The Emblem of ingratitude a true relation of the unjust, cruel, and barbarous proceedings against the English at Amboyna in the East-Indies, by the Netherlandish governour & council there : also a farther account of the deceit, cruelty, and tyranny of the Dutch against the English, and several others, from their first to their present estate, with remarks upon the whole matter : faithfully collected from antient and modern records.

To the Reader.

[It is not intended to detain the Reader with any Prefatory Discourse, as to the Additions in this Book; the faithful Author of the Relation of the Barbarous Cruelty, &c. having said so much in his Epistle to the Reader, which is directly as followeth.]

GEntle Reader, thou mayest (perhaps) wonder why this Relation of the busi∣ness of Amboyna, so ma∣ny Months since taken upon the Oaths and depositions of our people that came thence, and presented to his Majesty, and the Lords of his Privy Councel, cometh now at last to the Press, and was not either sooner published, or altogether suppressed. The truth is, the English East-India Company have ever been very tender of the antient amity and good corre∣spondence held between this Realm and the Netherlands, and have been

very loath, by divulging of the private Injuries done them by the Nether∣lands East-India Company, to give the least occasion of any distaste or disaffection, which might happily grow between these two Nations, for the sake, and on the behalf the two Com∣panies respectively. For which cause, although the wrongs and injuries, or rather contumelies done unto the English by the Dutch in the Indies, have been as intolerable as manifold; as to say nothing of those great heaps of them buried in the Amnesty of the Treaty of the year 1619. and only to point at the general heads of those committed since that Treaty, and grossly contrary to the main intent, and express words and disposition of the same: First, in the point of Ho∣stility; the invasion of the Islands of Lantore and Polaroon, then and before in the quiet possession of the English, in the name of the Crown of

England; the taking of the same Islands by force; the razing and de∣molishing of the English Forts; the binding of the English (that had not so much as resisted them) to stakes with ropes about their necks, throt∣tling them with the same, and flou∣rishing their naked Swords about them, as if they would presently have dispatched them; then taking them so amazed and bound, and tumbling them down the rocks; and after, carrying their crushed and bruised carcasses away in Irons: Secondly, in the point of their usurped Sove∣reignty; their taking upon them the Conusance of controversies between the English and the Indians, for mat∣ters passed far without the compass of the Netherlands pretended jurisdi∣diction, and executing their sen∣tences thereupon by plain force; seizing of the English Companies goods, fining, imprisoning, stocking,

yea, whipping our people at a post in the open Market-place, and after, washing them with Vinegar and Salt: Thirdly, in point of Partnership with the English; their putting great Sums to the Common Account, which were disbursed to the private and sole behoof of the Dutch; giving great Presents for the glory of the Dutch, without consent of the English, and making War for the enlargement of their own Dominion, yet bringing the Charge to the Common Account; to∣gether with infinite other the like, the particulars whereof would arise to a just and ample Volume: Nevertheless, the English Company from time to time contented themselves with in∣forming His Majesty, and His Ho∣nourable Privy Councel with their grievances privately in Writing, to the end, that necessary Relief and Re∣paration might be obtained, without publishing any thing to the World in

Print, thereby to stir up or breed ill blood between these Nations, which are otherwise tyed in so many reciprocal Obligations. And the same course they have hitherto holden also in this Crying business of Amboyna; only offering to the Manes of their mur∣dered Country-men, Factors & Kins∣folks, their effectual Endeavours in a dutiful course unto His Majesty for Justice for their Innocent Blood, and Reparation of the Honour of the Na∣tion herein interessed. In which their wonted way they were so constant, that they could not be driven out of the same by the contrary course of some of the other Party; that not glutted nor mollified with the Blood of these Inno∣cents, nor with all the other Sufferings of the English in the Indies, published a Pamphlet in Print in the Nether∣lands Language, not only in Justifi∣cation of this barbarous Butchery, but withal in disgrace of the English

Nation, and the Laws and justice of the same. But behold now further, the same Pamphlet, being called in by an Edict of the States General, was yet afterwards translated, and printed in English, and dispersed even in this Realm it self, to brave and disgrace us at our own doors, and in our own Language. This, no English patience can bear: The Blood of the Innocent cryes out against it, the Honour of the Nation suffereth in it. Wherefore the English East-India Company is hereby enforced, contrary to their desire and custom, to have recourse to the Press, to maintain the Reputa∣tion of those their Country-men and Servants, that lost their Lives un∣justly; and to acquaint the World with the naked truth of this cause, hitherto masked, muffled, and obscu∣red in a Fog of Factions, Conceal∣ments, and crafty Conveyances of the Author of this Pamphlet, and his

clients, the Governour and Councel (so termed) of Amboyna.

Having thus acquainted thee, gen∣tle Reader, why this Business was no sooner published in Print, it remain∣eth yet further, that thou be satisfied in an Objection or two more, which common Reason will suggest unto thee. Without doubt, reading this Dis∣course, and being a true Patriot of thine own Country, and a well-willer of the Netherlands (as we presume and wish thee to be,) thou wilt wonder how it cometh to pass, that our Nation, which hath not been wont to receive such disgraces, should now be so weak and unprovided in the Indies, as to suffer such indignities, and to be so grosly overtopped, outraged and vili∣fied there? as also thou wilt no less admire, that any of the Netherlands Nation, which hath received such and so many favours and supports from hence, and held so good and antient

correspondence with our Nation, should now offer and commit such odious contumelies on English men, their Partners and Allies by special Treaty. Herein thou wilt soon answer thy self, if thou but consider the dif∣ferent end and design of the English and Dutch Companies trading in the Indies, appearing by their several course and practice respectively. The English being Subjects of a peaceable Prince, that hath enough of his own, and is therewith content, without affecting of new acquests; have aimed at nothing in their East-India Trade, but a Lawful and competent gain by Commerce and Traffick with the people of those parts. And al∣though they have in some places builded Forts, and setled some strength, yet that hath not been done by force or violence, against the good will of the Magistrates or people of the Country; but with their desire,

consent, and good liking, for the se∣curity only of the Trade, and upon the said Magistrate and peoples vo∣luntary yielding themselves under the obedience and Sovereignty of the Crown of England; their own antient Laws, Customs and Privi∣ledges, nevertheless reserved. Fur∣ther, the same English had undoubted confidence in the Netherlands Na∣tion there also trading, especially being lately conjoyn'd with them in the strict Alliance and social Con∣federacy of the year 1619. and there∣fore attended nothing from them, but the offices of good affection and part∣nership. Ʋpon these grounds, the English Company made their equi∣pages answerable only to a course of Commerce and peaceable Traffick; not expecting any Hostility, neither from the Indians, nor especially from the Dutch. On the other side, the Netherlanders, from the beginning

of their Trade in the Indies, not contented with the ordinary course of a fair and free Commerce, in∣vaded divers Islands, took some Forts, built others; and laboured no∣thing more, than the Conquests of Countries, and the acquiring of new Dominion. By which reason, as they were accordingly provided of Shipping, Souldiers, and all Warlike provision, as also of places of Rende∣vouz upon the shore, and thereby enabled to wrong the English as well as others: So the cost and charges of their Shipping, Forts and Soul∣diers, employed upon these designs, rose to such an height, as was not to be maintained by the Trade they had in those parts. Wherefore, for a supply, they were forced (as some of their own Country-men and Adven∣turers in their Company, affirm) to Fish with dry Nets, that is to say, to pick quarrels of the Indians 〈…〉〈…〉

to take their Ships, and make Prize of their Goods. Which yet not an∣swering their Charge and Adventure, they proceeded also to quarrel with the English, to debarr them of Trade to free places; and for attempting such Trade, to take theie Ships and Goods. Touching which, when a good Order was set by the said Treaty of the year 1619. yet they saw, they could not make their Reckoning to any purpose, unless they utterly drave the English out of the Trade of those parts; thereby to have the whole and sole Traffick of the commodities of the Indians in these parts of Europe, in their own hands; and so to make the Price at their pleasure, sufficient to maintain and promote their Con∣quests, and withal to yield them an ample benefit of their Trading. Which unless they can, by this and the like worrying and weary∣ing of the English bring to pass,

it is easie to be judged by those that understand any thing of the course and state of the Trade of those parts, that albeit their Returns hereafter should prove as great continually, as of late extraordinarily they have hap∣pened to be, yet the main Stock and Estate of the Company must needs abate and decay by some Hundred thousands of Pounds yearly. Thus, Reader, thou seest what hath made us unprovided against such Acci∣dents, and what now enforceth the Dutch East-India Company, or their Servants in the Indies, against the common Genius of their Nation, and the wonted firm affection betwixt these two Nations mutually, thus to degenerate and break out into such strange and incredible Outrages against their nearest Allies and best deserving Friends. Farewel.