About some 22 yeares past their hapned an earthquake in the province (or kyngdom) of Bongo, in which there was a towne (or rather a cittie) of 4000 howseholdes sunck into the sea, not any living creature being saved. And at same tyme a mowntayne neare adjoyning was clove in the middell. And it rayned long haire lyke unto that of mens heads. This hapned som two yeares before Ticus Samme died. And, amongst Japons, earthquaks are held for prodigious things; yet they say this province of Quanto is more subject to them then any other part of Japon.
We opened our merchandiz to lay out a present for the Emperour, and fownd wanting a treble peece of chint bramport, with above a catty wight of amber, and 9 writing table bookes; and most parte of our gally pottes broaken per the rude handling of our hackny men and fault of them should have looked to it. Also 2 bars of tyn stolne per the way, and 1 treble peece chint stolne heare, after they were opened.
August 31.—Migmoy brought me a present of wyne, grapes, and waffar cakes, and tould me that for any difference of accompt, either betwixt Mr. Wickham or Mr. Eaton and hym, he was content to remit it to my discretion. He is a craftie fello and very ruch. Amongst the rest, he tould me he lyked our religion so well that he ment to turne Christian.
Jno. Yossen came yisternight to vizet me and envite me to dyner, with Capt. Adames and the rest. I answerd hym I would vizet hym before I retorned.
There was a feeling of an earthquake 2 or 3 tymes againe this day, espetially about 5 a clock in the after nowne. It shaked the house mightely, but nothing so forsably as the other day, nor of so long contynewance. And about midnight following ther was an other earthquake, much lyke unto this.
September 1.—This day we carid the present to the Emperour Shongo Samme, whoe receved it in kynde parte, Codgscon Dono and Shongo Dono assisting us in the matter. But it was long before we could be dispached, by reason all the nobles went with presents to the Empr., it being the first day of the new moone. Amo[ng]st the rest was the King of Faccata, who as yet is not permitted to retorne into his contrey; the reason I canot learne. I think there were not so few as 10,000 persons at castill this day. It is a place very strong, duble diched and ston walled about, and a league over each way. The Emperours pallis is a huge thing, all the rums being gilded with gould, both over head and upon the walls, except som mixture of paynting amongst of lyons, tigers, onces, panthers, eagles, and other beastes and fowles, very lyvely drawne and more esteemed [then] the gilding. Non were admitted to see the Emperour by my selfe, Mr. Eaton, and Mr. Wilson. He sat alone upon a place somthing rising with 1 step, and had a silk catabra of a bright blew on his backe. He set upon tho mattes crossleged lyke a telier; and som 3 or 4 bozes or pagon pristes on his right hand in a rum somthing lower. Non, no not Codgkin Dono, nor his secretary, might not enter into the rowme where he sat. Yet he called me once or twise to have com in, which I refused; which, as I understood afterward, was well esteemed of. I staid but littell in the place, but was willed to retorne; and both at my entrance and retorne he bowed his head. I forgot to note downe that all the rowmes in his pallis under foote are covered with mattes edged with damask or cloth of gould, and lye so close joyned on to an other that yow canot put the point of a knife betwixt them.
The present given was as followeth, viz.:
- 1½ blak cloth.
- 1½ stammet.
- 1½ strawcullr.
- 1½ black bay.
- 1½ stam. bay.
- 1½ straw bay.
- 3 Russia hides.
- 3 peces diaper.
- 3 looking glasses, 1 black, 1 gilt cover, 1 with comb and sizers
- 2 pec. Holland cloth.
- 2 pec. Sleze land.
- 10 single peec. chint bramport, 3 in a peec.
- 2 branches corrall.
- 10 polisht amber beades.
- 2 cheanes white (or corse) amber beades.
- 2 chins better amber beades, all unpolisht.
- 3 dozen cony skins, silver heard, black and gray.
- 1 faggot of steele.
- cattis gad stile.
- Falconaria.
- 6 gallie pottes, sundry sortes.
- 2 green guggs.
- 2 gren tonns.
- 1 possit pot.
- 1 great gilt India hide.
- 50 cattis tynne in bars.
- 5 picos lead per tickit.
I sent our jurebasso and bongew to Codgskin Dono and Shongo Dono to thank them for the paines they took about our busynes, and know of them when it pleased them I should come and vizet them to kisse their handes; but they were not com from the Emperours castell. So they left word with ther servantes.
September 2.—I sent our jurebasso Gorezano in the mornyng to Codgskyn Dono and Shongo Donos howses, to see yf they were at leasure, that I might com and vizet them; but he plaid the knave, and I think went not at all, but tould me they were gon to the castell. But, after Capt. Adames went, they sent me word they were at home. So I made what hast I could; yet, before I could com, the Emperour had sent for them, so I lost my labour, and retorned to my lodging with the presentes, refering it till to morrow.