Superstition of Moluccos as to Eclipses. They were inform’d, that the Day before, an Eclipse of the Moon had been observ’d at Ternate, with the usual Concern. No sooner does the Darkness begin to cover the Body of the Moon, than the People with Sighs and Tears begin also to lament that Planet’s Mourning; for they believe it forebodes the Death or Captivity of their King, or of some eminent Person or some Calamity to the Publick. If the Eclipse passes over without any of these Losses, they Repair to their Mosque in Procession, Rank and File. Here the foremost carry large China Dishes. Those are follow’d by others with Launces, and Hatchets advanc’d, and Muskets rested. Next them follow three Lamps, carry’d on Men’s Shoulders, as common Pictures represent the great Bunch of Grapes carry’d by the Discoverers, who went to view the Holy Land promis’d by God to his People. Next comes a Boy, in Royal Robes, and behind him another holding an Umbrello, made of various Feathers, over the Head of the first. Then follow the Women, set off with Flowers and Palm-Branches, without Order; and thus they celebrate their Thanksgiving, in the Streets and Temples, because the Eclipse pass’d over without any Detriment. The Dutch told them, That Eclipses were commonly known in their Country, and throughout all Europe; which those People either admir’d or did not believe.
When our Galleys came to the Port of Talangame, Don Pedro expected to have found the Colonel with the Fleet in it; but only saw a stately Dutch Ship at Talangame. Dutch Ship, carrying 30 Pieces of Cannon, and 12 Pedreroes. She fought our Ships as they pass’d by, and then drew to the Shore, and defended herself with Part of the Artillery, that was fittest for the Purpose, and being guarded by a great Number of Ternate Soldiers, kept close in her Fortification. Don Pedro took a View of her, as he pass’d by in the Galleys, tho’ she made several Shot at him, and threw 18 Pound Balls into the Admiral Galley, where he was. He thought fit not to stay, till he heard of the Fleet which was then at Tydore, little above two Leagues from that Port, as was known by some Vessels of the Natives, that came up board and board, in sailing by that Harbour. The Galleys directed their Course to Tydore, led by the Joy of this good News, which eas’d Don Pedro of much Care he was in, knowing there was a Scarcity of Seamen aboard the Fleet, and he fear’d it might have been drove away elsewhere.
Dutch Men at Tydore. Esquivel found four Dutch Men at Tydore. One of them was the Factor who gather’d the Clove for a Company of his Countrymen, that belong’d to the Factories of Ternate, Amboyna, Banda, Sunda, and other Places about them; the other three were Sailers. He examin’d all four, and they gave an Account of the Strength of that Ship, and her Guns, saying, She was loden with Clove; and one of the five that fought the Portugueses, when the Fort of Ternate blew up. That they expected another Ship, which came Intelligence they give. with her from Bantam, and was parted in foul Weather. That the main Drift of the Agreement made between the King of Ternate and the Dutch, was their Assisting him against the Spaniards, and Portugueses. That there were Orders at Java and Sunda for the Dutch Ships which pass’d by to enquire there, whether there were any News from the Moluccos; and if Need were, that they should leave their Loding there, and go succour the King of Ternate.
Ternate to be attack’d before the Dutch Ship. Before Don Pedro departed Talangame, he consulted with his Officers, whether it were convenient to attack the Dutch Ship before they went upon the Enterprize of Ternate. Opinions varied, but it was concluded, that since his Majesties Design was to recover the Maluccos, and he had order’d the Fleet to be provided for that Intent, it was not expedient to prefer any other Action. Time is subject to change, and sometimes an Accident overthrows the best concerted Designs. That great Ship, so well stor’d with Guns, and Mann’d, might have sunk some of ours, by which we should have lost our Cannon, and Provisions, or some other Mischief, that could not possibly be foreseen might have happen’d, to the obstructing of the main Design. Besides that the Ternates being their Friends, in Case we had master’d the Ship, the Men might fly and save themselves among their Confederates, and thus the Enterprize be rendered more difficult by their Assistance; and it was known by Spyes, that the King already had Dutch Gunners, and Soldiers of Courage and Conduct.
King of Tydore and Don Pedro meet at Sea. The King was not at Tydore when our Fleet came into his Harbour, being gone to marry a Daughter of the King of Bachian; and tho’ the Colonel sent to acquaint him with his Arrival, and to desire he would hasten his Coming, as fearing Delays; yet perceiving the Time slipt away, he set out on the last of March for Ternate, with his Fleet. When they were at Sea, they heard the new marryed King’s Bagpipes, Basons, Trumpets, and Kettle-Drums. He having receiv’d the Spaniards Letters, imbark’d, bringing the New Queen along with him, and joyn’d them with his Carcoas full of Musick and Garlands of Flowers. They met with extraordinary Joy, and the King of Tydore express’d it particularly for seeing of Don Pedro de Accunna, with whom he had before frequent Communication by Letters and Messengers. He show’d much Concern for the Streights he had been reduc’d to by the King of Ternate, with the Assistance of the Dutch. Don Pedro comforted him, declaring his Majesty’s Intention, and how he had order’d him to come to his Assistance, from the Philippine Islands, whensoever he should require it. He visited the Bride, paying her all possible Respect; and the King of Tydore, telling him, he would attend the Fleet in Person, with his Ships and Men, went away then to his Island, and the next Morning, at Break of Day, according to his Promise, came into a Bay near Orders for the Enterprize. Ternate, where our Fleet had anchor’d. The Rejoycings for his coming did not delay the Consultations, and Orders for the Enterprize. The Governour call’d a Council of War, where it was resolv’d, that all the Strength of the Fleet should be reduc’d to only three great Ships, to secure the Sea and Land. They were immediately sufficiently mann’d with Sea-Men and Soldiers, under the Command of Bernardine Alfonso, Antony Carrenno de Valdes, and Don Gil Sanchez de Carranza, all three Commanders of Repute. Other Orders were issu’d out, and presently put in Execution by the Officers. Of the three above nam’d, two dy’d in their Return Home, and only Carreno out liv’d it.
The Forces land April the first. Don Pedro, and the King of Tydore landed their Men, on the first of April, at Break of Day; but it being difficult, and even dangerous to march so near the Water, because there was no more ground on the Shore than for five Men in Rank; it was resolv’d to make the Attack with a small Number, gradually along the Sea Coast, without ingaging too far; and at the same Time to make Way over the Top of the Mountain, with some Pampanguo, and Tangalo Indian Pioneers, and to send another Party of Men that Way, to give the Enemy a Diversion, and oblige them to divide their Forces. The King of Ternate, whom Experience and Fear had instructed in the Art of War, perceiving what was aim’d at, to avoid being cut off in K. of Ternate retires to his Fort. the Rear, retir’d to his Fort, as soon as he discover’d our Army. This was the Reason why our Men met with no Opposition, whereas the General Furtado found so much Resistance there, three Years before, at the Seige we have spoken of, when in gaining that Pass, he lost some Portugueses and Spaniards, being assisted by Captain Gallinato.
Gallinato invests the Place. He now put our Men into good Order, leading the Van, and drew up within Musket Shot of the Wall. He told Don Pedro, in the Presence of the King of Tydore, that some Soldiers had, by his Command, taken a View of the Place, and that considering the Nature of the Situation, it was requisite to maintain that Ground till Night, when our Men should intrench, and bring up the Cannon for Battery. His Advice was approv’d of, and put in Execution; and in Regard that the Enemy did some Harm in the main Body, and Wings, with their Cannon and small Shot; Don Pedro to prevent it, order’d the Men to lye down. It was observ’d that there were Sentinels on Trees beaten off. four Eminences cover’d with wild, and full headed Trees, on which the Enemy had their Sentinels, who gave Intelligence how the Spaniards mov’d, and of whatsoever they order’d, or perform’d. A Captain went up to make himself Master of the Trees, and soon brought down the Enemies Sentinels. Gallinato perfected that Work, commanding our Sentinels to get up into those same Trees, as was done. The Enemy endeavour’d to remove them with their Cannon and small Arms, firing incessantly; but could never disturb either those that were on the Top, among the Boughs, who gave the Information, not the others that stood at the Foot, who receiv’d and carryed it to the Officers. The Enemy was possess’d of a Post near the Bastion of Cachil Tulo, on the right Hand of the Wall, a little beyond the Trees, and the General thinking it necessary to be gain’d, commanded Captain John de Cubas, an old Low-Country Soldier, to attack it with 30 Musketiers, and if he thought himself too hard set, to send Word, and he should have a good Supply of Pikes. The Captain went on by the Way of the Mountain, and the Enemy to prevent him, sent a Body of Men out of the Fort next the Sea, whom Captain Villagra charg’d. Whilst they were ingag’d, the King of Ternate, perceiv’d that Cubas was marching to gain his Post, and Villagra and Cubas fight the Ternates. being sensible how prejudicial the Loss of it would be, sally’d out himself to fight him, and the Spaniards had enough to do. Cubas gained the highest Ridge; but so fatigued, that he was forc’d to send for the Supply of Pikes. The Captains Vergara, Alarcon, and Don Roderick de Mendoza supported him with 40 detatch’d Men; and before they came up more Ternates and Javaneses sally’d out of the Fort, with whom the fight was renew’d in more furious Manner. Another Party of Infidels was presently discover’d next the Sea, for which Reason, and because, if the Enemy had demanded more Succours, his Posts would be forsaken, the King order’d those who fought with Villagra to retire, and went himself with them, and some others to sustain the Rest. His coming on like a brave, or rather a desperate The Fight redoubl’d. Commander, oblig’d Cubas, to ask for another Supply which the Captains Villagra, and Cervantes carry’d him, and charg’d the Enemy. Cachil Amuxa, of whose Bravery Mention has been made, went up to Captain Cubas after burning the Brims of his Hat, and the Feather in it, with a Musket Shot, and they both fought Hand to Hand for a considerable Time, the one with his Sword, and the other with his Campilane, or Cymiter. The Single Combat. Sentinels on the Trees cry’d out, giving Notice of the Troops on the Shore, and that they came on towards our Van-Guard, and the Front of it. Captain Villagra was order’d to charge them with a Division of Shot, belonging to Captain Cervantes, who commanded all the Halbardiers. Both Parties fought with equal Tokens of Courage, when the Sentinels from the Trees gave Notice, that John de Cubas, on the Right, demanded more Succours. The Captains Don Roderick de Mendoza, and Pascual de Alarcon went with it immediately, drawing out two Divisions of Musketiers. The Sentinels cry’d out again, that the Enemy, who fought with Captain Villagra were retiring towards the Walls, and that John de Cubas demanded another Supply of Pikes and Halbards. Captain Cervantes supported him with 50, and Villagra, with the Men he commanded.
Ternates retire in Disorder. Our Sentinels, to whose Vigilancy a great Part of this Success is owing, gave Notice again, that upon the Approach of our Supplies, the Enemy retired in Disorder, and our Men made up to the Wall. The Event of the Battle began now to be out of Doubt, and even in that Posture requir’d Diversity of Conduct. Don Pedro therefore order’d the Colours with the Rest of the Pikes to march, leaving one Division of Musquetiers, and the Heavy Harquebussiers in the Rear, to face the Enemy, in Case they should happen to sally out again toward the Sea. The other Captains and Soldiers went on fighting, and at the set Time attack’d the Wall, helping one another to climb to the Top. The two first that got upon it were the Captains John de Cubas, and Cervantes, who having receiv’d some Wounds on it, tumbled down again. The Difficulty of this Enterprize increas’d as the Enemy renew’d their Efforts, doing us Harm with their heavy and small Cannon, Muskets, sundry Sort of Fireworks, Stones, and other Contrivances the Dutch furnish’d them with; but the Attack was made so furiously, that the Spaniards gave not the King, nor his Men Leisure enough to get into the old Portuguese Fort, within the Wall; for had they done so, they might have defended themselves some Time, and our Men would have been oblig’d to batter the Walls with Cannon; and tho’ the Fort is small, and built in more unskilful Times, it would have cost Trouble.
The Place was taken with little Loss, for we had but Fifteen Men kill’d on our Side, among them was Captain Cervantes, who getting up the first The Place taken, and Number of the Slain. upon the Wall, with a Design to display the King’s Standard on it, was run into the Eye with a Launce, by a Barbarian, and others coming on, they threw him down to the Ground, whereof he dy’d the seventh Day, much regretted by all Men. He had before said publickly, offering to give the Charge, Gentlemen, the Bull shall not make his Escape my Way, unless it cost me my Life; alluding to keeping of him in at the Bull-Feasts. He was as good as his Word both ways, since he dy’d in Performance of it, with his Arms and Legs broken. No Man of any Note, either among the Spaniards or Indians escap’d unhurt. Many Ternates and Javaneses were slain, and some Dutch shed their Blood, like brave or desperate Men, thinking it a Misfortune, as they said, to owe their Lives to our Courtesy, or Mercy.
It was never expected that the Success, would be in all Points answerable to the Justice of the Cause. Don Pedro had design’d to batter the Forts, wherein he would have met with mighty Difficulties, because the Cannon was very heavy, and hard to be drawn to the proper Posts for Battery; as also for that there was not Earth to fill the Gabions, and the Cannon found in it. Rockiness of the Ground obstructed the throwing up of the Trenches, which would have occasion’d the Loss of many Men before the Artillery could be planted. The Spaniards pursu’d their Success, and possessing themselves of the Fort, found in it 43 large Brass Guns, abundance of Drakes, and other Arms, besides Ammunition and Provisions.