they could not by any meanes gett back the Englishmen which escaped
from them, allthough they laid secrett ambushes ashore to have taken
them, which being reveled to me by som of their owne people, then they
came to outbrave us in the streetes before our owne dores, urging us
with vild speeches; soe that from words som of our people and they
fell to blowes, where one of the Hollanders got a scram, which made
the rest soe madd that they came on shore by multetudes, thinking by
force to have entred into our howse and cutt all our throates, geveing
3 assaltes in one day. Yet the Japons took our partes, that they could
doe us no harme, although there were v. or vj. C. of them against v.
or vj. persons of us. And the next day morning after, when we thought
nothing, a company of them entred our howse, armed with piks, swordes,
and _cattans_, where they wounded John Coaker and an other, thinking
they hadd kild one of them at least, as they made their bragges after.
Soe that we weare constrayned to keepe in our howse a gard of Japons,
night and day, armed, at meate, drink, and wages, to your Wors. greate 306
charge. Soe that the king of Firando comanded watch and ward to be
kept in the streetes, that noe Hollanders might be suffered to passe
by our dores. But then they went in swarmes by water, shaking their
naked swords at us, calling us by a thousand filthie names; which
coming to the knowledg of the _tono_, he sent for Capt. Jacob Speck,
princepall (or cape merchant) of the Hollanders in Japon, and caused
hym to geve a writing in Japons before witnesses, with his ferme at
it, that from that tyme forward no Hollander should misuse an
Englishman, nether in word nor deed, and then caused me, Richard
Cocks, to geve an other to the same effect, with my ferme at it,
before the same witnesses, that noe Englishman should doe the like to
any Hollanders. Yet, before 3 or 4 daies were passed, the Hollanders
began againe to misuse us; for that Edmond Sayer, being retorned of a
voyage he hadd made for your Wors. affares to Cochinchina and arived
at Nangasaque, sentt Richard King to Firando to advertis me thereof
and to bring our _foyfone_ (or bark) with hym to carry the comodetis
he hadd brought to Firando. But as the said Ric. King was going out in
the said bark, accompanied with our _jurebasso_, the Hollanders armed
out five or six barkes or shipp boates after them, full of men, with
guns, pikes, swordes, and other weapons, and took hym presoner with
the bark and carid hym to the Hollands howse, using hym very
churlishly. The _tono_ being an eye witnesse and looker on when they
did it, mooved hym soe much that he sent out certen boates full of
souldiers after them, to have reskewed Ric. King; but they came to
late, for the Hollanders hadd carried hym into their howse before they
came. Soe the souldiers laid hand on Capt. Speck hym selfe and carid
hym presoner to the _tonos_ howse, where he remeaned most parte of the
day, till Richard King was sett free.
But this matter was noe sowner overpast but our junck arived from 307
Syam, wherin Mr. Eaton came and advized me of their arivall on this
coast, and to send them a boate or two to helpe to toe them in, which
I did; and Ed. Sayer, Richard Kinge, and John Coaker went in them with
our _jurebasso_. But, passing by the Hollandes shipps in this harbor,
they bent a peece of ordinance against them, which took falce fire.
Which they seeing, discharged 4 or 5 muskettes at them with langarell
(or cheane) shott; but, by greate fortune, missed the Englishmen and
kild a Japon. Which open injuries being offered against us in Japon
(contrary to the preveleges geven us by the Emperour), yt was thought
fitt (and agreed upon by a generall councell) that I should goe to the
court of the Emperour of Japon, to make their doinges knowne unto his
Matie. and to demand justice; which I did, with much labour and greate
cost to your Wors. And order was geven by the Emperours comand and his
previe councell to the _Tono_ or King of Firando to heare both parties
and see justis performed. Yet, from that tyme till now, there is
nothing donne, although I have divers tymes very instantly desired it
of the kinge, whose best answer I eaver could gett was, that the
Hollanders had kild no Englishman, but a Japonar, his owne vassale,
which yf he were content to pardon, what hadd I to doe therwith?
And that which is worse, we being makinge cables for our junck in the
streetes of Firando, the servantes of a gentelman called Semi Dono
picked a quarrell against Ed. Sayer as he, Wm. Eaton, and Jno.
Osterwick were looking on the workmen; and, without any reazon came
out against them with clubbs and staves, and knockt downe Ed. Sayer,
wounding hym very sore; and the rest escaped not free, but were
shrodly beaten, and, hadd they not by good fortune gotten into a
howse, they hadd kild them all. For the which abuse I went first to
Semi Dono to complaine, but he would not vouchsaffe to speake to 308
me. Soe I complained to the kinge, thinking to have hadd justice; but,
to the contrary, he sent me word that by councell he hadd banished two
men of Semi Donos out of his dominions, which were the authors
thereof, as he did the like by Edmond Sayer, telling me that, yf I did
not forthwith send hym to Nangasaque, he would geve orders to kill hym
the first tyme he went out of the dores into the street. Unto which I
made answer, it was against the preveleges geven us by the Emperour,
desiring hym to lett me pleade for my selfe, to show my greefes, or
else lett the matter be brought before the Emperour. But the kinge
would not heare me speak any ferther in this matter, but badd me stand
to the danger, yf I sent hym not away. Yet still I pleaded that the
Hollanders hadd donne much more, even to the killinge of Japons, and
yet were not banished nor any thing said to them for it, nether for
any other abuses offered against us; and Ed. Sayer nor no other
Englishman hadd nether wounded nor hurt any Japon for this matter he
was banished for, yet he hym selfe being wounded almost to death. But
all would not serve, soe that I was constrayned to send Ed. Sayer to
Nangasaque, and soe from thence to goe for Bantam or any other place
where the English fleete is, to geve the precedent and cheefe
comanders to understand thereof, etc.
For may it please your Wors. to understand that, having soe many
Englishmen lying idly in the factory, with those which were heare
before, and noe shipping to carry them away, as well to avoid charg of
howse keepinge as also to geve your Wors. to understand how matters
passe, it was ordayned per a general councell to buy a small _soma_ or
vessell of som 50 tonns, to carry these men whose names follow (at
their owne ernest request) to seek out the fleete in Java, Sumatra, or
else wheare, to helpe to fight against the commune enemie, as they
have procleamed them selves, I meane the Hollander, as also to 309
carry gunpowder, shott, beefe, pork, biskitt, tunnie fish, and other
provition, soe much as conveniently the vessell can carry. The names
of the Englishmen which goe are as followeth, viz:--Edmond Sayer,
James Burges, Thomas Harod, Wm. Gorden, Robt. Hawley, Jno. Portes,
Migell Payne, John Coaker, John Moore, John Joones, Ed. Curwine, Jno.
Yonge, Hugh Williams, Peeter Griffine. Also there goe 9 Japon
marrenars with them for their more strengthning, as also because their
seals are of mattes, after the Japon fation, wherin they are more
expert then our English men. And, for their better defence they carry
4 falcons, 2 of brasse and 2 of iron, with 2 long brasse bases, 2
fowlars or murtherers, 3 hargabush of crock, 5 English muskettes, and
8 Japon calivers, with good powder and shott suffitient, etc. The
junck name is called the _Godspeed_, of the burthen of 50 tonns or
upwardes, and cost us iiij C. xxx _tais_ first peny, being open behind
as all _somas_ are, but we have made her now to steare shipp fation.
God prosper her and send them a good voyage.
* * * * * *
Truly to my hartes greefe I am eavery day more then other out of hope
of any good to be donne in Japon, except trade may be procured into
China, which I am not yet out of hope of. Although Capt. 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.
But of all the merchandiz we have this last yeare, before Christmas 310
came, from Syam, Cochinchina, and Tonkyn, as reed wood, lead, deare
skins, and silke of severall prices, we cannot make sale of any thing;
which maketh me to wonder, for the other yeare before was much greater
quantety of all comodetis and yet sould dearer.
* * * * * *
Our lead, which never heretofore lesse then 6 _tais_, now worth 5
_tais_; but none dare buy it for feare of themperour. Soe I have set
it at 5-1/2 _tais pico_. But themperours _bongew_ will not take it
absolutely at that price, before he have made it knowne to themperours
councell, he being now bond up to the court and called thither per
themperour, as it is thought to put an other in his place, which God
forbid; he being now ruch is better to be dealt withall, but, yf a new
hongry fello com, he will gnawe to the very boanes, as others
heretofore have fownd by experience, two or three haveing byn changed
in my time. But that which cheefly spoileth the Japon trade is a
company of ruch usurers whoe have gotten all the trade of Japon into
their owne handes; soe that heretofore by theare meanes we lost our
preveleges geven us per Ogosho Samma themperour, wherin he permitted
us to trade into all partes of Japon not excepted, and now per this
Emperour Shongo Samma we are pend up in Firando and Nangasaque only,
all other places forbidden us. For they have soe charmed themperour
and his councell, that it is in vayne to seeke for remedy. And these
fellowes are nott content to have all at their owne disposing above,
but they com downe to Firando and Nangasaque, where they joyne
together in seting out of junckes for Syam, Cochinchina, Tonkin,
Camboja, or any other place where they understand that good is to be
donne, and soe furnish Japon with all sortes of comodeties which any
other stranger can bring, and then stand upon their puntos, offering
others what they list them selves, knowing no man will buy it but 311
them selves or such as they please to joyne in company with them,
nether that any stranger can be suffered to transport it into any
other parte of Japon. Which maketh me alltogether aweary of Japon.
* * * * * *
And for our English broad cloth, I canot find that any greate quantety
will be vented in Japon. For they use it not in garmentes, except som
fewe in an outward cloak or garment now of late. But the greatest use
they put it to is for cases or coveringes for armours, pikes,
_langenattes_, _cattans_, or sables, with muskettes or guns. And the
best cullars are stametes or blackes, with reddes, for venting any
quantetie. And the best tyme is against warrs, for then every noble
man will have his armours and munition sett out in gallant sort. But
clothes of above xxli. str. a whole clo. are too deare for Japon, for
they doe not respect soe much the fynenesse of the cloth as they do
the quantetie of the measure. And the cullers which are best after
black and redd are sadd blewes, culler du roy, or mingled cullers
neare unto that of culler due roy.
* * * * * *
So that, to conclude this tediouse and unprofitable discourse, I
esteem our Japon trade alltogether unprofetable, yf wee procure not
trade into China. But, yf it please God that your Wors. lay hould or
determen to sett foote in the Molucas, then Japon must be your store
howse, as it is the Hollanders. For from hence they make their
provition in aboundance, viz. great ordinance both of brasse and iron,
with powder and shott good cheape; beefe and pork, in greate
quantetie; meale and bisquite, as much as they will; garvances, or
small peaze or beanes, in abondance; and dried fish lyke a breame,
called heare _tay_, in aboundance; tunnie fish salted, in greate
quantetie; rack or aquavite, of any sort, in aboundance; rice, in what
quantetie they will; with other sortes of Japon wine made of rise, 312
what they will; and pilchardes, in greate quantetie, either pickled or
otherwais. And for provition of shiping, either tymber or plankes,
with mastes, yardes, or what else to make a shipp, with good
carpenters to work it, as also rozen or pitch enough, but no tarr.
Also ther is hempe indifferent to make cables, and them which can
resonably well work it. And for iron work, neales, and such lyke,
there is noe want, and smiths that can make ancors of hamer work of 20
or 30 C. wight, yf need be; for such have byn made for carickes which
came from Amacon to Nangasaque, etc.
* * * * * *
Also heretofore at severall tymes I have sent my acco. to Bantam,
according to your Wor. order, with coppies thereof, to the precedent
or cheefe in that place, the other to be sent for England. Yet, as I
understand, they have detayned all at Bantam and sent non for England;
and Mr. Balle per name hath wrott to some Englishmen in this place,
whoe loved me not soe littell but they shewed me his letters, wherin
he taxed my acco. to be erronios and alltogether falce and fetched
about with a trick beyond rule, soe that he wondered they should jumpe
soe neare in ballance, being soe notably falce. But yf Mr. Balle hadd
byn soe good a frend unto me as he would make me to beleeve in som
lynes of his letters (yet he never gave me roast meate but he did
beate me with the spitt)--I beeseeke your Wors. to pardon me yf I be
too forward of tonge herein--I say, yf Mr. Balle had ought me soe much
good will, yt hadd byn a frendly parte to have amended that which hadd
byn amiss, yf such were to be donne, and then to have sent the acco.
forward, and not to keepe all back, saying it was falce or
erronios.... My greefe is, I lie in a place of much losse and expence
to your Wors. and no benefitt to my selfe, but losse of tyme in my
ould adge, allthough God knoweth my care and paines is as much as yf 313
benefite did come thereby. Yet truly, yf the tyme or place, or other
occation amend it not, I shall, as I came a pore man out of England,
retorne a beggar home, yf your Wor. have noe consideration thereof,
although your Wor. shall never find that I have byn a gamstar or
riatouse person which have spent eather your Wor. or my owne goodes
riatosly or out of order. I beseek your Wors. to pardon my overbould
speeches hearin. But, yf it hadd pleased God that Generall Keeling or
any other your Wors. apointed hadd com to Japon to have overseene the
affares in this factory, it would have byn a greate comfort unto me
and ridd me of a greate deale of care; for most an end for the space
of two yeares Mr. Nealson hath byn very sick, and Mr. Jno. Osterwick
littell lesse, and both of them at this instant soe extreame sick that
I dowbt much of their recovery, which hath [byn] and is a hinderance
to me in the proceadinges of acco. and writing out of coppies, they
two being all the helpe I have hadd, others going abroad on voyages
for your Wor. affares. God of his mercy send them their healthes, for
they are soe weake that I esteeme they cannot write by this conveance
nether to your Wors. nor noe other frendes.
And, whereas heretofore I wrott your Wors. that Shongo Samma, the
Emperour that now is, had shortned our preveleges, that we should
trade into noe other partes of Japon but only Nangasaque and Firando,
and our shipping to goe only to Firando, now he hath permitted us to
goe with our shipps for Nangasaque as well as Firando at our chose.
And the harbor at Nangasaque is the best in all Japon, wheare there
may 1,000 seale of shipps ride land lockt, and the greatest shipps or
carickes in the world may goe in and out at pleasure and ride before
the towne within a cables length of the shore in 7 or 8 fathom water
at least, yt being a greate cittie and many ruch marchantes dwelling 314
in it, where, to the contrary, Firando is a fisher towne and a very
small and badd harbor, wherin not above 8 or 10 shipps can ride at a
tyme without greate danger to spoile one other in stormy weather; and
that which is worst, noe shipping can enter in or out of that harbour,
but they must have both tide and winde as also 8 or 10 penisses or
barkes to toe them in and out, the currant runeth soe swift that
otherwaies they canot escape runing ashore; where, to the contrary,
there is no such mattar at Nangasaque, yt being one of the fairest and
lardgest harbours that eaver I saw, wherinto a man may enter in and
goe out with shiping at all tymes, the wind serving, without helpe of
boate or penisse. And in Nangasaque there is noe king nor noble man,
but only the Emperours _bongew_ (or governar) of the place; soe that
we need not to geve presentes to more then one at any shipps entring.
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. 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. So that now many tyme and often we have wished that your 315
Wor. howsing att Firando stood at Nangasaque, which heretofore was not
thought fitt, because then a papist Portingale bushopp lived in the
towne and ther was 10 or 12 parish churches, besids monestaries, all
which are now pulld downe to the grownd this yeare, an end being made
thereof; and the places where all such churches and monestaries weare,
with the churchyords, are all turned into streetes, and all the dead
mens boanes taken out of the grownd and cast forth for their frendes
and parentes to bury them where they please. I doe not rejoyce herin,
but wish all Japon were Christians; yet in the tyme of that bushopp
heare were soe many prists and Jesuists with their partakers, that one
could not passe the streetes without being by them called Lutranos and
herejos, which now we are very quiet and non of them dare open his
mouth to speake such a word.
And soe, beseeching the God of heaven to blesse and prosper your Wors.
in all your proceadinges, I humbly take my leave, restinge
Your Wors. most humble servant at command,
RIC. COCKS.
To the Right Wor. the Governor, Depute
Committis, and Generalletie of the East
India Company of England deliver in
London. Per the way of Bantam in
the juncke _Godspeed_, whom God preserve.
[171] India Office. _Original Correspondence_, vol. vii, no. 841.
-------------------
RICHARD COCKS TO THE CLOTHWORKERS' COMPANY.[172]
Nangasaque in Japon, the 10th of Marche, 1619[20].
Right worll. Ser and Serrs,--
May it please yow to understand that, since my arivall in Japon in
these eastarne partes of the world, I wrot yow an other letter by a
Dutch chirurgion, called Mr. Abraham Blancard, advising your Wors. 316
of my long voyadge into these partes, passing by Cape Bona Speranza,
the Redd Sea, Bantam in Java major, the Molucas, and soe to the
eastwardes of the Phillipinas into these kingdoms of Japon, wheare now
I have remeaned allmost the space of vij yeares. Of the which I
thought good to adviz your Wors. of the just occation of my abcense,
to the entent I fall into noe broake for the neclecting thereof, as I
know others have donne. I also wrot your Wors. from Bayon in France to
same effect, many yeares past, by a Duchman of Middebrogh, called
James Vrolick. Which former letters I make no dowbt came unto your
Wors. handes, etc.
Allso, may it please yow to understand that we are much molested in
these partes of the world with the unruly Hollanders, whoe have
procleamed open warrs against our English nation both by sea and land,
and to take our shipps and goods and kill our persons as their mortall
enemies, wheresoever they find us. And, for better proof thereof, they
broght two English shipps this yeare into Japon, out of which 3
Englishmen escaped and came to our English howse for releefe. The
shipps names taken weare, viz. the _Swan_ and the _Attendance_.
They took also two other English shipps this yeare, riding at an ancor
in the roade of Pattania, not dowbting any such matter, three
Hollandes shipps coming upon them on the sudden. In which hurly burly
Capt. John Jourden, our precedent of the Indies, lost his life, with
many others. One of which 3 shipps (which took them) came this yeare
to Firando in Japon, out of whome escaped other 3 Englishmen and came
to the English howse for releefe, as the former did; by whome we
understood the shipps taken weare the _Samson_ and the _Hownde_; the
Hollanders at Firando takeing their escape in such dudgin that they
demanded their captives (as it pleased them to call them) to be
deliverd back againe unto them. Unto whome I answered that I would
first see their comition, how they durst presume to take our shipping, 317
goods, and persons, as they did. Unto which they replied nothing, but
went to the _Tono_ (or King) of Firando, demanding of hym that their
English slaves (as they termed them) might be retorned back unto them.
Unto whome he answerd he took not Englishmen to be slaves to them,
but, yf they pretended any such matter, they might goe to the
Emperour, and what he ordayned should be performed. Soe they, seeing
their expectations frustrated, ment to have entred our English howse
and cut all our throates; which they wanted but littell to have
effected, geving 3 assalts against us in one day, they being 100 of
them to 1 Englishman; yet God preserved us from them, the Japoneses,
our neighbours, taking our partes. Soe that then their generall or
cheefe comander, called Adam Westarwood, sett my life at sale,
promesing 50 rialles of 8 to any one would kill me, and 30 of the like
for the life of each other English merchant, with many other
stratagems they used against us too long to be repeated. Yet God
hitherto hath defended us from them all. Of the which I thought good
to advertis your Wors., knowing well that many of yow are of this
Right Honble. and Right Worll. Sosietie or Companie which trade into
the East Indies, of which I my selfe am a pore and unworthie member,
as I am the like of the Merchantes Adventurars and made free of the
ould Hance.
And soe, with my humble dutie remembred, with desire and my prayer
unto Allmightie God to blesse and prosper your Wors. in all your
proceadinges, I leave yow to the holy tuition of thallmightie.
By an unworthie membar of your Right. Worll. Sosietie,
RIC. COCKS, Clothworker.
[172] India Office. _Original Correspondence_, vol. vii, no. 839.
-------------------
RICHARD COCKS TO THE E. I. COMPANY.[173] 318
Firando in Japon, the 13th of December, 1620.
Right Worll. Ser and Sers,--
After my humble dutie remembred. May it please yow to understand that
my last letter was dated in Nangasaque the 10th of Marche, 1619, sent
per a small junck or vessell called the _Godspeed_ to seek out our
English fleete at Bantam or else wheare; but, meeting with stormy
wether and contrary windes at sea, lost their voyadge, having their
seales blowen from the yardes, and lost all their cables and ancors
but one, and with much ado in the end retorned to this port of
Firando. The said letters I send againe by this conveance; unto the
which I refer me.
Also may it please your Wor. to understand that this yeare are arived
in Japon these shipps following, viz.:--
The _James Royall_ came the first, and brought news of the peace made
betwixt the two Companies. God be praised for it; and God grant the
Duch may as fermly follow the orders prescribed as I make no dowbt the
English will doe, and then their will noe occation of discontent be
offered hereafter. The cheefe comander in the _James_ is Capt. Martyn
Pring.
The _Moone_ came next; Capt. Robt. Addames, comander and admerall.
The _Palsgreve_; Charles Clevenger, capt.
The _Elizabeth_; Edmond Lennis, capt.
The _Bull_; Mr. John Munden, master or capt.
The _Unicorne_ and English _Hope_ have lost their monson, soe we know
not what is becom of them, except they retorned back to Pattania or
Jaccatra; which God grant.
And there are arived heare for the Hollanders this yeare:--