An answer of the committee of seventeen representing the East-India Company of the Netherlands given into the States General of the United Provinces in answer to two memorials, the one given by Mr. Chudley, envoy of His Majesty of Great Brittain, and the other given by Mr. Chardyn, touching the affairs of Bantham.

••n Answer of the Committee of Seventeen, Representing the ••AST-INDIA Company of the NEATHERLANDS, given into the States ••eneral of the United Provinces; In Answer to Two Memorials, the one given by Mr. ••hudley, Envoy of His Majesty of Great Brittain, and the other given in by Mr. Char∣••yn, touching the Affairs of BANTHAM.

To the High and Mighty Lords, the States General of the Vnited Provinces.

High and Mighty Lords,

THE Committee of Seventeen, Representing the General Dutch East-India Company, in Obedience to a Letter from your Lordships, dated the 8th. of June, We have met in the Hague, and haveseen, read, and Examined two Propositions, the one by Mr. Cha••••∣ley, Extraordinary Envoy from His Majesty of Great-Brittain, which was first given by him by Word of mouth, and then in Writing, on the 25th. of last May: Th•• 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 desivered to the Deputies of your Lordships, first by word of mouth, and then in Writing, on the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of June last, by Mr. Chardyn, which agreed with the aforesaid Proposition of Mr. Chudley, in which Complains, That the Servants of this Company at Bavaria, have Outragiously and with force, ••ven the English Factors and others of that Nation, from Bantam; to which there are also other 〈◊〉〈◊〉: And that they desire your Lordships to withdraw your Garrison out of Bantum; As also, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Reparation of what Damages the Subjects of the aforesaid King have sustained in that Attack: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Propositions of Chardin; Kt. contain a Relation of several Attacks and particular Crimes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by our Nation there: Upon which, your Lordships, by your Letters on the aforesaid 2d. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 June, command Inspection into that Affair by this Committee, with due Respects we acquaint your ••••rdships, That as we came to compare these Complaints, with Letters and other Evidences, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Company has received out of the Indies, it appears by Essential and Notable Evidences, That the ••••mplaint of the English Company is Frivilous, and that instead of Complaints, they ought to own ••••emselves obliged in the highest to our Company, for the many Friendships, good Offices, and Assistance ••••at they have given and shewn in this Juncture of Affairs to them, as it is well known to the English Com∣••••••y in the Indies, and they have not failed to acknowledge it: And if pretences of Damages be made, this ••ompany has also somewhat to say on their part; as also no small Pretences to make, and to lay all ••ain naked to view, and to shew the groundlessness of the aforesaid Complaints and Demands arising ••ence, it's necessary therefore to be brief; Be it known, 'tis not the first time this Company ha•• had ••uarrels, nay, open War with Bantam. The Sultan, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of this present King, possessed with an ••mbitious Spirit, has not only at divers times injured others of his Neighbours, but also has used se∣••eral Outragious Violences, and made open War upon our Subjects of Bavaria at several times, parti∣••••larly in the Years 1657, 58, 59, the which War was ended in 1659, by a Treaty of Peace, &c. A∣••ongst which Articles was inserted, a Rule to be observed by those two Nations, by the aforesaid ••eace, was in a short time broke by the aforesaid Prince; first by Debauching, carrying away, and de∣••••ining of our Slaves, to a great number: after which, they went directly against Treaty, by detain∣••••g Free Inhabitants, nay Servants of the Company; and further, fell in a Hostile manner on our ••illages, Burning them anda Plundering them, and carryed away Men and Cattle; they also ••ell upon them by Water, both by Sea and on the Shore; they set upon our Sloops and Boats, ••nd threw the people over-board into the Sea, so Murdering them: They also fell upon the ••ompt••ir of the Company at Andrigry, upon the Sumatra, by Night, and did likewise Murder ••ur Factors, among which, was the head Officer; they went so far, that the Prince aforesaid, the more ••o stir up his Subjects to Murder and Pillage, he set a Premium of 20 pieces of Eight for every Head of •• Netherlander, and 10 pieces of Eight for the Head of each other Inhabitant of Bavaria, and not∣withstanding our continual Complaint, he deferred to Right us, but at last insolently told us, If we protected our Neighbours, which we were highly oblieg'd to do, he would declare War against us; and although our General and Counsel thought and wrote in Letters to us expressed, that they thought they ought to pay those of Bantam in the same Coin, which demonstrating the impossibility of bearing any longer the Injuries, Damages, and Offences, and keep Peace, where Ungodly Neighbours sought a War, yea, sufficiently did exercise it; so that they were forced to put themselves to as great a Charge to put themselves into a posture of Defence, but they were still dehorted from it, not so much out of fear that they could not succed in it against them, as so long as there was any hope of an Accomodati∣on, the Company could not get any advantage, although they got the better: As also, that the Euro∣pean Nations, especially the English, might not be damaged and disturbed; which Order was punctually observed by our General and Counsel there; nay, after the War in the Territories of Mattaram, in which the Company had brought the Sousouhounany Triumphantly off against his Rebels, which were assisted by the Bantamers, and by that means were in a good state to Revenge themselves as they would desire. The Case standing thus, and the old King searing he should be requited for his Outrages, it fell unexpectedly out, that on the of May, 80. two Ambassadors came from Bantam to Bavaria with a Train of 300 Persons and Credentials, from the young King, in which only his own Name was insert∣ed; whereupon some Reflections being made, the Ambassadors declared, That 7 days before the old Sultan Resigned up his whole Empire to his Eldest Son, the aforesaid young King, and that according to Custom in those Countries (at the change of Governors) they were come to renew their old Alliance and to Treat of Peace; and although the Resident of the Company at Bantam, came with them to

Confirm it; yet all Scruples arising from such an unexpected Providence, not being taken away, one 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the aforesaid Ambassadors returned to Bantam, from whence he brought more Satisfactory Evidences▪ Upon which, the Treaty began, although all old Contracts had been violated and broken, and all man∣ner of Hostillities both by Water and Land, were acted against us, for which we demanded Satisfact••∣on in very moderate Terms, that it might appear we sought nothing but a continuation of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Friendship: Upon which demands, the Ambassadors owned they were Convinced of the Injury do••∣us; but declared, they had no Orders to Treat about them, as being things done in the Reign of th•• Old King, saying, They were come only to Renew the Old League, and if there were any other Demands th•• must Address themselves to the King their Master at Bantam: Our Envoys were thereupon sent to Ba••∣tam to demand Satisfaction as aforesaid, but Excuses were made to decline the same, and 'twas pro∣posed notwithstanding to continue a good undertaking and Neighbourhood; in Conformity to which the aforesaid King forbid his Subjects (by Drum beat) not to do any Injury to our Subjects (upon grea•• Penalty) either by Water or by Land; further promising us, to restore all our ••ugitives, either Free men or Slaves: Further shewing us, That it would be acceptable to him if we Complemented th•• former King his Father, which they did, and he recommended it to them to hold a good Alliance an•• Neighbourhood with his Son: And it appears clearly, that the young King has since, only in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 own Name, exercised Regal Authority, by his sending Ambassadors to England in 1681. and als•• by the old Kings withdrawing from Bantam the Regal City; And further, by the Addresses made b•• other Nations to the young King, as alone in Regal Authority: And 'tis well known, the Father wa•• onely a private prince, and had reserved no part of the Soveraign Regallity of Bantam: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to what was Negotiated with the BANTAM Ambassadors in ENGLAND, we ca•• say nothing positively, but the World knows they were at their Departure, furnished with a grea•• quantity of Canon, and other Warlike Ammunitions, which the English East-India Company present∣ed; and that it's an old and substantial Complaint of our people at Bavaria, That the Old King o•• Bantam, has been several times furnished in the like manner from England, and he has been more an•• more animated thereby against us. After the settleing of the aforesaid Alliance with Bantam, ther•• happened in that Kingdom, great Factions and Divisions, as also great Jealousies arose between th•• Young and Old King; the Son complaining of the Actions of the Father, and the Father of the Sons insomuch that it seems the Father Repented his resigning up of the Kingdom to his Son. Now being in a private Capacity, began to Cabal against the Son, and to make a Party, insomuch that they strength∣ened themselves against each other; The Son at Bantam makes a Fortification, and the Father builds 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Stone Work at his Residence at Turtiassa, as also one on the River Tanara; which Fire, after a whil•• lying smothering, at last broke out into a light flame, and came to an open War, so that the Fathe•• Marches against the Son with the Forces he had gathered: and in the first place he took in Bantam and wasted and burnt it, and proceeded to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 himself Master of the whole Shoar, and the Forts upon it, as also of all the Passes, designing to force his Son in the aforesaid Fortress, and set a younger Son on the Throne.

The present King being brought to the outmost Extremity, by reason there was no access to him, but by those wel•• skilled in the ways, and that by stealth, he applyed himself to those of Bavaria, with earnest intreaty for assistance from the Companies, and to be taken into their Protection; declaring, without it he was not able to defend the Neatherland Lodge again•••• his Rebells; which Application being made on the 10th. of February, 1682. was not Precipitately granted by the General, and Council; but after long Deliberations it was resolved, to send a Friendly Mediation both to Father and Son; and two Letters were sent to Father and Son, by Major Stephen Martin, on the 16th. of March, to Bantam, but the Father would not re∣ceive them till the 17th. and then sent for them by English, French, and Danes, but vouchsafed no Answer holding. The afore∣said King in the mean time in the aforesaid Castle closer and c••oser besieged, so that Major Stephen Martin was obliged by many Letters from the Young King, to endeavour to Land, as being the only means to free him, but was opposed and hindred that day by the Rebels, whose Canons were most Traversed by English Canonneirs, and did much Damage both to the Ships and Men, of the Dutch Company; upon which the aforesaid Stephen Martin being reinforced with more Men and Ships, as also Orders to attempt again to Land, and releive the King, that was in the outmost Extremity; and at last, on the 7th. of April, they b••at off the Rebels for all the great resistance they made, and releived the King, and took in the Passes, with no small loss upon the of Bavaria; the Enemy shewed themselves in Acts of Hostiltiy, but they had such Reception, as made them March off in disorder, with the loss of which Actions under the Command of the aforesaid King, lasted till November last, according ••o our last Advice, which has been very chargeable to our Company. But at last the Old King and his Adherents were driven into Turtiassa, and the Hills Adjacent. Few days after the relief of the Young King, the English Company residing at Bantha••, sent Letters by some of their Company, Addressed to the General, and Council at Bavaria; and after Congratulati∣on of our success, destred them to lend them a Ship of 500 Tun, to fetch off, and Transport their E••••ects from Bantam, for which they offered to pay the Fraight. They also desired Liberty to hire a House in Batavia, to put their Goods in; and further, That they would give Orders the Servants of the Company, to Comport themselves according to the usual Love and Friendship of the Dutch, towards them. Upon which the Generals and Council, to shew their readiness and kindness, immediately lent them the Europe, a Ship of 1200 Tuns, and also allowed their Retreat to Batavia; thereupon they fearing to stay in Bantam any longer, with all secrecy Shiped themselves on Board the Return, without taking leave of the King, and retired to Bavaria, on the 18th. of April, leaving the gross of their Effects in Bantam; to-fetch which, there were three other Ships sent, viz. The new Midlburg, the Went, and the great Fly-Boat, Delphs-Haven; all which, with some of the English Company that were necessary to Ship the Goods, and enter them, returned to Bavaria, full Loaden with Peper, &c. As also the Houshold stuff of the aforesaid Company, to Bavaria; all which they could not have done, unless the Dutch Company had not interceeded with the King, and helped them: for that King and People were so set against them, that they could not get a Boat, nor a Porter to help Ship their Goods, but all was ••lone by help of the Dutch; the King being greatly Incensed at the Conduct of the English, as to himself, and was greatly wondered that the Dutch Companies should speak in their favour, or be helpful to them, by reason 'twas apparent, they by their Ar•• in Traverseing Guns, did most hurt to our Ships, as well as the Bostil. The Dutch Company also sustained great loss for want of four Ships so long; and although the English were obliged to give us our Ships sooner, especially when they had other Ships of their own from several Quarters, besides two English Ships belonging to particular persons, that were earnest∣ly desired by the Dutch Company, to Ship the aforesaid Goods: But the English imployed their Ships in other Expeditions, and let our Ships lye Loaden with their Effects and Lumber, before Bavaria.

The matter of fact being layed down in the aforesaid Relation, we refer it to the Wisdome of your High and Mighty Lord∣ships, to consider, whether or no there be any Foundation for such severe Complaints, and Demands of satisfaction for Dam∣mages and injuries sustained; as also to withdraw our Troops from thence.