Sacred Catholic Majesty:
I informed your Majesty by the flagship which was despatched from this
island, in the month of June of the year sixty-five to discover the
return route to Nueva España, as your faithful vassal and servant, of
events that had happened up to that time; and I petitioned you to
reward me in consideration of the twenty-seven years that I have served
your Majesty in the discovery of these districts. [I told you] that I
had come here before as your Majesty’s accountant in company with Rui
Lopez de Villalobos; and further that I had taken the ginger plant
(which is now [grown] in Nueva España) at the great risk of my person.
I have done other services for your Majesty of which I gave
information. The present information that I have to relate to your
Majesty is that the “San Geronimo,” despatched from Nueva España
in the month of May in the past year sixty-six, by your president,
auditors, and officials of the royal treasury resident therein, arrived
in this island in the month of October of the said year. It made its
voyage so inadequately prepared with necessities and with the articles
that we asked from here, that we were placed in greater need than
before its arrival. The ship had no captain because he had been killed
during the voyage. There were also other mutinies and rebellions [on
the ship] as appears from the reports made here about it, which your
Majesty may see if so minded and determine its fortune. [33] At its
arrival all this camp received great happiness at learning that that
route, which had been so greatly desired by the emperor our sovereign
(who is in glory), by your Majesty, and by all your vassals and
subjects, had been discovered and so easily—and desired so very
rightly, since besides the fruit that will be attained in the preaching
of the holy gospel (the chief design of your Majesty and of your
Catholic ancestors) your Majesty will be greatly benefited in the
temporal, your royal crown greatly increased, your subjects and vassals
profited, and finally there will be a gateway opened for the Spanish
nation to have a place where it may employ its strength. I rejoice more
than I can tell, and rightly, since I gave advice to your Majesty and
to your royal Council of the Yndias, of the products of these districts
in the year fifty-four at Valladolid, and of the suitability and
fitness of these Philipinas for supporting the people in them both in
the interim until the route should be discovered, and until your
Majesty’s commands should be sent—all of which availed for the work
and affair. It has been very important for your royal service, and on
that account there is legitimate reason why your Majesty should reward
me. For, besides the above-mentioned services, I came to serve you in
this present expedition as treasurer of your royal estate. No other
person than myself of all those who took part in the expedition of
Villalobos came on this expedition, and I, by reason of my experience
in the past expedition, have given advice on what has been necessary;
for I came to these islands for this purpose and until the discovery of
this route should be made, and left my wife and family in Nueva
España. I put away everything else for what touches your Majesty’s
service, and I hope from your clemency to be rewarded for my services.
I shall not give a full report of the occurrences of this expedition
from the time of the despatch of the flagship until the present,
because the governor and we, your Majesty’s officials, give a report
of them in the relations and letters which are being sent. I shall only
mention that a huge quantity of cinnamon has been discovered on the
point of Quavit on the island of Mindanao. It is so abundant there that
it is heard that the mountains are full of it. Inasmuch as there is no
market for it in these islands we can easily procure at little expense
as much as your Majesty would like brought to España. It will be
necessary to have some settlement in the vicinity where the cinnamon is
gathered, both in order to gather the cinnamon and because the
Portuguese fleets en route from Malaca to Maluco pass that place, which
is also in the district of Borneo, Maluco, and other important places.
Since your Majesty has as yet sent no orders declaring your royal will,
we are only striving to maintain our men until the arrival of the
reënforcements of which we are in great need. It is advisable that
that aid be sent quickly, and that more zeal be displayed in the
despatch from Nueva España than hitherto; for although it is about
three years since we left there, only one ship has been sent, and it
put back (I mean came) in a condition more needy of aid than to aid.
Therefore, this ship is being despatched now. We send in it the
cinnamon that the little time at our disposal gives us opportunity to
gather. I entreat your Majesty, since it is a matter that is so
important to your royal service, to please send your orders promptly as
to what you wish most to be done. For after the arrival of
reënforcements, I intend (the Divine Will concurring), to go to kiss
your Majesty’s feet, and to report minutely concerning these
districts, as I am unable to give any adequate idea in a letter without
great prolixity. Two Portuguese ships such as the natives of Maluco use
came to this port on the tenth of the present month of July. They were
sent by the chief captain, Gonçalo Pereira Mamarraque, who went from
Yndia to Maluco by commission of the viceroy, Don Antonio de Loronha.
They bore letters from the chief captain for the governor which
informed him and declared that we were in their demarcation, and tried
to get us to go to Maluco and thence to Yndia. [34] I endeavored to
gain some information from those ships regarding the affairs of Maluco,
and some of the men told me that your Majesty’s old-time vassals, the
kings of Tidore and Geilolo, have been killed and persecuted by the
Portuguese and by the king of Ternate their [i.e., the Portuguese’]
friend and confederate. They killed the king of Tidore, and destroyed a
fort which the king of Geilolo possessed, who died while being pursued.
The king of Ternate had the latter’s son who succeeded him in his
kingdom killed; while the son of the king of Tidore who is yet living,
pays a yearly and very excessive tribute of one hundred bahars or more
than five hundred quintals of cloves to the Portuguese. In addition,
the vassals of those kings are greatly harassed and troubled by the
Portuguese and by the king of Ternate his friend. I believe, most
invincible prince, that such trouble and harassing proceeds from the
fact that those kings and their subjects are so affectioned to the
Castilian name; for I, as an eyewitness, assure your sacred Majesty
that the Castilians who sailed in the fleet of Villalobos were as well
received and as kindly treated by the kings of Tidore and Geilolo and
by their vassals, and that they always showed us as much love and
goodwill, and offered their persons and property, to relieve our
necessities, as if they had really been your Majesty’s natural
vassals for many years. And they assure me that they still live in
great constancy, and are in hopes that your Majesty will have them
delivered from the cruel bondage in which they live because they have
ever shown themselves so favorable to the Castilians. For that reason
their misery and trouble moves me to deep compassion when I remember
the kindness which I received from them when I was in Maluco, and the
love and affection that they bestowed upon us. Besides this the
Ternatans and the Portuguese in their company have made and are daily
making raids and captives among these islands, so that the natives are
in great fear when they see the harm that they receive from them. Those
Portuguese remained in this port of Cubu for thirteen days where they
were caressed and feasted by all generally. The governor offered his
services to them in whatever they needed, according to the orders of
your Majesty’s instructions. When the Portuguese left, they said that
the chief captain had received a resolution and express mandate from
Yndia to rout, destroy, and drive us out of this place by whatever way
he could, and that he had left Yndia with nine ships and eight hundred
soldiers for that sole purpose. That news threw us into great
consternation, as we are short of men, ships, ammunition, and
artillery, and because the masters of the sea hostile to us [i.e., the
Portuguese] can easily deprive us of provisions as they have many large
ships and oared boats and many friendly Indians from Ternate who are
well equipped with weapons and food, while we are in need of all things
generally. However, although we are so needy as at present, we have
firmly resolved to die in the service of your Majesty like true
Spaniards, and we shall not move from this place until your Majesty so
orders. Consequently we shall endeavor to defend ourselves as far as
possible, with our few forces. In the belief that I was doing your
Majesty a service, I endeavored to get the loan of a map and navigation
chart from the Portuguese, and quickly had a portion that falls within
the Castilian demarcation copied from it as well as certain remarks
made by one of our pilots. I enclose it herewith, [35] and if your
Majesty be so pleased the cosmographers may see by it the position of
the lands and islands now newly discovered. May your Majesty receive my
willingness to serve you. May our Lord prosper and preserve your royal
Catholic person with increase of greater kingdoms and seigniories, as
is the desire of your Majesty’s vassals. This island of Cubu, July
xxv, 1567. Your sacred Catholic Majesty’s faithful vassal and most
humble servant who kisses your royal feet.