A true relation of a great Sea-fight between the Hollanders and Spaniards .

AFTER that we had set out sail from Batavia's Rode , the 15.25 . of Iuly , 1639. we have speedily performed our voyage ( God be thanked ) as farre as to the Baixos de Padua , which are very dangerous rockes and sands ; but by the negligence of the Captains and Masters of the Pinaces , little Rotterdam and David , ( which were sent out before to cast out every houre the lead ) we were led with the whole Fleet towards the said rockes ; insomuch that our Commander , looking out by day , upon the bank behinde the Gallerie , perceived a great alteration of the water ; wherefore he charged his Pilot to cast out the lead ; which having done , found first of all fourteene , afterwards nine , and at last six fadomes of water , that we could see some of the rockes lie under water . The Admirall perceiving this , made three or foure shots , to give warning to the Fleet , and that the Pinnaces should come backe againe : And thus sailed back again from thence , as they came thither , thanking God Almightie 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 Vessells of Black-moores , but they had free passe of the Directour 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 Mogoll , and they beleeved that Daman was surrendered alreadie .

After that the foresaid Vessels had departed from our Commander , we went on again in our voiage , 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 aboord of the Admirall , relating unto him the newes , which they had received upon Wingurla ; because they had arrived upon Wingurla about eleven or twelve daies before our comming . The next day after our Commander calling together the generall Counsell , communicated unto them that same , what he had understood by the Principalls of the aforesaid Pinnaces ; namely that three Gallions lay in the Bay of Goa Veille , under favour and safeguard of the Fort Mormagon , being not yet readie to go to sea & fight . Further , he desired the Councell to consider upon , what was best to do for the good and profit of the Companie . After manie disputations and consultations , the Councell departed againe from aboord in the evening , with order , that when the Commander , two or three houres before day light , did light againe a candle , they , together with the militarie Officers , should come aboord againe of the Admirall . Having met together again , they unanimouslie resolved to surprize the enemie without delay ▪ that he lay with the Gallions under the protection and favour of the Fort Mormagon , the greatest difficultie was , that we knew not the depth or situation of the harbour : wherefore order was given , that the Pinnace David should betake it self to the right , and the Pinnace little Rotterdam to the left hand , saile 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 saile out before : upon which the Commander himselfe went : him followed Armuyen , Valckenburg , Franiker , Bredamme , and the ships New Harlem , and Middelburg , should come as nigh as possibly they could ; because the enemie 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 Cargozoen for Wingurla .

In this order about noon , with the sea winde , we sailed towards the enemie ( 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 verie perplext , and timerous , ( 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 neere unto the ships , we found them to be the three great Gallions ; namely , Bon Iesus , Bon Ventura , and S. Sebastian : Bon Ventura lay ready for to fight , but not readie 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 voluntiers , came out of Goa to affoord their aid and helpe in the making ready of the aforesaid Gallions , 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 maner . The Commander with his boat departing from the ship Zierick-sea , gave order , that Franiker and Bredamme should make towards the Gallion , Bon Ventura carrying about 80. brasse pieces of Ordnance , let their Anchors fall ; from which Gallion they shot fiercely upon us , having come on the side of him , and being not halfe a Musket shot from it , they shot crosse thorow and thorow 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 Gallion ; insomuch that the Pinnace Franiker received more shots then the whole Fleet together : All the Row horses , and pieces of Ordnance in the sterne were shot in pieces ; insomuch that we could not make one shot more from the sterne against the enemy , what care soever I tooke , and what encouragement soever I gave to the remainder of our men ( because I my selfe in person went continually to and fro , and the shipper was upon the deckes ) for we had in that Pinnace about 20 men kild , 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 boats-man , the Cooke , the Cookes mate , Gunners 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 againe ; I scaped free with a blew blow , and some other small hurts , I cannot give sufficient thankes unto God Almightie for his gracious protection and keeping . Bredamme next to us received the most shots , the shipper Iohn Symons Symein was in the first beginning kild with a shot thorow his body .

Yet after this bloudy 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 aboord the Gallion Bon Iesus , which lay before Bon Ventura , mastered the same , and set up the Princes Flagges ; because very few men were in her . Our Commander seeing this , went into the Gallion called Bon Iesus , and called to the Portugals in Bon Ventura , that they should have good quarter , if they would yeeld : whereunto they , as stout souldiers , would not condiscend nor heare of it upon no termes , but answered the Commander , that he should do his best : Whereupon our Commander gave order , that the Cable of Bon Iesus should be chopt off , which drove directly to the belly of Bon Ventura , so that his blind mast turned crosse our Bon Iesus . The Admirall asking them the second time , whether they would yeeld , or else he would fire them both ; namely , Bon Iesus , and Bon Ventura . Whereupon they answered , that they would not yeeld : whereupon the Commander gave order , that Bon Ventura and Bon Iesus should be set on fire ; notwithstanding they desisted not with their fierce shooting , till at last the fire got into the●r Gun-powder , and was blown up . Bon Iesus after that it was on fire , drove a little off from the other .

Whist all this passed , the Gallion Saint Sebastian was likewise fired by the ship Armuyen : so that all three together at once were on fire , without the losse of any of our Pinnaces or ships , that the Generall and Councell of India had ordained the Pinnaces , Bredamme , little Roterdam and David for fire ships .

I am of opinion , if we should have laine with the Pinnace Franiker twenty paces neerer to the Gallion , it would likewise have been in danger to be blowne up , because our fore-mast , and some ropes were likewise blowne up into the aire ; all our ropes and cords are spoiled , tha● they hung like cut yarne .

After that Bon Ventura was blown up , some boats have been in the Ferry-water , to knocke the Portugals in the head that lay in the water : yet after that they had kild 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 Crosse , or Fedalges : the Captaine of the Gallion was likewise taken up : our Commander entertaines the said Lords and Patres at his owne table in the Cabinet .

At night we tooke up again our Anchors , and sailed againe 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 Gallions : 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 Councell Vice-commander in place of the deceased Tiberius .

The second of October , new stile , sailing towards Wingurla , we met two saile of ships , after which we pursued with the whole Fleet ; but being our ships were so battered and spoyled , we were faine to desist from pursuing any further after them ; and order was given that we should goe with the Pinnace Franiker towards Wingurla ; where we arrived the fourth of October . Afterwards came newes that the Pinnace Bredamme had driven a small vessell to the wall ; out of which the Portugals fled and made the vessell to leake : yet the Bredammes boat comming in haste to it , got into it , and kept it above water with pumping , till all the goods , consisting of Ivorie , or Elephants teeth , and other goods , were taken out of it , which were brought aboord of the Commanders ship . Another Gallion was pursued after the 2.12 . of October , by the Pinnace Armuyen , which the same night overtooke the Gallion ; and after that our Pinnace had fought a good while with it , it gave the slip againe , and escaped . By nine prisoners taken by the Pinnace Armuyen with the boat of the said Gallion , we understand , that it had in her above 80 dead , but was manned with above 400 men , being the Gallion which went last yeare 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 crosse there , and to lie in wait for the enemies vessels , which by this present might passe by Goa ▪ The Vice-roy within Goa , is departed out of this life ; in whose place by election , succeeds Don Antonio Teles , who last yeare was Admirall of the enemies Fleet The said Vice-roy reports , that hee will come with all his Fregats about 60 in number to visit us , which we long to see .

There hath divers been aboord of the Admirall , 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 shew ▪ After the departure of the D. Caen , came hither upon Wingurla , a Mogoller , who was hired by the Portugals to massacre the great Governour Mameth Radia , together with all the Hollanders , and some of the chiefest Merchants ; for the execution whereof , hee should be rewarded with eleven or twelve thousand Pageden , who ended his life as followeth : The aforesaid Mogoller , with a traine of 25 persons , comming into Wingurla himselfe , together with another Mogoller , sitting on horse-back , came before the lodging of the great Governour Mameth Radia , who , at that time , was come to Wingurla to view his Fregats : The Mogoller asking for him , was answered by the Mameths servants , that he lay and slept . At which the Mogoller replied , that he himselfe must see it ; who going with another towards his chamber , ( because hee was well knowne , and had been alwayes very familiar with the Governour ) opened the curtains , and found him playing with his childe . The Mogoller drawing his Sable , chopt off one of his hands , thinking to turne 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 backe from the moat : In the mean time an Alarme rose amongst the Governours people , which flockt together about foure hundred strong , kild fifteen or sixteen of the Mogollers men , took prisoners three or foure . The Mogoller betook himselfe 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 Governours servants , which were in a house not farre from the shore ; they seeing their fellow-souldiers run with their naked Sables after him , stopt him , and shot him with a peece down from the horse , the rest gave him many cuts and blowes after he was dead .

Given at Wingurla , the 11.21 . of October . 1639. A. S.