lest the great Lords of his Kingdom reflecting upon the lowness of his former condition might contemn his present Authority as disdaining to be governed by one less then themselves thought it best to keep them in action the better to divert them from caviling a new he therefore sent those Kings and Chiefs that he feared most with an Army of sixty thousand Men to war against Corea and reduce that Country to the obedience of the Iapan Empire These he held there with kinde messages and reiterated promises of succours seven whole years commanding they should not return till they had subdued and made conquest of all But the Army longing for their Country their Wives and Children and despairing of a return mutined and destroying burning and plundering all they could meet endeavoured the satisfaction of their pretended wrongs by the desolation of others The Coreans unable to endure this violence any longer sent an Ambassador to the Emperour Taycko who being admitted into his Court found means to take away his life by poison in revenge of the manifold wrongs his Country had suffered by the injurious ambition of this Prince The Kings and Lords commanding the Army in Corea hearing of their Emperor's death resolved to quit that Country and to return every one to his own in expectation and hopes who amonst them might be chosen to succeed in the Soveraignty The Emperor being removed left one only Son behinde him called Fideri about six years of age but before he died he appointed him a Governor one of the greatest Lords of his Country by name Ongoschio one whom he had obliged by his favors and relied upon above all others for his fidelity To this Person he delivered his Infant-Son with command that when he was fifteen years of age he should cause him to be crowned by the Deyro with the usual Pomps and Ceremonies as Emperor of Iapan Ongoschio being thus declared Governor of the Princes Person was likewise by Taycko's will and the consent of his subject-Subject-Kings made Regent of the Kingdom during the minority which for some time he peaceably ruled in his Master's name But growing now weary of subordination he quickly forgot his promise made to Taycko and sealed with his blood Fideri being therefore to be removed to make place for his greatness he assaulted him first in his reputation by laying those things to his charge he was no way guilty of amongst others he accused him of distrust of his Tutor and that he made private preparations to extort the Government out of his hands by force before his time he laid likewise ambition and an untimely desire of honor to his charge in that he suffered himself to be adored as Emperor before he was invested with the Power and that the Kings and Lords of the Realm had done him that reverence which was only due to a received Emperor But armed ambition needs not many excuses Ongoschio musters his united forces in the Kingdom of Surnga and marching thence to Onsacka where Fideri held his Court besieged him with all his might Fideri having held out three moneths being now reduced to great extremity would prevent his ruine by a sordid submission he therefore sent to Ongoschio to beg his life quitting all his pretence to the Empire and desiring only to survive a Vassal to the Conqueror But Ongoschio refused all manner of capitulation and though Fideri sent out his Wife who was his Adversaries Daughter to supplicate his safety she could not be heard of her Father The Castle being taken the Palace where Fideri had retired himself with his Mother and chief Friends was encompassed with great posts and pallisadoes and much wood being piled up about it the unfortunate Prince and all them that were with him were miserably burnt and consumed with sire Ongoschio having thus destroyed his Master put all them to death who were considerable and of his party bringing the whole Empire under his obedience by force as Taycko had done before him The year following Ongoschio died not enjoying long what his violence had so quickly got him his Son Coubo or Coubosanna succeeded him who was Father to this present Emperor Chiongon now reigning The number of his Souldiers and their Arms. THe Revenue which is divided amongst the Kings and governing Lords amounts as is already demonstrated to 18400000 Coquyns or Pounds sterling according to which account each of them must proportionably entertain a select company of Souldiers always in readiness for the Emperor's service so that he who hath a thousand Coquyns yearly must bring into the field when ever he is commanded twenty Foot Souldiers two Horse-Men Thus the Lord of Fiarmor who hath 60000 Coquyns a year must entertain as he easily may one thousand two hundred Foot and one hundred and twenty Horse besides Servants Slaves and what more is necessary for the Train The number therefore of Souldiers which the Emperor hath continually in service entertained by the aforesaid Kings and Lords amount to three hundred sixty eight thousand Foot and thirty six thousand eight hundred Horse Besides these his Majesty hath one hundred thousand Foot and twenty thousand Horse which he paies out of his own Revenue and keeps for the Garrisoning of his Castles and Forts and the securing of his own Person Most of the Lords especially the most powerful do ordinarily keep double the number of Souldiers and many more then they are obliged to by their tax and all to out vie each other and the better to ingratiate themselves with their common Master as hath appeared at large in the late War The Horse-Men are all harnassed though the Foot have no other defensive arms then a Head-piece the Horse are armed some with short Guns some with short Pikes others with Bows and Arrows and all with Swords or Sables The Foot have likewise Sables Pikes and Halberts and those that are divided into Companies Fire-Arms every five Souldiers have their Commander armed as they are five of these Chiefs have likewise those who command them and their five and twenty and twice twenty five make a compleat Company commanded by two Heads who with their fifty are commanded by a Captain in chief five of these ordinary Companies are again commanded by another and fifty Companies have likewise their principal Officer the same method and order being held under the Horse His Majesty may easily and exactly know how many living souls how many Souldiers and how many Citizens he hath in his whole Kingdom Manieâ—e van Justitie in Jappon for the Houses being built by five and five and every five having their Commander who must register all them that are born and die within their Jurisdiction and report the same to their Lords who again are obliged to tell it their Kings and they to two Officers appointed by the Emperor for that purpose The Authority of his Councellors and Vassals THe Senators or Councellors hath each his Office apart excepting only four who are the principal
had therefore rather hear of their faults by their trusty Servants to correct them then to be ill spoken of behind their backs and for this reason these secret Monitors are alwaies near their Lords persons especially at Feasts and publique meetings observing their words and least actions These Lords though they have their particular names yet they are ordinarily called by that of their Government or residence further every man hath three names the children a childish when they are men a more manly and being become old get others suitable to the decays of nature and age The surnames are first pronounced for being their parents were before them they think it but reasonable that their names should likewise precede When one of these Lords die ten twenty or thirty of his Vassals kill themselves to bear him company many that do so oblige themselves to it during their Lords lives for having received some more then ordinary grace and favour from him and fancying themselves better beloved then their companions they think it a shame to survive their Benefactour and therefore in return of their thanks they usually add My Lord the number of your faithful Slaves is great but what have I done to merit this honour this Body which is indeed yours I offer you again and promise it shall not live longer then yours I will not survive so worthy a Patron For confirmation of this they drink a bowl of Wine together which is solemn for no covenants thus made are to be broken Those that thus binde themselves cut their own bellies and do it as followeth They assemble their nearest kindred and going to Church they celebrate the parting feast upon mats and carpets in the midst of the Plain where having well eat and drank they cut up their bellies so that the guts and entrails burst out and he that cuts himself highest as some do even to the throat is counted the bravest fellow and most esteemed If the Lord cause a wall to be built either for the King or himself his Servants often times beg they might have the honour to lie under out of a belief that what is founded upon a living mans flesh is subject to no misfortune This request being granted they go with joy unto the designed place and lying down there suffer the foundation stones to be laid upon them which with their weight immediately bruise and shiver them to pieces His Majesty hath several Castles strong and great whereof those of Osaua and Iedo are the most magnificent The Countries belonging to the Kings and great Lords are not much travelled by our Nation so that we have no knowledg of them only I am informed that they have mighty Towns and Castles None of these Cities are walled though their streets are regular every one and equally long the ends of them shut with Gates and guarded with Watchmen by night or times of danger The Country waies are marked at every miles end with stones or stakes being put up for that purpose In their Towns and Villages every street hath two Magistrates who take care for their precinct and must give an account for whatever happens in them and because none through clownishness or otherwise may approach the Lord Governour with disrespect they have Prolocutors appointed them by whose intervention all lesser matters are compassed the more difficult being reserved for the decision of the ordinary Judge Their manner of Justice THe Cities and Towns have no revenue at all each of them depending on their Lord neither have the Citizens Marchants Gentry or Commonalty any Tolls Excise or Contributions they pay likewise nothing except it be for the ground their houses stand upon which is the Lords and for that they give from forty shillings to two yearly according to the greatness of their houses Every house must finde a man upon occasion which happeneth three or four times a year though but for an hour and sometimes for half a day or so The King or Lord hath the whole product of the Land and Sea the Gentlemen and Souldiers live upon that portion their Lord assigns them out of the Country the Marchant subsists by his gaine the Citizens and Artificers by their trades and the Labourers by that portion which their Lord allows them out of the fruit of the earth What Crimes they punish most severely EVery individual from the Emperour to the meanest Gentleman hath the right of Justice over his Subjects and Servants His Majesty hath his ordinary Judges in all his Cities and Towns When a Gentleman or Souldier is condemned to die he is allowed the honour to kill himself by cutting up his belly with his own hands whereas the Citizen Marchant and meaner persons suffer by the common Executioner A Marchant how rich soever is not esteemed at all because they say He liveth by his lying making no conscience to cousen and deceive the People for his filthy lucre sake The Citizen and Artificer are likewise undervalued because they are but Servants to the Commonalty and forced to live by their labours and manufactures Neither are the Country People of more account because of the miserableness of their condition being subject to perpetual slavery and toyling But the Gentlemen and Souldiers who are numerous are honoured and feared and they do nothing being maintained and served by the Marchants by the Citizens and by the Country Labourers Every crime how small soever is punished with death especially theft although but to the value of a penny gaming and playing for money is no less hainous then murther and all other Delinquents which deserve the rigour of Justice with us in Europe undergo the same penalty here Every one suffers for his own faults except the matter be treasonable and then the Father Brothers and Sons must likewise suffer and their goods be confiscated and the Mothers Sisters and Daughters be given away and sold for slaves These confiscations are not due to the Emperour King or Lord in whose Territories they happen but are reserved under account for publick uses as building of Churches making of Bridges repairing of High-waies and the like It happened in my time that a proud fellow presented his service to a poor Gentleman demanding of him by reason of his address and parts more wages then he knew the Gentleman could give who vexed at the youths impertinencies and perceiving he jeered him replied with a composed countenance Friend you demand indeed much wages but being I think you will deserve it and that you are pleasing in my eyes I am content to receive you into my service Three daies after his Master sent him on an errand being returned he was accused for staying out so long so as no excuses would save his life being forced to pay for his insolency under this colourable pretence The Lord of Finando did lately cause three Gentlewomen of his Ladies attendants to be shut up in Chests spiked with nails on every side because one of them had had some
Fosio Mimasacka 10000. Sango Wake Sakea 10000. Tonda Inaba 10000. Samnanda Nyki 10000. Ikenday Ietseses 10000. Miangi Simsen 10000. Iton Tangow 10000. Tonda Nayki 10000. All hitherto comes to 18395000 Here follow 's the Emperours Counsellors who receive their Sallary out of his Majesties Revenues whose Lordshipps wee likewise omit for brevityes sake and shall onely mention their names and Salleryes Doyno Doydonno President 150000. Sackey Outadono Chancelor 120000. Nangay Sywodonno 100000. Sackay Samikodonno 90000 Ando Oukiondonno 60000 Inâ—sâ— Cawaytsdo 50000 Inabe Tangedonne 40000 Sackay Auwado 30000 Sakay IamessicodoÌ„no 30000 Nayda Ingado 20000 Tsitia Winbondonno 20000 Misson Oukiedonno 20000 Metsendeyro Iemoudonno 20000. Iammanguyts Tassimandanno 20000. Matsendeyâ— Iurdonno 20000. Abe acoungo Donno 15000. Auwe Iamon Oukerodonno 15000. Ciongock SiensendoÌ„ne 15000. Itacaura Nistenda 15000. Nacsie Iucdonno 15000. Akimouta Taysionadonno 15000. Forita Cangadonna 15000. Miura Symadonne 10000. Maynda Gonoske donne 10000. Missona Iamacta 10000. Fory Itsuocamij 10000. Mury Oemonoskedonno 10000. Fondo Saniadonno 10000. The Totall 19345000. Moreouer his Majesty spends in his owne and his Sons Table and cloths together with his Wives and their Table Cloths foure Millions of Guilders yearly which in Sterling Moneys is 400000. His Majesties life guard being all persons of quallitie receive in pay and pensions yearly 500000. All these vast Expences amount to 283 Millions 450 thousand Guilders or 28345000 sterling monie What qualitie authority the supreame Magistrate hath THe supreame Magistrate in Japan is stiled Emperor in respect of the Kings Princes that are under his Obedience He is Soveraign Lord and Ovvner of the whole land and hath povver as it happened severall times during my residence there to banish and punish with death at pleasure his offending Kings and Lords and to give avvay their Commands and Treasures to those he fancies more deserving then they His dwelling place magnificence Traine The Imperial Citie of Iedo where his Maiesty resides is very great his Pallace coÌ„taynes in circuit six English miles being encoÌ„passed with three Moats and three Counterscharpes These Ditches are very deep being bordered on both sides vvith high and strong Stone vvalls strangely angular The first circumference entring into the second the second into the third and this againe into the second and first so odly that it is impossible by reason of the multiplicity of the poynts vvorkes to remember the fashion of the whole and it is not permitted to take the plaine thereof Such as enter must goe through a passage of three or foure hundred paces fortified with Eight or Nyne huge gates not right over each other but ansvvering the points and halfe circles in the mentioned vvalles betvvixt every tvvo ports there is a large plaine guarded with a Company of Souldiers and those being past several heights with broad stone Stairs and Walls which being likewise surmounted several great Plains bordered with large Galleries against the Sun and Rain do present themselves to the common view The Streets in the Castle are extraordinary large built on each side with goodly Pallaces belonging to the Lords of the Kingdom The Castle Gates are very strong and covered on both sides with iron Bars of an inch thick crossing each other and fastened with Bolts of the same every Gate hath his House large enough to contain two or three hundred Souldiers and defensible upon occasion within in the midst of the first circumference standeth his Majesties Pallace it is great and consisteth of several dwellings beautified with Woods to the envy of Nature full of Ponds Rivers Gardens Plains Courts places to Pickeer and Sport in and moreover contains all the dwellings of his Women The second Circumference is inhabited by the next Princes of the blood and those of the Council And the third is possessed with the proud Pallaces and dwellings of the severall Kings and principal Dukes and Lords of Japan The Cheifs of Lesser note have their Houses without the third Round each adorned according to the Dignity and Riches of the Owners all almost gilt so that this goodly Edifice appears at a distance not unlike a Mountain of Gold for all the Lords none excepted rack themselves to please his Majesty by beautifying his Castle and their own Habitations which their lawful Wives and Children do likewise enjoy after their decease continuing always under the Emperors eye as Hostages of their fidelity This City of Iedo is nine English Miles long and six broad and is as closely built as any City in Europe The Court how great soever is dayly crowded with multitudes of Nobles who with their numerous Trains with Horses and Palanquins make the Streets too narrow for their passage When the Emperor goeth abroad sometimes on Horse-back and sometimes carried in a Pallanquin open on every side he is ordinarily accompanied with these Lords who are called his Majesties Companions being all of them of high State and Revenues though without Lands or other Office save their attendance They are Persons extraordinarily qualified some in Musick and Singing others in Physick Writing Painting Elocution and the like These are followed by the Life-Guard all Persons of quality and choice being the natural Sons of Kings and Princes begot on their Concubines and uncapable of succession and the Brothers Cosins and Kindred of great Lords which by reason of their many Women are very numerous I will give you one example The Emperors Uncle King of Mito now fifty four years old hath as many Sons as he hath years and many more Daughters whose number is unknown After these follows part of the second Life-Guard which consisting of some thousands is so divided that half goes a Cannon shot before his Majesty and the other half follows at the same distance However the number of these Souldiers be great yet there is not one of them which hath not passed Examination and found to be thus qualified They must be active of body ready in the use of all sorts of Arms and somewhat knowing in their Studies especially well exercised and trained which they are to a wonder for when his Maiesty moves they go along Horse and Foot clothed all in black Silk and ranked before behinde and on each side of him They march in such comely order that never a one is observed to go out of his place and with such silence that they neither speak nor make any the least noise Neither indeed do the Citizens move their lips when the Emperor passeth nothing being then heard but the ruffling of Men and Horses The ways and streets are at such times made very clean strewed with sand and sprinkled with water No doors are shut and yet no body dares look out either at them or at the windows or so much as stand in their shops to see the Emperor pass all must keep within doors unless such who will kneel upon mats before them When his Maiesty goes on progress to Miako sometimes the imperial City which happens once every five
and chief Ministers of State these come dayly to Court and dispatch all Publick Affairs by his Majesties directions and are as likewise the other minor Senators highly respected and honored by the subordinate Kings and Lords The chief of these have two hundred thousand pounds a year the middle half so much and the lesser thirty twenty and ten thousand pounds per An. Their Authority and Power is confined to the Emperor's Pleasure none of them upon pain of Banishment or worse daring to advise a second time after Answer once received from the Prince His Majesty chuses these his Councellors out of those Gentlemen that have served well and long having been bred up in the Court with him and had the address to please him most All the Affairs of the Kingdom pass these mens hands but they are very circumspect in observing his Majesties eye and pleasure before they adventure to propose advice or answer and all to continue in his good grace and favour nay they are fo fearfully slavish that they approve of whatever the Prince proposes and though the ruine of a Province depended upon it will not seem to have sentiments differing from his The quality of his Princes and Lords and their might THe Revenues of the commanding Lords as appears by their specifications are very great and yet they have by reason of their vast expences enough to do with their moneys First they are obliged though never so far distant from Court to reside six moneths every year in the City of Jedo to wait upon the Emperor Those of the North and East come one half year which being expired they are relieved by them of the South and West who depart with his Majesties leave after much Ceremony Feasting and receiving of Presents back to their several Countries Thus they take their turns at Court which is infinite expensive by reason of their numerous trains some of them travelling to and fro with one two three four five and six thousand men The Lord of Firando where our East-India-Company hath a Lodge being but one of the least among them travels with three hundred Men Gentlemen and others and hath in his two Houses at Iedo above a thousand Persons Men and Women Thus each Lord lives according to his Means and Dignity rather profuse then sparing so that the City swarms with Men and Attendance which makes the Markets high and very dear Their sumptuous Buildings their gorgeous Cloathing of their Servants especially their Women and their Attendants their Feasts their Presents and other extraordinary Expences of that proud and pompous Court do sufficiently keep under these great Men for their Charges surmount their Revenues and they are found most commonly to be much behinde hand Besides all this his Majesties orders the making of several publick Buildings as High-Ways Channels Castles and the like all which are divided amongst the aforesaid Lords then at Court each his share which they cause to be made without respect of expence to the envy of each other with all speed and industry imaginable The chief Lords when they build new Palaces for themselves do besides the ordinary Gates and Doors cause another great and sumptuous Port to be made beautified with Statues and wrought all with hard Wax or Indian Lack and richly guilt This Entry being finished it is covered all over with Plancks to keep the Sun and Rain from it and continueth so inclosed and shut up until such time as the Emperour honours that House with his presence After his Majesty hath passed and re-passed through the said Gate it is wholly shut up and never opened more no man being afterwards found worthy to go in or out at that Door which hath been graced with the Princes entry His Majesty doth go but once to feast in one House all the preparations for his entertainment being made ready long before with great care and cost every thing being adorned with his Arms and afterwards never used more but preserved with great devotion in remembrance that the Emperour did vouchsafe to eat in that House His Majesty is always invited three years before hand in which time the preparations fit for so royal a Guest are making After the Emperour hath been there one day the Princes of his blood his Councellors and the Kings and great Lords are treated with incredible magnificence three whole Moneths together Briefly the building of such a Palace and the treating of so great a Prince is sufficient to make a rich King poor and yet these ruinning profusions are not to be avoided When his Majesty goes a Hern-hunting and hath taken some of those Birds being of great esteem in those Countries he sometimes bestows one of them upon one Favorite or other which Present costs the Receiver at least a half years Revenue for the Gift is so highly valued having been taken by the Emperor's Hawks and given with his own hands that the whole City seems to partake of the joy it being abundantly testified by Feasting and Presents The Lord of Satsuma had lately the honour to entertain the Emperour in his new Palace but with better fortune then any of his greatest Princes for his Majesty was so well pleased with his treatment that he made him a Present of Beans as he pleased to tearm it for his Horses worth threescore thousand Pounds a year The Emperor disposes of the marriages of his great Lords who entertain their Wives which are ordered them by him with extraordinary carresings they receive and lodge them in their best Palaces and allow them ten twenty c. to a hundred and more Gentle women and Maid-Servants according to their abilities to wait upon them when they go abroad to visit their Friends which is allowed but once a year Their Women follow them in shut Pallacquins forty or fifty in number each of them with two Chamber-Maids on each side of their Pallacquins one These Pallacquins are very richly made wrought with Lack and inlaid with Gold carried some nine foot from each other in good order with great modesty The Wife that is given by the Emperor is the Mother of those Children which succeed in their Father's honors but if she prove Childeless or have no Heir male the Kingdom or Government is ordinarily bestowed upon a Stranger to that Race and Family Every Lord may have as many Concubines as he pleases or can maintain whereby Children indeed are multiplied though none inherit but those that are legitimate These Lords enjoy all the pleasures they can imagine in the fruition of their Women Houses Gardens Ponds Walks Musick Plays and the like They suffer no Men to come into their Wives Houses upon any pretence whatsoever unless it be some few who are next of blood and that but very seldom these are kept close and careful and all their Women young and old great and of lower condition must thus spend their time without any manner of conversation with men the least suspition is punisht with death it
being no less criminal to be thought ill then to be really so These Attendants are choice Maids bred up in an humble and honest manner and so observant of their Master and Lady that they neither speak nor smile but as they are directed by their eye or motion They are clothed in Silks of several colours and distinguished into several orders some wear red vestments with green girdles and green head-tires others yellow with violet girdles and tires others white with red girdles and tires and others other such colours as they best fancy most embroydered with Gold Every order hath its Officers consisting ordinarily of sixteen Persons who are seated according to their quality and served according to the custom of their Country Those young Persons are all of Noble Extraction fair well bred and not entertained into this service for less time then twenty years some nay most for their whole lives Many are received into service at the age of four or five and twenty some at the age of twenty eight or thirty and are bestowed in marriage by their Lords upon some of their Gentlemen or Officers according to their merit whom he then honours with an increase of stipend besides present sums of money Those who arrive to the age of above thirty years in their service do ordinarily spend their whole lives there being preferred to Offices under their Ladies All the married Women of what quality soever are trained up by such rules that they busie not themselves with the affairs of this life or trouble their Husbands with unnecessary questions or desires to avoid harsh returns which are the consequences of any demands of that kinde when ever the Husbands visit their Wives which is never but for their own diversion they divest themselves of all sorts of business not resuming the consideration of it till they quit the place where the whole treatment is entirely relating to what is amorous as Banquets Musick Dancing Plays and the like wherein the Women have an extraordinary dexterity and address in pleasing their Husbands The reason they give especially the great Ones why their Wives are kept thus retired and sequestred from the company of Men and business is first as they say Because the Woman is to serve the Man to divert him to bring him Children to give them education and for no other end further to avoid jealousie and its consequences of vexation blood and war which they have gathered from former experience when their Women had more liberty as also from tragical examples recorded in their Histories of divers who have been deceived and ruined by them Their Women are ordinarily true and modest even to blushing whereof I shall instance an example or two There was in the Kingdom of Fingo a Person of quality who had a Wife of extraordinary beauty the King caused him to be secretly murthered and after some time sent for his Lady to Court She obayed but knowing her Husband was made away by his practices answered his importunities in these words Mighty Prince I ought in reason to rejoyce and account my self extream happy in being thought worthy to serve your Majesty yet permit me to affirm that at the same instant you approach me I will kill my self but if you shall please to grant what I shall desire of you I will give my self up to be your humble Handmaid Allow me then the respite of thirty days wherein I may mourn for my Husband and cause him to be interred according to his Dignity after which that I may upon the Tower of your Castle make a Feast for my Husband's Friends with them to put an end to my mourning The King condiscended to this request but wondred at the curiosity of it The Ceremony being performed at which the King was present and in a good humour well heated with wine and his passions the Lady withdrew to the side of the Gallery as if she would have reposed and upon a sudden threw her self over the walls and broke her neck in the presence of the King and those that were with him The other is of a certain Lord who sent about through his dominions for some young Gentlewomen to attend upon his Lady and amongst others found a poor Widows Daughter who was so acceptable to her Lord that he received her into the number of his Concubines Her Mother being reduced to great wants wrote a Letter to her wherein she at large set forth her poverty and the miserableness of her condition While the Daughter was busie in reading of it her Lord comes in and she endeavouring to hide the Letter he perceived it and in great choler would know what the Letter was from whom and from whence it came she ashamed to discover the poverty of her Mother refused to tell him whereupon he endeavored to force it from her which she to prevent put it into her mouth and would have swallowed it but not being able to get it down it stuck in her throat and choaked her The Lord mad with rage and jealousie caused her immediatly to be cut up to search for the Letter but finding the innocency of it and that it contained only the discovery of her Mothers poverty was so transported with grief and sorrow that he could not refrain his tears and in the sense of it sent for his Concubines Mother who at this present lives in the house with him in much honor and esteem The modesty of these females extends to their private conversation so that they are very careful even in the presence of their next of kindred not to let fall any word which may savour of the least lightness or incontinency not daring to speak of marriage though lawful nor the way to it and if any unseemly discourse though but in appearance should happen the youngest arise immediatly and quit the company They honour and love their Parents even to devotion believing firmly that those who do the contrary cannot escape the vengeance of the Gods this piety extends to them that gave them their lives after their death the aniversary of their decease being ceremoniously observed by their abstaining upon that day from eating any thing that hath life or motion But to return from whence we digressed the Revenue of the governing Lords is diverse and various some Countries produce Corn and Fruit others Gold and Silver some again Brass Iron Tin Lead and others again curious Manufactures Hemp Cotton Silk and the like all which are calculated valued and perfectly known to the Emperor Afbeelding van's Keysers Paâ—eâ—s mitsgadees de manier van't verâ—enen syner Audâ—â— Most of these Lords entertain alwaies by them some choice Persons for parts and understanding only to observe their actions and tell them of their faults which they must exactly do without respect or flattery for they say no man can see his own errours so well as another especially those who are called to govern as more subject to the transports of passion and pride they
conversation with a certain Gentleman who was likewise condemned to die and his belly cut up and that the other two knowing of their companions practices had not discovered them Who ever findes his Wife in a lockt or shut chamber with another man may lawfully kill them both the which though very rarely hath indeed happened If the Husband be absent then his Father Brother Son or next of kin nay a Servant may do it so that Adultery is seldom or never heard of amongst them A certain Gentleman being jealous of his Wife pretended a journey from home but returning unexpectedly back found another Man with his Wife in the chamber transported with jealousie and revenge he instantly kills the amased Gallant and binding his Wife to a ladder let her stand there thus chained all night Next morning he sent to invite all his and her kindred Men and Women to dinner which however contrary to their customs each sex feasting and eating alwaies apart was through his importunity assented unto The Women who sat in a chamber by themselves ignorant of what had happened enquired often for the Lady of the house to which her Husband made answer that she was busie in ordering their entertainment she would wait upon them immediatly The Guests being all sat Men and Women together and dinner half done the Husband went and cut off the privities of his slain Rival and putting them into a covered Box of Lack or Wax deckt with flowers unbound his Wife and clothing her in a winding sheet with her hair loose and hanging over her shoulders gave it her she not knowing what was in it adding Go and carry it to our Friends at dinner and try whether for their sakes I may not pardon you also The poor Woman half dead and distracted with fear did as her Husband commanded her and entering in this dreadful posture fell on her knees before the company and opened the Box at sight whereof she sunk down in a swound and being close followed by her Husband had her head immediatly struck off by him at which horrid sight the afrighted Guests ran all out of the house Those faults which are accounted criminal amongst them are the breaking of the Emperours commands and orders Peculation or robbing his Majesties Revenues false coyning burning of houses rapes and the ill governing of those in Authority he that is guilty of any of these crimes is punished in his person and posterity if it be a Woman that hath offended she suffers alone nor shall she die for anothers sin only be given away or sold Their punishments are rosting burning crucifying both waies drawing with four Bulls and boyling in Oyl and Water A man who was to deliver Wood and Stone to his Majesties Factours had corrupted some Souldiers and others appointed for the service this being discovered the Overseers were ordered to cut up their bellies but the Marchant was crucified with his heels upward This man being a man of parts was in good esteem with the Councellors and great ones at Court and however it be that it is not lawful to intercede for a criminal yet the aforesaid Grandees out of pity and affection to the Delinquent having consulted together adventured to supplicate his Majesty in his behalf whereupon they received this following answer I have understood your desires with wonder but that which troubles me most is that the unreasonableness of the demands obliges me to suspect your judgements shall not the evil doer die whence then proceedeth this your request or are your hearts likewise corrupted with gifts and gold change your purposes and let justice have her course and then if any amongst you desire riches let them go to my Treasure and satisfie themselves go I give you full liberty to do it This reply did so startle the Petitioners that they retired not daring to make any further instance or speak one word more They have a peculiar method in punishing of crimes which I will also relate It happened as it did in my time that a Gentleman appointed Governour of a Lordship near the imperial City of Jedo had forced his Tributaries to pay more then they were obliged to by their ordinary Tax and Contributions with which surplus he had Lorded it for some time but this Exaction continuing the Inhabitants supplicated his Majesty for relief whereupon the Gentleman together with his whole race were ordered to cut up their bellies The said Governour had a Brother in the service of the King of Fingo two hundred and forty Dutch miles Westward from Jedo an Uncle at Satsuma twenty miles further a Son in the service of King Kinocoumy another Son in the service of the King of Massamme an hundred and ten miles Eastward a third Son with the Governour of the Imperial Castle of Inquano with two Brothers more that were Souldiers in his Majesties Guards at Jedo his youngest Son was upon extraordinary sollicitations bestowed upon a Marchants Daughter who was an only Child and very rich All these Persons however East and West distant from each other died in one day and on the same hour for Posts were sent to all places where these unhappy men did live with orders to the Governours that they should cause them upon the eighth day of the eighth Moneth the day limited for their execution when the Sun was in the South to cut up their bellies according to the usual manner which was exactly performed The aforesaid Marchant well known to our Society dwelt at Osaua but died for grief and his Daughter unwilling to survive her Husband would if she had not been prevented have killed her self yet she could not be hindred to destroy that life which was but loathsome to her after so dear a loss for she abstained wholly from eating and expired concluding this fatal Tragedy with her own the eleventh day after The People of this Nation especially the Women die with strange constancy and assurance without any the least emotion of sorrow or weakness Lyes are likewise punished with death especially if told to Magistrates or Lords neither will any Master pardon that crime in his Servant These aforesaid manners of putting to death belong to the Gentry the Souldiers Marchants Citizens and Peasants but the Kings and transgressing Lords are otherwise punished There is a little Island three miles in compass and distant forty two miles from Jedo called Faitsnichina so still and environed with rocks and precipices that no ships of burthen can approach it it was at first attempted in very calm weather by certain desperate fellows who climbing up those rocks made a shift to get on the tops of them and having pulled up with ropes materials and necessary instruments for their purpose fastned beams and strong posts in the rocks in such wise that by the help of pullies and ropes and strong hanging nets they can winde the boats up some fathoms out of the water and so secure them against the tossing of the Sea whose least agitation
free-Chambers or pack-houses where none is suffered to enter but their familiar and most intimate Servants and Friends Their chief furniture which they expose are Tsia Cups and Pots Pictures Manuscripts and Sables which each provides himself of rich and goodly according to his condition and might How they receive each other and of their Hospitality THe Japanners are very hospitable and civil to such as visit them they treat them with Tobacco and with Tsia and if the friend be more then ordinary with Wine They cause them first to sit down and setting a Lack bowl before them will not suffer them to depart before they have tasted of it they sing they pipe and play upon such stringed instruments as they have to rejoyce their Guests omitting no manner of carouses and kindnesses to testisie their welcome and the value they put upon their conversation They never quarrel in their debauches but he that is first drunk retires and sleeps until the fumes of the wine be evaporated There is no such thing as Tavern or publick drinking House in all the Countrie they eat drink and are merry but all in their own houses not refusing lodging and refreshment for the traveller and stranger Of their Conjugal State THese People neither make love nor woo all their marriages being concluded by their Parents or for want of such near relations by the next of kin One Man hath but one Wife though as many Concubines as he can keep and if that Wife do not please him he may put her away provided he dismiss her in a civil and honorable way Any Man may lie with a Whore or common Woman although he be married with impunitie but the Wife may not so much as speak in private with another Man as is already said without hazarding her life What is said of divorce relates only to the Citizen Marchant and common Souldier a Gentleman or Lord may not put away his Wife although she should not please him and that out of respect to her quality and his own Person he must maintain her according to her condition and necessities but may freely divert himself with his Concubines and Women and when the humor takes him with his own Wife again This liberty that the Men have obliges the Women to observe their Husbands and endeavour to endear them to them by an humble compliance and submission to their humors being sure else to lose them and see their Rivals preferred before them Open Whore-houses are publickly allowed of as well for the use and conveniency of Batchelors as to prevent the debauching of young Maids and married Women Of the bringing up of their Children CHildren are carefully tenderly brought up their Parents strike them seldom or never and though they cry whole nights together endeavour to still them with patience judging that Infants have no understanding but that it grows with them as they grow in years and therefore to be encouraged with indulgence and examples It is remarkable to see how orderly and how modestly little Children of seven or eight years old behave themselves their discourse and answers savouring of riper age and far surpassing any I have yet seen of their times in our Country None go to School under seven or eight years of age as being until then uncapable of its rules and more inclined to play then to learn unless it be waggishness and wantonness At School they begin by degrees by sweetness and not by force the Masters imprinting an ambition and desire in each of them to out-go his fellow they lead them likewise by examples telling them that such and such learned so much in so little time whereby his Honour and Family was so highly advanced The Children are so accustomed to this way that they learn sooner and more then by any correction or whipping for generous spirits and an obstinate Nation such as this is are not to be forced but rather won with gentleness and emulation What Succession ab intestato WHen the Parents are grown old and the Children come to be Men the Father then quits his Government Commerce Shop or Trade placing his eldest Son in his room and giving him the greatest part of his Estate the younger Children are likewise provided for by the indulgent Parents although their portions return to the eldest in case they die before them Daughters have no portions at all nor nothing given them at their marriage sometimes it happens that rich Parents send a good sum of money with their Daughter upon their marriage day to their Son in law which present is returned by the Bridegroom his Parents with much thanks being unwilling that the Bride should have any colourable excuse to raise her into an opinion of having obliged her Husband The poorer sort do but seldom return these offers as needing them and glad of any augmentation of their Friends They have a common saying that a Woman hath no constant dwelling living in her youth with her Friends being married with her Husband and when she is old with her Childe VVhether they be faithfull or false in their dealings THis Nation is very trusty and that out of their ambition the only mark they aim at hence it is that they seldom wrong each other esteeming their honours above their lives and hopes examples of this kinde are frequent amongst them I will only relate one During the civil Wars between Ongoschio and his Puple the King of Cocora who followed the Usurper had left his Queen and Children as the fashion is at the Emperours Court Fideri having notice of this revolt sent for Cocora's Wife and Children to come into the Castle the better to secure them which the Lady refused excusing her self That she was married and under the obedience of her King as he was under his imperial Majesty let him command her Lord and she would most readily upon receipt of his orders submit to his Highness pleasure The Emperour angry at this denial sent her word if she would not come he would cause her to be brought by force The Queen who thought no dishonour equal to that of quitting her house in her Husbands absence and seeing she could not conserve her self in it against the Emperours fury resolved to perish with it she therefore commanded some barrels of Gun-powder to be brought into a Chamber where she retired with her Children Nurse and such of her Women who were resolved to die with her and there writing her Will and her own Elegy she conveyed them by a trusty Gentleman in her service to her Lord and immediatly thereupon putting fire to the Powder prevented that loss of honour which she feared and the Emperours design by that fatal blow If it happen that a person be in a strait and engaged and comes to another for assistance recommending the protection of his life and honour to his generosity this Man will hazard all without respect of Wife and Children for the service of his Friend and perish or deliver