1 from Mr. James Burges, pilot of Sea Adventure, 16 Marche, 1616.
1 from Jno. Ferrers, at Paria in Champa, 18 May, 1617.
1 from Robt. Burges, ditto Champa, without date.
All which letters came in the junk Shoby Dono from Champa, som of them being sent in a small soma from Syam to Champa, with a cargezon goodes amonting to 680 tais, under charg of Piter Hall, Jno. Ferrers, and Robt. Burges for pilot. God send us good news of them hereafter, for they advize a Portugall frigat took the Hollandes bark going out to retorne for Syam. They advize both from Syam and Champa, as also from Camboja, that the kinges of those places, as also of Cochinchina, desire much to have our shipping to trade into their cuntres, espetially he of Cochinchina, but to com in our owne shiping, and not in Japons, for that he hath banished them out of his cuntrey, I meane the renegages enhabeting in those partes, which did all the mischeefe before.
I receved a letter from Jor. Durois, of 12th July, in Langasaque, wherin he adviseth of 20 Spanish gallions arived this yeare in the Indies at Malacca, viz. 12 Spanish and 8 Portugeze, with order to roote out all Hollanders at Bantam, Molucos, and else wheare, and not to let one remeane alive. God grant it prove falce and confownd them in their proceadinges. This news he sayeth cometh from the Manillas, and that the Spaniardes chased away the Hollanders from thence with losse of 3 Hollande shipps and no Spaniardes; which is a lye, and so I hope the rest may prove.
July 5.—I sent Mr. Osterwick to tell Capt. Speck the newes we heard of the takeing a bark or boate of theirs on the bar of Champa by a Portingale friggat, as also what Jor. Durois had wrot me of the 20 gallions arived at Malacca. But he skarce did vouchsafe to open his lipps unto hym or look at hym, but sent to know what he had to say. At the same tyme Jno. Derckson Lamb was by, and som 50 or 60 small shot plying their muskets before hym, he walking in state with a greate cheane of gould 4 fould about his neck, and had sentenelles of musketers standing in each quarter of the howse, with musket in rest and mach in cock; but whether they did it to shew greatnesse, or for feare to be supprised (their consciences accusing them), I know not.
July 6.—The Duch domine came to the English howse, and, as I perceaved by his speech, he was aware of w[rong] amo[ng]st them, saying they had not the feare of God before their eyes, and therefore could not be happey in their proceadinges. And sowne after came the fiscall, unto whome I showed my adviz (or letter) I had receaved of the 20 seale Spanish gallions arived at Malacca. He said it should be strange yf such a strength should com at once out of Spaine, without being seconded per the Hollanders, who no dowbt would not want to have a care thereof; and did verely think that their Company and the English weare all joyned in one before now, for that the difference, being but a money matter, could not chuse but sowne be decyded. Yt should seeme their is but littell good will between this fiskall and Capt. Speck.
Yt is strang to see the unrulynes of these Hollande mareners and souldiers, how they goe stagring drunk up and downe the streetes, slashing and cutting ofe each other with their knyves, lyke mad men.
July 7.—This day Mr. Totton had much conference with an English man which came in the Hollande shipps, and did what he could to learne out whether the Hollanders had kild our English men at Pulaway in the Molucos. This fello was loath to say any thing, yet in the end he confessed that he had heard others report that we had 5 or 7 English men in that iland, and had taken a howse a littell up within the cuntrey, and planted the English flag on the hiest parte thereof; which coming to knowledg of Jno. Dirickson Lamb, the Hollande generall, he sent for them to come downe to hym, which the English men denied to doe, retornyng hym word they had taken pocession of that place for the King of England, and that they would keepe it and mentayne it to the last drop of blood they had in their bodies; which the Hollander perceaving sent a multitude of Molucan people to take them perforce and to bring them to hym alive or dead; which was performed and 2 English men seene brought downe, bownd hand and foote, by that raskall rable; but what became of the rest this man knew not. Thus much have I noted downe, that, whether I live or dye, yet I hope this my hand writing may com to the handes of our honorable employers, and that our gratious soveraigne, King James, will not let his subjectes be murthered and his pocessions taken from hym in such sort.
And we sould the rest of our ellophantes teeth to Shroyemon Dono at 70 tais picull, waying 619 cattis; and were waid out unto hym this day.