Sultan Capabaguna did not long enjoy his Liberty at Tydore. He was [King of Ternate dies.] taken ill at an Entertainment. Some believe he had a slow Poison given him; because he was very moderate in Eating, and those motions of his Arms, the gnashing of his Teeth, and losing of his Senses, which attend the Falling-Sickness, and are Simptoms of Apoplexies, could not naturally proceed from his Temperate way of Living; but are always caused by much Excess, which Occasions this violent Distemper. He came to himself after that first Fit, but his Vigour wasted, and he linger'd on to the end of his Life. Cachil Cotta should have Succeeded him, but they were suspicious of his Correspondence with the Ternates; and they all so openly favour'd his Brother Cachil Mole, that there was not the least Difficulty made about the Succession. He often remember'd his Fathers unfortunate Death, and in Regard that this raging Desire of Revenge, might prove instrumental for the Recovery of Ternates; as soon as his Unkle Dy'd, which was on the 24th of April 1599, the Portuguese Commander in Chief, Ruy Gonzalez de Sequeyrao repair'd to his Palace, and by Means of the Portuguese [Cachil Mole King of Tydore.] Power and Arms, caused Cachil Mole to be sworn King, as being a most faithful Friend to his Nation, and no less an Enemy to the Ternates. He immediatly dispatch'd Captain Palma with this News to Manila, and with it an Account of the Molucco Islands, of their Neighbours, and of their Preparations; because they were then providing in the Philippine Islands for this War, to extirpate this Receptacle of Sects, where all sorts of Apostasies are admitted, and particularly the vile Doctrines of Mahomet. Ever since the Year 1555, when the Dutch enter'd those Seas, they have not, till this Time, ceas'd bringing in Sectaries, and Captains of Pyrates: These Men carry away the Wealth of Asia, and in Lieu of it leave behind them that false Doctrine, which renders the Conversion of so many Souls Fruitless.
The Forgetfulness, or Contempt the Governours of India show'd for [Moluccos slighted at Goa.] the Molucco Islands, seem'd fatal; since they refus'd, or with-held the usual Succours, abandoning the Commanders, and Forts, for so many Years, as if they had not been in the World. This was not remedy'd by the Union of the Crowns of Spain and Portugal; on the contrary, the great Success of the Adelantado, or Lord Lieutenant Legaspe, in the Islands Luzones, which he call'd Philippines, being known in Spain, King Philip the IId. thought fit as we shall soon see, that the Molucco Islands, and Parts adjacent, whither he was Zealous to send Evangelical Preachers, should be sensible of the Advantage of his Neighbouring Empire. This was [Relief order'd from the Philippines, and why.] speedily order'd, and tho' the Effects were not sutable, by Reason of the many Accidents great Undertakings are liable to, yet Time has shown how convenient it was to fix that Resolution. For the better understanding of the Reasons on which it was grounded; since one of them proceeded from the various Disposition, Qualities, and Interests of the Nations throughout those Seas and Lands; it will be absolutely necessary in this Place to make them known, before we come to Particulars.