of Battoo, [Batoa.] In this situation, a sagging
current bore us to the northwards near the shoals, which, if it had set
S.E. as formerly experienced, it ought to have carried us near to Tecoo.

[Footnote 274: Purchas must here have omitted a part of the text,
particularly the series of dates between Masulipatam and Passaman in
Sumatra. As the text now stands, it would seem as if they had gone from
Masulipatam to the coast of Sumatra, a run of about 1600 miles, in one
night, an utter impossibility. But from the context, instead of the 11th
December, 1619, the day after leaving Masulipatam, it would appear they
reached the coast of Sumatra on the 23d January, 1620, giving forty-four
days for the run across the bay of Bengal.--E.]

The 24th, in the evening, we had sight of the isles of Tecoo, and came
to anchor about eight o'clock, in forty-four fathoms, these isles
bearing E. by N. seven leagues off. The 25th, with the first of the
tide, we again weighed and steered for Tecoo; and, as we drew near, we
espied three sail standing to the northwards, which came to anchor near
the coast that night, while we anchored with our whole fleet about a
league without them. Next morning they weighed anchor and joined us,
when we found them to be the Palsgrave, Elizabeth, and Hope. From them
we had the doleful news of the Dragon, Bear, Expedition, and Rose,
having been taken by six Dutch ships, while at anchor, within the isles
of Tecoo; as also that the Star had been taken by the Dutch in the
straits of Sunda. They also said that the Hollanders had sent four great
ships, doubly manned, in quest of the Samson and Hound, and that they
were exceedingly doubtful as to the safety of these ships. Thus the
English ships now taken by the Hollanders were almost equal in number to
our three fleets now joined in one under my command.

On Monday the 31st January, 1620, we held a consultation aboard the
James Royal as to our future proceedings, when it was unanimously agreed
to go to Acheen, in hopes to meet our ships from Surat, that we might
keep our force together, according to the instructions of the Honourable
Company. Our chief reasons for this proceeding were the want of rice and
other provisions, which could not at this time be had at Bantam;
secondly, the strong naval force of the Hollanders, as we did not think
it prudent to risk the entire property now belonging to the Company in
India upon such desperate terms, as the Dutch had four s