e the Portingalles sent their letters into euery
place seeking to hinder our trade: At the first we might haue sufficient,
for there we founde enough both to buy for money or to barter. We likewise
had money and wares sufficient: we might easily have had sixe or eight
hundred tunnes, as we were aduertised by some of the countrey, that we
should presently buy, for that the Portingalles sought by all the meanes
they could to hinder vs, as after it appeared; and therefore he that
thinketh to come soone enough, commeth oftentimes too late, and we vsed not
our time so well as it fell out.

[Sidenote: A letter sent by our men in the town that were kept prisoners.]
The 29. of August we had a letter sent vs by night from our men that were
in the towne, that lay in a maner as prisoners, to will vs to let our
pledge go a shore, otherwise they feared they shoulde hardly escape with
their liues, and great danger might fall vpon them: this pledge came aborde
with the 9. slaues.

The 30. of August we sent the pledge and the rest of our Iauars to land,
with promise that he would do the best he might to get our men leaue to
come aborde: about euening of the same day wee had newes from our men by
foure of our saylers that as then they were better vsed, saying they
thought they should come aborde when two shippes were gone that ment to
saile for Malacca, being laden with Nutmegs and other things.

The first of September, and the 2. 3. and 4. wee sent many letters to the
Gouernour and hee to vs, and likewise to our men that were in the towne,
being nine in number, all our best marchants and captains, hauing with them
about 6. or 7000. Guildernes in marchandise, and they againe to vs.

[Sidenote: They went nearer to the town.] The 5. of September when wee
perceyued that delayes were dangerous wee went close to the towne with all
our 4. shippes, and so neere that we had but two fadome muddie grounde, and
presently with two of our boates for our securitie wee set vppon three
Iauan shippes, whereof two were laden with fish and Cocus, wherein wee
founde a man of China, being of some account. The third ship was laden with
20. tunnes of Cloues, 6. tunnes of Pepper, and some Benioni, and Piementa
da Rauo, wherein we founde fiue Malabardes slaues to the Portingalles, whom
wee likewise tooke, and they were very willing to goe with vs, thereby to
bee eased of the slauery wherevnto the Portingals put them, and perceyuing
that the Portingalles went