The two Dutch ships which last year were plundering in these islands
the ships that came from China, returned to Japon, after having
loaded up with many silks which they had seized. They took with them
three Chinese ships with rich cargoes, placing on each one a guard
of Hollanders. But in a storm the Chinese fled with their ships,
carrying with them the Hollanders that were on board, on whom they
retaliated by drowning them in the sea. Thus the spoil [of the Dutch]
was not so rich as was expected.
This year there went to Japon a patache which the Hollanders had
captured in Maluco from the English, and on which there remained some
English, badly wounded. They reported that the Hollanders had taken
two ships from the English, and had cut off the noses and ears of all
whom they had found alive. Upon hearing this, the English who were in
Japon were exceedingly angry; and, as they were in good standing at the
court, they went to complain to the emperor. The Japanese merchants
also complained that because of the robberies which the Hollanders
had committed during the last two years on the coast of Manila, they
had lost the profit which they had usually drawn from the trade with
Philipinas. They said that not only were the Hollanders of no advantage
to Japon, but that rather they were very injurious, since they took
from the kingdom large quantities of munitions and provisions for
their fleets, and thus made everything dearer.
Pages:
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212