July 19.—Jno. Portis the Scotsman gave me a peare white silke stockinges with ij greene stoones lyke esmeralles, but I know not whether they be right or counterfett, etc.
Four noblemen of Crates came to see thenglish howse, viz. the cheefe justis, the secretary, and ij other princepall men, whome I enterteyned in the best sort I could.
July 20.—Capt. Adames tould me this day that Capt. Speck and the Hollanders sent to desire hym to goe up with Capt. Barkhout for Edo, to carry their present to themperour, for that Jno. Yoosen, their countreyman, was out of favour with themperour and other princes by meanes of his fowle tong. So this day the kinges brother hath lent them a bark to carry them up.
Jorge Durons writes me of a miraculosse matter happened in England which, allthough I know to be a stark lye, yet I thought good to sett downe verbatum, viz.:—
Yt is here reported (or spoken) for certen that in England apeared in the fermament a very greate cros, with the crowne of thorne and nailes, such as our Saviour Christ suffered his passion withall; and that the Kinges Matie. of England and all his nobilletye saw it and fell downe and worshipped it; only one prist (a bad Christian) tould the king and the rest it was no miracle, but a fantesie. Wherupon at an instant both the pristes eyes flew out of his head, and he died imediatly in the sight of all men. Whereupon the King of England sent presently to the Pope of Rome to have a learned bushope to com into England to treate of these miraculos causes.[14]
[14] Cocks, as a thorough-going Protestant, marks this last sentence with a marginal note: “O monstroze lye”.
July 22.—I wrot these letters following to send per Capt. Adames, he being now bound up with the Hollanders, viz. 1 to Figien a Came, King of Firando; 1 to Gonrok Dono; 1 to Tozayemon Dono of Sakay; 1 to Amanuo Crobio Dono of Osakay; 1 to Neamon Dono of Edo; 1 to Magazemon Dono of Miaco; 1 to Cuemon Dono, our host Osakay; 1 to Cocozayemon Dono, secretary to Oyen Dono, at Edo; 1 to Capt. Adames wife and children, at Edo; 1 to Skengero Dono, hostes sonne of Miaco; 1 to Sebeoye Dono, hostes sonne of Osakay.
July 25.—The Hollanders had a bark lent them per the king to goe for Osakay, and soe forward per land to Edo to vizet themperour.
July 26.—I rec. a letter from Jor. Durons, dated in Langasaque, the 1th of August, new stile, wherin he writes me much news how Gon Rock Dono is brought in question with one Lues Tanares, for taking up much goodes of the Chinas at a loe rate in themperours name, and forthwith sould them to other merchantes at greate prices, whereby Gonrok Dono gayned 40000 tais, and Tanares 10000. For which they are now brought in question by the merchantes
which bought the goodes of them, whoe put up a pitition thereof all together to themperour.