You Would Hardly Believe How Much
The Hollanders Have Already Daunted The Portuguese And Spaniards In
These Parts, Especially In The Moluccas, Where They Daily Encroach On
The Spaniards, Who Are Unable To Withstand Them, And Are Even In Fear
That They May Shortly Deprive Them Of The Philippine Islands.
The
Portuguese also are in great fear of being driven by them out of the
trade they now carry on from Ormus to Goa, and with Malacca and Macao in
China.
There is one thing of which I cannot yet conceive the issue, and that is
the robbing and plundering the Chinese junks, which is daily done by the
Hollanders in these parts, the goods whereof must amount to great value,
and suffice to fit out and maintain a great fleet, which is worthy of
consideration. Should the emperor of Japan fall out with the Hollanders,
and debar them from the trade of his dominions, which is not unlikely,
the Hollanders will then make prize of the Japanese junks as well as of
those of China; for their strength at sea in these parts is sufficient
to do what they please, if only they had a place to retire to for
revictualling and refitting their ships; for they are of late grown so
stout, that they mock at those who were formerly their masters and
teachers. It is very certain that they have got possession of several
fortresses at the Moluccas and other parts; yet, to my certain
knowledge, the natives in these parts are more inclined towards the
Spaniards, although at the first they were glad of the arrival of the
Hollanders, having been disgusted by the intolerable pride of the
Spaniards.
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