Diary of Richard Cocks, Volume 2 Cape-Merchant in the English Factory in Japan, 1615-1622, with Correspondence

"Diary of Richard Cocks, Volume 2" by Richard Cocks is a detailed journal from the early 1600s that follows the life of Richard Cocks, a merchant, in Japan between 1615 and 1622. Through daily entries, the diary shows the ins and outs of the English trading post, filled with records of deals, personal relationships, and observations about Japanese culture. Starting with New Year's celebrations, the diary dives right into gift-giving and money matters like bills for silk trades. It paints a picture of tough trade talks, interactions with Japanese and Chinese merchants, the friendships he made, and the difficulties of navigating customs, legal problems, and politics between different groups involved in trade. This peek into the past shines a light on the beginning of global commerce and the exchange of cultures when these types of interactions were becoming more and more important.