Oct. 23.
Japan. |
585. William Addames to [“my unknown friends and countrymen, desiring this letter by your good means, or the news or copy of this letter may come into the hands of one or many of my acquaintance in Limehouse or elsewhere, or in Kent in Gillingham by Rochester.”] Hearing that certain English merchants are in Java, he is emboldened to write, desiring the Worshipful Company to pardon his “stoutness.” Is a Kentish man, born in Gillingham, and was brought up in Limehouse, apprentice 12 years to Nicholas Diggines, and has served as master and pilot in Her Majesty's ships and the Company of Barbary Merchants about 12 years, until the Indian traffic from Holland began. Was hired in 1598 by the [Dutch East] India Company as pilot major to a fleet of five ships, the General, Jaques Maihore, which set sail about the 23d June. Account of their voyage to Cape Gonsalves, Brazil, and Annabona, arriving at the Straits of Magellan 6th April 1599, where there was much snow, “and with cold on the one side and hunger on the other our men grew weak.” Forced to winter there until 24th September, in which time for lack of victuals many of their men died of hunger. Refreshed themselves at Chili, finding the people of a good nature, but who would not trade with them by reason of the Spaniards. Directed their course to the island of Much [Mocha], but finding none of their fleet there, sailed for St. Maria, and came by the Cape, where they anchored. The people would not suffer them to land, “shooting great store of arrows at us,” nevertheless, hoping to find refreshing, some 30 men landed by force, who drove the “wild people” from the water side, “most of our men being hurt with their arrows.” Made signs of friendship, showing them iron, silver, and cloth, to give in exchange for victuals. The next day, 9th November 1599, the captain with 22 officers and men, armed with muskets, landed, contrary to that which was concluded on board, the people making signs they should do so, “and when they were about a musket shot from the boats, more than a thousand Indians which lay in ambush, immediately fell upon our men with such weapons as they had and slew them all to our knowledge.” Scarce men left to wind up their anchor. Went over to St. Maria, where was the Admiral who had left Mocha the day before their arrival, “having the general, master, and all his officers murdered on land; so that all our officers were slain, the one bemoaning the other.” His good friend, Timothy Shotten, pilot in that ship. Consultation at St. Maria to take all things out of one ship and burn the other, but the new made captains would not; resolution to direct their course for Japan, having understood that cloth was good merchandise there, and that the King [of Spain's] ships were seeking them on the coast of Peru. Left St. Maria 27th November, “with our two ships, and for the rest of our fleet we had no news of them.” Lost their consort in “a wondrous storm of wind as ever I was in, with much rain.” Found not the Cape they sought, “by reason that it lyeth false in all cards and maps and globes.” Came in sight of land 19th of April [1600], “at which time there were no more than six, besides myself, that could stand upon his feet.” Anchored about a league from Bungo; not being able to resist, many people came aboard, but they did no harm, “neither of us understanding the one the other.” The King of Bungo showed them great friendship. Death of six of their men out of 24. Addames sent for to the Emperor's court, about 80 English leagues from Bungo. Audience of the Emperor; after which he was commanded to prison, but well used. Second audience two days after; questions demanded by the Emperor; was again sent to prison, but his lodging bettered, where he remained 39 days, and looked every day “to be crossed, as the custom of justice is in Japan as hanging is in our land.” The Jesuits and Portugals against them, telling the Emperor they were thieves and robbers of all nations, and procuring friends to hasten the writer's death. The Emperor's answer, “therefore against reason and justice to put them to death.” In 41 days brought before the Emperor again, who allowed Addames to go to the ship and see his countrymen, when he heard that they with the ship were come to the city; was received with weeping eyes, they having understood that he was executed long since. Everything taken from the ship, with all the writer's instruments and books, unknown to the Emperor, who commanded that they should be restored; but they got back nothing “saving 50,000 ryals in ready money was commanded to be given us, and in his presence brought,” for buying victuals and other charges. Their ship ordered from Sakay [Sakaii] two or three leagues from Ozaka, where the Emperor was, to the easternmost part called Quanto, about 120 leagues near to Yedo. Suit, in which much of their money was spent, to go where the Hollanders had trade. Mutiny among their men; every one would be a commander, and have part of the money given by the Emperor, which was divided about two years after they had been in Japan, when their ship was denied them, and they were ordered to abide in Japan. The Emperor gave every man 2 lbs. of rice a day, and eleven or twelve ducats yearly, himself, the captain and mariners all alike. “In process of four or five years” was again called before the Emperor; built him a ship of about 80 tons at his command, “he coming aboard to see it, liked it very well; by which means I came in more favour with him, so that I came often in his presence, who from time to time gave me presents, and at length a yearly stipend to live upon, much about seventy ducats by the year, with two pounds of rice a day, daily.” Taught the Emperor geometry and mathematics, and pleased him so “that what I said he would not contrary.” Wonder of his former enemies the Spaniards and Portugals. After five years made supplication to go out of the land to see his wife and children; the Emperor not well pleased, and would not let him go. Further supplications, and promise that Addames would be a means that both English and Hollanders should traffic in Japan, “but by no means he would let me go” Leave given to the captain, who sailed to Patani, and was shot in a fight with the Portugals, “so as yet I think no certain news is known whether I be living or dead.” Entreats that his being in Japan may be made known to his wife and two children, “which thing only is my greatest grief of heart and conscience.” Is not unknown in Ratcliffe and Limehouse, by name to Nich. Diggines, Thos. Best, Nich. and Wm. Isaac, Wm. Jones, M. Becket, and many others, “therefore may this letter come to any of their hands, or the copy; I do know that compassion and mercy is so, that my friends and kindred shall have news, that I do as yet live in this vale of my sorrowful pilgrimage.” Built another ship of 120 tons for the Emperor, in which Addames made a voyage from Miako to Yedo; it was lent in 1609 to the governor of Manilla to go with 80 of his men to Acapulco. Ship of 1,000 tons cast away on the coast of Japan. The governor of Manilla sent in a bigger ship, made by Addames, to Acapulco in 1610, which the Spaniards have now in the Philippinas. Another ship returned in 1611 with a great present, and an ambassador to the Emperor. The Emperor has given Addames a living like unto a lordship in England, with eighty or ninety husbandmen that be as his slaves or servants, “which or the like precedent was never here before given to any stranger.” Knows not whether he shall come out of this land; there has been no means until now, through the trade of the Hollanders. Arrival of two Holland ships at Firando in 1609, where they were received with great friendship at the court, making a condition with the Emperor yearly to send a ship or two, and so with the Emperor's pass departed. Also of another ship, in 1611, with cloth, lead, elephants' teeth, damask, raw silk, pepper, and other commodities, wondrously well received. “The Hollanders have here an Indies of money;” merchandise vendible in Japan, raw silk, damask, black taffetas, black and red cloth, lead, and such like goods. Understands there is a settled trade by his countrymen in the East Indies, and presumes that amongst some, either merchants, masters, or mariners, he must be known. Description of the island of Japan; the people of good nature, courteous above measure, and valiant in war; justice severely executed, without partiality, upon transgressors of the law; not a land better governed by civil policy; very superstitious in their religion, and of divers opinions; many Jesuits and Franciscan friars in the land who have converted many to be Christians, and have many churches in the island. Hopes by some means or other to hear of his wife and children, and prays all into whose hands this letter may come to do the best that his wife, his children, and good acquaintance may hear of him, and that before his death, he may hear news or see some of his friends again. [Thirteen pages and a quarter. O. C., Vol. I., No. 78. Printed in “ Memorials of the Empire of Japan,” edited by Thos. Rundall, for the Hakluyt Society, pp. 18–32, who adds that probably through the agency of their factors recently settled at Bantam, two copies of this letter (both preserved) were transmitted to the East India Company, and in the sequel it will be perceived the communication led to the opening of commercial intercourse between England and Japan. Purchas has also printed this letter, i., 125 et seq., but it is by no means a correct copy.] |
