Indians begin to Mutiny. This Report being spread abroad among the Indians, did so much Harm, that they began to Mutiny, especially in the Provinces of Camarines, and Pintados; in so much that the Fryers who attended their Instruction, could not deal with them any longer, for they said, That since the People of the Moluccos were victorious, why should they be still subject to the Spaniards, who did not defend them against the Moors, and these would now plunder them daily with the Assistance of Ternate, and it would be worse for the Future. Nor were they satisfy’d with muttering, but proceeded to confer Notes together, and to contrive putting their Projects in Execution. But all this vanish’d at the Sight of Truth, and the News of it, brought in before the Arrival of the Conquerors, and the Preparations they saw made for their Reception, and triumphant Rejoycings. The Weather was seasonable, and favour’d them in all Respects, and they arriv’d at Manila on the ninth of June, loaded with Honour and Victory, after they had rested in the Port of Cabite, two Leagues distant.
Prisoners disconsolate. The Captives diverted themselves with our Men, to put off the Remembrance of past Times, whilst rich Garments of several Sorts of Silks were provided for them at the Publick Charge, which is the King’s Treasury in the Philippine Islands. They look’d dejectedly, and with Admiration, on the Harbour, Walls, Forts, and Buildings of the City, the Sight whereof made them call to Mind the last Day on which they fell from their boasted State of Liberty. Our Commanders dropt some courteous Words of Comfort in their Discourse, telling them, that as soon as the News could come to Spain of their being reduc’d, and that good Order was taken against falling again into the former Dangers, the King would order them to be restor’d to their Liberty. All these Expressions were not of Force to satisfy those Indians, who on the contrary began to complain of the General, because they either suspected, or were told by some of our Men, that he would not observe the safe Conduct, and promise he had made them in the King’s Name, and on which they had rely’d; and that in Case Sultan Zayde were continu’d in the Philippine Islands, it was certain they would send his Son, Prince Gariolano into Europe, by the Way of New Spain. The general being acquainted with these melancholly Reflections of theirs, thought it concern’d the Reputation of the Christian Religion in general, and of the Spanish Nation in particular, to dispell those Jealousies, and therefore he writ to them, and directed the Captain, who carry’d the Letters, to perswade the King not to conceive the least Mistrust of the King’s Word, and Security he had confided in. This compos’d their Thoughts, and they either did, or pretended to take Comfort.
Don Pedro’s Entry into Manila. The Prisoners came with the Forces to the City, which the Fleet saluted with its Cannon, and were answer’d by the Artillery and small Shot from the Walls and Forts. The King landed in a Garden the Governor had without the Walls, where he repos’d himself that Night, and when Lodgings were provided for him, with the greatest State that could be, and answerably for other Prisoners, according to their Qualities, Don Pedro enter’d Manila with the Forces, and Ostentation of Captives and Booty. There wanted not Triumphal Arches, with such Inscriptions as are Generally Description of the King of Ternate. set on them in Honour of Conquerors. The Habit of the Prisoners, in rich Mantles, Turbants and Plumes, was not sutable to their Fortune; as making their Countenances look more haughty, and representing Arrogancy. That King was strong body’d, and his Limbs well Knit; his Neck, and great Part of his Arms he wore naked; his Skin being of the Color of a Cloud, rather inclin’d to Black than Tawny. The Features of his Face were like an European. His Eyes large, full, and sparkling, to which they add the Fierceness of long Eyebrows, thick Beards and Whiskers, and lank Hair. He always wore his Campilane, or Cimiter, and Criz, or Dagger; the Hilts of them both resembling the Heads of Snakes gilt. This is affirm’d by Officers that attended, and convers’d with him familiarly, to whom he was obligingly Courteous, and it appears by Relations, and by the Picture drawn to the Life, which the General sent into Spain for the King.
Rejoycings. The Rejoycings for the Victory were continu’d with much Solemnity, the Indians, who were the principal Subject of them, being present. The King of Ternate understanding that Messengers were sending away to Spain to carry the News of the Success, and Account of the Prisoners, writ a short Letter to the King, intermixt with Commendations of Don Pedro de Acunna and some other Spanish Commanders. He represented the change of his Condition, with somewhat of Submission, but not Humility, or rather Meanness; and intreated his Majesty to extend his Royal Goodness towards the Conquer’d, for his own Magnanimity’s sake, and on Account of the perpetual Fidelity, and Vassalage they had sworn to him. This Letter was writ by another Hand, and in Spanish. When it was given him to sign, the King turn’d the upside down, and Writ his Name on the white half Page in Persian Characters, thinking he had sign’d at the Beginning, or Top of the Letter, as is practis’d by the Princes of those Countries. The Moluccos being Reduc’d, our Ministers and Preachers went over thither, and the Voice of the Gospel resounded again in the utmost Borders of the Earth.
FINIS.
THE INDEX.
A.
Achem, Kingdom, Page [95]
Actions in the Moluccos, p. [44]