The _New Bantam_; Jno. Johnson, comander, and vizadmerall
to Capt. Adams.
The _Trowe_; Capt. Lefevre, comander.
The _Harlam_; Wm. Jonson, master.
The Duch _Hope_; Henrock Valche, capt.
The _Indraught_, a merchant shipp.
both English shipps.
The _Swan_; Mr. Howdane, comander
The _Expedition_, cast away in Firando.
And the Hollanders want a shipp called the _St. Michell_, a French
shipp, which should have come hether this yeare but hath lost her
monson.
The _James Royall_ and the _Moone_ weare both sheathed heare this
yeare, and the _Bull_ all masted, and the rest repared to content; and
all the shiping disposed of as followeth, viz.:--
The _James Royall_ fall laden with provition for us and Duch for
Jaccatra, and soe from thence pretended to goe for England.
The _Indraught_ for the Molucos, laden with provition for the
Hollanders.
The _Swan_, said to doe the like for Jaccatra or Bantam.
The _Expedition_, cast away in this port at an ancor in a greate
storme and not to be recovered.
All bound for the Manillas.
English shipps.
The _Moone_
The _Palsgreve_
The _Elizabeth_
The _Bull_
Holland shipps.
The _New Bantam_
The _Trowe_
The _Harlam_
The Duch _Hope_
* * * * * *
I doe verely think the furnishing and setting out these 5 shipps afore
named will stand your Wors. in above ten thousand poundes starling;
but I canot justly tell it. Nether dare any man buy the lead but 320
themperour only; and his councell sett the price from tyme to tyme as
they please. Soe this yeare, per generall consent, there weare 4 men
sent up to themperours cort with presentes. They departed from hence
the last of August, and as yet are not retorned:
for thenglish,
Capt. Charles Cleavenger
Mr. Joseph Cockram
for the Hollanders,
Capt. Lafebre
Matias van der Brook
whome, as we understand per their letters, are frendly entertayned
both of themperour and his councell, but stay longer for a dispach
then they thought of, by reason of the taking of a friggat which came
from Manillias, wherin weare both Portingals, Spaniardes, and Japons,
and amongst the rest ij semenary pristes (or Jesuists), people
defended not to com into Japon, which maketh the better for us. Yet we
know not whether themperour will let us have it for good prize or noe,
till our men retorne from Edo, of the which I will certefie your Wor.
per my next.
I did make full accompt to have retorned for England this yeare, but
that Mr. Thomas Brockedon and Mr. Augusten Spalding, presedentes at
Bantam, wrot me the want of merchantes in the factory as also to send
along in these shipps, willing me to furnish their want out of this
factory, which, God willing, I will, and wish I might have byn one of
them my selfe. But I hope the next yeare som new supplies may be sent
for this factory, to thentent I may now retorne for my cuntrey, I
having now served your Wors. a prentishipp of ten yeares since I
departed out of England; and I know there hath not wanted som to geve
bad reportes of me to your Wors., but I hope to cleare my selfe before
your Wors., yf God spare my life.
* * * * * *
Also may it please your Wors. to understand that Mr. Wm. Nealson 321
departed out of this life in Marche last, being wasted away with a
consumption, and before divers witnesses gave me all he had both in
these partes and else wheare, as I have it under their handes to shew;
and yf God had called me to His mercy before Mr. Nealson, then had he
had as much of myne.
And our good frend Capt. Wm. Adames, whoe was soe longe before us in
Japon, departed out of this world the xvjth of May last, and made Mr.
Wm. Eaton and my selfe his overseers, geveing the one halfe of his
estate to his wife and childe in England and the other halfe to a
sonne and a doughter he hath in Japon. The coppie of his will with an
other of his inventory (or acco. of his estate) I send to his wife and
doughter per Capt. Marten Pring, their good frend well knowne to them
long tyme past. And I have delivered one hundred poundes starling to
divers of the _James Royalls_ company, enterd into the purcers book,
to pay two for one in England, is two hundred poundes strling, to Mrs.
Adames and her doughter. For yt was not his mind his wife should have
all, in regard she might marry an other husband and carry all from his
childe, but rather that it should be equally parted betwixt them. Of
the which I thought good to adviz your Wors. And the rest of his
debtes and estate being gotten in, I will ether bring or send it per
first occation offerd and that may be most for their profett,
according as the deceased put his trust in me and his other frend, Mr.
Eaton.
I know not what else to write your Wors., only, as yet, there is noe
order com out of China to let us have trade, for that the Hollanders
men of warr have shut up their trade that few dare look out. And,
besids, the Cheenas them selves robb on an other at sea, thinking to
lay all the falt on the Dutch and English; but som have byn
intersepted in som provinces of Japon and paid dearly for it. And
other China shipping, being sett out of Nangasaque by their owne 322
cuntremen to goe for Isla Formosa (called by them Tacca Sanga) to
trade for silke, are run away for China with all the money and left
their cuntremen in Japon in the lurch.
And for all other matters I refer my selfe to the relation of my
worll. frend Capt. Martine Pring, the bringer hereof; and soe leave
your Wors. with your affares to the holy protection of thallmightie,
resting allwais
Your Wors. most humble servant at command,
RIC. COCKS.
[173] India Office. _Original Correspondence_, vol. vii, no. 911.
-------------------
RICHARD COCKS TO THE E. I. COMPANY.[174]
Firando in Japon, the 14th of December, 1620.
Right worll. Ser and Serrs,--
* * * * * *
I canot but be sorofull for the losse of such a man as Capt. Wm.
Adames was, he having byn in such favour with two Emperours of Japon
as never was any Christian in these partes of the worlde, and might
freely have entred and had speech with themperours, when many Japon
kinges stood without and could not be permitted. And this Emperour
hath conformed the lordshipp to his sonne which thother Emperour gave
to the father.
* * * * * *
Yt is strang to see the changes of merchandizing soe altered since our
first arivall in Japon; for heretofore yearly white raw silk was sould
at 500, 400, and 300 _taies_ the _pico._ at least, and now it is
fallne to 130, yea som have sould for 105 _taies_ the _pico._ this
yeare, which 3 yeares past was worth 300 _tais pico._ The reason is, a
company of ruch men have got all the trade of Japon into their handes.
Soe they agree all together and will not buy but at what price they 323
think good them selves; and is not to be remedied.
And it is geven out that themperour will defend that noe more lead
shall com into Japon till this greate quantety brought by us and the
Hollanders be spent. For the Hollanders brought in their shipping this
yeare 4000 _pico_. Eng. lead and 1000 _pico_. from Syam in their
junck. Soe that the Hollanders have 5000 _pico_. lead com this yeare;
but a great part of it is small barrs, such as is com in our shiping
this yeare, and I think taken out of our English shipping which they
took heretofore.
Broad cloth, kersies, and perpetuanos I think will prove the best
comodetie for Japon, and redds and stamettes and blacks best cullers,
and, yf they sell not at an instant, yet tyme will vent all. Som other
mingled cullers, as cullor du roy or such lyke, will not doe amis; but
noe more yello nor straw culler, for that proveth the worst culler of
all.
* * * * * *
And tuching that which I wrot your Wors. in my last letters sent from
Nangasaque in the junck _Godspeed_, how that a nobellmans men of this
place (called Semi Dono) fell a quarreling with Mr. Edmond Sayer and
others, whereupon the King of Firando banished both them and Mr.
Sayer, yet now all is revoked per the kinges order and Mr. Sayer
cleared and the others recalled. And soe I leave your Wors. with your
affares to the holy protection of thallmightie, resting alwais
Your Wors. most humble servant at comande,
RIC. COCKS.
To the Right Worll. the Governour, Deputie
Comitties, and generallty of the
East India Company deliver in London.
By Capt. Martyn Pring in the
_Royall James_, whome God preserve.
[174] India Office. _Original Correspondence_, vol. vii, no. 911.
-------------------
RICHARD COCKS TO THE E. I. COMPANY.[175] 324
Firando in Japon, the 20th of January, 1620[1].
Right worll. Ser and Serrs,--
* * * * * *
I am now enformed by a messenger we sent into China that the ould
Emperour hath resigned the government unto one of his sonns; and that
the new Emperour hath granted our nation trade into China for two
shipps a yeare, and the place apointed near to Fuckchew, and that ther
wanted but the fermes of ij vizroys of ij provinces to conferme it;
and that the _goshon_ or passport will be sent us the next moonson,
and had byn heare before now, had it not byn letted per the wars of
Tartaria. Thus much our China frendes tell me, and I hope it will
prove true.
* * * * * *
Your Wors. humble servant at command,
RIC. COCKS.
[175] India Office. _Original Correspondence_, vol. vii, no. 924.
-------------------
RICHARD COCKS TO THE E. I. COMPANY.[176]
Firando in Japon, the 30th of September, 1621.
Right worll. Ser and Sers,--
* * * * * *
The 29th of June last our whole fleete of 9 shipps, English and Duch,
arived in saffetie from the Manillias, very few of the men being dead,
and have taken and pillaged 5 junckes, the Duch using much crueltie in
killing many Chinas after they hadd rendered them selves, and many
more had [byn] kild yf the English had not prevented them.
* * * * * *
The Duch did abuse our men in the Manillias, and, had it not byn
prevented by som, they had gon together by the eares, to the 325
endangering or losse of the whole fleete, as I make acco. others will
write at lardg to your Wors. therof. And now this yeare, per order of
the Councell of Defence from Jaccatra, the same fleet proceadeth
againe on the like voyage, the Hollanders being admerall this yeare,
as the English were the last; only the Hollanders send away the shipp
_Swan_ and put an other shipp called the _Muyon_ in her place, and the
English joyne the shipp _Pepercorne_ to the fleet, to make them up x
seale in all, and have determened that within these xv daies the
_Pepercorne_ and _Muyon_ shall departe from hence, to lie upon the
coast of China in a certen hight, to keepe back the China junckes
which we are enformed will departe for the Manillias with the first of
the monson, which yf they doe, of necessitie our 2 shipps will meete
with them. And the rest of the fleete, being 8 seale, will follow
after, and are to departe from hence the 1th of December, new stile.
* * * * * *
Also may it please your Wors. to understand that, by meanes of the
governor of Nangasaque, Gonrok Dono, whoe taketh the Spaniardes and
Portingals partes against us, with all the merchantes of that place,
Miaco, and Edo, geving the Emperour to understand that both we and the
Hollanders are pirates and theevs and live upon nothing but the spoile
of the Chinas and others, which is the utter overthrow of the trade in
Japon, noe one daring to com hither for feare of us. By which reportes
themperour and his councell are much moved against us, as the King of
Firando doth tell us, whoe is newly retorned from the Emperours court,
where he hath married the Emperours kinswoaman, which hath brought hym
into greate creddit, and he is the only stay now which we have in
Japon. And by his order the Hollandes capt., Leonard Camps, and my
selfe are apointed to goe to Edo with the presentes to themperour and
his councell, to procure redresse, yf we may, and prevent our enemies 326
proceadinges. For the Emperour hath sent downe order that we shall
carry out noe Japons to man our shiping, nether make nor carry out any
ordinance, gunpowder, shott, guns, pikes, _langanattes_, _cattans_,
nor any other warlike munition. And it was reported we should carry
out nether rise, bred, nor wine, nor flesh; but that is not yet donne.
But the other is procleamed, and waiters apointed to look out night
and day that noe forbidden matters be convaid abord our shipps. Soe
that, yf we get noe redresse for these matters, it is noe abiding for
us in Japon, and better to know it at first then last what we may
trust unto.
* * * * * *
And, as I understand by Capt. Robt. Adames, admerall the last yeare of
the fleete of defence, that in the last voyage the yeare past to the
Manillas the Hollanders did much abuse our English men, and Wm.
Johnson vizadmerall was cheefe occation therof. Soe that they had like
to have gon together by the eares in the Manillias, to the totall
distraction of both fleetes, the enemie being so neare, yet by the
discretion of som it was pacefied; as I make acco. Capt. Adames hath
advized your Wors. at large, he being now apointed vizadmerall, much
against his will, by the Councell of Defence at Jaccatra, he dowbting
that yf the last yeare, when he was admerall, they feared not to doe
soe, that, now themselves are admerall, they will doe worse. And
herinclozed I send your Wors. a copie of a letter which I receved from
Molucas in a shipp of the Hollanders, sent from Mr. Wm. Nicolles,
agent, wherin your Wors. may see the proceadinges of the Hollanders in
those partes, as I make acco. he hath advized therof hym selfe. Truly
their proceadinges every wheare are allmost intolerable, and they are
generally hated thorowout all the Indies, and we much the worse
thought of now we are joyned with them.
Yt is very certen that with little danger our fleet of defence may 327
take and sack Amacon in China, which is inhabeted by Portingales. For
the towne is not fortefied with walls; nether will the King of China
suffer them to doe it, nor to make any fortifecations, nor mount noe
ordinance upon any plotforme; and 3/4 partes of the inhabetantes are
Chinas. And we are credably enformed that, these 2 last yeares, when
they did see but 2 or 3 of our shipp within sight of the place, they
weare all ready to run out of the towne, as I have advized the
Precedent and Councell of Defence at Jaccatra; and, had but 2 small
shipps, as the _Bull_ and _Pepercorne_, entred this yeare, they might
easely have burnt and taken 17 seale of galliotas which weare at an
ancor, amongst which weare the 6 galliotas which came into Japon,
being then full laden; and, had they taken this fleet, the Portingales
hadd byn utterly undon, as they them selves confesse, and, that towne
being taken, all the Portingalles trade in these partes of the world
is quite spoiled, both for Manillias, Malacca, Goa, and else wheare.
And the King of China would gladly be ridd of their neighbourhood, as
our frendes which procure our entry for trade into China tell me, and
doe say that he wished that we could drive them from thence. But this
yeare there is 3 kings of China dead, the father and his two sonns,
the wives of the two bretheren procuring the poisoning of them both.
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; wherof our men
saved and took many of them up into our shipps; and much more 328
distrucktion had byn made of them, had not Capt. Adames, the admerall,
prevented it.
* * * * * *
Notwithstanding the previleges which we and the Hollanders have from
themperours of Japon, that the Japons shall not execute any justice
upon our people, yet this yeare the justis of this place (but it was
in the abcense of the king) did cut offe the heades of ij Hollanders
which, being drunke, did brable with the Japons and drue out their
knives, as their custam is, and gave a skram or 2 to som Japons, one
being a souldier, yet kild noe man; and yet the Hollanders were haled
out into the filds and their heads cut offe and sent home to the
Hollands howse, which they refuced to receve, desiring them to leave
them with the bodies, which they did, and soe left them in the filds
to be eaten by crowes and dogges; which they had byn, had not som
Englishmen buried them.
And as som of our men goe along the streetes, the Japons kindly call
them in and geve them wine and whores till they be drunk, and then
stripp them of all they have (som of them stark naked) and soe turne
them out of dores. And som they keepe presoners, forging debtes upon
them, which som of our men sweare they owe not; yet it is noe
beleeving of all, for som of our men are bad enough; yet out of dowbt
the abuse is greate and never seene till the last yeare and this. For
the king hath (by our procurement) from the first made an edect that
the Japons should not trust our men without paying money for what they
tooke; for it is an ordenary course for som of our men to leave the
shipps and lie ashore in secret a wick, a fortnight, yea a month som
of them, and in the end cause their hostes to keepe them presoners,
telling us it is by force, yet confesse the debt som of 5, others of
10, 20, and 30 _taies_ per man which they owe, desiring it may be paid
and put upon their wages. Which course of theirs I withstand in all I
may, and make many set free without payment, which they murmur at as a 329
disgrance and discredett to them, swearing, woundes and blood, your
Wors. are indebted to them in farr greater somms and yet they cannot
be masters of their owne; soe that the trowble I have with them heare
is much. Nether can ther comanders curb them, they rise in such greate
multetudes, as for example I advised your Wors. the last yeare, and
laid violent handes on the admerall, Capt. Adames; and this yeare the
_Bulls_ company and most parte of the _Moones_ mutened, and
all the rest promised them to doe the like, but were prevented, for
that som of these weare taken and punished, which caused the others to
feare.
* * * * * *
And for the shipp called the English _Hope_ (for the Hollanders
have one of the same name) is ether cast away or else the company have
revolted and run away with the shipp and kild the master or else carid
hym away with them perforce, for every on thinketh that the master,
Mr. Carnaby, would never consent thereunto; but they suspect one
Thorneton and the chirurgion, with other mutenose persons in her, for
that this Thornton hath a brother which they say is a piratt and
entertayned per the Duke of Florence. Soe they imagin, after they have
made what purchase they may, that they will direct their course
thither with the shipp. This is the opinion of the cheefe in our
fleete.
* * * * * *
Your Wors. most humble servant at comand,
RIC. COCKS.
To the Honorble. Sr. Thomas Smith,
Knight, Governor of the East India
Company, and to the Right Worll.
the Comittys deliver in London. Per
way of Jaccatra, in shipp _Swan_.
[176] _Ibid._, vol. viii, no. 995.
-------------------
RICHARD COCKS TO THE E. I. COMPANY.[177] 330
Firando in Japon, the 4th of October, 1621.
Right worll. Ser and Sers,--
* * * * * *
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. For the
kinges mother is a papist Christian, and the king hym selfe and all
his bretheren are christened. This maketh us to stand in dowbt of the
worst. Yet, yf it be trew, we canot remedy it; for we canot departe
from hence without the kinges leave and one of his men to goe with us,
nether dare any bark carry us away without his comition. Soe that God
He knoweth what our affares in these partes will com to in the end.
And that which maketh me more afeard then all the rest is the
unreasonablenesse and unrulynesse of our owne people, which I know not
how it will be amended, as I have spoaken more at lardge in my other
letter, and yet it is every day lyke to be worse then other for ought
I can see. God of His goodnesse send me into a place where I may have
to doe in merchantes affares and not to meddell with men of warr, yf
all be as unruly as these are. And soe, ceasing from trowbling 331
your Wors. any ferther, I rest, as allwaies,
Your Wors. most humble servant at comand,
RIC. COCKS.
To the Right Honored Knight, Sr. Thomas
Smith, Governor of the East India
Company, and to the Right Worll. the
Comittis deliver in London. Per the
shipp _Swan_, per way of Jaccatra.
[177] India Office. _Original Correspondence_, vol. viii, no. 997.
-------------------
RICHARD COCKS TO THE E. I. COMPANY.[178]
Firando in Japon, the 7th of September, 1622.
Right worll. Ser and Sers,--
* * * * * *
Our whole Manillia fleete of x seale, viz. 5 English and 5 Duch, are
saffely retorned to this port of Firando, having made a farr rucher
voyage this yeare then they did the last, as apereth per the coppie of
the cargezon sent hereinclozed, the like being sent to Jaccatra to the
precedent.
Since which tyme I have receved 2 letters from Mr. Fursland, the
precedent, dated in Jaccatra the 26th of March and 25th of August last
past, wherein he and his councell advized me and the rest of the
merchantes in the factory to leave affe our consortshipp of the fleet
of defence with the Hollanders, and to send our 5 shipps for Jaccatra
with as much speed as conveniently we could; and that the _Palsgrove_
and _Moone_ should tuch at Jamby to take in their lading of peper; the
_Pepercorne_ to stay upon the coast of China som tyme to look out
according to their former comition geven; and the _Elizabeth_ and
_Bull_ to com directly from hence for Jaccatra and bring away all the
remeander left in Japon in money or merchandiz, except a cargezon of
five thousand _taies_ to be left in the handes of Mr. Jno. Osterwick, 332
with one man for a second, and a therd for an assistant, as should be
thought fitting; and that my selfe, Mr. Wm. Eaton, and Edmond Sayer
should com alonge in the said shipps for Jaccatra, for lessenyng
charges in the factory. Which directions, God willing, shall be
followed soe neare as we can.
The Hollanders this yeare sent a new fleet of shipps of 14 or 15
seale, greate and small, to have taken Amacan; but they had the
repulse with the losse, as som say, of 300, and others say 500 men,
and 4 of their shipps burned; the king of China now permitting the
Portingales to fortefie Amacon, which he would never condecend unto
till now, and hath geven order to the vizroy of Canton to assist them
with 100,000 men against the Hollanders, yf need require. There was 4
of our 10 shipps of the fleete of defence, 2 English and 2 Hollanders,
plying up and downe before Amacon before the Hollandes fleete of 15
seale arived there. The English shipps were the _Palsgrove_ and the
_Bull_, whoe, in passing by, hailed them with a noes of trumpetes, but
the Dutch made them noe answer nether by word of mouth nor otherwaies,
but passed in by them with silence; which at first made them stand in
dowbt whether they were frendes or noe. But the Hollanders made
accompt to have taken the towne at first onset without the helpe of
our shiping or men, and therefore vouchsafed not to speake to them;
yet fayled of their purpose, but since have fortefied them selves in
an iland neare to Isla Fermosa called Isla de Piscadores, where they
report is a very good harbour and water enough for the greatest shipps
in the worlde.