It Has Therefore Been Deemed Proper To Give A Brief
Account Of These Differences, And Of The Singular So Called Union,
Which Took Place In Consequence, Extracted From The Annals Of The East
India Company, Vol.
I. p. 201, et seq.[276]
[Footnote 276: This addition to Sec.4. of the present voyage, is made by
the Editor; but almost entirely derived from the historiographer of the
East India Company. - E.]
"When the differences and aggressions which had occurred in the spice
islands were reported in Europe, the English and Dutch Companies
presented memorials and remonstrances to their respective governments,
each complaining against the servants of the other, as guilty of
unwarrantable aggressions. In Holland, calculating on the pacific
character of King James, it was expected that the opposition to the
projects of the English for participating in the trade of the spice
islands, although of at least a tendency towards warlike aggression,
would not lead to national hostilities, but might be discussed by means
of remonstrances and negociation.
"After long conferences between English and Dutch commissioners, for
settling the disputes between the two Companies, a treaty was concluded
at London on the 17th July, 1619; by which, after specifying an amnesty
for all past excesses, and a mutual restitution of ships and property,
the trade of the two nations in the East was declared to be free; - That
the pepper trade at Java should be equally divided; - That the English
should have a free trade at Pullicat, on paying half the expences of the
garrison; - That the English were to enjoy one third of the export and
import trade, at the Molucca and Banda islands, commonly called the
spice islands; commissioners to be appointed for regulating the trade,
and the charges of the garrisons, under their inspection, to be defrayed
in that proportion by the two Companies; - That each Company should
furnish ten ships of war for the common defence; which ships were not to
be employed to bring cargoes to Europe, but only in the carrying trade,
between one port and another in the East Indies. - The whole proceedings
arising out of this treaty, were to be under the regulation of a
Council of Defence, composed of four members appointed by each
Company, who were to reside in India; and this treaty was to subsist in
force for twenty years.
"It would lead far beyond any due bounds that could be afforded in this
work, to follow out this compact, singularly weak on the part of King
James, and assuredly either contrived by his boasted king craft, or
devised by some wily Dutch politician, who was acquainted with his
majesty's wonderful sagacity. This union and the council of defence,
turned out a most fruitful source of advantage to the Dutch, who had
completely duped the king and government of England, and totally
expelled the English Company from any share whatever in the trade of the
spice islands; after contriving to make them pay more than two thirds of
the expence of fortifications and garrisons, instead of one third, all
of which were effectually converted to their injury and exclusion. In
the sequel of these voyages, several instances will be found, completely
illustrative of these positions; and from the year 1625, or thereabout,
the Dutch enjoyed the entire profits of the spice trade, including the
whole island of Java, till within these very few years; when, as
subjects of Buonaparte, they have been driven from every foreign
possession, and entirely excluded from all participation in the trade of
the East." - E.
Sec.5. Voyage of Captain Pring from Bantam, to Patania and Japan, and
return to Jacatra.[277]
The 26th of April, 1620, we sailed from Bantam roads, with the James
Royal and Unicorn in company, intending, by the grace of God, to go for
Japan, there to careen and trim our ships. Mr Brockendon departed at the
same time for Jacatra with six ships; proposing, about a month after our
departure, to send five good English ships after us to Japan, that we
might have the fittest season of the year to go from thence to the
Manillas. The 27th, we took leave of this fleet, and steered towards the
north, borrowing within half a league of the eastern point of
Pulo-Tunda; and came to anchor in the evening about a league off the
N.E. point of that island, in twenty-three fathoms upon ooze, waiting
till the western stream of the tide began to return to the eastwards
which was about ten at night, when we proceeded on our course.
[Footnote 277: Purchas gives two relations of this voyage, one brief,
"lest the longer one might interrupt the more delicate muses of some
readers with sea-sickness, the other for those that are more studious of
nautical knowledge." On the present occasion, we have preferred the more
extended narrative, and have therefore united both accounts as given by
Purchas, being the remainder of Sec.4. joined to the whole of Sec.5. giving
one instance of minute nautical remarks of our earlier navigators. - E.]
The 28th at night, we anchored in 18 f. on ooze, Pulo Antekero bearing
N.E. three leagues off. Pulo Antekero bears N.N.E. 1/2 E. from Pulo
Tunda, about eight leagues distant. The depth of water between the two
islands, runs-from 16 f. to 26, and so to 22, 20, 18, 16, 14, and 12 f.
all ooze. Pulo Antekero is westernmost of the islands which extend in a
row from the bay of Jacatra, [or Batavia,] to the westward. Continuing
our course, we anchored, in the evening of the 29th, in 15 f, Pulo Kero
bearing N. by E. 1/2 E. 2-1/2 leagues off. Pulo Kero bears N.N.E. nearly
from Antekero, six leagues off. After passing halfway between these
islands we had 20, 18, 16, 14, 12 f. on ooze. At noon on the 30th we
had Pulo Kero six leagues off, S. 1/2 E. our depth continuing 13,12,11
f. all ooze.
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