翻刻
不顧世上之趣ニも不拘只ニ飢食せしめすとてハ一時之
損のことくとも心得候ものニて畢竟是等ハ主人申付
方精粗ニも寄候事ニ候間彼是厚相心得度
事ニ候条此段各ゟ御家中末々至迄不洩様
可有通達旨御目付中申達候事
右者江戸表ゟ旧臘廿日去ル御次様ゟ御仕出
正月二日着御書写之由
羽州戸澤大和守様日々三五里宛草鞋ニ而御廻見
被遊御直々下々江米銭被下置又者木根草根
御取セ被遊候由御家中所務指上壱人三合御扶持ニ相成
居申趣ニ候 午正月十一日写
○【朱】六 組頭庄屋共へ申渡覚
昨年之義ハ他国之不作津留等ニ而米麦不融通
ニ付當夏秋万々一郷分不作等有之候而ハ町人百姓共
飯料取續之道大に難渋之場ニも相至可申哉
前以心構仕候者仮令違作有之候迚も迷惑成
現代語訳
世上の趣を顧みず、ただ飢えさせなければよいとして一時の損失のようなものと心得る者もおりますが、結局これらは主人の申し付け方の精粗にも依ることでございますので、あれこれと厚く心得ていただきたく存じます。この段、各々から御家中末々に至るまで漏れのないように通達すべき旨、御目付中より申し達したことでございます。
右は江戸表から旧臘二十日去る御次様から御仕出し、正月二日に到着した御書の写しの由。
羽州戸沢大和守様は日々三、五里ずつ草鞋にてご廻見なされ、ご直々に下々へ米銭を下し置かれ、また木根草根をお取らせになられた由。御家中は所務を指し上げ、一人三合のご扶持となっておられる趣にございます。
午正月十一日写
○【朱印】六 組頭庄屋共へ申し渡し覚
昨年の義は他国の不作、津留等にて米麦が融通きかず、当夏秋万が一郷分の不作等これあり候ては、町人百姓共の飯料取り続きの道が大いに難渋の場にも相至るべきかと、前もって心構えいたします者は、たとえ違作これあり候とても迷惑になる
英語訳
[Some people] disregard the state of the world and think that as long as they don't let [people] starve, temporary losses are acceptable. However, ultimately these matters depend on how carefully the master gives instructions, so we ask that you give this thorough consideration. On this matter, the inspectors have instructed that this should be communicated without omission from each person down to the lowest ranks of the retainers.
The above is a copy of a letter sent from Edo on the 20th of last December via the previous courier, which arrived on the 2nd of the first month.
Lord Tozawa Yamato-no-kami of Ushu [Dewa Province] makes daily inspection rounds of three to five ri on foot wearing straw sandals, personally distributing rice and money to the common people, and also having them gather tree roots and grass roots. The retainers have surrendered their stipends and are receiving three go of rice per person as sustenance.
Copied on the 11th day of the first month, Horse Year
○【Red seal】Six Memorandum for group leaders and village headmen
Regarding last year's situation: due to crop failures in other provinces and export restrictions, rice and wheat could not circulate freely. If by any chance there should be crop failures in our district this summer and autumn, townspeople and farmers would face great difficulty in securing their daily food supply. Those who prepare mentally in advance [understand that] even if there are poor harvests, it would be troublesome...