It is related to Yoshitsune, after he had incurred the wrath of Yoritomo, that, with Benkei, his servant, he arrived at the guard gate kept by some Genji soldiers, who would have been sure to arrest him had they discovered his august personality. Disguised as wandering priests of the Buddhist sect Yama-bushi, they approached the gate, and were challenged by the sentinel, who, like most of his class at that time, was ignorant at writing.
Benkei, with great dignity, drawing from his bosom a roll of blank paper, began, after touching it reverently to his forehead, to extemporize and read aloud in choicest and most pious language a commission from the high-priest at the temple of Honkoji, in Kioto, in which stood the great image of Buddha, authorizing him to collect money to cast a colossal bell for the temple.
At the first mention of the name of his reverence, the renowned priest, so talismanic in all the empire, the soldier dropped down on his knees with face to the ground, and listened with reverent awe, unaware that the paper was as blank as the readers tongue was glib. To further lull suspicion, Benkei apologized for the rude conduct of his servant-boy, who stood during the reading, because he was only a boor just out of the rice-fields; and, giving him a kick, bid him get down on his marrow-bones, an not stand up in the presence of a gentleman and a soldier. The ruse was complete. The illustrious youth and his servant passed on.
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From General Nelson A. Miles
Thrilling Stories of The Russian-Japanese War, 1904
