BOOK I. (continued 2)

To return to the Course of the History when Tristan de Atayde had Imbark’d King Tabarija for India, he sought out for a Bastard Brother of his call’d Aerio, born of a Javanese Mother. The Lad was then ten years of Age, bred by his Mother in a retir’d manner, at a Pleasure-House encompass’d with perpetual Greens, the natural Disposition being improv’d The Melancholy Tree, and Flower. by Art, which so far prevail’d that the Flower so wonderful for its Fragrancy and manner of growing call’d Triste, or melancholy; found only in Malabar and Malaca, abounded in this Ladies Gardens. She ador’d the Sun, and brought up her Child in that Folly, that he might forget the Rudiments he learnt at Goa, when in the Colledge of the Jesuits. The Idolaters believe, or feign, that a most beautiful Daughter of Parizataco, a Satrapa, or Nobleman, fell in love with the Sun, and that he after complying with, and obliging her, setled his Affections on another, and the first not able to endure that another should be preferr’d before her, kill’d her self. From her Ashes, for in those parts they still retain the Custom of burning dead Bodies, sprung that Melancholy Tree, say they, whose Blossoms or Flowers still preserving the Memory of their Original, have such a Hatred for the Sun, that they cannot bear his Light. This Plant is call’d in the Canarine Tongue Parizataco, from the Indian Womans Father, who was Metamorphos’d like Daphne, tho’ on other Account. The Malayes call it Singadi; the Arabs, Guart; the Persians and Turks, Gul; the Decanines, Pul; and the Portuguese, Arvore Triste; that is, the Melancholy Tree. It shoots out abundance of slender Branches, regularly divided by Knots, from each of which two Leaves sprout, opposite to one another, like those of the Plum-Tree, but soft like Sage, and cover’d with a white Down. From each Leaf sprouts a Nib, or Nipple, whence five Heads shoot out small at the end, each of them adorn’d with four smaller round Leaves; from each little Head proceed five Flowers, the fifth in the midst of the other four; among them the white Flowers visibly grow out, being bigger than Orange Flowers, and so fast after Night fall, that the Motion of them is perceptible. This Fruitfulness lasts all the Night, till the Appearing of the Sun renders it barren, and causes all the Flowers and Leaves to drop off, the Boughs remaining wither’d. On a sudden all that Fragrancy ceases, which enrich’d the Air with all the sweet Odours of Asia, included in this alone; till the Sun leaving the Horizon again, the Plant again flourishes in its beloved Darkness, as if it then retriev’d the Wrong it receiv’d from the Light. The Asiaticks are excessively fond of Perfumes, which is an Argument of their Lasciviousness. Great Taxes are laid in several Provinces, on all sweet Scents.

The Portugueses came arm’d to that House, where the aforesaid Princess Portuguses sent to fetch Aerio. bred her Son, and demanded him in the Name of Tristan de Atayde; she would willingly have hid him, but could not, and therefore began to excuse her self, and beg they would leave him. It avail’d nothing, for the Messengers had Orders not to return without him, and to gain her Consent, swore they would carry him to reign in the stead of Tabarija, and that as soon as he came to the Fort, he should be received as King, both by the Ternates and Portugueses. Some Relations tell us, that then the Mother, shedding Abundance of Tears, streightly embracing the Prince, cry’d out, saying, Were I assur’d that you took him away to reign peaceably, His Mother’s Speech to keep him. without any Opposition, or Apprehension, well belov’d and obey’d by his Subjects, and in settled Prosperity, undisturb’d by any Frights; yet would I rather see him grow up and continue in a private Life, without burdening himself with any publick Concern, than that he should reign to please your Humour; this was my Intention in retiring with him, and I would gladly conceal him from all humane Conversation. If so, what can I think of what you now promise me? Will it be reasonable, that I deliver you my Son to receive the Crown, and that you at the same time design him for Imprisonment and Fetters, from which nothing shall, or can possible deliver him but Poison and false Accusations, which have brought his Brothers and Parents to their End? What Security have I from Fortune, that she will in this Child be reconciled to that Family, which she has condemned to immortal Enmity with the Europeans, in Requital for having friendly entertain’d them; and decreed that, instead of the Protection it hop’d to find in your Arms, you should lay on it an intollerable Yoke? Leave us then, both Mother and Son, to employ our selves about the Works of Nature, since costly Experience has so fully undeceived as to the Effects of Fortune. Permit us to divert the Thoughts of them, with the Quiet, and Improvements of these Gardens. Let us be allow’d to want that which so many seek after. James de Couto, in his Decades relates this Fact, and the Mother’s Lamentation, and Words. The Portugueses, no longer able to give Ear to those dismal Reflections, which did not savour of a barbarous Woman, ran up to her, and forc’d away her Son, whom she struggled to defend. He, says the same Author, observing his Mother’s Tears, and the Reasons she alledg’d for not parting with him, and having some anticipated Notion of the Sweetness of Reigning, which he had not yet tasted, stood gazing on her and them, full of Confusion. The Rudeness, and Insolence of the Soldiers put an End to all; for tho’ they had no such Orders from their Commander, being deaf to, and weary of hearing the Complaints of The Portuguese murder her. a Disconsolate Woman; they at the same time seiz’d the Son, and laying hold of the Mother, cast her headlong out at the Window: The new King was carry’d to the Fort, and at the same time that the Subjects swore Fidelity to him, they with general Lamentation celebrated his Mother’s Obsequies, which were perform’d with greater Solemnity, than even those of the Principal Queens. This Inhumanity exceeding even the Canibals, and consequently unworthy the pretended Portugueses Bravery; being bruited Abroad in the Neighbouring Provinces, produc’d that just Hatred which was of Force to unite; and actually drew into a Confederacy all the Kings of the Archipelago, against the Portugueses. They assembled Confederacy against them. in Council, and in the Meeting concerted their Design, declaring that the Oppression they were under, was intollerable, the Portugueses making and deposing Kings to their own Humour and Fancy, insulting those Crowns which had given them the Power they had abus’d, contrary to all Laws of Humanity, without allowing the Natives so much as a Vote in Elections. Having agreed upon the Enterprize, they provided all Things for the Execution, whilst the appointed Time came, which they diligently made as short as might be, and expected with Dissimulation.

The Spanish and Portuguese Fleets at this Time continu’d their Voyages to the Archipelago, their several known Ways; the Spaniards from New Difference about the Moluccos, between Spain and Portugal. Spain to the Phillippine Islands; the Portugueses along the Coasts of Africk, and so to Malaca. Both Sides exercised their Power, and carry’d on their Trade with Ambition, and, as some say, with Cruelty; but the most bloody Theatre of continual Tragedies, was Ternate and all the Molucco’s. There both Nations of Castile and Portugal decided their Quarrel by the Sword, whilst their Kings in Europe only contended by Dint of Cunning, and Cosmography. At this time the Matter was not so plain, as when the Cosmographers and Commissioners on both Sides, lay’d down the Meridian, whereby to assign each of them one half of the World to their King. For the Admiral Christopher Columbus returning from his first Discovery of the West-Indies, in the Year 1493, Pope Alexander the VIth. granted the Investiture of them, for the Crown of Castile, to their Catholick Majesties, King Ferdinand, and Queen Isabel, or Elizabeth; and to obviate the Differences that might arise between the two Crowns, to the obstructing the Propagation of the Gospel, by the same Apostolical Authority, which in that spiritual Capacity is not limited to any part of the Globe, he divided it betwixt those two Crowns, ordering a Line to be drawn along the Heavens to cut both the Poles, distant on the Earth one hundred Leagues from the Islands of the Azores and Cabo Verde. By Vertue of this Division, the Emperor pretended that the Molucco Islands were within his Limits, ever since Gonzalo Gomez de Espinosa, his Commander in chief, Sebastian del Cano, and his Companions, who went with Magellan, took Possession of them for his Crown. Pretending at the same Time, that they were the first Christians that arriv’d at the Moluccos, and that then he was own’d as Sovereign by Sultan Corala, King of Ternate, who reign’d before Sultan Bongue; by Sultan Almanzor, King of Tydore, by Luzuf, King of Gilolo, and other Princes, who all swore Fealty by their Idols, and the Alcoran; and that Gonzalo Gomez admitted them, and swore to the Observance of what had been agreed on, in his Arguments for Spain. King’s Name, before an Image of the Blessed Virgin. He urg’d, that by Mathematical Demonstration, and the Judgment of Men learned in that Faculty, it appear’d, that the Moluccos were within the Limits of Castile, as were all others, as far as Malaca, and even beyond it. That it was no easy Undertaking for Portugal to go about to disprove the Writings of so many Cosmographers, and such able Mariners; and particularly the Opinion of Magellan, who was himself a Portuguese. And that in Case he might be thought partial, because of his being disoblig’d in Portugal, that Exception did not lie against Francis Serrano, who was also a Portuguese, and had been favour’d and cherish’d. That to say the Sea Charts had been maliciously contriv’d, was a groundless Objection, and not probable. Besides that, in Relation to the Article of Possession, on which the Controversy depended, it was only requisite to stand by what was writ by, and receiv’d among Cosmographers.

In Answer to this, King John of Portugal, deny’d the Fact of the Discovery, Portuguese Answer. as to its Precedency; for Serrano’s was in the Year 1511, and that of Magellans Companions nine Years later, in 1520. He declar’d the Globes, Astrolabes, and Sea Charts to be partial, and that in Case they were rectify’d, drawing the aforesaid Meridian, according to Rules of Astrology, his Limits would not only comprehend the Moluccos, but reach far beyond the Philippine Islands. He offer’d King Tabarija’s last Will on his Behalf; and said, that if the Line were fairly drawn, observing Eclipses, as had been done sometimes, the Truth of his Assertion would appear. To this they added, the Papers of the Geographer and Astrologer, Andrew de S. Martin, by which it appear’d, that he sailing with Magellan, his before unattempted Voyage, had observed several Eclipses, and Oppositions. Among the rest, on the 17th of December, 1519. He in the River call’d Rio de Janeyro, took an Observation of a Conjunction of Jupiter and the Moon; on the first of February 1520, another of the Moon and Venus; soon after another of the Sun and Moon, after passing the Streights, another Opposition of the Sun and Moon, and others at other times; all which, tho’ calculated by him to the Meridian of Sevil, avail’d nothing to his Design, which was to prove that the Molucco Islands did not belong to Portugal; for which Reason he found Fault with John de Monteregio’s Tables and Almanacks. All these Papers were preserv’d by Edward Resende Factor at the Moluccos, a learned and curious Man. They said, that since there was then a Treaty about the Possession of those Islands; in a Case of that Consequence it was not proper, to avoid alledging, and examining the Grounds of their Property, to prevent the Decision of the Sword, which was the Court where that Controversy was pleaded; and when once it comes to that pass, there was no Possibility of standing to speculative Writing, which not being made good by Experience, must at least be look’d upon as uncertain.

The Possession of the Molucco Islands was of great Consequence to the King of Portugal, for carrying on the Trade of Spice, and being inform’d of the War still maintain’d between his Subjects and the Emperor’s, in those Parts, he daily us’d fresh Endeavours to bring that Business to some Conclusion, that so the War might cease. The Emperor had not so much Intelligence of what his Commanders did in Asia; because the Portuguese suffer’d no Ships, but their own to pass by the Cape of Good Hope; and the way of New-Spain, that Voyage was not much frequented, and therefore not so well known; and besides all this he then stood in need of a great Sum of Money. In the Year 1525, there was a Treaty at Segovia, The Difference adjusted. by his Majesties Order, for composing of this Difference, and in 1526 it was held at Sevil, where the Portuguese Embassador; and the Licenciate Azevedo of that Kings Council, were met by the Bishops of Osma, President of the Council of the Indies, Doctor Laurence Galindez, of the same Council, and Don Garcia de Padilla, first Commendary of Calatrava, on the Emperor’s side, as Commissioners, and Plenipotentaries, besides the Lord-High-Chancellor, and the Popes Nuncio, Mercurio Gatnara. After many Meetings, and much Strife, to which there were also Civilians, Geographers, and Mariners admitted; all which only puzzled the Cause, whence ensu’d Law Suits, Arbitrations, and other Fruitless Negociations in Spain, and Wars in Asia between the Ships of both Crowns: After all this there was a Cessation, and Quietness, the Emperor Mortgaging those controverted Islands to the King of Portugal, for 350000 Ducats. This was concluded at Zaragoza, on the 22d of August 1529, as his Imperial Majesty was going over to be Crown’d in Italy. The Line of Division was again examin’d, and what Parts of the Earth it is to run through; the Times of Payment were fix’d, with other Conditions, and Salvos of the Right on both sides, that so neither Oblivion, nor the Kindred between the two Kings might confound it.

By Relations Written in those Days it appears, that the Emperor consulting Spaniards against quitting the Moluccos. Peter Ruyz de Villegas, a grave and learned Gentleman, about this Mortgage; his Answer was condemning it, and declaring, That his Majesty had better to have Mortgaged any other of his Kingdoms, than that of the Moluccos, Trapobana, or Malaca, or any other in the East; all which, in his Opinion, belong’d to his Majesty; and the great uncertainty of State Affairs. Many others advised the Emperor to repay that great Sum to the King of Portugal; and what is yet more, the Representatives in the Cortes of Castile, propos’d that the Emperor should make over to them the Molucco Islands for six Years, by way of Farm, and they would pay King John the Mortgage Money, and bring the Trade of Spice to Coruna, and after the six Years his Majesty should carry on that Trade. The Emperor hearing of this Innovation, order’d a stop to it, and that no further Progress should be made in fitting out the Fleet design’d for the Moluccos, under Simon de Alcazova, and forwarded by the Bishop of Ciudad Rodrigo.

Orders, and Letters Patents, were drawn and sealed, for both Nations to forbear Hostilities, but the Emperor’s Subjects never receiv’d Commands from him to withdraw their Forces for any other Enterprize, nor did they War ceases between Spaniards and Portugueses. know what had been agreed on in Spain, any other way than by the Account they had from the Portugueses who had receiv’d Orders from their King, to conclude a Peace, and to Ship off the Spaniards by the way of India for Spain. This Agreement put an End to all Judicial, and Military Contention. Since then the Vicissitude of Times has invested all the Right, and Title in our King. So that, according to grave Civilians, he might, as they say, invert the Titles, or possess by them all, without confounding the Right; Heaven having design’d him to be Sovereign of such a vast Monarchy, and given him that Hereditary Zeal, which makes him offer his whole Power to oppose Hereticks and Sectaries, and to spread the Faith, and its perfect Politicks among such Multitudes of Souls as have received it, in so many barbarous Provinces. For this same Reason it will be superfluous to examine any further into the Limits assign’d by that Law, which could never be settled.

This Accommodation being concluded, the Portuguese Fleets, without Portugueses Possession of the Moluccos. any Opposition from those of Castile, peaceably possess’d themselves of the Islands of Ternate, Tydore, Bachian, and the others about them. From the first of these, as their Head in Spirituals, our Priests went Abroad to preach the Word of Truth, which was receiv’d by several Kings and Nations, leaving but inconsiderable Remains of Idolatry, and other Sects. Whole Cities, whose Soveraigns chose to continue in their Darkness, not regarding their Prince’s Example, which uses to have the Force of a Law, threw down their Idols, and consecrated Profaneness, dedicating their Temples to the True God. The Kings of Portugal built Garrisons, and Factories for the Christians to inhabit; sending their Commanders and Officers, who curbed the Kings, and the Sangiacks their Subjects. Some Governours there were, who besides the Care they took of propagating Conversions. the Gospel, and maintaining Peace in those Parts, endeavour’d by endearing Means to attract the Barbarians to love our Habits, to affect our Ways of Entertainment, and the European Affability and Conversation, and gently inclin’d them to our Customs and Manners, which in some Places made them look upon that as a Sort of Equality, when it was no better than Servitude. The powerful Union of Justice and Religion was however the most prevalent; but the Commanders and Governours being defective in the first of these Virtues, on which inward Felicity and Government depend; the Subjects lost the second, and return’d to their former Blindness, as appears by what has been already said, and more fully by what is to follow, since we are now come to the Election of Sultan Aerio, in whose Days Ternate was utterly lost, and could never be recovered either by Force or Art, till the Reign of our Sovereign Lord the King; a just Reward of his Piety and Zeal. The lawful Queen, by those People call’d Putriz, was as much concern’d for Aerio’s Mother’s Death, as for any of her own Sons. She was present at her Funeral, and lamenting immoderately, curs’d the Domination of the Portugueses, calling it Tyranny. All the Machinations of those who study’d Revenge were known to her, and she forwarded them with her Advice; for as they said, nothing now remain’d of the former Moderation of the Governours sent thither out of Europe, nor of that Regard and Respect they used to have for them.

The End of the First Book.