The Memoirs and Memorials of Jacques de Coutre: Security, Trade and Society in 16th- and 17th-century Southeast Asia

Appendix IV: Second letter by Fernão de Albuquerque, Governor of Melaka, to the Dutch Admiral Jacob van Heemskerck, dated 26 March 1603

297 A P P E N D I X IV Second letter by Fernão de Albuquerque, Governor of Melaka, to the Dutch Admiral Jacob van Heemskerck, dated 26 March 1603 Having earlier left Patani where he had met with Admiral Van Neck, Jacob van Heemskerck proceeded to the waters around Tioman and later plundered the Portuguese carrack Santa Catarina in the Singapore Strait on 25 February 1603. After a fierce battle off the coast of Changi which reportedly lasted for most of the daylight hours, the carrack’s captain, Sebastião Serrão, the crew, soldiers (soldados) and passengers aboard the vessel surrendered. As a condition of their surrender, they were all brought safely by Van Heemskerck to the Portuguese port and colony of Melaka. A series of letters were exchanged between Van Heemskerck and the authorities on land, including the city council of Melaka as well as the colony’s captain (governor), Fernão de Albuquerque. The following represents a second letter of the Portuguese governor to  This English translation of the German text was earlier published in GPFT, appendix 10, pp. 206–7. The original Dutch text can be found in the Hague, Nationaal Archief, Collectie 102, Baron H. van Zuylen van Nyevelt, suppl. 2, no. 13 (2.21.179.01 no. 13), Boeck Tracterende vande Wreede, Verradische ende Hostile proceduren der Portugesen In Oost-Indien, pp. 136–38. A transcript of the Dutch translation has been published in Coolhaas, “Een bron van het historische gedeelte van Hugo de Groots De Jure Praedae”, BMH 79 (1965): 533–4. A partial transcript is found in another copy in Van Foreest and De Booy, De Vierde Schipvaart, II, appendix 53, p. 279.  Soldiers. See also the glossary (soldado). 25 MJdC.indd 297 10/24/13 5:31:58 PM The Memoirs and Memorials of Jacques de Coutre 298 Van Heemskerck. The original in Portuguese is lost, but translations survive, including a Dutch translation found in the Boeck Tracterende vande Wreede, Verradische ende Hostile proceduren der Portugesen In OostIndien . The letter mentions one Philip (Filipe) Lobo of Melaka, who is also mentioned by Jacques de Coutre in chapter XVII of the Vida as a prisoner aboard the vessel of Van Heemskerck at Patani. Lobo had been dispatched by Fernão de Albuquerque to negotiate (via the good services and mediation of Van Heemskerck) with Johor’s Raja Bongsu for the release of certain unspecified Christian hostages. Ireceived Your Honour’s letter with great joy, as I can sense from its contents the great affection You have shown toward the crew and passengers of the captured vessel. Such can be readily expected from a captain and admiral, and I am also willing to enter into correspondence with such a man, for it may happen [in future], that one of the Dutchmen is brought into this fortress [of Melaka]. What concerns the crew, however, that Your Honour reports to be in Japan in the East Indies, the Viceroy is accustomed to treating them well, and is not at all satisfied with the course of the hearings in China. He has also imprisoned one of the administrators, and threatens to severely punish him, and for this reason Your Honour should not be angry at the Portuguese collectively, as they regard the miscarriage of justice in China as evil and unrightful. Concerning this effort, Your Honour shall do Your best for the captured Christians who are in a state of misery and sadness, [and] this instills me with hope, that Your Honour will render this favour of friendship and treat with the King of Johor [Ala’uddin Ri’ayat Shah III] and his brother [Raja Bongsu], for the release of the Portuguese and the Christians which he holds captive under the pretext of peace. What concerns the goods from the junk or the ship, on which he had taken the [said] Portuguese captives, I do not demand to have these returned, because I know well, that they have been distributed among the [said king’s] warriors. I only desire and request that they release  Jacob van Heemskerck’s letter, see also appendix II.  According to Coolhaas, “Een bron”: 533, note 4, one João Rui do Couto was indeed tried for his role in killing the 17 Dutch sailors at Macao. Several translated documents of this incident survive in Dutch, including a justification of Portuguese actions at Macao by the oidor Jouan Ruy de Souto. See Van Foreest and De Booy, De Vierde Schipvaart...