V 3445 B6 =>py 1 ■asgg a B asa a seggg a s s a g ggsB g s a a I LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, $ Chap. Shelf :... ' $ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / THE JESUIT MAETYES OF JAPAN. A HISTOEY THE LIVES AND HAETYEDOM OF PAUL MICHI, JAMES CHISAI, AND JOHN SOAN DE GOTO, OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS. BY FATHER BOERO, OF THE SAME SOCIETY. TRANSLATED FROM THE ITALIAN BY A CATHOLIC PRIEST. DUBLIN : JAMES DUFFY, 7, WELLINGTON-QUAY, AND 22, PATERNOSTER-ROW, LONDON. 1862. 3<& DUBLIN Pritthb bg $. p. ©'fowl* attb &m, G & 7, GREAT BRUNSWICK-STREET. CONTENTS, Preface, < . . . . . . vii FIRST PART. TAGS I. Life of the Holy Martyr, Paul Michi, his country, birth, and childhood, . . 1 II. His education in the seminary of the nobles in Anzuciama, 5 III. Paul runs great risk of his life during the sack of Anzuciama — He pursues his studies, 9 IV. He enters the Society of Jesus, and applies himself to the acquirement of human and divine knowledge, . . . .14 V. His missionary labours and apostolic preaching, 18 VI. His writings and publications in defence of the faith, 23 VII. A short account of his religious virtues, . 25 VIII. Life of the holy Martyr John Soan or de Goto — His country and birth — Goes into voluntary exile for the faith, ... 29 IX. Asks to be received into the Society — Is made Catechist— System of selecting them — His labours with Father Peter de Morecon, . . . . . .32 IV CONTENTS. PAGE X. The life of the holy Martyr James Chisai — Born and reared a heathen, he is con- verted to the faith of Jesus Christ — He marries and repudiates his wife on account of her apostacy from the faith, . . 37 XL He renounces the world, and goes to live with the Fathers of the Society as Cate- chist— His tender devotion to the Pas- sion of Jesus Christ, .. . . . 39 SECOND PART. Passion and Death of the Three Holy Martyrs. I. Foundation of Christianity in Japan — Cha- racter of the Emperor Taicosama, . 43 * , IT. Taicosama's first persecution of the Chris- tians — Origin of another and more terrible persecution — He sentences all the minis- ters and followers of the Gospel to death, 47 III. Zeal of the Christians in presenting them- selves for martyrdom — Taicosama miti- gates his sentence against the Fathers and the faithful, 54 IV. Taicosama sentences the religious to death — A curious incident of one man substi- tuting himself for another of the same name in order to win the palm of mar- tyrdom, .67 V. How our three, Paul Michi, John de Goto, and James Chisai, were comprised in the sentence of death — the wonderful delight with which they accept martyrdom, . 73 CONTENTS. V PAGE VI. The Japanese executioner cuts off an ear of each of the twenty-four martyrs — They are exposed to public derision in the streets of Miako — Affecting incident of an old man recently converted to the faith, . . . • . .79 VII. Father Organtino's sentiments on receiving the ears of our three brothers— How the Martyrs comported themselves in the streets of Miako, .... 88 VIII. The Martyrs are conveyed from Miako to Nangasasky — Incidents on. the way, . 96 IX. They are joined by new companions on the way — The Martyrs arrive at Facata — Letters from the Commissary, Peter Bap- tist* and Paul Michi, addressed to the Rector of Nangasasky and the Vicepro- vincial, 104 X f Discovery of miraculous crucifixes presag- ing martyrdom on the cross, . . .112 XI. Various incidents connected with the Mar- tyrs in the vicinity of Xangasasky — Fazamburo's affection for Paul Michi — Paul's joy and fervor — John Soan and James Chisai make their religious vows — Respect shown to the Martyrs by the Christians — John's interview with his father, 120 XII. Japanese crosses. — How the Japanese cru- cify their criminals — Interesting incidents relating to the twenty- six crucified Mar- tyrs—Paul Michi addresses the spectators from his cross, 143 VI CONTENTS. XIII. Concourse and devotion of the Christians to the Martyrs — They are visited and vene- rated by the Bishop of Japan, the King of Arima, and the Prince of Omura, . 158 XIV. Wonderful signs in confirmation of their martyrdom ; and, above all, how their blood became the seed of vast numbers of Christians, . . . . .165 XV, Translation of the Martyrs' relics to Ma- nilla and Macao — Acts of their canoni- zation, ....... 169 XVI. Catalogue of the religious of the Society put to death for the faith in Japan — Brief notice of the Bishops who governed that Church, . . . . ' . .172 Decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites for the canonization of the twenty- six Martyrs, . . . . .183 Decree of the Holiness of our Lord Pius IX., sanctioning the canonization of the three Martyrs of the Society of Jesus, . . ib. PREFACE. For sake of greater clearness, I divide this brief history into two parts. In the first I will give the life of the three holy- Martyrs, taking it from authentic and trustworthy memoirs, and also from the more elaborate writings of Nierembergh^ Alegambe, the Bollandists, and other authors. In the second part I will nar- rate ' the causes which originated the persecution ; and under the same head I will recount distinctly the Acts of the Martyrs, in the very words of that most exquisite and elegant narrative which- has been handed down to us by Father Daniel Bartoli, in his History of Japan. It is, therefore, not without good reason that I have called this book not a history written by myself, but a compilation, with a view that everything that is good or valuable in it may be reflected back on b Vlll PREFACE. the unparalleled genius and most elegant style of Bartoli. I will say nothing of the veracity or fidelity of his narrative : for he has drawn all the particulars from the sacred and civil informations, which were authentically deposed, concerning this memorable fact, by order of the Sacred Congregation of Kites, and the Royal Court of Spain, as also from letters and original reports which were despatched by ocular witnesses from Japan to Rome, all of which we still preserve. May the Lord deign to regard with merciful eyes that abandoned nation, and cause the blood of its thousands of martyrs to fructify speedily ! Martyrs indeed they were, who, in the midst of the most atro- cious torments and afflictions, generously defended the faith of Jesus Christ, carried thither by the Apostle of the East, Saint Francis Xavier — nay, cultivated and dis- seminated it throughout the whole empire^ till at last it was entirely uprooted and destroyed by the fury of persecutions. THE LIVES OF THE HOLY MARTYES OF JAPAN, LIFE OF THE HOLY MARTTB, PAUL MICHI — HIS COUNTRY, BIRTH, AND CHILDHOOD. Japan, an empire in the most eastern part of Asia, consists of a group of islands situated at short distances from one another, and was discovered by the Por- tuguese in 1542. These islands com- municate with each other by means of inlets from the sea; the principal being eight in number, and three of these, Niphon, Xicoco, and Ximo, the largest, occupy an area considerably greater than that of all Italy. The principal island, which the natives call Niphon, the Chinese Ippon, and we Japan, gives its name to the whole of that Archipelago. Japan was anciently governed by an 2 LIVES OF THE emperor, called the Dairi, or Ecclesiastical Sovereign; but when the governors of the provinces rebelled against his autho- rity, they divided the empire into sixty- six, or, as others say, sixty-eight petty principalities, till at last, some time before the year 1571, Nobunanga, prince of a minor province named Voari, by force of arms made himself monarch of thirty- five kingdoms; and Fasciba, his succes- sor, consolidated all Japan under one monarchy, which has continued down to our times. It was in this kingdom that our holy martyr, Paul Michi, was born, in the year 1564. Documents forwarded to Rome by the Jesuit Provincial of Japan, fully satisfy us that he saw the light in Giamascir, a district bordering on the grand Miako, then the metropolis, or chief seat of the government of the entire kingdom. His father w r as Michi Fandoidono, a man of most noble descent, famed for his martial career, and for a long time before greatly esteemed by the emperor Nobunanga, in whose court he resided. His mother, MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 6 who in baptism was called Mary, was also of noble blood, for it is an inflexible law of the Japanese that their nobility shall never intermarry with persons of inferior social position. It was in all pro- bability in the court of Miako that they became acquainted with the Jesuits, and it was there also, in the year 1568, that they both embraced the Christian faith, which they unswervingly professed to the end of their lives. In that same year they also consecrated their child to God — he being then five years old —giving him at the regenerating fountain the name of Paul. Thus did grace take up its abode in that innocent soul, even in his tenderest years, and thus did it watch over the days of his childhood, a period of life exposed to many dangers in those regions wh^re idolatry was so universal, every vice so con- tagious, and most of all, that of lascivious- ness. The special providence of Heaven, and the tender solicitude of his pious parents caused the little Paul to increase in years and in the holy fear of God ; for, even at that early period of his life, he 4 LIVES OF THE was singularly remarkable for the fervour of his devotion, gravity, and modesty of demeanour, amiability of manners, sub- mission, and obedience. At length his parents finding that they could not devote sufficient time- to the instruction of their child — the mother being constantly occupied with household affairs, and the father almost always in the camp or in the court — made up their minds to confide his education in piety and learning to Father Organ tino Soldi, who was then in Miako, and who may be justly styled the father of Christianity in that distant region ; for he was, indeed, a man of most holy life and glowing zeal, of whom his native city, Brescia, has reason to be proud, but more so still the Society of Jesus, that was his parent, and sent him to Japan, where he was employed thirty-six years in the constant labours of the apostolic ministry. This holy man willingly undertook to educate Paul, then a youth in his eleventh year, and kept him for some time under his immediate care, till at length he found opportunity of MARTYRS OF JAPAN. placing him, -with other boys of noble birth, in a seminary or boarding house, which he had founded and opened, and which worked admirably for the diffusion of the faith. II. HIS EDUCATION IX THE SEMINARY OF THE NOBLES IN ANZUCIAMA. The emperor Nobunanga, to immorta- lise his name, had erected from the foundations a new city and fortress in Anzuciama, a most delightful region, situated on the frontier of the kingdom of Yoari, and within about fourteen leagues of Miako. The Christians of that city justly thought, that it would be an inestimable advantage to the faith, if the Fathers of the Society would be allowed to open a church and residence in that new seat of royalty, where the princes and chiefs of more than thirty districts, subjects to Nobunanga, were in b LIVES OF THE the habit of meeting and residing the greater part of the year. Conscious of the great good that would result from such a state of things, they, therefore, begged Father Organtino to present a memorial to the emperor (who, for some time back, had shown himself rather well affected to the Christian law), em- bodying their wishes for leave to erect a church and dwelling-house. The good father had an audience of Nobunanga, and got from that monarch far more than what he asked — a large subsidy in money and a site for the sacred edifice, which the emperor directed to be built opposite to his own palace. This con- cession obtained, Father Organtino im- mediately took asunder a large wooden house that he had raised at Miako, and with the assistance of the Christians — multitudes of whom willingly gave their services — he transported it to Anzuciama, and with it twenty-five noble youths, among them Paul Michi, whom he had already selected for his seminary. These were soon joined by others — many of MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 7 them of royal blood — who, being pro- vided with experienced masters and teach- ers, commenced to study the Latin and Japanese languages, devoting themselves at the same time to serving in the church, and to other works of singular piety and devotion. In fact, such was the repu- tation of these holy youths, that they attracted many of the principal men of the country to visit them frequently, nay, and to hold conferences with the Fathers concerning God and their souls. When- ever the seminarists went out two by two into the streets, the people crowded after them admiring them, and thanking heaven for the sight of such modesty and de- corum; so much so, that Nobunanga himself — forgetful, as it were, of the more than human pride in which he was habi- tually wrapped — often visited the semi- nary, accompanied by a small retinue, and, with condescension never shown even to the most exalted of his courtiers, conversed with the pupils, who welcomed him with an exhibition of their advance- ment in various branches of knowledge, 8 LIVES OF THE and the harmonious sounds of foreign instruments, on which they had been taught to perform. Owing to such favourable auspices all^ these youths, but two particularly, were enabled to render great services towards propagating the faith, and these were Jerom, son of the prince of Fungo, ne- phew of the holy king Francis of Bungo, and our Paul Michi. Jerom had been selected to go to Rome in the quality of chief ambassador to tender obedience to the Holy See, but as the ships were on the point of sailing before he could possibly reach the port of Nangasasky, Ito Mantio, his cousin, was substituted in his stead. The latter subsequently adopted the mili- tary profession, and distinguished himself highly by his valorous exploits ; but far more glorious is his name in the church of Japan for his most exemplary Christian life, and the invincible fidelity with which he clung to the faith to the latest moment of his life. Paul, who was of gentler nature, showed a decided vocation for the ecclesiastical state, and was constantly MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 9 intent on acquiring knowledge and piety, in order that he might be enabled to devote himself entirely to God and the salvation of souls. In course of time his holy aspirations were realised ; and here let us remark, that if the noble college of Anzuciama, during its short- lived existence, had produced only these two zealous champions of the faith, it would deserve to be regarded as having eminent claims on the gratitude of the Japanese Church. III. PAUL RUNS GREAT RISES OF HIS LIFE DURING THE SACK OF ANZUCIAMA — HE PURSUES HIS STUDIES. Paul had not been two years in Anzu- ciama when an occurrence took place which changed the whole state of civil affairs, and was near involving him, his companions, and the Jesuit Fathers in most imminent peril of their lives. b 2 10 LIVES OF THE Let us narrate the facts. Acheci, prince of a small territory, having, through motives of ambition, rebelled against Nobunanga, entered Miako with the flower of his army on the night of the 20th of June, 1582, and suddenly surrounding Nobunanga's palace, pro- ceeded with a band of conspirators to assassinate the emperor. The latter, however, having sometime before been wounded, fled to hide himself in a secret chamber where, in order to escape the ignominy of falling into the hands of his enemies after death, he set fire to the palace, then inflicted a mortal wound on his abdomen, and died of self-murder. After taking Miako, the rebels marched on Anzuciama, which they had hardly reached when the garrison surrendered to them on conditions and the citizens at discretion. It may be imagined how desperate was the condition of our reli- gious at that period, when the soldiery were scouring the streets killing all who came in their way, and the fire which broke out in various quarters was destroy- MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 11 ing the ill-fated city. Abandoning the Residence, Father Organtino took our Paul and the other students along with him to the shore of the lake that spread out before the palace, and with great difficulty succeeded in hiring a boat. This, however, was only exchanging one danger for another; for, as they had entrusted themselves to an idolatrous robber, who was owner of the boat, and who rowed them to Vachimoscima, a little island ten miles up the lake, the perfidious villain, regardless of his word, there robbed them of everything they had, and was prepar- ing to carry them off to another uninha- bited island, doubtless, with the intention of murdering them all. But God's special providence watched over those twenty-eight souls ; for, a Christian noble- man, as it were inspired by heaven, hastened in an armed vessel to their rescue, and taking them out of the rob- ber's hands brought them to Sacomote, where, through a merciful dispensation, they got a written protection from one of Acheci's sons, and a page who acted as 12 LIVES OF THE guide till they arrived, after many hair- breadth escapes, safely in Miako. During all these bitter trials nothing could be more admirable than the tran- quillity and collectedness of Paul, who, instead of seeking a sure asylum under his parents' roof, as he might have done, preferred rather, for the love of Christ, to share the fortunes of the Fathers, among whom it was his dearest wish to be enrolled. He remained but a short time in Miako; for, about twelve days after Nobunanga's death, the traitor Acheci was routed and slain by Guisto Ucondono, prince of Tacatzuchi, and a most zealous Christian, who caused the seminary to be removed to his country. Paul, therefore, proceeded thither to resume his studies. His chiefest and most delightful pursuit Iwas to indoctri- nate himself profoundly in the mysteries of the faith, and familiarize himself with everything that concerned the apostolic ministry. Such, also, was the grand object of the Fathers in training the youths committed to their care — in other MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 13 words, to make them catechists, clerics, Jay brothers, and priests, who, in course of time, would be able to diffuse the faith, and confute the errors of the idola- trous sectaries. The master who had charge of these youths was one of our Japanese lay brothers, named Vincent, a most profound reasoner, who, by dint of long study, had so completely mastered the secret theology of the Bonzes, or idalatrous priests, that many of the most learned of the latter and their pupils came from far off regions and their most renowned schools, to confer with him. Many of them returned to their respec- tive countries Christians, and from slaves of error and superstition became teachers of the faith. It is easy to imagine how great was the progress which Paul made under such a system of training; and, indeed, his after-life proved that he became one of the most powerful orators and able apologists that the Jesuits had in Japan. During his sojourn in Tacatzuchi, and afterwards in Arima — whither, on account of more recent revolutions, the 14 LIVES OF THE Fathers were obliged to remove the semi- nary — he would accompany the priests on their missions, catechizing the neophytes, engaging the Bonzes in controversy, and occasionally, as we find it recorded, recit- ing his sermons in the church with a graceful eloquence, that might not have been expected from one so young. IV. HE ENTERS THE SOCIETT OF JESUS, AND APPLIES HIMSELF TO THE ACQUIREMENT OF HUMAN AND DIVINE KNOWLEDGE. A soul so well inclined, was not des- tined for worldly pursuits; and Paul's dearest ambition was to be received into our Society, from whose Superiors he begged this boon with never-ceasing im- portunity. They, however, had to act with great caution, nor could they be induced to receive the Japanese into the Order till they had been well tested and trained under their own eyes in the MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 15 duties of catechists. Pauls case, how- ever, was one of peculiar character; for, he had been baptized in childhood, educated in' our seminaries, reared by our missionaries, and then the death of his father, Fandoidono, who fell gloriously in this year (1586) fighting under the banner of Francis, king of Bungo, against Satzuma (an idolator); determined the Fathers to comply with his pious request. He was, therefore, re- ceived into the Society, and in the August of the same year (1586), he was sent to our novitiate of All Saints, near Nangasasky, having then attained his twenty-second year. Henceforth, his grand aim was to strengthen himself with these solid vir- tues which he would be called upon to exercise at every moment of his life, amid the labors and trials of that most arduous mission. And, indeed, he found occasion to bring them into action in less than eleven months' time, when Cambacudono, who usurped the empire after Nobunanga's demise, infuriated by 16 LIVES OF THE a malignant Bonze, all of a sudden be- came an implacable enemy to the Chris- tians, whom he had hitherto regarded with favor, and issued a proclamation commanding all the ministers of the Gospel to. quit his territories. At that period the Jesuits were the only mis- sionaries in Japan, and numbered about one hundred and twenty, besides a great multitude of catechists whom they had in training. Father Gaspar Coeglio, then Viceprovincial, seeing things come to this pass, immediately consulted the Christian kings and princes; and, acting on the advice of the most experienced of them, resolved — in order that the barbarous Cambacudono might not become more exasperated* — to make a display of sub- mission, and accordingly lost no time in assembling a crowd of the converts at the harbour of Firando, as though they were ready to embark. His object, how- ever, was to disperse them hither and thither in various places, dressed in the ordinary Japanese costume, that they might thus circumspectly keep the faith MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 17 alive in those one hundred and fifty thousand Christians, whom we had then in the country, and for] whose weal he prescribed salutary regulations. They did as he advised them, betaking them- — selves to this and that quarter, as circum- stances suggested, and our Paul with his brother novices, sought refuge in Arie, a small territory some distance from Arima. At the close of the two years' noviciate, in the August of 1588, having conse- crated himself to God by the three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, he was sent to the island of Amacusa, where, under the protection of John, prince of that region, we had then a flourishing university for our young students. Here he revised the entire course through which he had gone in the seminaries, and, as Heaven had blessed him with won- derful intellectual powers, he applied himself to the study of philosophy and theology, speculative, moral, and contro- versial. Nor should we omit mentioning that he devoted a considerable amount of 18 LIVES OF THE time and unwearied diligence to perusing the superstitious works of the numerous sects with which Japan swarms ; his grand object being to condense their errors and contradictions, and to write treatises which would expose the one and confute the other, and supply him with arguments whenever he might have to dispute with the idolators and Bonzes. HIS MISSIONARY LABOURS AND APOSTOLIC PREACHING. Having completed his course of studies, and armed himself at all points with virtue and learning, Paul at length set out to commence the work on which he had set his heart, namely, to gain souls to Christ. He was thoroughly master of the Japanese language, not only of the vulgar vernacular, but also of the learned idiom in which the upper classes converse ; and so profound was his knowledge of it MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 19 that he made himself master of all its peculiarities, elegancies and pronuncia- tion — things which foreigners find it almost impossible to acquire, even after many years of unwearied and incessant study. He was also blessed with a gift of natural eloquence and grace of diction peculiarly his own, which, deriving additional power from his piety and angelic modesty, charmed, convinced, and softened the hearts of all those who con- versed with him. His first essay was in the capacity of catechist, when our Fathers appointed him to instruct the neophytes in the mysteries of the faith, till he was gradually promoted to the office of preacher. The earliest field of his labors was Scimo, that is, the territory and islands situated in the south, and 1 principally the kingdom of Arima, and the principality of Omura, where there was a vast congregation of Christians Proceeding thence northwards, he visited many regions before he arrived at Miako, whence he journeyed fully two hundred miles to the remotest confines of Japan. 20 LIVES OF THE He was always accompanied by one or more of our priests. His duty was to preach, instruct, dispute, and prepare the converts for baptism, and that of the priests to administer the sacrament of penance, celebrate the holy sacrifice, solemnize marriages, and comfort the dying." It would be impossible to describe all he had to endure in these long jour- neys, or to recount the ever-recurring dangers which beset him. All, however, were as nothing in his eyes compared to the rich and abundant harvest which lay before him. It is well known that he was greatly esteemed and loved by the idola- trous princes and chieftains, and that he converted very many of them to the faith of Jesus Christ, particularly in the king- doms of the Mori. Letters written from that quarter state that our holy faith, during the course of the forty-five years since its first introduction into Japan by St. Francis Xavier, had never made such progress as that which was witnessed in 1593, and the two following years, whether we regard the numbers of the MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 21 converts, their exalted social position, or the many kingdoms to which their re- spective potentates invited our mission- aries. That the labours of our holy martyr, Paul, contributed largely to bring about ^auch numerous and important conversions, appears not only from the testimony of the Jesuit writers, but also from the state- ment of Father Marcellus Ribadeneira, of the order of St. Francis, who visited Japan, was personally acquainted with Paul Michi, and has left on record that his energetic exertions produced more abun- dant fruit than fell to the share of any other. As an evidence of the power and efficacy of his preaching, we will here mention a single fact which has been well authenticated. In the city of Ozaca an unfortunate criminal — an idolator — was sentenced to death, and as he was on the way to the place of execution, it so happened that our saint made his appear- ance. Inflamed w T ith desire to impart eternal life to the individual who was about to lose the temporal, he forced his 22 LIVES OV THE way through the crowd and soldiery, and going up the condemned, commenced discoursing with him energetically of the never-ending pains which await those who do not adore the true God of the Christians, and then of the necessity of believing in Jesus Christ and being baptized, in order to obtain everlasting salvation of the soul. This forcible appeal, so generous and so holy, with the aid of divine grace, made due impression on the heart of the unhappy culprit who, on the instant, acknowledged that truth had triumphed over him. Paul instructed him as well as he could on the way to the place of execution, and no sooner had the convert been baptised, than he submitted willingly to his fate ; and thus, as we have reason to believe, secured the salvation of his regenerated soul. MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 23 VI. HIS WRITINGS AND PUBLICATIONS IN DEFENCE OF THE FAITH. Nor was it only with word of mouth that Paul contributed to the propagation of the faith. Quite the contrary, indeed ; for, his pen was employed for the same grand object. Thoroughly conversant as he was with the language and peculiar style of writing in use among the Japanese, and equally well skilled in the theological system of the Bonzes, he composed a book that, in elegant diction, exposed the vanity of idols and the errors of the Japanese sects — which, contrasted with the holy and true law of Christ, are nothing more than a jumble of fables, errors, contradictions, principles, and maxims, repugnant to right reason and natural decency. At that period the principal sects which sowed the tares of vice and error among the Japanese were twelve in number, each of them having schools, 24 LIVES OF THE temples, priests, and preachers. Paul confuted them all one after the other, proving to them, at the same time, the monstrous absurdities of the Canonical Book of Japan, which they attribute to Sciaca, an idol held in greatest veneration by the mass of the people. These works were first circulated in manuscript ; but as soon as Father Alexander Valegnani, Visitator of the East, introduced the printing press, they were published for general circulation. Thus was our Paul the first of the Japanese, who wrote and published works in defence of Chris- tianity, and hence it is that he is men- tioned in the catalogue of our writers as an author of polemic theology. The acts of canonization declare, that by this means he gained innumerable souls to the faith ; for he thus extended his zeal to places where he could not be bodily present, nay, and to future times long after his glorious death. MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 25 VII. A SHORT ACCOUNT OF HIS RELIGIOUS VIRTUES. The zeal with which Paul labored by- voice and pen to propagate the Christian __ religion among his Japanese compatriots, was further enhanced by the efficacy and example of his religious virtues. I will not say much on this head, in order to avoid prolixity. Notwithstanding the distractions attendant on his mission, he was always in close communion with God ; and of this intimacy he was wont to speak with tenderness truly affecting, and, in- deed, with fervor of spirit. After his long and wearisome missionary journeys, he was in the habit of resting himself (according to the rule prescribed by- Father Valegnani, visitator of the East) in some one of our residences ; and here for many days his devout soul was still more intensely inflamed by protracted medita- tions and austere penances. Grave and modest in his deportment, he was amiable and affable in his intercourse with all 26 LIVES OF THE who approached him. So much so, in- deed (as ocular witnesses have testified), that he succeeded in overcoming the pre- judices and winning the affections of the idolatrous Bonzes ; nay, and even of those who were most opposed to the law of Christ. The Japanese are notorious for two vices — inveterate in their nature — craft, and dissimulation; so much so, that Father Valegnani, in one of his letters to our General, speaks of that benighted people thus : — " Two things I find most intolerable in Japan ; one is to have to do with people who neverj have on their lips what they have in their heart ; and all of them are brought up from child- hood in that system, and none more so than the upper classes, who deem lying a virtue, and glory in being able to deceive, in order that no one may discover what they intend or wish." How different was Paul! That candor that was in his heart was always on his lips ; for, indeed, he was at all times and in all circumstances, honest and guileless. He was indifferent about his life, always MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 27 provided that it might be the means of gaining a soul to Christ; and what is more, nothing could excel his patience in the midst of sufferings and trials, in- separable from the apostolic ministry; but never so much so as in the time of persecution. " Praise to God," writes one who lived at that period and in that land, " our life is like that which the Apostle describes ; for, we go about clothed in skins, afflicted, persecuted, wandering through forests and valleys, and seeking refuge in the caverns of the earth. No rest by night, for it is spent in visiting our con- verts, preaching to them, and administer- ing the Sacraments. When day comes, we hide ourselves as well as we can, or, at all events, keep away from the inhabited regions." And this, indeed, is but a faint picture of the life which our Paul had to lead for many a year during the first persecution inflicted on the Chris- tians by king Taicosama, But to be short, I will now confine myself to laying before the reader the elegant eulogium which Father Marcellus Ribadeneira, already 28 LIVES OF THE mentioned, has pronounced on our Paul, in his history of the Archipelago: — " I have known him," says that writer, ".to be a man most observant of silence and modesty. His every act clearly proved how admirably he realised in practice all that religious perfection he imbibed during the eleven years he lived in the Society. The Christians regarded this holy martyr as a most efficient preacher ; and it was almost proverbial among them that he did more 'for the faith than any of his colleagues : for, his zeal did not show itself so much in words as in results. The Fathers of the Society always spoke of him as a good and humble labourer in the missionary field ; one, in a word, who sought nothing but the salvation of his neighbours' souls and his own advancement in virtue." As Paul had now entered on his thirty-third year, the time arrived when he was to be ordained priest by the bishop of Japan, Peter Martinez (of the Society of Jesus), w 7 ho landed in that country in the year 1596 ; but before our martyr's aspirations could be gratified, MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 29 God decreed that instead of a priest he should become a victim, offered to Christ on the altar of the cross, and venerated as a martyr by the same bishop in the city of Nangasasky, as we will relate after having said something of the lives of the two other saints. VII. LIFE OF THE HOLY MARTYR JOHN SOAN, OR DE GOTO — HIS COUNTRY AND BIRTH GOES INTO VOLUNTARY EXILE FOR THE FAITH. Goto is a group of islands which, in their entirety constitute a kingdom. They may be said to almost join each other, as there is but a mile and a-half of an inlet from the sea flowing between each of them. These islands are situated some fifty leagues from Firando. The whole of that region is sterile and bare, although it abounds in living springs and a good tract of it is covered with dense forests. Withal, as the Japenese can subsist on little, it has its towns on the level lands c 2 30 LIVES OF THE and in the mountain ranges there is a numerous population. Ozaca the royal residence, is situated on the sea side, in a very delightful spot ; and the city itself, after the fashion of that country, may be said to be magnificent. The faith was introduced into that region by two of our catechists, Louis Almeida, a Portuguese, and one Laurence, a Japanese, who were succeeded by Fathers Monti, of Ferrara, Alexander Valla, of Lombardy, and Joseph Fornaletti, a Venetian, who was put to death (in odium of the faith) by poison. On the conversion, however, of prince Louis, lord of that region, all its inhabitants received baptism. It was in one of these islands that our holy young martyr, John, was born, in 1578, of parents who had been converted to the faith, and who, as I think, were amongst the first to embrace it. Soan was his paternal cognomen; but as there were, probably, other catechists of the same name, I find him always called de Goto, from the kingdom of which he was a native. Educated in the Christian MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 31 religion by his parents, and instructed in the mysteries of the faith by the Fathers of the Society, who were preaching in these islands, he grew up in the holy fear of God, and in the exercise of all virtues. On the death, however, of Prince Louis, one of his brothers, a most ^fanatical idolator, deeming it a favorable opportunity, collected a force, and wrested the kingdom from the legitimate succes- sor, a mere child, and who was also called Louis. Far from being satisfied with usur- pation, this unbeliever, instigated by the Bonzes, • raged fearfully against the Christians, many of whom, the most distinguished and wealthy, not being any longer allowed to practise their religion in their own country, went into voluntary exile, and among them the family of Soan. John, therefore, accompanied his parents to Nangasasky, a city then almost entirely Christian, situated on the sea shore, and within the states of Omura. Here the Society had a residence and a church, and the Christians were permitted to exercise their religion openly by a new 32 LIVES OF THE concession from Taicosama, who did not deem it politic to disgust the Portuguese, who made the place an entreport for their traffic with India and China. The child being thus provided with greater aids for his soul's advancement, made wonderful progress in virtue, and gave an unmis- takable proof of proficiency by withdraw- ing altogether from the world, in order that he might consecrate himself to God. VIII. ASKS TO BE RECEIVED INTO THE SOCIETY. iS MADE CATECHIST. — SYSTEM OF SELECTING THEM, HIS LABOURS WITH FATHER PETER DE MORECON. Constant intercourse with the Fathers stimulated him to imitate their lives ; so much so, indeed, that, when little more than fifteen years of age, he besought the Viceprovincial to receive him into the order. His request was, in some measure, granted, for he was enrolled among the catechists, which was the first step, and MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 33 the first probation, in order to be received as a religious. To the end that we may- appreciate the dignity and status of the catechists, it is necessary to observe that, with a view to render that office more desirable, and those who exercise it more venerable, as a class engaged in a holy work, the Fathers had instituted, if I may so express myself, a solemn form of ordaining them, with a ceremony like that used when giving the habit to reli- gious. The selected persons, therefore, or accepted, were either boys not under ten years of age, or youths more ad- vanced, not excluding men of riper years, who were single. The qualifications re- quired were holiness of life, fervent zeal, intellectual ability, and good reasoning capabilities ; while, at the same time, the Fathers set great value on those who abandoned their homes and parents, in order to consecrate themselves to God. Indeed, many of those whose fathers and mothers were living were presented by the latter to the service of the Church on some festival day. When the congrega- 34 LIVES OF THE tion had assembled, the superior sang Mass, the Portuguese and seminarists (whenever they could be had) performing the sacred music; and after the Gospel one of the Fathers ascended the pulpit, and discoursed on the holy ministry of instructing heathens in the faith, or on some similar subject, and the virtues that should distinguish those who were anxious to exercise it worthily. The sermon concluded, the music was re- sumed, and the new catechist, kneeling at the foot of the altar, cut off, with his own hand, that tuft of hair which the Japanese wear on the crown of the head, and turn backwards ; for, to go without it is with them a sign that they have renounced the world. Then, being stripped of secu- lar attire, they were clothed in a long robe, somewhat like our own, and thence- forth they lived among us, having stated hours for daily prayer, examination of conscience, and certain days during the month for frequenting the sacraments. They were also to assist the Father who had charge of them in instructing the MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 35 newly made converts. Meanwhile their conduct was well watched, and their pro- ficiency recorded in order to decide their fitness for the duty which nearly all of them were willing to embrace. After having gone through this probation, John, although still very young, was duly ad- mitted among the catechists; and his "^parents, who were admirable Christians, not only willingly presented him to the Church, but thought themselves su- premely happy in having such a son. And indeed, as it were, to crown their joy, they had, a few years afterwards, the ineffable delight of seeing him a glorious Martyr of Jesus Christ, and thus obtained that consolation which we will have occasion to mention here- after. Having been appointed as pupil and companion to Father Peter de Mo- recon (a truly zealous missionary), he went with him to the island of Scichi, and there dwelt a long time instructing children in the rudiments of the faith. From thence he accompanied the same Father to Ozaca, where we had a residence 36 LIVES OF THE in which were, at that period, Father Organtino, Paul Michi, and James Chisai. The example and conversation of these experienced men, intensified little John's zeal, and he exerted himself to the utmost of his power in the salvation of souls. Indeed, the harvest was abun- dant in that region; for, there was a vast number of Christians there even in the imperial court itself; so much so, that the great officers of state and other princes coming thither, offered themselves and their subjects for baptism. But notwithstanding this auspicious state of things, persecution blasted our fairest hopes and led to the martyrdom of John, who was then only nineteen years of age. Heaven, however, granted him the hap- piness of meeting in Ozaca Peter Mar- tinez, bishop of Japan, who administered to him and many others the sacrament of Confirmation. Strengthened and en- lightened by the gifts of the Holy Ghost, he was thus providentially enabled to main- tain the faith of Jesus Christ, and to sacri- fice his life for that inestimable blessing. MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 37 x. THE LIFE OF THE HOLY MARTYR JAMES CHISAI. BORN AND REARED A HEATHEN, HE IS CON- VERTED TO THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST. HE MARRIES AND REPUDIATES HIS WIFE ON ACCOUNT OF HER APOSTACT FROM THE FAITH. James Chisai was somewhat older than John, and was born in the kingdom of Bigen. in the year 1533. It is indubitable that his parents were heathens, and that he himself was involved in the same errors till he attained his sixteenth year. It would appear that his childhood was passed (as is usual in Japan) in some Bonze educational establishment, where he acquired that singular elegance for which he was so distinguished in writing' the Japanese characters. We may here observe that this remarkable people have no alphabet like ours, whose letters com- bined form various words ; but, on the con- trary, they express everything by a charac- ter peculiarly its own, and that is inappli- cable to anything else. These characters B 38 LIVES OF THE resemble curved and right lines huddled indiscriminately together, and are so com- plicated that it is all but impossible, even though they were less numerous, to pre- serve any recollection of the strange and fantastic form they exhibit ; and yet they amount to some thousands. This, however, was the total of all that Chisai could learn from the Bonzes — a most pestilent class and deeply dyed in every obscene vice. The memoirs that have come down to us say nothing of the precise time or year in which he arrived at the knowledge of the true God, and was baptized. Father Louis Froes calls him a very old Christian ; and this designation, according to the usage of the times in which he wrote, meant those who were either baptized by the apostle St. Francis Xavier, or by the two companions whom he left in Japan when about to return to India. Certain it is, that he received at baptism the name of James, or Diego, which are synonymous among the Spaniards. Being advanced in life, he married a convert, and had of her a son, whom he called John, Some time MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 39 subsequently this unhappy woman was perverted by the Bonzes, lost the little sense she had, abjured Christ, and relapsed into idolatry. James exerted every means in his power to reclaim her from her exe- crable apostacy ; but finding that prayer and argument could not remove her obsti- jnate prejudices, he turned her out of his house, and separated himself from her by a legitimate divorce. XI. HE RENOUNCES THE WORLD, AND GOES TO LIVE WITH THE FATHERS OF THE SOCIETY AS CATECHIST. — HIS TENDER DEVOTION TO THE PASSION OF JESUS CHRIST. Thus released from every worldly tie, James bethought him of uniting himself more closely with God, and in fulfilment of a long-cherished desire to devote him- self as best he could to a more perfect life in the Society. Having, therefore, arranged all domestic affairs, and placed his son, as I think, in one of our semina- 40 LIVES OF THE lies, he requested to be admitted among our Catechists. His prayer was granted ; and here let us observe that he and the holy martyr John, are not to be con- founded with mere laybrothers or as we call them temporal coadjutors, to which grade they did not belong. This is placed beyond all doubt by the catalogue of informations which the superiors in Japan sent annually to the General, and also by the Bollanclists., who say that Father Mutio Vitelleschi caused to be sup- pressed all printed documents in which these holy martyrs were styled laybro- thers. Our James was therefore a Dogico or catechist, and consequently ranked among those who were promoted to the study of languages, or of the more ad- vanced sciences till being sufficiently pro- vided with knowledge, and strengthened in virtue, they were either ordained priests or from choice remained catechists to the end of their lives. In fine, a long report sent to Rome by Father Gomez, Vice- provincial, states that, James laboured many years with fervent spirit and untir- MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 41 ing zeal for the conversion of the heathens, preparing them for the sacrament of bap- tism. True it certainly is, that being some- what advanced in years, and a man of singular humility, he took special pleasure in performing the lowliest duties in our houses. Hence it was that in Ozaca — where he passed the latest years of his life — he was employed to receive strangers at the gate, and to lodge guests — an office, which he performed with that courtesy and urbanity so peculiar to the Japanese, and with that charity that so well becomes a true Christian, Every spare hour he had was devoted to meditation of our Lord's Passion ; and so tender was his devotion to this great mystery, that he derived from it renewed vigour, which enabled him to act the part of a truly sanctified man. Thoroughly familiar with the Japanese style of writing, he tran- scribed in that character the entire history of our Saviours Passion ; and this work of his, making a large volume, is truly beau- tiful for its illuminations, variety of 42 LIVES OF THE MARTYRS OF JAPAN. characters and exquisitely coloured minia- tures, finished with a master hand. And this book was his sole treasure— a rich pasture on which he fed his contemplative mind — a picture which he had ever before his corporeal eye of the Redeemer's suf- ferings. It also supplied him with good arguments to excite virtuous emotions in those who visited the residence to confer with the Fathers. In this sort of life he attained his sixty-fourth year, when it pleased God to exalt him to the honor of martyrdom, and to make him still more resemble his divine model, for love of whom he died on a cross. SECOND PART. PASSION AND DEATH OF THE THEEE HOLY MAETYRS. I. FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIANITY IN JAPAN CHARACTER OF THE EMPEROR TAICOSAMA. Coming now to the passion and death of the three holy martyrs, whose lives we have briefly described, it is necessary that we should go back to an earlier period, in order that the reader may be made ac- quainted with the causes which originated this first general persecution of Chris- tianity in Japan. The Apostle St. Francis Xavier was the first to carry the light of the Gospel into that country, where he arrived in the year 1549, on the aus- picious day of the Blessed Virgin's Assumption. Quitting those shores, he left behind him, to tend and cultivate the Lord's vineyard, Father Cosimo Torres and Brother John Fernandez, who accom- 44 LIVES OF THE panied him from India. As the harvest increased other zealous men hastened to their assistance; and portioning out among themselves those vast regions, which they traversed from centre to circumference, they performed miracles of zeal, converting kings and people to the law of Christ. The first among the princes to embrace it was Sciu- metanda, lord of Omura, whose exam- ple . was soon followed by Givan, king of Bungo, and four or five other princi- palities, and finally the king of Arima. These were the potentates who, as we have already said, sent ambassadors to Rome to tender their obedience to the Holy See.* During the reign of Nobu- nanga, whose victorious army conquered * The embassy mentioned in. 'the text reached Rome a short time before the death of Gregory XIII. who, on receiving the Japanese, exclaimed: "Nunc dimittis servum tiuvm Domine !" His successor, Sixtus Quintus, (who was crowned in 1585) treated the ambassadors with the greatest honor ; and sent them back to their own country after a sojourn of some months in Spain and Italy. 'Tis said that they took two years to make the journey to Europe ; and they were all under the guidance of Father Valeg- nani, who returned with them to Japan. The king of Bungo was baptized by St. Francis Xavier.— Translator. MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 45. more than one-half of Japan, the religion of Jesus Christ was wonderfully propa- gated in that distant region. After Nobu- nanga's death and that of the rebel Acheci, another adventurer, Fasciba Chicodono, usurped the empire. Born in the king- dom of Mino, of parents in the humblest circumstances, he earned a living by fel- "Tlno; wood in the forests, and selling it for fuel in the city. Tiring of this sort of life, he resolved to strike out a new des- tiny for himself, and throwing down the woodman's axe for the sword, he performed prodigies of valour, and began to ascend at a rapid pace from the lowliest grade to the climax of military honours, and w r as finally made commander-in-chief of the imperial armies. Finding Japan in a state of anarchy after Acheci's death, he dexter- ously seized the opportunity which was thus given him, and to such good account did he turn it that, after getting rid of Nobunanga's children and other adversa- ries who ambitioned supreme power, he, in less than a year, consolidated the Ja- panese under one monarchy, the kings and chief nobility of the country casting them- 46 LIVES OF THE selves like trembling vassals at his feet. He now assumed his old name, Fasciba, till 1585, when, as it were to make peo- ple forget his origin, he took the title of Cambacudono, which signifies the ark of treasure. At length, in the year 1592, he abdicated, in favour of his nephew, the dignity of Cambacu, and adopted the more august designation of Taicosama, or su- preme monarch. During his sixteen years' reign he was the Tiberius of Japan — a foul beast in his habits and a cruel tyrant in his government. Religion he had none ; for he did not believe in the existence of God. He alternately persecuted and fa- voured the Bonzes and the idols ; nay, at one time he loved the Christians and their religion, but that love was speedily turned into hatred, and he persecuted them re- morselessly. This conduct should not be attributed to mere caprice or inconstancy of purpose; for, Taicosama was always guided by one fixed principle, namely, to avail himself of every circumstance that promoted his own sordid interests. MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 47 II. taicosama's first persecution of the chris- tians — origin of another and more terrible persecution. — he sentences all the minis- ters AND FOLLOWERS OF THE GOSPEL TO DEATH. During the first five years, in which he acted kindly to the Fathers, the faith made wonderful conquests in every region of Japan ; so much so, that it counted more than two hundred thousand Christians. In fact, Christians had command of the army and navy, were the most distin- guished men in the court, and occupied the highest places in the general adminis- tration. The army itself was almost en- tirely Christian, and the standard of the cross might be seen everywhere in the camps and floating from the masts of the ships. Not satisfied with giving the Fathers license to preach the faith, Taico- sama would often go in person, attended by a small retinue, to confer for many hours with Father Gaspar Coeglio, the Viceprovincial. On the night of the 24th of July (1587), after having been a 48 IIVES OF THE considerable time closeted with the latter in a place called Facata, the emperor returned to his palace, where he drank a quantity of Portuguese wine, and then summoned to his presence a Bonze named Jacuin — a shameless wretch who acted as caterer to his imperial master's revolting appetites. Jacuin informed the tyrant that the Christian women of Arima had indignantly refused to prostitute them- selves; and seasoning his narrative with many inventions of his own, he launched out into a bitter tirade against the Christian religion and the Fathers who were pro- pagating it. But this was not all ; for, the Bonze- set about proving, with perverse ingenuity, that the emperor would never be safe on his throne as long as he tole- rated in his dominions a race of men who taught the people a law which must finally subvert the gods, traditions, and usages of the country. Taicosama, who was always filled with sinister suspicions, and now stimulated by lust and fumes of wine, got into a rage, and swore a solemn oath that he would utterly extirpate the MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 49 Christians. On that very night he pro- nounced sentence of exile against Giusto Ucondono, the general of his army; and on the following morning he sent word to Father Coeglio that all preachers of the Gospel must, within a given period, quit Japan, at risk of their lives. " How," asks Father Froes, in his report of this fact, " could we think of abandon- ing so many Christians ? Nevertheless, in order to give the emperor's rage time to cool, and to show some semblance of respect for his mandate, the Viceprovin- cial ordered us to assume the ordinary Japanese costume, and without making any demonstration, to go on as usual at- tending to our flocks. Furthermore, in order not to give umbrage, we carefully avoided erecting public churches, and raised in their stead private chapels in retired quarters, where we could celebrate Mass and administer the sacraments. Each of these chapels had attached to it a sort of saloon on the exterior where we might be able to meet and instruct the people ; nor should we omit mentioning that at the very 50 LIVES OF THE moment when the proclamation appeared, we were actually building a residence in Miako, and another in Ozaca, where there were four fathers and six laybrothers. Owing to these precautions upwards of one hundred and thirty-four members of the Society continued to hold their footing in Japan, and in the meanwhile the con- versions grew daily more numerous; so much so, that we baptized more than sixty- five thousand of the natives, without counting children born of Christian parents; and, yet, the emperor was fully aware that we were still in Japan ; but seeing us live in such a retired manner, he had no desire to persecute us as violators of his law,"* Such was the actual state of affairs when in June, 1593, four Franciscans — two priests and two laybrothers — landed at the port of Nangasasky, commissioned by the governor of the Philippine islands, to treat as ambassadors with Taicosama about some claim which the latter pre- tended to have on said islands. They * Apud Bolland. ad diem v. Februar. MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 51 were the first of all the other religious orders who visited Japan, and the principal among them was the Commissary, brother Peter Baptist, a man of holy life and truly zealous for the salvation of souls. On reaching Nangoia, they presented their credentials and gifts to Taicosama, and begged him to allow them to remain for some time in Miako. He consented, but on certain conditions. These holy men were not long there when, seeing what an abundant harvest lay before them, they opened a house and church, and began to exercise their ministry openly, to the great benefit of souls. This gave opportunity to the heathens, and particularly to one Faranda, a renegade, who for his own gain had at first acted kindly, to denounce them to Guenifoin, governor of Miako, as viola- tors of the imperial edict. Happily, however, as it would appear, the governor, who had two sons and two nephews Christians, did not forward the accusation to Taicosama, and the friars were allowed to live there for two years unmolested. But towards the close of 52 LIVES OF THE 1596, things assumed another aspect, owing to the wreck of the ship St. Philip, which, in its voyage from Ma- nilla to New Spain, was cast upon the beach of Urando, on the coast of the kingdom of Tosa. There were two hun- dred and forty passengers aboard the vessel, of whom ninety-five were natives of Castile, and among them four reli- gious of the order of St. Augustin, two of the order of St. Francis, brother Philip Casas (or of Jesus,) a choir-brother, and brother John Povero, a laybrother, and one of the order of St. Dominic. On hearing of the wreck, Taicosama, according to the barbarous usages of Japan, confiscated to his treasury all that remained of the freight; and to enforce his orders, he despatched to the scene , of the disaster a man, named Mascita, who was one of the three lieutenants of that quarter. Now, it so happened, that while seizing the property of the ill-fated ship, a chart, describing the coast, course of the winds, etc., etc., fell into the hands of Mascita, who, on MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 00 examining it, asked the pilot how his king had presumed to take possession of countries so far away from Spain ; and when the pilot answered, " By force of arms," the perfidious lieutenant remarked, " How can that be, when you have so few fighting men aboard your ship?" To this the pilot replied — ^Tn the hope of either frightening or pla- cating the barbarian, who had treated them so cruelly, and, as it subsequently appeared in the juridical informations, with a lie of enormous magnitude, and to the great detriment of Christianity — u Sir, we first of all send the religious to preach, and then comes the army to make war and conquests." With the inventory of the ship's freight and the chart in his pos- session, and the statement of the incau- tious pilot in his memory, Mascita has- tened back to Ozaca, where he made his report to Taicosama. The barbarian did not require this stimulant to set him on his bloody work ; for, the King of Tosa had already been exciting him ; and above all, the Bonze Jacuin, who, nine years 54 LIVES OF THE previously kindled the flame of the first persecution. Taicosama hesitated no longer, and having declared his fixed in- tention of uprooting the accursed followers of Christ from the soil of Japan, he de- spatched on that very night — the 8 th of December, 1596 — a command to Gibu- nosci, Governor of Miako, and, at the same time, another to Farimandono, Go- vernor of Ozaca, to search for all preachers of the Gospel and their followers, and place them under arrest. III. ZEAL OF THE CHRISTIANS IN PRESENTING THEM- SELVES FOR MARTYRDOM. TAICOSAMA MITI- GATES HIS SENTENCE AGAINST THE FATHERS AND THE FAITHFUL. We had then in Ozaca four Jesuit priests, who came along with the bishop, Peter Martinez, who had left Nangasasky the day preceding. Father Organtino, the MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 55 superior of the whole body, having learnt from a Christian page, who was in the governor's suite, that the ministers of Christ were to be sought for and arrested, and that the emperor designed to uproot Christianity, thought it w r ise to leave two priests in Ozaca for the benefit of the faithful. To these he added Paul Michi, ^vvith his two catechist colabourers, John de Goto and James Chisai ; and having made this provision, he himself, accompa- nied by Father Francis Perez and the lay brother Paul d'Amacusa, set out at night- fall of the following day to assist the Christians of Miako, and to offer himself on the altar of martyrdom. No sooner was Taicosamas inhuman sentence made known (comprising as it did all those who professed the Christian religion) than the entire of the converts were seized with an ardent desire for martyrdom ! Father Organtino, on reaching Miako, having been apprized that he was in imminent danger of arrest, filled w r ith joy and nowise dismayed, wrote the following letter to Father Peter Gomez, Viceprovincial, 56 LIVES OF THE then at Nangasasky : — " What 1 now state must be a subject of great and common joy to you, to the bishop, and to all the Fathers and members of the Society; for, on the evening of yesterday Maria, wife of the deceased Givan, received notice' from Fascimi, through her nephew, that a few hours ago the king had ordered Gibunosci to put all the Fathers to death. These tidings were confirmed by Father Paul d^Vmacusa, in this very house where he addresses us in the following words : 'Fathers and dearest brothers, the hour for which we longed has struck ! — now. we can lay down our lives for that living God who was the first to sacrifice himself for us.' Hearing this, we were greatly consoled, and set about preparing ourselves as best we could. One spirit animated us all — Fathers, lay-brothers, catechists, and servants : nay, every one of the Christians, young and old, proved what they really were, ready and willing to share our fate, and lay down their lives for the loveof God. Our first preparation regarded the im- mortal soul; and then, that we might MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 57 present a decorous exterior, we put on our ecclesiastical habits, surplices, and stoles, desiring to appear on the occasion as it became sons of the Society, servants of God, and preachers of his law. The joy that God sent into our heart might be seen on our faces; and, indeed, I have not worls to describe it to you. -.JThis special grace of the Holy Ghost, has, doubtless, been obtained . for us through the continual prayers which, by order of our General, are offered by the whole Society for this province; nor should I forget the fervent prayers of your fraternity, who can so well appre- ciate our toils and the dangers that are closing round us. Were anything re- quired to stimulate and sustain us, we could have found it in the fervor, joy, readiness, and courage exhibited by all these good Christians, men and children of every state and condition; for we could not help observing, that they mani- fested no fear or melancholy, when on the point of losing their substance, chil- dren, wives, nay, life itself. The greatest 58 LIVES OF THE danger they apprehended was that some of their kinsfolk would stand between them and the glory of martyrdom ; and foremost among them was that good soldier of Christ Giusto Ucondono, to say nothing of others of the first nobility; the two sons of the governor Geienefoin particu- larly, the youngest of whom, Constantine, could not be induced to abandon us. How shall I describe the other Chris- tians? The noblest among them sent their people to visit us ; nay, and wrote to say that they are ready to join us the moment the tempest bursts — to die with us, their Fathers and teachers. Doubtless, fervour and zeal like this must, in great measure, be attributed to the sacrament of Confirmation, which the bishop administered a few days ago in the city of Miako." And in the same strain many others of our Fathers wrote on this momentous occasion. But it will interest the reader to peruse a portion of a letter penned by the laybrother Vincent, a Japanese, who addressed it to our Viceprovincial. Such a document MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 59 is worth publishing, as it throws light on the writer and the events of his time : — '• When the news reached me in Nara of what was passing in Miako, I dreaded to tarry any longer there lest I might not be able to join my brethren on the battle-field ; and such, indeed, was my haste, that I fancied I was flying in- instead of walking. On my arrival I was overpowered with regret at finding my desire thwarted ; for, as I was going right tip to the house, where the soldiers were on guard, the Christians dragged me away, stating that I was the person for whose arrest the Vicegovernor had strictest orders. I then hastened to join Father Organtino. I declare to you, very reverend Father, that this distinction that has been conferred on me, — namely, that of being specially sought for among the many preachers of the Society, — and the conviction in the minds of the heathens that I am in any w T ay a servant of Jesus Christ, has rendered some service towards the propagation of the faith. This assuredly is the greatest honour I could 60 LIVES OF THE receive in this life, nor is there any other that will gladden me more in the life to come, when I stand before the Divine Majesty. What I now wish most is that persecution maybe my lot to the latest hour of my life. Had I been suffered to do so, I would have gone to throw myself instantly among those Friar preachers who were arrested ; but as I dare not overleap the limits which obedience prescribes, I resign myself to the Divine will. News has reached here that the king does not comprise us in the sentence of death ; this has been a source of joy to the Christians who are anxious for the preservation of the faith, but as for us we regard it as a disaster and misfortune. Nevertheless, as changes are constantly recurring — and indeed so rapidly, that what is ordered in the morning is counter-ordered before sunset — we still cherish a hope, — and nothing seems more likely — that Taicosama will sooner or later sentence us to death. Come what may — and I trust it may be death — your Paternity shall find that we will bear ourselves in our sufferings and MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 61 latest agony with a constancy and fidelity which no words of mine could express. When we are slain, those in your district may expect a like destiny ; and when we are all reunited in paradise, we will gladly sing each others triumph. But should martyrdom be withheld from us of the Society now here and from the other ^Christians, bear in mind, I beseech you, that before God they have offered their lives in sacrifice, all being anxious to die for the love of Jesus Christ." Those, however, who on that occasion won the palm of martyrdom amounted to twenty- four, but two others soon followed them to heaven. This was entirely attributable to the exertions and good policy of Gibu- nosci, Governor of Miako. This man was an idolator, but withal a well-meaning in- dividual—so far as one of his creed could be such — -who, unasked by anyone, but wholly of his own accord, returned to Taicosama the very day after the sentence had been promulgated, so indiscriminately involving as it did, all the preachers of the Gospel and their followers. On arriving 62 LIVES OF THE at the court, Gibunosci pretended that he did not rightly understand the exact meaning of the sentence, and desired to be informed if the friars who came in the Portuguese ship from China were com- prised in the list of the condemned. "For," said he, " as the Portuguese do not come for the sake of conquest, but simply for mercantile affairs — a matter of great be- nefit to Japan — the case of those fathers is different from that of the others. He further remarked that as it was customary to affix a tablet to those who had fallen under the ban of the law, declaring the crime for which they were condemned, and the sentence to be carried out, he desired to know in what terms our sen- tence was to be couched (the accusation against us not being identical with that laid to the friars' charge) and why we should be put to death along with them. This affected misunderstanding was made still more plausible when he remarked that Father John Rodriguez, his own inter- preter, the aged Organtino, the bishop, and the ten of Nangasasky entrusted to MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 63 the ambassador Valegnani had obtained from his Majesty a special license to re- main in Japan.'' On hearing this Taico- sama, without demanding anything more, determined that none but those who had come from the Philippine islands and their Japanese servants should be put to death. Gibunosci then observed that jthe Portuguese whenever they came to Japan visited him, made him presents and did him homage as king of that country, and he at the same time reminded him of the embassy, and gifts which were sent for his acceptance by the King of Naban (so the Japanese style the Viceroy of India), but more particularly of the embassy of Father Valegnani, adding that the bishop Martinez had taken his de- parture a few days before. Hereon the king, expressed himself in an excess of tenderness that could not have been expected from one so cruel and heartless, stating that he was sorely troubled for the sufferings of his old interpreter John Rodriguez, and that he would despatch some of his people with an assurance that C4 LIVES OF THE the former, his old man (that is Father Organtino), the Fathers of Nangasasky, the bishop, and those who accompanied him, should not be molested either in person or property. The church, too, in which they officiated for the Portuguese was to be respected. At the same time he gave all to understand that he would allow no preaching or interfering with the established religion,, and this he forbade under the severest penalties. He further declared, for the guidance of the Governor of Nangasasky, that he would not suffer any of the Fathers to enter Miako, except in the capacity of ambassadors or in the retinue of the Portuguese, who were accus- tomed to visit the court whenever their ships visited the Japanese shores. Astonished at this wonderful change which had come over the barbarian's mind, Gibunosci lost no time in despatch- ing messengers to Father Organtino (then in Miako), and also to Rodriguez, who had returned to Nangasasky with the bishop, and at the same time to his lieu- tenant, empowering him to withdraw the MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 65 guards from the residence and set the Fathers at liberty. But long before these happy tidings reached Nangasasky, or Scimo, a rumour had gone abroad, as is usual on all similar occasions, very greatly exaggerated, to wit, that ten of the Society who were then in the neighbour- hood of Miako and Ozaca, together with Jthe six Franciscans, had been arrested and put to death with the most revolting cruelties, thus crowning their labours and reflecting glory on their faith by martyrdom It was also noised about that there was a general search for Christians, and that no day passed without witnessing the slaughter of multitudes of them — in a word, that the sword was to be unsheathed speedily in Nangasasky, Arima, Amacusa, and Bungo — wherever the Fathers, churches, and faithful were to be found — and that the ministers of justice were coming to vindicate the law. This rumour, as may be supposed, caused the Christians to give themselves up to constant prayer, austere penances, and public preparation for death. As for e2 66 LIVES OF THE our Fathers, they went about preaching In every quarter with a zeal that was ren- dered more intense by the circumstances and times, Night and day they were in- defatigable in their exertions to comfort the poor people. In the interval, a courier, despatched from Miako to Fazamburo, lieutenant of Terazstva, and governor of these kingdoms, bearing Taicosama's de- crees, reached Nangoia, Along with the ordinances already mentioned, the courier was charged wdth instructions from the king's cabinet ministers commanding Fazamburo to prevent the Fathers from preaching, and to forbid any Christian, the Portuguese excepted, to enter the church of, Nangasasky, The lieutenant was also ordered to interdict anything like the free and public exercise of the Christian religion; and no sooner was he invested with these powers than he wrote polite, but earnest, letters to John, King of Arima, and Santio, King of Omura, beseeching them, as they valued him, and the welfare of Christianity, not to exas- perate the Emperor, who, if he were so MAETYRS OF JAPAN. 67 inclined, could easily expel them from their principalities, and utterly destroy the Christian religion in Japan. He then released the three Franciscans, who were imprisoned in the hospital of St. Lazarus, lodoinor them elsewhere in order that the Portuguese might not discover them ; and lie finally issued a proclamation, warning the latter to make no attempt to caryr them off by sea or land. IV. TAICOSAMA SENTENCES THE RELIGIOUS TO DEATH. A CURIOUS INCIDENT OF ONE MAN SUBSTITUTING HIMSELF FOR ANOTHER OF THE SAME NAME IN ORDER TO WIN THE PALM OF MARTYRDOM, After the final sentence, which con- signed the Franciscan friars to death, and the selection of the twelve, who were to share their glorious fatQ, had been published in Miako, nothing further 68 LIVES OF THE was done in their regard till the 30th of December. This was owing to the ingenuity of Gibunosci, who postponed their execution, hoping, no doubt, that Taicosama's rage would eventually cool. In fact, he flattered himself with the hope of being able at some favourable moment to persuade the king to deal leniently with the religious by sending them back to the place whence they came, the more so, as most of them were known to be ambassadors from the Governor of the Philippine Islands. But the malignant Bonze, Jacuin, divined his motives, and anticipated them; for, on the aforesaid day, he waited on Taicosama, reminded him of all that had passed, in- veighed against the negligence of his ministers, in executing the royal ordi- nances, and inflicting summary vengeance on the destroyers of the gods of Japan, and teachers of the devil's law, as he used to style that of Christ. Indeed, so did this impious idolator work on the evil passions of his master, that the latter became, if possible, still more infuriated MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 69 against the Christians when the Bonze re- minded him of his former determination. Having summoned Gibunosci to his presence, the monarch commanded him, without further delay, to cut off the noses of those on whom sentence had been pro- nounced. Some of them were in Miako, and others in Ozaca, whither they were all to be removed. This part of the sen- tence having been carried out, they were to be placed on wheeled vehicles (a large placard being carried before them to announce their condemnation), and ex- posed to the jeers of the idolatrous rabble in the most frequented thoroughfares of Miako, Ozaca, and Sacai, till they reached Nangasasky, where they were to be cru- cified, and left in that state till their decomposing bodies should fall to the ground. Such, indeed, is the usage among those barbarians. This inflexible order banished all hope from Gibunosci's heart, and he instantly dispatched a messenger to his lieutenant in Miako, empowering him to remove the five Fran- ciscans and the twelve Japanese, who 70 LIVES OF THE were condemned to die with them, from the place where they were under arrest, to the common jail. This circumstance, indeed, brought about an event which caused many and many a one to marvel ; nay, and to praise the mysterious counsels of God's providence. Let us tell it. The Franciscan friars had in their employment a Japanese, named Mathias, who acted as their providore and cook. This man was comprised in the list of his twelve com- patriots who were sentenced to death, but on account of the duties he had to discharge, the soldiers permitted him sometimes to go out into the city to purchase provisions for the Franciscans. Now, it so happened, that Mathias had gone out to make purchases a short time before the officer came to remove the prisoners ; and when the latter functionary read out the list of the condemned each one answered to his name, and willingly gave himself up to the authorities. When, however, Mathias' name was called, there was no response; and the officer proceeded to search the house MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 71 for him, calling on him, at the same time, in a loud tone to present himself. Close by the door, at that precise moment, there was another Japanese Christian of the same name, who had been condemned among forty-seven others, and who, when the law-officers had reduced the list to twelve, was excepted from the number of those sentenced to death. But God so willed it, that he should be there at that, for him most happy moment probably, because Heaven had special views on him, and thought him more worthy of the martyr's crown than his namesake, who was absent. Hearing the officers shout- ing out Mathias, Mathias ! he at once stepped forward, and replied: " That is my name; but to tell the truth, I am not the person for whom you are search- ing; nevertheless, I am a Christian, and if you wish to take me, I willingly sur- render myself into your hands." Nothing more was required, and they took him at his word, placed him among the con- demned, and marched him off. It would have been a sight worthy of paradise, if 72 LIVES OF THE the other Mathias had come in at this juncture, and appealed to the Japanese officer, to prevent his namesake from depriving him of the crown of martyr- dom, as happened more than once during the subsequent persecutions, and suc- cessfully, too, for the party laying claim to that incomparable honor. But such was not the good fortune of the missing Mathias, nor have I learned what became of him. When the Christians heard of this strange incident, they could not help calling to mind what St. Luke has said of the Apostle, who was substituted for Judas, " the lot fell upon Mathias, and he was numbered among the twelve" and, indeed, this remark was all the more appropriate, as the elect, of whom we have been speaking, counted only eleven, and wanted one to make up the number of the apostolic college. MARTYRS OF JAP AX. V. ROW OUR THREE, PAUL MIC HI, JOHN DE GOTO, AND JAMES CHISAI, WERE COMPRISED IN THE SENTENCE OF DEATH THE WONDERFUL DELIGHT WITH WHICH THEY ACCEPT MARTYRDOM. In a different manner, but not without the special providence of God so willing it, our brethren, Paul Michi, John de Goto, and James Chisai, were destined to take their place among the Martyrs of Japan. We have already stated that they were excepted from the list of those whom Taicosama had sentenced to death, and whom he subsequently reduced to twelve, these namely who came from the Philip- pine islands and their followers. But let us proceed. After the tyrant had some- what mitigated his former sentence, the governor, Gibunosci, sent orders to have the guards withdrawn from our residence at Miako. Such, however, was not the case in Ozaca, where Farimandono was governor. This man had been rebuked CO LIVES OF THE efforts made in their behalf, by Giusto Ucondono and the two sons of the go- vernor, Guenifoin, who did their utmost to induce Farimandono's chief minister to set them at large. Avaricious and cor- ruptible as the latter was, like the great masses of the Japanese, no amount of bribes could soften his stony heart ; and, indeed, Father Organtino, on learn- ing" what these good Christian gentle- men had done for the release of the prisoners, rebuked them in a letter, and showed them how such intrigues might injure the cause of Christianity in Japan. At length, on the first day of the year, 1597, Brother Martin and his three Ja- panese, two catechists, and the third, a preacher, w r ere sent, under strong escort, to Miako, where they were thrown into the public jail with the others. Nothing could exceed the joy with which our brothers were animated an finding them- selves in such holy companionship; and it was, if possible, heightened by a letter elated Ozaca, from Father Peter de More- con, congratulating them on their happiness, MARTYRS OF JAPAN. i i and lamenting that he was not sharing it alonsf with them. Bat among; that band of Christian heroes, there was none whose heart felt such delight as did that of Paul. Loaded with heavier irons than those which crippled the limbs of his fellows, he was, nevertheless, the most joyful of them all ; so much so, that his companions could never tire of contemplating the heaven-lit brightness of his features, or listening; to the words which flowed with such unction from his lips. During the whole of that night in the prison of Miako, he never ceased preaching to the jailors and the Christians — who could not be induced to leave him — of the immor- tality of the soul, the eternity of the world to come, the glory of the blessed, the passion and death of the Saviour ; but above all, of the unparalleled and price- less happiness of dying a martyr for the faith. This, indeed, was the clearest wish of his heart — the grand object on which all his desires were centered ; and so well did he express himself when discoursing of it that, eloquent as he was by nature, his language now smote the ears of all around 78 LIVES 0:7 THE him, like something that had never before fallen from mortal tongue. What de- lighted him more was the discovery of so many points of resemblance between the sufferings of our Lord and those which he was about to taste : — He was in his thirty- third year ! He was to die on a cross, and to be pierced with a lance ! His passion dated from Thursday, when he was ironed ! He was to be put to death by his ownnation, which he desired to save! and then, on the following Friday, even as Christ was exposed to the execration of the populace in the streets of Jerusalem, so was he to be led through the streets of Miako, with the sentence of death displayed, to the place of execution! All who heard his words wept bitterly, and each of them spoke wonderful things of him long after his death. What is more, two of his jailors privately promised him that they would become Christians, and this added to the joy which he experienced in the prison of Ozaca, where he had the happi- ness of converting, and baptizing with his own hand, six idolators. MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 79 VI. THE JAPANESE EXECUTIONER CUTS OFF AN EAR OF EACH OF THE TWENTY-FOUR MARTYRS. THEY ARE EXPOSED TO PUBLIC DERISION IN THE STREETS OF MIAKO. — AFFECTING INCIDENT OF AN OLD MAN RECENTLY CONVERTED TO THE FAITH. At daybreak of the third of January, the twenty-four having been taken out of the prison, with their hands tied behind their backs, and surrounded by a vast crowd of guards and people, were led on foot to lower Miako — for it should be borne in mind that the place is divided into two great cities, the upper and lower. Here each of the martyrs had a portion of the left ear cut off — some more, some less, according to the whim of the executioner ; and this, indeed, was a spontaneous stretch of mercy on the part of the governor, as the emperor's sentence was that each of them should lose the nose and both ears. During this barbarous proceeding our Martyrs had beside them two most fervent Christians, who were martyrs as far as 80 LI YES OF THE they could be such ; as they found none to slay them, although they were ready and willing to lay down their lives. One of them was Nodaghensuchi Victor, secre- tary to the Governor of Ozaca, already mentioned. This good man could never be kept from Paul Michi, but clung to him with unfailing fidelity from the 8th of December (the day on which the persecu- tion commenced), till the 31st of the same. Constantly at our martyr's side, he never left him, except when called away by domestic affairs ; and he finally brought his wife and children to reside in the vicinity of the prison, determined, should our peo- ple be put to death, that he and his would be the first to share their martyrdom. What is still more surprising, he actually consigned himself to voluntary imprison- ment in the same dungeon with Paul, and when some one said to him, " Is it piety that induces you to expose your wife and children to death? can you love them and act thus ?" he replied : " Tis because I love them I act thus ; for, by this means I will procure for them happiness far surpassing MARTYRS OF JAPAN.*, 81 any that they or I could secure. They understand this, and because they love me much as I love them, were I not to offer myself for martyrdom, they would bring me along with them to it, just as I am now bringing them. Now, should I die without them, who will guarantee that they shall be reunited to me in eternity?" On another occasion when one of the Fathers with whom he was familiar in Ozaca, asked him to take charge of a packet of letters, which he had written for general circulation among the Chris- tians, and others for particular individuals, exhorting them to maintain the faith, and lay down their lives for it, if necessary, he met the request thus, " What ! would you force me to live? would you deprive me of the opportunity of obtaining eter- nal life?" In fact, he regarded the Fathers conduct (although it was meant well) as the greatest insult that could be inflicted on him, and with tears in his eyes, he added: U I never thought, my Father, that you would thus requite my love for you by rejecting me as one unworthy to f2 82 LIVES OF THE share your martyrdom !" In short, the letters had to be committed to the charge of somebody else, and this truly heroic man never quitted our three martyrs night or day. Even 6n their way to the place of execution he was by their side, present at the cutting off the ears, and accompany- ing them when they were paraded for public mockery in the streets of the city. The other Japanese to whom I alluded was Andrew Ongasavara, a teacher of equitation and archery — arts highly prized and cultivated by the natives. While he was residing in Ozaca, his ardent desire to die a similar death, on the cross, prompted him to feign that he was owner of the house in which Paul Michi lodged, hoping thus that if none but members of the Society would be allowed to share his fate, he would either be the only one or the first. But as the lieutenant had only inserted the names of John and James on the list, it occurred to him that the num- ber would be soon increased, and he therefore remained constantly with them. Meanwhile multitudes of the people pre- MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 83 sented themselves for the same purpose, and among them, Paul Sachiondono, a man of most exalted rank, each and all of whom began to contest with each other •who should have the happiness of dying with the Fathers, in case those then present were not accepted. Each urged his own peculiar claims, and energetically, but none more so than the good John Goto, subsequently one of the three martyrs, who, having obtained leave of his jailors to absent himself for a while, hurried into the presence of Farimandono, the go- vernor, and told him " that his name w T as inserted in the list, and that it should not be cancelled; and finally, that he ought not be deprived of his cross, which others whom the accident of birth and fortune had made more influential, were anxious to take from him." He had previously written to Father Peter de Morecon, asking permission to follow this line of conduct, but the good religious did not give his consent. Nevertheless this was of no great importance to Goto, for God had already registered his name among 84 XIVES OF THE the twenty-six who were destined for martyrdom. Meanwhile the contest for the heavenly honour was decided in favour of Andrew who was pronounced worthy of the foremost place. After him it was awarded to Victor, the secretary, and to the rest in turn. But Andrew would have his whole family share his high destiny ; even his decrepid mother, wife and children, some of whom were mere babies. His father w r as the onlv one with . whom he had any difficulty, and as the circumstances of the old man's case are very interesting, I will not omit men- tioning them. This man was of noble birth, verging on his eightieth year, a courtier from his youth, and well skilled in the use of the sword. Andrew, therefore, as may be imagined did not find it hard to induce the aged parent to lay down his life with him and the Fathers, and thus win the martyr's crown. But still there was a difficulty to be overcome; for, when Andrew told him that he was bound to accept death joyfully and on his knees, MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 85 offering himself to God, with hands and eyes raised to heaven, nay, and with bended neck and arms stretched out for the convenience of those who were to fix him to the cross, the old soldier got into a passion which he mistook for zeal, and replied — "what! to become a martyr must I die like a coward? Am I to stand by and see our good Fathers die, slaughtered before- me just as if I had never wielded a sword? and you, unworthy of your father and your race, is this the advice you give me? Kneel down for the executioner! bend my neck P and with this, as he had only a poniard at his side, he hurried off to fetch a scimitar which he had not worn for many years, and on his return began to brandish it in the. air, and make various passes with the weapon, of which he was perfect master. He then resumed, " I find that I am still able to handle it ; let these idolatrous dog-s- come on, and be they many or few, they shall not lay hands on the Fathers or come within sweep of my trusty sword, I will hew- 86 LIVES OF THE them clown till nothing remains in my grasp but the sword's hilt, ay, till my arms fall powerless by my sides. Then let them slay me, and I will die like a brave martyr." Having spoken thus he once more performed a variety of passes, just as if he had had his youth restored to him. Many Christians witnessed this curious incident, and although it was a time for tears, very few of them could help smiling. Andrew, indeed, was sorely grieved by the spectacle ; for, he knew that no words of his could convince the old man of his error. Never- theless he besought him with affecting humility to withdraw from Ozaca till the fury of the persecution had passed away, but this request was ineffectual ; for the old man regarded it as a cowardly sug- gestion, and said: " A brave man should never think of running away; 'tis dis- graceful. I will die, sword in hand, as a brave martyr should die." None but God could change the old soldier's idea — the only erroneous one he entertained — simply because he was a novice in the school of MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 87 Christ, and so familiarised with that of the world, that he did not know how to distinguish the difference betwen military and Christian bravery. And God was pleased to demonstrate it to him in such an effectual manner, that he had only to visit his own house in order to compre- hend it fully. On his return home he found his own wife and Andrew's preparing for themselves, their children, and nephews, the dress which they were to wear, that they might appear becomingly on the cross, and the other members of the family getting ready the reliquaries and rosaries with which they meant to adorn their persons. Hearing the women settling among themselves the order in which each would be crucified ; who first and who second, with what willingness and reverence they should kiss the gibbet, and extend their arms for the executioner ; what words they should ad- dress to each other ; nay, and animating one another and thanking God for allow- ing -them to lay down their lives for love of Him — hearing all this the old man was 88 LIVES OF THE astounded, filled with admiration for what he considered so far superior to mere natural courage, and in an instant felt himself so entirely changed, that he exclaimed, " Andrew is right ! this is heroism with which I was not acquainted, and far superior to mine." So saying, he flung away his scimitar and poniard, and in their stead armed himself with the rosary, and joyfully prepared himself to die like his pious wife and kinsfolk. VII. THE EARS OF OUR THREE BROTHERS— HOW THE MARTYRS COMPORTED THEMSELVES IN THE STREETS OF MIAKO. Victor, the secretary, and Andrew (both of whom I have felt myself bound to mention with respectful brevity) clung faithfully to our three during their im- prisonment in Ozaca, on their journey thence to Miako, and w^ere present while the executioner was cutting off their MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 89 cars. Victor also gathered up the pieces, and piously carried them to Father Organ tino. On receiving them, the old man's heart was deeply affected; his holy emotions were legible in his features ; and so abundant were his tears, and so affecting the sentiments to which he gave utterance, that all the by-standers wept, He exhibited the mutilated fragments to all about him, kissed them, pressed them to his face, and then raising them up, while his tears flowed fast, made an offering of them to God. " These," said lie, "are the first fruits of our blood in Japan, after all the sweat and toil we have expended on it, during eight-and- forty years. These are the earliest offer- ings from Miako — plucked from the parent stems, which in a few days hence shall be engrafted on three gibbets in Nangasasky, to the end that others may cull flowers still fairer and more abundant fruit !" Then, reflecting on his own case, he continued, still weeping: " would to God, it Avere my good fortune to share their happy, lot ! Ah, that instead of 90 LIVES OF THE offering to heaven, with my hands, the blood of others, mine own were shed, that others might make an offering of it!" Venerable, holy soul, these senti- ments were worthy of you, who so often stood in imminent danger of martyrdom; and yet, as though heaven did not think you ripe for that honour, it was your destiny to see the wreath plucked from your brow, and the palm from your grasp ! Meanwhile, the twenty-four being placed on eight cars — three on each — (and ours were the last,) they were led through the thoroughfares of Miako, their inhuman conductors taking no heed of the blood that streamed from their ears. Let the reader bear in mind, that this public parade is the greatest indignity with which the Japanese can brand the condemned; and, indeed, it is never resorted to, except in the case of most infamous criminals. To disgrace them still more, they were preceded by an officer, who carried on the point of a lance a large tablet, whereon their crime. MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 91 and the sort of death to which they were doomed, might be read in capital letters. In our vernacular it -would run thus : — " Whereas, these men have come from the Philippine Islands, with the title of ambassadors, and located them- selves in Miako, preaching the Christian religion, which I prohibited, under strictest penalties, many years ago ; and, whereas, they have built churches, and been guilty of other such outrages, I now command that they be put to death, and along with them the Japanese who have gone over to their religion. The twenty-four are to be crucified in Nangasasky ; and, as I now repeat my former prohibition, let it be universally knewn, and obeyed by all ; for, should any one attempt to act con- trary to this ordinance, he and his entire family shall suffer the same penalty. In the first year of Cheicio, on the twentieth of the eleventh moon." Owing to the dense crowds following and surrounding the condemned, the pro- cession had to move slowly, multitudes of the people forcing their way up to the 92 LIVES OF THE cars. All the Christians were abroad in the streets, and the roofs and windows swarmed with spectators, each one giving expression to their feelings — some of pity, others of scornful joy; and such was the universal uproar, that it was difficult to catch the words which fell from the lips of some of our most courageous martyrs. Anions the most distinguished of the latter was the Commissary, Brother Peter Baptist, who preached to the crowd as well as he could in Japanese, and ani- mated his own brethren in their own native Spanish tongue. The two Fran- ciscan priests, who came from the Philip- pine Islands — one of whom had been only a few months, and the other less than a year ■ in Japan — not understanding the language were silent, and most decorous in their deportment, giving themselves entirely to God in prayer. Of our three, Paul Michi preached while the other two, with eyes raised heavenwards, were wrapped in profound meditation, and presented an aspect so radiant with delight, that a gen- tleman of the court, named Romano — MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 03 who, in spite of the guards, forced his way through the posse to salute the prisoners — never forgot what he saw and heard in that momentary inter- view. Indeed, so great was the con- solation he derived- from it that he never afterwards could speak of the event without shedding tears. But the observed of all observers and the theme of every tongue were three boys from twelve to fifteen years old, into whose youthful hearts God w r as pleased to infuse a truly superhuman courage, with a view, as w r e may suppose, to teach the heathens that joy and noble bearing like theirs could come only from heaven. Undismayed by the shouts and mockery of the crowds, and heedless of the blood that streamed from their wounds, the three vouths chanted in unison the Pater and Ave, and whatever other prayers they had learnt. Most remarkable of the three w r as little Louis, wdio was but twelve, years old, and who during the entire of the journey to Nangasasky never changed a feature and never looked in the slightest degree dis- 94 LIVES OF THE heartened ; in fact, he astounded the religious, who could not but derive consola- tion and strength from his example. This was the same Louis who, while in prison in Miako, was visited by an influential idola- tor, who came to offer him life and liberty- provided he would abandon the faith. "Ah," replied the boy, "you, too, ought to embrace it; for, it is the only means of everlasting salvation." Further on we shall give greater proofs of this youthful zeal, enkindled doubtless by the Holy Ghost, who selected this happy boy before others to manifest the wonders of God's grace. Nor should we omit stating that the fervour displayed by the faithful was beyond all praise. Thousands of them besought the escort to take them into custody and convey them to Nangasasky to be crucified. When told that they were not included in the list of the sen- tenced they begged as a special favour to be allowed to mount the cars, in order that they might thus share the scorn that was flung upon the Martyrs in the streets of Miako. They, good souls, would fain MARTYHS OF JAPAN. 95 be partakers of their triumph ! The pro- cession terminated, (and, indeed, it lasted many hours), the Martyrs were brought back to the public prison, where there was a vast assemblage waiting to see them. Alighting from the vehicle, Paul Michi warmly embraced, one by one, the six Franciscans, thanking them for the great happiness they had conferred on him, namely, that of being crucified along with them ; and, indeed, so astounded were the heathens at witnessing the heartfelt de- light which glowed in his features, that they gazed at each other as it were awe- struck, asking " what sort of people are these, and what sort is the religion that enables them to rejoice in the midst of sufferings, glory in disgrace, and long for death?" Well might they talk thus; for, never before did the Japanese witness such a spectacle, and in after times they were wont to speak of it in almost the same words. 98 LIVES 0* THE VIII. THE MARTYRS ARE CONVEYED FROM MIAKO , TO NANGASASKY INCIDENTS ON THE WAY. At daybreak they were all mounted on horses and conducted to Ozaca, and thence to Sacai, the two largest cities that lay on their route. In the latter place, as in Miako, they were paraded through the public thoroughfares, exposed to popular execration, their sentence being duly carried before them, as we have already described. From thence they might have gone expeditiously to Nangasasky by the channel which divides the islands from each other (for, be it understood, that Sacai and Nangasasky are both situated on the coast) ; but Taicosama, wishing to overawe the Christian converts, and at the same time to show r his lieutenants and governors how implacably he hated Chris- tianity, and how determined he was to prevent its dissemination, ordained that our holy martyrs should make the jour- ney by land. Thus were they conveyed MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 97 from village to village and from town to town, in each of which a prison had been prepared for them accord- ing to orders forwarded by the exe- cutive. The places assigned for their detention were formed of strong stakes driven into the ground, and connected with each other by a sort of wicker -work, resembling that of ca^es. Soldiers in great numbers mounted guard over them, and right before the entrance the sen- tence of death, written in large characters, was raised on the point of a lance. They set out from Sacai on the ninth of January, and on the fourth of the following month they drew r near Nangasasky, after incre- dible fatigues, during a twenty-six days' journey, which was rendered still more painful by the cold of the spring time ; for, strange as it may seem to us, those regions are covered with snow and ice at that season. Nor should we omit mentioning that they w r ere, in many instances, treated with singular humanity by their guards, who could not but admire the joy with which they welcomed death, G 98 LIVES OF THE their charity to one another, and their profound devotion. When not engaged in mental prayer, they conversed with each other of God and eternity, and thus edified the heathens, who did not fail to recommend them warmly to the various escorts who took them in charge along the way. They were occasionally provided with horses, and whenever the roads were very bad, they were carried in a species of litter, quite common in Japan. Nevertheless, they had to perform a con- siderable portion of the journey on foot, and their limbs were swollen and exco- riated by the bitter cold. At a certain village of the kingdom of Amacusa they were committed to the custody of an idolatrous official, who hated the very name of Christian so much that he treated them in the most inhuman manner ; for, not satisfied with receiving them badly, he flung them into a foul dungeon, which was far fitter to be a den for wild beasts than a prison for a rational creature. Seeing this, Paul Michi con- trived to have an interview with him, and MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 99 the result was that he not only softened his hard heart, but converted him from idolatry to the law of Christ. This, assuredly, was little short of a miracle; but let us hear how God was pleased to bring about such a singular change. Haying assured the personage of whom w r e have been speaking, that the pri- soners, whether guarded or otherwise, would never harbour an idea of escaping, he gave as a reason for this resolve that they were only anxious for eternal happiness, which was to be the reward of all their sufferings. "You can now understand (continued Michi), that ours is not an affected joy, but rather a deep sense of consolation, which has its source in our hearts. We are not cri- minals consigned to death for violation of the emperor's laws, and the only crime laid to our charge is, that we adore the one true God, creator of the universe, whom we love, and whose religion we preach. Taicosama, your emperor, knows not that religion ; and he has, therefore, condemned us for announcing it." He then unfolded the law of Christ to the 100 " LIVES OF THE idolator, who listened to him attentively, till the unction of his words, and the force of his arguments so overcame the bar- barian, and dissipated his prejudices, that he requested to be fully instructed in the Christian doctrine. At length he became a believer, and before the dawn of the next day he received the grace of bap- tism. During the remainder of the journey they enjoyed very many privileges — for they were allowed to spend their time as they liked in prayer and spiritual collo- quies, occasionally listening to one of their companions cheering them with an exhortation. But, while thus intent on their own sanctification, they were not neglectful of their duties to others. As for the Japanese brethren, they took every opportunity of writing to their re- latives and acquaintances, exhorting those who were Christians to hold by the faith ; and those who were idolators to hearken to it, and embrace it. We still preserve many of Paul Michi's letters to our Fathers, then in Miako and Ozaca, and MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 101 each of them is full of that holy spirit which animated him. In one of his epistles, he requests that a devout picture, which he valued, should be given to his mother, who was still living, " in order," says he, " that it may help her to fix her heart on heaven, as I cannot be bodily with her. It w^ill enable her to raise her thoughts to God, into whose presence I am going to beg consolation for her," He also wrote to his dear friends, Giusto Ucondono, Paul and Constantine, sons of Genofoin, Andrew Ongasavara, and others, who spared no exertions to obtain his release. Instead, however, of thanking them for their charity in his behalf, he gently chided them for endeavouring to deprive him of the crown of martyrdom, which heaven was about to place on his head. Never, never, during that journey, of twenty-six days, did he tire of preach- ing on the roads, in the inns, and doing all the good that lay in his power. His toils were amply rewarded; for, many of those who heard him embraced the g2 102 LIVES OF THE Christian faith, and were baptized. As for himself, he has left it on record, that during his twenty years' toil, he never effected so much good for Christianity, or with such consolation to himself, as Cod enabled him to accomplish in that last journey. u And now," so runs one of his letters, " that I am condemned to death, solely because I have preached the law of Christ, I will continue to preach it with my latest breath." And indeed, as we shall see hereafter, he carried out his resolution, at that consummating moment, when he turned his cross into a pulpit, and had for his auditors the vast crowd that came to witness his triumphant death. What a happy destiny was his ! His heart, like those of his holy compa- nions, thrilled with delight in expectation of the martyr's palm. But more fortunate than his associates, he was the only one who could preach in the Japanese lan- guage, in which, as we have already said, he w r as profoundly versed. What wonder if his zeal grew more fervent, now that the hour of his triumph drew nigh! MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 103 In fact, his preaching exasperated the Bonzes beyond our power of describing ; for they remarked, one to another, that Taicosama had acted unwisely in parading these men from Miakp to Nangasasky, thus enabling them to traverse one half of Japan, and address the people as they went along. " This," said they, " is not uprooting Christianity from where it was, but rather disseminating it where it w r as not. Nay, more, had they never uttered a word, their very example, and the joy that animates them, in prospect of the eternal happiness which, they say, is in store for them after death, would be quite enough to infect the people. The nearer to death, the greater their iov! What a madness to have allowed them opportunity for addressing the multitudes, whom curiosity brings out to listen to them !" Such were the remarks of the Bonzes ; but they had not long to wait, till they discovered that they were, in some measure, prophets of results, which they contemplated with dread. 104 LIVES OF THE IX. THEY ARE JOINED BY NEW COMPANIONS ON THE WAY.— THE MARTYRS ARRIVE AT FACATA. LETTERS FROM THE COMMISSARY, PETER BAP- TIST AND PAUL MICHI, ADDRESSED TO THE RECTOR OF NANGASASKY AND THE VICEPRO- VINCIAL. Irrespective of the many incidents that shed such lustre on the journey of our twenty-four generous heroes, there was one which, if possible, rendered it still more signally remarkable. We allude to the accession made to their numbers on the way, when they were joined by two new associates whom God most providen- tially set apart for the honor of martyrdom. Two pious Christians, one of whom was a friend to the Franciscans, and the other especially devoted to ours, made a volun- tary offering of their services to the Martyrs during the journey. One was named Francis, and the other Peter Suchegiro. The former was a carpenter, MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 105 and had been baptized some eight months previously, but the latter had been re- ceived into the Church long before his companion, and was an old Christian. Although especially attached to the Fathers of the Society, Father Organtino arranged that he should have charge of all the others, religious as well as lay brothers; and he accordingly placed in his hands a sum of money sufficient for their maintenance and requirements on the road. This provision was absolutely necessary, when we call to mind the dis- tance they had to travel, the severity of the season, and the other difficulties which they had to encounter. But as for the money, it could not have been entrusted to any one more competent to disburse it wisely. These two men ambitioned equally the martyr's palm, but they could only hope to win it, since their names were not comprised in the list of the twenty-four, and that list was now finally closed, though many in Miako were urgently requesting to be inscribed on it. During some days they thought 106 LIVES OF THE of little besides performing whatever good offices they could for the Martyrs, utterly unconscious that they were thus earning for themselves the same heavenly honour. One day, however, they were called aside by some of the guards who, annoyed at seeing their own countrymen paying such attention to the condemned, questioned them thus: "Are you also Christians?" being answered in the affirmative, the guards replied, " Well, then, Christians and Tobiri (a word which, in Japanese, signi- fies proselytes), you must join them," and thereon they arrested them and tied their hands behind their backs. Thenceforth, during the remainder of the journey to Nangasasky, they were treated like their companions, and handed over to the detachments appointed to receive them in the various villages along the route. Their thanksgiving to God for this favor — ail the more prized because least ex- pected — was, we need hardly say, fervent beyond description. Their only regret was that they, like their associates, had MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 107 not had their ears cut off, and that they did not share the ignominy heaped upon the former when paraded through the streets of Miako. Then again, as they drew near Nangasasky, they were apprehensive lest the governor who w^as charged to see the sentence carried into execution on reading the list of twenty-four, and not finding their names there, might pro- bably exclude them. But as this was one of those gifts which God has not sub- jected to human caprice, nothing could deprive them of it. As for the governer of Nangasasky % although he was certified by trustworthy witnesses of the cause of their accompany- ing the prisoners, and of the ^arbitrary and treacherous conduct of the guards who arrested them, nothing could alter his determination of putting them to death. " As they have fallen into my hands," said this fanatical heathen, " I think it far safer to slay them now that they are in custody, than to enlarge them because their names are not on the list." Thus with their newly added companions 108 LIVES OF THE our martyrs entered Facata on the last day of January. Many of the Christian inhabitants waited on them soon after their arrival, and nothing could excel the ten- derness and affection with which they were received by the former, to one of whom, named Diego Cogen, an intimate of Paul Michi, the latter confided a letter to be sent with all possible speed to the Viceprovincial, Gomez. The same kind sympathizer was charged with another letter by the Commissary, Peter Baptist, which was addressed to Father Antonio Lopez, rector of Nangasasky. Both letters were written a long time before in Cata- cabe, in the kingdom of Bigen, but the martyrs could not find anyone to take charge of them till they arrived in Facata. They both contained one simple request, and that was that the governor Terazava would allow them to celebrate Mass and receive the holy Eucharist. The Commis- sary's letter ran thus. " Twenty-four of us have set out from Miako, and we are all condemned to be crucified in Nangasasky, Three of us belong to tlie Society of MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 109 Jesus ; six to the Franciscan order, and the rest are Japanese, some of whom are preachers. I implore your Paternity to obtain permission from the governor that Ave may be allowed to receive the most holy Sacrament two days before our sen- tence is carried into execution. We also request leave to receive the bishop's bene- diction, and to visit the Fathers of your college, to whose prayers we earnestly recommend ourselves. Catacabe, in the kingdom of Bigen, the 16th day of Jan,, 1597." Paul Michi's letter runs thus : " We are sentenced to die on the cross. Let not your Paternity be troubled about us; for, through God's infinite goodness we find our consolation and joy in Him; and our only desire now is, that some day before arriving in Nangasasky (for when we reach that place it may be too late), one of the Fathers of the Society may come to hear our confessions. This is the more necessary since the Franciscan Fathers are not very conversant with our language, and we cannot, therefore, con- 110 LIVES OF THE fess to them, as we would wish. It would be a great happiness if you would send us Father Pasio. The twenty-four* of us are now animated by the same desire, namely — to hear Mass and receive the Holy Sacrament, at least once before we are crucified. Obtain for us* this favour from Terazava or his deputy in Nanga- sasky," Both Fathers submitted this re- quest to the deputy, who gave them kind promises ; but, eventually, owing to some recent circumstances, he absolutely refused to keep his word. The man who acted so faithlessly was the idolatrous Fazamburo, brother of Tera- zava— then absent on public business in another province — so that the former was commissioned by the imperial cabinet to see the sentence carried into execution. On learning, therefore, that the Martyrs were approaching he gave orders for fifty crosses to be got ready in Nangasasky ; and as soon as the citizens (multitudes of whom were Christians) heard of this pro- * This letter was written before they were joined by the two Japanese. MARTYRS OF JAPAN. Ill c ceding they began to ask one another " Why fifty crosses, if the condemned are only twenty- four? Are we to supply the twenty-six, in order to make up the defi- ciency? Can it be that God desires to show us that we are dear to Him? But who are to be the chosen ones ? Can the deputy have received secret instructions from court to guide him in the selection, or can he act arbitrarily and give the mar- tyr's crown to whom he pleases?" The Fathers — and, above all, Peter Martinez, the bishop — thought that they themselves were to be the happy victims, and their hopes were grounded on some letters re- ceived from Miako. Then, again, the Portuguese traders and the Spaniards who had been shipwrecked fancied that they were destined for martyrdom ; and, in- deed, every i Japanese Christian, who had deserved well of the faith, was ready to assert his claims to a cross. 112 LIVES OF THE DISCOVERY OF MIRACULOUS CRUCIFIXES, PRE- SAGING MARTYRDOM ON THE CROSS. In the midstof this universal preparation for death the Christians were reminded of an ominous event which occurred seven years before, and the import of which was never made patent till now. Three short leagues from Arima there is a place called Obama, whither one Leo, a devout Christian, sent his son, Michael, to hew wood for fuel, on the vigil of the Nativity, 1589. The tree which the latter selected for his axe was withered, leafless, and held in great veneration by the heathen natives, who, on each recurring new-year's day, used to fasten its branches to their doors, to keep out, as they foolishly imagined, evil spirits. After lopping off a good portion of the branches, Michael was about to split the trunk when night came and compelled him to go home. Next morning, however, he resumed his work, and with two or three MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 113 strokes of the axe divided the trunk into two equal halves ; but who could describe his amazement when he beheld in its inner rind an exquisite crucifix — exquisite as the handof painter or sculptor could produce — just as if it had grown there, incorporated with the wood. There, under his eyes, was the holy symbol of salvation with all its details ! He gazed at it for a moment ; and then, overcome by terror, flung down his axe, and ran off to bring his father to witness the miraculous sight. Intelligence of this discovery soon reached our Fathers in Arima; and, after visiting the mys- terious cross, they made a deposition of all the incidents connected with that portentous event. Nay, more, they had the crucifix conveyed to their church; and Peter Martinez, bishop of Japan, caused it to be enclosed in a rich silver shrine. But, what rendered it still more venerable, was the virtue which God imparted to it ; for, many were cured of various infirmities by touching it, and many were released from the power of the devil, by praying before it. Thence- 114 LIVES OF THE forth, crowds of pilgrims from Bungo, Amangucci, and Miako, resorted to it by land and sea, nay, and rivalled each other in their pious anxiety to obtain a par- ticle of it, or of the tree in which it was discovered. Among the earliest of those pilgrims, was king John of Arima, who, on beholding it, clapped his hands, and exclaimed: "Tis it, 'tis it!" And then, addressing one of our Fathers, reminded him of a dream which he related to him six months before, and which neither of them remembered till now. In fact, the king dreamt one night that he saw two venerable personages standing at his bed- side, and heard them reproach him gently for his tepidity, and his want of punc- tuality in assisting at the holy sacrifice, from which he often absented himself without good cause. Who those person- ages were he knew not, but their aspect proved that they came from heaven. They exhorted him to resume his early fervour, and follow the advice and direc- tion of the Fathers ; and concluded with the following announcement : " Know that MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 115 a symbol of Jesus will be discovered in thy kingdom; prize it, for it was not made by hand of man;" and having said this they vanished. The king related this dream to Father Gomez next morn-* fog, and also to many others; and he himself derived comfort and redoubled fervour from the mysterious forewarning. But what the symbol was, where it was to be sought for, or whether it would manifest itself, neither he nor they could tell; and, in fact, till now, he had all but forgotten the dream. Now, however, when he saw the cross, dream and admo- nition came back on his recollection, and he knew that what he had heard was a prophecy, and that the sacred object before him was the symbol of Jesus Christ, and not the work of human hands, as was most manifest to all. In a little more than two years afterwards ; that is to say, on the 7th February > 1592, the same miracle was repeated in Facunda, the territory of Santio, prince of Omura. Indeed many other crosses were dis- covered at this period under still more 116 LIVES OF THE mysterious circumstances ; and each of the holy symbols was greatly venerated by the faithful who drew their own conclu- sions from such foreshadowings. Some, indeed, inferred that the crosses thus brought to light portended that the faith was about to triumph in Japan; others fancied that they were meant by heaven to supply the places of the sacred sym- bols which Taicosama caused to be demo- lished; but many who saw farther into the future, were persuaded that such signal manifestations — evidently the work of angelic hands — w r ere signs of persecu- tion and death on the cross — for it is thus the Japanese execute capital punishment. The latter was the more universally received conclusion, particularly as Paz- amburo had given orders for so many crosses; but it subsequently transpired that this was merely an artifice of his own contriving to overawe the Christians. The deputy, however, deceived himself ; for, far from terrifying the converted Japanese, Father Gomez, the Vicepro- vincial, found it necessary to moderate the MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 117 over-ardent zeal of the multitudes who, in their anxiety for martyrdom, presented themselves to the barbarian, openly avow- ing that they were Christians, and pre- pared to die for Jesus Christ. Thus, indeed, did the Christians comport them- selves in Nangasasky, Ozaca, Miako, and in short, throughout all Japan, every- where proclaiming their willingness to offer themselves victims for the Redeemer's law. But to show how wide-spread was this holy desire for martyrdom, w r e will here relate two simple incidents which prove that even children of tenderest years were actuated by the same heavenly senti- ments. One night a distinguished citizen of Nangasasky and his wife were conversing about their approaching martyrdom, and making ready the apparel they wished to wear on the occasion, little thinking that they had been overheard by one of their children — a little boy, aged eleven— w r ho, with a younger brother, was in bed in the same apartment, and, as the parents fancied, fast asleep. The child, however, h2 118 LIVES OF THE treasured every word that fell from their lips, and when they ceased conversing, he sprang from his bed and coming before them said: " You are preparing to die for the faith, and why would you conceal your intention from me?" He then implored them to tell him candidly what they had resolved on, and they, either believing that they had been overheard, or wishing to ascertain how the boy would take the announcement, told him that they had made up their minds to die martyrs. On hearing this the child's joy became almost ecstatic, and he expressed himself thus: "I thank God for this signal favor, and I congratulate you and myself; for, assuredly, you will not die without me." Then remembering his little brother who was asleep, he pointed to his bed, and asked the father what was to become of him? The reply was, "He, you, and all of us will share the same blessed destiny ; all of us will die for the faith/ " Then, rejoined the child, " we will all go to paradise. ; I desire nothing more, my happiness is complete." MARTYRS OF J A PAX. 119 Another fact has been recorded of a noble child, aged five years, who, on learning that the heathens were coming fromMiako to murder the faithful in Nangasasky, was asked by one of our Fathers what he would say if he were questioned about his religion. " I will tell them openly," replied the heroic child, " that I am a Christian." " But, then, they will' kill you," observed the Father. " Be it so," said the child; " and here is what I will do," with this he flung himself on his knees and stooped his head, as though he were about to re- ceive the stroke of a scimitar. " But," resumed the father, " while you are wait- ing for the executioner, and when you are on the- point of losing your life, what will you say ? : ' Here the poor child think- ing that he did not know what words he should utter at such a crisis burst into tears ; but being encouraged by the Father, he returned the following answer. " I will invoke the holy names of Jesus and Mary, till the executioners cut my throat, but if there be anything else that I should know "you must teach it „to me," 120 LIVES OF THE XI VARIOUS INCIDENTS CONNECTED WITH THE MARTYRS IN THE VICINITY OF NANGASASKY — FAZAM- BURO'S AFFECTION FOR PAUL MICHI PAUL'S JOY AND FERVOR JOHN SOAN AND JAMES CHISAI MAKE THEIR RELIGIOUS VOWS — RE- SPECT SHOWN TO THE MARTYRS BY THE CHRIS- TIANS — John's interview with his father. Meanwhile, our band of faithful cham- pions had reached Sononghi (situated within the territory of the king of Omura), some eight or nine leagues from Nanga- sasky, which was destined to be their last halting-place in this life, and the scene of their glorious triumph! Of their own accord, and to show respect for the place of their martyrdom, they proceeded on foot for some distance — with difficulty, indeed, for their limbs were frost-bitten and benumbed. However, as the greater part of the remainder of the journey was to be made in boats, they acted thus for the reasons already assigned MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 121 During this short march — so painful and reverential — they were allowed to rest themselves by the wayside for some mo- ments ; but Father Peter Baptist, the Commissary, had scarcely seated himself among his companions when he began to weep, as though some mournful memo- ries had risen up before his mind. Ob- serving this, the guards who, during the whole journey from Miako,had never seen the shadow of sorrow on the prisoners' countenances — nay, not even a single tear — began to jeer them thus: — " Ah, they now discover that they are not far from Nangasasky ! They now are thinking of the crosses on which they shall be fixed to-morrow. 'Tis one thing to contemplate death at a distance, and another to find oneself in the gripe of the executioner! They have now abandoned their joyous- ness for wailing !" So spake the guards, some of whom compassionated the Mar- tyrs, while the majority of their fellows treated them contemptuously, fancying that the fear of approaching death was the cause of the Commissary's tears. On 122 LIVES OF THE hearing and seeing all this, our Paul im- plored the Commissary to moderate his devotion- and weep no more, as the rude men by whom they were surrounded mis- took his motives, and attributed his conduct to cowardice. Thereon the Commissary did as Paul directed, and told brother Gonzales, who understood the Japanese language, to inform the guards that his tears were not caused by the fear of death, as they foolishly imagined. " Quite the contrary," continued the Martyr, " for why should I fear to sacrifice my life for an object so grand and holy — the salvation of souls? Tell them I have wept, because I came to Japan with the hope of being able to found a house of my Order among them, and now find I have not been able to realize my pro- ject." But neither then nor since has any house of his, or any other religious Order, been established in Japan, whose inhabitants, alas ! are ignorant of God and the faith of Jesus Christ. The time appointed in the Eternal decrees-, for en- lightening that unhappy people, has not MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 123 yet come. True it is, indeed, that the precious seeds of so much blood broadcast by innumerable champions of the faith — Europeans and Japanese of every grade and condition — lie there, as it were, dead, and down-trodden in the soil. True it is, that for a term of fifty years, after the events of which we are writing, the whole of that idolatrous region was deeply dyed with Christian blood. Never- theless, it will one day fructify a hundred fold, notwithstanding the barrenness of the soil. But that shall not be till God turns his* merciful eyes on Japan, and then, indeed, whosoever goes to tend the Lord's vineyard there, will find an abundant harvest, for which they will be indebted to the toils and blood of its first cultiva- tors. Fazamburo, the deputy-governor, was awaiting the arrival of the Martyrs in Sononghi, whither he came from Nangoia to take charge of them, and escort them to the place of their execu- tion. He and Paul Michi, we should observe, were very fond of each other; so much so, indeed, that Fazamburo 124 LIVES OF THE often went to hear his friend discoursing on the mysteries of our holy faith. Now, however, he had a terrible duty to per- form — the friend, whom he so loved* was consigned to his hands, to be put to death on an infamous cross. The very idea of it affected Fazamburo deeply, and he could not repress his tears. But our saint turned on him a look of delight, and said: "You have no reason to weep, but you should rather envy me my death, opprobrious as it may seem to you. Re- member, that the only crime laid to my charge is, that I preached the law of Christ — a law somewhat known to you — and that my sole crime has been to save 'souls from eternal ruin, and point out the one way that leads to everlasting blessedness. Instead, therefore, of tears and sympathy which my death does not require, grant me as a pledge of your affection, what I prize most, time and facility to confess our sins, and receive the Lord's body and blood." To this the Commissary added another request, namely, that he would cause them to be MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 125 crucified on Friday. Fazamburo granted all they desired, for as yet the suspicions to which we will allude hereafter had not warped his goodness of heart. On taking charge of the prisoners, the boy Louis, of whom we have spoken, arrested his atten- tion ; and partly through sympathy for the lad, and partly in the hope of attaching him to his suite — for, indeed, he was a boy of quick parts — he told him that he would save his life if he agreed to enter his service in the capacity of a page. Hereon Louis answered : " I am altogether in the Commissary's hands." Hearing this the latter said: " Tell him you will do so provided he allows you to remain a Chris- tian, and pledges himself to keep his word." To this the deputy rejoined: "Certainly not, and the condition on which I would release you is, that you will first renounce the Christian religion and em- brace mine." But Louis was not to be shaken, and he calmly replied: " On such a worthless condition as you propose I reject the offer of life. Would you have me barter eternal happiness for a few 126 LIVES OF THE fleeting years of temporal existence ? On hearing this Fazamburo turned away and proceeded to Nangasasky. In the mean time Fathers Francis Pasio and John Rodriguez were in search of him ; for, on receipt of the letters addressed by our Paul and the commissary to the Vice- provincial Gomez, the latter lost no time in sending his brethren to wait on the deputy, in the hope of obtaining from him what the prisoners so earnestly de- sired. In fact Father Pasio and his com- panion had brought with them all that was necessary for the celebration of the holy Sacrifice, and a letter from the Vice- provincial, in which the latter besought Fazamburo to grant the Commissary's prayer. They did not, however, overtake him, for he had gone off by another road : *and the guards who were only too anxious to'get rid of their prisoners would not allow the Fathers to see any of the martyrs. An exception, however, was made in favor of Father Rodriguez, whose title — interpre- ter to Taicosama — they concluded, justi- fied them in allowing him to visit the MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 127 Martyrs. On being admitted to the pri- soners Father Rodriguez tenderly em- braced them one by one, and nothing could exceed the heartfelt affection which each and all of them evinced. The six Franciscans, and our three, with the other seventeen laics, burst into tears, but above all, Father Peter Baptist, the Commissary, to whom Rodriguez read the death sen- tence, a copy of which he had brought along with him. They wept, indeed, but theirs were tears of delight and consolation, for it would appear that the Commissary had only a vague notion of the manner in which he was to be put to death. Father Rodriguez further told him that the bishop, Peter Martinez, spoke of them in a sermon which he had some short time before preached to the Portuguese, and elo- quently commended, 3 as they deserved, the courage and fortitude with which they were about to glorify God in their passion. " Christianity," said the bishop, " has been wounded by their death and consoled by their unflinching heroism." On this the Commissary modestly requested him to 128 LIVES OF THE tell the prelate what he had seen, and how ardently they all desired to lay down their lives for the faith. Rodriguez then addressed himself to Paul Michi, to whom he gave the various messages with which he was charged by our brethren ; informing him at the same time that they all envied him the blessed destiny which heaven had in store for him — that they desired nothing so much as to share his lot, and that they were all offer- ing the holy sacrifice, their penances, and prayers to God for him and his two com- panions. Hearing this, Paul was greatly delighted, and remarked to Rodriguez that deplorable as was the actual state of the Japanese Christians, we (the Jesuits) were not in bad plight at the imperial court; and that his conviction was, that his death and that of his companions, instead of diminishing the number of the faithful, would rather bring over great multitudes to the Church. " Remember," continued he, " that during our thirty days' journey I was continually preaching, and listened to attentively. This will MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 129 surely redound to the benefit of our holy faith. In the very prison of Ozaca I baptized six infidels, who pressed me urgently to do so, in order that they might hold in remembrance that they were born Christians in a dungeon, and regene- rated by one, who was going to die for the faith which they embraced." One of the foresaid was a wealthy and distinguished military man, who subsequently visited Paul in Miako, and openly avowed himself a Christian. " These," he continued, " are indubitable signs that the faith has great power to bring the idolators to embrace it — a power which will, doubtless, keep the Christians from abandoning it through fear of present death." And, indeed, he spoke the truth, for his sole exertions won more infidels to Christ than did the labours of anyone else ; so much so, that the con- verts far outnumbered those who, unfor- tunately, relapsed into idolatry. At last, Rodriguez embraced our other two, John and James, and promised them in the Viceprovincial's name that they would be speedily permitted to make the three 130 LIVES OF THE religious vows. He finally told the two Japanese, who had come over to the faith during the journey, as we have narrated, that he congratulated them and their con- verted fellow-countrymen on their en- viable lot; and then gathering all the Japanese together, he gave them, in their own language (of which he was thoroughly master), an exhortation worthy of his zeal, and suited to the circumstances of those whom he addressed. His words struck deep root in their good hearts, and, as we may imagine, afforded them ineffable com- fort. At parting they all wept. When separated by the guards, who would not allow them to remain any longer together, Rodriguez rejoined Father Pasio, and pro- ceeded that night to wait on Fazamburo in Nangasasky. The deputy, however, had changed his mind in the interval, and w T as no longer disposed to realise the promises which he had made to the Commissary and Paul Michi. Fa- zamburo's original intention was, cer- tainly, to have the Martyrs conducted to Nangasasky and lodged in the stock- MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 13 L aded prison, which he caused to be erected for them in that place ; but remembering the more than fraternal love which the Christians cherished for one another, and that nearly the entire population of the city professed that religion, nay, more, that there was a considerable number of Spaniards* and Portuguese there at the time, it occurred to him that an attempt might be made to rescue the condemned. And, indeed, nothing could have been more feasible, had the Europeans and native Christians so willed it. What force had the deputy at his command to counteract such an enterprize, if it was once set on foot? Eeflecting thus, he resolved to follow the safer course, which was to execute the Martyrs on the very spot where malefac- tors were usually put to death, a short dis- tance from the city, and on the high road along which our heroic band was ap- proaching. Thus, he would be rid of * The former belonged to the ship Philip that was wrecked, and the latter to the merchant vessels that traded with Japan. 132 LIVES OF THE them on the instant. He, therefore, lost no time in causing holes to be dug for the twenty-six crosses, which, in obedience to his order, were brought forth from Nangasasky; and he, at the same time, despatched officers to various quar- ters on the Martyrs' route, forbidding the people, at the peril of their lives, to leave their houses for the purpose of witnessing the crucifixion, The Bishop, the Fathers, Europeans, and Japanese, were all com- prised in this interdict. Nevertheless, as Fazamburo wished to realise as much of his former promise as he thought prudent, he, on that very night, sent a message to our Fathers, stating, that unforeseen and serious circumstances prevented him from doing all that he meant to have done; but that Father Pasio and Rodriguez might come to the palace early next morning, when he would place them under the protection of one of his officers, who would be authorized to halt the escort while our three religious were making their confessions. The Fathers obeyed the summons, and as they MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 133 -were about leaving the deputy's presence, he desired them to inform the other prisoners that he would not grant them the privilege of hearing Mass or dying on Friday. " For," said he, " that is not a necessity but a consolation, and those who are about to die for their religion are sure of salvation." Nevertheless our two Fathers urged their request so earnestly, that he at last, with great difficulty, allowed them to be present at the Martyrs' death. With that they left the palace. Father Pasio set out to await their arrival in the little chapel of St Lazarus, which was situated in Uracami, not far from the place of execution, and Father Rodriguez, accompanied by the officer, hastened to meet them on the road, in order to inform them that they would be put to death at the next halting place. They were now coming from Tochizo, whither they were brought by sea from Sononghi, and all of them, with the ex- ception of the six Franciscans, had their hands tied behind their backs, and as it were I 134 LIVES OF THE to prevent the possibility of drowning themselves (as the heathens foolishly sus- pected), they were made fast to one another by a rope twisted round their necks. Nor should we omit mentioning that they were not allowed to come on shore during the whole of that long inclement night, but were forced to remain on the deck exposed to the intense cold. Father Rodriguez met them within a league of Nangasasky, and he instantly told the Commissary (who was obliged to ride on horseback) and his companions, all of whom were on foot, that they should prepare themselves for death, as they were now. fast approaching the goal of their earthly pilgrimage. These holy men received the announcement with great joy, and gave thanks to God for the honor He was about to confer on them. " In fact," says Father Rodriguez, describing this incident, " one would have supposed that they were on their way to some high festival!" Having joined the glorious heroes, our good Father went from one to another, addressing a few MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 135 but fervent words to each — words which were suggested by that God whom he loved so ardently — nay, and by that fervor of spirit which he beheld in the Martyrs. In performing this charitable duty, he had to encounter many a rebuff from the rude soldiers ; and some of the most distinguished citizens, who, antici- pating the arrival of the heroic band, made their way through the crowd to embrace them, were subjected to the same harsh treatment. On reaching the church of St. Lazarus, the officer whom we have already men- tioned halted the entire party, and our three brethren, with their hands tied behind their backs, made their confession to Father Pasio. At the same time, the two catechists John, and James, consecrated themselves to God by the three vows of the Society. Meanwhile, when the news of their arrival reached Nangasasky, many of the principal inhabitants, the Portuguese among others, obtained Fazamburo's per- mission to visit the Martyrs, for the pur- 136 LIVES OF THE pose of imparting and obtaining consola- tion on this august ocasion. The Portu- guese, moreover, memorialed the deputy to appoint some other place for the execu- tion ; for, that where criminals were usually put to death was, so to say, infa- mous, and nowise worthy of the grand event w T hich was about to take place. There were also many crosses there with the rotting bodies of malefactors still clinging to them ; and it was for these rea- sons that the Portuguese petitioned Fazamburo to allow our Martyrs to die in some spot more in keeping with their in- nocence. In fact, they pointed out a place for the purpose, where they meant to erect, at some subsequent period, a church, sacred to our Lady of Martyrs ; and, in making this request, they acted according to the instructions of our Fathers, with whom they had preconcerted the whole matter. They also asked that the crosses would be erected close to each other, and that a certain order should be observed in crucifying the condemned, and this, as we shall see, was eventually carried out. MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 137 In fact, Fazamburo granted all that they asked of him, and affirmed that it pained him to have any hand in the death of these innocent men, whose generosity and fortitude he could not help admiring. If anything grieved him more than another it was the fate of his dear friend Paul Michi. Nevertheless, he had an official duty to perform, and he was bound to discharge it. " Bear in mind," concluded the deputy, " that if this duty had been confided to any other of Taicosama's officers, he would have dealt far more rigorously with your martyrs, nay, and with all the Christians of Nangasasky, not excepting the princes of Arima and Omura, over whose territories I exercise jurisdiction and command. In fact, were I so disposed, I might destroy them and utterly exterminate the Christians of their states." While the crosses were being removed to the new site, and the execu- tioners were making every thing ready, the martyrs, who were still in the church of Saint Lazarus, had more leisure to prepare themselves for death. The faith- i2 138 LIVES OF THE f ul availing themselves of the opportunity, came in crowds to visit and embrace them, each one recommending himself to their prayers, and imploring them to keep them in remembrance when they were in the kingdom of God, for assuredly their blessed souls were about to soar from the cross to paradise ! Piety and veneration like this, though justly due to these holy men, was, however, intolerable in their estimation, and on hearing themselves called " Blessed and Martyrs," they in- stantly cried out, " no, no, we are sinners ; regard us as such, and beseech God that our blood may suffice to wash every stain from our souls." Thus did each of thern feel and speak. Three Portuguese cast themselves at PaulMichi's feet, and in that lowly posture strove to embrace his knees. Not knowing their language, he could make no reply, but the blood mounted to his cheeks, and told what was working in his heart ; in short, he dragged himself out of their hands. His reply to some of his own countrymen, who were desirous of honouring him in a similar manner, was MARTYRS OF JAPAX. 139 characterised by severity of look and word. "Why," he asked, " would you afflict me at this critical moment ? Give to God these acts of humiliation which are ill-bestowed on me ; and if you love me beseech Him to pardon me a sinner, for I am such. Implore Him to accept this miserable life of mine, which I willingly offer to Him on the cross as an atonement for my sins; and that it may be acceptable in His sight pray, I beseech you, that my cross and my death may be united to that of our Lord Jesus Christ." Nevertheless this holy man was so animated by the grace of God, that the fire which glowed in his heart was reflected in his features ; in fact, he looked like one in an ecstacy, as he went about hither and thither address- ing his Japanese companions, and the bystanders in their native tongue, and repeating what he had already confided to Father Rodriguez, namely, that their death would increase the number of the faithful and prove highly advantageous to the spread of the faith. He pronounced these words in a tone of such emphatic 140 LIVES OF THE earnestness, that those who heard them concluded that the future must have been revealed to his eyes. As for the good old James, he too, was enraptured at the con- templation of his happy lot, for he told all those who approached him, that Heaven had bestowed upon him w T ithin the com- pass of a few short hours, two graces greater than which he could not desire. " Congratulate me, congratulate me," he repeated over and over, " for I am now a religious of the Society, and I am about to die in the service of God — a witness for the truth." He felt grieved, however, by the importunity of certain Christians who after embracing him, asked him for an old handkerchief that was fastened at his girdle, which they wished to preserve as a memorial. Well knowing that they would have regarded it as a relic, he re- fused to comply with the request; but as his hands were tied behind his back, he could not prevent them from carrying off what they so much desired. The interview which the j^outhful John had with his father, when the latter came MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 141 to give and take the last adieu, impressed all those who witnessed it with wonder and delight. But we should observe that neither on the present occasion, nor when they met again at the foot of the cross was there a single tear shed, or a word of sorrow spoken by any of the parties. And this was as it should be ; for assuredly the youthful Martyr's foot was already on the threshold of heaven ! The parent deported himself with fortitude, and listened attentively to John, who exhorted him to obey the law of God, and secure for himself everlasting salvation by living a good life. As for the old man, he implored his child, then in his ninteenth year, to die joyfully, and with that fixedness of purpose that was required of one who lays down his life in honour of Christ, and as a witness for the faith. " Your mother and I," said the old man, "envy you; and should it at any time please God to select us for the honour you are about to enjoy, we also will gladly give our blood for the same holy cause." John then charged his parent to wait on Father Peter de Morecon, doubtless for 142 LIYES OF THE the purpose of being remembered in the prayers of that good man whom he (John) had long assisted in the office of catechist, and from whose example he derived that firmness and consolation which he dis- played at this awful moment. All the Martyrs now caused the reliquaries and rosaries which they wore round their necks to be taken off, lest they might fall into the hands of the idolators ; ■ but they retained the medals and other devotional objects to which indulgences were attached, Father Francis Pasio then embraced the six Franciscans and all his friends and acquaintances ; and, with the aforesaid treasure in his possession, hurried back to Nangasasky. His chief motive in act- ing thus was not to thank Fazamburo for the brief respite he had given to the Martyrs, but rather to obtain his permis- sion to be present at the crucifixion— a favour which the escort would not grant him. The deputy, however, gave the necessary license. As for the bishop, Peter Martinez, all his earnest entreaties proved ineffectual ; for, Fazamburo told MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 143 him that the presence of a personage such as he was, would exasperate Taicosama to the last degree. The prelate, therefore, as he could render the Martyrs no other service, sent them his benediction. XII. JAPANESE CROSSES. — HOW THE JAPANESE CRUCIFY THEIR CRIMINALS. — INTERESTING INCIDENTS RE- LATING TO THE, TWENTY-SIX CRUCIFIED MARTYRS. —PAUL MICHI ADDRESSES THE SPECTATORS FROM HIS CROSS. A short time afterwards an officer arrived from Nangasasky with a letter signed by Fazamburo, directing that the condemned should be put to death instantly. On receiving this intelligence, our Martyrs, no longer able to suppress their joy, thanked God for the favour he had con- ferred on them, and gave free course to the holy sentiments by which they all were animated. They embraced and encouraged each other with the most affecting tenderness ; so much so, that 144 LIVES OF THE those who witnessed this most solemn scene were one and all moved to tears. The spot destined for the crucifixion was a gentle hill on the road-side near the sea-shore, and within view of Nanga- sasky. The level ground on the summit of this eminence, afforded ample space for the twenty-six crosses, which were to be erected side by side, and within three or four paces of each other ; and Fazamburo, probably apprehending an attempt at rescue, ordered detachments of musket- eers and halberdiers to occupy the greater part of the ground. Within some eight paces of the crosses, the men- at-arms were drawn out in two long lines, and they were all provided with heavy clubs for the purpose of keeping the space clear, so that no one should enter the enclosure except the execu- tioners and Fathers Pasio and Rodri- guez, who had obtained permission to be present. The Japanese crosses, along with the upper transverse beam for the arms, have also a lower one to which the legs are MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 145 fastened; not overlapping each other, or drawn downwards perpendicularly, but stretched wide apart, and right in the centre of the shaft they are furnished with a projecting bracket, on which the condemned is supported (just as on horseback) after the cross has been raised up and set firm in the ground. We need hardly tell our readers that the object Gf this latter contrivance is, to protract the life of the condemned in greater torment and agony. In this most barbar- ous capital punishment, instead of nails they use four rings, or manacles, fastened to the cross, two above for the wrists, and two below for the instep of the foot. The neck is secured by an iron collar; and they sometimes fasten the waist of the criminal to the gibbet either by an iron hoop or a stout cord. The arms are secured in like manner. Our Martyrs 1 feet and wrists were fastened by means of iron rings, while some had their waists secured with iron hoops, and others with pieces of rope. We have already assigned the motives for this most cruel arrange- 146 LIVES OF THE . ment; but it may interest the reader to know that the Japanese leave their crimi- nals on the cross long after they are killed- — till, in a word, decomposition sets in, and they fall, bone by bone, to the ground. Nor are we to suppose that they strip the condemned naked ; on the contrary, every one is crucified in his own clothes, no matter how sumptuous the apparel. The condemned, moreover, are extended on the cross while it is yet lying flat on the ground ; but when it is raised up and secured in its socket, they either leave them to drag out a few days of most intolerable life, or despatch them on the instant. In the latter case, they usually give the unhappy wretch one or two thrusts of a spear; first in the right side, so that the weapon's point may protrude immediately under the left shoulder blade, and the second in the left side, and coming out under the shoul- der blade opposite, so that both weapons may be said to cross each other. The instruments employed in this, horrible work, are long, broad-bladed, and very MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 147 sharp; and, indeed, they seldom fail to reach the heart at the first stroke. As for the executioners, they are exceed- ingly expert in their abominable art, of which they are very proud, deeming it a grand thing to be able to destroy life with a single thrust. When, however, they choose to torture the victim, they are sparing of their science ; and some- times take special pleasure in cutting the arteries of his throat. Surrounded by the guards, our Martyrs were now led up to the place where the crosses awaited them. But who could describe the fervour and joy with which they beheld the symbol of redemption? Some cast themselves down on their knees before it ; some embraced it with pious affection — some with eyes raised to hea- ven, made an offering of themselves to God ; and some, too, begged earnestly that they might be nailed to their crosses. Brother Martin on seeing the one destined for him, chanted in a loud voice the Bene- dictus Dominus Deus Israel; and the little Louis, whose tender heart was so full of 148 LIVES OF THE God, on learning from one of the execu- tioners that the shortest of the entire number was meant for him, ran to stretch himself upon it, exclaiming, Paradise, Paradise ! Fazamburo had given orders that thecondemned should be treated with every indulgence by the executioners, when the latter were placing them on the crosses ; and he further commanded that the executioners should despatch them with all possible speed. It was, no doubt, through some similar sentiment of human- ity that the deputy caused the crosses of the Martyrs to be planed, for those used in ordinary executions were generally shaped out of the trunks of trees, rough and knotty, just as they were when felled. Nevertheless, there were instances of savage ferocity on the part of the execu- tioners, one of which we will mention. Finding that Paul Michi, owing to short- ness of stature, was not seated astride on the bracket, one of those grim function- aries set about securin ghim with a hand- kerchief to the cross, while another, to facilitate the hideous work, planted his MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 149 feet on the holy man's breast, in order to press him downwards. On seeing this, one of the Fathers implored the barbarian not to act so inhumanly, but the Saint rejoicing at this new humiliation turned his eyes on the kind Father, and said: — " Let him alone, he is acting as he ought." All these awful preliminaries being com- pleted by the executioners, who were as numerous as their victims, the crosses were elevated simultaneously, and secured in the holes which had been prepared to receive the lower extremity of the shafts. The faces of our holy Martyrs were all turned towards Nangasasky, where every housetop and window swarmed with spec- tators, anxious to witness the tremendous spectacle. In fact, every spot from the foot to the summit of the hill that com- manded a view of this sublime tragedy was occupied by crowds of people — num- bering over four thousand — Christians and idolators, together with all the Portu- guese and Spanish seamen, who could not be deterred by Fazamburo's proclamation. The infidels were attracted to the scene 150 LIVES OF THE by curiosity, the Christians by devotion. And, indeed, it was a sight worth being witnessed by the entire Japanese nation ; for, such of them as beheld it — enemies of Christ as they were — could not refrain from shedding tears. Nor could it have been otherwise; for, when the crosses were raised into mid air a celestial joy lit up the features of our holy Martyrs, whose serenity and jubilation seemed to be a foretaste of that heaven which was soon to receive them within its portals. There they hung in presence of the vast multi- tude, with eyes raised upwards, as though they were making an offering of them- selves to God, each giving free course to the holy sentiments by which he was animated and sustained. The Commissary, motionless and silent, kept his eyes fixed on heaven. Brother Francis Blanc thanked God for the favour He had con- ferred on him. Brother Martin recited passages of the Psalms; and Brother Gonzales (a laic, from the Canary Islands), repeated, in an audible voice, the Pater Noster and the Ave Maria. Antonio, ?- MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 151 youth, thirteen years of age, sang in plain chant, the Laudate pueri Dominum, which he had learnt in. our school at Nangasasky where, after being baptized by our Fathers, he was educated and pre- sented to us by his parents as a candidate for the office of catechist. Being r how- ever, too young for such' an office, and on that account not received by us, he sub- sequently devoted himself to the service of the Franciscans. Louis on hearing one of the bystanders telling him "to comfort himself in the Lord," gave evident proof that his heart was filled with heavenly joy ; for, he motioned with his hands and feet as well as he could ; and such was the rapture tingling every nerve and muscle of his frame, that he seemed to dance upon his cross. The idolators were astounded at the sight, and yet this lad had been baptized only ten months previously. Among the more remarkable of our Society was John de Goto, who, inflamed with holy charity, exhorted the companion whose cross was next his own, to firmness and constancy; and, indeed, such was the 152 LIVES OF THE radiant joy of his features, that he was the observed of all. When one of our Fathers, who w 7 as standing at the foot of his cross, told him to be mindful of heaven into which he would soon enter, he replied: " Yes, yes, be consoled, for that is the dearest thought of my heart.*' Right before him, animated with holy for- titude, was his own father, who, as we have stated, accompanied him to the place of execution, and wished to be present at his death, encouraging him from a dis- tance, as best he could, by gestures to persevere to the end in the same unflinch- ing Christian heroism. This man truly deserves to be remembered for ever ; for, on ascertaining that his child was dead, and reflecting that he was the father of a martyr, such rapture over-mastered every other feeling, that he forced his way through the guards, ran up to the cross and kissed it, plucked off fragments of his child's clothes, and then hastened with them home to his wife — a woman of rare courage and piety — who derived ineffable delight from such sanctified mementoes of victory. MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 153 But the spirit which animated Paul Michi during that last and grandest scene of his life entitled him to he regarded not only as a Martyr, but also as a truly apos- tolic hero. There, from that pulpit of the cross, — which, irrespective of all other circumstances) was itself a homily — sur- rounded by a vast auditory, he raised his voice to the highest pitch, and when uni- versal silence was obtained, he addressed the spectators thus : " Hear me, I implore you. I am not a stranger; nor have I come from the Philippine Islands. I am one of yourselves; a Japanese, and a member of the Society of Jesus. I have been condemned to this cross, not for any crime, but solely because I have preached the law of our Lord Jesus Christ. And I esteem it a great happiness and honor to die for that law; and I thank the Lord for having thus crowned my labours. Now approach- ing, as I am, the close of my days, and in that condition which, you may be cer- tain, would deter me from deceiving you, I here protest and declare that there is no k 2 154 LIVES OF THE other law, and no other way of attaining salvation, than that which the Christians profess. And, since that law commands us to pardon our enemies, and return good for evil, I pardon Taicosama and all those who have had a hand in my death. Nor should any one suppose that I entertain hatred or resentment to those I have named; for, indeed, my dearest wish and most fervent prayer is that they all, and with them the whole Japanesenation, may become Christians, and thus save their immortal souls." At length the crowning moment came, and the executioners, drawing from the sheaths— in which they usually carry them — their tren- chant broad-bladed spear-heads, got ready to terminate their bloody work. As we have already stated, two of these func- tionaries were employed to perform this last act of inhumanity; and commencing with the first, they transpierced the sides of all our holy Martyrs in succession, despatching some with one or two thrusts, and nearly all with a few more. Fathers Pasio and Rodriguez followed the ex- MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 155 ecutioners to the foot of each cross, and there suggested to the holy victims what they should feel and say at that awful crisis. As for the latter, as soon as they saw the glitter of the weapons, they invoked the holy names of Jesus and Mary in a voice so strong and clear that they were heard even in Nangasasky. The slain died with these holy names on their lips ; and these who were not yet des- patched repeated them incessantly till they gave up the ghost. During this proceed- ing the guards formed in closer array in the vicinity of the crosses; but this did not prevent the Christians from forcing their way through the strong columns, for each and all of them desired nothing so much as to collect a few drops of the blood that streamed so copiously from our Martyrs' wounds. Some, indeed, gathered it in the hollow of their hands ; but very many came provided with white spotless napkins for the same pious purpose. One of these deserves especial mention, for he took off his coat, and holding it up by the folds, did his utmost to 156 LIVES OF THE collect every drop that ran down from Paul Michi's side. An Italian, named John Baptist Bonacina acted in like man- ner ; for, not satisfied with collecting the blood that streamed from Michi's wounds, he also absorbed as much as he could of that of the other religious in a linen cloth, from which he expressed it into a phial that he afterwards carried with him to Macao. The guards, meanwhile, went about striking, indiscriminately, the spectators with their clubs, so much so, that many of the Portuguese and natives, were seriously injured by the blows which they received. But every effort to pre- vent them from carrying out their pious washes was ineffectual, for they set little value on the loss of their own blood, provided they could obtain even a few drops of that of the Martyrs. At last, Fazamburo's anger was so exasperated, that he commanded his men to charge and drive the multitude back to Nan- gasasky. No sooner, however, had he and his troops left the aw T ful scene, than the Christians returned to scrape the MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 157 blood from the crosses — nay, and to gather up the particles of it that had fallen on the ground. They, also, tore off the clothes of the Martyrs, wishing to preserve every fragment as a relic; and such was their immoderate zeal, that they left the bodies half naked. Seeing this, the Procurator of the House of Mercy at Nangasasky, had them decently covered with mats, the most durable mate- rial that he could provide for the occasion. This glorious martyrdom took place on Wednesday the 5th of February, 1597, — a day memorable in Japan, not, indeed, be- cause these were the first to lay down their lives in the service of the faith, but because they were the first who were honoured by an apostolic indult with the title and office of Martyrs. Besides our three religious, Paul, John, and James, we had in training four married men, namely, Tacheia Cosimo, Thomas Danghi,and two Pauls, Ibarachiand Suzuchi ; and that Peter Suchegiro, who joined the Martyrs on their route, and also two youths, Anthony, of Chinese origin, and one Ventura. 158 LIVES OF THE XIII. CONCOURSE AND DEVOTION OF THE CHRISTIANS TO THE MARTYRS. THEY ARE VISITED AND VENE- RATED BY THE BISHOP OF JAPAN, THE KING OF ARIMA, AND THE PRINCE OF OMURA. While the awful event which we have described was taking place in presence of the crowds that came out to witness it, all those who remained within the walls of Nangasasky, natives as well as strangers, mounted to the roofs of the houses, and filled every window that commanded a view of this triumph of the faith on the neighbouring hill-top. The bishop, Peter Martinez, beheld everything that occurred from a window of our college, as he him- self asserts in a report that he drew up at the request of Brother Jerom (di San Leonardo), guardian of the Friars Minors. " With my own eyes," wrote the bishop, " I saw them elevated on their crosses, and I also saw the sheen of the spear-heads with which they were slaughtered. I MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 159 witnessed, too, the vast multitudes of Christians and heathens who hurried off to gaze at this spectacle : and although, by reason of the distance, I could not see the other incidents, I heard, nevertheless, the exclamations of the people when the exe- cutioners had finished their work." Idolator, as Fazamburo was, the heroism of the Martyrs and the piety of the f a th- f ul made deep impression on his heart ; so much so, that he asked our Fathers how it was that when the spear-heads were unsheathed to slay the Martyrs, the latter sang songs of jubilee, and the Christian spectators wept. On being told that the crucified sang joyously because they were to win heaven by laying down their lives for the love of Jesus Christ, and that the Christians wept partly through compassion for those innocent men, and partly through a holy desire of dying a similar death, he was literally astounded by the answer. But he was, at the same time, greatly afraid that Taicosama would learn how much the Martyrs had been honored by the devotion of the faithful 160 LIVES OF THE after he (Taicosama) had condemned them to undergo the greatest ignominy — expo- sure to popular execration, and finally death on the cross. Full of such appre- hensions, Fazamburo published a procla- mation, in which he threatened to destroy Nangasasky if the Christians did not keep within doors ; and warned them, at the same time, that not he, but they, would be responsible for the consequences if they persisted in disobeying his commands. It would appear that he resorted to these harsh measures on account of the vast multitudes of idolators from Miako, Ozaca, and Sacai, who were then in the city for mercantile purposes, and who, on their return would, in all probability, relate what they had seen ; and, indeed, should such intelligence reach Taicosama's ears, the latter would, doubtless, treat Fazamburo himself, as well as the narra- tors, with condign severity. It was difficult, however, to ascertain from the conversation of the idolators who witnessed the spectacle in the vicinity of Nangasasky, whether their shrewd com- MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 161 merits boded good or ill ; for, such was their amazement at witnessing the con- duct of the Martyrs, and the Christians in general, that they could not help re- marking to one another — " What an ex- traordinary religion is this, which makes the merest children play with death as though it were a toy ! What an extra- ordinary people are these, who go re- joicing to encounter death, no matter how terrible or ignominious ! And then, again, the others, instead of trembling at the torments that have been inflicted on their co-religionists, weep and long for the same ; nay, envy them I" Meanwhile a rumour went abroad that the Spaniards had determined on taking down the bodies of the six Franciscan Martyrs from the crosses, with the inten- tion of carrying them off to the Philippine Islands, and the Portuguese our three, in order to take them to Macao ; but as soon as it reached Fazamburo's ears, the barbarian became almost frantic with rage. He therefore instantly ordered that the scene of the crucifixion should be sur- 162 LIVES OF THE rounded by strong palisades, and that two detachments of soldiers should mount guard there day and night, and at peril of their own lives, prevent every one from removing a single body. He also waited on our Fathers and told them, if either Por- tuguese or Spaniards dared to make such an attempt in spite of his and Taicosamas orders to the contrary, he would inflict summary vengeance, not only on the them but also upon the entire Christian popu- lation of the nine districts, over which he exercised command and jurisdiction. It, therefore, became incumbent on the bishop to obviate such a public calamity as this must prove to the Christians, were the Europeans to persevere in carrying out their intentions — a calamity, indeed, that never could be counterbalanced by the devotedness of the good Spaniards and Portuguese. Besides, we were quite certain of obtaining, sooner or later, and without running any risk, not only the relics of the foresaid nine, but those of the whole twenty-six. The bishop, therefore, published sentence of MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 153 excommunication against anyone who would presume to molest the guards or strive to carry away the bodies committed to their custody. This wise proceeding appeased the deputy, and so assured the guardians of our Martyrs, that they relaxed their severity and permitted the Christians to visit and pay due reverence to their sacred remains. The bishop, Peter Martinez, was one of the first to avail himself of this indulgence; for, he was allowed to satisfy his devotion, by visiting the scene of triumph two or three hours after the martyrdom. Having ascended the hill, and approached the crosses, he cast him- self on his knees, to venerate these sacred bodies; and we may regard this as the first act of public worship that was bestowed on the holy Martyrs. Nor was it only from Nangasasky (which, as we have already said, commands a view of the hill) that pious thousands came to do them homage : on the contrary, multitudes flocked thither from remote quarters, some three, some four days' journey, just as pil- 164 LIVES OF THE grims'do in Europe when visiting thebodies of Saints. And the Japanese Christians firmly believed that the bodies of our Martyrs were holy, and, as it were, to prove that they deserved to be so styled, there floating from the staff of a lance was the sentenceof their condemnation, setting forth that they were put to death for the faith ! Thither came John, king of Arima, and Santio, prince of Omura, the former with the flower of his court, and the latter with his wife and eldest sister. They visited them all, one by one, and took pains to collect every incident connected with their passion. They spent a consi- derable time in presence of Paul Michi, whom they both loved dearly, and whom they had often heard preaching. What is more, prince Santio had in his possession a letter written by the holy Martyr a few days before he was crucified, replete with salutary instructions and admonitions to remain faithful to God, during the whole of his mortal career. On receiving it, he placed it reverently on his head (for it is thus the Japanese show profoundest MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 165 reverence), and kissed it frequently, for he now looked upon it as a relic of a Martyr. XIV. wonderful signs in confirmation of theik martyrdom; and, above all, how their blood became the seed of vast numbers of christians. The various miracles whereby God was pleased to show that the death of these holy men was precious in his sight, served to augment the number of those who hastened to venerate their remains,, Indeed, the birds of prey and wild beasts, that abound in that region, neverventured to profane the bodies of our holy Martyrs. Moreover, on the Friday night, imme- diately after the martyrdom, two columns of flame, after resting some time above the crosses, were seen to move and settle over our college and the church of St. Lazarus, where the Franciscans had been 166 LIVES OF THE lodged. The blood of Paul Michi, too, collected, as we have described, by the Italian Bonacina, remained for many months quite fluid in the phial which the latter brought with him to Macao. Pass- ing over other miracles, of which mention has been left on record, in the reports drawn up by private individuals, we can- not refrain from adverting to one which, the Sacred Congregation of Rites has pronounced to bo the chiefest — namely, that the blood of these Martyrs proved to be the seed of innumerable Christians. Taicosama, indeed, imagined that the crucifixion of these twenty-six would overawe the faithful, as well as idol- ators; nay, and that he would be able to sweep Christianity out of his domi- nions. But such was not the case; and the Bonzes themselves could not dis- guise their rage on witnessing results which they never anticipated. Before Paul Michi's sides had been transpierced, a renegade Japanese who was instrumental in bringing about the condemnation and death of one of our Martyrs, hearing the MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 167 Saint pardoning his enemies and pray- ing for them, was so affected by the words that he burst into tears, and, embracing a Portuguese who was his sponsor at baptism, publicly renounced his apostacy and re- embraced the Christian faith. Nay, more, many heathens of Nangasasky who were present at the martyrdom, on their return to the city, asked and received baptism. In all quarters whithersoever the tidings of the blessed death of our Martyrs sped, so great was the enthusiasm of the people, that Father Gomez, the Viceprovincial,, found it obligatory to write a treatise in Japanese, showing when it is necessary to profess the faith openly, and what the Christians should avoid and observe in that regard. In the same little work, he further explained everything relating to martyrdom- — its high merit and the dis- positions it requires. To this he also added certain maxims for the guidance of the Christians, such as when they were bound to surrender or conceal them- selves according to the teaching of the holy Scripture and the Fathers of the 168 LIVES OF THE Church. In the course of that same year, 1597, two thousand one hundred and forty idolators of the nine kingdoms bordering on Scimo, and in the jurisdic- tion of the governor of Nangasasky were converted to the law of Christ; in the following year Taicosama died, and ten of our society arrived from China — among them Father Valegnani and the new bishop, Louis Secheira, successor to Martinez, who died off Malacca, on his voyage to India in the preceding year. The first thought of the bishop and of Valegnani, was to repair the losses which Christianity had sustained. The Society opened thirty new houses. The seminary of Nangasasky for eighty scholars was re- opened ; the demolished churches were re- built, and evangelical labourers were dis- patched to disseminate the faith through the whole country. The seeds thus broad- cast fructified a hundred-fold. In the course of seven months, Father Baeza baptized 32,000 heathens, and 9,000 more were regenerated in Amangucci, Miako, and other districts. Suffice it to MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 169 say, that in two years, 1599 and 1600, the souls won over to the Church in the king- dom of Scimo exceeded seventy thousand, which added to the other converts through- out Japan, raised the number of Christians to three hundred thousand. In fact, had that season of comparative peace lasted a little longer, every inhabitant of Japan would have been baptized. But the most atrocious persecutions of Taicosama and the two Xongun, his successors, blasted all this fair promise, and multiplied martyrs by thousands — nay, and uprooted every germ of Christianity, as Bartoli relates in his History. XV. TRANSLATION OF THE MARTYRS* RELICS TO MANILLA AND MACAO. ACTS OF THEIR CANONIZATION. Let us now return to our Martyrs, whose bodies, after being exposed on the crosses for two months, became rigid, nay, and frozen by the intense cold which prevails in Japan during the winter. But as soon 170 LIVES OF THE as the heat set in, the remains of our holy heroes began to decompose and fall in fragments to the earth. On learning this, Father Gonzales sent some Christians to collect the relics, which he caused to be deposited in various shrines, and placed in our church of Nangasasky. Some time afterwards, these of the Franciscans were translated to Manilla, in the Philippine islands, and these of our three to the church of the college of Macao, in China. Meanwhile, beforeleaving Japan, bishop Martinez drew up juridical informations of the martyrdom ; and in the following year Father Secheira, his successor, re- sumed the same work, and took the depo- sitions of fifty witnesses. Having ob- tained remissorial letters from the Sacred Congregation of Rites, Apostolic Processes were instituted (in 1621-22) in Nanga- sasky, Manilla, Macao, and elsewhere from which three Auditors of the Sacred Ruota compiled the information to be pre- sented to the Sovereign Pontiff. This was examined and discussed by the Sacred Congregation, which, on the 3rd of July, MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 171 - 1G27, decided that there could be no doubt of the martyrdom and miracles of the twenty-six crucified; and that it was lawful, whenever it might seem good to his Holiness, to proceed with the solemn canonization^ of the same. After that, Urban VIIL, entertaining the memorials forwarded to him by the Catholic sove- reigns Philip IV. and Isabella, the cities of Manilla, Macao, etc., granted to the entire Order of St. Francis, and to the Society of Jesus, the faculty of celebrating, in honor of their Martyrs, the Office and the Mass on the day of their death. On occasion of this gracious concession most solemn festivities were everywhere held, and especially in Japan, then har- ried by a most dreadful persecution. Nor was God slow in illustrating the merits of his servants, by means of new favours and miracles wrought through their interces- sion. Indeed, I have now before me authenticated evidences of three sudden cures which were performed in Munich and elsewhere, by the invocation of our three Martyrs. Moreover, these holy men have ever since been honored in the 172 LIVES OF THE Acts of the Congregation of Rites, and in the apostolic indults, with the title of Saints. The day of their passion has been duly recorded in the Roman Martyrology ; and, in fine, their proper lessons and prayers have been approved — their rite being raised to a double of the second class. Nothing further was required, save the extrinsic function of canonization and the publication of the supreme declaration of the Holy See, which the Holiness of our Lord Pope Pius IX. has thought fit to pronounce in this year, 1862. XVI. CATALOGUE OF THE RELIGIOUS OF THE SOCIETT PUT TO DEATH FOR THE FAITH IN JAPAN- BRIEF NOTICE OF THE BISHOPS WHO GOVERNED THAT CHURCH. Never since the first centuries of the Church did Christianity encounter more terrible trials than those which the faith- ful of Japan had to endure during a period of more than one hundred years. Exile, imprisonment, chains, spoliation of their MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 173 goods, nay, death by strokes of clubs, decapitation, and other horrors were the appointed portion of these newly con- verted Christians. Cutting them across with scimitars, crucifixion, and thrusts of spear-heads were, indeed, the ordinary modes of putting them to death ; but these were all speedily abandoned in order to substitute torments more cruel and pro- tracted — such as roasting them alive over a slow fire, plunging them naked in ponds and rivers, and leaving them to be frozen to death; drawing off their skin and flesh, nay, the very muscles and nerves with pincers; and then, when almost reduced to the condition of skeletons, hacking them into fragments with blunted knives; dividing the arteries of the throat with a reed, and this so slowly that the martyrdom in many instances extended over seven days ; filling the stomach with water and then placing the sufferer under heavy weights till the pressure forced water and blood to spirt from his mouth ; slow submersion in the sulphur wells of Mount Ungen for the purpose of boiling them limb by limb ; l2 174 LIVES OF THE suspending them head downwards over dykes reeking with every sort of pollu- tion, that they might thus linger many days breathing poisonous exhalations, all these appalling devices of barbarous ingenuity, we repeat, were heroically endured by men and women of every state, nay, and by tender maidens, little boys, and merest children. The three Orders of St. Francis, St. Dominic, and St. Augustin, may be proud of their sons who braved all these horrors ; but our Society can count eighty of its members who were put to death by one or other of the tortures already specified, to say nothing of those who either died in exile or sank under incredible toils. I will confine myself to giving a list of the latter in these pages, referring the reader for every thing I must leave untold to the copious volumes of Father Bartoli, and to the catalogue which has been published by Father Anthony Francis Cardim.* * Catalogus Regularium et Ssecularium qui in Iaponiae regnis ab Ethnicis in odium christians fidei sub quatuor Tyrannis violenta morte sublati sunt. Romas typis Corbelletti 1646. MARTYRS OF JAPAN, 175 V. F., Venerable Father.— V. B., Venerable Brother. THE SIX PRIESTS PUT TO DEATH BY POISON DURING THE PERSECUTION OF THE KING OF FIRANDO. F. Francis Carrion, a Spaniard of Medina del Campo, put to death August, 1590, at Inchisuchi, aged 36 years. F. George Carvagial, a Portuguese, put to death May 5th, 1592, aged 42 years. V. F. Joseph Fornaletti, of Venice, put to death in Arima, April, 1593, aged 44 years. F. Theodore Manteles, a Fleming, put to death 1593, aged 33 years. We have not been able to ascertain the names of the other two. DURING THE PERSECUTION OF THE EMPEROR TAICOSAMA. S. Paul Michi, a Japanese, crucified, &c, aged 33 years. S. John Soan de Goto, Japanese, aged nineteen. S. James Chisai, Japanese, aged 64. DURING THE PERSECUTION OF THE EMPEROR XONGUNSAMA. V.F. John Baptist Maciado, Portuguese, beheaded in Omura, May 22, 1617, aged 37 years. V. B. Leonard Chimura, Japanese, roasted over a slow tire, November 18, 1619, aged 44. V. B. Ambrose Fernandez, sentenced to the fire, died in prison at Omura, January 6, 1620, aged 69. V. B. Austin Ota, Japanese, beheaded in Firando, August 10, 1622. V. F. Charles Spinola, a Genoese, burnt over a slow fire in ISTangasasky, September 10, 1622, aged 48 vears. V. P. Sebastian Chimura, Japanese, burnt on the same day, aged 57. 176 LIVES OF THE V. B. Antonio Chiuni, Japanese, burnt the same day, aged 50. V. B. Peter Sampo, Japanese, burnt in same manner, and on same day, aged 40. V. B. Gondisalvo Fusai, Japanese, burnt on same day, aged 40. V. B. Michael Xumpo, Japanese, burnt on same day, aged 33. V. B. Thomas Acafoxi, Japanese, burnt same day, aged 50. V. B. Ludovico Cavora, Japanese, burnt same day and in same manner, aged 40. V. B. John Chungocu, Japanese, decapitated same day, aged 40. V. F. Camilo Costanzo, a native of the kingdom of Naples, burnt over a slow fire in Firando, Sept. 15^ 1622, aged 50. V. F. Peter Paul Navarro, Neapolitan, burnt in same manner, in Scimabara, Novemb. 1, 1622, aged 60. V. B. Dionisio Fugiscima, Japanese, burnt same day, aged 31. V. B. Peter Onizuca, Japanese, burnt same day, aged 18, V. F. Jerom de Angelis, Sicilian, burnt, in same manner, December, 4, 1623, aged 56. V. B. Simon Iempo, Japanese, burnt same day, aged 48. V. F. Diego Carvaglio, of Coimbra, in Portugal, put to death in a frozen pond, in Sendai, Feb. 22, 1624, aged 46. V. F. Francis Paceco, Portuguese, Provincial of Japan, and Apostolic Administrator of the bishopric, burnt over a slow fire in Nangasasky, June 20, 1626, aged 61. V. F. John Baptist Zola, of Brescia, burnt same day, aged 51. V. F. Balthassar de Torres, of Grenada, burnt same day, aged 62. MAILTYRS OF JAPAN. 177 V. B. Gaspar Sandamatz'u, Japanese, burnt same day, aged 61. V. B. Vincent Caun, a Corean, burnt same day, aged 46. V. B. Peter Kinsei, Japanese, burnt same day, aged 38. V. F. Michael Carvaglio, of Braga, in Portugal, Wrnt over a slow fire, in Omura, August 25, 1624, aged 47. V. B. Paul Chinsuche, Japanese, burnt same day, aged 54. V. B. John Chinsachu, Japanese, burnt same day, aged 21. V. F. Thomas Tzuchi, Japanese, burnt over a slow fire, in Nangasasky, September 6, 1627, aged 56. V. B. Michael Tozo, Japanese, burnt same day, aged 38. V. B. Michael Nacascima, Japanese, after most cruel tortures put to death in the boiling wells of Mount Ungen, December 25, 1628. IN THE PERSECUTION OF THE EMPEROR TOXONGUNSAMA. V. F. Antonio Iseida, Japanese, who, after being tormented a whole month in the boiling wells, was afterwards burnt alive, in Nangasasky, September 3, 1632, aged 62. V. B. Paul Niscifori, Japanese, burnt alive over a slow fire, in Nangasasky, July 22, 1633. V. B. Nicholas Cheian, Japanese, the first put to death in the dyke at Nangasasky, July 31, 1633, aged 64. V. F. Emanuel Borges, of Evora, in Portugal, put to death in same manner, at Nangasasky, August 16, 1633, aged 50. V. B. Joseph Reomui, Japanese, put to death in same manner, same day. V. B. Ignatius Chindo, Japanese, put to death in same manner, same day. 1 78 LIVES OF THE V. F. John Antonio Giannone, of the kingdom of Naples, put to death in the same manner, Au- gust 28, 1633, aged 44. V. B. John Chidera, Japanese, put to death in same manner, August 29, 1633. V. B. James Tacascima, Japanese, burnt alive over a slow fire, in Seechi, September 30, 1633. Y. B. Thomas Ricori, Japanese, burnt alive same day. V. B. Louis Cafoeu, Japanese, burnt alive same day. V. B. Dionigi Jamamoto, Japanese, burnt alive same day. V. B. John lama, Japanese, put to death in the dyke, September 1633, aged 63. V. F. Benedict Fernandez, Portuguese, put to death in the dyke at Nangasasky, October 2, 1633, aged 54. Y. F. Paul Saito, Japanese, put to death in same manner, on same day, aged 57. y. F. John da Costa, Portuguese, put to death in the dyke, October 8, 1633, aged 58. y. F. Sisto Tocoum, Japanese, put to death in same manner, October 9, 1633, aged 63. y. B. Damian Fucaye, Japanese, put to death in same manner, same day. y. F. Julian JSTacaura, Japanese, a man of most noble family, who came to Borne as ambassador, put .to death in the dyke, October 21, 1633, aged Q6. y. B. Peter, Japanese, put to death same day and in same manner. y. F. Matteo, Japanese, put to death same day and in same manner. y. B. Remigi, Japanese, put to death same day and in same manner. y. B. Laurence, Japanese, in same manner. y. F. John Adami, of Mazara, in Sicily, put to death in the dyke, October 22, 1633, aged 57. y. F.. Antonio de Souza, Portuguese, put to death in same manner, October 26, 1633, aged 50, MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 179 V. F. Sebastian Viera, Portuguese, Viceprovin- cial and Apostolic Administrator of the Bishopric, put to death in the dyke, and burnt in Jendo, June 6, 1634, aged 63. Five venerable brothers, names unknown, put to death in the dyke with Father Viera. V. F. Diego Juchi, Japanese, put to death in same manner in Ozaca, February, 1636, aged 60. V. F. Marcello Francesco Mastrilli, tortured by infusion of water, dragged through the dyke, and finally beheaded in Naugasasky, October 17, 1637. V. F. Peter Casui, Japanese, put to death by a variety of tortures in Jendo, August, 1638, aged 52. V. F. Antonio Pubino, of Turin, Visitator, put to death in the dyke, March 22, 1643. V. F. Alberto Micinsky, a Pole, put to death in the dyke, March 23, 1643. V. F. Diego Morales, a Spaniard, put to death in same manner, March 25, 1643. V. F. Francesco Marches, born in Nangasasky, whose father was a Portuguese, and mother a mem- ber of the royal house of Bungo, put to death in same manner, March 25, 1643. V. F. Antonio Capece, ISTeapolitan, put to death in the dyke, March 25, 1643. The Venerable Fathers Peter Marches, Provin- cial, Francis Casola, Joseph Chiara, Alfonso Orroio, and Father Andrew, a Japanese, were sawed alive in Jendo, 1644-5. I have not .included among these a vast number of Catechists, whom we were training as candidates for the Society, and who were also put to death by various most cruel torments. Now, as to the bishops who governed 180 LIVES OF THE that once-flourishing Church, the first was F. Andrew, of Oviedo, a Spaniard, and patriarch of Ethiopia. Being obliged to live concealed in the mountains, on account of the persecution carried on by the schis- matic Emperor, he was commanded by Pope Pius V. to proceed to Japan, in order to administer the affairs of that Church ;* but just as he was on the point of setting out, he was attacked by a serious malady, and died a holy death in Ethiopia. In his stead, the same Pius V. appointed Father Melchior Carnero, a Portuguese, who had been consecrated in Goa, bishop of Nicea y and coadjutor to the Patriarch of Ethiopia. He set out at once for Macao, in order to sail thence to Japan ; but, outworn by apostolic labours, extending over a period of so many years, devoted to the salvation of souls, he, too, passed out of this life on the 19th of August, 1583. On his demise, Pope Pius V. appointed, as first bishop of Japan, Father Sebastian Morales, Provin- cial of Portugal, who, after being conse- * The Apostolic Letter is dated Rome, Feb. 2, 1566. MARTYRS OF JAPAN. 181 crated in Lisbon (1588), embarked for India. A contagious malady having broken out on board the ship during the voyage, the good Prelate, who spared no pains for the souls and bodies of the infected, caught the distemper, and died a martyr to charity, a short distance off the Cape of Good Hope. The episcopal see of Japan being now a third time vacant, Pope Clement VIII. selected Father Peter Martinez, Provin- cial of India, giving him, as his coadjutor, Father Luigi Secheira, Lecturer of Theo- logy in Coimbra. Martinez having been consecrated in Goa, sailed for Japan, and landed at Nangasasky on the 13th of August, 1596. He waited on the Emperor Taicosama; and subsequently traversed nearly all the principalities of Japan, ad- minstering the sacrament of Confirmation, He witnessed the martyrdom of the twenty-six crucified, and collected juri- dical informations of that grand fact. At length, having resolved on returning to India, in orae to implore the Viceroy to give some assistance to his persecuted M 182 THE LIVES, ETC. flock, he died at sea, off Malacca, in the February of 1598. On the 5th of August of the same year, Luigi Secheira disem- barked on the shores of Japan. He governed that church sixteen years ; and at last died, full of merits, in Nangasasky, on the 16th of February, 1614. After his death, the persecution raging fiercely, the Holy See determined that, during the widowhood of the church of Japan, our Superior then residing there should be, at one and the same time, vicar and apostolic administrator of that bishopric. Thus was Secheira succeeded in that office by Fathers Valentine Carvaglio, Francis Paceco, who was burnt alive, Matthew de Couros, who died outworn by toils, Sebastian Viera and Antonio Rubini, both of whom were put to death in the dyke, and Peter Marches, who, with his brother Francis, died Martyrs for the faith of Jesus Christ. DECREES. 183 DECREE OF THE SACRED CONGREGATION OF RITES FOR THE CANONIZATION OF THE TWENTY-SIX MARTYRS. Causa Canonizationis viginti sex Martyrum in Iapone de mandato regni illius Imperatoris pro Christ i fide interernptorum. post relationem a tribus Rotas Auditoribus tarn Sauctissimo quam SacraB Rituum Congregationi factani, plene matureque per plures sessioues discussa, referente Illustrissimo Car- din ali Muto, ac cognito distinct e, primum de validi- tate Processuum, deinde de Martyrio atque Mira- culis ; eadem Sacra Rituum Congregatio censuit et declaravit, posse, quandocumque Sauctissimo pla- cuerit, ad praef atorurn viginti sex Martyrum solemnem Canonizationem deveniri, et in Sanctorum numerum cooptari, et ut tales in Ecclesia Dei ab omnibus co- lendos et venerandos esse decerni. Die 3 Iulii 1627. Io Baptista Card. Dettjs, /. Thes$alo?iicen, Secret, DECREE OF THE HOLINESS OF OtTR LORD PIUS IX., SANCTIONING THE CANONIZA- TION OF THE THREE MARTYRS OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS. Praater fortissimos illos viginti tres Athletas ex Ordine Minorum Sancti Francisci, qui animam suam perdere propter Evangelium baud metuentes, earn in aeternam vitam custodierunt, alii tres aeque prasstan- tissimi fuere Viri e Societate Iesu, quos una cum aliis Ecclesia Iaponensis veluti Martyrum primitias Christo Martyrum Prin "ipi obtulit. Nomina illis erant Paulus Michi, Ioannes Soan, seu de Goto, utpote ex ilia in- sula oriundus, et lacobus vel Didagus Chisai Iapo- nenses omnes. Primus nobilibus ortus parentibus, subtiliori mentis acumine praeditus, et Sacerdotio 184 DECREES. initiandus, qua scrip tis, qua concionibus propogancke fidei inter cives operam sedulo navabat. Alter lit- terarum studiis incumbens populum ad divinam legem erudire satagebat. Tertius rei domesticae addictus quotidie Christi passionem meditabatur. In illo persecutionis aestu j6 lo Gubernatoris Oza- censis capti fuerunt a lictl tbus in illius civitatis diversorio, licet tyrannus Tt ;osama Patres Societa- tis Iesu in hoc capitali iudicio minime comprehendi declarasset. Hinc Meacum deducti, ibi cum caeteris Confessoribus in vincula publica coniiciuDtur. De- nique unicuique eorum auricula parte excisa, et per summum ludibrium invarias Imperii civitates circum- ducti, Nangasaquium usque perducuntur. Ubiparatis in colle crucibus, quas ipsi antea venerabundi saluta- verunt, affiguntur. Paulus Miclii ex ilia triumphali cathedra ad circumfusam multitudinem pro Christi religione peroravit ; illud palam sibi gratulatus, quod in cruce ut Christus Dominus, eademque, atque llle, aetate supremum expleret diem : donee singuli ab imis lateribus ad humeros binis lanceis transhxi vic- trices animas Ccelo inserendas emisere Nonis Febru- arii anni MDXCVII. Posteaquam de hisce tribus Martyribus, sicut de aliis caeteris a Sedis Apostolicae Delegatis instructae fuissent tabulae processuales, ac tres Rotae Auditores iuxta vetustiorem disciplinam Causae huius accura- tissimam exposuissent relationem, Congregatio Sanc- tae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalium, Sacris Ritibus tuendis praeposita, suam aperuit sententiam asserens Constare de Martyrio et Miraculis, ideoque ad actu- alem illorum Martyrum Canonizationem quando- cumque deveniri posse. Hinc Urbanus VIII. sa. me. qui iam Prsesidi Ordinis Minorum Sancti Fran- cisci de Cardinalium consilio Omcium recitandi Mis- samque celebrandi pro tribus et viginti suis Martyri- bus facultatem fuerat impertitus in Litteris Aposto- licis in forma Brevis XVIII Kalendas Octobris anni MDCXXVII expeditis, annuens etiam precibus DECREES. 185 Propositi Generalis et Presbyterorum Societatis Iesu, eamdem ipsis tribuit facultatem, Romse editis insequenti die nimirum XVII Kalendas eonimden mensis et anni. Verum Dens Omnip^tens, qui congruani tempo - ribus adhibere solet 3dicinam, permisit ut hsec prseclarissinia Causa pe tria fere specula subsisteret, ac uostris hisce temponuda ad exitum perduceretur. Siquidein erumpentibus inodo undique Crucis Christi imruicis, ac fidei depositum penitus evertere conan- tibus, ipsi, qui in eiusdem lidei testimonium san- guinem fundere et crucis subire tormentum non- dubitarunt, starent pro muro Domus Israel et giis- centia errorum monstra comprimerent et propuLsa- rent. Quapropter Sanctissimus D. N. Pius Papa IX. postulationes excipiens Praesidis Minorities Sancti Francisci Familias, quibus eum adprecabatur ut decerneret tuto procedi posse ad Canonization era viginti trium Beatorum Marty rum eiusdem Ordinis, audita sententia pro veritate ft. P. Sanctas Fidei Promotoris nee non expetito consilio Revere ndissi- morum Cardinalium Sacrse Rituum Congregationis in Palatio Apostolico Vaticano tertio JSTonas Sep- tembris anni MDCCCLXI. Decretum tidit Tuto procedi posse ad Canonizationem viginti trium Mar- tyrum Iaponensium ex Ordine Minorum Sancti Francisci. Quum vero Propositus Generalis Socie- tatis Iesu preces Sanctissimo Domino Nostro adhi- buisset ut idem Decretum promulgare dignaretur pro tribus Beatis eiusdem Societatis Martyribus, Sanctitas Sua. iterum expetita sententia pro veritate R. P. Sanctaa Fidei Promotoris, rursus Consilium Reverendissimomm Cardinalium collegit in eodem Palatio Apostolico Vaticano pridie Nonas Martias vertentis anni, in quo per Romanum Cardinalem Nicolaum Clarelli Paracciani Causae Relatorem pro- posito Dubio — An tuto procedi possit ad solemnem eorumdem trium Beatorum Martyrum Canoniza- tionem? Omnes Patres Cardinales affirmativum 186 DECREES. protulere responsum. Attamen Sanctissimus Domi- nus suam noluit declarare sententiam, ut in gravis- sirno iudicio tempus iutercederet, quo fervidius divina exoraretur Sapientia ad impetrandum lumen et auxilium. Tandem hanc statuit diem sacratissimam, in qua Virgo Immaculata Maria ab Angelo tarn venera- biliter salutata Aeterni Patris Unigenitum catissimis meruit excipere visceribus. Divina itaque Hostia in privato Vaticano Sacello piissime oblata, postquam in ecclesia Sanctse Mariae supra Miner vam sacro eir- cumdatus Patrum Cardinafium Senatu Pontificali Missse solemniter adstitit, in proximum euisdem ecclesias Sacrarium ad se accersivit Romanum Cardi- nalem Oonstantiniun Patrizi Episcopum Portuensem et Sanctae Rufinae, ac Sacrorum Rituum Congre- gationi Praefectum, necnon Romanum Card. Mco- laum Clarelli Paracciani Causae Relatorem, una cum R. P. Andrea Maria Frattini Sanctae Fidei Promo- tore, ac me infrascripto Secretario, iisque adstan- tibus pronunciavit ' ' Tuto procedi posse ad horum trium Beatorum Martyrum Iaponensium e Societate Jesu Canonizationem. : ' Huiusmodi autem Decretum in vulgus edi, in Sacrorum Rituum Congregationis acta referri, Litterasque Apostolicas sub Plumbo de solemni Canonizationis ritu in Patriarchali Basilica Vaticana quandocumque celebrando expediri man- davit, VIII Kalendas Aprilis anni MDCCCLXII. C. Episc. Portuensis et S. Rufinae Card. Patrizi S. R. C. Prafectus. Loco ^ Signi Dominicus Bartoloni S.R C. Secretarius. THE END. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 022 168 968 9, LltSKHKY Ul- ^UNUKt :»;:: 111 022 168 968 9f