You are to understand, that the first ship I built for the emperor made a voyage or two, whereupon he commanded me to build another, which I did of the size of 120 tons.  In this ship I made a voyage from Meaco[58][in lat. 35 deg. 12’ N. long. 135 deg. 37’ E.] to Jeddo, being about as far as London is from the Lizard or Land’s-end of England.  In the year 1609, the emperor lent this ship to the governor of Manilla, to go with 86 of his men to Accapulco.  In the same year 1609, a great ship of about 1000 tons, called the San Francisco, was cast away on the east coast of Japan, in the latitude of 30 deg. 50’ N. Being in great distress in a storm, she cut her mainmast by the board, and bore away for Japan; and in the night time, before they were aware, the ship ran on shore, and was utterly wrecked, 136 men being drowned, and 340 or 350 saved, in which ship the governor of Manilla was going as a passenger for New Spain.  This governor was sent off to Accapulco, as before said, in the larger ship of my building, and 1611 he sent back another ship in her stead, with a great present, and an ambassador to the emperor, giving him great thanks for his kindness, and sending the value of the emperor’s ship in goods and money:  which ship of my building, the Spaniards now have at the Philippine islands.

[Footnote 58:  Meaco is entirely an inland city, thirty-five miles from Osaka, and on the same river, which runs into the bay of Osaka two or three miles below the latter city.  It is probable, therefore, that this ship may have been built at Meaco, and floated down the river to the bay of Osaka.—­E.]

At this time, for the services which I have performed to the emperor, and am daily performing, he hath given me a living, like unto a lordship in England, in which there are eighty or ninety husbandmen, who are as my servants and slaves, the like having never been done to any stranger before in this country.  Thus God hath amply provided for me after my great misery To his name be the praise for ever and ever. Amen.  But whether I shall ever get out of this land or not I know not.  Until this present year, 1611, there has been no way or manner of accomplishing this my earnest desire, which there now is through the trade of the Hollanders.  In 1609, two ships belonging to Holland came to Japan, in the intention of taking the carak which comes yearly from Macao.  Being five or six days too late for that purpose, they came notwithstanding to Firando.[59] From thence they waited on the emperor, and were received in a friendly manner, receiving permission to come yearly to Japan with one or two ships, and so departed with the emperor’s pass or licence.  In consequence of this permission, a small ship is arrived this year, 1611, with cloth, lead, elephants’ teeth, damask, black taffeties, raw silk, pepper, and other commodities; and have given a sufficient excuse why they missed the former year, as had been promised.  This ship was well received, and entertained in a friendly manner.