Page 32 - Anglo Portuguese Rivalry in The Gulf_Neat

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Freyre, whose estimate of the time factor was remaining storm-tossed galleons off Swally, where six
un aoubtedly correct; and it was therefore resolved that powerful English and Dutch vessels lay in the “ Hole.”
' \ Botelho should sail for Swally as soon as possible, ■ The moral superiority established by Botelho, as a
M' leaving Ruy Freyre to resume the blockade of Ormuz result of his fights in the Persian Gulf in February,
1 t with his flotilla of galliots and other oared vessels. was clearly evidenced by the fact that the allies would
It was typical of Botelho’s noble character, that not venture to come out and fight him, though
I! although his own opinion had been overruled, he publicly challenged to do so “ shippe to shippe or all
ii threw himself heart and soul into the work of refitting together,” Botelho even offering to stand off and give
!' his shattered vessels; labouring himself incessantly them sea room if necessary.1 Not only so, but when
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from morning till night, and not ceasing work even in on the 17th October, three outward-bound English
the appalling noon-day heat of Muscat, which has ships, Lion, Palsgrave and Dolphin, hove in sight and
probably the hottest climate in the world. Fired by Botelho stood out to sea to attack them, the ships at
his example, the men worked with a will, but two of Swally “ most basely lay still,” though had they come
the galleons, Sdo Sebastido and Trindade, were too out, the odds against- the Portuguese would have been
badly damaged to be able to be repaired with the nearly two to one. Botelho in his flagship, and Gaspar
scanty resources available at Muscat, and were sent Gomes in the Sdo Pedro, eventually overhauled the
back to Goa in advance. Botelho followed with the Lion which was a “ slug,” and clapped her aboard one
remainder at the first opportunity, but his squadron on each quarter, the Palsgrave and Dolphin making
li was separated by a storm at the entrance to the Gulf, no effort to relieve their consort, but continuing their
as a result of which three galleons, Misericordia, Santo flight with all sails set. The Portuguese now swarmed
Antonio and Santiago, were driven ashore near Bombay, aboard the Lion and were speedily masters of her poop
though most of their crews and artillery were saved.1 and upper deck, whilst the frigate flotilla had now
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Although thus weakened by the unexpected loss of come up, whose men threw firepots in at the ports
three of his vessels, and the temporary absence of two and stuck fire-pikes in her sides. The situation
■ « others, Botelho took up his station with his four appeared desperate, when the English by dropping
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an anchor at the stern, and the tide running very strong,
f I to iomc prominent minister (? Olivares) at Madrid, dated off Ormuz on brought the ship up so suddenly that the Portuguese
February 22nd, and at Muscat on May 29th respectively. In the former one
' i he hints that he would like to be given the order of the Golden Fleece, and cables and grappling irons were broken, and the
the Captaincy-General of the Portuguese home fleet, whilst in the latter he
expresses his disgust at the way in which his claims have been ignored, in the r xBotelho’s galleons were the Sab Francisco Xavier} Sao Francisco, Sdo Pedro
11 picturesque phrase, " Emjxm senor, triste el Pastor qne en tristt vallt na$c." and Sao Salvador, accompanied by some 14 or 15 frigates or light oared craft.
The English ships were the Jonas, Anne and Scout, whilst the Dutch vessels
1Idem. Cf. also the only contemporary printed account of this year’s included the Goude Leeuto, Heusden and Walcheren. A translation of
maritime events in India, from the Portuguese side, as contained in the Botelho’s public defiance to the Anglo-Dutch commanders, which was nailed
excessively rare pamphlet (of which 1 know of no other copy in existence by his orders to the gates of the chief public buildings in Surat, will be found
! save my own) entitled : Carta e Relafam dos successes do Estado da India on pp. 248-249 of the English edition of the Commentaries. Both English
M desde 0 principto do anno de 1625, e 0 de 1626, ate qua torze de Jevereiro, oue as and Dutch blamed each other for not venturing out. The English side is
Naos partirao tocra 0 Reyno. Com tudo 0 mats que sucedeo a Nuno Alvarez given in Foster’s 1624-1629 volume of. cit., and the Dutch version in the
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».c Botelno, & a Rui Freire <T Andrade, mais Armadas que sahirdo, & 0 que journal of Pieter van den Broeck, head of the Netherlands Factory at Surat,
Jizerdo, [at end]. Em Lisboa. Pedro Craesbeeck. Anno 1626. . as printed in Volume II of the Begin ende Voortgangh, (Amsterdam, 1646).
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