Richard Cocks to the E. I. Company.[150]
Right worshipfull,—
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The 12th of June we came to an ancor in the haven of Firando, in Japan, where the kinge of the place receaved us very kyndlie; Mr. Adams not being theare, but had heard of our coming per meanes of a letter sent from Sr. Thomas Smith, which caused hym to leave order with his host to send a post to hym at our coming, which he did, and our Generall wrot hym 3 severall letters, yet he arived not at Firando till the 29th of July. And the 7th of August our Generall departed for the Japan court, Mr. Adams accompanyinge hym. And it was the 6th November before he did retorne for Firando, it provinge a tediouse jorney. Yet he obtayned all priveleges that he did demand. God grant the trade may prove as benefitiall as hetherto our succeadinges have byn suckcesfull. The only crose hath byn the runinge away of 7 of our marreners in the abcense of our Generall, viz. John Bowles, Christopher Evans, Jno. Sars, Clement Lock, and Jno. Totty, Englishe men, and Jasper Malconty, and one Jaques, Flemyngs; but Bowles and Evans were the instigators of the rest. They stole away the skiffe and went for Langasaque, and there took sanctuary in the papist churches, and weare secretly convayed away for the
Phillipinas per the Jesuistes; but the skiffe we recovered againe.
The Flemynges had setled them selves heare 3 or 4 yeares before our arivall, and have built them a howse in this place, which hath cost them allready above 2500l. str.; and doe disperce them selves abroade, som on way and som an other, to look out for trade, as we must doe the lyke, for they are close and will let us understande nothinge. They have som small entrance allready into Corea, per way of an iland called Tushma, which standeth within sight of Corea and is frend to the Emperor of Japan. But the chifest place which as yet they have fownd out is from hence to Syam and Pattania, from whence they bring silke, brasill wood, and deare skynns, which is all ready money heare.
Mr. Adams is now entertayned into your Worships servis for a cupell of yeares, untill news com of the Cloves safe arivall in England, he being now at libertie to com for his contrey when he will. He wold not be entertayned under 100l. str. a yeare. The Flemynges did what they could to have gotten hym from us, which made hym to stand the more on his pointes. He aledged he was a pore man and that he had spent 14 yeares allready to noe purpose, and now wold be loth to retorne for his contrey a begger, gevinge the Worpll. Compa. humbly thankes for his libertie, which he doth acknowledge came cheefely by meanes of the coming of this ship with his Maties. letters of England.
Mr. Adams is of the opynion that, yf eaver the northeast or northwest passages be fownd out, it must be from these partes, and offreth his best services therein, the Emperour promisinge his best fortherance with men or letters of recomendacions to all prinses, and hath entrance allready into an iland called Yedzo, which is thought to be rather som parte of the continent of Tartaria. Mr. Adams hath drawne out the plot of Japan, with parte of that iland and Corea and other bordering places, and sendeth it to your Worships per this conveance.
Yt is certen that the Hollanders had taken this discovery in hand before now, but that they have soe many irons in the fyre allready with their wars in the Molucas against the Spaniardes.