In "Koro-shodan" (literally, talks by old men), it is described that Ieyasu told Yasushige HONDA as in the following: 'As I used persons well, pretending not to know them, they worked as my trusted men and accomplished achievements valiantly.'
『故老諸談』には家康が本多康重に語った言葉として「われ、素知らぬ体をし、能く使ひしかば、みな股肱となり、勇功を顕したり」と記されている。