3. The Gallias before named, of above 300 tonns.
4. The Attendance, thenglish shipp before named.
5. The Swan, an other English shipp taken by them at Molucas.
And out of these shipps 3 Englishmen escaped ashore and came to thenglish howse to seeke releefe, telling us they were used more like dogges then men amongst the Hollanders. Their names are as followeth: John Moore, John Joones, Edward Curwin; these 3 men brought presoners in Hollandes shipps. The Hollanders demanded these 3 men to be retorned back unto them; unto whome I made answer, I would first see their comition how they durst presume to take our English shiping, men, and goodes, as they did. So then they went to the Tono (or King) of Firando, and demanded that their English kengos (which in Japons is sclaves) should be sent back unto them. Unto whome the tono made answer that he took not the English to be sclaves to the Hollanders, we having such lardge preveleges in Japon as we hadd, and therefore willed them to goe to themperour and demand them of hym, and what he ordayned should be performed, etc.
Also their came a penisse from the Molucas, called the Fox, to bring newes of the fight betwixt thenglish fleete and the Hollanders att Jaccatra, and that these shipps should make hast to the Molucas with powder, shott, victuelles, and other provition, etc.
And last of all came an other greate shipp from Pattania, called the Angell, being the admerall of 3 shipps which came together and sent of purpose to take the Samson and Hownd, two other English shipps, wherin Capt. Jno. Jourden, the presedent, came cheefe comander; they
Hollanders coming upon them on a sudden as they road at an ancor in the roade of Pattania, nott dowbting any such matter, where they took both the said shipps, after the death of Capt. Jourden and others. Out of which shipp Angell Mr. Wm. Gourden and Michell Payne escaped ashore, by the assistance of Mr. Wm. Adames; otherwais they hadd byn sent captives (as the Duch terme it) to the Molucas. Mr. Gourden was master of the Hownd, and Michell Payne carpenter of the Samson. As also a Welchman, named Hugh Williams, escaped from them and came to the English howse the morrow after. By which 3 men, as also by an open letter which I receved from Mr. Adam Denton from Pattania in the Duch shipp Angell, we understand of the proceadinges of the Hollanders against our nation; the copie of which letter I send your Wors. here inclozed.
But to conclud the unruly dealinges of the Hollanders: when they saw they could not by any meanes gett back the Englishmen which escaped from them, allthough they laid secrett ambushes ashore to have taken them, which being reveled to me by som of their owne people, then they came to outbrave us in the streetes before our owne dores, urging us with vild speeches; soe that from words som of our people and they fell to blowes, where one of the Hollanders got a scram, which made the rest soe madd that they came on shore by multetudes, thinking by force to have entred into our howse and cutt all our throates, geveing 3 assaltes in one day. Yet the Japons took our partes, that they could doe us no harme, although there were v. or vj. C. of them against v. or vj. persons of us. And the next day morning after, when we thought nothing, a company of them entred our howse, armed with piks, swordes, and cattans, where they wounded John Coaker and an other, thinking they hadd kild one of them at least, as they made their bragges after. Soe that we weare constrayned to keepe in our howse a gard of Japons, night and day, armed, at
meate, drink, and wages, to your Wors. greate charge. Soe that the king of Firando comanded watch and ward to be kept in the streetes, that noe Hollanders might be suffered to passe by our dores. But then they went in swarmes by water, shaking their naked swords at us, calling us by a thousand filthie names; which coming to the knowledg of the tono, he sent for Capt. Jacob Speck, princepall (or cape merchant) of the Hollanders in Japon, and caused hym to geve a writing in Japons before witnesses, with his ferme at it, that from that tyme forward no Hollander should misuse an Englishman, nether in word nor deed, and then caused me, Richard Cocks, to geve an other to the same effect, with my ferme at it, before the same witnesses, that noe Englishman should doe the like to any Hollanders. Yet, before 3 or 4 daies were passed, the Hollanders began againe to misuse us; for that Edmond Sayer, being retorned of a voyage he hadd made for your Wors. affares to Cochinchina and arived at Nangasaque, sentt Richard King to Firando to advertis me thereof and to bring our foyfone (or bark) with hym to carry the comodetis he hadd brought to Firando. But as the said Ric. King was going out in the said bark, accompanied with our jurebasso, the Hollanders armed out five or six barkes or shipp boates after them, full of men, with guns, pikes, swordes, and other weapons, and took hym presoner with the bark and carid hym to the Hollands howse, using hym very churlishly. The tono being an eye witnesse and looker on when they did it, mooved hym soe much that he sent out certen boates full of souldiers after them, to have reskewed Ric. King; but they came to late, for the Hollanders hadd carried hym into their howse before they came. Soe the souldiers laid hand on Capt. Speck hym selfe and carid hym presoner to the tonos howse, where he remeaned most parte of the day, till Richard King was sett free.
But this matter was noe sowner overpast but our junck arived from Syam, wherin Mr. Eaton came and advized me of their arivall on this coast, and to send them a boate or two to helpe to toe them in, which I did; and Ed. Sayer, Richard Kinge, and John Coaker went in them with our jurebasso. But, passing by the Hollandes shipps in this harbor, they bent a peece of ordinance against them, which took falce fire. Which they seeing, discharged 4 or 5 muskettes at them with langarell (or cheane) shott; but, by greate fortune, missed the Englishmen and kild a Japon. Which open injuries being offered against us in Japon (contrary to the preveleges geven us by the Emperour), yt was thought fitt (and agreed upon by a generall councell) that I should goe to the court of the Emperour of Japon, to make their doinges knowne unto his Matie. and to demand justice; which I did, with much labour and greate cost to your Wors. And order was geven by the Emperours comand and his previe councell to the Tono or King of Firando to heare both parties and see justis performed. Yet, from that tyme till now, there is nothing donne, although I have divers tymes very instantly desired it of the kinge, whose best answer I eaver could gett was, that the Hollanders had kild no Englishman, but a Japonar, his owne vassale, which yf he were content to pardon, what hadd I to doe therwith?