翻刻
論候別而日光御 侍我等江被 仰付相叶冥加事候
何分可相勤 へ共兼而勝手不如意去年無 借
米増申付面々困窮弥増気之毒候得共不得止又々
借米増申付候尤御用相済候ハヽ夫々手当可申付
候間其内如何様ニも致了簡奉公無難相勤候様ニ与
存候 御用之儀古切存度々倹約申ふ就中去年
厳敷申付候得共未間も無之故此節面々難儀申
付候事去年も申渡候通我等之不 不徳無是非
儀ニ候今度之御用本望至極候処勝手差支面々江も
難儀申付候事千万苦労ニ候帰国候ハヽ夫々可申
附候間夫迄随分取続致勘弁無恙様ニと存候
一 同日右同断ニ付町在江御用金被 仰夫旨左之通書付を以勤津
奉行町奉行郡奉行江御家老申渡之
今度日光御修復御手伝被 仰出 御本望 思召候
兼事御用之儀御大切ニ思召候夫度々御倹約被
仰付就中去年厳敷御倹約被 仰出候得共未間も
無之故今度面々支配下江御用金被 仰付候年々
困窮之段達 御聴御気之毒被 思召候得共御公
現代語訳
論に候。別して日光御［普請の］侍、我等へ仰せ付けられ相叶う冥加の事に候。何分相勤むべく候えども、兼ねてより勝手不如意、去年無［心の］借米増し申し付け、面々困窮いよいよ増し気の毒に候えども、止むを得ず又々借米増し申し付け候。もっとも御用相済み候はば、それぞれ手当申し付くべく候間、その内いかようにも了簡を致し、奉公無難に相勤め候ようにと存じ候。御用の儀、古来より存じ、度々倹約申し付け、就中去年厳しく申し付け候えども、未だ間もこれ無きゆえ、この節面々難儀申し付け候事、去年も申し渡し候通り、我等の不［行き届き］不徳、是非なき儀に候。今度の御用本望至極に候ところ、勝手差し支え面々へも
難儀申し付け候事千万苦労に候。帰国候はば、それぞれ申し付くべく候間、それまで随分取り続き勘弁を致し、無恙様にと存じ候。
一、同日右同断につき、町在へ御用金を仰せ付けられた旨、左の通り書付をもって勤津奉行、町奉行、郡奉行へ御家老申し渡しこれあり。
「今度日光御修復御手伝いを仰せ出だされ、御本望と思し召し候。兼ねて事の御用の儀、御大切に思し召し候。それゆえ度々御倹約を仰せ付けられ、就中去年厳しき御倹約を仰せ出だされ候えども、未だ間もこれ無きゆえ、今度面々支配下へ御用金を仰せ付けられ候。年々困窮の段、御聴に達し、御気の毒に思し召され候えども、御公［務の］
英語訳
...론론 [without question]. Particularly, being ordered to serve as retainers for the Nikkō [construction project] is a most fortunate blessing for us. Although we should serve in every way possible, our finances have long been inadequate, and last year we ordered increased rice loans without [reservation], causing everyone's hardship to increase further, which is pitiful, but unavoidably we must again order increased rice loans. Of course, when the official duties are completed, we will arrange appropriate measures for each person, so until then, please manage in whatever way possible and serve your duties safely. Regarding official duties, as has been known since ancient times, we have repeatedly ordered frugality, especially strict orders last year, but since not much time has passed, ordering hardships upon everyone at this time is, as conveyed last year, due to our inadequate [management] and lack of virtue, which is unavoidable. While this current official duty is extremely gratifying, causing financial difficulties and hardships for everyone is
a matter of great concern. When we return to the domain, we will make appropriate arrangements for each person, so until then, please continue to exercise patience and ensure safety.
1. On the same day, regarding the same matter, concerning the ordering of official funds from towns and rural areas, the senior retainer conveyed the following written notice to the harbor magistrate, town magistrate, and district magistrate:
"This time, assistance with the Nikkō restoration has been ordered, which is considered most gratifying. Official duties have always been considered of utmost importance. Therefore, frugality has been ordered repeatedly, especially strict frugality was ordered last year, but since not much time has passed, official funds have now been ordered from everyone under your jurisdiction. The annual hardships have reached [the lord's] attention and are considered pitiful, but due to official [duties]..."