DIARY
OF
RICHARD COCKS.

FIRST SERIES. NO. LXVII-MDCCCXXXIII

DIARY

OF

RICHARD COCKS

CAPE-MERCHANT IN THE ENGLISH FACTORY IN JAPAN

1615-1622

WITH CORRESPONDENCE

EDITED BY

EDWARD MAUNDE THOMPSON

VOL. II

BURT FRANKLIN, PUBLISHER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK

Published by
BURT FRANKLIN
514 West 113th Street
New York 25, N. Y.

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY

REPRINTED BY PERMISSION

PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

DIARY OF RICHARD COCKS.

1618.

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

And I gave hym my writing for my boy Tushma, called Bicho, 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 1½ 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 Dono ment 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 (or processe) 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 seene the lyke till now.

January 7.—Capt. Adames being at supper at our howse, and going hom, 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, whoe would take order the fello should be punished.

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