This is the first edition; published in Madrid in 1609; of a work that recounts in detail the struggle among Portugal; Spain; and local kings and sultans for control of the Maluku (Moluccan) Islands in the 16th century. Also called the Spice Islands; the Maluku are part of present-day Indonesia. Among the individuals who figure in the story are the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan; the English privateer Sir Francis Drake; and King Tabariji of Ternate. The author of this work; Bartolome Leonardo de Argensola (1562-1631); was a priest who served as a royal chaplain and the rector of Villahermosa; Spain. Known for its elegant style; the work includes discussions of the natural history; language; manners; and customs of the native peoples of the islands.