Из гарвардской "Азиалогии" за 1957 год извлечены первые 10 глав "Истории царства Воксу" в переводе на английский со староитальянского-помеснолатинского работы Вильемо, спасибо ему большое.
"История царства Воксу" - это труд некоего Сципионе Амати, переводчика при миссии Хасекуры. Он присоединился к миссии в середине августа 1615 года по рекомендации Виттории Колонны, герцогини Медины ди Риосеко и оставался с ней, по меньшей мере, до отъезда посольства из Рима в январе 1617. Так что историю Осю - да, "Воксу" это именно оно - он написал по результатам полугодового общения с падре Сотело и с Хасекурой Рокуэмоном.
На русский я это со временем переведу непременно, а пока что потихоньку английский для желающих.
Оглавление и текст первых трех глав - тут

Table of Contents of This History

1. Of the size and fertility of the Kingdom of Voxu.
2. Of the nobility and antiquity of the House and family of the King of Voxu.
3. Of the valor, excellence, and great parts of IDATE Masamune King of Voxu.
4. How the Father Fra Luis SOTELO acquired the friendship of and relations with the King of Voxu at the Court of Iendo [Edo].
5. How the Father SOTELO went to the Kingdom of Voxu, was received by the King, and invited to eat in the Palace.
6. How the Father SOTELO made many sermons to the King concerning the Catechism.
7. How the King of Voxu confessed that the law of God was holy and good.
8. How the King published an Edict that the law of God be preached and that all in his Kingdom be baptized.
9. How the King ordered that a house of adoration of Idols be destroyed.
10. How many people of the Kingdom baptized themselves seeing the destruction of the Idols.


Of the size and fertility of the Kingdom of Voxu
Chapter I

The Kingdom of Voxu, one of the sixty-six of Japan, is not only far beyond any comparison the largest of all, but occupies more than one-fourth of the principal Island, which commonly among them is called Nifon [Nihon], and among us Japan. This Kingdom is situated at the end of the Island, toward the northeast. The beginning of this Kingdom is between thirty-seven and thirty-eight degrees, and extends from West to East to forty-three degrees, having a length of four hundred miles, and of latitude at the widest it falls short of three hundred. On the Southern side, it is entirely land of moderate temperature, as in Old Castile; but the sea to the North is very severe in the winter, so that in many parts, cities and villages, large and small, the earth is covered with snow from the end of November until April without one's being able to see anything that it contains. It is indeed true, however, that it enjoys its four seasons of the year as does all the rest of Japan.

It is a very healthful and placid land, and, for the most part, very fertile and abundant in wheat, barley, rice, and millet. It has almost all of the same fruits as Italy, and some in particular, wholesome and savory, which are not found in Europe. It possesses also an abundance of animals, cattle, deer, boars, and other kinds of the same, and, above all, Horses of good breed, which the said Kingdom exports elsewhere, where they are highly esteemed since they are the best in Japan. There are all kinds of birds, pheasants, hens, quails, doves, turtledoves, geese, which come to pass the winter in the said Kingdom, sturdy falcons, which serve [in the hunt] for all of the Kingdoms of Japan, and other kinds of birds for the common need. Things are worth very little in view of the abundance and superfluity of the workers, of whom it has more than the other Kingdoms. Its coast enjoys very fine fish in great abundance, and of all kinds which are found among us. It has many rivers, and two in particular are very large, in which one usually catches a great quantity of trout and Salmon. There is found also a fish which the Mediterranean is without, called by them Zuzuqui [suzuki](15) and highly valued for being healthful and good-tasting.

This Kingdom contains many gold and silver mines, and the rivers also provide gold, mixed with the earth which the water carries, as large as mustard seeds. It also has copper, lead, and iron mines in great number, and workers work with greatest diligence in them because the King receives great profit from them. It has mountains filled with every kind of wood, common and precious, and from this Kingdom a great quantity is taken to be worked in other Kingdoms. One finds saltpeter for powder,various kinds of oil, many kinds of paper, linen stuffs, many and good wines made commonly with rice; and, above all, there are mines of quartz crystal,very brilliant and strong, with which they are able to make complete pillars.

The Kingdom is divided into many provinces, and all greatly populated by large Cities, Fortresses, Towns, and Villages, in all of which are found farmers and land cultivated to the very mountains; and in every region there live so many people that it seems almost impossible to number them. Usually all the people are ingenious, frank, and sincere with those of a similar nature; however, they are, on the contrary, astute and severe if they discover malice or duplicity of heart in those with whom they deal. They are warlike, strong and valorous in combat, having all kinds of weapons, and in particular those of fire, such as the arquebus, musket, and cannon; and this is the reason that they are little incline,d to study and letters, even though they are a nation docile and inclined to worship and adoration. They are very polite and above all ceremonious.


(15) The suzuki is a kind of sea-bass.

Of the nobility and antiquity of the House and family of the King of Voxu
Chapter II

This Kingdom of Voxu, in the time when Japan was governed absolutely by the Dairi (16) who are the indigenous and most ancient Kings, because it was so large, was never given to a single Viceroy to govern but rather to many, distributed in diverse provinces. The Dairi having lost the government and temporal authority, the Viceroys and chief generals of the army usurped the Kingdoms, and by force of arms made themselves Lords and sovereigns of the Empire. One of these Viceroys, who governed the Kingdom of Voxu, called Findefira [Hidehira], whose family and house descended from the Cungi [kuge], who are Lords of the blood and family of the Daire (17) moreover came the first of all [the Viceroys], the house of whom was called Conoyendono [Konoe-dono], and was to succeed to the Daire in case the latter died without sons.

This Findefira rebelled at that time, which would be about five hundred and sixty years ago, as had the others, and not contenting himself with dominating only the provinces which he had in his domain, made war, and destroying and vanquishing all of the other Viceroys, made himself in short time Lord of all of the Kingdom of Voxu, as absolute Sovereign, without recognizing any superior. After twenty-two years had passed during which Findefira enjoyed his Domain peacefully, the principal author of the rebellion was killed by the army of Yoritomo; and then he went in person to render obedience to the Daire, to whom it seemed impossible to hold the other Viceroys subject and obedient, who had already usurped the Lordship as natural Kings, not having the army nor the force to hold them in rein and subject them. Wherefore he gave the investiture and title of Emperor (18) to Yoritomo with the condition that he destroy those tyrants, contenting himself with being recognized only as natural Lord and respected as supreme Prince and chief of the spiritual state.

Yoritomo, the new Emperor, had one younger brother called Vxiuacandono [Ushiwaka-dono] adopted as son by Findefira, King of Voxu, before he had heirs; and for this reason he [Findefira] rejoiced over his good success, sent Ambassadors to him so that they would express to him the pleasure which he felt and offer him his friendship. Afterwards he had sons, and he reached an advanced age, in which, seeing himself already lacking the power and the spirit, left warm recommendation to his legitimate and natural sons that they maintain good relations with Vxiuacandono and that they treat him as a blood brother, with which he terminated his life. The two legitimate brothers in the beginning gave many gifts to the adopted son but then killed him, having besieged him in a City where there was a large army.

Yoritomo the Emperor, having heard of the death that had befallen his brother, hid the fact, and allowing time to pass without a vendetta, finally, when they were least thinking of it, assaulting them unawares through treachery, feigning good intentions, killed them. In a short time Yoritomo the Emperor died, and the chief of the Cungi Conoyendono, learning of it in Meaco [Kyoto], since his brothers were dead, in order that his lineage not lose the protection of that powerful Kingdom of Voxu, implored the Daire, that the ecclesiastical revenues which he possessed in the Kingdom, and the vassals which he possessed be given to another of his brothers, second of his same family and house, called Iamacangue Ciuscio [Yamakage Chusho], who immediately left for the said Kingdom of Voxu; and taking possession of those vassals, lands, and revenues, he wrote and made himself very much liked by the Governors and Generals, for whom his uncle had done many favors and had given dignity; and after he saw himself well received and held in their affection, he brought an army, and recovered little by little the greater part of the Kingdom; and after the death of this his son, he completely occupied it and controlled it peacefully; and from that time to now the Lords of this House have possessed it, with this difference, that it will now be three hundred years since one of them divided the Kingdom and lost a great part of it; and his son, disdainful of the pusillanimity of his Father, succeeded in recovering it, and ashamed of being the son of such a father, changed the surname of his House and the ancient shield of his arms, and took a new surname drawn from his prowess and great enterprises. And thus he took IDATE, which signifies nobility and gallantry; and he took another, completely different coat of arms.

In all of the vicissitudes and wars of Japan, these Lords have always maintained themselves in the Kingdom and in the House, being greatly respected and feared; and not only for being a very ancient and noble family, but also for being they themselves valorous and powerful. And it was with difficulty that there was found in all of of whom were not written histories and narrated memorable things worthy of being recounted; but in order not to digress from my subject, we shall treat of the King who governs today.

(16) The true Emperor is here intended.
(17) AMATI alternates these two spellings; henceforth I shall not indicate the dis-
crepancy by using sic.
(18 ) Here the title of shogun is clearly meant.


Of the valor, excellence, and great parts of IDATE Massamune [sic], King of Voxu
Chapter III

The King IDATE Masamune is, at forty-eight or forty-nine years of age, one of the most magnanimous of his blood, or rather, even more, in all of Japan, as much in the genius and great valor of his arms, virtue, and arts which are learned and practiced in Japan as in worth and gallantry. In the wars which he has fought he has never been defeated nor taken captive, but has always been victor. He is always the first in the assaults and the encounters, changing his dress, and fighting as a simple soldier; and the heads of the distinguished warriors which he kills he gives to some of his soldiers so that they bring them to him and ask a prize for them, the which has caused great animation and valor among the soldiers.

He is known in Japan as the most valorous soldier that there be in war and government; he is most liberal, undertakes and completes great enterprises in building royal edifices, living in great pomp and majesty; he has a larger court and household than the Emperor and many more expenses than his Majesty. When he goes to Meaco there is greater festivity and gladness than if the Emperor himself goes. All of the merchants and those employed in shops rejoice, since, in the two or three months which the King of Voxu remains at Court, they have opportunity of earning more in that time than in all of the rest of the year, because of the multitude of people that he brings with him, and the many other Lords and Kings who go to visit him and to fete him, and because of the great expenses and extraordinary lavishness which he makes in banqueting them and favoring them.

He has eighty thousand men in his army, paid and enlisted, and other necessary people, and these are always ready for that which presents itself; and even without these he is able to place in the field another one hundred thousand in case of greater necessity; because in that Kingdom even the peasants employ arms and horses, keeping [the former] polished for the necessary occasion. And without this Kingdom which he possesses, the Emperor, in order to keep him, the King of Voxu, grateful, and in his favor, has given him lands, revenues, and vassals in other Kingdoms of the Empire, and already he possesses them, who passes from his own Kingdom, whichi is at the extremity of Japan, to Meaco, where lives the Daire, and this so that the King in perpetuity should have people who should serve him, and could spend money, without waiting for that which comes from his own Kingdom.

This Emperor, who reigns today, would not have been, nor would have had the empire, if IDATE Masamune had not helped him and defended him from the rear, confronting two very powerful Kings, Canguacatzu, [Kagekatsu] (19) King of Zinano [Shinano] (20) and Catzu Yasataquendono [SATAKE Katsuya] King of Sataque [Satake], and other Princes confederated with these, who were twenty, destroyed and dispersed by the same King in three battles which he fought, and he took cities and fortresses, restricting them so that they could not give aid to the other enemies of the Emperor behind the army, when he came out to search for and defeat almost all of the Kings of the West who came against him. (21) Of which favor and grace the Emperor remaining deeply grateful, gave him not only more respect and reverence than the others, but even special love and friendship, communicating with him on his affairs, and leaving him in charge of his Kingdoms, states, and of his sons, when he passes to Meaco from Zorunga [Suruga].

Knowing very well that after his death this King, who with greater strength and army could aspire and does aspire to enter into possession of the Empire, is this said IDATE Masamune, King of Voxu, he [Ieyasu] did with him that which the previous Emperor Taicosama had done with him, namely made him the son-in-law of his son so that his House and his family be maintained and grow; in such a way that this present Emperor, called by the name of MINAMOTO no Ycas [MINAMOTO no Ieyasu] married one of his sons and one of his daughters with a son and daughter of the King of Voxu, assuring, by this matrimony, his affairs against those which could happen after his death.

Since the Father Fra Luis SOTELO heard tell of these great things of this great Lord and powerful King, and saw some of them in person, and his palaces which are the largest and richest that there are in all Meaco or Fuximi, he desired greatly to know and have relations with his Majesty, and even though he had the friendship of the Emperor and of other Kings and Lords, and under the protection of these had built some Monasteries and Churches, it seemed to him that so long as he did not have relations with such a Prince, Christianity would not increase to such an extent as he desired; even though he sought it for the space of seven years, nonetheless, the extremes of the grandeur and richness of the King and the poverty and lowliness of the Father were so different and far removed from each other that he could not obtain it; however, he always recommended and asked of our Lord that through His Mercy He be content to facilitate the friendship with this means and form.

(19) UESUGI Kagekatsu (1555-1622).
(20) This must be an error for Aizu.