Richard Cocks

“ But at Firando there is the king hym selfe, with two of his brothers, and 3 or 4 of his uncles, besides many other noble men of his kindred; all which look for presentes, or else it is no living amongst them; and that which is more, they are allwaies borowing and buying, but sildom or neaver make payment, except it be the king hym selfe. So that it maketh me altogether aweary to live amongst them, we not being abell to geve and lend them as the Hollanders doe, whoe geve them other mens goods which they neaver paid for. ”

“ But, howsoever, these men follow the matter hardly, and tell me that the Emperour of China hath sent espies into all partes where the Spaniardes, Portingales, Hollanders, and we do trade, in these partes of the world, only to see our behaveours on towardes an other, as also how we behave our selves towardes strangers, especially towardes Chinas. And som have byn in this place and brought by our frendes to the English howse, where I used them in the best sort I could, as I have advized to Bantam, Pattania, and Syam to doe the lyke to all Chinas. ”

“ Neather in all this tyme have we had any conveance to enforme your Worshipps of the manifold abuses [Pg 302] offered unto us within these kingdoms of Japon, notwithstanding the lardge prevelegese we have from the Emperour that the Japons them selves may not meddell with us. Yet these Hollanders have, by sound of trumpet abord all their shipps in the harbour of Firando, procleamed open warrs against our English nation, both by sea and land, with fire and sworde, to take our shipps and goods and destroy our persons to the uttermost of their power, as to their mortall enemies. ”

“ Nealson hath hym comended unto yow. He and I are soe busye about our building that we have small pleasure, havinge above 100 men daylie at worke; but I hope it will not last longe. On Sunday night last our kitchin was set on fire, and soe burned our new gates and gate howse; but was sowne quenched, God be praised for it. The lose will not be above 8 or 10 taies. I daylie expect Capt. Adames to look out about a jonck. Newes we have non but that many souldiers are sent out of Firando, and, as it is said, goe for Arima, but for what intent I know not. ”

“ Ushenusque Dono sent me a phaisant cock, exskewsing his not coming per meanes of his emploimentes abroad. And I sent the governor Langasaque and Safian Donos man, eache of them, a quart bottell strong waters, with eache of them a China cup to drink it in. Also Figen a Came, Kyng of Firando, sent me 2 barsos wyne and a wild boare for a present, wishing me a prosperous new yeare. And Ike Dono, the cavelero of Xaxma, came and vizeted me, with a present of 3 bundelles or reames Japon paper, he being lately retorned from Xaxma, where he sayeth the king is much affectioned to our English nation. ”

“ Coppendall carid up unto hym, as Capt. Adames can better enforme yow whoe was an eye witnesse, the Emperour offring to geve us anything that might be for the benefit or good of our nation, esteeming us above all other Christian nations whatsoever.
And, as I advised yow, the Hollanders took a Portingale [Pg 274] junck on this cost and brought her into Firando. And the Emperour hath alowed it for good prize, both men and goods, and that either we or they may take them or Spaniardes at sea and make good purchesse thereof, except they have the Emperours passe. ”

“ May 10.—The China Capt. retorned from Langasaque and brought word how the junck wherin Capt. Adams went is retorned back to Langasaque (as all the rest which went out are the lyke) , and that our junck Sea Adventure is at Liqueas and lost her voyag for Syam. Also that the juncke of Billang Ruis (which should have gon for Phillipinas and went out a month before Capt. Adames) hath also lost her voyag and retorned back, haveing in 3 stormes (or tuffons) cast most part of her lading overboard, to lighten her. ”

“ And presently after a French man, chirurgion of the Son, came to me in secret, and tould me that this shipp without was an English shipp, and one of iiij which the Hollanders have lately taken at Molucos, not without slaughter of many men, and the rest taken prisoners, and sent this small shipp to bring news hither of it, I think of spite to scorne thenglish nation. ”

“ December 22.—Cuemon Dono, alius Grubstreet, our host, came aboard our bark within night with a banket. And I wrot a letter to Capt. Adams of our stay this day per meanes of contrary wynd and tide. Unto which he retorned answer, and sent me 50 muchos (or loves of bread) .
December 23.—We set forward from Dembo, or rather Incobe, at Osakay this mornyng, passing the bar of Osakay, and arived at Fiugo [83] at nowne. The wind being contrary, we staid at an ancor all night, having mad 10 leagues this day. ”

“ Camps and myselfe went to Torazemon Dono to desire hym to speake to the king that we might go to themperour with our presentes; and that we might deliver our presentes to the king before we went up, because the shipps weare now ready to departe. Also we made knowne unto hym the takeing and keeping our men presoners, both English and Duch. Unto all which he answered, that the king desired us to stay till the last of this moone Conguach, for that the 29th day (which is 5 daies hence) he expected Gonrok Dono to come to Firando, for soe had he promised hym without fayle to doe. ”

“ Copendall is dead, and that the Hollanders misuse our English men in vild sort and take them presoners in all places where they can lay handes on them. He is not now servant of the Company, as he saith, and complayneth much of Mr. Lucas Antonison, of his going away, and that by his meanes he was trayned abord, and shipped away for Macosar, and his chist, aparell, and other matters detayned from hym. So from thence he got hither. He also sayeth that Marten Prin cometh generall of a fleet of 5 good shipps this yeare for Surat and soe for Bantam. ”

“ The place the shiping enters into is called Las Islas Piscadores, but non but small shiping can enter, nether will they suffer any shiping or trade with any people but Chinas. It is within 30 leagues (as they say) of the meane of China, soe that they make 2 or 3 voyages in small shipping each monson. Andrea Dittis and Capt. Whow, his brother, are the greatest adventurers for that place. They sent 2 small junckes the last yeare, and bought silke for the one halfe they pay ether at Cochinchina or Bantam. ”

“ May 17.—This day the King Firandos bark retorned from Miaco, which carid up his horse, and they report that the Emperour hath sent downe order to Miaco that all the tonos of Japon shall stay theare, and not goe forward to Edo. Soe it is thought the Emperour is dead, or else he standeth in fear that the northerne tonos, or kinges, meane to joyne with them of the south and rize against hym. ”

“ Be yt knowne unto all men that the English nation throughout all Japon, in what part thereof soever they arive with their shipping, shall, with all convenyent speed they can, retyre to the towne (and port) of Firando, there to make sale of their marchandiz, defending all other places and partes whatsoever in Japon not to receave any of their goodes nor merchandiz ashore, but at Firando only. ”

“ Mr. Wickham,—It being generally agreed upon (with your owne consent) that yow make a voyage for Edow, Sherongo, and those partes of Japan, with such a cargezon of goods and merchandiz as I should think fyttinge, beinge assisted with Capt. Adams, for the better dispaching your busynes with the Emperour, with whome yow know he [Pg 260] hath good entrance and no other employments for hym at present; yet, those matters of the Emperour being past, I pray yow detayne hym not theare, but will hym to make as much speede as he can back for Firando, where there will be necessary use of hym. ”

“ Whaw of Nangasaque be dead, whoe was a cheefe dealer hearin, yet his brother, Capt. Andrea Dittis of Firando, tells me it is concluded upon, and that he expects a kinsman of his to com out of China with the Emperours passe, promesing to goe hym selfe with me in person, when we have any shipping com to goe in; for in Japon shipping we cannot goe for China. This Andrea Dittis is now chosen capten and cheefe comander of all the Chinas in Japon, both at Nangasaque, Firando, and else wheare, and I trust in God will prove the author in soe happie a matter as to gett trade into China. ”

“ Camps came and brought the articles which we ment to present to the King of Firandos brother and to Torazemon Dono, wrot in Japons, the coppies whereof we keepe; in which we laid open all our grevanses, having remeaned soe many yeares in Japon and setled our selves at Firando, when we might as well have made choise of any other province in Japon, and now to be soe misused to have som of our people kild and others extremly misused; and, [Pg 244] lastly, others carid away captives to be sould to our enemies; which yf it were not remedied, there was noe staying for us in Japon. ”

“ As yet Gonrok Dono is not come to Firando, and God knoweth when he will; for, as it is said, he stayeth at Nangasaque to put to death many Japon Christians for haboring of papist pristes secretly, and till he com the King of this place will not suffer us to goe to the Emperour with our presentes, which maketh us stand in dowbt whether he secretly take part with Gonrok Dono and the papistes our enemies against us and stayeth us of purpose till the Spaniardes and Portingales have preveled against us at Emperours court. ”

“ The Hollanders have geven it out to the Chinas that they are Englishmen, only to bring our nation in disgrace; of the which our China frendes in Japon have adviz and have retorned answer per 2 or 3 severall conveances to the contrary, and that we had two English shipps before Amacon, when the Hollanders gave the attempt against the place, [Pg 333] but went for Japon without assisting them at all. ”

“ Soe that now a yong man of 14 or 15 yeares ould is com to be king, being the sonne of one of the deceased brothers; which is a stay unto our proceadinges to get trade into China, for that new petision must be made, and our joyning with the Hollanders to take China juncks is ill thought of. But the barbarousnesse of the Hollanders at Manillias the last yeare is much; for, after they had taken the China junkes and that the pore men had rendred them selves, the Hollandars did cut many of them in peeces and cast many others into the sea ”

“ August 4.—This night past came news that the China Capt. junck which went for Tonkin is cast away at that place by neglegence of the pilot; but all the people saved. Som say the Japons did muten, and carid away the money, but how trew it is I know not. Also it is reported that both the junckes of Kitskin Dono and Semi Dono are arived at Cochinchina, and they of the junk of Semi Dono are cozened of 7000 taies of their money, being waid out to pay for silke was stolne from them, as that was from Edmond Sayer the yeare past. ”

“ Camps and I were about to goe to thank the nobles for our dispach, word was brought us we might departe when we would, and leave som one behind us to receve the present themperour ment to geve us, for that as yet it was not ready; which truly is the greatest wrong or indignety that eaver hitherto was offered to any Christians, and I think is donne of purpose per meanes of the King of Firando, whose mother is a papisticall Jesuist, and he and the rest of his bretheren and sisters papisticall Christians. ”

“ I am geven to understand that up in the cuntrey of Corea they have greate citties and betwixt that and the sea mightie boggs, soe that no man can travell on horseback nor very hardlie on foote. But, for remedie against that, they have invented greate waggons or carts which goe upon broad flat whiles under seale, as shipps doe; soe that, observing monsons, they transport their goodes to and fro in thease sealing waggons. They have damasks, sattens, taffetes, and other silke stuffs made theare as well as in China. ”

“ Leonard Camps and my selfe went to the king to geve him to understand that tyme passed away and Gonrok Dono came not, soe that it was expedient we departed forthwith to the Emperours court to doe our dutie and carry our presentes, for that now winter came on and, yf we went not presently, it was to late to goe this yeare; soe that we were better to loose the friggatt and all the goodes in her than encur the Emperours displeasure; yet, if his Highnesse would, we cout at this instant produce witnesses suffitient to prove the 2 men, in the Hollanders howse presoners, to be frires or padres. ”

“ Silk at present is not worth soe much as it was at the arivall of our fleete, yet we have made away most of ours which rested, the presentes being geven out, and trusted it out till the next monson; as the Hollanders have donne the like.
And our frend Andrea Dittis, the China Capt., still mentayneth that our nation may have trade into China, yf they will, but not the Hollanders; which God grant may once take effect.
I have not what else to adviz your Wors. of, matters standing as they doe ”

“ If the quantetie be over greate, you may keepe it secrett and receive it ashore by small parcells, as you can sell it. Wee would have sent more if wee had byn ascertined of its vend there; but, acording to your former advices, this nowe sent may be too much. What part of it you cannot sell bring back with you, or leave it there with him that stays in the factory, if there be occasion to leave a man there; the ordering whereof, with all other busines, wee have referred to Mr. Cockram, as aforesaide.
We expect to have a reformacion in the lavish expences for the shipps companie. ”

“ Soe that they are accompted better then true men and better used then we, as apeareth by banishing Ed. Sayer without any occation, which it may be the Tono of Firando may repent before it be long, and, as som say, wisheth allready it were undon; for I have written to Syam, Pattania, and Bantam, that yf they send any shipping for Japon hearafter, that my opinion is, and the rest of the Englishmen heare are the lyke, to send them for Nangasaque, where the governor offereth to lett us have a plott of ground or to take a house in any place of the cittie where we lyke best. ”

“ King, our butler, were jurebasso betwixt them when he gave hym the staffe, he geving hym as bad wordes as the rest only because he said it was marvell the Hollander would speake of such a matter, yf he had not geven it hym. In fine he called the Hollander, dogg, and thenglish as bad, in my hearing, telling me to my face I sett them all one to misuse hym, espetially Ed. Sayer, my viz-regent, when God is my judg I have byn taxed with all thenglish in the cuntrey for suffering Mr. Nealson to abuze all men as he daylie doth. ”