Dutch being landed at Tancoratt the Javans all left Terrytyassy except the Sultan two Pengrans and two English men which were employed as Gunners at sight whereof the King being troubled set fire to the Palace himself and fled up the Hills and about a Month after the young King sent to his Father and promised him his Freedom and Liberty if he would come and live with him in the Fort who consented to it upon the following terms viz. as he was informed That the English French and Danes might have the same liberty that they had formerly and that the Dutch Renegado should be turned out of the Fort and that when he came in no Dutch-man should stir from his Quarters which was consented to But three dayes after he was in the Castle the Dutch desired the Son to demand his Father's Treasure who told him that he had given it all to his Son Pengran Probaya who is gone up the Hills with Four Thousand Macassars and Mallayans The 18 th July 1683 all the English being going from Batavia for Surrat the Dutch Council in Bantam sent for the aforesaid Ambrose Moody and after Examination discharged him and ordered him to take his passage to Batavia in a Dutch Ship. When the two English Men which had been with the old King came down the Hills the Javans carryed them before the Chief of the Dutch who ordered them to go before the young King who when he saw them gave them their liberty to go where they pleased But three dayes after the Dutch sent to the Pengran who lives in the English Factory and ordered him to keep the English Gunners close Prisoners All which was told and affirmed to him by the Brother of the said Pengran The 22th of August 1683. The Agent and Council of the English Nation set sail from Batavia for Surat at which time the Dutch had Wars with the King of Jambee and the King of Jehore and on the West Coast of Sumatra and with Rogia Pelatta the King of Macassar who formerly served the Dutch but is now fled from them with his Forces and dayly Mallayans and Macassars go from Batavia and Bantam to his assistance The Dutch at Ambonia sent this year as he hath heard several of them confess Fifty Dutchmen to Batavia in Irons because they began to Revolt Sometime before the English left Batavia the Dutch had been a fitting of nine ships and a Fleet of Prowes to go against Macassar but finding they had not men sufficient to man them were forced to forbear till next year Now they suffer no Java to wear either Launce or Crease or any other Weapon and the best Java that is in Bantam must pull off his Cap to any Dutchman Although the Dutch have not above Three or Four Hundred Men in Bantam yet the Young King hath not power to act any Thing and all Javans pay to the Dutch at their Marriage Ten Rs. 8 / 8 and Two Rs. 8 / 8 per month for each Fishing Prow and Two Ditto a year Head-money and several other Taxes which makes the Javans daily run from Bantam to Pengran Probaya So that now he hath about Ten Thousand Men in the Field and is in expectation that the English will send to His assistance The Dutch Received the Letters which were sent by the Ambassadors and interpreted them as they pleased And would not suffer the Ambassadors nor no Java to speak to the Young King but by their Linguester The Young King with his own Hands did crease his Uncle Pengran Coloone and keeps his Brothers which came in fast in irons Pengran Keedull did come in with the Old King but finding how severe the Young King was made his escape with several other great Men. The Dutch could not perswade the Young King to sign to their Articles at which they are much troubled The Dutch have perswaded the Young King to turn out of Bantam all Europeans the Moors Banyans and the Chineses In January 168 2 / 3 Ambrose Moody did see in Bantam the Two great brass Guns which came from Tonqueen which he thinks the Company have not charged to accompt The Young King of Bantam must pay to the Dutch for every White Man that they lose in the Wars or by sickness Thirty Rs. 8 / 8 and Twenty for each Black. They have lost already by their own confession Fifteen Hundred Europeans by sickness and by the Warrs since the 18th of July 1683. the Chief of the Dutch was poisoned in Bantam and very oft as the soldiers go to Market they are killed with Clubs The Young King by instigation of the Dutch keeps His Father close prisoner and suffers onely one slave-Woman to bring him Victuals which she puts in at a Window and keeps Centinel always at the door In the time of the aforesaid Moody's imprisonment there was sent to him in Bantam from Mr. Gurney which did belong to the Kempthorne a Letter by the Hands of Nicholas Dios which he did ask leave of the Dutch to deliver and had consent but within two days after the Dutch put the said Dios in prison and would not discharge him before the English came from Batavia which was about five months time after his first imprisonment Signed Ambrose Moody I Ambrose Moody above-named do own the foregoing Relation or Narrative to which my name is subscribed to be drawn by my self and of my own Hand-Writing And I do make Oath that all and every particular therein is true according to what I have heard from very credible persons or been my self an Eye-witness of as the same is exprest by me in the said Narrative Sworn the 25th of June 1684. before Sir John Moore Signed Ambrose Moody The Dutch Commissioners Instructors their First Paper presented to the Lords Commissioners Decisors To the most Honourable Lords my Lords the Commissioners appointed by the King of Great Brittain and the Gentlemen appointed Commissioners by the Lords the States General of the United Provinces for the Decision of Differences arisen between the East-India-Company of England and that of the said Provinces upon the Subject-matter of Bantam Most Honourable Lords AS the Directors of the East-India-Company of the United Provinces have been very sensibly moved to see that the differences of Bantam have been able to cause a difference between the two Companies whose interest is so much never to be dis-united so they have been very glad to understand that it hath pleased his Majesty to name four Lords as Illustrious by the Qualities of their minds as of their birth and office to labour jointly with the Deputies of the Lords the States General of the United Provinces in the decision of the said differences and to prevent by the wayes of Justice and Equity this coldness from ever being capable of sowing seeds of bitterness which might be able to destroy the remainder of this brotherly love which ought to be the Bond of Union and good Intelligence between the two Companies The under-written
be compleatly finished This my Lords is our Case and must be our Fortune if we must see our selves destroyed the noblest Navigation of England ruined and consequently our King and Country dishonoured with our hands tyed behind us so as not to be permitted to right our selves without being unjustly charged as the Lyon did the Lamb in the Fable as if we were Men affecting Wars and promoting Dissension between the two Nations An imputation that we disown and abhor having been in all times more averse to Armes than did consist with our Interest and Duty out of the too great inclination we had to Peace and Quietness Eleventhly And whereas the Gentlemen are pleased to insinuate that though the pretended young King of Bantam be never so mean their Faith ought to be kept with him as much as if he were the greatest King upon Earth which we deny not but say they had first plighted their Faith to our Deceased Sovereign of Glorious Memory in the last Treaty of Peace which they have violated by those injurious Articles they have made with the enslaved King of Bantam Twelfthly If the Batavians have kept their terms with that enslaved Prince of Bantam which we have reason not to believe they have it is the first time that ever we heard they have kept their Faith with any of those poor ignorant Natives Thirteenthly If they have made any Articles with that poor King they were made while he was a Prisouer within the Fort in a most abject Thraldom to the Dutch in which condition the poor man would as readily set his hand to any thing the Batavians would have him as our servants subscribed the Letter before mentioned And such is certainly his condition that the poor Creature if Bantam be delivered to the English will be so far from upbraiding the Batavians with breach of Faith for that cause that he will look upon it as the only good turn that ever they did him in his life for then he may be sure of his Liberty and hope to be a little King upon the Hills or in the Woods and at worst see his Subjects flourish under the mild Government of the English whereas in his present condition with the total loss of his little Dominion he must live in durance under the anxiety of seeing his Country ruinated and depopulated Fourteenthly For the justification of our Demands of Dammages or to lessen or invalidate what is demanded of us by the Gentlemen Subscribers we shall trouble your Lordships with no Discourse at present because we desire not to enter upon that Argument till Bantam be restored to us neither shall we trouble your Lordships with any Paraphrase upon the Dutch Papers offered for Evidence upon the Netherlands East-India Companies part because few of them are upon Oath and none of them as we apprehend to any purpose Fifteenthly There are some few particulars in the said Deputies answer that we have not replyed unto being in our judgments to use their own phrase meer trifles but if your Lordships shall think any thing of moment unanswered upon your Lordships command we shall make a farther and particular answer thereunto Sixteenthly What the Gentlemen mean by their triumphant conclusion that they have overthrown our pretensions and justified that wicked act of Bantam we understand not except it be a form of concluding litigious Papers in Holland Our Conclusion shall be no more but to assure your Lordships that we have a perfect confidence in your Lordships Justice and therefore we cannot doubt but our present Sovereigns most auspicious Reign shall be signaliz'd by having one place of importance in India that his Subjects were unjustly deprived of restored again to them in his time which never was done in the time of any of his Noble Progenitors We are Dated at the East-India-House 22th Octob. 1685. My Lords Your Lordships most Dutiful and most Obedient Servants Joseph Ashe Governour Josia Child Deputy Jeremy Sambrook Benj. Bathurst The Rejoynder of the Dutch Commissioners Instructors to the foregoing Reply being the second Paper presented by the said Commissioners to the Lords Commissioners Decisors Viz. To the Most Honourable Lords my Lords the Commissioners appointed by the King of Great Brittain and the Gentlemen appointed Commissioners by the Lords the States General of the Vnited Provinces for the decision of Differences arisen between the East-India Company of England and that of the said Provinces upon the subject matter of Bantam Most Honourable Lords THe underwritten Deputies of the Dutch East-India Company being desirous not to engage in a fight of Calumnies from which the Conquerour can reap nothing but shame and confusion instead of returning the like to the Gentlemen of the English Company will apply themselves solely to demonstrate in this replication that the Reply far from having undermined the foundation of the Answer has not so much as touched it The English Commissioners having highly maintained in their demand that on the behalf of the High and Mighty Lords the States General and of that of the Dutch Company It was agreed that restitution as they call it of Bantam should be made into His Majesties hands The underwritten before they entered into the discussion of the principal cause in relation of this preliminary point quaestio pre judicialis had proved two things I. That touching the Restitution of Bantam there was nothing concluded nor setled between the two Companies and that their High and Mightinesses were far from disposing of Towns that did not belong to them and to which they had no manner of Right II. And in the second place That the English Company after the change which happened at Bantam could not take hold of the Answer return'd by their High and Mightinesses to Sir John Chardin's Memorial no more than of the Advances which the Dutch Company made in the Year 1683 towards the Accommodating the Differences which the War at Bantam had been the cause of between the two Companies What do the Gentlemen of the English Company reply to this Nothing at all but only bring Sir John Chardin upon the Stage very improperly The question not being what Sir John Chardin acted at the Hague upon the matter of Bantam but only whether the two Companies with the consent of the States did agree to the Restitution of Bantam into the Hands of His Majesty which the underwritten have expresly denyed which was enough to prove that there was nothing concluded between the said Companies Wherefore it may be inferred since the Gentlemen of the English Company pass all this under silence speaking there only of Sir John Chardin that these Gentletlemen do indirectly detract from what they advanced in their Demand touching the Conclusion of the Restitution of Bantam The English Company having had in the Capital City only a Factory and their residence without having made any pretence there to the least Right of Territory it was demanded of the English Deputies with what appearance of Justice the
the story of it could be invented by the English Deputies who refer themselves to the memory of one of your Excellencies but believe that time may have obliterated the traces of remembrance of it it not being at all credible that a man so circumspect as Monsieur Van Dam should think fit to reprove in a Letter the behaviour of Governour Spillman in relation to the Affairs of Bantam without having cleared to the bottom the proceedings of the said Government which is incompatible with that which the said Monsieur Van Dam has since judged and still judges concerning the Affairs of Bantam being so fully perswaded of the right of the Dutch Companies pretensions and the wrong of that of England in these Affairs that all the Letters which the under-written have received from them concerning the matter of Bantam during their stay in England are markes full of this perswasion So that it cannot be doubted without doing great injustice to Monsieur Van Dam but that the said Letter was only conditional that is to say that he condemned the behaviour of Spillman only in case that the news which his friend might have sent him were true The English Deputies have also very well understood the sence of the under-written who as they in the same Eighth Paragraph had bestowed on them the gift of prophecy For it is evident that the under-written deducing in their answer the Argument of Cui Bono as the English Deputies calls it to prove that it was morally impossible for those at Batavia to make a difference between the Old and Young King of Bantam with the prospect of taking advantage of the success of this War unless that by the gift of Prophecy they could be able to penetrate into the secrets of futurity which is remote from the sense which the English Deputies wrest from these words As the under-written confessed frankly that they do not very well understand the true sense of the last words of the same paragraph by reason of the frequent parenthesis are a little puzled they will make no answer to it But yet if the English Deputies do there offer to prove by irrefragable Arguments that the Dutch have driven the English from Bantam the under written will be very glad to be present at this proof not only that they may be able to destroy it but also to learn by what new sort of Logick they can prove by irrefragable arguments Facts which are proved by no deposition of any Witness without which notwithstanding Facts cannot be proved which depend on the testimony of the senses The Ninth Article of the said Reply shews also the little heed which the English Deputies have given to the Answer of the under-written as to the accusation which they talk of viz. the Dutch Deputies that the English should plunder their house at Bantam 't is equally ridiculous false and impossible in the posture wherein things were then for the English to do for so soon as the Dutch Landed there was a Report spread abroad that all the English were to be Massacred that night it is onely to read the answer of the under-written to be satisfyed that it has not pleased the English Deputies to give themselves the trouble of reading with the least application the Dutch Companies Apology wherein upon the matter of the plundering of the Dutch Factory these following words will be found It ought not to be wondred at that the King having re-taken the Town of Bantam from his Enemies wherewith he was encompassed should cause the motions of the English to be watched as well as the entry and going out of the Ships in the apprehension wherein he was some ill design might be carried on against his person estate And that in the confusion wherein the Affairs were then the goods of other Men were taken away which the Directors of the English Company themselves could no more have prevented than they could have hindred in the time when the Old King made himself Master of the Town of Bantam and that the Dutch Resident Caeff was forced to take flight to shelter himself from the violence of the Bantamers some English probably without the knowledge of their Masters from plundering the Dutch Factory There is no cause to doubt at present that after the reading of these words but that the English Deputies will themselves perceive their Error and the little care which they have taken to understand the sense of the under-written since it appears evidently in the said passage the time is not spoken of in which the Dutch Landed at Bantam as the English Deputies have understood it but the time when the old King made himself Master of Bantam and that the Dutch Resident Caess was forced to take flight There is certainly nothing more troublesome or tiresome than to see ones self forced to clear passages so very evident But as this without doubt ought to be attributed to the great Affairs the English Deputies have on their hands The under-written easily perswade themselves that in this negligence there is neither design nor mystery The Objections which the English Deputies make to themselves in the Tenth paragraph of their Reply and the Solution which they give to it shews that they have difficulty enough to reconcile the encroachments of the Dutch with the flourishing condition of the English Company As the under-written Deputies confess that the credit of the Dutch Company is engaged to His Majesty of Great Brittain as the English Deputies say in the Eleventh paragraph of their Reply The under-written deny expresly that That Faith ought to be violated in acquitting themselves of that which the Dutch Company owed to the King of Bantam by vertue of the Leagues which they have made with this Prince The Twelfth paragraph is injurious to the Dutch Company which far from not keeping their Faith makes a constant profession of acquitting themselves of it every where and towards all The under-written not observing any thing more in the following Articles which deserves any reflection we will persist to desire that Your Excellencies by your sentence will acquit the Dutch Company from the demands of that of England and that you will adjudge to the Dutch Company what they demand in Re-convention Dated at Westminster Nov. 19th 1685. Signed by G. Hooft Jacob Van Hoorne S. V. Blockquery A. Paets The Fourth Paper presented by the English Commissioners Instructors to the Lords Commissioners Decisors being in further Answer to the Papers presented by the Dutch Deputies Viz. To the Most Honourable the Lords Commissioners appointed by the Kings Most Excellent Majesty for Determining the differences between the English and Dutch East-India-Companies according to the Treaty of 1674-75 Right Honourable WE are sorry and ashamed that we are necessitated to waste Your Lordships time but if the Dutch Deputies will persist injuriously to charge us with calumniating them because we are forced very gently and argumentatively only to touch some of their too
the good Advice they give us in their former Paper to subdue our passions which are too apt to stir in the Minds of injured Men and for their Prayers in this that God would incline us into the paths of Moderation and Mildness and in requital thereof we shall not only pray to God to forgive them for the Ocean of Innocent Blood they have shed in India but that at length they may repent and forsake those ill Methods by which their People at Batavia have designed to engross the whole Trade of the East-Indies which in truth is much to be feared if timely Remedy be not applyed And as to the English Proceedings in India though the English Company was settled there before the Dutch and our Trade is not yet much inferiour to theirs bating only the Spice and Japan Trades which they have engrossed by such wayes as we have justly accused them of We dare appeal to the Gentlemen themselves and to all People that know any thing of India whether the Dutch Company in the progress of their too well known Methods have not killed Thousands of Indians for one that ever dyed by the English hands upon any Cause or Quarrel whatsoever From whence we may reasonably infer that through God's Mercy we have hitherto been Men of Meekness and great if not too great Moderation considering the manifold provocations we have had Mr. Van Dam we have good thoughts of and the better because he did so frankly condemn those ill Practices of Spellman's and we do not remember nor believe there was any Conditional Words expressed or implyed in his Letter fore-quoted We observe the distinction of time which the Gentlemen now make in which they have been told the English Slaves robbed their Dutch House at Bantam but we believe not one word thereof neither is there any probability of it There is nothing more that we can observe in the Gentlemen's last Paper that deserves the troubling of your Lordships with one Line in Answer thereunto but one short Paragraph which is indeed very material and therefore we shall beg your Lordships leave to repeat it verbatim The say As to the Complaints which the English Deputies have made throughout their whole Reply in Relation to the Dutch exclusive Contracts with Indian Princes the Dutch Company will be very well able to justifie in time and place that which it hath alwayes maintain'd and which it does still maintain concerning the Right of the said Contracts In answer whereunto we say First This is plain dealing throwing the Gantlet to all Nations and amounts to a Confession of that design they have of engrossing the whole Trade of India and that they will and may easily do it is as plain except some speedy Course be taken to defend that Remainder of Ports and Places that are left us in India to trade unto For it is certainly known that any European Nation that is considerable in Naval Power in India may by their Shipping take some Advantage upon the greatest Native Prince of India and it is as certain that any Prince being surpriz'd or his Subjects Estates to a very considerable value will for a present Redemption of his Subjects from the Ruine of such a surprizal grant to the Surprizer any Conditions of Trade exclusive to any other Nation or People residing unarmed in his Country and by Consequence such unarmed People expelled from the Trade of any such Native Prince his Dominions must remain for ever deprived thereof or by force of Arms compel the Restitution which can never be without using force For after such Contract they will make themselves Parties as now they do with the Young King of Bantam and tell us in plain terms as they do your Lordships that they must defend their Allyes and maintain their Contracts or Articles Secondly We say This Assertion makes it evident what the Design of their Fleet now or late in the Gulph of Persia was where if they had prospered in their shutting up all that Great Emperours Ports which in probability they had done if the English Ships there had not undertook the Navigation between India and Persia and if they had not been as by chance they were too many and too strong to be obstructed by the Dutch at that time Your Lordships may easily conceive what Articles that Great Emperour of Persia must have entred into to perswade the Dutch to open his Ports again Thirdly Hereby your Lordships may see by what Title the Dutch hold the whole Trade of the Spice Islands although there be very many of them that have not one Dutchman resident upon them Notwithstanding which we have forborne many Years visiting those Islands because we would shun all occasions that might make any misunderstanding between the two Nations Fourthly We must deny under favour of these Gentlemen that the Dutch have alwayes or at any time maintained or could maintain their pretended Right of such exclusive Contracts which will be manifest to your Lordships not only by the last Articles of Peace and Commerce made with the Dutch but by the large Arguments on both sides which remain upon Record and were managed more closely and to the purpose as to this point than any thing we have seen from these Gentlemen On the part of the Dutch by Mounsieur Van Benninghen and others and on the part of the English by Mr. Secretary Trevor Sir Will. Temple and Sir George Downing The Result of all which long and close Argumentation was as your Lordships may observe it settled in the Treaty That the English might trade to all places and even to places blockard or besieged with any Commodities except contraband Goods Dated in London Decemb. 2. 1685. We are My Lords Your Lordships most Obedient and Humble Servants Josia Child Deputy-Govern Benjamin Bathurst Jeremy Sambrooke The Answer of the Dutch Commissioners Instructors to the Paper last beforegoing Viz. To the Right Honourable the Lords the Commissioners appointed by the King of Great Brittain and the Commissioners nominated by the Lords the States General of the United Provinces for the Decision of the differences arisen between the East-India Companies of England and of the said Provinces about Bantam May it please Your Honours THE Deputies of the Company of Holland having read and considered the Triplique or Third Paper of the Deputies of the English Company They have observed to their great Admiration that those Gentlemen far from acknowledging the Reproaches and Invectives which run through their whole Reply or second Answer do seem to pretend That it ought to be owned as an Obligation that the Dutch Company which is thereby handled and rent in the most outragious manner in the World is treated therein with Mildness and Moderation and that the said Company comes off at so easie a Rate The subscribed instead of rendering injury for injury and making use of the Law of Retaliation do earnestly desire the English Gentlemen to consider That although their Company by
the Honourable English Company Sirs WE received last Night your Protestation by which we understand to our great Admiration the Complaints which you were pleased to produce for the siezing of a certain Persian Boat rowing amongst our Ships which you pretend to have hired for the unlading of your Ship the Bengall Merchant as also accusing us for detaining the Goods for some time which were carried in her In answer to which ye cannot be ignorant how that this Port and Persian Bay hath been blockt up with Eight or Nine Ships for almost a whole year And although our Agents be attending the Persian Court to compose those differences Nevertheless our Men were Hostilely driven from the Coasts our Flagg thrown down and that according to report the Inhabitants of the City of Gombrone threatned us that we should be overwhelmed here in this Port with the Persian Sea Forces which things Nature it self teacheth us to prevent And forasmuch as it seems good to us to destroy all the Persian Ships yet it never came into our thoughts you should incur any Damage by it as you your selves very well know it was not done in the unlading or lading of the Ship Williamson who came and went although loaden with Persian Goods But on the contrary we offered Yesterday to your Interpreter David when the aforesaid Persian Boat was seized on sailing amongst our Fleet our Long-boats for your Service to unlade your Ship and for that very reason we were no hindrance at all in the least to your Affairs And that our Ships might be rendred secure from the imminent dangers of our roving Enemies who affirmed they sailed under your Name and by your Order But you seem to incline rather to accuse us very unjustly that we had seized on your Goods being two Chests of Rose-water rather than to accept of our kindness in offering our Long-boats The aforesaid Interpreter David took along with him those two little Chests with the same Boat which brought him from the Shoar whilest that sloop was carryed down to our Ship. And seeing the Case is thus you seem to darken the truth of things by patcht-up Fictions and forged Tales This your so ill-grounded and strange Accusations does not at all concern us seeing that even from the beginning of this Expedition we have patiently borne all those Calumnies by which we have been aspersed for some time by some of your Nation amongst the Persians And loseing Ground here in our Affairs especially by your promises to them That you with Six Ships will drive us from this Port and Castle of Kisim Concerning the which we can produce sufficient proofs and withal manifest we gave you not the least Cause But all things were carryed on with such apparent loss to our Company And moreover you did intend also to force us to suffer the Boats of our Enemies to pass and repass us safely Therefore we protest in the Name of the Dutch East-India Company That we will be Innocent of all such Damages Wounds Slaughters Losses and other Inconveniences which may arise from one Cause or other Dated from the Ship Blew Hulke at the Siege of the Port of the City of Gombroon 17 th May S. N. 1685. Your Most Affectionate Friends We the underwritten do affirm that the foregoing Protestation was Delivered Rehnier Casembroot W. Lycochthon Jacob Van Askerdyck Wr. V. Bullestraete Claas Meynderw S. Visnigh The Protest of Captain John Goldsborough against the Dutch Admiral Dated June the 1st 1685. WHereas there is a Treaty Marine between our Most Gracious Sovereign Lord the Most Serene and Mighty Prince CHARLES the Second by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. and the High and Mighty Lords the States General of the Vnited Netherlands to be observed through all and every the Countreys and parts of the World by Sea and Land concluded at London the First day of December 1674. In which Treaty there is Liberty for the Subjects of the King of England to trade freely to any Ports and Places in the World without hindrance or molestation although the said High and Mighty Lords the States General or any of their Subjects be in actual Hostility and War with such Ports and Places Now these presents shew that the Ship Bengall Merchant John Goldsborough Commander in the Service of the Honourable the Governour and Company of Merchants in London trading to the East-Indies arrived in Gombroone Road in the Gulph of Persia and in the Dominions of that King the First day of May 1685 where were Six Ships belonging to the Dutch Vnited Netherlands East-India Company riding before the Town of Gombroone Commanded in chief by Rehnier Casembroot as Admiral who pretended to be at Wars with the Persians and victoriously then rode in Triumph in the midst of a few Trankeys or Persian Boats which he had seized On Sunday the Third of May the said Admiral sent me word aboard our Ship Bengall Merchant and the same in Writing he sent ashoar unto the Honourable English East-India Companyes Factors in Gombrone That they being now at Wars with the Persians would not suffer any of the Persian Boats to help unlade our Ship To which I answered That the next Morning Boats were appointed to come off to begin to unlade us and that in each of them there would be an English Man whereby the Admiral or his People might know that they were Boats imployed in the English Service and I desired they would give us no hindrance or molestation in our business Our Factors from the Shoar sent off one to the said Admiral and his Council whom he found resolved to stop all Persian Boats from coming off to us On the Fourth of May Six Boats were provided by our Factors for the unlading our Ship of the Honourable English East-India Companyes Goods and in each of the Boats an English Man The First Boat that came off the Dutch sent their Boat from the Admiral 's Ship and seized and carryed her aboard of the Admiral with one of our Men named Thomas Morley in her and several Goods in her ordered by our Companies Factors to be put on board of our Ship. The rest of the Six Boats seeing the First Boat taken returned ashoar and those of them that were not put from shoar remained there and so we could get none off This Action of the Admiral and his Council was committed by them whilest Senior David was aboard with them he being Linguist unto the Honourable English East-India Companies Factors in this place and sent by them with a Letter to inform the Admiral and his Councel That these Boats whereof he had taken one were imployed in the English Service and by the Treaty Marine ought not to be hindred The Goods that were Laden in the Persian Boat for our Ship the Dutch took out and put into our Boat by force she being there waiting upon the Linguist Seniour David who seeing the
Samuel Potts his Letter of 23 d. September 1686. from Indrapoura and his Protest of the 31 th of July But if the Dutch had no manner of Contract for the Pepper at Batam Capasse How vile will it appear to all men indued with the least Tincture of Honesty The Extract of Mr. Potts his Letter before mentioned AND as for my proceeding thither the 16 th July departed hence with what Soldiers and Servants I thought convenient to carry along with me to the Number of Forty with whom I went down to the Qualla of Indrapoura where I found Orran Caq Lillam Rajah with the Mandareenes and People of Mauduta to the Number of about Four Hundred who were then going to pay their Respects to the Manumcabbo his two Sons Ampitwan Doa Sella and so accompanied me to Batan Capass and having then three Sloops in the Road did order them to meet me and make the best of their way thither for betrer carrying on of our settlement there My self setting forward by Land towards the Emperours Sons who waited our coming at Pangason and from thence we proceeded to Batan Capass with the Princes and Mandareenes c. of Banda Sapeula to the Number of above Two Thousand And in Five Dayes time arrived with me at Batan Capass and ordered me to settle where I thought most convenient notwithstanding the Dutch were come to settle there and had pitched themselves on the other side the River three Dayes before upon a small Rock and were very busie to fence themselves against any Enemy that should oppose them Notwithstanding the Emperour and Mandereenes ordered them to withdraw declaring to them that the Countrey was given by them to His Majesty the King of England for the use of the Honourable English East-India Company and that the Dutch never had had any such grant from the Emperour of Mamuncabbo for their Residence there The same day we arrived the Dutch sent us a Protest the Contents whereof was to advise us to be careful of the Mallayans and if they did cut us off or otherwise do us any harm we must not impute it to them seeing we were good Friends and at Peace one with another alledging also that we did them great injustice by settling at Bencoolen and Indrapoura which as they said was formerly given to them In answer to which in two dayes after I returned them another Protest as appears by a Copy of the same Dated the 31 st July 1686. Next having resolved on a place which we thought most convenient and commodious We first brought our Guns and Ammunition on shoar and planted them round our House which we found ready put up in the place and the next day the Emperour his two Sons c. Mandareens did hoist up His Majesties Flag with their own Hands and then we all fell to work for a Pallasado our selves in which accordingly we did finish in few dayes time The Dutch in the mean time continually using their utmost endeavours both by Night and Day to fortifie themselves so strong as they could to which end they brought two Sloops into the River just before the place where we were setled and in the largest Sloop the Chief of them did most commonly reside having on Board and on shoar with him near One Hundred and Fifty Dutchmen and Mustezees besides Mallayans and other Nations In this posture of Defence we both lay almost Three Weeks All which time neither side did molest each other Notwithstanding all the while the Dutch were urgent with their Mallayans to set upon us but seeing they would not effect their designed ends by such perswasions as they had used withdrew all their Mallayans and most part of their Dutchmen about Three Leagues distance to the Northward intending as the Emperour and his People thought to go further into the Country and to destroy it and the Houses thereof but especially the Town of Battan Capass To prevent the same the Manumcabbo and his two Sons withdrew themselves and their force from me excepting about Sixty or Seventy Mallayans they left to keep their Works The next day after the Emperour and his force had withdrew themselves it being Fryday the 20 th August which is constantly their Market day several of the Countrey People having brought Provisions to sell there being a very considerable number together Buyers and Sellers with others fighting of Cocks the Dutch took that opportunity in hopes of making a great slaughter to terrifie the people and to discourage them from coming near us or to bring any Provisions for us they fired one of the biggest Guns they had which was loaden with a double headed shot but missing the mark which I suppose they aimed at luckily instead of hitting the people it struck against a Tree very near to our Palisadoes and there broke in two one piece whereof was kept to shew the Emperour the other for me when I returned at Night being gone that day to accompany the Emperour at Battan Capass with whom at his request I left two Englishmen and a Moorman with the English Colours whom they promised to protect and that nothing should be wanting to them at which the said Englishmen were well satisfied and continued with them The next Morning I sent Mr. Samuel Worley Serjeant to know the Reasons why they fired over our Factory and at our People and withal to tell the Chief that I should send the piece to His Majesty the King of England and acquaint His Majesty how they abused His Subjects here The Chief not being there told his Message to an Ensign that was left there as Chief until the other returned who answered as followeth I wonder you should take so much notice of one or two Shots and pointing with his Finger to a parcel that lay near him said he We have a great many more of them And accordingly to make his Words good the same Afternoon Saturday the 21 th did fire two shots more in the same Nature as the others by which means our Mallayans were so terrified that the greater part of those which were left went away from us and they perceiving of it that few were left with us the same Night by Boats and Prows brought back all their Mallayans c. landed them by day light the next Morning at their own settlement and presently afterwards embarqued themselves in the said Boats with a considerable quantity of Dutchmen along with them carrying what force they could make and so landed them on our side with fireing of several great Guns from their Sloop beside small shot running with all the force and fury they could upon those few Mallayans we had left us who were standing by Three small Guns without our Pallasadoes which they fired and so run away the Dutch pursuing of them for a short time then stood and drew up all their Mallayans together and returning came upon us standing at the entrance of our Pallasadoes at which time Mr. Mackalon their Chief
called from the other side to me saying Mr. Potts Mr. Potts run away run away or else the Mallayans will kill you make haste be gone Yet notwithstanding all his words of terrour we were not affrighted but only desired he would give us time at which instant the Dutch forced their Mallayans upon us but they not willing to enter the aforesaid Ensign came in the Head of them and rushing by us brought in all the Mallayans with above Forty Dutchmen in the Rear forcing them along to enter in which accordingly they did and the Dutchmen followed which were no sooner in our Pallisadoes but said to me and all the rest of us if we did offer to enter in again we must expect to be knockt on the Head. So presently after they all fell to plundering as well the Dutch as the Mallayans and any thing that appeared somewhat of worth was by them and their Order carryed over the Water into their own Fortification and delivered into the possession of their Chief as all of us did plainly see with our own Eyes And I am sure every Englishman that was there present will swear the same And in the time while they were doing this a Dutchman went and struck His Majesty of England His Flagg and when it was down the Dutch with the rest of those they commanded did in the presence both of them and us and all others there tear them in pieces we not being able to withstand the same by reason of the multitude they brought along with them who did also carry away out of our Fortification all things of worth and value into their own making havock of the remainder and afterwards set fire to the Houses belonging to us And after all these abuses had happened the aforesaid Ensign with others by Order of their Chief came and desired me to go on the other side promising me when I should come there all things which could be got out of the Mallayans Hands should be delivered us again which accordingly I did accept and with their Boat went over where at the Water side Mr. Mackalon the Chief did receive me and desired me to sit down while the Water served to go on Board and in the mean time would see to procure again from the Mallayans so much Merchandize Goods Plate and other of our things as they could get which they were so far from performing what they promised that I having but one small Leather Case wherein I had Two or Three Suits of Cloaths with the Honourable Companies Seal and some of their Cash one of my own Servants having got it clear over the Water where the Hollanders resided and having sat down with it a little while two Dutchmen came and took it from him and carryed it into their Fortification where after they had cut it open and plundered what best things were in it they returned it to me again with some few things not worth the notice After which I asked the Chief for our Goods and Merchandize Plate and Money Guns and Ammunition This Answer Mr. Mackalon himself made me That as to our Goods and Merchandizes Plate and Money or whatsoever belonging to the Honourable East-India Company or their Servants it was fallen into the Hands of the Mallayans and they could not force it from them the same being as free prize and plunder to them but for the Guns he would endeavour to get them again if I would leave one of our Sloops to bring them away which accordingly I did and promised as a reward Twenty Dollers for the Care and pain of those that should bring them on Board But after I was gone from thence and had left one sloop on purpose to bring them away the Master going on shore demanded them of Mr. Mackalon who told him the Mallayans would not part with them under Five Hundred pieces of Eight Notwithstanding the Commander of their Ship told our Men they were on board their Sloop which lay in the River So our Sloop came away without them said Mackalon told me at Departure that himself in short time would be with me at Indrapoura So having the Honourable Companies Souldiers and Servants on board made the best of our way for said Port where we Arrived the 25th of August Thus far I have given you an Account of what passed in General as to particulars must referre you to those who have been Spectators and losers so well as my self Signed Samuel Pots Dated at Indrapoura the 23 th of Septemb. 1686. Mr. Potts PROTEST before Recited To Mr. John Mackalon Oper Copeman and Second Person to the Worshipful Mr. John Cooper Commander for Affairs of the Right Honourable Dutch East-India-Company on the West-Coast of Sumatra YOurs of the 29th of June I received wherein understand how highly you are dissatisfied at the Residence of the English at Bencoolen Manduta Indrapoura and also at my present appearance at Battan Capass thereby declaring to have great injustice done you by the Right Honourable English East-India-Company my Honourable Masters you assuming the sole Right and Propriety of Trade not only of the pre-mentioned places but also of the whole Coast of Sumatra intirely to your selves notwithstanding you are very sensible that Bencoolen Manduta Indrapoura Bandda Sapoula Batan Capass c. Countrey on the said West-Coast are frankly and voluntarily given by the Princes and Governours of the pre-mentioned places to His Royal Majesty of England for the use of the Right Honourable Company and their Successors for ever Also you cannot be ignorant of the Articles of Agreement in confirmation thereof few days since at Planghee being invited thither by the Emperour of Manumcabbo and his two Sons Ampitwan Doa Sella c. Princes and Governours who unanimously by solemn Oath and delivery of Twig and Turf granted and confirmed said Countries to his Royal Majesty the King of England and the Right Honourable English East-India-Company so long as the Sun and Moon endures as amply appears in Writing under his Imperial Chop whose authority I doubt not but will vindicate the same since which have given sufficient demonstration of their good inclination and affection towards us in accompanying me hither where you have been spectators of their joint accord in hoysting His Majesties Flag c. and Congratulation therewith Therefore until such time I am well satisfied that you can and do produce a better Right and Title to the pre-mentioned places on this West-Coast for your Honourable Masters then I can in behalf of His Majesty of England and the Right Honourable Company am resolved not to depart hence but in a legal manner shall vigorously prosecute the just Rights and Interests of my Honourable Masters on this West-Coast of Sumatra as time and opportunity shall present I am thankful to you for your friendly caution to me to beware of the Mallays by which you endeavour to acquit your selves as altogether innocent if by Treachery any disaster or dammage befall us of which I do
pre-admonish you not to be any ways instrumental or confederate with them in the same having just reason to suspect you by your bad Neighbourhood at Aja Rajee from whence came several Mallayes by Night surpriz'd our people by Night on board Sloop William then Riding off the Qualla at Indrapoura Road where they most barbarously and treacherously murthered several Englishmen and black Servants also carryed with them very considerable quantities of the Right Honourable Companies Bale goods c. Some of them afterwards being taken and examined declared your people to be the encouragers and authors thereof with other actions of bad circumstance which are too notorious at present to nominate Therefore in the Name of his Royal Majesty of England and Right Honourable English East-India-Company Protest against you and your Imployers that you are lyable to make intire satisfaction for whatever dammage or dammages they have already sustained or hereafter shall accrew to them by your indirect means Also in His Majesties Name require and command your speedy departure from hence and not to violate the Articles concluded between his Serene Majesty of Great Britain and the United States of Holland by obstructing and molesting us in our lawful Trade and Commerce on this West-Coast of Sumatra or infringing upon the Rights of His Royal Majesty of England and priviledges of the Right Honourable Company by any Hostility or ill usage either to their Servants or Confederates in what nature soever Signed Samuel Potts Dated at Batan Capass the 31th July 1686. But the Dutch say in their Printed Treatise they came thither three dayes before us To which we answer briefly First If they did it was purposely to hinder us because they had Pepper enough at their own places and more then they know what to do with Secondly If they came first they came wrongfully because they came with Arms to Erect a Fortress upon the King of Englands ground Thirdly If they had any pretence of Right on that side of the River they were on they might have stayed there peaceably the English did not molest them notwithstanding they had no right to be there Fourthly It s manifest they had no pretence of Right because they did not produce any to the Emperors two Sons while they were present upon the place Fifthly If they had had the justest Title in the World they ought not to have used Hostility That being a direct breach of the Treaty Marine Anno 1674-75 by which all dammages done by either Company are to be adjusted by Commissioners in Europe But this going to Batan Capass of the Dutch is but an old practise of theirs to hinder other Nations in Amity with them For so when the French Fleet Arrived in India before the War begun the Batavians by Consultation of the 30th of April 1672. Sent presently to the Island of Banca to set up the Dutch Flag there hoping thereby as they say in that Consultation that the French might alter their enterprize though they had no Flag there before and if the Dutch had done no more at Batan Capass we should have had the less cause to complain except of their insatiable Avarice but to proceed to Hostility as they did at Batan Capass is abominable Now to turn the Tables and shew how directly contrary the English treated the Dutch at Pryaman the real truth of that case is this The English Company being expelled from Bantam by the Dutch practises before-mentioned thought it their bounden duty to His Majesty not tamely to forego all the Pepper Trade for fear of a little charge as their Ancestors did the other Spice Trade after the Dutch had forced them from Banda Amboyna c. did send an Embassy to the Queen of Atcheen to settle a Trade with her Subjects for Pepper and built a Fort in her Countrey But while the said Embassadors were at Atcheen on that occasion some of the Orran Kays or Princes of Pryaman and Teco came thither on their own accords unsent for and applyed themselves to the said English Embassadors or Envoys and acquainted them that their Countreys as the truth is afforded more Pepper than the Queen of Atcheen's and the English should not onely be wellcome to Trade with them but to build a Fort in any part of their Countrey Upon which the English Envoys told the Oran Kays of Pryaman and Teco That if they would go to Fort St. George or send thither some persons sufficiently authorized they might better make their Contract with the English President and Council there then with them who were but Servants to the said President and Council and accordingly some of the said Oran Kays authorized by the rest did go over to Fort St. George in an equipage suitable to the occasion with very many attandants and did there make an absolute Agreement and conveyed unto His Majesty for the use of His East-India-Company the Soveraignty of Pryaman and as much of the ground thereunto adjoining as might be contained within the Ramble of a Shot from a piece of Ordnance Whereupon Two or Three Ships and Three or Four Sloops were immediately prepared and furnished with Souldiers and all materials necessary for a Fortified Settlement But a day before the said Ships and Vessels should have sailed for Pryaman the President and Council at Fort St. George Received advice from the King of Bencoolen that he was willing and extreamly desirous the English would settle and Fortifie in His Countrey Upon which after all the Orders were perfected for Pryaman The President and Council by Postscript ordered the Fleet and Soldiers c. designed thither to proceed first to Bencoolen being supposed the windmost Port and settle that place All this preparation wherein so many were concerned could not be so secretly carryed but that the Dutch had notice of it and thereupon sent Eight or Ten Soldiers and Twenty or Thirty pitiful black Fellows to take possession of Pryaman who built there a small Booth or Cajan-house landed Five or Six small Guns and inclosed some Ground with a slight Pallisadoe After which one of the smaller of the Companies Ships coming to Pryaman upon a Presumption that the English were setled there found those few Dutch in the posture before-mentioned Notwithstanding with Forty or Fifty of the English under the Command of James Jenifer second Mate and Purser of the said Ship marched into the said Dutch inclosure as far as their Booth with their Arms fixed and could have taken possession of the said Inclosure with as much ease as Ten Men could beat One not only because they were much stronger and were within the Dutch Guns But also because the Dutch Soldiers themselves such as they were being most Blacks came to them and told them they had no Shot in their Guns or small Arms And that if they came to take the place desired them they would shoot no Bullets as they were resolved not to do themselves but to submit to the English Notwithstanding
which and the previous Right before mentioned which the King of England hath to that place The English after having drank His Majesty the King of England's Health with the Prince of Orange's the States General 's and the two Companies left the place peaceably telling the Chief they had no Order to make War but to leave the Right of that place to be determined elsewhere which ought to be by Commissioners on both sides in Europe according to the Treaty of 1674-75 But one Circumstance is fit to be added viz. In treating with the Oran Kayes aforesaid at Fort St. George The English President asked them seriously whether they were under any Obligation to the Dutch Which they positively denyed assuring the President c. that the Dutch had no Residence in their Country not so much as a Factory House or Lodge as was most true at that time And for further certainty of their Allegiance to His Majesty said If there were any scattering Dutchmen in their Countrey they would cut their Throats before the English came thither But the President told them That would be an abominable Act in the sight of the true God whom they Worshipped being Mahometans and that the Dutch were the Companies Friends and Christians and therefore he would have nothing to do with them if they offered any violence or hurt to any Dutchman that might be in their Countrey upon any occasion And this is the very Truth and the whole Case of Pryaman as the English do a vouch upon their Faith and Allegiance to God and His Majesty to their Knowledge or Belief And how contrary this is to the Dutch practice in all times any indifferent Reader of any Nation will easily judge But not to let this special Matter of Fact pass without some Testimony upon Oath We have added true Copies of two Affidavits relating thereunto Viz. James Jenifer's Affidavit made in London the 22th October 1686. JAmes Jenifer Second Mate and Purser of the Syam Merchant lately come from the West Coast of Sumatra makes Oath That upon their Sailing from Fort St. George they went first to Pryaman as they were ordered by the President and Council of Fort St. George expecting to find an English Garrison there but on the contrary they met with a Dutch settlement of one Factor as Chief and about Thirty Soldiers Whites and Blacks That Mr. Potts landed with about Fifty Men well Armed of which Men under Mr. Potts this Deponent had the Command That when they came up the Pallisado Gates were open which they entred with their Arms ported no Centinel checking them and that the Chief after they were entred within the Gate met them and askt whether they were Friends which they said they were and the Dutch Soldiers whispered the English in the Ear and told them they had no Bullets in their Musquets and that if the Chief contended they would shoot nothing but Powder desiring the English to do the same for that they were willing to surrender Upon which this Deponent told Mr. Potts if he would give leave they would take the Place presently which Mr. Potts denying said he had no Order to begin a War. This Deponent further saith that the Dutch near Indrapora hired several Mallay Soldiers to surprize the Sloop William and gave them for so doing ten Dollars each Mallay who accordingly did attempt it in the Night and killed two of her Men and that they were set on by the Dutch appeared by the Confession of one of the said Mallays who was seized upon who confessed and declared that they were instigated thereunto by the Dutch and had the Reward aforesaid This Deponent further sayeth That upon their departure from Fort St. George the President and Council gave them the Proclamation for Proclaiming the Succession of our Soveraign Lord the King's Majesty now Reigning in the English Factories upon the West Coast of Sumatra That accordingly he saw His Majesty Proclaimed at Indrapoura with great Solemnity all the English standing bare with their Swords drawn while the Proclamation was read and the Emperour or Sultan and Seven Kings likewise with their Creses drawn and a multitude of the best of the Native Inhabitants in the like posture after which many Volleys of Shot were discharged by the English Seamen and Soldiers on Shoar and all the Guns fired aboard the Ship Syam then in the Road. This Deponent further sayeth that the Dutch had landed near Bencoolen a great many Soldiers most Blacks in the Name of the Young King of Bantam of Four Ships from Batavia with Order to force the English from Bencoolen Upon which several of the English being sickly did retire from the place aboard the Ship but the Chief Mr. Bloom would not stir from his Charge But the said Black Soldiers did not come on to force the English as was expected whether hindred by their own Fear or their Inclination to have the English stay there which is the desire of all the Natives both Javans and Mallays this Deponent cannot resolve but heard that upon such halt of the Black Soldiers the English return'd again from their Ships and remounted all their Guns and resolved upon their Defence And further he cannot say Sworn the 22. Octob. 1686. Before Sir John Moore Signed James Jenifer Stephen Elliot's Affidavit made in London the 30th October 1686. STephen Elliot Marriner aged Twenty One Years or thereabouts maketh Oath That he was one of the Marriners in the Service of the East-India Company in their Sloop the William which was lying at Anchor near Indrapora upon the West Coast of Sumatra That this Deponent went on shoar with the Master of the Sloop in the Evening about the Month of Octob. 1685. And that the same Night as this Deponent was informed by the other Marriners that belonged to the said Sloop there came on Board them several Prowesfull of Men armed with Clubs c. Which the said Marriners perceiving immediately leapt into the Sea and swam on Shoar they being Lascars Natives of India leaving on Board only Three of their Company which were in the Cabin viz. One English-man named Clemuel Ringstead one French man named David Jennett and one Lascar which three Men were immediately murthered by those that came on Board and cut to pieces in a most inhumane manner Soon after the English East-India Companies Factor Mr. Ord who was then at Indrapoora discovered two of the Mallayes Natives of the Island of Sumatra who were of the number of those that assaulted the Sloop as aforesaid by having found some Armes on Board the Ship which belonged to them And Mr. Ord examining them with lighted Matches betwixt their Fingers They confessed that they were employed by the Chief of the Dutch Factory residing at Padang And that they were to receive Ten Dollars each Man for destroying the People in that Sloop And that there were about Fifty Men that came upon that Design These Mallays that so entred the Sloop took away some
the latter Treatise they say The Netherland's Company has with a few inconsiderable Potentates or Princes made Contracts over a privative or seclusive Traffick of some kinds of Wares which their Countrey did yield but if the English Company should maintain this to be an unlawful thing they must condemn their own doings and so as it were pronounce sentence against what themselves have done in former times and of which many Examples may be alledged Now if the English Company have made such Contracts sometimes without and sometimes together with us when we were in a near League Anno 1619. And some years following as may be seen and will appear in the publick Testimonies and when the English Company had such Contracts with us together then according to their sentiment it was lawful and good But now the Netherland's Company do the same without them as having no Communion or Fellowship with them in the least in the Indies ought they not to call to memory that in former times the English Merchants had the whole Traffick of the Caviar which Rushland or Muscovy did yield and to come yet closer to them have they not made in the Indies and yet daily seek to make such Contracts especially on the Coast of Malabar To which we answer with Truth and Impartiality First That when that Treaty was concluded between the Dutch and English 1619 in the peaceable Reign of King James the First it was managed in England on the Dutch's part by that Worthy Incomparable Person Hugo Grotius and we believe with an upright intent in him and the High and Mighty Lords States that imployed him in that Negotiation But how the Dutch Company immediately upon the Conclusion of that Treaty contrary to the Lords States upright intention turned the use of it in such a manner as we believe the Dutch Company would not have us remember though it be upon Record in many Printed Books as to screw the English by Force and Fraud out of all the Trade of the Spice Islands which is of more Value and Advantage than the whole Trade of India besides 2. To come nearer and close to the Question We say it is lawful for the Dutch or any Nation to make such exclusive Contracts and to secure the performance of such Contracts by a Fort or Factory But if any Prince or People having made such Contracts with any Nation suppose the Dutch and the Dutch do not build any Fort or Factory in such Princes Countrey nor it may be come in Seven Years after to buy his Commodity or will not pay him for his Commodity but at lower Rates or in Truck for worse Goods or for any other Cause grow weary of such Contract and the English be invited or come thither purposely to bargain with him and by his Consent he being Lawful Soveraign do build a Fort or Factory in his Countrey We say in such case if the Dutch do by Fraud or hiring of Cut-throats Black People or by open Force endeavour to destroy the English or any other Nation so settled such Practice is a violation of Natural Right Destroyes the Peace established by Treaties and is of the same Nature as open War. 3. To make use of the Instance mentioned in the aforesaid Treatise Page 27. True it is the English had by Contract formerly the sole Traffick of Caviar in Rushia by agreement with the Emperour of Vosco but suppose as it happened the Emperour grew weary of this Contract with the English for any Cause just or unjust and that he had sent for the Dutch and agreed with them for all that Commodity for the future We say with submission in this very case it would have been notoriously unjust in the sence of all Christian Nations for the English to have made War upon the Dutch for that sole Cause 4. We say in Fact That notwithstanding the lawfulness of making such Contracts the English did never attempt to hinder by Arms any Nation from Trading with any Company or People whatsoever where they had only a Factory how great soever that Factory were 5. We say the English where they have a Fort did never attempt to hinder any Nation from Trading with any People out of the reach of their own Guns much less from Trading with any Prince upon the same Island or Continent that had Sovereign Power in his own Dominions in whose Dominions they had neither Fort nor Factory 6. We say the English did never deny the Dutch Refreshment at any of their Forts but have often entertained them when missing the Cape by bad Weather they came to St. Hellena in great Extremity and were relieved in all their wants with the same kindness as they could have been by their own Fathers or Brothers But the Dutch have often though not always denyed the English Company Refreshment even of Water when they have been in great distress as particularly and lately the Ship Pryaman at Porcat when there was on Board her many Passengers Men Women and Children ready to perish for want only of that cheap but necessary Refreshment Water as appears by Mr. Thomas Michel's and Captain Vnkettle's Letters of 5 th Feb. 1686-87 wherein the Expressions against the Dutch Cruelty are so harsh that we forbear to recite them in terminis but the Originals are ready to be produced Page 27. They take upon them to know very particularly and specially what Powers and Authorities His Majesty now Reigning whom God long preserve has granted His present Priviledged East-India Company but they betray their Ignorance therein in giving so lame an Accompt of that matter which for their better Information we shall assure them there is no Power or Authority whatsoever to the Exercise of Soveraign Power in India under His Majesty or otherwise that was ever granted to the Dutch Company by their present or former Oct-troy but His Majesty hath been graciously pleased to grant the same Powers to His present East-India Company for the good and benefit of His Kingdoms His Majesty having observed by His great Experience that it is impossible for His Subjects of the East-India Company to support the English Dominion in India against the Continual Unwarrantable Designs of the Dutch except the English Company be Armed and intrusted with the same Extent of Power and Authority which the Dutch Company have and may lawfully enjoy from and under their Sovereigns the High and Mighty Lords the States General Page 29. They bring up again that Trifle of an Argument which hath been bafled a Hundred times in former Debates and is fit only to be urged to Women and Children their Words are If then it deserve to be judged Injustice Violence and Oppression in us by lawful means to seek in one and the other Countrey out or beyond Europe to get and appropriate to our selves the Trade thereof Then we know not how possibly the English can be judg'd blameless considering what they have done in Carolina Virginia New-England and elsewhere
Countreys of that vast Extent that all which the Netherlandish Company doth possess in East-India is not to be compared thereunto To which we Reply First It 's confessed by all Nations That all Soveraigns within their own Dominions where they have Subjects and Exercise Soveraign Rights may make what Laws they please Secondly It is acknowledged before in this Answer and must be confessed by all Nations that whatever is just between Nations in Amity in Europe is equally just in both Indies and whatever is unjust in Europe is equally unjust in India But it is confessed the King of England hath a Multitude of His Native Subjects in Carolina Virginia New-England Jamaica Barbadoes Mevis and other Islands in the West-Indies in all which His Majesty justly exercises plenary Soveraign Power and therefore may make what Laws he thinks fit for the Government of those places and so may the Dutch do likewise in Batavia Malacca Cochin and in other places but in those and so far only as they have the full Exercise of Soveraign Power not the pretence of a Right to the Soveraign Power where they have neither Habitation nor Subjects but peradventure a piece of Paper signed by some body that calls himself an Orankay or a Raja a dozen or more of which may be had from abundance of those poor Men for a small Reward with what words the Purchaser pleaseth to put into those Writings Thirdly We say that by the Laws of Nations and Natural Right and consent of Nations no Fort upon a Pass or upon part of an Island where some part of the said Island remains under the Soveraignty of the same Prince can hinder any Nation in Amity with the Soveraign of that part of the Island where the Fort is built from Trading with the People on the other part of the Island or with the Subjects of another Prince on the same Island For Instance St. Christopher's Island in the West-Indies is possest partly by the English and partly by the French each in subjection to their Respective Sovereigns Now we say while His Majesty and the French King are engaged in League of Amity if His Majesty pleaseth to admit the Dutch or any other Foreign Nation in Amity with His Majesty to Trade to His part of the Island of St. Christophers the French King cannot by Jus Gentium hinder the Dutch from Trading with his Subjects and the like vice versa By which Rule it will evidently appear the English Settlements were justly made according to unexceptionable Natural Right and the Laws of all Nations at Bencoolen and Indrapoura and if the Dutch Company do or cause to be done any hurt or dammage to the English in those places it will be an Injurious and Hostile Action as is likewise the Dutch Companies hindring the English Ships from watering and refreshing at Bantam which they have done ever since the surprize thereof Notwithstanding they have ever since pretended that place is none of theirs but belongs to the Young King of Bantam Page 31. They say They suffered us to refresh our Seamen at Batavia and to repair our Ships which is very true and the English Company will alwayes acknowledge their Justice in that respect and as they never did so they never will fail to requite them with the same kindness where ever the English Company have to do But that which follows in the same Page is as extreamly unkind as we believe it is untrue viz. That in Case the Subjects of that State should come to request such a thing in the Caribees Barbadoes Virginia or Jamaica they should not be admitted but rather seized and confiscated Towards the Conclusion of their Treatise they mention some little disorders committed in Batavia by the Herbert's Sailers and the Master of a free English Ship called the Madrass at Cochin and of Captain Andrews his searching a Moore 's Ship in that Road of which we never heard a Word before we saw it in print in the said Treatise nor give any Credit to until we hear from the said Captain Andrews who is a discreet sober experienced Man and whom we have reason to believe neither did or would do any thing but what did consist with Justice or his Duty to His Majesty whose Commission he had to take all Moore 's Ships though it seems by the Relation they give of it themselves he was so civil at their perswasion to leave that Ship behind him We have now concluded our Reply and Animadversions upon the said Treatise and we think made it appear beyond Contradiction that the Dutch have done many and great Hostile Injuries to the English Company especially since the time that with Interloping the Rebellion of Bombay broke forth which they thought a proper season being expert in that kind of Wisdom of knowing the times and seasons But they ought to remember there is a double Accompt to be given for Injuries and Oppression of the Innocent The one to God by Repentance the other to Men by Restitution without which they may not improbably bring a greater Judgment upon themselves than we wish or their sagacity can foresee Until they do which and abandon those false Notions of Right which their unbounded Avarice hath framed to themselves and which we have proved contrary to Natural Right and the Laws of all Nations They may for ever impunè Rob Kill and Destroy the English notwithstanding the Peace between the Two Nations by the Treaty in force which we think are as equal and just as can possibly be made or provided if they were duly observed and obeyed by the Dutch Company as we affirm they have ever most exactly been by the English Company SVPPLEMENT THough we have owned before as we can never disown what is just in it self that it is lawful for any Nation in India to make Exclusive Contracts with any Prince or People there and to secure the performance of those Contracts by settling Factories or Forts in such Contracting Indian Princes Dominions Yet so Just and Generous are the English East-India Company that they do not only allow Refreshments of all kinds to the French Dutch Danes Portugueez and all Nations in Amity with our Soveraign Lord the King as well Natives as Europeans But also do allow them free liberty of all manner of Trade and Commerce and in all kind of Commodities from and to any Port or Place in India whatsoever as freely as the Companies own Servants or any English Free-man can or may And also to reside at Bombay or Fort St. George and to Rent or Purchase Houses or Lands there and in all Respects to have the same Liberty and Freedom for Landing or Shipping of Goods and selling or disposing of them to whom they please as the English themselves have and to be in the like Capacity of being Aldermen or Burgesses of the Corporation at Fort St. George and Bombay whatever Faith or Religion they are or may be of as the Native English of those places are And this we have Authority from the said Company to publish and avow in their Names to the whole World To the intent that Merchants of all Nations may know with what Liberty Security and Freedom they may resort to both or either of those places FINIS