shelter for women.  Then he started the casting of cannon, and brought good artisans, who furnished the city with large and small artillery.  He built galleys for the trade and commerce or merchandise—­the subsistence of those lands.  And in fulfilment of his promises in Espana, he cast his eyes on Ternate and all of Maluco, on the late disgrace and the unfortunate results of his predecessors who had attempted the conquest of that choice kingdom, and the punishments of its tyrants.  He communicated these thoughts orally and by letters with zealous persons, more particularly with Marta, [282] a priest of the Society of Jesus, a serious and energetic man, whose experience and instruction had been of great use in those regions.  This man gave him information, counsels, and helpers for the preparation and for the work.  One of the latter was Brother Gaspar Gomez, a Spaniard, a lay religious of the same society.  Among the many conferences that were held upon this matter, I find an exhortation from Father Antonio Marta, in a letter written from Tydore.  As it is the original, and good for the better understanding, I will place it here, translated from the Portuguese....

[The letter above mentioned holds out to Dasmarinas the three inducements of service to the king, service to God, and personal ambition, in the proposed Molucca expedition.  The war will be an arduous one, for “it will be fought not with the Ternatans alone, but with all the Moros of this archipelago,” and the natives are brave and determined.  “The people of Tydore already say that they do not want Spaniards in these regions,” and Gomez Perez will find it prudent to dissemble with them, “so that they will not join the Ternatans.”  Father Marta sends a map of the archipelago, promises immense booty, and assures the governor of the prayers of the religious.  This letter, and conferences with one Geronymo de Azevedo and Brother Gaspar Gomez, decided the governor to undertake the expedition.  He sent Gaspar Gomez with instructions to visit and inspect various parts of the archipelago; and the latter visited Ternate, Tydore, Mindanao, both Javas, and other regions as far as Malaca.  The rest of book five is taken up with a relation of Pedro de Acuna’s services and his appointment to Cartagena in Nueva Espana.]

Conquest of the Malucas Islands Book Sixth

Meanwhile Gomez Perez, attentive to his preparation, concealed his purpose, while not sparing the expenses pertaining to ships, food, and men.  Among other supplies, he built four fine galleys.  To man them—­as is there reported—­he employed a means that was considered severe.  He ordered that the number of Indians sufficient to equip the galleys [283] be purchased from those who were the slaves of other Indian chiefs, and that the Spanish encomenderos should pay for these men from their own money.  The price assigned for each Indian was two taes of gold—­each tae being slightly