To the Informer on a Brother: 200 Pieces of Silver
To the Informer on a Retrovert: ditto
To the Informer on a Catechist or lay
Christian: 100 Pieces of Silver
Even though the informer himself is a catechist or a lay Christian, he shall be given 300 pieces of silver according to the status of the accused. Should anybody shelter such persons and be found out by information from others, severe punishment shall be inflicted upon him and his family and relatives, and even upon the Head of the place and the surrounding families. The above is our announcement.
10th December.
Juan was sent to gaol. From both the Lords came the Managers Takahashi Naoemon and Hattori Kin’emon, and in the presence of the Police Officers from both the Lords, delivered to Juan the following statement:
Juan, who is always perverse, offered the other day an affront to Kayo Genzaemon, and proved himself to be a most insolent person. As a punishment for this, he is to be imprisoned. He is commanded to accept the above punishment.
Juan replied that it was his own desire and that he would accept it willingly. When led to the gaol, he produced his purse and committed it to the officers. It was taken to the Guardhouse and he entered into prison immediately. The same purse was examined in the presence of the Managers and the Police Officers from the Lords and in it was found seventeen ryo and one bu in small coins.
The rest of Juan’s belongings were examined and recorded in the book. The Police Officers sealed it and put it into Juan’s tenement.
Among Juan’s belongings were a chain, two disciplines, two rosaries and an astronomical chart.
The Ninth Year of Enpō, Gold-Junior-Cock
25th July.
Okada San’emon died of illness at 2-3 past the hour of the Monkey. Called on the Lord to report this with Ukai Gengoemon and Naruse Jirōzaemon. The Managers Takahara Sekinojō, Emagari Jūrōemon were immediately sent here from the Lord’s. Had the corpse of San’emon constantly watched by three policemen.
The money San’emon had was thirteen ryo and three bu in small coins and five ryo in gold coins, which total twenty-eight ryo and three bu. His belongings were sealed by the attendants and the Lord’s Managers, and were put into the Godown on 28th.
26th.
The following six came to the Mountain Villa as examiners: Inspectors Omura Yoemon, Murayama Kakudayū, Assistant Inspectors Shimoyama Sōhachirō, Nomura Rihē, Uchida Kanjūrō, Furukawa Kyūzaemon. In the presence of the Lord’s Managers, handed over to the Inspectors the statement as follows:
Copy of the Statement
Okada San’emon, who had been in the Christian Residence, died at a little later than half past four in the afternoon of 25th. Born in Portugal, Europe, he was first placed under charge of Inoue Chikugonokami in the Year of the Ram thirty odd years ago, and then came into residence here in the Enclosed Building where he lived for thirty years until this Year of the Cock. He fell ill at the beginning of the month and lost much of his appetite, getting worse and worse in spite of medical treatment by Ishio Doteki, the Prison Doctor, and finally passed away. The same San’emon was sixty-four of age. Except this there is nothing unusual here.
26th July.
The group of Hayashi Shinanonokami
Okuda Jirōemon
Ukai Gengoemon
Kawara Jingobē
Kawase Sōbē
Kayō Den’emon
After examination, the corpse of San’emon was buried in Muryōin Temple at Koishikawa. From Muryōin came a priest called Genshuhe. San’emon’s corpse was sent there on a vehicle, and was cremated. The posthumous Buddhist name of San’emon is Myūsen Jōshin Shinshi. Paid one ryo and two bu for the funeral service and one hundred hiki as cremation charge. These expenses of the funeral were paid out of the money San’emon had left.
{1} See C. R. Boxer, The Christian Century in Japan, University of California Press, 1951, p. 148.
{2} Boxer, p. 153.
{3} Ibid. p. 318.
{4} Ibid. p. 321.
{5} Ibid. p. 337.
{6} Ibid. p. 349.
{7} Ibid. p. 342-3.
{8} Ibid. p. 354.
{9} Ibid. p. 354.
{10} Ibid. p. 393.
{11} Translation by F. Mathy; see: Shusaku Endo: Japanese Catholic Novelist, Thought, Winter 1967.
{12} Translation by F. Mathy, Ibid. xvi
{13} Translation by F. Mathy, Ibid.
{14} Ashai Journal, 1966, 5,8.
Shusaku Endo, Silence
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