Mendoza's Letter

His Majesty had ordered the expedition to Maluco.

So Nueva España sent in March 1605 men, ammunition, food, money, and arms to Manila.

The governor was informed that the Dutch had:

• seized the island and fortress of Amboino and Tidore.
• driven out the Portuguese
• entered Terrenate, where they had established a trading-post for the clove-trade.

By March 15, the governor had thoroughly prepared the fleet—which consisted of:

• 5 ships
• 4 galleys with poop-lanterns [galeras de fanal]
• 3 galliots
• 4 champans
• 3 funeas
• 2 English lanchas
• 2 brigantines
• 1 barca chata [194] for the artillery
• 13 fragatas with high freeboard.

There were 1,300 Spaniards, counting regulars, captains and officers, substitutes [entretenidos], and volunteers.

Among them were some Portuguese captains and soldiers, under charge of the chief captain of Tidore [195]

These Portuguese came from Malaca to serve in the expedition.

There were also 400 Indian pioneers—Tagáls and Pampangos of Manila—who went to serve at their own cost, under their own officers, and with their own weapons.

Don Pedro de Acuña left Hilohilo coasting the island of Mindanao, made port at La Caldera, in order to replenish his water, wood, and other necessaries.

The ship “Jesus Maria” was flagship commanded by Joan de Esquivel.

Captain and Sargento-mayor Cristoval de Azcueta Menchaca acted as admiral of the fleet, which, after attending to its necessities at La Caldera, left that port.

But it was heavy and the currents drove it shoreward, grounding it.

It was wrecked there, but the crew, artillery, and a portion of its ammunition and clothing, were saved.

It was burned so that the Mindanaos could not make use of them, the fleet continued its voyage.

The galleys coasted along the island of Mindanao. The ships and other deep-draught vessels sailed in the open sea, all making for the port of Talangame, in the island of Terrenate.

The vessels experienced some changes of weather, first sighted the islands of Maluco.

After they had been reconnoitered by a large Dutch ship, well equipped with artillery, which was anchored at Terrenate.

This vessel fired some heavy artillery at our vessels, and then immediately entered the port, where it fortified itself under shelter of the land, and with its artillery and crew and the people of Terrenate.

Esquivel went to the island of Tidore where he was well received by the Moro chiefs and cachils.

• The king was away to the island of Bachan to be married.

He found 4 Dutch factors there, who were trading for cloves.

The ship at Terrenate was from Holland. It had sailed from Amboino and seized Tidore driving out the Portuguese. It was being laden with cloves.

It was awaiting other vessels of its convoy. They had made friendship and treaties with Tidore and Terrenate, in order to be protected against the Castilians and Portuguese.

Esquivel summoned the king of Tidore immediately. While awaiting Don Pedro de Acuña, rested his men and cleaned the ships, and made gabions and other things necessary for the war.