Englishmen, only to bring our nation in disgrace; of the which our
China frendes in Japon have adviz and have retorned answer per 2 or 3
severall conveances to the contrary, and that we had two English
shipps before Amacon, when the Hollanders gave the attempt against the
place, but went for Japon without assisting them at all. And the 333
Hollanders in Japon doe geve it out heare that we are halves with them
in the new fortification of Piscadores, of the which our precedent
writeth me to the contrary. I am afeard that their attempt against
Amacon will cause both them and us to be driven out of Japon, for it
hath overthrowne the China trade in these partes. Yet our China
frendes still tell us we may have trade into China, yf we will, it
being granted allready; but by meanes of the warrs of the Tartar
against them and the death of 3 kinges of China in one or 2 yeares is
the cause we have not entred before now; but, for the Hollanders, he
will never suffer them to enter upon any conditions whatsoever.
Mr. Osterwick and my selfe, with 2 of the cheefe of the Hollandes
factory, were at Edo after the departure of our shipps the last yeare,
with presentes for themperour and his councell, hoping to have gott
lycense to have carid out men and munition as in tyme past, but could
get nothing but feare wordes for the space of 3 months we were forced
to stay at Edo before we could gett our dispach, they telling us in
the end they could conclude nothing untill the arivall of the King of
Firando, whome they had sent for, but at his coming they would take
such order about that which we demanded, as also about the delivering
the friggates goods, as should be to both our contentes. And, as we
retorned, we mett the King of Firando in the way, whoe made us many
faire promisses. Yet now order is com from Edo that themperour will
have all the priz goodes of the friggat for hym selfe, leving the
rotten hull for us and the Hollanders, and, although we have made what
resistance we could, yet are we constrayned to deliver it to them,
will we or nill we; and, that which is more, they constrayne us to way
over all the goodes to them, we being enformed they will make plito
against us for much more matters then ever we receved and beleeve the
lying reportes of our enemies whoe duble all. And for carying out 334
men and munition as in tyme past, that such a mighty prince as
themperour of Japon is, having once passed his word to the contrary,
would not alter it now at the demand of such people as we are. And
this is the best we can find now in Japon, and I dowbt wilbe every day
worse then other.
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 335
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 336
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 337
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 338
Mrs. Mary Adams and her doughter in halves; as the other 100_l._ 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 339
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 340
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 341
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 342
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 343
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 344
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 345
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, 346
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.