BOOK IX. (continued 2)

Dutch take two Galleons. Being come to this Resolution, the next Morning the Dutch Ships remov’d, and went to board the Portugueses that were at Tydore, two Cannon Shot from the Fort. They fought above two Hours, and so constant was Fortune to one Side, that in so short a Time, the Portugueses that remain’d alive were fain to throw themselves into the Sea, and their Galleons Bold Answer of the Portugueses. were taken, one of which they immediately burnt. The next Day another Message was sent to Tydore, wherein the Dutch directed the King to propose the surrendring of the Fort to the Portugueses, and he would give them the Galleon he had spar’d, to carry them and their Effects, wheresoever they should think fit. The Portugueses taking Courage, Dutch and Ternates joyn and burn a Town. where others would be dismay’d, answer’d, That the Loss of the Galleons had not daunted them; for they would rather dye all of them, than deliver up the Fort. The Dutch durst not batter it alone, but resolv’d to joyn the King of Ternate, who was already set out with abundance of Carcoas to that Effect. They met him a League from the Fort, and spending little Time in Ceremonies return’d together, burning a Town of Tydore by the Way, came the next Morning before the Fort.

They landed 800 Dutch and Ternate Soldiers, and having made a Trench with Barrels fill’d with Earth, batter’d the Fort for three Days from that Work, with two Pieces of Cannon. At the same Time they play’d upon it from their Ships, firing above 1500 Shot. The third Day they Batter the Fort and are repuls’d. drew nearer; and the fourth in the Morning began to batter more furiously. They kill’d the Constable of the Castle, and in the midst of the Confusion, the King of Ternate and the Dutch, that were ashore, advanc’d, drawing the Cannon under the very Fort, having surpriz’d the Portugueses, and falling on them unexpectedly. They soon recovering themselves, attack’d the Dutch afresh, who turning their Backs, behav’d themselves so basely, that they ran into the Water; abandoning the Guns they had ashore. In the Height of this Success, many Dutch being slain, and only four Portugueses, on a sudden they spy’d all the Fort in a Flame, which roar’d from The Fort Burnt. the Ground to the Tops of the Houses, till a considerable Part was blown up, and almost all the rest consum’d, and lay’d flat. Six and twenty Portugueses were burnt, and it could never be discover’d or guess’d, how, or which Way the Powder was set a fire, to cause that mighty Destruction. The Portugueses, who just before were joyful for their Victory, having no Walls to shelter them, were forc’d to retire to the City of Tydore, and the Dutch and Ternates rallying, pursu’d them thither. The King receiv’d them in friendly Manner, and he himself went the same Day Tydore taken by the Dutch. aboard the Dutch Ship that lay at Anchor before it, and calling the Dutch Admiral, propos’d to him the Affair of the Fort, and that if those who defended it had ships allow’d them, they would go away to other Parts. He agreed to it, and though it cost the Portugueses all they had, they accepted of three small Tenders, a Galliot that had been the King’s, and a Dutch Tender to secure them against the Ternates. The Dutch settled Amity with the King of Tydore; that they should continue in his Dominions; and erect Factories, and Trade for Clove, as the Portugueses had done. Thus the Conquer’d having bought some Ships dispers’d themselves about those Islands. Many of them went to the Philippines, where Don Pedro, the Governour, examin’d them, in order to get Information concerning the Moluccos.

Antony de Silva, a Portuguese, was one of them that escap’d from the Dutch design to take the Ships of the Philippines. Fort of Ternate, and came to the Town of Arevalo in the Philippines; Besides being a Soldier, he was also a Naguatato, or Interpreter. This Man gave an Authentick Relation of that Affair, and added, That being brought Prisoner from Amboyna, the Dutch Admiral having a Sea-Chart before him, look’d for Mindoro, Manila, and for Cabite; and being ask’d by Silva, why he look’d for it, was inform’d, That his Design was, in Case he did not succeed at the Moluccos, to try to take some of the Ships that trade betwixt New Spain, and the Philippines. Silva reply’d, That Silva gives Intelligence of it. he had not the Time to meet either; because those that come to the Philippines arrive about the 10th of May, and the others set out on the 10th of June. However that was the Design of the Dutch Admiral, who intended to get Intelligence at Mindoro, thence to sail to Macao, send an Embassador into China, and revenge the Wrong Don Pablos de Portugal had done them in those Countries. Then to load Pepper at Patane; next at the Streight of Sincapura, to endeavour to take the Chinese Ships that resort to Malaca; and whatever happen’d, to hold on his Voyage to Holland that Way, loaden with Treasure. All this the Dutch Admiral communicated to Antony de Silva, as to one that was to go with him into Holland, because he was a Soldier, and able Interpreter in both Languages; and therefore Stephen Drage made much of him. This Intelligence was confirm’d All the Moluccos lost to Spain. by some others, who had fought and escap’d the Slaughter at Tydore. Don Pedro hearing so much, was concern’d, as a Man zealous for the Church, and for his King; and it griev’d him to consider, that the Crown of Spain had not a Foot of Land left it in the Moluccos; and that a Rebel was in quiet Possession of them all.

Prosperity having embolden’d, and strengthen’d the Dutch, Don Pedro Don Pedro’s Precautions. assembling his Council of War, order’d that the Captains Antony Freyle, Commander of the Squadron belonging to the Pintados, Peter Sevil, Stephen de Alcazar, and Bernardine Alfonso, should repair to the Forts of the Pintados, and other Islands that were in Danger, with their Companies. He refitted the Ships, and prepar’d his Cannon, as being so near a victorious Enemy, who so successfully put in Execution all their Threats. Antony Dutch Letters and Present to the King of Ternate. de Sylva show’d an Original Letter, written by another Dutch Admiral at the Island of Borneo, to the King of Ternate, and sent by Philip Bissegop, Captain of a Ship, with a Present of a Quantity of fine Holland; Six Bales of several Vessels with Musk; Twelve Bottles of Rose-Water; Six Pounds of Dutch Anfion, that is, Opium, which, as has been said, disturbs the Senses, and is us’d by those People to encourage them to fight; and six Barrels of Powder. He gave him an Account of Andrew Furtado’s unfortunate Voyage, the Obstacles, Storms, and Enemies he had met with, since his Departure from Ternate, till he came to Malaca. He gave him the Title of Most Serene Prince, and Potent King of the Moluccos, Bandas, Amboyna, and innumerable other Islands. He congratulated with him for the Event of his Arrival at the Moluccos; promising he would return to Ternate with a greater Power, he expected from Holland, and take Possession of the Forts, to extirpate the common Enemy, the King of Spain; and encourag’d him with these Hopes, to hold out till then. He assur’d him, that he should scour all those Seas from the Moluccos, and extend his Dominions as far as China, without being hinder’d by the Philippines or Japoneses. To this End, he desired him to renew his Friendship with Mindanao, and to acquaint the King of those Islands, that he was a Friend to the Dutch, so to give them Admittance to those Ports, Freedom of Trade, and amicable Entertainment, as was requisite for their Undertakings; this being a Thing most Expedient, above all other Politick Considerations. He added, he might observe, and be assur’d, that nothing was so little regarded in Spain, as to contrive that their many Provinces should preserve some Sort of Union. That therefore all those which are very remote, and subject to that Crown, ought to take much Notice of the great Delays there, in coming to a Resolution, and sending Succours from Spain; because before they believe, or examine the News brought them in order to believe them, Affairs have taken a new Turn, and consequently neither the Spanish Councils, nor their Arms come seasonably. That Experience had made most of these Things known to his Highness, and his Zeal for his Service oblig’d him to mention them. Antony de Silva, added, that he was very sure the King of Ternate had not omitted doing any Thing of what the Dutch Man recommended to him; and that he had already propos’d to his People to go abroad to fight, far from their own Islands. Tho’ it was never apprehended he would do so, yet at that Time it much troubled Don Pedro, because he was so spent with the Affair of the Sangleyes, the Want of whom he labour’d so to supply, that no such Mischief might happen again, it being so necessary to support the Trade of the Philippines another Way, and procure safety at Home in Order to make War, and keep up a Reputation.

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.