December 26.—I sent our jurebasso to thank the king and Takamon Dono for the presents they sent, according to Japon order.
The Hollanders had a demi cannon of bras cast this day, po. 5,000 wight, a very fayre peece.
December 27.—Towardes night Soyemon Dono, the kinges steward, came to English howse, taking it in his way (as he said) going to the king. The China Capt. met hym. And his errand was about the money the king oweth the Wor. Company, which, as he sayeth, the king will now pay in, and take up comodeties of us to pay next yeare at a resonable rate, as the Duch have geven it hym, whoe have now sould hym upon trust for 10,000 taies. The king, he saieth, taketh this course by littell and littell to bring hym selfe out of debt, which his granfather left hym to pay, and so, once getting an even hand, will so hould hym. The merchandiz he taketh up he geveth to Japons at Miaco, of whome Foyne Samme took up money in tymes past, which still runeth on at intrest, and yf it should so contynew would undo hym. So I referd this matter ofe till to morrow, because I would take counsell, and in the meane tyme desird him [to say] I was as willing as Capt. Speck to doe the king any service I could.
Nicolas Grant, a marener, being drunk, stabd hym selfe thorow the arme, because Mr. Osterwick would not lend hym 12d....
December 28.—The China Capt. built or reard a new howse this day, and all the neighbours sent hym presentes, nifon cantange. So I sent hym a barill morofack, 2 bottells Spanish wine, a drid salmon, and halfe a Hollands cheese; and after, went my selfe with the nighbours. Where I saw the seremony was used, the master carpenter of the kinge doing it, and was as followeth: First they brought in all the presentes sent and sett them in ranke before the middell post of the howse, and out of eache one took something of the best and offred it at the foote of the post, and powred wyne upon each severall parcell, doing it in greate humilletie and silence, not soe much as a word spoaken all the while it was a doing. But, being ended, they took the remeander of the presentes, and soe did eate and drink it with much merth and jesting, drinking themselves drunken all or the most parte. They tould me they beleeved that a new howse, being hallowed in this sort, could not chuse but be happie to hym which dwelled in it, for soe their law taught them, ordayned by holy men in tymes past.
The shipps company came to the English howse in a maske, and after plaied Christmas ule games in good sort and meryment.
December 29.—I gave Matinga a pece satten, cost 5 taies, and a peece of taffety, cost 1 tay, to make her a kerremon, and 2 kerremons of zelas to Oto and Fuco. And ther was sould and deliverd 10 cattis Priaman pepper to the kinges doctor of phisick, rated at 8 condrins per catty, or 8 taies picull.
And I thought good to note downe how Mr. Hunt, the master, came in a fume ashore, and broake Jno. Cocora the cooks head, at instigation of Jno. Shipperd, he having first misuesed and beaten hym without reason.
December 30.—We bought 732 bags white lyme at 3 condrins per bagg, it being good cheape. And I wrot a letter to Jorge Durois to look out for morofack and cows shewet for shipps use for chirurgion. God send health.