Thus The
English Ships Now Taken By The Hollanders Were Almost Equal In Number To
Our Three Fleets Now Joined In One Under My Command.
On Monday the 31st January, 1620, we held a consultation aboard the
James Royal as to our future proceedings, when it was unanimously agreed
to go to Acheen, in hopes to meet our ships from Surat, that we might
keep our force together, according to the instructions of the Honourable
Company.
Our chief reasons for this proceeding were the want of rice and
other provisions, which could not at this time be had at Bantam;
secondly, the strong naval force of the Hollanders, as we did not think
it prudent to risk the entire property now belonging to the Company in
India upon such desperate terms, as the Dutch had four ships for every
one of ours; and, lastly, which was an imperious necessity, that we
might careen three of our ships, the James, the Gift, and the Unicorn,
which could not be much longer deferred without imminent hazard. For all
these reasons, we resolved to proceed for Japan, where, as we were given
to understand, all things necessary for careening our ships, and
abundance of provisions for our relief, were to be had.
The 11th, Mr Mills arrived in the Bee from Priaman, with 300 sacks of
very good rice, and eleven hogsheads of oil, giving us great
encouragement to send there again. The 12th, the Claw was sent off for
Pedang and Cuttatinga, to procure rice and other provisions; and, on the
15th, the Bee was sent back to Priaman for more rice and oil. The 19th
the Claw returned with thirty-four bags of rice, 16,000 cocoa-nuts, and
ten goats; and the same night the Bee came back with 980 sacks of rice,
procured with much difficulty by Mr Mills, merchant of the Elizabeth.
The 3d March we departed from the road of Tecoo, intending first to
touch at Mintaon, on purpose to dispatch the Bee for England, and
thence to go for Acheen, in hopes of meeting the Charles and the Ruby
from Surat. The 30th March we all anchored in the bay of Samanca, about
a mile from shore, where we took in wood, water, and other necessaries.
Next day we sent to recall the Bee from Balembeen. The 1st April we sent
the shallop belonging to the Unicorn for Anniar, to enquire concerning
the Dutch force, and how the pangran stood affected towards us.[275] At
eleven this night, twenty-two of our men ran away with our barge. Next
morning the shallop returned from Anniar, and brought news that there
were fifteen sail of Dutch ships at Bantam and Jacatra, upon which we
resolved to proceed to Bantam, to treat with the pangram, hoping that
the Dutch might not venture to attack us. The Bee arrived in the
afternoon from Ballambeen, [Palimbangan.] The 6th we set sail for
Bantam, and on the 7th, between Crackastaw and Becee, we met a proa with
some of our people coming from Anniar.
[Footnote 275: The intended voyage to Acheen seems to hate been laid
aside; perhaps the monsoon had become adverse, and forced them to the
S.E. towards Bantam. - E.]
Sec.4. News of Peace between the English and Dutch.
At four in the morning of Saturday the 8th April, 1620, we met the Bull,
newly come from England, bringing the joyful news of peace having been
concluded between us and the Dutch. She was accompanied by a small ship,
called the Flying Hart, with letters of advice for us, or any other of
the English ships, giving notice of the agreement and union that had
taken place between the two Honourable East India Companies of England
and Holland. We came to anchor with all our fleet in the afternoon, near
the point of Palimbangan. In the morning of the 11th, we descried the
Dutch fleet coming from Jacatra to meet us, and to congratulate with us
on the joyful intelligence of peace. General Coen was there in person,
and as soon as he came to anchor, the Holland fleet and ours began to
salute each other with peals of ordnance, to communicate the
intelligence to the natives, and to express our own joy of the happy
news of peace.
The 12th, we came altogether into Bantam roads, the Dutch fleet
consisting of fifteen sail, besides two others of their nation which we
found already in the roads, and ours of twelve sail. This day, Mr
Janson, commander of the Dutch fleet, accompanied by their fiscal, and
divers others, came to visit me, and invited Mr Brockendon, Mr Spalding,
and myself on board the Dutch admiral's ship, where we conferred with
General Coen concerning our future conjunct arrangements. After we had
compared the articles and letters, the Dutch general agreed that we
should jointly proceed in conformity with the instructions we had
received from our Honourable Company; but he declined publishing the
articles till the arrival of some ship from Holland, with the articles
and instructions from their Company. On the 14th, in the morning, by
mutual concert between us and the Hollanders, we sent Mr Beaumont and
Philip Baduge on, shore, with one Dutch merchant, to communicate the
news of our peace and agreement to the pangran, and to inform him, as we
were now united, we only desired to have a reasonable composition with
him, through which we might remain quietly in his country, enjoying a
free trade on just and equitable conditions, as in other parts of India.
But the pangran was so much dissatisfied with the news, that he would
give no answer to their message, often times asking them why we had
become friends with the Hollanders, so that they had to return without
any answer. We sent the same message to him next day, but our messengers
were not allowed to land.
* * * * *
"The differences and maritime warfare which took place between the Dutch
and English East India Companies, of which some notice has been taken;
and the peace and union which are announced, as having been communicated
to their respective commanders at this time, would lead to historical
discussions and deductions, which do not properly belong to the object
of a Collection of Voyages and Travels; but which, if altogether passed
over, would leave much of the foregoing circumstances, and some that
have to be noticed in the sequel, abrupt, isolated, and almost
unintelligible.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 203 of 243
Words from 206354 to 207435
of 247546
