Don Pedro, the Day before his Departure, gave the said Governour his Instructions, which had been maturely weighed, and debated, after several private Conferences with him, providing for all Accidents that might happen.
Prisoners shipp’d for Manila. All the Prisoners, being the King and Prince of Ternate, and 24 Sangiacks and Cachiles, were put aboard the Admiral Galley, under the Care of Captain Villagra, with particular Orders to convey them to Manila. This done they set sail. Our Fleet being departed with the Booty, and Prisoners, the Colonel, John de Esquivel, apply’d himself diligently to the Affairs of his Charge, and to hastning on the Fortifications begun in several Parts. Whilst the Conquerors King of Tydore sent to Sabubu. sail’d away, on the fourth of May, he order’d the King of Tydore, with his Fleet, and in it some Spaniards, commanded by the Captains Pasqual de Aragon, and Martin de Esquivel, to sail for Sabubu, to perswade the Cachiles, Sugui and Quipati, to return to the City; because by their Examples the Citizens and Multitude would do the like, they being fled to the Mountains on Account of the War; for so they would quit those Deserts, be encouraged to confide in the Conqueror, and settle in Peace. The King of Tydore arriv’d at Sabubu, with his Company; sent Messengers to them, who deliver’d what they were commission’d with, adding, that if they requir’d Hostages for their safe coming, they should have the Spanish Captains that were The Governours refuse to come. in the Fleet deliver’d to them. The Governours were so far from giving Ear to their Message, that they sent to conjure them to depart Sabubu. Esquivel was concern’d at this mistrustful and rough Behaviour, because the greatest Part of the People of the Island were in that strong Hold, and in Gilolo, and that Repulse in the Presence of the Natives that were fled, seem’d to threaten greater Opposition. Whilst he prepar’d to reduce them, he endeavour’d by fair Means to attract the Inhabitants of a Town, call’d Tacome, two Leagues from Ternate, whither also some of those that had fled were retir’d. He sent them a considerable Quantity of Plunder, plac’d Safeguards in Tacome and Malayo, to quiet, and defend them against the Tydores, their Enemies and Conquerors.
The King of Tydore, and our Commanders, returning without any Effect Spanish Ships at Machian. from Sabubu, they sail’d with the Fleet to Machian, to recover peaceably that Part of the Island, which the Governour, Don Pedro, took from the King two Dutch Ships. of Ternate, to restore it to him of Tydore. At the same Time two Dutch Ships arriv’d there; one of them was the same our Fleet found some Days before in the Fort Talangame; which having been a Witness to our Success, rejoyn’d the other, and both of them came together to the Moluccos, by Order of the Dutch Commander residing at Amboyna, to encourage the King of Ternate to persist in his Disobedience, and assist him against our Fleet. Our Men sent the Colonel Advice, who order’d our Galliots to set out, to find, and pursue those Ships, that so their Boats might not offer to move far from them, and to endeavour to obstruct their trading with the Natives. Tho’ the Orders were obey’d, the said two Ships appear’d before Ternate the third Day after, and holding on their Course, anchor’d at Gilolo, where most of the Natives of the Molucco Islands, who were fled, had fortify’d themselves. These Guests, according to their Custome, call’d together all the Inhabitants, who were dispers’d about in other Towns, and resolv’d to go over to Gilolo and Sabubu. They gather’d all their Vessels, and thought, with them, and the Dutch Ships, to obstruct the Ravage our Galiots made, and to support their Friends. This new Rebellion was carryed on in Sight of the Dutch Ships lying at Anchor before Gilolo, and they secur’d, and defended them against our Squadrons.
Rebellion at Gilolo. The Colonel intreated the King of Tydore, who was newly return’d from Machian, to gather a greater Number of arm’d Carcoas, that our Infantry might be carry’d in them, and the Galiots, to attack Gilolo, and Sabubu, in Order to suppress that Mischief in its first Rise, there being other Places for our Vessels to put into, besides the Harbour where the Enemies Ships lay at Anchor. The King of Tydore started so many Difficulties, that Esquivel could not prevail upon him. Another more effectual Method was found. Methods for suppressing it. It being certain, that the Fugitives must bring their Provisions, and particularly Rice, from the Province del Moro, and Island of Moratay, where there is great Plenty; and that we having burnt the Ships of the Moluccos, during that War, they would supply the Want of them from those same Places; the Governour therefore resolv’d, that Major Vergara, and the King of Tydore, should repair thither with 120 Spaniards, to disappoint their Designs, that so Necessity might reduce them to submit.
120 Spaniards sent to Gilolo. Our Forces arriv’d at the Island Batochina, which is the same as Gilolo, and where Sabubu stands. Leaving the Shore, they march’d over extraordinary wooded Mountains, along the Side of the River Gabocanora, to a great Town, the Receptacle of many of the Fugitives. They met with no Opposition, or other Obstacle in the Way, but only those sharp pointed Stakes they use to drive into the Ground. The Enemy had plac’d their greatest Defence upon the River; but abandon’d it upon the Approach of the Spaniards, running up into the Mountains, and leaving their Houses They burn Towns and reduce the Island. and Vessels. Our Men fell upon both, burnt them, and took such as durst stay behind. In fine, they all, dismay’d at the Sight of the Flames and Destruction, embrac’d more submissive methods. The City Visoa underwent the same Fate, and the Remains of it sued for Pardon, and comply’d.
The King of Tydore went away from this Place with eight Carcoas, leaving the rest, and the Galleys, with the Major. The City Mamuya, having Galela destroy’d. made Resistance, was also burnt. Our Men went over in small Vessels to Galela, a Town built in a large Lake, which held out till reduc’d by Fire and Sword, the very Children swimming away. Tolo, Chiava, and Camafo, Tolo, Chiava and Camafo submit. which are three Leagues from Galela, and whose Inhabitants had been formerly Christians, prevented Military Execution, by sending Deputies from Tolo, the strongest of them, with Boughs of Bonanas in Blossom, and Green, and White Cloves. They came unarm’d, and with Musick, and express’d much Sorrow for their late Rebellion, for which Sultan Zayde was to blame, and for having forsaken the Christian Religion, which they were there ready to imbrace. The Spanish Commander prais’d, and treated them Courteously. Our Men now sickned a pace; for which Reason, as also because the westerly Winds began to grow boisterous, he was oblig’d to defer the subduing of Moratay. However he left some Men at Tolo, with the small Guns taken at Gabocanora, to secure the Towns that were reduc’d, and defend them against those of Galela and Tabelo, which are biger than they. This done he return’d to Ternate, but not without Storms, and Dangers, incurr’d by giving Credit to a Molucco Slave.
The Governour mann’d a Galliot, a Brigantine, and some smaller Vessels with Soldiers, and Chineses to row, under the Command of the Ensign Christopher Suarez. He sail’d with a fair Wind for the Island Mateo, Message from Esquivel to the Heathen Kings of Bool, and Totoli. which we call Celebes, the nearest Part whereof is 30 Leagues West from Ternate, and its Length above 150 Leagues. The furthest Part of it is subject to the King of Macassar, a Mahometan Prince, with whom the People of Malaca have Trade, as also with three other heathen Kings, of whom there was a Report, that they desired to be Christians; but they fell under the Tyranny of the King of Ternate, and suffer’d by his Invasions and Burnings. Esquivel sent to acquaint them with the King of Spain’s Victories and Success; and exhorted them to come under his Dominion, but above all to be united to the Church. He made them Presents of European Commodities, which are as good as Money with them, and offer’d the Protection of the Spanish Power, which had pull’d down that Tyrant, to whom they were Tributary. He said, he sent them Ships and Arms, and that for the Time to come, they might safely repair to trade at the Moluccos. These Princes were two Brothers, the one King of Bool, the other of Totoli. They rejoyc’d at the coming of the Embassador Christopher Suarez, and he presenting them some Pieces of Velvet, in Token of Friendship, they return’d other Gifts, and Abundance of Provisions, and dismiss’d him, with a Letter to the Governour. Queen Dongue of Cauripa, testify’d to Esquivel no less Satisfaction, and Inclination to be united to the King of Spain by Vassalage.
King of Tydore’s Actions. The Garrisons of the Rebellious Towns were assaulted by the Spaniards, and compell’d to submit. The King of Tydore made Havock on the Coast of Batochina, or Gilolo, where he recover’d for his Majesty, and for himself, the Towns and Forts that had been taken from him by the King of Ternate. He plunder’d the great Town of Mira, in Moratay, and made Captives of many that oppos’d him, who had also been Christians. Among the rest he took a Guimala, which signifies, a Chief, or Head of a Quarter, or Ward, whom he again set at Liberty, at the Request of our Men, sending him away with two other Guimalas, in the Company of Captain John Meaos Islands subdu’d. de la Torre. The Islands in those Parts were reducing by Degrees, with little Opposition. Those of the Meaos, lying to the North-West, towards Manila, being among, and full of large Towns, defended themselves, with the Assistance, and Industry of the Dutch; but B. Antony Flores, a Lay-Brother, of the Order of S. Augustin, who fought against the Sangleyes of Manila, as has been said above, coming thither with the Galleys, they submitted. The Ensign Lewis de Zuazo arriv’d after the Business was over, and they being now successful, and understanding that the Dutch Ship was sail’d from Gilolo, made after her. She was so good a Sailer, Reduction of other Islands. that they labour’d in vain; but carry’d on the War at Gilolo and Sabubu, which made the Ternate Governours put up their Complaints, and lay aside their Designs. They writ to the Governour, and he answer’d them, sending a Copy of the Articles, upon which they offer’d to repair to Ternate, in peaceable Manner. All our Commanders were dispers’d in several Places, reducing the Islands of the Moluccos that had Rebell’d, either by Force of Arms, or other Methods; and particularly those belonging to the Sultan of Ternate, which are few under an hundred; and thus Peace began to be establish’d, which if not Wish’d for, was at least Tolerated, and accepted of with such Appearances as are becoming to make it honourable.
The King and Molucco Prisoners attempt to escape. Whilst the Molucco Islands submitted by Force to receive the Yoke, the Governour, Don Pedro de Acunna, was sailing for Manila. Captain Villagra was at a Distance from the Fleet, with the King, Prince, and Sangiacks that were Prisoners, aboard the Admiral Galley. This made them form a Design to attempt to make their Escape to Mindanao, and they had succeeded, if not prevented by the Soldiers that guarded them. Captain Villagra either Suspected, or had Information of it, and therefore doubled the Guards, and put eight of the most daring into Chains. Among the most remarkable were Cachil Amuxa, the Sangiack Rete, and he of Mofaquia. They all arriv’d at Manila, but their Fetters were taken off before they came thither, after they had worn them ten Days, with much Regret of the King, whom they satisfy’d with Hopes, and acquainting him with some of the Grounds there were to suspect, till the Danger of laying them aside ceas’d. The Hazard at Mindanao was, that those Islands are not Tributary, yet they value themselves upon entertaining Friendship with the King of Ternate; and it is most certain, that had he attempted to fly, and succeeded in it, they would have supported him there, and Villagra had Intelligence given him, that the King either made, or approv’d of the Proposal; tho’ there was no want of Care and Vigilancy either in Don Pedro’s Ship, or the Admiral Galley.
During all this Time we have spoken of, the News of our Success was not brought to the Philippine Islands. This long Silence, and Want of Intelligence, became an Argument in those Parts, and particularly at Manila, that Don Pedro and the Fleet were lost, or at least had met with such Don Pedro de Acunna suppos’d to be poison’d. ill Success as deserv’d to be generally lamented. Virtue never fail’d of envious Persons to persecute it, and accordingly Don Pedro was not without them at Manila; but tho’ they were well known, in so much that in the general Opinion of all Men, they are suppos’d to have given the Poison, whereof that great Man was thought to have dy’d 22 Days after his Return, we will nevertheless suppress their Names, since it is not the Part of an Author, whose Duty it is to observe an exact Neutrality, and not to be led any Way by Affection, to confirm that Deposition, which, as yet, is no better grounded than on Suspicion. They are all Dead long since, False Reports abroad. and have been try’d before that great Tribunal, where the least thought cannot pass without being accounted for. These Men gave out, That Don Pedro attacking Ternate, enter’d it successfully; but that his Men had been too intent upon Plunder, the Enemy rallyed, and falling upon the Spaniards, beat them out again, killing most of them. And that the General being asham’d of his ill Conduct, durst not return to Manila.