翻刻
之儀ニ候畢竟物数寄ニ倹約申付ニ而者無之参勤
帰国無滞御奉公向相勤度念願故候故候得者常々相
慎奉公向無滞様可相守候此上相背候輩者有之間
敷候得共若々相背候輩於有之者其沙汰可有之候
隠居妻子厄介并組支配之者次家来等ニ至迄常々
無油断可致吟味候其上相背候者候ハヽ其人ハ勿論
頭主人共ニ不念ニ候間此段末々迄能々得其意自
今急度相守可申者也
七月廿日
今日家中一統ニ申渡候定目之通急度相守可申候
近辺之儀者外様ゟ目を付見習候事ニ候得ハ我等之
着類食物其外万端平日之倹約見聞候通を以
面々分限相応ニ了簡可有之候度々倹約申付候
上者誰求而花麗を好或ハ懈り申ニ而者有之間敷
候得共十人之内一人可然品有合木綿布類拵候得ハ
結局費之筋も有之候故先代ゟ遣候小袖又ハ羽織
袴抔も古キ物ハ着破無是非大概成を着候へハ残九
人似セ申ニ而も有之間敷候得共自然与一統ニ宜
現代語訳
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ことである。つまるところ、好き好んで倹約を申し付けているのではなく、参勤・帰国(参勤交代)が滞りなく御奉公の向きを勤めたいという念願からのことである。したがって、常々慎み、奉公の向きに滞りのないよう守るべきである。この上、(命に)背く者はいないはずであるが、もし背く者があれば、その沙汰(処分)を行うであろう。隠居・妻子・厄介(居候・扶養家族)、および組支配の者・次家来等に至るまで、常々油断なく吟味(確認・監督)すべきである。その上で背く者があれば、その本人はもちろん、頭(かしら)・主人ともに不念(不届き・不注意)ということになるので、この段を末々まで十分にその意を得て、今より急度(きっと)相守るべきものである。
七月二十日
今日、家中一統に申し渡した定目の通り、急度(きっと)守るべきである。近辺のことは外様(よそ)から目をつけて見習うことになるので、我等の着類・食物その外万端、平日の倹約を見聞きしている通りをもって、面々分限相応に了簡(りょうけん・心得)あるべきである。度々倹約を申し付けている上は、誰しも求めて華麗を好んだり、あるいは懈(おこた)り申すものではないはずであるが、十人の内一人が相応の品・有り合わせの木綿・布類を拵(こしら)えた場合は、結局費えの筋もあることゆえ、先代より遣わした小袖または羽織袴なども、古いものは着破(きやぶ)り、是非なく大概(並)のものを着ればよく、残りの九人が真似申すでもないはずであるが、自然と一統に良い方へ
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英語訳
(Continued from the previous page)
This is not a matter of imposing frugality out of mere personal preference or whim; rather, it stems from our earnest desire that the comings and goings of sankin-kōtai (alternate attendance in Edo) and the duties of service be carried out without any hindrance. Therefore, each person must at all times conduct themselves with restraint and ensure that their official duties proceed without interruption. There should be no one who defies this order; however, should any such person be found, appropriate disciplinary measures shall be taken. All persons — including those in retirement, wives and children, dependents, those under the command of unit supervisors, and secondary retainers — are to be observed and supervised without lapse at all times. Should any person still defy these orders, not only that individual but also his superior and master shall be held responsible for their lack of diligence. This matter is therefore to be fully understood by all persons, down to the lowest ranks, and is to be strictly observed from this day forward.
Seventh month, twentieth day
The regulations proclaimed today to all retainers of the domain are to be strictly observed without exception. As those in our vicinity look to us from the outside and take their cue from what they observe, each person should, in accordance with their own means and station, exercise sound judgment and take to heart what they have seen and heard of our everyday frugality — in our clothing, our food, and in all other matters. Since we have issued repeated orders regarding frugality, there should be no one who wilfully pursues luxury or who grows lax and negligent in this regard. Nevertheless, if one person among ten were to procure fine goods or prepare items made of cotton cloth or other fabrics from what happens to be available, this would ultimately give rise to unnecessary expenditure. Therefore, even the kosode robes, haori jackets, and hakama trousers handed down from previous generations should be worn until they are threadbare; once they are worn out, there is nothing to be done but to wear something of ordinary and modest quality. The remaining nine people need not necessarily copy such behavior, and yet it would naturally tend toward all persons following in a favorable direction —
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