A Terrible Sea-fight: RELATED IN The copy of a Letter sent to I. M. counsellor, Pensioner, and bailiff to the city of BATAVIA.  
CONCERNING The great fight between nine East India ships of the Hollanders, and three great galleons; which happened about Goas Bare in the East Indies, the 20.30. of September, 1639.  
GOD IS MY HELPER  
LONDON, Printed by Thomas Harper, for Nathaniel Butter. 1640.  
With Privilege.   

A true relation of a great Sea-fight between the Hollanders and Spaniards.  
AFTER that we had set out sail from Batavia's road, the 15.25. of July, 1639. we have speedily performed our voyage (God be thanked) as far as to the Baixos de Padua, which are very dangerous rocks and sands; but by the negligence of the Captains and Masters of the pinnaces, little Rotterdam and David, (which were sent out before to cast out every hour the lead) we were led with the whole Fleet towards the said rocks; insomuch that our Commander, looking out by day, upon the bank behind the gallery, perceived a great alteration of the water; wherefore he charged his Pilot to cast out the lead; which having done, found first of all fourteen, afterwards nine, and at last six fathoms of water, that we could see some of the rocks lie under water. The admiral perceiving this, made three or four shots, to give warning to the Fleet, and that the Pinnaces should come back again: And thus sailed back again from thence, as they came thither, thanking God almighty for his gracious keeping and protection. From thence we set our course towards the Malabaerish coasts; which having got in sight, about Cananor, and Mont Fremosa, we sailed along the wall; where, in divers tides, we met with two small vessels of Blackmoors, but they had free pass of the director Barent Pieters, one whereof was bound for Cananor, & the other for Calicut, which advertised us, that Daman and Dieu, being two strong Forts, and belonging to the Portugals, were besieged by the great mogul, and they believed that Daman was surrendered already.  
After that the foresaid Vessels had departed from our Commander, we went on again in our voyage, and the 18.28. of September, about evening, came in sight of us about Goas Bare, the Pinnaces Armuyen and Valkenburg, which at night came aboard of the admiral, relating unto him the news, which they had received upon Wingurla; because they had arrived upon Wingurla about eleven or twelve days before our coming. The next day after our Commander calling together the general counsel, communicated unto them that same, what he had understood by the principals of the aforesaid Pinnaces; namely that three galleons lay in the Bay of Goa Veille, under favour and safeguard of the Fort Mormagon, being not yet ready to go to sea & fight. Further, he desired the council to consider upon, what was best to do for the good and profit of the company. After many disputations and consultations, the council departed again from aboard in the evening, with order, that when the Commander, two or three hours before day light, did light again a candle, they, together with the military Officers, should come aboard again of the admiral. Having met together again, they unanimously resolved to surprise the enemy without delay▪ that he lay with the galleons under the protection and favour of the Fort Mormagon, the greatest difficulty was, that we knew not the depth or situation of the harbour: wherefore order was given, that the Pinnace David should betake itself to the right, and the Pinnace little Rotterdam to the left hand, sail forward, and cast continually out the lead: Having come close to the walls, some boats were set out to cast out the lead continually in like manner, and to give warning unto us.  
Afterwards order was given, that the ship Zierick-sea should sail out before: upon which the Commander himself went: him followed Armuyen, Valckenburg, Franiker, Bredamme, and the ships New Harlem, and Middelburg, should come as nigh as possibly they could; because the enemy lay so close under the wall, and the depth of the harbour was unknown unto us; and the said ships drew so deep water, and had also in them the cargozoens for Wingurla.  
In this order about noon, with the sea wind, we sailed towards the enemy (being under sail, the Vice-commander William Tiberius, who died the same morning, was set without the ship) having come under the Fort, they shot most fiercely out of the Fort, upon the Fleet: but we answered them in like manner. Seeing those of the Fort very perplexed, and timorous, (because we were not above a Musket shot from the Fort) we sailed to and fro along a wall or trench, which was drawn towards another small Bulwark, from whence they made likewise some shots. Being come near unto the ships, we found them to be the three great galleons; namely, Bon Jesus, Bon Ventura, and S. Sebastian: Bon Ventura lay ready for to fight, but not ready for sailing: The other two had none or few Canons in them, lying yet without carriages, because they expected us not so soon: yet afterwards we heard, that many free men, together with some volunteers, came out of Goa to afford their aid and help in the making ready of the aforesaid galleons, thinking to come out against the Pinnaces Armuyen and Valkenburg, which they had first perceived, but missed of it.  
Zierick-sea sailing out before, passed by the Forts; and the ships Armuyen and Valckenburg in like manner. The Commander with his boat departing from the ship Zierick-sea, gave order, that Franiker and Bredamme should make towards the galleon, Bon Ventura carrying about 80. brass pieces of Ordnance, let their Anchors fall; from which galleon they shot fiercely upon us, having come on the side of him, and being not half a Musket shot from it, they shot cross thorough and thorough our Pinnace, that it looked like a window where the glasses are beaten out: And thus we continued above three hours long, shooting against the said galleon; insomuch that the Pinnace Franiker received more shots than the whole Fleet together: All the Row horses, and pieces of Ordnance in the stern were shot in pieces; insomuch that we could not make one shot more from the stern against the enemy, what care soever I took, and what encouragement soever I gave to the remainder of our men (because I myself in person went continually to and fro, and the shipper was upon the decks) for we had in that Pinnace about 20 men killed, and about 40 wounded; insomuch that after the fight, we had not men to man the boat: whereupon presently afterwards were sent unto us to aid us, 20 men from other ships. Amongst the dead were divers of our Officers; as namely, the upper Pilot, high boatman, the cook, the cook's mate, gunner's mate, one or two Quarter masters: and all the other officers for the most part, wounded: Our shipper was hurt in his belly, in the head, and in one of his hands; but God be thanked) he hath recovered, and is now well again; I scaped free with a blue blow, and some other small hurts, I cannot give sufficient thanks unto God almighty for his gracious protection and keeping. Bredamme next to us received the most shots, the shipper John Symons Symein was in the first beginning killed with a shot thorough his body.  
Yet after this bloody fight God Almighty by his gracious help and assistance granted unto us the victory, unto whom is due all glory, praise, and thanksgiving now and for evermore.  
The Pinnace little Rotterdam, whilst we were shooting against Bon Ventura, laid aboard the galleon Bon Jesus, which lay before Bon Ventura, mastered the same, and set up the Prince's flags; because very few men were in her. Our Commander seeing this, went into the galleon called Bon Jesus, and called to the Portugals in Bon Ventura, that they should have good quarter, if they would yield: whereunto they, as stout soldiers, would not condescend nor hear of it upon no terms, but answered the Commander, that he should do his best: Whereupon our Commander gave order, that the Cable of Bon Jesus should be chopped off, which drove directly to the belly of Bon Ventura, so that his blind mast turned cross our Bon Jesus. The admiral asking them the second time, whether they would yield, or else he would fire them both; namely, Bon Jesus, and Bon Ventura. Whereupon they answered, that they would not yield: whereupon the Commander gave order, that Bon Ventura and Bon Jesus should be set on fire; notwithstanding they desisted not with their fierce shooting, till at last the fire got into the●r gunpowder, and was blown up. Bon Jesus after that it was on fire, drove a little off from the other.  
Whist all this passed, the galleon Saint Sebastian was likewise fired by the ship Armuyen: so that all three together at once were on fire, without the loss of any of our Pinnaces or ships, that the general and council of India had ordained the Pinnaces, Bredamme, little Rotterdam and David for fire ships.  
I am of opinion, if we should have lain with the Pinnace Franiker twenty paces nearer to the galleon, it would likewise have been in danger to be blown up, because our foremast, and some ropes were likewise blown up into the air; all our ropes and cords are spoiled, tha● they hung like cut yarn.  
After that Bon Ventura was blown up, some boats have been in the Ferry-water, to knock the Portugals in the head that lay in the water: yet after that they had killed some of them, our Commander bid them to give quarter; insomuch that we got prisoners above 100 men, about 50 white, and 50 Negroes, amongst which were two or three Priests, and four Lords of the cross, or Fedalges: the captain of the galleon was likewise taken up: our Commander entertains the said Lords and Patres at his own table in the Cabinet.  
At night we took up again our Anchors, and sailed again out of the Bay close under the Fort Mormagon, out of which divers shots were made, because they could very well see us by the flame of the burning galleons: yet at last we got out of their shot, and cast Anchor within two or three leagues of the wall.  
The upper Merchant, Peter Bad-neighbour is chosen by the council Vice-commander in place of the deceased Tiberius.  
The second of October, new stile, sailing towards Wingurla, we met two sail of ships, after which we pursued with the whole Fleet; but being our ships were so battered and spoiled, we were fain to desist from pursuing any further after them; and order was given that we should go with the Pinnace Franiker towards Wingurla; where we arrived the fourth of October. Afterwards came news that the Pinnace Bredamme had driven a small vessel to the wall; out of which the Portugals fled and made the vessel to leak: yet the Bredammes boat coming in haste to it, got into it, and kept it above water with pumping, till all the goods, consisting of ivory, or Elephants teeth, and other goods, were taken out of it, which were brought aboard of the commander's ship. Another galleon was pursued after the 2.12. of October, by the Pinnace Armuyen, which the same night overtook the galleon; and after that our Pinnace had fought a good while with it, it gave the slip again, and escaped. By nine prisoners taken by the Pinnace Armuyen with the boat of the said galleon, we understand, that it had in her above 80 dead, but was manned with above 400 men, being the galleon which went last year towards Daman: The other vessel that was chased to the wall, came out of Mosambique. The 10.20. of October the ships Middelburg, Armuyen and Bredamme, received order to go towards Cotcheyn to cross there, and to lie in wait for the enemy's vessels, which by this present might pass by Goa▪ The viceroy within Goa, is departed out of this life; in whose place by election, succeeds Don Antonio Teles, who last year was admiral of the enemy's Fleet The said viceroy reports, that he will come with all his frigates about 60 in number to visit us, which we long to see.  
There hath divers been aboard of the admiral, a Priest borne at Antwerp, to treat about the releasing of the prisoners; but hitherto he hath effected nothing, what further herein will be done, time will show▪ After the departure of the D. Caen, came hither upon Wingurla, a Mogoller, who was hired by the Portugals to massacre the great governor Mameth Radia, together with all the Hollanders, and some of the chiefest Merchants; for the execution whereof, he should be rewarded with eleven or twelve thousand Pageden, who ended his life as followeth: The aforesaid Mogoller, with a train of 25 persons, coming into Wingurla himself, together with another Mogoller, sitting on horseback, came before the lodging of the great governor Mameth Radia, who, at that time, was come to Wingurla to view his frigates: The Mogoller asking for him, was answered by the mameths' servants, that he lay and slept. At which the Mogoller replied, that he himself must see it; who going with another towards his chamber, (because he was well known, and had been always very familiar with the governor) opened the curtains, and found him playing with his child. The Mogoller drawing his Sable, chopped off one of his hands, thinking to turn off the blow with it, as also gave him a great wound in the neck; insomuch that he presently after died: From thence the Mogoller rode towards the lodging, to massacre the Netherlanders; he was twice beaten back from the moat: In the mean time an alarm rose amongst the governor's people, which flocked together about four hundred strong, killed fifteen or sixteen of the mogollers' men, took prisoners three or four. The Mogoller betook himself to flight; after whom they pursued with their naked Sables: whereupon the said Mogoller leaping with his horse into the water, thinking to swim over the river, was seen by some of the governors servants, which were in a house not far from the shore; they seeing their fellow-soldiers run with their naked Sables after him, stopped him, and shot him with a piece down from the horse, the rest gave him many cuts and blows after he was dead.  
Given at Wingurla, the 11.21. of October. 1639. A. S.   

Imprimatur.  
Philip. Minutolius.   

Printed for Nath. Butter, August. 8. 1640.