This
Arrangement Being Written Down, We Departed, Every Man To His Own
Particular Charge.
After we were gone, the admiral, Sir Thomas Dale, sent his boat to the
Thomas for three sackers, which kept them at work till next morning at
eight o'clock, so that the Hollanders were all away before these guns
were got on board the Moon.
We were then all in a Burly-burly to weigh
and get out to sea, that we might have sea-room, and the advantage of
the turn of the tide, which we at length attained, getting without the
isles of Point Aire. In the mean time, the Dutch fleet passing between
these isles and the main of Java, anchored that night on the coast of
Java, and our fleet in the offing, without the islands. On the 23d, in
the morning, the Dutch fleet stood off to the westwards, close under
Anti-Lackie, in which course the Devil of Delft borrowed so near, that
she got aground, and remained fast for a quarter of an hour. On seeing
this, we made towards them, but she was got off before we could get any
thing near, when she and all the rest of their fleet stood to the
northwards. As our fleet had the weather-gage, we paid room upon
them[263] till we came within shot, and then the Moon, commanded by our
admiral, Sir Thomas Dale, began the fight with the headmost ship of the
enemy, called the San. The battle continued for the space of three
hours, during which time we spent upon them some 1200 cannon-shot, when
we left them for the night, they standing so for to the northwards, that
they got the burger-boat again into their company, and then anchored
about half a league from us to the westwards, where they remained all
night.
[Footnote 263: This antiquated expression evidently means bearing down
upon them to leewards. - E.]
Both fleets weighed anchor on the 24th, ours plying to the westwards to
gain the wind, and the Hollanders ran in shore towards Point Aire. In
the mean time, we descried three sail coming before the wind from the
westwards, which at length we perceived to be the Little James, the
Hound, and the Francis. By and bye we joined altogether, and chased the
Dutch fleet through the bay of Jacatra, to its eastern point, where we
all came to anchor for the night. During the night, the Dutch from
Jacatra sent a junk filled with combustible matter, and on fire, which
came so near our fleet that we were fain to weigh our anchors and get
out of her way. The 25th, being Christmas-day, we again saw the Dutch
fleet standing to the eastwards, and we sent our barge to follow them
all night, to see what course they took, because we had left the James
Royal in the bay of Bantam, with the Advice and our prize, which they
might have surprised, if they got to Bantam before us, as there was no
ship of force but the James, and she was unprepared, being busied in
taking in her goods and stores, after being emptied to find her leak.
The 27th of December, after midnight, the Black Lion, our Dutch prize,
was set on fire by the carelessness of three wicked fellows, and burnt
to the water's edge. The president went ashore on the morning of the
30th, to wait upon the king of Jacatra, accompanied by Mr Henry Jackson,
when an unfortunate shot carried away his leg, of which wound he
died.[264]
[Footnote 264: It appears in the sequel that it was Jackson who lost his
leg and life though the text leaves it dubious whether he or the
president. - E.]
The 1st of January, 1619, the James Royal, the Advice, and the prize,
joined us from Bantam. The 2d, Sir Thomas Dale went ashore to Jacatra to
visit the king, and to learn what were his intentions respecting the
Dutch fort. The king gave to both him and the president much
satisfaction, in words at least, promising to grant the English any
reasonable conditions, if they would assist him to surprise the Dutch
castle. This morning, before day, the Francis departed for Puloroon,
with provisions for the relief of Mr Nathaniel Courthop and his
companions. The 6th we held a council of war aboard the Moon, when it
was determined that we should land from our greater ships six pieces of
large cannon, three culverines, and three demi-culverines, with a
proportional store of powder and shot, to assist the king of Jacatra
against the Dutch; that Sir Thomas Dale was to remain in that road with
eight sail, to cover this business, while five ships, under my command,
were to ply up for the straits of Sunda, to lie in wait for the Dutch
ships.
The 25th, we got into the road of Becee, and anchored in fifteen
fathoms, about two miles from the shore; the S. point of Becee bearing
S.W. 1/4 W. and the N. point Sabaicas, which shut in the western isle
of Pirio Tigs, bearing N. by W. three leagues off. We watered our ships
on the 27th and 28th, and cut wood. I and Mr Coytmore, with several
other masters, went twice ashore to view the harbour, which we found to
be an excellent place of refuge for a small fleet against a superior
enemy. The 31st, by order of the president, we repaired with our fleet
into Bantam roads.
The 1st February, Captain John Jourdan the president came on board, who
acquainted me with all that had taken place between them and the Dutch,
in regard to the castle of Jacatra, during my absence, the Dutch having
agreed to deliver up that fort to the English, on condition of being
allowed to depart with bag and baggage, and a ship, for two thousand
rials of eight, to carry them to the coast of Coromandel.[265] Sir
Thomas Dale arrived in Bantam roads on the 4th, with the Moon, Clove,
James, Pepper-corn, Hound, and Advice.
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