in great admiration commaunded one day that he should depart from him and retire to his owne house remaining with in doores without taking any sustinance so that he should starue with famine This good Christian remained foure daies without taking any foode and his wife did the like imagining they did an acte of high merit but finding themselues much weakened through hunger they sent vnto our Father to know what they were to doe in that case and hauing answer that they should take their foode they did so and straight recouered there corporall forces hauing already giuen vnto the Tono who afterwarward molested them no more an assay of the interiour forces of their mind to defend by diuine assisistance our holy faith An other auncient Christian called Iohn Mangesuqus a seruant somtimes of Iustus Tacayamancundone hath beene proued by diuerse assayes but he euer answereth that Iustus his Lord with diuerse others of his company died for their faith and that he also would take great comfort if other by sword or fire he might in his death follow the footsteppes of those whom during their life he so much esteemed So that for the present he is by appointment of the Gouernours kept prisoner in such sort as no man may be admitted to speake with him and expecteth day by day to loose his life for his Religion The death of Leo Miz aqui Xinyemen and of his three sonnes IN one of the persecutions past Leo gaue some signes in the exteriour as if he had forsaken being a Christian but he cancelled soone after by penance that errour At such time therfore as this present storme arose calling vnto him his eldest sonne he told him that this time he would shew an other manner of resolution and that hee was determined that neither feare of any what so euer torment nor mordinate affection and loue euen to life it selfe should be able to induce him to commit the like faulte wherefore if hee as being but young would rather depart for some other place then remaining expose him selfe to further daunger that he would procure him fit meanes and opportunity The sonne hauing vnderstood his Fathers opinion and designe finding it for his purpose answered he would goe his waies The called he his three other sonnes demaunding of them whether they would escape away with their brother or surely abide with him Whereunto Andrew Thomas and Iohn made answer they would tarry in their owne Countrey and if it should chance to cost them their liues it should only accomplish their desires The officers of the Tono hauing notice that the eldest sonne was fled fearing least Leo himselfe should also escape away they tooke Iohn and kept him prisoner for a pledge Wherupon Leo made hast vnto the chiefe officers house and hauing found him it is true said he some yeares past in the exteriour I failed if my duty but now I am prepared to die feare not that I will fly from you When he said thus the Iudge not only contenting him selfe with him whō he had prisoner dispatched some who should take his other sonne Thomas vnder the same pretence Meane space arriued there a principall officer of the Tono who examined Leo very particularly concerning the cause of his sonnes flight and he would heare Andrew about the same matter who yet was not prisoner The Father being questioned concerning his faith behaued himselfe like a good and valorouse Christian but the poore sonne I know not how shewed himselfe fainte whervpon he was sent vnto a temple of the Idols to giue some signe that he had abandoned his faith The youth went and when he returned he said the Bonzo would not admit the signe wherof he made offer and so the Iudge commaunded him to giue in baile thereof and that he would send a seruant who should obtaine from the Bonzo what he should desire The timorous youth did so imagining hereby he should be quiet for many yeares but soone after coming to him selfe he repented of his facte and with many teares demaunded humbly pardon of God putting himselfe in prison with his Father and other brothers confessing a new with great courage the faith of Christ The three brothers were called one day before the officers to be examined and many torments were inflicted vpon them in the place The first was by water which they inforce men to drinke in excessiue quantity but for as much as this torment though very painfull seemed to the Iudges not powerfull enough to worke their intent they commaunded that about the calfe or brawny parts of their legges should be strait bound certaine canes bigger then those which we haue which cutting the skinne in sundry places draw forth the blood in great abundance of such as vndergo the tormer It is not yet certainly knowne wherefore they were tortured in this manner but the Common voice is for not declaring the reason why their eldest brother fled and for that being sollicited to forsake their faith they did neuer giue way by any the least word thereunto The Gentils remained wholly amazed made knowne vnto the Tonos Father how the matter had passed and he after diuerse conferences and consultations had with his sonne concluded that they would send vnto those seruants of the Xegun of whom I spake before to vnderstand what was their opinion They hauing vnderstood how all had succeeded as Paynims and enimies of our holy lawe made answer that it was meete they should all be executed All things were presently dispatched according to the opinions of these men and so there was forthwith a messenger addressed vnto Leo to intimate vnto him the sentence from the Tono who promised him that after his death his eldest sonne should be called backe and much honored Our valorous Leo reioyced much here at and gaue thankes vnto him who had brought him the newes he declared what till that time he had kept secret to wit that he had caused his sonne to withdraw himselfe to the end that being a Christian he might not expose himself to the daunger of forsaking his faith whence he coniectured that although he were recalled he would not returne to that place whilst the daungee should continus He added that he was sory for that the officer had beene put to those paines about him the time before when the Christians were examined and that he was sory from his hart for his hauing then obaied the Tono for that albeit he seemed in his exteriour to haue reuolted yet did he euer in his interiour adhere vnto Christ our Lord And I hope said he this day wherein I am to dy I shall purchase and recouer againe what soeuer then I lost through feare And hauing spoken in this manner he went forth with his sonnes and tooke his way towards the place appointed for their death Leo accompanied his steps with those diuine wordes of the Angelicall Salutation and so soone as he came with in sight of the place in which by losse of
in the happie danger of being partakers of the like crownes haue speciall cause to behold with ioie this Iaponian Palme-tree of Christian Fortitude translated and planted on English soile The victories of Martyrs recorded in writing be encouragemēts vnto martyrdomes that the Christian souldier as Saint Gregorie saith eo minus in certamine trepidet quo ante se positos tot virorum fortium triumphos videt so much the lesse doubt of the glorious successe of this combat in that he beholdes the manie conquests of triumphant Chāpiōs displaied to his sight And although you doe not want other examples of great force yet these may seem more potēt besides other respects because they are more recent Their sacred blood newlie issued out of the fornace of their ardent breast doth yet still freshlie euaporate diuine loue and by how much neerer they are to our daies by so much the more efficaciouslie they applie to vs their flames They were members of the same Church professours of the same Religion practisers of the same deuotions according not only the substance but also euerie circumstance which yet be variable with the time and we haue Preachers of all the same Religious Orders that were their guides leaders in those victorious combats The vexations we endure compared with theirs will seeme more tolerable and if they should grow to greater excesses we haue here cōfortable pledges to make vs sure the Faith we professe is able to conquer the most superlatiue rage of the world As from the vttermost coastes we receaue newes of rare crueltie so likewise from thence is brought the rare prize of the valiant woman Here we learne that many waters cannot extinguish her charity nor any frosts benumme harts inflamed therewith The fires of pouertie of disgrace of torment that rage without be not of equall force with the burning of her faith within Nor continuance of sharpe afflictions can be so extended by lēgth of time as to outreach her longing to suffer for her crucified Lord. O fire of heauen ô desire of Martirdome possesse our harts penetrate into our spirits consume the drosse of humane pretences quench in vs the flame of other loues O that to die for Religion that to suffer for Christ that the crowne and purple of martyrdome were the summe of all our wishes the marke of all our ambitions our meditation in the day our dreame in the night that we were in all our prayers still seeking to obtaine it in all our actions still ayming to deserue it in all our cogitations still longing to enioy it O let vs without partiality often view ourselues in this admired mirrour thereby to take away all dissimilitude from them in life whō we desire to paralell in the felicity of their death Of the Temporall State of Iaponia and the present condition of Christian Religion ALthough the Xogun of Iendo Lord of Iaponia hath deposed together with his gouernment the dignity of Xogun vpon his sonne he himself stepping to a greater yet hath this bred no alteration in things touching Christian religion as we hoped for at the change of the Gouernour For the Sonne equall to his Father in the hatred of Christians hath bene the death of many and the number exceeds that of former yeares since from the Moneth of December 1623 vnto Nouember of the yeare following a hundred threescore and fiue Christians haue ended their liues by seuerall torments Eight of which were Religious of S. Dominicke S. Francis and of the Society the rest Lay people Men Woemen and Children which shall be the subiect of our discourse This Persecution rose first in Iendo the head-citty now of Iaponia and the court of Xogun but soone after so dilated it self that no corner was exempt from it where any Christians were to be found Great store were slaine many cast into prison and others into banishment Some hid themselues others abandoned their owne houses fearing to suffer shipwracke of their faith in company of Gentils And many there were who like braue and valiant champions stood it out euen in the middest of a peruerse nation animating some weaker members which are euer found in a great body with the conuincing example of true Magnanimity in the suffrance of most exquisite torments It cannot be expressed what feare and trēbling occupied the harts of many when this tempest rose the more for that euery day new Ministers were apointed by Xogun himself who by all possible meanes of threats and torments sought to extort Religion from the harts of Christians Their industry in ferreting out Religious persōs and hindring their entrance into Iaponia was more then ordinary These oppositions and no marueile haue made our haruest lesse plentifull since some only thousāds haue bene baptized by the hands of ours and others who forward this noble enterprise But we hope for plenty and abundāce in tyme to come the soyle being moist and fatned with the blood of so many glorious Martyrs And to begin with the persecution raised in the Citty of Iendo in which together with forty seauen Christians F. Hierome de Angelis Brother Simon Iempo of the Society of Iesus and F. Francis Galbe of S. Francis Order gaue vp their liues you may note that though for this dozen years and more through the implacable hatred of the Emperour persecution hath still been in force against Christian Religion throughout the whole Empire yet in the Cittyes subiect immediatly to the Tenca Nangasachi only excepted there was a kind of silence or conniuency touching matters of Religion not that it was lawfull to preach or make publique professiō thereof vnder peril of death or banishment but that the Magistrats did either dissemble or neglect to looke after those who embraced Christianity Whilst we lay vnder this shadow of peace the Emperour vnexpectedly by occasion of the new dignity conferred vpon his sonne reuiuing his inuiterate hatred against Christians and especially their Preachers thought it a fitt occasion to destroy the ghospell by renewing the lawes of Iaponia amongst which there is one capitall against Christian faith the preaching whereof and the vsurping of the Empire are held in effect for the same things The Magistrats of Tenca demaunded whether or no it were necessary to insinuate the same by way of Proclamation to other Prin es the Xogun answered no for that it would be sufficient they should see how Christians were handled in Iendo to make them exercise the like in the Citties subiect to their gouernment neither was he deceiued in his opinion For no sooner came it to their knowledge that fifty Christians had been broiled aliue by commaunde from the Xogun but streight waies euery Prince beganne to bestirre himself in his owne dominions banishing imprisoning putting to death such as would not renounce the faith of Christ In the Citty of Iendo were resident F. Hierome de Angelis of the Society of Iesus and F Francis Galbo of the Order of S. Francis greatly fructifying
yeare 1617 he made his profession of 4 vowes and was sent into Ofu he visited three seuerall times the Christians sent into banishment into Sungaru the last shire of Iaponia He went twice to Iezo and was the first Priest that euer saied Masse there He truailed ouer the kingdoms of Oxu and Deua taking the paines we haue else where specified speaking of F. de Angelis in the like occasion He was the first that resided in Aquita Xemboun where he planted in a manner what there was of Christianity here he had his part of a persecutiō raised against Christiās in which many were sent into banishment who perswading him to retire and to saue himself for the good of many he could neuer be induced to abandon his flock which likewise befell him at this time in the Country of Massamune He was infatigable in aduauncing and setting forward Christian Religion and to conclude he was endowed with extraordinary humility charity affability and other like vertues after 30. yeares spent in the Society and 15. in the mission of Iaponia abounding with merits he gaue vp his life for Christ the 46 yeare of his age In the countrey of Camofidadono one of the principall Lordes of the kingdom of Onu diuers Christians were sent into banishmēt others taken and some also newly conuerted shewed how fraile and weake mans nature is three hundred and threescore persons of age receiued baptisme before the persecution which proued to be so terrible that F. Iohn Matthew Adam of our Society had much a doe to hide his head or find sustenance necessary for life Of the persecution in the kingdome of Deud and the death of three Christians WHilst in the yeare 1623 the Xogun put so many Christians to death in Iendo there chaunced to be present in the court Yoxinobu Xataquedone Lord of the greatest part of the kingdome of Deua who fearing the displeasure of the Xogun gaue order vnto Fanyemon his chiefe Gouernour to make diligent inquiry after such Christians as were to be found in his estate and proceede with all rigour against them The Gouernour complyed so exactly with his charge that in a short space he cast into prison aboue two hundred and the greatest part persons of accoūt The first was a gentleman called Iohn Catauneme who being assaulted with all kind of stratagems persisted notwithstanding so constantly and preached Christian faith with such feruour to the standers by that they confessed themselues for conuinced and kept back from imbracing it with only feare This man had a little sonne of 7. yeares old whom he brought vp in this manner to make him constāt in his faith Be sure would he often say that thou vnder goe any death whatsoeuer rather then deny thy faith one day among the rest eare he was taken prisoner looking vpon his chile well saied he art thou resolued rather to be burnt aliue by the hande of the Iustice then to deny thy faith You Father replied the little one what doe you resolue vpon in the like case Why I would burne saith the Father So would I too answered the child I le try saith the Father whether thou be like to resist when occasion shall require Come hither take this burning coale into thy hande and keepe it till I bid the cast it away The childe opened his hand and the Father sayed in it a red hot coale which the child held in his hand till his Father bad him cast it downe though it had already burnt the skinne and singed the flesh His Father demaunding whether he found it hot One answered the child resolute to let himselfe bee burnt aliue as I am hath no great difficulty to hold a ceale in his hand for so short a space I his came to be knowne of both Christians and Gentills these were confounded and those encouraged to see so stronge an example in so weake a subiect With whole troupes of his friendes and kinsfolke was Iohn Fot Cauas Quiemon importuned for the space of 20. dayes who exhorted him at least in wordes to deny his faith But he true vnto Christ answered he would not doe it for all the gold in the world they called him mad-man but all in vaine wherefore despairing to preuaile with him they let vpon Lucy his wife who no lesse constant would not be drawne from her resolution with the consideration of goods children or her owne life and therefore Iohn being led to prison with his two sonnes she was left vnder guarde in her owne howse together with her lesser children as the custome was in the beginning of this persecution obserued towards woemen of quality One of these called Thomas being vnder age and therfore to haue stayed with his mother vsed so many stratagems that at length he found meanes to accompany his father to prison where he became a voluntary seruant of those imprisoned Confessours who were about some forty in number nor could any euer forbid him this worke of charity An other Christian called Alexius Moiemon being diuersly tempted assured them that not only the whole Citty of Cubota bet neither the Teno Ioxinoba though he came in person should be able to remoue him one inche from his faith He was not alone in this resolution but had many followers of which two were beheaded Lewys Tarogt and Mathew Xichyemon these two were in the seruice of a noble man in Iendo when the Christians were put to death and by him greatly solicited to deny their faith which he not obtaining put them out of his seruice giuing them warning not to goe to the kingdome of Deua but they desirous of a crowne of martyrdome went straight thither and obteined their desire and became with dying for Christ of seruants freemen the 7. of Febr. 1624. A certain young maide called Monica of 25 yeares of age was no lesse molested shee had serued some later yeares the wife of Sataquedone who as is mentioned else where not being able herselfe to receiue baptisme perswaded most of her seruants therunto of which Monica was one baptised by F. Diego Caruaglio Her mistresse though a gentill being sont into banishment for the lawe of Christ Monica was forced to leaue her and betake herselfe to the Citty of Cubota where she had many of kindred She grew so much in deuotion that to the end they might not importune her to marry she cut off her haire to giue her selfe more fully to Christian piety The Gouernour vnderstanding that she was Christian endeauoured by meanes of his owne wife to draw her back but Monica stood it out couragiously till one day the Gouernour in presence of many bid her resolue either to deny her faith or loose her head her answere was by stretching forth her neck and saying that her faith was dearer vnto her then her lise and in the saying her head was stroken off in the Citty of Cubota the yeare 1620. Notwithstanding all the troubles there haue been baptised in this kingdome three
effect brought him to the place of execution It is incredible with what ioy and gladnes he past on his way saying his beades and passing ouer a bridge where there was store of people he began to preach with great feruour assuring them there was no saluation but in that faith for which he was now to render vp his life Being come to the place of execution he cast himselfe vpon his knees and with a loude voice said the Confiteor then having made a litle mental prayer he brake forth into this affectuous exclamation Praised euer blessed be the holy name of Iesus who would haue thought his goodnes to haue been so great as to vouchsafe to call vnto himself by way of the crosse so vnworthy a sinner as my self The Gentils themselues like men distracted looked vpon one another saying If there be saluation to be found how can this man faile of it Then Matthias tooking vp to the crosse began in this manner I worship and reuerence thee ô crosse with all the veines of my hart sanctified in the person of my Sauiour Iesus Then praying a little he commended himself to God so was put vpon the crosse after which he so much thiâ—â—ted and there pearced with lances finished his life at 37 yeares of age the 17 of Febr. 1624. The night following some Christians with danger of their liues tooke his body from the crosse shutting it vp in a chest gaue it vp into the hands of one of our Fathers who placed it neere vnto an Altar where he faieth Masse This Matthias was borne in Aqui baptized some 7 yeares before his death by a Iaponese Father of ours he was singular in the practice of deuotion and penance inciting the Christians to Confession and was an instrument to bring many Gentils to receiue Baptisme by the hands of one of ours then in prison He serued with speciall care the imprisoned especially Religious persons He had passed his word to Francis Sintaro that he would rather dy then deny his faith thus gloriously kept his promise dying on a Crosse The death of Ioachim Curoyemon in Firoxima AS soone as the persecution began in Firoxima the Gentils neighbours to Ioachim began to assalt him seuerally and not preuailing of their owne authority they put guard at his dores and acquainted the Tono with what had passed He straight gaue order he should be put in prison in the Castle where after he had been some dayes inflexible in his resolutions he gaue sentence to haue him crucified ordaining with all the crosse should be very high to the end the Christians might not stealt away the body Ioachim hauing receiued these tydings fell downe vpon his knees to giue thankes to God for making him worthy to suffer and that vpon a crosse and that for so good a cause then putting about his necke his beades his Agnus Dei and a litle booke of praiers with a ioyfull looke he went to meete the Ministers of lustice who came to conduct him to the place of execution Being arriued he recommended himselfe with great deno ion vnto Almighty God and exhorted with extraordinary zeale the Gentiles to receiue the faith of Christ. Finally he was crucified and pearced froÌ„ side to side with a lance at 60 yeares of age the 8 of March 1624. by commaundment of the Tono This Ioachim was borne in Aqui of a singular meeknes humility much giuen to prayer and infatigable in assisting and seruing the Christians He was baptized in Firoxima 16 yeares before his death by one of ours The death of Iohn Tananguia Cufroi IN the yeare 1612 vnder Daifù Iohn was banished the citty for the first time but not loÌ„g after called for backe againe Then againe was he tried by seuerall waies the yeare 1615 and finally the yeare 1622 he was troubled anew and after many both threates and promisses was kept prisoner for a yeare The good seruant of God liued there very contentedly in continuall prayer fasting and penance He connerted with his good exhortation and baptized siue Gentiles his fellow low prisoners At last a yeare and halfe being spent in prison came the sentence of death sent from Catà Samonosuque who liued in Iendo Now long before Iohn had made his confession to one of our Fathers and was by his counsell much eÌ„couraged to suffer death for Christ When he first receiued newes of his death litting vp his eyes to heauen he gaue God thankes for so great a benefit then turning to him who brought the message he also thanked him desiring he would tell the Tono and the rest of the Gouernours that he deemed himselfe highly obliged vnto them Going out of prison he me with a great number of people to whom he solemnly protested that he was condemned to death not for theft or any other crime but meerely for the saith of Iesus Christ which he exhorted them all to embrace as the only way to saluation and the same did he repeate in seuerall places according as occasion was offered And when he was silent he went with his eyes fixed vpon heauen continually praying and commending himselfe to God Being come to the place of execution after he had exhorted all with a loud voice to receiue the faith of Christ which he was to seale with his blood and without which nothing could be auailable for saluation He was stripped naked and stretched vpon the earth and cut of by the middle whilest he was breathing sweetly forth the blessed names of Iesus and Maria he died the 14 of February 1624. Iohn was borne in the kingdom of zio he was baptised instructed by our Fathers thirty yeares before his death whilst he was in the seruice of Augustinus Conises Sunocamidono He remained alwaies most constant and very exemplar incredibly desirous and carefull of the spirituall good of his neighbours When our Fathers went in Mission he went with them and hauing an extraordinary gift in preaching he was the conuersion of many in these exercises did he continue till a generous death crowned his labours vnder Catà Simonosaque Lord of the greater part of zio Of Christianity in Nangasachi and the country about HEre are occupied six of our Fathers one Brother and eight Dogici The fruits of their labours being altogether like those of the yeares past I omit to set downe Thirty persons of age haue receiued Baptisme Many who trembled for feare and some who fell vnder the burden haue been set vpon their feete againe and encouraged Diuers Missions haue been vndertaken into Sassuma the Iland of Goto the Countries of Omura and diuers other places of the kingdom of Figen In Sassuma they found a true pillar of Christian Religion a Lady called Catherin in other in law to the Lord of the Country who in word and action advanceth Christian Religion This Lady hath been twice set vpon once by the Bongs who with superstitions papers of adoration and prayer sought to raw her to their
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
of the Mother of that Idolatrouse Priest who seeing the great calamity which through their persecution she was brought into spent most part of the time in perswading her to haue regard vnto her nobility and not to bee so cruell and void of compassion towards her selfe as to suffer such abuse at the hands of the base and vulgar multitude but her words only flew in the winde and were not able to make any impression vpon the mind of Catherine whole vnuanquishable constancy was euer like vnto it selfe Next day the officers to take a new assay of her courage bound her fast to a pine-tree but seing that this seruant of God made no accounte thereof they then loosed her for a complement of their paynim cruelty hauing vtterly disrobed her of all garments behould they tyed her fast againe without either sence of humanity or regard vnto the nobility of this woman whose ancestors notwithstanding had been the Lords and sole rulers of that Country Yet she well furnished with a large prouision of patience did not only suffer with great indifferency this as I may say vnsupportable iniury but thristing for the loue of God after more and more torments she rubbed her selfe so against the rough and craggy barke of the tree that there powred out streames of blood of all sides of her When the Gentiles perceiued this they vnbound her once more and gathering vp her blood enuying the Christians that pledge which they knew they would both take vp and conserue so carefully they fastened her vnto a stake and she punishing her selfe as she had formerly done they led her to an old decayed and iniurious house there againe being now by the longe continuance become obdurate in their cruelty they bound her the third time to a poste of the said house yet in fine the tormentours were sooner wearied out then the person tormented So that the chiefe of those wicked officers perceauing that there was no hope to gaine ground of this generous seruant of God after many threats they left some few to guard her and themselues went to the Tono to giue him accounte of what had passed who vpon their relation gaue order forthwith she should be put to death The officers being returned with this commaundment loosing this our Martyr from the poste whereunto she was tyed and appareling her againe with her owne garments they obiected vnto her that she was stiffnecked and should soone gather the fruits of her obstinacy And the seruant of God imagining indeed what the matter was reioyced not a little at their words And perceauing that they in mockery hanged vpon her shoulders an old ragged banner which by chaunce was found in that forlorne place turning vnto the Gentiles who were present she said with a cheerfull countenance Goe to in Gods name torment and vexe me as much as you please for all th wronges and outragiouse iniures you shall possibly heape vpon me must needs seeme light yea sweet vnto me when I consider how many and how vnspeakable those were which yet it pleased my Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ to vnder goe for me poore sinner This being said they led her to the place of execution where being arriued she cast her selfe speedily on her knees and with hands and mind eleuated vnto God gaue thankes with great feeling vnto his diuine Maiesty who bad now graunted vnto her what she bad longe so ardently desired Here spent she some time in prayer and then vndauntedly offered her head vnto the sword which with one blow was seuered from her body she beīng now forty and eight yeares of age She was no sooner dead but the Gentiles taking her body put it into a sack and so threw it into the sea Yet for many daies after in all the circuit there about men had for sole subiecte of their discourse the wonderfull courage and constancy of this renowned seruant of God in so much that the very Gentiles themselues would be raising the trophes of her praises This seruant of God Catherine was natiue of Ichibu The was of noble extraction and both her Father and auncestors had beene Christians She was baptized by our Fathers and she was accustomed to lodge them often in her house She furthered together with her husband the good of Christians much in those parts admitting and entertaining them in all friendly manner yea she made an Oratory in her house that they being there assembled might receaue the most holy Sacraments The very first time her husband was solicited by the Gentiles to put off the precious garment of faith she said vnto him with great courage that he must also resolue neuer to come more in her sight if be gaue any way to their impious persuasions Which wordes the Gentiles tooke in great disdaine and euen then conceaued that wrathful fury which here they vented forth in so many cruell torments as wee haue said The death of Thomas Mattaichi THomas was by edict banished his country for his religion in the yeare 1622 after he had been oftē solicited by the Paynims though all in vaine to abandon his holy faith But for so much as he was found to bee in a place not aboue two leagues distant notice was giuen to the Tono thereof and that he continued Christian whereupon he gaue presently order that he should be beheaded He who was deputed to see him executed deliuered the message and desired him he would not be offēded with him since he did only what he was commaunded I am said the seruant of God so farre from being offended with ytu that I am much pleased with the good will you shew and am sorry the performance of your commaund hath put you to so great pames This said he set himselfe in the way to a little Iland called Cosima there kneeling downe ready for death the executioner tould him he must rise once more and strippe himselfe to the gridle He oboyed rising with no lesse peace of mind then serenity of countenance disaraied himselfe and then kneeling downe the second time he was beheaded being thirty fiue yeares of age He was borne in Xisi a place amōg the Ilands of Firando His Father and auncesters had been Christians and he had beene baptized by our Fathers He was very deuout feruent and much addicted vnto spirituall thinges he did attend and serue his Mother who yet was liuing with great humility he did helpe and assist Christians both by example of good life and counsell and he was a mirrour of true diligēce vnto all them of the Sodality wherof he was giuing euident demonstration by continuall exercises of piety what a true iudgment he framed of the painted foolery of this world His death happened vpon the third of Aprill 1624 God all mighty calling him to an eternall reward by a short during combat in defence of his holy faith Of foure others put to death for Religion in the Precincte of Firando THe want of good information concerning the ensuing
And the officers declaring that all his goods were forfetted led him vnto the place of execution a league from Vacamassu where he dwelled His wife and children with diuerse other Christians accompanied him on his waye who streaming forth fludds of teares Calistus intreated them they would forbeare weeping or if they neither would nor could refraine they should powre out teares of ioy and thankes giuing vnto the maiesty of almighty God for that so speciall fauour he had conserred vpon him Being arriued at Tabut the place where he was to dy it was permitted vnto him to write vnto diuerse of his friends and he did it in such sort as it is hard to say whether his words did shew more powerfully his great piety or solid ioy This done he clad him selfe a new that his outward attire might beare better proportion with the inward iubily of his mind and then for he was not yet bound he demaunded of the Sargeants that they would bind him and the rough fellows did it with such cruelty that the sole binding of him laied open a large field of paines vnto his patience Finally he gaue thankes vnto the chief officer so calling vpon the soueraigne names of Iesus and Maria his head was struck of vpon the 19 of Aprill 1624 in the fifty seuenth yeare of his age Calistus was natiue of Fiunga But he was baptized by our Fathers in the kingdom of Bungo when he was 15 yeares of age After he was regenerated by those waters of life he serued in our Church as Dogicke for ten yeares together he exercised the same function for some yeare in the Country of Arima and lastly perseuered in it for 27 yeares in the Ilands of Goto giuing alwaies great testimony of his singular zeale and exactnesse He did reside at Vacamaccu for as much as he might from thence most opportunely giue succour vnto the present necessities of Christians in those Ilands baptizing little infants teaching the Christian doctrine disposing the sicke to dy well burying the dead inducing the liuing vnto workes of piety in the midst of all these imployments extending his care vnto the Gentiles he would be euer with all diligēce instructing them at such time as they were disposing themselues for baptisme At such time as some of our Fathers made yearly visit in that circuit he would euer accompany them procuring that all the Christians should confesse and those who were fit for it receaue the most blessed Sacrament of the Altar In a word for these and the like offices of Christian charity he was esteemed by all the faithfull as their master and a most louing Father When the precedent persecution began he was sent in to banishment but when the fury thereof did relent as indeed he was generally well beloued there was earnest suite made for him and leaue was graunted for his returne Finally the diuine goodnesse disposing to reward his many labours made him worthy to dy in defence of his holy faith by cōmaundment of Vquauagidono Lord of the Ilands of Goto The death of Michael Sori and Quinzaiemon in the Ilandes of Goto MIchael and Quinzaiemon were with great feruour employing their best indeauours to promote the spirituall good and saluation of their neighbours in the Citty of Ochicha when two of the Tono his seruāts came to Michael and sollicited him to abandon the faith of Christ adding that such was the Xogun his pleasure And receiuing such answer as was meet and might be expected from such a seruant of God they full of disdaine intimated vnto him that he must dy At which words abundance of ioy did so powre it selfe downe vpon and redounded euen to the exteriour in such sort as it was a pregnant proof of his vndaunted courage Wherfore giuing thankes vnto thē who had brought him tydings so agreable vnto his harts desire apparelling himselfe in the attire he vsed on festiuall daies with great cheerfullnesse he made haste vnto the place appointed for his death And hauing disposed himselfe by prayer he was beheaded on the 19 of Aprill 1624 being seuenty two yeares of age when he suffered He was baptized by our Fathers being but a child in Ochicha the Citty he where was borne He did exercise himself much in vocall prayer he fasted all fridaies and did often punish himselfe by disciplines He made frequent excursions into the neere bordering places not only of the citty but country all about to assist his neighbours in their spirituall affaires he baptized the children succoured the sick disposing them to a happy passage from this life and with great diligence did bestow himselfe in burying their dead corps At such times as the solemne supplications of 40 houres prayer were celebrated he would be euer first in giuing good example vnto others so that the renowne of his singular piety caused great esteeme and veneration towards him in all men But that which in this seruant of God was most eminent was an ardent desire of suffering for Christ and the diuine Maiestie permitted at length that he should be put to death for defence of our holy faith in the manner we haue said Quinzaiemon a mā of great feruour in spirit liued in the same City wherof he also was natine he was accused vnto the Tono for his pious godly life had easily made him knowne and by his commaundment put to death A seruant of the Gouernour executing that most vniust sentence cut of his head Wee know not the certaine day but sure we are that it hapned the same yeare and by order of the same Tono The death of Thomas Nacangaua Mangosuque and Ioseph Gonzalo who suffred in Omura THomas and Gonzalus were accused vnto the Gouernour as noted Christians and leaders of the rest and peculiarly as fauourers of them of our Society inuiting and lodging them in their houses where they might administer the holy Sacraments vnto the faithfull in Nangaia a place siue leagues distant by sea from Omura Whereupon Thomas was presently cited to appeare And dispatching all busines with his kindred and frinds he departed imagining he was to see them no more Being arriued at Omura the officers came to bind him and he laying a side his poiniard offered him selfe with great humility vnto their bands Being presented to the iudges it was told him his life should be graunted him if he would renounce his faith but he contemning all such preiudiciall offers was sent back vnto his owne house where he remained with a straight guard vpon him till such time as he was condemned to die together with Ioseph Gonzalus who about that time was taken prisoner with diuerse other Christians vpon an accusatiō giuen in against them by the Paynims It is not possible to relate what sense of ioy these two shewed at their meeting to see that the prouidence of allmighty God had aslociated them in their death through whose goodnesse during their life they had been conioyned in the exercise of good workes They gaue
beene molested none were ouercome and some not to put themselues into further daūger tooke vpon them a voluntary exile where they remained poore in commodities but rich in merits in the sight of God A certaine Christiā comming vnto an other Citty the Christians of that place demaunded of him wherfore he had abandoned his owne Country he made answer that he might not abandone his faith But the Christians inhabitants of this Citty reprehended him sharply and told him to fly was signe of a dastard and therfore that he should returne and if necessity should so require not doubt to spend his life in such a quarrell The Christian hearing this imagining he was obliged to returne without delay made hast vnto his Country Being returned a Bonzio a friend of his had soone espied him and imagining he had renounced his faith began to congratulate the matter with him But the Christians let him vnderstand that he was not only not chaunged but that the reason of his returne was that he might dy in honour of Christ our Lord. Whereupon the Bonzio grew into such disdaine that he swore he would find out meanes to vexe him But it pleased God that all did fade and fall to nothing for the Gouernour how be it he was informed of the whole matter yet he gaue order the Christian should be no farther molested Father Iulian Nacaura of our Society one of those foure Iaponesi who by meanes of our Fathers came Embassadours to Rome to render obedience in person of their Princes to his Holynesse hath care not only of this kingdom but of those also of Chigugen and Bugen It hath so fallen out that in diuerse places his visits hapned in the very time of the troubles and persecution by which occasion he hath suffered very much and his weaknesse sometimes was so great either in regard of the toyle of his iourney or violent oppression of famine that not being able to moue himselfe he was caried in mens armes The kingdom of Chigugen being deuolued vnto the Kings sonnes by the death of their Father it seemed good vnto the Gouernours to persecute the Christians as deeming that no vnsitt meanes to conserue the Xogun in good liking towards their new Lords but the moderation of the officers hath beene such that no great trouble hath befallen the Christians vpon this occasion The Christians of Aquizuqui haue giuen abundant testimony of their constancy A good Christian woman wife vnto a noble Paynim had heretofore beene much molested by her husband but now the rude barbarian proceeded so far as to clap a hote fire brand to her naked flesh vowing he would vse her yet more hardly if she would not recant Yet she not daunted with this cruelty remaines still constant in confession of Christ begging as saith a Father of ours with great instance of his diuine Maiesty that he will not abandone her and the same Father affirmes that she is most ready to suffer all possible torment in so holy a cause At this present Fosocaua Yeichndono sonne to Nangaochayuchu ruleth in the kingdom of Bugen This man is different from his Father and well affected vnto our affaires resembling therin rather his Mother called Grace whom we haue often mentioned in our former histories for a woman of good life and great feruour in profession of our holy faith The Residence of the Kingdom of Bunge BEfore the persecution began there were 44 of the elder sort baptized in this kingdom besides those who repenting themselues ranne back into the lap of our holy mother the church In some of those the iust chastisement of God hath particularly appeared For of many possessed persons diuerse haue beene found to be such as had abandoned their faith The house of a certaine Christian chaunced to be burned and when the fire had consumed all things to ashes he set himselfe to seeke certaine moneys which he had in a chest when the fire first tooke But in lieu of his money which he looked for he found what he sought not for as much as dispersing the cinders to and fro he found three pictures of Sainctes which were glued vpon a bord and yet had suffered no domage by the fire he found more ouer some payres of wooden beades which he knew to be such as had pardons to them he perceiued that others were burned which had not the Indulgēce as he very wel obserued The Christians hauing vnderstood the accident hold those pictures and hallowed beades in great reuerence and are much confirmed in their faith There doe reside in Bungo two seruants of the Xogun for no other respect then only to giue notice vnder hand of all that passeth in that kingdom and the Gouernours are not ignorant here of So that fearing to be accused they haue began to persecute the Christians in such sort that in mans memory there hath not beene the like either for politicall stratagems edictes threates or troublesome persuasions Father Ioannes de Costa to whom the care of those Christians is deputed hath beene so chaced from place to place that not finding any who durst receaue him he hath beene forced to retire himselfe into the furthest and most remote confines of the kingdom together with one Dogicke and one seruant and the persecution hastned so fast after him that it had almost driuen him out euen from those foilorne places But hauing ouercome all that difficulty he incurred imminent daūger of his life through a deadly sicknesse where into he tell as well through the incommodities of his dwelling as continuall and toylsome iorneies to diuerse places in succour of the Christians of whom howbeit some few are reuolted yet far more are they who hauing indured fierce combats for the faith of Christ remaine valiant and vnuanquishable Linus of whom we haue spoken in our former relations after many banishments formerly endured hath together with many other now latly beene outlawed with his wife and Children he hath suffered wonderfull much nor finding any one who would intertertaine him till at last he chaunced vpon a Christian called Iohn Diogo who hauing friendly receaued him and all them of his company into his house not long after was constrained himselfe to goe into banishment for Christ our Lord and trauell through many places not finding any one who euer would so much as lodge him such was the feare and terrour of Xogun his law Yet he endured all with such patience that many vnderstanding what had befallen him left their country of their owne accord that they might not be in daunger to leaue there faith An other Christian called Organtinus of 76 yeares of age and more hath already beene tryed in 5 seuerall persecutions and remained euer victorious This man as an old soldier and knowne for such of all men was in peculiar manner molested by the Tono but all his indeauours were frustrate for this our experienced warrier did neuer shew any the least signe of leuity or vnconstancy whereopon the Tono