From thence we went to an other pagod, where the eldest
sonne of Ogosho Samma (a valient man) lyeth bured in a stately monument. This pagod is the seate of the greate or high bushopp of Japon, next after the deyre. His people used us very kyndly, and opened the dores of the monument, and let us enter in, and opened the secret place where the idoll of the dececed was placed, whereat all the Japons fell prostrate and adored it. And from thence they led us into the bushops chappell or oratory, all sett out with idolls and lamps, nether more nor lesse then in the papist churches, before which idolls the Japons did likewais fall downe and worship. This pagod (or monestery) was erected to the honor of Amida, a greate saint of China, equaled with Shacca. And I gave an ichebo to them which shewed us these matters, and so retorned hom.
October 25.—Fongo Dono, the ould admerall, sent me a present of frute with a letter from his manor howse, 17 leagues hence.
Capt. Adames was all day at Cort to get our dispach; but had nothing from the Councell but a nod and smiling countenance.
October 26.—Mr. Nealson did but ask Capt. Adames for 10 shire maps without frames, which per his acco. he hath resting in his handes; but he fell into such a chafe about that matter, telling them which were about hym, in the Japon tong, that this was not the first tyme we had charged hym with falce accomptes and after reconynges. Truly I was ashamed to heare hym in such a humor; yet, after, yt seemed he recanted, for he came to me and asked me yf I know of any such matter. And I answerd hym, it apered by Mr. Eatons accompt that he had them, wherof I know yow (sic) have a coppie under his owne hand. So he went away, and said nothing to the contrary.
Matabio Oye Dono, our host of Oisa,[53] sent me a letter with a present of 2 greate fyshes, to know whether I were
in health or no, for that I was sick in his howse, and not heard any news whether I were recoverd or noe. He sent this man 16 leagues with this present only to see how I did. So I gave his man an ichebo of gould to pay for his horshier and wrot a letter to his master.
We went this day to vizet a greate temple of Yemia Fachman, the god of war, with an other god, as they take it, joyned with hym, which every 18th day of eache moone the people goe on pilgremage to offer to the shrines; and this was the 18th day, which made me the more willing to goe to see it being accomplished, with Capt. Adames, Mr. Nealson, and others. And I doe verely thinke there were above 100,000 people, men, women, and children, which went this day upon devotion to that place, and in many places in the way were comodies (or plaies) to be seene, and other showes; and before the temple the sorserars or witches stood dansing, with knottes or bunches of hawcks belles made fast to sticks, which they held in their hands, mumbling over sertayne prayers. But that which I tooke most note of was of the liberaletie and devotion of these heathen people, whoe thronged into the pagod in multetudes, one after an other, to cast money into a littell chapell before the idalles, most parte, or rather all which I could see, being gins or bras money, whereof 100 of them may vallie som 10d. str., and are about the bignes of a 3d. English money; which coyne (or brasse money) they cast in by handfulles, and then came out of the temple, delivered a writing to one that sat within the dore, who piled them one on the top of the other. And so the pilgrams turned on the left hand of the entry of the pagod, and in a gallery went 3 tymes about it, and soe departed away. There was many 100 of gentellmen which went on horsback to doe these devotions in the forme as afforsaid.
And soe, as we retorned, we went into a vento[54] or tavarne,
where we dyned of presentes and bankets which were brought us; and gave to the howse 500 gins, and the servantes 100 ditto.