"Not only I lost what I had in the ship, but from the captain and the company generally what was good or worth the taking was carried away; all which was done unknown to the emperor"

The quote by Will Adams offers a glance into the experiences of a European seafarer navigating the complex and often treacherous waters of global commerce and expedition during the early 17th century. Adams, an English navigator who turned into one of the first Westerners to reach Japan, is most likely reflecting on the loss and plunder of important goods, a common threat for sailors during this age of exploration.

In the phrase "Not only I lost what I had in the ship", Adams reveals an individual loss, showing that his own ownerships or financial investments, perhaps obtained through trade or labor, were lost. This highlights the perils dealt with by individuals involved in maritime endeavors, where fortunes could be made or lost due to shipwrecks, piracy, or hostile encounters.

The reference of "the captain and the business normally" suggests that the loss extended beyond his individual belongings to those of his crewmembers and perhaps the more comprehensive enterprise they represented. This reflects the shared dangers dealt with by teams, who frequently embarked on long trips with the hope of financial gain only to experience unexpected threats.

When Adams notes that "what was good or worth the taking was carried away", he may be mentioning an act of piracy or theft. Such actions were not unusual, as valuable cargoes were profitable targets for pirates or rival countries. His remark indicates the extent of the loss, implying that the aggressors were critical in their plunder, taking just products of substantial worth.

The final part of the quote, "all which was done unidentified to the emperor", suggests an absence of awareness or involvement by the judgment authority, be it a local ruler or a sovereign state. This might indicate either a failure in enforcing maritime security or complicity by corrupt authorities disregarding to such acts. The reference to the emperor suggests that Adams ran within a geopolitical landscape where political characteristics could significantly affect the outcome of trade and expedition undertakings.

In summary, Will Adams's quote encapsulates a narrative of personal and cumulative loss in the middle of the larger context of maritime expedition. It reflects the inherent threats of seafaring life, marked by capacity for both terrific benefit and devastating loss, typically influenced by unforeseeable human and political aspects.