People say that
at present the Hollanders are on very bad terms with the nations
where they have factories. It is also said that there have come to
them from Olanda six ships and a new governor.
With oil of cloves and drugs people go to the Malucas from almost
all over the world; it is therefore believed that in these seas there
must be for a long time to come some of the hardest battles ever seen,
and that many in attempting to trade in cloves will have to encounter
iron. [76]
The French have a factory there. [77] Three of their ships came and
fought with the Hollanders, who took away one; the other two were sent
to France with cargoes. Some galleons have also come from the English,
who, according to report, now have fourteen. It is said that they
have had a fight with the Hollanders, from whom they took away two
ships. These two nations are unfriendly because of the above-mentioned
injury which the English received from the Hollanders, and also because
they are rivals. It is said that the English have an order from their
king to the effect that if the Hollanders should be stronger than
themselves they must join with us and harass them on all sides.
The Hollanders have seen that in their battles with us they have
received much damage from our galleys; therefore they built two
vessels of this class to bring with their fleet to these islands. But
our Lord was pleased so to order it that, when coming from Amb[o]ino
to Ternate, one galley sank with all the people, and the other ran
aground, although the people were saved.
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