IOR/E/3/1 ff 116-29

Item 78. Two copies of letter from William Adams at Hirado to Bantam, ff 116-121, and 122-129. The first copy is so badly faded as to be almost illegible. The following transcription taken from Farringdon's The English Factory in Japan:

Laus Deo, the 23th October a[nno] 1611, in Ferando in japan

Having soe good occasion by hearinge that cartaine English marchauntes doe lye in the iland of Javo, although by name unknowen, I have ymboldned myselfe to wryte these fewe lines, desiringe the worshep'll company, beinge unknowen unto mee, to pardon my stoutnes. My reason that I doe wryte is first as conscience doth bind mee w'th love to my countremen and countrey. Your wor'pps to whom this p'nt wryting shall come is to geve you to understand that I am a Kentish man, borne in the towen cauled Kellingham, 2 English myles from Rochester, 1 myle from Chattam wher the Kinge's shippes dow lye, and from the age of 12 yeares olde brought up in Lymehouse neere London, beinge apprentice 12 yeares to Mr Nico' Diggens, and myselfe have served for m'r and pilott in His Ma'ties shippes, and about 11 or 12 yeares have served the Wor'll Company of Barbary Marchauntes until th'Indish traffick from Holland, w'ch Indish traffick I was desirous to make a littell experience of thesmall knowledg that god had geven mee.

Soe, in the yeare of our Lord 1598, I was hired for Pilott-Major of the fleet of 5 saile w'ch was made ready by th'Indish Company, Poeter vander Hag and Haunce vander Veeke. The Gennerall of this fleet was a marchaunt cauled Jaques Maihore, in w'ch shipp, being Admirall, I was pilot of. Soe, beinge the 23 or 24th June ere we sett saile, it was to late ere we came to the line to passe it w'thout contrary windes, so that it was about the midest of September, at w'ch time we fownde much southerly windes, and our men were many sick, soe that we were forced to goe to the cost of Guinney to Cape Gonsalves, wher we set our sick men a-lande, of w'ch many died and of the siknes fewe bettered, having littell or noe refreshing, being an unhealthfull place. Soe that to fullfill our voiage we set our course for the cost of Brasiell, being determined to passe the Streightes of Magilanus, and by the way cam to an island cauled Annabona, w'ch island we landed at and tooke the towen, in w'ch was about 80 houses; in w'ch island we refreshed ourselves, having oxen, orranges and divers fruites elce, but th'unholsomnes of the ayre was very bad, that as one bettered another fell sick; spending upon the cost up the cape Gonsa[lves] and up Annabona a 2 mounethes tyme till the 12 or 13th November, at w'ch time we sett saile from Annabona, findinge the windes still at the so' & so' by est and so'so'est till we gott into 4 degrees to the south ward of the line, at w'ch time the winde did favour us soe that the windes cam to the so'est and to the est, so that we were up between the island of Annabona and the Streightes of Magilano about a 5 monethes. One of our 5 saile, his mainemast fell overbord, by w'ch we were much hindred, for in teh sea we set a new mast w'th much trouble. Soe that the 29th March we sawe the land in lattetude of 50 degrees, having the windes a 2 or 3 daies contrary. Soe in the ende, havinge the windes good, cam to the Streightes of Magelano the 16th Aprill 1599, at w'ch time the winter came, soe that at that time ther was much snowe, soe that our men w'th colde on th'one side and hunger on th'other, our men weake, having at that time the winde at the no'est a 6 or 7 daies, in w'ch time we might have past through the streightes. But for refreshing of our men we waighted, watering and taking in of wood and setting up of a pinnas of a 15 or a 20 tonnes in burthen. So at the length we would have passed through but could not by reason of the southerly windes, w'ch being considered the weather being very colde, w'th aboundance of snowe and yce, soe that we were forced to winter and to stay in the streightes from the 16th of Aprill till the 24th of September, in w'ch time our victualles was for the most part spent and for lack of the same many of our men dyed w'th hunger.

Soe having passed through the streightes and cominge in the South Sea we had many hard stormes, being driven to the southward in 54 degrees, being at that time very colde. Soe that at the last we fownde reasonable windes and weather, w'th w'ch we followed on our pretend[ed] voyage towardes the cost of Perow. But in long travers we lost our whole fleet, being sepperated th'one from th'pther, soe that we had appointed that if by stormes or fowle weather we should be sepparated that in Chille, in the lattetude of 46 degrees, we should there stay th'one for th'other the space of 30 daies in w'ch haight according to agreement I went in 46 degrees, where I stayed 28 daies, wher we refreshed ourselves, findinge the people of the countrey of a good nature, but by reason of the Spanniardes the people would not trade w'th us. At first they brought us sheep and potatoes, for w'ch we gave them bills and knoves, the w'ch they were very glad of. But in th'end the people went up from their houses into the country and cam not more to us.

We stayed there 28 daies. We set up a pynnas w'ch we had in our shipp in 4 partes, and in th'end departed and cam to the mouth of Baldivia, and by reason of the much winde w'ch was at that present entred not but directed our course out of the bay for th'island of Much, the w'ch the next day we came to. And finding none of our fleet there, directed our course for St Maria, the w'ch the next day we cam by the cape, w'ch is but 1 1/2 league from th'island; and seeing may people, luffed about the cape, and finding good grownde, anckered in 15 fathom water in a faire sandy bay and went w'th our bootes hard by the waterside to parle w'th the people of the lande. But they would not suffer us to come a-lande, shooting great store of arrows at us. Neverthelesse, having noe victualles in our shipp, and hoping to finde refreshing, by force landed about 27 or 30 of our men and drove the wilde people from the waterside, most of our men beinghurt w'th their arrowes; and a-lande, made signes of freindshipp and in the'end cam to a part w'th signs of tokens of friendshipp, the w'ch people in th'end did understand. Soe we made them signes our desire was for victualles, shewing them iron, silver and clothe w'ch we would geve them in exchaunge for the same. Soe they gave our people wine, w'th potatoes, to eate and drincke, w'th other fruiet, and bid our men by signes and tokens to goe abord and the next day to remane againe, and that then they would bring good store of refreshing. Soe, being late, our men came abord, the better part of tehm being very glad we had come to a parl w'th them w'th hope to get refreshing. The next day, being the 9th November 1599, our capten, w'th all our officers, prepared to goe a-lande, gaving taken councell to goe to teh waterside but not to land more then 2 or 3 at the most, for there were people in aboundance unknowen to us, wilde, and therefore not to be trusted; w'ch councell being concluded upon, the capten himself did goe in one of the boates w'th all the force that we could make, and being by the shore side the people of the countrey made signes that they should come a-lande. But that did not well like our capten. In th'end, the people not coming neere to our boates, our capten, w'th the rest, resolved to lande, contrary to that w'ch was concluded abord our shipp before their going a-lande. Soe in the end 23 landed, w'th muskettes, and marched upwardes towards a 4 or 5 houses, at w'ch time, being a good way, about a muskett shott, from the boates, th'Indeanes lay in ambush, more then 1,000, w'ch ymmediatly fell upon our men w'th such weapons as they had and slewe all our men to our knowledge. Soe our boates did long waite to se if any of our men did come agein, but being all slaine, our boates returned, to w'ch sorrowfull newes of all our men's deathes, w'ch was very much lamented of us all; soe that we had skarce so many men left as could winde up our anker.

So the next day we weighed and went over to th'iland of St Maria, at w'ch place we founde our Admirall, w'ch arived there 4 daies before us; who had the day before we cam from th'island of Much departed from there, having the Gennerall, m'r, and all his officer murthered a-lande, so that all our officers were slaine, th'one bemoninge th'other, nevertheles both glad to see one th'other, and that we were soe well mett together. My good friend Tymothy Shotton was pilott in that shipp. Soe being at th'island St Maria, w'ch lyeth in the lattetude to the southward of the line of 37 deg' 12 minutes, on the coast of Chille, wee tooke councell to take all thinges our of 1 [of] our shippes and to burn th'other, but that the captens that wer made newe, th'one nor th'other would not, soe that we coulde not agree to leave th'one nor th'other. So that, having much cloth in our shippes, it was agreed that we should leave the coast of Perow and direct our course for Japan, havinge understood that cloth was there good marchaundice, and alsoe how on the cost of Perow the kinge's shippes were out seeking us, having knowledg that we were weake of men, w'ch was certaine, for one of our fleet for hunger was forced to seek releif at th'ennemye's hand in St Ago. For w'ch reasons, having refreshed ourselves in this island of St MAria more by pellecy then by force, we departed the 27th of November from the island of St Maria w'th our 2 shippes, and for the rest of our fleet, we had noe newes of them. Soe we stood directly for Japan and passed the equinoctiall line we cam in the lattetude to the northward of the line in 28 degrees, in w'ch lattetude we were about the 23th of February 1600. we had a counderous storme of winde as ever I was in, w'th much raigne, in w'ch storme we lost our consort, weroff wee were very sorry. Nevertheles w'th hope that in Japan wee should meet th'one w'th th'other, we proceeded on our former intention for Japan, and in the haight of 30 degrees sought the nothernmost cape of the forenamed island, but fownde it not, by reason that it lieth faulce in all cardes and mappes and globes, for the cape lieth in 35 1/2 degrees, w'ch was a great difference. In th'end, in 32 1/2, we cam in sight of the lande, being the 19th day of Aprill, so that between the cape of St Maria and Japan we were 4 mounthes and 22 daies, at w'ch time there was noe more but 6 besides myselfe that could stand upon his feet.

So we in safty let fall our ancker about a league from a place called Bouingo, at w'ch time cam to us many boats, and we suffered them to come abord of us, being not able to resist them; w'ch people did us noe harme, neither of us both understanding th'one th'other. W'thin 2 or 3 daies after our arivall there cam a Jesuit from a place called Langasack, w'ch place the carrack of Amakan yearly was wount to come, w'ch w'th other Japans that were Christians were our interpreters, w'ch was not to our good, our deadly ennemies being our truchmen. Nevertheles the king of Bouingo, the place where we arived, shewed us great freindshipp, for he gave us a house a-lande where we landed all our sick men and had all refreshing that was needfull. We had when wee cam to an ankor in Bouingo, sick and holl, 24 men, of w'ch the next day 3 dyed. The rest for the most p't recovered, saving 3 w'ch lay a long time sick and in thh end alsoe dyed. In w'ch tyme of our being here the Emperour, hearing of us, sent presently 5 galleyes or friggattes to us to bring mee to the court wher His Highnes was, w'ch was distant from Bouingo about an 80 English leagues. Soe that as soon as I cam before him he demaunded of mee of what countrey we were. Soe that in all pointes I aunswered him, soe that there was nothing that was not demaunded of conserning warres and peace between countrey & countrey, soe that the petticulers here to wryte would be too tedeous. And for that tyme, I was commaunded to prisson, being well used, w'th one of our marriners that cam w'th me to serve mee.

So that a 2 daies after th'Emperour caled me again, demanding the reason of our couminge soe farr. I aunswered we were a people that sought freindshipp w'th all nations and to have trade in all countreyes, bringing such marchandiz as our countrey did afford into straung landes in the way of traffick &c. He He demaunded alsoe as concerninge the warres between the Spanniard or Portingall and our countrey and the reason, the w'ch I gave him to understand of all thinges, w'ch he was glad to heare of as it seemed unto mee. soe in th'end I was commaunded to prisson but my lodging was bettered in another place, so that 39 daies I was in prisson, hearing noe more newes neither of our shipp nor capten, whether he was recovered of his sicknes or not, nor of the rest of the company. In w'ch tyme I looked everye day to dye, to be crost as the coustome of justice is in Japan as hanging is in our lande. In w'ch long time of ymprissonment the Jesuite and the Portingalles gave many evidences ageinst mee and the rest that wee were theeves and robbers of all nations, and were wee suffered to live it should be ageinst the proffitt of Hig Highnes and of his countrey, for noe nation should come thither w'thout robbing them; His Highnes' justice being executed w'thout doubt the rest of our nation should feare and not come here any more; thus dayly making access to th'Emperour and procuring freindes to hasten my death.

But God, that is allwaies mercefull at need, shewed mercy unto us and would not suffer them to have their willes of us. In th'end th'Emperor gave them an aunswer that we as yet had not doen to him nor to none of his lande any harme nor dammage, therfore ageinst reson and justice to put us to death; if our countreyes had warres th'one w'th th'other, that was noe cause that he should put us to death; w'th w'ch they were out of hart that their cruell pretence failed them, for w'ch God be for ever more praised. Now in this tyme I was in prison the shipp was commaunded to be brought soe neere the city as she might, (for grownding hir) wher th'Emperor was, the w'ch was done. And 41 daies being expired, th'Emperor caused me to be brought before him agein, demaunding of me many questeons w'ch would be at present to tedious to lay dowen here. In th'end he asked mee if I was desirous to goe abord the shipp and see my countrymen. I aunswered very gladly, the w'ch he bad me doe. Soe I departed was freed from ymprissonm't, and it was the p[rim]o newes that I had that the shipp and company were come to the citty. So that w'th a rejoicing hart I took a boat and went to our shipp, wher I fownde the capten and the rest recovered of their sicknes, w'ch when I came into the shipp, w'th weeping eyes on both sides was received, for it was geven them to understand that I was executed long since. Thus, God bee praised, wee sawe one th'other agein. In the shipp all thinges was taken out, soe that the clothis w'ch I took w'th mee on my back, that I only had, all my instrumentes and bookes was taken away, not I alonely lost what I had in the shipp, but the capten and all the company in gennerall; what was good or worth the taking was carried away, all w'ch was done unknowen to th'Emperor. Soe in proces of tyme having knowledg of it, commaunded that they w'ch had taken our goods should restore, but it was here and there soe taken that wee could not get it agein, savings 50,000Rs in redy money was commaunded to be geven us, and in his presence brought and delivered in teh handes of one that was made our governor, w'ch keept it in his handes to geve it us as we should have occasion to use it to buy victualles for our men, w'th other perticular charges.

Thus in th'end of 30 daies, our shipp lyeng before the citty cauled Sakay, 21/2 or 3 leagues from Ozaka wher th'Emperor at that tyme did lye, th'Emperor commaunded that our shipp should be carryed to th'estermost part of the lande, cauled Quanto, wher according to his commaund wee were carryed thither, being distaunt 120 leagues. So being by sea long, by reason of contrary winds we had, th'Emperour was long before us. So comming to the lande of Quanto and neere to the citty wher th'Emperour was, w'ch is cauled Eddoo, at w'ch place being arived, I sought by all meanes by supplications to get our shipp cleere and to seke our best meanes to come where the Hollanders had traffick, through w'ch in procuring we spent much of the money that was geven us. In w'ch tyme 4 or 5 of our men rebelled ageinst the capten and myself and made a muteney amoungest the rest of our men, soe that we had much trouble w'th them, that they would not byde no longer in teh shipp, but everyone would doe what hee thought best, and perfource would have every one part of the monney that was geven by th'Emperour. It is too long to wryt the perticulers, but in th'end the monney was delivered according to every man's place, but this was about 2 yeares that we had ben in Japan, and when we had a denyal that we should not have our shipp, but to byde in Japan. Soe that the part of every one being devided, every one tooke his way where hee thought best. And in th'end th'Emperor gave every man, to live upon, 2lb of ryce a day, daily, and yearly soe much as was worth 11 or 12 duckettes the yeare, yearly, myselfe, the capten and the marriners all one &c. Soe in process of tyme, at th'end of 4 or 5 yeares, th'Emperour cauled me, as divers tymes he hath formerly done, soe one tyme above the rest he would have me make him a small shipp; I aunswered him that I was noe carpenter and had noe knowledge thereof. Well, doe your endeavour saieth he. If it be not good, it is noe matter; the w'ch, by his commaund, I buylt him a shipp about the burthen of 80 tonnes. The w'ch shipp being made in all respectes as our manner is, he came abord to see it, the sight wherof gave him great content, and by w'ch I came in his favour, that allwais I must come in his presence, giving mee fro tyme to tyme presentes and in th'end a yearly stypend to live upon w'ch was much about a 70 duckettes the yeare, w'th 2lb of ryce daily. Soe in the end, being in such grace and favour by reason I learned him some pointes of jeometry and understaunding of th'art of mathmathick, w'th other thinges w'ch pleased him, so that what I saied he would not contrary it, soe that my former ennemyes did wounder and at this tyme must entreat me to doe them a freindshipp, w'ch both Spanniard and Portingall I have doen, reccompencing good for evill. Soe to passe my tyme to get my living it hath cost me great labour and trouble at the first. But God hath blessed my labours.

In th'end of 5 yeares I made supplication to the King to depart his lande, desiringe to see my poore wyfe and children according to conscience and nature; the w'ch request th'Emperor was not well pleased w'thall, and would not let me goe any more for my countrey, but to byde in his lande. Soe in proces of tyme, I being in much favour w'th th'Emperor, I made ageine supplication. The reason was we had newes that the Hollanders were in Shian and in Puttannia, w'ch rejoyced us much w'th hope that God would bring us to our countrey agein by one meanes or other. Soe agein I made supplication and boldly spake myself w'th him, at w'ch he gave me noe aunswer. I tolde him that if he would let me goe I would be a meanes that the Dutch and English nation should come and have traffick here, w'ch he as very desirous of, but by noe meanes he would let me goe. I asked him leave for the capten, the w'ch he presently graunted mee. Soe by that meanes my capten got leave, and in a Japan junck sailed to Puttan, and in a yeare's space cam noe Hollanders. In th'end he went from Puttan to Jore, and there fownde a fleet of 9 saile of whom was Gennerall Matlief, in w'ch fleet he was made m'r agein; w'ch fleet sailed to Mallaca and fought w'th an armatho of Portingalles, in w'ch battell he was shott and presently dyed. Soe that as yet noe certen newes, as I thinke, is of mee, whether I be dead or livinge. Therfore I doe pray and entreat in the name of Jesus Christ to doe soe much as to make my being here in Japan knowen to my poor wife and 2 hildren; in a manner my wife is a widdow and children fatherles, w'ch thing only is my greif of hart & conscience. I am a man not unknowen in Ratlief and Limehouse, by name my good m'r Nico' Diggens, and Mr Tho' Bes, and Mr Nico' Issack and W'm Issack, brothers, w'th many others, alsoe Mr W'm Joanes and Mr Beckett. Therefore may this l're come to any of their handes, or the coppy, I doe knowe that compassion and mercy is soe that my freindes and kindred shall have newes that I doe as yet live in this vaile of my sorrowfull pilgremage, the w'ch thing I doe agein and agein desire for Jesus Christ His sake.

You shall understand that the first shipp that I did make I did make a voyag or 2 in the same, and the King commaunded me to make another, the w'ch I did, being in burthen of 120 tonnes; the w'ch shippp I have made a voyage in from Meacoo to Eddoo, being as farr as from London to the Lizard or the Lande's End of England; w'ch in the year of our Lord 1609, the King lent the governor of Manillia to goe w'th and 80 of his men to saile to Acapulca. In a[nno] 1609 was cast away a great shipp cauled the St Frauncicso, about the burthen of 1000 tonnes, upon the cost of Japan in the lattetude of 35 degrees 50 mynnetes; by distress of weather did cut overbord hir mainemast and bore up for Japan, and in the night, unawares, the shipp came upon the shoare and was cast away, 36 drowned and 340 or 350 saved; w'ch shipp the governor of Manillia passenger was to return to Nova Spania present w'th an ymbassage to th'Emperour, geving thanks for his great freindshipp, and also the present in goodes and monies as th'Emperor's shippes were worth. The shipp that I made, the Spanniardes have now in the Phillippeenaes &c.

Now for my servis that I have done and doe daily, being employed in th'Emperor's servis, th'Emperor hath geven me a living, as in England a lordshipp, w'th 80 or 90 husbandmen that be my slaves or servauntes, w'ch, or the like, were here never before gecen to a straunger. Thus hath God provided for mee after my great misery, and to Him only be all honour and praise, power and glory, both now and for ever, world w'thout end. nowe whether I shall come out of this lande or not I knowe not. Until this present, would I, ther hath ben noe meanes, but now through the trade of teh Hollanders ther is meanes. In a[nno] 1609 2 Holland shipps came to Japan. Their intention was to take the carrack that yearly coumeth from Maccaw, and being a 5 or 6 daies to late, nevertheles they came to Ferando and to the court; they came to the King, th'Emperor I should say, wher they were in great freindshipp received, making condition w'th th'Emperor yearly to send a shipp or 2, and w'th the Emperor's passe departed away &c.

Now this year 1611 is there a small shipp w'th cloth and lead and ellephauntes' teeth, w'th certein peeces of dammask and black taffatyes, and rawe silk and pepper, w'th other commodetynes, and to excuse the reason that they cam not in a[nno] 1610; w'ch shipp was wounderously well received. Yow shall understand that the Hollanders have here an Indies of monney, for out of Holland is noe need of silver to come into th'Est Indies, for in Japan is much silver and gold to serve for the Hollanders to handell wher they will in th'Est Indies allwaies provided for their commodeties, viz. rawe silk and pepper, w'th other commodetyes, and to excuse the reason best, lead, and such like is in Japan marchaundiz allwais redy money. So now by this shipp hearing that my countreymen, both marchaunts and m'r and marriners, on or th'other perforce must knowe mee, therfore I ymboldned to wryte these fewe lines in breif, not being desirous to be over tedious to the reader &c.

This island of Japan is a greate lande and lieth to the northward in lattertude of 48 deg' in the so' in 35 degrees, no' and so', and then it lyeth e' by no' and w' by so' or w'so'west in length a 220 English leagues, the people the lande good of nature, curteous out of measure, and valliant in warres; justice is severely executed upon the transgressor of the lawe w'thout partiallety; governed in great civellety, I mean not a lande better governed in the worlde by civil pollecy. The people be very superstitious in their religeon, being divers in oppynion. There be many christians by reason of the Jesuites, w'ch be many in this lande, and Franciscannons, havinge many churches in the lande &c.

Thus to be breif I am constrayned, hoping that by one meanes or other in proces of tyme I shall have newes from one good friends or other of my good acquaintance, wife and children, the w'ch w'th patience I doe waite the pleasure of Allmighty God. Therfore I doe pray all of them or every one of them that if this my l're shall come to their handes, to doe their best that my wife and children and my good acquiantance may here of mere, by whose good meanes I may in proces of tyme before my death here newes or see some of my freindes agein, the w'ch thing God turne it to His glory. Amen.

By your unworthy friend and servauntto command in what he mayW'm Adams