The 23d, there arrived two Chinese junks at Nangasaki, laden with sugar.  By them it was understood that the emperor of China had lately put, to death about 5000 persons for trading out of the country contrary to his edict.  Yet the hope of profit had induced these men to hazard their lives and properties, having bribed the Pungavas, or officers of the sea-ports, who had succeeded those recently put to death for the same offence.

The 29th, a soma, or junk, belonging to the Dutch, arrived at Nangasaki from Siam, laden with Brazil wood and skins of all kinds.  On their arrival, they were said to be Englishmen, as, before our coming, the Dutch used generally to pass by the name of English, our nation being long known by report in Japan, but much scandalised by the Portuguese jesuits, who represent us as pirates and rovers on the sea.  In consequence of this report, the Japanese have a song, which they call English Crofonio, shewing how the English take the Spanish and Portuguese ships, which, while singing, they act likewise with catans, and so scare their children, as the French used to do theirs with the name of Lord Talbot.

The 1st July two of our company happened to quarrel, and had nearly gone out to the field to fight, which had greatly endangered us all, as it is the law here, that whoever draws a weapon in anger, although no harm be done, is presently cut in pieces; and if they do even but small hurt, not only they are so executed themselves, but all their relations are put to death.  The 2d, I went ashore to keep house at Firando, my household consisting of twenty-six persons.  At our first coming, we found that the Dutch sold broad-cloths of L15 or 16 a-cloth, for forty dollars, or L8 sterling the mat, which is a measure of two yards and a quarter.  Being desirous to keep up the price of our cloth, and hearing that the Dutch had a great quantity, I had a conference with Brower, the chief of their factory, proposing that we should mutually fix prices upon such cloths as we both had, and neither of us, in any respect, sell below the prices agreed upon; for performance of which, I offered to enter into mutual bonds.  In the morning, he seemed to approve of this proposal, but ere night he sent me word that he disliked it, alleging that he had no authority from his masters to make any such agreement.  Next morning he shipped away a great store of cloth to different islands, rating them at low prices, as at twenty, eighteen, and sixteen dollars the mat, that he might the more speedily sell off his own, and glut the market before ours came forwards.