At the same time that they seem'd to be wholly taken up with Sports and Diversions, in the Island Ires, they Vow'd an irreconciliable Enmity [War Proclaim'd.] to the Portuguese Nation, with the same Solemnity as they had sworn Allegiance to their King; and this Secret having been inviolably observ'd, when the new K. thought convenient he caused it to be Publish'd throughout all his Dominions, which consists of seventy two Islands in that Archipelago, betwixt those of Mindanao, on the North; Bima and Corca on the [Dominions of Ternate.] South; and the Continent of the Papuas, or Papous, otherwise call'd New Guinea on the East: The Inhabitants whereof pay him their Tribute in Gold, Amber, and Birds of Paradise; all which Provinces have been Usurped from other Kings, on whose Ruins his Pride is swollen so high, that he stiles himself in his own Language, Emperor of the Archipelago. In most of them there were at that Time some Christian Towns, Churches, and Preachers, and the Gospel was receiv'd in the eight principal Nations. Idolater and Mahometan Embassadours came from them all to acknowledge, and swear Fealty to Cachil Rabu. In this great Assembly the Desire of Revenge was made the Cause of Religion, and in it began the longest Persecution the true Faith has undergone in our Days. It will be therefore requisite, distinctly to describe the remote, and neighbouring Countries and Nations that carry'd it on; and the Strength, and standing Forces, [Forces of the Kings of Ternate and Provinces.] they have ready at all times upon any Occasion.
The sixteen greater Towns of Ternate furnish their K. with 3000 Arm'd Men; the Island of Montil, distant from it six Leagues South, 200; that of Machian, eight Leagues distant, 1500; that of Caioa four Leagues from Mechian, the same way, 300; those of Gazea, twelve Leagues from Caioa, 300; those of Xula, fifty Leagues from Ternate, 4000; those of Burro, seventy Leagues distant, 4000; those of Veramula eighty Leagues from Amboina, and are the same Number of Leagues in compass 50000; those of Buaro, and Manipa, lying betwixt those of Veranula and Burro, 3000; those of Na, Nolo, and New Guinea, which are many, and very populous, fifty Leagues East from Ternate, send no certain, but numerous Forces; that of Ires, where the King then was, 400; and pays Tribute in Amber, and Birds of Paradise. Those of Meaos and Tasure, on the North, 400. Those of Doe, distant thirty Leagues some way, 900. Those of Rao and Saquita, seventy Leagues North, 1000. The great Batochina, or Gilolo, four Leagues from Ternate, 10000. The large Island Matheo, contains several Kingdoms, thirty Leagues to the Westward, each of them subject to its own King, and all of them to him of Ternate; send him Arm'd Troops. Totole and Bool 6000 Men; Guayduda 7000; Gorontano and Iliboto, 10000; Tomine, 12000; Manado, 2000; Dondo, 700; Labague, 1000; Fulo, and Jaqua, 10000; Gape, Tobuquo, and Butu are all subject to him, and the number of their supplies is uncertain; but Sanguien and its King, 40 Leagues from Ternate, serve him with 3000 Men. This was not the standing Force, which without adding to it the uncertain number, nor the multitude of slaves, amounts to 120300 Men. This particular F. Martin sent to the Governor Gamez Parez, and the original was deliver'd to me. Since then, that Kings Power is increased, and because more Formidable, by reason of his Alliances with several Princes, entering Amity with some, and Oppressing others, and practising the Rules of Tyranny among them all, as Artfully as was formerly done by Greece, Rome, and Carthage. Of their Game, Fish, Rice, Sagu, and other Stores of Fruit and Spice, and the Royal Mines, we shall speak when the Subject in Hand requires it; and so of their Weapons, of which last it is to be observ'd once for all, that those they Dart, are all poison'd, and the Fire-Arms differ not from ours.