook between the opening of his upper Garment appear'd a Flower'd Suit of which the Breeches hung quite over his Knees almost to his Feet in his left hand a Fann the top thereof adorn'd with a Gilded-Rose on each end his Servants
before the Store-house Planted after the Dutch manner and chiefly in the strange European Commodities and also in the Presents which were to be sent to the Emperor Indiik thought to entertain him with Preserv'd Persian Fruits Brandy and Tent but he neither tasting the one nor the other took his leave and departed A sad accident at Nangesaque ¶ SOon after Ficojemon met with some trouble by means of a Citizens Daughter who hang'd her self in the Night in Nangesaque He made strict Inquiry after the Reason that provok'd her thereto which at last he discover'd to this effect A Chinese Commander of a Ship being enamour'd of the Maid had upon great Promises and by the assistance of a Japanner crop'd her Virgin-Flower which she afterwards seriously considering with her self and fearing that if she should be with Child then her Crime would be publickly known and bring her into utter disgrace to prevent the same she laid violent Hands on her self But the Criminals being taken and put in Prison ran great danger of their Lives yet at last by many Intreaties a milder Sentence pass'd on both the Chinese being for ever banish'd from Japan and the Japanner to the Islands Goto and his Goods seiz'd upon by the Law were most part of them given to the Parents of the foremention'd Maid Jeffiesamma's cruelty ¶ NOt long after this Accident Joffiesamma shew'd the People a Pattern of his Cruelty by cutting asunder two of his Servants for a small Offence the one thirteen and the other fifteen years old A Fire in Nangesaque The Night after hapned a Fire Nangesaque which in four of the eminent'st Streets consum'd a hundred Houses which undid many great Merchants for they putting all their Goods in the Stone Store-houses judging them to be very safe they were all burnt ¶ THe nine and twentieth of November Nangesaque was also shaken by an Earthquake which sometimes seeming to abate soon after made the whole Town tremble which was chiefly on the third of January in the following year when this Trepidation threatned no small danger in the night The Joynts of the houses beginning to gape the Timber and Walls tumbling down which occasion'd a general out-cry in the City yet with the day-break the noise and Earthquake ceased but the whole City was in a hurry occasion'd by five and twenty Roman Christians Cruelty us'd to Roman Christians that after intolerable Tortures yet remain'd constant in their Religions and were now going to be led out of Nangesaque there to be hung with their Feet upwards and their Heads flea'd downwards so to die a lingering death when they had hung a day and a night in that miserable manner two of them desir'd that they might appear before the Magistrates of the City of Nangesaque who thereupon coming to the place of Audience heard that they were not able any longer to endure the unsupportable torture but were ready to renounce their Christianity and imbrace the Japanners Doctrine on which promise How the Japanners deny Christianity being let loose they spat at a Woodden Cross then stamp'd upon the Picture of our Saviour Christ and the Virgin Mary to the great grief of their Brother Sufferers which refus'd to be releas'd on these terms but pittifully crying said Surely we shall soon depart out of this Wretched World and go to Paradise where we shall be out of the Power of the Japan Tyrants and enjoy Everlasting Beatitude Seventy four Christians beheaded And when these foremention'd had hung seven days in that manner with their Heads downwards there were seventy four more new discover'd Christians brought thither which were all to be Beheaded these cry'd as loud as their faintness would permit them Remain stedfast in the Christian Faith we shall e're long meet in Heaven The seventy four amongst which were not onely Women and Children but also sucking Babes were altogether Beheaded their Heads set on Iron Pins and their Bodies thrown in a deep pit Indiik being an Eye-witness admir'd at their Constancy and the more because the Martyr'd Japanners had so little knowledge of the Christian Religion but the Netherland Interpreters inform'd him that several of them gave themselves out to be Christians Why they suffer themselves to be Executed that with their Wives and Children which for want of Provisions and chiefly Rice they were not able to maintain they might die together and so be rid of the Miseries of this World Freezes hard in Japan ¶ THe fourth fifth and sixth of February it Froze so hard that the Ice would bear the weight of three Men. Moreover Fire at Miaco News came to Nangesaque that the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the same Moneth a Fire happen'd in Miaco which consum'd not onely seventy Streets to Ashes but also the Dayro's stately Palace Nâ—â—rlyckhydt 〈◊〉 The Lordship ONNAYS The Town Coyo In this part of Japan the Town Coyo Consecrated to a Bonzi call'd Conbodaxi is very famous being held for the Burying-place of the Prince of Bungo or if they chance to be Interr'd elsewhere there must at least a Tooth of theirs be found at Coyo Indiik's Voyage ¶ BUt Indiik Sailing from Cokero to Simonisicci he found the Barque there which he had sent before thorow the Corean Ocean with his Goods So going Aboard on the seventh of March in the Haven of Simonisicci in seven days he arriv'd in Osacca The Hollanders Landlord Icubia Serojemon and the Interpreters made Indiik's arrival known to the two Governors before which he appear'd and brought Presents the next day which by both were kindly accepted And Indiik provided with Horses His Journey by Land to Jedo came thorow Firaskatta Jonda and Fissima to Miaco where the old Host Koffe Sabrojemon carry'd immediate News thereof to the Grand Judge Mackino Sandosamma which that Evening permitted him Audience kindly accepted the Presents and gave him a new Letter of Conduct wherefore he neglected no time but went on his Journey and Lodg'd afterwards in Cusatz and next in Sacca and forcing over from Quano he got late at night to Mia where he rested Moreover he found the House for the Hollanders Entertainment in Occosacci Lock'd and Guarded because the Master thereof being fall'n out with his Neighbors was in danger to be slain by them Leaving this Town he Lodg'd in the Village Accosacci Ferry'd over the Bay between Arei and the Village Meisacca and was forc'd by reason of the great Showres of Rain to stay in Fannama he design'd to Lodge the next night in Caneia but finding the usual Inn there Guarded notwithstanding it was almost dark and Rain'd hard he went on and Ferrying over the River Oyengauwa refresh'd in Simanda At Merico he was again forc'd to pass by the old Inn no body being at home the Master thereof being gone to Surunga there to release his Son who was committed to Prison for fighting with one of the Villagers Arrives