nts themselues many of them perished
for hunger, and in one of these battailes one of their Kings was lately
slaine. Wherfore after fiue daies abode and no longer, we departed, and in
Gods name made to sea again, directing our course the sixteenth of
September for Iaua. [Sidenote: They arriue at Bantam.] About the nineteenth
of Nouember we came within sight of Sumatra, and the 26. of the same moneth
1598. wee in the three shippes aforesaid, to wit, the Mauritius, our
Admirall, the Hollandia, and the Ouerissell, arriued before the citty of
Bantam in Iaua. Presently vpon this our arriuall, our Admirall and Generall
Master Iacob Van Neck, sought with all friendship to traffique with the
people of the saide towne of Bantam, sending Master Cornelis Heemskerck on
land to shew them what we were, for they thought vs to be the very same men
that had been there the yeare before, and al that while guarded the sea
cost, as being assuredly persuaded that we were pirates and sea rouers.
[Sidenote: They present their letters and gifts.] But we, to make them
vnderstand the contrary, sent on lande one Abdoll of China, a captiue of
theirs, whom we brought from them in our first voyage; by whose meanes we
got audience and credite: and so we presented our gifts and presents to the
King, which was but a childe: and the chiefe gouernour called Cephat,
hauing the kingly authority, most thankfully receiued the same in the name
of his King. The said presents were a faire couered cup of siluer and gilt,
certaine veluets and clothes of silke, with very fine drinking glasses and
excellent looking glasses, and such other gifts more. Likewise we presented
our letters sealed very costly with the great seale of the noble and mighty
lords the Estates generall of the united Prouinces, and of Prince Mauritz,
whome they termed their Prince. [Sidenote: Trade licensed.] Which letters
were by them receiued with great reuerence, creeping vpon their knees: and
(the same being well perused, read and examined) they found thereby our
honest intent and determination for traffike: insomuch that a mutuall
league of friendship and alliance was concluded, and we were freely
licensed to trade and traffike in such wise, that euen the fourth day of
our arriuall we began to lade; and within foure or fiue weekes all our
foure ships hauing taken in their full fraight, were ready to depart.

When our three shippes aforesaid had remained there welnigh a moneth, about
Newyears-t