his name written in a little scrole accompanied with all the rest of the Christians on foot Before behinde on euery side were many officers to hinder that none should approach to the condemned persons And thus with displayed banners they marched in triumph through the streets of the Citty of Iendo where the Faith of Christ did now ly bleeding Out of the Citty in the way leading to Camai appeared fifty pillars or great stakes planted in the place of Iustice The three first next vnto the citty were som what separate from the other forty seauen but all were compassed about with sagots placed in such a distance that the fier beinge kindled those who were tyed to the stakes were distant from the flame neare about an armes length The number of people who came to behould this spectacle was without number For a spatious field and a neere bordering mountaine was quite couered ouer There were among them many principal men of note and Peeres of the Kingdom whom other occasions had called to Iendo not without a particular prouidence of God to the end they might be eye-witnesses of so rare an example and see what strength our holy Faith giueth vnto them that professe it The generous Champions of Christ beinge come to the place appointed were straight bound vnto their stakes those three onely excepted who were on horse backe whome they forbad to come down from their horses There should you haue seene them with their eyes lifted vp to heauen and their hartes panting which the loue of God on whome their hopes were fixed and from whome they expected succour in this last passage F. de Angelis preached which incredible feruour demonstrating that the onely Faith of Christ for which they dyed was true and inuiolable all other being falle and counterfet The same affirmed with his accustomed zeale Brother Simon Iempo now tyed vnto his stake who all the way as he came cealed not to exhort those whome he met to imbrace and constantly defence the holy faith of Christ. True it is there went forth of prison fifty one condemned to be burnt but I haue onely mentioned fifty because that vnhappy one no sooner was come to the place of Iustice but he was let goe by the Officers as hauinge giuen signes of a relenting courage and a hart eisloyall to his Redeemer The cause of their death was written in a great table hanged on high in these ensuinge wordes These men are Christians At length sire was put vnto the heapes of woode and there was heard a voice of all ioyned in one ecchoing forth those happy names of Iesus and Maria. It is not to be spoken with what inuincible courage they suffered this horrible torment For there was not one among so many who so much as shrunke complained or gaue the least token of sorrow by any outward expression This incredible fortitude wrought such admiration in the beholders that the Gentiles themselues began to mutter to one another that it was aboue the reach of nature since men condemned for their deserued crimes dy with quite different expressions The Fathers who stood by on horsebacke looked on with eyes of marble and hartes impregnable rendering many thankes to God but no way dismaied which the Iudges looked for leauing them for no other end after the rest but to fright them with this bloody spectacle therby driue them vnto a new resolution But so farre was this happy death frō breeding frightes in the minds of these goodmen that two others of the standers by a man and a woman inslamed and encouraged at the sight thereof ranne in hast when the flames were at the highest vnto the Tribunall seare of the Iudges cryinge amaine that they were also Christians and professours of the same Faith for which the forty seauen dyed yet could they not obtaine to be cast out of hand into those burninge flames which was the top of their desire who burned within with flames of diuine loue but were by order of the Magistrate carried bound into prison where those that saw them had a continuall moouing obiect before their eyes declaring what power Gods Law hath vpon the hartes of men and what vigour is bestowed from heauen vpon those who desire exactly to performe his will vpon earth The aboue mentioned hauing breathed out their immaculate soules the three on horseback were taken downe and tyed each one to his stake The first next vnto the Citty was Iohn Faramond after him in order F. de Angelis and the third F. Francis Galbe Eare the fire was kindled the three valorous Champions tooke their leaues for a moment to meete after in eternity animating one an other with great zeale affection and F. de Angelis did not cease to put Iohn in minde of the breuity of the torments and the eternity of glory which they expected The sior began to dilate it selfe and mount with fury so that the seruants of God were seene onely by glimpes to sustaine with incredible courage those deuouring flames F. Hierom was first seen turning himselfe towards the Citty in act of prayer for a while and afterwardes to that part whence flames came stifliest vpon him seconded with the wind as well to shew that he feared them not as to haue occasion to speake vnto the people who were there in greatest number and from thence forward he stood vpright on his feet preaching with incredible zeale till the flames preuailing separated his happy soule from his body then falling he light vpon his knees and so remained A litle after Faramond was seen to embrace a cruell flame which came into his bosome as a thing much and long desired and after that immoouable ti ' his stake breaking carried him prostrate vpon the ground But F. Francis who expired the last remained vpon his feet euen after death leaning vnto his stake which he neuer abandoned in the time of so cruell torment Thus ended this Tragedy It is not easily conceaued what different affections were stirred vp in the spectatours at this strange obiect yet all generally agreed that their constancy was worthy of highest praises and aboue the rest they iudged remarquable the magnanimity of F. de Angelis who might well seeme to be their captaine both in life and death The bodies burnt some more some lesse were left in the field with continuall watch vpon them for the space of three daies but the Guarde was no sooner gone then the Christians tooke away the bodies of the two Fathers Which being perceiued so straight order was taken that they could not get the rest as they had determined This execution was performed by Order from the new Xogun the 4. of December and the day after in an eminent and conspicuous place at the sound of the trumpet was recompensed the principall Actour who had accused them the cryer pronouncing that to those who should do the like like reward should be giuen that is a faire house of one of the dead
perticulars which I could relate loaden with the merites of 22 yeares spent in Iaponia and 38 in the Society professed of 4. vowes the six and fifteeth of his age he was burned aliue for professing the faith of Iesus Christ. Brother Simon Iempo was borne in Nosu in the Kingdome of Fingo brought vp from a little one in a Monastery of the Bonzi and imbued in that tender age with the doctrine of Camu and Fotoqui God so disposed that the Bonzo his Master was conuerted vnto the faith of Christ and Simon following his exāple was baptised with some others at the age of 16. yeares at 18 he was admitted into the house of the Society as Dogicus or Alumnus and there liued with extraordinary satisfaction for fiue and twēty yeares full of good example and laudable behaviour his ordinary occupation was to helpe others in company of the Fathers by preaching teaching and reading vnto them spirituall bookes When as the Preachers of Gods word were banished into the Philippins Simon was of the number who the yeare after returned backe to Iaponia and finding the Christians sweating vnder the hearty burden of persecution it cannot be expressed with how much application he serued them The last six yeares of his life he imployed in the Prouinces of Quantom Oxu with still increasing labour and paines redoubled He assisted many Christians and conuerted many Infidels euen in the prison it selfe as hath been already set downe continuing a waies a faithfull companion vnto F. de Augelis in his Missions sparing no labours neither day nor night when occasion required He was euer desirous of two fauours from God one that he might be admitted into the Society the other that he might dy for the confession of his faith Both requestes were signed grāted he dying in flames at 43. yeares of age Howe foure and twenty Christians were put to death for the confession of Christian faith in the Citty of Iendo ALl this fire could not melt or molify the hardened hart of Xogun nor hinder from commaunding a new slaughter the 24. of December of 36. more men women some were burned others crucisied others cut in pieces in whose death many circumstances lay open the extraordinary hatred which he bare against our holy Faith Of these 36.24 were Christians the rest Gentils condemned either because they had lodged Christians in their house or answered for them to others Of the Christians 6 were burned aliue 5 women and one man 7 beheaded and crucisied The constancy of Mary Iagea the mother of Leo Faqucia Gonoxichi was aboue the rest remarquable who had lodged in her house Father Hierome de Angelis The gouernour bent all the forces of his wit to make her relent and therfore left nothing vnsaid which the Diuell could suggest him sometimes promising life otherwhiles threatening death then painting forth the dishonor which her children and husband would receiue a man so well knowne and so much made of in Court But Mary sleighted all answering that she could not but yeeld to a death which made her way to an eternall life and for the dishonors mentioned she esteemed them worthy the name of honors and therefore he should not need spend more wordes in this behalfe The assaultes were frequent but without effect and therfore she was condemned with the rest The day being come when this fatall sentence was to be executed this generous Matron bound vpon a horse marched formost with a smiling countenance vndaunted courage which strucke deepe admiration into the beholders Foure Christian woemē were the next that followed whose names are not yet come to our knowledge and then a man called Francis Cabe This was he who whilest the fifty aboue named were in the flames of Martyrdome went and declared himselfe to the Iudge professing himselfe to be a Christian After these followed eighteen little infantes so little that they knew not how to feare death and therfore they went sporting and playing and carrying in their handes such toyes as children passe their time with all A sight which drue teares euen from the Gentiles themselues Of these 18 sixteen were Christians Being come to the place appointed the first dispatched were these little ones against whom such barbarous cruelty was vsed that the onely rehearsall breeds horrour and amazement some they beheaded ther 's were clouen downe from the head to the foote others were cutt off by the midle others they held by one legge and hacked into seuerall peeces After this slaughter performed in the very eyes of the Christian woemen to strike the greater terrour into them eleuen men were crucified two of which were Christians the one Peter Ienzaimon the other Mathias Buneiemon the cause of their death was written in a table containing this That these men were punished with death for either letting their houses vnto Christians or answering for them to others Of which rancke were these two Christians who pearsed through with lances sent forth their last breath together with the sweet names of Iesus and Maria. This Matthias before this persecution had shewed some signes of weaknesse but going out of the prison he professed publickly before all that he was a Christian and in that quality desired to dy which he entreated the standers by to let the Xogun his Gouernours vnderstād The same was his declaration being now moūted vpon the Crosse To these mens handes being dead were fastned the heads of the little children slaine a little before Meane while the six Christians prepared for the flames with diuerse prayers and Litanies nothing daunted with these bloody spectacles Francis obeying the instinct of God became a Preacher animating his fellowes to suffer manfully and exhorting the lookers on to imbrace that faith which onely can stand with saluatiō Fier being put the Christians were seen with their eves fixed on heauen incessantly calling vpon those holy names of Iesus and Maria to giue vp their spotlesse soules not so much as shrinking or giuing the least signe of griefe or paine The cause of their death was set forth in a table saying These dy because they are Christians The two Gentills who were separated from the rest had also the cause of their death expressed for hauing lodged Faramonde against the Lawes All these ended their happy liues the 29. of December the same yeare by order of the same Xogun of Iende Of other seauenteen Christians burnt aliue in the Towne of Iendo for professing Christian Religion AMong the Gentills put to death the 24. of December one was a Page of the Xogun greatly in fauour for hauing let forth his house vnto Christians This exāple wrought so powerfully with the Gētils that streight they deferred to the Gouernour all the Obristians they knew and among the rest the wife of Laurence who was not summōd by the officers when her hushand was taken and with her twenty other Christians many of which were greatly assaulted but remained immooueable After six moneths imprisonment ten
men and seauen woemen were burnt aliue out of the Citty gates of Iendo towards the East They indured their torment with incredible constancy for onely being Christians as appeared written in a table ouer each mans head Of these we haue not as yet the relation in particular onely we know that one died through the incommodity of the Prison so that there were eighteen in all who suffered for their Religion A Relation of the Persecution raised in the beginning of the yeare 1624. in the Coūtreies of Massamune in which aboue 24. Christians were put to death together with F. Diego Caruaglio of the Society of IESVS THe barbarous cruelty exercised by the Xogun vpon Christians in Iendo mooned al the chiefe of Iaponia to do the like in their seuerall kingdoms F. Diego Caruaglio of the Society was Residēt for the most part in the Citty of Xindai the Court of Massamune superior ouer those who were in the Country of Date or Idate Massamune He made often excursions into senerall parts to heare Confessions and administer the Sacraments vnto Christians there abouts One of his stations was Miuaque a territory belonging to a noble Christian called Iohn Goto knowne of all euen of Massamune himselfe for a Christian and permitted to be so together with his Vassals Hither was F. Diego come to celebrate with all solemnity the fests of Christinas and the three Kinges with their wonted peace and freedome when vpon the sudden an vnexpected tempest was raised Massamune had been present in Iende when the cruell sentence was executed vpon Christians and vnderstanding by a certaine seruant of his there were many in his kingdome of the same profession he gaue order diligence should be vsed to know their number Iohn Goto onely excepted The seruant departed with this order who had already kindled the coales by bidding his master looke about him otherwise he might incure some disgrace No sooner was he arriued to Xindai but he streight talked with the Gouernours about the businesse and the conclusion was that all those that had any rents from the Tono should be cōmaunded to giue vp the names of the Christians dwelling in their extent A chiefe man amonge the Gouernours was one called Moniau Iuami a capitall enemy of our profession and nothing affected to Iohn Goto and therefore with many bitter wordes he laboured to shew that it could not be the intention of Massamune to except Iohn Goto yea rather he was to be the first assaulted if they meant to root out Christianity Which an other Gouernour perceiuing called Ximonda Daisem straight gaue notice thereof to Iohn coniuring him with many reasons rather to change his opinion then vnder goe the danger of death and endanger the person of Massamune to whom be was so much beholding Iohn made answer that he acknowledged great benefits from Massamune but far greater from the handes of God to whom he was more bound then to all the world and therfore withed him to forbeare all contrary pers wasions which could neuer take place Daisem surcealed for the present but some dayes after inuiting Iohn vnto his house he led him into the most secret roomes thereof shewing him with great familiarity all the rare and pretious things he had without so much as mentioning Religion till vpon the sudden there came in the wife of Daisem who turning to Iohn with words full of tendernesse the contured him to for goe his beleef euen by that loue which had euer been betwixt her sonne and him which if she might obtaine she should testisie the greatnes of her obligation by cutting her haire and shauing her head which was the greatest offer she could make But Iohn kept his ground and gaue her a resolute answer that his faith was more deare vnto him then his life and there vpon tooke occasion to lay it downe in such liuely colours that Daisem in a iesting manner saied it seemes he hà th little mind to deny that faith which he endeauorcth so much to perswade vs so Iohn tooke his leaue victorious At his retourne home he acquainted F. Diego Caruaglio with what had passed and from that time they both beganne to prepare themselues for death Iohn writ a letter to the Gouernours to be shewed to Massamune wherein he prosessed his obligations to the Tono to be of that nature that in counter change he would willingly bestow his life when occasion should serue But as concerning the deposing his Faith he craued pardon if he disobeyed being other wise ready to accept either banishment or death from the hands of the Tono for the maintenance thereof without so much as conceiuing hardly or complaining of vnkindnesse The Father likewise prepared himselfe and heard the Confession of all the Christians and to the end his person or presence might be preiudiciall to none he retired himselfe after many teares of compassion protesting he would dy with them for them to a place not far of called Oroxie where being entertained by a good Christian called Mathias Ifiore he made vnto himselfe a little cottage adioyning vnto Mathias howse and there dwelt He tooke him neither Dogicke nor seruant but was accompanied by two Christians who neuer left him till death sent them all to eternity There passed not many daies when order came from Massamune to one of the principall Gouernours cōmaunding him to proceed with all rigour against Christians and namly that he should banish Iohn Goto vnles he denyed his faith The Gouernour vndertooke the charge with no small passion by reason some monethes before a kinsman of his had been put to death whom he could in no wise diuert from professing Christian Religion He dispatcht presently seuerall messengers into seuerall parts of the Prouince commaunding them to send al such Christans as would not conforme themselues to the prison of Xindai there to receaue their deserued punishment At the same time Massamune writ a letter in his owne hand to the Gouernour Daisem bidding him vse all possible perswasion to withdraw Iohn Goto from the law of Christ which not succeeding he should banish him the Countrey Daisem tooke the letter and went straight to assault him with all kinde of praiers promises and perswasions coniuring him to deny his faith at least in secret and none should know therof but only he and the Tono The generous champion of Christ was highly displeased at this proposition and therefore desired him to vse no more wordes in the businesse the law of Christ not remaining in the hart of him who denies it with his mouth The Daisem hauing heard this resolute answer called together all the nobles of Miuaque and the countrey about who layed their heades together and with common perswasions battered for a whole night the constant harte of Iohn de Goto but all in vaine Whilest this was in doing the officers of the Gouernour Suò made cruell warre vpon the Christians as well in the rerritory of Iohn de Goto as in the place where F.
possible are wee but onely foure Christians here where be the rest call them call them and let vs with hartes vnited resolue to stand to our faith when the edict shall be published against the Christians and so he dyed leauing those of that were present greatly enified to see a man both in his senses and bereaft of them esteeme so much his faith and saluation In the kingdome of Iomi hath been the like trouble the Christians of Saoyame a principall place of that kingdom armed themselues with the holy Sacraments to resist their enemies A certaine Gentill inhabitant of the said place and brother to one of the Gouernours had for some time before a desire to be baptized and vnderstanding of the persecution which began hee discoursed with himselfe in this manner If all the Christians be sent into banishment or put to death who shall baptize mee I will therefore take commoditie whilst I may and there vpon went and receaued Baptisme In the kingdome of Fococo the Christians escaped persecution for though they were terrified yet Faxuia Chichuyendono stirred nothing both because he iudged it time lost to goe about to perswade a gentleman a souldier to chang their opinions saying that he that was not constant in the seruice of God much lesse would be true to men and therefore neither he nor other cheife men went about to diuert the Christians from their beliefe A Priest of our Society hath taken his iourney into the kingdomes of Canga Noto and Iucchi there to visit helpe the Christians with the accustomed exercises of the Society The Christians of the kingdome of Quinocuni haue been visited where the Merchants only are persecuted and not the Noblemen F. Iohn Baptista Porro of our Society hath charge of Christians of the kingdomes of Farinia Byten Chiungoco and Schigoco being continually in Mission visiting helping now one part now another with great labour and no lesse fruite The newes of the persecution comming thither the good Pastour redoubled his diligence found them also resolute to giue their liues for Christ and to that end he gaue them the holy Sacraments the effects whereof were such that in their conflicts they all behaued themselues most constantly a few excepted the number whereof almighty God made vp with forty two new souldiers which he called to his side The Lord of the kingdom of Bisaen though he be not contrary in opinion to the law of Christ yet to cōforme himself to the will of the Xogun he ordained that all the Christians should be banished out of his state To which effect the proclamation came out of Ocayama the head Citty of that kingdome and least any mightly close it was ordained that euery one should giue vp his name in a paper setting downe the sect which he professed what Temple of the Idols he frequented what Bonzo he acknowledged for directour And straight all those were put out of the Citty who refused to doe it and by a particular grace from God all as well rich as poore gentlemen Merchants Magistrates or of what profession soeuer chose rather to bee depriued of all things then of God the officers vsed extreame rigour in executing their Commissions turning away euen the meanest pesants vsing al diligēce not only in great townes but euen in boroughes and villages and calling before them the heades of families to iustify that they had turned away all those that were Christians who in great numbers and with admirable constancy went reioycing into banishment preferring heauen before the land of Gayama and Bisem Of which number was a woman of account maried to a Gentill of her qualitie who was commaunded by the Gouernour either to turne her away or make her a Gentill Many perswasions were vsed to this end by all her kindred which she manfully resisted and rather chose in company of her seruants a volūtatie banishment towards Nangasachs though in a most vnseasonable time it being the depth of winter then to liue in continuall danger and occasions leading to perdition A certaine Page was threatned by his Master that he would cut of his head vnlesse he denied his religion the Page in stead of answearing stretched forth his bare neck ready to receiue the blow which yet the Gentill had not the hart to giue but turned him out of his seruice In the kingdome of Farima the tempest was not so fierce yet many were sent into banishment some turned away their seruants and others their very children for being Christians In the kingdome of Bithu one of those few who followed the law of Christ hearing the cruelty of the persecution left a certaine house he and his whole family which the Tono had giuen him saying it was not now time to dissemble He was therefore sent the second time into banishment and hartned all the rest to endure the incommodities which they were liable vnto by proclamation by gathering them together in his house and arming them with spirituall conference and reading pious bookes againsts all future encounters The kingdom of Bingo escaped better thē that of Aqui. One of our Fathers departed a moneth before from the Citty of Firoxima leauing all the Christians full of courage comfort when on the suddene comes forth a proclamation that all those who were Christians together with their wines and children should straight depart the Citty it was executed accordingly with no smal cruelty they being thrust not only out of their houses but of the highwaies and forced in the cold nights it being the middest of winter to ly in the open fields in so much that many fell sicke and some died thereof whose names are not yet come to our knowledge In all other places there abouts the like cruelty was vsed but all shewed inuincible courage many choosing rather to stay thē goe to the end they might be carried to prison and suffer death for Christ. Among many good some also were wanting in their duty of which one coming to himselfe againe writ a letter to the Gouernours giuing them to vnderstand that they should no longer misstake his meaning for that he was now resolued rather to part with his life then his Religion The Gouernours dissembled the matter with him but it passed otherwise with one Francis Ioyama Sintaro The death of Francis Ioyama Sintaro in the Gitty of Firoxima WHilst the Officers wēt from house to house to take euery mans name and beliefe in matter of Religion he Steward of Francis in the name of his Master who then was absent gaue vp in writing that no Christian dwelled in that Pallace which Francis at his returne hauing vnderstood first reprehended his Steward and then sent a note ro the officers ro let thē know his Steward had abused them for that he was indeed a Christian and so minded to cōtinue till death The Gonernours much amazed to see so great constancy in a youth determined to abate it vpon any tearmes First they employed his kinred
least the good will where with I offer my selfe to death to preserue inuiolable Gods holy truth will be acceptable to his diuine Matesty And so her husband setting her on horsebacke and tying her with cordes for fear of falling brought her by the helpe of God safe and sound to the place he determined Soone after the persecution in Iagami ceased without further preiudice to Catholicke Religion But those good Christians began to haue remorse for hauing put their hands to that writing imagining that thereby they had been decaued Whereupon diuerse of them resolued to go backe to the Iudge and tell him resolutely they were Christians and that he should not for beare to molest them in regard they had subscribed which the Iudge perceiuing answered they might remaine as constant in their Religion as they would and for their greater comfort gane order that those Christians who were departed the Countrey should returne againe and all of them enioy their Religion in peace as formerly they had done There was also neere vnto these partes a Christian named Gaspar much molested by the Lord of Ioysusi who finally seized vpon his goods cast him out of doores and banished him the Countrey keeping his wife and Children in prisons although she within few daies was permitted to go after her husband They assaulted Gaspars Mother in law who dwelt in a village not farr of But his good example had now made her too strong against this battery For being sollicited to comply wtih the Tono his will and go to a Temple of their Idolis she made answer that all they could do should neuer bring her vnto it Hereupō hey threatned to burne her in the forhead with an iron by diuerse other meanes to dilgrace her But she with great courage laughing at their threates and expecting a whole day and a night the effects of their meaning when she law nothing likely to be done finally other owne accord went into banishment there quietly to enioy the liberty of her conscience In like manner did a young man named Mansius a neighbour of Gaspars who being much molested by a seruant of the Lord of that Countrey with his Mother and sister departed thence to free himself from daunger of loosing his Religion So haue many more done who with great alacrity chose rather to be ablent frō their Natiue Countrey then put themselues in daunger or offending God The subiects of the Countrey called Omuradono liuing together with those of Nabexima all of them were commaunded to appeare before the Tono of Fucofori and answer for themselues Thirty of them tooke ship being accompanied to the water sine with their wiues and kindred all full of greef for that they imagined they should meet no more in this world Yet all that accompanied them with one accord exhorted them to spend their blood in defence of their faith Being arriued to Fucofori they were taken and examined each of them a part but they like old beaten so ildiers with great constancy suted words to their profession answering in such fort as the Iudges were little pleased and therfore co nmaunded the principall men amongst them to be stripped and naked as they were to be exoosed to wind and weather the season at that time as in winter being very cold There was a young man who had carried himselfe very couragiously whom the Iudges to make further triall of him cōmaunded since he would not conforme himselfe and obey their wills to put one of his fingers into the fier The noble Christian zealous of Gods honour and deeming that by this act he should giue a pregnant testimony of his faith vndauntedly put his finger into the fire and suffered it there to be burned with great admiration of all the Gentills who being satisfied much herewith and contented that the Christians in thinges extrinsecall to Religion would obey them sent the young man and all the rest full of merites backe to their houses The Christians being returned ioy ull at their good successe were now out of farther feare when the Gouernours Lieutenant being highly offended with a more zealous then prudent act of a Christian sent some Gen ills his seruants with commission to enter in vpon the Christians houses and constraine them to subscribe not alleadging any cause vnto them but adding many threates of future punishments the Christians for the most part conformed themselues some with remorse some without any difficulty subscribing so that their neighbours who had not subscribed reprehended them much and told them that they would not from thence forward haue any communication with them in regard they held them as excommunicated persons Wherupon these poore soules fell into such scruples and afflictions of mind that they would neither sow their corne nor till the ground as the season required but like men distracted let all run at random which one of our Fathers vnderstāding made ha◠vnto them and bidding them be of good courage taught them what they were to doe in like occasions for the time to come Some were of so tender consciences that for feare of future scruples they would by no meanes subscribe vnlesse the cause of their subscription were hrst made knowne vnto them and therfore abandoning their houses village and all other affaires went to seeke a dwelling place else where One there was of that holy company by name Iohn whose sufferance was most remarkable He together with his wife and children hauing notice of the Tonos officers whē they came first to make the Christians deny their faith retired himselfe into a great wood which was vnder the dominion of an other Lord where he made his abode for fifteene daies together in the cold time of winter and howbeit he endured very much yet he was so faue from being dismaied that he shewed himselfe most ready to dy in that distresse rather then hazard the losse of his faith Neither did he want followers of his rare example some remaining two whole daies some three in the woods and deserts without any food at all to speake of When the first storme was ouerblowne this Iohn was called home by his frendes But the forsaid officers returning the second time with their former intentrō he vtterly refured to subscribe and so returning againe into the forrest settled himselfe there in a poore cottage made vp for him by other charitable Christians and as a Father reported who contessed him and his whole family it that wood liued very contentedly deeming it farre better to suffer all temporall miseries then to be in danger of denying his faith The persecution of the Christians of the Citty of Firando and the territory belonging to it in which eight and thirty suffered death MAssura Figendono Lord of the state of Firando knowing how malitiously the Xogun was bēt against Christians thought good to feed his cruell humour the onely meanes as he conceiued to establish himselfe in that place of gouernment Wherefore he resolued vpon a persecution and