3{)4f INTERCOLONIAL COMJIEItCE. their whole suit to be put to death, with the exception of a few mean persons, whose lives were saved to cai-ry back the accounts to Macao, and whom he charged with a message to the go- vernor of that place, couched in terms of barbaric pride and defiance. * The effects of this spirit were soon felt even by the Dutch themselves. Notwithstanding that the edicts against the Chris- tian religion were in force many years before their arrival in Japan, they were received hospitably, and without reserve, and traded freely and profit- ably for a period of thirty years. Hardly were the Portuguese expelled, when the Dutch were placed under restrictions. The very year in which they assisted in the destruction of the Christians they were themselves ordered to demolish their factory in Firando, because it was built of stone ! Three years had scarce elapsed when, in lG41, they were ordered to quit Firando, and were shut up in the
- " Notice of their arrival and imprisonment having been
immediately sent to court, the emperor, contrary to the livv of nations, sentenced them all to be beheaded, excepting twelve men of the lowest rank, who were to be sent back to Macao, to bring their countrymen the news of this unhappy success, along with a most proud and threatening message from the emperor, containing in substance, that, should the king of Portugal himself, nay, the very Ciod of the Chris- tians, presume to enter his dominions, he would serve iheni in the very same manner." — Hiatorij of Japnit, Vol. I. p. 320.
