THE DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF THE MOLUCCO AND PHILIPPINE ISLANDS*

[INTRODUCTION]

Bartolomé Leonardo de Argensola [°1562-†1635] had a brilliant ecclesiastic career which he complemented with valuable forays into the literary field. One of his most outstanding works was the Conquista de las Islas Malucas [...] (The Discovery and Conquest of the Molucco and Philippine Islands […]), written at the request of the president of the Conselho de Indias de Espanha (Indian Council of Spain) and published in Madrid in 1609. In it the author describes the complicated relationship between the Moluccas [presently Maluku Islands] and Europe in a period prior to 1606, giving special attention to the geography and ethnography of the people in this archipelago. Bartolomé Leonardo thoroughly investigated the royal archives in Seville, paraphrasing even texts of several Portuguese chroniclers, mainly of João de Barros (See: Text 9 & João de Barros), António Galvão and Diogo do Couto.

Conquista [...] (The Discovery and Conquest [...]) was the first work printed in Europe on the Moluccas, the distant Oriental archipelago which, from 1512, was regularly visited by Portuguese ships, and was the object of an intense dispute between the Spanish and Portuguese Crowns for many decades. This work, which was prepared with abundant recourse to sources of Portuguese origin, was little known in Spain even among those specialised in the subject, and not even the date survives of any partial of full translation. The period written about here refers to China in an artificial way, one of the oriental regions which never stopped appearing in the sights of Spanish conquistadors, especially after the colonisation of the Philippines.

21

DESCRIPTION OF CHINA

[Description of China.] The Country of Sinœ, whom we call Chine∫es, is the uttermo∫t of the Continent of A∫ia. On the Ea∫t and South it is emcompa∫s'd by the Ocean, which the Ancients call'd Serius. 1 On the We∫t, it reaches to the Borders of the farther India; and on the North to those of the Ma∫∫agetes and Scythians. 2 Their Ancient Annals, Writings and Traditions inform us, that the Chine∫es extended their Empire much further. This is verify'd by the remains of ∫umptuous ∫tructures; and not only by Ruins, wherein their former Magnificence is ∫till apparent, but even in Cities, which Time has preserv'd, tho' not inhabited, and yet to be seen in the provinces they have excluded their Limits. 3 There are many which take these Denomination, and own their Original from China. For that imen∫e Empire finding it self labouring under its own Power, and overdurden'd with its Magnitude, like a judicious Patient, to prevent more Harm, it breath'd the veins, and brought down the Redundancy of the Body. The same we read the Carthagenians did, when in the like Condition, and for the same Rea∫ons. It confin'd it self to a narrower Compa∫s, proportionable to the Extent of humane Providence, that so their Prince's Light might reach to ∫hine over, and be communicated to them; which cannot be, when the Circunference is too great for the Darting of the Beams. [Chine∫es contract their Empire.] They publish'd indi∫pensable Decrees again∫t ∫uch as go out of China, without leave from the Magistrates. They abandon'd va∫t Provinces, which being left expos'd to Tyranny, and Infidelity, after tedious Wars, ∫ubmitted to the mo∫t Potent. Hence the Kings of India took their Original, being oblig'd never to lay down their Arms, nor keep any Faith so to ∫upport them∫elves one against another, till a greater Power ∫ubdues them. 4

[15 Kingdoms in China.] In China they reckon 15 maritime Kingdoms, or Provinces of an Extraordinary Extent, with each its Metropolis, or Capital; the rest are up the Inland. 5 The mo∫t part of it lies within temperate Climates, and receives into its pure and open Bo∫ome the Sun's vital Rays, having a healthful, and ∫erene plea∫ant Air. [Fertility, Air, Populou∫ne∫s.] This favourable Disposition renders it so fruitful, that it yearly yelds two or three Crops. The great Industry of the Tillers is a considerable Addition to its Fertility. The Number of them is infinite, being a People that daily multiply exceedingly, becau∫e they are forbid going into Foreign Countries. Neither is any among ∫uch a numerous Multitude of Men allow'd to live idle. [Idlene∫s. puni∫h'd.] Idlene∫s is not only expo∫ed to private Contempt, and the Scoffs of Neighbours, but puni∫h'd by publick Custome and Law. This the Peasants leave not the least ∫pot of Ground untoill'd. The Hills and deep Bottoms produce Vines and Pine Trees, the Plains, Rice, Barley, Wheat, and other common Grain. Tho' they do not pre∫s the Grapes for the Wine, as we do, Yet keep them to eat; and the Herb call'd Chia, ·6 they make a whole∫ome hot liquor. [Product, Tea.] This they drink, as do the Japaneses, and it preserves them from Colds, Head-Aches, Rheums in the Eyes, and make them live long and healthy. Some parts of the Country want Olive-Trees, but they are not de∫titute of other Plants, which yield a Liquor to anoint them. There is perpetual Abundance of Pa∫ture, Fruits, Flowers, and all these products of Gardens. [Rivers, Ports, &c.] There are many Navigable Rivers, carrying Ships of great Burden, and full of excellent Fish, the Banks cover'd with perpetual Greens, spacious Harbours, and a trade in them of all things nece∫∫ary for humane life. The Fowl are of various colour'd Feathers, and plea∫ant and nouri∫hing to eat; great Numbers of large Deer; va∫t Lakes, Woods and Mountains, and Mines of Gold, Silver, Iron and other Metals; besides Pearls and Precious Stones. Its Porcelane, or Earthen Ware, is not to be imitated in the World; and it affords rich Furs against the Cold, Silks, Wooll, Cotton and Flax; nor is there any End of its Sugar, Honey, Ambar, Vermilion, and Lake. Musk, whereof no mention is found among the Greek and Latin Authors, is more plentiful in China than in other parts.

The People are mo∫t pa∫∫ionately addicted to Delight and La∫civiou∫ne∫s. [The People.] They alone always fell all Things; they buy nothing that Nature or Art affords, either for Su∫tenance, or Cloathing, except ∫ome Perfumes for their Cloaths, and Pepper out of India; nor would there be any Place for Foreign Trade, did not an in∫atiable Avarice of Gold and Silver predominate among the Chine∫es. What they draw out of the Bowels of the Mines, they conceal as carefully as if it were ∫till in them; an even that they bring from remote Provinces, they heap up, and buy. Their publick and private ∫tructures would make up a Narration of extraordinary length. [Cities.] We are told of 200 Cities of an extraordinary Magnitude, and many more of inferior Degree, be∫ides Towns, Castles, and Villages, containing above 3000 Families each, built of Bricks made of the ∫ame Clay as our Purcelane, or China Ware, and the∫e encompa∫s'd and continu'd Woods, Springs and Rivers. In all the∫e there are towers with ∫tately Pinnacles, Plea∫ure-Hou∫es, and Temples, tho' hideou∫ly painted, yet co∫tly, with Variety of deform'd Images, through which the Devils give their An∫wers. But The∫e are not in all Parts, for many of them know no God, or Religion. Life, they ∫ay, was from Eternity common to, and alike all living Creatures. Thou at first Men drank humane Blood, and ate raw Meat. [Barbarous Opinions.] That afterwards the U∫e of Rea∫on provided for Nece∫∫ity, and Plea∫ure; inventing the Ways of dre∫∫ing, and ∫ea∫oning Meat and Fire, in Ve∫∫els and other Uten∫ils. The ∫ame, they ∫ay, happen'd in Regard to Man's Nakedne∫s. So that Man is indebted to him∫elf alone for what he enjoys, and therefore who∫oever lay'd on him the Burden of Religion, and the owing of a Cause Superior to Nature, only aim'd over his Liberty. With these impious Notions, and destructive Atheism, they oppose their Eternal Salvation, which our Arms, and our Preachers invite them to. They only regard Generation; but not without Di∫tinction. Lawfull Matrimony entitles Women to be Mi∫tre∫∫es in their Families. The Matrons value Them∫elves upon being highly Cha∫t. [Cha∫tity.] Concubines are kept in Hou∫es apart. They do not want for Plays, and ∫uch Repre∫entations; and they delight in seeing their traditions, whether true or fabulous, acted on the ∫tage. They u∫e Entertainments, and have Tables and Chairs of Ebony, and other precious Materials; as al∫o ∫hipping, ∫hows, Carts, Hor∫e-Litters, and the Exerci∫e of Arms, and Riding.

[Cu∫toms, and Manners.] It were no difficult Matter to give an Account here of their private Cu∫toms and Manners, were they to our Purpo∫e. Something ∫hall be ∫aid of the Publick and Political, for the better under∫tanding of ∫ome things that happen'd in the Philippine Islands, from whence the Recovery of the Moluccos, 7 in our Times, had its Beginning. They call their Great Men Loyties, • 8 from among whom the king chu∫es his judges and con∫ellors. [Government.] There is an almost infinite Number of inferior Magi∫trates, who exerci∫e the Regal Power and Authority, even in the mo∫t incon∫iderable ca∫es. In every Town there are five that have the greate∫t Power, and the∫e are ∫trangers in the Place, that they may be free from Partiality. [Tutan a Viceroy.] The Head of them all, is call'd Tutan, • 9 being the ∫ame as a Viceroy in Europe.

[Panca∫io.] The next in Dignity is the Panca∫io, • 10 who has Charge of the King's Officers; and he pays all salaries and pen∫ions. [Anca∫io.] Next follows the Anca∫io, • 11 who is Chief Ju∫tice, in Criminal Ca∫es of Con∫equence. The Aitan • 12 has the In∫pection of all Martial Affairs, he musters the Armies, builds the ∫hips, and his principal Duty is to ob∫erve the Guards, that no ∫tranger may pa∫s into the Inland Country13 [Luiti∫io.] The Luiti∫io·14 is next to the Aitan in Dignity, and is to be expert in War, in which he is employ'd by the Aitan. I know that there are other Magistrates, and their names and Dignataries, which I mu∫to pa∫s over in ∫ilence. All of them, except the Luiti∫io, keep great state. There are ten cho∫en per∫ons of the Council, tho' not equal in Authority. Five of them ∫it on the Right, the others on the Left. The King often Thrusts in among the Judges and. Parties in Di∫guize, to pry into the cau∫es, and their Deci∫ions, and be certainly inform'd of both, when he thinks fit, he ∫ometimes makes him∫elf known; and the Moment he di∫covers him∫elf, they all ∫tand Mute, full of Re∫pect and A∫toni∫hment, listening to what ∫hall command. Then he commends or reproves either Party, and rewards or puni∫hes before he departs the Court. [Mandarines.] His Mandarines, the Prime Ministers are ∫o highly re∫pected, that no Man does look them in their Face, and they always look ∫o ∫tern, that it would be thought a great Disorder to lo∫e the lea∫t of their Gravity, tho'it were but with a modest ∫mile. This they ob∫erve, when they pa∫s Thro' the Streets, in sight of the People. The greate∫t Honour among them is to wear a Cymiter with a gold Pommel, and a yellow Hat.

[Judges.] When the Pre∫ident of the Council Dies, the elde∫t Judge ∫uceeds him. These go Circuits thro' the Provinces, and reform Abu∫es, and all of them wear the King's Badge on their Shoulders, and Breasts, being a Golden Dragon wore in the Cloth. When they go the∫e progre∫∫es, they fave, or lessen the Charge by circumscribing the State. When first elected, at their taking Po∫∫e∫∫ion of their Po∫ts, they generally go out attended by Troops on Hor∫e and Foot, with all sorts of Mu∫ick and ∫plendour. Their Pomp appears in the Hanging, and other Ornaments of the Streets and Hou∫es. All the expense of Law Suits, Courts, and other Perqui∫ites is allow'd out of the King's Exchequer. The Mandarines are Governors, and Viceroys. In China there are no Dukes, Marque∫∫es, or Earls, nor do they own any Dignity, but what is deriv'd from the King's Authority. [Religion.] Though in the Parts next to Scythia, or Tartary, ∫ome people are Mahometans; 15 yet in all others they are either Idolaters, or look upon the Notion of a God as a mere Je∫t. The believe the Life and Death of Men and Beasts are alike. There is nothing they are more attentive to, than the ob∫tructing of any foreign Religion, and this under the politick of Pretence, that they are jealous of Innovation. But above all they oppo∫e the True Religion, noting that they know nothing of; and are as much afraid of it, as if its Mini∫ters went arm'd to preach it, and with the Noise of Drums, and Trumpets, and regular Armies. They are frighted at a few bare-foot, and almost naked Men who profe∫s Poverty, and preach up Morality, and supernatural Virtues, grounded on Humility and Peace. They have ∫uch an Aver∫ion for them, that were it proper to our ∫ubject, or were there not printed Relations Thereof already, we would recount Several In∫tances, to ∫how their unrea∫onable Hatred. Hence may be inferr', how much more Need of the ∫pecial Grace of Heaven the∫e Nations ∫tand in, with tho∫e of the Neighbourhood, which are expos'd to the Infection and Danger of their Ob∫tinacy. The Reader ought al∫o to con∫ider, that tho ∫ometimes, the Avarice, and other Crimes of our Commanders, and Soldiers interfere with the Preaching of the Go∫pel, yet their Offences do not le∫∫en the Inju∫tice of the Cau∫e. He is al∫o to reflect, that, allowing his Majesty, for weighty Reasons of ∫tate should, as we have ∫aid was propos'd, re∫olve to abandon tho∫e Parts of A∫ia, as the Chine∫es did, and circunscribe the compa∫s of his Monarchy; yet the Cau∫e of Religion would not permit it. Our Kings are its Ministers, and ∫ons of the Catholick Church, and any War made for the Propagation of the Go∫pel, is of the greate∫t Con∫equence, and highly gainful, tho' it be to acquire, or recover de∫ert Provinces. 16 Besides that the Philippine Islands have shown us how tractable their Nations are, and how much they improve with the Example, and Society of the Spaniards, and how affectionately they have imbrac'd the Faith, and afflict the Religious Men, who dilate, and carry it over into China, Japan, Camboxa, Midanao, 17 the Moluccos, and other I∫lands, where ∫till Idolatry continues, or the Friend∫hip with the Devils left them by their antient Ma∫ters, when they excluded them, their Dominions, or el∫e the Mahometan Fictions, which they have ∫ince embrac'd. 18

This is the Principal End of keeping tho∫e Provinces; and the Revenues and wealth which is confirm'd upon them, and ∫everal others, are laid out upon the Forces, and Preparations Spain makes for the Preaching and ∫ecurity of the Mini∫ters of the Church. [Rumours of Chine∫e Invasions.] Besides, that as Times have alter'd, so they have often in China chang'd their Opinion, and ∫how'd they repented their having dimini∫h'd Their Empire. No Year pa∫∫es over with out threats of Chine∫e Armies; 19 of their li∫ting Men, of building ∫hips; of their ∫olemn con∫ecrating, or dedicating them to their carv'd Gods, or to the Sun, Moon, and Stars, which are ador'd in ∫ome Parts, begging succe∫s in their vain Prayers again∫t the ∫paniards, who are po∫∫e∫s'd of tho∫e Countries they abandon'd, thro' their Indi∫cretion. 20 This ∫hort Account of the Chine∫es, or Sangleys, is here in∫erted for the better under∫tanding if those Actions we ∫hall soon treat of. They not only oppose the Truth; but tho' they are wholly addicted to their Intere∫t, and ∫laves to Gain, and tho' it be ∫o ab∫olutely requi∫ite for the attaining of those Ends through their Industry and Trade, to maintain Amity with their Neighbours, yet there is Nothing le∫s to be reliy'd on than their Faith, or to give it a more proper Name, their Di∫∫imulation. Happy Tho∫e People, if when China withdrew its Dominion, it had al∫o with drawn the Errors of its Wor∫hip.

The End of the Fourth Book.

Revised reprint of:

[ARGENSOLA, Bartolomé Leonardo de], THE DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF THE MOLUCCO and PHILIPPINE I∫lands CONTAINING, / their History, Ancient and Modern, Natural and Political: Their De∫cription, Product, Religion, Government, Laws, Languages, Cu∫toms, Manners, Habits, Shape, and Inclinations of the Natives. With an Account of many other adjacent I∫lands and ∫everal remarkable Voyages through the Streights of Magellan, and in other Parts. / Written in Spani∫h by Bartholomew Leonardo de Argen∫ola, Chaplain of the Empre∫s, and Rector of Villarhermo∫a. /Now Translated into Engli∫h: And Illu∫trated with a Map and ∫everal Cuts. / LONDON, Printed in the Year, 1708., in "A NEW COLLECTION OF VOYAGES AND TRAVELS WITH Hi∫torical Accounts / OF / Di∫coveries and Conque∫ts / In all Parts of the / WORLD. / None of them ever Printed in Engli∫h; being now fir∫t Tran∫iated from the Spani∫h, Italian, French, Dutch, Portugue∫e, and other Languages. / Adorn'd with Cuts. / For the month of December, 1708. / to be continu'd Monthly. / London Printed, and sold by J. Knapton, in St. Pauls Church-Yard; J. Round, in Exchange-Alley, in Cornhill, N. Cliffe, at the Golden Landle∫tick in Cheapside, E. Sanger, at the Po∫t-House. and A. Collins, at the Black-Boy in Fleet-Street, 1708.", pp. 104-108.

For the Portuguese translation see:

ARGENSOLA, Bartolomé Leonardo de, LOUREIRO, Rui Manuel, intro., Conquista das Ilhas Molucas, in "Antologia Documental: Visóes da China na Literatura Ibérica dos Séculos XVI e XVII", in "Revista de Cultura", Macau, 31 (2) Abril-Junho [April-June] 1997, pp. 139-142 & For the Portuguese modernised translation by the author of the Spanish (Castilian) original text, with words or expressions in between square brackets added to clarify the meaning.

For the original source of the Portuguese translation, see: ARGENSOLA, Bartolomé Leonardo de, Conquista de las Islas Malucas, Madrid, Miraguano & Polifemo, 1992, pp. 146-151 & Partial translation from Spanish.

NOTES

Numeration without punctuation marks follow that in Bartolomé Argensola's original text selected in Rui Loureiro's edited text in "Revista de Cultura" (Portuguese edition), Macau, 31 (2) Abril-Junho [April-June] 1997, p.142.

The spelling of Rui Loureiro's edited text [Port.] is indicated between quotation marks and in italics <" " > & unless the spelling of the original Spanish [Span.] text is indicated & followed by the spelling of the English translation, indicated immediately after, between quotation marks within parentheses < (" ") >.

1 According to Humanistic precepts, the author uses the classic terminology derived from Ptolomaic sources for Geography denominations. The "seres" [Port.] has been identified as 'the Chinese' and "Sérico" [Port.] ("∫erius") or 'land of silk' with 'China'.

2 According to classical Geography, the Ma∫∫agetes and Scythians inhabited the lands between the Black Sea and the Aral Sea.

3 The author is certainly making reference to the early fifteenth century vestiges of the great maritime expansion of the Chinese scattered across the whole of Asia, also mentioned by several sixteenth century Portuguese authors. Most probably he also had in mind some deserted cities of East Asia, such as Pagan and Angkor, also mentioned by contemporary Portuguese chroniclers.

(See: Text 9 & João de Barros)

4 These are tangential references to the early fifteenth century great maritime voyages of the Chinese [carried out by Zheng He's • powerful armadas of hundreds of junks], during which the imperial vessels friendly visited without conquest purposes a number of Oriental kindoms, scattered from the eastern coast of the Cochin-China to the oriental coast of Africa.

5 "mediterrâneos" [Port.] ("Inland"): meaning, "situamse no interior" ('not bordering the ocean').

6 "chia" • [original Span.] ("Chia") = cha • [Chin.]: tea.

7 At the time the author's work was published the Spanish based in the Philippines jointly with the Portuguese settled in Malacca and Macao to fight fiercely against the Dutch over the [trade monopolies'] rights of Indonesia. After a Dutch assault to Tidore in 1604, the combined efforts of the Spanish and Portuguese managed to partially recover their lost positions in that remote archipelago.

8 "loitia" • [Port.] " ("Loyties") = laodie' • [Chin.]: literaly meaning, 'venerable father' & an honourable attribution to high ranking Chinese officials.

9 "tutão" • [Port.] ("Tutan") = dutang • [Chin.]: the Viceroy or governor general of a Chinese province.

10 "poncasio" • [original Span.] or "poncachi" [Port.] ("Panca∫io ") = buzhengshi• [Chin.]: the treasurer of a Chinese province.

11 "ancasio" • [original Span.] or "anchaci" • [Port.] ("Anca∫io") =anchashi• [Chin.]: judge of a Chinese province.

12 "aitão" • [Port.] ("Aitan") = haidao • [Chin.]: the commander of a Chinese province's coastal defense forces with powers of jurisdiction upon foreigners.

13 "povoações mediterrdnicas" ("Inland Country"): meaning, "do interior" ('localities not bordering the coast'). (See: Note 5)

14 "luitisio" • [original Span.] or "lutici" • [Port.] ("Luiti∫io") = ludusi" • [Chin.]: the commander of a Chinese province's armed forces.

15 According to Herodotus (°ca484-†ca425AC) classical Scythia occupied a territory north of the Black Sea, from the mouth of the Danube to the Sea of Azov. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries this placename was used in the Geographical literature of Europe to mean the innermost regions of Central Asia, many of whose peoples followed the religion of Islam.

16 The author seems to invoke evangelical reasons as primarily relevant to the Portuguese and Spanish territorial conquests in the Far East. Multiple projects for the conquest of China were submitted to the Spanish Crown around that time, with no success.

17 "Mindanau" [Port.] ("Midanao"): a great island south of the Philippines where the Spanish expansion met armed resistence, contrary to events in most of the other islands of the archipelago.

18 The author erroneously suggests that all these territories had once been under Chinese rule. Although the influence of Chinese civilization was strongly felt in the whole Far East a territorial conquest was never accomplished.

Argensola also suggests that by the early seventeenth century many reagions of Indonesia had embraced the religion of Islam.

19 Around those times it was widely supposed that the Chinese were planning an invasion of the Philippines which would end the Spanish rule from the archipelago.

20 The author reveals himself as a staunch defender of the Spanish presence in the Philippines, notwithstanding his imperial apologia betraying the existence in Spain of opinions which favoured the abandonment of these remote possessions.

* First edition: Madrid, 1609.