supplecation (or writing) to have had our previlegese enlarged, and
the rather by meanes of the Kinges Maties. letter sent themperour. But
in the end are forced to content us with them as they were, that is,
only for Firando and Langasaque. And because I was ernest to have had
it otherwais, the councell took the matter in snuffe, esteeming it a
presumption in me to aske lardger previlegese then all other strangers
had. So then I desird they would write a letter to the Kinges Matie.
of England, for my discharge, to show thoccation wherefore they did
it. But that they denid to doe, telling me that we might content our
selves with such composition as other men had, or, yf we did not lyke
it, might retorne to our cuntrey yf we pleased. So now I stay only to
get out our two _goshons_ for Syam and Cochinchina, and to get a
dispach from themperour, which will be 3 or 4 daies before I think it
will be ended. And then will I goe for Miaco to se yf we can doe any
good for sales. And then will I for Osakay and Sackay and look out for
the like, to se if I can procure plate to bring downe with me;
otherwais it will be late to send it per the shipp. I think it will be
15 or 20 daies hence before I shall be ready to set from Osakay
towardes Firando. So that, in the meane tyme, use your best endevour
to make sales of such merchandiz as are belo; and stand not upon small
matters to make ready money.
Yt were good, yf yow can, to receve the lead money in melted or
_somo_ plate, donne by a rendador, with themperours stampe upon
it, for then will it passe in saffetie. Or yt were better yf yow could
get it molten into bars lyke tyn bars, but of halfe the length, and of
the just goodnes with rialles of eight; for soe am I advised from
Bantam.
I went thother day to Miaco to have vizeted the Corean embassadors 293
with a present; but the _Tono_ of Tushma would not let me have accesse
unto them. So I turned back to Fushamy.
The _Tono_ of Xaxma, with them of Goto and Umbra, had leave to retorne
to their cuntres 2 or 3 daies past; but the _Tono_ of Firando cannot
be permitted as yet, although he be very ill at ease.
The ould _dire_ died som 8 or 10 daies past. But nether he nor his
sonne, which now is _daire_, will geve themperour the name or title he
soe much desireth; which geveth hym much discontent, as also the death
of one of his sisters whoe was marid to a greate man not far from
hence and died the other day.
The castell of Osakay must be new builded, with a pagod neare unto
Sackay, which weare destroied in these last wars; and all at
themperours owne cost. Only the westarne _tonos_ must furnish men; but
themperour will pay them, and not put any enhabetant to trowble about
the doing thereof.
Themperour hath geven greate presentes to the Coreans, as all the
greate _tonos_ of Japon have donne the like; but for what occation I
am not certen. This is all I know for the present; and so comit yow to
God, resting allwais
Your loving frend,
RIC. COCKS.
For God sake take heed of fire; and forget not my pigions and fishes.
Comend me to all our frendes, both hees and howes.
To his lovinge frendes, Mr. Wm. Nealson
and Mr. John Osterwick, English
merchantes, deliver in Firando. From
Fushamy. Pay port. one _mas_ for
letter and for other matters, as per
adviz.
[165] British Museum. _Cotton Charter_, iii, 13, f. 15.
-------------------
RICHARD COCKS TO WILLIAM NEALSON AND JOHN OSTERWICK.[166] 294
Fushamy in Japon, le 1th of October, 1617.
Loving frendes,--
Yow will not beleeve what a trowble we have had about our previlegese,
and with much ado yistarday got Langasaque set in as well as Firando,
and soe sealed per themperour. But, before it could be delivered, som
took acceptions thereat, and so Langasaque is razed out againe, and
matters remeane as before. Yet this morning I have sent Capt. Adames
againe to get Goto and Shashma put in for shiping that, yf in case the
_Tono_ of Firando abuse us, we may have a retiring place, as also
to abcent our selves from the Hollanders, it not being to our content
to live together. But whether they will grant this or no, I know not.
Once we are put to Hodgsons choise[167] to take such previlegese as
they will geve us, or else goe without. My dowbt is, they will drive
us affe till the Emperour be gon (whoe they say will departe to
morrow), so thinking to make us follow them to Edo; but truly I will
rather leave all and retorne for Firando. I doe protest unto yow I am
sick to see their proceadinges, and canot eate a bit of meate that 295
doth me good, but cast it up as sowne as I have eaten it. God send me
well once out of this cuntrey, yf it be His blessed will. Mr. Wickham
and Capt. Adames are not halfe currant neather, as also our folkes
which came with us have byn sick, except Fatchman, Richard King
haveing had his part.
Kept till the 2th ditto.
Yisternight came your letters dated in Firando the 8th and 9th ultimo,
accompanid with the _goshon_, which came in good tyme (I
instantly sending it to the Cort where there was much enquiring for
it). Soe we gott out our _goshons_, but the privelegese as they
were the last yeare. Warry, warry, warry!
Your loving frend,
RIC. COCKS.
God grant Tozayemon Dono do not play the jemeny with us in buying much
of our merchandiz and stay there till he think I am com from hence,
and so I shall nether meete hym heare nor theare, to make acco. with
hym. I have the lyke dowbt of Neyemon Dono.
To his lovinge frendes, Mr. Wm. Nealson
and Mr. Jno. Osterwick, English merchantes,
deliver in Firando. From
Fushamy.
[166] British Museum. _Cotton Charter_, iii, 13, f. 17.
[167] This early use of the proverbial "Hobson's choice" is
almost conclusive against the usual explanation of the phrase,
that it was derived from the method adopted by Hobson, the
Cambridge carrier, in serving his customers with horses. Hobson
was born in 1544 and died in 1630. Granting that the expression
arose during his life-time, it could hardly have begun to pass
into common usage before the close of the sixteenth century; and
in those days such popular phrases were not communicated so fast
as in ours. But here we find Cocks using it as early as 1617,
after an absence of some years from England; and he would hardly
have picked it up abroad. Again, Cocks was not a young man; and,
as a rule, proverbs are learned and become part of our vocabulary
in youth. "Hobson's choice" (or Hodgson's, as Cocks writes it)
may very well have been an older popular saying which was applied
to the Cambridge carrier's stable arrangements from the mere
accident of his bearing the name he did.
-------------------
RICHARD COCKS TO THE E. I. COMPANY.[168]
Firando in Japon, the 15th of February, 1617[8].
Right worll. Ser and Sers,--
* * * * * *
Consernyng attempting trade into Cochinchina, yt was generally agreed
upon the last yeare, as I advized your Wor. in my letter; Ed. Sayer
being sent upon that busynes, and went in a junck of Mr. Wm. Adames, 296
he being both master and owner, and was to pay for fraight and passage
as other men did and according to the custom of the cuntrey, and carid
a cargezon goodes with hym.
* * * * * *
Edmond Sayer retorned ... having donne his best endevour, with the
assistance of Mr. Wm. Adames, to learne out the truth of Mr. Peacockes
death. And fynd that he was murthered by a Japon, his host, with the
consent of one or two of the cheefest men about the kyng, and, as it
is said, the yong prince was of their councell, but the ould kyng
knoweth nothing thereof but that he was cast away by mere chance or
misfortune. These greate men and his host shared all the goodes and
money amongst them, as well of the Hollanders as thenglish whome were
slaine all together in one small boate, it being steamed or oversett
with a greater full of armed men. They are enformed that Mr. Peacockes
ill behaveor was partly occation; for at first the king used hym
kyndly and gave us larg previlegese to trade in his domynions. And one
day a greate man envited hym to dyner, and sent his cheefe page to
conduct hym, he being sonne to a greate man. But he coming into the
place wheare Mr. Peacock sate, he gave hym [hard] wordes and bad hym
goe out and sit with the boyes. And, as som say, being in drink, he
tore the previlegese the king had geven hym for free trade and cast
the peeces under his feete. These and other matters (which is reported
he did) did much estrang the peoples hartes from hym, and, as it was
thought by som whome saw how matters went, was the cheefe occation
which caused his death.
Mr. Adames and Ed. Sayer were very ernest to have had speech with the
kyng, which at first that greate nobelman was contented, as it seemed.
But, when he knew they would bring in question the murthering of Mr.
Peacock (he being giltie of it), he put them affe from tyme to tyme 297
with delaies, and in the end did flatly gainsay them. And, had they
gone, out of dowbt they had byn murthered in the way.
* * * * * *
I am of your Wor. opinion that, except we procure trade into China, it
will not quite cost to mentayne a factory in Japon.... I have this
yeare byn againe at themperours court, in company of Mr. Wickham and
Mr. Wm. Adames, hoping to have got our previlegese enlarged, as
Codsquin Dono and Oyen Dono did put me in hope the last yeare.... We
gave the present to themperour as from his Matie., and amongst the
rest went a scritorio sent in adventure from my Lady Smith, esteemed
at 40 markes, with the gloves, mittens, looking glasse and other
silver implementes in it, with an other present aparte for the shipp,
as the Japon custom is. Which presentes were taken in good sort, with
many complementall wordes; but in the end were answered we had as larg
prevelegese as any other strangers, wherewith we might rest contented,
or, yf we fownd not trade to our content, we might departe when we
pleased and seeke better in an other place. So then I desird I might
have an answer to the letter he had receved from the Kinges Matie. of
England, wherby he might perceve I had delivered both letter and
present. But answer was made me, the letter was sent to his father,
Ogosho Samma, the deceased Emperor, and therefore held ominios amongst
the Japons to answer to dead mens letters. I aledged they needed not
to feare that we had any accoyntance with the pristes or padres; but
they tould me that was all one, the Emperour would have his owne
vassales to get the benefite to bring up merchandize rather then
strangers. So that now it has com to passe, which before I feared,
that a company of rich usurers have gotten this sentence against us,
and com downe together every yeare to Langasaque and this place, and
have allwais byn accustomed to buy by the _pancado_ (as they call 298
it), or whole sale, all the goodes which came in the carick from
Amacau, the Portingales having no prevelegese as we have, but only a
monson trade, and therefore must of necessety sell.
* * * * * *
The Chinas of late tyme, within these 2 or 3 yeares, have begun a
trade into certen ilandes called by them Tacca Sanga, and is named in
our sea cardes Isla Fermosa, neare to the cost of China. 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. The reason was the greate aboundance which came
together this yeare and the littell money that was sent to buy, so
that above one halfe was retorned into China for want of money, for
they say the people are barbarous and have not the use of silver.
* * * * * *
I have rec. 2 letters from the Kynges Matie. to the King of China,
sent from Bantam by Mr. Ball, the one in frendly sort and the other
som stricter termes. Mr. Ball writes me that no Chinas at Bantam dare
nether translate them nor carry them when they are translated, upon
payne of their lives and even of all their generation. But these our
China frendes, Dittis and Whaw, will not only translate them, but send
them by such as will see them delivered. But their opinion is, yt is
not good to send the thretnyng letter, for they are assured there will
nothing be donne with the king by force. But as we have a good name 299
geven of us of late, that we are peacable people, soe to goe forward
still in that sort.
* * * * * *
I had almost [forgotten to tell your Wor. of the coming of the]
ambassadors from the Kyng of Corea to the Emperour of Japon, having
above 500 men attending upon them. They went up at same tyme I went to
themperours court, and were, by the Emperours comand, royally
entertaind by all the _tonos_ (or kinges of Japon) thorow whose
terretories they passed, and all at the Japons charge, they first
begyning with the _Tono_ of Tushma, and next with hym of Firando,
etc.; and coming to the court the Emperour made them to dyne at his
owne table, they being served by all the _tonos_ (or kinges) of
Japon, every one having a head attire of a redish culler with a
littell mark of silver lyke a fether in it. Mr. Adames was in presence
and saw it.
* * * * * *
Your Wor. most humble at command,
RIC. COCKS.
To the Right Worll. the Governor, deputy
Committies, and Generallety of the
East India Company, deliver in
London.
[168] India Office. _Original Correspondence_, vol. v, no. 615.
-------------------
RICHARD COCKS TO WILLIAM NEALSON AND JOHN OSTERWICK.[169]
Langasaque in Japon, this 21th of February, 1618[9].
Loving frendes,--
We arrived heare yisternight an hower before sunne seting, Capt.
Adames being arived the day before and came out and met us with the
China Capt., all the China junckes haveing out their flagges and
stremars, with St. George amongst the rest, and shott affe above 40
chambers and peeces of ordinance at my arivall.
I wish I had had noe _goshon_, for the trowble and vexation it puteth 300
me unto, and know not how to remedy it. Yet now it is concluded that
our _goshon_ shall goe in that new junck at Firando, and Capt. Adames
goeth capt. and pilot in her, for Tonkyne.
I have much speeches heare betwixt Alvaro Munos and Jorge Durons about
the caffro; but Alvaro Munos standeth stiffly to it that it is the
same caffro, and Jorge Durons saieth it is an other. I have delivered
Mr. Nealsons letter to Jorge, and in the end the truth will com out. I
know not what else to write, but leave yow to the protection of
thallmightie, resting
Your loving frend,
RIC. COCKS.
To his loving frendes, Mr. Wm. Nealson
and Mr. Jno. Osterwick, English merchantes,
deliver in Firando. From
Langasaque.
[169] British Museum. _Cotton Charter_, iii, 13, f. 35.
-------------------
RICHARD COCKS TO JOHN OSTERWICK.[170]
Nangasaque in Japon, the 18th of February, 1619[20].
Loving frend, Mr. Osterwick,--
The next day after our departure from Firando, being the xvjth
currant, we arived at Nangasaque, having, the day before, mett with a
bark of Firando, which brought me a letter from Mr. Eaton and
therinclozed an other from yow. My letter I opened and read over, and
afterwardes sent it, with a few allmondes for Mr. Nealson, and your
letter with it, per the same partie and bark which brought it, to the
intent yow both might read it over and see the contentes. Yet I think
it will not prove soe dangerous a matter as at the reading of the
letter I suppozed it would have byn, for humors now and then are over
much predomenant in som men; but, as the saying is, _nemo sine
crimene vivet_. You must pardon me, yf I speak falce Latten. 301
Yistarday we sett our junckes mastes, and I hope will not now be long
before she will be ready. We fynd her to be biggar of stoadg then we
formerly expected.
I have byn with Capt. Adames at Gonrok Dono, and in thend concluded
the price of our lead at 5-1/2 _tais_ the _pico_. But Gonrok will
first speake with themperours _bongews_ or councellors thereof, and,
in the meane tyme, will deliver us eight hundred _taies_ in parte of
payment, and will send a man to way out all the lead, and leave it in
our howse till order com downe to take it and pay the rest of the
money. And, as Gonrok tells me, the Hollanders have made prise at 5
_taies pico_, and waid it all and delivered it into the handes of the
King of Firando. But I esteem this but a tale. And so I comit yow to
thallmightie, resting
Your loving frend,
RIC. COCKS.
To his loving frend, Mr. Wm. Nealson,
English merchant, deliver in Firando.
From Nangasaque. This letter should
be derected Mr. Jno. Osterwick, etc.
[170] British Museum. _Cotton Charter_, iii, 13, f. 37.
-------------------
RICHARD COCKS TO THE E. I. COMPANY.[171]
Nangasaque in Japon, the 10th of Marche, 1619[20].
Right worll. Ser and Sers,--
After my humble dutie remembred, may it please yow to understand that,
by the indirect dealinges and unlooked for proceadinges of the
Hollanders, this is the therd yeare since we hadd any shipping came
from England or Bantam to Japan. Neather in all this tyme have we had
any conveance to enforme your Worshipps of the manifold abuses
offered unto us within these kingdoms of Japon, notwithstanding the 302
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.
And their cheefe comander which came hither last, called Adam
Westerwood, sett my life at sale, offering 50 R. of 8 to any man that
could kill me, and 30 R. for each other Englishman they could kill;
which their proceadinges could not be soe secretly donne, but I hadd
dailie notis thereof by som of their owne people, although they were
comanded upon payne of death to the contrary. And because your Wors.
shall understand all how it hath passed, it is as hereafter followeth,
viz.:--
After that the comander (as they call hym), Jno. Derickson Lamb, came
hither from the Molucos and passed by the Manillias, where he took
divers China junckes and staid soe long on that cost that the Spanish
gallions came out against hym and sunck the admerall shipp, called the
_New Sunne_, wherein Derickson Lamb hym selfe was, whoe escaped very
hardly abord an other shipp, wherein he came to Japon. The Spaniardes
also burned two other of the Hollandes fleete, and made all the rest
to run away, without losse of any Spanish shipp, etc.
And Jno. Derickson Lamb, going away, left the _Ould Sunne_, a great
ship with 38 or 40 peeces ordinance in her, with an other shipp,
called the _Gallias_, of 300 tonns, as they say, with 30 peeces of
ordinance in her, and sent them abootehawling one the cost of China,
and from thence to the Manillias, where they h[ad] the rifling of xvi
seale of China junckes, and filled them with such as they liked and 303
sett the rest on fire, and brought the China junckes along with them,
being the best and ruchliest laden, puting som 8 or 9 Hollanders into
each junck; but, by fowle wether at sea, they lost company of the
shipps, soe that the Chinas, being too strong for the Hollanders, cut
all their throtes, and carid all the junckes into China, as we hadd
certen newes thereof.
These 2 shipps, the _Sunne_ and _Gallias_, arived at Firando the 6th
and 8th day of June, 1618. And the 8th day of August after heare
arived an English shipp, called the _Attendance_, which the Hollanders
sent hither from the Molucas, to our greater disgrace, but not an
Englishman in her. So that, by generall consent, it was thought fitt I
went to themperours court to complaine, thinking we might have hadd
restetution, considering the lardge preveleges we have in Japon. But
answer was made that for factes comitted in other places themperor
would not meddell with it, but for anything donne in his owne
dominions he would see us have right.
Soe the three forenamed shipps, _Sunne_, _Gallias_, and _Attendance_,
were sett out againe, the _Sunne_ to carry their most best stuffes and
silke, her full lading, to goe for Bantam; and the other two to goe
for the Manillas, to meete an other Hollandes fleete, because they had
certen news that 6 of the King of Spaines gallions were cast away per
misfortune at Manillas, which was true, soe that the Spaniardes hadd
no strength to com out against them. Soe they took 3 China junckes
more, but noe greate wealth in them, only they found such good
refreshing that it saved the lives of their hongerstarved men;
otherwaies they hadd never lived to see Japon.
Soe now may it please your Wors. to understand this last yeare, I
meane reckning before Christmas, here cam 7 seale of Hollanders for
this cuntrey of Japon and to this towne of Firando, viz.:--
1. The _Bantam_, a shipp of 1000 tonns, wherin Adam Westerwood came. 304
2. The _New Moone_, a shipp of 7 or 800 tonns, vizadmerall.
3. The _Gallias_ before named, of above 300 tonns.
4. The _Attendance_, thenglish shipp before named.
5. The _Swan_, an other English shipp taken by them at Molucas.
And out of these shipps 3 Englishmen escaped ashore and came to
thenglish howse to seeke releefe, telling us they were used more like
dogges then men amongst the Hollanders. Their names are as followeth:
John Moore, John Joones, Edward Curwin; these 3 men brought presoners
in Hollandes shipps. The Hollanders demanded these 3 men to be
retorned back unto them; unto whome I made answer, I would first see
their comition how they durst presume to take our English shiping,
men, and goodes, as they did. So then they went to the _Tono_ (or
King) of Firando, and demanded that their English _kengos_ (which in
Japons is sclaves) should be sent back unto them. Unto whome the
_tono_ made answer that he took not the English to be sclaves to the
Hollanders, we having such lardge preveleges in Japon as we hadd, and
therefore willed them to goe to themperour and demand them of hym, and
what he ordayned should be performed, etc.
Also their came a penisse from the Molucas, called the _Fox_, to bring
newes of the fight betwixt thenglish fleete and the Hollanders att
Jaccatra, and that these shipps should make hast to the Molucas with
powder, shott, victuelles, and other provition, etc.
And last of all came an other greate shipp from Pattania, called the
_Angell_, being the admerall of 3 shipps which came together and sent
of purpose to take the _Samson_ and _Hownd_, two other English shipps,
wherin Capt. Jno. Jourden, the presedent, came cheefe comander; they
Hollanders coming upon them on a sudden as they road at an ancor in 305
the roade of Pattania, nott dowbting any such matter, where they took
both the said shipps, after the death of Capt. Jourden and others. Out
of which shipp _Angell_ Mr. Wm. Gourden and Michell Payne escaped
ashore, by the assistance of Mr. Wm. Adames; otherwais they hadd byn
sent captives (as the Duch terme it) to the Molucas. Mr. Gourden was
master of the _Hownd_, and Michell Payne carpenter of the _Samson_. As
also a Welchman, named Hugh Williams, escaped from them and came to
the English howse the morrow after. By which 3 men, as also by an open
letter which I receved from Mr. Adam Denton from Pattania in the Duch
shipp _Angell_, we understand of the proceadinges of the Hollanders
against our nation; the copie of which letter I send your Wors. here
inclozed.