Dutch merchants began establishing trading posts in 1609, with Adams helping negotiations and commercial arrangements. Those connections also allowed him to send letters home. His descriptions of Asian opportunities encouraged English interest in trade with Japan. Requests to return to England are interpreted here as possibly serving a wider effort to establish lasting correspondence and commercial links. That motive remains uncertain, and Ieyasu's desire to retain a useful shipbuilder complicated the requests. Correspondence involving James I forms part of the subsequent development of English contacts.
Chapter · 1:24:12-1:26:44
Dutch trading posts and Adams's letters home
Dutch commercial links gave Adams a negotiating role and a channel for correspondence encouraging English interest in Japan.