Page 189 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

CHAPTER XIII
Faithful unto' Death
New expedition to the Moluccas under Nathaniel Courthopc—
Occupation of Poolo Boon by the English—Dutch expedition
to evict the English—Courthope!s defiance—The Dutch cap­
ture the English ship Swan—Courthopc prepares for a Dutch
attack—The English ship Defence captured by the Dutch—The
Dutch Governor General Reaal seeks an accommodation with
Courtliope—Courthope declines his terms—Dutch proclama­
tion against the English—Unsuccessful attempt to relieve Court-
hope—Courthope’s indomitable spirit—Sir Thomas Dale
conducts an expedition against the Dutch—Action off Batavia—
The Dutch retire to the Moluccas—English occupation of
Jakatra (Batavia)—Dale returns to India—His death—Dutch
attack on English ships at Patani—Jourdain is treacherously
slain—Isolation of Courthopc—His gallant fight against odds
and his heroic end
YOURDAIN, though naturally mortified at the failure
J of his plans, was not disposed to give up the attempt
to break the Dutch monopoly, more especially as he was
imbued with the belief that the Hollanders would not use
force if they were put to the extreme test. Once more he
prepared to send an expedition to the Eastward. Besides
the Defence, of 300 tons, he had available for the purpose
a new ship, the Sivan> of 400 tons. What was more to
the purpose, he had at hand in Nathaniel Courthope just
the right kind of man to take the command in such an
enterprise.
Courthope is a name little known in English history,
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