May it please yow to understand that, since my arivall in Japon in these eastarne partes of the world, I wrot yow an other letter by a Dutch chirurgion, called Mr. Abraham
Blancard, advising your Wors. of my long voyadge into these partes, passing by Cape Bona Speranza, the Redd Sea, Bantam in Java major, the Molucas, and soe to the eastwardes of the Phillipinas into these kingdoms of Japon, wheare now I have remeaned allmost the space of vij yeares. Of the which I thought good to adviz your Wors. of the just occation of my abcense, to the entent I fall into noe broake for the neclecting thereof, as I know others have donne. I also wrot your Wors. from Bayon in France to same effect, many yeares past, by a Duchman of Middebrogh, called James Vrolick. Which former letters I make no dowbt came unto your Wors. handes, etc.
Allso, may it please yow to understand that we are much molested in these partes of the world with the unruly Hollanders, whoe have procleamed open warrs against our English nation both by sea and land, and to take our shipps and goods and kill our persons as their mortall enemies, wheresoever they find us. And, for better proof thereof, they broght two English shipps this yeare into Japon, out of which 3 Englishmen escaped and came to our English howse for releefe. The shipps names taken weare, viz. the Swan and the Attendance.
They took also two other English shipps this yeare, riding at an ancor in the roade of Pattania, not dowbting any such matter, three Hollandes shipps coming upon them on the sudden. In which hurly burly Capt. John Jourden, our precedent of the Indies, lost his life, with many others. One of which 3 shipps (which took them) came this yeare to Firando in Japon, out of whome escaped other 3 Englishmen and came to the English howse for releefe, as the former did; by whome we understood the shipps taken weare the Samson and the Hownde; the Hollanders at Firando takeing their escape in such dudgin that they demanded their captives (as it pleased them to call them) to be deliverd back againe unto them. Unto whome I answered that I would
first see their comition, how they durst presume to take our shipping, goods, and persons, as they did. Unto which they replied nothing, but went to the Tono (or King) of Firando, demanding of hym that their English slaves (as they termed them) might be retorned back unto them. Unto whome he answerd he took not Englishmen to be slaves to them, but, yf they pretended any such matter, they might goe to the Emperour, and what he ordayned should be performed. Soe they, seeing their expectations frustrated, ment to have entred our English howse and cut all our throates; which they wanted but littell to have effected, geving 3 assalts against us in one day, they being 100 of them to 1 Englishman; yet God preserved us from them, the Japoneses, our neighbours, taking our partes. Soe that then their generall or cheefe comander, called Adam Westarwood, sett my life at sale, promesing 50 rialles of 8 to any one would kill me, and 30 of the like for the life of each other English merchant, with many other stratagems they used against us too long to be repeated. Yet God hitherto hath defended us from them all. Of the which I thought good to advertis your Wors., knowing well that many of yow are of this Right Honble. and Right Worll. Sosietie or Companie which trade into the East Indies, of which I my selfe am a pore and unworthie member, as I am the like of the Merchantes Adventurars and made free of the ould Hance.
And soe, with my humble dutie remembred, with desire and my prayer unto Allmightie God to blesse and prosper your Wors. in all your proceadinges, I leave yow to the holy tuition of thallmightie.
By an unworthie membar of your Right. Worll. Sosietie,
Ric. Cocks,
Clothworker.
[172] India Office. Original Correspondence, vol. vii, no. 839.