Sire:
In the capitana "San Juan Bautista," which sailed from this port on
the twelfth of July last, I gave your Majesty an account of everything
that had occurred up to that time; I likewise did so by the Dutch
almiranta, which left four days later. But as it was not so good a
sailing ship as the capitana, and did not weather the storms so well,
it was delayed several days, without being able to get outside the
island of Fortun. I ordered it to return thence to this port, as it
appeared that it was not fit for a freight ship, and because it was
necessary for the service of your Majesty, owing to new developments,
which I shall here detail. A fortnight after the ships were despatched,
and when the almiranta was about to put out to sea, there arrived
here a fragata belonging to your Majesty, which came from Goa, and
had sailed from Terrenate for Yndia, loaded with cloves. It brought
me a despatch from the viceroy, Ruy Lorenco de Tabora, in which he
informed me of his arrival in that kingdom, and in what desolation he
found the affairs of Yndia, and particularly the trade, on account
of the Dutch. And he said that, in order to make safe the voyage
from Japon, he sent Don Diego de Vasconçelos de Meneses, with eight
galleons, well provided with men, artillery, and supplies of war,
with orders that if I should advise him that he might accomplish some
good for the service of your Majesty, he should attend to it with his
fleet. Likewise General Diego de Vasconcelos wrote to me from Malaca,
that he was crossing to Macan with six galleys and one urca; [44] and
that there he would await advices from me or from Maluco, so that,
if anything could be accomplished for the service of your Majesty,
he could be present with his fleet. The day after the arrival of this
fragata, there entered this port a Dutch patache, which had been taken
by Captain Pedro de Avellaneda, with the galley "San Christobal,"
close to the island of Tidore, after a fight of three hours; and in
it were General Pablos Brancaorden [_i.e._, van Caerden], twenty
others, and five Dutch. This general is the one who was taken in
another galleota by Captain Pedro de Heredia, and who was ransomed
by Master-of-camp Christobal de Axqueta for fifty of our soldiers
and sailors, thirty Indian pioneers and artisans, and six thousand
pesos in money. All the forces that the enemy has in Maluco and Banda
were in his command. The said master-of-camp advises me that only
a patache and one ship of the enemy's had remained in the islands;
and that although he sent a vessel with persons acquainted with the
language to Ambueno to learn whether a fleet had come, there was no
news of one, and the enemy were greatly cast down and discouraged to
see that no fleet was coming to them, as there is little hope that
it will be here this year, for none thus far has waited longer than
May or June to come. When the information was sent [to me] it was
the thirtieth of July, and there was no word of a fleet.
I have already informed your Majesty that the Dutch, our enemy, are
masters of all the Malucas Islands and Banda, and how important this
is. By a memorial and calculation which was found among other papers
in the possession of General Pablos Brancaerden, lately captured,
an account is given of the revenue, which amounts yearly to more than
four million pesos. Nothing has remained for your Majesty throughout
all these islands, except the fort of Terrenate. All the natives
are with the Dutch, and having chosen as their king the younger son
of the one who is a prisoner here, they help the Dutch to fight and
to fortify the islands, without one of them being on our side. The
king of Tidore is thus far in our favor, much to the disgust of his
vassals, and our fear lest they make an agreement with the enemy--in
which case he would be ruined, and there would be no remedy for it.
I have also informed your Majesty that the emperor of Japon has
assigned two ports and factories in his kingdom to the Dutch, and
the latter are making strenuous efforts to secure one in China. If
they succeed in this, and trade in silks, gold, quicksilver and other
riches from that great kingdom to Japon, and Europe, it will be worth
to them every year more than the spice trade, in which case (may God
avert it!) this country and Yndia would be ruined. For, as is known,
it is impossible to support them without the traffic and merchandise,
particularly the spices and silk; and as the Dutch heretics are such
mortal enemies of the crown of España, and so rich, we may well fear
that, in league with other European princes, envious, and even fearful
of the power of your Majesty, they may claim rights over some of the
territories in your Majesty's possession, and attempt something that
would give cause for anxiety. All these reasons have induced me to
use all care and diligence, without sparing labor or danger, to bring
about a junction of forces; and, although they cannot be such as are
demanded by this undertaking, at least they will be such as to allow an
attempt with the favor of God, toward driving the Dutch out of Maluco,
and taking from them the fortresses that they have built in those
islands. Accordingly, after having consulted with the Audiencia, the
archbishop, and the council of war, I ordered the master-of-camp, Juan
Xuarez Gallinato, to go to Macan and find Don Diego de Vasconcelos;
and to represent to him by word of mouth what I had already informed
him of by letters, namely, all that I am informing your Majesty of,
and how good the occasion is this year. May God further our efforts;
for if we lose this chance, and await the coming of the fleet,
although it might bring with it more strength, it is certain either
that the enemy would also have more, and that their forts would be
better fortified, whereby the difficulty would be increased--or, as
they say, your Majesty will by some peace or arrangement concede to
them their continuance in what they possess, both there and here. And,
in order that Don Diego may have no difficulty in the voyage here, the
master-of-camp was given money to provide that fleet with everything
necessary. And if perchance Don Diego should hesitate in regard to
the authority of the command and the government, I have ordered the
said master-of-camp to offer him on my behalf whatever he may ask. For
I desire so earnestly, with my heart and life, that so great a good
may be attained, and so great a service accomplished for your Majesty
and for Christendom, that, in order that it might be effected, I would
gladly go and serve as a soldier. I believe indeed that Don Diego will
not stop for this last; but I am providing against anything that can
hinder this expedition and the service of your Majesty.
In this port I have ordered the equipment of the capitana and the
almiranta which were taken from the enemy, the ship "Spiritu Santo,"
and the "San Andres," two pataches, and three galleys; and I am busy
providing everything necessary for food, artillery, and supplies. Thus
when the vessels of Don Diego de Vasconcelos arrive here, which I
think will be at the end of November, they may start on the voyage
toward Terrenate; and it seems to me that they might be there by the
beginning of January, so as to have a chance to accomplish as much as
possible before the beginning of May, when the arrival of the enemy
is to be feared. I trust in our Lord that, if no fleet has arrived
for them, some good results may be obtained from the expedition. If
a fleet should have come, I will try to ascertain their forces, in
such manner as not rashly to risk your Majesty's forces which I shall
take there. I shall try to send information as early as possible of
all that happens there, by way of Nueva España; and other advices via
the strait of Sunda, or that of Bali, and the Cape of Buena Esperanca.
Considering that all the Terrenatans are on the side of the enemy,
and not a single one of them for us, and that they all aid and
serve the Dutch with their persons and property; and that they even
consider as their king, and obey as such, the son of the king whom we
hold prisoner here--it has appeared to me best, after consultation,
to take with me on this expedition the chief king and the cachils who
are here. For he and they offer that, if I place them safely within the
fort of Terrenate, they will bind themselves, being in those islands
in person, to bring over to the service of your Majesty the son and
all his vassals; and that they will take up arms against the Dutch,
and would serve in this way, or any other that might present itself
during the expedition, with fidelity. If your Majesty were pleased
to leave him in that kingdom, he would be your vassal, would have
amity with none of our enemies, and would only barter the cloves
to the factors whom your Majesty might have in that island. If he
carries out his promise, it will facilitate the expedition greatly,
and diminish the forces of the enemy. I shall take him with me, and
if it turns out as I trust in our Lord it will, and the king holds to
his promises, so that all his vassals there remain quiet and peaceful,
I shall leave him and his son in the fortress at Terrenate, with the
greatest care and protection, until I have advised your Majesty of all,
and you have given such orders as shall please you.
For so costly an expedition, this royal treasury is in great need,
for of two hundred thousand pesos that the viceroy of Nueva España
sent here, there were taken to Macan fifty thousand pesos to buy
quicksilver; twenty-six thousand for provisions, powder, and other
munitions and supplies; thirty-five thousand paid to the fund of
probated estates, and to citizens who had lent money the year past
for the support of the fleet. So great were the arrears of debts to
private persons, since the taking of Terrenate, and an entire year's
pay that was owing to the troops, that it is greatly impoverished,
having, as is the case, so many necessary matters to attend to. The
most important of these is a fort in this port, so that I may not find
myself in such risk and danger as the enemy placed me in this year,
capturing the port from me, together with three unfinished galleons,
as I have informed your Majesty. In the preparation for the expedition
that I have resolved upon, it would not be possible to accomplish all,
or even a small part of it, if it were not for forty-five thousand
pesos that have been collected from the eight pesos that each Sangley
gives for his license to remain in these islands. With all this
there is such a lack of money that I must go with little enough on
the expedition. If there were any fund from which to get support, I
should make use of it; but I promise your Majesty that there is none
anywhere, nor even a citizen from whom I can borrow a real. We shall
have to get along as best we can, until the viceroy of Nueva España
provides for us. May our Lord protect the Catholic person of your
Majesty for many years, according to the needs of Christendom. Cavite,
September 9, 1610.