The History Of The Discovery And Conquest Of The Molucco And Philippine Islands on Maharlikanism

Introduction

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

I write the Conquest of the Molucco Islands by King Philip the III. of Spain, and the reducing of their Kings to their former Subjection, to his Predecessors, by Don Pedro de Acunha, Governour of the Philippine Islands, and Admiral of the Spanish Fleet; a Victory worthy the Foresight of such a Godly Monarch, the Application of those worthy Statesmen that compose his supreme Council, and the Valour of our Nation; not so much on account of the Wealth, and Fertility of those Countries, as for that it took from the Northern Nations all occasion of Sailing in our Seas, and Debauching the new Converted Asiaticks, and the Inhabitants of our Colonies Trading among them.

Introduction

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Tristan de Atayde was troubl’d at these Misfortunes, which were almost Several Actions. under his Eyes; tho’ he wanted not for others nearer, for the People of Ternate being now Masters of the Island, burnt all the new and old Towns, belonging either to themselves, or the Christians, and amongst others, those of Trutupalate, Calamata, and Isico, yet they met with brave Opposition in them all, and they cost much Blood. Twice our Men went out to Fight the Tydore Fleet, which came within sight of the Fort, and tho’ they both times retir’d Shatter’d, and well Beaten, the Barbarians had not much cause to Boast of their Victory, for Abundance of them were kill’d, and scarce any went off unhurt. The Confederates fitted out other numerous Fleets, wherewith they much Streightened the Christians in the Fort, till Antony Galvam arriv’d, who was at this time Sailing. But Relief came before, Don Stephen de Gama, sending a Galeon laden with Provisions and Ammunition to Ternate, under the Command of Simon Sodre. The Galeon arriv’d safe, and with it the Support of those Disconsolate People. They took Heart, and ventur’d to go abroad, spreading themselves about the Island, and going into the Woods, met with ruin’d Buildings, the remains whereof still smoked, and when it was Dark, they observ’d the high Flames on the Mountains. However they made Incursions upon the Barbarians and throughout all the Islands there were hourly Engagements, either with the Christian Inhabitants, or the Soldiers of the Forts; and at Sea they heard the Martial Musick, which Sounded whilst they Sail’d, or Fought Manfully, and at that time was dreadful. [45]

Introduction

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Preparations of the Viceroy.

The Viceroy of Peru was of Opinion, That in Order to secure the Indies, their Peace and Religion, and for the removing, at first, of all Obstacles to its Exaltation, and making Examples for a Warning, it was of the greatest Consequence to erect Forts, as divine and humane politick Precautions, and to Arm against that Pyrate, so to give a Check to the Northern Parts by his Punishment. To this Purpose, and in Order to his Destruction, a more exact Observation was to be taken of the Passes into the South-Sea, and more particularly of the Way he was to take, to return into his own Country.

Introduction

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Want of Political Reflections

There is generally some Moral Instruction, which lies couch’d under the Actions of Men, and which Judicious Writers use to point at in the Relation of Events, as the Advantage of History; but what civil Rules, or Precepts for the forming of the Political Life, can we lay down, in writing the Conquest and Defence of Barbarous Countries, which all depends on Voyages, and reducing of Garrisons; notwithstanding State Craft has somewhat inform’d those Nations?

Portugueses Pretentions to the Moluccos

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

By virtue of this practice, and by the Pope’s subsequent Authorizing of it, the Portugueses pretend that the Molucco Islands, and those of Banda, and Amboyna, are within their Bounds, as they were adjudg’d, and settled by experienc’d Sailers, calculating the Extent of that Meridian, and they even stretch it 15 Degrees further. Resende complains, That Magalhaens, whom the English call Magellan, magnify’d the Opinion conceiv’d of the Eastern Seas, when in the Year 1519 he went away Disgusted into Spain. Magellan grew up in the service of Queen Ellenor, then serv’d King Emanuel, and went over into India with that Alonso de Albuquerque, of whose Bravery, and Conduct, we have written Histories, besides what Fame, and Tradition have deliver’d. This Man, not satisfy’d with the first Conquests, sent Antony de Abreu, Francis Serrano, and Ferdinand de Magalhaens from Malaca, with three Ships, to Discover the Molucco Islands. All these three Commanders steer’d several Courses. We shall [5]soon speak of Magellan again. Antony de Abreu arriv’d at Banda, and returning towards Malaca, richly Laden with Spice of that Country, Serrano was parted from him in a Storm, and Shipwrack’d on the Islands of Lucopino, signifying Islands of Tortoises, so call’d from the Plenty and Bigness of those Creatures.

Portugueses Pretentions to the Moluccos

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Ternate is the Capital City, and Court of that King, near to which a A burning Mountain in Ternate. dreadful burning Mountain Flames out, about the Equinoxes, because at those Times the Winds blow; which kindle that natural Fire, on the Matter that has fed it so many Ages. The Top of the Mountain, which exhales it, is cold, and not cover’d with Ashes, but with asort of light cloddy Earth, little different from the Pomice-Stone burnt in our Fiery Mountains. [8]Descending thence to the Foot of the Hill, which stretches out like a Piramid, down to the Plain; it is all uncooth, being thick with Trees, whose Verdure is spar’d by the Flames, and the very Fire, Waters and Moistens them with Brooks, which it draws together in the Hollow of the Mountain, and forces it to Sweat, and pour out.

Introduction

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

In the Philippine Islands they give the Name of Carcoas to a sort of Carcoas, what sort of Vessels, and others. Vessels that use Oars, open, and bigger than our Barks, and are Steer’d by two Rudders, the one ahead, and the other astern.

Introduction

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The Alliance concluded betwixt the Kings of the Archipelago, and particularly Vaygamano, Vaigeo, Quibibio, and Mincimbio, reigning in the Islands Papuas, was follow’d by such an Accident, that tho’ the Minds of the Confederates had not been already so well dispos’d, nor the Blood of those Innocent Kings so newly spilt, it would have consummated the Hatred they had conceived against the Portuguese Nation.

Introduction

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The Confederates meet.

The People of Ternate, Tydore, Bachian, and all the Neighbouring Princes, being impatient to put in Execution their desperate Design, chose the King of Tydore for their Head, to joyn with him of Ternate, that had been expell’d on account of the Death of Gonzalo Pereyra. Among the Relations usually collected by the Christian Curiosity of the Religious Men of the Society, we find that these Kings met in the little Island, which divides Ternate from Tydore, before they went each of them to his proper Post for performing what was stipulated in the Confederacy, and there the King of [41]Tydore, as Chief of the League, spoke to them in this Manner. I cannot mention the Occasion of this our Union, without shedding Tears, for the Joy King of Tydore’s Speech. of the Success, which we look upon as present, produces the same Effects it would do, were we already Victorious. Our Forces are assembled to deliver us from the Spanish Yoke, punishing those Men with the Hazard of our Total Ruin, whom neither our Benefits could oblige, nor our Threats correct. They are the great Robbers of the World, who usurp it, by shrowding their Avarice under specious and godly Pretences. In vain have we endeavour’d to moderate their Pride by Means of our Modesty and Submission. If they meet with Wealthy Enemies, the Portugeses show themselves Covetous, if with Needy, they are Ambitious; this is the only Nation that equally seeks after others Wealth and Miseries. They rob, kill, and subdue, taking away our Dominions under false Titles, and think they have no settled Peace, till they have reduc’d the Provinces into Desarts.

Introduction

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Cessation of Arms.

Both Sides now took the Breathing of a short Cessation; advantagious to Ternate for the Liberty of Trade, and to the Portugueses, because it gain’d Time to their Hope of Relief, which they concluded must be near at Hand, by Reason it had been long expected. They were not discouraged by Events, those having prov’d alternatively Successful and Unfortunate, and Victory was toss’d to and fro; besides that the Interruption of Commerce had knit some the closer together in Friendship.

Introduction

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

These Endeavours us’d by Spain to shut out the Monsters of Heresy, dispell’d the Dread spread abroad by Drake, and his Reasons for Digressions. Example in the North and South Seas.

Introduction

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Gomez Perez builds 4 Galleys, and makes Slaves wrongfully.

In the mean while Gomez Perez, still carrying on his Preparations, conceal’d the Design, without sparing any charge for Shipping, Provisions, or Men. Among other Necessaries, he built four choice Galleys and for the manning of them, took a Method which was look’d upon as severe.

Introduction

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Camboxa is one of the most fertile of the Indian Regions. It sends Camboxa described. Abundance of Provisions to other Parts, for which Reason it is frequented by Spaniards, Persians, Arabs, and Armenians. The King is a Mahometan; but his Subjects the Gusarats and Banians, follow the Precepts of Pythagoras, perhaps without any Knowledge of him.

Introduction

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The Governour Don Francis Tello, to attend other Neighbouring D. Francis Tello neglects the Moluccos. Provinces, where greater Commotions were threatned, turn’d his Arms that Way; sending some inconsiderable Part, at several Times to the Moluccos; for he never went seriously about recovering those Islands, either because he apprehended, or had Intelligence of Dangers threatned by the haughty Japoneses, Mindanaos, and Chineses, or that he would not tread in the Track of those who ruin’d themselves in the Expeditions against Ternate. Yet our Men fought that Nation in other Parts; for being the most Warlike, and averse to the very Name of Spaniards, it never let pass any Opportunity of doing them Harm.

Triumph of Ternates

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

About this Time some Ternate Troops return’d Home victorious, having plunder’d and destroy’d a Town in the Island of Tydore.

They march’d into the City on the 20th of July, the King being present, with their Campilanes, or Cymiters drawn, and bloody, with half Heads, Ears, and Hair of those they had conquer’d, or slain, sticking to them.

Madagascar

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The City Arosbay is Populous, and well Wall’d. The Hollanders main Design in coming to it, was, as has been said, to take in Pilots, and other Necessaries to proceed to the Molucco Islands; to which Purpose, and to avoid the Shoals lying betwixt Java and Madura, they divided their Ships.

Madagascar

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

On the 24th they reach’d the Island of Madagascar, or of S. Laurence, and saw abundance of Whales. Here the plentiful Distribution of Wine ceas’d, and it began to be given out more sparingly, to lament by this Abstinence, the Death of John Pomer, a skilful Sailor.

Introduction

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The Commander of Tidore was Ruy Gonzalez de Sequeyra,

Introduction

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Preparations in Spain against the Moluccos.

The continual Application of the President and Council to expedite the Enterprize, seem’d to be a Presage of the late ill Success at the Molucco Islands. The true Account of it was brought in Don Pedro de Acunna’s Letters. The King and his Ministers were concern’d at it; but at the same Time, it was a Motive to hasten the Preparations, recover the lost Reputation, and put an End at once to that Strife. Some attributed the Miscarriage to Disagreement between Gallinato and Furtado; others suspected the Discord had been between the Spanish and Portuguese Nations. None urg’d that it might be for Want of Necessaries for carrying on the Work. These Debates ended, and the President espousing the Business with the Resolution that was requisite, represented the Matter in a lively Manner to the King, recounting what the General Furtado had done, the Succours sent by Don Pedro de Acunna under Gallinato, and how, tho’ the Officers and Soldiers The Presidents Remonstrance to the King. did their Duty, the Success fail’d. That it was look’d upon as most certain, That the Molucco Kings, who still continu’d under Subjection, had acted coldly. That this Failure in them was occasion’d by a Sort of State Policy, easy to be seen thro’; which was the Protracting of the War, and making use of our Arms for their private Advantage, without desiring it should be fully concluded. That if Means were not us’d for expelling the Dutch out of Ternate, they would become absolute Masters of the Archipelago of the Conception, and deprive his Majesty of all the Revenue [209]of the Spice, as they had almost done in the most considerable Parts of India.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

First English Voyage to the Moluccos.

The Year before, being 1579, about the Beginning of it, Q. Elizabeth of England, seeing the Princes of Europe, particularly those in the Western Parts, make Warlike Preparations, as being divided in Opinions; form Leagues, and direct all their Designs towards the Kingdom of Portugal, she to make some Diversion with Security, had on a sudden fitted out four Ships, of eighteen Brass Guns each, and in them two hundred Men, and ten young Gentlemen, who besides employing their Valour, on such Occasions as it should offer, were to be very intent upon the Business of Navigation for greater Ends.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Chiquiro, a Japonese Embassador, was newly arriv’d at Manila, with a Present of the Product and Manufactures of that Island, and orders to treat with the Governour, and settle Amity and Commerce, between the Subjects of the Emperor of Japan, whose Name was Dayfusama, and the Philippines and New-Spain.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Author: Bartolomé Leonardo de Argensola

Translator: John Stevens

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF THE MOLUCCO AND PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. *** Newly Designed Front Cover. Original Title Page. THE DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF THE Molucco and Philippine Islands.