REPORTS OF JAPAN ad. 



.565. 

 prayers. In the evening the Superintendent giveth each 

 one a theame for meditation. After midnight before the 

 altar in their Temple they do say Mattens as it were out 

 of Xaca his last booke, one quier one verse, the other 

 quier an other. Early in the morning each one giveth 

 himselfe to meditation one houre : they shave their heads 

 and beards. Their cloysters be very large, and within the 

 precinct therof, Chappels of the Fotoquiens, for by that 

 name some of the Japanish Saints are called : their holy- 

 daies yeerely be very many. Most of these Bonzii be 

 gentlemen, for that the Japanish nobility charged with [II. ii. 84.] 

 many children, use to make most of them Bonzii, not 

 being able to leave for each one a patrimony good enough. 

 The Bonzii most covetously bent, know all the wayes 

 how to come by money. They sell unto the people 

 many scrolles of paper, by the helpe whereof the common 

 people thinketh it selfe warranted from all power of the 

 devils. They borrow likewise money to be repayed with 

 great usury in an other worlde, giving by obligation unto 

 the lender an assurance thereof, the which departing out 

 of this life he may carry with him to hell. 



There is another great company of such as are called Inambuxu. 

 Inambuxu, with curled and staring haire. They make 

 profession to finde out againe things either lost or stolen, 

 after this sort. They set before them a child whom the 

 devill invadeth, called up thither by charmes : of that 

 child then doe they aske that which they are desirous 

 to know. 



These mens prayers both good and bad are thought 

 greatly to prevaile, insomuch that both their blessings 

 and their curses they sell unto the people. The novices 

 of this order, before they be admitted, goe together two 

 or three thousand in a company, up a certaine high 

 mountaine to doe pennance there, threescore dayes 

 voluntarily punishing themselves. In this time the 

 devill sheweth himselfe unto them in sundry shapes : 

 and they like young graduats, admitted as it were 

 fellowes into some certaine companie, are set foorth with 

 vi 337 y 



