The Discovery and Conquest of the Molucco and Philippine Islands.: Containing their History, Ancient and Modern, Natural and Political: Their Description, Product, Religion, Government, Laws, Languages, Customs, Manners, Habits, Shape, and Inclinations of the Natives. With an Account of many other adjacent Islands, and several remarkable Voyages through the Streights of Magellan, and in other Parts.Leonardo de Argensola, Bartolomé
History
The Discovery and Conquest of the Molucco and Philippine Islands.: Containing their History, Ancient and Modern, Natural and Political: Their Description, Product, Religion, Government, Laws, Languages, Customs, Manners, Habits, Shape, and Inclinations of the Natives. With an Account of many other adjacent Islands, and several remarkable Voyages through the Streights of Magellan, and in other Parts.
Leonardo de Argensola, Bartolomé
Maluku (Indonesia) -- History; Philippines -- History
took Possession of them for his Crown. Pretending at the same Time,
that they were the first Christians that arriv'd at the Moluccos, and
that then he was own'd as Sovereign by Sultan Corala, King of Ternate,
who reign'd before Sultan Bongue; by Sultan Almanzor, King of Tydore,
by Luzuf, King of Gilolo, and other Princes, who all swore Fealty
by their Idols, and the Alcoran; and that Gonzalo Gomez admitted
them, and swore to the Observance of what had been agreed on, in his
[Arguments for Spain.] King's Name, before an Image of the Blessed
Virgin. He urg'd, that by Mathematical Demonstration, and the Judgment
of Men learned in that Faculty, it appear'd, that the Moluccos were
within the Limits of Castile, as were all others, as far as Malaca,
and even beyond it. That it was no easy Undertaking for Portugal
to go about to disprove the Writings of so many Cosmographers, and
such able Mariners; and particularly the Opinion of Magellan, who was
himself a Portuguese. And that in Case he might be thought partial,
because of his being disoblig'd in Portugal, that Exception did not
lie against Francis Serrano, who was also a Portuguese, and had been
favour'd and cherish'd. That to say the Sea Charts had been maliciously
contriv'd, was a groundless Objection, and not probable. Besides that,
in Relation to the Article of Possession, on which the Controversy
depended, it was only requisite to stand by what was writ by, and
receiv'd among Cosmographers.
In Answer to this, King John of Portugal, deny'd the Fact of the
Discovery, [Portuguese Answer.] as to its Precedency; for Serrano's
was in the Year 1511, and that of Magellans Companions nine Years
later, in 1520. He declar'd the Globes, Astrolabes, and Sea Charts
to be partial, and that in Case they were rectify'd, drawing the
aforesaid Meridian, according to Rules of Astrology, his Limits would
not only comprehend the Moluccos, but reach far beyond the Philippine
Islands. He offer'd King Tabarija's last Will on his Behalf; and
said, that if the Line were fairly drawn, observing Eclipses, as
had been done sometimes, the Truth of his Assertion would appear. To
this they added, the Papers of the Geographer and Astrologer, Andrew
de S. Martin, by which it appear'd, that he sailing with Magellan,
his before unattempted Voyage, had observed several Eclipses, and
Oppositions. Among the rest, on the 17th of December, 1519. He in the
River call'd Rio de Janeyro, took an Observation of a Conjunction of
Jupiter and the Moon; on the first of February 1520, another of the
Moon and Venus; soon after another of the Sun and Moon, after passing
the Streights, another Opposition of the Sun and Moon, and others
at other times; all which, tho' calculated by him to the Meridian
of Sevil, avail'd nothing to his Design, which was to prove that the
Molucco Islands did not belong to Portugal; for which Reason he found
Fault with John de Monteregio's Tables and Almanacks. All these Papers
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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