156 See the letter which the ambassador from the Prince of Bungo presented on this occasion. Hildredth’s _Japan_, etc., p. 89. 157 In the First Part (1873) of _Mittheilungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Natur und Völkerkunde Ostasiens_, p. 15, the times of Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, etc., are termed “die zeit der usurpatoren,” the time of the usurpers. But Nobunaga and Hideyoshi were no more usurpers than the Tokugawas, who succeeded them by force of arms. 158 Mr. Satow with rare literary insight has identified this Kuroda with the Condera Combiendono of the Jesuit fathers. _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. vii., p. 151. 159 See Shiga’s _History of Nations_, Tōkyō, 1888, p. 128. 160 Dening’s _Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi_, p. 274. 161 See Dening’s _Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi_, p. 278. 162 See p. 189. 163 His original name was Nakamura Hyoshi, the family taking its name from the village where he was born. Then at his induction to manhood A.D. 1553 his name was changed to Tokichi Takayoshi. At another turn in his career he became Kinoshita Tokichi Takayoshi. In the year A.D. 1562 he received permission to use the name Hideyoshi instead of Tokichi, and A.D. 1575 his name was again changed to Hashiba, which the Jesuit fathers wrote Faxiba. 164 See Satow and Hawes’ _Handbook_, p. 341. 165 The facts here related concerning this most interesting episode in the life of Hideyoshi are chiefly taken from a paper furnished by Mr. J. H. Gubbins to the _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. viii., p. 92. 166 The Emperor Ōgimachi retired from the throne A.D. 1586, and was succeeded by Go-Yojō, then sixteen years old. It shows of how small account the emperors had become, that this change in the head of the nation is scarcely mentioned in the histories of the time. 167 The spies and guides employed by Hideyoshi were priests of the Shin sect of Buddhists, who after the fall of Kagoshima were discovered and crucified. A decree was also issued that every inhabitant of Satsuma who was connected with this sect must renounce his creed. To this day there exists among the people of Satsuma a general hostility to the Buddhists which can be traced to this trying episode. See _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. viii., p. 143. 168 See p. 178. 169 See p. 186. 170 See Dening’s _Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi_, pp. 148, 344. 171 When Father Valignani came to Japan in A.D. 1577 it is said that he brought as one of his presents a beautiful Arabian horse. It is not improbable that some of the improved breeds, now seen in the southern provinces, owe their origin to these valuable horses sent over as presents.