Not long after, Furtado was inform’d by his Spyes, that the King of Jasanapatan had concluded a League with Raju, pressing him to return to the Siege of Columbo, whilst he did the same to Mana. That his Presumption might not want such Punishment, as became the Honour of the Crown of Portugal, and the Reputation of its Grandeur, which is more prevalent in those Parts than Force, Furtado gathering what Power he could, with all possible Celerity attack’d that King. He was not unprovided, but drawing Routs him, and subdues his Kingdom. up without the Walls of that City, offer’d him Battel, his Men, Elephants and Horses covering spacious Fields. Furtado playing both Parts of a Commander, and a Soldier, drew up his Forces, encourag’d them in few Words; and both Sides coming to the Charge exercis’d their Force and Fury; but at Length the King’s Troops were routed, and he slain entering the City, in which abundance of Brass Cannon was found, besides the Plunder, which was considerable. He took Possession of it, and seizing the Forts and Garrisons, carry’d on the War there in such Manner, that the whole Kingdom seeing such severe Execution, and feeling it so heavily within its Bowels, submitted to the King of Spain. By his Authority, when the Sword was put up, he appointed a Kinsman of the late King, to whom of Right it belonged, to reign in Jasanapatan, he having been taken in the last Battel. He caus’d him to swear and plight his Faith, that he would be a perpetual Vassal to his Majesty; imposing on him the Payment of a yearly Tribute, which still subsists. The Writings containing this Settlement were sent by him into Spain, where and at Goa, all that had been done was approv’d of by the Viceroy, and the Conqueror, who had concluded it so happily, highly applauded.
Ternate the Cause of Rebellions. He next Strengthned the Fort of Columbo, with Four Ships of his Fleet, and 100 Soldiers; and Supply’d Cosme de la Feta with Eighty Men, under Two Captains, to prosecute the Affair of Candia, which was committed to him, and sorted good effect. No Rebellion broke out in those Parts, but what was either supported by Ternate, or proceeded from its Example, and great Celerity was requisite in the Commanders for suppressing of it.
Coast of Pearl Fishery Rebells, and is reduc’d. At this same Time all the Coast of the Pearl Fishery rebell’d, and among other sudden Destruction usually made by Seditious Men in Arms, the Subjects of Vinapanaique burnt Twenty five Christian Churches. Furtado made all possible speed to chastize them before the Rebellion grew to a Head. The Mutineers not being well Strengthned, sent Embassadors to him, begging Peace, and colouring their Guilt with Excuses, which Furtado admitted of because it was convenient for his Majesties Service; upon Condition they should make good all the Damages occasion’d by their Revolt. He commanded them to rebuild the Churches they had destroy’d, and to grant the Society of the Jesuits, who had then the Charge of the Christians in that Country, all the Liberties and Immunities demanded by those then residing there; taking sufficient Hostages for the Performance.
Furtado ill us’d would depart India. These and other no less notable Actions, he perform’d in the space of four Months; but as Envy seldom fails to oppose Valour, when he came to Cochin, and was there ready to set out for the Conquest of the Moluccos, and particularly of Ternate, he received Letters from the Viceroy, Matthias de Albuquerque commanding him to deliver up the Fleet to Nunno Vello Pereyra. He obey’d, and when he came to Goa, was Imprisoned, and put to Trouble. As soon as it was in his Power, he resolv’d to depart India, and remove himself from the ill-will of those he thought were not his Friends; but the City of Goa conjur’d him not to forsake it, and in vain endeavour’d to procure a Reconciliation betwixt those Commanders. This happened in the Year 1592, when, and some Years after, Ternate might have been reliev’d, as Furtado desir’d, had not the Animosities reigning obstructed it. However they were so far from employing him, that, tho’ Furtado several times Offer’d himself, with his own Ships, and at his proper Cost, where there was such Necessity of suppressing Cunnale, yet he was as often Rejected, and that Victory envy’d him, which afterwards he had granted by Heaven, as we shall see in its Place.
At this Time Santiago de Vera was discharged of his Command of the Philippine Islands. He had signified his Intentions to Andrew Furtado, and received his Answer, That he would comply with his Desires; but Fortune disappointed these good Beginnings, embroiling Furtado with those who did not love him, and removing Santiago from his Government. His Successor was Gomez Perez de las Marinnas, Knight of the Order of Santiago, Gomez Perez Governor of the Philippines. or St. James the Apostle, a Person of high Reputation, born at Betanzos, in the Kingdom of Galicia. He arriv’d at the Philippines in the Year 1590, and brought with him his Son Don Lewis, Knight of the Order of Alcantara. The new Governor found Manila open, without any Form of a City, and without Wealth to Improve it. Above 200000 Pieces of Eight were wanting for this Purpose; yet he compass’d the Work by Projects, and Contrivance without any Dammage to the Publick, or to private Persons. He Monopoliz’d the Cards; he laid Penalties on excessive Gaming, and punish’d such as Forestal’d the Markets, and on Victuallers, and other Retailers of that Sort that were guilty of Frauds; with these Fines he built the Walls of Manila, which are 12849 Geometrical Foot in Compass, He Walls Manila; Builds Forts, &c. each Foot being the third part of a Yard. He apply’d himself diligently to this Work, and the Inhabitants attended it, being willing to forward it on Account of the Intreaties and Example of their Chief. The City had but one Fort, and that ill built, wherefore he Erected another at the Mouth of the River, calling it Santiago, and enclosed the old one. He finish’d the Cathedral, and built from the Ground the Church of St. Potenciana, Patroness of the Island, for Women that have retir’d from the World. Then he apply’d himself to casting, and brought able Artists, who furnish’d the Place with heavy and small Cannon; built Galleys to Cruize and Trade, whereon depends the Welfare of those Countries; and pursuant to what he had promis’d in Spain, bent his Thoughts towards Ternate, and all the Moluccos; reflected on the Disreputation of the unfortunate Expeditions of his Predecessors, who attempted the Conquest of that flourishing Kingdom, and how he might punish those who Tyranniz’d in it.
He imparted his Thoughts by Word of Mouth, and by Letters to Zealous His first Steps for recovery of the Moluccos. Persons, and more particularly to F. Marta, a Priest of the Society of Jesus, and a grave and active Man, whose Experience and Doctrine had been very Advantageous in those Parts. This Religious Man furnish’d him with Intelligence, Advice, and proper Ministers to prepare and carry on the Work; one of whom was Brother Gaspar Gomez, a Spaniard, and Lay-Brother of the said Society. Among the many Conferences there were to this Effect, I find an Exhortation of F. Antony Marta, in a Letter he writ to the Governor from Tydore, which, because it is an Original, and conducing for the better Understanding of this Affair, I will here insert, translated out of the Portuguese. Grant me this Liberty, since the Speeches which are generally Fabulous, pretended to be made by Generals and Consuls, in the Greek and Latin Histories, are allow’d of. F. Antony Marta says thus;
F. Merta’s Letter, of the State of the Moluccos. In fine, your Lordship is resolv’d to undertake this Expedition. You will have a spacious Field for dilating the Glory of God very much, and rendering your Name famous to Perpetuity. By it your Lordship will acquire to his Majesty a most Large and Wealthy Kingdom, since all this Archipelago of the Moluccos and Amboina, as far as Banda, which is above 130 Leagues in Length and 70 in Breadth, is an inexhaustible Source of Clove, Nutmeg, and Mace, which will afford his Majesty a Yearly Income of 200000 Crusados, which is about 27000 Pounds Sterling, then a considerable sum, in India alone; besides that of other Islands, which produce no Clove. Nor will it require any Expence, because the Country it self will freely afford it on its very Mountains; and what is yet much more, your Lordship will gain above 200000 Souls to God, all which, in a short time, after subduing the Kingdom, will become Christians, without any, or with very little Opposition; whereby your Lordship will have a burning Flambeau in this World, to light and conduct you to Heaven. Besides, you will magnify and perpetuate your Name, with a Title nothing inferior to those of the ancient Roman Generals, such as those of Germanicus, Africanus, and the like. It is not now requisite to touch upon the Method your Lordship is to observe for compassing this Enterprize, to your eternal Praise; for, as we understand, there is no want of Experience with you for Warlike Affairs; Yet if your Lordship should be any way Dubious, Jerome de Azevedo is able to inform you of such things as you shall desire to know. He is well acquainted with the Strength of the Moluccos, and of their Enemies. However I would have your Lordship look League of the Mahometans. upon this War as considerable and difficult, because it is very convenient to come well Provided, and Resolv’d. You are not to Fight with the Ternates alone, but with all the Moors of this Archipelago. Hitherto the Fort of Amboina had to do with the Ternates, that are at Veranula, and this of Tydore with those in the Island Ternate; but now of late we are to fight with those of the Islands of Banda and of Seram. All the Moors in those Parts Assembled last year, and Resolv’d, That for the future the War should be carry’d on under the Name of their Religion. And for the more Security, and better Establishing of this Point, they chose those of Banda for Chiefs of their Law; and took an Oath to lay down their Lives, or expell the Portugueses. Accordingly the last Year, those of Banda came with the Ternates Fort of Amboyna Beseig’d. of Veranula, with a great number of Carcoas, to Beseige the Fort of Amboyna; and in the Engagement they had with us, took one of the two Galiots we brought from Goa, tho’ it was not their Valour, but our Negligence that occasion’d the making of that Prize. It plainly appear’d, that our Lord did it to punish our Pride. This so far Encouraged them, that they durst afterwards daily Cruize in sight of the Fort, took the Fishermen that went out in the Morning to follow their Trade, and laid a Ground some Carcoas on the Shore. They erected a Mosque opposite to the Fort, as in a safe Place, and thus they kept the Fort Besieged with Contempt, for the space of a Month. At the end thereof, the Galley going out, with one Galiot we had left, made them fly, every one to his own Country, giving out, and threatning, That they would Return next Year with a greater Fleet, which will be about September. We are certainly assured that the People of Banda, left 50 of their prime Men at Amboyna, as Hostages for the performance of their Engagement. This is also known by a Man of our own, who fled from Banda, having been carry’d thither Prisoner from Amboyna. We are informed, that 25 Carcoas would set out, so many being Launch’d, and they were to Sail after their Lent, which is at the End of this Month of July, and to joyn the Seyrves, and the rest of the Confederates, in order to return again before the Fort of Amboyna. If they come with such a Force, I am very suspitious that the Fort will be lost; because the Enemies method is to take in all the Towns that are Subject to it; and when this is left alone, wanting the Support of its Neighbours, it must of necessity Surrender. Antony Perez, the Governor of that Fort, is a Man of Courage, and well Fortified; and yet there are Circumstances to be consider’d, some of them very Difficult; as that the Enemies are Numerous, and there will come some Confederates with them, who are fit for any piece of Treachery; besides, that they cannot be Reliev’d from any Part whatsoever, for the full space of five Months, that is till the beginning of January next. We cannot but apprehend some great Mischief will happen; for supposing they do not take the Fort, still this War is Dangerous, as being Universal, with all the Moors; stirr’d up by means of the Caciques; Concerted under solemn Oaths; and Declar’d to be Religious, with full Remission of Sins to all that Die in it. There is no want of Fomenters, and those Caciques of Note, and General Conspiracy against Christians. great Authority among the Moors, in Banda, Amboyna, Ternate, and Tydore. These Men urge their Religion, and the Honour of Mahomet, and by that means manage the People as they please; as I have found by Experience this Year, and in this War we had at Amboyna, in which I was. For formerly the Moors were soon weary of being at Sea, and when any Man of Note happened to be kill’d in Fight, they presently retir’d, looking upon it as an ill Omen. Now they continue all the seasonable Months at sea, without flinching; tho’ the Portugueses slew 150 of their Men, and among them their Admiral, and others of the prime Commanders they had in their Fleet. To this must be added, That this is a general Conspiracy of all the Moors against us; insomuch, that two who were our Friends, and had Assisted us several times, with their Fleets, against the Ternates, being those of the Island Burro, these being summoned by the Commander to Sail with him in the Navy, as they had done at other times, did not only refuse it now, but would not so much as receive the Message, or suffer him that carry’d it to Land. The Tydores did the same, for the Commander of Amboyna demanding Assistance of them, they would not go, alledging that their Fort was in as much Danger. And the King of Tydore being inform’d of your Lordships coming, his Subjects declare before hand, and perhaps at the Instigation of their King, That they will have no Spaniards in these Parts; which makes us look about, where they will raise Moors to Destroy us. Therefore all Delays, in this Affair, will be very dangerous; because we are Inferior to the Moors, and must of Necessity Fight them, since it is for Religion, and Honour, on both which Accounts they are become our mortal Enemies. By this your F. Marta presses for Relief. Lordship will understand what need we are in of your Succour and Relief; and may compute how many are to draw their Swords against you, since they are all our Enemies in general, and have Conspir’d against us. However, it will be Discretion first to Dissemble with the Tydores, that they may not joyn the Ternates, and by that means render the War more tedious and difficult. I do not speak to all the rest in particular, according to my Notion, because I refer it to Jerome de Azevedo, who will give a very good Account. But let this be Established as a Maxim, That your Lordship has a mighty Enterprize in Hand; and I trust in God he will give you Wisdom, and Strength to go through it with Ease; since you come to Revenge the Injuries formerly, and now offered by these Barbarians, to God and his Irreverences to Religion. Saints. For we know that the Ternates still drink out of the consecrated Chalices, and make use of the Patens to Offer, or Receive any thing, as on profane Salvers; and of the Vestments, and Ornaments of Altars, they make Cloaths, and Hangings for their Houses. The People of Banda, most of them, wear Ornaments of the Blood of above 3000 Christians, they Treacherously Murder’d, at several times, in their Ports, as they went thither to Trade with them; and in that Island, and part of the Sea, there are Streams of Spanish and Portuguese Blood running. Your Lordship came to spread the Catholick Faith, and that you may the better conceive what Jerome de Azevedo will say to you touching this Affair, I send you by him a Draught of all this Archipelago, as well of the Moluccos, as of Amboyna, and Banda. In it your Lordship will see what a large Kingdom we loose, when it might be recover’d with little Cost. It only remains, That your Lordship come, with all possible Expedition, because the greatest Danger is in Delay; and when you are here you will find brave Commanders, who will assist you with their Good Officers and Soldiers. Swords and their Advice. Among them is Sancho de Vasoncelos, who was Commander at Amboyna, has often fought with these Infidels, and obtain’d signal Victories over them. Here is also Thomas de Sousa, Commander of Molucco, and of most Southern Parts, a Man expert in Martial Affairs. In Tydore and Amboyna, you will also find brave Soldiers, and there will not want to Pay them, for the Riches of the Country will be sufficent for that, and to satisfy them with Gold, precious Stones, and other Booty; besides you will find many sorts of Arms. We Religious Men daily offer up our Prayers, Gomez Perez prepares. and will so continue to do with Fervour; and tho’ the Unworthiness of the Ministers might be a Hinderance, yet we hope they will prove Advantageous.
The Governour receiv’d this Letter; which, with the Discourse he had more at large with Jerome de Azevedo, made him put the last Hand to a Work of so much Importance to the Service of the Christian Commonwealth, which had been neglected in those Parts. Gaspar Gomez had conferr’d with him long before, and by his Means, and the Accounts of other knowing Persons, the Governor was so well acquainted with the Kingdoms, and Seas, the Seasons and Dangers of the Undertaking, that he had no great need of F. Marta’s Map. He dispatch’d Gaspar Gomez, a Man of Secrecy and Activity, trusting him with the Design, because he was recommended by several grave Fathers of that Order. He gave him particular Instructions, with which, Gaspar Gomez sent as a Spy. and his own Experience, he wander’d about the Archipelago, and learnt as much as was convenient. He visited Ternate, Tydore, Mindanao, both the Javas, and scarce omitted any Place, as far as the Point of Malaca, but what he took a View of.
In the Year 1593, King Philip the 2d bestow’d the Government of Cartagena, in America, upon Don Pedro Bravo de Acunna. To take this Employ, D. Pedro de Acuna Governor of Cartagena. he quitted that he had in the Spanish Galleys; he was Captain of the Admiral Galley, and Vice-Admiral of them all, under the Adelantado, or Lord Lieutenant of Castile, his Kinsman. He had serv’d his Majesty many Years by Sea and Land, in the Mediterranean. No Action of Note was perform’d without him, since the Expedition of Navarino against the Turks, and the His brave Actions. others that ensu’d in those Parts, in Naples, in Portugal, and all those that occur’d before, till his Majesty was put in Possession of that Crown. Lastly, When he commanded the Spanish Galleys he fought those of the Moors and Turks, with the Galiots, and Brigantines of the Levant, and English Ships, and took and sunk several of both Sorts. He took a great Number of Slaves in Barbary; particularly at Zangazon, Benegicar, and Alcazar. He defended Cadiz from the Invasion, and Rapine of Drake, the English Admiral, who attempted it with a mighty Fleet. This was done by only four Galleys, but two of which were clean, yet the Bravery of the Commander made amends for all. How great an Action this was, and what Reputation Don Pedro gain’d by it, appear’d afterwards, when the English again possess’d themselves of Cadiz, at the Time that all the Galleys in Spain were in the Bay, and the Fleet then preparing to sail to the Indies. In each of these Actions, most whereof were victorious, there are many remarkable Particulars, and they all deserve large Encomiums; but since they do not belong to the Subject of this History, it would be blameable to insert them here.
The King for these Reasons constituted Don Pedro de Acunna, his Captain General, in the Province of Cartagena and Tierra Firme, and Commander of the Galleys on that Coast; which Commissions had never before been united in that Government. He gave him a Galley, and Orders to receive the Royal Fifths of the Pearl-Fishery, at the Island Margarita. He set out from the Port of Sanlucar, on the 27th of September, in a Pink, with 12 Soldiers, His Voyage. some Religious Men, and his Servants, the Galley, and another Ship following. The Winds soon rose, and the Sea swell’d, and the Vessels were dispers’d. In one of them there were 20 Soldiers, and 40 Slaves at the Oar, this was so far drove away, that they saw it no more, till five Days after they came to Cartagena. The Storm ceas’d, and Don Pedro arriv’d at Gran Canaria, but would not go into the City. He took in two hundred Cask of Water. The Governour Don Lewis de la Cueva was not in the Island; but it being known in his Family that Don Pedro was come, they sent to welcome him. The Visit was follow’d by some Horses loaded with Abundance of Fowl, Game, Sheep, Wine, Pears, and most stately Quinces, besides Abundance of other Provisions. He sail’d thence with a favourable Wind, which soon turn’d against him, and tho’ he was far enough off, drove back the Ships in Sight of Teneriffe. After being toss’d about for some Days, there happened such a tedious Calm between two Islands, as made Amends for the Violence of the Storms, and yet he had others afterwards as violent as those before. Many Days after, when they had lost their reckning, they arriv’d at the Island Metalinon, inhabited by unconquered Indians, where they took in Water without Opposition, for the Rest of the Voyage. Thence he had fair Weather to the Island Margarita. As soon as he landed in the Harbour, Don John Sarmiento de Villandrando, the Governour of the Island came to meet him, having hourly expected him, since he knew he was to come. The rejoycing, and Entertainment was such as became Friends, and Friends of that Quality.