Letter to Five People In Prison

五人土籠御書

五人御中

To the five of you:

今月七日さどの國へまかるなり。各々は法華經一部づつあそばして候へば我身竝父母兄弟存亡等に廻向しましまし候らん。今夜のかんずるにつけて、いよ〱我身より心くるしさ申ばかりなし。ろう（牢）をいでさせ給なば明年のはるかならずきたり絵。みみへまいらすべし。せうどのの但一人あるやつをつけよかしとをもう心、心なしとをもう人、一人もなければしぬ（死）まで各々御はぢなり。又大進阿闍梨はこれにさたすべき事かた〱あり。又をの〱の御身の上をもみはてさせんがれう（料）にとゞめをくなり。くはしくは申候はんずらん。恐恐謹言。

On the seventh day of this month, I will go to Sado. Because each of you has been imprisoned for the sake of the Lotus Sutra and has actually read all of it with both body and mind, you not only reap the benefits yourself, but extend the merits to the spirits of your parents, brothers, and sisters as well. It is so cold tonight that I am worried and feel sorry more for you in prison than for myself. If you are pardoned and released from prison, be sure to visit me next spring. I look forward to seeing you. Please keep an eye on the child who used to be a servant in Sho-bo’s household and is now all alone. If you are seen as being heartless towards him, you will be ashamed until the day you die. Furthermore, I have certain matters I wish to discuss with Daishin Ajari. I also want him to make sure of what will become of you all, so he will remain [in Kamakura]. He will explain things to you in more detail. With deepest respect.

十月三日

日蓮花押

3rd day of the 10th month

Nichiren (signature)

せんあくてご房をばつけさせ給。又しらうめが一人あらんするが、ふびんに候へば申。

He ordered a room to be prepared (details unknown). I also mentioned this because I was worried about Shiro being left behind all alone.