Furtado dissolves the Council, and acts counter to it. This Answer was sent in a Paper signed by the Captains, to satisfy all his Doubts, for they answer’d others by Word of Mouth, which were started by the Portuguese Commanders to perswade drawing off; but the General Thanking both Parties for their Zeal in Advising, broke up the Council; and on Saturday the 22d, came to a Resolution, which he left to be put in Execution the next Day. That Night he drew off the Cannon; and on Sunday Night, at the second Watch, the Forces began to March towards the Shore, where the Ships lay to take in the Men. The Admiral, Thomas de Sousa, led the Van; the General and his Officers, the Main Body; and John Xuarez Gallinato, with the Captains Don Thomas Bravo, John Fernandez de Torres, and Christopher Villagra, and the Musketiers, brought up the Rear. The Forces Shipp’d off. In this Order the Foot were Shipp’d off, and got all aboard by the Morning. At the same time two Dutch Men, of those that were in the Fort with the Enemy, fled from it, and came to the Ships. Among other Intelligence, they told the Spaniards how strong the Enemy were in Men and Cannon: That they had 36 heavy Pieces mounted on the Ravelin near our Ladies; seven on Cachil Tulo’s Bastion; three between them; and two on the Cavalier; three at S. Paul’s; eight in the Main Fort; three at Limatao; three more on that Bastion, and four more near it.
This Day Furtado propos’d to sail away with the Fleet towards Amboyna, but wanting Water, put it off for four Days, and during that time Gallinato had leasure to Discourse him, since he was going away, about providing Furtado refuses to supply Tydore, and other Places. the Fort of Tydore, which could not be Maintain’d without Supplies. He Answer’d, He was very willing to do it, but could not; and therefore would send Succours from Amboyna. Application was made to him to provide for other Wants, which concern’d his Majesties Service, to which he return’d the same Answer. He press’d him to consider, in what Condition he left the Fort of Machian, whereto particular Regard ought to be had, because there were 50 Men and a Captain, with the small Vessel, call’d a Galizabra, and he must either Relieve, or Dismantle it. He said, He had already sent to Destroy it, and did believe it was then Raz’d. Machian Fort raz’d.
Having taken this Order, and Leave of the Commanders, he set sail on Thursday the 27th of March, sending a Letter to Don Pedro de Acunna, the Governour of the Philippine Islands, with an Account of the Particulars of this Enterprize: A small Part of it will suffice to express the Thoughts and Intention of so Discreet a Commander as he has been prov’d by his former and later Actions; for it is not to be believ’d that he would quit the Attempt upon Ternate, without substantial Reasons: The Succours your Lordship Part of Furtado’s Letter to the Governor of the Philippines. sent me, says he, by Gods Assistance, came in good Time; for it was Providence that furnished his Majesty with this Fleet, and sav’d the Lives of us, who still enjoy them. By what has happen’d in this Expedition, his Majesty will understand how much he is beholding to your Lordship, and how little to the Commander of Malaca; since it is his Fault, that his Majesty was not serv’d. When the Succours your Lordship sent me arriv’d, this Fleet had no Ammunition, as having been two Years out from Goa, and having spent it as Occasion offer’d. Wherefore, that it might not be thought I Obstructed his Majesties Service, I landed; and did it with the Loss of many of the Enemies. I carry’d up my last Trenches within 100 Paces of the Enemies Works, planted five heavy Battering-Pieces; and in ten Days Battery a great part of a Bastion, wherein the Enemies main Strength consisted, was ruin’d. During that Time all the Powder the Fleet had was spent, without leaving enough for one Charge of the Guns, and if it should happen, as I do not question it will, that I meet any Squadron of Dutch, I must of Necessity fight them, this being my principal Motive for raising of the Siege, when the Enemy was reduc’d to great Streights, both by Want, and for that many of their best Commanders had been kill’d during the Siege. By this your Lordship may guess at the Condition I am in. This Letter dilates upon the Complaints against the Governours of India. He promises Don Pedro, that if he meets with any Succours at Amboyna, and is not oblig’d to go relieve the southern Parts, he will return to the Moluccos, tho’ he be forc’d to go refit as far as Malaca. He praises and recommends the Captains Gallinato, Don Thomas, Villagra, and their fellow Soldiers, and so concludes the Letter.
Gallinato went to Tydore, where he was inform’d, that tho’ the Fort of Machian was abandon’d, only one Bastian of it was dismantled; so that if the Enemy would possess themselves of it, they might do it with Ease, and were actually about it. Hereupon he spoke to the King of Tydore, Gallinato at Tydore takes Care of Machian. and the Portuguese Commander in Chief, recommending to them, that they would either take Care to maintain, or else quite raze that Fort. They commission’d a Captain to do the latter, who going to perform it, loaded the Vessel, call’d Galizabra with 200 Quintals, or a hundred Weight of Clove, and return’d to Tydore, to the great Satisfaction of the Portugueses of that Island. At this Time the King of Ternate was repairing the Breaches in his Fortifications, and rais’d new Defences, providing against Dangers he knew Nothing of yet. His Subjects are Warlike, Falshood of the King of Tydore. with whom, and the Assistance of the Dutch, he thought his Kingdome invincible. Great Matters might have been expected could any Confidence be repos’d in the King of Tydore; but our Commanders say his People, and those of Ternate understand one another.
On the 17th of April, the King of Tydore acquainted Gallinato, that with The King and Queen of Tydore at Variance. his Leave he design’d to make Peace with the King of Ternate. He answer’d, He would do well to consider what was expedient for his own Dominions, without Detriment to his Majesty’s Service. The same Day the Sangiack of Nua, in the Kingdom of Bachian, came to Tydore. He was a Christian, and laying hold of the Opportunity of serving his Majesty in the last Expedition, visited the Queen of Tydore, a beautiful young Lady, Daughter to the King of Bachian, who liv’d discontented, because the King her Husband was more fond of another ancient Woman, and not so well born. The Sangiack had Commission and Strength to steal her away, and conduct her to her Father, since neither Complaints, She is stolen away. Intreaties, nor any other Methods had been of Force to reclaim the King. On the 4th of May, came a Sister of the King’s, on the same Pretence of visiting her Niece, and reconciling her to the King. The Sangiack and she having concerted those Affairs, the young Queen going abroad with them to an Entertainment, and all Things being provided, they embark’d, and sail’d away towards Bachian. The King of Tydore was enrag’d, out of Patience, and apprehensive of a new War; tho’ afterwards this Difference was amicably adjusted, by the Interposition of Cachil Malua, a principal Person of Bachian.
On the 22d of May News was brought to Tydore, that the King of Ternate, had fitted out 50 Carcoas in his Harbour, and expected the Dutch Ships. He, at the same Time, made Rejoycings, in a triumphant Manner for the Departure of the Spaniards. It was requisite to leave some Men and Provisions in the Fort of Tydore, which being done, Gallinato, who Fort of Tydore supply’d. had before writ by an Advice-Boat, to the General and Governour of the Philippine Islands, left the Moluccos, and sail’d himself that Way. This was the Event of that so long intended and threatned Undertaking, which I have deliver’d impartially, having search’d after, and even guess’d at some Excuses to justify the Behaviour of so great a Commander as Andrew Furtado; enquiring of those very Officers who were present at the Attacks, and in the Councils. Neither by them, nor by the General’s own Memorials Impartiality of the Author. and Papers, can be found or made out any more than what appears by those which have been here inserted; but to judge of these Affairs is not the Part of an Historian.
Earl of Lemos President of the Council of the Indies. This same Year, about the beginning of April, the Presidentship of the Council of the Indies was conferr’d on Don Pedro Fernandez de Castro, Earl of Lemos and Andrade, Marquess de Sarria, Chief of his Family, whose Royal Antiquity is well known, Nephew and Son-in-law to the Duke of Lerma. In his Youth he gave such Hopes, as were afterwards fulfill’d by his Actions. He was then Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber to our King. The World made the same Judgment of him, that the Senate of Rome had in his Time of Scipio, afterwards call’d Africanus, when it made a Scruple of entrusting him with Matters of great Difficulty, because he was so young. But Experience soon made appear in the Earl, as well as in Scipio, that Prudence, which regulates all other Virtues, often anticipates grey Hairs. It is no Merit of the Off-spring to be descended from Noble, or Plebeyan Families; but such was the Vivacity of this great Man’s Spirit, and Judgment, that had he been born Mean, he might by his own natural This was writ when he was living. Parts have made his Fortune. No Man can say he wanted publick or private Accomplishment. In him appears a settled Magnanimity; with a courteous Sincerity; yet temper’d with that Justice we extol in the severe Austereness of some of the Ancients. These Virtues are interwoven with Religion, a Zeal for its Propagation, and the universal Agreement, which is the Product of publick Tranquility. Thus he serv’d his King, with Care and Solicitude; without Intermission, or seeking himself and his Advantage. It will be requisite to be brief in this Particular, because his singular Modesty is not pleas’d with the Soothings of Commendation; but is as averse to Flattery, as remote from standing in need of it.
Member of the said Council, at that Time. The Earl found the Council fill’d with zealous and grave Men; the Lords Benedict Rodriguez Valtodano, Peter Bravo de Sotomayor, Alonso Molina de Medrano, Knight of the Order of Santiago, or S. James the Apostle, James de Armenteros, Gonzalo de Aponte, Don Thomas Ximenes Ortis, Don Francisco Arias Maldonado, Benavente de Benavides, John de Villagutierre, Lewis de Salcedo, and Ferdinand de Villagomez; all of them qualify’d by Extraction, noted for Learning, and having taken the highest Degrees in it. These were Counsellors, and the last of them Solicitor General of that Assembly. To which also belong’d John de Ybarra, Knight of the Order of Calatrava, and Commendary of Moratalaz, and Peter de Lodesma, the King’s Secretaries. In the Places of the Licenciates, Molina de Medrano, and Gonzalo de Aponte, whom his Majesty afterwards employ’d in his Royal Council of Castile, and in those of some who dy’d, his Majesty, at several Times put in the Licenciates, Lewis de Salcedo, Gudiel, and Don Francis de Texada y de Mendoza, Doctor Bernard de Olmedilla, and John de Ybarra, &c. All these amidst that Multitude of Business they dexterously dispatch’d, laid all their main Designs, for the restoring his Majesty’s Monarchy to its Fulness, in those utmost Limits of it; a Project suitable to the Genius of the new President. He enquiring into the general and particular Posture of all Things then depending, met with that of the Molucco Islands, and finding it of Consequence, and almost forgotten, inclin’d to give it a helping Hand.
Br. Gaspar Gomez informs the Council. Much about this Time, Brother Gaspar Gomez came into Spain, being sent by Don Pedro de Acunna, to solicite that Enterprize. The Brother at several tedious Audiences, gave the President full Information of all that concern’d the Molucco Islands, their Wealth, the great Treasure Spain has expended in Attempts to recover them, to restore persecuted Christianity, where it had been so much receiv’d; and what Consequence it was, that this should be done by Way of the Philippine Islands. The Earl undertook that Cause, as such ought to be supported, and consulted about it with the Council, with the Duke of Lerma, and most particularly with the King’s Confessor. He never desisted, till it was brought to bear, and in such a Forwardness, that it might be effectually dispatch’d. The Members of the supream Council, with the same Zeal, and considering the repeated Disappointments of this Enterprize, forwarded the Expedition, and all of them agreed that Don Pedro de Acunna should undertake it in Person. This favourable Disposition of theirs, was fully confirm’d, by the News brought a Year after, of the ill Success of the united Forces of India under Furtado, and those of the Philippine Islands, under Gallinato. It was writ by Don Pedro de Acunna, describing it to the Life, with Duplicates for his Majesty, and the prime Ministers, and though he left much to Brother Gaspar Gomez, he was very particular himself.
He complain’d that they had let slip such an Opportunity of Recovering Ternate, and chastising the Dutch, who resort thither to the Trade of Don Pedro de Acunna’s letter concerning the Enterprize on Ternate. Clove, Mace, and other Spice, and Drugs. He represented the Danger the Philippine Islands were in, after that Neighbouring Tyrant’s Victory; and that having more particularly weigh’d the Circumstances of that Affair, besides the Necessity of regaining the Reputation lost there, he found that whatsoever has been yet said, was short. For not to mention the principal End, which was the Propagation of the Faith, but only with Regard to the King’s Revenue, he show’d, That Ternate being reduc’d it would be easie to subdue the Islands of Banda, which are above thirty, lying about a hundred Leagues from the Moluccos, full of valuable Mace, and possess’d by an unwar-like People, would add that Income to Spain, and take it from the Dutch, who carry all away, with little or no Opposition. He promis’d the same as to the Islands Papuas, which are many, not far distant from Ternate, some of them Subjects to that King, and yielding him a considerable Quantity of Gold, Amber, and other valuable Tribute. Then he extended to the Great Batochina, or Gilolo, describing its Fertility, and how that Tyrannical King oppress’d it. Those of Celebes 45 Leagues from Ternate, where he had strong Garrisons. The Greater and Lesser Javas, whose Kings would again submit to Spain, as soon as the Moluccos were brought under. He earnestly recommended Secresie and Expedition. To evince the Necessity of both, besides the usual Reasons, he urg’d that as soon as those Rebels and the Dutch hear of any War-like Preparations, they spare neither Cost, nor Labour, to make all necessary Provision; and that they never sail by the Coasts of India without ruining, and plundering them. He affirm’d, that the General Furtado was no way to blame for having abandon’d that Enterprize; for as it plainly appear’d, and Captain Gallinato declar’d he had always behav’d himself like a brave Gentleman, and discreet Commander; but that besides the Want of Provisions and Ammunition, he could not relie upon his own Men; and that if the Succours sent him from Manila had been more considerable, he would have hazarded all with only them. He said, the King of Tydore had sent him great Complaints against the General Furtado, and that it was a common saying with him. That before he came to the Moluccos the King of Tydore Slept, and he of Ternate Watch’d; but now the Case was alter’d, and the contrary might be said. Yet he believ’d he was not heartily sorry for the Disappointment. The same he urg’d in Relation to the Kings of Bachian and Sian. He concluded, offering to undertake that Affair in Person, provided he might be furnish’d with what was necessary, that he might not be Distress’d as his Predecessors had been. Then he went on, by way of Answer to the Objections, or Accusations of the Spanish Commanders, who being us’d to the Wars in Europe, despis’d all other Enemies, who made War without all those Engines, and Fire-Arms us’d in Flanders, France, and England. He says, none of those Eastern Provinces wanted any of the Inventions we have in Europe; and that besides the great Numbers they have, and the Dexterity in using them of the Japoneses, Chineses, Mindanaos, and Moluccos, they are no less expert at their Bows, and Arrows; especially the Javaneses, who conquer when they fly, and that they are not destitute of such Strategems, that the Spaniards have need of all their Valour against them, and their numerous Armies. He owns the Molucco Islands can not stand in Competition, with the strong and populous Cities taken in our Parts, but that nevertheless, so many Christian Churches as have been polluted in them; the banishing of our Religion; the Persecution of its Ministers; the continual Tyrannical Practices; and Alliance of those People, with the Dutch, his Majesties last Rebels, ought not to be cast into Oblivion. And that, were there no other Motive but this, the King ought to retrieve his Honour, which is concern’d for the loss of so many of his Fleets, and Commanders. It is very remarkable, that tho’ in these Letters he gave an Account of the Posture of Affairs, either as to Peace, or War, of so many several Kings, among whose Territories the Spanish Arms appear, not without Glory; yet he insists not so much on any Point, as that of Ternate, which was grown Old by above thirty Years standing, to the Discredit of our Nation. From all this may be inferr’d, how necessary it is always, in Affairs of great Difficulty, to bend the entire Understanding to them, and to be in Love with the Design conceiv’d, that so the Event may answer the Expectation. He at the same Time sent long Reflections, and Projects of the Count de Monterey, then Viceroy of Peru, relating to the Execution of that Affair, wherein it plainly appear’d, by the Consonancy of the Reasons, And the Opinions of Men well acquainted with those Parts, that the Expedition was of greater Concern and Importance, than all the Arguments made use of upon the like Occasions do ever amount to.