Cape Good Hope 1652-1702

[p. 157]

26 Robert Padbrugge

Translated from microfilms of Hague codex KA 4399, Nr. 71. Sailed from Texel on October 13, 1670, in Sparendam for Ceylon, with Brederode (Hague codex 4389 folio 62) which however went on ahead.

March 2 [1671] at dawn we were in the passage between the Robben Island and the Lion Hill, drifting in a calm, and towed with the longboat* and skiff* in order to remain in the fairway. We saw no ships in the roads except ... a little flute [Bunschoten] which had come from Batavia with rice for this promontory. On land all was well, except that the new French Viceroy of Madagascar, H.E. de la Haye [action at Saldanha Bay as in item 15]....

March 6. There arrived 4 ships from Batavia for the Fatherland and a little flute* [Sandlooper] with rice for here [dr].

March 7 arrived in the roads from Madagascar the ship St. Maria with the ex-Viceroy of that place, the Marquis Mont Ambergne [dr].

March 8. We went to make a cursory examination of the possibility or otherwise of cutting off the promontory from the mainland by joining the fresh water which flows both along the Liesbeek and elsewhere, and thus runs separately into the Table Bay and the Bhaij Fals, the Hon. Advocate of the Hon. Coy. having been informed of this and ordered to look into it closely with the knowledge of the Hon. van Goens Junior; but since his Honour had already departed [see dr 11/1/71] and this close examination could have awakened ill-feeling concerning the Hon. Commandeur, it was done in a cursory manner only; and so far as the time allowed us to investigate, it was found to be possible and quite well to be done, nature having already almost thrown up two dykes, along which flowed the Liesbeek on the Eastern side, and an arm of the Salt River on the other side.

This entry is puzzling. Who were ‘we’? Almost certainly Nieuhof was one: see his map, plate 24. And why should a careful examination have caused ‘ill-feeling’ [‘Jaloesij’]? And why is there very oddly no mention of the trip in the DR?

March 11. The small flute* Spanbroek arrived from Ceylon [dr: with vague news of trouble with the Sinhalese].

March 14. Towards evening we went aboard again in order to put out to sea at the first fair wind. [Note on coastal currents as reported by Spilbergen, Houtman, Linschoten.]

March 15 ... In the evening the wind suddenly blew from the S.E.... we made ready in all respects to set sail at dawn ... The French yacht* [?] in which was the Viceroy set sail without any salute, as also when she had come into the roads ... so many diffi-

[p. 158]

culties were made as regards the acknowledgement of his salute gun for gun, which he considered his due as a French Admiral and a Viceroy. He was also offended by the Gekroonde Vreede having passed close to the Marie without any signs of respect....

[Elaborate details of Padbrugge's suspicions, clearer in the Diary:]

dr 16/3 ... the Frenchman which sailed yesterday still lies at anchor at the point under the Lion's Tail [Mouille Point].... About 9 o'clock the shallop* of the ship Sparendam came ... with a Mate bringing a letter to the Commandeur and Council: ‘The Frenchman which sailed yesterday still remains above the Robben Island, which gives us some suspicion of evil. Yesterday when I was on board her to take leave of the Viceroy ... he mentioned that there was a ship in the bay of Saldanhia which he thought to be French, so that there is room for doubt whether by arrangement the other now watches for us. We are making everything ready for defence, and if we receive Y.E's. orders to put out to sea, we anticipate an immediate attack.... By our reckoning he has 26 to 28 guns on deck, and we have only 16, with two small ones at the hut*’.

Reply sent that we here are extremely surprised at his timidity ... his unfounded suspicions ... in God's name to proceed on his voyage....

About one-thirty the same Mate again appeared on shore, and delivered a second letter from the said Padtbrugge ... ‘we await orders in writing ...’

Reply sent: ‘without delay continue your voyage ... our great discontent ... on receipt of this at once strike your flag, raise anchor and set sail ... in case of yet further delay contrary to our orders we shall be forced to replace you on board.... nevertheless she still delayed for three hours ... out to the open sea ... the French ship remaining in her former position....’