翻刻
我
皇国時運之沿革ヲ観るニ共王認ヲ解事相家権
ヲ執保平之乱政権武門ニ移りてゟ
祖宗ニ至更ニ
籠眷ヲ蒙り二百余年子孫相受テ我其職ヲ奉す
と雖政形当ヲ失ふ事不少今日之形勢ニ至るも
畢竟薄徳之所致不堪慚櫂況当今外国之交際日
々盛なるゟ愈朝権一途ニ不出候而は綱紀難立
候間従来之旧習ヲ改メ成朝ヲ
朝廷ニ帰し広ク天下之公儀ヲ画一然断仰キ同
心協力共ニ
皇国ヲ保護せは必海外万国と可並立我国家ニ
所画不過之候乍去見込之義も有之候はゝ聊忌
諱ヲ不憚可申聞候
十月
別紙相達候御書取之趣
御奏聞被遊候所去ル十五日別紙之通従
御所被
仰出候旨同十六日於
京地被仰出候間此段相達候
現代語訳
我が皇国の時運の沿革を観るに、共王の認を解き事相家が権を執り、保平の乱により政権が武門に移ってから祖宗に至り、更に寵眷を蒙り二百余年、子孫相受けて我がその職を奉ずると雖も、政の形当を失うこと少なからず。今日の形勢に至るも畢竟薄徳の所致、慚愧に堪えず。況んや当今外国の交際日々盛んになるより、愈々朝権一途に出でざれば綱紀立ち難く候間、従来の旧習を改め、成朝を朝廷に帰し、広く天下の公議を画一然として断じ仰ぎ、同心協力して共に皇国を保護せば、必ず海外万国と並び立つべく、我が国家に画する所これに過ぎざる候。乍去見込みの義も之れ有り候わば、聊か忌諱を憚らず申し聞くべく候。
十月
別紙相達候御書取の趣、御奏聞遊ばされ候所、去る十五日別紙の通り御所より仰せ出され候旨、同十六日京地において仰せ出され候間、此の段相達候。
英語訳
Observing the vicissitudes of our Imperial nation's fortune, since the resolution of the royal recognition and the assumption of power by the regent families, and the transfer of political authority to the military houses following the Hōhei Rebellion, our ancestors received imperial favor for over two hundred years, with descendants succeeding one another in serving that office. However, we have not infrequently lost the proper form of governance. That we have reached today's circumstances is ultimately due to our own lack of virtue, and we cannot bear the shame. Moreover, as foreign relations grow increasingly active nowadays, unless imperial authority emerges through a single channel, it will be difficult to maintain order. Therefore, we must reform old practices, return governance to the Imperial Court, broadly seek unified national consensus with firm resolve, and work together in harmony to protect our Imperial nation. If we do so, we will surely be able to stand alongside all nations overseas - there is nothing more important for our country. However, if there are any matters you have in mind, please speak freely without hesitation about taboo subjects.
October
Regarding the written instructions conveyed separately, when these were presented to His Majesty, on the 15th day as stated in the separate document, an imperial proclamation was issued from the Palace, and on the 16th day this was announced in Kyoto. We hereby convey this matter.