to their own manner with all nations; to tarry here as long as they think
good, and to depart at their pleasure.
12. We grant unto them freedom of custom for all such merchandises as
either now they have brought, or hereafter shall bring into our Kingdoms,
or shall from hence transport to any foreign part; and do authorize those
ships that hereafter shall arrive and come from England to proceed to present
sale of their commodities, without further coming or sending up to our
court.
3. I f any of their ships shall happen to be in danger of shipwreck, we
will our subjects not only to assist them, but that such part of ship and
goods as shall be saved be returned to their captain or cape merchant, or
their assigns. And that they shall or may build one house or more for
themselves in any part of our Empire where they shall think fittest, and at
their departure to make sale thereof at their pleasure.
“ 4. I f any of the English merchants or others shall depart this life
within our dominions, the goods of the deceased shall remain at the dispose
of the cape merchant ; and that all offences committed by them shall be
punished by the said cape merchant, according to his discretion ; and our
laws to take no hold of their persons or goods.
“ 5. We will that ye our subjects trading with them for any of their
commodities pay them for the same, according to agreement, without delay,
or return of their wares again unto them.
“ 6. For such commodities as they have now brought, or shall hereafter
bring, fitting for our service and proper use, we will that no arrest he made
thereof; but that the price be made with the cape merchant, according as
they may sell to others, and present payment upon the delivery of the goods.
“ 7. I f in discovery of other countries for trade, and return of their
ships they shall need men or victuals, we will that ye our subjects furnish
them for their money as their need shall require.
8. And that, without other passport, they shall and may set out upon
the discovery of Jesso or any other part in or about our Empire.”
These certainly were privileges of the most liberal kind, and conclusively
show that the original policy of Japan was not at all one of exclusion ; and
that Europeans may thank themselves for the introduction of that rigorous
system which has so long shut her ports against the commerce of nearly all
the civilized world. The Japanese, when they discovered that foreigners
were conspiring to take their country from them, did not choose to permit
it ; and, as the shortest mode of preventing it, sent out such foreigners as
were in the country, and forbade any more to come in. Now, whatever
doubts may be entertained as to the wisdom or expediency of such a remedy,
no sane man will question the right, or find fault with the desire, of thé
Japanese to keep Japan for themselves. If, unfortunately, some of the conspirators
were European ecclesiastics, they justly paid the penalty of expulsion
from the kingdom for making their religion a part of their politics.
The blunder was their own, not that of the Japanese.
The Emperor also sent by Captain Saris the following letter to the King
of England:
I To the King o f Great Britain :
“ Your Majesty’s kind letter sent me by your servant, Captain John
Saris, (who is the first that I have known to arrive in any part of my dominions,)
I heartly embrace, being not a little glad to understand of your great
wisdom and power, as having three plentiful and mighty kingdoms under your
powerful command. I acknowledge your Majesty’s great bounty in sending
me so undeserved a present of many rare things, such as my land affordeth
not, neither have I ever before seen, which I receive not as from a stranger,
but as from your Majesty, whom I esteem as myself. Desiring the continuance
of friendship with your highness—and that it may stand with your
good liking to send your subjects to any part or port of my dominions, where
they shall be most heartily welcome, applauding much their worthiness in
the admirable knowledge of navigation, having with much facility , discovered
a country so remote, being no whit amazed with the distance of so mighty a
gulf, nor greatness of such infinite clouds and storms, from prosecuting honorable
enterprises of discoveries and merchandising—wherein they shall find
me to further them according to their desires. I return unto your Majesty
a small token of my love, (by your said subject,) desiring you to accept
thereof, as from him that much rejoiceth in your friendship. And Whereas
your Majesty’s subjects have desired certain privileges for trade, and settling
of a factory in my dominions, I have not only granted what they demanded,
but have confirmed the same unto them under my broad seal for better
establishing thereof.
“ From my castle in Surunga, this fourth day of the ninth month, in the
eighteenth year of our Dairi, according to our computation. Resting
your Majesty’s friend. The highest commander in this Kingdom of
Japan.
I MINNA, MONTTONO. Fei, ye, yeas.”
[lyeyas.]
Three years after this, in 1616, a slight modification was made in the
grant of privileges, without, however, injuriously affecting the commercial
interest of England. The ships were directed, upon arriving on the coast,
to repair to Firando, and carry on all their trade at their factory there.
They might, however, in case of opposing winds or bad weather, enter and
stay in any harbor of the Kingdom without paying anchorage duties, and
though they could not sell, they might freely buy any necessaries their ships
required. When Saris returned to England, he left in charge of the factory
he had established at Firando Mr. Richard Cockes, who had under his diree