Indian Antiquary Vol 10

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 38

28
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(JANUARY, 1881
over 100)," and afterwards made war upon his parties of corsairs "interchanged mutuall couryounger brother."
tesies, with gifts and feastings;" and sometimes Captain Markham, in a note, says that there 25 or 26 Japanese would be aboard the Tiger; is a great discrepancy between this and Davis' | but not more than six were allowed to bring arms. account in his journal of his voyage with Van The narrator, who seems to have been MichelHoutman; but it is quite plain that the historian borne's second in command, told Davis" to possess of the Tiger's voyage is speaking of what had himself of their weapons and put the companie behappened in the interval of nearly six years. fore mast, and to leave some guard upon their
These wars hindered Michelborne's business; Weapons while they (the English) searched in the and on the 21st August he sailed for Bantam, Rice.” worrying fishing and coasting craft on the way, Davis, however, appears to have neglected to impressing pilots, and capturing a ship of "Cam- Beize the arms; perhaps thinking that that would baya" of 80 tons. This prize he carried into only precipitate an outbreak; but he did search the Sillibar on the 2nd of September; and "having ship. Whatever the Japanese intended before, they despatched all his business," (meaning probably had now clear proof of the intentions of their new the stripping of her and purchase of provisions) friends, and at sunset they broke out in both ships. he left that port on the 28th. On the 23rd October Those in the Junk regained her in an instant; he came to Pulo Marra, left it on the 28th, and the killing or driving overboard all the English men in same evening anchored 3 leagues from Bantam. her, while six and twenty on board the Tiger, armHere the English Factors came and told him that ing themselves as they best could, sallied out of "the Company of the Hollander's ships that were the cabin, and maintained a desperate fight on in the road had used very slanderous reports of deck for near half an hour, when they were stoned us to the king of Bantam," hinting, amongst back into the cabin with stones from the tops; a other calumnies, that he (Michelborne) was afraid regular mancuvre in deck fighting in those days; to anchor near them, the Hollanders. The knight and that by which Davis himself had saved the in high dudgeon weighed anchor at once," sending Lion in Achin Roads six years before. The valiant the Hollanders word that hee would come and Japanese in the cabin, proving utterly inexpugnride close by their sides; and bad the proudest of able by ordinary meang, two demiculverins (32 lbs. them all that durst to put out a piece of Ordinance guns) were loaded with langrage and turned upon upon him; and with all that if they did go the bulkheads; and but one of them was left about either to brave or to disgrace him or his standing of two and twenty. countrymen hee would either sink them or sink Davis was the first man whom the Japanese by their sides." The Hollanders, according to our met as they sallied out of the cabin. They dragchronicler, mended their manners accordingly. ged him into it, gave him six or seven mortal
On the 2nd of November Michelborne sailed wounds, and pushed him out again. He died for Patane, still worrying small craft and almost immediately. Probably, as the active impressing pilots. On the 27th December he agent in searching their ship, he was a mark for met with "a Juncke of the Japons which had special vengeance. been pyrating along the coast of China and Michelborne went on doing much harm to Camboia" much like himself. These fellows other people and very little good to himself, till had lost their own ship on the shoals of Borneo; the 5th February, when he weighed for home and made shift to capture another; which, however, from two little Islands, which they of Java call was old and leaky, and so bad a sailer that they Polo Sumatra ;" and anchored in Portsmouth had little hope of getting home in her. The 19th July 1606. There was another Captain John English determined to search the Juncke; with the Davis, of Limehouse; who made six voyages to the view of course of appropriating whatever they East Indies in the service of the Company. Captain might find there worth taking, and the Japanese Markham is not pleased with former biographers; for their part, though apparently yielding to and especially with Mr. Froude, for mixing the superior force, probably looked upon the Tiger as two Johns up. He even seems to have a grudge sent by Providence to be a spoil unto them upon against poor John of Limehouse himself for the first opportunity. "They were 90 men, most presuming to be mistaken for his betters. What of them in too gallant a habit for saylers, and such is worth knowing about him is that he wrote a an equalitie of behaviour among them that they | Ruter (Routier), i.e. a book of sailing directions seemed all fellows: yet one among them there was for the East Indies. This ill-used forerunner of that they called Capitaine; but gave him little Horsburgh died at Batavia on his last voyage respect” (p. 179).
in 1621. Filled with these amiable intentions, the two
W.F.S.