lesiastical
interdict and of suspension, from entering the church portals and
the exercise of pontifical power, to all others besides priests,
clerics, and ecclesiastical ministers, both secular and regular--of
whatsoever order, standing, degree, rank, and condition they might
be--under pain of major excommunication to be incurred _ipso facto_,
to this effect: that without his express license and that of the
apostolic see, no one should dare go to the aforesaid countries and
provinces of Japan to preach the gospel, teach Christian doctrine,
administer the sacraments, or discharge other ecclesiastical duties.

Subsequently, however, Pope Clement VIII, also our predecessor of
renowned memory, having learned that the countries and provinces of
China and Japan, as well as of other near-by and adjacent islands,
besides the neighboring kingdoms of Eastern India, were very extensive
and thickly inhabited; that, moreover, in order to bring so great
a multitude of souls to the Catholic faith and strengthen them with
spiritual nourishment, more workmen and ministers were needed than
could be levied from the religious of the Society of Jesus, therefore
to all and singular the masters or priors-general of the mendicant
orders for the time being did he make the following grant, to wit:
that whenever necessity required they might send--by way, however,
of Portugal only, and thence by sea to the Indias and the city of
Goa--to the local superiors of their orders resident in those lands,
whomsoever of their subjects they might deem fitting and serviceable
for the discharge of the said offices and ministries, provided the
same were of respectable character and learning. Again, that the
religious of the said orders to be thus sent to the said countries
of the Indias, as well as their fellow-members resident therein,
who had been chosen and approved for the discharge of this said
duty by their masters or priors-general, or other superiors, might
go to the said Japan as well as its near-by and adjacent islands,
and even to the said islands, countries, and provinces of China and
the neighbor-kingdoms and mainland [_terra firma_] of Eastern India.

Moreover, under pain of major excommunication (wherefrom, unless
at the point of death, absolution was not to be granted save by the
Roman pontiff himself); of forfeiture besides of active and passive
vote, and of all dignities, administrations, and offices whatsoever;
furthermore, of disqualific