The Chinas of late tyme, within these 2 or 3 yeares, have begun a trade into certen ilandes called by them Tacca Sanga, and is named in our sea cardes Isla Fermosa, neare to the cost of China. The place the shiping enters into is called Las Islas Piscadores, but non but small shiping can enter, nether will they suffer any shiping or trade with any people but Chinas. It is within 30 leagues (as they say) of the meane of China, soe that they make 2 or 3 voyages in small shipping each monson. Andrea Dittis and Capt. Whow, his brother, are the greatest adventurers for that place. They sent 2 small junckes the last yeare, and bought silke for the one halfe they pay ether at Cochinchina or Bantam. The reason was the greate aboundance which came together this yeare and the littell money that was sent to buy, so that above one halfe was retorned into China for want of money, for they say the people are barbarous and have not the use of silver.
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I have rec. 2 letters from the Kynges Matie. to the King of China, sent from Bantam by Mr. Ball, the one in frendly sort and the other som stricter termes. Mr. Ball writes me that no Chinas at Bantam dare nether translate them nor carry them when they are translated, upon payne of their lives and even of all their generation. But these our China frendes, Dittis and Whaw, will not only translate them, but send them by such as will see them delivered. But their opinion is, yt is not good to send the thretnyng letter, for they are assured there will nothing be donne with the king by force. But as we have a good
name geven of us of late, that we are peacable people, soe to goe forward still in that sort.
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I had almost [forgotten to tell your Wor. of the coming of the] ambassadors from the Kyng of Corea to the Emperour of Japon, having above 500 men attending upon them. They went up at same tyme I went to themperours court, and were, by the Emperours comand, royally entertaind by all the tonos (or kinges of Japon) thorow whose terretories they passed, and all at the Japons charge, they first begyning with the Tono of Tushma, and next with hym of Firando, etc.; and coming to the court the Emperour made them to dyne at his owne table, they being served by all the tonos (or kinges) of Japon, every one having a head attire of a redish culler with a littell mark of silver lyke a fether in it. Mr. Adames was in presence and saw it.
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Your Wor. most humble at command,
Ric. Cocks.
To the Right Worll. the Governor, deputy Committies, and Generallety of the East India Company, deliver in London.