brought vnto them they left this olde Trade to vs wholy or for most part dealt in their West Indian trade whereby besides the great imposts and toles that they payed ordinarily they vsed to get 50. and 100. for a 100. gaines The Netherlanders that dwelt in Spaine and secretly had a part in the said gaine can sufficiently witnes the same as also the great riches which the Genouesians haue gotten from thence The profit that these Countries might reape by our Manufactures will be more then that the Spaniards reape because we know that the Wares that are sent from Spaine hither must cost much custome and charges to be carryed from hence thither That the Marchant was wont commonly to gaine 20. procento by the same sometimes more sometimes lesse In Spaine when it is brought in the tolles and other charges amount to 20. procento and when it is carryed forth asmuch more and the charges from Spaine into the Indies are rather more then from these Countries and if wee gained no more but that which is spared by sending the Wares from Spaine thither it were more then sufficient gaine and I thinke the Marchants and the West Indian Company heere would bee well pleased with halfe thereof That our Manifacture may well be carried thither also it is without all doubt because it is knowne that in times past they were much vsed to be sent thither by the Spaniards and Indians which now would bee done by those of our Nation that goe to dwell there to haue them good cheape And finding the commodity and profit which they should get by diuers wares comming out of these Countries as the like hapneth in Guinea and heere without question would bee more when they dwelt among vs then also they would worke to get something and to doe it one would apply himselfe to Till the same others to worke in the Mines and Women would spin Cotton wooll and winde Silke for that by reason of the warmth of the Countrey Silke wormes would prosper well there which Cotton wooll and Silke might bee brought hither into these Countries to make Fustians and other Wares whereby we may see that the same would yeeld more profit to these Countries then to the Spaniards and what great furtherance and power these Countries might get thereby And for that the Spaniard knowes well that Trade of Marchandize consisteth in bringing of Wares and Marchandizes from one Countrey into another and that it is necessary that one Countrey should abound in that whereof the other hath want Therefore hee will not suffer Oyle nor Wine to be planted in the West Indies thereby to maintaine Traffique whereunto wee shall haue much better commodity then the Spaniard or any Countrey in Europe For when wee shall plant Vines Oliue trees Orange trees and Suger there we shall not onely serue the Netherlands but also other Prouinces and Kingdomes out of India therewith in such manner that by the decay of the Spanish trade consequently there must ensue a great eclipse in the King of Spaines Custome and Treasury whereof I will speake hereafter But to cause the Handicrafts men of these Countries to haue good vtterance for their wares and that in great aboundance there shall no other Manufactures be sent out of these Countries into India then such as are made heere in these Countries Whereby and by other the like ordinances the said Lands will florish and be filled with Inhabitants For that many Germaines East Countrey-men English-men and diuers Netherlands would come hither to dwell and place themselues in these vnited Prouinces some in one some in another where they might best get their liuings yea and out of Brabant and Flaunders many would come hither to bee released of the Spanish yoake whereby these Countries would abound with people And it is credible that many Thousands out of other Countries would rather goe with their Wiues and Children into the West Indies then dwell vnder the Popish Gouernment for that the voyage being short it may well bee endured by Women and Children as many goe from thence into Spaine and few Fleets goe thether but they take many women with them and this in truth were no small benefit for honest men that feare God who in time of bad trading haue no great meanes to maintaine their housholds to prouide a Countrey for them where they may in good manner get their liuings and dwell freely without burthen of conscience and carne their bread That Sea-faring also should hereby be much encreased and many Saylers thereby made and still entertained it may be sufficiently auerred by that which is formerly set downe for that if the West Indian Trade for Salt and Hides which wee haue vsed hath maintained 100. ships what would it be when we should Trafficke besides the Salt for Sugar diuers kindes of Wood Oyle Wine and other Wares This being a voyage but of 4.5 or fixe moneths to fro which many times we spend in a voyage to the Straights or into Spaine there would be better allowance then ordinary giuen to common Saylers Against this first it might be alledged that here in the land we haue not men enough to erect Colonies in India Secondly that our Countrey men by reason of the heat in India are not so able to endure the ayre nor labour and that by reason thereof they could not make so much benefit as the Spaniards doe that doe it onely by their Slaues Touching the first it is already parrly answered by that I haue said before that is that by reason of the great Trade many Marchants Tradesmen of other places would come hether whereof some would goe from hence to India and for such as are fit for labouring wee shall haue enough out of high Germanie Denmarke Eastland and other Northerne Countries who for the most part are industrious people which Countries are tenne times better peopled then Spaine and there many of the people are so poore that they cannot liue in worse state then they doe by changing their Countrey besides this wee might get many Netherlanders out of Spaine that know what benefit is to be made in India who also would be willing to goe thether as also some that are driuen out of Brasilia and the Canarie Ilands so that we should get men enough out of other Countries without emptying of these Countries and thereby we might in a manner haue a two-fold Netherlands both in East and West India Touching the heat which may be said would hinder vs to dwell or labour there shew the contrary thereof wee neede alledge nothing but experience which hath taught vs that the Netherlanders wheresoeuer they come whether it be in Spaine the Canaries Barbarie Guinea or the East and West Indies surpasse all other men in taking paines And if wee had no other proofe then of the Salt which is fetcht out of the West Indies in a most hote climate which as I thinke is the greatest labour that is in all the
to no end who for no worldly respect will be moued vnto so hurtfull and dishonorable resolution being assured that at the last thereby will ensue the subuersion of this great state and consequently of all their Allies and adherents But now some men will say that wee ought to keepe in our Countrey without seeking to extend our commaund by Colonies beyond the Seas that wee may keepe and defend that we haue That is but a bad counsell for his power by our Trade in East India as aforesaid is much decayed and if God whom we must pray vnto for that grace will giue vs a good successe in the West Indies hee will without doubt desire Peace with vs which for our security hee will religiously keepe and maintaine onely not to lose a great part of his Indian reuenue whereunto we haue good hope for the reasons before at large by vs set downe Then hauing shewed how these Countries by the trade beyond the Seas by Gods blessing haue euen in the middle of their Wars encreased in Trade people wealth which are the Sinewes of this Common-wealth so wee must confesse that the East Indian Trade hath wrought two notable effects It hath increased the meanes of our natiue Countrey with no small decreasing of the Spanish Trade in East India For the which God is eternally to bee praised and hauing also shewed that yet better successe by the West Indian Trade is by Gods blessing to be expected Then all good Patriots ought to encourage one the other seeing that they cannot better imploy their money for more and greater reputation for the Countrey then so liberally to contribute their money for the setting forth of this Fleet in 3. payments whereof the first shall be payed the last of Nouember which next vnto God will be a soueraigne meanes to holde the Enemy in ballance and keepe vs and all our neighbours and friends in peace without any feare if in mans Iudgement and consideration there be any security to be had Tu conclude I beseech God to be pleased to hold his Holy hand ouer this Fleet and to strengthen it with his ayde and so to direct it that thereby our Enemies may be weakened and ouerthrowne and wee strengthned and made powerfull and yet neuerthelesse not to embolden our selues vpon our owne power but onely to rest vpon God and with humble hearts and bended knees to thanke him for the same and commit our selues to his Fatherly protection Commending the Lords the generall States his Excellency the Prince of Orange and all other Noble personages and valiant Souldiers vnto God Vale. Written in hast the First of September 1621. And to shew our Batauiaens in East India in the beginning haue bin entertained of Kings and Princes notwithstanding the Portugales and Iesuites sought to hinder the same with some of them by scandalous reports You may reade the Coppie of a Letter that Signeur Arenet ten Grotenhuyse a Marchant and partner wrote vnto Mr. N. N. from Amsterdam Anno 1610. the 29. of Iuly as followeth GOod Friend hauing read the Letters that came out of East India and examined the Commissioners I thought good to make you perticipant thereof which is that the Admirall Verhoeff thinking it expedient to send two Ships namely the Lyon with piles and the Grison which hee had left there for the Defence of Ihoor to the Island of Iapan there to obtaine Licence of the Emperour freely to Trade and to make a Contract with him touching the same according to the Letters by the Prince of Orange written vnto the said King and the instructions of the Partners to that end also giuen And assoone as those Ships had receiued those Letters and Commission from the Admirall they hoysed vp their Anchors before Booz and set sayle holding their course to Pataua and taking in some Silke vnwrought Silke stuffes and some Pepper in the beginning of Iune Anno 1609. they sayled to Iapan and vpon the First of Inly anchored before the Towne of Firando lying vnder the height of 33. Degrees and 20. minutes where our men were well and friendly receiued and entertained by the Gouernour and Magistrates of the place and for that the Gouernour of that part of the Countrey was in fewe dayes after to goe vnto the great Emperour to salute him which throughout all the Kingdome once a yeare is to bee done by euery Gouernour they perswaded our Committee that hee should also presently goe thither with him that so the Portugales and Iesuites that reside in Hagesacke about eighteene miles from Furando might not preuent them nor hinder in their sute which our Committees considering of made preparation to goe hauing first gotten letters of commendation from the Gouemour of Furando and taking some presents with them set forward on their iourney accompanied with a Netherlander called Melchior van Sandtuoore that had dwelt tenne or twelue yeares in that Countrey and was left of Mahews Fleet with about ten persons more and could speake Spanish very well and also ten or twelue persons of good quality that were appointed to goe with them that no hurt might be done vnto them by the way and so trauailed for the space of 14. dayes by water and eight dayes on horsebacke by land about 300. miles passing through many faire built and well inhabited Townes where in euery place they were well and honourably entertained till at last they came to a great faire Towne wherein the great King or Emperour of Iapan holds his Court where they presently addressed themselues vnto and had audience of two great Lords neere attending vpon the King who forthwith brought them into the Kings presence and got audience for them where they were most friendly welcommed and entertained both by the said two Lords and the King and hauing shewed the cause of their comming and businesse with the King and deliuered the Presents and Letters of Prince Maurice vnto him the Emperour shewed them a most friendly countenance telling them that hee liked well of their comming with their Shippes and of themselues asking after the manner and cituation of our Countrey and what manner of man our Prince was of whom by the men that were of Machiens Ships he had formerly-heard much speaking and also had heard of the valour of our men in the battailes fought by our Ships in India against the Portugales specially of those of Malucco saying that he was sorrie that our Ships arriued not in some Hauen neerer vnto his Court that he might shew vs greater courtesie and so graunted vs our request for free trading and commerse in his Country and whole Kingdome and for that he vnderstood that no agreement could be made betweene vs and the Portugales hee graunted vs therefore as free licence to traffique and negotiate in his Countrey as any of his owne people and subiects haue Three dayes before the arriuall of our Committees there some Portugales and Iesuites were come to the Court vsing all the meanes they could to make vs distastfull to the King and to hinder vs from hauing accesse vnto the Emperour but all in vaine for that be-before we came they could get no audience of the great personages nor yet of the Emperour and after that our men had beene 10. dayes at the Court and there seene great magnificence riches and glorious shewes they obtayned lycence of the Emperour to depart who gaue them an open Letter written vnto the Prince of Orange in Iapan language brauely sealed vp and to the end that wee should know the contents of the said Letter it was by one of the Iapeners read vnto vs and put into Dutch by foure or fiue of our Nation the contents thereof being as followeth I Emperour and King c. our men cannot sufficiently set downe the firtillity and fruitfulnesse of the Countrey abounding in Rice Wheat Goats a great number of dried and fresh Fish all kindes of trees and fruits of the earth as Apples Oranges Lemonds and many other fruits which are common with vs. They haue good policy and lawes in their Countrey they are a kinde of witty and courteous people amongst them hauing many rich men which are Heathens onely about Hagesar where the Portugales dwell there are some Christians This land buyeth many kinde of Manufactures of our Countrey and hath good store of gold and siluer many rich Mynes of Copper and still more and more are found the Emperours reuenew of Gold and Rice is innumerable our men vnderstood by those of Iapan and also by the Netherlands that the Tower in the Castle was full of Plate Gold and Siluer in such great pieces that ten men could hardly lift them They also said that the Countrey lyes much more Northerly then it is set downe in our Cards and that it reacheth about 23. degrees and 48. minutes more Northerly it is full of diuers Townes so that as you trauell through the Countrey euery three or foure miles you shall finde a Towne besides the Villages that lie betweene them It is full of hills which from the bottome to the top are fruitfull as also faire flat valleyes many riuers ponds and pooles The Emperour hath 66. Kings vnder him hee is a man of about 60. yeares old and two yeares agoe hee caused his sonne to be crowned which hath his Court at Eden lying vpon a faire riuer about three miles broad And so hauing beene tenne dayes in the Court they went againe to their Ship lying at Firando and after they had there hired a house for our men vpon the 1. of October Anno 1609. they departed from thence leauing one Iaques Phillips there for their chiefe Marchant one vnder Factor and three more in all fiue persons with an indifferent stocke and from thence set sayle for Pataua where they tooke in more Pepper raw Silke and Silke Clothes and with it returned home into the Netherlands arriuing heere with all their men whole and sound vpon the 20. of Iuly hauing lost but three men that were sicke and dyed in the voyage from Iapan hether c. FINIS
MORE EXCELLENT OBSERVATIONS OF THE ESTATE AND AFFAIRES OF HOLLAND In a discourse shewing how necessarie and conuenient it is for their neighbouring Countries as well as the Netherland Prouinces to Trade into the West Indies And by most vrgent and good reasons prouing that by the West Indian Trade now erected in HOLLAND the said Company shall receiue great benefit the Hollanders greater seruice and the Spaniard more hurt and greater disaduantage then euer he receiued before As also the great profit and commodity the said Netherlands haue reaped and receiued during the time of 24. yeares that the said Company hath Traded into the East Indies Faithfully Translated out of the Dutch Copie Printed at London by E.A. for Nicholas Bourne and Thomas Archer and are to be sold at their Shops at the Exchange and the Popes-head-Pallace 1622. MORE EXCELLENT OBSERVATIONS OF the estate and affaires of Holland SIR in conformity of my promise to resolue you of certaine questions in your Letter lately sent vnto mee set downe I thought good at this present orderly to make answer thereunto nothing doubting but that you shall thereby receiue good contentment and satisfaction The first question Whether it had not beene better and more commodious for the vnited Netherland Prouinces to haue made a new truce with the King of Spaine for twelue yeares more with leauing of the East Indian Trade then by continuing the same to begin warre againe and to be debarred of the Spanish Trade Answere It is true that friendship commerse and conuersation are the necessary consequences of peace according to the generall lawes of nature of all people and of all times conuersation and commerse being signes of friendship and of peace which is denied to no man but to an enemie In such manner that there is no example extant or to be found that there was euer any treaty of peace made or concluded with the vnited Netherland Prouinces vpon condition that conuersation and commerse should be excepted and prohibited vnto them for that were no peace but a certaine and true banishment which alwayes is deserned and excepted betweene enemies and euill doers Therefore the proposition made by the Spaniards to debarre vs from trading into the East India first sheweth and declareth a manifest kind of vnreasonablenesse and iniustice Secondly an open caution and deceit by words declaring vs to be a free soueraigne State and in effect making vs to be of worse condition then euer we were vnder Soueraigne Princes which is wholy without any reason or ground for although we had not traded into the East Indies before the warre began yet we had reason right and freedome to haue done it Iure gentium which was neuer taken from vs by any man The King of Spaine when hee was Lord of these Countries had no lawfull power in respect of his Spaniards to take that from vs for that he was bound by oath to maintaine and vpold these Countries in their freedomes priuiledges of Trading and Traffiquing whereof without all doubt the free vse and benefit of the Sea of the ayre and of traffick throughout all the world is the principallest point and doing the contrary he should haue dealt with vs contrary to his Oath in such manner that wee challenge that freedome which from the beginning of the warre wet alwayes had for that free trafficke vpon the Sea throughout the whole world lies open for vs whereof without warre and by force we cannot be debarred nor hindred And that wee that are Batauians whose liuing dependeth vpon the Seas and which are the best Marchants and Sea-faring men in the whole world should be debarred or denied of frō the vse of the greatest part of the Seas and of the most notable parts and traffick of the whole world is the greatest presumption that can or may be imagined specially when men will extend the same to other Kingdomes countries where they haue nothing to do ouer the Seas ouer the which he hath no cōmand the vse wherof Iure gentium is free for all men and whereof no man in the world hath any particular commaund or authority And it is sure that this should be an vndoubted subuersion of our estate which in this great warre cannot stand and subsist without free Trade of Marchandise and Sea-faring as being the onely meanes that God hath appointed for our maintainance and the more that the quantity of our Sea-faring and trafficke diminisheth according to the same proportion the strength power of these Countries would also bee weakened and decay for that our Townes and Inhabitants cannot be maintained much lesse can we haue any generall power or meanes by the inlandish benefits of commodities or rents and reuenewes as other great Countries and Kingdomes may and can because our Countrey is too little therefore we must haue all that out of the Sea and Sea-faring Now to let you see how much we should be hindered if we should leaue off the East Indian Trade and the like hinderance we should consequently also faile of touching the power and strength of these Countries I will proceede to tell you but first I will discourse of the East Indian Trade and after that of the West Indies To make a true estimation of the hinderance and hurt as aforesaid first we must vnderstand what aduentures and prosperity we haue had by the said Trade In the Records of the East Indian Company it appeareth that from Anno 1595. to Anno 1601. included they sent out 46. ships wherof there arriued 43. again in these Countries richly laden Ships that brought for returne all charges deducted two hundred and thirty Tunnes of gold cleare gaynes for the Marchants of the said Company Further by the Records and Bookes of the said East Indian Company it is also shewed that for the space of eleuen yeares wee had still about 30. ships continually in East India with 5000. Sea-faring men and that they expected to receiue from thence at least 300. Tunnes of gold in capitall besides that which they had in the land Now I referre it to your iudgement what the said Company in the last ensuing tenne yeares vntill this time hath gayned who within the time of sixe moneths haue had a good returne of 40. Tunnes of gold I doubt not but you haue heard of the rich lading that the two ships brought hether within the space of a moneth being valued to bee worth 24. Tunnes of gold in such manner that the particular partners from Anno 1605. euery mans full aduenture being deliuered in haue gayned vpon euery hundred Gildernes vntill this day in ready money the summe of 200. Gildernes and whensoeuer any man will sell his stocke which at this time hee hath in the Company which hee may doe when hee will hee may for euery hundred haue 230. Gildernes whereunto are the Interest which the partners from the first money receiued to this present haue gayned which also is halfe a capitall there
resteth to the partners particularly vpon euery hundred if they haue ventured and traded 16. yeares in the East Indian Company in cleare gaynes about 400. Gildernes I speake not this by report but as a witnesse thereof being one of the partners that haue receiued my part of the gayne and may haue the rest within 8. dayes if I will sell my stocke which I may at all times doe but at this present I intend not to doe it for we hope that our portions by meanes of our good successe in the East Indian Trade wherewith I will hereafter more at large acquaint you in few moneths will be much better But it may be you will say that this profit is great and very good for the particular partners in the said Company but what benefit doth thereby arise vnto the publique Common-wealth whereunto I answere first that no Marchants in Trafficking nor partners in Companies put in their stockes but onely for their owne particular gaine yet it is most true that the publicke Common-wealth should bee much more interressed then the particular Traders by leauing the East Indian Trade for besides this that the publicke onely consisteth of the particular and that the particular maketh the publicke and that the publick is powerfull and rich according to the proportion that the particular hath and aboundeth withall yet it is most true that the particular without the publick and not the publick without the particular may be and subsist by this meanes that the particular going and with-drawing it selfe into other Countries can as well venture from thence into the Indies as in these Countries But the publick must stay and see it selfe become weake and decrease in force and power as her Trade and Trafficke decayeth For according to the proportion thereof necessarily also the number of Inhabitants decreaseth and the power of the publique likewise Besides this considering that the Ships and Saylers that are vsed by the particular Company are great and many which without any charge to the Countrey are maintained and paid and daily employed vpon all occurrents to be vsed by the Countrey without the which it is impossible to haue any power at Sea as wee see and well know that the greatest Kingdomes haue no power at Sea according to the proportion of their puissance and might but onely according to the proportion of the Trade and Trafficke that they haue and vse in their Countries Secondly we may by the Trade vsed by the said Company vntill the yeare 1614. included declare and proue that the custome houses of the Country by meanes of conuoyes lycences tolls and customes which the said East Indian Company haue and pay inward and outward haue profited and receiued aboue 35. Tunnes of gold for the which the States of the land haue at some times as neede required ayded the said Company towards their warres in India with money and ships partly to ease the said Company of some portion of their charge Now what they haue receiued in the custome houses of the Country from Anno 1614. to Anno 1621. without doubt it is a greater sum and much more then the former noting what a rich returne they haue had within these seuen yeares Now to shew what furtherance benefit the common people haue had and gotten by this East Indian Trade we must note that a Fleet of 12. ships doth cost in money and all other things thereunto belonging about eighteene Tunnes of gold to set and send it foorth and commonly there is not aboue 5. or 6. Tunnes of gold in ready money sent out with it all the rest is bought and prepared here in the land to the great benefit and welfare of the Countrey and gayned by the Inhabitants that sell and deliuer the same And euery ship that comes home againe one with another payeth aboue a Tunne of gold for monethly wages whereby the Officers and Saylers also are inriched which also is gotten and spent by and among the Inhabitants whereby it is manifest what the common people haue profited besides the great number of so many thousand people that by meanes of this Trade afore-said are set on worke and well payd for it to the great comfort and benefit of many poore people In such manner that the last yeare when I was at Amsterdam I saw not one idle vagabond nor begger for such as are sicke are prouided for in the Hospitalls goe about the streetes to begge which good order is also obserued in some other Townes Thirdly to shew what the publicke Common-wealth hath yet further gotten by this Trade you must vnderstand that the greatest profit of the land consisteth in the most great hurt and damage which the Enemy hath first and last endured and yet endureth in East India for since that wee were prohibited to Trade and Trafficke in Spaine and other of the Spanish territories which not withstand against his will by other Nations wee doe continue with good profit some of our Marchants in Anno 1595. with resolute and good courages which God without doubt endowed them withall sayled prosperously into the East Indies and there first began our Trade And notwithstanding that the Portugales and Spaniards sought by all the meanes they could at the first to debarre and keepe vs from it neuerthelesse wee abstained not the next yeare happily to proceed therewith againe Whereby we being but a small number of Partners in the said Company brought and procured the mightiest Potentates of all Europe to be our Enemies who well considering the consequence thereof sought all the meanes they could to remedie the same and ioyned the power of Castile and Portugale together such and so great as in a hundred yeares before the like was neuer heard of not onely to let and hinder the proceeding of our happy Trade or at least to stay it a while but also there-withall to be reuenged on the Kings Princes and Countries with whom in the name of the Prince of Orange we had a contracted aliance In respect whereof the honour and reputation of the Countrey requiring it it sought to protect and defend our oppressed Company whereby warre throughout East Indian to the great cost and charges of our Company began and yet to the great hurt and hinderance of our Enemies which may be noted considered hereby that from Anno 1596. wee haue ouercome and spoyled eleuen of his great huge Carckets Gallyes and other great ships and haue made about 40. of his ships vnseruiceable besides those that in the last tenne yeares ensuing we haue spoyled and taken whereby our Enemies trade there hath beene greatly impaired and ours by Gods blessing who onely is to bee praised therefore to the admiration of the whole world is greatly encreased In such manner that the staple of all manner of Spices and other rich and costly Wares which for the space of 200. yeares together was in Venice whereby the said Towne encreased and became exceeding rich and after that by meanes of
their Nauigation was in Portugale for the space of 100. yeares and lastly for 25. yeares hath beene in Holland and Zealand and since that by a good agreement made the last yeare was also brought into England in such sort that the King of Spaines Marchants were forced in the said yeares afore-said contrary to all mens expectations to buy Nutmegs Cloues and Mace of vs. Now also to know what great hinderance the King of Spaine receiueth in his Customes and Tolles yearely you must remember that which I shall tell you all Caracks and Galleons that are made and prepared by the particular Company to sayle outward must not sayle to East India without leaue and satisfying the Kings custome and being returned againe out of East India into Portugale the Factors or Partners must deliuer a iust note of their lading sealed vp and signed by the Officers in East India after that the Officers in Portugale agree with the Company or Partners for the Kings custome which amounteth to a great summe of money at the least halfe a Capitall which Wares when they are caried out of Portugale into other of the said Kings Kingdomes must againe pay custome and when they are caried from thence into other Prouinces the King hath the third and last toll of them all this being calculated into one summe will amount vnto yearely for the King aboue 100. Tunnes of gold besides the double losse which the Portugales in 24. yeares haue had and endured first last in their ships and goods and yet endure Hauing shewed what the Partners haue profited the Common-wealth and the Inhabitants thereof by the East Indian Trade and yet doe profit them as also what great damage and losse the King of Spaine with his Portugale Subiects by this meanes hath receiued and endured now I will briefly declare the present state of the said Company in East India You must vnderstand that matter of Trafficke is in very good termes which wee hope by Gods help and blessing shall from yeare to yeare still be better and better now the English-men by meanes of a contract made with them a yeare since ioyne their forces with ours and we for our parts haue in East India that are comming home and here in the Countrey aboue 50. ships double furnished with lusty Saylers as also all other things fit for the Warre and for so long a voyage and about 10. strong Forts whereof some we haue taken from the Enemy the rest haue beene erected at the great cost and charges of the Company and made defensible which for the security of our owne people and goods as also for the defence of our confederates are sufficiently prouided Lastly when they of Bantam began to lay an extraordinary toll vpon our Nation and caused vs to pay 50. pro cento custome and yet we could not for all that obtaine licence of them to build a Warehouse of Stone and Morter for the security of our Wares and Marchandises for that being of wood it was twice burnt we were constrained to transport our Trade in Bantam to another conuenient place which is a firme Iland and hath many good and conuenient Hauens in it for in my Writings I finde that fiue yeares past Mataram the great Emperour of Iaua who is able to bring 300. thousand men into the field dwelling about 100. miles distant from Bantam had also sought to make some contract of aliance with vs offering to deliuer vs Pepper toll free and licence to build vs a Castle of Morter and Stone with all things conuenient in Iapara which was not well lik'd of by the King of Bantam and his Lieutenant At last our Nation built a conuenient Towne about Iacatra reasonably well fortified and called it Batauia where there are about 1000. houses of all Nations there to Trafficke and deale in Marchandize which is defended and gouerned by a Gouernour Scowt and other Officers for the maintainance of good gouernment and policy and to administer Iustice vnto euery one and to the end that before all other things Gods seruice and honour might be maintained whereby the blinde Heathens might be brought out of their great darknesse and young children taught the knowledge of the truth of Iesus Christ our Sauiour the Company diligently and carefully tooke order to erect a Church and a Schoole therein to the which end they sent thether certaine learned men as at the first also they did which with great benefit and encrease haue taught the Heathens the Gospell of Christ in their owne language as well as vnto our men in their language In such manner that a King and a Prince of Amboina where the Countrey people are much addicted vnto diuellish and heathenish superstitions sent two of their sonnes into these Countries with a Letter written vnto the Prince of Orange to haue them brought vp at Schoole and taught our language and Christian Religion that they might at their returne into East India be a meanes of planting the Church of Chaist there in India and learne how to defend their owne natiue Countrey Wee are heartily to pray vnto God that he will be pleased to send more true Shepheards thether that willingly and out of meere loue will vndertake that long voyage to feed the blinde Sheepe that they may by meanes of true faith be brought vnto the fellowship of his heauenly Kingdome and glory which the Company before all things ought specially to haue a care of which I and other of my fellow partners haue heartily entreated them to vndertake thereunto choosing such men as by their godly liues and behauiours may be an example vnto others that so our Spirituall exercises together with our temporall Trade of Marchandise may the better be blessed and prosper This shall serue onely for an aduise now that I may fully make answere vnto your first question I will briefly speake somewhat of the Spanish Trade whereof in the end of your proposition you make mention I said before that notwithstanding the King of Spaines interdiction against vs made touching the same neuerthelesse we enioy it by meanes of other Nations for you must certainly be perswaded that we were not bereft thereof here in these Countries if you note that all manufacters both for price and dealing in other parts into Spaine is nothing lessoned In such sort that we shall win nothing by the Spanish Trade but obtaine a little bettering thereof yet with doubtfull security for if he should graunt vs freedome of Trade there then wee shall haue liberty to goe thither which is more then many men thinke of or conceiue for he for his part thereby hath his custome which is very great and Spaine would be victualed by vs in time of need and we for our parts should put our stocks people ships and Ordnance into his hands therewith to oppresse our selues or our friends whereunto he would want no occasions as wee haue heretofore well found and by experience tried whereof it is needlesse here to