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§. V. Generall Middletons arriuall, the sickenesse and death of many. Quarrells twixt Ours and the Hollanders, begunne by Captaine Severson, a Dutch∣man, and the King of Bantams circumcision, and pompous Triumphes.
THE same day towards Euening, we descried our Ships comming into the Road,* 1.1 to all our extraordinarie great ioyes; but when we came aboord of our Admirall, and sawe [ 10] their weakenesse, also hearing of the weakenesse of the other three ships, it grieued vs much, knowing that Bantam is not a place to recouer men that are sicke,* 1.2 but rather to kill men that come thither in health. At my first comming aboord, I found our General, Captaine Henry Middleton, very sickly and weake; to whom I made relation in briefe what troubles we had passed; also I certified him neuerthelesse, we had lading ready for two ships, which was some con∣tent vnto his mind, very much grieued for the weakenesse of his men. They had hardly fiftie sound men in their foure ships, and of the sicke men a number died. Also of those that came thi∣ther in health, many neuer went out of the Road.
The foure and twentieth day, our Vice-Admirall, Captaine Coulthurst came a shore, with some other Merchants▪ on which day we executed this Villaine which we had lately taken.* 1.3 Ha∣uing [ 20] now slaine the fourth principall, and one more was kild for stealing of a woman: at my com∣ming away there remained foure aliue, of which, two were at Iacatra, one with Mandelicko the traytor, and one with Cay Sanapatty Lama, which we could not as then come by. The same day, our Vice-Admirall beeing accompanied with vs there resident before, and also some other of the newe Merchants, went to the Court to certifie the King,* 1.4 that our Generall had Letters from the King of England, with a present for him, and more to tell him our Generall was weary, hauing been long vpon the Seas, and so soone as he was a little refreshed, he would come himselfe to see him, and also to deliuer the Letters, and the Present.
The fiue and twentieth, being Christmas day, we dined aboord our Generall: but I should haue spoken before of a Counsell that was hol••en on Sunday, being the three and twentieth day, [ 30] wherein it was thought of all, that the Dragon,* 1.5 and the Ascension were fittest to goe for the Moluccos, for diuers reasons which need not here be rehearsed; and the Hector, and Susan to lade Pepper, and to be dispatched home. And the same weeke after, we were busied in getting of fresh victuals, Herbs, Fruits, and Flowers, for the recouery of our men,* 1.6 which were most pitiful∣ly payed with the Scuruy.
The one and thirtieth day, our Generall came on shore, and beeing accompanyed withall the Marchants that were in health, and diuers others, he went to the Court, and deliuered the Kings Letters and Present, the which were as followeth: One faire Bason and Ewre,* 1.7 two faire stan∣ding Cups, all parcell-gilt, one gilt spoone, and sixe Muskets with their furniture: the which were kindly receiued. A day or two after our General spent in visiting our chiefest friends, as the [ 40] Sabindar, the Admirall, the rich Chynois, and also gaue them Presents, who very thankfully re∣ceiued them. After this, we fell all to worke, both ashore and aboord, to packe vp, and take in goods for the Moluccos: but after our men were a little recouered of the Scuruy,* 1.8 the Fluxe tooke them, so that we continued still very weake in men, in so much, that it was vnpossible in mans iudgement, that euer we should be able to accomplish our businesse in that manner.
On Monday, being the seuenth of Ianuary, the Dutch fleet, being nine tall Ships, besides Pin∣naces and Slupes, set sayle for Amboyna, and the Moluccos, so that we rested very doubtfull a long time, whether our ships should get any lading in those parts that yeere, by reason of their number of shipping which was gone before ours. Neither could our Ships possibly goe sooner, by meanes of our weakenesse.
[ 50] The tenth of Ianuary, the ships that were bound home, began to take in Pepper, but they were so oppressed with sickenesse, that they could make no dispatch. The eighteenth day,* 1.9 our shippes hauing taken in all the goods which we thought meet for those parts, set sayle for the I∣lands of Banda, hauing their men for the most part extreame weake and sicke:* 1.10 but how they spent their time vntill their returne to Bantam, I must referre to their owne reports. Presently after the departure of these ships, the protector sent vnto vs to agree about Custome, the which we had thought we had known since our first shipping departed, but he asked many duties, which we neuer heard of before, & because I would not grant to pay thē, he cōmanded the Porters they should carry no Pepper: wherfore to preuent that this should not be a hinderance to vs in lading [ 60] our ships (for we had hinderance enough besides) I was forced to agree with him, to pay in hand according to that rate as our ships paid before, and to let the full agreement rest vntill the returne of our Generall, and he thought he did vs great kindnesse herein.* 1.11 It pleased God to take away the two Masters of these two ships which we were now a lading, Samuel Spencer, Master of the Hector, and Habbakuck Pery, Master of the Susan. Also William Smith, the principall Masters