A true description of the mighty kingdoms of Japan and Siam written originally in Dutch by Francis Caron and Joost Schorten ; and novv rendred into English by Capt. Roger Manley.

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 Ci∣ties 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 Citi∣zen, 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 Ar∣tificer are likewise undervalued, because they are but Servants to the Commonalty, and for∣ced to live by their labours and manufactures: Neither are the Country People of more ac∣count, because of the miserableness of their condition, being subject to perpetual slavery and toyling. But the Gentlemen and Soul∣diers, 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 Ju∣stice with us in Europe, undergo the same pe∣nalty here. Every one suffers for his own faults, except the matter be treasonable, and then the Father, Brothers and Sons must like∣wise suffer, and their goods be confiscated; and the Mothers, Sisters, and Daughters be given away and sold for slaves. These con∣fiscations 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 Gen∣tleman 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 plea∣sing 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 ac∣cused 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 con∣versation 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 law∣fully 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 ano∣ther Man with his Wife in the chamber; trans∣ported with jealousie and revenge, he instant∣ly kills the amased Gallant, and binding his Wife to a ladder, let her stand there thus chained all night. Next morning he sent to in∣vite 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 happen∣ed, 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 toge∣ther, and dinner half done, the Husband went and cut off the privities of his slain Ri∣val, 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 Hus∣band commanded her, and entering in this dreadful posture, fell on her knees before the company, and opened the Box, at sight where∣of she sunk down in a swound, and being close followed by her Husband, had her head immediatly struck off by him; at which hor∣rid sight the afrighted Guests ran all out of the house.

Those faults which are accounted crimi∣nal amongst them, are the breaking of the Emperours commands and orders; Peculati∣on, 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 ser∣vice; 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 a∣foresaid Grandees, out of pity and affection to the Delinquent, having consulted together, adventured to supplicate his Majesty in his be∣half; whereupon they received this follow∣ing answer. I have understood your desires with wonder; but that which troubles me most

is, that the unreasonableness of the demands ob∣liges me to suspect your judgements; shall not the evil doer die? whence then proceedeth this your request? or are your hearts likewise cor∣rupted with gifts and gold? change your pur∣poses, 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 star∣tle the Petitioners, that they retired, not da∣ring 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 hap∣pened (as it did in my time) that a Gentleman, appointed Governour of a Lordship near the imperial City of Jedo, had forced his Tribu∣taries 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 In∣habitants 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 hun∣dred and forty Dutch miles Westward from Jedo; an Uncle at Satsuma, twenty miles fur∣ther; a Son in the service of King Kinocoumy;

another Son in the service of the King of Mas∣samme, an hundred and ten miles Eastward; a third Son with the Governour of the Impe∣rial 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 perform∣ed. 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 pre∣vented) 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 Na∣tion, 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 put∣ting to death, belong to the Gentry, the Soul∣diers, Marchants, Citizens and Peasants; but the Kings and transgressing Lords are other∣wise punished: There is a little Island, three miles in compass, and distant forty two miles from Jedo, called Faitsnichina, so still and en∣vironed with rocks and precipices, that no ships of burthen can approach it: it was at first attempted in very calm weather by cer∣tain 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, fast∣ned 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 se∣cure them against the tossing of the Sea; whose least agitation throws them against the Island, and dashes them in pieces, as it happened to the loss of many a man before this expedient was found. The Island it self is very stony and barren, arable but in some few places;

it is hither that the offending Grandees are banished, and close kept from all manner of communication or correspondency from without with strict guards of Souldiers, who have their stations upon all the several corners of the Island for that purpose: These Guards, if winde and weather permit, are relieved e∣very moneth precisely, at which time they receive provision for themselves, as also for the exiled, which is but a little Rice, a few Beans, some Roots, and other such hard fare: they lodg in little low hutches, which can∣not protect them from either against the Sum∣mers heat or Winters cold; and they must work, and gather Silk from the Worms, which are fed and kept there, as also card, spin, and weave such a portion as is yearly ordered them by their task-Masters.

In the year one thousand six hundred thirty one, when his late Majesty died, all sorts of Prisoners, under the obedience of the Japa∣nish Empire, none excepted, were all (in one day and hour) set at liberty, and money given to those that were poor to begin the world again with.