226 VALENTYN’S ACCOUNT OF MALACCA. 
shall see later that in 1640 and 1641, a squadron under the com- 
mand of JACOB KOPER, together with some vessels of the 
Johor Malays, blockaded the place so as to prevent it from 
being properly supplied with the most urgently needed provi- 
sions. That same year then, the Hon’ble ANTONI VAN DIEMEN, 
jointly with the Hon’ble Council of India, resolved to attack by 
main force, and, if possible, to take that strong and famous 
town, which, next to Goa, was the most important town of Por- 
tuguese India. 
Their Honours intrusted the execution of this important 
business to Sergeant-Major ADRIAAN ANTONISSOON, an old, 
experienced and bold soldier. He left Batavia for Malacca in 
May, 1640, with three well-manned vessels, with orders to take 
over the command of the fleet from the Commander KOPER, to 
blockade the town on the seaside as closely as possible, and 
on the arrival of more troops from Batavia and of the auxiliary 
troops from the Kings of Acheen and Johor, to land with ail his 
forces, and, according to circumstances, to try and take the 
town either by arranging terms, by siege, or by storming it, as 
he thought best. 
In accordance with this plan, in the beginning of June, twelve 
ships and six boats so rigorously blockaded the town on the 
seaside, that its supply of victuals was almost entirely cut off, 
and hardly any one could succeed in leaving or entering the 
place; hence several vessels with provisions and one barge 
with fresh supplies from Goa were also taken by our people. 
Meanwhile the King of Acheen refused us his assistance ; but 
our fleet was constantly relieved by ships and troops ( sailors 
and soldiers). In short, when at the end of July, the King of 
Johor’s fleet of some 4o sail with a force of 1,400 or 1,500 men 
had joined our troops, which were partly Dutch, partly German, 
and of about the same strength, our Commander, on the 2nd of 
August issued the order that the combined forces should land 
at about one-third of a mile on the north side of the suburb of 
Malacca.(') No sooner were the troops landed than they ex- 
pelled the enemy, several hundred strong, from the first 
bastion and were so close at their heels, that they entered 
(1) 7.e., Tranquerah, 
