to hand many urgent messages from the Bandanese, imploring English help against their Dutch oppressors. Since Jourdain's visit a state of almost open warfare had existed on the islands in which the Dutch, under Coen, had acted with ruthless severity. Eager as the Company's agents were to intervene, it was not until the opening weeks of 1615 that they were in a position to send ships. At that juncture they dispatched, with George Ball and Cokayne, the Maccasar agent, in command, the ship Concord and a small pinnace called the Speedwell, to the Bandas and Ceram.
Ignoring the protests of the Dutch, the Englishmen occupied Poolo Ai, a small island off Banda, and entered into close relations with the natives on the adjacent and larger islands. They were received with an enthusiasm which spoke eloquently of the islanders' hopes of relief from the oppressive yoke which had been imposed upon them. In touching language the natives gave vent to their feelings as to the Dutch. Visiting the town of Lonthor, the Englishmen were received by two of the principal men, one of whom, pointing to the Dutch castle burst out:—"It makes old men to weep and wish that the child that is unborn shall be born dead: as God hath given them a country to them and theirs, so He hath sent the Hollanders as a plage unto them, making wars upon them and by unjust proceedings seeking to take their country from them."
The Dutch appear to have been equally communicative to the Englishmen and quite as outspoken. Cokayne was told by the Dutch "General" that the English were "rogues and rascals," and the Honourable Company was "most vilely railed at" by the same functionary.
