in great
danger. Don Pedro says that, if this is true, there will be a great
deal of difficulty in his undertaking. This report by the king of
Tidore seems to be confirmed and made more sure by another which he
sends with the aforesaid letter of the seventh of July, a copy of which
is enclosed. This was made by a Portuguese of Ambueno and a religious
of the Society of Jesus, both of whom were living there. It tells more
at length of the state of affairs in Maluco, and of the lawlessness
of the Hollanders, and their motive in going there with twelve large
ships well equipped with artillery, in the year 604 just past; and
how they came to Ambueno on the twenty-third of February of 605,
with eight ships and six pataches, and captured the fort which was
there, and took possession of the Portuguese town--because, those
within it, seeing the great number of men and pieces of artillery
which they carried, made no defense. Then, with the brick, lime, and
stone which they had brought they began to rebuild the fort which the
Portuguese had, and they left there about one hundred and thirty men
as a garrison. The same thing may be learned from the brother Gaspar
Gomes of the Society of Jesus, who has come from the Filipinas, sent
by the aforesaid Don Pedro de Acuna and bearing letters from him. He
says that the aforesaid Don Pedro had told him that, when the affair
of Maluco was accomplished and the land made safe, he intended to go
quickly to settle affairs in Ambueno, because he had heard that the
Hollanders who had obtained foothold there were expecting a son of
Don Antonio. [30] On this account he desired, as quickly as possible,
a special order from your Majesty; and he, the brother Gaspar Gomes,
comes to ask for it in the name of Don Pedro. This should be considered
with great care, and also what he says in that letter about the king
of Japon, in regard to keeping friendship with him--as your Majesty,
if you are so pleased, may examine in greater detail in the letter. It
is well to note also what he says about the delay that there might
be in his receiving succor because your Majesty is so far away, and
the great hindrance that it would be to him if they were not very
careful and prompt in sending him from Nueva Espana more men, arms,
gunpowder, and munitions in plenty, and also money; for, although
the men had been paid for a year, already more than half had passed,
and when he shall have started from Oton the year will be e