REPORTS OF JAPAN ad. 



c. 1565. 

 drinke they make of Rice, utterly they doe abhorre dice, 

 and all games, accounting nothing more vile in a man, 

 then to give himselfe unto those things that make us 

 greedy and desirous to get other mens goods. If at 

 any time they do sweare, fot that seldome they are wont 

 to doe, they sweare by the Sunne : many of them are 

 taught good letters, wherfore they may so much the 

 sooner be brought unto Christianitie. Each one is con- 

 tented with one wife : they be all desirous to learne, & 

 naturally inclined unto honesty & courtesie : godly talke 

 they listen unto willingly, especially when they under- 

 stand it throughly. Their government consisteth of 3 

 estates. The first place is due unto the high Priest, by 

 whose lawes & decrees all publike and private matters [II. ii. 81.] 

 appertayning to religion are decided. The sects of their 

 clergie men, whom they doe call Bonzi, be of no 

 estimation or authoritie except the high Priest by letters 

 patent doe confirme the same : he confirmeth and alloweth 

 of their Tundi, who be as it were Bishops, although in 

 many places they are nominated by sundry Princes. 

 These Tundi are greatly honoured of all sorts : they 

 doe give benefices unto inferiour ministers, and do grant 

 licences for many things as to eate flesh upon those dayes 

 they goe in pilgrimage to their Idoles with such like 

 privileges. Finally, this high Priest wont to be chosen in 

 China for his wisedome and learning, made in Japan 

 for his gentry and birth, hath so large a Dominion and 

 revenues so great, that eftsones he beardeth the petie 

 Kings and Princes there. 



Their second principal Magistrate, in their language 

 Vo, is the chiefs Herehaught, made by succession and 

 birth, honoured as a God. This gentleman never toucheth 

 the ground with his foote without forfaiting of his office, 

 he never goeth abroad out of his house, nor is at all 

 times to be seene. At home he is either carried about 

 in a litter, or els he goeth in woodden Choppines a foote 

 high from the ground : commonly he sitteth in his chaire 

 with a sword in one side, and a bow and arrowes in the 



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