Seas of Fortune(112)
“3. However, we know from the example of the Dutch that it is possible to be Christian without acting outrageously.”
Sadamitsu didn’t like where this was going.
“4. Hence, the Japanese-born followers of the padres will be allowed to worship according to their conscience, and Japanese-born padres and brothers will be permitted to teach the Christian faith, but only in duly constituted Christian settlements in New Nippon, a land across the sea.”
Exile! What was the shogun thinking? It was true that exile, whether from Edo, or one’s home province, or to some desolate island, was a time-honored punishment in Japan, but if the kirishitan were sent into exile, wouldn’t they just sneak back?
And where was this New Nippon? North of Korea, perhaps? Across the Sea of Okhotsk? Well, at least they would freeze their butts off.
The prisoners were praising their Lord, now. How irritating.
“Keep reading,” said the messenger. Was he smirking? It wasn’t as though his job was at risk!
“5. In order to be permitted to go to New Nippon, they must take oath, on pain of eternal punishment by the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, as well as by Saint Mary and all Angels and Saints, as follows:
“a) they will not return to the homeland without permission of the shogun, or assist any Southern Barbarian in going to the homeland without permission of the shogun.
“b) they will defend New Nippon against the Christian powers, obey the daimyos duly appointed by the shogun to govern them, and support their daimyos as is customary, save as they may be excused during the first years of settlement.
“c) they will not oppress the worshipers of the buddhas and kamis, or the followers of Confucius, in that land, or prevent any Christian from renouncing that faith and returning to any of the traditional religions of Nippon.
“d) they will repay the cost of their transportation to New Nippon as soon as is reasonable.
“e) they will provide the inquisitors with any information they have as to the whereabouts of Christians still in hiding.”
Sadamitsu turned to the messenger. “How are we going to enforce this oath?”
He shrugged. “They will be shipped in batches. Those still in Japan will be punished if the first to be sent are disobedient. And they will need supplies shipped to them if they are to survive, let alone prosper. Gunpowder, if nothing else.”
“Still—”
“Please, finish reading the edict.”
Sadamitsu took a deep breath. “6. Those who timely accept exile, and cooperate with the authorities, will be permitted to take all of their possessions to New Nippon. Those who do not, will forfeit, depending on the circumstances, some or all of their possessions before being sent into exile, and will be required to work as servants, for an appropriate period of years, for those who behaved properly.”
Oh, I like that, Sadamitsu thought. Create a schism in the Christian community between those who surrendered quickly and those who tried to stay in hiding, with the ones we prefer on top.
“7. Any informer revealing the whereabouts of followers of padres that have not timely surrendered themselves must be rewarded accordingly. If anyone reveals the whereabouts of a high ranking padre, he must be given one hundred pieces of silver. For those of lower ranks, depending on the deed, the reward must be set accordingly.”
Sadamitsu thought about this for a moment. Perhaps he would go into the padre-hunting business, now that he couldn’t execute them.
“8. Any apprehended padres who are Southern Barbarians shall stand surety with their lives for the good behavior of the followers permitted to go to New Nippon. If all goes well, then in twelve years they will be permitted to pay for their transport to a Southern Barbarian land. Any who afterward return will be executed in the most painful way imaginable.”
Good, good. Sadamitsu prided himself on his imagination.
“9. Any Japanese-born followers of the padres who fail to take the oath, or to apostasize, within three years of this edict, are to be executed.
“10. Books teaching the Christian faith may be taken or sent to New Nippon, but only if they are in the Japanese language, are offered for inspection by the inquisitors, and are found to not contain teachings contrary to the required oath.”
The edict closed with the formulaic, “You are hereby required to act in accordance with the provisions set above. It is so ordered.”
Sadamitsu looked at the Christian captives. “So, do you wish to take the oath?” They nodded their heads.
“Don’t be hasty,” he admonished. “New Nippon is probably thousands of ri away, too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer, filled with savage monsters eager to dine on kirishitan flesh.”