cruelly shot at him with a musket and shot him in the bodie neere the heart, of which wound hee dyed within halfe an hour after." It is difficult to say whether this episode was deliberate or was due to a misunderstanding. The Dutch afterwards strongly repudiated the former hypothesis and there is reason to think that the business was in the nature of an accident. Whether so or not its effect was greatly to exacerbate the feelings of Jourdain's countrymen in the East by whom he was highly respected. So deadly did the feud now become that according to a letter of the period had their fleets met at sea at this juncture "there had never been such a day among Christians."
And what, it may be asked, was the position of Courthope in this acute phase of the feud of the two nations? The answer is not difficult to guess. Brave soul as he was he fought his fight to a glorious finish. How it came about is easily told. When the disheartening news reached Poolo Roon that Dale's fleet had returned to India and that the little body of Englishmen on the island had been abandoned to their fate, Courthope did not, as he might very well have done with honour, surrender to the Dutch. He just went on the same as usual, living his hard life and keeping his weather eye open for the enemy who he knew would come sooner or later.
Eventually what could not be accomplished by force was effected by guile. A Dutch deserter—more probably spy—on learning of Courthope's departure for Lonthor on an expedition connected with some of his people, promptly sailed across to the Dutch headquarters with the information. A boat heavily armed and fully manned was secretly sent over by night to intercept the English commander
