The Rose Arrived From Tecoo On The 15th Of November, Bringing News That
The Hollanders Had Established A Factory There Soon After Ours Was
Dissolved.
The 19th, the Moon, Clove, Samson, and Peppercorn arrived
from England, and anchored between Vium point and Pulo Paniang.
Perceiving the Clove to be admiral, I went first on board her, taking
such fresh victuals as we could spare.
I here found Sir Thomas Dale
admiral, and Mr Jordain president, and learnt that they had lost company
of the Globe to the westward of the Cape, and, what was far worse, they
had left the Sun, the flag ship, in great danger of being cast away on
the isle of Engano, the whole fleet having much difficulty to double
that island. They had afterwards waited two days for the Sun, but she
had been bilged on the rocks, as we afterwards learnt, to our great
regret. In the morning of the 22d, these ships sailed into Bantam roads,
and on passing the island where our ship lay, we saluted them with
fifteen guns we had planted on the shore, and struck my flag in
compliment to Sir Thomas Dale, who was admiral of that fleet.
Two boats arrived on the 28th from Engano, with sixty-eight men
belonging to the Sun, bringing the lamentable news of the loss of that
ship, with many of her company, on, that island. The 29th, the Globe
arrived in the morning, and this day our leak broke out afresh, but was
quickly stopped by removing the bonnet.[262] The 30th, our ship being
entirely cleared from stem to stem, the carpenters went below to search
for the leak; and as they passed forwards, removing the lining as they
went, they found an auger hole left open in the middle of the keel, in
the foremost room save one, which hole was four inches and three
quarters about, and, had it sprung upon us while at sea and alone, would
have tired out our whole company in twenty-four hours. In this the great
mercy of God was manifest, that it never broke out upon us but when we
had a fleet along with us for our aid.
[Footnote 262: Perhaps this means by shifting the wadded sail. - E.]
A fast being proclaimed to be held on board the fleet, and the exercise
to be in the James on Sunday the 3d December, Mr Wren, the chaplain of
the Sun, preached in the morning, and our own minister, Mr Copland, in
the afternoon. This day the Bee sailed for Engano, in hopes to recover
some money and goods belonging to the Swan, from the inhabitants of that
island. The 4th, a Dutch ship, called the Black Lion, arrived from
Patania, and rode to the westward of Pulo Paniang. As Mr Denton was well
acquainted among the Dutch, he was sent aboard in the barge to enquire
whence she came. On coming aboard, he met an old acquaintance, Hendrick
Janson, who had been a long time chief factor for the Dutch in Patania.
He, and another inferior factor, came aboard the Moon along with Mr
Denton, where they were well entertained till Sir Thomas Dale came on
board, and were soon after set ashore at Bantam. That same night we held
a council, when it was determined to proceed before day with four ships,
the Moon, Clove, Globe, and Samson, against the Black Lion, the better
to prevent her escape. At break of day on the 6th, we were close around
her, and after a short parley, they yielded their ship, on condition of
being allowed to land with all their private property; and we brought
her that same day near the island, among the rest of our fleet.
The Bee returned on the 14th, having been forced back by contrary wind,
and unable to get through the straits. On the 16th, twenty Portuguese
came on board the James Royal, who had fled from the Dutch at Jacatra,
and whom we received kindly. This evening we were ready to sail, having
eleven ships, great and small, and being in hopes to drive the Dutch
from Jacatra. Our fleet consisted of the following ships: - The Moon, in
which Sir Thomas Dale sailed as admiral; the Gift, in which I sailed as
vice-admiral; the Unicorn, Clove, Globe, Samson, Pepper-corn, Thomas,
Bee, Rose, and Black Lion. We left behind us the James Royal, the
Advice, and our prize, because the James was not ready, and the other
two had most of her provisions and stores on board.
We sailed in the morning of the 19th, and anchored that evening between
Pulo Paniang and Pulo Tunda. In the evening of the 20th, we anchored
with our whole fleet about a league to the northward of Hector island.
This night we sent a barge to the Flemish islands, where they found no
persons on the southern island: but there lay there a Dutch galley,
which they set on fire, and so returned on board. That same evening we
saw seven Dutch vessels in the bay of Jacatra. Early in the morning of
the 21st, they all stood out towards us till near the islands, when they
anchored all together, and we stood towards them in the afternoon,
coming to anchor about a mile to windward of their fleet. In the
evening, we held a consultation on board the Moon, when it was resolved
to assault the Butch fleet in the following manner: - The Globe and
Samson were appointed to assail the Sun, and the Thomas was to pass in
between them, filled with combustible matter as a fire-ship, to set the
Sun on fire. The Moon and Clove were to attempt the Golden Lion; the
Gift and Bee were to assail the Angel; the Unicorn and Rose were to
attack the Devil of Delft; and the Pepper-corn was ordered to surprise
the burger-boat come from Jambee, which rode about three leagues from
the rest, and whose boat, with thirteen men, had been intercepted by our
barge, while making for the Dutch fleet, about seven this evening.
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