Gentiles there to hate and exterminate the pictures and images of our Blessed Sauiour and his Saintes togeather with all other thinges appertayning to the promotion of Christian piety as he hath moued your Persecutors here vtterly to abandon and abolish them It shall not I say be needfull for me to signify these thinges vnto you for that I do assure myselfe that your selues in the reading thereof will easily obserue these and many other thinges greatly worth the marking as the great feare and care of the gentiles least any reliques of the holy Martyrs should remaine to be reuerenced by the deuouter sort of Christians theyr extraordinary diligence to make those that were constant in theyr fayth to dissemble at least a little while in the exterior profession thereof theyr false and slaunderous calumniations of the Catholike religion theyr feares suspitions and iealosies of preists and religious persons concerning matters of State all of them thinges common to them and to the Gentils of former times that persecuted Gods Church as also to the Heritikes of all ages and in especiall to these of ours That which I would wish you to reflect vpon is only the bad successe euen in temporall affayres which in the end befell to such persons that for worldly respectes eyther forsooke theyr religion or without care of theyr conscience behaued themselues to the discredit therof and how on the contrary those that were constant therein and carefull to frame theyr liues according thereunto besides theyr happines in heauen honour vpon earth through the Paternall prouidence of Almighty God were euer in the end after some suffering sufficiently prouided for And now because I do imagin that many of you hitherto haue not had much notice of the Kingdome of Iapone and lesse of the affayres therof it being a country so farre distant remote from ours as perhaps few or none in the world more at least as it is accessible and by reason thereof you will not so easily vnderstand some thinges that will occurre in the reading of this relation I haue therefore thought it not amisse preifly by way of a Preface or Introduction to set downe some few things concerning the same that may help to giue you some litle light therein If therewith or by the reading the relation it selfe you shall receiue but so much contentment as I tooke paynes in the translating thereof yea or but any confort or other good at all I shall thinke any labours very well bestowed desiring no other thinge in requitall thereof but only to be remembred in your best deuotions and made partaker of those afflictions that it shall please our Blessed Sauiour to giue you grace to suffer for his sake and so humbly beseeching Almighty God to send you eyther a speedy end of them or else much patience to endure them as long as it shall be his holy wil and pleasure to permit them with all dutifull respect I take my leaue euer remayning Your seruant in Christ Iesus W. W. THE PREFACE TO THE READER AMONGST other couÌ„tryes which were vnknowne to vs of Europe vntill in this later age they were discouered by the Spaniardes Porâ—ugalls one is Iapone vnder which name be conteyned diuers Ilandes lying in the east Ocean of the great Kingdome of China chiefe prouince of Asia from whence the â—earest of them is distant some ninescore â—nglish miles and about foure hundred and fifty from Nona EspanÌ„a a principall part if the West Indies conquered and inhabited by the Spainish Nation These Ilandes are deuided one from the other by litle crikes 〈◊〉 armes of the sea and amongst them there be three which do farre exceed the rest vnto the which the others are subiect and in 〈◊〉 manner do adhere The greatest of these three which is called Niphon doth lye from East to West and is 700 m les in length anâ— 180. in breadth and it deuided into three 〈◊〉 fifty little Kingdomes or Prouinces anâ— therein is the noble Citty of Meaco thâ— chiefe and head of all Iapone The second called Ximo extendeth it selfe from Nort to South and hath in it nine Kingdomes 〈◊〉 The third Scicoco is deiuded into fourâ— Prouinces and lyeth Eastward from the second All these Ilandes be for the most parâ— full of hilles and mountaines much subieâ—â— vnto could and raine whereupon it proceâ—deth that for the most part they be nothing fertile rather subiect vnto barrennes Theâ— yeeld no wheate nor rye nor any such liâ—â— graine at least but very small the chief thinge they beare is rice which they brinâ— forth in great aboundance they haue thâ— same kind of birdes and beastes that we of Europe both wild and tame though the â—habitantes seldome eate the flesh of any â—â—lesse at sometimes it be of Venison Theyr â—â—mmon fare is hearbes and fish and ryce 〈◊〉 the which they also make a kind of wine â—â—though theyr ordinary drinke be warme â—â—ater into the which in feastes and banquets â—â—ey put a certaine ponder much esteemed of â—â—em the which is called Cha. Theyr buildingâ—s for the most part be of wood partly because they haue but little store of stone and â—ood in great aboundance especially Cedar â—â—d partly by reason the country is much subiect vnto earth-quakes yet be there many â—oodly houses and stately pallaces of excellent â—orkemanshippe and rare Architecture The people are more swarty of complexion then the Spaniardes be almost like the tawny Mores and something lesse of stature commonly then those of our nation be They are for the most part of pregnant siuely â—ittes of exceeding memory of stoute â—ouragious mindes and wonderfull patience in occasions of aduersity Commonly they be â—aughty and high minded very desirous of honour and estimation They do contemne all other Nations in the world in comparison of themselues from whence proceedeth the small account they make of any strangers that come into theyr country Pouerty doth not with them diminish Nobility nor Gentility nor wealth gaine or increase it The better sort do vse great cerimonies of honour and courtesy one towardes another yea the common people as tradesmen and artificers must be vsed with respect or else you shall obteyne nothing at theyr handes neyther will they put vp intury at any man without complete reuenge They are very carefull not to shew feare or cowardize in any case they stand much vpon theyr grauity and therefore they carry theÌ„selues alwaies very soberly after a stayed manner in so much that it is held a wondrous inciuility for any to make any great noyse as shouting hollowing or the like whether it be in publike or priuate at home or abroad To bring vp theyr children to hardnes as soone as they be new borne they wash them in some riuer and when they be weaned from the nurse they take them from theyr mothers bring them vp most commonly in exercise of hunting the like when they come to a certaine age they change the forme fashion
the destruction of his Idolls 19. Comming therefore from the Country of Arima he complayned vnto Quambacu that the Fathers had perswaded Arimadono to take from him certaine ChristiaÌ„ Gentlewomen which he meant to haue brought to him for bad intents and purposes He extolled very much their beauty comelines of person and the like protesting that the Fathers were much more obeyed in that Country then his Highnes and that it was intolerable that a strange religion should be permitted to florish so much within the Kingdome of Iapone and that Don Iusto went vp and downe solliciting all the could that the Temples and Idolls might be vtterly destroied the Bonzi banished and the people made Christians by maine force alledging also what he had seene and knowne done in Tacazuqui Acaxi Bungo Arima other partes Quambacu with this complaint was much moued vnto wrath coÌ„manded the Fathers to be banished the Churches ouerthrown and that all the Lordes should eyther leaue their Fayth or loose their landes liuinges and estates The principall Combat was now against Don Iusto to whome some friends of his carried the message and vsed many perswasions vnto him to accomodate himselfe vnto the tyme. He answered constantly that he was ready to giue his life and liuing for Quambacu but much more for the fayth of Christ and that therefore if they loued him they should not so much as mention any such matter any more There was none there that durst carry this answere backe to Quambacu whereupon he rising vp said I will my selfe tell him so much vnto his face and I will carry my sword also with me that his Maiesty may with it cut off my head for this cause if he please Whereupon Quambacu comanded that he should be banished and he accepted it with outward signes of great internall ioy This only was a griefe vnto him to see so many gallant men as he had attending on him al vnprouided and reduced to pouerty vpon this occasion for it is the custome in Iapone that the Lord or maister being banished all that hould liuinges or landes of him do imediatly loofe them all But neyther this nor the teares of his friends nor the perswasions of many Princes and Lords could moue him any thing at all So did he now depart from the Court alone with disgrace where a little before he had entred with great honor and triumph and liued in great esteeme and reputation His parentes wife children and kinred left vpon this newes the Fortresse and Estate of Acaxi and did retire themselues vnto a poore village of the mountaine Country where his Father Darius made an holy end of this miserable and mortall life and he himselfe went secretly to seeke the Fathers of the Society who because they would not leaue the Country and Christians desolate lay hidden priuately in the Iland of Amacasa where when he came he made the spirituall Exercise with very great deuotion and therein a Generall Confession of all his life since his first being a Christian ioyfull to see himselfe now freed from the world and greatly desirous to begin a new religious life And Almighty God did so ordaine that the Lordes and Nobles of the Court did euen striue among themselues to receiue giue intertainement to the Captaines and Gentlemen that had beene his followers who afterward were occasion of exceeding great good and of the spreading of the ChristiaÌ„ fayth in many Kingdomes More then a yeare did Don Iusto liue in pouerty and obscurity Quambacu then seeing that he could not ouercome his constancy nor with honor restore him to his former place and dignity he commanded the Lord of the Kingdomes of Canga Noto and Yetehu who had been Don Iusto his equall a smal tyme before that he should keepe him in his Country and giue him necessary allowance for his maintenance Six and twenty yeares he liued in those Kingdomes with an inuincible courage and constancy of mind and rare exemplar life alwaies prepared to giue his life for Christ And that which deserueth admiration is that being so stout of mind and full of mettall as he was and seeing that other persons that were nothing in respect of him did rise to great estates dignities and that only because he was a Christian did liue in perpetual disgrace and continuall danger also yet did he neuer giue so much as once a signe of any sadnes nor euer made complaint thereof but being euer merry laughed at the world although Figendone gaue him siue and twenty thousand Gocus of rent euery yeare which do equall almost our Ducates of Europe wherewith he liued in good and honorable fashion After Quamâ—acu his death he buylded three or foure Churches in those Kingdomes hauing alwaies with him some of the Fathers of the Society with Figendono his leaue who was the Lord of those Countries whose loue and affection he had gayned in such sort that publikely he would not sticke to say that there was no meanes to obtaine saluation but in the Christian Religion the which in short tyme increased so much in those Kingdomes that it seemed to florish there the most of any place in all Iapone many of the inhabitantes being newly conuerted and baptized and very many that were banished from other places for their fayth being called thither by Don Iusto his meanes and honorably prouided for and maynteyned there by Figendonoes order and appointment And one of these was Don Iohn Naytodono together with his sonne Don Thomas for that after he had lost the KingdoÌ„e of Tamba wandred through many Kingdomes he was at length intertayned and much esteemed by Don Augustine who gaue vnto them both very great rentes and reuenewes in his country and they with their great zeale and exemplar life did much helpe and further the Christians thereof vntill at length in the yeare 1601. Canzuyedono Lord of Fingo after Don Augustines death and ouerthrow did rayse a cruell persecution against the Church in which they both of them suffered exceeding much For after many intreaties and perswasions to make them leaue their fayth he confiscated their landes houses and liuinges commanding them vpon paine of their liues not to go out of the Country and that no body should receaue them into their houses nor sell them any meate nor buy any thing for them taking away also their Children from them comanding and threating to keep them vntill they paid a great suÌ„me of money so that they were compelled to make themselues little houses or Cabbines of straw wherein they and their wiues family liued for the space of sit monthes at the end whereof seeing their constancy he tooke from them all he pleased and then expelled them out of the Country almost naked In this tyme they both of them wrote most feruorous letters worthy to be read vnto the rest of the Christians animating them to constancy and perseuerance manifesting therein also their owne desires to
of the Martyrdome of those that then were to dy First of all there went many of them before by six and six in a ranke then came the Martyrs the handes of the men being fast bound behind them the womens loose The little Iames intreated very hard that they would tye his hāds as they did the rest and scarce could they quiet him with telling him that there was neuer a cord to tye them withall They went one by one betwixt the Stewardes or Prefectes of the Confraternity with lighed candles in their hands in signification of the light of faith in their minds and burning loue of God in their hartes and after them a whole army of Christians singing aloud the Letanies of our Blessed Lady A vertuous man one of those that went in the company did offer to take vp Iames the little boy and to carry him in his armes but he humbly refusing his courtesy sayd I pray you let me go on foote for our Blessed Sauiour Iesus Christ I take it neyther went on horsbacke nor in a litter to be crucified and after this little labour I hope I shall haue certaine and eternall rest These wordes moued many that heard them vnto teares and made the good man take vp the holy Child by force and so he caried him vntil he came vnto the place of Martyrdome 18. Being come thither whilest the Officers were busy in binding them to the pillars of wood at the which they were to bee burned many came to take their leaues of them and to get some parcells of their garmentes to keep as Reliques In the meane while one of the Martyrs whose name was Leon Canyemō stood vp and spake aloud in this manner We be come hither good people to dye in the manner you see for the honor and glory of Almighty God and because we knowe there is no other meanes nor way vnto saluation but only by the holy Fayth of Iesus Christ and for it we ought not to make any reckoninge of this present life All you Christians that are come hither with so great feruour do knowe this well inough onely therefore we desire you for a farewell that you perseuer in the confession of this fayth without making any account in respect thereof of all that is in this world no nor of your very liues The rest which he speake could not be well heard After they were all bound to their pillars the Christians lifted vp aloft for the Martyrs and all the rest to looke and meditate vpon a very deuout picture of our Blessed Sauiour as he was bound to the pillar Then the souldiers putting fire vnto the wood and straw the Holy Martyrs in the middest therof withall deuotion called vpon the help and fauour of our Blessed Sauiour oftentymes to that end naming the most holy name of Iesus and al the Christians vpon their knees did sing the Creed the Pater noster Aue Maria and other praiers vntill the Martyrs had giuen their Holy Soules into the handes of God Iames the little Child when the ropes were burned with which he was bound vnto his pillar went treading vpō the Coales towardes his holy Mother without euer offering to go out of the fire as he might haue done As he went he sayd three tymes aloud Iesus Maria Iesus Maria and his Mother said vnto him looke vp my Child looke vp into heauen and so he did and then fell downe and dyed The Deuotion also of his holy sister the Virgin Magdalen was much noted of some and very worthily for when her handes were loosed the cordes wherewith they had beene bound being burned she tooke the hoate burning coales put them on her head for it is the custome of the Iaponians when they like any thing which is giuen them to put it on theyr heades in token that she did esteeme them as a Gatland of flowers and as pretious pearles wherewith being crowned and adorned she desired and meant to meet her heauenly spouse whome she loued aboue all other thinges and therewithall she gaue her soule into his holy handes Leon Canyemon making the signe of the Crosse gaue vp the Ghost and all of them made happy endes their soules being as it seemed more inflamed with the fire of the loue of God then their bodies scorched with the heate of the materiall fire The Christians who from the begining as I sayd before were al vpon their knees in prayer seeing that the holy Martyrs were now all dead reuerenced their holy ashes and without regard of the officers leaped into the fire tooke out thereof the Blessed bodies although therby some of them receaued no small hurt and domage by the fire A man of worth got the handes of the holy Virgin Martyr Magdalen and the Christians of Conzara got her body the other seauē were caried in Coffins to Nangasaqui and there deliuered to the Father Prouincial of the Society of Iesus and withall possible solemnity although not publique they were placed in their Church the Bishop of Iapon Don Luis Cerquyera being there present at that tyme and a little after the body of the holy Virgin Magdalen was brought thither also and laid with the rest So great was the deuotion of the Christians that they neyther left pillar nor coles that they did not take away for Reliques of them 23. The Lord Bishop made an authenticall information of al this history according to the custome of the Church and out of it was drawne that which is heere related A little after vpon the 29. of October another man named Thomas was put to death for the same cause He had beene banished eight yeares before out of the Kingdome of Fingo for the fayth of Christ at the present he had care of the Christians of a certaine town and he did it with such care diligence and fruit that many at his perswasion did confesse their fayth before the Iudges and for that cause Arimadono comaunded him to be put to death the which he endured very willingly and calling continually vpon the Blessed name of Iesus made an happy end How this last persecution of all did begin and of the causes thereof CHAP. V. MATTERS passing in the country of Arima in the manner before related there was all this while no change at all in the Citties of Meaco Fuximi and Ozaca nor in the Kingdome of Canga Noto of Bungo Fixen nor in Aqui a Citty of Firoxima nor in Nangasaqui and diuers other townes nor in the Ilandes of Xiqui and Cozura The Churches there stood open vnto all and Gods Word was freely preached therein although they were not without some feare and care to see what that tempest which threatned som greater storme to come would proue at length They celebrated in the yeare 1613. the Night of our Blessed Sauiour his Natiuity in all the places afore mentioned with great solemnity concourse and deuotion of the Christians And vpon the 27. of December begon in
in the sackes was so great that most of them or all did fall sicke therof 15. In Ozaca was the same affliction and persecution as in Meaco and the constancy of the Christians there no lesse then in the other place Those that went abroad about any busines left at home in writing how they were Christians that if there were any torments to be inflicted for being so they would returne presently to suffer them Others that were abroad when the newes was told them of the persecution left presently their businesse for the same end Some young youthes were most cruelly whipped by their parentes for being Christians and shut vp without any meate at all for a long tyme. Then arose a report that vpon a certaine day at such an houre the Christians should be put to death in such a market place Whereupon diuers of them did begin to giue all that they had vnto the poore and vpon the day appointed before the hour came there were more then three hundred come and expected in the place and many more there would haue beene had they not beene then by force deteyned by their freindes and kinsfolkes Fifty and eight were put in sacks in the manner afore rehearsed so carried through the streetes vnto a great bridge vpon the riuer where they were left fast bouÌ„d and diuers persons appointed to keepe them the rest were beaten away with cudgells yet as they went they did not cease to make publike profession of their fayth saying We are Christians 16. Amongst those that were put in sackes there were some Gentlemen of good worth who had thrust themselues into the thronge among the common people because they would not be fauoured nor exempted and a Nephew of the chiefe Lord of the Kingdome of Aua whose name was Iohn Xirey mon and his wife Magdalen no lesse noble then he she being then very great with child haâ—ing been banished a yeare and a halfe before thither for then fayth were both of them there also in the market place among the other Christians 17. That very night certaine Gentills came and asked that those that were put in sackes might be giuen vnto them and that they would be their suerties but the Christians refused their courtesy because it might be thereupon suspected that they had yealded to something that they ought not to haue done at length they let go the ordinary people and put 24. of the better sort into diuers prisons 18. In a towne neere vnto Ozaca the Gentills did take a Christian and because he would not deny his fayth they first pulled of all his clothes bound him to a piller and for two dayes together they burned him by little and little with dry reedes and straw the which they vse insteed of torches so that he could not dy of it because they would not do him the fauour to make him dye for Christ as he desired and being not able to ouercome him with all they could do to him they banished him together with other of his kinred that were Christians 19. The fury of this persecution did endure for ten daies space and at the end thereof there came from the Court letters in which the Xogun did declare Sangamidono for a Traytor and comanded that he should imediatly be banished into the Kingdome of Omi and that he spared his life in regard he had beene his Captayne so long tyme. And this was the reward of all his malice against the Christians And it was afterwards proued that that very day in which he pulled downe the Churches that very day was his Castle of Ondauara seized on all his landes and liuinges which were very great confiscated The Gentills themselues some of them did note how soone he was punished for his cruelty For conclusion of this Chapter I thinke it will not be amisse to relate a witty and pleasant prognostication which as they say was made in Meaco at this tyme by a Gentill one of their Southsayers For he casting a figure vpon this manner of proceeding neuer seene before of putting the Christians into sackes said these words The sackes be of Rice Rice is a seed that multiplyeth very much asigne that though they presse the Christian neuer so much they will greatly multiply The Gentills made a lest at it but some Christians thought that perhaps there was a greater mystery therin then was imagined Of some in Meaco Ozaca and Fuximi that were banished for Christian religion and others imprisoned CHAP. VII THE Christians of Meaco and Ozaca remayned prisoners a moneth But how great their valour courage and deuption was therein may well be gathered out of a letter which one of them wrote vnto a Father of the Society in this forme Vpon the eight day of this Moone they brought me vnto this prison with my wife and three Children I beseech you remember me in your holy Sacrifices and obteyne for me by your prayers of Almighty God perseuerance We are not vnmindful of those good consideratioÌ„s which you taught vs and although we be miserable sinners yet we do our endeauour euery day to communicate spiritually remembring our selues of the holy Sacrifice of the Masse We do also giue thankes dayly vnto Almighty God for his exceeding benefitts We feare no persecution nor esteeme our liues in any thing at all and this strength which we find and feele within our selue we acknowledge it for Gods fauour and the fruit of your care in teaching vs and we giue you thanâ—kes for all I vnderstand that all our companions stand very stedfast in their fayth of the which we are exceeding glad we are not forgetfull of them neyther day nor night And so once more desiring you would comend vs to Almighty God and giue vs your blessing I end 2. After this came the Xoguns sentence in which he comanded that all the prisoners with their wiues and Children should be banished to Taugaru which is at the end of al Iapone a very cold Countrey ouer against Tartaria and scarce inhabited and that those Gentlewomen which liued all together in one house in Meaco should be sent with other seauen or eight to Nangasaqui to be banished from thence out of Iapone and that those whose names were blotted out of the Catalogue should be compelled to follow some of the Sectes of Iapone There were ioyned together from Meaco and Ozaca vpon the 13. of Aprill threescore and thirteene who were deliuered vnto two Captaines to be carried into banishment but they seeing them to be so many and that some of them were knowne to be worthy and noble Captaines were afraid to take the charge of them so long away and therefore they intreated Itacuradono that eyther he would comand irons and fetters to be put vpon them or els some marke with fire to be made in their for heades wherby they might be knowne and taken againe in case they fled away from them Itacuradono laughing at them said It
indecent or ill beseeming Christian Gentlemen and all this hauing no example at all nor any other thinge besides their fayth and religion that might oblige or moue theÌ„ thereuÌ„to but only the speaches sermons and perswasions of a few poore religious men that were meere strangers vnto them of no authority command or power in the Country but rather much hated disgraced and abased by the Bonzi and most of those that did professe the Religion of Iapone 8. Their second comendation may be for the great zeale they alwayes shewed in defending of the Church ministers thereof in the great combates and contradictions which it had in the beginning thereof Immediatly almost after they were baptized Miyoridono and Daniedono Don Iohns vnckle killed the Cubosama who was then the Lord of all Iapone the Bonzi who were then great with the Dayri who was the true owner of the Empire tooke that opportunity to get the Fathers banished by publique proclamation from the Dayri consilcating their House and Church and very hardly letting them passe with life In this occasion these worthy Gentlemen were the principall defence and almost only refuge the Fathers had in almost three yeares that their banishment endured And when Nobunanga entred Meaco by force of armes Darius and Don Iusto by Vatadono his meanes who was Gouernour of Meaco got theÌ„ restored in honorable sorte with ample Patentes from the new Cubosama and Nobunanga to preach the Ghospell freely where they pleased in despite of all the Bonzi and of the Dayri himselfe And all the tyme that Nobunanga liued who fauoured Don Iusto very much they were perpetuall defenders and vpholders of the Fathers in many great and grieuous persecutions raysed against them by the Bonzi exposing many tymes to danger for their sakes their estates their honors and their liues 9. Exceeding great likewise was the zeale they had of the conuersion of soules vnto the Christian fayth In the tyme Don Iohn was Lord of the Kingdome of Tamba for afterwardes he lost it in the tyme of Nobunanga his warrs he was the cause of great good therein in that kind The Country of Tucacuqui whereof Darius Don Iusto were Lords was full of Bonzi hauing many ancient Temples therein and very much inhabited by a sort of Gentills that were most obstinate yet such was their zeale their care and industry that partly by entreaties partly by benefittes partly by disputations they moued and perswaded many to imbrace the Christian fayth so that within few yeares there remayned not so much as one Gentill in all the CouÌ„try nor any Temple that eyther was not destroied or turned into a Church nor a Bonzo that was not eyther conuerted or els went willingly away vnto some other place The like they did in another Country that was giuen by Nobunanga and in Acaxi they begon to do the same By which may well be gathered the exceeding great number of Gentills that by their industry and meanes receaued the Christian faith They builded many Churches in all the townes set vp many crosses in high wayes and vpon montaines helping in all thinges the Fathers of the Society that had care there of the conuersion and instruction of the people and being still the first in prayer pennance and all other pious workes as Fathers and Maysters of their subiectes to the great admiration of all the Gentills that liued theraboutes 10. The same pious offices did they likewise exercise being at the Court among other Lords and Noble men For Don Iusto in particuler being so wise and prudent and so esteemed as he was generally of them all would neuer let occasion passe but by one meanes or other he would procure to giue notice to them all of the truth and solidity of Christian beliefe and of the falshood errors of their sectes and that with such efficacity that all the most principall Christians of the Court were conuerted by his perswasion or example and the Gentills that were the Fathers friends were al gained by his meanes Inso much that for diuers yeares the Gentills called the Christian religion the religion of Tacayama not knowing other name for it but this of Don Iusto who was so zealous a professor therof 11. Their integrity and examplar life was also very notable Darius being now old gaue ouer his estate and gouerment to spend his tyme in the chiefe busines of the saluation of his soule and the conuersion of his subiectes to the fayth of Christ and so dyed a very holy and a happy death in the yeare 1595. And Don Iusto his integrity and purity of life was so great he being a most noble and couragious gentleman in the very flower of his age and in the middest of manifold euill occasions that Taycosama the Emperour himselfe did highly coÌ„mend him for the same not without great wondeing thereat And many noble men that were conuinced in their vnderstanding of the truth and verity of Christian religion by the sermons which they heard sayd that the reasons why they were not baptized was because they could not liue a continent life in that manner as Don Iusto did it being a thing vnworthy to a noble man or to an honest mind to professe a religion and not liue accordingly therto 12. They were all also most deuout vnto the holy Sacramentes continually frequenting the same and all other actions of religious piety and so great was the respect they bare vnto the Fathers who were their spirituall guydes and Maysters that it was noted in Don Iusto that in the space of fifty yeares in which he dayly conuersed with them he was neuer heard nor knowne to speake so much as one only vnreuerent word to any one of them all for whatsoeuer cause or occasion that was offered And which is more notwithstanding all the good he did vnto them and for the Church and generall cause of all the Christians or euills that he suffered for the same it seemed vnto him to haue â—eene very small and not more but that which he was bound to do in honour â—nd yet three seuerall tymes had he for â—â—em and for his fayth and religion left â—â—s liuing and estate lost his honor and â—eputation and his life also as far as lay 〈◊〉 him to doe 13. The first tyme was soone after 〈◊〉 was a Christian vpon this occasion â—raqui the Lord of the Kingdome of â—zunocuni a great friend and benefactor 〈◊〉 his did determine to ryse against Noâ—â—nanga and ioyne with his enemies â—â—n Iusto was afflicted therewithall and â—â—d all his endeauour possible to make â—â—em friendes and to oblige Araqui the â—â—re vnto him he did renew an oath of â—â—elity and freindship which before he â—â—d made vnto him and gaue vnto him â—â—hostages and pledges of his fayth his â—â—ly Sonne and a sister of his owne â—â—o was then but a child Hereupon â—â—aqui put the matter into his handes â—â—d being in his iourney towards the Court about that