Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 2.djvu/230

 They spoke of the attempt made by the ex-Emperor Gotoba to free himself from the Kamakura yoke as "the rebellion" of the sovereign. In their eyes the repository of the administrative power, namely, the Vicegerent in Kamakura, was the ruler of the Empire, and any one, of whatever station, that ventured to oppose him was counted a rebel. A further development of this tendency took place under the administration of the same chieftains: their conception of the best form of government was evidently a military oligarchy based on popular approval. The second of that remarkable line of Vicegerents, in conjunction with his twelve councillors, promulgated a constitution of fifty articles, founded on the principles of humanity and justice, without any reference to stereotyped formulæ about the virtues and divinity of the Throne. It is true that Yasutoki himself, like all the great Hōjō chiefs, made no attempt to usurp high office. But he did not hesitate to exercise supreme authority. Some account must be taken, indeed, of the Imperial Court's signal failures to inspire respect at that epoch. The Emperor Shijō amused himself by having the floors of the Palace salons waxed so that the ladies of the Court might fall when they walked on them. Finally he fell himself and died of the injuries received. No one then doubted that the power to nominate the next sovereign rested with the Hōjō chief, nor did he show any hesitation in