LETTERS OF WILLIAM ADAMS.
From: Memorials
of the Empire of Japon in the xvi and xvii Centuries,
ed. with notes by T. Rundell. London: Hakluyt Society. 1850.
Part II. The Letters of William Adams 1611 to 1617. Pages 17 –
88.
Introduction.
The first letter sent by William Adams for
England, he thus addresses : "TO MY VNKNOWNE FRINDS AND
COUNTRI-MEN : dessiring this letter by your good meanes, or
the newes or copie of this letter, may come into the hands of
one, or manny of my acquayntance in LIMEHOVSE or else wheare,
or in KENT in GILLINGHAM, by ROCHESTER."
Probably
through the agency of their Factors recently settled at
Bantam, two copies of the letter were transmitted to the
"Worshipfull Felowship of the Merchants of London trading into
the East Indies"; and in the sequel it will be perceived the
communication led to the opening of commercial intercourse
between England and Japon. Purchas has given a version of this
letter (Pilgrims, vol. i, page 125, etc.) ; but it is to be
viewed as a loose paraphrase only. In the variations he has
adopted, erroneously or capriciously, the sense is not
unfrequently destroyed; and the unaffected earnestness which
characterizes the original, is rarely preserved. The version
now given is founded on two manuscript copies, preserved among
the records of the East India Company. Many of the variations
between the printed and manuscript copies are noted; but to
exhibit the whole, it would be necessary to print the two
versions in juxtaposition, which would occupy more space than
seems adviseable.
Letter 1
To the "Worshipfull Felowship of the Merchants of
London trading into the East Indies"
Letter 2
A letter to his wife
Letter 3
To my assured good frind Augustin Spalding, in
Bantam,
Letter 4
Letters invoking the visit of Captain John Saris,
in command of the Clove
Letter 5
A second letter from William Adams, dated in
December 1613
Letter 6
To the hounarabell Sir Thomas Smyth, knight,
gouernour of the Est Indes Coumpani in Loundoun
and
Conclusion (the death of William Adams).