Time, which sometimes gives Hope, and sometimes Dispair, comforted Don Pedro in his Affliction, bringing in a few Months after some Ships of private Persons from New Spain, and then in due Season the usual Fleet. Men, Money, &c. arrive at Manila from New Spain. They arriv’d at Manila, on the Eve of S. Matthias, and in them the Spaniards sent from Spain, for the Expedition of Ternate, with above 200 more from the Marquess de Montesclaros, Viceroy of New Spain, as also the other Necessaries, and Money, pursuant to the King’s Order. Part of this came committed to Brother Gaspar Gomez, who was receiv’d with incredible Joy. He deliver’d all his Letters to the Governour, and immediate Care was taken to quarter the Officers and Soldiers, and to distribute them speedily, so that all Men might believe there was no other Design in their coming, but the Security of the Philippine Islands, threatned by the Emperor of Japan, and the Conspiracies of the Sangleyes. This Report was industriously so given out, that it might fly and spread abroad Management of the Governour. without the Kingdom, lest they might receive any Intelligence, who had cause to fear. Besides that, as the Fame of those great Preparations was Advantageous to the Spaniards in Point of Reputation, so the Reality of the Power they had, added to the Opinion conceiv’d, prov’d the Defence and Security of them all. In Japan, only the News that Manila was full of Men, and Ships of War, allay’d, or quite banish’d the Disgust of that King, on Account of Don Pedro’s refusing him Ship-Wrights. The People of Chincheo also forbore meditating Revenge against an Enemy, whose Victories were back’d with such Succours. Don Pedro consider’d all these Particulars, and each of them made him conclude, that he might with Safety be absent for some Time from Manila. However the King of Ternate overjoy’d that he had shaken off the Spanish Yoke, made little Account of all that was told him, concerning its Neighbouring Kingdoms, believing they would never recover their Ancient Possessions. The Dutch Commanders, who were rebuilding the burnt Fort at Tydore, sent him a considerable Number of Heavy Brass Cannon, of Drakes, and Muskets, and he hired some of the Ingeniers, that came in those Ships, to look to his Fortifications, and reside in them, and in his City. Some accepted of the Habitation, approving of that disorderly, and irreligious Liberty of Life allow’d in that Country; where considering the frequent Resort of Ships from the North, and the many Factories, they reckon’d themselves as good as at Home, since they could often meet with their Kindred or Friends, or at least with their Country-Men. Banish’d Spaniards and Portugueses arriv’d daily at the Port of Oton, in the Philippine Islands, and among them Paul de Lima, a Person of great Experience, and still General of the Artillery at Tydore, who, besides the News of the late Destruction, brought an Account of the Joy wherewith the Dutch dug up the Guns he endeavour’d to hide, and how much they were increased in Strength and Shipping. He was receiv’d with much Honour, in regard to his Quality, and because he was one of those who had lost Lands and Goods, taken from him by the King of Ternate, and his Information, and Counsel were of Use for what afterwards happen’d. All Men attended the Warlike Preparations, in their several Stations, but with equal Zeal; building Ships, and gathering Provisions, Arms, and Ammunitions; and Don Pedro himself was so diligent and vigilant, that he attended the meanest Employments, giving an Example, and encouraging; so that it may be said, he did every Thing, for he ply’d all Hands.
The End of the Ninth Book.
THE
HISTORY
OF THE
Discovery and Conquest
OF THE
Molucco and Philippine Islands, &c.
BOOK X.
Want of Political Reflections whence. 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? Or what can occur in this Subject, which the Reader may not infer, as a necessary Consequence of the foregoing Discourse? Since then the Matter in Hand does not afford us such Reflection, let us draw to a Conclusion, in Pursuance of our Promise made at the Beginning.
Yloilo Port the Rendezvous of The Navy. Don Pedro de Acunna, now Captain General of the Fleet that was assembled in the Philippine Islands, at the same time took Care to see it fitted out with Expedition, and to provide for the Security of the Province he was to forsake, that he might go upon that so difficult Undertaking. Some there were, who look’d upon it as Part of Don Pedro’s good Fortune, that the Molucco Islands had been utterly lost, that since he had the more Matter to work upon, his Victory might be the more glorious. He most industriously provided all Things requisite for the Use of War; and even for all the Accidents it might be liable to. The Point, or Promontory of Yloilo runs out into the Sea, not far from Arevalo, in the Island of Panay, forming a Harbour proper and capacious enough to be the Place of Arms, for the Preparations then in Hand. Here the Fleet rendezvous’d, consisting Particulars of the Fleet. of Six Tall Ships, Six Galleys, Three Galliots, like those they call Galizabras, belonging to the Crown of Portugal; in one of which was Peter Alvarez de Abreu, Commander in Chief of the Fort of Tydore; the other two, under the Command of John Rodriguez Camelo, Commodore, sent from Malaca, by the General Andrew Furtado de Mendoza, to be aiding with his Courage and Conduct, and to carry him an Account of the Success. One flat bottom’d Galliot, to land the Artillery, and in it 300 Baskets of Rice. Four Foists built purposely for carrying of Provisions. Two Champanes of Ten Tun Burden each, with 1600 Baskets of clean Rice. Two Dutch Long-Boats, which carry’d over the Portugueses when the Fort of Tydore was lost. Seven Frigats belonging to the King, and Seven more to private Persons, and the like Number of Champanes, in all 36 Sail.
The Land Forces. Colonel John de Esquivel brought 12 Companies of Spanish Foot; four whereof were rais’d in Andaluzia, being his own, and those of the Captains, Paul Garrucho, Peter Sevil, and Luke de Vergara Gaviria. Six came from New Spain, under the Captains Don Roderick de Mendoza, Son to Don John de Raeza y Castilla, and to Donna Maria de Mendoza, and by her Grandson to the Marquess de Montesclaros, and therefore, out of Respect to his Kinsman, the Viceroy of New Spain, he came out of Italy to serve his Majesty in the Philippine Islands; the others were Captain Pascual de Alarcon Pacheco, Martin de Esquivel, Bernardine Alfonso, Peter Delgado, and Stephen de Alcazar. Two other Companies commanded by the Captains John Guerra de Cervantes, and Christopher de Villagra, belong’d to the Forces of Manila, and the Province of the Pintados. All which, with 1423 Spaniards. their Officers, make up 1423 Spaniards. Under the Colonel Don Guillermo, and the Captains Don Francis Palaot, Don John Lit, Don Lewis and Augustin Lout, 344 Pampangua, and Tagalo Indians; besides 620 others of the same Nations, for the Sea and Land Service, and 649 Rowers. All the Men in the Fleet, besides the General’s Household and Family, amounted to 3095; with 75 Pieces of Cannon of all Sorts, and all other Perquisites for Sea, Landing, Fight, and Battery.
The Fleet sails from Yloilo. Don Pedro sail’d from the Port of Yloilo, with all these Preparations, on the 15th of January, 1606, the Weather being unsettled, but he as resolute as at other Times. He arriv’d at the Island Mindanao, then in Enmity with the Spaniards, and in Confederacy with the Ternates, and came to Caldera Port. an Anchor in the Port of Caldera, to water, where the Admiral’s Ship, in which the Colonel Esquivel was, began to drag her Anchors, and was forc’d to set her Sails to get off; but perceiving she could not, by so doing weather a Point, she fired two Guns, in Token of Distress, at the Time Admiral Ship lost. when her Rudder struck. The Galleys made up to tow her off, and broke some Ropes to no Purpose, the Sea and Wind being against them. Captain Villagra was entrusted to save the Men and Provisions that were aboard; and he, tho’ a considerable Part belonging to the King and private Men was lost, with incredible Industry sav’d the most of them, and the Goods, as also all the Men, Cannon, Powder, Cables, Rigging, and Sails; and that the People of Mindanao might not reap the Benefit of the Wreck, he set Fire to the Vessel, after taking out all the Iron Work. This Accident was much lamented, both for its own Consequence, and because the Men, who are often vainly Superstitious, put an ill Construction upon it; but the General’s Wisdom made amends for all.
They sail from Caldera. From the Port of Caldera, the General order’d the Colonel to sail over to that of Talangame, which, as has been said, is in the Island of Ternate; and bore him Company himself, with the Galleys, till he was out of the Streight of Sabuanga, which is dangerous by Reason of the Currents and Ridges of Rocks, wherefore they tow’d the Ships, till they were out of Danger, as also because they were becalm’d. The Fleet stood out to Sea; the Galleys coasted along slowly to take in Water enough to last them to Ternate, the Men that had been sav’d from abroad the Admiral being distributed among them, and the other Vessels, so that their Burden and Labour Through Mistake fall in with Celebes. was increased. The ablest pilots in those Seas, had Charge of the Galleys, and yet notwithstanding all their Care, and that of the Captains and expert Mariners, they mistook their Course, and fell in among the islands of Celebes, otherwise call’d of Mateo, above 60 Leagues to the Leeward of Ternate. The Wind was contrary, and the Error was to be Arrive at Ternate. retriev’d by rowing. With very much Labour they reach’d Ternate on the 26th of March, being Easter-Day. That Day so joyful to all Mankind, made them forget past Toils, and convert them into Pleasure and Delight.