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YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

Given in Memory of
CHARLES J. MORSE, Yale 1874S
and
JARED K. MORSE, Yale 1908S

1?2.#

THE ORIGINAL LETTERS

OF

THE ENGLISH PILOT,

WILLIAM ADAMS,

WRITTEN FROM JAPAN

Betvreen A.D. len and leiir :

REPRINTED FBOM THE PAPERS
ov THE
YOKOHAMA:
¦ J'^^'.A.lNr G.A.ZE1TTJE " OZFi^ICE.
1 8 9 S.

<f.J,/W.%Zo

7

PEEFATORY REMARKS

PRINTED IN FIRST EDITION.

Through the kmdness of Mr. Russell Robertson,
H.M. Consul in Yokohama, a copy of one of the in
teresting publications of the Hakluyt Society, entitled
" Memorials of the Empire of Japan," came into our
hands a short time ago. This volume was printed in
1850, three years before the Perry Expedition, at a time
when the outer world knew little of Japan, and when the
Great Powers of Europe, and the Government of the
United States, taking the unknown for the magnificent,
had determined on opening, even by coercive measures
if necessary, commercial intercourse with a land which
the perfervid descriptions of a few travellers and traders,
who had peeped here and there behind the screen first
dropped by lyeyasu, had taught them to believe would
prove the Eldorado of the nineteenth century. Among
other interesting matter in the work is a paper entitled
" The Kingdome of Japonia," from " The Firste Book
of Relations of Moderne States," Harleian MSS., the
the date of which is not given. In the " Relation of
England," however, the following passage occurs : —
" The Princesse or Queene hereof at this day is Elizabeth
by name." Thus, these notes, which form the first part
of the " Memorials," vvere most probably written within

the last forty years- of the sixteenth century. We have
here to notice them only inasmuch as they serve to
introduce the second part of the volume, " The Letters
of WILLIAM ADAMS, 1611 to 1617," which we have
from time to time reprinted in tBe Japan Gazette, and
which, at the request of several readers, we now repro
duce in this little pamphlet. The simple language of an
unlettered pilot, speaking from a time distance of more
than two and a half centuries, has a charm of its own ;
and, apart from the broad light it throws on the condi
tions of this land and its relations with foreign powers at
the period during which he wrote, explains the apparent
mystery of the individual influence he acquired with a
powerful ruler. Adams' career in Japan is an instance
of sheer merit and honesty forcing themselves upward,
commanding the esteem of the powerful, and compelling
an unwilling tribute of praise from national, and, still
more bitter, religious foes. With this short introduction
we will let this mariner, homme de merite, as the Jesuit
Charlevoix calls him, speak for himself.
"Japan Gazette" Office,
Yokohama, Japan, May, 1878.

WILL ADAMS' ORIGINAL LETTERS.

(FROM THE PAPERS OF THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY, 1850.)

No. 1.
[AIJING so good occasion, by hearing that
certaine English marchants lye in the island
of lana, although by name vnknowen, I
haue ymboldened myself to wryte these few lines,
desiring the Worshipfull Companie being vnknowen to
me, to pardon my stowtnes. My reason that I doe
wryte, is first as conscience doth binde me with loue to
my countrymen, and country. Your Worships, to whom
this present wryting shall come, is to geve you vnder
stand that I am a Kentish man, borne in a towne called
Gillingam, two English miles from Rochester, one mile
from Chattam, where the King's ships doe lye : and that
fl-om the age of twelue years olde, I was brought vp in
Limehouse neere London, being Apprentice twelue yeares
to Master Nicholas JJiggincs ; and my selfe naue serued
for Master and Pilott in her Maiesties ships ; and about
eleuen or twelue yeares haue serued the Worshipfull
Companie of the Barbarie Marchants, vntill the Indish
traffick from Holland [began] , in which Indish traffick
I was desirous to make a lettei experience of the small

[ 2 ]
knowledge vvhich God had geven me. So, in the yeare
of our Lord 1598, I was hired for Pilot Maior of a fleete
of five sayle, which was made readie by the Indish
Companie : Peeter Vander Hay and Hanee Vander VeeJc.
The Generall of this fleet, was a marchantt called laques
Maihore, in which ship, being Admirall, I was Pilott.
So being the three and twentieth or foure and twentieth
of lune ere we sett aajie, it was too late ere we came to
the line, to passe it without contrarie windes. So it
was about the middest of September, at which time we
fownde much southerly windes, and our men were many
sick, so that we were forsed to goe to the coast of Guin-
II ey to Cape Gonsalres, where wee set our sicke men a
la,nde, of which many dyed : and of the sicknesse few
bettered, hauing little or no refreshing, beinge an
vnhealthfuU place. So that to fulfill our voyage, wee
set our course for the coa.st of Brasill, beinge deter
mined to passe the Streightes of MagUanns ; and by the
way cam to an Iland called Annahona, which island we
landed at, and tooke the towne, in which was abgut
eightie hou.ses. In which Iland we refreshed ourselues,
hauing oxen, oranges, and diuers fruites, etc. But the
vnwholesomenesse of the arie was very bad, that as one
bettered, an other fell sicke : spending vpon the coast
vp the cape Gonsalues, and vp Annahona, a two moneths
tj'me, till the twelfth or thirteenth Nouember. At
which time, wee set sayle from Annahona, finding, the
windes still at the south and south by east, and south
east, till wee got into foure degrees to the .southwards
of the line : at which time the winde did fauour vs
comming to the south-east, and east south-east, and so
that we were vp betweene the Iland of Annahona, and
the Streightes of Magilano, about fiue monethes. One
of our fiue sayle hir maine mast fell over bord, by

[ s ]
which we were much hindred ; for in the sea with much
troubell we set a new mast. So that the nine and
twentieth of March, we saw the lande in lattetude of
fiftie degrees, hauing the winde a two or three daies
contrarie : so, in the ende, hauinge the windes good,
came to the Streightes of Magilano, the sixt of Aprill,
1599, at wliich time, the winter came, so that there was
much snowe: and with colde on the one side, and
hunger on the other, our men grew weake. Hauing at
that time the wind at the north-east, six or seven dayes,
in which time wee inight haue past through the
Streightes. But, for refreshing of our men we waited,
watering and taking in of wood, and setting vp of a
pynnas of fifteene or twentie tonnes in burthen. So at
length, wee would haue passed through, but could not by
reason of the southerly windes : the weather being very
cold, with aboundance of snowe and yee. Wherefore,
we were forced to winter and to stay in the Streightes
from the sixt of Aprill, till the foure and twentieth of
September, in which time our victualles was for the
most part of spent, and for lacke of the same, many of
our men dyed of hunger. So hauinge passed through
the Streightes, and comming in the South Sea, wee found
many hard stormes, being driuen to the southward in
fiftie foure degrees, being very cold. At length we found
reasonable windes and Aveather, with which wee followed
our pretended voyage towards the coast of Perow : but
in long traves* we lost our whole fleet, being separated
the one from the other. Yet wee had appointed before
the dispersing of our fleet by stormes and foule weather,
that if wee lost one another, that in Cliili in the lattetude
of fortie sixe degress, wee should stay the one for the
other the space of thirtie dayes. In which height
* Traverses.

[ 4 ]
according to agreement, I went in sixe and fortie degrees,^
and stayed eight and twentie dayes where we refreshed
our selues, findinge the people of the countrey of a good
nature : but by reason of the Spaniardes the people would
not trade with vs. At first, they brought vs sheepe and
potatoes, for which we gaue them bills and knives, where
of they were very glad : but in the end, the people went
vp from their houses into the countrey, and came no more
to vs. Wee stayed there eight and twentie daj'es, and
set vp a pynnas which we had in our ship in foure partes,
and in the end departed and came to the mouth of
BaJdiina, yet by reason of the much wind it was at that
present, we entred not, but directed our course out of the
bay, for the iland of Mucli- [Mocha] , vnto the which the
next day wee came ; and finding none of our fleet there,
directed our eourse for St. Maria, and the next day came
by the Cape, which is but a league and an halfe from the
Iland, and seeing manj- people luffed about the cape,
and finding good grownde, anchored in a faire sandy hay
in fifteene fathom ; and went with our boats hard by the
water side, to parle with the people of the lande, but
they would not suflfer vs to come a lande, shooting great
store of arrowes at vs. Neuerthelesse, hauing no victualls
in our ship, and hoping to find refreshing by force, wee
landed some seuen and twentie or thirtie of our men, and
droue the wilde people from the water side, most our
men being hurt with their arrowes. And being on land,
we made signes of friendship, and in the end came to
parle with signes and tokens of friendship, the which the
people in the end did vnderstand. So wee made siones
that our desire was for A-ictualls, shewing them iron,
siluer, and cloth, which we would give them in exchange
for the same. Wherefore they gaue our folke wine,
with potatoes to eate, and drinke with other fruits, bid

[ 5 ]
oui- men hj signes and tokens to goe aboord, and the
next day to come again, and then they would bring us
good store of refreshing : so, being late, our men came
aboord, very glad that we had come to a parle with
them, hoping that we should-get refreshing. The next
day, being the ninth of Nouember 1599, our capten,
with all our officers, prepared to goe a lande, hauing
taken counsell to goe to the water side, but not to
lande more then two or three at the most ; for there
were people in aboundance vnknoweut to us : wilde, there
fore not to be trusted ; which counsell being concluded
vpon, the, capten himselfe did goe in one of our l)oats,
with all the force that we could make ; and being by the
shore side, the people of the countrie made signes that
they should come a lande ; but that did not well like our
capten. In the end, the people not comming neere vnto
our boats, our capten, with the rest, resolved to land,
contrary to that which was concluded abord our shipp,
before their going a lande. At length, three and twentie
men landed with muskets, and inarched vpwardes
towardes foure or fiue houses, and when they were about
a, musket shot from the boates more then a thousand
Indians, which lay in ambush, immediately fell vpon our
men with such weapons as they had, and slewe them all
to our knowledge. So our boats did long wait to see if
any of them did come agen ; tut being all slaine, our
boates returned : which sorrowfuU newes of all our men's
deaths was very much lamented of vs all ; for we
had scarce so many men left as could winde vp our
anker. The next day wee weighed, and went ouer to the
Iland of St. Maria, where we found our Admiral, who
had ariued there foure daies before vs, and departed from
the Iland of Much the day before we came from thence,
hauing the Generall, Master, and his Officers a lande ; so

r 6 ]
that all our officers were slaine, the one bemoning the
other : iieuerthelesse, both glad to see the one the other,
and that we were so well met together. My good friend
Timothy Shottcn was Pilott in that ship.
Being at, the island of St. Maria, which lieth in the
lattetude to the soward of the line of thirtie seuen degrees
twelue minutes on the cost of Chili, wee tooke counsell
to take all things out of one ship, and to burne the other ;
but that the captens that were made newe, the one nor the
other, would not, so that we could not agree to leave the
one or the other ; and having much cloth in our ships,
it Avas agreed that Avee should leaue the coast of Perou-,
and direct our course for lapon, having understood that
cloth Avas good marchandiz there ; and also hoAv vpon
that coast of Perou-, the king's ships Avere out seeking a^s,
hauing knowledge of our being there, vnderstanding that
Avee Avere weake of men, Avhich was certaine ; for one of
our fleet, for hunger, was forced to seeke ]-eliefe at the
enemies hand in Saint Ago. For which reason, hauing
refreshed ourselues in this Iland of Sf. Maria, more by
policie then l^y force, we departed the twentie seuen
of Nouember, from the Iland of St. Maria, with our
two ships ; and for the rest of our fleete we had no newes
of them. So we stood away directly for Ltpan, and passed
the equinoctiall line together, vntill we came in twentie-
eight degrees to the northward of the line : in Avhich
lattetude Ave Avere about the twentie-third of February
1600. Wee had a wonderous storme of wiud, as euer I
Avas in, with much raine, in Avhioh storme Avee lost our
consort, whereof we Avere very sorry : nevertheless, with
hope that in lapon Ave should meet the one the other, Ave
proceeded on our former intention for lapon, and in the
height of thirtie degrees, sought the' northermost [?J
Cape of the forenamed Iland ; but found it not, by reason

[ 7 J
that it lieth faulce in all cardes, and maps, and globes ;
for the Cape lieth in thirty-fiue degrees |-, which is a
great difierence. In the end, in thirtie-two degrees i,
wee cam in sight of the lande, being the nineteenth day
of April. So that betAveene the Cape of St. Maria, and
lapon, we were foure moneths and tAventie-tAvo daies ; at
which time there Avere no more then sixe besides my
selfe that could stand vpon his feet. So Ave in safetie
let fall our anchor about a league from a place called
Bungo. At Avhich time cam to vs many boats, and we
suffred them to come abord, being not able to resist them,
which people did vs no harme ; neither of vs vnderstand
ing the one the other. Within a 2 or 3 daies after our
arivall, ther cam a lesuit from a \)l-a,ce ca,lled La ngasackc,
to which place the Car ake of Amahau is yeerely Avont to
come, which Avith other laponers that Avere Christians,
Avere our interpreters, which Avas not to our good, our
mortal enemies being our Truchmen. Neuerthelesse,
the King of Bungo, the place Avhere we arriued, shewed
vs great friendship. For he gaue vs an house a lande,
Avhere we lended our sicke men, and had all refreshing
that was needful. We had Avhen we cam to anker in
Bungo, sicke and whole, foure and twentie men, of Avhich
number the next day three dyed. The rest for the most
part recouered, sauing three, which lay a long time sicke,
and in the end also died. In the which time of our
bemg here, the Emperour hearing of vs, sent presently
fiue gullies, or friggates to vs, to bring mee to the Court,
where his highnes was, which was distant from Bungo
about an eightie English leagues. Soe that as soon as
I came before him, he demanded of me, of Avhat coun
trey we were ; so I ansAvered him in all points ; for there
was nothing that he demanded not, both conseming
warre and peace betAveene countrey and countrey ; so

[ 8 ]
•
that the particulars here to wryte Avould be too tedious.
And for that time I was commanded to prisson, being
well vsed, Avith one of our mariners that cam with me to
serue me.
A two dayes after, the Emperour called me agein,
demaunding the reason of our comming so farre. 1
aunswered : We Avere a people that sought all friendship
with all nations, and to haue trade in all countries,
bringing such merchandiz as our countrey did afford into
strange landes, in the way of traffick. He demaunded
also as conseming the warres betweene the Spaniard or
Portingall and our countrey, and the reasons ; the
which I gaue him to vnderstand of all things, which he
Avas glad to heare, as it seemed to me. In the end, I
Avas commaunded to prisson agien, but my lodging Avas
bettered in an other place. So that 39 dayes I Avas in
prisson, hearing no more newes, neither of our ship,
nor capten, Avhether he Avere recouered of his sicknesse or
not, nor of the rest of the company ; in which time,
looked euery day to die : to be crossed, as the custome
of iustice is in lapon, as hanging is in our land. In
Avhich long time of imprissonment, the lesuites and the
Portingalls gaue many evidences against me and the rest
to the Emperour, that wee Avere theeues and robbers of all
nations, and were we suffered to liue, it should be ageinst
the profit of his Highnes, and the land : for no nation
should come there without robbing : his Highes iustice
being executed, the rest of our nation without doubt
should feare and not come here any more : thus dayly
making axcess to the Emperour, and procuring friendes
to hasten my death. But God that is always merciful
at need, shewed mercy vuto vs, and would not suffer
them to liaue their willes of vs. In the end, the Em
perour gave them aunswer that Ave as yet had not doen

[ 9 ]
to him nor to none of his lande any harme or dammage :
therefore against Reason and Iustice to put vs to death.
If our countreys had Avarres the one Avith the other, that
A^'as no cause that he should put vs to death : Avith
which they were out of hart, that their cruell pretence
failed them. For which God be for evermore praised.
Now in this time that I Avas in prisson, the ship was
commaunded to be brought so neere to the citie where
the Emperour Avas, as might be (for grownding hir) ; the
which was done. 41 daies being expired, the Emperour
caused me to be brought before him agein, demanding
of mee many questions more, Avhich were too long to
write. In conclusion, he asked me whether I Avere
desirous to goe to the ship to see my countreymen. I
ansAvered very gladly : the Avhich he bade me doe. So
I departed, and Avas freed from imprissonment. And
this Avas the first newes that I had, that the ship and
company were come to the citie. So that, with a
reioi'cing hart I tooke a boat, and went to our ship,
AA'here I found the capten and the rest, recouered
of their sickenesse ; and when I cam abord Avith Aveep-
ing eyes Avas received : for it was giA^en them to vnder
stand that I was executed long since. Thus, God be,
praised, all Ave that Avere left aliue, came together
againe. From the ship all things Avere taken out:
so that the clothes which I took Avith me on my
back I only had. All my instruments and books
were taken. Not only I lost what I had in the
ship, but from the capten and the company, generally,
Avhat Avas good or worth the taking, Avas carried
aAvay. All which Avas doen unknowen to the Emperour.
So in processe of time hauing knoAvledge of it, he com
maunded that they which had taken our goods, should
restore it to vs back again ; but it Avas here and there

[ 10 ]
so taken, that Ave could not get it again: samnge
50000 Rs in reddy money Avas commaunded to be geven
vs ; and in his presence brought, and delivered in the
hands of one that Avas made our gouernour, Avho kept
them in his hands to distribute them vnto vs as Avee
had neede, for the buying of victualls for our men, Avith
other particular charges. So in the end of thirtie dayes,
our ship lying before the city called Sakay, two
leagues |-, or three leagues, from Ozacu, where the Em
perour at that time did lye, commaundement cam from
the Emperour, that our ship should be carried to the
estermost part of the land, called (Ju-anto, Avhither accord
ing to his commaundement Ave were carried, the dis
tance being about an hundred and tAventy leagues. Our
passage thither Avas long, by reason of contrarie Avindes
so that the Emperour was there long before vs. Com
ming to the land of Quanto, and neere to the citie Eddo,
where the Emperour Avas : being arriued. I sought all
meanes by supplications, to get our ship cleare, and to
seeke our best meanes to come Avhere the Hollanders
had their trade: in vAhich suit we spent much of the
mony geven vs. Also, in this time, three or foure of
our men rebelled against the capten, and my selfe, and
made a mutinie with the rest of our men, so that Ave
had much trouble Avith them. For they Avould not
abide noe longer in the ship, euery one Avould be a
commander : and perforce would haue euery one part
of the money that was geven by the Emperour. It
would bee too long to Avryte the particulars. In the
end, the money Avas devided according to euery man's
place ; but this was about two yeeres that we had been
in Ictpon ; and Avhen we had a deniall that we should
not haue our ship, but to abyde in lapon. So that the
part of every one being devided, every one tooke his

[ 11 J
v\ay where he thought best. In the end, the Emperour
gaue euery man, to liue vj^on, two pounds of rice a day,
daily, and yeerely so much as Avas worth eleuen or
twelue ducats a yeare, yearely: my selfe, the capten,
and mariners all alike.
So in processe of four of fiue yeeres the Emperour
called me, as diuers time he had done hefore. So one '
time aboue the rest he would have me to make him a
sinall ship. I answered that I Avas no carpenter, and
had no knowledg thereof. Well, doe your endeavour,
saith he : if it be not good, it is no matter. Wherefore
at his commaund I buylt him a ship of the burthen of
eightie tunnes, or there about : Avhich ship being made
in all respects as our manner is, he comming aboord to
see it, liked it veiy Avell ; by vvhich meanes I came in
more fauour with him, so that I came often in his
presence, who from time to time gaue me presents, and
at length a yearely stypend to liue vpon, much about
seuentie ducats by the yeare, with tvvo pounds of rice a
day, daily. Noav beeing in such grace and fauour, by
reason I learned him some points of jeoinetry, and vnder
standing of the art of uKitheniatickea, Avith o^er things :
1 pleased him so, that what I said he Avould not con
trarie. At Avhich my former enemies did vvonder ; and
at this time must intreat me to do them a friendship,
Avhich to both Spaniards and Portingals have I doen •.
recompencing them good for euill. So, to passe my
time to get my lining, it hath cost mee great labour and
trouble at the first ; but God hath blessed my labour.
In the ende of fiue yeeres, 1 made supplication to
the king to goe out of this land, desiring to see my
poore wife^ and children according to conscience and
nature. With the which request, the emperour was not
well pleased, and would not let me goe any more for

[ 12 1
my countrey ; but to byde in his land. Yet in processe
of time, being in great fauour Avith the Emperour, I
made supplication agein, by reason we had newes that
the Hollanders Avere in Shian and Patania; Avhich
reioyced vs much, Avith hope that God should bring us
to our countrey againe, by one meanes or other. So I
made supplication agein, and boldly spake my selfe Avith
him, at Avhich he gaue me no aunsAver. I told him, if
he would permit me to depart, I Avould bee a meanes,
that both the English and Hollanders should come and
traffick there but by no means he would let mee goe.
I asked him leave for the capten, the which he presently
granted mee. So by that meanes my capten got leave ;
and in a lajyon iunk sailed to Pattan ,- and in a yeares
space cam no Hollanders. In the end, he Avent from
Patane to Ior, Avhere he found fleet of nine saile : of
Avhich fleet Matleef was General, and in this fleet he Avas
made Master againe, Avhich fleet sailed to Malacca, and
fought Avith an armado of Portingalls : in Avhich battel
he was shot, and presently died : so that as yet, I think,
no certain ncAves is knoAvnen, Avhether I be lining or
dead. Theftfore I do pray and intreate you in the
name of Jesus Christ to doe so much as to make my
being here in lapon, knoAven to my poor Avife : in a
manner a widdoAV, and my two children fatherlesse :
which thing only is my greatest griefe of heart, and
conscience. I am a man not vnknowen in Ratcliffe and
Limehouse, by name to my good Master N'icholas Dig-
gines, and M. Thomas Best, and M. Nicholas Isaac, and
William Isaac, brothers, Avith many others ; also to M.
William lones, and M. Becket. Therefore may this letter
come to any of their hands, or the copy : I doe knoAV
that compassion and mercy is so, that my friends and
kindred shall haue ncAves, that I doe as yet liue in this

[ 13 ]
vale of my sorroAvfull pilgrimage : the Avhich thing agein
and agein I do desire for lesus Christ his sake.
You shall vnderstand, that the first ship that I did
make, I did make a voyage or tAVo in, and then the
King commaunded me to make an other, which I did,
being of the burthen of an hundred and tAventie tunnes.
In this ship I have made a voyage from Meako to Eddo,
being as far as from London to the Lizarde or the Lands
end of England : Avhich in the j'eere of our Lord 1609,
the King lent to the Gouernour of Manilla, to goe with
eightie of his men, to saile to Acapnlra . In the yeere
1609 Avas cast away a great ship called the S. Francisco,
beeing about a thousand tunnes, vpon the coast of lapon,
m the lattetude of thirty fiue degrees and fiftie minutes.
By distresse of Aveather she cut ouer-boord her maine
mast, and bore vj) for lapon, and in the night vnaAvares,
the ship ranne vpon the shore and Avas cast away : in
the which thirtie and sixe men were drowned, and three
hundred fortie, or three hundred fiftie saued : in Avhich
ship the Gouernour of Manilla as a passenger, was to
return to Nouu Spania. But this Gouernour was sent
in the bigger ship Avhich I made, in ann. 1610, to
Acapulca. And in ann. 1611, this Gouernour returned
another ship in her roome, with a great present, and
with an Embassadour to the Emperour, giuing him
thankes for his great friendship : and also sent the
Avorth of the Emperours ship in goods and money :
Avhich shippe the Spaniards haue hoav in the Philippinas.
Now for my seruice which I haue doeij and daily
doe, being employed in the Emperours seruice, he hath
given me a lining, like vnto a lordship in England, Avith
eightie or ninetie husbandmen, that be as my slaues or
^ seruents : which, or the like president, Avas neuer here
before geven to any stranger. Thus God hath prouided

[ 14 ]
for mee after my great miserie ; and' to him only be an
honnor and praise, power and glory, both noAV and for
euer, worlde without ende.
Noav, whether I shall come out of this land, I knoAV
not. Vntill this present there hath been no meanes ;
but now, through the trade of the Hollanders, there is
meanes. In the yeere of our Lord 1609, tAVO Holland
ships came to lajion. Their intention was to take the
Caracke, that yeerly cam fi-om Macao, being a fiue or
six dayes too late. Neuertheless, they cam to Firando,
and cam to the Court to the Emperour, Avhere they
Avere in great friendship receiued, making condition
Avith the Emperour yearely to send a ship or two ;
and so with the Emperours passe they departed. Noav,
this yeare 1611, there is a small ship arriued, Avith
cloth, lead, elephants te.eth, dammaske, and blacke
taffities, raw silke, pepper, and other commodities ; and
they haue sheAved cause why they cam not in the former
yeare 1610, according to promise yearely to come. This
ship was wonderou.sly Avell receiued. You A'nderstand
that the Hollanders haue here an Indies of money ; for
out of Holland there is no need of siluer to come into
the East Indies. For in lapon, there is much siluer and
gold to serue for the Hollanders to handell Avher they
will in the East Indies. But the merchandiz, Avhich is
here vendible for readie money, silk, damaske, blacke
taffities, blacke and red cloth of the best, lead, and such
like goods. So, now vnderstanding by this HoUand ship
lately arriued here, that there is a settled trade by my
countrey-men in the East Indies, I presume that amongst
them some, either merchants, masters, or mariners,
must needs knoAV mee. Therefore I haue ymbolddened
my selfe to write these few lines in breife ; being de
sirous not not to be ouer tedious to the reader.

[ 15 ]
This Iland of lapon is a great land, and lyeth to
the northwards, in the lattetude of eight and fortie de
grees, and it lyeth east by north, and Avest by south or
west south Avest, two hmidred and tAventie English
leagues. The people of this Iland of lapon are good of
nature, curteous aboue measure, and valiant in warre :
their iustice is seuerely excecuted without any partialitie
vpon transgressors of the laAV. They are gouerned in
great ciuilitie. I meane. not a land better gouerned
m the Av'orld by ciuill policie. The people be verie
superstitious in their religion, and are of diuers opinions.
There be manj- lesuites and Franciscan friars in this
land, and they haue conuerted many to be Christians
and haue manj^ churches in the Iland.
Thus, in breife, I am constrained to Avrite, hoping
that by one meanes, or other, in*processe of time, I shall
heare of my wife and children : and so Avith pacience I
Avait the good Avill and pleasure of Allmity God. There
fore I do pray all them, or every one of them, that if
this my letter shall com to their hands to doe the best,
that my wife and children, and my good acquaintance
may heere of mee ; by whose good meanes I may in
processe of time, before my death heare newes, or see
som of my friendes agein. The which thinge God turn
it to his glory. Amen.
Dated in lapon the two and twentieth of October
1611. By your vnworthy friend and seruant,
to command in what I can,
William Adams.

No. II.
Concurrently Avith the preceding, William Adams '
addressed a letter to his wife, of Avhich a fragment has
been preserved by PH,rchas. It contains some interest
ing additional touches that contribute to the completion
of the picture already given.
AVILLI-V.M ADAMS TO HIS AVIFE.
^OUING wife, you shall A'liderstand how all
^imt things haue passed Avith mee from the time
T^T-^ of mine absence from you. We set saile
Avith fine ships from the Tcrel, in Holland, the foure and
twentieth of lune 1598. And departed from the coast
of England the fift of luly. And the one and tAventieth
of August, Ave came to one of the isles of Capo Verde,
called Sant' lago, Avhere Ave abode foure and twentie
dayes. In which time many of our men fell sicke,
through the vnAvholsomenesse of the aire, and our
generall among the rest. Noav the reason that we abode
so long at these ilands was, that one of the captaines of
our fleet made our generall beleeue that at these ilands
we should find great store of refreshing, as goats and
other things, Avhich Avas vntrue.
Here I and all the pilots of the fleet Avere called to
a councell ; in Avhich wee all shewed our iudgments of
disliking the place ; Avhich Avere by all the captaines
taken so ill, that afterward it Avas agreed by them all
that the pilots should be no more in the cpuncell, the
which Avas executed. The fifteenth day of September

[ 17 ]
Ave departed from the isle of Sanf lago, and passed the
equinoctiall line. And in the latitude of three degrees
to the south, our generall dj'ed : Avhere, Avith many
contrarie Avindes and raine, the season of the yeare
being A'ery much past, Avee Avere forced vpon the coast
of Guiney, falling vpon an head-land called Caho de
Spirito Sancto. The new generall commanded to bear
vp Avith Ca2)e de Lopo Consalues, there to seeke refresh
ing for our men, the Avhich we did. In Avhich place we
landed all our sicke men, Avhere they did not much
better, for Avee could find no store of victuals. The nine
and tAventieth of December, Avee set saile to goe on our
voyage, and in our Avay Ave 4ell Avith an island called
Illha da Nohon, Avhere we landed all our sicke men,
taking the iland by force. Their toAvne conta j'lied some
eightie houses. Hauing refreshed our men, Ave set saile
againe. At which time our generall cominanded, that
a man foure dayes should haue but one pound of bread,
that AA'as a quarter of a pound a day ; Avith a like pro
portion of Avine and Avater. Which scarcitie of victuals
brought such feeblenesse, that our men fell into so great
Aveaknesse and sicknesse for hunger, that they did eate the
calves' skinnes Avherewith our ropes Avere couered. The
third of April 1599, we fell in Avith the Port of 8a,intlulian.
And the sixt of Aprill we came into the Straight of Magellan
to the first^ narroAV. And the eighth day Ave passed the
second narroAV Avith a good Avind, Avhere Ave came to an
anchor, and landed on Penguin Island, Avhere we ladded
our boate ful of penguins, Avhich are fowles greater then
a ducke, Avhere\A'ith Ave Avere greatly refreshed. The tenth,
Ave weighed anchor, hauing much Avind, Avhich Avas good
for vs to goe thorow. But our generall would water, and
take in prouision of wood for all our fleet. In Avhieh
straight there is enough in euery place, with anchor

[ 18 1
gi-ound in all places, three or foure leagues one from
another. In the meane time, the Avind changed, and came
southerly, Ave sought a good so harbour for our ship on
the north-side, foure leagues off Elizaheth's Bay. All
Aprill being out, Avee had Avonderfull much snoAV and
ice, with great winds. For in April, May, lune, luly,
and August, is the Avinter there, being in fiftie-two
degrees ^ by south the equinoctiall. Many times in the
winter Ave had the Avind good to goe through the
straights, but our generall Avould not. We abode in the
straight till the foure and twentieth of August 1599-
On the which day wee came into the South Sea ; Avhere
sixe or seuen days after, in a greater storme, Ave lost the
Avhole fleet one from another. The storme being long,
we Avere driuen into the latitude of fiftie-foure degrees |,.
by south the equinoctiall. The weather breaking vp,
and hauing good wind againe, the ninth of October Ave
saw the admirall, of Avhich Ave Avere glad ; eight or ten
dayes after in the night, hauing very much Avind, our
fore-sayle floAV away, and Avee lost companie of the
admirall. Then, according to Avind and Aveather, Ave
directed our course for the Coast of Chili, Avhere the
nine and tAventieth of October we came to the place
appointed of our generall in fortie-six degrees, Avhere
wee set vp a pinnesse, and stayed eight and tAventie
dayes : In this place we found people, with whom Avee
had friendship fiue or sixe dayes, who brought vs sheep ;
for which Ave gaue them bels [ ? bills] and kniues and it
seemed to vs they were contented. But shoj-tly after
they Avent all away from the place Avhere our ship Avas,
and Ave saw them no more. Eight and twentie dayes^
being expired, Ave set sayle, minding to goe for Baldivia.
So wee came to the mouth of the bay of Baldivia. And

[ 19 ]
lieing very much Avind, our captaines minde changed, so
that Ave directed our course for the isle of Mocha.
The first of Nouember, vve came to the iie Mocha,
Ij'ing in the latitude of eight and thirtie degrees.
Hauing much Avind, AA'e durst not anchor, but directed
our course for Cape Sancta Maria, two leagues by south
the iland of Sancta Maria, Aviiere hauing no knoAvledge
of the people, the second of Nouember our went on land,
and the people of the land fought Avith our men, and
hurt eight or nine ; but in the end, they made a false
composition of friendship, Avhich our men did beleeue.
The next day, our captaine, and three and twentie
of our chiefe men, went on land, meaning for mar-
chandize to get victualls, hauing wonderfull hunger.
Two or three of the people came straight to our boat in
friendly manner, with a kind of Avine and rootes, Avith
making tokens to come on land, making signes that
there Avere sheep and oxen. Our captaine Avith our
men, hauing great desire to get refreshing for our men,
Avent on land. The people of the countrey lay in
trenched a thousand and aboue, and straight-way fell
vpon our men, and slew them all ; among Avhich Avas my
brother Thomas Adams. By this losse, Ave had scarse
so many men Avhole as could Aveigh our anchor. So the
third day, in great distresse, Ave set our course for the
Island of Santa Maria, where Ave found our admirall ;
Avhom AA'hen Ave saw, our hearts were some Avhat com
forted : Ave went aboord them, and found them in as
great distresse as Ave, hauing lost their Generall, Avith
seuen and tAventie of their men, slaine at the Island of
Mocha, from Avhence they departed the day before Ave
came by. Here Ave took counsell Avhat we should doe to
get victualls. To goe on land by force we had no men,
for the most part were sicke. There came a Spaniard

[ 20 ]
by composition to see our shippe. And so the next day
he came againe, and Ave let him depart quietly. The
third day came two Spaniards aboords vs Avithout paAvne,
to see if they could betray vs. When they had seene
our shippe,- they would haue gone on land againe, but
we would not let them, sheAving that they came Avithout
leaue, and Ave would not let them goe on land againe
without our leaue ; where at they were greatly offended.
We shewed them that we had extreame neede of victualls,
and that if they would giue vs so many sheepe, and so
many beeues, they should goe on land. So, against
their wiis, they made composition Avith vs, Avhich, within
the time appointed, they did accomplish. Hauing so
much refreshing as we could get, we made all things
well againe, our men beeing for the most part recouered
of their sickenesse. There Avas a young man, one
Hudcopee, Avhich kneAV nothing, but had serued the
admirall, Avho Avas made generall : and the master of our
shippe was made vice-admirall, AA'hose name was lacoh
Quaternak of Roterdam. So the generall and vice-
admirall called me and the other pilote, beeing an
Englishman, called Timothy Shotten (Avhich had been
with M. Thomas Candish, in his voj'age about the
¦world), to take counsell what Ave .should doe to make
our voyage for the best profit of our merchants. At
last, it was resolued to goe for lapon. For by report
of one Dirrick Gerritson, Avhich had been there
with the Portugals, woollen cloth Avas in great estima
tion in that Iland. And Ave gathered by reason, that
the Malucos, and the most part of the East Indies, were
hot countreyes, where woolen cloth would not be much
accepted ; Avherefore, we all agreed to goe for Japan.
So, leauing the coast of ChiU from thirtie-sixe degrees
of south-latitude, the seuen and tAventieth of Nouember

[ 21 ]
1599, vve tooke our course directly for lapon, and jiassed
the line equinoctiall with a faire wind, which continued
good for diuerse moneths. In our way, vve fell with
certain islands in sixeteene degi-ees of north latitude,
the inhabitants whereof are meneaters. Comming neere
these islands, and hauing a great pinnesse Avith vs,
eight of our men beeing in the piunesse, ranne from vs
with the pinnesse, and (as we suppose) were eaten of
the Avild men, of which people Ave tooke one : which
afterward the generall sent for to come into his shippe.
When Avee came into the latitude of seuen and twentie
and eight and twentie degrees, Ave found very variable
winds and stormy Aveather. The foure and tAventieth of
February, Ave lost sight of our admirall, Avhich after-
AA'ard we saw no more : Neuerthelesse, Ave still did our
best, directing our course for lapon. The foure and
twentieth of Ma,rch, Ave saw an island called Vna Colon
na : at AA'hich time many of our men were sicke againe,
and diuers dead. Great was the miserie A\e were in,
hauing no more but nine or tenne able men to goe or
creepe vpon their kness : our captaine, and all the rest,
looking euerj' houre to die. The eluenth of April 1600,
Ave saAV the land of lapon, neere A'nto Bn-ngo : at Avhich
time there were no more but fiue men of vs able to goe.
The^tAvelfth of April, we came hard to Bungo, Avhere
maiij" barkes came aboord vs, the people Avhereof Avee Avill
ingly let come hauing no force to resist them ; at Avhich
place we came to an anchor. The people offered vs no hurt,
but stole all things they could steale ; for which some paid
deare afterward. The next day, the king of that land sent
sbuldiers aboord to see that none of the marchants goods
were stolen. Two or three dayes after, our shippe Avas
brought into a good harbour, there to abide till the
principali king of the Avhole island had newes of vs, and

[ 22 ]
vntill it was knoAvne what his will was to doe Avith vs.
In the meane time we got fauour of the king of that
plaee, to get our captaine and sicke men" on land, Avhich
Avas granted. And Avee had an house appointed vs, in
Avhich all our men Avere laid, and had refreshing giuen
them. After Avee had beene there fiue or sixe dayes,
came a Portugall lesuite, with other Portugals, Avho
reported of vs, that we were pirats, and were not in the
way of marchandizing. Which report caused the
gouernours and commonpeeple to thinke euill of vs :
In such manner, that we looked alwayes Avhen we should
be set vpon crosses ; which is the execution in this land
for theeuery and some other crimes. Thus daily more
and more the Portugalls incensed the justices and people
against vs. And two of our men, as traytors, gaue them
selues in seruice to the king, beeing all in all Avith the
Portugals, hauing by them their liues Avarranted. The
one was called GiU/ert de Conning, whose mother dAvelleth
at Mi-ddlehorough, Avho gaue himself out to be marchant
of all the goods in the shippe. The other Avas called
lohn Ahelson Van Owater. These traitours sought all
manner of wayes to get the goods into their hands, and
made knoAvne vnto them all things that had passed, in
our voyage. Nine daj'es after our arriuall, the great
king of the land sent for me to come vnto him^ So
taking one man with me, I went to him, taking my leaue
of our captaine, and all the others that were sicke, com
mending my selfe into His hand that had preserued me
from so many perils on the sea. I was carried in one
of the king's galhes to the court at Osaca, where the
king lay, about eightie leagues from the place whefe
the shippe Avas. The twelfth of May 1600, I came
to the king's citie, who caused me to be brought into the
court, beeing a wonderfull costly house guilded with

[ 28 ]
gold in abundance. • Coming before the king, he viewed
me Avell, and seemed to be Avonderfull fauourable. He
made many signes vnto me, some of Avhich I vnderstood,
and some I did not. In the end, there came one that
could speake Portuges. Bj' him, the king demanded
of me of Avliat land I was, and Avhat mooued vs to come
to his land, beeing so farre off. I shcAved vnto him the
name of our countrey, and that our land long sought out
the East Indies, and desired friendship Avitli all kings
and potentates in Avay of marchandize, hauing in our
land diuerse commodities, which these lands had not ;
and also to buy such marchandizes in this land, which
our countrey had not. Then he asked whether our
countrey had Avarres ? I answered him yea, with the
Spaniards and Portugals, being in peace with all other
nations. Further, he asked me, in Avhat I did beleeue ?
I said, in God, that made heauen and earth. He asked
me diverse other questions of things of religions, and
many other things : As what Avay we came to the country.
Hauing a chart of the whole Avorld, I shewed him,
through the Straight of Magella,n. At Avhich he
Avondred, and thought me to lie. Thus, from one thing
to another, I abode with him till mid-night. And hauing
asked mee, Avhat marchandize Ave had in our shippe, I
shewed him all. In the end, he beeing ready to depart,
I desired that Ave might haue trade of marchandize, as
the Portugals and Spanyards had. To which he made
me an answer ; but what it was, I did not vnderstand.
So he commanded me to be carried to prison. But two
dayes after, he sent for me againe, and enquired of the
qualities and condition of our countreys, of Avarres and
peace, of beasts and catell of all sorts ; and of the
heauens. It seemed that he Avas Avell content with all
mine ansAvers vnto his demands. Neuerthelesse, I Avas

[ 24 ]
commanded to prison againe : but my lodging vvas
bettered in another place 

No. III.
To my assured good frind Augustin Spalding, in Bantam,
decliuer this, per a good frind 'Thomas HiU, Avhom
God presserue.
Lars dei: written in Japan in ye Hand <f Ferrando,
the 12 of Jeneuari 1613.
Y good and louing frind : I do imbolden my
self to wrytt theess feaAV lines vnto you in
Avhich I do hartylly sallute me vnto you
with all the rest of my good countrj' men Avitli you,
with hope of your good health, Avhich God long con-
tineAV : as I praj'ss God I am at this present, etc.
Your ffrindly and Christian letter I hau receued bj'
the Hollanders Avhich be heer arriued this j'eer 1612, by
which I do vnder stand that j'ou have receued my letter
which I sent by Peetter Johnssoon, of Avhich I am veri
glad, hoping yt my poor Avyf and frindes shall heer I am
alyve. For vnto this present ther hath not coum to ye
hands of my frinds anny letter of mj'ne : being by the
Hollanders intercepted alAA'ayes : for by the company of
thees ship I haue sertainneAvesof treAvthyt it is exprsesslej-
forbid bythe Winthabers so called, or Indish Company, yt
they shall carri nor bring anny letters in no maner of wayes :
for by both thees shipes I have had diuers letteers sent
me by my wyf and other good frinds out of Ingland and
Holland, but feaAV coum to my hand and thoo as yt I
hau receued the most part Avere 2 lettrs VA-hich cam from
London by the convaj'ance of the Gloob of London,

[ 26 J
Avhich arriued at Pattania [  ] which is hcer
arriued : which 2 lettrs, the on is from [I the honouruhJe
Sir] Thomas Snaith, and on from my good frind John
Stokle, soum tym on of the [  ] Thees 2 lettrs
hau not bin oppened, but a 40 or 50 dayes detajmed
from mee, etc.
You shall \'' understand] by the letter of Hr.
Thomass Smith, he hath Avritten that he will send
a ship heer in Japan to establish a facktori, ot
which, yf yet may be profitt I shal be most glad :
of which newes I told the Emperour thearof,
and told him yt in ye next yeer the kinges mati.
of England Avould send his imbashador Avith mony and
marchandiz to trad in his country ; and of the certenti
theerof I had receued neAves. At which hee wass veery
glad, and rejoyced that strange nacions had such good
oppinion : Avith many other good speeches. Noav, my
good frind, if it so fall out that one of our country shipes
do coum heer to traffick thear [  ] not lee
[  ] Avelcome. And this I de inseur you of, for
it is in my power to do it. I doo prayss God for it : who
hath geuen me fauor Avith the Emperour, and good Avill
to me, so fan; as that I may boldly say our country men
shall be so Avelcoum and free in coumparisson as in the
riuer of London.
And noAV to the purposs. I feear yt theer Avilbe no
profitt, which is principally : for ye coumodeties of our
countri are heer good cheep, yt is clloth ; for by reason
of the ship that comes from Novo Spaynia of the on party
and the Hollanders on the other i^arty, hath made
the priss of cloth so good chep as in Ingland. An 8 or
9 years ago cloth Avas very deer, but noAV verry chep.
Now the coumodities yt ye bring from Holland are
theess : cloth, leed, still [steel], louking glasses, drinking

[ 27 ]
glasses, daiis-klass-glasses, amber, dieeper aad holland,
with other things of small importance. First of ther
cloth no profitt ; leed at [  ] the 1., or lees, 3d
the Avhich is no profitt ; steel 6d. the 1. and other things
of small profitt. By ye Avay [  ] them bring
peper, the priss thearof 40s. the 1001.; clouess 51. star-
linge the 1001. and thees [  ] and the priss tliaj"
sell them for. The ship that coums from Pattania
i"  ] of all prisses, damas, taffety, veh'ett, satten,
Brassill to dye with. All other china coumodities j't
[  J is not sartain becasssoum j'eers good cheep,.
and soum yeer deer [  ] of chinas goods thej'
made great proffit at first. As the shipes coum
lade, so thay go aAvay much deeper lade, for heer
y they] lad thear shipes Avith rise, fish, bisket, Avith
diuers other prouisions, monicion [.'munition], mar
riners, sojoures, and svch lyk, so that in rcspeckt of the
warres in MoHoavcouss [Moluecas] Japan is A-erry pro-
fittable vnto them ; and j'f the Avarres do continew in ye
Mollucous with j'e traffick thaj' haue heer Avilbe a great
scourge vnto ye Spaj'nnards, etc.
Noav my good frind : can our Inglish marchants get
the handelling or trad Avith the Chinas, then shall our
countri mak great profitt, and the worshippfiil Indiss
Coumpany of Londoii shall not hau need to send monnj"
out of Ingland, forin Japan is gold and siluer in aboun
dance, for Vifith the traffick heer they shall hau m.onny
to serue theerneed ; I mean in the Indiss, etc.
The HoUandes be noAV settled and I hau got them
that priuilledg as the Spaynnards and Portmgalles could
neuer gett in this 50 or 60 j-eers in Japan, etc.
This yeer 1612 the Spaynnards and Portingalles
hau evssed me as an instrument to gett there liberty in
the manner of the Hollandes, but vppon considera.

[ 28 ]
tion of f afther inconvenience I hau not sought it for
them. It hath plessed God to bring things to pass, so
as in ye eyes of ye Avorld [? must seem] strange for the
Spaynnard and Portingall hath bin my bitter ennemis,
to death ; and now theay must seek to me an vnworth
Avr [et] ch : for the Spaynard as well as the Portingall
must haue all their negosshes [negociations] go thorough
my hand. God hau ye prayse for it, etc.
The charges in Japan are not great : onlly a pres-
sent for ye Emperour and a present for ye Kinge,
and 2 or 3 other pi-essents for the Secretaris. Other
coustoumes here be nonn. Now, once, yf a ship
do coum, lett her coum for the esterly part of
Japan, lying in 35d. 10m. Avhear the Kinge and ye
Emperour. court is : for coum our ships to Ferando
Avhear the Hollanders bee, it is farr to ye court, about
230L., a wery soum Avay and foul. The citti of Edo
lyeth in 36, and about this esterly part of the land thear
be the best harbors and a cost so cleer as theayr is no
sholdes nor rockes 1^ a myll from the maj'n'land. Itis
good also for sale of marchandis and security for ships,
forr Avhich cass I haue sent a pattron [! pattern card, or
chart] of Japan, for Avhich my self I hau been all about
the cost in the shipping that I have made for ye Em
perour, that I hau experyence of all yt part of ye cost
that lyeth in 36d., etc.
Now my good frind : I thank you for your good
Avritting and frindly token of a byble and 3 other boiikes.
By your letter I vnderstand of ye death of many of my
good frinds in the barbarous country of Barbary : for
Avhich death, and los of goods I am heartelie sorry.
Nevertheles it is ye lot of all flesh : in this lyf manny
trobelles and afflixcions, and in the end death. Thearfor

[ 29 ]
ifc is a blessed thing to dy in the Lord, with a faithfull
trust in God : for theay rest from theer labores, etc.
In this land is no strange ncAves to sertify you of :
the Avhool being in peace : the peopell veri subiect to thear
gouA'ernours and superiores : also in thear relligion veri
zellous, or svpersticious, hauing diuers secttes, but pray
ing all them secttes, or the most part, to one saynt Avhich
they call Ameeda : Avhich they esteem to bee their mediator
between God and them : all thees sectes lining in frind
ship on Avith an other, not [  ] on an other, but
eA'eri on as his conscience teacheth. In this land are
many Christians according to ey romishe order. In
the J'eer 1612 is put doAvne all the sects of the Francis-
cannes. The Josouets hau Avliat priuiledge [  ]
theare beinge in Nangasaki, in which place only may
be so mannj' as will of all sectes : in other places not
niannj' permitted. In justis very seuer, hauing no
respecte of persons. Theer cittis gouerned Avitli greatt
ciuilitj' and in lou : for j-e most part nonn going to laAve
on AA'ith an other ; but yf questiones be bettAveen naybour
and naybour, it is by justiss coummanded to be pres-
sently takeii Aqi, and frindship to be mad vvith out
dellaj'. No theef for ye most part put in prison, but
pressently executed. No murther for ye most part can
escap : for yf so bee yt yt murtherer cannot be found,
ye Emperour coumands a proclimacion Avith a Avryting,
and bj' j'e writting so mvch gold as is of vallcAv 3001.
starlinge ; and yf anny do knoAV Avhear j'e murtherer is,
he cooms and receueth the gold, and goeth his Avay Avith
out anny further troubell. Thus for the lukar of so
moch monny it coumes to light. And their cities you
may go all ower in ye night with out any trobell or
perrill, being a peepell [.'' u-ell affected] to strangers : ye
laAve much lyk the Jud [  ] truth. Thus by

[ 30 ]
the way, in hast I hau imboldned [? myself] to Avrit
somewhat of ye coustome and manners, etc.
If it bee yt thear coum a ship neer vnto the ester-.
most part, let them inquir for me. I am called in the
Japann tonge Augiu Samma. By that nam am I knowen
all the sea cost aUonge, and feear not to coom neer the
mayn, for you shall hau barkes Avith pillotts yt shall
carrj' you will ; and coumes thear a ship heer, I hope
the AVOurshippfuU coumpanie shall find me to bee a
seruant or yr saruant to seru them in such a manner as
they shalbe satisfied of my serues. Thus yf occasion
semeth, I pray wryt my hombell sallutacion to' ye
wourshippfull Sr. Thomass Smyth; and consserning his •
Christian charity and greate lou in lending nij' Avj'f 201.
starlling, God I hope will roAvard him ; and I am, and
shalbe aUwayes reddy to make paiment to Avhoum he
shall apoynt me. I pray yt capp tain Stippon, capp tain
of the Gllobe [  ] I pray him to mak known in
Ingland to my frinds, that I am in good health, and I
trust in Goderrlong to gett leeaue from the Emperour
to get out of this country to my frinds agayne. Thus
with this my poor request do I inibold my seelf to
troubell you. Had I known our Inglish shipes hade
trade with the Indiss, I had long a [go] troubled you
with wryttmg; but the Hollanders hau kept it most
seccreet from me tell the yeere 1611, which Avass the
first iieAves yt I heerd of the trading of our shipes in the
Indiss. I Avould gladdly a sent soum small token in
signe of good will vnto you, but at this pressent no con-
uenient messadg [? message, or opportunity of sending] .,
For thes sliips ass theay saj'e go no far [ther] as the
MoUocouss in his coummand. Thus with my couni-
mendacion only, and to all my countrimen, I beque [ath]
you and your affares to the tuicion of God, Avho blless

[ 31 ]
and keep you in body and soull from all jour ennemj's
for euer and euer.

Your viiAvourthe frind yet assured to coumand,
William Add.v.mbs.
I hau writt 2 letters all in one maner, so yt yf on
coumes to your hand I shall be glad.

No. IV.

INTRODUCTION.

In conformity with the intimation communi
cated by Sir Thomas Smith to WiUiam
Adams, of the intention of the East India
FelloTAVship to seek trade Avith Japan, Captain John Saris,
in command of the Clove, Avas despatched on a mission
to the Emperor: being accredited with a letter, and
charged Avith presents, from the Sovereign of England,
.James the First.
The Clove came to anchor in the vicinity of Firando,
one of the Japanese Islands, on the llth of June, 1613.
The arrival of the vessel was marked by many circum
stances of highly interesting character ; and the com
mander was greeted with no less cordiality than courtesy.
These matters are fully set forth in his narrative, Avhich
is as foUoAVs : ,
captain saris : his arrival at firando and
HIS intertaynmbnt.
The ninth [of June, 1613] in the morning wee had
sight of land, bearing north north-east, and sixe great
islands on a ranke. From the island Ave descried yester
night north-east and south-Avest, and at the northermost
end of them all, many small rockes and hummockes, in
the bay to the east-Avard of the hummockes we saAv an
high land bearing east, east by south, and east south-east,
which is the island called Xima in the Plats, but called

[ 33 ]
by the naturals Mashma, and the island aforesaid, north
north-east, is called Segue or Ama-cay .- it lyeth east by
north, and west by south, Avith many small islands and
rockes on the southerne side of them, and is distant from
the island with the steepe point, (Avhich wee did see the
eight day) south-Avest twelue leagues, the Avinde calme
all night, yet Ave got to the northAvard, as Avee supposed,
by the helpe of a current or tide.
The tenth, by breake of day the outAvard most land
to the Avestward did beare north by east ten leagues off,
the Avind at north-east by north : at nine, a gale at
south, we steered north by west, and had sight of two
hummockes without the point. Then wee steered north
north-west, and soone after came four great fisher-boats
aboord, about fiue tunnes apeece in burthen, they
sailed Avith one saile, Avhich stood like a skiffe saile,
and skuld Avith foure oares on a side, their oares residing
vpon a pinne fastned on the toppe of the boats side, the
head of Avhich pinne Avas so let into the middle part of the
oare that the oare did hang in his iust poize, so that the
labour of the rower is much lesse, then otherAvise it must
be ; yet doe they make farre greater speed then our
people Avith roAving, and performe their Avorke standing
as ours doe sitting, so that they take the lesse roome.
The told vs that Ave Avere before the entrance of Nanga-
sa-que, bearing north north-east, and the straights of
.1 rima, north-east by north, and the high hill, Avhicli we
did -see yesterday, is vpon the island called Vszid-eke,
Avhich maketh the straights of Arima, Avliere at the
norther-most end is good riding, and at the south end is
the going into Cachinoch. To this noone we haue made
a north-way sixe leagues. Vv''ee agreed with two of the
masters of the fisher-boats (for thirtie rialls of eight a
piece in money, and rice for their food) to pilot vs into

[ 34 ]
Firando; Avhich agreement made, their poeple entred
our shippe, and performed voluntarily their labour, as
readily as any of our mariners. We steered north by
west, the pilots making account to be thirtie leagues ofl'
Firando. One of the foure boats Avhich came aboord
vs, did belong to the Portugals, living at Langasaque,
and were new Christians, and thought that our ship had
been the Macau- ship ; but finding the contrary, Avould
vpon no intreatie stay, but made hast backe againe to
aduise them.
The eleuenth, about three of the clocke in the
afternoone, we cam to an anchor halfe a league short of
Firando, the tide so spent that Ave could not get further
in : soone after I Avas visited by the old king Foyne Sama,
and his nepheAV Tone Sama, gouernour then of the iland
vnder the old king. They Avere attended Avith fortie
boats or gallj'es, roAved some with ten, some with fifteene
oares on a side : when they dreAV neare to the ship, the king-
commanded all, but the two Avherein himselfe and his
nepheAV Avere, to fall a sterne, and they only entred the
ship, both of them ih silk gownes, girt to them Avith a
shirt, and a paire of breeches of flaxen cloath next their
bodies. Either of them had two cattans or SAA'ords of
that countrey by his side, the one of halfe a yard long* the
other about a quarter. They Avore no bands, the fore
parts of their heads Avere shauen to the croAvne, and the
rest of their haire, Avhich Avas very long, was gathered
together and bound vp on a knot behind, wearing neither
hat nor turbant, but bare-headed. The king was aged
about seuentie tAvo yeeres, his nephcAV or grand-child, that
gouerned under him, Avas about two and tAventie yeeres
old, and either of them had his gouernour with him, who
had command ouer their slaues, as they appointed
him.

[ 85 ]
Their manner and curtesie in saluting was after
their manner, which is this. First, in presence of him
Avhom they are to salute, they put off their shooes
(stockings they Aveare none) and then clapping their
right hand within their left, they put them doAvne
toAvards their knees,' and so Avagging or mouing of their
hands a little to and fro, they stooping, steppe with small
steps sideling from the partie saluted, and crie Augh,
Augh, I led them into my cabbin, where I had pre
pared a banquet for them, and a good consort of musicke,
Avhich much delighted them. They bade me Avelcome,
and promised me kind entertainment. I deliuered our
kings letters to the king of Firando, which he receiued
with great ioj', saying hee Avould not open it till Auge
came, avIio could interpret the same vnto him ; this Auge
is, in their language, a pilot, being one William Adams,
English man, who, passing Avith a Flemming through
the South Sea, by mutiny and disorder of the marriners
shee remained in that countrey, and was seised vpon by
the emperour about twelue years before. The king
hauing stayed aboord about an houre and a halfe, tooke
his leaue : he was no sonner ashoare, but all his nobilite,
attended Avith a multitude of souldiers, entered the ship,
euery man of Avorth brought his present Avith him, some
vensioii, some wild-fowle, some Avild-boare, the largestand
fattest that euer any of vs had seene, some fruits, fish,
etc. They did much admire our shippe, and made as
if they had neuer seene it sufficiently. We being pestered
Avith the number of these visiters, I sent to the king,
requesting him that order might bee taken to remoue
them, and to preuent all inconueniences that might
happen. Whereupon hee sent a guardian, (being a
a principali man of his OAvne guard) Avith charge to
remain and lye aboord, that no injury might be offered

[ 36 ]
vnto vs ; and caused a proclamation to be made in the
towne to the same effect. The same night Henrlck
Broicer, captain of the Dutch factory there, came aboord
to visite me, or rather to see Avhat passed betAvixt the king
and vs. I did AA'rite the same day to master A dams (being
then at Edof>, Avhich is very neare three hundred leagues
from Firando) to let him- vnderstand of our arriual.
King Foyne sent it aAvay the next day by his Admirail
to Osaeka-y, the first port of note vpon the chiefe island,
and then by post vp into the land to Echo : giuing
the emperour likewise to vnderstand of our being there,
and cause thereof.
The twelfth in the morning, there was brought
aboord such abundance of fish, and so cheape as Ave
could desire. We Aveighed and set sail for the road.
The king sent at the least threscore great boats or
gallyes very Avell mand, to bring vs into the harbor.
I doubted Avhat the cause of their coming might be, and
was sending off the skiffe to command them not to come
neare the ship, but the king being the head-most,
weaued Avith his handkei'cher, and Avilled the rest to at
tend, and himselfe coming aboord, told me that he had
commanded them to come to toAV our ship in about a
point, someAvhat dangerous, by reason of the force of
the tide, Avhich Avas such, that hauing a stiffe gale of
wind, yet we could not stemme it, and comming into
the eddie, Ave should haue been set vpon the rockes.
So Ave sent haAvsers aboord them, and they fell to Avorke.
In the meane Avhile the king did breake his fast Avith
me. Being at an anchor, I would haue requited the
people for their paines, but the king Avould not suffer
them to take any thing. Wee anchored before the
towne in fiue fathome, so near the shoare, that Ave
might talke to the people in their houses. We saluted

[ 37 ] '
the toAvne Avith nine peeces of ordnance, but Avere not
answered, for they haue no ordnance heere, nor any
fort, but barricades only for small shot. Our ground
heere Avas ozie. Diuers noblemen came to bid me wel
come, Avhereof two Avere of extraordinary account, called
Nobusane and Shimmadone, Avho Avere very Avell enter
tained, and at parting held very great state, one staying
aboord Avhilest the other Avas landed ; their children and
chiefe foUoAvers in the like manner. There came con
tinually such a Avorld of people aboord, both men and
women, as that Ave were not able to go vpon the decks :
round about the ship Avas furnished with boats full of
people, admiring much the head and sterne of the ship.
I gaue leaue to diuers Avomen of the better sort to come
into my Cabbin, where the picture of Venus, Avith her
sonne Oupid, did hang somewhat Avantonly set out in a
large frame. They thinking it to bee our ladie and her
sonne, fell downe and worshipped it, with shcAves of great
deuotion, telling me in a whispering manner (that some
of their own conpanions which were not so, might not
heare) that they Avere Christianos : Avhereby Ave perceiued
them to be Christians, conuerted bj' the Portugall lesuits.
The king came aboord againe, and brought foure
chiefe women with him. They Avere attired in gOAvnes
of silke, clapt the one skirt ouer the other, and so girt
to them ; barelegged, only a paire of halfe buskins
bound with silke reband about their instep ; their haire
very blacke, and very long, tyed vp in a knot vpon the
crowne in a comely manner : their heads no where
shauen as the mens Avere. They were Avell faced,
handed, and footed ; cleare skind and white, but Avant
ing colour, Avhich thej' amend by arte. Of stature Ioav,
but very fat ; very curteous in behauiour, not ignorant
of the respect to be giuen vnto persons according to

[ 38 ]
their fashion. The king requested that none might stay
in the cabbin, saue myself and my Linguist, AA'ho Avas
borne in lapan, and Avas brought from Bantu m m our
ship thither, being well skiled in the Mallayan tongue,
wherein he deliuered to mee what the king spoke vnto
him in the la^xm language. The kings Avomen seemed
to be somewhat bashfuU, but he Avilled them to bee
frolicke. They sung diuers songs, and played vpon
certain instruments (Avhereof one did much resemble
our lute) being bellyed like it, but longer in the necke,
and fretted like ours, but had only foure gut strings.
Their fingring Avith the left hand like ours, very nimbly,
but the right hand striketh Avith an iuory bone, as we vse
to playe vpon a citterne Avith a quill. They delighted
themselues much Avith their musicke, keeping time Avith
their hands and playing and singing by booke, pricked on
line and space, resembling much ours heere. I feasted
them, and presented them Avith diuer English comodi-
ties : and after some two houres stay thej' returned. I
moued the king for a house, Avhich hee readily granted,
and tooke tAvo of the merchants along with him, and
sheAved them three or foure houses, willing them to
take their choice, paying the owners as they could agree.
The thirteenth, I Avent ashoare, attended vpon by the
merchants and principal officers and deliuered the pre
sents to the king, amounting to the value of one hun
dred and fortie pounds, or thereabouts, which he receiued
with very great kindnesse, feasting me and my whole com
panie Avith diuers sorts of powdered wild fowles and fruits ;
and calling for a standing cup (Avhich Avas one of the
prei3ents then deliuered him) he caused it to be filled
Avith his country Aviiie, Avliich is distilled out of rice, and
is as strong as our Aquauite : and albeit the cup held
vpAvard of a pint and half, notwithstanding taking the cup

[ 89 ]
in his hand, he told me hee Avould drinke it all off, for
health to the king of England and so did myself, and all
his nobles doing the like. And Avhereas in the roome
Avhere the king Avas, there Avas onely my self and the cape
m.erchant, (the rest of our company being in an other
roome) the king commanded his secretarie to goe out
vuto them, and see that euerie one of . them did pledge
the health. The king and his nobles did sit at meat
cross-legged vpon mats after the Turkie fashion, the
mats richly edged, some Avith cloath of gold, some Avith
veluet, satten, and damask.
The fourteenth and fifteenth, Ave spent Avith giuing of
presents, The sixteenth, I concluded Avith captain
Andassee, captain of the China quarter here, for his
house, to pay ninetie fiue ryals of eight for the monson
of six moneths, he to repair it at present, and Avee to
repair it hereafter, and alter what Ave pleased : he
to furnish all conuenient roomes Avith mats according to
the fashion of the Countrey.
This day our ship Avas so pestered Avitli people, as that
I was enforced to send to the king for a guardian to clear
them out, many things been stolne, but I more doubted
our owne people, than the naturals. There came in a
Flemming in one of the Countrey boates, Avhich had been
¦ at the Island IMashma, Avhere he had sold good store
of Pepper, broad Cloth, and Elephants teeth, but Avould
not be acknoAvne vnto vs to haue sold any thing, yet
brought nothing backe in the boat Avith him. But the
lapons his waterman told vs the truth, viz. that he had
sold good quantitie of goods at Mart there, and returned
Avith barres of siluer, Avhich they kept very secret.
The one and tAventieth, the old King came aboord
againe, and brought Avith him diuers women to be
frolicke. These AVomen Avere actors of comedies, which

[ 40 ]
passe there from iland to iland to play, as our players
. doe from toAvne to towne, hauing seuerall shifts ot
apparrell for the better grace of the matter acted ; Avhicli
for the most part are of Warre, Loue, and such like.
l: --i: ¦!¦ :]: ,. iH r *
The twentie ninth, a Soma or lunko of the Flemmings
arriued at Langasaque, from Syam, laden Avith Brasill
wood and skins of all sorts, wherein it Avas said that
there Avere Englishmen, but proued to be Flemmings.
For that before our comming, they passed generally by
ilnQ n&me oi Encjllshmen; for our English Nation hath
been long knoAvn by report among them, but much
scandaUed by the Portugals lesuites, as pyrats and
rovers upon the seas ; so that the naturals haue a
song Avhich , they call the English Crofon-ia, sheAving
how the English doe take the Spanish ships, which
they (singing) doe act likcAvise in gesture Avith their ¦
Cattans by their sides, Avith Avhich song and acting,
they terrifie and skare their children, as the French
sometimes did theirs Avith the name of the Lord Talhot.
The first of luly, tAvo of our Company happened to
quarrell the one Avith the other, and Avere very likely to
haue gone into the field, to the endangering of vs all.
For it is a costume here, that whosoeuer draAves a
weapon in anger, although he doe no harme thereAA'ith,
hee is presently cut in peeces : and doing but small
hurt, not only themselues are so executed,, but their
whole generation.
The seuenth, the King of the Iland Goto, not farre
from Firando came to visit King Foyne, saying, that he
had heard of an exceUent English ship arriued in his
dominions, Avhich he greatly desired to see, and goe
aboord of. King Foyne intreated me that he might be
permitted, for that hee was an especial friend of his.

[ 41 ]
So he Avas well entertained aboord, banqueted, and had
diuers peeces shot ofl' at his departure, AA'hich he very
kindly accepted, and told me, that hee should bee right
glad to liue to see some of our nation to come to his
Iland, whither they should be heartily Avelcome.
The eighth, three laponians were executed, viz. tAvo
men and one AVomen : the cause this ; the Avoman none
of the honestest (her husband being trauelled from
home) had appointed these two their seueraU houres to
repair vnto her. The latter man not knoAving of the
former, and thinking the time too long, comming in
before the houre appointed, found the first man and
enraged thereat, he Avhipt out his cattan, and wounded
both of them veiy sorely, hauing very neere hcAvne the
chine of the mans back in two. But as Avell as he might
hee cleared himselfe and recouering his cattan, Avounded
the other. The street taking notice of the fray, forth
Avith seased vpon them, led them aside, and acquainted
King Foyne therewith, and sent to knoAV his pleasure,
(for according to his Avill, the partie is executed) who
presently gaue order that they should cut off their
heads : AA'hich done euery man tbat listed (as very many
did) came to trie the sharpenesse of their cattans vpon
the corps, so that before they left off, they had heAvne
them all three into peeces as small as a mans hand and
J'et notwithstanding did not then giue ouer, but placing
the peeces one A'pon another, Avould try hoAV many of
them, they coukl strike through at a bloAV ; and the
peeces are left to the foAvles to deuoure.
The tenth, three more Avere executed as the former,
for stealing of a AVoman from Firando, and selling her
at Langasacque long since, tAvo of them Avere brethren,
and the other a sharer Avith them. When any are to
be executed, they are led out of the toAvne in this

[ 42 ]
manner : there goeth first one AA'ith a pick-axe, next
foUoAveth an other Avith a shouell for to make his graue
(if that bee permitted him), third man beareth a small
table Avhereon is Avritten the parties offence, Avhich table
is afterwards set vp vpon a post on the graue Avhere he
is buried. The fourth is the partie to be executed, his
hands bound behind him Avith a silken cord, hauing a
litle banner of paper (much resembling our Avind-vanes)
Avhereon is likeAvise Avritten his offence. The executioner
followeth next, Avith his cattan by his side, holding in
his hand the cord Avherewith the offender is bound. On
either side of the executioner goeth a souldiour Avith his
pike, the head thereof resting on the shoulder of the
partie appointed to suffer, to skare him from attempting
to escape. In this very manner I saAV one led to
execution, aa'Iio went so resolutely and Avithout all
appearance of feare of death, that I could not but much
admire him, neuer hauing seene the like in Christen
dome. The offence for Avhicli he suffered Avas for
stealing of a sacke of rice (of the value of tAvo shillings
sixe pence) from his neighbour, Avhose house Avas then
on fire. The nineteenth, the old King Foyne entreated me
for a peece of Poldauis, Avhich I sent him ; hee caused
it presently to be made into coates, which he (notAvith
standing that hee Avas a King, and of that great age,
and famed to be the Avorthiest" soldiour of all lapan, for
his valour and seruice in the. Corean warres) did Avear
next his skinne, and some part thereof Avas made into
handker chiefes, Avhich he daily vsed.
The nine and twentieth,-M. Adams arriued &t Firando,
hauing been seuenteene dayes on the way comming from
Sorongo, Ave hauing staied here for his comming fortie
eight dayes. After I had friendly entertained him, I

[ 43 ] '
conferred Avith him in the presence of the merchants,
touching the incouragement hee could giue of trade in
these parts. He ansAvered, that it was not ahvaies alike,
but sometime better, sometimes worse, j'et doubted not
but Ave should doe as Avell as others ; giuing admirable
commendations of the Countrey, as much affected
thereunto. The tliird of August 1613, king Foyne sent to knoAV
of what bulk our kings present to. the Emperour was,
also Avhat number of people I would take vvith me, for
that he would prouide accordingly for mj' going vp in
good fashion both for barke, horses, and pallanchins.
This day, I caused the presents to be sorted that
Avere to be giuen to the emperour, and to those of office
and esteeme about him. viz. £ s. d.
To Ogosliosama, the emperour, to the value of. 87 7 6
To (S/fOKf/osama, the emperours sonne  43 15 0
To Codskedona, the emperours secretarie  15 17 6
To (Sarfc/wrfo/ia, the emperours sonnes secretarie. 14 03 4
To Icocora Inga, Iudge of Meaco  04 10 6
lo Fongo dona, adxaivall ot Orango  03 lO 0
To Goto Shozauero, the m.intTaastev  11 00 0
TotaU  180 03 10

WILLIAM ADAMS : HIS LETTEB.
[Endorsed : " A vearey Large Letter Avrot from Japan by William
Adams, and sent home in tbe Clone, 1614, touching of his assistance
rendred vnto ye Generall and of entortauemt into the Companies
Seruice. Decem. 1613."]
The Allmightye God by Avhoum all enter-prisses and
purpoosses hau thear full effect be bllessed for euer.
Amen. Right WoorshipfuUs, hauing soo just occacion, I
haue imboldned my self aUthough unwourth to writt thees

[ 44 ]
feau vnworthy lines vnto you : in which first of all
erau your woorships pardon in Avhatt I shall faj'H in.
Hauing thorough the prouidenc of God ariued on
of your shipes called the Clone, being Gennerall or
Captain John Sarris, Avho at his first ariuall in the
Iland of Ferando sent a letter vnto me, in aU hast to
haue me coum to him ; vntill svch sym he Avould tarn
for me. Ye Avhich so sooun as I had receued his letter,
I made no dellai, being at that tym at the courte, being
distant from the place of the ships arriuaU 250 Uegs.
So comming to the place of the ships ariual, I wass
gladly receued of the Gennerall and Master and aU the
whoU covmpani. At Avhich tym Ave did enter in to
consultacon what eourss Avas to be taken : the. Gennerall
making knoAven vnto me that he had brought his Majesti
[a] letter with a preessent for him. Vpon Avhich for
the honner of his Mti. and our countri, both, I Avith
him thought it good to mak all speed and to go to the
courte for the delliueranc thearof, etc.
I allso entred into speech with him Avhat covmodites
he had brought Avith him : of which he made all thinges
to mee known. So finding that svch thinges as he had
brought Avass not veri vendibel ; I told him, for his
arivall I Avas veri glad thereof, but in respecte of the
ventur by the Avour shipfull covmpani being so great, I
did not see anny wayss in this land to requit the great
charges therof. My reesson wass, for theer cloth at
this pressent was very cheep, becass both from Nova
Spania, Mamlia, and ovt of Holland, Avhich in thees 4
yeers there caem very mvch : soum sold and verry
mvch vnsold. For oUvphant teeth the HoUandei-s had
brought aboundanc, that the priss theroff Avas fallen
very mvch : vppon Avhich occassion the Hollanders hau
transported manny theroff to Siam. Stylle [steel] in

[ 45 ]
long barres still holding his old prise at 20 croAvnes
the picoU, Avliich is 125Z. Inglish Avayt, and sovmtymes
being coum worth 31. 15s. starling. Leed [lead] hold
ing his priss a Uittell mor or less at 25s. and sovm
tymes 30s. the picoll. Tin so good cheep heer as in
Ingland, and ordinance not in any great request : not the
picoll abou 30s. and sovmtym vnder. Por ccdlecovs and
fine Cambaya goods ; not in any request, becass this countri
hath abovndanc of cotton. Thus for thoos thinges.
Noav for peeper and eloues. This covntri doth not evs
[use] verri mvch therof, nor of any other spice : for
which case sene [since] the trad of the Hollanders
Avhich hau brought mvch peper and clones, that peper
the poAA'iied is noe more worth then 5d. a poAvnd, and
sovmtymes less and at the deerest 6d. and clones at
12d., Avhich is of no proffit to bring hether. Affoor
tym, Avhen the Spaynard had the trad Avith the Jappan-
ners, onlly the peper Avas at 12d. the L. clones at 2s. 6d.
and 3s. the : L. now being ouerlayd is verry chep, etc.
Thus hauing confferred heer vppon, the gennerall
mad hirn self redy to go Avith me to the eourt : of which
Avith all hast prosseeded theerof, etc.
THE JOURNEY VP TO THE COURTE. \
The seuenth of August, King F<njn-e furnished me
Avith a proper galley of his OAvne roAved with twentie fiue
oares on a side, and sixtie men, Avhich I did fit vp in a
verie comely manner, Avith waste cloathes, ensignes,
and all other necessaries, and hauing taken my leaue of
the King, I went and remained aboord the ship, to set
all things in order before my departure. — Which done,
and remembrances left Avith the master and Cape mer-
t The foUowing account of the journey is given by Captain Saris,
Adams having omitted the particulars.

[ 46 ]
chant, for the Avell gouerning of the ship and house
ashoare during my absence, taking Avith mee tenne
English, and nine others, besides the former sixtie,
which Avere only to attend the gallie, I departed from
Firando toAvards the Emperours court. We were rowed
through, and amongst diuers Ilands, all of Avhioh, or
the most part of them, Avere Avell inhabited, and diuers
proper toAvnes builded vpon them ; whereof one called
Faccate, hath a very strong castle, built of free-stone,
but no ordnance nor souldiers therein. It hath a ditch
about fiue fathome deepe, and tAvice as broad round
about it, Avith a draw bridge, Ivspt all in very good
repaire. I did land and dine there in the towne,
the tyde and wind so strong against vs, as that
we could not passe. The toAvne seemed to be as
great as London is within the wals, very Avel built, and
euen, so as you may see from the one end of the street
to the other. The place exceedingly peopled, very ciuil
and curteous, only that at our landing, and being here
in Faccate, and so through the whole country, wither-
soeuer we came, the boyes, children, and worser sort of
idle people, Avould gather about and folloAV along after
vs, crying, Core Core, Cocore, Ware, that is to say, Y<m
Coreans with false hearts : Avondering, hooping, hollow
ing, and making such a noise about vs, that we could
scarcel heare one an other speake, sometimes throwing
stones at vs (but that not in many toAvnes) yet the clamour
and crying after vs was euery where ajdke, none reprouing
them for it. The best aduice that I can giue those who
hereafter shall arriue there, is that they passe on with
out regarding those Idle rahlements, and in so doing,
they shall find theer eares only troubled AA'ith the noise.
All alongst this coast, and so vp to Ozaca we found
women diuers, that liued with their household and

[ 47 ]
family in boats vpon the water, as in Holland they do
the like. These women would catch fish by diuing,
AA'hich by net and lines they missed, and tlfkt in eight
fathome depth : their eyes by continuaU diuing doe
grow as red as blood, whereby you may knoAV a diuing
Avoman from all other Avomen.
We were tAvo daies roAving from Firando to Faccate.
About eight or tenne leagues on this side the straights of
Xemlna-seque , we found a great toAA'iie, where there laj'
in a docke, a iuncke of eight hundred or thousand
tunnes of burthen, sheathed all with yron, a guard
appointed to keep her from firing and treachery. She
Avas built iu a very homelj' fashion, much like that
Avhich describeth Noahs arke vnto vs. The naturals
told vs, that she serued to transport souldiers into any
of the Ilands, if rebellion or warre should happen.
We found nothing extr aor dinar j' after, we had
passed the straights of Xemina-seqne, untill AA'e came
vnto Ozaca, where Ave arriued the twenty seuenth daj-
of August ; our galley could not come neere the toAA'ne
by sixe miles, Avhere another smaller vessell met vs,
wherein came the good man or host of the house where
we laj' in Ozaca, and brought a banquet AA'ith him of
wine and salt fruits to intertaine me. The boat having
a fast made to the mast-head, Avas draAA-n by men, as
our barkes are from London Avestward. We found
Ozaca to be a very great towne, as great as London
Avithin the Avails, with many faire timber bridges of a
great height, seruing to passe ouer a riuer there as Avide
as the Thames at London. Some faire houses Ave found
there, but not many. It is one of the chiefe sea
ports of, all lapan ; hauing a castle in it, marueUous
large and strong, with very deepe trenches about
it and many draAV bridges with gates plated Avith

[ 48 ]
yron. The castle is buUt aU of free-stone, with bulwarks
and battlements, with loope holes for smal shot and
arrowes, and diuers passages for to cast stones vpon the
assaylants. The waUs are at the least sixe or souen yards
thicke, al, (as I said) of free-stone, without any filling in
the iiiAvard part with trumpery, as they reported vnto me.
The stones are great, of an excellent quarry, and are cut
so exactly to fit the place where they are laid, that no
morter is used, but onely earth cast betAveene to fill vp
voyed creuises if any be. In this castle did dvA'ell at our
beeing there, the sonne of Tiquasamma, Avho being an in
fant at the time of his fathers decease, was left to the
gouernment and education of foure, vA'hereof Ogosho-
samma, the noAV Emperour, Avas one and chiefe. The
other three desirous of soveraigntie each for his parti
cular, and repulsed by Oyoshosamma, were for their owne
safetie forced to take vp armes, Avherein fortune
favouring- Oyoshosamma at the triall in field, tAVO of
them beeing slaine, the third Avas glad to saue him
selfe by flight. He beeing conquerour, attempted that
which formerly (as it is thought) hee neuer dream'd
of, and proclaimed himselfe Emperor, and seazing vpon
the true heire, married him vnto his daughter, as the
onely meanes to Avorke a perfect reconcilement, confin
ing the young married couple to hue AA'ithin this castle
of Omca, attended onely with such as had been
brought vp from their cradles by Oyoshosamma,, not
knowing any other father (as it Avere) then him : so
that by their intelligence he could at all times vnder
stand AA'hat passed there, and accordingly rule him.
Right ouer against Ozaca, on the other side of the
riuer, lyeth another great Towne called Sacayjjut not
so bigge as Ozaca, yet is it a towne of great trade for all
the Ilands thereabout.

[ 49 ]
The eight and tAventieth day at night, hauing left
musters and prices of our commodities Avith our host,
Ave departed from Ozrfca by barke tovvards Fashlml,
where Ave ariued.
The nine and tAventieth at night Ave found - here a
garrison of three thousand souldiers maintayned by the
emperour, to keepe Mla-co and Ozaca in subjection. The
garrison is shifted euery three yeares, which change
happened to be at our being there, so that we saAv the
old bands march aAvay, and the new enter, in most
souldier-like manner, marching five a brest, and to
euerie ten files an officer AA'hich is called a captain of
of fiftie, Avho kept them continually in verie good order.
First, their shot, viz. calieuers, (for muskets they haue
none, neyther will they vse any), then foUoAved pikes,
next SAVords, or cattans and targets, then boAA'es and
arrows : next those weapons resembling a Welch-hooke
called waggadashes ,- then calieuers again, and so as
formerly, Avithout any ensigne or colours ; neyther had
they any drummes or other musical instruments or
Avarre. The first file of the cattans and targets had
siluer scabberds to there cattans, and the last file Avhich
Avas next to the captain had their scabberds of
gold. The companies consists of divers numbers,
some fiue hundred, some three hundred, some one
hundred and fiftie men. In the midst of euery companie
Avere three horses very richly trapped, and furnished
Avith sadles, Avell set out, some couered Avith costly furres,
some- with veluet, some with stammet broad-cloth, euery
horse had three slaues to attend him, ledde Avith silken
halters, their eyes couered Avith leather couerys. After
every troope folloAved the captaine on horse backe, his
bed and other necessaries Avere laid vpon his owne horse,
equally peased [poised] on either side. Ouer the same

[ 50 ]
was spread a couering of redde felt of China, whereupon
the captaine did sit crosse-legged, as if hee had sate
betwixt a couple of panniers : and for those that were
ancient or otherAvise Aveake-backt, they had a staff
artificiaUy fixed unto the pannell, that the rider rest
himselfe, and leane backAvard against it, as if he Avere
sitting in a chaire. The captaine generall of this garrison
Avee met two dayes after we had met his first troope,
(hauing still in the meantime met Avith some of these'
companies as Ave passed along, sometimes one league,
sometimes tAvo leagues distant one from another). Hee
marched in very great state, beyond that the others did,
(for the second troope Avas more richly set out in their
armes then the first : and the third then the second, and so
still euery one better then other, vntill it came vnto this
the last and best of all). He hunted and hawked all
the way, hauing his oAvne hounds and hawkes along
AV'ith him, the hawkes being hooded and lured as ours
are. His horses for his owne saddle being sixe in num
ber, richly trapped. Their horses are not tall, but of
the size of our midling nags, short and well trust, small
headed and very full of mettle, in mj' opinion farre ex
celling the Spanish- iennet in jpride and stomacke. He
had his ptallankin carryed before him, the inside crimson
veluet, and sixe men appointed to carrie it, tAvo at a
time. Such good order Avas taken for the passing and
prouiding for, of these three thousand souldiers, that
no man either trauelling or inhabiting vpon the Avay
where they lodged Avas any way iniured by them, but
chiefly entertayned them as other their guests, because
they paid for what they tooke, as all other men did.
Euery towne and village vpon the Avay being Avell fitted
with cookes and victualling houses, Avhere they might at

[ 51 ]
an instant haue Avhat they needed, and dyet themselues
from a pennie English a meale, to tAvo shillings.a meal.
The thirtieth, we Avere furnished Avith ninetene
horse at the emperours charge, to carrie vp our Kings
¦ presents, and those that attended me to Sn-nmga.
l]ia,A & pcdlankln appointed for me, and a spare
horse led by, to ride AA'hen I pleased, very Avell set out.
Sixe men appointed to carrie my pallankln in plaine
and euen ground. But Avhere the countrey grcAV hilly,
ten men Avere alloAved me thereto. The guardian AA'hom
king Foyne sent along Avith vs, did from time to time
and place by warrant, take vp these men and horses to
serue our turnes, as the postmasters doe here in Eng
land : as also lodging at night. According to the
custome of the countrey, I had a slaue appointed to
runne Avith a pike before mee.
Thus we trauelled . vntil the sixth of September,
before Ave got to Surunga, each day fifteene or sixteene
leagues, of three miles to a league as Ave ghessed it.
The AA'ay for the most part is wonderfuU euen, and
Avhere it meeteth Avith mountaines, passage is cut
through. This AA'ay is the mayne reade of all this
countrey, and is for the most part sandie and grauell ; it
is diuided into leagues, and at euery leagues end are tAA'o
.small hiis, viz. of either side of the Avay one, and vpon
euery one of them a faire pine tree, trimmed round in
fashion of an arbor. These markes are placed vpon the
Avay to the end, that the hacknie men, and those Avhich
let out horses for hire, should not make men pay more
then their dues, Avhich is about three pence a league.
The roade is exceedingly trauelled, full of people, euer
and anon you meet Avith farmes and countrey houses,
Avith villages, and often Avith great toAA'nes, with ferries
ouer fresh riuers, and many Futtakeasse or Fotoquls,

[ 52 ],
which are their temples, scituate in groues and most plea
santest .places for delight of the Avhole countrey. The
priests that tend thereupon dwelling about the same,
as our friers in old time planted themselues here m
England, When wee approached any toAvne, Ave saAV
crosses with the dead bodies of those Avho had been
crucified thereupon. For crucifying is heere an ordi
narie punishxnent for most malefactors. Comming
neere Surunga, Avhere the Emperours court is, Avee saw
a scaffold with the heads of diuers (Avhich had beene
executed) placed thereupon, and by it were diuers
crosses with the dead corpses which had been executed,
remayning still vpon them, and the pieces of others,
which after their executioners had beene heAven againe
and againe by the triall of others cattans. All Avhich
cau,sed a most vnsauourie passage to vs, that to enter
into Burunga, must needs passe by them.
This citie of Surunga is full as big as London, with
all the suburbs. The handi-crafts men Avee found dwell
ing in the outAvard parts and skirts of the towne ; be
cause those that are of the better sort, dAvell in the
iuAvard part of the citie, and will not be annoyed with
the rapping, knocking and other disturbance that
artificers cannot be without.
WILLIAM ADAMS : HIS LETTER CONTINEWED.
Comming to Meaco [? Osacca] had the kinge free
hoorsses according to need to goo to the courte wher the ,
emperour Avass ; at which plac of the genneralls ariuall,
I made his couming knoAven. So the first day after,
being sovmAvhat weery, rested and sovmAvhat in fitting
of the kinges presents. So the next daye following
being redy, the gennerall Avent to his [the emperour's]
palles [palace] ,: being courteouly receued and bid

[ 58 1
Avelcoum by the tresvrer and and others. So behig in
the palles set doAvne, the generall me and byd me tell
the ssecretari, that the kinge mati. letter he Avould
delliuer it with his own handes. Vppon Avhich
I went and told ye secretare thearof : at Avhich
he awnssAvered, that it Avas not the covstoum of the
land to delliuer anny letter Avith the hand of anny
stranger, but that he should keep the letter in his hand
till he cam into the pressence of the emperor ; and
then he would tak it from him ovt of his handes and
delliuer it to the emperour. Which aAvnsser I told the
generall theearof ; at AA'hich aAA'iisswer not being con
tented cassed me to tell the secretari that yf he myght
not delliuer it himself he would retourn agayne to his
loging. Which second aAvnsswer I told the secretari ;
the Avhich, not thinking well thereof, Avas disconted with
me in that I had nott instruckted him in the manners
and coustoum of all strangers which had bein yeerly in
thir covntri ; and made me again to go to the gennerall :
the AA'hich I did ; but the gennerall being verry mvch
discontented, it so rested. At Avhich tym, pressently,
the emperour came fourth, and the gennerall Avass
brought bef oor him : to whoum the emperour bid him
wellcovm of so Aveery journy, receuing his mati. letter
from the gennerall by the handes of the secritarj', etc.
So the generall departed his Avay, and I was
called in : to whoum the emperor inquired of me of the
kinges mati. of Ingland : consserning his greatnes and
poovr [jMwer] , with diuers other questiones Avhich Avear
to longe to wright. Onlly at ye last he byd me tell the
gennerall, yt what request he had, yt he should mak it
knowen to me, or to go his ssecretary ; he should be
awnssered : which awnsser I returned to the gennerall.
So the next day folowing the gennerall Avent Avith me to

[ 54 ]
the ssecretaris hovss, Avith Avhoum he mad known his
demandes. The which being written wear caried befor
the emperor. ,The Avhich the emperor reead all his de
mandes, and hauing reed them told me that he should hau
them. Hauing much talk with me of his covming, I told
him to settell a factory in his land. He asked me in what
plac. I told him, hereon, I did think not far from his court,
or the kinges courtt : att which he seemed verry glad.
And hauing had mvch speech heer and thear, he asked
me if part of his covming Avas not for discouer [I] to
farther jiartes to the northwestAvard, or, northwards. I
told him our countri still douth not cees to spend mvch
monny in discoueri thearof. He asked me Avhether thear
nott a way, and Avhear [? avhether] it wass not verry
short, or, neer. I told him we doubted nott but thear
is a Avay, and that veery neeir ; at Avhich tym called for
a mappe of the wholl Avorld, and so saAve that it Avas
verj' neer. Hauing speechis Avith me, whether we had
no knolledg of a land lying hard bj' his countri, on the
north part of his land, called Yedzoo and Mattesmay.
I told him I did neuer see it pvt into anny mappe nor
• gllobe. I told him it myght bee that the wourshipfuU
coumpany Avoould send soum ship, or other, to discouer.
He told me that in the yeer of our Lord 1611, a ship
Avas seen of theis cost, on the est syde, in latitude
of 38 d., or thearabout, Avhether that Avear anny of our
countri ship ? I told him I thought not. He told me
agayn it could be no ship of ye Spaynnards going for
Novo Spania : for this ship Avas seen in Apprill^ Avhich
tym no ship goeth not from the Manillieus [Manillas] .
He asked me yf I did deesir to go that waye. I told hym,
yf the wour,shippful companie should dessir svch a thing,
I Avould Avillingly ymploy my self in svch an honorabell
accion. He told me yf I did go, he would geue [give]

[ 55 ]
me his letter of frind ship to the land of Yedzoo, Avhear
his subiects haue frindship, hauing a stronge toAvne and
a castell : thorough which menes haue 30 dayes joourney
frindship with thoos pepell ; Avhich peopell be, as I do
gather, Tar tares joyning to the Cam, or borders of
Cattay. Noav in my sympel iudgment, yf the northwest
passag be euer discouered, it Avilbe discouered, by this
Avay of Japan ; and so thuss, Avith diuers other speechis
most frindli evsed [used] , I toouk [took] my leaue
of him. So the next day foloAving, the gennerall mad him
self reddy to go for Quanto, a province so called, Avhear
the kinge, the emperors eldest sonn, is ressident, being
distant from the emperours court soum 42 lleagues. To
Avhich place aa'C Avent^^ hauing in 4 or 5 dayes finnissed
according to j'e coustoum of the land, the gennerall
being A'erri Avell entertayned. So returned to the
emperors courte agayne. At Avhich place receuing the
emperours commission and priuileges, mad our retourn
for Ferrando. NoAv consserning my self. Hauing dispached the
gennerall bysiness, I did seek vnto the counsell to speak
in my behalf, to get leeau [leave] to go hoom for my
covntri ; but the ssecretari, Avith no other, Avould not
speak for my liberty to goo for my country, knoAving
that I have diuers tymes mad [request] and he would
not let mee goo. So I neuertheless mad my selfe soum-
Avhat bold. Finding the emperour in a good moud
[mood] , I took out of my boussom his broode seeall,
consserning certtain lands, and laj'ed it douni beefore
him, geuing his mati. most hvmbell thankes for his
great fauor vnto mee, dessiring leaue to go for my
countri. At Avhich request he looked ernestli vppon
mee, and asked me yf I AA'ass dessiri'ovs to go for my

[ 56 ]
country ? I aAvnssered, most dessirovs. He awnssered,
yf he should dettain me, he should do me Avrong ; in so
mvch, that in his seruis I had behaued my^self AveU,
Avith manny other Avoourds of commendacions, the
which I leaue. So I thank God got my lyberty ovt of
my long and evill sarues [service] . With his toouk my
lean of him, bidding me yf I did not think well of going
this yeear, I should tarry tell other shipping came, and
go as I wovld : teUing me yt. yf I came vp into the
countri to bring sertain goodes which he named. So
thuss, I thank God, being not littell joyfful retvrned
AA'ith the gennerall to Ferrando, whear the ship wasse, etc.
So about a 16 dayes of my abod in Ferrando, it
Avas the gennerall pUeasur to call for mee, the cape
marchant Avith others bein in pressenc, hauing AA'rytten
cartain lynes vppon a sid of paper, calling me to [? an
ac] count, and to know of mee Avhat my intent wass,
Avhether I would go hom Avith him, or tarry heer in this
countri. I awnsswered him my desir Avass to go lioum
to my countri. He asked me, noAv with him or no ; ¦
I awnssered him, I had spent in this countri mani
yeares, thorov Avhich I wass poour : for which cass I
wass dessirrouss to get soumthing befor mj- retourn.
The reason I would not go with him wass for dj'uers in-
jerues [? injurious things] doun against me veri Strang
and vnloked for, Avhich thinges were wrytt I ceass,
leauing it to others to mak rellacion thereof. He asked
me yf I Avould serue the coumpani. I awnssered, yees,
veri willing. He asked me on what condisscion,
whether I would tak the 20/.. of grattis Avhich the
AvourshipfuU coumpany had lent my wyfe, and
stand to their courtessi. First, I do most hvmbly
thank the wourshipfuU company for this deed of
Christian charrity in the lending of my poour Avyff the

[ 57 ]
20/. If euer I be abell I Avill mak sattisfaxion for the
proffit therof, and for the principali hau heer mad satis-
faxion to gennerall John Sarris, taking the byll of
exchang, Avhich diuers of my good frinds had giuen
their Avourds for payment therof hauing theear, hands
firmed, and I thank all myghti God, that hath geuen
me abilliti to mak payment therof. The tym wass
manny yeares in this covntri, I hau not bin mr. of 20s.
I .aAvnsAvered, yf I weer in pressenc of the wourship.
coumpani, I would stand to anny thing they should
think good of; bvt in this plac, Avas Avilling to haue
soum sartanty. He still vrged mee Avith the 20/. lent
to my wyff of grattis, and stand to the coumpanis good
will. I awnssered as at the first, again. Theay asked
me what I would for a yeare. I told him, I hau neuer
bin hired by the yeear, but by month. He told me the
coumpani did not hire anny man by the monneth, but
by the yeear. I told him, I Avass not wUling to go by
the yeer, but by the monnth. He asked me Avhat I
would ask a moneth. I told him of strangers by Avhoum
I hau bin imployed did geu mee 15/. the month. Vppon
demand, he bade mee go ovt of the chamber a littell
whill, and he would call me again. So I Avent away,
and a littell Avhill afterAvard he called me again, and
asked me yf I Avass ressolued. I told him as at the first.
So he bad mee the j'eer 80/. I told him again, I Avould
not. So in the end I told him not vnder 10/. the
monnth, I would not serue, alledging I wass vnAvilling
to pvt the coumpany to such a great charge, becass I
did not see in Japan anny proffit-to be mad to quit svch
great Avagfes, but rather to be free, for in respect of ben-
nifit I had diuers mens [means] ofered me, to be mor to
my proffit, which the gennerall knoAv of ; dessiring ye
gennerall to let mee be free, and to tak other orders.

[ 58 ]
Avhich weear for my furtheranc; and not to be heer
imployed, Avhear I saAv no proffit coum in. Thus in
the end, he proffited [!¦ proffered] me 80/. and 20/.
geuen mee free which wass lent my Avyff. I awnser
him, no. So lett me dept. tiU the next day, at which
tym I promissed to geu him a ressolut aAvnsser. So
the next day, in the morning, sent for me again, [asking]
whether I was ressolued, I sayd ass affor. So he aAvns
sered me, I did exact vppen them to hau them to geu
mee what I list. I told him again my mening was not
so for I could better my selfe a great dell more, onlly I
wass not willing to searue, where, by my sarues I could
not Avin so mvch for my masters, for Avhich cass onlly
and nothing ells. So demanding me still ernestly,
proffered me 100/. the yeer ; the which, in conssideracion
I would not geu discontentment, but granted vnto. So
vppon this he did a.ske me hoAv I Avould be paid it. I
told him, heer in jTapan. He said, none in his ship did
receue not aboue a 3 pt beffor he cam liom : at Avhich I
awnssered, it might be so, bvt my cass Avas otherAvyss,
for I haue promyssed my sserues [service] no longer but
svch tym as God shall send the Clone in to Ingland, or
aAvnsser of her ariual, and return of the wourshipfuU
companis aAvnsser, Avhether they Avill discouer to the
norwest, or not. Thear for, for me tarry so longe, and
not to receu [receive] no wages heir, I Avould not
mayntain my self with aparill and expences, Avith ovt
receuing soom monny to mayntain my self in credit and
clothes. So I agreed : Avhich God grant his blessing
vppon my labors, that I may be a proffitabeU saruant
vnto your wourship : which I hop in all myghti God I
shalbe, etc.
Noav consserning this discouerie to the novvard. Yf
it stand with your Avourshipps liking, in my judgment

[ 59 ]
neuer hath bin better menes to discouer. My ressons :
First, this Kingdoum of Japan, with whom Ave hav
frindship : the emperador hath promyssed his assistance
to you, his letter of frindship to the countri of Yedzoo
and Matesmaj'e, AA-hear his subiects are ressident.
Secondly, langwiges, that can speak the Corea and
Tartar langAvage, for Japan langedge not to be reckined.
For shipping : yf your Avourship send not, yet you may
hau bylded, or cass to be bylded svch shipes or pinnces
necessary for svch discoueri M'ith lesse charges. Things
ar heer good cheep, as tymber, plank, irroun, hemp,
and carpenteres : only tarre heer is none ; rosen annouf,
but verry deer. Thees thinges I hau experienc of,
becass I hau byllt 2 shipes in this country for the em
peror : the on of them sold to the Spaynnard vppon
occacion, and the other I sayld in my selff vppon dyuers
voyages uppon this cost. Now, the on of them that
wass sold^ to the Spaynnards, Avass vppon this occas
sion : that a great ship of 1000 tovnes, which cam from
ye Manilla, which was cast aAvay vppon this cost, whear
in Avas the gouernor of Manilla, to whoum the emperor
lent hir to carry him to Akapulca, a place in
Nova Spaynia : Avhich ship theay found so good as
theay neuer returned agayn, butt sent so mvch
monny ass shee was wourth, and afterAvards Avass
imployed in the vyages from Nova Spaynia to the
PhUlipines. Sso that neuertheless by my profession I
am no shippwright, yet I hop to make svch shipping vas
shalbe necessary for anny svch discouery. Now meii
to sayll with only excepted, the peopell are not
acquaynted with our manner. Therfor, yf your Avour
shipps hau anny svch pvrposs, sehd me good marriners
[navigators] to sayll with ; and yf you send but 15 or
20, or leess, it is no matter, for the peopell of this land

[ 60 ]
are verri stoutt seea men, and in what way I shall go in,
I can hau so manny as I will. Now for vytelling. Heir
is in this land annouf and sa'cIi plenty, and so good
cheep, as is in Ingland, as thoss who haue bin heer can
satisfi your Avourshipp therin. So that I say agayn, the
wantes be coordish [cordage] , pouldaues [canvas] , and
tarr, pich, or rossen, and coumpasses, rounning [hour]
glasses, a payr of gllobes for demonstracion, and
soum cardes [charts] or mapes contaj'iiing the wholl
world. Thees thinges yf your wourship do furnish
me Avith, j'ou shall find me not neglegent in svch an
honorabell surues [service] : by God's grace. Thus
mvch I had thought good to Avrytt to your wourship,
being souniAA'hat longe in making the particuUers
apparent of this discource ; Avhich discource, I do trust
in aU myghti God, shoul be on of the most famost
that euer hath bin, etc.
Noav conseming the great kindnes which your
wourshipps hath shewed to me, in lending my Avyf
monny. I do stUl erau your wourship coumpassion.
What monny your Avourship shall lend, by God's grace
I wUl mak svch sattisfaccion as shalbe to your dessir.
Thearfor, I do again intreat your wourshipes to lend my
Avyf 30/. or 40/., tell it be the wiU of God I coum hoom ; and
eyther heer to pay it or els Avher, as you command me, etc.
I do embloden my self to coummend me vnto your
wourshipes : praying God all myghty to bless your wour
ship with contineAvance of his grace, in health and pro
speritie ; and in the lyf to coum euerlasting feliciti. Amen.
By your vnwourth saruant and vnknown ffrind,
yeat faythfvll to command tell death.
William Addames.

APPENDIX TO LETTER No. IV.

THE CONTRACT made with CAPT. WILLIAM
ADAMS, at Firando, in Japan,
the 24th of Novemher, 1618.
HEREAS ye. R. honourable companye, ye.
marchants of London traiding [into] ye. East
Indeys, of there greate loue and affection to
you Capt. Addams haue appointed and set out this shipp
called ye. Clone pr. Japan ; bilding there hoopes vppone
ye. foundation of your long experyence in these partes,
for the settling of a benyficiall ffactorye. And hauing
since my arriual not onlye obteyned ye. emperor's grant
with large priualiges for ye. same, but also procured
your freedome, Avhich, till this present, could not be
obteyned. IT now resteth what course you Avill take ;
wheather to retorne for your countery or remaine heare
ye. companyes servant, in what manner you hould your
selfe best able to doe them seruice : what sallory
you will haue ; and in Avhat manner to be paid.
Viz. to haue the 20Z. pr. exchange imprested vnto
you, and to stand to ye. curtesie of ye. companye
for further guirdon, or to com to a sertaine agreement
pr. such a some as my selfe and ye. ffactors appointed
to staye heare shall thinke fitting, till advize out of
England. And hearin I intreate you chearfuUye to
deliuere your resolution to each pointe : for yt. the tyme
of yeare inforseth my departure. And I should be

[ 62 ]
heartalye sorrye yf in Avhat I may giue you content,
there should happen the leaste defect.
WHERVNTO he made answer, that his desyre is
to goe home for his native countrey of England, but not
in this shipp : only his stayinge is for a certen tyme to
get somthing, hauing hetherto spent his tyme soe many
yeares in vayne, and wold not hoav goe home Avith an
emptie purse. And that he is willinge to do the
companye the best service he can in any thinge he
may serue them in, eather pr. sea or land, to the
benj'fit of the English ffactory in Japon, or else Avheare,
as shall be thought fyting by the Counsell of the
English ffactors their [there] resident, vntill the retorne
of the next shipp, or ships after the certen neAVS of the
Clones arivall in England. Yet is not willinge to take
'the 20/. empresse before mentioned, and to stand to the
wourshipfuU companeyes courtsie for the rest ; but
rather to com to agreement now, that he should hau to
stand vpon a cer ten tie. And demanded twelue pownds
str. per moneth ; sayinge, the Fflemynge did geue
hym fyfteene pownd, vAhen they first emploid hj'm
into these ptes ; and herevpon Avent forth ; Avilling the
Generall and rest, that they should bethinke them
selues : for yf they wolde not geue him soe much, theare
Avere others that AA'old; and -therefore wished them not
to be his hindrance. And soon after retorninge, our
Generall offred hym ffowre-skore pownd a yeare. But
he ansAvered, that vnder one hvndred and twenty poAvnds
per anno, he wold not. Then he Avas offred to haue the
20/. lent to his Avife geuen gratis, beside the 80?. per anno.
Rut he stood still to his formeir of 120Z. per anno. ;
and soe departed, wishing vs to bethink our selves better,
till the morrow morning. At which tyme the Cownsell
afforsaid beinge assembled againe, Capt. Adams, beinge

[ 63 ]
present, Avas of his OAvne good will, contented to be enter
tayned into the wourshipfuU companyes service for the
stipend, or sallery, of one hvndred pownds str. pr. yeare,
to be paid at the end of two yeares, or at such tyme as
neAVS shall com out of England of the Etrivall of the
Clone pr. any one ship ; Only in the meane tyme his
desire was, that yf he stood in neede of twentie pownd
str. to lay out in aparell, or any other necessaries, that
he might be furnished therewith.
AND SOE IN WITNESSE of the truth, he hath
herevnto put his hand and seale, jiromesinge not to vse
any trade for his oAvne private benefytt per sea or land,
to be preiudtiall to the benefytt of the Company. Dated
at Firando i)i Japon, the 24th day of Novemher, 1613.
By me W. A. ADD AM. [l.s.1
Sealed and dd. in the putes [?] of us
RICH COCK.
TEMPEST PEACOCK.
RICHARDE WICKHAM.
This agreement Avith Mr. Addams, Avas made with
the consent of vs. Rieha7-d Cock, Tempest Peacock, and
Rich, Wickham, Avhose names are aboue Avritten for
witnesses.

LETTER No. V.

^n^^HERE is a second letter from William Adams,
dated in December 1613, but to whom
addressed is not apparent. It is a faithful
epitome of the " vearey larg " letter before given : and
there are only three portions that need be cited : viz.
I. As to the vessel first lent to, and eventually purchased
by, the Governor-General of the Philippine Islands; ii.
. As to Adams continuing in Japan ; iii. The conclusion,
I.
I my seelf hau bylt 2 shipes in Japan, then on [e],
by occassion sold to the Spaynnards, went for Nova
Spania. Which ship, on [e] viage vppon this cost I
mad with her : being of burden 170 tovnes.
II.
Your woourship shall vnderstand I had thought to
a coum hom in the Clone, but by som discovrtissis offred
me by the generall, changed my mind : which injuries
to wryt of them I lean ; leauing to others, God sending
the ship hom, to mak rellacion. III.
Sene the tym I saw your wourship, I hau passed
great misseries and trowbells. God hau the prayss to
whoum it douth belonge, that hath delliuered me ovt of
them all. To writt of the particuUers, it wear for me
very longe, thearfor, in short, I lean the rehearsall tell
further tym. Thus, with my most harty and humbell
sallutacions, to you and to your good wyf, I seeas

[ 65 ]
[cease] ; dessiring your wourship to sallut me to Sr.
Thomass Smyth, and tell him on my behalf, he shall
find me in his servis, so trusti as euer faithful Inglish
man, that euer hath serued the coumpany. And as
consserning the affares in Jappan, let him tak no cair
[care] , His factory is so saf ; and so sver [sure] his
goods, as in his OAvn houss. This I dare insver so long
as I do lyue. And Avhatsoeuer the AvourshipfuU com
pany shall have need in Japan, it shalbe accomplished.
This I dare insver : for the emperour and the kinge hath
mad me such promis, Avhich I do knoAv shalbe accovm-
plished. I pray you sallut me vnto my good frind Mr.
William Bourrall, shipwryt, Avho I heer is on of the
company : Avhoiis good kindnes hath bynn to my pour
Avyf, in speking to lend her the forsayd 20/. [? of]
which, I thank God [? I] , hau heer mad payment : and
I pray him in my behalf still to contineAV his Christian
loue and pilty, Avhich Avithout dowt God Avill re Avar d. I
pray remember my humbell dvtty to my good Mr.
Nicholass Diggens, and thak him for his great former
loue to me, etc.
Thuss hauing no tym, I cess, covmmend ing you
Avith yours to the protexion of God : who bless your
wourship in this lyf ; and in the world to covin euerlast
ing lyfe. Amen.
By your unAvourthy frind and seruant to coA'mmand,
Wm. Addames.
Yf you send for Japan anny shipping : that present
that shalbe sent to the emperour in it, lette them
send soom Rousse [Russian] glass of the gretest
sort : so mvch as may glasse him a roAvn of 2 fadoom
4 squar, and Avhat fine lames [lamhs] skenes [skins] ,

[ 66 ]
[^ will you], and 2 or 3 peces of fyne holland, yf
it be more I lean it to your discression, with 3 or 4
payr of spaktakle glasses. And for marchandis, he
deessired to haue soum 1000 barres of steill 4 squar,
in length sovm 8 or 9 foout ; which goods the Hol
landers haue brought and sold to the emperour at
5/. starling the picoll, which is Inglish Avaight 125-
powndes.
Wm. Addames.

OBSERVATIONS.

^ ROB ABLY under the impression that he had
been overreached by Adams in regard to the
terms of his engagement Avith the Com
pany, Captain Saris maj' have exhibited some dis
courtesies : since in the document, designated a
" Rememhrance," which he left for the guidance of
Captain Cock in the management of the factory, the
following disparaging remarks occur, viz., " And for
Mr. Adams he is onlye fittinge to be mr. of the junke,
and to be vsed as linguist at corte, Avhen you have no
imployment pr. hj'm at sea. It is necessarj'e you stirr
hym, his condition being Avell knowne vnto you as to my
selfe : otherwayes you shall hau littell seruice of hym,
the countrye offording great libertye, Avheare vnto he is
mvch affected. The forsed agreement I haue made with
hym as you know could not be eschudd, ye. Flemmings
and Spaniards making false j)roffers of great intertayne-
ment, and hym selfe more affected to them then his owne
natyon, we holye destitute of language. .... You
shall not need to sende for anye farther order to ye.
Emperour for the setting out of the junke [intended to
piroceed to Siam] , it being an article granted in the
charter, as by the coppie therof in English left with
you will appeare. Yet Avill Mr, Adams tell you that he

» [ 68 ]
cannot departe without a licence, Avhich Avill not be
granted except he go vp. Beleue him not ; nether
neglect that busines : for his wish is but to haue the
coumpanye bear his charges to his wife [meaning his
native wife, who resided on the projierty granted to him hy
the Empcror, on the way to the court] . Yet rather then
that he shaU leaue you, and bitake himself to the
Spaniards, or Fflemmings, you must make a vertue of
necessitye, and let hym go." *
In all this. Captain Sairs Avas Avrong and unjust.
I. William Adams did not need stirring. After an ex
perience of twelve months. Captain Cock states : I finde
the man very tractable, and willinge to do your Avour
ship the best seruis he can, and hath taken great paine
about repairing our juncke, the Sea Adventure, other
wayes she would not haue byn ready to haue made the
Syam voyage this yeare." ii. It is not to he assumed
that any offers made hy the Flemmings and Spaniards to
William Adams ivere not hond fide. The Flemings
had had too much experience of the value of his good
offices, not to be solicitous to secure the continuance
* Captain Cock to the Oour, etc., of the E. I. Co, 25 Novr, 1614. The
Capo Merchant, on a subsequent occasion, bears testimony to the
traotability of William Adams in the following words : " Mr. Wick
ham, I praye you haue a good care to geve Captain Adams content,
whioh you may easilye doe yf you vse hym with kynde speeches, and
fall uot iuto termes with hym vpon any argvment. I am perswaded
I oould lyve with hym 7 yeares before any extraordinary speeches
should happen betwixt vs." Coch to Wickham, proceeding to Ms
station at Sorongo and Edo, Jau. 1613-li E. I. Mss.). Some months
afterwards, the Cape Merchant recurs to the subject, aud concludes
his admonition to Mr. Wickham, with the following sensible remark :
" Fayre words are as soon spoaken as fowle, iind cause a man to pass
thorow the world as well amongst fowes as frinds." (From the same tO'
the same, proceeding with Adams to Siam, 25 Nov. 1614. E. I. Mss.).
From varioua passages in Captain Cock's Diary, Mr. Wickham appears
to have been somewhat " humour-some ", and apt to " fall into
termes " with his associates, especially when he had "pottle in pate ",

[ 69 ]
of his services.! The Spaniards had had too much
experience of the effects of his opposition to their
vieAvs, not to be desirous of cultivating his good
will. 1' Both parties Avere perfectly aAvare of his
ready access to the presence t , and of the influence he
exercised over the Emperor : Avhich Avas fully demon
strated by the extensive privileges he obtained for the
English : " such as the Portuguese, even at the time of
their highest interest with the Japonese, were unable to
procure on any terms whatever." * * iii. Adams did
not prove himself more affected to the Flemings and
Spaniards than to his own nation. There is not an
instance to be found in Captain Cock's Diary of Adams
having afforded any assistance to the Flemings, except
when then- interests and those of his own nation were
indentical. Of his disposition tovvards the Spaniards,
enough has been said. In fact, Adams nobly redeemed
the pledge he gave to Sir Thomas Smith, that he
should find him " so trusti as ever faithful Inglish-
man, that euer hath serued the coumpany." He
was staunch to his countrymen, resisting alike the
overtures of the Flemings, the Spaniards and the Japo-
t The good offices rendered by Adams to the Flemings, which were
the chief means of their becoming established iu the Empire, are
detailed at length by Charlevoix (t. iv, p. 125, and pp. 258 and 264),
who prefaces his narrative with the following remark : " Le Pilote
Anglois, Quillatime Adams, gui itoit homvie de merite, s'iutroduisit a
la cour de Surunga si bien, qu'ily devint en quelque sort le favori du
souverain." '.^
II Charlevoix (t. iv, p. 292) observes : " Ce Pilote disservit d'une
maniere cruelle les Espagnols, et tous less Chretiens " ; i. e., in the
phraseology of Captain Cock, the "Bomish Christians" ; and cites
instances. This is also the case with Capt. Cock.
X " The truth is, the emperour esteemeth hym mvch, and he may
goe and speake with hym at all tymes, when kynges aud princes are
kept ovt." (Coch to the Oonerno^tr, etc of the Compan-y 25 Peb. 1615-
14. EI. Mss.)
* * Scheiichzer. Introdtiction to Kcempfer's Hist, of Japan, page
xlix. Also Charlevoix, t. iv, p. 291.

[ 70 ]
nese.* ia. Adams did not pretend it teas necessary to go
up to the Court to obtaine a license for the junk to
proceed to Syam ; and he did not go up to the court be
fore the junk sailed, either that the Company might bear
the expenses of a visit from him to his Avife, or for any
other purpose. As before stated, he Avas usefully and
zealously engaged in fitting up the junk ; and Avhen the
vessel was ready for sea, he sailed in her forthwith.
The generall Avas also Avrong in another particular :
the extent of the privileges conferred on the English by
the " charter." Captain Cock corrects the error into
which he had fallen in the foUoAving terms : " Neither
can we set out any junke, without procurhig the yearely
license of the Emperour : otherwise no Japon mariner
dare go out of Japon vpon paine of death, only our OAvne
shippes from England may come in and goe out again
Avhen they Avill, and no man gain-say it."
* '• Thas much Captain Adams tould me. Also that the emperour
gane hym councell not to scale [sail] in Japan jonks in noe voyage,
but rather stay in Japan ; that yf the stipend he liad geuen hym were
not svffitient, he would geve hira more. But he answered, his word
was passed, and therefore yf he perforraed not his word, yt would be
a. dishonour vnto hym." Captain Cock tested the sincerity of Captain
Adams' professions. The Cape Merchant proceeds to say : " Yet, truly,
at his retorne to Firando, I offered to hau quit hym of his promis,
and to hau sent Kym to Edo, to be neare the emperour vpon all
occations. Yet would he not be perswaded. therevnto." (Coch to the
Gouernour, etc, dated 25th of Febraury 16J-| E. I. Mss.) On another
occasion it is repoited : " Arjd being at court, the admerall of the sea
was very ernest with Mr. Wm. Adams, to haue hym pilot of a voyage
they pretended to the northward, to haue made conquest of certen
islauds (as they said) rich in gould; but Captain Adams- exkewsed
hym selfe, in that be was in your worship's seruice, and so put hym
ofe." (Cock to the Gouernour, etc., of the Companv, dated 1st of
January, 16if E. I. Mss.)

LETTER No. VI.

To.the hounarabell Sir Thomas Smyth, knight, gouern
our of the Est Indes Coumpani in Loundoun. Per
Mr. [  ] , whoum God presserue.
Written in Firando in the kingdoum of Japan, the 14 of
Jennevai [1616-17] .
' IGHT wourshipfuU Sir, finduig my self alto
gether unwourthy to Avritt vnto your wour
ship, yeet lest you should condemn mee of
ingratitude, I have imboldened my self to writt theis few
lines to gev your wourship to vnderstand how for the
space of three yeeares I hau byn ymploied by your
Avoorship Cape Marchant, Mr. Richard Cock, 2 A'iages
for Siam, etc. In the yeare of our Lord 1615, 2 dayes
after my departure from Firando a most grieuous storme
took me, called a horicane, of violent wind, by Avhich I
was in great danger to looss both liues, ship and goods
for the space of 3 daies baylling in 4 rooumes *, hauing
with me at that tym of officers, marriners, merchants
and passingers [¦ some] 40 sooules ; the which being
wearied with a long storm, could not longer enduer it ;
but the principali of them cam to mee and held vp ther
handes praying mee to do my best to saue ther lines.
Now at this present I had 2 of your Avoorship saruants,
the one called Mr. Richard Wickham, who for the
pressent viage wass Cape Marchant, the other called
Edmon Sarris, his assistant : to Avhich twoo I made the
complaynt of our men knowen, whoo allso seeinge the
* Compartments.

t 72 ]
great extremiti Avee were in, dessired mee the like. The
which thing greved me not a littell (being not aboue 20
Ueags from the cost of China) to go for China, beinge
most bitter ennemys to the Japanese (thear Ave could
not trym our ship) : that I Avass fayne to take an other
cours, and derectted my eourss for sartayne ilands
called the Leques, t Avhich through the blessing of God
3 dayes aftere arriued in saffetie, to all our great
reioycing : for which God be praysed for euer. Now in
theese ilands, wee found maruelous great frindship : for
both generous [^people of rank] and ordenari peopell
frindly. But in conclusion, beefor wee could vnlade our
ship, tak out our mast, and trym her agayn, the mons-
son was past, that Avee could not pressed of our voyage :
but in the end returned for Japan agayne.
Now in the yeere of our Lord 1617 [? 1616] , hauing
trymed our ship, agayne prosseeded for Siam, and
thorough the fauour of God mad a prosperoose vyage ;
and at my returne to Japan I found 2 ships arriued
abought 15 dayes biffor mee, the on called the Thomas,
the other the Advice : of Avhich I Avass most joyfuU
to see. So pressently of my arriual, the Cape Merchant
was reddie to go to ¦ the court, hauing wayted sartain
dayes in hoop of my couming. So Avithin 5 daies of my
arriuall, according to wind and wether departed, and
Avent with the Cape Merchant beffor the Emperour, with
which in 5 daies deUiuered his present. So hauing
delliuered his present, 2 dayes after sent mee to the
country to procure those things which he required,
which was the renewall of the old Emperour's priuiliges
[frivileges] Avith a gowshon [license] for his juncke for
Siam ; which things were granted with all kinde speeches,
t Loo Choo or Riu Kiu Islands.

[ 78 ]
but in conclusion Avere not performed : as afterwards
appeared. For hauing taken his leaue of the court, and
being bovnd to Meaco, by the Avay coummeth an express
with letters from Mr. Richard Wickham from Meaco,
with letters hoAV that all strangers good Avas forbiden to
make sale of any, and that covmmandment AA'as geuen
to all marchants that Avere strangers, should go for
Firando and Langasacki. Vppon Avhich strange ncAves,
the Cape Marchant, Mr. Cock, thought it necessary to
go to the court agaj'iie, to know the occasione, and to
see yf he could remedy it. So returned to the court
agayne, and evsed me as his messenger therein. And
returning examined agayne his coummission, or priul-
\leges ; and indeed found an artikell altered : which Avass,
that m the old Emperour, his priuileges, thorough his
jvhool domynions, our Inglish factori might trad [trade] ,
Dy [^".'y] ov sell, wher they thought good, in thease ncAV
/priuileges weare granted but in tAVO pllaces, Avhich weare
nomynated, that Avas in Firando and Langasachi. So
about this byssiness Mr. Cock hath taken no small care
to a reformed it. So I beinge daylie ymploied in his
byssiness, could not get it refformed : but in fyne this
generall awnsswer, that wass : that this Avass the first
yeare of the Emperour's raign, and as his eddict Avass
gone all oupre Japan, it Avas not a thing pressently to be
called back agayne : that wee should be content till
next yeear, at which tyme request being mad by those
that shall coum vp to geue the pressent, doubted not
but it should be geuen. So with his absolute aAvnsser,
the Cape Marchant returned to Meaco. Ther dispach-
ing svch bissiness as he had to do, returned to the ship
ping in Firando, Avith svch factoris as weear aboue.
Now your woorship shall vnderstand the casse [cause]
of thees things as foUoAveth. In the yeear of our Lord

[ 74 ]
1615 heer was great warres : for Quambaccodono [i. e.,
Faxiha, or, Taico Sama] a two yeears before his deth
had a ssoone, which vntUl this [....] beeing the 24th
yeare of his age, and hauing aboundances of riches,
thought him selfe strong Avith [  ] diuers nobles
to a rooss [?] Avith him, Avhich Avas great likly. Hee
mad warres with the Emperour [. . . .] , allso by the
Jessvits and Ffriers, Avhich mad his man Piddayat
Samma belleeue he should be fauord AA'ith mirrackles
and Avounders ; but in -fyne it proued to the contrari.
For the old Emperour [  J , against him pres-
sentlly, maketh his forces reddy by sea and land, and
compasseth his castell that he was in ; although with
loss of multitudes on both sides, yet in the end rasseth
the castell AA'alles, setteth it on fyre, and burneth hym
in it. Thus ended the warres. Now the Emperour
heering of thees jessvets and friers being in the kastell
with his ennemis, and still from tym to tym agaynst
hym, coummandeth all romische sorte of men to depart
ovt of his countri, thear churches pulled dooum, and
burned. This foloAved in the old Emperour's daies.
Noav, this yeear, 1616, the old Emperour he did [died] .
His son raigneth in his place, and hee is more hot
agaynste the romish relligion then his ffather Avass : for
he hath forbidden thorough all his domynions, on paine
of deth, none of his subiects to be romish christiane ;
which romish seckt to prevent eueri Avayes that he maye,
he hath forbidden that no stranger merchant shall abid
in any of the great cities. On svch pretence many jess
vets and ffriers might seket [? in secret] teach the
romissh relligion. Thees are the casses of our Inglish
ffactori, and all other strangers are not suffred abou in
the countri.

[ 75 ]
Now consserning my owne part, your AVOurshipp
shall vnderstand I am this yeear bound to Coche
China : yf my God vvill permitt me. Thees ressones
hath mad mee tak it in hand. 3 yeers past your Cape
merchant, Mr. Richard Cock, sent a ffactori thether,
but men nor good returned not ; as the report on of
them killed thear, and the other couming from Japan
cast aAvaye. Noav my selfe being no Avaye abell to mak
that my hart dessireth, of anny satisfacion for your
wourshipps great kindness to my poor Avyf in my absenc,
and ali sso, heer in Japan, your Avoorship ffactor Mr.
Richard Cock, his lou and most frindly affaction ; I say-
hath mad mee tak this joorney in hand, to see yf by my
menes I can get thooss priuelleges Avherby your Avoor
ship may get a free trad or ffactori agayne ; and alsso to
know by what menes Mr. Pecock lost hys lyf. Mr.
Cock had thought to a sent Mr. Wm. Neilson Avitli mee,
but hauing svch need of his pressence, that indeed hee
could not miss hym. Vppon Avhich occacion I go my
self alloun, desiring the protexion and favor of all
mightie God heer in.
Thus being vnAvoorthj', I hau imboldened mj' selfe
to wryt thees feaAV lines to let your woorship to vnder
stand of the troAvbelles of thees parts in brif : only
knowing assvredly Mr. Cock hath moost largly wrott
your woorship of all matters. Therfor, this pressent my
hA'inbell devtye remembred, I ceess : praying God for
your woorship longe lyf and moost happi daies ; and in
the lyf to covm euerlasting felliciti for euer. Amen.
Your woorship vnAvoorthj' saruant to comand
in all dutifull sarvis that I cann,
Wm. Addams.

CONCLUSION.

'^^HE foregoing is the last communication from
b^^i^llii William Adams that has been preserved, if
^^^f ^^y other were sent. The two following
extracts have each an interest, but of a totally dissimi
lar character. One represents Adams in his prosperity,
an object of honour and esteem : the other announces
the occurrence of " the last scene of all," the termina
tion of the singular career of this " homme de merite,"
as justice forced an antagonist to term him.
In 1616, Captain Cock Avent up to Edo about the
"Privileges." In his Diary, under date the 26th of
September, narrating the circumstances connected with
his return, he states : " We departed towards Orengava
this morning abt. 10 a clock, and arived at Phebe some
2 houres before night, where we staid all that night :
for that Captain Adames Avife and his two children met
vs theare. This Phebe is a Lordshipp geuen to Capt.
Adames pr. the ould Emperour, to hym and his for
caver, and confermed to his sonne, called Joseph . There
is above 100 farms, or howsholds, vppon it, besides
others vnder them, all which are his vassalls, and he
hath power of lyfe and death ouer them : they being his
slaues ; and he hauing as absolute authoretie over them
as any tono (or king) in Japan hath over his vassales.
Divers of his tenants brought me presents of frute ; as
oringes, figges, peares, chistnuts, and grapes, Avhereof
there is aboundance in that place." Continuing his
Diary, the next day, the 27th of September, Captain

[ 77 1
Cock remarks : " We gaue the tenants of Phebe a bar
of coban to make a banket after our departure from
thence, with 500 gins to the servants of hoAvses, the
cheefe of the toAvne accompanying vs out of their
precincts, and sent many servants to accompany vs to
Oringava (which is about 8 or 9 English miles) ; all
rvning before vs on foote as honeyer [honour] to Captain
Adames. After our arivall at Oringava, most of the
neighbours came to vizett mee, and brought frutes and
fysh, and reioiced (as it should seeme) of Captain Adames
retorne." The next extract is from a letter addressed by
Captain Cock to the Governor and Committees of the
East India Company, dated the 13th of December 1620.
It is to the foUoAving effect : " Our good frend Captain
Wm. Addames, Avhoe was soe long before vs in Japon,
departed out of this Avorld the vj of May last ; and made
Mr. Wm. Eaton and my selfe his overseers : geuing the
one halfe of his estate to his Avife and childe in England;
and the other halfe to a sonne and doughter he had in
Japon. The coppie of his will, with an other of his
inventory (or account of his estate) I send to his wife
and doughter, per Captain Martin Pring, their good
frend, well knowne to them long tyme past. And I
haue delivered one hvndred pounds starling to diuers of
the James Royall Company, entred into the pursers book
to pay tAVO for one in England, is tAVO hvndred pounds
starling to Mrs. Addames and her doughter, for it was
not his mind his Avife should haue all, in regard she
might many an other hvsband, and carry all from his
childe; but rather that it should be equally parted
between them : of Avhich I thought good to adviz your
wourship. And the rest of his debts and estates being
gotton in, I will either bring, or send it per first occasion

[ 78 ] '
offred, and that may be most for their profitt : according
as the deceased put his trust in me and his other frend
Mr. Eaton." It only remains to be observed, that the Will or
William Adams, in Japanese, is preserA'ed among the
records of the Honourable the East India Corapany;
and that a translation has not been traced. The In
ventory is also extant. The title runs thus :
" IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN.
1620, May the 22d day.
THE INVENTORY OF THE ESTATE OF
THE DECEASED, CAPT. WILLIAM ADAMES,
taken at Firando, in Japan, after hl.'^ death, pr. me Richd.
Cock, and Mr. Wm. Eaton, factors, in thc English
Factory at Firando, in Japan, left by testament his orer-
sears, viz., of all the monies, debts, merchandiz, and
moveabls, heing as hereafter folloiveth."
The succeeding extract shews that William Adams
had accumulated about £. stg. 500 at the period of his
death, viz.
" The totalis is :  3
• ta. m. CO.
In ready money  0365 0 9
In biUs of debt  0890 0 0
In merchandiz, rated at  0638 7 0
In moveables, sould for  0078 4 5
1972 2 4

ta. ma. co.
1972 2 4"

FINIS.

YALE UNIVERSITY

3 9002 0731 1 2782

1?' ..II.'-