* * * * *
Also may it please your Wors. to understand that Mr.
Wm. Nealson departed out of this life in Marche last, being wasted away with a consumption, and before divers witnesses gave me all he had both in these partes and else wheare, as I have it under their handes to shew; and yf God had called me to His mercy before Mr. Nealson, then had he had as much of myne.
And our good frend Capt. Wm. Adames, whoe was soe longe before us in Japon, departed out of this world the xvjth of May last, and made Mr. Wm. Eaton and my selfe his overseers, geveing the one halfe of his estate to his wife and childe in England and the other halfe to a sonne and a doughter he hath in Japon. The coppie of his will with an other of his inventory (or acco. of his estate) I send to his wife and doughter per Capt. Marten Pring, their good frend well knowne to them long tyme past. And I have delivered one hundred poundes starling to divers of the James Royalls company, enterd into the purcers book, to pay two for one in England, is two hundred poundes strling, to Mrs. Adames and her doughter. For yt was not his mind his wife should have all, in regard she might marry an other husband and carry all from his childe, but rather that it should be equally parted betwixt them. Of the which I thought good to adviz your Wors. And the rest of his debtes and estate being gotten in, I will ether bring or send it per first occation offerd and that may be most for their profett, according as the deceased put his trust in me and his other frend, Mr. Eaton.
I know not what else to write your Wors., only, as yet, there is noe order com out of China to let us have trade, for that the Hollanders men of warr have shut up their trade that few dare look out. And, besids, the Cheenas them selves robb on an other at sea, thinking to lay all the falt on the Dutch and English; but som have byn intersepted in som provinces of Japon and paid dearly for it. And other China shipping, being sett out of Nangasaque by their
owne cuntremen to goe for Isla Formosa (called by them Tacca Sanga) to trade for silke, are run away for China with all the money and left their cuntremen in Japon in the lurch.
And for all other matters I refer my selfe to the relation of my worll. frend Capt. Martine Pring, the bringer hereof; and soe leave your Wors. with your affares to the holy protection of thallmightie, resting allwais
Your Wors. most humble servant at command,
Ric. Cocks.
[173] India Office. Original Correspondence, vol. vii, no. 911.