AN Historical and true discourse, of a voyage made by the Admiral Cornelis Matelife the younger, into the East Indies, who departed out of Holland, in May 1605. With the besieging of Malacca, and the battle by him fought at Sea against the Portugals in the Indies, with other discourses. Translated out of the Dutch, according to the copy printed at Rotterdam.   printer's device of William Barret, featuring a gilly-flower (McKerrow 320) 
Imprinted at London for William Barret, and are to be sold at his shop in Paul's Churchyard, at the sign of the green Dragon, 1608.   

An historical and true discourse of a voyage made by the Admiral Cornelis Matelief the younger, into the East Indies, who departed out of Holland in May, Anno. 1605.  
IN regard that we began our voyage somewhat too late in the year, it fell out to be so much the longer, (as I wrote unto your worships in january last, from the Island Mauritio, by the Admiral Steven vander Haghen:) from whence we departed the 27. of january, and fearing the passage of those shallow places, we caused our Pinnasses or small boats to sail before, and in the night time to hang out Lanterns, by which means we got over the flats of Nazare, over the North point called Haya de Malsa, and Perodes Banhos, and made toward Chagros, but could not get thither by the North, and therefore took our course Southerly, and found no ground: from thence we passed between Pulo Malueo, and the Maldives, but saw no land until the two and twenty of March, yet we espied the Island of Sumatra, which is the point of Achin, but could not reach it.  
The 28. of january we drew near to the Nicobares, where we took in fresh water, and got some Coques Nuts, and a few Hens, in which place the inhabitants go altogether naked: there I thought to have gotten some Amber, which if I had stayed there, I might have got for five blanks. There our men went on shore, and having mustered, prepared some instruments of wood which I as then wanted.  
At which time our soldiers and Sailors, desiring to know to what parts they were bound (for that as than they began to murmur amongst themselves, saying, that they were not hired to fight on land (and some of the chiefest Sailors stoutly maintained it.) I showed them that the states commissaries Commission given unto me, was to besiege and win the town of Malacca, setting before their eyes what honour and great profit they were to expect from thence, together with the small peril which they had to incur: saying, that I would send them to no other place, but where I would hazard mine own life with them, promising them that if they chanced to win the town by force of assault, they should have the ransacking thereof, and if that they got it by treaty and composition, they should likewise have that they found therein, reserving some part thereof to fortify the town withal, wherewith they were much encouraged, and resolutely with one voice, cried out and said, that they were fully resolved to win the town, and with that resolution we sailed through the straits: and upon the last of April, arrived within half a mile of Malacca, with the loss of two men only, that died by the way.  
And being come before Malacca, I commanded that four ships that lay in the road, (whereof one was laden for China,) should be set on fire, but my commission being not observed, my men giving themselves to drinking, they let them make away, where they had three men slain, and fifteen wounded: but I willed them only to burn them, and not to ransack them.  
The next day after we consulted about our landing (for that order had been taken long before how we should land, and what every man should do) some were of opinion to land presently, others said that it was not expedient for us to land so hastily in a strange country, not knowing the enemy's forces, and that it was best for us to stay the coming of the King of Ihor that was looked for within eight or ten days, for we perceived a wood near unto the shore, much to the enemy's advantage to play upon us from thence, we not being able to pursue them, and therefore alleged that they thought it not good to put the whole Fleet in danger, before the coming of the King of Ihor: who being arrived with two or three thousand men, they said we might land boldly, and put our enemy in great fear: this was the judgement of the greater part of us, which did prevail, though I myself liked better of our present landing.  
The eight of May we landed with the King of Ihor, (who had about three thousand men with him,) and in our landing lost not one man; for the Portugals being two or three hundred, that stood ready on the shore to resist us, suddenly retired into the suburbs of the town, where they defended themselves till mid night, and then setting them on fire, and breaking the bridge, ran into the town. In my advise sent unto the Commissaries, I have declared what I have done before Malacca, until the eight of August, and what small aid and assistance we have received from the Ihorites, with the disorder and mutiny of our people, the strength of the town, their sallies out against us, and how they have with credit been driven back again by us, etc.  
At such time as we intended to remove our siege, in regard that the Portugese's Armado as then lay hard by Capo Rachado, which is about twelve miles from Malacca: they of Malacca thought verily either to spoil us, or to hinder our pretence (they of Malleyc being all gone aboard, except a hundred and twenty, or a hundred and thirty men,) and issuing out of the town with all the men they could make, set upon us, but we courageously drove them back again, with the loss of fifty of their men, and but one man of ours hurt.  
This done, for the space of two nights I was much troubled about shipping of our Ordnance, in regard that the stream was not swift, whereby the water could not get to the shore, & the ground very muddy, so that I could hardly get our Canon aboard, but God provided so well for us, that upon the 16. day we all got aboard, and left not any thing on the shore, having about three hundred hurt and sick men amongst us. Notwithstanding the 17. of August we set forward to encounter our enemy, whose Fleet was 14. Galleons, 4. Galleys, and 15. or 16. Fustes or Frigates, and two or three Galleons, came two or three days after unto their Fleet: that evening we shot against them, and chased them, but in the night they put on more sails, and we following after them all the next day, holding our course Northerly. The next night following I laid me down to sleep, for I had taken no rest in three days and three nights before, being much busied about our Ordinance: In the mean time Dyrick Moll master of my ship came unto me, showing me that the enemy outsailed us, ask me whether we should put on any more sails, I answered, yea; and willed him at any hand to keep them still in fight. Not long after that he came again, and told me that the enemy had cast Anchor, whereupon I charged him to Anchor also, and to keep above the wind: The rest of our ships anchred loofeward, a Canon shot wide from the enemy. In the morning before the break of day, I caused a piece to be shot off, to warn to set sail, for as then the enemy had gotten somewhat more, and had the loof of us: and at the same time also shot off a warning piece unto his ship. Our ship called the Nassau, was long winding up of her Anchor; and before I could make signs unto her to cut the cable, a Portugal ship aborded her, which I perceiving, wound my ship about to aid her, but the Sea was so calm, that I could not reach her, but by force boarded Simon Man, and could by no means get from him. The Admiral Alioza de Caruailla, seeing us fast together, boarded Simon Mavor, and Henrico de Loroinge boarded me, (these two were the greatest Galleons the enemy had): after that came Duarte de Guerra, and fell also upon me, wherewith we gave fire on all sides, at which encounter most part of Duarte de Guerras men were killed, and he himself also: Alioza de Caruailla forsook his ship, and was likewise slain: Don Henrico received more than a hundred shots through his ship.  
Afterwards Claes Gherritsz Master of the Mauritius, fell upon Duarte de Guerra, and set her on fire, whereby our blind also was set on fire: the other Portugal ships would have set upon us, but durst not for the fire, mean time I cast out an Anchor which was cut off by my men, but they said that it was done by the fire. The Mauritius loosed himself, & Simon Man of Middleborough drove from us, with Duarte de Guerra, and Alioza de Caruailla, but the people for the most part were all slain, I having cast out another Anchor, called unto them to cast one of their Cables unto us to stay them, but the noise was so great that they heard us not, so that they burned all together. Simon Mavor saved the most part of his men, except eighteen that were hurt, and some that were taken prisoners, that were afterwards released by my means. I was still fast grappled to Henrico, to whom I promised his life if he would yield, (for he could not defend himself, which he promised to do, many of his men being very desirous to come over into our ship, but I refused them (yet twelve of them came aboard) fearing that my men would fall to the spoil, for they had twice more men than we, and our anchor would not hold, and still the enemies fleet approached, we being very weary, my Master and my Captain being slain, and the chief Merchant hurt, whereof not long after he died, and I was forced to be present at every conflict. Whereupon I commanded Don Henrico to cast out anchor, but he excused himself, saying, that he was not able to do it, for which cause I sent a man to look whether it were so or not, which gave himself to the spoil; then I sent an other that took the masters Whistle from his neck, but coming back again, said that the ship was full of dead men, and that the anchors were lost, and the cables shot in pieces, by the Canon shot. whereupon I caused a Rope to be brought out at the Stern, to fasten it unto us. In the mean time our anchor took hold, and his ship broke from us, and so I lost my prize: which shows that they which make many delays, are often disappointed, so that it seems that marshal affairs must be undertaken with quick and speedy resolution. This grieved us much, but there was no remedy: This happened about evening.  
One of the enemy's ships also boarded the Nassau, at which time also their Viceroy fell upon him on the other side, but could not win him, and therefore set the Gallery, and the Stern of her on fire, and so she was burnt, the Viceroy likewise had been burnt with her if the Galleys had not plucked him away by force.  
The most part of the nassau's men were saved: Mauritius and the Black Lion thought to have fallen upon the Viceroy; but the wind was too calm, the rest of our ships did their endeavours, but there were some fainthearted amongst them, notwithstanding we held out, and fought all that day, although unfortunately with loss of two ships on either side.  
The next day being the nineteen of August, all our ships being repaired, we resolved to recover our losses, for the which we were much grieved, but if the Nassau had cut her Anchors in time, we had not boarded one the other, and it had fallen out better for us.  
The twentieth of August we fell to it again, although I found not my men so ready and resolute as before, for those that had escaped out of the ships that were burnt, especially they of Middleborough, asked me where they should have their months pay, whereunto I answered, that it was then no time to speak of such matters; and that I knew not how the Commissaries would understand these things, and yet I said I was informed that they had behaved themselves valiantly, and that therefore it was no reason but that they should have their due, and that to my power I would defend and maintain them in all just causes. Within an hour after, the men of my ship also came unto me, and demanded security for their months pay; or else they said they would not fight: they had some setters on, which as yet I dare not name. This made me half abashed, yet I used all the means that I could possible to appease them, and at the last they seemed to be contented.  
About the evening we approached the enemy again, and then I first observed what danger the words (of respective ships) set down in our Articles brought us into: for by means of the loss of the two ships aforesaid, every one drew back from joining with the enemy, being loath to use his hypoteke or assurance, whereby we were not half so forward to set upon our enemy as we were at the first; for not so much as a Swabber in the ship but he would dispute upon the words of Respective ships, for whereas it is said, that for the assurance of their pay, they shall have the ship wherein they served, and the goods that were in it and no more, every one was careful for his own.  
That day and the next we shot divers times at the Viceroy, but I perceiving that we had not powder enough to overcome such an army, nor bullets to serve our turns, though I had caused some to be made before Malacca; but not sufficient, we left off.  
The ships that stayed behind came near unto the enemy, that had his rowing Pinnasses, wherewith he could fetch water when he would, and in our sight carried his hurt men to Malacca, whereupon we called a counsel together, and resolved to go to Ihor, chief to release our ships, for it seemed that our enemy could sail better than we, as also to refresh out sick men, to make Bullets, and to encourage the King: this we performed at Ihor, which hath one of the best rivers of the world: there we made Bullets, but could get but little refreshing for money, I also encouraged the King of Ihor, counseling him to fortify his town, and showed him how he should do it, which at last was begun, and had soon been finished, if the Hollanders would have wrought.  
We departed thence the thirteen of October, and the twentieth came before Malacca, and for the space of six days lay in sight of the Town, but could not approach near unto it by reason of the wind, so that the enemy placed all his ships, being seven Galeons' and three Galleys (for the fourth was shot to pieces by Capo Rachado) in a row, and all his Canon on the one side. We thereupon taking counsel resolved to set upon the enemy, but because we had little provision of powder, and a long journey to make homeward, and perceiving that we could not separate their ships with shooting, we agreed that three of our ships should board them, which I thought to have done in the night time, taking with me the Sun, and the Froninee of Delse, but could not by reason of the stream: the morning being cool and clear, and fit to take something in hand, the wind coming from the land, and we lying Northerly from the road, we made sail, meaning to fall upon their ship that lay most Southerly and most beneath the stream, for the water began to turn, but the wind was so sharp, that I could scant pass by the road, so that we approached near to Illa das noas, and wound about it, but could not set upon any of them, but upon that which lay Northerliest (which was the greatest Gallion next unto the Viceroys, and had in her nineteen Brass pieces, and three Iron pieces, a hundred and three score Portugese's, and as many Moors (I willed my master called Simon Lambrechtsz Man, whom I had taken into my ship, in the steed of Dirick Moll that was slain, to set upon her. We were forced to pass by all the ships of the enemy, not without some hurt unto us, but I shot not at all, rescuing every thing ready until our aboarding, but when we were half way forward amongst the enemy's ships, my Master and the Pilot counseled me to turn our course, to whom I made answer, that I wanted no advise nor counsel, to delay them of till we were aboard the Gallion, and so held on until we boarded her, and so let a Drag fall, appointing ten Musquetters to keep it, and to hinder that the enemy should not lose it, which the enemy sought to do: I willed them also to shoot continually towards their Mersch, and from our Mersch and garnates, I caused stones and fire-balles to be cast, whereby the enemy was driven under his net. And as soon as I had fastened upon him, the Sun fell on his other side, and the Province came behind us, and broke his Spritt against the enemy's ships, the Galion had an anchor before the flood, and a cable fastened at the Viceroys ship, but the cable was presently cut in pieces, as also the cable that fastened the Viceroy unto him, and so we drove together towards the Lee: the other Portugals perceiving that, hoist their sails (which was that which I aimed at, to draw them from the wall,) and made to seaward. We fell upon the Saint Nicholas, and killed all the men, except eight Portugal's, that hid themselves under the Ballast, and so we took her.  
My Master and the Pilot said, that it was not expedient that two of our ships should be bound to one ship, and that we should leave the Sun alone with it, and fall upon the Viceroy that drew near unto us, which counsel I liked not, fearing to have the like chance that I had with Henrico.  
A little while after Roobol Master of the great Sun, called unto me, to pray me to let him alone in the ship, and that he would carry it to the Sea, which I would not consent unto, but perceiving that I could not do any thing to my mind, I left it: and presently the weather was very calm, the Portugese's ships lay loofeward from us, whereof one made towards the great Sun, but he could not, fearing to be clapped on board by us, we perceiving that the calm either hindered us to come together; I sent a boat to Roobol willing him to set fire in the ship, where unto he answered that I should hold my peace, and said he would not do it, in the mean time he got himself lose, by what means I know not, and hoisting up his great sail, ran more than a mile from the Fleet not once looking back: In the mean while two Portugal ships boarded the vice-admiral, against whom came Mauritius and the Black Lion, and behaved themselves so well, that the one of th'enemies' ships was burnt, and the other spoiled. The Erasmus set upon a portugal, but they were presently separated again, and I sailing by him willed him to board him again, which he did, but they were presently separated again. The great calm hindered me that I could not come near them: after that a whirlwind rising, scattered the ships; and with that Mauritius made towards the Portugal again, Erasmus and I also turning towards him, which the Portugal perceiving, yielded unto us, where we killed four and forty Portugese's, and took out of her eight pieces of brass, and so set fire on her. In the ship which the vice-admiral burned there was not so much as a cat or a dog saved: The ship that Roobol did let go, was driven by the Galleys to the shore, and so the evening came upon us.  
The next morning, the Vizeroys' ship lying foremost, I made towards him, but my Master and Pilot told me that I could not reach him; for which cause I made to the Galion Saint Simon, that yielded itself unto me, for the men were most of them run from him: the Captain with twenty men only remaining in her: out of her I took fourteen pieces, some flesh, wine, and powder, and so set it on fire.  
This (thanks be unto GOD) was the success of our battle, without any great loss of men, we burned three Galleons, wherein many Gentlemen were slain, and above four hundred Portugal soldiers, as I was after informed by certain intercepted letters; we ourselves made our victory bloody, for our men were so divilishly given so seek after prey and booty, that rowing round about the Gallion that burned, they fell to ransacking the men that swum in the water, whereby the fire got into the powder, and burnt three of our boats, wherein we lost four and twenty men of the White Lion, eighteen of the Black Lion, eleven of the Vice-admiral, seven of the Province, and five of the great Sun. God forgive them their oversight.  
The eight and twenty day we went again towards Malacca; intending to burn the Viceroy and the Paul, but as we had concluded the evening before to perform it: the next morning the Viceroy himself caused fire to be put into three of the Galleons, so great was their fear: I seeing that presently retired, thinking them to be fire ships sent for to burn us.  
After that I made agreement to release the Portugese's, that were in all a hundred seventy five, and as many Moors, upon condition that the Viceroy should send me all my Duch-men that were prisoners in Mallacca, and that he had in any place within the Indies; and that three Captains, Christianus Swarez, Andreas Peso, and Ferdinando Marcado, should pay five thousand Ducats for their ransom, which should be divided amongst our men.  
Which accordingly was performed, beside a thousand Ducats which are not yet paid, for two Portugese's, whereof one left his brother with me in hostage: This money I divided amongst the Sailors, every one having five rials of eight, (for the Ducats make but six rials) to make them the willinger to set upon the rest of the Armado that was gone to Nisobaer. The chief thing worthy the noting was that when I came the second time within the sight of Mallacca, there rose a mutiny in some of the ships saying that they would not fight, and alleging that they entered not into service to that end, saying that it was true that they had made me a promise to make a trial upon Nisobaer but that they said was performed before Mallacca: and also at Capo Rachado, as they supposed: the most part of them yielded to reason, but those of the Vice-admiral said they would give ear to nothing, so that I was forced to use some threatening words, and said that for all their denial the matter should not go as they would have it, and so willing, nilling, they went on with the rest.  
Thus I went with all the ships to Nisobaer, though I intended to have sent the White-Lyon and the vice-admiral toward; Bantham, there to take in their lading, and the next year to be at home: but the most voices would have us all to go together to Nisobaer, and to try whether we could separate their ships, which we hoped to find all dispersed, as also to get the King of Queda on our side, to the end that no victuals should be carried from thence to Malacca, and so we came before Queda.  
The nineteen of November I offered my service unto the King, showing him that I was come thither to help him for to drive the Portugese's out of his dominions, and to chase them from his Haven, according to his letters written unto me, and sent to Batasaner, and that I was desirous to lad a ship there, because his name was not yet known in our country, which I said would tend unto his honour and profit. The King glad to hear that, prayed me to help him to take a Pourtugale ship and two Fregattes that lay in the river: whereupon I presently sent three Boats that the same night set those three ships on fire, after that the Maleyes had taken the goods unwares out of them, for I charged my men to take nothing from thence, there I took a praw coming from Malacca, and therein some letters, containing that their Armado was not far from Paulo Bouton, and meant to sail to the Indies the fourth of December: therefore I made hast to follow them, before that the four Fregattes with a hundred and four and twenty men and munition of war, should come unto them, and join with them.  
The ninth of December we got to Paulo Bouton, and saw the Armado, which no sooner perceived us, but they retired to a place where they had stream and wind to their advantage, and made themselves fast with four cables before and behind, and with a cable that reached from the one ship to the other, and lay in such manner that we could not come near unto them, unless we would wind ourselves on board of them in the night, I sent diverse ships unto them, but could do nothing. Then we prepared a fire ship, thinking under the shot of our Cannon to get near them, but it would not be: they had placed all their Canon on the one side, and in the midst all along their ships they had laid Trees and Pipes filled up with sand, and had insconsed themselves in such manner, that they could turn and wind their ships as they would, and discharge their Cannon at their pleasures, having a Northerly wind that blew strongly out of the valleys, so that we sought to get near unto them.  
When we came towards the point of the land, it was there calm under the high land, and coming near unto them, the wind blew out of the Valleys, so that if we would board them, we could not, unless we would burn ourselves with them, which they desire, (as it appeareth by the letters of the Viceroy) for they make their reckoning that they have won victory enough if by burning of two of their ships, they burn one of ours: for the King cares not for his ships, so he may thereby find the means to hinder the Hollanders from their Navigation.  
It was not good for us to stay there any longer, for every day we lost our anchors, so that our resolution was to go to Pulo Lankevi, where they must of force stay, if they would go for Mallacca, that so we might set upon them in the main Sea. The twentieth day lying under Lankevi, six miles from Poulo Bouton, we determined to send the white Lion to Queda to see if she might get three or four hundred bales of Pepper there, because at Dachin she should find lading enough to serve her turn: But they could get nothing in Queda: For when they begin to gather the new Pepper, the old is gone, which is worth four and twenty rials in Cosgie, and in Ihor, and so went to the rest of our ships again, lying under Pulo Lankevi to watch for the Portugese's.  
The nine and twentieth day the King of Queda (after that I burned the Portugals ships in his River) caused twenty Portugals to be killed, thinking so to do me a great pleasure therein, because I had sent him word that he should show some signs by his actions, that I might conceive him to be my good friend. Your worships may judge hereby what affection he beareth unto the Portugals: From thence there is nothing to be brought away but Pepper and victuals, whereby those of Mallacca are sustained: this people always hold with the stronger part. In the delivering of the Portugal prisoners unto the Vice roy before Mallacca, I had like to have been betrayed, for whereas I was so liberal that I gave a hundred and scutcheon Portugese's, and as many Moors, for five or six of my men which they had (but I reserved the Captains and three or four more for to get the three thousand ducats aforesaid) I sent a note by a Portugal on shore, to will the Viceroy to send me my men, and I would send him all his soldiers hole and deceased, which if he refused and held me in suspense, I said I would cast all the Portugese's overboard, he returned with a note, whereby the Viceroy willed me to send him the Portugese's, & sent me a bill of all their names both soldiers & Captains & all others that were in my hands, & when my messenger showed me that the prisoners were in danger of their lives; Andrew Hurtado made answer let him kill them, the rest will fight better an other time, which when I understood, I returned the messenger presently again with this answer that if in the morning before Sun rising he did not send me all my Dutch men I would kill all the Portugese's; for I perceived that the Viceroy delayed me off; he returning brought with him three Duch-men, for there were no more in the town, the rest were in the Armado at Poulo Bouton: which he promised to send, mean time I had called a Council together, and my white flag hung out, and certainly if he had stayed but two hours longer, these hundred and scutcheon Portugese's had been cast overboard, for a warning unto them, not to mock with us another time, for when they have their desires, they scoff at us, and esteem us to be men that know not the course of the world, and that dare not (because of the reverence we bear unto them) offend them anyway, and thus the boast before the Indian Princes.  
I thought to have sent a letter to the Viceroy, but deferred it for certain causes, until some fit time, to let him understand that we intended to make warlike soldiers, and that if he would deal hardlier with my men that he should take, than I had hither to done with his, he would find himself greatly deceived, and that if he thought to stop my mouth with the Inquisition and such like masquerados, and so keep and consume my men in his country, saying that he could do nothing against th'Inquisition, I and those that shall come after me to the Indies, would make war against th'Inquisition, and cast all their shaveling friars overboard, which would concern the Inquisition and not him. May it therefore please the States to take such order that these fellows may no longer terrify us with their vizards: And thus much I caused to be said unto the Viceroy himself by the Captains that were prisoners.  
Mean time I sent a Praw from Queda to Pulo Lankevi with one of my men in it, to see whether the enemy lay still at Poulo-bouton, who returned answer the nine and twentieth day, that they were yet there, and brought two boy's prisoners with him, that told me that they had sent a Galliot to Mallacca to have advise from the Viceroy, to know what they should do, whither they should return to the Indies or to Mallacca, for they durst not leave their advantage, without command: they said also, that when I thought to have set on them with the fire-shippe and shot upon them, that twenty men were killed in the Admiral, seven in john Pintos ship, and eight in jacomo de Mararis his cousin's ship wherein they went, but what was done in the other ships they knew not.  
I perceiving that there was no lading at Queda, and that the enemy would not leave his place of advantage, and that my time drew near to go to the Molucques, durst not stay any longer, for Amboine was of force to be fortified, whilst Ternate was taken in by those of Manilles, where the Governor Don Pedro de Sousa with a thousand two hundred Spaniards and eight hundred Indians was come, and had taken the King prisoner.  
Therefore we concluded, that the vice-admiral with the White Lion, and the great Sun, should go for Achin, to see if they by any means could make the like agreement with the King, as we had made with the King of Ihor, and to give the White Lion her full lading, and so send her homeward, as also for to take in his own lading if he might, if not to go presently for Bantam, and there to take in their lading, and so to return homeward, if he could be ready against the last of February, or the middle of March at the furthest, and to send the great Sun to the coasts of Cormandel, but first to sail by Puncto de Galli under Celon, and there to traffic and stay until the last of February, looking for the ships of Bengale, and other places, which at that very time came from Couchien, and then were to go towards Masolipatan, hoping that they shall find traffic enough for Pauwels van Sold, being in the Ship called Delfte, hath (as I understood of the Portugals that were taken before Queda) gotten three hundred bales of Cotten, linen painted, and also some Pintadoes.  
I intended to go the inner way to Bantam with six Ships, to see if I can make agreement also with the King, and from thence to take our voyage towards Amboyna and the Molucques, for Amboyna must necessarily be fortified, and we must try once again to get the Molucques. Those of Banda play the beasts: some resolution or other must be taken, for our men with their goods, that are there not assured of their lives, and the goods of the company are much endangered. From thence we will make towards China, and try what we can do there.  
In the boat which I took before Malacca upon the three and twentieth of October, I had seven and thirty bales, most part linen cloth, and some Spanish Leather, whereof seven I sent by the same boat to Amboyna, with four thousand rials, four and forty men, and forty Negroes, and the half part of his lading of Rice, that was spoiled: and to go to Maraza to buy good Rise, Flesh, and some Pintadoes or Cotton, Painted cloth, for to carry to Amboina, and to tell them that I would follow after them in the end of December: The other seventeen Bales I gave to our Sailors for a prize, with a Bale of thread, to make them the more willinger and readier to fight, for that they had gotten but little booty. I hope we shall find lading at Amboina and Banda, for the Pintadoes or Cotton cloth of Panwels' van Sold, shall no doubt have prepared something for us.  
I perceive full well that we shall have long work to do about the Molucques, and that the time will fall out too short for us to go to Mouson in China; but time will teach us what is to be done: if we assure not Amboina, all our labour is in vain, it is also against my opinion that the Spaniard should come thither.  
The General Don Pedro de Sousa is made Marquis of Ternate: The King that is taken is carried to the West Indies, but his son is left with the King of Sidor, I was in good hope to have performed something, but my army is too much weakened, and I find what hurt I received from the ship that was burning before Malacca, for there I lost the best men in my ships: it is a strange thing that they are so rashly and rudely given to the spoil, yet notwithstanding I must be content and hold my peace.  
Your worships may hereby perceive, how we have behaved ourselves these nine months here in the straits, sometime fortunately, and sometime crossly, but always have done the best we could, following your worship's council. I never wanted will nor courage to do any service for my country, and though I have not done as I would or desired, yet I have performed what I could, as it is manifest by the premises. I comfort myself with this saying: That it is enough in great matters to will well, the Tree falls not at the first blow: if I could have overthrown those seven ships that lay still at Paulo Bouton, our time had been well spent, but we thought it not expedient to spendall our powder and munition. We have yet a long journey to make, we must not be too prodigal: I have written my whole mind to the general company, what means there are to begin war again.  
The Almighty GOD give us a prosperous voyage, that all our endeavours may tend to the good of our native country, and of the worshipful company.  
The 6. of january 1607.  
FINIS.