and the wish to monopolize trade. But the case haying been submitted to
the Emperor, who was then at Osaca, he ordered that Adams and one of the
Dutch sailors should be sent to him. He was sent accordingly, and furnishes
a long and interesting account of his interview with the monarch,
(conducted through the medium of a Portuguese interpreter,) in the course
of which Adams had an opportunity of showing the Emperor samples of the
merchandize he had brought with him, and of begging that he and his companions
might have liberty to trade, as the Portuguese had. An anBwer was
returned in Japanese, but Adams did not understand it, and he was carried
to prison, hut his comforts seem to have been duly regarded. He remained
in prison forty-one days, during all which time, as he subsequently discovered,
the Jesuits and Portuguese residents spared no efforts to induce the Emperor
to put all the Dutch ship’s company to death as pirates. At last the Emperor
answered their application with equal justice and good sense, by telling
them that, as yet, the Dutch had done no hurt to him or any of his people,
and that therefore he had no just cause to take their lives; nor could he find
any sufficient reason for such severity as they desired in the fact that wars
existed between Portugal and Holland, with which he had nothing to do.
At length he summoned Adams before him again, and asked of him a
great many questions. Finally, he enquired of him whether he would like to
go to his ship again to see his companions ? Upon his answering affirmatively
he bade him go, and this was the first intimation Adams had that the ship
had been brought by the Emperor’s order to Osaca, and that his companions
were alive. Everything was now taken out of the vessel, which was ordered
to a spot nearer to Jeddo, whither the Emperor had gone. The whole ship’s
company were liberally provided for at the expense of the government.
Presently they petitioned that they might be permitted to take their vessel
and depart, but the Emperor would not consent. Finally, at the expiration
of two years, during which time they had been at liberty and mingled freely
with the Japanese, they were informed that they could not have their ship
any more, and that they must make up their minds to live, for the rest of
their days, happily and peacefully in Japan. Hereupon the Dutchmen dispersed
themselves, going where they pleased, and living comfortably enough
upon the daily allowance made them by the Emperor. Adams, however,
remained about the court, and by his ingenuity and good qualities, soon made
friends, and gradually rose in the esteem of the Emperor until he attained
to a high position of honor in the country. He taught his majesty some of
the principles of mathematics, and built for him two vessels. These things
gave to him such commanding influence, that even the Jesuits and Portuguese,
who, for the reasons already mentioned, were gradually losing favor,
were glad to secure his friendly interposition with the Emperor for their
benefit.
At length, in 1609, two armed Dutch ships came to Japan. Their object
was to interoept and make prize of the large Portuguese carrack which made
the yearly voyage from Macao to Japan with merchandize for the established
trade. They were, however, a few days too late for her capture, and so they
put in at Firando, and the commanders went thence to the court of the
Emperor. Here William Adams, being the chief negotiator fo r them, they
were kindly received, and obtained the Emperor’s free pass, and permission
for their nation to send annually a ship or two for purposes of trade; and
this was the beginning of the Dutch commerce with Japan.
Adams, as we have said, rose to high distinction. He thus describes his
situation : “ Now for my service which I have done and daily do, being employed
in the Emperor’s service, he hath given me a living like unto a lordship
in England, with eighty or ninety husbandmen, who are as my servants
and slaves. The precedent was never done before. Thus, God hath
provided for me after my great misery; to his name be the praise forever.
Amen.”
But with all this external prosperity, poor Adams had a heartsore that
could not be healed in Japan. He had left a young wife and two children
in England, whom he tenderly loved. Some of the most affecting passages
he has written are those in which he alludes to his family, and expresses the
dreadful apprehension that he should never see them again. There are such
honest, natural outpourings of a true and faithful heart in these passages, that
it is impossible to read them without the deepest sympathy. The Emperor
was not willing he should go at all. Had he been willing, Adams could not
have gone in the Portuguese ships, which were, at first, the only vessels that
came annually for trade; but when he had successfully negotiated for the
Dutch, his hopes of once more seeing his family began to revive. He thought
that in some of their vessels God might at last provide a way for his return
to England. But, though thus saddened at heart, he never lost his self-possession
and prudence. He thought that, should he never be able to go himself,
he might at least let his beloved family know where he was, and assure
them of his unabated affection. From the Dutch ship which came in 1611,
he for the first time learned that his countrymen, the English, were carrying
on considerable trade in the East Indies, and had made a humble beginning,
in the way of factories, on the Malabar coast. He, of course, knew not who
of his countrymen might be there, or elsewhere in the east, but whoever or
wherever they might be, they were English, and through them he might tell
the sad story of his thirteen long years of separation from home and wife and
children. He accordingly wrote two long letters, the one addressed to his
wife, the other endorsed as follows : “ To my unknown friends and countrymen,
desiring this letter, by your good means or the news or copy of this
letter, may come to one or many of my acquaintance in Limehouse or elsewhere,
or in Kent, in Gillingham by Rochester.” The last sentence in this
is in these words: