these as vain words to excuse themselves, and throw the
blame on others; for the Spaniards and Portuguese mutually hate each
other and the Japanese, as these last do them.

The 11th I visited _Nobesane_, who used me kindly, and would have had me
dine with him next day, but I excused myself on account of the press of
business in which I was engaged, and the short time I had to stay. I met
old king Foyne at his house, who requested to have two pieces of English
salt beef, and two of pork, sodden by our cook, with turnips, radishes,
and onions, which I sent him. The 12th, the governors of the two kings
came to visit me at our factory, whence they went aboard the Clove,
accompanied by Mr Cockes, to signify to our crew that they should beware
of coming ashore to fight and shed blood; as, by the law of Japan, those
who went out to fight and drew weapons for that purpose, were adjudged
to death, and all who saw them were obliged to kill both offenders, on
pain of ruining themselves and all their kindred if they neglected
putting the combatants to death.

The 14th I sent Mr Cockes and our jurebasso to wait upon the kings, to
entreat they would provide me twelve Japanese seamen who were fit for
labour, to assist me in navigating the ship to England, to whom I was
willing to give such wages as their highnesses might deem reasonable.
The kings were then occupied in other affairs, so that my messengers
spoke with their secretaries, who said they needed not to trouble the
kings on that business, as they would provide me twelve fit persons; but
that there were several vagrant people about the town who would be
willing enough to go, yet were very unfit for my purpose, as they would
only consume victuals, and of whom the Dutch made use without making any
request on the matter, and it was not known what had become of these men
or of the ship; but, as the matter was now referred to them, they would
look out for such as were fit for our purpose.

The 18th, Foyne sent me word he would visit me, and meant to bring the
dancing girls of the country along with him, which he did soon after,
accompanied by three courtezans, and two or three men, who all danced
and made music after their fashion, though harsh to our ears. The 19th,
the Chinese captain, and George Duras, a Portuguese, came to visit me,
requesting me to send to _Semidono_ to procure pardon for two poor
fellows who were like to lose their lives for bidding a poor knave flee
who h