Diary of Richard Cocks, Volume 1 Cape-Merchant in the English Factory in Japan, 1615-1622, with Correspondence

Part 17

Chapter 174,379 wordsPublic domain

There was a feeling of an earthquake 2 or 3 tymes againe this day, espetially about 5 a clock in the after nowne. It shaked the house mightely, but nothing so forsably as the other day, nor of so long contynewance. And about midnight following ther was an other earthquake, much lyke unto this.

_September 1._--This day we carid the present to the Emperour Shongo Samme, whoe receved it in kynde parte, Codgscon Dono and Shongo Dono assisting us in the matter. But it was long before we could be dispached, by reason all the nobles went with presents to the Empr., it being the first day of the new moone. Amo[ng]st the rest was the King of Faccata, who as yet is not permitted to retorne into his contrey; the reason I canot learne. I think there were not so few as 10,000 persons at castill this day. It is a place very strong, duble diched and ston walled about, and a league over each way. The Emperours pallis is a huge thing, all the rums being gilded with gould, both over head and upon the walls, except som mixture of paynting amongst of lyons, tigers, onces, panthers, eagles, and other beastes and fowles, very lyvely drawne and more esteemed [then] the gilding. Non were admitted to see the Emperour by my selfe, Mr. Eaton, and Mr. Wilson. He sat alone upon a place somthing rising with 1 step, and had a silk _catabra_ of a bright blew on his backe. He set upon tho mattes crossleged lyke a telier; and som 3 or 4 _bozes_ or pagon pristes on his right hand in a rum somthing lower. Non, no not Codgkin Dono, nor his secretary, might not enter into the rowme where he sat. Yet he called me once or twise to have com in, which I refused; which, as I understood afterward, was well esteemed of. I staid but littell in the place, but was willed to retorne; and both at my entrance and retorne he bowed his head. I forgot to note downe that all the rowmes in his pallis under foote are covered with mattes edged with damask or cloth of gould, and lye so close joyned on to an other that yow canot put the point of a knife betwixt them.

The present given was as followeth, viz.:

1½ blak cloth. 1½ stammet. 1½ strawcullr. 1½ black bay. 1½ stam. bay. 1½ straw bay. 3 Russia hides. 3 peces diaper. 3 looking glasses, 1 black, 1 gilt cover, 1 with comb and sizers 2 pec. Holland cloth. 2 pec. Sleze land. 10 single peec. chint bramport, 3 in a peec. 2 branches corrall. 10 polisht amber beades. 2 cheanes white (or corse) amber beades. 2 chins better amber beades, all unpolisht. 3 dozen cony skins, silver heard, black and gray. 1 faggot of steele. _cattis_ gad stile. Falconaria. 6 gallie pottes, sundry sortes. 2 green guggs. 2 gren tonns. 1 possit pot. 1 great gilt India hide. 50 _cattis_ tynne in bars. 5 _picos_ lead per tickit.

I sent our _jurebasso_ and _bongew_ to Codgskin Dono and Shongo Dono to thank them for the paines they took about our busynes, and know of them when it pleased them I should come and vizet them to kisse their handes; but they were not com from the Emperours castell. So they left word with ther servantes.

_September 2._--I sent our _jurebasso_ Gorezano in the mornyng to Codgskyn Dono and Shongo Donos howses, to see yf they were at leasure, that I might com and vizet them; but he plaid the knave, and I think went not at all, but tould me they were gon to the castell. But, after Capt. Adames went, they sent me word they were at home. So I made what hast I could; yet, before I could com, the Emperour had sent for them, so I lost my labour, and retorned to my lodging with the presentes, refering it till to morrow.

And sent the accompt to Mickmoy to peruse over, for that I would make an end before I retorned.

_September 3._--We carid 3 presentes, all alike, to Codgskin Dono, Oyen Dono, and Wotto Dono, 3 cheefe men next to the Emperour, to each of them alyke.

Also I went and visited King Firandos brother and carid hym a present.

_September 4._--We were enformed of another noble man neare the Emperor, called Ando Tushma Dono, unto whome it was thought fitt to geve a present as to the former, this Emperour being newly com to the crowne, and the Spaniard haveing geven out ill reportes of us that we rob and stayle from all we meete at sea, which was tould to us by greate men in the Emperours pallas, which is because Capt. Keeling tooke 3 of their shipps (I meane Portingals) coming from Surat. But Capt. Adames did enforme them the trew occation thereof, how they Portingals did still molest our shiping at Surat, so that now we had wars against them and comition to take either Spa. or Port. where we met them, in regard they took us. Yt seemeth there is many papistes in these partes, which would doe us a mischeefe yf they could; yet the best is, the Emperour and them about hym are no frendes of Portingals nor Spa., and the rather for the extreme hate they beare to Jesuistes and pristes, whom they canot abide, and gave us warnyng that we should not com in their company, but rather to reveale them, to the entent they might be punished.

Jacob the Duch man, which came into Japon with Capt. Adames, came to vizet me, and offerd his servis to the English. He is a cawker, a pore fello. The Duch offerd hym 3_l._ 10_s._ per month the last yeare; but he refuced it, and after would have taken it, but then they would not geve it. And I put hym ofe with fayre wordes, telling hym we wanted no people, but had more then our trade did afford. I gave his wife and his sister each of them a single pece chint bramport.

Also we gave 2 pec. grogren, 3 pec. chint bramport, and 6 duble bookes to the secretaries of Codgkin Dono and Oyen Dono.

This day in the after nowne, about 4 a clock, was an other earthquake, but of small contynewance, and gave but one great shake.

Mrs. Adames and her sonne sent me a letter from Oringaua, with a peec. pouldren beefe, exskewsing their not coming to Edo, in respeck of the Spaniardes which did lie at their howse.

_September 5._--We went to Ando Tushma Dono with a present as the other, wanting a small looking glass and som sortes gally pots, with 2 maps of London and 88 (_sic_). This man was not within, yet we left the present behind, and tould his man I would come and vizet hym when I knew he was at home.

A ruch merchant came to vizet me, and brought me a fat hoog for a present. Codgskin Dono sent me peares, grapes, and wallnuts for a present.

_September 6._--We dyned at Jno. Yoosen the Hollanders, where we had good entertaynment. And, in regard of the kyndnesse he allwaies hath shewed to Mr. Eaton and Mr. Wickham, to goe to the Court to speak for them in the abcense of Mr. Adames, it was thought good to geve a present to his wife and doughter, as followeth, viz. 1 whole pec. chint bramport, containing 3 pec. of R. _corg._; 1 peec black silk grogren.

_September 7._--I went and vizeted Wotto Dono and Tushma Dono, and thanked them for the paynes taken in our affares, offering them to procure for them out of England anything they pleased to geve me notis of. They took my visitation kyndly, and said they would get our priveleges renewed and _goshons_ or passes sealed this day, yf it were possibly.

And from thence we went rowndabout the kyngs castell or fortresse, which I do hould to be much more in compas then the citty of Coventry. It will contain in it above 200,000 souldiers in tyme of wars.

We dyned at the Kynge of Firandos brother, where we were well entertayned.

And towardes night the secretary of Oyen Dono came and vizeted me at my lodging, and brought me a present of hense; and amongst other speeches he began to talke of the padres, and that it were good we had no conversation with them. Whereupon I tooke occation to answer hym that he needed not to dowbt of us, for that they were enemies to us and to the state of England, and would destroy us all yf they could. But that it were good he advized the Emperour to take heed of them, lest they did not goe about to serve hym as they had donne the Kinges of England, in going about to kill and poizon them or to blow them up with gunpowder, and sturing up the subjectes to rebell against their naturall prince, for which they were all banished out of England.

_September 8._--We dyned, or rather supped, at a merchantes howse called Neyem Dono, where he provided _caboques_, or women plears, who danced and songe; and when we retorned home, he sent eavery one one of them. I had a bar of Coban gould of Mr. Eaton, containing 6 _tais_ 4 _mas_, which I gave them.

_September 9._--Jacob the Hollanders wife brought me a present of _muches_ and other stuff, _nifon catange_, she being ready to depart towardes her howse.

Capt. Adames this day, as the lyke every day, staid at the Cort to solicet of dispach to get our prevelegis and passes, but still put afe; and amongst the rest the secretary tould hym that it was reported how there were semenary prists in his howse at Orengaua. So Capt. Adames sent away an expres with a letter to his wife to look to it that there were no such matter.

There is new edicts sent out into all partes of Japon, as namely to Langasaque, Arima, Umbra, and Bongo, which are most of them Christians, to see to it, that no padres be fownd amongst them, and them in whose howse they are fownd shall be put to death with all their generation. This must be followed with extremitie.

_September 10._--Codgskin Dono sent for Capt. Adames, which we hoped was to have geven us our dispach; but it proved to be nothing but to enquire ferther about the padres. So he retorned without doing any thing, they willing hym to retorne on the morrow, as they have donne the lyke any tyme this 9 or 10 daies, which maketh me to marvell, as I doe the lyke of the long stay of the Hollanders. God grant all be well in the south partes, and that they rise not in armes there.

_September 11._--Capt. Adames was all day at Cort againe to attend for our dispach, but retorned without any thing; only they willed hym to have patience and to com againe in the mornyng.

Oyen Donos secretary came to vizet me, and tould me he suspected that our delay grew per meanes of the looking out for padres, which weare much sought after by the Emperour, and reportes geven out that som were at Capt. Adames howses at Orengaua and Phebe. So Capt. Adames wrot againe to his folkes, to look out that no such matter were proved against them, as they tendered their lives.

Yt is thought that the Emperour hath a meanyng to banish all Christians out of Japan. God grant all may fall out for the best, for our so long detayning maketh me much to marvill, and the Emperours hate against the Jesuistes and fryres very greate.

I receved 2 letters from Mr. Nealson and Mr. Osterwick, dated in Firando the 5th and 6th ultimo, and sent by Gonosque Dono, who is com up to vizet Codgsquin Dono, in respect of his fathers death, and bringes him a present of 30 bars silver from the King of Firando. In these letters they adviz me of the trowble they had with the covetos mareners of the junck which came from Syam, and that, as then, no news of the other 2 junks arival at Langasaque with Ed. Sayer. Also that the news is that the Amacan shipp will not com to Langasaque this yeare, she being arested per a marchant of Goa for money the Amacan merchantes owe hym. This news is come per a gallie and a galliot which are arived at Langasaque and came from the Manillias.

_September 12._--In respect we are put affe from day to day and canot have our dispach, I got Capt. Adames to goe to Oyen Dono, the Emperours secretary, accompanied with our _bongew_ and Goresano our _jurebasso_, to geve hym to understand, yf he make any dowbt of the matter, that we are no frendes of the Jesuistes nor fryres, nether suffer any of their sect to remeane in England, but punish all them which are fownd with death; this coarse haveing byn kept in England for above the space of 60 yeares, so that the Emperour needed not feare our conversation with that sect, for that their hatred against us and our religion was more then against any others whatsoever.

Oyen Dono the secretary used Capt. Adames kyndly, and tould hym and the other 2 how the Emperour was much offended against the padres, and therefore advized us not to have conversation with them nor to let them christen any children of ours, yf we chanced to have any, for then they might presume we were of their sect, whome the Emperour ment utterly to extinguish out of Japon. He willed Capt. Adames not to think it long we were not dispached, the Emperours busyness being such as yet it could not be done, but within a day or 2 he hoped to end it to our content.

_September 13._--The Emperour went a hawking this mornyng with a troupe (as it was thought) of 10000 men. It is said he will retorne this night.

_September 14._--Capt. Adames and our _jurebasso_ went to the Court to get our dispach, but could not be ended to day but referred till to morrow. The Councell tould them that the Emperour would not write any letter to the King of Cochinchina, nor meddell in other mens matters.

This night past, about 2 a clock, hapned an earthquake; but of no greate contynewance. Som say they felt it 3 severall tymes; but I felt it but once.

We have much ado with Nico. Machievell, _allius_ Migmoy, about clearing accompts with hym; but as yet not donne. Mr. Eaton paid Singero, the expres, 1½ _tais_ to spend per the way.

_September 15._--Capt. Adames went this day againe to the Court for to procure our dispach, but could not be ended, but refered till to morrow and then he to com with Codgskyn Dono, and so an end to be made.

_September 16._--We could not com to accompt with Nico. Machiavell, _allis_ Migmoy; so we are forced to go to law with hym.

Capt. Adames went againe to the Cort to have had our dispach, but by meanes of the fowle wether the Councell went not to the Court, so that he retorned back without doing of anything. Capt. Adames envited the merchantes to supper to morrow that envited us the other day.

_September 17._--I receved two bars Coban gould with ten _ichibos_, of 4 to a _coban_,[182] all gould, of Mr. Eaton, to be acco. for as I should have occation to use them in gestes or otherwais.

We envited them to supper which envited us the other day, and had the _cabickes_ as they had. I gave 4 bars, called _ichibos_, to one of them.

_September 18._--Capt. Adames went againe to the Cort to procure our dispatch, and fownd all the Councell busyed about matters of justice of lyfe and death; and, amongst the rest, one man was brought in question about Fidaia Samme, as being in the castell with him to the last hower. This man was racked and tormented very much, to make hym confes where his master was, or whether he were alive or dead; but I canot heare whether he confessed any thing or no. Also the Admeralls sonne (our great frend), called Shonga Dono, came to towne, having byn sent out by the Emperour before about busynesses. He had much talk with Capt. Adames about sea matters, and other greate men in company with them. And, amongst other matters, they tould Capt. Adames that they understood theire were certen ilands to the northward, very ruch in mynes of gould and silver, which the Emperour ment to conquer, and asked hym whether (upon good termes) he would be pilot. He made answer, he was not now at his owne dispose, being servant to the English nation, and therefore could not serve two masters. They asked hym whether he had heard tell of any ilands called les Ladrones, or of the theeves. He answered yis, but that his opinion was that they were of no moment, in respect the Spaniards had not taken them, they lying in his way as they passed from New Spanie to the Phillippinas. They also spoake of an other iland, called by the Spaniards Hermosa (or Rico en oro y plata). He answered he had heard of such a place in conferrence with Spaniardes.

In fine, the Councell tould Capt. Adames all our dispach was ready, only they wanted Codgkins Donos hand, he being sick. So he was referred to com to morrow and bring Codgskin Donos letter.

Paid out to _cabokes_ 3 bars Ichabo gould.

_September 19._--We went to the Admerall yonger, Shongo Dono, and carid hym a present. And Capt. Adames gave hym 3 gilt Syam skins and a tigers skyn. He took our visitasion kyndly, and offerd us to do for our nation what he could. This man and his father are the trustiest frendes we have in these partes. And I thought good to note downe how this man entred into speeches about the ilandes Ladrones, taking them to be ruch in myne of gould and silver. My answer was, that I knew no such matter, but to the contrary esteemed that yf the[y] had byn such, that the Spaniard would have had them before now, they lying in the way from Agua Pulca to the Phillippinas. But my opinion was that yf the Emperour pretended to make a conquest of any, that the Phillippinas them selves were of more emportance, and the Spaniardes weake and ill beloved of the contrey people, and that herein his Ma^{tie} needed not to dowbte the assistance both of the English and Duch, as occation should serve. At which speeches he seemed to make a pawse, and in the end said that they wanted such shipps as ours were. Unto which I answered, I marveled the Emperour did not make such, haveing both men (I meane workmen), tymber, and all thinges else necessary. Yt seemed to me that he tooke notis hereof.

Towardes night I receved a letter from Mr. Wickham, dated in Miaco the 27th ultimo, wherin he wrot that as yet he heard no newes nether of our small junck nor bark that should com with wood and skins from Firando; which maketh me to marvell very much.

Capt. Adames went to the Court againe for our dispach, but was put affe till to morow.

_September 20._--Gonosque Dono retorned to Firando, and viseted me at my lodging, offring to carry my letter yf I would write; for the which I gave hym thanks, telling hym I hoped to follow after to morrow.

Capt. Adames went againe to the Court with our _jurebasso_ to procure our dispach, but could not dispach till to morow.

Shonge Dono the Admerall made an end with Migmoy for our difference. So he gave twenty fyve bars Coban gould for ballance of all acco., which Mr. Eaton receaved.

Jno. Hawtery plaid the lewd fello againe, and stole 2 peeces chint bramport, with 2 handkerchefs Rumall cottony, and a peare table bookes, to geve to whores. Thus much we fownd and was retorned back. But we lack many other thinges, as of some chintes, amber beades, table bookes, bars of tynne, which out of dowbt he hath taken, but forsweareth it, as he did the other till we brought the partis before his face. And that which was much worse, he went and cut his haire after the pagon fation, thinking to turne pagon; which he could not do heare, allthough he would. Yet there wanted no good will in hym. And, besides, he is a comon druncard, yf he may com by drink, and when he is drunk is as a mad man, as ban (_sic_) a humor as any o the rest; for then he will fall out with all men, and kill and slay, etc.

_September 21._--Migmoy came this mornyng and brought a present, _nifon catange_, and with hym came a servant of Shonge Dono the Admerall, to make frendship. So we drunk together and parted frendes, but I would wish no man to trust hym any more.

Capt. Adames and our _jurebasso_ went againe to Court to procure our dispach, but could not.

And Chubio Dono came to towne. Yocotta Kaqueamon Dono, Oyen Donos secretary, brought me a present of 2 _catabras_, 1 silk and the other lynnen.

_September 23._--The Emperour sent me 10 _kerimons_ and an armor for a present, 2 _kerimons_ to Mr. Eaton, and 2 to Mr. Wilson. And Oyen Dono sent me 5 _kerimons_, and 1 and 2 _catabras_ to Mr. Eaton, and the lyke to Mr. Wilson and our _jurebasso_. And we receved of priveleges and _goshons_ from the Emperour.

Also I sent a present to Chubio Dono; and towardes night he sent me thankes with letters for the King of Firando, and sent me a _wakadash_ for a present, and 2 peces taffate to Mr. Eaton.

We could not by any meanes procure the Emperours letter to King of Cochinchina, he saying he would not meddell in other mens matters.

Goresano plaid the babbling fello against Capt. Adames, whereby Oyen Dono, the Emperours secretary, had lyke to have falne out with hym. Yt is this fellos foolish triks which hath gotten hym many enemies, and put me to much trowble hertofore to save his lyfe.

_September 24._--Otto Dono sent me 5 _catabras_ for a present, with wordes complementall. And I sent our _jurebasso_ to geve hym thankes, as the lyke to Chubio Dono, and sent Jno. Yossen word we were ready to departe to morrow mornyng toward Firando.

I gave the _cabukis_ 1 bar Coban and two _ichibos_ of gould. Shezero the _coboke_ sent me a Japon cap, and I gave her that brought it 5 _mas_ 4 _condrin_.

We carid a present to Safian Dono. And sowne after he sent me thankes for it, with a box or packet of letters for the King of Firando. And Jno. Yoosen sent me a letter to carry to Capt. Speck. And Shonge Dono, the Admerall, sent me a saddell for a present. Also Otto Dono and Tushma Dono sent 3 _catabras_ to Mr. Eaton, 2 to Mr. Wilson, and 3 to our _jurebasso_ Goresano.

Migmoy got the Admerall to entreate me to com to his howse and to drink with hym to make frendship, as well as he had donne with me. But I desird his Lordshipp to pardon me, for that tyme did not now permit me, nether could I goe to Migmois howse in such sort without disparidgment unto me.

And so this night we packed up all matters to retorne for Firando to morrow, God permitting.

_September 25._--I sent Goresano before day to the clark of the Privie Seale, to fetch our _goshon_ or prevelegis and to carry hym a present of a peece of black silk grogran. He delivered the present but retornd without the writing, willing hym to retorn anon.

I gave an Englishmans child, called Tho. Flood, a _tay_ in Tagemon[183] plate.

We could not get our ould preveleges againe, and soe we [were] forced to departe without them.

_September 26._--I gave the _caboque_ Shezero an _ichobe_ and a silk _catabra_, and sent the master of them a bar Coban.

We departed towardes Orengagava this mornyng about 10 a clock, and arived at Febe som 2 howrs before night, where we staid all that night, for that Capt. Adames wife and his two children met us theare. This Phebe is a lordshipp geven to Capt. Adames per the ould Emperor, to hym and his for eaver, and confermed to his sonne called Joseph. There is above 100 farmes or howseholds upon it, bisids others under them, all which are his vassals, and he hath power of life and death over them, they being his slaves, and he as absolute authoretie over them as any _tono_ (or king) in Japon hath over his vassales. Divers of his tenantes brought me present of fruite, as oringes, figgs, peares, chistnuttes, and grapes, whereof there is abundance in that place.

The _cabokes_ came out to sea after us in a boate and brought a banket. So I gave them a bar of Coban to make a banket at their retorne to Edo, and gave the boate men which rowed them an _ichibo_; both which soms Mr. Eaton paid out.

_September 27._--We gave the tenantes of Phebe a bar of Coban to make a banket after our departure from thence, with 500 _gins_ to the servantes of howses, and 500 _gins_ to the horsemen (or hankney men) which carid us from thence to Orengaua; the cheefe of the towne accompanying us out of ther presincts and sent many servantes to accompanie us to Orengaua, which is about 8 or 9 English miles, all runing before us on foote, as homegers to Capt. Adames.

I sent a letter to the Admerall that I ment to vizet hym to morrow; but he, hearing of our coming hither, had sent me a letter before to envite me to com to hym, with many kynd offers of frendshipp.

After our arivall at Orengaua, most of the neighbors came to viset me and brought frute and fish and rejoyced (as it should seeme) of Capt. Adames retorne.