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In 1598 the famous soldier Taiko Sama (or Hidéyoshi), who had raised himself to the head of affairs, had died, leaving an infant son. The chief guardian of the young prince was Iyéyasu, an old fellow-soldier of Taiko Sama, and the influence and power which he speedily acquired roused the jealousy of his rivals. A civil war broke out, and at the very moment when Adams set foot in Japan, the two factions were preparing for action, which resulted a few months later (October 1600) in a decisive victory for Iyéyasu. The conqueror became the actual ruler of the country, although he did not receive the title of Shogun till 1603.

Before Iyéyasu, then, ‘the emperor,’ Adams was brought and examined as to his country and the cause of his coming. He was then kept in prison for nearly six weeks, and, although kindly treated, lived in dread of death, expecting to be led out to undergo the native punishment of crucifixion. Indeed the Portuguese of Nagasaki tried to persuade the Japanese that the Dutch were pirates and deserved to be executed; but Iyéyasu, with the fairness which always distinguished his dealings with foreigners, refused to punish men who had done him no wrong. He set Adams at liberty and restored him to his comrades, and ordered a daily allowance of rice and a small annual pension to be given to them. But the ship could not be cleared; and so, after some waste of money in the cause, the crew divided what remained ‘and every one took his way where he thought best.’

Then began the intercourse between Iyéyasu and Adams which led rapidly to the advancement of the latter. The practical Englishman had found favour in the eyes of the sagacious ruler. In simple language Adams tells the story of his success. He built for the Shogun a small ship of 80 tons, ‘by which means I came in more favour with him, so that I came often in his presence, who from time to time gave me presents and at length a yearly stipend to live upon, much about seventy ducats by the year, with two pounds of rice a day, daily. Now being in such grace and favour, by reason I learned him some points of geometry and understanding of the art of mathematics with other things, I pleased him so that what I said he would not contrary.’ He also built a second ship of 110 tons, which was seaworthy enough to carry home the Spanish governor of the Philippine Islands, who was wrecked on the coast of Japan. Finally, to requite his services, Iyéyasu bestowed on him an estate ‘like unto a lordship in England, with eighty or ninety husbandmen that be as my slaves or servants.’ This estate was at Hémi near Yokosuka, and has been described as having ‘100 farms or households upon it, besides others under them, all which are his vassals, and he hath power of life and death over them, they being his slaves, and he as absolute authority over them as any tono (or king) in Japon hath over his vassals’ Diary, i. 181). But whatever favours Iyéyasu might grant, there was one which he steadily denied. After five years Adams asked leave to return to England, where he had left a wife and two children, but was refused. Another application, when the inspiriting news came that the Dutch were at Achin and Patani, fared no better.

At length, in 1609, Dutch ships appeared in the port of Firando in the extreme west of the kingdom, and got leave to establish a factory. Two years after another vessel arrived, and two commissioners were sent up to court, and by Adams's influence obtained ample trading privileges. And now for the first time the exile learned that Englishmen were trading in the East, and so indited his well-known letter ‘to my unknown friends and countrymen,’ telling the story of his misfortunes and calling for help. This letter was written in October 1611, and reached the English factory in Bantam early in 1612. But Adams's story was already known in England through reports of the Dutch, and a trading fleet of three ships had sailed in April 1611 to open trade with Japan. On 12 June 1613 the Clove, under command of Captain John Saris, sailed into the harbour of Firando. Adams was summoned, and at last, on 29 July, found himself again among his countrymen. Next followed a journey by Saris in company with Adams to Suruga, Iyéyasu's head-quarters, in order to obtain trading privileges; and by the end of November an English factory was formally settled at Firando. Adams, in one of his letters, had advised the choice of a place in the eastern parts of the kingdom, nearer the great cities, instead of a port where the Dutch were already in possession of the market. However, the advice came too late; Firando was chosen, and eight Englishmen were appointed members of the factory. The chief, or cape-merchant as he was called, was Richard Cocks, whose diary has survived to give us the history of this early English settlement in Japan. Next in rank came Adams himself, who, postponing his long wished-for return to England, now entered the service of the company. When he accompanied Saris to court, he had at last got Iyéyasu's leave to return to his country.