Japan and the Japanese

116 JAPAN. A. D. 15021593.
missionaries, thus separated from their protectors, were filled with
new alarms by an order of the emperor for disarming all their
converts in Xiino. The king of Bongo, as a punishment for his
cowardice, was stripped of his estates ; and in the end he and hia
family, reduced to absolute poverty, were obliged to retire to Naga-
saki, and to live there on the charity of the Jesuits. His territo-
ries were assigned to pagan lords, and the converted inhabitants
soon felt the consequences of the change. Indeed, throughout Ximo
the converts suffered greatly by the absence of their princes, of whom
several died about this time. But, in general,
the Catholics stood
firm ; and several of the Jesuit fathers having made their way to
Corea, new converts were made in the ranks of the army.
The missionaries also found a new friend in Terazaba, a young
man appointed governor of Nagasaki, and who, not long after,
was secretly baptized. He represented to the emperor that, if
the Portuguese merchants were still to be admitted to trade at
since it was the
Nagasaki, they ought to be allowed some priests,
influence and authority of the priests that kept the merchants in
order, settled their quarrels, and obliged them to strict justice in
their commercial transactions ; and, upon the strength of these plau-
sible representations, Terazaba obtained leave for the Jesuits to
rebuild their house and church at Nagasaki. Father Gnecchi, also,
in consideration of his age and infirmities, was allowed to remain
at Miako, though without any church, or permission to celebrate
divine service openly.