HOTTA MASAMORI
堀田正盛
Hotta Kaga-no-kami Nasamori lord of Sakura was giving a Cha-no-yu to some friends, and when the Tea-caddy was taken out of its bag and put in its place the chief guest got up and went out into the garden and washed his hands, and then came back and bowed low to the Tea-caddy.
堀田加賀守正盛、佐倉藩主は茶の湯を主催し友人達を招待しました。その日の茶会、仕覆から茶入を取り出し棚に置き、正客が庭へ出て手を洗って戻ってくるとその茶入に深々と礼をしました。
“How remarkable!” he said, “This is a famous piece from the house of Sansai.”
「なんと珍しい」彼は言って「三斎殿のお道具ですな。」
The Sansai he referred to was Hosokawa Sansai Tadaoki.
三斎とは細川三斎忠興の事です。
“That's very strange,” said his host, “I have recollection to getting such a thing.”
「これはとても珍しいものです」亭主は言って「ある筋から手に入れました。」
“Well, there's no doubt about it,” insisted other.
「是非経緯を」皆お願いしました。
So Msamori called the official who had charged of the tea utensils and asked him how it came to be there.
正盛は家来を呼んでこの茶入がなぜここに在るのかを説明させました。
He explained that it came from a box of pottery and tea things of which they were accustomed to receive two every year as a present from the lord of Higo.
その家来は二年前に肥後藩の殿様より茶道具の陶器壺として贈呈を受けたと説明しました。
Still Masamori was perplexed, but after thinking a while he suddenly exclaimed, “Ah, I see it now.
正盛は当初困り躊躇しましたが、、「そうか」
It is about the matter of Suga Daizen.
「これはＳｕｇａ Ｄａｉｚｅｎの件。」
He has put this valuable heirloom in the box of new pottery as a thank-offering to show his gratitude for the settlement of that case.”
「彼は例の件の解決のお礼として家宝の茶入を下さったのだと解りました。」
Now Suga Daizen was a Karo or Councillor of the Higo clan.
Ｓｕｇａ Ｄａｉｚｅｎは肥後藩家老でした。
And when the former lord Mitsunao died, the heir Tsunatoshi was a minor and Suga Daizen abused his position and acted haughtily and oppressively to the people and paid no attention to their complaints, till his fellow councilors remonstrated with him, but to no effect, when at least they appealed to the authorities against him and both sides appeared before the tribunal of the Bakufu.
先代の光尚候が亡くなった時、後継者の綱利は幼少であった為、家老のＳｕｇａ Ｄａｉｚｅｎはその地位利用し、傲慢に振る舞い周りの不満は募って行きました。ついに、同僚の家老達は抗議するにいたりましたが対策のすべは無く彼らは窮状を幕府裁定に願い出ることに、法廷にて双方の主張が述べられました。
Now Suga Daizen was a plausible and eloquent man, and accustomed to litigation, so he able to make out a very fair case for himself, while the other Karo found it difficult, for want of these qualities, to bring home their accusations very clearly.
Ｓｕｇａ Ｄａｉｚｅｎは口先がうまい雄弁で、訴訟にも手慣れ、彼自身の正当性を作り出して他の家老たちは到底歯が立ちません。ついに、彼らの告訴はお上裁定になりました。
So when it came to summing up, the Metsuke Kanematsu Masanao pronounced that in his opinion there was no case against Daizen.
裁定時、目付け役のＫａｎｅｍａｔｓｕ ＭａｓａｎａｏはＤａｉｚｅｎについては非は認められないとしました。
The Roju were silent and apparently undecided when Masamori said, “Though the Metsuke seems to have made up his mind about it after some investigation, for my part I am undecided.”
老中達は沈黙し何も決められないでいると正盛候が口を開き、「目付殿は審議の結果はもう少し調査が必要であるし、私も裁定は難しいと思う。」
So the Roju pronounced that they would adjourn the case for a while for further evidence.
先々の証拠なり何なりが出るまで中断という結論に達したのです。
When they sat again later an important witness came from Higo who was able to give conclusive evidence of Daizen's guilt, and so matter was disposed of and the affairs of the province put in order.
その後、肥後から一人の重要な証人が呼ばれ、彼はＤａｉｚｅｎの有罪の決定的な証拠を示す事が出来ました。そして、事件は結審しお家騒動は安堵を迎えたのです。
And since this happy the clan naturally felt very grateful to him and took this way of expressing their feelings.
この出来事から領主は心からの感謝を表し、お礼の気持ちとして贈られたのでした。