"Christovao Ferreira, sent to Japan by the Society of Jesus in Portugal, after undergoing the torture of 'the pit' at Nagasaki had apostatized." Prologue, pg. 3

"Quite unlike his predecessor Takenaka, he was cunning as a serpent so that the Christians who until now had not flinched at threats and tortures succumbed one by one to his cunning wiles." Chapter 1, pg. 15

"It is true, of course, that there are Japanese who have endured torture for five days on end without wavering in their fidelity; but there are also cowardly weaklings like Kichijiro." Chapter 1, pg. 20

"What did the face of Christ look like? This point the Bible passes over in silence." Chapter 1, pg. 22

"It is not impossible that there are still Christians in the villages and islands west of Tomogoi, but under the circumstances we cannot so much as stir outside our hut during the day." Chapter 2, pg. 30

"Never have...