The estates, empires, & principallities of the world Represented by ye description of countries, maners of inhabitants, riches of prouinces, forces, gouernment, religion; and the princes that haue gouerned in euery estate. With the begin[n]ing of all militarie and religious orders. Translated out of French by Edw: Grimstone, sargeant at armes.

[ A] [ B] ❧ A DISCOVRSE OF THE KING OF IAPON.

The Contents.

THe length, breadth, greatnesse, and confines of Iapon, diuided into three mem∣bers; and how many realmes or seigneuries either of them containes. 2. De∣scription of the auncient Estate of this countrie gouerned at that time by one prince alone called Vo, or Dair. 3. Of Meaco the chiefe towne of Iapon: Os••a∣c••••e, [ C] Bungo, and other famous cities, their scituation, and greatnesse. 4. Bountie of the aire of this realme, abounding in rice, mettalls, gold, high cedars which are exceeding big; and in beasts and foule. Of two admirable mountaines, whereof one passeth the clouds, and the other burnes continually, and vomits forth flames of fire. 5. Of the subtiltie of wit, and disposition of bo∣die of the Iaponois: the maner of their haire, of their meat, drinke, and sleepe: the colour of their faces, their language, and the letters wherewith they write: their armes, and their Academie to instr••ct youth. 6. Their wealth in the trafficke of rice, pearles, gold, and pretious stones. 7. Of the kings reuenue. 8. Of the sea forces, and gouernment of this Estate; and first of the fre∣quent change of princes, and gouernor's of prouinces. 9. Of the three principall magistrats, Za∣zo, Vco, Cubacama, and of the fiue orders into which the people are diuided. 10. Of the punish∣ment [ D] of offendors. 11. Of the impietie of the Iapanois, denying the prouidencie of God, and the immortalitie of the soule: and of their priests called Bonzes, diuided into eleuen different sects. 12. Of their temples, and of their gods Fotoques and Cames; and the ordinarie apparition of the deuill in diuers formes: and what pollicie he vseth to make himselfe to be worshipped. 13. Their ceremonies in funerall pompes. 14. Of the Iesuits of Iapon, and the conuersion of the people to the Christian faith by Xauier and others of that companie.

[ E] IApon or Iapan, in old time called Chrise, and according to Marcus [ I] Paulus Zipangry, is a bodie composed of many Islands, seperated by small gulfes, straights, and turnings of the sea, & this masse of islands extends from the one and thirtieth degree of altitude vnto the nine and thirtieth. The length of all this countrie is neere two hundred leagues: the breadth is not equall, for in some places it is not aboue ten leagues, and at the most thirtie. These Islands towards the East looke to New Spaine, vpon the North to the Tartarians and other vnknown and sauage people; on the West lies China, and to the South certaine vnknowne lands, with a great space of sea betwixt them. They containe sixtie and six pettie realmes, and are diuided into three principall members, whereof the first and called chiefe Iapon, containes fiftie three seigneuries or realmes; the mightiest of them are those of Meaco and Amagunce. The king of Meaco hath vnder him foure and twentie or six and twentie realmes; and he [ F] of Amagunce twelue or thirteene: the second member is called Ximo, and containes nine realmes, whereof the chiefe are those of Bungo and Figen: the third member is that of Xicoum, which containes foure realmes or seigneuries.

The most famous of all these principalities is that of Coquina, in which stands the fa∣mous town of Meaco. In former times all Iapon was subiect to one prince, who was cal∣led [ II]

Vo or Dair, vntil that one of these Monarchs abandoning himselfe too much to his [ A] delights, was despised by the gouernors of his prouinces, and especially by the Cubes, who were the two chiefe families (wherof the one ruined the other) so as these two seised vpon what they could and dispossest the Dair. Ambition did so puffe them vp, as some∣times one, sometimes another reuolting, they seised vpon some parts of the countrie, vnder the name of Iacatis, which is to lay, kings. Yet they left vnto the Dair the name of vniuersall Lord of Iapon, but without any jurisdiction, power, or commaund; and it is with great difficultie that the princes (who haue their Estates neere vnto Meaco) furnish him with victualls and apparell; so as this Dair is no more but the shadow of the ancient Monarch of Iapon. But in stead of the Dair, for these fiue hundred yeares, he that hath [ B] made himselfe lord of Coquina, and is called prince of Tenze (in which are fiue realmes about the citie of Meaco) stiles himselfe soueraigne monarch of Iapon; such as were Nu∣bunanga, and after him Faxiba, one of his chiefe captaines, who subdued at the least fiftie realmes, and such is Taicosama or Taico at this day.

[ III] The chiefe citie of Iapon is Meaco, which hath had in circuit one and twentie miles; but now it is lesse by a third part, by reason of their ciuile wars. There the soueraigne ma∣gistrats of Iapon remaine, consisting of three men. Next is the towne of Ossacaye, the which is great and powerfull, and as some hold the richest of the East. There are many merchants that liue in this towne, whereof those that haue but indifferent estates, are at the least worth thirtie thousand crownes, and they of the richer sort possesse incredible [ C] summes. Bongo is the chiefe towne of that prouince, which they call Combodassi. All princes are interred in this towne, or at the least if they lay their bodies in any other place, they send one of their teeth thither.

They doe also esteeme in these Islands the towne of Fiongo eighteene leagues from Meaco. This towne was ruined for the most part, in the time of Nobunanga, and in the yeare 1596, a great part was ouerthrowne with an Earthquake, and soone aftter it was burnt as some hold opinion. They do also place Amangasaquy, a towne which is faire by scituation, fiue leagues from the sea, and right against Sacaia, and in like manner those of Vosuquin, Funay, Tozam, and many others.

¶ The Qualitie. [ D]

[ IIII] THe aire of this countrie is very healthfull, although it be much subiect to cold and snow, being hillie and barren. They gather rice in September, and in some places wheat in the moneth of May. The inhabitants draw diuers metalls out of the earth, and Marcus Paulus the Venetian saith, that in this countrie there is such aboundance of gold, as in his time the kings pallace was couered with plates of gold, as we may see the Chur∣ches in France and other countries couered with lead. There are many trees like vnto ours, and in some places the cedars are so tall and great, as carpenters make pillars for their temples, and masts for any ship whatsoeuer. Their meadowes and fields are full of troups [ E] of oxen and horses, yea and in their forrests they haue wolues, hares, wild boares, and stags: there are also many wild duckes, turtledoues, quailes, and hens. They haue neither butter, nor oyle made of oliues, but only such as they draw from whales. They haue tame beasts in these countrie, like vnto ours. Amongst all these mountaines which are in these Islands, there are two of special note, whereof the one doth passe the clouds, and is called Figenoiama: the other burnes continually and casts forth flames.

¶ The Manners.

[ V] THe Iaponois are for the most part subtile, cunning, wittie, of good vnderstanding apt, [ F] to learne, and haue good memories. They reproch no man for his pouertie, and they detest slandering, theft, swearing, & all kinds of game of hazard. They hold it for a glorie to be of a goodlie stature. They are for the most part vigorous and strong, and able to beare armes vntil they be sixtie yeares old. They haue thin beards, and as for their haire

[ A] some of them pul them away b••fore, and others behind, and the peasants and meaner sort of people haue halfe the head bald. The nobilitie and gentrie leaue few haires behind, and if any one toucheth them that are lest, they hold it for a great offence. They couer the planchers of their chamber with mats puft vp like vnto mattresses, and verie cleane. They are as neat as the Chinois; vsing two little stickes when they eat, so artificially, as they suffer nothing to fall, neither haue they any need of napkins to wipe their fingers.

They feed and ••eepe vpon these mats, and put off their shooes when they go to meat, least they should pollute them. The poorer sort, especially vpon the Sea coast, liue of hearbes, rice, and fish; but the rich make great chee••e, and treat themselues delicatly: [ B] whenas they feast any one, they change the table, hauing no cloth vpon it, and it is of Ceder, or Pine tree, about a foot high. Their comfitures, or sweet meats, are made in the forme of a Pyramide, and couered with gold, and they haue little branches of Cy∣pres to giue them grace. Oftentimes the foules which they bring vnto the table haue their bills and feet gilt. They are rather of an oliue colour than white. They do patient∣ly endure any paine, and are desirous of glorie. They can endure no wrong, but will dis∣semble the desire of reuenge; and therefore they are held to be treacherous. There are some among them which smother their children as they are borne, to auoid the paine of breeding them vp. They haue but one language, but so mingled with diuers words, as it seemes to be many languages rather than one: Their characters doe not onely signifie [ C] letters, but whole words. Their armes are harquebuzes, swords, daggers, and other light weapons. They go most commonly bareheaded; and whenas they mourne they weare white. They haue for a delicious drinke, water mixed with a certaine pretious poulder, which they call Chie: some also drinke wine, which they buy from strangers. They loue venison much better than the flesh of tame beasts. They haue a Schole or Academie in the towne of Banoum, whereas the Bonzes teach: There is also, among others, a Seminarie of Iesuits at Bungo, whereas the Iaponois teach the Portugals; and they of Europe, them of Iapon. They vse printing like vnto vs.

[ D] ¶ The Riches.

THey haue great traffique of many things at Iapon, for that besides the Rice which [ VI] they sell to strangers, and wherewith they fraught many ships, they find also great store of pearle, which are round and great, but redd, yet as much, or more, esteemed than the white. There is also aboundance of gold, and pretious stones; so as these two things make this realme rich.

As for the king, besides the duetie which the other kings owe him, to giue him pre∣sents, & to serue him both in warre and peace, he hath two millions of gold for his yerely [ VII] rent, of Rice, which is gathered out of the possessions which he hath reserued to himselfe; whereby we may coniecture what the rest of his reuenues may amount vnto, whereof [ E] there hath beene no computation yet.

¶ The Forces, and Gouernement.

WE may also easily coniecture what the forces of this prince are, for that Faxiba, who gouerned before him that raignes at this present, had a dessigne, after that [ VIII] he had made himselfe maister of all Iapon, wheras he conquered 50 realms, & had a great armie to passe to the conquest of China; and to this end, he caused wood to be cut for 2000 vessels to passe his armie. Moreouer, the Iaponois are exceeding valiant; so as a small troupe of them will defeat a good armie of the Chinois.

[ F] The gouernement of Iapon differs much from that of our countries of Europe, for that the power and greatnesse of this prince doth not consist in the ordinarie reuenues, or in the loue of this people, but in authoritie and commaund: for that as soone as he hath gotten any Prouinces or States, he diuides them to his confident friends, vpon conditi∣on, that they shall serue him at their owne charge, as well in peace as warre, with a cer∣taine

number of men. They distribute their Estates to their confident friends, to haue [ A] them more readie to doe them seruice; so as all the lands of Iapon, as well publique as priuat, depend vpon few persons, and these few of one alone, which is the lord of Tenze, who giues and takes away in an instant what he pleaseth: he doth raise, and cast downe; inrich, and impouerish princes: and whenas he takes an Estate from any one, they change all the nobilitie and souldiers of that countrie, there remaining none but artizans and la∣bouring men. This forme of gouernement is the cause of perpetuall reuolutions; first, for that the Dair(who although he hath not any power nor command is notwithstanding much esteemed among this people) makes the lords of Tenze, and other princes, to seeme all Tyrans, vsurpers of another mans right, destroyers of the Monarchie, and ene∣mies [ B] to the greatnesse of Iapon; the which takes from them the respect and loue of the people: Hence it grows that they easily take armes, and that one hopes to raise himselfe easily by the ruine of his companion.

Moreouer, for that the princes change daily, they cannot be respected by the people as their naturall lords, and these princes, hauing no assurance of the continuance of their authoritie, doe not effect one estate more than another: but hoping to attaine a better with the like facilitie they got the first, they put it in hazard: and sometimes alone, some∣times in the companie of others, they pursue diuers enterprises, and by this meanes hold all these Islands in perpetuall warre. But Faxiba, for that he would be more absolute, did often vse to transport the princes from one countrie to another, to the end the lords be∣ing [ C] expelled out of their commaunds, and placed amongst strange subiects, they should remaine weake, and without meanes to reuoult against him: and to the end they should be lesse able to rebell, he diuided the Realmes and Estates; so as euerie lord had no great Estate, and for that this countrie was narrow, they wanted no subiect of discords and warre.

Moreouer, he would that all these changes, as well they that were best preferred, as others that had the worst portions, should go and doe him reuerence and homage, and giue him rich presents yearely: by meanes whereof he drew vnto himselfe the greatest part of the riches of Iapon. Moreouer, he imployed the people in the building of di∣uers admirable Palaces, stately Churches, good Forts, and faire Townes; and he had at [ D] his subiects charge aboue one hundred thousand workemen daily who were all im∣ployed in these workes. He had a dessigne in the building of a Temple ro imploy all the yron of Iapon, for he commaunded that all the merchants and common people should bring their armes into a certaine place, to be imployed in the building of this Temple; so as at one instant he disarmed the people, and did workes that were admirable.

[ IX] Leauing this discourse, I desire to make knowne by what people this realme is gouer∣ned: first of all, there are three men at Meaco, which are the chiefe magistrats of all this Estate. They haue soueraigne authoritie, and dispose of all things. The first (who is as it were the chiefe bishop, and is called ZaZo) hath the charge of sacred things among them: the second, called Vco, hath the commaund of dignities and honours: the third, whose [ E] name is Cubacama, disposeth of peace and warre.

This people is diuided into fiue orders, whereof of the first is of those that haue any au∣thoritie or commaund: and these are all called Tones by a common name; and yet there are other degrees of dignitie amongst them, as amongst vs, those of Kings, Dukes, Mar∣quises, and Earles: the other order is of those who haue the charge of sacrifices, and di∣uine seruice, & these haue their heads and chins shauen, making profession to liue with∣out women, and they are diuided into many sects: but they are all by one generall name called Bonzes: the third is of Bourgesses, and the rest of the nobilitie: the fourth contains Artizans and Seafaring men: and the last is of Labourers.

[ X] All offendors are punished with death, or at the least they are banished, how fauou∣rable [ F] soeuer the Iudges be. They are in a manner all put to death by the sword: yet in some places when they take any theeues, their manner is to lead them vp and downe in a cart, to the end all the world may see them, and then to hang them.

[ A] ¶ The Religion.

THe people of Iapon are giuen to all sorts of impietie, and hold such strange opini∣ons [ XI] as no man of judgement but would be amased. They haue the Bonzes for the priests and doctors of their law, and these are diuided into eleuen different and contrarie sects, yet they all agree in denying the prouidence of God, and the immortallitie of the soule. But they do not communicat the secrets of their impietie but to noble men, for that they treat with the common people of the paines of hell, and of the other life. [ B] They haue stately lodgings, and liue for the most part in common. They may not mar∣rie no more than the religious women, who go diuersly apparelled. They haue many vniuersities, whereof the most famous is that of Frenojama, nine miles from the towne of Meaco. Some eight hundred yeares since a king of Iapon did build in this place three thousand and eight hundred temples, with their conuents of Bonzes dispersed in diuers valleis, and to the end they might with more ease attend their studies, he built to villages at the foot of the mountaine of Frenojama, which should furnish them with all things necessarie. This vniuersitie grew to be in such reputation, as they gaue not the chiefe commaund thereof but to the kings sonne, or his neerest kinsmen, for that the Bonzes of this place did enioy in a manner a third part of the reuenues of the realme of Vome, [ C] and gouerned that of Meaco with authoritie. After this (matters beginning to decline) all these temples were reduced to eight hundred, and the Bonzes left their studies to fol∣low armes: so as in the yeare 1535, after many murthers and thefts, they entred into the towne of Meaco, and burnt the greatest part. Afterwards the Bonzes hauing done some displeasure to Nobunanga in the yere 1551, he assailed their mountain, slew many of them; and ruined foure hundred temples.

The gods most esteemed in Iapon, are the Fotoques and the Cames, whereof the first [ XII] were put in the number of the gods, by reason of their great doctrine and austerenesse of life: the second for their goodly exploits and singular inuentions. These were for the most part Priests and Bonzes: these, princes and great personages; by reason whereof [ D] they demand of the Fotoques goods of the other world, and of the Cam••s earthly bles∣sings. But the idolatrie of the Iaponois states not there, for that some adore the Sunne and the Stars; others worship the heauens, and some others giue a diuinitie to stags and wild beasts. Neere to Meaco, there is a temple dedicated to one whom they hold to be the god of learning and knowledge. The diuell vseth great art, and force to cause him∣selfe to be adored by these miserable wretches in the forme of diuers beasts. He enters into the bodies of these infidells and torments them cruelly; and whenas they demaund what he is, he aunswers that he is the king of oxen, or some other beast, threatning that he will not depart from thence vnlesse they build him a temple; and if they keepe not promise with him he returnes and afflicts the patient vntill that all be accomplished. They [ E] haue also the god of hel with a feareful aspect, hauing neere vnto him two spirits or little diuells, the one of which writes the sinnes of men, and the other reads them. The walls of the temple are all couered with figures of the paines which the diuells inflict vpon the damned. The diuell sheweth himselfe vnto these people after diuers manners, and he gues them to vnderstand that all good and bad successe depends of him according to the honour which they do him. He was accustomed to present himselfe in one place af∣ter this manner. He that was very desirous of good hap in the other life, went vp vnto a hill where he attended vntill the diuell had shewed himselfe vnto him: after this the spirit appeared vnto him in certaine solitarie places vntill he had cast him downe some precipice where he died. This deceipt was discouered by a young man after this sort: A [ F] young man not able to retire his father from this superstition, resolued to follow him se∣cretly with his bow in his hand, to see the successe. The diuell came in a certaine shining resemblance, and whilest that the old man lying prostrate on the ground did worship him, the sonne bent his bow sodenly and shot a fox through in steed of the diuell. After this, following the tract and bloud of this fox, he came vnto the precipice whereof we

haue spoken, where he found many bones of dead men. By this meanes he freed his fa∣ther [ A] from death, and the rest from deceipt. We must add vnto this follie, that of the fu∣nerall of the dead which they performe with great pompe and ceremonie. For the Ia∣ponois who are desirous of honour bestow infinit cost vpon the funeralls of the dead, and the Bonzes gather together much wealth by this meanes. They whose heires cannot de∣fray this charge are buried secretly in the night, or else they cast them vpon the dunghil. They which are most deuoted to Amide, which is one of their chiefe gods, when as they are wearie of liuing any longer, they put themselues into a caue which is so close as it hath no breathing place but by a little reed or cane: there they remaine without meat, stil calling vpon Amide vntill death. In places neere the sea they go of themselues to death [ B] after this manner: They gather together much siluer by begging, and hauing put it into their scrips or wallets, they preach publickely vnto the people, and declare that they haue an intent to passe vnto another life to see Amide: the which is commended of all men, who are amased to see so great deuotion. Then they prouide a sithe to cut vp the brambles and bushes which are in the way, after which they enter into a new barke, ha∣uing their necks, armes, backes, thighes, and feet laden with flint stones: then when they are in full sea, they leape into the water where they are drowned. Besides the Fotoques, Cames, and Amide, they do worship the god Xaque, which is one of their principal Die∣tles. There is a sect among them called Iensuans, who beleeue nothing but what they see or touch. [ C]

There are among these Idolaters a good number of Christians, which are more zea∣lous than we; so as notwithstanding that the kings of Tenze had put many of them to death, and caused them to endure great torments and afflictions; yet there are many which would neuer abandon the religion which they had imbraced. Father Xauier and Turian, Iesuits, haue laboured long there & and conuerted many soules, for that in Aman∣guce they did number two thousand Christians in the yeare 1556, and at Funie as many. In the yeare 1559, the number of Neophites or new Conuertites was one hundred and thirtie at Firande. In the yere 1562, two that were brothers in law to to the king of Can∣goxima were baptised with their wiues. In the yeare 1563, Sumitancle king of Omure made himselfe a Christian, and was called Bartholomew; then the prince of Simabara did [ D] the like; and in the countrie of Imori they baptised fiue thousand persons. Within the circuit of fiftie miles about Meaco, they built fiftie Churches, whereof the chiefe were at Imori, Aye, Tochi, Saue, and Cabinoqui, a towne in the countrie of Arima, whereas the Iesuits had a house and foure hundred and fiftie Neophites, in the yeare 1563. In the meane time the faith extended in selfe in the little Island of Amacuse in Fondo, and at Xiqui, a castle neere to Amacuse. In the yeare 1569, the king of Bongo became a Chri∣stian, and was called Francis, and the king of Arima was baptised and called Protaise; so as at that time there were in those countries about one hundred and fortie thousand Christians, and aboue two hundred Churches. There were one hundred and thirteene Iesuits, whereof there were fortie priests, and seuentie and three laymen, of the which [ E] there were fortie and seuen of Iapon, and the rest of Europe. There were also conuerted afterwards fortie thousand of the subiects of Iust and Vacandono. In the yeare 1587, there were conuerted about six thousand persons, and the yere following almost as many. The king of Bugen, and the successor of the realmes of Cicungo and Cicuge, and the lords of the Islands of Ojan, Gomotto, Genzure, and Xiqui(which is a part of the island of Amacuse) did the like. This was the estate of the Christian religion at Iapon, vnto the yeare 1590. Since, there haue beene great wars, and great persecutions against the Chri∣stians, euen vnder Taicosama, who raignes at this present: yet the faith doth still flourish and extends it selfe in many places. [ A]