':> 



j.g SPICY ISLAN DS. 



cargo of fpiccs. We perfifted in our lucrative voyages, and, 

 notwithftanding the numberlefs obftruilions we met with from 

 the Dufcb, formed a fettlement in thefe iflands. The natives of 

 Bandaj on a quarrel with the Dutch^ by a formal inftrument, 

 made a refignation of their ifland to us; and thofe of Lantore 

 did the fame. In 1620 Puloroon and Puloway were alfo added to 

 the BritiJ}} dominions, and our peaceful monarch affumed the 

 title of king of thofe illands : he alfo received the moft friendly 

 epiftles from his brother kings of 'Ternate, I'idor, and Bantam. 

 The accounts given by old Purchas, vol. i. from p. 701 to 705, 

 are well worth the reader's perufal. Thefe ceffions '^vere con- 

 firmed by treaty between James I. and the Butch in 1619; not- 

 withftanding which, at the very conclufion of a treaty, they de- 

 termined on our expulfion. They attacked with a llrong force 

 Lantore and Poleroon ; they ravaged the iflands, feized our fac- 

 tories and magazines, and after ftripping the factors naked, firft 

 whipped them, loaded them with irons, and after all maffacred 

 them, by flinging theni over the walls, and in the moft favage 

 manner dragged their remains in chains through the ftreets. 

 The quantity of fpices feized by thefe barbarians will ferve to 

 give an idea of the extent of our commerce : they found in our 

 magazines twenty-three thoufand pounds of mace, and a huni- 

 dred and fifty thoufand pounds of nutmegs. The narrative of 

 thefe proceedings are preferved in the eighth volume oiChurch-r 

 hiir% CoUedion, but it is too horrible to be rejx^ated ; and the 

 apology of the Dutch fo futile and fo falfe as not to merit the 

 recital. Cromwell^ in 1654, had the glory of compelling the 

 Dutch to reftore to us the ifland of Poleroon^ and to make ample 

 3 fatisfad;io.r> 



1^ 



