Diary of Richard Cocks, Cape-Merchant in the English Factory in Japan 1615-1622 with Correspondence

Volume II

Edward Maunde Thompson, Edward Maunde Thompson

• Publisher: Hakluyt Society
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9781317151388
• Edition: 1
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Early Modern History
• Index: History

Continues from First Series 67, with the years 1618-1622, .together with Cocks's correspondence with the East India Company and others. This is a new print-on-demand hardback edition of the volume first published in 1883.

DIARY OF RICHARD COCKS.

1618.

January 1.—I delivered these bills to Mr. Osterwick this day, viz.:—

1 bill Kyng Firandos, Figen a Came, for	3000 tais.
1 bill Unagenses, for barill gunpolder	0010: 0: 0
1 bill Unagenses, for 8 pec. dutts 8 R. corg. sould for 1 tay pec., is	0008 : 0 : 0
1 bill Kitskin Donos, for money lent hym	0020 : 0 : 0
1 bill of Guarian Ushenusque Pono, mony lent	0020 : 0 : 0
1 bill of Guenchque or Tonomon Same, kinges brother	0050 : 0 : 0
1 bill ditto Tonomon Same, for 8 pec. red zelas	0008 : 0 : 0

And I gave hym my writing for my boy Tushma, called Bieho, bought of Jno. Japon.

We had much adoe with the mareners of our junk about carrying passingers along with them, and som of the officers of junk came ashore, but I sent them back per kinges order.

And about midnight I went abord the junck to Cochy my selfe, and carid 20 loves bread, a veneson pastie, a peece rosting beefe, and a bottell Spanish wyne; and in the way met an offecer of the junk, called Tiquan, and caryed hym back againe. Mr. Eaton had much ado abord, before I came, and turned 9 passingers ashore whom he fownd hid in mareners cabbins.

Capt. Adames rec. 900 tais plate bars in parte of payment for his junk.

And I had these newyears giftes following geven me:—

A barill morofack from Capt. Adames.

A maky contor from Mr. Ric. Wickham.

A compas for variation from Mr. Wedmore.

A band and a nightcap from Jno. Cook.

A peece black taffety from Capt. China.

And I gave these newyears giftes following, viz.:—

To Capt. Adames a nest of 5 maky beakers.

To Mr. Wickham a wakadash and knife geven me per Safian Dono or Chubio Dono.

To Mr. Wedmor 2 maky beakers.

To Jno. Cook a pere silk stockinges, ash culler.

January 2.—Oure junk Sea Adventure put to sea this mornyng betyme from Cochy.

I rec. the writing of my boy Lawrance from Mr. Eaton. He cost me 20 tais Japon plate.

I delivered one hundred tais plate bars to Mr. Nealson, proceed of thinges of his sould per Ric. King at Miaco. And ther was a bar plate, containing 4ta. 3m. 3co., geven to the botswains wife of our junk which is gon to Syam, per a generall consent, she coming to se her husband.

January 3.—The ould man of Langasaque being desirous to retorne, although he were sick, Mr. Osterwick paid hym $1\frac{1}{2}$

tais plate for his payns coming from Langasaque, buying and setteing the 8 trees.

And we rec. of the Tono of Firando one thousand taies plate bars in parte payment of his bill of 3000 tais, and 1000 tais more was paid before in rise and money and tymber. So now restes 1000 tais to be paid upon that bill. This 1000 tais Mr. Osterwick receved, and paid it instantly to Andrea Dittis, China Capt., yt being lent to hym and his brother Whaw gratis for a yeare, without intrest, to be emploid about procuring trade into China.

Groby DODO orient to play the villen, and thought to have brought me in danger for sale of 30 pico silk unto hym, having made a falce writing, as Capt. Adames, Mr. Wickham, our jurebasso, and others can witnesse; and procured Takamon Dono (our enymie) to bring the matter in question, he being cheefe justice in the kingdom of Firando. And so he sent 3 men unto me in the name of Groby Dono to demand performance of sale of 30 picull of silk. But I took such a course that my bad writing proved good, and served hym as he served me, yet nothing but the truth.

The King of Firando sent unto me to make an end of the processe I have with Cazanseque, scrivano of Giquans junk, which Mr. Sayer cam in from Syam.

January 4.—I began a plito (orprocesse) this day against Cazanseque, the scrivano of Giquans junk, and Goresano, our quandom jurebasso, the coppie wherof, in Japons, I keepe in my hand, and sent the princepall to King of Firando per Mr. Sayer and Jno. jurebasso.

We cleared yisterday with King Firando for his bill of 3000 tais, wherof he paid 1000 tais in money, 1000 in tymber and rise, and this day gave me a bill for the other 1000 tais to be paid within 3 monthes.

January 5.—I wrot a letter to Capt. Whaw to Langasaque how I had paid the 1000 taies to his brother, Andrea Dittis, tuching our busynes (or entrance) into China, and that my selfe and what else was in my power, was at his comand. Also that I hoped our shipp would be ready to departe towardes Bantam within few dayes, and was ready to serve hym in what I could, and ment to com to vizet hym at Langasaque within few daies, being very sory for the death of his yong sonne, etc.

January 6.—Semi Dono made a new junk, and the mareners danced about towne with 3 whores in their company at Semi Donos apointment, I not having scene the lyke till now.

January 7.—Capt. Adames being at supper at our howse, and going bom, met Toncha Samas wife going hom, and on of her slaves strock the lanterne out of Capt. Adames mans hand.

January 8.—I went and advised Oyen Dono how Capt. Adams was abuced yisternight, I being an eye wittnes. He tould me I was best to enforme Torasemon Dono of the matter, and Semi Dono, yf I thought best, wlioe would take order the fello should be punished.

Niquan came from Langasaque to accord with Capt. Adames to goe pilot for Cochinchina.

January 9.—I wrot a letter to Capt. Adames expreesse, at request of China Capt., to will hym to goe with the Chinas rather then the Japons, in respect the Honorable Comp, adventure with Ed. Sayer goeth in her, and they offer to geve hym more then any other.

The Hollandes shipp, called the Galleas, put to sea from Cochy 4 daies past, hearing that the Amacau shipp was falne downe and thought to seale away before they were aware.

January 10.—We had news this day that the Amacou shipp put to sea 4 daies past and of purpose to fight with the Holland Gallias, but I am of opinion, yf they meete, that the Amacau ship will goe for Bantam or Molucos.

January 11.—News came from Langasaque that the Amacau ship put back to Langasaque per meanes of contrary wyndes, but sowne after put out to sea againe.

January 12.—I rec. a letter from Capt. Adames, dated in Langasaque 2 daies past, in answer of myne sent hym per expres the 9th currant, and that he meaneth to retorne to Firando within 2 or 3 daies, and end with the Chinas.

The fownders, or mynt men, came againe to melt plate this day.

This day newes came that the Amacau ship is retorned to Facunda, 3 leagues from Langasaque, and have sent a pinisse (or barke) to Goto, to look out for Hollandes shipp, being afeard to put to sea, yf she be out.

January 13.—We had much adowe in fending and provinge betwixt the chirurgion of th’ Adviz and Ric. Wedmor, the master his mate, the chirurgion saying that Wedmor had broken open his chist and taken out 2 bottell of oyle or medsonable stuffe; but the other denid it. Yet there was witues he took them out, but put them in againe. The truth is, the chirurgion is a fowle mouthed fello and on that is two much geven to drinking; and, on the other syid, Wedmor is a pivish overwyneing fello.

Going about to melt plate in somo, we found it would stand us in about 23 per cento losse in Japon plate bars. So we gave it over, and melted but 500 tais in jibuk or first melting, to send to Bantam for a triall. In which plate we lost $14\frac{1}{2}$

in som, $15\frac{1}{2}$

in other, and in som more.

January 14.—The Hollanders broght the junk ashore which they took from the Chinas and will trym her on a sudden (as they say) to send for Cochinchina.

Capt. Adames retorned from Langasaque, haveing byn 4 daies on the way per meanes fowle wether and contrary windes. He sayeth the pilot of the Amacou shipp tould hym they had sight of the Hollandes shipp, which made them to retorne back into Langasaque roade for feare she would have set upon her.

The China Capt. desyrd to have our fro heated for hym and other Chinas; which was donne.

January 15.—Tafiy Dono sent us 2 pine trees to set at our dore on the new years day of Japon, being Shonytiach, which begyneth on Sattarday next, being the 17th currant.

January 16.—Mr. Nealson in his fustion fumes did beate Co Jno., our jurebasso, about the head with his shewes in the streete, because he came not to hym at his first calle, and yet had a jurebasso of his owne as good a linguist as he. This man still seeketh quarrells against all men, which is no small trowble and greefe unto me, I having much adoe to please all and yet cannot.

I gave a bar plate containing 2ta. 9m. 0co. to the maky man in respect he gave me a banketing box.

We gave Taffi Dono a present of $1\frac{1}{2}$

tatt. black bayes and 2 tatta fustion, and the oyleman $1\frac{1}{2}$

tatt. blak bayes : they being our money changers.

January 17 (Shonguach 1).—I sent the China Capt. a present of a keremon, a bottell Spanish wyne, and a banketing box Portingall fartes¹, diet bread, and other sweet meates ; and to Niquan the China, his kynsman, a keremon; and to Matingas father a kerremon; and to the women 3 boxes of Portingall fartes, etc.; and to China Capt. doughter a keremon, she coming to vizet me and brought a peece damaske.

And many Chinas came to vizet me in a troope together, wishing me a good new yeare. And Tonomon Sama, the kinges brother, passing by, sent his man in his behalfe to wish me a good new yeare, exskewsing his not entring, ho being going to his mother.

January 18.—Ther was presentes sent as followeth, vi...