We rejoin the journey from Hirado to Edo, whereby Saris compares Osaka favourably to London …
“Wee founde nothinge extroardinarie after wee had passed the straightes of Xemina-seque, vntill wee came to Osaca, where wee arived the 27 daie of August, our Gallie could not come neere the towne by 6 miles, where another smaller vessell mett vs, wherein came the Good man or Oste of the howse where wee laye in Osaca, and brought a banckett with him of Wine and salt fruits to entertaine me with. The boate havinge a faste made to the Mast head, was drawne by men, as our Barges are from London westward. Wee founde Osaca, to be a verie greate towne as greate as London within the walles, with many faier Timber bridges of a greate height, serving to passe over a River there, as wide as the Thames at London, some faier howses we founde there, but not manie. It is one of the cheefe seaportes of all Iapan, having a Castell in it marvelous large and stronge, with verie deepe trenches about it and manie drawe bridges, with Gates plated with yron; The Castell is built all of free stone, with Bulworkes and battlements, with loope holes for smale shott and arrowes, and divers passages for to cast stones vppon the assaylants. The walles, are at the least 6 or 7 yardes thick, all (as I said) of Free stone, without, any filling in the inwarde parte with Trumperie, as they reported vnto me. The stones are greate, of an excellent quarrie, and are cutt soe exactlie to fitt the place where they are laide, that no morter is vased, but onelie earth cast betweene to full vpp voide crevisses if any be. In this Castell did dwell, at our beeinge there the sonne of Tiqua-samma, whoe being an Infant at the time of his fathers decease was left to Governement and Education of fower, whereof Ogosho-samma the nowe Emperour was one, and cheef; The other 3 desirous of Soveraignety, each for his perticuler, and repulsed by the Ogosho-samma, were for theire owne safetie forced to take vpp Armes, wherein fortune favouring Ogosho-samma at the triall in field, two of them being slayne, the third was glad to save him self by flight. He being conquerour, attempted that which formerlie (as it is thought), hee never drempt of, and proclaimed him self Emperoure, and seasinge, vppon the true hayre, married him vnto his daughter, as the onelie meanes to worke a perfect reconcilement, confyninge the younge married coople, to live within this Castell of Osaca, attended onelie with such as had bene brought vpp from theire Cradells by Ogosho-samma, not knowinge any other father (as it were) then him; soe that by theire intelligence hee could at all times vnderstande, what passed there, and accordinglie rule him….”
(pp.177-178)
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