Volume Ix Part 31 (1/2)
The 2d April we got in the morning into the bay of _Brinjan_, where we anch.o.r.ed in fourteen fathoms, within half a league of the town, a high peaked hill, like a sugar-loaf; bearing N.E. by E. by the compa.s.s, which is the best mark to know this place by, when the weather is clear. This is a good place for refreshments, having hens, cocoa-nuts, and goats in abundance, and plenty offish, together with excellent water springing from the rock; but we had to pay seventy dollars, a cloth vest, a fowling-piece, a mirror, and a sword, for leave to provide ourselves with water, and all too little to satisfy the governor, who, after receiving our money and giving us leave, came down with seven or eight hundred men, demanding more money, and if we had not kept a strong guard at the spring, would have put us from it after our money was paid. The 5th, the wind being fair off sh.o.r.e, we weighed anchor and departed, and in the evening were abreast of a headland eight leagues S.E. by E. from Brinjan, from which to Cape Comorin it is seven leagues E. two-thirds S.
At six in the evening of the 7th, we had Cape Comorin N.N.E. one-third N. five leagues off, and had soundings in thirty fathoms. And on the 19th June we were in Bantam roads, when Captain Ball and Mr Pickham came on board.
On the 24th I visited the pangran, to accommodate matters for Captain Ball, who had arrested a Chinese junk for certain debts they owed our factory, making offer to restore the junk, if the pangran would give us justice, which he gave me his word to do. I went to him again on 6th July, accompanied by Mr Ball, Mr Rich, Mr Pickham, and several other merchants, when he was so inveterate against Mr Ball, that he refused to see him. On which I sent him word, that Mr Ball had brought the bills of our debt due by the Chinese, and was the only person among us who could explain the transactions between our factory and the Chinese, of which I was entirely ignorant. The messenger returned, saying that Mr Ball could not be received, on which we all left the court.
The 1st September, having the wind off the land, we weighed in the morning, and stood for point Ayre, keeping in seven fathoms till within three miles of the point, where one cast we had a quarter less seven, and the next cast only three fathoms. Some supposed we here touched, but it was not perceived by me. Off this point there is a shoal almost even with the surface of the water, but having seven fathoms within two cables length of its edge. This afternoon, while standing towards three Dutch s.h.i.+ps that rode right in the fair-way, and when within a mile of them, our s.h.i.+p grounded; but, G.o.d be praised, we got her off again without any hurt, and so into the bay, where we again fell in with a shoal, of which we came within two cables length, which lies one and a half league from the Flemish islands. We got safely into the road of Jacatra, [now Batavia road] in the afternoon of the 2d September, having been providentially delivered from three several dangers the day before, of which may we be ever thankful.
The 19th, the Angel, a Dutch s.h.i.+p of 500 tons, came in from Amboina, laden with nutmegs and cloves, and departed again on the 25th. Early in the morning of the 26th, I went to visit the king, and found him in a good humour, and conferring with him upon some former business, we came to a conclusion before I left him, to the following purpose: That he was to give us a convenient piece of ground for building upon, for which we were to pay 1500 dollars, and were to be free from all customs on exports and imports on payment of 800 dollars yearly.
--2. _Dutch Injustice, and Sea-fight between them and Sir Thomas Dale_.
The 27th of September, Mr Bishop arrived from j.a.ppara in the roads in a proa, in which was a _Cogee_, bringing a letter from the Matron to Captain Ball, wherefore I sent him away to Bantam that night. He left two English behind him at j.a.ppara, one of whom had fled from the Dutch.
He likewise brought letters from several of our people who were prisoners in the Moluccas, and one of these was directed to me, from Mr Richard Tatten, in which he complained much of the gross usage of the Dutch, who would hardly allow them a sufficiency of rice to subsist upon, and who constantly clapped them in irons, on every idle rumour of the coming of our s.h.i.+ps.
On the evening of the 30th October, Cornelius Marthen, who commanded the French s.h.i.+p taken by the Dutch, came into the roads, and came aboard my s.h.i.+p that same night. After some discourse, he told me we had six s.h.i.+ps coming from England for these seas, commanded by Sir Thomas Dale, for some special business at the Moluccas, whither he was bound with the Stathouder, the Neptune, and this French prize, to wait the coming of good friends. The 27th, in the evening, we had four feet and a half water in our hold, which we freed in two hours with both our pumps, and kept under afterwards with one pump, till next morning about ten o'clock, when we let down a sail wadded with oak.u.m, which fortunately stopped our leak. The 31st, I found an excellent place for putting our s.h.i.+p on the careen, on a small island within Taniam point, in the bay of Bantam, on which we made all preparations to remove to that place.
The Rose arrived from Tecoo on the 15th of November, bringing news that the Hollanders had established a Factory there soon after ours was dissolved. The 19th, the Moon, Clove, Samson, and Peppercorn arrived from England, and anch.o.r.ed between Vium point and Pulo Paniang.
Perceiving the Clove to be admiral, I went first on board her, taking such fresh victuals as we could spare. I here found Sir Thomas Dale admiral, and Mr Jordain president, and learnt that they had lost company of the Globe to the westward of the Cape, and, what was far worse, they had left the Sun, the flag s.h.i.+p, in great danger of being cast away on the isle of Engano, the whole fleet having much difficulty to double that island. They had afterwards waited two days for the Sun, but she had been bilged on the rocks, as we afterwards learnt, to our great regret. In the morning of the 22d, these s.h.i.+ps sailed into Bantam roads, and on pa.s.sing the island where our s.h.i.+p lay, we saluted them with fifteen guns we had planted on the sh.o.r.e, and struck my flag in compliment to Sir Thomas Dale, who was admiral of that fleet.
Two boats arrived on the 28th from Engano, with sixty-eight men belonging to the Sun, bringing the lamentable news of the loss of that s.h.i.+p, with many of her company, on, that island. The 29th, the Globe arrived in the morning, and this day our leak broke out afresh, but was quickly stopped by removing the bonnet.[262] The 30th, our s.h.i.+p being entirely cleared from stem to stem, the carpenters went below to search for the leak; and as they pa.s.sed forwards, removing the lining as they went, they found an auger hole left open in the middle of the keel, in the foremost room save one, which hole was four inches and three quarters about, and, had it sprung upon us while at sea and alone, would have tired out our whole company in twenty-four hours. In this the great mercy of G.o.d was manifest, that it never broke out upon us but when we had a fleet along with us for our aid.
[Footnote 262: Perhaps this means by s.h.i.+fting the wadded sail.--E.]
A fast being proclaimed to be held on board the fleet, and the exercise to be in the James on Sunday the 3d December, Mr Wren, the chaplain of the Sun, preached in the morning, and our own minister, Mr Copland, in the afternoon. This day the Bee sailed for Engano, in hopes to recover some money and goods belonging to the Swan, from the inhabitants of that island. The 4th, a Dutch s.h.i.+p, called the Black Lion, arrived from Patania, and rode to the westward of Pulo Paniang. As Mr Denton was well acquainted among the Dutch, he was sent aboard in the barge to enquire whence she came. On coming aboard, he met an old acquaintance, Hendrick Janson, who had been a long time chief factor for the Dutch in Patania.
He, and another inferior factor, came aboard the Moon along with Mr Denton, where they were well entertained till Sir Thomas Dale came on board, and were soon after set ash.o.r.e at Bantam. That same night we held a council, when it was determined to proceed before day with four s.h.i.+ps, the Moon, Clove, Globe, and Samson, against the Black Lion, the better to prevent her escape. At break of day on the 6th, we were close around her, and after a short parley, they yielded their s.h.i.+p, on condition of being allowed to land with all their private property; and we brought her that same day near the island, among the rest of our fleet.
The Bee returned on the 14th, having been forced back by contrary wind, and unable to get through the straits. On the 16th, twenty Portuguese came on board the James Royal, who had fled from the Dutch at Jacatra, and whom we received kindly. This evening we were ready to sail, having eleven s.h.i.+ps, great and small, and being in hopes to drive the Dutch from Jacatra. Our fleet consisted of the following s.h.i.+ps:--The Moon, in which Sir Thomas Dale sailed as admiral; the Gift, in which I sailed as vice-admiral; the Unicorn, Clove, Globe, Samson, Pepper-corn, Thomas, Bee, Rose, and Black Lion. We left behind us the James Royal, the Advice, and our prize, because the James was not ready, and the other two had most of her provisions and stores on board.
We sailed in the morning of the 19th, and anch.o.r.ed that evening between Pulo Paniang and Pulo Tunda. In the evening of the 20th, we anch.o.r.ed with our whole fleet about a league to the northward of Hector island.
This night we sent a barge to the Flemish islands, where they found no persons on the southern island: but there lay there a Dutch galley, which they set on fire, and so returned on board. That same evening we saw seven Dutch vessels in the bay of Jacatra. Early in the morning of the 21st, they all stood out towards us till near the islands, when they anch.o.r.ed all together, and we stood towards them in the afternoon, coming to anchor about a mile to windward of their fleet. In the evening, we held a consultation on board the Moon, when it was resolved to a.s.sault the Butch fleet in the following manner:--The Globe and Samson were appointed to a.s.sail the Sun, and the Thomas was to pa.s.s in between them, filled with combustible matter as a fire-s.h.i.+p, to set the Sun on fire. The Moon and Clove were to attempt the Golden Lion; the Gift and Bee were to a.s.sail the Angel; the Unicorn and Rose were to attack the Devil of Delft; and the Pepper-corn was ordered to surprise the burger-boat come from Jambee, which rode about three leagues from the rest, and whose boat, with thirteen men, had been intercepted by our barge, while making for the Dutch fleet, about seven this evening. This arrangement being written down, we departed, every man to his own particular charge.
After we were gone, the admiral, Sir Thomas Dale, sent his boat to the Thomas for three _sackers_, which kept them at work till next morning at eight o'clock, so that the Hollanders were all away before these guns were got on board the Moon. We were then all in a Burly-burly to weigh and get out to sea, that we might have sea-room, and the advantage of the turn of the tide, which we at length attained, getting without the isles of Point Aire. In the mean time, the Dutch fleet pa.s.sing between these isles and the main of Java, anch.o.r.ed that night on the coast of Java, and our fleet in the offing, without the islands. On the 23d, in the morning, the Dutch fleet stood off to the westwards, close under _Anti-Lackie_, in which course the Devil of Delft borrowed so near, that she got aground, and remained fast for a quarter of an hour. On seeing this, we made towards them, but she was got off before we could get any thing near, when she and all the rest of their fleet stood to the northwards. As our fleet had the weather-gage, we _paid room upon them_[263] till we came within shot, and then the Moon, commanded by our admiral, Sir Thomas Dale, began the fight with the headmost s.h.i.+p of the enemy, called the San. The battle continued for the s.p.a.ce of three hours, during which time we spent upon them some 1200 cannon-shot, when we left them for the night, they standing so for to the northwards, that they got the _burger-boat_ again into their company, and then anch.o.r.ed about half a league from us to the westwards, where they remained all night.
[Footnote 263: This antiquated expression evidently means bearing down upon them to leewards.--E.]
Both fleets weighed anchor on the 24th, ours plying to the westwards to gain the wind, and the Hollanders ran in sh.o.r.e towards Point Aire. In the mean time, we descried three sail coming before the wind from the westwards, which at length we perceived to be the Little James, the Hound, and the Francis. By and bye we joined altogether, and chased the Dutch fleet through the bay of Jacatra, to its eastern point, where we all came to anchor for the night. During the night, the Dutch from Jacatra sent a junk filled with combustible matter, and on fire, which came so near our fleet that we were fain to weigh our anchors and get out of her way. The 25th, being Christmas-day, we again saw the Dutch fleet standing to the eastwards, and we sent our barge to follow them all night, to see what course they took, because we had left the James Royal in the bay of Bantam, with the Advice and our prize, which they might have surprised, if they got to Bantam before us, as there was no s.h.i.+p of force but the James, and she was unprepared, being busied in taking in her goods and stores, after being emptied to find her leak.
The 27th of December, after midnight, the Black Lion, our Dutch prize, was set on fire by the carelessness of three wicked fellows, and burnt to the water's edge. The president went ash.o.r.e on the morning of the 30th, to wait upon the king of Jacatra, accompanied by Mr Henry Jackson, when an unfortunate shot carried away his leg, of which wound he died.[264]
[Footnote 264: It appears in the sequel that it was Jackson who lost his leg and life though the text leaves it dubious whether he or the president.--E.]
The 1st of January, 1619, the James Royal, the Advice, and the prize, joined us from Bantam. The 2d, Sir Thomas Dale went ash.o.r.e to Jacatra to visit the king, and to learn what were his intentions respecting the Dutch fort. The king gave to both him and the president much satisfaction, in words at least, promising to grant the English any reasonable conditions, if they would a.s.sist him to surprise the Dutch castle. This morning, before day, the Francis departed for Puloroon, with provisions for the relief of Mr Nathaniel Courthop and his companions. The 6th we held a council of war aboard the Moon, when it was determined that we should land from our greater s.h.i.+ps six pieces of large cannon, three culverines, and three demi-culverines, with a proportional store of powder and shot, to a.s.sist the king of Jacatra against the Dutch; that Sir Thomas Dale was to remain in that road with eight sail, to cover this business, while five s.h.i.+ps, under my command, were to ply up for the straits of Sunda, to lie in wait for the Dutch s.h.i.+ps.
The 25th, we got into the road of Becee, and anch.o.r.ed in fifteen fathoms, about two miles from the sh.o.r.e; the S. point of Becee bearing S.W. 1/4 W. and the N. point _Sabaicas_, which shut in the western isle of Pirio Tigs, bearing N. by W. three leagues off. We watered our s.h.i.+ps on the 27th and 28th, and cut wood. I and Mr Coytmore, with several other masters, went twice ash.o.r.e to view the harbour, which we found to be an excellent place of refuge for a small fleet against a superior enemy. The 31st, by order of the president, we repaired with our fleet into Bantam roads.
The 1st February, Captain John Jourdan the president came on board, who acquainted me with all that had taken place between them and the Dutch, in regard to the castle of Jacatra, during my absence, the Dutch having agreed to deliver up that fort to the English, on condition of being allowed to depart with bag and baggage, and a s.h.i.+p, _for two thousand rials of eight_, to carry them to the coast of Coromandel.[265] Sir Thomas Dale arrived in Bantam roads on the 4th, with the Moon, Clove, James, Pepper-corn, Hound, and Advice. As the pangran of Bantam had practised underhandedly with the Dutch to have the castle of Jacatra delivered into his hands, by which we had been unjustly deprived of that acquisition, we agreed, in a general consultation, that the president, and all the rest of the princ.i.p.al persons of our factory at Bantam, should repair on board, and get all our goods and provisions put aboard the s.h.i.+ps. Accordingly, we were occupied from the 10th to 16th, both inclusive, in getting all the money and goods belonging to the honourable Company on board. During this time, the pangran sent several obscure persons to the president, as of their own accord, to enquire the reason of his departure, pretending that the pangran had given no just cause for leaving the country. Upon this the president drew up a memorial, enumerating the several grievances and wrongs which the English had suffered from him, meaning to have it translated into the Javan language, and then to be transmitted to the pangran.
[Footnote 265: This agreement was crossed by the Pangran of Bantam, who gave us leave to beat the bush, and thought to have caught the birds himself, but was deceived in the end.--_Purch._]