I doe verely think the furnishing and setting out these 5 shipps afore named will stand your Wors. in above ten thousand poundes starling; but I canot justly tell it. Nether
dare any man buy the lead but themperour only; and his councell sett the price from tyme to tyme as they please. Soe this yeare, per generall consent, there weare 4 men sent up to themperours cort with presentes. They departed from hence the last of August, and as yet are not retorned:
for thenglish,
Capt. Charles Cleavenger
Mr. Joseph Cockram
for the Hollanders,
Capt. Lafebre
Matias van der Brook
whome, as we understand per their letters, are frendly entertayned both of themperour and his councell, but stay longer for a dispach then they thought of, by reason of the taking of a friggat which came from Manillias, wherin weare both Portingals, Spaniardes, and Japons, and amongst the rest ij semenary pristes (or Jesuists), people defended not to com into Japon, which maketh the better for us. Yet we know not whether themperour will let us have it for good prize or noe, till our men retorne from Edo, of the which I will certefie your Wor. per my next.
I did make full accompt to have retorned for England this yeare, but that Mr. Thomas Brockedon and Mr. Augusten Spalding, presedentes at Bantam, wrot me the want of merchantes in the factory as also to send along in these shipps, willing me to furnish their want out of this factory, which, God willing, I will, and wish I might have byn one of them my selfe. But I hope the next yeare som new supplies may be sent for this factory, to thentent I may now retorne for my cuntrey, I having now served your Wors. a prentishipp of ten yeares since I departed out of England; and I know there hath not wanted som to geve bad reportes of me to your Wors., but I hope to cleare my selfe before your Wors., yf God spare my life.