REPORTS OF JAPAN a.d. 



1565. 

 boyes of sixe or seven yeeres of age, as though they 

 were olde men. They are given very much to inter- 

 taine strangers, of whom most curiously they love to 

 aske even in trifles what forraine nations doe, and their 

 fashions. Such arguments and reasons as be manifest, 

 and are made plaine with examples, doe greatly persuade 

 them. They detest all kinde of theft, whosoever is taken 

 in that fault may be slaine freely of any bodie. No 

 publike prisons, no common gayles, no ordinary Justicers : 

 privately each housholder hath the hearing of matters 

 at home in his owne house, and the punishing of greater 

 crimes that deserve death without delay. Thus usually 

 the people is kept in awe and feare. 



About foure hundred yeeres past (as in their olde 

 recordes we finde) all Japan was subject unto one Em- 

 perour whose royall seat was Meaco, in the Japonish 

 language called Cubucama. But the nobilitie rebelling 

 against him, by litle and litle have taken away the greatest 

 part of his dominion, howbeit his title continually re- 

 mayneth, and the residue in some respect doe make 

 great account of him still, acknowledging him for their 

 superior. Thus the Empyre of Japan, in times past but 

 one alone, is now divided into sixtie sixe kingdomes, the 

 onely cause of civill warres continually in that Hand, to 

 no small hinderance of the Gospell, whilest the kings that 

 dwell neare together invade one another, each one covet- 

 ing to make his kingdome greater. Furthermore in 

 the citie Meaco is the pallace of the high Priest, whom 

 that nation honoureth as a God, he hath in his house 

 366 Idoles, one whereof by course is every night set by 

 his side for a watchman. He is thought of the common 

 people so holy, that it may not be lawfull for him to goe 

 upon the earth : if happily he doe set one foote to the 

 ground, he looseth his office. He is not served very But his almes 

 sumptuously he is maintained by almes. The heads and are ver ^ & ood * 

 beards of his ministers are shaven, they have name 

 Cangues, and their authoritie is great throughout all 

 Japan. The Cubucama useth them for Embassadors to 



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