ENGLISH INCENSED AT THE AMBOYNA OUTRAGE 129 the withdrawal of our agency from Amboyna; or on the existence of Dutch ships in the harbour which might even, if the shore prison were overcrowded, have car- ried those accused of the supposed conspiracy for judg- ment to the Dutch governor-general at Batavia, or served for their confinement till his confirmation of the proceedings was obtained. Van Speult took possession of our Amboyna and neighbouring factories; " the poor remnant of the Eng- lish " were removed to Batavia; and the great design for driving us out of the Clove and Nutmeg Isles was accomplished. When the news of the tragedy reached England fifteen months later— May 29, 1624— a cry of execra- tion arose. The Company demanded justice. With English self-control it repressed irresponsible discus- sion by its members, and resolved, on June 16th, to trust to the state " to call for an account of the lives of the king's subjects." The governor refrained from speech until he was assured of the facts, and it was not until July 2d that he brought the matter officially be- fore a general court of the Company. The first feeling indeed was one of incredulity at so abominable an outrage on innocent men. King James 11 apprehended the fact to be so foul ... he could not believe it," and, when convinced, threatened to extort reparation from Holland. At the Royal Council table " sundry of the greatest shed tears." But James had resolved to break with Spain, in wrath at the treat- ment of Prince Charles on his knight-errant quest at
