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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

no great comfort That the Hollanders would break their Faith and Articles concluded and agreed upon and their Golden Dream of such Acquirements by their Agreement would come to nothing Nor were they deceiv'd in their Judgment for the Hollanders in the Hurly-burly and sudden Alteration of Government thought they had a fit opportunity to Fish while the Waters were troubled and so taking new Counsel and Courage Fortified themselves afresh and repair'd their Breaches and withal high in their Hopes ostentatiously set over the Gates of the Fort in Capitals the foremention'd BATAVIA Vander Brook calls it Batavia which Name after they gave their City To back this their haughty Proceedings done as if in defiance to the English Coen also little expected arriv'd with seventeen Sail the 25 of March gather'd up from the Molucco Islands and lay before their New Batavia The next day he set some few Men ashore Coon takes Jacatra and ruins it which broke into Jacatra pulling down the Wooden Walls and Straw Houses Then adding fresh Supplies they march'd from thence to Bantam and there demanded of the Panagran his Prisoner the Governor Vander Brook with seventy others taken out of the Ship the Black Lion The Panagran Du●c Prisoners delivered from Bantum though unwilling yet being threatned by them deliver'd most of the Men that Evenning and the next Morning the rest with their Vice-Admiral Vander Brook But the English seeing Coen thus arriv'd with such Recruits and all things falling out cross to their Concern not able to strive with these unexpected Misfortunes with all speed getting their Guns that lay on the Shore aboard they hoysed Sail directing their Course to the Straights of Sunda Peace proclaim'd between the English and Netherlanders When soon after on the ninth of June Peace was Proclaim'd there by Order from the States of the United Provinces between the English and the Netherlanders in which setled Quiet whilest they imploy'd themselves in a constant and undisturb'd Trade they not onely improv'd their private Estates but also this their new Plantation raising what was an inconsiderable Store-house at first to a sleight and undefensive Platform then to a petty Fort and next to a Castle with Redoubts which in few years after they so flourishing there became a strong and almost impregnable City now famous through the Eastern World and well known every where by the Name Batavia ¶ BUt this their growing Metropolis the Emperor of Java look'd upon with an ill eye and could not well digest such their Proceedings to build such Fortifications upon his Ground scarce asking his leave and jealous of future Events what a Goad it might be in his Side hereafter that had already Eclips'd his Authority in his own Ports by losing his Custom and Traffick which they had ingross'd by a new and peculiar way of their Trading with Japan China Samutra Succadanen Siammos and other Countreys so his displeasure and jealousie breaking out at last into open Hostility he began a War and to vindicate his Cause against those that so had injuriously intruded upon him and Anno 1629 drew up against the New City an Army consisting of 150000 Men and vested round within Pistol Shot of the Walls which he ply'd with such continual Stormings that he kept the Besieg'd with fresh Alarms in such hot service that they had neither time to eat drink nor sleep or any minute of refreshment but they so roughly entertain'd him what with playing their great Guns throwing Granadoes and Fire-Balls from their Outwork and Platforms that it cost him daily an incredible number of men so that at last their Souldiers filling their Trenches and Outworks with their Bodies the Besieg'd suffer'd more under the assaulting stench and noisome smells of the Dead than by the charge of their living Enemy to ease them of which they were forc'd themselves to dig Pits and tumble them in at such times when they had any respite or the least breathing while granted by the Retreat of their Foes Strange storming of a Fort near Batavia ¶ AMongst many memorable Passages that happen'd in this Siege that of the most remark chanc'd to be at Fort Magdalen the utmost Redoubt of the City being defended onely by sixteen men who made such stout resistance placing their Guns with that dexterity that making Lanes through the Enemy they lay on heaps one upon another that they almost floated in their Goar At last Powder and Shot failing and having no time granted nor any possibility to spare any one of their men to fetch more Ammunition the Storm being so terrible these so great were their Resolutions that they until'd the Roofs and digg'd up Stones and whatever else they could find throwing at the Enemy and so kept them off a great while This also at last failing and that they must be swallow'd up by the fresh assaults of the Javanners they bethought themselves of defensive Weapons such as never were hear'd of before nor as may be suppos'd never used in the world throwing upon them Close-stool-pans Jakes and what the Common-shore did afford which Merdurinous Arms so Painting and perfuming their naked bodies was more terrible to them than Powder and Ball flying not onely from the enemy but even from themselves such was the loathsome stench but more especially when fresh men sally'd out of the City they betook themselves to their heels in a general rout crying in their Language Oseitang Orang Hollanda de Bakalay Sammatay that is You Holland Devils fight with T The Javans break up their Siege from Batavia The Javanners courage began to fail almost quite despairing of ought that could be gotten by the Leager so Firing their Camp in three places towards Evening the first of October 1629 they marcht off and the Hollanders fearing Treachery kept close within their Works Private slaughter amongst themselves but in the morning sent forth a Party of Foot and Horse to explore the Enemy and bring an account where they were and in what condition and posture These perceiv'd at last that the Enemy quite deserting the Siege were dispersed and fled leaving eight hundred slaughter'd bodies many of them desolated the rest run through which wondrous news bringing back every one decsanted upon but in a few days after they were inform'd of the cause which was thus PULO TYMON The Reasons THe Emperor in the former Siege which was the year before had Invested Batavia with as he suppos'd an innumerable Army which having ill success thousands of his Men were kill'd baffled and beaten off by a few sturdy Hollanders return'd with a great loss and disparagement The Prince of Mandura an Isle in an Inlet of the Sea two Miles Northward from Java having a Quarrel against the Emperors General who had the sole Conduct of the former War and being now return'd with shame and disgrace cast out words against him to this purpose That he had behaved himself indeed well and Very

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

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 Eir●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

Substitute Kings to prosecute and punish them according to the Laws so that in the Kingdom of Bungo they were burnt and in the Province Chicuin hang'd up by the Legs And here Orbedono sat in the City Facata representing the King at the entrance of one of their Temples with four Judges holding a great Book indors'd thus A Catalogue of the Names of those that deny'd Christ In which every one were to subscribe that return'd again to their former Faith and those that would not were sure to suffer intolerable punishments and death Amongst great numbers were onely Thomas and Joachim that did not apostatize from their Christianity therefore they were immediately Hang'd on a Tree by the Feet on two Boughs that the uppermost his Head touch'd the lowermost his Feet thus they hung half a Day and a whole Night the Japanners deriding them as they pass'd by looking upon them as Fools that would suffer so cruel a Death for a strange Religion but they not regarding their Discourse were soon after beheaded Cruelties us'd against them in Xiqui and Arima In the Island Xiqui the Christians were carry'd about naked Nail'd on Crosses beheaded and with many other exquisite tortures put to death But above all the Apostate King of Arima exceeded them in their tortures having amongst other things two sharp Pieces of Wood between which their Legs were put and after beat close together which occasion'd such a grievous Pain that most forsook the Roman Faith Hazart Church Hist The Reasons which stirr'd up Daifusama to this cruelty and chiefly since the Year 1613. the Jesuit Hazart saith are chiefly four The first Reason why the Japan Emperor persecuted the Christians The first was Daifusama's suspecting the Spanish Forces which spread daily more and more over India insomuch that great Islands and vast Provinces did already bow to them In the West they had subdu'd a whole new World call'd America and still not being satisfi'd with so great a Conquest was come through the unknown South-Sea and had there made himself Master of several Territories in the East the Molucca Islands the Castle Malacca and the far-spreading Philippines being all under his subjection from whence he might when he pleas'd send over his Forces to Japan not that they are so near that the Philippines may be seen from Japan as Hazart without reason sets down their nearest Promontories being at least two hundred Dutch Miles distant from each other but that Japan being already full of Foreigners which were up in Arms and also well stor'd with Christians who knew but that together in a short time they might deliver it up to a Christian Prince The second Reason The second Reason Hazart tells us was this A Ship lying at Anchor in a Japan Haven one Yamondono a Gentleman of that Countrey desirous to see the same went Aboard where he found the Master looking over the Map of the World Yamondono entreated him to instruct and inform him concerning the Territories Mountains Rivers Cities and Havens therein Nothing more amaz'd him than to see the Spaniards have Command over so great a part of Europe America and Asia and that they still held their Possession But the Master being examin'd farther told him That his Countreymen drove a Trade with all the World and that no People suffer'd any damage by them but what wrong any did them they righted by Arms with which they had subdu'd many Kingdoms Yamondano desir'd to know if they did not send their Ministers beforehand to gain the hearts of the Inhabitants by Preaching the Doctrine of Christ and to stir them up against their Heathen Governors to the end that when any Insurrection should happen they might by a conjunction with the male-content Natives enable themselves to a more easie Conquest The Master acknowledg'd that was the Design of their Priests which Yamondono laying up in his mind soon after sent word thereof to the Emperor who slept not upon so weighty a Matter but resolv'd suddenly to free himself of the Popish Clergy as his Predecessor Taicosama did Anno 1587. commanding them all in twenty days to depart from Japan Fathom the Japan Harbors This News of Yamondono was back'd by another casual Information given to Daifusama That a Spanish Pilot had fathom'd and with a Plummet sounded the depth of several Japan Harbors which was suspected to be done for no other end but that they intended to Land in some of those Places and to subdue Japan as they had done many Provinces both in the East and West The third Reason of the Persecution Hazart lays upon the English and Hollanders The third Reason of the Persecution Hazart lays the blame thereof upon the English and Hollanders who reported that the Spaniards had aim'd along time to make themselves not onely Masters of Europe but the West part of the World and to that end not many years since they had made great slaughter in Peru Mexico France Netherlands and other Places that no Age ever heard of so many and so cruel That they sent their Priests beforehand to prepare the ways and under a cloak of Religion to draw the People to their humors extorting great Riches from them and making them believe that the Pope hath an absolute and unlimited Power to dispose of all Kingdoms and Provinces according to his will and pleasure and that Subjects therefore are not ty'd to be always obedient to their Heathen Governors but might release themselves when they saw a convenient opportunity That the Jesuits crept in every where and by subtile Plots and Contrivances sought to dethrone Princes causing many Murders and Uprores where-ever they came for which cause several Christian Princes oftentimes banish'd them from their Courts and Countreys In France stood a long time an Iron Plate whereon was Engraven all the Villanies for which they were banish'd out of that Countrey The Sorbonne in France presented some years past a Writing to the Court wherein they shew'd that the World never bred more traiterous and bloody Villains than the Jesuits The Cities Antwerp Padua Bruges Tholouse Bourdeaux Prague and other Wall'd Places oftentimes for their horrid and abominable actions have thrust them forth And had not the wisdom of the Venetian Governors been deluded along time by their dissimulation of Zeal they had not so long been pester'd with them But quickly the English Scots and several other Kingdoms had rid their hands of them by banishment This Hazart being himself a Jesuit sets down as the most prevailing Reason and Motive that stirr'd up Daifusama against the Roman Christians and chiefly the Priests The fourth Reason But the last Fast Fault he lays upon the Japan Prince Portasius who being King of Arima pretended to be highly in Favor with the Emperor because his Son had married Daifusama's Niece and therefore sought no small share of the Province Figen which by Inheritance he laid claim to For the obtaining this

Bonzies neglect the Poor and bestow their labor for the Rich when we consider their self-endedness and therefore they are so carless because they leave nothing behind them for the Bonzies It was also very pleasing to the poor Japanners when the Jesuits told them the way to heaven was much more troublesom for the Rich to pass than the Poor and how that earthly Treasures were as Weights and Clogs to hold Mens Souls from getting into Heaven and those that found not Riches in this World should obtain and enjoy the more in the World to come Covetousness of Princes the second Reason Besides these winnings upon the Poor Covetousness induced and won upon the Princes whose Dominions border'd the Sea for the Portuguese sending several Vessels richly Laden from Goa Malacca the Philippines Macaw and other Places to Japan great benefit did those Territories reap where these Ships came to an Anchor The Kings of Bungo Arima Cangoxima Amangucium and Firando had the most convenient Havens and every one of these sought to bereave another and ingross the Trade to themselves which they could not do without the Jesuits for who ever got them for their Friends might command the Portuguese Vessels where they pleas'd the Commanders not daring to Unlade but by their directions for which cause the Jesuits always against the time of their Countrey-mens coming went to Sea to meet with the Ships so to order them to Anchor in such a Princes Haven whose Favor they wanted for the promoting of the Catholick Belief Lodowick Frojus relates Epist Eroj Firand 1564. That he was forbid to Preach in Firando notwithstanding the King seem'd to have some inclination to become a Convert I will set down something which this Place requires of Frojus his Letter In the interim says he two Portuguese Vessels were seen to steer hither whose Commanders durst not come into the Haven of Firando without my Orders and Licence which the King observing and instigated with the hopes of Profit excus'd himself that he had not Entertain'd and Complemented me before that time and withall earnestly entreated me that I would not forbid the Portuguese from coming to an Anchor at Firando for which Courtesie he would in few days give order for me to have the same Priviledge in Preaching as heretofore Whereupon the Portuguese upon my permittance came into the Harbor and to the King asking him if he would fulfill his Promise to let them at their own Charge re-build the Church which he had pull'd down But the King endeavor'd by putting us off to gain time and at last deceiv'd us At this time the Ship call'd The Holy Cross appear'd on the Coast I my self being at Sea discover'd her first and going Aboard perswaded the Commander Peter Almaida to drop Anchor in the Road a League and a half from Firando soon after Almaida himself came on Shore and threatned the King that he would depart with his Ship from thence and Sail to some other Port if he did not perform his Promises to me The King desired some days to consider but at last being fearful if he should delay the time any longer that Almaida would weigh Anchor and go to another Port which would be to his great damage he granted me free leave to come again to Firando and re-build the Temple The like footing the Jesuits had in other Kingdoms where they obtain'd liberty of the Princes to Preach upon condition to cause the Portuguese Trade to be brought thither This was the Reason for which the King of Cangoxima gave free leave to the Jesuits to instruct the Natives in Christianity and to build Churches and Cloysters for the same purpose But afterward being inform'd that two Portuguese Vessels were gone to Unlade in the Haven of Firando he forbad the Jesuits from any farther proceeding he laying all the fault on them they having the sole Command of the Ships to cause them to Unlade in what Harbor they please The third Reason why the Roman Religion met with such good success in Japan Besides these two former there is a third Reason why the Christian Faith took so soon footing in Japan which was the ignorance of the Japanners in Natural Philosophy for which cause they were much amazed when the Jesuits told them concerning the Weather and all sorts of Meteors How that the Fire which was either kindled in the Air or Crevises of the Earth made horrible Representations That the Air or Region under the Moon produced flying Sparks flaming Torches burning Lamps and falling Stars That in the Harvest-time when the Earth is neither Frozen by extremity of Cold nor dry'd up by excess of Heat abundance of Vapors arise which cause those Ignes fatui or as the Vulgar call it Jack with a Lantern The Jesuits teach them Philosophy to their great admiration They declared also the Generation and significations of Comets that when they appear'd bloody duskish or bright with a long Tail they either signifi'd Drought excess of Heat Storms Earthquakes Famine or Deluges And likewise they declared the occasion of Thunder and Lightning whereof some being inclos'd in the Clouds doth rattle and make a noise onely other breaks forth battering all that they meet with or set it on fire and that in the Night it Lightned more frequently than in the Day-time and chiefly in the heat of Summer They told them the reason of the appearing of Rain-bowes whether they proceed from the Sun or Moon and though commonly appearing after Rain yet must be look'd upon as a Divine Token that God will no more destroy the whole World in a general Deluge Moreover they shew'd the reason of the opening of the Skie and Circles about the Moon That white Clouds and also red in the Evening were signs of fair Weather but in the Morning foreshew'd Storms and abundance of Rain That the Clouds which were the Receptacles of Thunder bred Rain and besides Water also sometimes sent down to the admiration of Men Milk Blood Frogs Stones and such like They also taught That Snow was a thin Cloud which in the falling Freezeth into that Nature as it comes upon the Earth That Hail detaining some warmth is sooner subject to Cold but the higher it Congeals and Freezes in the Air the smaller it is and the lower the bigger and chiefly in the Summer-time because of the great difference betwixt Cold and Heat They inform'd them with the occasions of Dew Mists Fogs and Ice That a timely Thaw and Mizling Rain brought great Profit That the Heat in Winter remaining in the Caverns of the Earth preserved all manner of Roots and that the Dew in the Summer moistens the Ground and nourishes the Plants whereas otherwise the Sun would scorch the Grass and other Products and untimely Frosts kill the early Buds They also instructed them That the Fountains and Rivers had their original from the Sea and passing through the Caverns of the Earth lost their saltness unfolding to

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

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

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