If we are to generalize, at this point there were two kinds of Europeans roaming the waters of East Asia: the Iberians (Portuguese and Spanish) and Northern Europeans (English and Dutch). The latter were Protestant and, since they were not concerned with proselytizing, had an easier life in both Siam and Japan. The Siamese kings and the shoguns of this period had relatively open minds toward foreigners who entered their lands. For example, in the case of the Spaniards, who at this time were successfully mining in the Americas, Ieyasu hoped to obtain technology and know-how to better exploit Japan’s silver and gold resources.
However, by mid-1620s, the arrogant attitude of the Iberians in Siam and the growth of Christianity in Japan caused both Song Tham and the shogunate to adopt similar policies of exclusion toward them. The Japanese relations with Spain came to an abrupt end in 1624, when Spanish ships were forbidden to call at Japanese ports.
It was in the very same year (1624) that the Spanish were also banned from Ayutthaya. This happened after a chain of events ignited by an episode that involved the Japanese of Ayutthaya and thus, we must assume, Nagamasa. According to some (possibly biased) reports compiled by the Spanish in Manila in 1626, a Dutch patache (a type of small trading ship commonly used on the route between Macao and Manila) happened to be stationed on the Menam, probably on its way to Ayutthaya to trade. For unknown reasons, the Spaniard “decided” that the Dutch might have captured their champan (another type of small trading ship) and its eight men (a report that proved not to be true as they safely reached Manila).
News of the incident quickly reached king Song Tham, who was not pleased as he was very fond of his Dutch partners. He immediately sent an emissary, asking the Spanish to release the captives and their cargo. Don Fernando de Silva, the Spanish captain, refused to comply. If was an act of overconfidence for which he paid dearly: Song Tham unleashed his boats and attacked the Spanish. Not even their artillery could repel the Siamese attack, which was headed by the Japanese guard. They quickly stormed the two ships and de Silva was slaughtered together with most of his countrymen. Around 30 Spanish were captured and paraded in manacles on the streets of Ayutthaya.
The events of 1624 started a spiral of misfortune for the Iberians in Siam. In the summer of 1628 the Spanish, as counter-revenge, sank a Siamese royal junk bound for China, two more vessels from Ayutthaya, and a Japanese shuinsen in the bay of Thailand (a brand new vessel purchased by the merchant Takagi Sakuemon of Nagasaki in Ayutthaya). The Siamese retaliation fell on the Portuguese community in Ayutthaya. A galley was confiscated in 1630, and the residents were kept in captivity and “[were made to] go about begging in the streets.” Three Japanese survivors from the looted and sunken ship owned by Takagi Sakuemon made it back to Ayutthaya, to tell their story. Nagamasa had them board a Dutch ship and report to the authorities in Japan about the incident.
The Japanese authorities were not pleased. The Spaniard were already forbidden to enter Japan, while the Portuguese, in view of problems related to their numerous presence in Japan and considering the importance of the trade with Macao, managed to stay another decade and a half, but had to suffer a two-year long embargo during 1628-1630.
After a major rebellion led by persecuted Christians in 1637-1638, the Portuguese in Nagasaki were asked to leave with the first favourable wind, never to return. The Portuguese took Japan’s request lightly, and sent an embassy in 1640. All of the 61 Portuguese envoys were beheaded, while their ship and cargo were burnt.
The incident of 1624 gives us an idea of how the Japanese guard (which was recognized by whoever reported the facts to the Spanish chronicler) were the spearhead of Song Tham’s assault team. It also proved to be extremely effective. Moreover, the Tsuko Ichiran (a compilation of documents related to the foreign relations of the Tokugawa shogunate – compiled in 1853) reports that Nagamasa had an important part in the attack. This was the first time a primary source described Yamada Nagamasa as involved in a military action.
Resources: “Samurai of Ayutthaya – The Historical Landscape of
Early 17th Century Japan and Siam: Yamada Nagamasa
and the Way to Ayutthaya” by Cesare Polenghi (p. 46-48)
