REPORTS OF JAPAN 



him to kill himselfe: the which thing when the king 

 doeth graunt, the partie taking it for an honour, putteth 

 on his best apparel and launcing his body a crosse from 

 the breast downe all the belly, murthereth himselfe. 

 This kind of death they take to be without infamie, 

 neither doe their children for their fathers crime so 

 punished, loose their goods. But if the king reserve 

 them to be executed by the hangman, then flocketh he 

 together his children, his servants, and friends home 

 to his house, to preserve his life by force. The king 

 committeth the fetching of him out unto his chiefs Judge, 

 who first setteth upon him with bow and arrowes, and 

 afterward with pikes and swords, untill the rebell and 

 all his family be slaine to their perpetuall ignominie 

 and shame. 



The Indie-writers make mention of sundry great cities 

 in this Hand, as Cangoxima a haven towne in the South 

 part thereof, and Meaco distant from thence three 

 hundred leagues northward, the royall seat of the king 

 and most wealthy of all other townes in that Hand. The 

 people thereabout are very noble, and their language the 

 best Japonish. In Meaco are sayd to be ninetie thousande 

 houses inhabited and upward, a famous Universitie, and 

 in it five principall Colleges, besides closes & cloysters 

 of Bonzi, Leguixil, and Hamacata, that is, Priests, Monks 

 and Nunnes. Other five notable Universities there be 

 in Japan, namely, Coia, Negru, Homi, Frenoi, and 

 Bandu. The first foure have in them at the least three 

 thousand & five hundred schollers : in the fift are many 

 mo. For Bandu province is very great and possessed 

 with sixe princes, five whereof are vassals unto the sixt, 

 yet he himselfe subject unto the Japonish king, usually 

 called the great king of Meaco : lesser scholes there be 

 many in divers places of this Ilande. And thus much 

 specially concerning this glorious Hand, among so many 

 barbarous nations and rude regions, have I gathered 

 together in one summe, out of sundry letters written 

 from thence into Europe, by no lesse faithfull reporters 



33i 



A.D. 

 G. I565, 



