other incommodities of the time The Father did his part to make sweet and easy the difficulties of the way by exhorting them to patience and constancy But aboue the rest was admired the courage of Leo who hauing had his leggs all squeesed with the torment outwent them all neuer shewing so much as the least signe of paine or feeling They had not gone farre when they met with an other Christian called Iulian Fiemon who declaring his profession made suite to be of the number and ledde to prison who obtained his petition to the no small comfort of the rest who hoped Almighty God would increase aswell their courage as their number Come at last to Xindai they were put into the common iayle by order from the Gouernour Suò being nine in number The Father desired much to haue spoken with the Suò to haue vndeceaued him but neither he nor any of the prisoners could euer obtainè to see him Before Father Diego and his came to Xindai many had been put to death with seuerall torments brought from seuerall parts The first who suffred in Xindai were Marke Cafroy and Mary his wife inhabitants of a certaine place calied Omura His officers comming vnto those parts certaine frindes of Marke not acquainting him affirmed to the persecutors that Marke and his wife were no more Christians they satisfied with this were already gone their waies when Marke and his wife vnderstanding how the businesse had been carried and therefore thinking thems lues bound to disclame from the imputation laied vpon them by discouering themselues and professing their faith openly before he officers left their house and gooes to the charge of certaine slaues and tooke a long iourney to ouertake the persecutours professe their faith though with losse of their liues Which they did accordingly neither could they be drawne from it by any meanes of persuasion They placed them both in publicke starke naked for the space of a whole day but this abating nothing their courage they were sent to Suò in Xindai who straight gaue order they should be burne aline being first ledde through all the streets of the towne with a trumpet before them declaring that these were so condemned for their obstinate professing of Christiā faith Whilst they were thus leade vp downe the towne towards the fier they met with new assaults life being profered them so they would yet relent but Marke answered in the name of both that no torments should euer take them frō the faith of Christ Thus came this happy couple vnto the place of execution where Marke bound to a stake with the sacred names of Iesus and Maria imprinted in his hart and lips rendred vp his soule a middest the flames the first of February 1624. Whilst Mary on the other side in the height of her torments melted into a shower of comfortable teares sweetly thanking the diuine goodnesse for hauing bestowed vpon her infinit benefits and this aboue the rest most deare vnto her For the confession of the same faith two more were burnt the Father and the sonne on seuerall daies the Father was called Andrew Camon and the sonne Paul Sancuro For the same cause another called Peter Chinzo gaue his head his body afterwards being cut into smale peeces On the 12 of February foure more were put to death Iohn Anzai a Physitian 60 yeares of age his wife also farr in yeares an other kinsmā called Andrew Icyomon and a seruant of Iohns called Lewis Andrew and Lewis were beheaded and their bodies after hacked in peeces But Iohn and Mary ranne a more difficult and glorious course First were they assaulted in their owne houses with threats and promises proceeding from their carnall friends and a bloody tyrant But Suò seeing his hopes deluded caused thē to be put into a great riuer which passed through the towne but many waters could not extinguish their Charity They suffred this torment with a merry countenance though in the deepest of Winter and a most bitter frost Now and then would they thrust them ouer head and eares bidding them deny their faith but all they could get from them was an absolute deniall So that dispairing to obtaine any thing this way they tooke them out of the riuer and naked as they were set them one horsebacke and led them through the Citty with a trumpet before thē declaring the cause of their punishment At the end of euery street they made thē comed wne from their horses and asked them a new whether they would deny their faith they persisting in the negatiue buckets of cold water were powred vpon them Thus passed they with incredible constancy through the whole Citty till they came to the chief street there being bound to the gates for in Iaponia euery street is shut in with railes they were exposed to the cruelty of all who cast so great aboundance of frozen water on them that nature yeelding they died in the midst of their torment with a deniall in there mouths loaden more with merits then with yeares leauing the Christians with comfort the Gen ils with confusion to lee such courage in an age so decrepit After these were beheaded Simon Ficoyemone Monica his wite and a son of theires whose name we know not These were put to death in Ioioma by commaund from the Lord of the place for professing Christian faith In Vsuquino one called Gaspar Ichniemon suffered the same death for the same cause It is now time to returne vnto F. Caruaglio his Companions whom we left in prison these vpon the 16 of February which is the last of the Iaponian yeare were taken out of iayle and led to a riuer which runs through the towne neare vnto which was a certaine lake paled about being round and filled with the water of the same riuer some two foote deep Here the prisoners being stripped naked and tyed each one to the stakes which were round about were compelled to sit downe in the water and there remained for the space of three hoares Meane while the tormented persons vsed no other language but this Iesus Maria Praised be the B. Sacrament Blessed be God for euer and 〈…〉 F. Diego encouraged them al not only by words but by example sitting in the water like a body of marble that felt nothing and when he left of exhorting his eyes modestly composed and as it were vanished in a profound contemplation left not of to preach Those who were present at this spectacle impior with compassion perswaded all they could those afflicted persons to abandon Christ but their answere was that they were ready rather to endure ten thousand torments Hereupon they turned their rage vpon the Father vomiting forth against him many iniurious threats doing him seuerall assrouts which he indured with incredible patience still animating his fellow patients Three houres being ended because the tyrant would not haue them die there they were drawne forth but in such pittifull plight that hardly could they moue a
fourth the younger sister called also Mary eleuen yeares old who were all beheadeth in the same manner by the handes of principall men of the Gentils hauing first praied and called vpon the holy names of Iesus Maria. Then came the happy and magnanimous mother Grace who seeing with the eyes of liuely faith her two yoūg daughters so well placed esp oused to the true spouse of their soules Christ our-Sauiour and her sonne Linus so rich with heauenly merites yeelded infinite thankes to the diuine Maiesty for so great benefits and then kneeling down with her daughter in law whose name was also Mary both of them inuoking the sweet name Iesus Maria cheerfully offered their heades to be cut of the mother in law being of the age of fifty yeares and the daughter in law of nineteene After these presently followed two woemen-seruants the one called Cecily the other Mary and a little child by name Michaell onely three yeares old which being not capable of feare left him who had brought him thither in his armes and went to Cecily this mother seated in the place where she was to dy she tenderly embracing her little one and deuoutly calling vpon Iesus and Mary was beheaded by a seruant of the Tono who at two blowes cut off the heades first of the mother then of her innocent child The last was the other seruant Mary who nothing daunted with the bloody spectacle of so many headlesse bodies fell downe vpon her knees and with much tendernesse of deuotion imploring the assistance of Christ Iesus and his Virgin Mother bowed her head to the bloody sword and made vp the number of nine glorious martyrs being of the age of two and twenty yeares The seruants of God hauing thus happily triumphed ouer death the Paynims couered their dead bodies with mattes but coming to couer Mary the wife of Gabriel they perceiued that her head was not quite of yea that she still called vpon Iesus Maria so were those blessed names imprinted in her pious hart that her head being almost deuided from her body and she more dead then liuing ceased not to inuoke them vnlesse we will say that after death for confusion of those Gentiles God the Creatour of all spoke by the mouth of his dead scruant The Paynims were much amazed at this sight yet nothing relenting in their cruelty beheaded a new the twise happy martyr and wrapping all the bodies in their seuerall mattes then tying a great stone to each of them cast them into the sea so to preuent the Religious veneration which the Christians would haue giuen to their holy relickes All these seruantes of God were borne with in the state of Firando sixe of them in the Citty it selfe the two seruantes in the Iland Igisuqui and Mary the Wife of Gabriel at a place called Xixi Mary that old woman had been baptized at womans estate was one of the first which receiued the Sacrament of Baptisme in Iaponia all the rest had been Christians from their craule their Fathers and grandfathers hauing been so before them The good old woman Mary was alwaies much giuen to deuotion and Almes-deedes Neither was Grace any whit behind her hauing moreouer a great zeale of soules which she euer shewed towardes the Christians of that Citty She was of the company of Mercy of which as being the head she had an especiall care and therfore procured diuerse waies to aduance Christianity and vertue She lodged our Fathers in her house for a long time she mortified her body with frequent disciplines and fasting euery friday and saterday thorough out the yeare she visited and comforted the sicke she assisted the poore in what she could at Christmasse and Easter she was wont to feast the Christians and with all to giue them good spirituall counsell It happened once vpon the Iaponians new yeares day that there dyed two sicke men one a Cittizen the other a strāger Grace came to know of it and without making any account of the Iaponians superstition who vpon that day will not so much as name the dead much lesse talke of burying them caused the Cittizen to be buried keeping the dead body of the stranger in her house for some daies to auoid the bruit of the Gentiles which afterwardes she buried in the Churchyard of the Christians When the Paynims came to know of this worke of mercy they commended it very much and ceased not openly to prayse the Christians for it The two daughters both Maries imitated very well their mother vertues and Linus was not inferiour to them Neither did Mary the wife of Gabriel come behind the rest and the two seruantes as well in good life as desire of dying for Christ might be compared with their mistresses Finally they all died for the faith of Christ vpon the third of March in the yeare of our Lord 1624. by commaundment of Massura Figendono Lord of Firando The death of fiue other Christians in Vsucca THe very day that the foresaid nine were put to death an old man of the age of seauenty sixe yeares by name Luke Morifebioye was be headed not farre from his owne house for that he constantly reiected two of the Tonos seruantes who perswaded him to deny his faith and his sonne of the age of forty leauen suffered death in like manner for the same cause and by the handes of the same executioner The same day an other old man of the age of fourscore and sixe called Anthony Girobioye inuoking the most blessed names of Iesus and Mary had his head cut off These three seruantes of God were natiue of the Iland Iquisuqui Luke in his old age leauing off worldly affaires as desirous to attend wholly to his deuotions retired himselfe to Vsucca There he instituted a Confraternity of S. Ignatius and as he was very zealous of the spirituall good of his neighbours made a separation in his house for our Fathers to come visit the Christians where he receiued F. Constantius which was a chief cause of his death Alexius the sonne followed his Fathers example in prouiding for the spirituall necessities of Christians for which cause he was made worthy to follow him also in suffering death for Christ. Antony had betaken himselfe to a retired life in the same place for the reasons which had moued Luke to his retirement He was an humble sincere and very charitable man he did not only visit the sicke but kept them also often times in his owne house therby to prouide the better for them he alwaies lodged our Fathers in his house and was ordinarily employed in the exercise of either spirituall or corporall workes of mercy in recompence wherof he was finally rewarded with the palme of martyrdom The day next ensuing after the death of these three was beheaded Mary the wife of Luke who being from home the day before at the time of their combat and returning at night vnderstood what had passed and presently resolued to go and present
beene molested none were ouercome and some not to put themselues into further daūger tooke vpon them a voluntary exile where they remained poore in commodities but rich in merits in the sight of God A certaine Christiā comming vnto an other Citty the Christians of that place demaunded of him wherfore he had abandoned his owne Country he made answer that he might not abandone his faith But the Christians inhabitants of this Citty reprehended him sharply and told him to fly was signe of a dastard and therfore that he should returne and if necessity should so require not doubt to spend his life in such a quarrell The Christian hearing this imagining he was obliged to returne without delay made hast vnto his Country Being returned a Bonzio a friend of his had soone espied him and imagining he had renounced his faith began to congratulate the matter with him But the Christians let him vnderstand that he was not only not chaunged but that the reason of his returne was that he might dy in honour of Christ our Lord. Whereupon the Bonzio grew into such disdaine that he swore he would find out meanes to vexe him But it pleased God that all did fade and fall to nothing for the Gouernour how be it he was informed of the whole matter yet he gaue order the Christian should be no farther molested Father Iulian Nacaura of our Society one of those foure Iaponesi who by meanes of our Fathers came Embassadours to Rome to render obedience in person of their Princes to his Holynesse hath care not only of this kingdom but of those also of Chigugen and Bugen It hath so fallen out that in diuerse places his visits hapned in the very time of the troubles and persecution by which occasion he hath suffered very much and his weaknesse sometimes was so great either in regard of the toyle of his iourney or violent oppression of famine that not being able to moue himselfe he was caried in mens armes The kingdom of Chigugen being deuolued vnto the Kings sonnes by the death of their Father it seemed good vnto the Gouernours to persecute the Christians as deeming that no vnsitt meanes to conserue the Xogun in good liking towards their new Lords but the moderation of the officers hath beene such that no great trouble hath befallen the Christians vpon this occasion The Christians of Aquizuqui haue giuen abundant testimony of their constancy A good Christian woman wife vnto a noble Paynim had heretofore beene much molested by her husband but now the rude barbarian proceeded so far as to clap a hote fire brand to her naked flesh vowing he would vse her yet more hardly if she would not recant Yet she not daunted with this cruelty remaines still constant in confession of Christ begging as saith a Father of ours with great instance of his diuine Maiesty that he will not abandone her and the same Father affirmes that she is most ready to suffer all possible torment in so holy a cause At this present Fosocaua Yeichndono sonne to Nangaochayuchu ruleth in the kingdom of Bugen This man is different from his Father and well affected vnto our affaires resembling therin rather his Mother called Grace whom we haue often mentioned in our former histories for a woman of good life and great feruour in profession of our holy faith The Residence of the Kingdom of Bunge BEfore the persecution began there were 44 of the elder sort baptized in this kingdom besides those who repenting themselues ranne back into the lap of our holy mother the church In some of those the iust chastisement of God hath particularly appeared For of many possessed persons diuerse haue beene found to be such as had abandoned their faith The house of a certaine Christian chaunced to be burned and when the fire had consumed all things to ashes he set himselfe to seeke certaine moneys which he had in a chest when the fire first tooke But in lieu of his money which he looked for he found what he sought not for as much as dispersing the cinders to and fro he found three pictures of Sainctes which were glued vpon a bord and yet had suffered no domage by the fire he found more ouer some payres of wooden beades which he knew to be such as had pardons to them he perceiued that others were burned which had not the Indulgēce as he very wel obserued The Christians hauing vnderstood the accident hold those pictures and hallowed beades in great reuerence and are much confirmed in their faith There doe reside in Bungo two seruants of the Xogun for no other respect then only to giue notice vnder hand of all that passeth in that kingdom and the Gouernours are not ignorant here of So that fearing to be accused they haue began to persecute the Christians in such sort that in mans memory there hath not beene the like either for politicall stratagems edictes threates or troublesome persuasions Father Ioannes de Costa to whom the care of those Christians is deputed hath beene so chaced from place to place that not finding any who durst receaue him he hath beene forced to retire himselfe into the furthest and most remote confines of the kingdom together with one Dogicke and one seruant and the persecution hastned so fast after him that it had almost driuen him out euen from those foilorne places But hauing ouercome all that difficulty he incurred imminent daūger of his life through a deadly sicknesse where into he tell as well through the incommodities of his dwelling as continuall and toylsome iorneies to diuerse places in succour of the Christians of whom howbeit some few are reuolted yet far more are they who hauing indured fierce combats for the faith of Christ remaine valiant and vnuanquishable Linus of whom we haue spoken in our former relations after many banishments formerly endured hath together with many other now latly beene outlawed with his wife and Children he hath suffered wonderfull much nor finding any one who would intertertaine him till at last he chaunced vpon a Christian called Iohn Diogo who hauing friendly receaued him and all them of his company into his house not long after was constrained himselfe to goe into banishment for Christ our Lord and trauell through many places not finding any one who euer would so much as lodge him such was the feare and terrour of Xogun his law Yet he endured all with such patience that many vnderstanding what had befallen him left their country of their owne accord that they might not be in daunger to leaue there faith An other Christian called Organtinus of 76 yeares of age and more hath already beene tryed in 5 seuerall persecutions and remained euer victorious This man as an old soldier and knowne for such of all men was in peculiar manner molested by the Tono but all his indeauours were frustrate for this our experienced warrier did neuer shew any the least signe of leuity or vnconstancy whereopon the Tono
in great admiration commaunded one day that he should depart from him and retire to his owne house remaining with in doores without taking any sustinance so that he should starue with famine This good Christian remained foure daies without taking any foode and his wife did the like imagining they did an acte of high merit but finding themselues much weakened through hunger they sent vnto our Father to know what they were to doe in that case and hauing answer that they should take their foode they did so and straight recouered there corporall forces hauing already giuen vnto the Tono who afterwarward molested them no more an assay of the interiour forces of their mind to defend by diuine assisistance our holy faith An other auncient Christian called Iohn Mangesuqus a seruant somtimes of Iustus Tacayamancundone hath beene proued by diuerse assayes but he euer answereth that Iustus his Lord with diuerse others of his company died for their faith and that he also would take great comfort if other by sword or fire he might in his death follow the footsteppes of those whom during their life he so much esteemed So that for the present he is by appointment of the Gouernours kept prisoner in such sort as no man may be admitted to speake with him and expecteth day by day to loose his life for his Religion The death of Leo Miz aqui Xinyemen and of his three sonnes IN one of the persecutions past Leo gaue some signes in the exteriour as if he had forsaken being a Christian but he cancelled soone after by penance that errour At such time therfore as this present storme arose calling vnto him his eldest sonne he told him that this time he would shew an other manner of resolution and that hee was determined that neither feare of any what so euer torment nor mordinate affection and loue euen to life it selfe should be able to induce him to commit the like faulte wherefore if hee as being but young would rather depart for some other place then remaining expose him selfe to further daunger that he would procure him fit meanes and opportunity The sonne hauing vnderstood his Fathers opinion and designe finding it for his purpose answered he would goe his waies The called he his three other sonnes demaunding of them whether they would escape away with their brother or surely abide with him Whereunto Andrew Thomas and Iohn made answer they would tarry in their owne Countrey and if it should chance to cost them their liues it should only accomplish their desires The officers of the Tono hauing notice that the eldest sonne was fled fearing least Leo himselfe should also escape away they tooke Iohn and kept him prisoner for a pledge Wherupon Leo made hast vnto the chiefe officers house and hauing found him it is true said he some yeares past in the exteriour I failed if my duty but now I am prepared to die feare not that I will fly from you When he said thus the Iudge not only contenting him selfe with him whō he had prisoner dispatched some who should take his other sonne Thomas vnder the same pretence Meane space arriued there a principall officer of the Tono who examined Leo very particularly concerning the cause of his sonnes flight and he would heare Andrew about the same matter who yet was not prisoner The Father being questioned concerning his faith behaued himselfe like a good and valorouse Christian but the poore sonne I know not how shewed himselfe fainte whervpon he was sent vnto a temple of the Idols to giue some signe that he had abandoned his faith The youth went and when he returned he said the Bonzo would not admit the signe wherof he made offer and so the Iudge commaunded him to giue in baile thereof and that he would send a seruant who should obtaine from the Bonzo what he should desire The timorous youth did so imagining hereby he should be quiet for many yeares but soone after coming to him selfe he repented of his facte and with many teares demaunded humbly pardon of God putting himselfe in prison with his Father and other brothers confessing a new with great courage the faith of Christ The three brothers were called one day before the officers to be examined and many torments were inflicted vpon them in the place The first was by water which they inforce men to drinke in excessiue quantity but for as much as this torment though very painfull seemed to the Iudges not powerfull enough to worke their intent they commaunded that about the calfe or brawny parts of their legges should be strait bound certaine canes bigger then those which we haue which cutting the skinne in sundry places draw forth the blood in great abundance of such as vndergo the tormer It is not yet certainly knowne wherefore they were tortured in this manner but the Common voice is for not declaring the reason why their eldest brother fled and for that being sollicited to forsake their faith they did neuer giue way by any the least word thereunto The Gentils remained wholly amazed made knowne vnto the Tonos Father how the matter had passed and he after diuerse conferences and consultations had with his sonne concluded that they would send vnto those seruants of the Xegun of whom I spake before to vnderstand what was their opinion They hauing vnderstood how all had succeeded as Paynims and enimies of our holy lawe made answer that it was meete they should all be executed All things were presently dispatched according to the opinions of these men and so there was forthwith a messenger addressed vnto Leo to intimate vnto him the sentence from the Tono who promised him that after his death his eldest sonne should be called backe and much honored Our valorous Leo reioyced much here at and gaue thankes vnto him who had brought him the newes he declared what till that time he had kept secret to wit that he had caused his sonne to withdraw himselfe to the end that being a Christian he might not expose himself to the daunger of forsaking his faith whence he coniectured that although he were recalled he would not returne to that place whilst the daungee should continus He added that he was sory for that the officer had beene put to those paines about him the time before when the Christians were examined and that he was sory from his hart for his hauing then obaied the Tono for that albeit he seemed in his exteriour to haue reuolted yet did he euer in his interiour adhere vnto Christ our Lord And I hope said he this day wherein I am to dy I shall purchase and recouer againe what soeuer then I lost through feare And hauing spoken in this manner he went forth with his sonnes and tooke his way towards the place appointed for their death Leo accompanied his steps with those diuine wordes of the Angelicall Salutation and so soone as he came with in sight of the place in which by losse of
perticulars which I could relate loaden with the merites of 22 yeares spent in Iaponia and 38 in the Society professed of 4. vowes the six and fifteeth of his age he was burned aliue for professing the faith of Iesus Christ. Brother Simon Iempo was borne in Nosu in the Kingdome of Fingo brought vp from a little one in a Monastery of the Bonzi and imbued in that tender age with the doctrine of Camu and Fotoqui God so disposed that the Bonzo his Master was conuerted vnto the faith of Christ and Simon following his exāple was baptised with some others at the age of 16. yeares at 18 he was admitted into the house of the Society as Dogicus or Alumnus and there liued with extraordinary satisfaction for fiue and twēty yeares full of good example and laudable behaviour his ordinary occupation was to helpe others in company of the Fathers by preaching teaching and reading vnto them spirituall bookes When as the Preachers of Gods word were banished into the Philippins Simon was of the number who the yeare after returned backe to Iaponia and finding the Christians sweating vnder the hearty burden of persecution it cannot be expressed with how much application he serued them The last six yeares of his life he imployed in the Prouinces of Quantom Oxu with still increasing labour and paines redoubled He assisted many Christians and conuerted many Infidels euen in the prison it selfe as hath been already set downe continuing a waies a faithfull companion vnto F. de Augelis in his Missions sparing no labours neither day nor night when occasion required He was euer desirous of two fauours from God one that he might be admitted into the Society the other that he might dy for the confession of his faith Both requestes were signed grāted he dying in flames at 43. yeares of age Howe foure and twenty Christians were put to death for the confession of Christian faith in the Citty of Iendo ALl this fire could not melt or molify the hardened hart of Xogun nor hinder from commaunding a new slaughter the 24. of December of 36. more men women some were burned others crucisied others cut in pieces in whose death many circumstances lay open the extraordinary hatred which he bare against our holy Faith Of these 36.24 were Christians the rest Gentils condemned either because they had lodged Christians in their house or answered for them to others Of the Christians 6 were burned aliue 5 women and one man 7 beheaded and crucisied The constancy of Mary Iagea the mother of Leo Faqucia Gonoxichi was aboue the rest remarquable who had lodged in her house Father Hierome de Angelis The gouernour bent all the forces of his wit to make her relent and therfore left nothing vnsaid which the Diuell could suggest him sometimes promising life otherwhiles threatening death then painting forth the dishonor which her children and husband would receiue a man so well knowne and so much made of in Court But Mary sleighted all answering that she could not but yeeld to a death which made her way to an eternall life and for the dishonors mentioned she esteemed them worthy the name of honors and therefore he should not need spend more wordes in this behalfe The assaultes were frequent but without effect and therfore she was condemned with the rest The day being come when this fatall sentence was to be executed this generous Matron bound vpon a horse marched formost with a smiling countenance vndaunted courage which strucke deepe admiration into the beholders Foure Christian woemē were the next that followed whose names are not yet come to our knowledge and then a man called Francis Cabe This was he who whilest the fifty aboue named were in the flames of Martyrdome went and declared himselfe to the Iudge professing himselfe to be a Christian After these followed eighteen little infantes so little that they knew not how to feare death and therfore they went sporting and playing and carrying in their handes such toyes as children passe their time with all A sight which drue teares euen from the Gentiles themselues Of these 18 sixteen were Christians Being come to the place appointed the first dispatched were these little ones against whom such barbarous cruelty was vsed that the onely rehearsall breeds horrour and amazement some they beheaded ther 's were clouen downe from the head to the foote others were cutt off by the midle others they held by one legge and hacked into seuerall peeces After this slaughter performed in the very eyes of the Christian woemen to strike the greater terrour into them eleuen men were crucified two of which were Christians the one Peter Ienzaimon the other Mathias Buneiemon the cause of their death was written in a table containing this That these men were punished with death for either letting their houses vnto Christians or answering for them to others Of which rancke were these two Christians who pearsed through with lances sent forth their last breath together with the sweet names of Iesus and Maria. This Matthias before this persecution had shewed some signes of weaknesse but going out of the prison he professed publickly before all that he was a Christian and in that quality desired to dy which he entreated the standers by to let the Xogun his Gouernours vnderstād The same was his declaration being now moūted vpon the Crosse To these mens handes being dead were fastned the heads of the little children slaine a little before Meane while the six Christians prepared for the flames with diuerse prayers and Litanies nothing daunted with these bloody spectacles Francis obeying the instinct of God became a Preacher animating his fellowes to suffer manfully and exhorting the lookers on to imbrace that faith which onely can stand with saluatiō Fier being put the Christians were seen with their eves fixed on heauen incessantly calling vpon those holy names of Iesus and Maria to giue vp their spotlesse soules not so much as shrinking or giuing the least signe of griefe or paine The cause of their death was set forth in a table saying These dy because they are Christians The two Gentills who were separated from the rest had also the cause of their death expressed for hauing lodged Faramonde against the Lawes All these ended their happy liues the 29. of December the same yeare by order of the same Xogun of Iende Of other seauenteen Christians burnt aliue in the Towne of Iendo for professing Christian Religion AMong the Gentills put to death the 24. of December one was a Page of the Xogun greatly in fauour for hauing let forth his house vnto Christians This exāple wrought so powerfully with the Gētils that streight they deferred to the Gouernour all the Obristians they knew and among the rest the wife of Laurence who was not summōd by the officers when her hushand was taken and with her twenty other Christians many of which were greatly assaulted but remained immooueable After six moneths imprisonment ten
began with the wines and children of those whom two yeares before he had put to death by order of the Ienca their cause being not yet ended and he spared neither the maid-seinants nor little intants as it will appeare by the following relation The death of nine Christians of the house and family of Gabriel who had lodged F. Camillus Conitanstius of the Society of IESVS Two yeares agoe a Christian called Gabriel suffereth death in the Citty of Firanâ—o for hauing lodged F. Camillus Constanstius of the Society and euer since both his mother and the rest of his family had liued in daily expectation of their turne their cause yet hanging and they committed to the custody of their neighbours No sooner did the persecution begin but the family of Gabriel was giuen for lost whereupon the Gentiles began to looke to them more narrowly and to abridge them of their former liberty One of the neighbours the second man of the street went to visit Grace the mother of Gabriel and told her after an vpbraiding manner that the persecution raised at that present was a punishment sent by tenxo Daygun the chiefe Cami of Iaponia The holy woman resented exceedingly this blasphemous speech and boldly replyed that she wondred very much he would offend her eares with blaspheming God his holy law and that he might haue done much better in exhorting her to suffer with patience the neere approaching death for the honour and seruice of the only true God then by recounting the fables of the false Idolls to increase her affliction wherfore she desired him if he wished her well to speake of something else And the Paynim thus checked spoke not a word more During this time the Christians of that Citty gathered together in a particular house offered vs many feruent prayers to Almighty God begging of his goodnesse force of spirit and constancy or all but especially for the prisoners Linus the brother of Gabriell was much tempted but he allwaies answered that he would follow the steppes of his Father who had perseuered in the law of Christ vntill the end Some daies before the seruants of God receiued the senteÌ„ce of death they inuited to dinner the principall Paynims of the street and humbly craued pardon of them for some sharp answers which they had giuen earnestly beseeching them to speake no more vnto them of leauing their faith The Physitian of the Tono was the first man of their friendes who had newes of their death wherfore he went to them in a friendly manner acquainting them with what had passed told them that if they would change their mindes he would make meanes that the Tono should recall his sentence Linus made answer in name of the rest thanking him for his good will and told him that all the torments in the world should neuer make them abandon their Religion This newes came soone after to be knowne of the Physitians man who out of meer compassion went bewailing their case and spreading the newes about the Citty There was presently such flocking of friendes and acquaintance to visit them that the chiefe officer of the streete thought fit to turne them all backe for feare of an vprore About midnight came two of the Tonos seruants who confilcating all their goodes carryed them away scarce leauing so much as the cloathes vpoÌ„ their backes Then did the condemned Christians with a loud voice begin ioifully to recite diueise praiers and when the standers by would haue hindered them they answered that their temporall goods being taken away they had no reason to deprius them also of the spirituall riches of the soule their onely substance and possession then remaining The confiscatours admiring their speeches let them go on for the present but hauing sent away all the goods they bound Linus and all the rest sauing Marie the Grandmother of Gabriell and the sonne of a seruing woman who was so little that one of the officers carryed him away vpon his backe Vpon the 3 of March being sunday they were lead forth many Christians meeting them vpon the way who in taking their last leaue with many teares recommended themselues to their prayers earnestly desiring them when they came to heauen where they should be out of all danger that they would be mindfull of those who remained behind subiect to so many dangers and miseries Amongst the rest came one of Graces daughters with her husband of whom she tooke her leaue with a cheerfull countenance and great peace of mind charging them to remaine constant in the Religion in which they had been brought vp from children and promising to pray for them in heauen In like manner did Linus speake to the other Christians with such a pleasant smiling countenance that he made shew of nothing lesse then going to suffer death Finally they arriued at a place distant from Firando a quarter of a league where they found foure boates expecting them in two of which were carried the nine Christians who were to suffer death and in the other two the executioners of that iniustice When they were imbarked Grace tooke a paire of beades from about her necke and cast them a land to her sonne in law Then lifting vp a little Crucifixe in her hand this alone quoth she will serue my turne and with saying to she adored in the sight of all him who comforteth and giueth strength to those that suffer for him and with humble renerence kissed his holy image After this the watermeÌ„ began to launch forth and the deuout seruants of God accompanying the noise of the oares sometimes with singing pious hymnes sometimes reciting seuerall prayers aloud arriued at Coccidomari the place appointed for execution There they all tooke their places and Linus the only man of the company shewed himselfe a man indeed thanking the executioners for his death with a marueilous courage and vndaunted mind Then began they to recomeÌ„d themselues to God Almighty in which action they remained a great while In this time the youngest daughter of Grace of the age of eleuen yeares onely was so farre from being afraid either of death or those whom she saw ready to inflict it that turning to her mother with a great courage ô mother said she how much are we beholding to these seruants of the Tono who haue brought vs hither and will now send vs to heauen I pray you let vs thanke them and be exceeding ioyfull The first tharknelt downe was the good old woman Mary who lifting vp her handes and praying a while then calling vpon the holy names of Iesus and Mary was beheaded by one of her owne kinsmeÌ„ who according to the custome of Iaponia least she should dy by the haÌ„ds of some basefellow or other did himselfe with great respect and reuerence cut off her head at a blow she being about ninty yeares of age The second was the noble Linus of the age of 21. yeares The third his sister Mary of the age of 18. The
quickly made partaker yeelding her head to the sword and her soule to heauen ful fraught with the merites of many deathes Such was the glorious end of this thrice happy company very sutable to their vertuous liues Beatrice was borne of Christian parents in Tachinegama a place in the Iland Quisuchi She was alwaies religiously deuout and exceeding charitable she often visited and serued the ficke imitating in those workes of mercy her husbad Damian and she allwaies taught her children to open their hartes to no other loue but of Christ Iesus and his holy law Isabell her mother in the law who died of the age of 74 yeares was natiue of the same Iland and as well she as the rest had been baptized by our Fathers She was allwaies a deuout and constant Christian neuer regarding the Paynims of her alliance by whom she was therfore allwaies ill treated Her onely sonne Damianus being dead she was inflamed with a great desire of dying for Christ and so earnestly did she beg this grace of God Almighty that at length she obtained it for her selfe and all her family vpon the fifth day of March 1624. The death of Marie wife vnto Iohn Sucamoto and her foure sonnes AFter the death of Iohn the officers held their proceedings with Marie answerable to those wee haue already said they held with Beatrice for they kept her prisoner and put a gard ouer her in her owne house made her drag a rope about her neck and vexed her which other torments wherof we haue already spoken Vpon the same day on which Beatrice had notice giuen her from the Tono of her verdicte was Marie also and her children aduertised that they were to die So they made mutuall ioy and with leaue of the officers came together and after many congratulations they animated with interchange each the other to a cōstant suffering in so gloriouse a cause Andrew the eldest sonne of Marie a youth of singular piety recounted sundry examples and miracles which he had red where by they all found themselues much incouraged and for period of this festiuall gladnesse turning himselfe vnto the Christians who were there present he had them be of good comfort and continue that constancie where in they had so laudably hither to persisted and rest full of hope that the goodnesse of almighty God would in short time alay the present commotion and giue mighty increase to Christianity through out laponia The next morning at breake of day clad in most solemne attire they imbarked for the aforenamed Iland where being arriued Marie and Peter were put to death after those of the familie of Damianus ending their liues by the sword And Peter although he was but ten yeares of age yet did he with example of rare fortitude offer his head to the executioner There remained in the shippe three other sonnes of Iohn who being caried in to the maine sea were by those cruell officers without any sence of pittie or compassion thrust into seueral sacks which whē they had filled vp with straw they couered also ouer with others and hauing then bundled them vp bad them dispose themselues for death these holy Brothers did so and performed forthwith many actes of ardent and inflamed deuotion and the time being now arriued they were bound fast and then tossed and tumbled to and fro as if they had been wool-packes It may seeme Almighty God was pleased to shew an argument of his power in these 3 yonge-men for being wrapped vp each a part as we said they requested as a curtesy at the hāds of the executioners that they might be tyed all 3 together to the end they might be hoised ouer-bord all at once and as they were allready vnited together by the naturall tye of brotherhood and yet more straitly by supernaturall bonde of charitie in Christ our Lord they might in conformity hereof be now bound fast together and receaue their death iointly in the same place who by the feale thereof should be assured to enioy each other for eternity Their request was graunted them and with all a huge stone was annexed vnto the bundle And so soone as these louing brethren perceiued themselues now wrapped vp together in such sort that they were no more to be seuered according to their harts desire they interchangeably did animate themselues to die and so reioycing at the arriuall of that fortunate houre as they with most inflamed harts called vpon the names of Iesus and Maria they were throwne in to the sea where they ended their liues by a kinde of cruelty not yet heard of in Iaponia saue only in the state of Firando The eldest of these three called Andrew was of the age of 25 the second named Mancio of 23 and Iohn who was the youngest of twenty one yeares The seruāt of God Marie was natiue of Nexima an Iland in the state of Firando she was borne of Christian parentes and baptized in her infancy by our Fathers she was second wife vnto Iohn Quinzayemone who died in a glorious confession of his faith and she followed the forme of his foot steppes both in her life and death Andrew and the rest of his brethren were borne in Tacchinosami and were also baptized by ours Andrew was accustomed to reade a spirituall lecture vnto the people of his Country to giue them notice also of such feastes as were of precept and to assist them both by his aduite and instructions which is of most consideration he was vnto them all an example of good life a mirrour of all vertue This yoūgman after the death of his Father did so solicite the cause of Christianity as that he deserued to haue a laurell for his guerdon how be it our Lord God reserued the bestowing of it vnto this present time The death of Mithaell Iamando Fiemon and Visula his wife with thee of their children MIchael liued in a sea-port of the state of Firando called Cochi At such time as searche was made after the Christians the first whom the Gentiles fell vpon was Michaell whom they indeauoured by many allurements to withdraw from the faith whereof he made profession But he did not only as indeed he ought shew himselfe constant and resolute but addressed himselfe also vnto other Christians exhorting them one by one that they would not in any wise abandon tho law of heauen in consideration of any thing which might befall them on earth He had bred vp his children in such sorte and instilled into them such singular constancy that one of them being taken by some of the neighbours and for the space of two whole daies all which time they withheld him from his parents continually solicited as well by promises as threates although he was but a child of 13 yeares of age yet did he euer remaine most firme in profession of his faith replying euer vnto their pestiferons persuasions that they must vnderstand he was a Christian and resolued to die such Michael had