“This is correct, Your Highness. Be pleased to put your signature and seal.”
Iyeyasu complied. The envoy receiving it back put it into a bag made of rich brocade. Then bowing courteously, he said gravely though not without a touch of sarcasm:—
“I beg to congratulate Your Highness.”
Then turning to the assembled daimios he bowed to them also saying:—
“I thank you for your attendance.”
Receiving their salutations in return, he once more made an obeisance to Iyeyasu.
“Allow me to take my leave, Your Highness. Farewell, Your Highness and your Excellencies.”
With graceful courtesy he bowed once more and with his subordinate left the audience-chamber. All were constrained to admire his noble bearing and courage.
III.
Hideyori faithfully observed his part of the “Vows of Peace,” and the outer moat which had constituted the greatest element in the “impregnability” of his castle was filled up and levelled with the ground. But Iyeyasu who had never had the least intention of fulfilling his part of the treaty held back the stipulated provinces in spite of all the demands of Hideyori. Hence in the spring of the following year hostilities were resumed, and a great army commanded by Iyeyasu once more invested the Castle of Osaka.