TRANSLATION:  This document is translated and synopsized by James A. Robertson.

CONQUEST OF THE MALUCAS ISLANDS.

Dedicated to King Felipe III, Our Sovereign.

Written by Licentiate
Bartolome Leonardo de Argensola,
chaplain of her Majesty the Empress,
and Rector of Villahermosa.

Madrid.  Printed by Alonso Martin M DC IX.

CONQUEST OF THE MALUCAS ISLANDS

[The usual licenses and preliminary matter precede Argensola’s [268] history.  The license of the king permitting the author, and no other, to have the book printed and sold for the following ten years, bears date “Madrid, January twenty-four, one thousand six hundred and nine.”  The license and approbation of the ordinary, Doctor Cetina, dated “Madrid, December 30, 1608,” certifies that the history contains nothing against the Catholic faith.  Pedro de Valencia, royal chronicler, under date of “Madrid, January 14, 1609,” approves the work as deserving publicity.  Licentiate Murcia de la Llana, after comparing a single printed copy with the original manuscript, appends a list of errata, with certification that, with these, the book corresponds to the original.  This bears date “Madrid, May 4, 1609.”  Pedro Zapata del Marmol, at “Madrid, May seven, one thousand six hundred and nine,” appraises the book and orders that it be sold at four maravedis per pliego or fold, thus making the price of the book, since it contains one hundred and six pliegos, twelve reals, sixteen maravedis.  In his dedication, dated “Madrid, May 4, 1609,” Argensola requests the king to read his book, as it “contains victories of the Church.”  The author’s brother, Lupercio Leonardo de Argensola, secretary of the empress, chief chronicler of the king in Aragon, writes a letter “to the readers,” in which he meets their arguments or supposed arguments, and defends the title and contents of the book, the method of treatment, the style, and its raison d’etre.

The work contains ten books, the first four of which consist almost entirely of matters extraneous to the Philippines, such as Maluco matters, the history of Pedro Sarmiento’s expedition through the Strait of Magellan in search of Drake, etc.  The last six books contain more Philippine matter, and while Argensola cannot always be credited with the same reliability as Morga, he often supplements the latter.  His introduction in the first book reads as follows:] [269]

I write of the reduction of the Malucas Islands to the obedience of Felipe III, king of Espana, and the reduction of their kings to their former vassalage, which their predecessors rendered, and which was introduced anew by Don Pedro de Acuna, governor of the Filipinas and general of the Spanish fleet.  That was a victory worthy the foresight of so pious a monarch, of the care of the dignified ministers of his supreme council, and of the valor of our nation:  not so