Chap. I] EXPEDITION UNDER LANCASTER. 239
time on shore in the Bay of Antongil. On continuing their voyage across the ad. 1602. Indian Ocean, they arrived, on the 9th of May, 1602, at the Nicobar Islands, without having seen any part of the continent of India. After a short stay they set sail for the island of Sumatra; and, on the 6'th of June, cast anchor in the road of Acheen, on the north-west extremity of that island. Here they f()und about eighteen vessels from Bengal, Mahibai", Gujerat, and other quar- ters, and were visited by two Dutch merchants, who had been left to learn the language and mannei's of the country. Everything gave indication of a ho.spitable reception; and a deputation was immediately sent ashore, to an- nounce that the commander of the fleet was bearer of a letter from the most famous Queen of England to the most worthy King of Acheen and Sumatra. The day after his arrival, Lancaster himself went ashore, and, having been conducted with great ceremony to the king's presence, delivered his letter, and along with it a present of considerable value.
The interview was of the most amicable nature ; and ultimately a treaty Friendly re-
.1 * ception at
was formed, in which the leading privileges obtanied by the English were, Acheen. perfect freedom of trade, protection to life and property, the power of admin- istering justice among their own countrymen according to English law, and full liberty of conscience. But while the natives displayed this friendly spirit, all the proceedings of the English were w<itched with the utmost jealousy by a third party. The Portuguese had an ambassador at Acheen, and it soon
Woolwich, in . lurv of Gr.ivcaoud.
J. , I ;■ 11
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became apparent that he was deterinineil to leave no means imtried to pre- vent the establishment of a trade, which he naturally regarded as an unjusti- fi:i1)le invasion of the Portuguese monopoly. Attempts to prejudice the king hiiving failed, he determined on open hostility, and with that view despatched messengers to Malacca, to inform the authorities in the Portuguese settlement there of the arrival of the English ships, and urge the necessity of immediately sending a sufficient force to capture them. Fortunately his plans were dis- covered; and his messengei's having been apprehended, the Portuguese in Mjilacca were not even made aware that the Euirlish had amved.
Lancaster determined to turn this ignorance to good account ; and, leaving Predatory the Susan, which had been sent round to Priaman, on the south coast of the island, to take in a cargo of pepper, set out with his other tlu^ee vessels, and a
