a fort to fight with the natives.  Another galleon, the “San Juan,” under Captain Martin Alfonso, a noble, is in Malaca, and is about to go to Anbon; and it must go by way of Jaba, opposite the coast of Borney.  With the few men whom it can take, and those whom it can secure at Anbon, it must go with them all to Maluco to aid the said captain Pedro Lopez to oppose the inhabitants of Maluco.  This witness knows, too, that the Portuguese captured a son of the king of Maluco, named Don Francisco, whom they took to Yndia.  This witness saw him lately at Malaca.  He has heard that the people of Maluco begged that he be given up, as he is their king, and that if he is restored they will make peace and surrender the fortress.  With the said Don Francisco are three of his relatives, one Don Enrique, one Pablo Desa, and the third Jordan de Fletes.  Don Enrique is undahala at Malaca, which is the office of judge among the natives.  The vessel which is going by way of the coast of Jaba to Anbon must lay in a good supply of food from Xaba.  This witness knows further that a queen of Xaba is at war with the Portuguese; she is the queen of Xapara.  Consequently the Javanese refuse to take food to Malaca, which is furnished by the king of Pegu.  This witness has heard that the king of Pegu has made dependents of the kings of Sian and Patan.  The Portuguese have war likewise with the king of Bintan, for the latter married a daughter of the king of Achen who is hostile to the Portuguese.  This witness has been twice in Maluco, and has seen what he has described.  At the entrance to the port is a rampart, and, farther in, the fort where the said Portuguese live.  They have a vault there in the middle of the court; and, even if the fort be burned, the court inside is not burned.

When asked what became of the artillery of the galley which was lost on the coast, he said that the king of Mindanao, who is an old man, heard of the loss of the said galley there, and went there with forty vessels, and that the people of Samboanga seized the said artillery, which they had taken from the galley and took it ashore at the river of Mindanao.  He said that the people of Samboanga burst one piece; and the Spaniards took it, along with two grappling hooks, and brought it to this city.  All the above is the truth.  This witness said also that the said galley that was lost carried nine pieces of artillery—­amidships a large round swivel-gun; at the bow and along the sides, two large chambered falcons; at the stern two more; and at the sides four culverins, two on each side.  The chief of Taguima took two culverins, and the king of Mindanao took all the rest.  This is the truth, on the oath that he has taken; and he affirmed and ratified the same, but did not sign it.  He is about thirty years old, a little more or less.

Doctor Francisco de Sande

Before me: 

Alonso Beltran, his Majesty’s notary

Captain Ribera’s Instructions