This is so certain, that the King of Tydore being just at the Point of accepting the Wife, and Lands offer’d him by the Enemy, fell off upon the News brought him, that a Galleon was seen sailing for the Molucco Islands, and he rejected all the Proposals. It was afterwards known to be bound for the Philippine Islands, and belong’d neither to the Portuguese nor Spaniards; but to Venetian Merchants, who traded between Manila and China, with several Commodities of their own Country, and other Parts of the Levant; so that the King of Tydore, and the Besieged themselves began to make fresh Reparations, like Men that sharpen their Weapons, and fit their Armour.
These Succours encourag’d them to several bold Attempts. The Besieged made Sallies, and the Length of the Siege. a Salley, to nail up the Enemies Cannon, and tho’ few in Number, several Times assaulted their Camp, still returning Victorious, without any considerable Loss. They dismounted all their Cannon from the Walls, their Works nothing availing them, because they were not made according to Art. The Siege lasted five Years, the Portugueses sustaining it with notable Resolution, and the Indians pressing with no less Obstinacy; nor would the Hunger, Thurst, Nakedness, and the Hardships of the Seasons have been tollerable, had not they been common to both Parties. Extream Want, was the Occasion of several signal Exploits of that Valour, wherewith they defended their Lives, and the Fort. This produc’d Rage and Admiration in the Enemy; and an affectionate Compassion in the Women of the Island; among whom they found Advice, Secrecy, Intelligence and known Favour. So great is the Power of Persecuted Virtue, that it prevails, even upon those Enemies, who harbour the Memory of a Wrong, to convert it, first into a Desire of forgetting it, and without long Interposition of Time, produces a Zeal to support that Valour they first hated.
Corcoa
Almadia
The End of the Second Book.
THE
HISTORY
OF THE
Discovery and Conquest
OF THE
Molucco and Philippine Islands, &c.
BOOK III.
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. I could mention several Instances of this Sort, contain’d in Letters, and other Spanish and Portuguese Relations, sent by Religious Men from the Moluccos, to the Governours of the Philippine Islands, whose Papers have, upon this Occasion, been lay’d before me, for my better Information, for which Reason we may make Use of some of them, without departing from the main Subject. The gravest of the Greek and Latin Historians sometimes intermix private Adventures, as it were short Episodes to divert the Reader. The Example of great Masters is a sufficient Authority for Learners, for which Reason I may well be allow’d this Freedom.
One Duarte, a brave Ensign, had contracted strict Friendship with Cachil A Love Story. Tudura, which was no way obstructed by the Difficulties of the Seige, nor so much as interrupted. Duarte was wont in the dead of the Night, to go safely into the City in the Habit of the Country, and by the Help of the Language, being Master of it, where he was privately admitted into his Friend’s House, and well receiv’d there on another Account by Tudurisa, his only Daughter, who, being prevail’d on by the Love she bore Duarte, imbrac’d the Christian Religion. The Father was not unacquainted with their Love, but he also knew that it was attended by Modesty in Tudurisa, and true Courtesy in Duarte. Returning to the Fort, he used to be taken in the same dangerous way, by those Persons who had let him down with a Rope. He brought with him some Intelligence and Provisions; but he came not so entire himself, for the Indian Woman, who was to be his Wife, had robb’d him of his Heart. Nuno Pereyra going the Rounds miss’d the Ensign at his Post, and enquiring into it, understood the Cause of his Absence; in Respect to which, considering the mighty Power it often has over great Souls, he conniv’d at the Breach of Martial Discipline, assigning that to the Passion, without reproving the Lover. Whether he follow’d the Example we read of Quintus Fabius Maximus, in the like Case, or on Account that Experience shows, there is Nothing can hold a Lover so fast as the Presence of the lov’d Object; Pereyra enjoining all Persons to keep the Secret, contriv’d, without offending Tudura, that his Daughter should come privately into the Fort, which she consented to, without many Perswasions. Having so done, the Commander in Chief, calling his Ensign, said to him, I am inform’d, that at certain Times, and that when the Danger is greatest, you forsake us; but that it is not for want of Affection, or not knowing the Duty of your Post; tho’ we were not confin’d to these narrow Walls, I would not punish your Failure, because Mildness has ever been more efficacious for correcting of Generous Souls, than Rigour. It will not be convenient for the Future, that we be left without you, and in Fear for what may befall you: Here is your Wife, and then she appear’d, brought hither without any Force, or Opposition from her Father. Take her to you lovingly, and do not suffer the Honour of Portugal, depending on these few Men, to want the Bravery of so able an Officer. Duarte was amaz’d, generously out of Countenance, full of Love, and knew not what to say; but was excus’d by his Friends, and even by Nunno Pereyra.