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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51184	Remarkable addresses by way of embassy from the East-India Company of the United Provinces, to the Emperor of Japan Containing a description of their several territories, cities, temples, and fortresses; their religions, laws, and customs; their prodigious vvealth, and gorgeous habits; the nature of their soil, plants, beasts, hills, rivers, and fountains: with the character of the ancient and modern Japanners. Collected out of their several writings and journals by Arnoldus Montanus. English'd, and adorn'd with a hundred several sculptures, by John Ogilby Esq; His Majesties cosmographer, geographick printer, and master of the revels in the Kingdom of Ireland.; Gedenkwaerdige gesantschappen der Oost-Indische maatschappy in 't Vereenigde Nederland, aan de Kaiseren van Japan. English.	Montanus, Arnoldus, 1625?-1683.; Ogilby, John, 1600-1676.; Nederlandsche Oost-Indische Compagnie.; United Provinces of the Netherlands.	1671 (1671)	Wing M2486A; ESTC R218646	565,250	480

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

Recess under a Mountain where he spent his time in Study Writing many Books and as the Chineses say Instructed eighty thousand Disciples but out of this number he selected first five thousand five hundred and out of them drew one hundred and at last he reduced that hundred to ten which he made great Masters of this so much follow'd Science And then dying he left them a great Legacy He dies being all those Books that he had Written in the Cave and that there should be no dispute hereafter concerning the Contents of these Written Volumns he Seal'd them and Indorst with this positive Superscription Thus I Xaca have Written the Truth His Opinion concerting the transmigration of the Soul Amongst others of the Pythagorean Assertions he maintains That the Soul is transmutated eighty thousand times into several Bodies and Shapes and that under six vile transformations they committed all sorts of wickedness and impiety and at last turn'd into a white Elephant by the Indians call'd Lothan hoe Laenses then they attain'd to the City of rest and everlasting happiness but before they come thither they Flye with Birds Graze with Oxen Crow with Cocks Swim with Fishes Creep with Serpents and grow with Trees Hermias a Learned Christian Of this their Opinion the Learned Hermias saith thus When I view my Body I am afraid thereof for I know not by what Name to call it whether a Man a Dog a Wolf Stier Bird or Serpent for they say that I exchange into all these several Shapes which live either on the Earth or in the Air and in the Water neither wild tame dumb prudent or foolish I flye in the Air I creep on the Earth I run I sit and sometimes I am enclos'd a Prisoner in the Bark of a Tree The Japanners and the Chineses which are of Xaca's Religion believe that the Soul changes into Trees or Plants A strange Story of a Tree that spake Philip Marimus in his Japan Voyage relates That in Cochinchina Anno 1632 a Tree of an hundred and twenty Foot high and a proportionable thickness was by a Storm blown down to the Ground which a hundred Men could not move whereupon being conjur'd as they say by one of their Exorcists to know the reason why it could not be stirr'd it answer'd I am a Chinse Pince my Soul having been transmigrated into several Bodies a hundred Years at last is setled in this Tree from which as an Oracle I am to tell you of Couchin China that a woful War is ready to fall upon you under whose pressure you shall suffer extremely This Story whether fabulous or an Illusion of the Devil is believ'd both through all China and Japan insomuch that ever since they put Dishes of Rice to the Roots of great Trees that the Souls dwelling within may not languish by long fasting and therefore they feed Animals and living Creatures also that they may not suffer by Hunger Within Camsana if we may credit Bollandus stands a Cloister of the Bonzi Of a Clovster in Camsana Bolland Vit. Sanctor A. ● L. ●an 15. C. 4. near which is a Hill shaded with pleasant Trees thither one of the Priests carry daily at a set time two great Baskets full of all manner of Food when drawing near the Hill he Rings his Bell at the found of which is summon'd all sorts of Creatures that in an incredible number come flocking from their several Shelters and Recesses to which he throws his Alms and so scatters that they are generally satisfi'd which done in the same manner he Rings them back again and they fairly retreat to their respective Receptacles These Animals they believe are animated with the Souls of formerly famous Persons which reside in several Creatures analogizing in their different kinds and natures with the humor and disposition of those Hero's when alive From whom the Japanners have the Opinion of Transmigration It is without contradiction that this Learning of Transmigration took original in Egypt And from them Plato and Pythagoras receiv'd that Doctrine which they Preach'd into Greece the Seminary then of Philosophy which at last spread through several Angles of the World The Gothes had it in the North the Germans and Gauls in the West and at the same time the Chineses and Japanners in the East who receiv'd it from the Indian Brachmans The Brachmans also affirm amongst a world of strange Fancies that some Men for their Crimes after Death become aerial Spirits fantastick Shapes unsubstantial Bodies wandering up and down so long till they have suffer'd enough to expiate their Offences These Spirits are not permitted to Eat the least Blade of Corn Herb Grass nor any thing whatsoever but onely what they receive by Alms to which purpose they throw Meat to Daws and Pies nine days together after their Friends departed Souls that so the wandring of their deceased Relations may pick up something with them These Spirits sometimes also appear in humane Shapes but are not to be fear'd because they are harmless The Brachmans believe there is a Hell Moreover the Brachmans also acknowledge a Hell by them call'd Jamma Locon from whence the Souls after great punishments are released and appear again in the World in several Shapes But besides their Jamma Locon they make mention of a deep dark and dismal Pit by them call'd Antam Tappes which as they say is full of Thorns Vultures and Ravens with Iron Beaks and Claws Mastiff-Dogs Stinging-Wasps and Hornets which heavily afflict and torture the Wicked condemn'd to that Dungeon in a most horrid and petulant manner without any cessation and that which is worse their punishment as they say never ends And also a Life after this They also hold two Conditions of such as are Saved entring into happiness some of them travel to an inferior Heaven call'd Surgam where no sins are committed nor death suffer'd to enter yet the Dewetas for so they call those that after death are believ'd to go to Surgam when their time of residence there is expir'd travel from thence Soul and Body again conjoyn'd but what becomes of the Body in their return the Brachmans have not well made out onely they affirm That some come back to the World and are regenerated and born again and those Feast on all manner of Delicacies and enjoy fair Women but without Issue But this they have not well anvill'd out neither for some they say never remove from Surgam but bear Children there which they number amongst the Stars this they hinted from the antient Astronomers that often as we do sometimes discover new Stars in the Firmament Their Opinion of Heaven But those which worship and obey Wistnou keeping themselves from all Offences are transported to Weicontam where God sits on a most glorious Throne But they say there are two Weicontams calling one Lela Weicontam which is a most pleasant and delightful Heaven but the first onely call'd Weicontam From thence none

return again to this World Great Disputations one the Brachmans maintain about their Second Heaven Lela Weicontam Some affirm That the Souls remove from thence to another Elizium Others maintain the contrary The Sect Foqueux worship Xaca Moreover concerning Xaca it is well known That all the Japan Bonzies worship him but chiefly those they call Foqueux For as they are of another Sect so among themselves they are of other Opinions This Sect is so call'd from a Book written by Xaca which treats of attaining to Salvation by saying these Words Namu Mio Foren Qui Quio though no Japanners understand the true meaning thereof being Indian Words The manner how the women ourn themselves ¶ THe Funerals in India if Married People and the Husband die first are commonly double for the Women burn themselves with their Husbands because they will not live after their deceas'd Lords so perfecting the Celebrations of the Funerals Which they willingly expose themselves to in Honor of their God whom they call Rama which they perform thus When the Wife promises her departing Husband that she will die with him then she must lose no time but the same day where her Husband lies burning in the Funeral Pyre she must leap in and be consum'd with him This dreadful Ceremony is strictly observ'd by the Brachmans and Wiensjaes But the Setteraes and Soudraes go farther for there the Women also burn themselves though their Husbands die in other Countreys although it be many Years after their Deaths yet as soon as they receive the sad News they shrink not from the Fiery Trial of their Affections but by burning dispatch themselves Some of the Men also are as mad who in the Worship of their Xaca dig a large Pit without the City in which making a great Fire they desparately leap thereinto where they are in short time consum'd to Ashes whilst the Woman sits on a Stool dress'd up and richly clad before the Door of their House and if she be extracted from the Settera or Soudra she hath in one Hand a Limmon and in the other a Looking-glass calling continually on the Name of their God Naraina or Rama which is Xaca sometimes chewing Betel amongst which they mix an intoxicating Herb that bereaves her of her Senses so taking away all manner of fear of what she is to suffer But if she belongs to the Brachmans or Wiensjaes then they hold red Flowers in their Hands first dedicated to the Idol whose Picture they hang about their Necks Then after she hath taken her Farewel of her Friends she either goeth out of the City or is carried in a Sedan her Countenance being chearful looking merrily which she denotes by several Gesticulations of her Hands and Body crying aloud to the Sound of Trumpets and Drums Rema Rama Saltae Rama Rama Saltae that is God Rama Rama make me happy And thus being led through the chief Streets of the City by some of her nearest Friends and at last approaching near the Place of Execution where her Husband was burnt she withdraws to a neighboring Pool where after having wash'd her self she puts on a yellow Garment and gives her richest Apparel and precious Jewels to her chiefest Relations and to the Brachman-Priest which makes her Funeral-Sermon before the Fire to whom she also makes great Presents The Pit wherein she is to leap is like an Oven full of glowing Coals being hung round about with green Mats to the end she might not be affrighted at such a horrid Face of Death At one end thereof lies a Mount or Heap of Earth thrown out of a small Hill on which she takes her last Farewel of her Friends All which to perpetrate this dreadful Self-murder encourage her to be her own Destroyer whilst she having thrown her beloved Pestle and Mortar and other Housholdstuff which she us'd daily into the Fire they put a Jar of Oyl upon her Head letting some fall upon her Body The Mats being remov'd the Virago leaps in and after her her nearest Relations standing round about contribute to the Flames each throwing in a Fagot the sooner to dispatch their wretched Kinswoman Difference in burning women Thus the Widows end their Lives that are of the Settrean Weinjaen or Soudraen Families But the Brachman Women suffer a more cruel Death for they are laid close by their Husbands on the Funeral-Pyre then the People build a Pile of Wood over them placing about their Heads Oyl Rozin and Turpentine This done the Women standing in order round about make doleful Ullula's mix'd with loud Shrieks and Lamentations during which Clamor the Brachman-Priest lights the Pile which kindling by degrees brings a lingering and terrible Death Women buried alive Besides this way of ridding themselves of the old Females they have another way of destroying themselves which they perform thus They take the Relict and lead her as it were in Triumph amongst the Sound of Pipes Drums and Trumpets to a Pit digg'd square like a Cellar where stands the Body of her departed Husband to which descending on Earthen Steps setting her self down on a Bank she takes the dead Body in her Arms then perfuming the Corps with Frankincense and Myrrhe which done the Mourners begin to throw the Mold into the Pit which she rakes greedily towards her with her Hands and so having cover'd her self at last with Earth to the Chin then hanging a Cloth before the Entry of the Pit they give her Poyson in a little Dish and then on a sudden break her Neck backwards Die of Hunger for the Honor of Xaca Thus also the Japanners both Men and Women make away themselves frantick with mad Zeal in Honor to their God Xaca For those that are his greatest Admirers upon no other account than honoring him dig their own Graves covering the tops leaving onely a small breathing-hole wherein they famish themselves to death These kind of Self-murderers or Sedecedes happen frequently in and about Jedo and in several other Places of Japan ¶ BUt to return again to our Ambassadors Frisius and Brookhurst who had inform'd the Lords Sickingodonne and Sabrosaymondonne of their Arrival on the last of November and staid till the twenty ninth of the following Month in the House of the Chief President for the East India Company before they could be permitted to offer those Presents which they had brought to his Imperial Majesty Netherlanders are commanded to come to Court They had order to prepare themselves against the next Morning to appear before the Emperor Whereupon the Japanners went to a Troo for so they call a Bath that they might cleanse themselves for none must presume to approach before the Emperor otherwise s Kysers hof te JEDO. das Schlos zu Jedo The Emperors Court at JEDO. Description of the Imperial Palace at Jedo ¶ THe Residence or Palace of the Emperor deserves no small Admiration Round about the outermost Wall are large Rails several Foot

Shells betwixt which were Planted all sorts of Flowers which grow in such a manner that not one day in the year but some of them flourish'd in their full beauty so that there seems to be a continual Spring there and a perpetual Paradice The King of Devils Temple Within this Wood also stands a Temple dedicated to the Prince of Devils his Image very terrible to behold grasping a Scepter in his right Hand two other horrible Representations standing on each side that on the left holding a Book wherein is registred as they say all the Transactions of Mankind the other seems to Read what the former hath Written The Walls every where are Painted with various and exquisite tortures and torments of Hell which as they believe are inflicted for the manifold sins and offences committed by all sorts of People of what degree soever There is scarce a Temple in Japan which hath greater resort than this the People bringing great Sums of Money thither to buy Pardons and purchase Indulgences to quit Scores and clear them from the Punishments that they may be condemn'd to for their sins after this mortal Life Yet above all the Buildings in Meaco the Dayro's Palace is the most magnificent and of greatest splendor excelling most of those Fabricks that in antient times were accounted famous The fore-Gate of the Dayro Court The Portico through which the Dayro goes forth and enters makes a stately Frontispiece before which an Arch'd Portal whose Roof jetting beyond the Walls hath on each Corner a Golden Ball adding more lustre near which on each side a large Gallery and in each of them four ample Apartments with Vaulted Cielings each Room having nine Windows on every side serve for Courts of Guard fitted for a Garrison of Soldiers on the outermost Wall between the upper and lower Story are curious Imagery Varnish'd after the Indian manner and next the Roof of the Gallery hangs out a Flag or Ensign with the Dayro's Arms. Description of the Bulwarks To this joyns the Wall which surrounds the whole Court being full of Bulwarks and Battlements hath also many fair Watch-houses built in the in-side But within the fore-mention'd first Gate is a large and spacious Court Pav'd with Free-Stone which when the Dayro is carry'd through is always throng'd with a concourse of People he sits in a large Sedan The Dayro's Sedan carry'd by fourteen Men very richly Cloth'd the Sedan of a long square rises sloaping from each Corner and ends in the middle in a small Golden Pyramid the four sides are Window'd with a thin Silk through which he may see whomsoever he please yet cannot be seen by any This Sedan rests on long Poles which the Bearers carry on their Shoulders before him Rides his Life-guard on each side of him thousands of Japanners prostrate their Faces that so in his passing by they may worship him His sumptuous Train Behind the Dayro's Sedan follows a Coach drawn by two Horses whose Heads are adorn'd with stately Plumes Caparison'd with Furniture Embroider'd with Pearls and Diamonds and led by two of his Servants by their Reins between the Horses and the Coach go two Men one carrying a large Fan with which to cool he continually agitates the Air the other carrying a great Umbrello This Coach in which the Dayro's Royal Consort sits is follow'd by above twenty Chariots each having two wheels and are drawn by as many Horses which are led by the Reins of their Bridles In these the Dayro's Concubines are carry'd they can see all Passengers through their fine silken Windows making every angle of the Chariot transparent like the Dayro's on each side attends in great Trains their Maids and Ladies of Honor which are also accompany'd by divers of the Dayro's Attendants all Cloth'd in rich Apparel which make a glorious and delightful show Moreover on each side of the foremention'd open Court stand several Palaces built after divers fashions but all of them so rich and beautiful that Art seems to have play'd so well her part on them that they requir'd no less than an Emperor's Revenue for the erecting of them H●s Kitchins Behind are the Kitchins of the Dayro from whence the several Dishes with variety of Meats which are daily above a hundred are carry'd between the Seraglio and the Garden to the Dayro they are very large having several Officers belonging thereto whose Table-expences amount yearly to many Tun of Gold The Dayro's Court in Miaco das Sehlos des dairo ze Miaco ● Hof van den DAYRO le MIAKO A pleasant Garden Behind these also is an exceeding pleasant Garden inclos'd with high Walls which have in some Places large Towers full of spacious Rooms and that which makes it the more delightful to behold is a round Palace which in the middle of the Garden rises aloft with high Turrets the Trees all very artificially Planted in rank and file the Flowers and other Plants stand divided in several Beds and many other Curiosities in this Place are sufficient testimonies that Nature Cost and Art have joyn'd all their Forces together to exceed that famous Temple in Thessalie and the Gardens of Adonis at large describ'd by antient Poets Description of the Dayro's Court. In the midst of all these sumptuous Edifices and delightful Gardens stands most intimate the Palace where the Dayro hath his Residence which rising aloft with several Roofs towards the Sky is environ'd by a stony Wall adorn'd with many Images whose Entrance ascends on fifteen broad Copper Steps guarded at the bottom on each side with two Watch-houses built uniform being square have a large Door several wide Windows and the Walls very neatly Painted the Roof jetting over at the four Angles of the Wall and tapering aloft is cover'd with gilded Boards the Ridge alfo adorn'd with golden Balls The Garden thereof Next these Watch-houses lies his private Garden enclos'd with a peculiar Wall at whose corners are Banquetting-houses built with eight Angles the Roof of which rising Canopy-wise ends in a sharp Pinnacle The delightfulness of this Garden can scarce be express'd Very costly fore Cate. Concerning the Palace it self on the top of the foremention'd Copper Steps appears the Portico supported on each side with eight stately Columns cover'd with golden Plates curiously Engraven the middle Roof jets out a little over the other this also adorn'd with Imagery The Arch is exceeding costly being richly gilded on each Corner the Floor cover'd with polish'd Marble which shines like Glass Behind this Porch appears a high and spacious Court which being so exactly Pav'd and the Stones so closely laid that it amazes the beholder Description of the Front of the Palace Next this joyns the Palace it self whose Gable-end jets out beyond all the other Buildings the Gate thereof being very broad hath on each side great square Pillars Carv'd with several Images the Walls which joyn to the Gate are Grav'd with

Ships who commonly put their Priests ashore in such private Places Why did you not whilst you Cruised on the Coast send some of your Officers ashore that might tell our Magistrates you were Hollanders your neglecting of this Duty made the Inhabitants of Namboe suspect you The Emperor also resented it very hainously that you should offer to fire several Guns on his Coast which is certainly reported to the Council though you deny it for which Crime you are liable to be punish'd The Hollanders Answer These Questions Schaep answer'd thus The Japan Fishers receiv'd full satisfaction for their Fish and moreover they entertain'd them with all civility giving them Arak and what else they desir'd by which they might well judge we were Friends and no Enemies besides we inform'd them as well as we could possible that we were Hollanders but whether they understood it or not because not being able to speak the Japan Tongue we know not Furthermore we have not the least knowledge concerning the Emperors Watches nor of that Order of coming ashore to make themselves known and as for often Shooting they were altogether ignorant of because they fir'd but once and that was for the Reason aforesaid and as for what happen'd and was done in the Haven of Namboe was upon the entreaty of some Japan Lords so that if any other great Guns have been heard to fire they must needs have been from the Ship Castrecom or some other Vessels Tosaimon's Examination Whereupon Tosaimon again reply'd Since you are Hollanders to whom the Emperor grants a free Trade why did you not freely ask for Masts Yards Rice Provision and other Necessaries of which you might have had enough in the Haven of Namboe Why did none of you go before the Magistrates then Did the Governor of Batavia command you to put in for Japan or did you come thither of your own accords What Officers have the chief Command of the Ketch Breskens and Castrecon Who will certifie the Emperor that your Voyage was for Tartary and not rather to Land Portuguese Priests because at present there is Peace concluded between the Portuguese and the United Netherlands Schaep's Answer Captain Schaep answer'd When on the first time they entred the Haven of Namboe hundreds of Japanners came flocking Aboard of them to see the Ship who being kindly entertain'd by us granted that we should furnish our selves with fresh Water which then was all we defir'd and also told them that we were Hollanders after which being toss'd by Tempest we were a second time forc'd to stand for Namboe but entred not the Harbor before we had leave from the Governor who also granted us to buy all manner of Necessaries for the Ships for which purpose coming ashore we were carry'd Prisoners to Jedo without the help of Witnesses to certifie that we were Hollanders and accordingly the Emperor's Friends Furthermore they had no absolute Command from the Governor in Batavia nor the Indian Council whether to put in for Japan nor to keep off from it but to make a Letter of Agreement before we came from Ternata to the end that if their Ships should be separated by Storm or otherwise they might the easier find one another again by both their Ships Councel before Ternata the Japan Coast was judg'd to be fittest for that purpose because it lay in their Way The Command over both the Ships belong'd to the Merchant Captain and Pilot. Lastly although the War between the United Netherlands and the Portuguese be laid aside for some years concerning which a Writing was made by the Prince of Orange and the States under which the East-India Company are comprehend yet notwithstanding that the Portuguese Priests were sworn Enemies to them because of an irreconcileable difference in their Religion wherefore they would willingly suffer the cruel'st Death that could be imagin'd if they could any ways be accused to have put any Priests on the Japan Coast Manikebe's Examination Manikebe ask'd moreover Whereabouts Tartary lay How they could find it without a Map How they came to know that such Cities for Trade were seated there How can your People said he be without Maps whereas you have those of the whole World where Tartary is also Without doubt the Pilot of the Ship Castrecom hath a Map of Tartary and would you not be amazed to see such a one sent from Nangesaque Schaep's Reply On these Questions Captain Schaep again made this answe We could not get a Map of Tartary any where but had Orders from the Indian Council that when we had Weather'd the utmost North-Point of Japan to steer North-west and if we could meet with no Land to keep on till forty five Degrees then stand to the Norch-east to six and fifty Degrees Northern Latitude where the River Polisange disembogues into the South-Sea On the Banks of this River are erected several famous Cities for Trade accordingly describ'd in credible Books but because no European Ships have ever Sail'd thither we could not find a Map of that Coast and therefore would not regard any Chard that should be made by Art which was not real and from thence it proceeded that the Hollanders though they have Maps of the World yet they place no Sea-Coasts therein but what are discover'd by Navigation They could also with real truth affirm that the Ship Castrecom was unprovided of such a Map and if a Map of Tartary might be seen from Nangesaque it must without doubt be one of the Inland-Countreys and not of the Sea-Coast because to our knowledge never any European Ship Sail'd thither to discover them Enquiry after the Religion in Holland Manykebe ask'd moreover Are the Hollanders not Christians and believe in the same God that the Portuguese do What Fast-days do they keep Keep they not holy the day on which the Cross was found Are there no Popish-Priests in Holland What difference is there between the two Religions of the Hollanders and Portuguese The Answer thereupon These Questions were thus Answer'd The Hollanders are Christians and acknowledge the Trinity by which the World and all things therein were Created about six thousand years ago and is yet preserv'd and govern'd They keep no Feasts but one day in seven call'd The Lords-Day on which they rest from all manner of Labors and go in great companies to their Churches In private there liv'd some Roman Priests that had small Congregations for which they were often times punish'd by their Judges by reason of the great difference between the Roman Religion and that Opinion which the Hollanders embrac'd who abhor the Pope and all his Doctrine and are onely bound neither to add nor diminish to one Book or Word Written by God himself through his Apostles As for any farther difference they were not able to give them any account because from their youth they had been brought up at Sea and it was the least of their business to enquire after the

in former Ages placed their Letters one amongst another and also the Mexicans according to Acosta Great care hath been taken at all times to promote the Art of Writing Moreover the Antients have much tir'd themselves in this Art every one inventing a new way first all publick Acts were Engraven on Plates of Lead but peculiar Accidents of single Persons noted on Linnen Egypt was the first that afforded Paper made of Plants pasted together In Rome also were us'd a long time Tablets cover'd with Wax of which two three or five were sow'd together being either of a Saffron or Egg-colour Green or Purple on three doubles they writ Letters on five doubles Titles and Offices of Honour and on the double ones peculiar Secrets The Grecians sometimes us'd the Bark of a Lint-tree in stead of Paper Attalus fitted Goat-skins to Write on in the City Pergamum from whence to this day all over Europe it is call'd Pergamenum or Parchment The Brachmans antient Philosophers amongst the Indians made use of fine Linnen on which they drew black Letters Inventers of Characters and chiefly Chineses and Japanners Moreover Cadmus brought the Grecian Characters from Phaenicia to Greece Radamanthus furnish'd the Assyrians Memnon and Anubis the Egyptians Hercules the Phrygians Carmenta the Latines every one with several Letters or Characters But the Japanners Extracted from China Write antienter Characters than any other Countrey The Chinese Chronicles make mention of Fohi who was the first King of China and Reign'd about three hundred years after Noah's Flood that he invented Letters which he made of Serpents Snakes and the like strangely tangl'd and wound up together wherefore his Book of Astronomy is by the Chineses call'd Fohi Xi-lum-zu that is Fohi's Book of Serpents Strange Characters us'd by the antient Chineses and Japanners After that several Kings in China found divers strange Marks for Writing Xum-num invented the Pictures of Husbandry Xan Hoan of Birds Chuem Kim of Oysters and Worms another of Herbs and Plants Choan Ham of Birds Feet Yao of Tortoises Besides these kind of writing Marks the antient Chineses and Japanners us'd in their Writing several Marks of Peacocks Herbs or Quills and several other Fancies invented by the Emperor Co or from the Stars or Planets and also Fishes Besides these also there are other peculiar Characters of which some are us'd onely in writing of Law-business others in Letters and Superscriptions They have also particular Characters to express Peace Joy Darkness Clearness and Disputations and resemble not in the least the other Japan Marks for Writing Original of the Chinese and Japan Characters The Learned cannot agree when they enquire after the original of this Art for some acknowledge the Assyrians for the first inventers but most ascribe the honor to the Egyptians But if the Chineses and Japanners us'd Marks for Writing three thousand six hundred eighty nine years ago according to the Book of Serpents of their first King Fohi then they knew it before the Assyrians and Egyptians yet it cannot be deny'd though the Chineses and Egyptians express their meanings by the placing of Beasts and Plants without making any Letters that there is a great difference because the Egyptians not onely in their common Conversation but us'd the same Marks in their religious Matters therefore none might learn them but those that were commanded and had leave from their Governors And also the Egyptian Hieroglyphicks signifi'd not onely the thing it represented but also the hidden property and sole operation of the written Matter whereas on the contrary the Chinese and Japanners Writing express and describe the Transactions of Men and other natural things and shew plainly the whole Matter without any farther Mysteries Strange Language call'd Quanhoa why invented Moreover the Chineses have a general Language call'd Quonhoa which the have made themselves for China being divided into great and mighty Kingdoms whereof the Governors or Mandarins must give a yearly account to the Emperor at his Court at Pechin or Nanchin and every Chinese Territory having their peculiar Language which is different from their Neighbors therefore they found out that Language call'd Quanhoa which is not onely us'd amongst the Courtiers but also in all manner of Contracts and is spoke by most but chiefly by the best bred Chineses by reason this Language hath very short Sentences for though it contains many Letters yet it hath scarce three hundred twenty six Words which begin all with one Letter and end with one of the Vowels a e i o u or m x n from whence it proceeds that one word often hath more than twenty several significations and according to the soft or loud pronunciation of it signifies either this or that Five several People can understand it when they Read it but not when they Speak it The chiefest thing to be admir'd in this Mandarine Tongue is that when Written it is understood by all the Chineses Japanners Coreans Tonchinensers and those of Couchinchina but they cannot speak it for then the one Countrey cannot in the least understand another It is with the Mandarine Tongue as with our ordinary Ciphering which signifies all one thing quite over Europe and when pronounced is not understood but by their own several Nations because they all give several denominations to their Figures Japan Tongue very lofty Lastly concerning the Janpan Tongue the same sounds no less lofty than brave and expresses sufficiently the high ambition of the Speaker being full of Vowels and Consonants Some words thereof for a small Example these may serve Mos Resoucq gusarr Give a Candle Curi gusavimass Come here Sass Massio I drink to you Itum takka Massio Much good may it do you Icoramors How much for that Doukye Gousarri mass Whether will you go Mis cosmis Eat Rice Souw Meoremas Drink Water Gekyo donne or samma Lord and Master Nanto Moss What say you Friend Mada sutta Stay a little Imo gusarrimas I come presently Emingosamma A Gentlewoman Bobbo A Womans Hymen Ring Ksou Vinegar Warrangusar Bad Surry warrangusar This is bad Kataskanongusarrimas I humbly thank you Katania A Custom Konatta samma gattinnakka Your Lord understands it wrong Konatta samma gattinde gusarr Your Lord understands it right Wataxix gattinde gusarr I understand it Wataxix gattinnakka I understand it not Arygattinnakka He understands it not Phnyx ikomassio To come Aboard and Sail Meditongusarimas I humbly wish you a good day Farther Examination of the Hollanders by the Japan Councellors ¶ TO return again to our Examination After Schaep had answer'd to Sammoccysamma's Question If the Hollanders believ'd that they could be Sav'd by the Portuguese Priests He said That the Priests ought to use their Art to deliver themselves from such insufferable torments as they endur'd which made all the Japan Lords to laugh In this Hall for Audience lay a new Japan Drum on which the Councellor Matsodairo Ysosamma commanded the Youth Jacob de

were pulling out the Carpet that the Fringe thereof might hang even over a square Seat in which manner most of the Noble-men sit at their Doors whither they are brought through their Houses on the Carpet but when they go forth they are carry'd in Sedans Strange Treaty of a Japan Nobleman with the Netherlanders But this Lord open'd at last his Wax'd Chest out of which he took first a Dutch Can and a Rommer then a red Strip'd Serge a Glas'd Chinese Pot a Piece of Sail-Cloth and Ternatish Tobacco a remnant of white Damask a string of French Beads Red and Yellow mix'd together all these he shew'd Piece by Piece to the Hollanders and also to Tosaymon and Manykebe who observing them all ask'd the Hollanders His Examination and their Answer Do you Schaep and Byleveld know these Goods which are shown you Were they exchang'd by Ketch Breskens for Fish Herbage or other Provisions Schaep answer'd I look upon the Goods to be Netherland Wares of which we have some in our Ship except the Chinese Pot Beads and Serge. In the Interim I have not the least knowledge that ever any belonging to the Ship Breskens exchang'd these Goods But to be certain thereof it will be necessary if his Lordship please that the other eight Prisoners may also be examin'd concerning it thereupon the aforesaid Goods were likewise shewn to them whose answer agreed with that of Schaep and Byleveld but they desir'd Tosaymon to ask his Lordship where and at what time this exchange was made for the said Goods with the Japanners Whereupon the Lord answer'd This exchange was made the five and twentieth of August and on the same day when the Hollanders were brought Prisoners in Jedo on the East Coast of Japan without being able to say how far it was Northward out of a Ship about thirty Fathom long and twenty five Foot broad with sixteen Guns between Decks three in the Gun-Room and four small Pieces on the Quarter-Deck on which also sat a Parret made fast with a small Chain and a Smith at work Most of the Sea-men wearing Silk Clothes and Gold-Rings which exchang'd the shewn Goods with the Japanners But whilst the Fishermen went a Shore to inform their Governors according as the Custom is of the strange Vessel which they had discover'd at Sea the Ship Steering on its Course was seen no more from which Description the Hollanders concluded that the Flie-Boat Castrecom was not lost which till that time they believ'd for they doubted not but that it was Castrecom with which the Japanners had Barter'd their Fish Moreover this Lord caus'd them to be ask'd these Questions How long and broad are the Ships Castrecom and Breskens How many Guns do they carry apiece What Boats do they Towe after them What Guns are in their Boats Description of the Ships Castrecom and Breskens Schaep answer'd According as we guess Castrecom is nine and twenty Fathom long and four and a half broad when it Sail'd from Batavia they carry'd fifteen Guns amongst which is reckon'd a small Gun for the Boats use But at Ternate Castrecom took four Iron Guns out of Breskens so increasing their number Castrecom also had no other Boats than a Pinnace and Long-Boat that could carry four small Guns Breskens was about a hundred and eight Foot long and five Fathom broad Their Boat carry'd as many Guns as Castrecom but we took our Guns out of the Boat into the Ship so soon as we had sight of Japan Remarkable Questions 〈◊〉 Japan Gentleman Tosaymon receiving Order to examine them further ask'd What Yards or Masts did Breskens loose in the Storm Had you no Instruments to Play on and also a Parret and a Smith in the Ship How many Youths and Officers in Silk Clothes and Gold-Rings had you Aboard Doth not Breskens Tow a Boat and Pinnace after her Or are they hoysted into the Ship The Hollanders Answer Byleveld answering first went towards the Wall of the Room against which hung a Picture representing several Portuguese Vessels and pointing at them shew'd that they had lost all their Top-Masts in the Storm and a small Boat was by one Sea wash'd off from the Deck They had one Violin and a Flagelet on Board but no Smith onely the Gunners Mate serv'd them for Armorer The two Parrets which they brought from Ternate to present to some person or other in Tartary dy'd before they got sight of Japan if the other two in Castrecom be living we know not Breskens also carry'd four Boys but they knew none that wore Silk Clothes and Gold-Rings but onely three of the Officers whose Silk Apparel was lock'd in their Chests But in Castrecom the Commander Pilot Merchant Purser and Chyrurgeon wear Silk Clothes and Gold-Rings and they have a Flagelet Bag-Pipe Cittern and Violin Lastly Our Boats are hoysted in and ty'd upon the Deck when ever we Sail into the main Ocean but drawing near the Shore we Tow both Boat and Pinnace Why the Japanners place one Letter under the other The propos'd Questions the Lord read out of the Written Paper but set down between every one of them a Blank-Line being lest the Hollanders Answer with exceeding quickness every Character signifying a whole Word the number of their Words and Letters being equal and amount according to Athanasius Kircher to eighty thousand And this is likewise the reason why the Chineses and Japanners place one Letter under another because every one of them signifies a whole Sentence This manner of Writing confirms the foremention'd Opinion of the Americans Original and their coming through Cattay from Tartary over the Straights of Anian if such a passage be found out of the Icy-Sea into the Southern Ocean for the Mexicans shew no uncertain Testimonies of their Extract from Tartary which the Chineses also acknowledge and the Japanners in like manner that they came from China But the Mexicans write likewise with their whole Hand and have Characters that signifie a whole Word placing one directly under the other and where they want Letters they fill up the place with Strokes or other Scrauls Hist Moral of the West-Ind 5 7. Joseph Acosta relates That in the Mexican Territory Jucatan bound paper-Paper-Books are highly esteem'd by the Indians for they Treated on the Dividing of Time the Course of the Stars Description of Beasts Herbs Medicines the Antiquity of the Mexicans of War Peace and Politick Government Written down in Characters and Strokes after the Japan and Chinese manner Acosta complains not without great reason that a Spanish Divine finding one of these Books and looking upon the strange Characters to be for Conjuration caus'd it to be burnt and for the same reason the Spaniards where ever they Conquer'd and could get any of the Mexicans Writings burnt them which indeed deserv'd rather to have been choicely preserv'd Strange way of Writing and Cyphering without Letters or Figures But though Mexico drive a

great Trade and keep all their accounts in those Characters yet their Neighbors the Peruvians knew not the Art of Writing and understood neither Characters nor any other Strokes resembling Letters but us'd divers colour'd Strings with Bedes which serv'd them as well as Books These Strings they call'd Quipos and those authoriz'd to keep the Quipo's Quipo Camayo whose service is like the Book-Keepers or Clerks in Europe for these Quipo Caymayo's must give an account of all things as concerning Marriages Obligations Accounts and Contracts and what else happens between Man and Man in Demanding or Suing for Debts they deliver their Quipo's to a Judge which makes a testimony as if a debt-Debt-Book should be brought before a Magistrate in Europe It is no less to be admir'd that the Peruvians without being able to Write exceed all Arithmeticians in expert certainty their Cyphering they perform with little Beads laying here three yonder eight then raking one away lay it upon another and so exchanging two or three after the same manner by which they know exactly how to bring the most difficultest account to a right adjusting ¶ BUt to return again to our Holland Prisoners who when the Lord that had read their Questions and writ down their Answers was gone they ask'd the Netherland Interpreters In what Degree of Latitude and Longitude the Territory of Matsymay lay before which the said foremention'd Ship was seen but they told them they knew not The Hollanders were not a little suspicious of this answer and the more because they understood of some of the House-Servants upon promise to be silent that some of the Men of the forenam'd Vessel were taken and brought up Prisoners The next day the Hollanders came again into the fair Chamber of their Landlords and there found besides the four Interpreters the same Lord that the day before had read their Questions to them out of a Paper and understood that he was call'd Bongyo next to whom sate three other Japan Nobles which they had not seen before of which one look'd very stemly upon the Hollanders being a Man as they judg'd about two and forty years old tall and with a great and flat Face of an Oleaster Complexion and an indented Nose who the day before had been in the foremention'd Ship and was come there to see if any of the ten Prisoners were like unto those which he had seen New Examination by the foresaid Noblemen And Bongyo ask'd the same Questions he had done before putting one before the other by that means if he could to Trappan the Hollanders in a lie And lastly added these new Questions to the former Of what Stature and Age are the Commanders Pilot and Merchant in the Ship Castrecom How many Seamen in the Ship Breskens wear short Hair How many Men did Castrecom and Breskens carry when they Weigh'd Anchor from Batavia Schaep answer'd these Questions thus The Head-Commander is scarce one and forty is a handsome tall Man with brown Hair and a neat Beard The Pilot about twenty six years old of a middle Stature The Merchant three years younger than the Pilot hath no Beard as for those that wear short Hair we cannot give any certain account but as we guess there were between fifteen and twenty in the Ketch Breskens Moreover Castrecom and Breskens carry'd sixty Men apiece when they set Sail from Batavia These Answers being again written down by Bongyo he role up to be gone onely stay'd a little while discoursing with the other three Nobles who look'd very sternly upon the Hollanders to their no small amazement wherefore after Bongyo's departure with the other Nobles they enquir'd of Tosaymon and Manykebe if they knew not in what degree the foresaid Ship was seen and where the People were taken Prisoners And also if no new trouble by their being taken might happen to them Tosaymon answer'd That the Ship Sail'd with a small Gale along the Northern Shore of Japan Southerly The Boat which it Tow'd had Mast and Bolt-Sprit and carry'd four Stone-Guns and a small Boat was ty'd fast to her side And said Tosaymon How can any new trouble arise from hence It must needs be for your delivery when the Prisoners taken out of Castrecom witness that you were sent to Tartary for their Relation concerning the same if they agree with yours will affirm it to be truth Why the four Jesuits are set at liberty by the Japan Emperor After that the Hollanders understood from Phatsyosaymon and their Landlords Sons that the Emperor kept the four Jesuits in Prison till Elseraks coming thither two of these four were Italians the third a Castilian and the fourth a Portugal that by him they might be carry'd over to Batavia So escaping with their Lives from a terrible Death because they stagger'd in their Religion and discover'd a Secret at which the Japan Emperor seem'd to be highly concern'd the Plot was that let it cost what it would Money or Blood the Jesuits would a new undertake their ancient Design in Japan It was absolutely concluded yearly to send Roman Priests to Japan from the Manilla's and in short time two Native Japanners should be sent thither and be receiv'd in the Jesuits Orders by which means they promis'd great matters to themselves because they not onely understood the Japan Tongue exceeding well but were of the same Nature and Disposition of their Countrey-men and therefore might be more private from the common Persecution being less suspected than Out-landish Priests By this means they thought for time to come to play their Game and the more because the Christians in all places as if they arose out of the Ashes of the Martyrs began to Live afresh So that the Emperor was puzzel'd seeing no small danger to threaten his Crown wherefore he contrary to all those that had been his Predecessors was at the Examination of Christian Prisoners or Portugal Priests himself out of meer fear of an Insurrection ¶ THe five and twentieth of October the Gentleman Isycauwa Isajamondonne brought word That Elserak on the ninth of that instant was come to Osacca and was to appear in five days at the Emperors Court being commanded by the Emperor to come with all speed to Jedo without staying to bring the usual Presents with him but let them alone to come after Isycauwa told them also for certain that they should once more be examin'd concerning their Voyage and then be set at liberty The Hollanders remove their Lodgings and why The next day Kytsbyoye and Phatsyosamon told them by Manykebe That the Hollanders were to remove from their Lodgings to go to a House of their Landlord's Son because that place was order'd for Elserak to lodge in by the Lords Sicungodonne and Sabrosaymondonne because the Emperor and Councel had commanded that Elserak should first be examin'd alone concerning the Voyage to Tartary that so they might discern if what he said agreed with what Schaep and Byleveld had so

same as the Castilian and Portugal What is his Name Who did ever see him Where hath he convers'd Whereby do you believe your God to be the True God Difference of Religion ¶ IT plainly appears by the Religion of the Japanners that they embrace the Errors of the most foolish Heathens Rom. 1.23 changing the Glory of the uncorruptible God into an Image made like to corruptible Man This foul Doctrine was embrac'd by the Anthropomorphites in Christendom about the time of Arius and the Nicene Council The first Teacher was Audius deriv'd from Mesopotamia a Man who liv'd a very lend Life yet in short time got many on his side and remaining a little while by the Church at last forsook it and rais'd a new Opinion which much puzzl'd the Ancient Fathers and chiefly they were contradicted by Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria F●rb Inst Theol. 1.36 and Epiphanius at Salamina but Epiphanius disputed so indifferently that he gave no satisfaction to the Learned And indeed against this foolish and fleshly Opinion of God the Learnedst Heathens have disputed Lact. de Irac c. 11. Lactantius relates of the ancient Philosopher Pythagoras That he believ'd God to be a Spirit without a Body Plato affirms That God is the greatest Good above all things in Nature he himself being full of all Perfection In Somis Scip. wanting nothing And Macrobius saith Plato when he would speak of God durst not say what he is concluding That he cannot be known of Man what he is For God is call'd Suprema Ratio Ens Entium and is also the first Original of all things Here is added the Relation of the great Orator Cicero De Nat. Deor. in these Words In his Book of the Laws saith Plato I can better say what God is not than what he is Do you ask me what or how God is I will use Simonides for my Interpreter of whom when the Tyrant Hiero ask'd the same Question he desir'd one day to think upon it and on that day asking him again he requir'd two days so still increasing the number of the days Hiero wondering at it ask'd why he did so Because said he the longer I study the more difficult I find it to resolve Seneca also writes thus to Lucilius God is close by he is in you So say I O Lucilius a Holy Spirit is within us Ad Luci● that takes an account of all our good and bad Actions This Spirit according as it is treated by us so it deals with us but none is a good Man without God The opinion of the learnedst Heathens concerning God The Learnedst of Heathens acknowledg'd in God the greatest Perfection which consisted in three things To the first belong'd his Eternity which can be measur'd by no Time being a Life without End So that the Heathens observ'd by the Light of Nature how it was with God to see to that which he was not before or not to see after that which he was once Secondly They ascrib'd to God a Freedom against all Power because he hath an irresistible Power which is as Mighty and Omnipotent as God himself Disown God to be a substance Lastly They believ'd that his Godly Nature suffer'd no Connexion to or with himself for where there is such a Connexion there must needs be something equal or alike to connect but in God is no want of any such connected Assimilation for if there were then the Cause of such Want must precede the Connexion and consequently be before God but God is the First Causer of all things And on these grounds they could find that God was not Substantial and Frail much less consisted of Soul and Body Which if the Learn'd Anaxagoras Master of the famous Socrates had not understood he would not have call'd God a Spirit and said That all things proceeded from the Power of an Everlasting Spirit The contrary opinion of the Japanners But the Japanners go not so high notwithstanding the inexpressible Goodness of God and their own Consciences should lead them to an Everlasting Being yet they ask foolishly for a visible God that converses with Men on the Earth Byleveld's Answer ¶ BUt to return to our Story Byleveld gave Sicungodonne this Answer The Castilians and Portuguese acknowledge a Trinity as well as the Hollanders but they represent him in the shape of an Old a Young Man and a Dove which the Hollanders hold to be abominable For they acknowledge God to be an endless Spiritual Being of whom none may or can make any Likeness neither by Images or Imaginations of the Heart Moreover God hath given himself divers Names in the Greek and Hebrew Tongues but the Hollanders call him God the Father Son and Holy Ghost And because he is an Incomprehensible Spirit he can be seen by none from whence it always proceeds that a Man can no way see his own nor anothers Soul Yet the Invisible God is Visible in the Works of his Creation Preservation and Governing of all things Also Gods Son took upon him the Nature of Man in a Woman when he was born in Bethlehem travell'd through Palestine did great Miracles there and at last not far from Jerusalem died a cursed Death on the Cross to redeem and save those from everlasting Damnation that believ'd in him all which is written down in two Books the first written by the Prophets in the Hebrew Tongue the other by the Apostles in the Greek These Prophets and Apostles were great Saints to whom God gave the Spirit of real Truth And these Books were translated out of their Original Tongues into Dutch by Persons experienc'd both in Greek and Hebrew Sicungodonne ask'd further Sicungodonne's other Questions Do your Feasts agree with the Portuguese and Castilians How are they call'd Do the Hollanders keep Fast-days Are they not taught by Priests and Ministers as the Spaniards What are those Priests Have they a yearly Income out of the Countreys Revenue Do they meddle with any State-Affairs Is the Prince of Orange under any Bodies Jurisdiction or Governs he Holland alone Captain Schaep answer'd Schaep's Reply The Hollanders said he keep the first Day of the Week like the Spaniards on which every one rests from their Labor and goes to Church to hear Divine Service Only on some extrordinary Occasion Fast and Prayer-days are order'd to be kept that the Inhabitants may humbly beg of God for his merciful Assistance Besides at such an accident they abstain not from Meat and Drink but take it and give Thanks to God for it Distinction of Diet is never observ'd by them Moreover the Holland Teachers are call'd Ministers which are Men that from their Infancy have been brought up to learn the Latin Greek and Hebrew Tongues and in Publick Churches Preach to the People out of the foremention'd Books which every one may peruse that thereby it may appear if their Doctrine agree with them They are paid but of the

amongst several strange Adventures that is most remarkable which hapned to the Book-keeper Hamel Pilot and Chirurgeon These as formerly carry'd before the Governor found a Man sitting by him with a red Beard and being ask'd if they knew not such a Man they answer'd That he seem'd to be a Hollander at which the Governor fell a laughing at last the red-Bearded Man discovering himself ask'd them in the Dutch Tongue what People they were and whether they were going at which the Hollanders were allamaz'd but Hamel answering said That they Sail'd from Amsterdam to Batavia and from Batavia to Japan but since they left Formosa they were overtaken by a mighty Storm which drove the Sperwer Frigat already torn and shatter'd against the Rocks of the Island Quelpaerds Hamel also ask'd him what he was and although he had almost forgot his Native Tongue yet he told him That he was born in a Village call'd De Riip in Holland and nam'd John Johnson Welterre and that Anno 1626. he Sail'd in a Ship from Amsterdam to the East-Indies afterwards by order of the Indian Councel in Batavia Sail'd in the Ouwerkerk Ketch to Japan but by contrary Winds forc'd upon the Coast of Corea fresh Water began to grow very scant wherefore said he I was commanded with my Countreyman Derick Gerritson and an Amsterdammer call'd John Peterson Verbaest to go ashore to see if we could find any fresh Water no sooner had we set foot ashore but we were all three surrounded and carry'd up into the Countrey to the King's Court where ever since we have had Meat Drink and Clothing but could never obtain leave to go with some Vessel or other to Japan and though he had for several years entreated leave of the Court to depart yet they had always one Answer which was That the King did not give leave to any Strangers to go out of his Kingdom which Sentence all Hollanders or what else soever they be are sure to undergo Moreover said he my two Companions died seventeen years ago at the time when the Tartars invaded Corea All which Discourse being Interpreted to the Governor was written down and sent to the Court. Mean while the time came in which the old Governor was to give place to the new for every three years they observe change of Government amongst the Coreans The old Lord had a very great inclination for the Hollanders for before he went away he provided them against the next Winter giving every one a Coat a pair of Buskins and Stockings He also return'd them the Books which he had taken from them and gave them good store of Train-Oyl to burn in their Lamps at Night promising them also at last that he would use all the means possible at Court to obtain leave for their going to Japan But the new Governor prov'd quite another Man for he carry'd himself very strange to the Hollanders and since the departure of the first Lord in the beginning of January Anno 1654. they wanted Provisions being ty'd to very small allowance which made their imprisonment very insufferable wherefore since they had yet liberty to go out by sixes at a time they searched daily if they could not find any Vessels lying near the Shore with which they might in the Night make their Escape Remarkable passage of five Hollanders The last of April six Prisoners endeavor'd in the Night to get over the Wall but discover'd by the Barking of the Dogs which wakened the Watchmen their Design took no effect After which time the Pilot and five more resolv'd on the like Escape These going out upon a Day which fell to their turn found some distance from the City Moggan hard by a small Village a little Vessel with all Necessaries thereto belonging where going aboard they hal'd it over a Bank in sight of the Villagers which at first were amazed to see them but afterwards observing that the Hollanders were in earnest they put off to Sea gave notice thereof to the Owner who with a Gun charged came running after them in the Water whilst they were busie setting up the Mast and Sail but not being acquainted with the Corean Vessels both Mast and Sail fell over-board yet they got it up again and put all things in their right place when placing the Mast it broke out so that it fell all again into the Sea by which means they lost all hopes of escaping driving more and more to the Shore and exactly towards a Barque full of Armed Coreans which they boarding the five Hollanders leap'd over into the same for the sixth could not get in by this their leaping the Arm'd Barque shipp'd so much Water that they had enough to do to keep her from sinking but when Landed they carry'd the five Hollanders to the Governor who caus'd them all to be loaden with Fetters hung a Board about their Necks on which he nail'd one of their Hands and stripping them laid them on the Ground upon their Bellies so tying them fast to four Posts sent for the remaining Hollanders thither to see them thus laid the Governor caus'd the Interpreter Weltevree to ask them If they had agreed upon their Escape without the knowledge of their Companions or if they knew of their Design How they durst venture to go in so small a Vessel without Water Bread or any other sustenance through so vast an Ocean to Japan The fetter'd Hollanders answer'd That their Companions had not the least knowledge of their Design Moreover they would rather run all hazards whatsoever for their liberty nay rather die than undergo so many miseries and at last be starv'd to death which they had no sooner said when an Executioner standing in the middle of them with a Stick a Fathom long a Finger thick and round on the top gave every one twenty five blows on their bare Buttocks that none of them in five Weeks were able to stir out of their Cabbins Hollanders carry'd to Corea and their chief Adventures But whilst they lay in that misery Orders came from the Corean Court that the Hollanders divided into four Jonks should be sent fetter'd from Quelpaerds-Island to Corea upon which the Governor began his Cruelties afresh linking both their Feet and one hand together fearing else they might conquer and carry away one of the Jonks which indeed would have been hazardous if they had gone aboard unbound and the more because the Coreans are generally Sea-sick Two days they were toss'd up and down at Sea and not getting the least Ground because of contrary Winds they return'd to Moggan where the Hollanders were put into their old Prison ¶ THis Quelpaerds-Island reckons fifteen Leagues in its Circumference hath on the North-side a convenient Harbor for Ships and lies opposite from the South Promontory of Corea thirteen Leagues the Passage to which is very dangerous because the Water is full of blind Rocks and no anchorage to be found betwixt that and Quelpaerds Haven so that those