Their perfidious dealing with the King of Ma∣cassar.
THe Dutch by vertue of their late success against the K. of Macassar in the Isle of Chaelebes, made the said King to sign an Article suddenly, for banishing all the Portugezes and English, out of his Territories, and never from thence for∣ward to admit them, or any of their Ad∣herents to drive any Negotiations, or Trade under the Government of the Macassars, The occasion of the War and the sum of the story is as followeth.
The East-India Company, who for divers years have had in design, the in∣grossing Page 77 the whole Trade of Spice, &c. into their own hands, did in order there∣unto engage one of the Princes of Macas∣sar (that hath vast quantities of Cloves growing on Islands in his own Territories, and in places unknown to the Dutch) to Trade onely with the Merchants be∣longing to the East-India Company of the Netherlands, which the said Prince (who is Brother in-law to the King of Macas∣sar, and is himself King of Ternate) did consent to, on Conditions following, Viz.
That the General of India, Governing the said Company, or his Successors, or some person or persons by him or them deputed, shall well and truly pay, unto the said King of Ternate, his Heirs or Assignes every year, the just sum of 25 thousand Crowns, for prohibiting his Subjects Trading with any other Nation, particularly are mentioned the English and Portugezes. This contract was for some years strictly observed on both sides, but Anno 1658, 1659, and 1660. The Governour General of India for the said Company, John Maetsuycker and his Counsel, sent not the sum of Money to Page 78 the said King of Ternate, agreed upon (and yet demanded the excluding of all others but themselves of trading with his Subjects) but instead thereof presented the said Prince with several rarities of Europe, upon which the King of Ter∣nate Complains to his Brother, the King of Macassar, advising with him what was the most prudent course for him to take in that affair.
Adding that if the Dutch performed their Contract, he had not half the Ad∣vantage he could have, by permitting a free Trade to all Nations Negotiating in∣to those parts:
The King declared that his Brother had no reason to take any notice of the said Contract with the Netherlandish East India Company, and adviseth him to publish a free Commerce with the Eng∣lish, Portugezes, or any other; not ex∣cluding the Netherlanders, promising the King of Ternate, that if the said East-In∣dia Company should be unreasonable to resent it so, as to make a War upon a point wherein themselves were onely to blame, he would assist his Brother in the just defence of his rights to the utmost of his power.
Page 79For prevention of this free-Market, the General and his Council, in the year 1660. abetted a Prince, by name Radia Palacca, in the Kingdome of Macassar, against his Soveraign, and backed the pretensions of the said Prince with an Army, under the Command of John Van Dam, (afterwards Governor of Amboyna and Banda) and possessed themselves of many Towns and Villages, and one strong Castle; but this small Conquest was soon vanquished by the powerful Arms of the King of Macassar.
The Prince fled out of his Countrey, and, soon after the Dutch East-India Company quitted their Castle and other Holds they had possessed themselves of, in the name and right of the said Prince, on Conditions following.
First, That the Netherlanders should never aid, abet, or assist any the Subjects of the King of Macassar or his lawful Successors against their Soveraign.
Secondly, That the 25000 Dollars or Crowns formerly Covenanted, to be yearly paid to the King of Ternate, by the General for the East-India Compa∣ny should be paid, Bona Fide, without Page 80 fraud or covin. As also that the King of Macassar should receive a considerable sum of Money, well and truly paid to him, for the charge he had been at in levying an Army by the said East-India Companies Officers residing at Batavia, (the certain sum is not known) besides a yearly Pension.
Upon these Conditions, The King of Macassar and King of Ternate engaged they would Trade in the Spicery of Cloves, onely with the East-India Com∣pany of the Netherlands.
But the aforesaid revolted Prince which is called Radia Palacca, the King of Bou∣geroons or Bougis, was not to enjoy any of his Territories or Dominions, but it was consented to by the King of Macas∣sar, that he might reside in Batavia, or other the Holds of the Netherlandish East-India Company: And, in the process of the story, he kept his Court at Batavia, receiving an honorable allowance from the said Companies General, and had re∣spect according to his Quality.
Soon after the Conclusion of this Peace, The East-India Company receiv∣ed in all points the former priviledges Page 81 they had enjoyed from the King of Ter∣nate, having intirely the Trade of the Cloves, the utmost of their Compact.
But the Dutch in the year 1663, sent the Kings instead of the yearly sum a∣greed upon, the third part of the value in Presents, which the Kings of Macas∣sar and Ternate perceiving, resolved to make the best Market of their Spice they could with the English and Portugezes; The Netherlanders having now a second time broke their Contract with them, and resenting the Injustice of the Dutch so high, that they threattned to cut off all the Netherland Merchants in the Territo∣ry of Macassar, the Consul or chief of whom, was Abraham Verspreet.
The News of this arriving at Batavia, the General Maetsuycker dispatched the Ship Nightingale under the Command of one Jart Backer with a great present, but to stand upon his Guard. In order here∣unto, he departed in the latter end of Octob. 1666 from Batavia, and arrived at Macassar the 12th of Decemb. follow∣ing, but went in with his fighting Sails onely abroad, but yet pretended all peace and satisfaction imagineable, earnestly Page 82 desiring a free trade, or liberty to bring off the Netherlanders. The King of Ma∣cassar refused all trade, but not the peo∣ples departure, unless he would deliver to his Officer the Rudder of his Ship, for his assurance, that they should trade for nothing without his consent, and paying such duties as belonged to him. To this, the Merchants on Shore consented, but the Commander of the Ship utterly refused to send the Rudder, answering, he would keep the Rudder fast to his Ship, as long as he could; with much adoe at length, they fixed a present upon the King of Macassar, which he accepting, the Ne∣therlanders began to expect an accommo∣dation of all things, and the Nightingale, and Lioness proceeded on their Voyage, the Nightingale for Amboyna and Banda, the Lioness for Amboyna onely, who was shipwrack'd in her Voyage on an Island belonging to the King of Macassar.
The Macassars saved abundance of goods, which they restored to the own∣ers, onely detained such small part, as in right (according to the custom of the place) belonged to their King, and that would upon reasonable termes satisfie Page 83 them for their labour in preserving the goods: Upon this the Netherlanders be∣gin to threaten the Macassars, which the King resented very high, upon which the Chief of the Company in that place fled with his wife and Children, but Cor∣nelius Knight of Alemar, second man of the Company, who staid to execute his charge, was put to the sword with all the Netherlanders that stay'd with him; this happened in the year, 1665.
The Company to be avenged of this affront, set out the Heer Cornelius Speel∣man, with what Land and Sea sorces they thought necessary, and with them went the Malecontented Prince, Radia Palacca King of Bougis and his Allies, who have very much contributed to the Victory mentioned in this following brief Narra∣tive.
In November 1666. Admiral Cornelius Speelman sailed out of the Bay of Bata∣via, with 13 Ships extraordinarily man∣ned, and about the 20th of December ar∣rived before the City of Macassar, putting out the red flag, afterwards he Steered into the Bay of Turnate, and on the 23d. of December, burnt 10 Villages, with Page 84 much Paddy and Rice, and a new man of War, and brought off 14 Prisoners and 14 Heads.
On the 24th he arrived before Bonteyn, landed 10 Companies, burnt 30 Towns 100 Ships, and 3000 Last of Rice and Paddy, and this hapned in the Macassars Magazine.
December 31. He sailed towards Bou∣ton, a place belonging to Radia Palacca, and found it besieged by the Macassars, with an Army of 10000 men, and about 450 great and small Ships; here he land∣ed and burnt 60 of their Vessels, and ma∣ny of the People running away into Ra∣dia Palacca: The Macassars seeing their power weakened, broke up in the night, and set the place of their Camp on fire.
January 3. Three Principal Comman∣ders of the Macassars Army, with 5500 able men, submitted themselves to the East India Company; and being dis∣arm'd, were set upon in an Island be∣tween Boughton and Pontisiana, whereof 400 were made Slaves.
In the interim 5000 Bougis were run over from the Macassar to Radia Palacca with 86 Prows, so that with some strag∣glers, Page 85 there fell 11000 into the hands of the Company and 4000 Last of Rice.
With this success, the Admiral sailed to the Eastern Provinces, and having set∣led things there, returned the 8th of June from Amboyna, with 16. Ships, and 14 Shallops, whereof 4 were from the King of Ternate. The Admiral after∣wards coming near to Bontoin, found it strongly fortified and guarded with 6000 Macassars, and after several hot encoun∣ters, burnt all with little dammage. Af∣ter this, their Admiral set sail to Macassar, where on the 19th of July, they shot Brisk∣ly from the Kings Fort. Afterwards hap∣ned divers hot skirmishes, and then the Bonnese Army which came from Turata, consisting of 6000 men, landed with the Dutch before Glisson, besides these there were about 7000 Bougis and 3000 Ter∣natanes, and the King of Macassars For∣ces were about 20000. With which Ar∣my they fell upon Glisson, and after ma∣ny desperate encounters, it was taken by Radia Palacca and the Admirals party, by casting many hand Granado's and Fire-pots into their Forts: Afterwards the Enemy fled, and after several En∣counters, Page 86 where the Macassars had the worst, the City of Sambouca was besieg∣ed, and on the 24th of June, the Wall thereof blown up, which made the King of Macassar retire into the Land, and keep his Principal Residence at Goa. Where, being in want of all things, was forced to desire a Peace with the Dutch, which they granted upon such terms as they pleased themselves: Whereby all Forts towards the Sea, but such as the Dutch please to possess, shall be demo∣lished; The most considerable and best part of the Land made theirs, to Plant, and themselves freed from all Customs for the future, with several sums and feal∣ties to be paid to them for the present Peace.
I shall now onely add one instance or two, which will declare the demeanor of the Dutch in Japan, and then conclude with a brief rehearsal and bare recapitula∣tion of some injuries and abuses they have done to the English.
In the Year 1640. The Dutch make their addresses to Caesar, the chief Gover∣nour of the Japonians, and with all pos∣sible acknowledgments submissively pe∣tition Page 87 him to grant them the priviledge of building a house, wherein they pre∣tended to dispose of, and lay up their Merchandize, and also to have the Go∣vernour and Members of their Society inhabit; which being once obtained, they not onely raise up a sumptuous and beautiful building for habitation, but so strongly fortifie it, and in so convenient a Situation, that they seem to out brave and threaten the Japonians; and will they, nill they, to maintain their Resi∣dence there; so that now they have con∣fidence enough to monopolize all Wares, and put them off to the Japonians at what rate they list: But their subtle contri∣vances being brought under suspicion, were quickly discovered, and their towr∣ing ambition unexpectedly laid in the dust; for the Governour forthwith sent to them a great Band of Soldiers, with a Command, that they should either de∣molish their new petty Babel, or be im∣mediately put all to the Sword; but self-interest soon prompted them what they should do, therefore (though unwilling∣ly) yet with a seeming chearfulness they obey the Governors gracious command, Page 88 and most busily ply them to their new imposed task, laying wast that which they did so much pride themselves in and were at so great charge to get accom∣plished. And ever after their actions were more narrowly observed, and the Japonians claim'd the priviledge of pay∣ing them in their own Coyn, to wit, mo∣nopolizing all merchandize, and impo∣sing it on them at their own price. Thus you see the just recompense of ingrati∣tude.
But further, The Dutch seem to be a people wholly addicted to secular Inte∣rest, choosing rather to enjoy their lives and profits, than hazard either in propa∣gating the Christian Religion; for the Laws of the Japonian Kingdome being very strict and severe against Christians, whereby they are frequently persecuted and meet with grievous and lamentable tortures, to the end they may deny their Faith; the Dutch have not been observed at all to endeavour the promoting the Gospels publication, but rather submit∣ted to Heathenish dictates, so, that they may live without trouble and molestati∣on, than quit their Trade, and be depri∣ved Page 89 of their so sweet and delicious world∣ly gains.
And thus you have a brief account of the deportment of the Dutch in Forreign Parts, which sufficiently demonstrates their ingratitude and injustice to those they have had Commerce with.
But their indignities to the English ex∣ceed all in number and quality, which the time would fail to recapitulate, how they solicited our Queen, and yet co∣vertly applyed themselves to the French King: How they promised us Free Trade, yet stopp'd our Ships: How they bor∣rowed our Money to buy a Peace with Spain: How they admitted our Embassa∣dors to their supreme Senat, yet because they should not understand all debates, they presently set up a secret Council: How they intreated the Queen to send over the Earl of Leicester, yet abused him so far, that he quitted their unworthy Country, and left behind him a Medal whereon there was engraven, a Dog and a Flock of Sheep, with this Motto, Non oves sed Ingratos.
How they depended on our Field-Of∣ficers, and yet raised jealousies amongst Page 90 them one against another. How they delivered us the Caution Towns we had taken, yet were never quiet till we had trucked for them: How they owned King James their Protector, yet set up a blasphemous Reader (I mean Vorstius) in Competition with him: What earnest∣ness they used to disswade him from Al∣liance with Spain when they had a Corre∣spondent there.
How they complemented King Charles the First (of blessed Memory) when they disputed his right to his own Seas: How they protest their obligations to him, yet cheat us of the Impost upon their Herring-Fishing, and presume to fight with O∣quendo the Spanish Admiral in our very Havens: How they had their Agents here during our Civil War, under pre∣tence of Mediating our Peace, observing the Advantages they could make of our War.
How affectionately they there embra∣ced the King's Interest, and yet how sus∣piciously their Embassadors faulter'd a∣bout his Death.
How zealously they espoused his Ma∣jesties Interest that now is, while hope∣ful, Page 91 1649, 1650, 1651, 1652. (for a pre∣tence to hide their design of quitting the Homage they owed to England and in∣grossing its Trade) and when that was done, how cunningly they deserted it, from 1653, to 1660. How eager they were to entertain his Majesty (though not till they had assurance of his Restau∣ration) and yet how kind to his excellent Sister and her Son.
How instant for Peace at White-Hall, and yet how unreasonable in their Usur∣pations, Pyracies, Depredations and Surprizes in Africa and America? How ready to deliver the Pepper Islands, and what pretence from year to year to keep them: How earnest in solliciting a War with the Turks in Algiers, yet how trea∣cherous in deserting it: For having got∣ten the Royal assurance for their Aid, Sir John Lawson was appointed to attend their Service, and the Interest of Christen∣dome, but then they most perfidiously fell off without any notice of their departure, and made as fast as they could for Guiny to fight against his Majesties Subjects there, whilst his Subjects assisted them in the Streights. How importunate in their Ad∣dresses Page 92 for Peace, yet how diligent in their Preparations for War: How ready to make satisfaction for Old Injuries, when in the mean time they offer New Ones: How respectful to his Majesty in their Embassies, yet how abusive of his Person, Government and Relations, in their Li∣censed Libels and Pictures; what Civili∣ty, what Kindness pretended, yet how barbarous to our Prisoners at home, how severe to our Merchants abroad. Thus you have had some hints of the base and unworthy actings of the Dutch, whose several branches would admit their re∣spective aggravations, but that is left to the impartial and judicious examiner of each cause, for I never intended to cloth the Relation with Burlesque or Railery, but rather chose to publish the truth in its most becoming attire, brevity and per∣spicuity.
Thus have I given you an exiguous draught of our ignoble and ill natured Neighbours the Netherlanders, of whom, an ingenious Jocalist gives this description, That they rob God of his Honour, The King of his due; The Fishes of their Quarters; and burn up the earth before the day of Judg∣ment.
Page 93The Learned sort of Readers who would be further satisfied, may peruse these Pages in Varenius his History, where they may find these Passages.
In the Island of Japan, The Dutch ha∣ving leave to build a Ware house, made it a strong Castle against the King, p. 194.
Of 400000 Christians there massacred, the Dutch were the Occasion. p. 212.
And for obtaining of Trade, do dis∣semble all shew of Christianity, p. 208.
This Varenius was a Physician of their own Country, An excellent Geographer, who walking out in Holland to take the Air, never returned again, perchance being made away for discovering the iniquity of his Countrymen.
The next Royal Author I refer ye to, is the King, in His Majesties Decla∣ration published in 1672. Where, If you can peruse it with unbyassed Judg∣ment, you will find Provocations and In∣dignities too great, too manifest and too manifold for a Prince to pardon with respect to his own Soveraignty and his Peoples safety: Whom the God of Hosts prosper in these his hostile designes both by Sea and Land, and Crown all his Royal undertakings with Honor and Victory.
