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

Part 24

Chapter 244,349 wordsPublic domain

_June 11._--The China Capt. took a boate and went to see the junk that the Hollanders took, wherat Capt. Speck was much offended and would not let hym goe abord. Yet he spok to the Chinas, whoe tould hym they shewed great cruelty to them, and were not content to take shipp and goodes but cast them overbord, for of 270 persons that were abord that junck they had left but 30; and, when they had taken all that they liked out of other junkes, they sunk them with the rest, people and all. Soe he hath taken councell with the Chinas to send up to the Emperour to make complaint; and in the meane tyme hath sent for Gonrok Dono, to Langasaque, to com hether.

_June 12._--I wrot 3 letters to Tozayemon Dono of Sackay, Cuimon Dono of Osaky, and Magozemon Dono of Miaco, advising them of the arivall of the ij Holland shipps with their priz, and delivered them to Soyemon Dono to send up in the kinges bark which now they send up about Hollanders matter, per which conveance the Chinas send to have remedy against the Hollanders.

These Chinas in the junck will not be perswaded but that they are Englishmen which took them. The reason, the Hollanders in all their theevish proceadinges geve it out they are English.

_June 13._--Capt. Speck receved a letter that their other junk the[y] lost in the way was arived in Xaxma. The Hollanders sett out orders abord their shipps that the mareners should sell nothing to the Englishmen.

_June 14._--I receved a letter from Alvaro Munos, which Capt. Speck opened before it came to my handes, of the which I wrot hym a letter that I took it in ill parte.

_June 17._--I sent Henry Shank iij _tais_ small plate upon a bundell silk in pawne, to pay (as he saith) for stuffes he hath bought of Hollanders. This Shank I fynd to be a busye, humerous pot companion.

Mr. Totton, being envited by some of the Hollanders to goe abord to make merry, took a bark and thought to have donne it; but, being ready to goe abord, Ushenusque Dono comanded the Japons which carid hym to retorne back, except he brought a ticket from the Hollanders. Whereupon they would not be perswaded by any meanes to set them abord. So at his retorne we thought to have provided hym an English ging to row hym abord; but the tide was past, that they could not, and so it rested till the morow mornyng.

Harry Shank is a quarrellsom, drunken fello, and not many dais past entertayned a wench, although I perswaded hym to the contrary, and after threw her out at a windoe in an upper loft and put her away in bad sort. Yet this day he got a dagger in his pocket, and went to her fathers howse, using hym with bad tearmes to provok hym to com out, and then wounded hym in 3 places; so that all the street was in an upror.

_June 18._--This mornyng Mr. Totton went abord the Hollanders, rowed in our owne boate all by Englishmen, to see whether the Hollanders would forbid hym entrance; and withall I wrot a letter to Ushenusque Dono, or such _bongew_ as was theare, to geve hym to understand I took the Hollanders no kinges in Japon that I should seek a passe from them, willing hym withall to take heed how he medled in matters which tuched our previleges, as he would answer to the contrary before the Emperour and the King of Firando, his master, my preveleges alowing me free passag both by sea and land, to doe my busenes without disturbance of Japon or any other in Firando or Langasaque.

Mr. Totton was frendly entertayned abord by Capt. Speck and the rest of Hollanders, and tould hym that it were the Japons that forbad our coming abord and not he, and that I had good occation to be angry, yf he should set out any order to forbid thenglish to com abord. And for my letter which was opened, he made many protestations it was against his will, he, being busy and the letter brought unto hym, opened it unawares.

_June 19._--This mornyng fayre wether, wynd northerly but rack easterly, and sowne after rayne most parte of the day, with much wynd as abovesaid, and in the night proved a tuffon, or extreme storm of wynd and rayne, blowing downe or uncovering howses and sincking boates, and amongst the rest our _foyfone_.

Also in the affter nowne our host Cuemon Dono of Osaky arived heare at Firando and brought me a present of ij _catabras_, one of silk and thother lynen, with ij littell packetes fyne rise, and a wyre frame for a _sequanseky_[241] or cupp. Yt is said the King of Xaxma hath sufferd the Chinas to land all ther goodes out of the junk the Hollanders took, not medling with the one partie nor the other. And the Chinas make a purse amongst them all of 5000 _tais_ to send in a present to themperour to have redresse against the Hollanders.

This night the tuffon (or storme) drove the 2 Holland shipps agrownd with the junk they took prize, and, as it is said, are all 3 bildged and all the merchandiz wett that is in them. Many men speak diversly of the matter, but most say playnly it is a ponishment of God upon the Hollanders for wrongfully taking of other mens goodes. Howsoever the losse will be infynet, all being wet, and now must land that perfnerce which they thought should never com ashore in Japon.

_June 20._--I sent Mr. Osterwick to Capt. Speck to tell hym I was sory for the misfortune happened, offring them any help we could. He desired to have our _foy fone_, which was sunk this night, to helpe them; which we sowne cleared and made her ready with 14 ores to row and one of our _jurebassos_, and so sent her to them.

_June 21._--I wrot a letter complementall to Gonroq Dono, that I was glad of his arivall at Langasaque, as also tuching my processe against the scrivano of Giquans junk, with other matters, as apereth per coppie, in the Japon tong. And I wrot an other to Capt. Whow, the China Capt. at Langasaque, and sent hym all the papers of my processe against the said scrivano.

And in thaftar nowne Gonrok Donos man came to our English howse, and tould me he was sent per his master to accompany certen Spaniardes and Portingales, to signefie to the _Tono_ of Firando that he should not suffer the Hollanders to let any of their shiping go it (_sic_) to lay waite for thamakan shipp, as they gave it out they would doe, as also to comand the Hollandes Capt. in themperours name that he should se it performed. Yet, as it falls out, they needed not to have taken soe much paines, for God had prevented their desines and brought their shiping on grownd, and bildged and broaken her to peeces which should have gon out. Also the China Capt. tould me that the King of Xaxma had secretly geven leave to the Chinas that were in the Hollandes junk of priz, put into that place, that perforce they might discharg their goodes against the Hollanders wills, which were but few, and then pursue law against them at themperours Court; which they have donne. And this mornyng the China Capt. sent one of his servantes to the _bongews_ which saw the unlading of the goodes out of the China junk, to know wheare the goodes were put, either into the Hollande howse or the kinges gedong. But he retorned answer he knew not where they were put. In fine, it is thought the Hollanders will fall into greate trowble about these busynesses, and som in this place into danger for permiting matters to passe as they doe.

The Spaniardes and Portingale come to towne were Alvaro Munos, Lues Martin, and one Farnandes.

_June 22._--The Hollanders gott one of there shipps called the _Flushing_ aflote, and hath not much hurte, as they say, besides the cuting overbord of the mast.

_June 24._--The Hollanders men remeaned ashore, day and night, notwithstanding the danger their shipping and goodes were falne into per meanes of this tuffon past. So Albartus, Leonard, and Jacob Swager, accompanid with Japons, went to ferret them out of their whorehouses. And som they took, and others escaped into the woodes, after whome they sent Japons to hunt them out, geveing them five _mas_ or halfe a crowne str. for each one they brought, which was not long a doing, they being carid along the streetes with their handes bownd behind them and garded to the Duch howse lyke theeves; and surly I esteemed them worse, that would leave their shipps in such danger, som of them never going abord since the shipps came into harbor.

Our host Cuemon Dono of Osaky came and vizeted me and brought me a present of a _barso_ of Mywarey wyne.

_June 25._--The Hollanders sought for a caffro which had stolne thinges from abord, and fownd hym and carid hym abord in bandes. Also there were souldiers which were unruly ashore and would not keepe quarter abord, nether cared for mareners, master, nor other, till their lieutenant soldier came to look them out and carid them abord in bandes.

I envited Cuimon Dono, our host of Osaky, to dyner, _nifon catange_ (or Japon fation), with an other of Osaky which was in his company, and their host of Firando; and by chance Alvaro Munos came at same tyme and dyned with us. This is a suttell Castillano and a tyme observer.

_June 26._--News is com to towne that 3 more of the Hollander men of war that fought with the Spaniardes at Manillas are without, at an iland neare unto Langasaque, called Nomozaky. And sowne after the master of the _Flushing_ came ashore to the English howse, and tould me that 2 of these shipps which are com in are of Bantam. I say that 2 of these Holland shipps came from Bantam and the therd from the Manillias; in which shipp is com Jno. Derickson Lamb, generall of the fleet which came from the Manillias and fought with the Spaniardes. And now they say that the ambrall[242] shipp of the Hollanders is lost in that fight with 2 others, and that 5 Spaniardes were sunck. But it is uncerten whether it will prove true or no, for that the Hollanders differ soe much in reportes.

Yt is also said that Capt. Speck gave adviz formerly for these 2 shipps which are com from Bantam to com of purpose to take the Macon shipp, and so to carry tymber and other provisions from hence for Molucos, yf they missed of their purpose.

They report that news was com out of England for Bantam that the Spanish ambassador was taken or kept prisoner in England for treason pretended against the Kinges Majestie and state, and that the Kinges Majestie of England had set out his army royall against the Spaniardes; which whether it will prove true or no I know not.

Mr. Nealson, being drunk yisternight (as he is seldom sober), fell a quarreling with Mr. Totton and used hym out of fation; and because I reproved hym for it, willing hym to goe into his chamber and sleepe, he fell out with me and cald me ould drunken asse, geveing me many thretnyng speeches not sufferable, as Mr. Totton, Mr. Osterwick, and all the rest are witnesse.

_June 27._--Mr. Nealson wrot me he was sory of that which passed yesternight, promesing amendment; which God grant.

Mr. Totton and Mr. Osterwick went abord the Holland shipps, being therunto envited per the masters; but Uchenusque Dono, being _bongew_, sent men to take their ores from them, as they did the lyke from Jno. Cooke and the chirurgion, with certen peeces stuff was geven them for presentes; but after, they better bethought them selves and retorned all. Yt is strang to see how we are misused by these Japons of Firando, and how that theefe Gorezano is mentayned to misuse us; and the justice will not compell hym to pay me that he oweth me.

_June 28._--About nowne came news that the Amacan ship is arived at Langasaque, as also a junck of the China Capten, com from Isla Fermosa, called by them Taccasanga. Also they bring word that the Hollanders which com from Bantam say that we have 2 shipps to com for these partes. God send them well in.

Before night there was letters came to Capt. China from Langasaque, that it is but a small friggat of adviz which is com from Amacan to Langasaque, and brought but littell goodes.

The steward of the Duch shipp _Red Lyon_, coming ashore with certen stuffes to make aparell for the master and others, to the vallue of 50 R. of 8, it was all taken from hym per the Japon _bongews_, and he wounded in the head because he made resistance. I know not what the mallapertnes of these Japons should be to forestall men for making use of their owne, except it be they think to mak booty of all, yf themperour favor not the Hollanders.

_June 29._--The other 3 Holland shipps enterd into the bay of Cochy yisternight very late, and the _Flushing_ shot affe 3 peces ordinance for a welcom, but they answered with non. These 3 which now entred are the ould _Son_ wherin Jno. Derickson Lamb, the generall, is com from the Manillas, and the other ij came from Bantam, the on called the _Black Lyon_, she which was heare the last yeare.

Capt. Speck retorned ashore yisternight, he haveing byn out 4 or 5 daies abord these new com shipps, and, as it is said, was at Langasaque to speake with Gonrok Dono, whoe, hearing of the arivall of the Amacan ship, comanded hym in themperours name to retyre to Firando with their 3 new com shipps, according as themperour had ordayned, to thentent the Macon shipp might enter without empechment. Soe the Hollanders wayed ancor to com for this place; and sowne after, in sight of them, the Portingall shipp entred the port of Langasaque.

I forgot to note downe how Mr. Nealson went abord the ij Hollandes shipps, but was noe sowner abord but the Japon _bongews_ sent to take away both boate and ores; which he seeing, stepped into the boate and bad them stand back or enter upon their parell. So they returned grumbling, thretnyng the Japons which carid us.

About dyner time I was enformed that the junck, which Shobi Dono should have brought our 5000 skins in the other yeare from Syam, is now arived at Langasaque, and that she wintered in Champan,[243] and from thence came this yeare. Soe I presently dispached Mr. Nealson for Langasaque with 1 bill for 5000 skins, wherof 440 for Andrea Dittis, each to pay 24 skins per cento. fraight; 1 bill of 492 _tais_ Japon plate, to be paid per Shobio Dono within 30 daies after his arivall at Langasaque.

_June 30._--I went and vizeted the Holland generall named Jno. Derickson Lamb, and carid hym 2 _barsos_ wyne, a hogg, 20 loves fresh bread, and 5 hense; and to the capt. of the other ii shipps each one a _barso_ wyne, a hog, and 20 loves bread. Yt was taken in good part. I doe perceve by the generall that in the battell they sunk no Spanish shipp, but that iij Hollanders were sunk, viz. the admerall, called the _New Son_, and a lesser shipp and a small peenisse, all the men perishing out of the ij lesser, but saved them which were in the admerall that were left alive, shee being ready to sinke. But the viz-admerall, meeting with the other 2 Holland shipps, burnt her selfe, as I have formerly noted, as also they burned the shipp which went the last yeare from Xaxma with the treasure which came from New Spaine to the vallue of 6 millions; but the money was landed before.

I can heare of no letters they brought for us; only they say the small shipp, which went from hence, was making ready to com back, but can tell nothing of Capt. Keeling, whether he be gon for England or for the Molucas. They allso say the English Capt. at Bantam is dead, but know not his name. Some yet said it was Capt. Jourden, and others said he was gon for England, and he dead that was left in his place. They also report that the _Hector_ was cast away at Surat, for falt of looking to in carynyng.

The ij Duch shipps which came from Bantam did tuch at Pattania, and say there was but ij Englishmen theare, Mr. Browne and a yowth. Also yt was tould them that Mr. Benjamyn Farry was dead at Syam. And they say there was ij French shipps this yeare at Bantam, but came without money and so could doe nothing. Their pilottes were Hollanders, which the Hollanders at Bantam took out of them per force, us they did the like per all other Hollanders they found in them. They say there is iij other French shipps coming after to second them, which, yf they speed no better then these, will not geve the adventurers curadge to send any more.

These Hollanders report very strang newes out of England of treason pretended against the Kinges person, wherin the quandum Countes of Essex, that was marid to the Earle of Somercet, should have a hand, as also be a contriver of the death of Prince Henry. In fine they tell strange matters.

There were 4 or 5 English men abord the _Son_, the admerall shipp of the Hollanders, which, as it seemed, were afraid to make them selves knowne unto me; and one of them, a talle fello, stood staring as yf he had byn agast, and tould me he was dowbtfull whether he might tell me he was an English man or no. It hath made me to enter into many imagenations of the speeches of killing our English men at Pulaway and taking it from our English nation, whome had pocession of it before for the Kinges Ma^{tie} of England. Also of the poisonyng of Capt. Castelton, which they put upon the Spaniardes; yet may and is dowbted over much by the familliarety betwix hym and Jno. Derickson Lamb, the Hollandes generall.[244]

_July 1._--Skydayon Dono, capt. of our junck _Sea Adventure_, wrot a letter to his brother, which letter came per junck of Shoby Dono from Champan, wherin he advized hym how our junk _Sea Adventure_ made her voyage from hence to Syam in 28 dayes. God send her safely to retorne.

_July 2._--Gonrok Dono sent his man to Capt. Speck with a present of 2 peare _beawbs_.[245] The _beawbs_ were sent to Jno. Derickson Lamb.

I understood Jno. Derickson Lamb would bring in his shipp this day, wherupon I sent our _foyfony_ with 14 ores to helpe to toe her in; but she came not in, but the lesser shipp called the _Gallyasse_. I sent Richard Kyng in the _foyfony_, because he spoke Duch; and it fortuned the Englishmen fownd opertunety to tell hym they asked the generall leave to com ashore, to vizet their cuntreymen. But he reprooved them, saying they held the English in these partes for their mortall enemies, and therefore forbad them to com to our howse. This unfrendly dealing doth still conferme me in my former opinion that they have slayne our men in the Molucas. God grant they have not used som trechery against Generall Keeling. And at this instant came a drunken Flemyng to our English howse, whoe tould me they were forbidden upon payne of their lives to com to the English howse, "yet", said he, "I will com to yow, and were I out of the Hollanders service I would never serve them more".

_July 3._--I went and viseted Tonomon Samme, the kinges brother, and carid hym 2 _barsos_ wyne and 2 cordes drid fyshes, exskewsing my not coming before since his brothers departure. He asked me whie we did not take China junkes, as well as the Hollanders. I answerd hym we could not take any that were frendes to the King of England, as the Chinas weare and all others till wars were procleamed. He also asked me whether we would take Spaniardes or Portingall shipps, yf we met them. I answerd hym that we had more reason to doe that then to take Chinas, for that they did take ours, yf they had strength to doe it. "But," said he, "I think the Emperour will not permit the one nor the other to meddell with the shipp of Amacon." I tould hym I thought to the contrary, that the Emperour would rather permit us to take Spaniardes then Chinas, for, yf we took them, we would bring them in heare. "But," said he, "yf yow had taken her this yeare, yow might well have brought her in. But how should we doe hereafter, yf yow debar us from that continuall trade?" I answerd we should not want to bring in yearly the lyke comodetie either from one place or other.

He tould me that he had noted a long tyme that the Hollanders and we were frendes but from tooth outward and not cordially, as neighbours and frendes ought to be. I answerd hym the falt was not ours but the pride of the other, which would make the world to beleeve they were that which they were not. For that it was well knowne there was no comparison to be made betwixt their small state, governed by a county, with the mighty and powrefull government of the King of England, whoe did in som sort governe them, keeping garrisons in their cheefest places.

I also tould hym I marveled that the Firando _bongews_ the other day did take the ores out of the boates which carid us abord the Holland shipps, with such peeces of stuffes as were geven our folkes to make them aparell. He answerd me he knew nothing thereof, only order was geven by Taccamon Dono to restreigne all men from buying till order came from themperour what was to be donne therein. I asked hym then by what authorety Gorezano was suffered to buy and to goe up and downe in the shipps with greate bagges of money, to buy and doe what hee list; which speech put hym to a non plus that he knew not what to say. In fine, I tould hym that I had a processe against this Goresano for money he owed me, and had required justice long ago, and put my papers into Taccamon Donos handes, but could have no end thereof, only now I desird hym that seeing this fello had money to build howses and buy merchandiz, that he might be constrayned to pay me that which he oweth. He answerd me he would speake to Taccamon Dono to doe me justice.

There came 2 Japons to the English howse, which came in these Duch shipps, and complaine that the Hollanders will not pay them their wagis according to promis, and desired, when our shiping came, yf we had need of men, that they might be entertayned, for that they would not serve the Hollanders any more, haveing byn soe badly dealt with for their 6 yeares servis now past.

_July 4._--The admerall ship of the Hollanders, called the _Sone_, came into Firando road this day, and shot afe 7 peces ordinance, and 4 we[re] shot out of the _Gallias_ and certen chambers from Duch howse. I sent Mr. Osterwick abord to bid the generall, Jno. Derickson Lamb, welcom, and sent hym by hym 2 peare silk stockinges for a present, viz. one crimson, and thother sad blew, which he took in good parte, telling Mr. Osterwick he would com and vizet me at our English howse.

Towardes night Mr. Nealson arived from Langasaque, and brought the 3800 skins along with hym, as also a letter from Mr. Wm. Eaton, dated in Syam, le 28th February, 1616, but kept till 13th March, and sent per way Champa.

1 from Mr. Benjamyn Farry in Judea,[246] at Syam, 1th June, 1616.

1 from Mr. Jno. Johnson and Mr. Ric (?) Pitt in Judea, 13th Marche, 1616.

1 from Mr. James Burges, pilot of _Sea Adventure_, 16 Marche, 1616.

1 from Jno. Ferrers, at Paria in Champa, 18 May, 1617.

1 from Robt. Burges, ditto Champa, without date.

All which letters came in the junk Shoby Dono from Champa, som of them being sent in a small _soma_ from Syam to Champa, with a cargezon goodes amonting to 680 _tais_, under charg of Piter Hall, Jno. Ferrers, and Robt. Burges for pilot. God send us good news of them hereafter, for they advize a Portugall frigat took the Hollandes bark going out to retorne for Syam. They advize both from Syam and Champa, as also from Camboja, that the kinges of those places, as also of Cochinchina, desire much to have our shipping to trade into their cuntres, espetially he of Cochinchina, but to com in our owne shiping, and not in Japons, for that he hath banished them out of his cuntrey, I meane the renegages enhabeting in those partes, which did all the mischeefe before.

I receved a letter from Jor. Durois, of 12th July, in Langasaque, wherin he adviseth of 20 Spanish gallions arived this yeare in the Indies at Malacca, viz. 12 Spanish and 8 Portugeze, with order to roote out all Hollanders at Bantam, Molucos, and else wheare, and not to let one remeane alive. God grant it prove falce and confownd them in their proceadinges. This news he sayeth cometh from the Manillas, and that the Spaniardes chased away the Hollanders from thence with losse of 3 Hollande shipps and no Spaniardes; which is a lye, and so I hope the rest may prove.