“We have come to meet you.  The pains you are suffering are terrible, but they are nothing in comparison with those of the hell to which we are about to lead you.”

At these words, Kotsuke no Suke, seizing his sword, tried to sweep the ghosts away with a terrific cut; but a loud peal of laughter was heard, and the visions faded away.  Kotsuke no Suke, terrified, sent his retainers to the temples and shrines to pray that the demons might be cast out; but the noises were heard nightly, as before.  When the eleventh month of the year came round, the apparitions of human forms in my lady’s apartments became more and more frequent and terrible, all the spirits railing at her, and howling out that they had come to fetch her.  The women would all scream and faint; and then the ghosts would disappear amid yells of laughter.  Night after night this happened, and even in the daytime the visions would manifest themselves; and my lady’s sickness grew worse daily, until in the last month of the year she died, of grief and terror.  Then the ghost of Sogoro and his wife crucified would appear day and night in the chamber of Kotsuke no Suke, floating round the room, and glaring at him with red and flaming eyes.  The hair of the attendants would stand on end with terror; and if they tried to cut at the spirits, their limbs would be cramped, and their feet and hands would not obey their bidding.  Kotsuke no Suke would draw the sword that lay by his bedside; but, as often as he did so, the ghosts faded away, only to appear again in a more hideous shape than before, until at last, having exhausted his strength and spirits, even he became terror-stricken.  The whole household was thrown into confusion, and day after day mystic rites and incantations were performed by the priests over braziers of charcoal, while prayers were recited without ceasing; but the visions only became more frequent, and there was no sign of their ceasing.  After the 5th year of Shoho, the style of the years was changed to Keian; and during the 1st year of Keian the spirits continued to haunt the palace; and now they appeared in the chamber of Kotsuke no Suke’s eldest son, surrounding themselves with even more terrors than before; and when Kotsuke no Suke was about to go to the Shogun’s castle, they were seen howling out their cries of vengeance in the porch of the house.  At last the relations of the family and the members of the household took counsel together, and told Kotsuke no Suke that without doubt no ordinary means would suffice to lay the ghosts; a shrine must be erected to Sogoro, and divine honours paid to him, after which the apparitions would assuredly cease.  Kotsuke no Suke having carefully considered the matter and given his consent, Sogoro was canonized under the name of Sogo Daimiyo, and a shrine was erected in his honour.  After divine honours had been paid to him, the awful visions were no more seen, and the ghost of Sogoro was laid for ever.