Diary of Richard Cocks, Volume 1 Cape-Merchant in the English Factory in Japan, 1615-1622, with Correspondence

"Diary of Richard Cocks, Volume 1" by Richard Cocks is a fascinating glimpse into the world of 17th-century Japan through the eyes of an English cape-merchant striving to establish trade. The narrative captures the day-to-day struggles and triumphs of the English factory in Firando, as they navigate a landscape filled with cultural barriers, intense competition from Dutch traders, and the ever-shifting political sands of Japanese society. Through detailed diary entries, the author vividly portrays interactions with local officials, records the political events shaping the nation, and reveals his own determined, and sometimes conflicted, efforts to secure a foothold for English commerce in a distant land.