Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/131

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was most intollerable. Yet is it incredible how ready euery one is to do him seruice: which appeareth by these magnificient stately buildings reared vp in so short a space, which in Europe would haue required a long time and huge expences. In the meane season it was commonly giuen out, that this enterprize of Quabacondono would haue most vnfortunate successe, as being a matter wrought by constraint, and that it would be an occasion of manifold dissentions in Iapan: for no man there was, but misliked of this warre: yea, all the libertie; howbeit there is none as yet found, which dare put his hand to that businesse. Wherefore they were all (though to their great griefe and lamentation) violently constrained to prosecute their enterprize. But Quabacondono being voyde of all anxiety, to the ende hee might encourage his followers, boasted that hee would make great alterations of kingdomes, and would bestow vpon them kingdoms of Coray and China; and vnto the lord Protasius hee hath promised 3 kingdomes: but he with all the other lords giuing him great thankes, had much rather retaine a smal portion of their estate in Iapan, then to hunt after all those kingdomes which he promiseth.

And whereas Quabacondo had by proclamation published, that he would personally be present at Nangoia the 3 moone of this yeere; troups and armies of men began to resort from all the quarters of Iapan to these parts. Now were our afflictions renewed. For so long as Quabacondono remained at Miaca, we might stay in these parts of Ximo without any danger: but after he began to come this way, it seemed impossible for our state to continue whole and sound, and we were put into no small perplexitie. For the Christian lordes aduised vs, that sithence Quabacondono was come so neere, all our companie that liued in the Colledge, in the house of Probation, and in the Seminary, should depart to some other place. And the Christians from Miaco writ dayly vnto vs, that wee shoulde pull downe our houses and Churches at Omura, Arima and Cansaco and that the fathers of Europe should return vnto Nangasaque in the secular habite of Portugals, but that the Iaponian Fryers should retire themselues vnto seueral houses of Christians, that so they might al remaine safe and out of danger. But this remedy, as it was too grieuous and subiect to many difficulties, so did it afford vs but small comfort. In brief the Father visitor talking of this matter with Eucunocamindono, the lord Protasius