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The eighth expedition was the first to reach Japan. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Saris John Saris] was "Chief Captain and Commander" of three ships: the [http://www.eicships.info/ships/shipdetail.asp?sid=22 'Clove' ] under James Foster, the [http://www.eicships.info/ships/shipdetail.asp?sid=57 'Hector' ] under Thomas Fuller and the [http://www.eicships.info/ships/shipdetail.asp?sid=115 'Thomas' ] under Richard Dawes. The passage to the Cape was uneventful and Saris called at the Comoros before reaching Socotra on 17 February 1612. His instructions were to pursue trade at Surat but the wind would not be suitable for that voyage for six months. In the meantime he was ordered to trade with Mocha. However, he was warned off by Henry Middleton of the Sixth Expedition who had been imprisoned at Mocha and was bent on revenge. Nevertheless Saris went to Mocha and found the situation more amenable. Middleton however returned from a rebuff at Surat and captured some Indian vessels which piratical action put and end to the possibility of trade. Saris determined to sail direct to Bantam and his three ships made the port by the middle of November 1612. Letters from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Adams_(sailor) William Adams], the first Englishman to reach and reside in Japan, decided Saris to head further east. The 'Hector' and the 'Thomas' loaded cargoes of pepper and set sail for home. Saris left Bantam in the 'Clove' on 15 January 1613. He made a number of calls in the Moluccas and finally reached Hirado on 12 June 1613 to a friendly reception. Adams [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Adams_(sailor)#Establishment_of_an_English_trading_factory facilitated relations] with the Japanese and Saris made a journey to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yedo Yedo] during which he met the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ieyasu Shogun Ieyasu]. Having concluded a trade agreement with the ruler, Saris left Hirado on 16 December 1613 and reached Plymouth on 27 September 1614.