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forwardness gained him friends among high and low. We 

 next hear of him at Court teaching lyeyasu the craft of 

 shipbuilding, the outcome of which was the construction of 

 two ships on the European model. Adams says, ' Now 

 being in such grace by reason, I learned him some points 

 of geometry and the understanding of the art of 

 mathematics, with other things. I pleased him so much 

 that what I said he would not contrary.' It is pleasant 

 to read of this manly Elizabethan sailor coming into 

 honours and wealth in this far-off country by sheer native 

 honesty of purpose and scholastic attainments. His royal 

 master raised him to the rank of Samurai, and bestowed 

 upon him an estate at Phebe, near Yokosuka. Richard 

 Cocks, a merchant adventurer and member of the East 

 India Company, describes the place, and says that it 

 consisted of ' above one hundred farms or households, 

 besides others under them, all of which are his vassals ; and 

 he hath power over them, they being his slaves ; and he hath 

 absolute power over them as any tono or King in Japan 

 hath over his vassals.' Needless to say that the feudal 

 system was then in full force in Japan. To the end of his 

 life Adams maintained the character which had earned him 

 this responsible position. Let us hope that three centuries 

 after lyeyasu the Great the Japanese discern in our people 

 something of the same steadfastness that in those early 

 days won their good-will. William Adams stood thus in 

 favour when in 1609 two armed Dutch ships put into the 

 harbour of Denzin. The commander sought out Adams, 

 and, reminding him of his former connection with the 

 Dutch merchant service, claimed his good offices for the 

 advancement of Holland's commercial interests with Japan. 

 No more was desired than a footing for trade such as had 

 been granted to the Portuguese. So reasonable a request 



