The 2 fryres or semenary pristes which came in the friggat from Manillia are both rosted to death at Nangasaque, with Yoshen Dies, capt. of the friggat, whoe was a Japon, put to death with the frires Spaniardes; and 12 other Japons which were marrenars in the friggat were beheaded in their sight, before the other 3 were executed. As alsoe, since that tyme, above xij other Spanish and Portingall fryres and Jesuistes have byn rosted to death at Nangasaque, and above a hundred Japons put to death by fire and sword, both men, woamen, and children, for entertayning and harboring of them.

Also, now of late, a China junck arived at Shaxma in Japon, which came from Caggalion, in the Manillias, and brought 4 Spaniardes or Portingales in her for passingers, they telling the Chinas they were merchantes, but are fownd to be pristes and sent presoners to Nangasaque, where it is thought they shalbe rosted to death as the former have byn, and the China marenars in danger all to lose their lives, and the goodes seazed upon, which did all belong to Andrea Dittis, the China Capt. (our frend), whoe is forced to send his sonne to the court with great presentes to save his goodes, yf it be possible.

The capt. more or major of the Portingall gallion or adventures which com from Amacon to Nangasaque, called Jeronimo de Figeredo Caravallo, with Lues Martin, Jorge Bastian, and Jarvasias Garçis, Portugezes, and Harnando Ximenes, a Spaniard, whoe was jurebasso in tyms past at Bantam, are brought in question for going about to steale a fryer or padre from the Hollands howse the last yeare, and, allthough the padre was brought back (which was one of them which was rosted), yet are they all empresoned and condemned and all their goodes confiscat, and looke howrly when they shall be executed. And one of the Hollandes jurebassos and a scrivano, being Japons, with the master of the bark which carid hym away, his wife and children, all executed; this Emperour, Shongo Samma, being such a mortall enemie to the name of a Christian, espetially of papisticall Christians. And heretofore, when I was at the court at Edo, the Emperours councell did aske me severall tymes whether I were a Christian or our English nation soe; which I tould hym yea; and, in the end, askinge me soe often, I tould them they might perceve per the letters the Kinges Matie. of England sent to themperour of Japon whether we were Christians or noe, the Kinges Matie. writing hymselfe defender of the Christian faith. And then they asked me whether there were any difference betwixt our religion and the Spanish; unto which I answered yea, for that we held nothing of the pope of Roome, but next and emediately under God from our kinge: which it seemed in some sort to geve them content.

We and the Hollanders have had much a doe in standing out for not delivring the priz goodes of the friggat, it belonging to our prince and cuntrey, as taken from their enemies. But that would not serve, the tono or cheefe justis of Firando telling us that, yf we would not leave it by feare meanes, they would take it whether we would or noe, and that yf we had not absolutely proved the Portingalls to be padres, that themperour ment to have put Capt. Leonard Camps and me to death and to have sezed on all we had in the cuntrey, and, yf any resistance had byn made, to have burned all our shiping and put us all to the sword. God send us well out of Japon, for I dowbt it wilbe every day worse then other.

Yt is also said the Emperour will banish all Spaniardes and Portingall howseholders out of Japon, and suffer non to stay but such as com and goe in their shiping, to prevent entertayning of padres. And soe let this suffice for the present state of Japon.

* * * * *

And soe I leave your Wors. with your affares to the holy protection of thallmightie, resting

Your Wors. most humble servant at comand,

Ric. Cocks.

This letter was first sent per the Trow, a Hollandes shipp, but, shee and others being retorned back per stormy wether, I send it now per the Bull.

Firando in Japon, the 14th of November, 1622.

May it please your Wors. that the 9th of September last past there departed 5 Hollandes shipps from hence, greate and small, 4 of them for Isla de Piscadores with provition, and one directly for Jaccatra, which was the Trow. But, by means of extremety of wether, 4 of them retorned back to Firando the 19th of September, viz. the Bantam, the Trow, the Muoien, the Tortola: all in greate extremety, mastes cutt overbord, and much provition throwne into the sea. And the other penisse called the Santa Croix, wherein were above 30 men, retorned not back; soe they think she is cast away. As alsoe, in the same storme, the Hollanders had other 2 shipps cast away in the roade of Cochie at Firando, the one called the Moone, a shipp of 7 or 800 tonns, and the other, the Hownd, an English shipp in tymes past.

The xvijth of October the Palsgrove and Pepercorne put to sea on their pretended voyages, as I formerly nomenated, and 2 Duch shipps, the Trow and the Harlam, went out with them; and 3 other Holland shipps went from hence after them the xxvjth ditto, viz. the Bantam, Muoyen, and Tortolla, to tuch all at Piscadores, to discharge tymber and plankes which they carry to fortefie themselves.

The Moone is now ready to put to sea to follow the Palsgrove to Jamby; and we dispach away the Bull to goe in company with her; but send nether money nor goodes in the Moone, nether sent we any in the Palsgrove, the precedent Mr. Fursland comanding the contrary in his letters from Jaccatra; but we sent a cargezon of money and merchandiz in the Bull, amonting to 70,342 ta. 8 m. 9 co., as yow may see per coppie of the invoiz.

The Elizabeth we will dispach away as sowne as we can recover in money, for we have sould all our silk and mantas, but noe money receved but that which goeth in the Bull; soe I dowbt I shall be constrayned to stay here till the next monson, to sett matters right. And Edmond Sayer and Ric. Hudson are at this instant ready to departe towardes Edo with our presentes for themperour and his Councell, as the Hollanders are the like, and our frendes geve us councell not to stay behind them. And Mr. Joseph Cockram goeth in the Bull for Jaccatra. Soe Mr. Jno. Osterwick and my selfe of necessety must stay heare to gett in monies to dispach away the Elizabeth, as I think Mr. Eaton must doe the like; for it is noe staying a shipp of such greate charges as she is any long tyme upon dowbtfull occations.

I know I need not to adviz of the unrulynesse of many of our marrenars and sealers, and som of them not of the meanest sort, whoe daylie lie ashore att tipling howses, wasting their goodes and geving bad insample to others to doe the like; soe that of force many carpentars and others have byn hired to doe the shipps busynes, whiles they did lie loyteringe. I need not to name them, but refer it to the cheefe comanders them selves.

I have delivered more monies of the deceased Capt. Wm. Adams unto the purcers of the Moone, Bull, and Elizabeth, to the some of one hundred powndes str., to pay two hundred in England to his widdow Mrs. Mary Adams and her doughter in halves; as the other 100l. I sent in the Royall James was the like. And soe I leave your Wor. with your affares to the holy protection of thallmighty, resting allwais

Your Wors. humble servant at command,

Ric. Cocks.

To the Right Honored Knight, Sr. Thomas Smith, Governor, and the Right Worll. the Committies of the East India Company, deliver in London. Per the shipp Bull, whome God preserve.

[178] India Office. Original Correspondence, vol. ix, no. 1078.

Richard Cocks to the E. I. Company.[179]

Firando in Japon, the 31th of December, 1622.

Right worll. Ser and Sers,—

* * * * *

The Hollanders have this yeare sould greate store of broad cloth, stamettes, blacks, and other cullars, non being left to sell, and at 20 tais and some above per tattamy, and have written for more to Jaccatra to be sent in the next shipp which cometh; as I have donne the like to the precedent, yf any be there to send it. The reason of venting broadcloth is the rumor of warrs very likely to have ensued in Japon, and God knoweth what will com of it; for, since the writing of my last, there is a greate conspirasie discoverd against the person of the Emperour Shonga Samma by 8 or 9 of the greatest and powrfullest princes in Japon, and is thought many others have a hand in it, and his owne bretheren and nearest kinsmen amongst the rest, and the king of this place not free. Soe that it is thought the adverse partie is soe stronge that themperour dare not meddell with them, but will wink at the matter and make peace with them.

The Hollanders have sent greate store of monies and provition to their fortefication at Piscadores, thinking to get trade with the Chinas by one meanes or other; which I am perswaded will not fall out to their exspectation, except they take the China junckes which trade to Isla Fermosa, called by them Taccasanga, which is within sight of the Piscadores. And the Emperour of Japon hath geven out his passe or goshon to the Chinas to trade to Taccasanga, and soe from thence into Japon; soe, yf they be medled withall, their is noe staying in Japon for them which take them. For the 10th ultimo Edmond Sayer, with Ric. Hudson and 2 Hollanders, went from hence towardes Edo with presentes to themperour and his Councell; and we have adviz from them of their arivall at Miaco, and that all men speake ill of them and cry out against them. Soe God knoweth whether our presentes will be receved or noe; but we deliver ours apart and doe mentayne we have nothing to doe with them in their plantation at Piscadores. Of which I thought good to adviz your Wors.

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; but hope the next monson to com towardes England, God sparinge me liffe and health, and soe leave your Wors. with your affares to the holy protection of thallmighty, resting

Your Wors. most humble servant at comand,

Ric. Cocks.

To the Right Honored Knight, Sr. Thomas Smith, Governour of the East India Company, and to the Right Worll. the Committies, deliver in London. Per the shipp Elizabeth, whome God preserve. Sent per way of Jaccatra.

[179] India Office. Original Correspondence, vol. ix, no. 1093.

The Council at Batavia to Richard Cocks.[180]

(Copy.)

Mr. Cox and the rest,—

By the Palsgrave and the rest of our shipps of defence, contrary to our expectacon and expresse comission, instead of your personall appeerance in this place, wee have received severall letters from your selfe and the rest, which gives us no satisfaccion for the breach of our comission, neither is therein conteyned any reason of validitie to excuse your so greate disobediance. What mooved you hereunto wee knowe not, but so many yeres should have had so much experience as to knowe what it is to infringe his superiors comition, and certaine wee are that you cannot answere this your transgretion, if wee should call you and the rest soe stricktly to accompt as your neglect deserveth. But wee will suppose that those your proceedinges were more through ignorance then out of any setled purpose of contempt towardes us, and will forbeare to censure you at present, in hoape of your conformetie now at last to our second comission, which wee send heerewith by our loving frend Mr. Joseph Cockram, whome wee have and doe appointe cheefe marchant of the Bull for the whole voyage. Which shipp wee have nowe made reddy, with no small charge to our employers, purposely to send her unto you, to bring awaye boath your selfe and the rest of the factors, with all the Compa. estate remayning there in the countrie, as more particulerly wee have declared in our comission to Mr. Cockram and instructions delivered to him; heereby straightly charging and comanding, in behalfe of the Honble. Companie our masters, that, uppon sight heereof, you, Mr. Richard Cock, shall deliver over into the handes and custody of Mr. Joseph Cockram all such monnies, goods, debts, etc., as pertaine to the Honnorable Compa., our imployers; and boath you, Mr. Richard Cock, Wm. Eaton, Edmond Sayre, and John Osterwick, shall all and every of you come awaye from thence uppon the shipp Bull for Batavia; hereby charging you and every of you to fulfill our saide order, as you will answere the contrary at your perelles.

The debts which were standing out by your last letters we hope you will have cleired and received them in before this shall come to your hands, knowing the last yere that you are to come from thence. But, if any such debts shalbe yett standing out, it concernes you that made them [to receive them] in before the shipp come awaye from thence. The China Nocheda hath two long deluded you through your owne simplicitie to give creditt unto him. You have lived long enough in those parts to be better experienced of the fraudulent practizes of those people, and, although the prejudice which the Honnorable Compa. have suffered by missing of such greate somes of monney so long, which you have delivered unto him, cannot be recompenced by him, yet it will now be respected and required that you procure all satisfaccon from him for all he owes unto the Compa. The King of Firando his debt wee hoape you have received, boath all somes of such moment as it behooves you to be carefull and dilligent in the recovering in of them; and, in hoape you will herein sattisfie our expectacon, wee desist further to incite you in this matter.

Having cleered all busines and gotten the Companies estate aboard their shipp, which wee desire may be with all speede convenient, you are to take frendly leave of the king and such other officers as you knowe to be meete, and to deliver over the Compa. howse and godownes into the kings hands, to appoint some whome hee shall thincke fitting to keepe the same for the Honnorable Compas. use, untill such tyme as wee shall send theither againe to repossesse the same. And for all such provitions as wee have given order unto Mr. Cockram to provide for this place, you are to see them furnished in due tyme, that soe the shipp may take the best season of the monsonn to come awaye from thence.

Alsoe you are to furnish the shipp with all materialls needefull for her tryming, and eache thinge according to our order given for the perforemance of the busines, and lett the flesh that is to be provided be salted in such a tyme as it may keepe to doe us service. If the full quantetie cannot be provided in dew tyme, then furnish what you cann, for wee will that no busines shall hinder the shipps and your coming awaye from thence in dew tyme to performe her voyage unto this port of Batavia.

And in case there shall be any debts of vallue standing out which cannot be recovered before your lymitted tyme of coming from thence, and that there be certaine hopes to recover in the saide debts afterward, then you shall followe such order as wee have given Mr. Cockram for the leaving of a mann there to recover such debts as shalbe remayning and cannot be gotten in as aforesaid.

The China menn which you sent to refine the silver returne in this shipp. They have refined only one chist of barr plate for triall, and that wee finde so badly donn that we would not lett them proceede any further. They are not suffitient to performe what they have undertaken, for they spoile all they take in hand; so that what you have agreed with them for is meerely cast awaye and lost to the Honnorable Compa. Wee have payde them no wages heere, which you are to take notice of and reccon with them there according as you can agree with them.

Wee desire no more barr plate; wherefore the rest remayning, lett it be in soma, seda, and fabuck plate. But, if there be any such dannger in bringing out the latter, wee desire not to stand to such an adventure. The Dutch have greate quantities sent, yet make no such dannger as you write of; wherefore, if you cannot gett it as securely as they, wee must take such as may be procured without such hassarde.

Camphire which the Hollanders buy in such quanteties wee knowe no vend for; yett you may provide twenty cases or tenn peculs, which may serve for a triall both for England and Mu[su]l[i]pa[tam]; but any greater quantitie then prementioned send not.

In this shipp we have laden a small parcell of camphire of Barouse, being in all 60 catts. 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. It is the Honnorable Compa. expresse order that in any port, where refreshing may be had good cheape, they shall not have allowance of above foure flesh meales a weeke and three meales with salt fish or such like to eate with their rice. This order you are to take notice of and to perfoarme the same; neither may you feede the saylors both aboard and ashore, which (as wee are informed) hath byn a common costom with you, to the excescive charg of the Honnorable Companie, our masters.

You write the pursers aught not to be allowed the foure per cento which they bring to accompt for losse in monneys, and referr it to us to abate it. This abatement you ought to have made there, knowing it to be unreasonable, and should not send such matters unto us to decide where the pursers want no excuses for themselfes, and wee cannot contradict them but only with your barr (wee cannot see you [how ?] they can loose so much), which is no suffitient reason. Wherefore with this purser of the Bull now better examine that busines, and, finding it an abuse by the pursers, abate it uppon Mr. Watts accompt; and, at your arivall heere, wee will take the like course with the rest or so many of them as are heere remayning.

And because the last yere, to serve your owne turne, you made what construction you pleased of our comission for your coming from thence, wee doe nowe iterate our comission in the conclusion of our letter, least, having redd itt in the former part thereof, you should forgett it before you come to thend. Wee will and comaund in the name and behalfe of the Honnorable Compa. of Marchants of London trading [to] East India, our masters, that you, Mr. Richard Cock, William Eaton, Edmond Sayre, and John Osterwick, shall deliver over into the hands of Mr. Joseph Cockram all monneys, goods, and debts perteyning to the Honnorable Compa. aforesayde, and shall all and every of you aforenamed come away from Japon in the shipp Bull for this port of Battavia. Which our order wee require you to performe, as you will answere the contrary at your perill. And soe, hoping of your conformitie unto the premises, wee conclude with our comendations unto you, and committ you with your affayres to Gods direction.

Your loving frends,

Richard Fursland.
Thomas Brockendon.
Aug. Spalding.

Batavia, le 22th of May, Ao. 1623.

[180] British Museum. Cotton Charter, iii. 13, f. 43.

Coppie of a letter to Fegeno Camme, the Kinge or Govr. of Ferando in Japon, sent by our jurobasso, Coe Juan, to the Emperours courte now at Meacoe.[181]

Maye yt please your Highnes, etc.

The 19th instante heare aryved one of our Honnourable Companies shipps from Batavia uppon the coaste, by whome wee have rec. letters from the Honnourable our Gennerall and Councell of India their resident, whearby wee are strictlie charged and commaunded to recover in all such debtes as wee have abroad, and for a tyme to disolve and leave this factorie and to come awaye, everie of us, uppon this shipp with the first of the moonesone, without any excuse or hinderance theirunto. The which commaund from our said Gennerall wee maye not, neither to our powers will, any waye infringe, but doe resolve by the prime of November next to departe hence; whearof wee have thought fittinge in tyme to acquainte your Highnes.

The reasonns endusinge our Gennerall heareunto are many; yet not proceedinge out of any unkinde usage heare in his Maties. dominions, but rather in respect of theise followeinge, viz.:—

The dannger of the seas betweene this and Batavia, haveinge loste within this three yeares two greate and rich shipps bound for this place. Alsoe the smale hopes wee have of procuring trade into China, which hetherto our Honnourable Companie have with greate charges endeavoured to procure, and partelie uppon those hopes have contynewed theire factorie heare thus longe tyme at no smale expence, hopeinge of better profight then thefect hath prodused. And now, lastlie, the losse of one of our Honnourable Companies shipps in her voyadge from England, whoe was richlie laden with comodities of our cuntrie, such as, for the moste parte, have beine vendible heare in Japon; by which meanes wee reste alltogeather unprovided of goods to supplie this factorie, and theirfore not held requisite or entended longer to be contynewed, unless wee could see better hopes to profight. Yet, notwithstandinge, if the next yeare shall produce any better encouradgement, maye then returne againe. Uppon which hopes and good expectation wee entend not to sell or put off our howses and godonns; but, accordinge to our Genneralls order, to leave them to your Highnes, intreateinge they may be kepte for us and repocessed by us, if wee shall returne hither againe. Of which your Highnes shall have due advice everie yeare.

Wee have likewise written heareof unto the Lords of his Maties. Councell, a coppie whearof wee send your Highnes heare inclosed togeither with the princepall, which, if you finde requesite, maye please to cause to be delivered.

And thus, intreatinge to excuse the sendinge this messenger and not comeinge our selves in respect of our short tyme of staye and not being furnished with matterialls needfull to present his Maties. Councell of Japon, we humbly take our leaves, ever restinge

Your Highnes servants to comand,

Joseph Cockram.
Richard Cocks.

English Factory, Ferando in Japon, the 26th Julie, anno 1623.

[181] India Office. Original Correspondence, vol. x, no. 1115.

Coppie of a consultation or letters to the Lords of his Maties. Councell of Japon, sent by our jurobasso, Coe Juan, to the Emperours courte at Meacoe for the tyme beinge.[182]

Whearas, with the free consente and licence of his Matie. the Emperour of Japon and many favours of you, the Lords of his Majesties Councell, wee have thus longe contynewed our factorie heare in his Maties. domynions in Ferando without any molestation or injury offred by any of his Maties. subjects, wee are theirfore in all humble mannor bound to acknowledg and render all due obedient thanks for the same. And beinge now by our Gennerall and Councell of India called from hence, with order for a tyme to disolve this factorie and come all awaye for Batavia uppon the shipp now aryved and expreslie sent to that purpose, wee have thought fittinge hearof to acquainte your Honnours, that, as wee had firste admittance to settle a factorie heare and to remaine in his Majesties cuntry, soe likewise wee maye [have] the like favour now for our departure.

The reasonns moveinge heareunto are larglie expressed in our letter to the Governour of this place, Fegeno Camme, from whome wee doe acknowledge to have receaved many curtesies. Wee would our selves have beine the messengers hearof, but that our occasions are more urgent heare, the tyme of our staye beinge but shorte for cleeringe our selves out of this cuntry; and theirfore doe humbly crave your Honnours pardon, and shall ever remaine obliged to your Lordshipps, and reste

Your Lordpps. servants to comd.,

Joseph Cockram.
Richard Cocks.

English Factory, Ferando in Japon, the 26th Julij, anno 1623.

[182] India Office. Original Correspondence, vol. x, no. 1115.

Coppie of a letter to Fegeno Camme, the Kinge or Governour of Ferando, in Japon, sent by Richard Hudson to the Emperours courte at Meacoe.[183]

Maye it please your Highnes,—

Our laste was of the 26th Julie paste, by our jurobasso, Coe Juan, whome wee sent expreslie with letters unto your Highnes and the Lords of his Majesties Councell of Japon, makeing knowne unto your Lordshipps our order, reced. from the Honnourable our Genneral and Councell in India, for disolveinge this factorie and comeinge all awaye with the firste of the moonsone for Batavia; which, God willinge, wee entend to performe with all convenientsie. And to this end wee wrote our former letters unto your Highnes and the Lords of his Majesties Councell, theirby craveinge our friendlie departure and excusinge the not cominge our selves nor sendinge any English to take our leaves, in respect of our urgent occasions. All which wee hoped would have prevailed. But, contrarie to expectation, wee understand by Tonomonsama, your Highnes brother, and others your nobillitie heare, that it is found expedient, and by your Highnes required, that wee send an Englishman in performeance of this busines, which wee well hoped our jurobasso mighte have effected. And nowe, seeinge yt cannot be otherwise, wee doe now send the bearer hearof, Richard Hudson, whoe carreth with him certaine small presents for his Majesties Councell, beinge such as the tyme will aford and our abillitie of meanes strech unto; humbly intreateinge your Highnes to further the dispach of this messenger, that he maye returne in tyme to further the dispach of this shipp in our departure.

Wee have alsoe delivered unto this bearer his Majesties goshenn, which was grannted us for our free traficke heare in Japon, beinge theirunto required by Tonomonsama and Naygensama, as doubtinge by them yt would be demaunded to be delivered upp unto his Maties. Councell; but, if convenience yt might be granted, wee would intreat the contynewance of yt in our hands, or otherwise in your Highnes custody, that, returninge againe, wee maye have the more freer entrance.

And thus, intreatinge your Highnes favourable assistance in theis our occasions, wee conclude, hopeinge to see you heare before our departure and take a friendlie farwell. In meane tyme we reste

Your Highnes servants to commaund,

Joseph Cockram.
Richard Cocks.

English Factorie at Ferando in Japon, the 2th August, 1623.

[183] India Office. Original Correspondence, vol. x, no. 1115.

THE END.

INDEX.