in a cold Sweat and seeing thus his End to approach yet seem'd not the least dismay'd still ordering his Imperial Affairs as when in perfect Health his chiefest Care being onely for Fideri to set the Crown on his Head And after serious consideration he found it convenient to make use in this weighty Concern of Ongosschio King of eight Provinces and in great esteem with the Japanners whom he sought by all means possible to oblige and to that end sending for him to Fisstima when he came into his Presence the Emperor now very weak faintly declar'd his Mind to this effect His Speech to Ongosschio Death sits on my Lips but I fear it not since it is incident and common to all Men The greatest of my trouble is for my Son but six years old and therefore not in condition to take present Possession of my Empire His Age requires a Guardian one no less Faithful than Prudent and who will when he attains to his fifteenth Year with the usual Ceremonies according to the Japan manner establish him in the Throne I therefore have thought none more fit than your self by reason of your admir'd Wisdom to undertake so grand a Concern And here I leave you my Empire and Son that you may restore it to him when he is fifteen years old If those former Favors which I do not doubt but you acknowledge with Thanks do not bind you to a faithful performance of this Trust yet I hope your Care will be the more when my Son shall marry with your Daughter by which means the Empire will ever be Commanded by our Race and both our Successors sway the Japan Scepter Here Taicosama's Voice failing he was necessitated to leave speaking but soon after recovering his spirits a little which Ongosschio observing made this Reply Ongosschio's Answer Most Illustrious Prince When Nobunanga was slain I was onely King of the Province Micaua but since the Gods have set you on the Throne you have added seven Kingdoms more to my first all the eight call'd by one Name of Quanto for which I can return Thanks to none but your Majesty Besides many other Favors receiv'd which considering my own unworthiness makes me with admiration gratefully to record your exceeding Bounty The greatest of my Performances can never sufficiently make known how much I own my self oblig'd nor can my greatest Services declare such suitable Resentments as I would readily upon a fair occasion shew However all my Abilities shall be laid out to yours and your Sons Service in such manner that had I a thousand Lives I would freely and with much joy sacrifice them all for the sake of Taicosama and his Seed And indeed have made it my sole Study since your Majesties Sickness to use all Care and Diligence for the promoting of Fideri before you your self made your Will known to me But since most Mighty Prince you have bestow'd two Favors more upon me which so much exceed the former that I am amaz'd thereat I should be most unworthy if I did not spend my Endeavors in the Service of Fideri over whom you have chosen me as Guardian not without having the Chief Command over all Japan for a time and also to be his Father-in-law by his Marrying of my Daughter These Words Ongosschio utter'd with a passionate grief and having ended his Speech the young Prince Fideri and Ongosschio's Daughter came before Taicosama lying on his Death-bed Marriage concluded between Fideri and Ongosscio's Daughter there to be joyn'd in Marriage according to the Japan-Customs And notwithstanding the Emperor lay striving with Death yet their Wedding-Solemnities were perform'd after the ancient manner onely narrow'd into the compass of one day Taicosama takes the Oath of Allegiance of the Kings After the Feast ended Taicosama requir'd all the Kings and Vice-Roys to swear Allegiance to Fideri and that they would establish him in the Throne in his fifteenth year and mean while give due Obedience to Ongosschio as being his Guardian till of Age. Ongosschio seal'd this Oath with his own Blood And Taicosama to oblige those which had sworn gave them all according to their several Qualities many rich Presents And this Bounty extended so far that several of his old Servants got great Riches by it Besides Ongosschio he chose four Councellors of State to assist him in the Government and presently after appointed Asonodangio a Person highly esteem'd in his Favor to be President of the Council and in the mean while to leave all Officers in their respective Places and to break no manner of Laws or Orders establish'd in his Life-time Then he advis'd the Council to be Faithful and Loyal amongst themselves without which no Government could subsist long And for the preservation of such a Unity and Peace Makes Marriages to keep them all in peace he made several Nuptials upon his Death-bed joyning those of the Noblest Houses in Marriage together taking several Kings Daughters and bestowing them on other Kings Sons Why he inlarg'd the Castle of Osacca He enlarg'd also the Castle of Osacca and built therein many Palaces in which the chiefest Lords with their Families were to reside For expediting which Work thousands of Artificers were imploy'd And to the end he might obtain his desire he commanded that his Death might be kept private for a time which he did because Japan upon the Decease of the Emperor being subject to many Civil Wars the foremention'd Castle should be fully finish'd and that the Kings which were far from their own Countrey and without any Forces might be kept there as in a Prison till the Council were fully setled in their Authority Would be honor'd as a God after his death ¶ BUt long before Taicosama had taken great care to make himself Immortal For which purpose he in his Life-time built a Temple reckon'd amongst the stateliest in Japan in which he erected a Golden Image representing him to the life which stood on Marble His Body he order'd to be put in a Coffin without burning according to the common Custom When he serv'd for a Day-laborer he was call'd Toquixiro after that Faxiba and at last coming to the Imperial Throne Taicosama But at his Death he desir'd to be made a Came which is a Supreme Deity and would be styl'd Xin Fachiman that is The new God of War by reason of his many valiant Exploits This was his Request when he lay on a Flock-bed cover'd with Silk Japan Quilts miserably tormented and consum'd to nothing but Bones Is carry'd into a higher Chamber At length he desir'd to be carried out of the hearing of any Noise into an upper Chamber in the Castle Fissima that he might lye quietly without any disturbance So taking leave of all the Princes and his Son Fideri admonishing him from that time forwards to call Ongosschio Father and shew him due Reverence and Respect being now deliver'd into his Custody and he chosen as his
to have been Men. If any shall ask Why are they believ'd to be Gods Because they were the Greatest and Powerfullest Kings and are for Commemoration Consecrated for a Reward of their Valiant Acts or for their Bounties or Noble Arts found and invented by them and because belov'd by their Subjects St. Augustine tells us That the great Gods which Cicero calls by peculiar Names Aug. de Civic Dei l 8. c. 5. as Jupiter Juno Saturn Vulcan Vesta and several others which Varro endeavors to make Governors of the World are all found to have been Men. Moreover Diodorus Siculus says Diod. Sic. Hâ—st lib. 1. That Julius Caesar was for his valiant Atchievements in the Wars call'd a God His Successor Augustus promoted him above the Stars Of which Manil. Astron lib 4. Marcus Manilius the Latin Poet saith thus Himself makes Gods and a fresh Numen treats The Stars admire Hero's should take their Seats Amongst them but not we who understand Augustus the Worlds Lord did so command Pliny in his Panegyricks sung before the Emperor Trajan Plin. Panegyr Consecrated Heaven to his Predecessor Augustus Nero made Claudius a God on purpose to mock him Titus made Vespasian a Deity and Domitian Titus the one to be the Son of a God as the other a Brother Common amongst the Ancients to make Men Gods It was common amongst the Greeks to Worship deceas'd Heroes for Immortal Deities As the Lacedemonians did Agamemnon General of the Army that lay ten Years in Siege before Troy and with him his Brother Menelaus the Spartan King The Arcadians reverenc'd Aristaeus because he taught them first how decay'd Bee-hives might be supply'd with fresh Bees Far more strange things did the Lybians as Arsenius Monembasiensis witnesseth Monemb Apophthegon who worship'd Psaphon for a God that was a Man of mean Condition but had a peculiar Art to teach Birds to speak of which he learn'd some to say The Birds make a God Psaphon is a God which when they could perfectly do he let them fly one after another These Words being often heard in the Air were at last so taken notice of that many People flock'd together from all parts of the Countrey to hear them And to win a firm belief to his Design he spar'd no labor still teaching fresh Birds the like Words which having taught them he let fly The Carthaginian General Hanno having had private Information thereof endeavor'd by the same Art to be esteem'd as a God But he Aelian Hist li. 24. c. 30. as AElian witnesses bestow'd his Labor in vain for having not taught them perfectly they in stead of saying Hanno is a God when they were let loose sung their own natural Notes The Argives honor'd Perseus as a God for his Noble Exploits The Epidaneans worshipp'd Aesculapius because he had found out many Mysteries for Curing of Distempers which not long after the Greeks follow'd and at last also the Romans which after built him a Temple without Rome The Athenians ador'd the Soothsayer Amphilochus Liv. lib. 45. whose Temple as Livy relates though very ancient yet was pleasant to behold being surrounded by Fountains and Brooks of Fresh-water Moreover most of the Athenian Kings are Registred among the number of the Gods In like manner they chose Triptolemus for a Deity because he first invented Plowing and Sowing and Euricthonius because he was swallow'd up by the Earth with a Chariot and four Horses Cicer. de Nat. de Or. li. 3. Erechteus they promoted with his Daughters above the Stars because the Father obey'd the Oracle at Delphos presaging the Victory to the Athenians against the Thracian Eumolpus if the King did Sacrifice one of his Daughters and the Virgin because she died willingly for her Countreys sake in the Village Hyacinthus was made a Goddess Theseus also having fought valiantly against Taurus which was Minos the King of Creta's General had a Temple erected in the middle of Athens in which his Bones were worshipp'd The same Honor was done to Codrus because he went in Beggars Weeds into the Peloponnesian Army there wrangling with the Soldiers till he was kill'd that by his Death the Conquest might fall on the Athenians side as the Delphian Oracle had foretold Curt. lib. 7. Therefore Augustus says The Athenians worshipp'd Codrus as a God because he went and sought his own Death for his Countreys good The Thebans ador'd their King Liber he being the first that press'd Wine out of the Grape And besides Liber his beautiful Ino with her Son Melicerte because they both leap'd from a high Rock into the Sea This Custom is still held in use amongst the Japanners they being taken there for Saints who for the Honor of Amida Xaca or any other of the Japan Gods hanging great Stones about their Necks drown themselves as we have before related Furthermore there were formerly few Kings and chiefly over Egypt Persia and India which if they had us'd no Tyranny were either in their Life-time or at least after their Death worshipp'd as Gods Cleo Shield-bearer to Alexander the Great says thus in Curtius's History The Persians worship not onely their Kings for Gods with great Zeal but very circumspectly for Hercules and Bacchus themselves were not install'd amongst the Gods before they overcame the Malice of their Maligners Strange Customs us'd by the Romans when they made Gods The Romans made strange Preparations when they gave the Heavens to their Deceas'd Emperors They built a Funeral Pile like a Tent adorning it with Gold Ivory and costly Pictures and being sharp on the top they plac'd a Crane upon it building it as it were with three Stories which they stow'd full of rich Gums and sweet Perfumes Under the lower Story stood a rich and stately Bed of Silk with Coverings of Purple embroyder'd with Gold on which lay the Image of the Emperor The Consuls Knights and other Persons of great Quality attended the Bier to the Funeral Pyre singing Eulogies and shewing great Reverence to the same The Tent was set round about on Fire and the Smoke and Flame thereof made the Crane fly up directly into the Air and thereby was judg'd to carry the Soul to the Gods whilst the Flame purified the Body from all Corruption This done the Senate made a firm Law That the Emperor from that time forward should be honor'd as a God ¶ BUt to return from this Digression Whilst the Council and Daifusama were busie to make Taicosama according to his earnest desire a Xin Fachima or God of War they fell at variance amongst themselves The Council strengthning their Party by chusing four more to their assistance and Daifusama travelling as we said before to Quanto The Difference in short time grew to that height that it could no ways be decided but by the Sword Whereupon both Parties rais'd all the Force they could possible The Council studied at last to stop all the Ways towards Meaco and Listed many
two days and two nights with the Corps where sitting round about the Altar they may not during that time stir a foot from thence but must cry continually without ceasing to which every one uses her utmost endeavor thereby to express her exceeding forrow for if otherwise they forget this Ceremony they are immediately without regard of their Quality miserably beaten with short thick Cords by Women order'd by the King for that purpose On one side at some distance from the five Towers stood a brave Scaffold cover'd with thick gilded and oyl'd Paper on which the chief Priests of Siam sat Praying for the Deceased sometimes ceasing they gave Alms amongst the common People as abundance of Clothes Pots Pans Beds and other Houshold-stuff and also Carpenters Tools Axes Saws Augers and the like But besides this prime Scaffold there were several less for the ordinary Priests whose numbers amounted to above a thousand which were also employ'd either in Praying or distributing of Alms amongst the People In a spacious Place round about the five Towers stood twenty more out of which after Sun-set for fourteen days together rare and artificial Fire-works were shown The King burns his Daughters Corps The five and twentieth of February the whole Train that attended the Funeral two days before appear'd again in a far more splendid manner The King himself being present Rode on a young Elephant to the Altar on which the Corps stood where dismounting he set fire on it with a lighted Toâ—ch which suddenly grew to that heighth that the Flame took hold of all the five Towers and burnt not onely his Royal Daughters dead Body but all those Riches with which she sat in the Gold Chest when after some hours the heat gone and the Place grown cool he caus'd a search to be made amongst the Coals for the Bones Strange wonder of a piece of Bloody Flesh Ashes and melted Gold himself holding a Golden Urn in his Hand and receiving the gather'd Bones into it when a piece of raw Flesh all bloody which the Fire had not consum'd was found at which the King being exceedingly amaz'd ask'd his Council Oja Sabartiban which stood next to him and help'd him to gather the Reliques that were left what he thought concerning it Sabartiban answer'd Most mighty Lord your great understanding easily apprehends the meaning the business being so very apparent The King struck with a consternation ran immediately like a distracted Person to his Palace saying Now I see it plainly what I so long doubted namely that my Daughter was poyson'd Wherefore he suddenly seised on all the Women not excepting any that ever Serv'd the Princess in her Life-time and committed them all to safe Custody nay he took all those in his whole Dominions that at any time convers'd with her The eight and twentieth of February he began his scrutiny three hundred Ladies of Honor and other great Persons of Quality which had ever been in Company with the King's Daughter whilst she was living were driven through a huge Fire that according to the Siam Law they might be try'd if they were guilty or not which they knew by the Flames hurting or preserving them This Trial was perform'd not without great Charms and Incantations yet all of them passing safe through the Fire without receiving the least hurt were again set at liberty Mean while there was great suspicion that the youngest Daughter to the former King for the present King had in a Rebellion bereav'd his Predecessor both of his Life and Crown might have committed the Fact because being this King's Concubine she had sometime shew'd her self very much dissatisfi'd because he shew'd such exceeding kindness and great respects to his eldest Daughter and regarded not hers who also acknowledg'd him for her Father and indeed the suspicion grew the greater when the King was inform'd that this his Concubine was observ'd to laugh whilst every one present at the Funeral bewail'd the death of the Deceased For this jealousie the Princess with a great Train of her Ladies of Honor was forc'd also to go through the Fire all of them passing through without being hurt except the Princess who was very much burnt on both her Feet therefore she was immediately loaden with Silver Fetters and committed to a Prison where none were suffer'd to speak with her On the second of March she had publick Audience before all the Mandarins or Lords where whether out of fear of exquisite tortures or terrifi'd with the King's anger she freely said If the King will promise upon Oath that he will immediately Execute me and keep me no longer alive to be a scorn and derision to the World there will need but little trouble to find out the mystery of his Daughters death The Mandarins which remembred the former Condition and State of this Princess when her Father was King of Siam were no less amaz'd at her noble courage than inwardly prick'd with compassion to find out a means for her Deliverance but the fear they had of the present King quenched all such motions They reported that which she had said to his Majesty who immediately promis'd upon Oath that the Princess after real confession should not live an hour to be despis'd by the World Upon which she confessed That not without help of her Nurse she had prepar'd a Poyson which was so Charm'd that one piece of his or her Flesh that took it should not be consum'd by Fire whene're the so poyson'd should be burnt This Compound by a mistake the King's Daughter greedily swallow'd which thus prepar'd was intended for her Father that the death of so bloody a Tyrant who like a Villain treacherously took the Scepter out of my Fathers Hand that was lawful King of Siam and oppress'd the true Royal Family might satisfie my Revenge for my Fathers Death and to deliver those of Royal Blood from insupportable slavery No sooner was this Relation of hers carry'd to the King but he caused a great piece of Flesh to be cut out of the Princesses Side which he forc'd her with great threatnings to eat up and whilst she was swallowing the last Bit some of his Executioners appointed for that purpose fell upon her with drawn Swords and left not off till they had chopp'd her into a thousand pieces which they afterwards threw into the River Judia Not long after the Princesses Brother Son to the depos'd King of Siam was also Executed he being in the former Insurrection spar'd alive because he was suppos'd to be frantick but at his Death appear'd the contrary he also subtily contriving with his Sisters to destroy the King and make himself Master of the Crown and had not the Business been untimely betray'd he had no small hopes to repossess his Fathers lost Kingdoms Strange Image in Siam When the fore-mention'd Funeral Ceremonies were ended the King caus'd an Image to be made on which he bestow'd not onely all the melted Gold in the middle
Admiral of the Sea ingrossing the whole Indian Trade to himself holding Correspondence and driving Commerce with the Spaniards at the Philippines with the Hollanders in Formosa and Batavia and with the Portuguese at Macaw and Japan Through his Hands also was all the Chinese Merchandise Transported abroad and Foreign Commodities Imported thither by which he got such a Mass of Treasure Commanding at least Three thousand Vessels which rais'd his Ambition so high that he thought of no less than to be Sole Commander at Land as well as at Sea But the Tartar not a little troubled at such his Greatness and Power nor being able to redress himself at Sea having no Fleet of his own since Strength would not prevail us'd Policy promising him if he would come in and be as a Friend to make him King of two Kingdoms viz. Fokien and Quantung Thus allur'd by the Golden Bait of a Crown little suspecting that under such fair Proffers lay worse Designs he accepted the Overture and brought his Fleet into the Haven before the City Focheu where going to Treat further concerning the Emperors Gracious Offer the King of Fokien poyson'd him at a Banquet His death which his Son and Brothers hearing suddenly made their escape to Sea revenging their Brothers Death on all whoever happen'd in their way and whilst their Fury was thus high they fell upon Formosa Coxenga formerly a Clothier of Putman afterwards Governor of Tyoan had now the Command of the Fleet and having a private grudge at the Hollanders because they would not assist him against the Tartars went with six hundred Junks whereof some carried forty Guns well Mann'd and provided with all Necessaries Coxenga lands in Formosa from China to Formosa where he Landed several thousands of his Men who made so great a Havock and Slaughter amongst the Inhabitants His Cruelty there that neither sparing Young nor Old they put them all to the Sword The Women they stripp'd stark naked driving them through their Army and Ravishing them Such as they thought not handsom they more disfigur'd putting out their Eyes cutting off their Noses and driving them in that lamentable condition to the Fort Zelandia Others they hew'd in pieces to which miserable end came also three Dutch Ministers Anthonius Hambrock Arnoldus Vinsenus and Peter Mus. These and the like Cruelties they us'd and others such as were never heard of by any The first Assault they made was upon the Fort Kelang which being too weak to resist against so powerful an Enemy the Besieg'd were forc'd to a Surrender The Chineses being encourag'd by this their good Success march'd next to Zelandia which was Fortified with three double Walls standing upon an Isthmus between Formosa and the Island Baxambaya Close by and under the Command of the Fort the Netherlanders had setled their Residences This Plot the Chineses long before had in Design The Chineses had a Design along time against Formosa which to effect the better they brought their Junks into the Haven or Tyoan a place of Free-Trade for the Chineses many of them residing there who against their coming had furnish'd themselves privately with store of Arms and cover'd their Houses with Cow-hides and had all things in such a readiness that upon a Moments warning they cast up Breast-works against the Fort Zelandia whereupon Hans Jurricaen a Serjeant at Arms and some of the Besieg'd went to Coxengo to understand and take a view of the Enemies Forces Before the Fort stood a Bulwark just behind the place of Execution against which the Chineses cast up a Platform which did much hurt to the Fort Zelandia and also took the Bulwark before the Castle in which a hundred Chineses were blown up into the Air for the Hollanders upon their departure from the same left lighted Matches in their Store-Chamber where the Powder lay which took Fire just at that instant when the Chineses enter'd But this Loss of theirs cost the Hollanders dear For though soon after there arriv'd five Ships from Batavia to the Relief of Zelandia against the Chineses yet they had such ill success in their first Attempt that going ashore on Baxombaya to Storm a Fort which the Chineses had newly cast up they were so roughly entertain'd that they were forc'd to Retreat Hollanders are beaten by the Chineses with the Loss of Three hundred and eighty Men. Upon this their so great Defeat Coxengo sent in a Dutch Minister one of his Prisoners to Frederick Cojet who Commanded Zelandia advising him with all speed to deliver up the Town and Castle which if he refus'd and obstinately stood out he would without Mercy put all his Prisoners immediately to the Sword But the Governor would not so deliver up All and such a Charge as he was intrusted with and so slighting his Threats sent his Refusal Upon which Coxengo finish'd the bloody Massacre which he had begun putting all the Remainder of the Prisoners to the Sword Yet Cojet though much troubled at the loss of so many of his Countrey-men stoutly defended the Fort against all their Forces till his Men wearied with continual Duty being daily Storm'd and Assaulted on all sides tir'd and out of heart he not being able to hold out longer Surrender'd Cojet delivers up Zelandia to the Chineses The Articles were these That the Besieg'd might in safety go aboard their Ships That whatever Prisoners were taken since the Massacre on both sides should be exchang'd and the Fort Zelandia with all the Treasure Ammunition and whatever else belong'd to it to be deliver'd Where Coxenga found ten Tun of Gold forty Pieces of Ordnance and other things of great Value So accordingly they went aboard their five Ships and Sail'd back having sustain'd all these great Losses to Batavia where Cojet was call'd in question concerning his delivering up of the Fort Zelandia the State there being much troubled with the Damage that might follow by the loss of such a considerable Place The Japan Trade was molested thereby from whence their Trade to Japan might be utterly obstructed by the Chinese Junks Mean while the Tartar the new Emperor of China sent Ambassadors to the Hollanders at Batavia offering to assist them and help to revenge their Cause by driving the Chinese Pyrates out of Formosa The Netherland-Fleet proceed on in their Voyage to Japan ¶ IN the Interim the Ambassadors for Japan being upon their intended Voyage came at last to the Island St. Clara before the Southern Point of Cikako which is a Rocky and High Land from whence Steering North and by West they were incounter'd the second Night with a great Storm which overcoming though with great difficulty they descry'd on the seventeenth of September the Fore-land of Nangesaque of which nevertheless being doubtful they yet continu'd on their Course and about Noon Weathering the Point they got to the Northward The Land lying low and they Strangers to the Coast they were much
Learning Towards the East end of Jedo appear two fair Temples both Dedicated to their god Amida The Temples of Amida But distinguish'd by calling the one onely Amida and the other The Golden Amida At the farthest end of the City opposite to the Village Tonquerba is the Court of the Emperors Chief Custom and Collector in the East part of Jedo The Empress worships Amida ¶ FAther Lodowick Frojus relates in his Letter from Canga an Island in Japan dated Anno 1565. That the Emperor Cuba his Royal Consort had built a Chappel in her own Palace Dedicating it to Amida in which she daily attended with a great Train of Ladies there paying her Devotions to his Statue representing a comely Youth Crown'd with Gold that Reflected Rayes like Sun-Beams for when the Emperor Cubus was slain by the Rebels Diandono and Mioxindono and the Empress making her escape took Sanctuary in a Monastery near Miaco where being discover'd the Priviledge of the place not protecting they sent an Executioner to take away her life she preparing to obey the hard Sentence call'd for Pen Ink and Paper and Wrighting to her two Daughters which were also Imprison'd in the next House Informing them That she was to be unjustly Murder'd but she rejoyc'd and would be glad to Imbrace Death because she doubted not but that Amida had found this means to bring her to a better Habitation and the sooner to enjoy that Paradise where her Dear Husband so lately Murder'd remains expecting by her company the full accomplishment of both their Happiness Then Sealing the Letter she thank'd the Bonzi for his kind entertaining of her in their Colledge and drawing near to Amida's Altar where kneeling she lifted up her Hands and call'd twice on the god for to forgive her her Sins Then the Bonzi laid his Hand upon her Head as a Token that she had Absolution from all her Offences then going from thence into a private Room she lifted up her hands again to Heaven and cry'd Amida Amida which said Was beheaded she was Beheaded Images of Amida are divers Furthermore it is to be observed that there are several Images Representing this god for whereas he sometimes is made as we said before with a Dogs Head riding on a Seven-Headed Horse another resembling a Naked Youth with Holes in his Ears sitting on a large Rose Carv'd of Wood and in a strange Shape with a Fantastick Cap on his Head slit before with two large Buttons on the top with a comely and youthful Countenance in his Ears hang two Rings one within another about his Neck a Scarf his Breast cover'd with an Oval Plate curiously Engraven over his Shoulders and Back hangs a Coat of Feathers neatly Wrought and joyn'd together in his Hands a String of Beads his Breast and Belly exceeding large sitting on a great Cushion before him stands several Japan Letters Engraven on a square Stone They also place oftentimes near their god Amida another Idol with thre◠Heads which are cover'd with one flat Cap or Bonnet joyn'd close together their Chins Hairy about the Neck a Pastboard Band on each side four Arms and Hands the Breast and Waste girded with five Strings of Pearl the Belly appears like the Body of the Sun darting Rays with several Characters in the middle the Walls are all hung with rich and costly Japan Habits and before them many burning Lamps A very stately Temple with a thousand Images near Meaco But besides these two Temples of Amida in Jedo there is a most famous Chappel about a League from Meaco being of more antiquity erected by some of their antient Emperors and since by the Modern enlarg'd and beautifi'd being four hundred and twenty Foot long having two great Porches with Portcullises in the middle where entring you may first see a large Seat on which sits an Image bigger than the Life resembling a Giant with Holes in his Ears Bald-headed and shaven after the manner of the Indian Brachmans over this huge Figure hang several Cups on both sides divers shapes of Armed Soldiers Morisco Dancers Exotick Wizards and other dreadful Figures with antick Gestures Their Wind and Thunder also are personated in terrible Figures Then they enter the Chappel ascending on seven Steps having five hundred Idols on each side fix'd to the Wall all representing Canon the Son of Amida with amiable Looks each having thirty Arms two of which are of ordinary size but all the other very small and in every Hand two Arrows on their Breasts are engraven seven little Faces on their Heads Golden Crowns with Strings of Diamonds Moreover not onely the Chains Bells and other things belonging to these Images but also the Statues themselves are all Massie Gold wrought by the Goldsmith insomuch that the beholders Eyes dazle at the glory and splendor of Canon's Chappel To which most People from all Parts of Japan repair to perform their Devotions and the rather because there are many more Temples near it to which they also resort upon the same account Description of an University in Japan ¶ ABout two Miles from the aforemention'd Chappel is a famous University built at the Foot of a Hill and divided into several Halls Colledges Cloisters surrounded by a pleasant Stream near which are many Chappels in some of which they worship a horrible Image representing as we suppose the Devil On the top of the Hill appears three great Temples built of Wood on exceeding large and thick Pillars the Ground Pav'd with polish'd Marble Of the Idol Xaca In one of these stands a very large Image of their god Xaca having many lesser Statues plac'd on both sides of him at his back hangs a Piece of Parchment to which are joyn'd two thousand broad Seals near which stands forty Representations of two-year-old Children on each side of the Temple are two foul and horrible Monsters Arm'd with great Clubs All these Images and Seals are richly Gilt. In the second Temple or rather a Theatre for there they keep all their Commencements promoting of Students according to their several Merits to Places and Dignities which they perform thus The Proficient and the Master of this Ceremony are placed in the middle of the Stage with Penons and Flags hanging over their Heads where the Graduate in a formal manner beseeches a Prime Doctor to put him in Orders and prefer him according to his Deserts which done he takes Place as he is advanced The Temple for the Porcupine This Edifice is dedicated to the Porcupine amongst them the Embleme of Learning but they erect no Altar nor Image for him as for other gods but onely hang the dead Animal up in the Roof of the Hall that when the Students implore this Deity to fill them with Arts and Sciences they may lift with their Eyes their Hearts also to Heaven The third exceeds the other two in heighth and beauty Palaces for Scholars Here are other several Halls adorn'd with
Silk when they are ready the Drummers beat and the signal being given they start the Race being betwixt a Man and a Horse they thus perform The Man holds the Horse by a single Rein drawn out with which he must not straiten nor hold in the Horse who runs at his full speed and the men by him when drawing near the Goal the foremention'd Posts and Cord the Horse and he must leap over at once together which done with equal dexterity he gains the propos'd Reward or Prize which if he fail making a feeble or no performance he not onely looseth the glory of the Victory but also all manner of Court-Preferment ¶ BUt as to what concerns the Dayro he is the onely true and lawful Heir of Japan and was formerly held in such Veneration by the Japanners that they honor'd him as a god and by this his great respect he kept the Empire a long time in Peace and Quietness till Anno 1550. During the Dayro's Government Japan never tasted the inconveniencies of a Civil War which after his removal from the Throne Civil Wars were terrible in Japan the reasons thereof brake out in that nature that scarce any Countrey in the World was ever a greater Stage or Blood-shed The salvage cruelties which they us'd against one another in that grand Commotion are unexpressable the Conquerors turn'd their new-gotten Provinces top-si-turvey killing not sparing Infants in the Cradle destroying and burning both Towns and Villages of which some to this day lie bury'd in their own Rubbish by which they sufficiently testifie the Destructions which were made by their Civil Wars in which Japan was turmoil'd above fifty years The occasion and beginning was thus The Dayro who is accounted so holy that the Sun must not shine upon him nor his Feet touch the Earth nor his Hair or Nails ever suffer'd to be cut which Custom hath been in use from many Ages to this day had a hundred and eighteen years ago two Sons of which the second according to an antient Law supply'd the place of Captain-General to be ready on all occasions to quell all manner of Insurrections either by substitute Kings or Subjects The eldest expected after his Fathers Decease to possess the Throne during whose life he held no Command Their Mother out of her affections to both prevail'd so far with the Dayro that the General-ship should be so divided betwixt both the Brothers that they might Command their Forces Alternately each his Trienial But the youngest when the time came that he should Resign his Commission to his eldest Brother refus'd and privately chose several Princes of Japan for to assist him if need should require by which means he Fortifi'd himself so strongly that he car'd for no Forces whatsoever no not his Father himself who immediately chose another General granting him Commission not onely to subdue but kill his Rebellious Son Soon after several of his Substitute Kings raising all their Forces brought a mighty Army together in the Field with which they went on so successfully that in short time they utterly defeated and destroy'd the Rebel and all his Forces Insurrection against the Dayro This was the first Rebellion and Insurrection that was made against the Dayro but by the death of his Son the War was no way finish'd For the conquering General taking that opportunity as having all the Forces under his Command after the Decease of the Dayro made himself Emperor of Japan Against him the young Dayro arose notwithstanding the new Emperor allow'd him all his former Revenues and shew'd him the same Respect as had formerly been shown to his Father At last the Dayro march'd towards the new Emperor whom by means of a chosen General by the Japanners call'd Cubo he defeated and slew This Conquering General not regarding the miserable end of the new-slain Emperor aim'd also at the Crown making himself absolute Master of all the Forces The Inland Wars in Japan are very cruel From hence proceeded a bloody War Kings and Princes dividing the Countrey appropriating Territories and Provinces to themselves which was not done without much trouble for by this means not onely Countrey against Countrey and City against City but also petty Villages had peculiar Wars one with another those which were Conquer'd were sure not to find the least mercy for they neither spar'd Houses nor Temples nor indeed poor Infants consuming and destroying all by Sword and Fire so that in short time whole Cities lay bury'd in Ashes Mioxindeu◠opposeth Cubo This new Cubo overcoming all at last setled himself on the Imperial Throne which was but for a small time for when he thought himself surest not thinking of the least Insurrection Mioxindono whom he had entrusted with all his Forces joyn'd in conspiracy with Dajondono Lord of Nara who had gotten an Army as we said before of twelve thousand Men which they drew up close to Meaco Soon after Mioxindono accompany'd with a strong Life-guard enter'd the City under pretence to congratulate the Emperor for some prime favors which he had pleas'd to shew him And to that purpose that he might the better bereave the Emperor of his Life privately and without disturbance he invited him to a Banquet in the Cloyster of the Bonzi near Meaco where he intended to put in Execution his bloody Design But the Emperor Cubo scenting the business suspected it the more because he had information that the Army was drawn up near Meaco made all things in readiness for his escape who being on the Way was perswaded and call'd back by some of his Council telling him that they could not perceive any such danger in the business accounting it ignoble for an Emperor to flye from a Prince which was his own Subject But in the interim Mioxindono entred the City Meaco with all his Forces and drew up towards the Palace but before he committed any hostility he sent to the Emperor Cubo demanding to send him the Heads of some of his Nobles whose insupportable Greatness as he pretended stood in his way which if the Emperor would grant a Peace should immediately be concluded and he would suddenly withdraw his Forces and depart from the City The Herald brought a Letter in which was written the Names of those Grandees which Mioxindono would have Executed An antient Courtier being sent from Cubo receiv'd the Paper which not without many reproaches to the Rebels he tore to pieces and returning again to the Emperors Presence One of the Emperors Courtiers stab himself drew out a Stilletto with which he desperately Stabbing himself fell dead on the Ground at the Emperor's Feet The Revenge of a Son taken for his Father After the same manner six more made away themselves But the Son of the old Courtier seeing his Father weltring in his own Bloud on a sudden ran out amongst the Rebels where having wounded and kill'd several of them he himself was slain Whilst
never saw but soon after hearing thereof sent a second Embassy over The Chief in Commission was Peter Gonsalves his assistance four Franciscan Monks Bartholomew Ruiz Francisco de Sancto Michael Peter Baptista and Gonzales Garcia Anno 1593. they had their Audience before Taicosoma presenting him with Gifts of great value which pleas'd the Emperor so well that his former jealousies being quite blown over The Franciscans built a Church in Japan he granted the Friers leave to build a Church and Cloyster near Meaco provided that they should not meddle with his Subjects nor perswade them neither in private or publick concerning matters of Religion all which they promis'd and in a years time rais'd a Church Consecrating it to the Virgin Mary of Portiuncula but however notwithstanding all this they busied themselves clandestinely and often in publick to raise Proselites which Doctrine spread every where in short time amongst the Japanners who imbrac'd Christianity with such eagerness and came flocking to them in such multitudes that these four were not able to perform their Functions at the Ceremony belonging to their Conversion and Baptism for which cause they sent for assistance to the Manilla's from whence soon after came the Franciscans Augustin Rodrigo Marcello Ribadeneyra and Hieronimo de Jesu with Letters and Gifts from the Governor of the Philipines to Taicosama to whom the Presents were very acceptable but the Letters unpleasing seeing they answer'd him not to what he had written Franciscans build Cloysters in Japan Peter Baptista was the chief of the Friers which so spread their Religion that they built another Cloyster calling it Bethlehem in Osacca Moreover they obtain'd liberty of the Governor of Meaco to build a third Cloyster at Nangesaque under pretence of two sick Brothers Peter Baptista and Hieronimo de Jesu which could not agree with the Air about Osacca so that for their health-sake they were necessitated to remove These two went and resided in a Chappel Dedicated to Lazarus standing near Meaco between two Alms-houses which were govern'd by the two Brothers of Mercy Thither a great number of people flock'd daily from the City to see them perform Mass and hear their Disputations A Japan Nobleman erects an Order of the Virgin Mary ¶ AMongst whom came a Noble Person call'd Didacus Gonnoi who soon after imbracing the Roman Religion was a great Promoter of it in the Territory near the City Macava insomuch that he Indow'd a Brotherhood with Means and built a Colledge Dedicating the Society to the Holy Virgin who also invited the Heathens to the hearing of the Gospel Why Taicosania permitted the Friers to be in Japan Taicosama seem'd to wink at this nestling of the Monks sent from the Philipines to Japan because those Islands brought him in yearly a great Revenue and amongst other Rarities which came from thence were certain Pots or Cruises call'd Boioni which might be had there at a mean Price but by the Japanners valu'd above Gold because no Vessels whatsoever preserves their Liquor mixt with the Powder Chia better than these Cruises This Drink the Noblest men in the Countrey make with their own hands in a peculiar place of their Houses built for that purpose Trades in Cruises Taicosama sent two Persons to the Philipines to buy up all these Pots being certain to make vast profit thereof But these his Factors found in the City Manilla several Japan Christians which bought up all those Vessels with intention to dispose of them again in Japan Taicosama being inform'd thereof took all those Traders and seiz'd upon all their Cruises which he could light on and forbad them upon pain of death not to bring any more thereof into his Dominions so they escaping narrowly with their lives were again released Promotes his Brothers Sons to high dignities ¶ BUt before Taicosama began the Wars with the Coreans he Promoted his Brothers Sons having no Children of his own to high Dignities and Honor the eldest whom he alotted to be his Successor he Crown'd King over five Kingdoms the second over three lying near Meaco and to the youngest he gave two preserving fifteen for himself with the Supreme Command over all The remaining Provinces and Territories were divided amongst his Courtiers Generals and nearest Friends with Proviso's to pay an Annual Tribute to the Emperor But those Princes which were not removed were oppress'd by Taxes that they were scarce able to rebel living continually in fear on one time or other to loose life and all His intention about the common War And indeed it was so design'd for he had no other intention to make Wars with the Coreans but that those Kings which he sent thither might be ruin'd there or at least so much Work to do that they should not disturb him in his Dominions or if they should in any time Conquer Corea then he would give them the Conquer'd Territories in exchange for those in Japan that so he might be absolute Governor over his own Empire at home Pretends to give over his authority And that none might suspect this his Design he pretended that he would no longer Administer but give over his Imperial Authority to his eldest Nephew of twenty five years of age Whereupon he nominated him the Quabacondono which name is onely given to those that are Heir-apparent But this was but dissembled for though he Nominated him yet he no ways intended nor did part with his Authority But the Kings and Princes which he imploy'd for Corea never scented in the least that he had laid this Plot for their destruction and the enjoying of their Estates pretending nothing but the care of theirs and the publick good so that they went chearfully abroad with an Army of sixty thousand men Japan Forces goes to Corea and soon after follow'd a hundred and forty thousand more which Forces Landing in Corea in a short time carrying all before them made themselves Masters of the Metropolis Pingjang and most part of the Island yet oft they met with repulses and great obstructions for the Chinese Auxiliaries Chineses assist the Coreans which still came fresh and fresh maintaining a doubtful War six years and drove them at last towards their Landing-place Beat the Japanners from Corea where they were sorely gall'd by twelve well man'd Fortresses that oft Sally'd out upon them so that they were forc'd to make a dishonorable Peace the relinquishing of all their Conquest in Corea Thus ended the War which exhausted Taicosama's Treasure and spent him a hundred thousand men amongst which his second Nephew whose youngest brother dy'd before Quabacondono commits great outrages in Japan The eldest made Quabacondono was yet living he being witty and quick of apprehension yet was most inhumanely cruel for his greatest delight was Butchering of Men in a humane Shambles which he had thus contriv'd himself in a place near his Palace in the middle of an open Court inclos'd with
to Quobacondono but coming amongst the Emperor's Guard he was stopt and commanded to return if he did intend not to incur his Majesties displeasure but he neither regarding their advice nor fear what they threatned from the Emperor said Should I leave my Prince though he be forsaken by every one No now is the time for me to manifest my Love Duty and Loyalty There is no Touchstone like Danger to prove a Friend by Who will not help those that are in Prosperity and who forsakes not a Friend in Adversity He is not worthy the name of a Friend that in his assistance will undergo the worst of Fortunes and smile at Death it self which having said put Spurs to his Horse and Riding post by midnight found the young Emperor who exceedingly rejoyced to see one so kind and faithful to him but that he might not prejudice so good a Nature as to bring Sacandono to his utter ruine which would not ought avail him he seriously perswaded him to return But soon Taicosama had information of all this and had it not been for the good Service of his Father he had undoubtedly perish'd in his prime Quabacondono is shaven and changes his Name But Quabacondono since his departure from Fissima Lodg'd one Night in Tamamizu where he was forc'd according to the Japan manner to have his Beard and Head shaven and his Name exchang'd for another for in stead of Quabacondono he call'd himself Doi that is I will clear my self by Reason At last coming to the Cloyster Coja he was conducted in by Mocusico one much esteem'd by the Bonzies In his Way thither he met with several of his Retinue disguis'd like Beggars that they might not be known by any of Taicosama's Guard All these express'd their grief with tears not daring to utter their minds in words Ten of his chief Favorites went him into the Cloyster where being but meanly Treated he told them saying Not long ago I could have given you Provinces and Kingdoms my Fall hath been the undoing of many And now for my self of all my Pomp and Magnificence I have scarce so much left as to keep you and me alive O inconstant Fortune thou hast rais'd me on purpose to the heighth of Greatness and Glory that so my Fall might be the greater and I more wretched Is liept close Prisoner These Complaints he had free liberty to utter in the fatal Cloyster Coja for no other priviledge was allow'd him insomuch that he could not speak nor deliver the least Note to any Person whatsoever and the business was so far gone that he lost all hopes of ever obtaining his Liberty Mocusico Conjures for Quabacondono Mocusico the Head of the Monastery repair'd to his Idols and with Charms performing peculiar Ceremonies with great zeal begg'd of the gods that Quabacondono might once more be restor'd to the Imperial Dignity but none ever were slower in their assistance than these their deaf deities for it happen'd that this came to Taicosama's Ears who the sooner resolv'd on Quabacondono's Death which fell out on the fifteenth of August Anno 1595. Quabacondono and all his Company are commanded to rip up their own Bowels Thus chearing him up with future hopes they kept him a while from laying violent hands on himself when soon after Taicosama sent a Messenger to command him and his Company according to the Japan manner to rip open their own Bowels No sooner had they receiv'd their Condemnation but they all prepar'd themselves to die The first that cut up his Belly was Quabacondono's Page being a Youth of nineteen years of age who whilst he was struggling with Death Quabacondono after he had embraced him chopp'd off his Head which he set in a Charger on a Table The like he perform'd to two more of his Servants The next that was to do the cruel Office on himself was the Bonzi Biuscirtus whose Grandmother was sent by Taicosama to Quabacondono's Court as a Spie and because she had carry'd her self well in that business her Son Biuscirtus he commanded to be sav'd but he refus'd the Emperor's mercy saying with an undaunted courage to him that brought the Order I scorn to take any thing from that Bloodhound that should deserve my thanks for I will rather chuse to die with Quabacondono than to live in slavery under such a grand Tyrant this said he desperately stabb'd himself but suffering much under the agony of a lingring Death Quabacondono gave him present ease by chopping off his Head which was no sooner done but with the same Weapon he stabb'd himself One onely remaining slew himself with his Masters Scymiter The Execution was no sooner finish'd but the Bonzies performing their Office consum'd them together in one Funeral Fire Taicosama destroys all the Confederates of Quabacondono But Taicosama rested not thus but following his Blow hunted and destroy'd all those his Friends and Intimates that had been Abettors with Quabacondono in this Conspiracy The first with which he began were three Persons of great Quality that were fled to a Cloyster of the Bonzies The next was Scirabingo who made the Kings to Sign the Oath of Allegiance to Quabacondono for which Crime he was judg'd to suffer a cruel Death But none was more lamented than Chimura who had done Taicosama great Service both in War and Peace but because he had held private Correspondence with Quabacondono he was also condemn'd to be his own Destroyer Chimura's Son hearing of his Fathers Misfortune who was then in Saicoure wrote to him That a Wise-man might easily look Death in the face especially if he suffer'd innocently and that it was no trouble to leave this World for a far more happy Life which would last for ever And thither he was resolv'd to accompany him as his Father for he would not live after his Death of whom he had receiv'd Life So whilst he expected to hear the sad Tydings he call'd for a Chest of Scymiters out of which chusing the best he girded it about his Waste In the interim the News of his Fathers Death and Taicosama came to him together the Emperor proffering him Life notwithstanding he was Chimura's Son who ought according to the Japan Laws for his Fathers Crime to suffer Death But the Youth return'd Taicosama Thanks telling him That he was bound in Conscience to take Revenge of the horrible Slaughter committed on his Father Chimura and seeing no possible Means to effect such his Design he would rather die than live wanting satisfaction for his Fathers Death Thus said he immediately deserted the Court and went to Meaco where going into the Temple there offering his Devotions to the Idol Fotoco ripping up his Belly he Sacrific'd his Life before the Altar Not long after Taicosama particularly order'd Chimura's Consort to be Beheaded in the Temple of Amida Cruel Persecution of Taicosama against the Wives and Children of Quabacondono ¶ IN this cruel
manner proceeded Taicosama against all Quabacondon's not only his Ministers of State or whoever he had a kindness for but his Wives Children and Relations not leaving to persecute them till they all suffer'd miserable Ends In Meaco he brought one and thirty Ladies partly Noblemens Daughters partly Persons of Honor belonging to Quabacondono's Consort and part of them his Concubines which last he fetch'd from the Castle Jurazu All these he convey'd in Coaches to the place of Execution with their Children whose innocent Shrieks and Tears mingled with the doleful Lamentations of the Spectators would have made a Tyger relent But there was no room for Compassion for no sooner arriv'd they at the fatal place of their Deaths but the Executioner first shewing them Quabacondono's Head to which they ail reverently bow'd began the Slaughter first with the Children that were one by one beheaded next the Women thrown to the Ground were inhumanely slaughter'd and their Bodies cast into a deep Pit over which the Tyrant built a Structure which he call'd The Temple of Beasts Murder committed by Scirabingo's Widow After that he condemn'd the Widow and Children of Scirabingo to suffer Death but when the Coach that brought her stopp'd before the Palace the Widow to free her self from the opprobrious Insultings of the Tyrant and the Shame of her undeserved Death first stabb'd her three Sons and one Daughter and ere the Fact could be thought of sheath'd the same Dagger in her own Bosom and immediately fell breathless on her murder'd Children These savage Barbarisms perpetrated on Rational Creatures he rag'd next upon inanimates falling upon the Castle of Jurazu which he pull'd down to the Ground with three hundred Palaces more carrying the Timber and Stones to Fissima ¶ BUt this was not Taicosama's first Persecution of the Christians having begun before in Anno 1587. if Father Cornelius Hazart may be credited upon this occasion The first occasion why Taicosama persecuted the Roman Christians The Commander Domingo Montero came from Portugal into the Haven of Firando with an exceeding stout Vessel in the foremention'd Year All the Inhabitants admir'd its Beauty and Largeness that the Fame of it came to Taicosama's Ear who being desirous to see it commanded the Ship to be brought to Facata where he then resided in order whereto he directed the Governor of the Jesuits to write his Pleasure to Montero who so soon as he receiv'd the Letter went with all speed to Facata telling the Emperor the danger of the Voyage by reason of the abundance of blind Rocks Shoals and Shelves that lay in the way between Firando and Facata This Taicosama seem'd to accept as an Excuse but indeed took it exceeding ill to be thus deny'd his Request and resolv'd of a speedy Revenge For on the next day he publish'd Edicts That all the Jesuits should depart Japan in twenty days because they endeavor'd to bring a new Religion amongst them contrary to the Japanners which had been establish'd there many Ages The Emperor would have done this long before but that he staid till he had subdu'd the Kingdom Ximo in which most of the Christian-Teachers resided Five Franciscans and three Jesuits crucifiâ—d But it rested not here For Anno 1596. he proceeded cruelly against the Christians without distinction commanding Gibonoscio Governor of Nangesaque to take five Franciscans and three Jesuits and having Crucified run them through with Spears Hazart reports That the Franciscans were Gonsalves Garcia Philip de las Casas both Mexicans Peter Baptista Franciscus de Saint Michael and Martin de Aguirre three Spaniards The Jesuits Paulus Miki a Japanner Joannes Goto and Jacobus Kisai ¶ AS to what the same Hazart writes concerning the Miracles wrought by these Priests Hazart Ch. Hist l. 6. c. 2. let him believe who according to St. Augustine desires and depends upon new Miracles for establishment of Religion already confirm'd by Wonders Several Miracles However take it as related That Peter Baptista being sent Ambassador from Manilla to Tauglama cur'd a Japan Maid of the Leprosie by touching of her and that at the same time the like Fiery Tongues descended from Heaven upon the whole Congregation present at the Cure as formerly fell on the Apostles in the Feast of Pentecost That Philippo de las Casas sailing from Manilla to Mexico and by stress of Weather driven upon the Coast of Japan by the way saw in the Air a White Cross which soon after turn'd Red and at last was cover'd with a black Cloud This Cross they say had the same shape as that on which he was afterwards Crucified That Franciscus a Saint Michael immediately cur'd a dumb Japan Woman and afterwards an Indian mortally wounded by the Sting of an Adder by signing them with the Cross But concerning the Opinion of these Relations Erasm Argin lib. Conf. August Erasmus says thus What shall I say of you which endeavor to delude the Common People by telling them strange Wonders and Miracles wrought by your Fraternity Certain I am some have judg'd that by these fair Relations and handsom Stories they stirr'd up the People to Zeal and Piety but I hardly give credit to such Tales I will here annex some other Testimonies extracted from the primest of the Catholicks That famous Melchior Canus Bishop of the Canaries Cani Loc. Theol l. 〈◊〉 c. 6. one of the Chiefest in the Council of Trent says I must needs speak it with sorrow That the Lives of the Learned Heathens describ'd by Laertius is with more Uprightness than that of the Christian Saints Most of our Writers follow their own Imaginations and relate so many Fictions that I am asham'd thereof Nicholas de Lyra the younger Brother who flourish'd about Anno 1320 saith Lyr. in Dan. ca. 14. In the Church too many Delusions and vain Fantasies are admitted affirming variety of Wonders perform'd indeed by the Priests and their Associates for Profit sake So also Cornelius Agrippa tells us Agrip. de Vanit Scient cap. 97. That the Writers of the Saints Histories seem to surpass one another in Fabling declaring a new Doctrine and Teaching the Word of God with too great mixture onely for Lucre and Profit And Josephus Acosta who had been through most part of the Western Indies Acost lib. tit 4. cap. 12. de Proc. Indor Saâ—ute cries out saying What is our Preaching What is our Faith We do no Miracles There are no Wonders of our own that we can producce to confirm the Words of the Gospel Taicosama falls sick of the Bloody Flux ¶ BUt to return Taicosama now wearied with murdering fell sick of the Bloody-Flux in the latter end of July Anno 1598 first vomiting up his Gaul with some Blood afterwards in his Stools appear'd the Excoriatings of his Guts at last pieces of corrupted Flesh came from him with a horrible stench and great pain On the fifth of August greater Signs of Death appear'd he being continually
Guardian And also gave order That few Nobles should come in his Chamber and his Physicians should not stir from his Bed-side and if possibly they could to study for some Medicines to preserve his Life Causes a great sorrow Upon this parting all the Courtiers began exceedingly to lament seeing their Emperor by whom every one expected to be preferr'd carried away never after to be seen alive The Noise and Cry was so great within that it was heard without the Castle whose Gates were strongly guarded but this coming to the Peoples Ears gave supition that Taicosama was dead The report of his death occasions great Uproars among the People The Report of which spread up and down the Countrey like Wild-fire Whereupon the Thieves sally'd out from their several Recesses robbing and pillaging whom ever they met and in some places the People began to Mutiny not much unlike the Roman Tumults whilst the Cardinals are about the Election of a new Pope But the chief Insurrection here was in Osacca Meaco and Fissima insomuch that the Great Council were too weak to quell the Rebellion This Rumor of Taicosama's Death was credited the more by the Common People because the Council had guarded the Fort of Fissima round about with new Soldiers and Listed Forces in all Parts wheresoever they could get them How it is found not to be true Ten days together this Belief continu'd But the Emperor in this interim growing somewhat better sent two of the Council to Osacca with Orders to get the Castle finish'd that was to be built there with all expedition and also gave to the several Princes design'd to go from Fissima thither divers Bags of Rice and great Sums of Money About the Out-walls of this Castle The Castle of Osacen a strange Fabrick containing three Leagues in Circumference a thousand Men wrought daily all which were paid off every Night Within stood above seventeen thousand Merchants and Artificers Houses which were all pull'd down in three days time and every one commanded upon forfeiture of their Goods to carry away their own Rubbish and to clear the Ground Which done a new Field was alotted them to build new Houses on according to a Platform stak'd out by Surveyors and whosoever was backward in Building should lose his Ground where none might raise a House under two Stories high These Orders once publish'd the Work went on day and night insomuch that a new City and Castle appear'd at once This Building stopp'd the Rumor that went of the Emperor's Death for every one might well judge that the Council would not take so great a Work upon them Taicosama is trouble for his Son Fidery ¶ MEan time on the third and fourth of September Taicosama seem'd more and more to recover so that he spent his time in the firm Establishing of the Empire on his young Son Fidery But on the fifth of September his Sickness began again to increase Grows worse whereupon all the Gates were strongly guarded to the end the noise of the Emperor's Death might not be spread amongst the Common People Thenceforward the Distemper increas'd daily till the fourteenth of the same Month on which day he lay a considerable time without any appearance of Life so that he was judg'd by all his Attendants to be dead But at last fetching a deep Sigh he came to himself Is distracted yet in few Hours after lost his Senses so that he began to talk idly but they might understand by his distracted Expressions that the Establishment of his Son Fidery did still trouble him of whom he spoke till his last gasp Dies which was Anno 1508 the sixteenth of September being sixty four years old and after fifteen years Reign having succeeded Nobunango slain before Meaco by the Prince Aquechi Aquechi aim'd first at the Crown This Prince being encourag'd by his many Victories aim'd at the Crown but being treacherously slain by a Day-laborer left the place for Taicosama who knew exceeding well to take the advantage of such an opportunity Nobunanga had three Sons The eldest Voxequixama lost with his Father the Battel and his Life The second Oxiacen Fongedonu was distracted And for the youngest Son being but three years old Taicosama took upon him the Authority pretending to be his Guardian and to rule the Empire in his behalf and for his advantage till he attain'd fitting years to Govern but soon after tasting the sweetness of Power and Sovereignty he got so many Forces together that Nobunanga's Son was forc'd to be contented with the Kingdom of Mino and deliver up his just Title of the Imperial Crown to Taicosama Taicosama's death is kept private ¶ ONgosschio and the Council kept the Emperor's Death very private binding all those that knew of it by Oath not to divulge it but a blabbing Courtier forgetting his Oath accidentally told it and as a Reward for his Garrulity was immediately Crucified This his Punishment kept all others so in awe that every one held his Tongue and lock'd up the Secret yet not long after it was discover'd Ongosschio and the Council clash In this small time the Council fell at variance with Ongosschio whose Design of getting the Empire they all observ'd Whereupon they consulting together against him decreed That he should not be Guardian over Fidery any longer but should return and satisfie himself with his eight Kingdoms The Councellors seeing the Government lay too heavy upon them chose four Eminent Princes more to their Assistance and being thus strengthned they seem'd not in the least to fear Ongosschio who was not idle during their new Election It is the Custom among the Japanners that Noblemen upon several Accidents change their Names Japanners oftentimes change their Names according to which Ongosschio was call'd Jyavasu and Giciasu but putting off those three he exchang'd the same for Daifusama which Name we will observe in his following Story Taicosama is made a god ¶ ANd now as if free from fear or danger they were busie in Creating Taicosama a God The Temple and his Image being ready for that purpose his Corps was Interr'd in a Vault with all Funeral Solemnity and his Name chang'd into Xin Fachiman as he had before design'd This Exchanging of Names when Men are Registred amongst the number of the Deities was formerly very common both with the Greeks and Romans For Romulus was call'd Quirinus Juno Matuta Leucothoe Albunea Melicerta Palaemon Leda Nemesis Circe Marica Nersilia Hora Rhea Mother of the Gods Idaeda Dindymeda Philena Pissinuntia Cibele Berecynthia To Create Princes for Gods for their Valiant Exploits and Noble Atchievements took not its Original in Japan but was a Custom above two thousand Years since which the ancient Father Lactantius Firmianus witnesses Lactant. de Fals Reâ—g lib. 1. ca. 5. saying Those whom the ignorant and foolish People call Gods worshipping them none can be so weak as not to imagine them
Father when he put off this Body No sooner came the Youth within Osacca but Morindono caus'd him secretly to be Beheaded and sent the Head to Daifusama to obtain his favor but he abhorr'd the deed and would have taken vengeance on him for it had not Morindono been secretly inform'd of his displeasure on which he reported that the Youth had first ripp'd up his own Belly for grief of his Fathers death Daifusama spared many of his enemies as also their Allies and Kindred Besides these three since Daifusama's Conquest he scarce put any to death in cool blood but went on in a milde way that thereby he might draw the minds of the people to him and settle the Empire upon his Son according to the Laws of the Countrey Tzunocamindono's Wife and Children should have suffer'd death as also many other Widows and Orphans whose Fathers and allyance were in Arms against him but he spar'd them all The courage of Acascicamon ¶ NOne more disorder'd and did more mischief to Diafusama's Army than Acasicamon and Sassuma for Acasicamon retreated not but rush'd into the midst of them and made great execution judging it better to die by the Sword of the Enemy than to lay violent hands on himself Where whilest he was hemm'd in and no hope of escape A wonderful accident in the stress of the fight he broke into a Regiment led by Cainocami who knew him by his Behavior and Arms and crying aloud said Save him The Speech of Cainocami Souldiers save him for be shall be my Prisoner upon this Command they stood all still and he going towards Acasicamon embrac'd him about the neck and shedding many Tears said My dear Friend how hard have the Fates been to me to make us Enemies that we should thus in a lamentable dissention which shakes the very Foundations of the Empire Fight one against another because you led the Parliament Forces and I the Kings you have gain'd honor enough though you are defeated by making your way thus through the Conquering Army Which said Acasicami so soon as he was able to speak reply'd thus If you are my true Friend as I believe now or never shew it and presently dispatch me with that Sword with which you would spare my Life But Cainocami on the contrary set him upon his own Horse and assur'd him his life Daifusama distributes Kingdoms and rewards to those that fought for him ¶ FUrthermore Daifusama thought it convenient to distribute his Bounty and Rewards on those that had fought for him against the Council giving some great Kingdoms for lesser ones others had larger or smaller Territories so that all Japan was in confusion Some remov'd from their Houses Cities and Towns with their new King and Government the Inhabitants going from their antient Habitations to other Countreys appointed by Daifusama Nangoioca receiv'd for the small Fort of Tango the Kingdom of Bungo Facuscimadono the Castle Firoscima and the Countries thereunto belonging To some Christians of Noble Extract Daifusama gave several Livings in the Kingdom of Mimaraca because they had bore Arms and fought valiantly for him He releas'd also the five Jesuits without Ransom which were put in Prison by Canzviedono when the Castle of Uto was rendred up giving them free Conduct to Nangesaque To Cainocamio the Son of Quamboiendono he bestow'd the Kingdom of Cicugen Lives in quiet Since that time Daifusama had rest and quiet and rul'd Japan with Imperial Command as Guardian of Fideri He remov'd the Court from Fissima to Surunga and chang'd his Name of Daifusama He chang'd the name of it again into Goyssio Samma Anno sixteen hundred and eleven he was visited by several Ambassadors from Europe and other places The Portuguese and Castilians behav'd themselves so ill that Goyssio Samma seem'd to be much displeas'd thereat Spex and Segerssoon were very acceptable to Daifusama Jacob Spex and Peter Segerssoon having far more free Audience from the Emperor and their Presents being kindly accepted A Copy of their Embassy written in Japan Language and left with the Chancellor Cosequidonne so that they might have a quicker dispatch at their return from Jedo being instructed that it would be fitting to Complement the Emperors Son there which the Castilian Ambassadors had done before them but committed a great error therein by visiting the same before their Father Their journey to Jedo On the eighteenth of August in the foremention'd year they made their Journey thither Cosequidonne prepar'd all things necessary for them in that Expedition But the Netherland Ambassadors going by day-break out of Suringa came by noon to the Village Jesare where they lay that night in which happen'd such a dreadful Tempest of Thunder Lightning and Showres of Rain as if the world had been at an end which constrain'd them to stay till the next day About thirty years after the Ambassadors Frisius and Brookhurst lodg'd there as their Landlord told them In the morning they departed from thence in foul Weather and came to Missina and thence through Fovisauwa and Toska into Jedo â—eir strange adventure â—do Here by means of one William Adams they made their coming known to Sadadonne President in the Council of the Emperors Son and excus'd themselves that for two years when they had visited the Emperor at Suringa they had neglected to pay their respects to the young Emperor which was The Emperors Son is desirous to see the Netherlanders partly because they knew not the way and partly for their speedy return upon which the safety of the Netherlanders Ships depend At which Sadadonne seeming to be satisfi'd said That the Emperors Son had Information that there were Ships come out of remote Countries into the Haven of Firando two years since and he desir'd to see those People whose Warlike Deeds and rational Managements of Affairs were known all over India therefore they need not any way doubt but they should be welcome Besides that they might loose no time he prepar'd all things to get them Audience before the Emperors Son Moreover proffer'd to do them all the kindness the Hollanders themselves would require The next day the Ambassadors repair'd to the House of Sadadonne and presented him with five Ells of Crimson Cloth two Pieces of Black Lute-String one Piece of Black Damask five Pieces of White Sattins three Glass Flasks one Carbine and a Powder-Horn These Presents were thankfully accepted though with intimation that it was against their Custom but being the first time that he had seen the Netherlander Rarities brought so unmeasurable a distance thither not without great labor and charge they should be accepted Further he acquainted them That last night he had made known their coming to the Emperors Son who seem'd to be well-pleas'd thereat The discourse between Spex and Sadadonne This their Discourse together continu'd above half an hour Sadadonne enquiring of them concerning the State and the
his desire he sent Paulus Daifachi an expert Courtier and great Favorite of the Emperor's with many rich and costly Presents to deliver to Daifusama which he refusing were imbezell'd away Upon notice whereof and observing the Protractions us'd in his Business Protasius was displeas'd with Daifusama's Dealings and apprehended some danger therein The best way for prevention whereof and to know where the business halted he resolv'd in Person to go to the Emperor to which purpose he went accompany'd with his Son Michael and Daughter in Law But both of them had a wicked design in their Heads to Murder Protasius because he would not according to the Japan Custom being over-grown in years resign up his Province Protasius having receiv'd a denial concerning his business was banish'd and Daifachi came to a miserable end being condemn'd with his Wife to Ride on gall'd and sore Horses through the Streets of Surunga and on the one and twentieth of April Anno 1612. ty'd to a Stake surrounded with Fire at three Foot distance from him and so by degrees was roasted to death His Wife obtain'd some favor having with patience view'd her Husbands deplorable end This Protasius had been a chief promoter of the Roman Religion in Arima which was ill resented by Daifusama and the more because he did not deliver up the Crown being antient to his Son as the Japan Custom was but kept the Authority in his own hands The fifth Reason why Daifusama persecuted the Christians in Japan Besides these Reasons of Hazart I find a fifth the occasion of the Persecution in Japan mention'd in the daily Annotations or Journal of the Embassy of Frisius and Brookhurst namely the Portuguese Priests as the Japanners say had formerly great priviledges allow'd them insomuch that they Preach'd their Doctrine and spread their Religion as if they were Natives of the Countrey whose Faith was grounded with the peopling of Japan They built also Churches Cloysters and Schools planting religious Orders as in one Place The Society of the holy Virgin by Didacus Gonnoia besides many others as well Franciscans and Dominicans as Jesuits had spread themselves all over Japan and by their Masses Confessions Purgatory and such like got an incredible sum of Money of the poor innocent People bringing every year little less than a Tun of Gold out of the Countrey insomuch that where ever they came they generally undid all the People yet notwithstanding they charm'd them in such a nature that their Word amongst them was a Law They had now also gotten a Bishop at Nangesaque and were Plotting to depose the Heathen Emperor from his Throne and to set the Crown on the Head of a Christian Prince under whom they might have free liberty of publishing their Doctrine but the Letter being discover'd in which the King of Portugal had advice to make himself Master of Japan the Emperor was so exceedingly enrag'd thereat that forthwith he determin'd without mercy to destroy all the Portuguese Of which not long after receiving informations A bloody Battel between the Japan Christians and Heathens the Japan Christians drew together for their own defence by which means they form'd a considerable Army of betwixt seventy and eighty thousand Men Against whom the Imperial Forces drew into the Field but were shamefully beaten and routed yet soon after being again reinforc'd with fresh Recruits they were commanded to fight to the last Man and destroy the Christians without mercy whereupon ensu'd another Battel with resolution either to Die or Conquer a long time the Victory was doubtful on whose side it would fall but at last the Christians were worsted Cruel destruction of Japan Christians Soon after follow'd inhumane Cruelty and Murdering whereby not onely the Portuguese and Japan Christians were to suffer but the Heathens swore revenge to the fifth and sixth Generation nay so far proceeded their malice that whole Streets were carry'd to Execution if onely one Christian had resided in it The foremention'd Examples did Daifusama follow in cold Blood beheading all the Christians But because that did not seem a Death cruel enough to terrifie them he afterwards commanded them to be crucifi'd The Romans us'd in former times Dogs Crucifi'd betwixt the Temples of Sumanus and Inventus to Nail a living Dog on a Cross made of Box tying a Goose on the top of it This was done in Commemoration of the Senones coming from Gaul with a victorious Army making themselves Masters of Rome wasting the City and putting all the Inhabitants to the Sword except onely a few that escap'd into the Capitol where they defended themselves manfully frequently beating off the Senones who having made divers attempts in vain at length in a dark Night stole up the Hill the Guards and Sentinels tir'd out with Duty and faln asleep were like to have been surpris'd had not some Geese which were Grazing upon the sides of the Hill afrighted by the approach of the Enemy by their loud Gagling wak'd the Sentinel and Guards and consequently sav'd the Capitol But the Romans in process of time crucifi'd Men in stead of Dogs of which the Slave which Plautus presents in his Comedy says thus I know the Cross must be my Grave Plaut in Milite threaten no more my Ancestors carry'd it before my Fathers Grandfathers and great Grandfathers time But the Romans us'd not to crucifie Slaves Who were Crucifi'd and wherefore unless they had committed great Crimes as for example if any one complain'd falsly against his Master to a Magistrate or if he went to Soothsayers to enquire of his Master's death or if they ran away However this kind of death was ordain'd for Malefactors whose Condition was mean and Crimes very hainous but the better sort of Criminals were beheaded of which the Roman Law saith thus Paulus L. V. Cent. 13. It is thought fitting that all Murderers if extracted of a good Family shall be beheaded and the meaner sort crucifi'd or thrown to wild Beasts When the Roman Priviledge was debarr'd by the tyranny of the Emperors oftentimes especially in the Army where Law gives place to Arms several Commanders as Captains Majors Field-Marshals and others were Nail'd to the Cross But besides the Romans Thucyd. â— 1 most known Countreys have cruel ways of Executing their Malefactors which the Greek Writer Thucidides testifies of King Inarus who being taken by Conspiracy was crucifi'd by the Egyptians Crucifying usual in all Countreys Rerod Thebia Herodotus relates That Polycrates subdu'd the Island Samos and all Greece rejoyced at his victorious Arms his good fortune continu'd so long that doubting it would at last prove cross as an endeavor to prevent the turn thereof he threw a Precious Stone into the Sea which not long after he found in the Belly of a Fish that being boyl'd was brought to his Table But Polycrates died not so happy for the Persian Orcates by subtilty taking him Prisoner in Magnesia fulfill'd that which
end with their lives but remain'd barbarously salvage to their dead Bodies which they permitted no Burial but left exposed as a Prey for the Fowls of the Air. Thus was the Sentence pronounc'd against the Martyrs Claudius Asterius and Neon Let them be Nail'd to the Cross that their Flesh may be devour'd by the Ravens Those that were not by excess of Scourging before-hand tir'd out liv'd a long time on the Cross whereof some according to Seneca did spit on those that stood gazing on them Others Just l. 22. as Justinus witnesses of the Carthaginians concerning their General Bomilcar rail'd at those that had caus'd them to be Crucifi'd Bomilcar unhappily lay in Sicily in the Field against Agathocles from whence returning he was taken in the Market-place in Carthage and Nail'd to a Cross and from thence as from a Stage he related the treacherous dealings of his Subjects charging sometimes Hanno then Gisgo and at last Hamilcar with several Crimes of which he wish'd them to clear themselves Whilst these cruel ways of Crucifying were us'd it happen'd sometimes though very seldom that by the favor and compassion of the Princes the Crucifi'd were taken off and recover'd Josephus in sua vita Josephus relates how that going from a Village to the Roman Army he saw a great many Jews hanging on Crosses amongst which were three that had formerly been his intimate Friends and seeing them in that miserable condition he immediately went to the General Titus Vespasianus to beg of him that he would grant him leave to take them down which he permitted but of those three onely one was preserv'd alive To Rack the Crucifi'd for a quicker dispatch was perform'd on the two Murderers which suffer'd with Christ but that is not according to the Roman but the Levitical Law as you may read in Deuteronomy Deut. 21. Vers 22 23. If a man have committed a sin worthy of death and he be put to death and thou hang him on a tree his body shall not remain all night on the tree but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day for he that is hanged is accursed of God that thy land be not defiled which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance Ambrosius gives us his opinion thereof It seemed says he Ambr. in c. 3. in Rom. to be enough for a condemn'd Person that he is hang'd up and dies on the Wood for if he should hang longer his Death would suffer more shame than his Crime had deserv'd and would be a continual disgrace to his Posterity when his Death should daily be reported up and down Rack the Crucifi'd But Racking was not usual with the Romans who sought by long torturing to make their Death the more miserable so delighting their Ears with the Cries and Shreeks of the poor dying Wretches Yet the Spectators seem'd not satisfi'd by beholding onely the misery of these poor condemn'd Creatures How it is The Roman Emperors Dioclesian and Maximinus began first to Rack the Crucifi'd which they perform'd in this manner They held an Iron Anvil under their Legs and Arms whilst another with a great Mallet broke their Bones all to pieces Why the Heathens and Japanners Crucifie the Christians It is thought that the Heathens in antient times and the Japanners under Daifusama's Government chose that Death on purpose for the Christians because they believed in a Crucifi'd Christ Wherefore Daifusama also gave them charge to run them through the Sides with two long Spears because our Saviour was transpierced And whilst the Heathens sought thus to disgrace the Christians by Crucifying them they took it as a great glory dying the same Death as the Son of God had done for their Sins Concerning this kind of Punishment and the Cross it self several Authors have Written at large especially Minutius Felix Maximus Taurinensis Tertullianus and others Justin Apol. 2. I will out of all select onely two viz. Justin Martyr who says View all things in the World can they be Govern'd or any ways us'd without the Sign of the Cross The Earth is not Plough'd without it The Diggers perform not their Labor nor other Handicrafts unless they have a Cross amongst their Tools or Instruments Man differs no way in his shape from a Beast onely that he is upright and can spread his Arms into the form of a Cross Hieronymus says Hieronim in Mar. c. 11. The fashion of a Cross represents the four corners of the World The Birds when they flye in the Air take upon them the shape of a Cross A Man Swimming or Praying shews also like a Cross It is also worthy our observation what Ruffinus Ruff. l. 2.2 c. 29. Sozom. l. 3. c. 15. Sozomenus and Suidas have publish'd namely That in the time of the Emperor Theodosius the Great the Idol Temples were all pull'd down In Egypt was also destroy'd an antient Temple dedicated to the famous Serapis The Walls round about being pull'd to the Ground discover'd several Stones Engraven with strange Characters which onely the Priests of Serapis could Read many of which were made like a Cross signifying the Life which was to come Lactantius Firmianus relates Lact. l. 4. c. 13. That the Oracle of Apollo long before our Saviours Birth roar'd out this Verse of Christ's Suffering By Nails and Crucifying Pain A bitter Death he did sustain It seems no wonder that Daifusama according to the example of the Roman Heathens for the Reasons aforemention'd when he perceiv'd that the Beheading of the Christians seem'd too easie a Death he Crucifi'd them The Spanish Forces the occasion of the Japanners persecuting the Christians But among the five Occasions which made Daifusama persecute the Christians was the suspected Forces of the Spaniards who made themselves Masters of divers Places in the World as the far-spreading Coasts of Guinee and Angola in the Confines of Africa and to the West a whole new World divided into New-Spain Mexico Peru Chili and Chaca besides many brave Islands which they had Conquer'd And since Anno 1581. the Portuguese fell under the King of Spain all those vanquish'd Territories in India were likewise become their Acquests so that they could in a short time bring great Forces from Goa Malacca Macao and other Places to Sea But chiefly the Spaniards in the Philippines were most suspected as being too near the Japanners they not desiring such Potent Neighbors who but a few years before had Landed there and since endeavor'd continually to enlarge their Dominions But this business requires our farther Description Who first discover'd the Philippines ¶ AT the time when Lodowick de Velasco in the Name of Philip the Second King of Spain bore the Chief Command over Mexico he receiv'd Orders from Madrid Anno 1564. to Rig out a great Fleet and with them seek to discover some of those Islands that lay to the Southward of Japan where formerly Ferdinand Magellanus first Landed
304. The Story in brief this Asclepiades told the Martyr Romanus That he believ'd in a Christ that was nail'd on the damn'd Cross Whereupon Romanus answer'd That he was ready to contradict such Blasphemy did not Christ forbid him to strow Pearls before Swine Mean while Asclepiades had a desire to understand of a Child Whether the Heathen Gods begotten and born according to the course of Nature famous for their Lusts Adultery and other Debaucheries were to be worshipp'd or whether that Honor belong'd to the Savior To which end Asclepiades commanded a Child before him from amongst the Multitude asking him his Opinion concerning the Gods who gave him so excellent an Answer by rendring an Account of the whole Christian Faith that he being displeas'd thereat persecuted him with all imaginable Tortures After having most miserably whipp'd the poor Child he caus'd him to be Beheaded before his Mothers eyes Unusual death of a Christian Child Psal 116. v. 15. who sung whilst the Executioner prepar'd the Ax to perform the cruel Office the words of the Psalmist Precious in the sight of the Lord is the Death of his Saints The Japan Children died with more Holiness under the Hands of their Executioners if they had understood Gods Word in the Old and New Testament than the Waldensian Youths of which the Sorbonne Doctors at Paris gave Information to Lewis the Twelfth King of France That they had lately receiv'd no better Instructions concerning Religion than they had heard from the Waldensian Youths A strange way how the Japanners harden their Children to be constant in the Christian Belief Now the Japanners harden their Children against a cruel Death not with instructing them in the Gospel but by terrifying them with unusual Cruelties which Hazart witnesseth relating That Johannes Catouneme a Nobleman in the Kingdom of Deva had a Son aged seven years whom he daily instructed to be constant I will set down Hazart's own Words concerning it A little before Catouneme was taken Prisoner he said to his Son If it were so that you saw the Executioners coming would you suffer your self to be burnt alive or deny your Faith Whereupon the Child ask'd Father what would you do To which he reply'd I would suffer my self to be burn'd Whereon the Youth again made answer So will I too Then said his Father Come hither I am resolv'd to try if you will be so constant as you say Take and hold this Coal in your hand till I command you to throw it away The Child immediately opening his Hand the Father laid a glowing Coal in the same The Youth held it fast without shewing any concern thereat notwithstanding his Hand was burnt to the Bone yet he threw it not away till his Father gave order When they ask'd him If the Fire had not hurt him he made answer Any one that is ready to burn alive as I am must not make any scruple to hold a burning Coal in their Hand for so short a time as I have done And who can find more of the Aged Japanners Ignorance of the Japan-Christians in any Observation kept by the Jesuits themselves that they either said or did more whilst they were under the Executioners Hands than to hold a Crucifix and the Picture of the Virgin Mary repeating the usual Prayer Jesus Maria. Horrible Tortures with the boyling Waters of Singok ¶ BUt besides their burning them by degrees the Japanners us'd also the Waters of Singok that is to say Hell These Waters being Sulphureous and hot flow from the Foot of an exceeding steep Mountain with such force and noise that it strikes terror and amazement to the Beholder It rushes forth between the Rocks and sends its noysom and choaking Vapors up to the Sky Hither several of the Christians were brought from Arima and their naked Bodies wash'd over with this boyling Water and when notwithstanding the Torture they refus'd to deny their own Religion and embrace the Japan Idolatry they were carried bound to the top of the Mountain and thrown down from thence into the scalding Stream A Priest is a great help o the Japan-Christians in heir Sufferings In Nangesaque the Governor Kauwaytsdo since his return from Jedo proceeded unmercifully in his Persecutions especially against the Priests Amongst others that were condemn'd to the Fire was also a Japan Priest Thomas Soyse by whom was found a Catalogue of some thousands of Christians Which liv'd very privately about Nangesaque Ombra and Arima who not long after fell into great Miseries Kauwaytsdo himself stood amaz'd to see so great a number of them as would make no end of murdering and the Multitude which he was to condemn to death exceeded his Commission which he had from the Emperor So that he thought on a new way There were already according to the Catalogue found by Soyse a great number condemn'd amongst which were two ancient Persons which in the time of the former Emperors had been Governors of Nangesaque and in great esteem at Court for their Quality Riches and Nobility These Kauwaytsdo sent with a Train of eleven of his nearest Relations and Brothers-in-law to the Imperial Court at Jedo Cruel Persecution of them The remaining Numbers he drove out into the Mountains near Nangesaque and plac'd a Guard round about them that the Banish'd might neither come into the City Villages nor any Houses to beg for Provisions Neither would he suffer them to build themselves Huts nor make any other Shelter to keep them from the Heat of the Sun Rain or other Weather so that at last most of them perish'd for want Their Houses are nail'd up In Nangesaque their Windows and Doors were nail'd up so that they and their whole Families were starv'd to death if not reliev'd by their Neighbors which though it was straightly forbidden yet some found ways to give them Sustenance through private Holes None may employ them None durst imploy any Tradesman that was of the Christian Religion nor carry any one to Sea unless he became an Apostate and believ'd in the Japan Doctrine Many seeing themselves in that necessity Many Apostatize forsook their new-gotten Religion and embrac'd the old as also divers of those which were in the Mountains whose Bodies were miserably swoln by Heat Cold Rain Wind Trouble and Hunger and continually tormented by the Cries and Lamentations of their Wives and Children forsook at last the Doctrine Preach'd to them by the Christian Priests yet some remain'd constant their very last Forty two Japan Nobles are banish'd Soon after Kauwaytsdo took five Persons of Quality with their Wives and Children who being strangely preserv'd whilst their Lord Fideri the Lawful Heir of the Japan Crown was burnt as we have before declar'd had embrac'd the Catholique Religion which being known they were Shipp'd aboard a Portuguese Galley that sail'd for Macaw with a Proviso That they should immediately depart for Goa If the Portuguese did
Ground heats and causes the Water to boyl as if a Pot hung over a Flame But that Opinion is not grounded on Reason for it is the nature of Fire being inclos'd in Caves under Ground to break forth with great rage if it hath the least vent Here also it is to be observ'd That the Fire dries up the Water or the Water extinguishes the Fire so soon as the one gets the Mastery of the other So that without contradiction the force of the Fire must either dry up the flowing Waters and consume the Earth underneath to Ashes or else the Water which has pass'd through it so many Ages must needs have quench'd the Fire For who will believe that Water and Fire are of one force and power under Ground and so agreeable in Nature that the one should not extinguish the other Moreover where is there any scalding Waters by burning Sulphurous places yet if it be any where it must be there The Italians reckon little less the fifty boyling Waters but not one of them by which any fire hath been found The Mountains Vesuvius Aetna Hecla and others which continually belch out hideous Smokes into the Air and sometimes horrible Flames yet produce no manner of hot moysture The best reason of the hotness of the waters But the wisest Philosophers judge the occasion of the heat in Sulphurous Waters to proceed from the swift motion with which it pours down from steep descents into the Crevises of the Earth and so still running forwards that it becomes hotter and hotter for experience learns us that a quick motion occasions heat This reason seems to our stupid judgments to be nearest the truth yet we must herein acknowledge a great ignorance and a Bridle for our understanding which seems to be wanting and stops as amaz'd at such mysteries Who can disclose the reason why the Fountain near Matilga a City of the Garamantes hath from Noon to Midnight Water boyling hot which from Midnight to Noon is as cold as Ice as Augustin Isidorus and Pliny witness why the Fountain Consecrated to Jupiter Hammon as Diodorus Salinus Amianus Lucretius Plin. lib. Hist 5. cap. 5. Wonders of waters and Pliny thus relate changeth also hot and cold of which Ovid saith Horn'd Hamon's Water in the Morning hot And at the Evening boyling like a Pot Yet from what reason to the Learn'd unknown Grows Chill like Snow and cold as Ice at Noon Who will dive with his judgement into the Mysteries which the Territories of Epirus manifest by a strange Fountain which not onely lights a Torch when held to it but also puts out one that is lighted What man will find out the reason that a Lake in a Jewish Plantation if Isidorus deserves to be credited drys up Sabbatical River or rather stands still every Sabbath day And why the Fountain of the Hill Anthracius when it overflows signifies Plenty and by its scarcity of Water as is to be seen by Pliny foretels Famine Those that are tortur'd with Singoks water Apostatize ¶ BUt to return to those miserable Wretches at Singok who when they began to pant for Breath by reason of their unsufferable Pain were deliver'd up to Chirurgeons to prolong their Lives to enable them to more sufferings for so soon as they recover'd any strength they were sure again to be brought to Singok They spent most part of August in this cruel Persecution insomuch that all those which resolv'd to be constant became Apostates except one Youth who scarce had attain'd the eighteenth year of his age was the onely person that dy'd under the hands of the merciless Torturers Horrible cruelties inflicted on the Japan women The Women generally suffer'd more than the Men for besides dropping Singoks Water upon them they drove the Maids stark naked along the Streets forcing them to creep on their Hands and Feet and causing them to be publickly ravish'd The Widows they stripp'd of their Clothes provoking their Sons to commit Adultery with them some Women they held fast by their arms and legs under Stone-Horses so committing all the outrages of Sodom they forc'd the Children to pour Singoks Water on their Parents and the Parents on the Children standing close together betwixt Stakes drove round about them some of the Women suffer'd no less by shame than other by torture their Privities being stuft full of Flax and Hemp with which also they ty'd up the young Mens Members and the Daughters were forc'd to set fire of the heaps of Wood which were to consume their Fathers Several hundreds went in companies ranging up and down in the Woods all Stigmatiz'd on their Fore-heads every one being commanded on pain of death not to give them any sustenance Tortures with water In several places near the Sea-side many Inclosures were erected in which they lock'd up whole Families which at low Water sate dry but at the time of Flood above half way in the Salt-Water these having leave to eat and drink Of Children with their Parents liv'd generally twelve or thirteen days Moreover the Parents were hoodwink'd whilst their Children which were miserably tortur'd night and day cry'd Fathers and Mothers take pity of us forsake the Christian Religion it is impossible to endure these cruel Torments which doleful cry took such deep impression into some of their hearts that for meer grief they dy'd Several had their Nails par'd off Inhumane cruelties others had their Arms and Legs boar'd thorow with Drill-Irons which occasion'd great pain also they fill'd some of their Bellies with Water which they pour'd into them through a Tunnel then being laid on their backs on the ground the Executioners stamp'd upon them so vehemently that they made them disgorge the same through their Mouths Noses and Ears After these kind of Cruelties they us'd another more barbarous placing the Martyrs on a Bench bending their Arms across on their breasts they made their bodies fast behind to a Post and then drove betwixt the Nails of their Hands and Feet sharp Spikes which tortures they renew'd five six or more days together Moreover they plac'd some Women in a large Coope full of Snakes and Serpents which crept into their Privities eating up their Bowels Hanging them up by the legs an intollerable pain for the Japanners But amongst all the tortures the most cruel was hanging them by their Legs on a Gallows with their Heads down in a Well over which a Gibbet was plac'd and at the end thereof a Block was made fast through which a Rope was drawn and ty'd to the Legs of the sufferer who being thus ty'd was let down with his Head into the Well so low that his Feet appear'd just on the top thereof In the Heads of those that hung several Wounds were cut cross-wise to the end the bloud might by degrees drop out and not overwhelm their hearts some liv'd five six nay more days before they gave up the Ghost Francis Caron relates