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March 3.
Jacatra.
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986. Chr. Bogan to Sir Thos. Smythe. Account of a storm on
the coast of China in which the Unicorn was caught and the
damages she received. Moneys delivered to divers bad persons who
denied to repay it. [Two pages. O.C., Vol. VII., No. 936.]
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March 8.
Hague.
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987. Sir Dudley Carleton to John Chamberlain. Has received
his letter of the 27th of this present, and thereby understands what
he has for him, of which Sir Dudley Diggs and Abbott have in a
joint letter likewise advertised him. Cannot but take it kindly of
them, and so will advertise them at the return of Diggs' man,
who came this way hither yesterday with letters to the mayors of
Amsterdam from our Company. Begs him to deliver "that you
have for me to Mr. Locke without letting him know where or how
you had it, reserving as much as you think fit to bestow upon the
bringer." He will go to Chamberlain for it, Carleton having use of
more money for his lease of the college of Eton, whicli he is to
borrow of Burlamachi. [Extract from Holland Corresp.]
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March 9/19
Paris.
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988. Sir Ed. Herbert to Sir Dudley Carleton. The extraordinary
ambassadors from the States have yet effected nothing in
their negotiation here touching maritime affairs ; and for the renewing
the truce between them and the Spaniard there hath not so much
as one word yet passed on either side. Hears there are great preparations
for war in Spain, notwithstanding he is also told here for
certain that there is a Dominican friar sent from that King with
commission to treat or give overtures of renewing the so truce (sic).
Cannot omit to say how desirous the French are (or at least would
seem so) of establishing a company of adventurers to the Indies,
holding councils and publishing orders for that purpose according to
certain edicts of this King, which he thinks they do with much ostentation,
hoping to amuse the States extraordinary ambassadors
here with the noise and opinion of their greatness by sea. [Extract
from Holland Correspondence.]
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March 9.
Amboyna.
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989. Consultation by George Muschamp and Henry Short. Upon
advice from Banda, by the Hollanders, of Nathaniel Courthopp and
some distaste of Rich. Welden, appointed to succeed him as the
Company's agent on the Banda Islands, for refusing the Hollanders, as
they allege, to go ashore at Pooloroon contrary to the articles of
peace, Capt. Hump. Fitzherbert is directed with all possible speed
to sail for Pooloroon with the Royal Exchange, and to be chief of
the consultation there. [One page. O.C., Vol. VII., No. 937.]
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March 10.
Aboard the
Royal Exchange,
Amboyna.
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990. Capt. Hump. Fitzherbert to the East India Company.
Refers to a previous letter (see ante, No. 943) in which he omitted
to write of the departure of the Ruby from Jacatra for Macassar.
Movements of the English and Dutch fleets, some to Japara and
Macassar, others to Jacatra and Banda. It seems to him that the
expedition of the Hollanders savoureth of a kind of prevention both
in matter of fortification and also of merchandise, and cannot well
be for the mutual good of both Companies or without the breach
of the 27th article. Instances of this on the part of the Dutch
General. The Bandanese favourable to the English, and content
that they should keep the fort at Pooloroon, and take the whole
benefit of the fruit of all the island, delivering to the Dutch their parts,
so as the Dutch come not there to buy it themselves, "for with them
they will not meddle." Were well received at Japara by the governor
and Mr. Benet, the Company's chief factor ; the place abounds
with all manner of victuals, and is not altogether to be rejected.
Fruitless attempts of the Dutch "by a solemn embassage" to have
commerce there. Found the Ruby at Macassar ; both her and the
Royal Exchange took in rice, the former 400 tons. Sent the Star
to the straits of Desalon to wait for Portugals going from Macassar.
Present of guns and ammunition to the King of Tallo (? Tolo) accepted
thankfully. The Roebuck found so unserviceable that she
was unrigged and her provisions put aboard the Royal Exchange
and Ruby, and the hull left with Staverton. Arrived at Amboyna
18 Feb. General Coen appointed this place the rendezvous both for
the English and Dutch, and went away five days before for Banda.
Speedy order taken for disposing the merchants to their several
factories in and near Amboyna. Publication of the peace on 19 Feb.
with great solemnity, in the castle of Amboyna and aboard the ship.
Geo. Muschamp remains chief at Amboyna, with Samuel Colston,
Henry Woolman, and others, with servants and blacks. In Hitto,
Edward Meade, John Powell, with their assistants and blacks. In
Loua [?Lugho], John Beamond, John Witherall), with an assistant and
blacks. In Cambello, Samuel Foxcrofte and George Spence, with a boy
and a black. In Luricca, Henry Short and George Sherricke, with a
boy and a black. Found the Star at Amboyna, which sailed for Banda
22 Feb., the sooner to give notice of the publication of the agreement
between the English and the Dutch at Amboyna, and to see the
proceedings of the Dutch at Lantar together with their carriage towards
the English at Pooloroon, and to get in what spice remained
unsold. News that the Dutch had taken Lantar, that Courthoppe
was slain by the Hollanders, that there was fighting (? torn away)
between the English and Dutch touching Pooloroon (?), that the
whole island had brought in their arms and submitted themselves
to the Hollanders, that the Dutch General had Pooloroon, alleging
that although the English had the fort, yet they had not the command
of the people, who would be a great charge to maintain. It
is thought fit for Fitzherbert to go with the Royal Exchange to
Pooloroon to see what course be taken therein, and to speak with
the general, "lest in the height of all his glory he should use some
violence to your people there." Holds it fit neither to give it over
nor to yield it to the Dutch at present ; his reasons, "it would be a
disgrace to our nation, both here and at home, to forego a thing so
slightly, that was so long kept by Mr. Courthope as obstinately."
The Dutch General much desires his coming to moderate this business.
Insufficiency of the men employed in the shipping in these
parts ; generally they are given to drunkenness and thieving, nor is
there anything that is either too heavy or too hot for them to make
away with. Bad quality of the powder, as much dirt as powder
in it. [Six pages. Injured by damp. O.C., Vol. VII., No. 938.]
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March 11.
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991. Sir Dudley Digges to Sir Dudley Carleton. Since his last,
the clamour of our merchants and some ill offices of some great ones
hath forced them again to be before the King, and from him to the
Lords of the Council, but they have so constantly carried themselves
that though the merchants cannot justly charge them with any
boldness in their affairs, yet the King is grown more patient, and
the Lords hopeful of reason from the States, for which they have
fallen upon this resolution of having the cause finally heard and
determined by the King and the States here, of which he makes
account Carleton will speedily hear. [Extract from Holland
Corresp.]
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March 14.
Surat.
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992. Robt. Jefferies to the East India Company. In his last
letters of 20 and 25 July from Ispahan by way of Bagdad, delivered
by an Italian messenger to Libby Chapman in Aleppo, he
certified at large the general passages of their Persian proceedings.
For endeavouring a reformation of weak, diseased, and unmerchantly
carriage, and his discovering the unreasonable, unconscionable corruption
of Edward Monox in certain parcels of iniquity, there hath
been (with the dispensation of the devil) a triple treachery begotten
against him by their critical agent Ed. Monox, their carnal minister
Cardro, and Strachan, their infernal physician ; the world, the flesh,and
the devil, whose conspiracy hath caused these lines to take their being.
"Intimates cursorily" the cause of his persecution to better their
apprehension of his undeserved banishment from their Persian employment.
Account of a fight between the English and Portugal fleets some
three leagues from Jask ; the latter "departed with dishonour" with
the loss of two captains and many others, in number uncertain, and
much damage to their shipping ; the English fleet lost but one man
aboard the Roebuck. The fight renewed ; Capt. And. Shilling
received an unfortunate shot on the left shoulder, which proved
mortal nine days after. The enemy left in the night "with a second
dishonour ;" being unable to chase them prevented their utter
destruction ; no news of them since, but believes that in a subsequent
storm some of them were sunk. The English lost six men killed,
besides others mortally wounded. "In both fights we bestowed on
the enemy 4,021 great shot." When all this fury was overpast
"our persecuting agent" convoked a consultation aboard the
London ; opinion of "the succeeding commander," Capt. Rich. Blyth,
Rich. Swan, and the rest of the masters of the fleet, Henry Darrell
and John Purefey, touching "the treason put to his account." Has
satisfied Keridge of the wrongs he has endured by their unjust proceedings
against him and of his being retained prisoner. Arrived at
the port of Swally 2 Feb., "happy in his deliverance from such
sufferings." Met, as he came from Lar, 150 camels and 200 mules
laden with silk for Ispahan. Made sale with Bell, Purefey, and
Benthall of their cloths and other goods to about 12,000l., which
supplied their defects and enabled Bell to repair to the Court and
make an addition of 120 bales, in all 520 bales. The silk taken in
sacks to Moghistan, but after notice of the arrival of the English
fleet, agent Monox's deputy, John Amye, carelessly brought away
the silk, so that it was much fretted and lay in rain and dirt
against all weathers, and each bale lost some part of its beauty, and
many were much damnified, which he fears 2,000l. will hardly repair.
Found wanting on examination, by Keridge's appointment, 4,241 lbs.
of silk which came without number or contents, with one general
weight. [Four pages and a half. O.C., Vol. VII., No. 939.]
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March 17.
Amboyna.
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993. George Muschamp to W. Nicolls. To inform himself by
advice of Welden and Hayes of the quantity of rice needful to be
left at Banda, from whence he is to hasten his return, as he is to
spend some time in delivering rice at the factories on his way
to the Moluccas. [Half a page. O.C., Vol. VII., No. 940.]
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March 23.
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994. Sir Dudley Digges to Sir Dudley Carleton. This day, with
Sir Thos. Edmondes, Secretary Calvert, Mr. Chancellor, Master of
the Rolls and of the Wards, Digges waited on the States ambassadors,
who, as they had told the King on Wednesday, said they (Digges and
Abbott) were despatched with reasonable contentment from the
Hague, and that all might have been finished but that Digges and
Abbott made promise to come back to finish things, they going
to the Parliament, to which Abbott, before the King, gave an answer,
in his absence, of denial, much blaming young Boreel. He
showed the States this day that they were sent over to demand
restitution of their goods brought into Holland, which after three
months' dispute was at length, the Saturday before their departure,
accommodated by the three deputed States before their lordships
according to the signed demand and answer. Full account of what
was said on this occasion. "We stayed long enough to have brought
our good answer before the Parliament, and when we could not get
a better, we took what they offered, paper payment in a provisional
promise of satisfaction, which we little thought they would have
broken so soon. To all which though they made such cavilling answers
as showed they had as much instruction as Amsterdam could give
them, yet when they came to be urged home they pretended want of
instruction and commission." The King desired their stay for a full
power to finish all, but all they yield to is to promise to get the States
to send over speedily about it. Confesses that these men's base
carriage hath made him a cold friend, though his religion shall keep
him no enemy. [Holland Corresp.]
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March 23.
St. Martin's
Lane.
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995. Sec. Sir Geo. Calvert to Sir Dudley Carleton. The States
ambassadors here are now ready to depart, with such answers as
they have received to their propositions. One proposition has been
made to them for the righting of his Majesty's subjects for those
wrongs they have sustained in the Indies from their people since the
last treaty, as likewise at Greenland, for which they allege they
have no commission to treat. His Majesty has pressed them
earnestly to stay, either all or some of them, and if not all, then to
procure a commission presently to those that stay and to such others
as the States shall think fit to send over and to join with them for
a treaty, which our merchants allege they have broken in three
articles by building their fort, beside the want of the restitution of
their goods. His Majesty's pleasure that Carleton shall move the
States presently and with all speed to command their stay or some
of them, and to send over sufficient commission and authority for
such a treaty as is aforementioned. [Extract from Holland
Corresp.]
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March 24.
London.
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996. John Chamberlain to Sir Dudley Carleton. Hears the
States Commissioners have had no pleasing audience of his Majesty
at Theobalds, for the King, without further treating, asked them what
satisfaction their people had given our merchants for the manifold
wrongs and injuries they had done them. [Extract from Domestic
Corresp., Jac. I., Vol. CXX., No. 38, Cal., p. 238.]
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March 27.
Aboard the
Royal Exchange
before the
castle of Neira.
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997. Capt. Humphrey Fitzherbert to the East India Company.
The Royal Exchange set sail from Amboyna 10 March 1621, and
arrived at Pooloroon the 14th, where they found the Star and
a Dutch ship, the Hart, at anchor. Haies, the chief factor there,
related how the Dutch had taken Lantar and put the merchant and
the rest of the English into prison, and seized all the Company's
goods ; also, how three days before the Dutch General had sent about
500 men to Pooloroon to surprise the island, that the blacks asked
Haies whether he would defend them, for if he would, they would
fight it out to the last man, but Haies answered "he was not able nor
could not." Meanwhile the Dutch landed, asked the blacks how
they durst deliver their island to the English, and what amends they
would make the King of Holland and their General, and made them
deliver up their arms in general. "This miserable people being
thus disarmed, the Dutch went to their towns, which was (sic)
walled round about, and forced them with their own hands to throw
down the said wall, so that before night there was not one stone
left upon another ; and ranging the whole island, caused all the walls,
little and great, to be made even with the ground, not so much as
sparing the monuments of the dead." In fine they were compelled
to give the island to the Dutch by presenting them with a nutmeg
tree in a basin, as the custom of these parts is in like cases. They
put up the Dutch colours on one of the pieces of ordnance in the
English fort, and with the spoil of the whole island departed for
Neira, "to the great grief of the inhabitants and the terror of the
English." Had Fitzherbert not come with the Exchange, Haies had
left Pooloroon altogether. He assembled the chiefs of the island on
board, encouraged Haies to maintain the place in time of peace,
which did maintain itself against them all in time of war, and wished
him to persuade the country people not to fly from the English, but
to keep the island until his return, which they faithfully promised
to do. "But Haies never meant any such matter, as the sequel will
show." He also took down the Dutch colours, and keeps them
aboard to this day. Three Flemings who had served the Company
about two years and a half in Pooloroon, and were much threatened
by the Dutch General, sent aboard the Exchange by Haies, at
whose importunity Fitzherbert was content to let them remain. On
15th set sail for Neira, where he found the Dutch General with
fourteen great ships, in which and on shore were about two thousand
six hundred trained soldiers, besides some 80 Java prows. Interview
with the Dutch General ; he demanded of Fitzherbert when
the peace should be proclaimed, who answered he thought it not fit
to proclaim peace when they knew not whether it were peace or
war, and therefore required that the Dutch General should first set at
liberty the merchants and others of the Company's servants at Lantar
and restore the Company's goods, wherewith he was so much offended
that he would scarce speak that day. In the end, with many high
words on both sides, the English prisoners were released and sent
aboard the Exchange, and peace was proclaimed with great solemnity
on the 19th March in Neira Castle. Relation by Randall, chief
merchant at Lantar, of the usage he received from the Dutch ; they
went to the English house, seized the English and Chinese there,
who they bound hand and foot and threw over the wall, being
made fast by two and two ; they sent a Japanese, who with two
blows struck off the heads of the Chinese, then lifting up his sword
to have struck Randall, Gov. Houtman stayed his hand, whether
by chance or of purpose he knows not ; after which they were all
three put into the bilboes aboard the Dutch General's ship, where
Fitzherbert found them. Randall was "bound to a stake, and with a
halter made fast to his neck, did trice up his head that the Japanese
might despatch him the easier, which did much terrify the poor man,
as may well appear by his looks." Welden and Bate, on going ashore
to provide house room for themselves and magazines for their goods,
were detained and told plainly they must there remain until Fitzherbert
delivered to the General the Dutchmen who ran away from
their garrison ; the Dutch also sent 40 soldiers and took the master
of the Star and his men in the long boat prisoners and carried them
to the castle. The Dutch General also sent men aboard the English
ships with charge to stay there until he sent for them, "forbidding
us to water and forbidding all prows to bring us any refreshing or
to come near the ship." After much correspondence Fitzherbert
thought good to send the said Dutchmen presently away, "considering
what a disgrace it would have been to our nation and to
myself if I should have delivered the Company's servants to the
slaughter, and how much discontent it would have given your
worships every way ; besides, while these broils did last the common
business was at a stay and your ships in danger, for although they
should not according to the articles of agreement practise any matter
of fact or hostility against us, and the world would think they should
not dare, notwithstanding by these proceedings we may easily see
they dare do anything in these parts." Proceedings of the Dutch at
Pooloroon ; refusal of Haies to take part "with the poor miserable
people of the island." They forced the country people to dismount
the ordnance from the two English forts on the great island, and
threw them down on the rocks ; four were broken, the rest remain
on the sands altogether unserviceable. They took the English
colours off the island and some of the chieftest men prisoners, among
whom was the priest of Pooloway, a man of great authority and a
deadly enemy to the Hollanders. "Thus was Pooloroon lost, which
in Mr. Courthopp's time by his good resolution with a few men
maintained itself to their disgrace, and now by the fearfulness of
Mr. Haies and his irresolution is fearfully lost in the time of peace."
There is only in the hands of the English the castle on the little
island. Pooloway is worth all the islands of Banda, to which the
English have as much right as to Pooloroon, "and therefore there is
great expectation by the country people, whose hearts are wholly
yours, as also by the English, your servants in this place." The Dutch
took at Lantar at least 200 brass pieces, together with a great
quantity of spice and other luggage. But further, to the great
disgrace of our nation and the better to beguile our friends, the
Dutch carried the English flag on two of their ships, the Dragon
and another ship of their own, "by which means your people's
throats had been like to have been cut by the blacks, thinking they
had practised with the Dutch to betray them, before they could
persuade them to the contrary." Welden's interview with the Dutch
General, who gave him leave to go aboard the Admiral, with a commander
for his guardian, to whom he gave directions to treat with
Fitzherbert about all differences, so as he would promise to return
to the castle again. Sent "our guardian" Capt. Tisan to tell the
Dutch General that if he would not take his men out of our
ships Fitzherbert would put them out by force ; answer returned
that they were discharged, and that the merchants and men in the
castle should be set at liberty, and that they might fetch water for
their ships when they pleased ; "and thus as the General had brewed
did he brew also." Excuses himself for letting the Dutchmen come
aboard at first. What other exploit the Dutch General has in hand
at present is not well known ; some think he will go for Tidore
others to Macassar ; verily believes he will go where he may do
the English most disgrace, one of the principal ends of all their
designs. At Lantar 1,000 men yet stand out against the Hollanders,
and if it were lawful to aid them but with 100 shot and some rice
they would yet beat the Hollanders off the island. The Dutch
desired to get him into their hands, but knows not what their intent
was. Believes they will never have good usage from them in any place
but where their forces may equal theirs, as he has well seen by
experience. English sailors are come to that pass that they will
fight but when it pleaseth them, alleging they came to merchandise
and not for men of war. Hopes hereafter a remedy will be considered
and provided. There are five several factories, Pooloway,
Neira, Lantar, Rosingyn, and Selaman, and Pooloroon should make
the sixth ; the Dutch say all shall be brought to Neira. The Star is
to remain here to deliver the several cargoes to the factories and to
take in such fruit (spices) as the place will afford this easterly monsoon ;
she is to go to Jacatra about the beginning of October. Has also
left the Claw to go from factory to factory with goods, and then to
go to Amboyna and the Moluccas to the Exchange. [Seven pages.
Mutilated by damp. O.C., Vol. VIII., No. 948.]
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March 31.
Hague.
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998. Sir Dudley Carleton to Sec. Calvert. Has received his letter
of 23rd present, about which this morning he had audience in the
States Assembly. Was desired to commit to writing what he had
said about the two businesses of the East Indies and Greenland, to
the end the States might acquaint their East India Company therewith.
He accordingly presented his proposition, and warned them
against consuming too much time over it. To all this they answered
but in general terms that they would use their best endeavours to
give his Majesty content. Encloses,
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998. I. Proposition of Sir Dudley Carleton, ambassador for his
Majesty of Great Britain, to the States General of the
United Provinces, made in their assembly, and exhibited
in writing 31 March/10 April 1621. French. [Holland Corresp.]
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