Note 26 — PREFACE.

In the volume already referred to, entitled Supplement to China Materials, etc., in the India Office, the following extract from a letter of Cocks is given as coming from “Damaged Papers”, ii. no. 5, which can no longer be identified:—“I forgot to note downe how the Emperours Councell, when they saw me earnestly pursue the enlarging of our previleges, tould me that they made accompt it was not unknowne unto us the order the Emperor of China did take for keeping strangers from entering his dominions, alowing the Spaniards and Portingales no port to enter into, but only Amacau; yt being but a littell point or rock of noe emportance. Unto which I replied that their previleges were far better then ours, in respect they pay no duties but only a certain sum of money for ancorage of their shipps, neither were bound to goe to the Emperours court with any present yearely, as we doe, spending more money in going up and downe then the ancorage of their shipping cometh unto. As also the Portingales of Amacau have lycense to goe yearely to the greate cittie of Canton both to buy and sell such commodities as they have, and had boates provided by the King of China to carry them up and downe with their goods. So that I wished the Emperour of Japan would make our previleges equall with the Portingales at Amacau. Unto which they answered littell, but in smiling sort passed it over.”