that these sotherne tonos (or kinges) draw back whoe should set forward first to goe up to themperour, and he of Umbra sent this of Firando word that he might exskews the matter in respect of his infermity (or sicknesse), and the rather because no other is about to goe as yet, except it were Frushma Tay, whose cuntrey is neare Cyaw (or Miaco). This Frushma Tay is as greate a man as he of Xaxma, and of more revenews, and loved and esteemed at Miaco more then any other prince in Japon; and he only is gon to Miaco, and no ferther; and what will ensue is uncerten. Yet out of dowbt, yf Miaco, that is to say Cyaw, Osakay, and Sackay waver from themperour, and that Xaxma, Frushma Tay, and the rest of sotherne lordes take part against hym, he will hardly preveale. For out of dowbt all the northerne lordes are not sure, no not his owne nephewes, etc.
May 4.—A brute was geven out the Tono (or King) of this place Firando would set forward towardes themperours court, and all the boates ready to accompany hym. But it proved but a falce allarom, as divers other tymes hath byn the lyke; only to make a shew he is a going, for out of dowbt themperour is not without spies in this and all other places.
May 5.—I sent our jurebasso to Taccamon Dono, and Bicho the boy with hym to certefye that he delivered the spoone to that other felloe; but still Taccamon Dono puts me affe with the kinges going out, yet that in the end he will doe me justice.
Before nowne the King of Firando went out on his voyage towardes Miaco, or to themperours Court. The Hollanders shot affe 5 peeces ordinance at their howse, as the boates passed by; but one recoyled and strouck up earth and stoanes, and hurt a Hollander very sore which gave fire. There were many barkes went out to accompany hym out of the harbor, and amongst the rest both us
and the Hollanders. I carid hym 2 pottell glasse bottelles of very good strong annis water, stilled by my selfe heare, and the Hollanders carid a stick or peece of ginco callamback (or lignum allois) which I think could not be a li. He seemed to be merry, and drunk to us both, with many others.
May 9.—Taccamon Dono and rest of nobles retorned from accompanying the king onward on his journey to Miaco; and soe I sent our jurebasso againe to hym, to procead in justice about the stolne silver spoone. He retorned answer that he was content I should proceade to my owne content (or as I would), only their triall was by fire, so that, yf he I burthened proved to have it, it was to my honor, otherwais, yf I accused hym wrongfully, the contrary. Soe he wished me to be well advised before I proceaded therein.
May 10.—The China Capt. retorned from Langasaque and brought word how the junck wherin Capt. Adams went is retorned back to Langasaque (as all the rest which went out are the lyke), and that our junck Sea Adventure is at Liqueas and lost her voyag for Syam. Also that the juncke of Billang Ruis (which should have gon for Phillipinas and went out a month before Capt. Adames) hath also lost her voyag and retorned back, haveing in 3 stormes (or tuffons) cast most part of her lading overboard, to lighten her.
I rec. 2 letters from Langasaque, viz. 1 from Gota Shoyamon Dono, the mint man, and 1 from Shoyemon Dono, master caboques.
May 11.—This mornyng calme raynie wether, but after, a stiff gale, northerly, all fore nowne, but after vered southerly. Much rayne all day and like per night following, with lightnyng and thunder; and in the evenyng, towardes night, was a mighty cracking or rustlyng in the aire or fermament, as though it had byn the flying of a thunderboult,
and yet no lightning nor thonder at that tyme. I took notis of it as a fearfull thing, and many spoake of it afterwardes.