This year in Japon a great number of supernatural occurrences have been noted, particularly in the city of Yendo, [70] which is the court of the emperor.  First, in the river at Yendo they saw some very beautiful ships sailing against the current, a thing never seen there before, for the river is small, and navigable only by very small boats.  Second, in the patio [i.e., courtyard] of the palace, one day there was seen an animal larger than an ox and smaller than an elephant, whose species none could tell, as they had never seen such an animal before.  They tried to kill it with arquebuses and arrows, but it disappeared.  Third, in a hall of the same palace a large greyhound was found howling pitifully.  This the Japanese took for a bad sign.  They asked who had brought such a dog there, but no one could find out, because the guards had been at the door all the time.  They tried to catch the animal and put it out, but it became invisible to them.  Fourth, in the quarter [vario, for barrio] of the Daimones, [71] who are the nobles who serve at the court, there was heard a great clatter of arms, just as if a very bloody civil war were going on.  They called to arms in the city, and every one responded.  They went to the vario, but found everything perfectly quiet.  Fifth, on the top of a hill near by the city they discovered some flags in the trees.  They went to see what they were, but found nothing.  Finally, when the emperor was about to go to Meaco, a comet like a handled catana [i.e., sword], with a very beautiful cross in its head, appeared above his fortress of Yendo.  This caused him so much fear and consternation that he gave up his journey entirely.  Many of these things will not be readily believed.  Some of them I did not see, but credible persons from where they occurred report them as well authenticated.

The persecution of Christians in Japon is more bloody than it has ever been before, and has become as bad as could be imagined.  It will suffice to say that in the city of Nangacaqui thirty bars of silver, each one containing about four ducados, are publicly offered to whomsoever may discover a religious.  But just as tender plants, because of the cold of winter, take deeper root in the soil, these religious, because of their difficulties, plant themselves more firmly in the faith and bear more plentiful fruit.  This has already been demonstrated.  Indeed, during the last year more than fifty Japanese have nobly given their lives to the service of Jesus Christ; and almost two thousand adults have for the first time received the water of holy baptism, through the efforts of our fathers alone.  These fathers, like good pilots, have not been dismayed by this great tempest On the contrary, there have been thirty-two members [of the Society] distributed throughout Japon, holding fast to the helm of this little craft, toiling lest the sea should swallow it up in so furious and destructive a tempest.  Not less valor has been shown in this