TESTIMONIES OF COREA ad 



1591-92- 

 great castle ; where Quabacondono with all his fleet was 

 minded to stay, till newes were brought of the successe of 

 the aforesaid 4 governours or captaines. Hee appointed 

 also another castle to bee built in Fuchinoxima, which is 

 another island situate betweene Nangoia and Ceuxima. 

 And he built a third castle in Ceuxima, that his passage 

 might be the more commodious. The charge of building 

 these castles he imposed upon the 4 aforesaid governours, 

 and commanded the other lords of Ximo their associates 

 to assist them ; all which so applyed that busines, that in 

 6 moneths space it was wholly finished. The castle of 

 Nangoia was environed with a double wall of square and 

 beautifull stone, with broad and deepe ditches like unto 

 Miaco. The innermost wall being lesse then the other 

 two was 100 fathom square, within the compasse whereof 

 wer so many houses built both for the lordes, and their 

 followers, and also for marchants shoppes, and victualers 

 houses, distinguished with broad and direct streetes, that 

 it seemed a faire towne. But (that which was much 

 more admirable) all the way from Miaco to Nangoia, at 

 the ende of every dayes journey, all the lords and gover- 

 nours, at the commandement of Quabacondono, built each 

 one within his jurisdiction new and stately palaces from 

 the ground, so that for 20 dayes together he lodged every 

 night with all his traine in one of those palaces. And 

 because these things were done at the very same time 

 when the expedition into the kingdome of Coray was 

 in hand, all Japan was so grievously oppressed (Quaba- 

 condono in the meane while being at no charges) as it 

 was most intollerable. Yet is it incredible how ready 

 every one is to do him service : which appeareth by these 

 magnificent stately buildings reared up in so short a space, 

 which in Europe would have required a long time and 

 huge expences. In the meane season it was commonly 

 given out, that this enterprize of Quabacondono would 

 have most unfortunate successe, as being a matter wrought 

 by constraint, and that it would be an occasion of mani- 

 fold dissentions in Japan : for no man there was, but 



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