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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/14685-0.txt b/14685-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a771e4d --- /dev/null +++ b/14685-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8774 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14685 *** + +THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, 1493-1898 + +Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and +their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, +as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the +political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those +islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the +close of the nineteenth century, + + + +Volume XI, 1599-1602 + + + +Edited and annotated by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson +with historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord +Bourne. + + + +Contents of Volume XI + + + + Preface 9 + Documents of 1599 + + Ordinances enacted by the Audiencia of Manila + (_concluded_). Francisco Tello, and others; + Manila, June, 1598-July, 1599 21 + The hospital for Indians at Manila. Domingo + de Santiago and Antonio Valerio; Manila, + July 3 82 + Letters from the royal fiscal to the + king. Hieronimo de Salazar y Salcedo; Manila, + July 21 86 + Letter from the king of Borneo to Governor + Tello. Soltan Adil Sula; [June?] translated + July 27 120 + Letters to the king. Francisco Tello; Manila, + July 14 and August 7 123 + Letters to Tello. Felipe III; Denia, August + 16 129 + + Documents of 1600 + + The pacification of Mindanao. [Unsigned and + undated; 1600?] 135 + Oliver van Noordt's attack on Luzón. Francisco + Tello, and others; Manila, October-December + 140 + + Documents of 1601 + + Report to the governor, on the battle + with the Dutch. Antonio de Morga; Manila, + January 5. 173 + Annual letters from the Philippine + Islands. Francisco Vaez, S.J.; [Manila?], + June 10. 191 + Letter to Felipe III. Diego Garcia, S.J.; + Manila, July 8. 223 + Letter from the fiscal to Felipe III. Hieronimo + de Salazar y Salcedo; Manila, July 16. 228 + Complaint of the cabildo of Manila against + Morga. Gonzalo Ronquillo de Vallesteros, + and others; Manila, July 20. 235 + Letter to Felipe III. Antonio de Morga; + Manila, July 30. 251 + Grant to Jesuit school in Cebú. Council of + Indias; Valladolid, December 11. 257 + + Documents of 1602 + + Instructions to Pedro de Acuña. Felipe III; + Zamora, February 16. 263 + Two royal decrees. Felipe III; Zamora, + February 16. 289 + Pintados menaced by Mindanao pirates. Juan + Juarez Gallinato, and others; off Mindanao, + May 29-June 4. 292 + Letters to Felipe III. L. P. Dasmariñas, + and others; Manila, June 8-July 10. 302 + + Bibliographical Data. 317 + + + + + +Illustrations + + + + Title-page of _De rebus Iaponicis_, compiled by John Hay, + S J. (Antverpiæ, M. DC. V); photographic facsimile, from copy + in Library of Congress. 187 + Title-page of _Relatione breve_, by Diego de Torres (Milano, + MDCIII); photographic facsimile, from copy in library of + Harvard University. 189 + + + + + +Preface + + +During the three years or more covered in this volume (1599-1602), +the most notable occurrence is the coming to the archipelago (in 1600) +of the fleet commanded by the Dutch adventurer Oliver van Noordt, +bent on plunder and the damage of the Spanish settlements there: +but he is defeated and driven away, although with heavy loss to the +Spaniards. This event, with the quarrels which it arouses in Manila, +and fears of like danger in the future, disturb the colony for several +years. The people, both Spaniards and Indians, are also in constant +dread of the Moro pirates, who ravage the coasts of the Pintados +(Visayas) Islands, encouraged to commit these depredations by the late +withdrawal of Spanish troops from Mindanao. In the face of all these +difficulties, the government is also embarrassed by the poverty of +the local treasury; its funds are wasted by unnecessary expenses and +salaries, and lessened by frauds in the customs duties, and by other +violations of the laws regarding trade. There are too many officials, +both secular and religious; and the former are often incompetent or +corrupt. The Indians are demoralized by having learned the use of +the white men's money; their native industries are neglected, which +causes scarcity and high prices of goods and supplies. New impulse +and wider scope are given to the missions conducted by the Jesuits, +who begin the task of gathering the scattered Indian converts into +mission villages, thus more easily to civilize and christianize the +natives. A new governor for the islands is appointed, Pedro de Acuña. + +In this volume is completed the document begun in _Vol_. X, "Ordinances +of the Audiencia enacted in 1598-99;" here are presented those for the +first half of the year 1599. The alcaldes-mayor must, in collecting the +taxes, observe the royal tariffs. To remedy the exorbitant charges for +fees in the inferior courts, all suits appealed to the Audiencia must +be accompanied by a sworn statement of the fees thus paid. The bonds +accepted in law-suits must be more reliable. Auditors are given special +powers in expediting the cases of persons imprisoned. Interpreters +are not allowed to trade with the natives, except in the presence of +a magistrate. The accounts of guardians of minors shall be examined +by the probate judge. Attorneys are restricted in bringing new suits +between Indians. Goods sold at auction for the benefit of the royal +treasury must be knocked down to the highest bidder, and for cash +only. Lawyers are ordered to follow the customs of the natives, +where these are involved in lawsuits. Collection of tributes shall +not be made by the alcaldes-mayor; and appointments for the post of +collector must be approved by the Audiencia. Various acts prescribe +the duties of officials of the Audiencia, and its procedures in +certain cases; also limits of action by attorneys. The officials +of the Audiencia shall give bonds each year. Cases involving twenty +pesos or less shall not be brought to trial. Directions are given for +the trial of suits between Indians. The alguazils-mayor must make +the rounds of the city at night. All accounts due to or from the +royal treasury shall be closed up and balanced within the next four +months. Officials of the Audiencia shall not go outside of the city +without permission. Certain punishments are prescribed for the Chinese +inhabitants--for vicious practices, for making or clipping coin, +and for buying stolen goods from Indians. All natives residing in +Manila who have not some employment are ordered to leave the city at +three days' notice. The duties of the late Alvaro Çambrano, deceased, +are to be assumed by others of the auditors. Provision is made for due +inspection, appraisal, and sale of merchandise brought from China. All +Indians belonging to the royal encomiendas must pay their tributes, +even when they reside in Manila. The sum of three hundred pesos is +appropriated to furnish and adorn the chapel of the Audiencia. The +Chinese are forbidden to have godchildren, a practice which has led to +many evils; and the Christians are ordered to follow the occupations +which they had exercised before their conversion. Officials whose +terms of office expire must furnish residencia before receiving any +further appointment. + +On July 3, 1599, one of the Franciscans in charge of the hospital for +the Indians at Manila writes to the king, asking further grants of +aid for its work. The governor and bishop are directed by the king +to advise him as to the needs of the hospital. A letter from the +royal fiscal to the king (July 21) displays the needs of the royal +exchequer in the islands, and suggests means for supplying these. He +complains of the burden imposed on the colony by the support of an +archbishop and three bishops. Much is wasted in salaries, for useless +or nominal services. Salazar y Salzedo advises that the offices and +their salaries be both reduced. Especial loss and injury to the royal +income arises from the frauds and violations of law which are practiced +in the Mexican trade. The payment of tributes by the Indians in money +is demoralizing them; they no longer pursue their former usual labors, +and their products are now scarce and high-priced. They ought to be +compelled to work, at agriculture, stock-raising, and mining. The +treasury needs more money, and more Indians should be assigned to the +crown. Encomiendas are fraudulently assigned by the governors. The +erection of wooden churches in the encomiendas is another source +of useless expense; these should be built of stone or brick. Certain +offices should be taken from their present incumbents, and conferred on +men of character and standing. The fiscal complains of lax management +of the treasury by its officials, and calls for an investigation; +and the same with the cabildo of Manila. Other charges where public +moneys are involved should be inspected by the crown, and the waste +of those funds should be checked. Even all these reforms will not +provide all the funds for necessary expenses; the fiscal therefore +proposes that the crown monopolize the trade in spices and raw silk, +which would bring immense profits to the royal treasury. Another letter +from the fiscal to the king, of the same date, makes recommendations +as to certain affairs of government. He urges that the auditors +should make regular official inspection of the administration of +justice throughout the islands. He complains that the profits of +trade are absorbed by the officials and their dependents, leaving +the citizens poor. Offices and other sources of profit must not be +bestowed on those dependents, but on the citizens; and the officers +of the ships that carry goods to Nueva España should not be appointed +there, but in the islands. The ships should be more strictly inspected. + +The ruler of Borneo sends (June. 1599) to Governor Tello a gift, +accompanied by a letter in which he expresses firm friendship for the +Spaniards. In a letter dated July 14, Tello complains that Morga is +hostile to him, and even writes anonymous letters against the governor; +the latter defends himself against these attacks. On August 7 he +reports to the king the arrival of English ships at Maluco, and his +intention of sending reenforcements to the Spanish fort there, and +to that in Cebu. He is asking aid from the viceroy of Nueva España, +and is trying to manufacture more artillery at Manila. Two letters +from Felipe III to Tello are dated August 16, 1599. The king commends +his proceedings in certain matters, and orders the viceroy of Nueva +España to send hereafter only useful colonists to the Philippines. He +also desires Tello to advise him whether the duties on Chinese goods +can be increased. + +A brief account of the pacification of Mindanao (1600?) furnishes +some additional information as to events there, up to 1600. The +troops have been withdrawn from this island, owing to an alarm +of danger from English pirates; but these prove to be peaceable +Dutch merchants. In October of that year, certain foreign vessels +(thought to be English) enter the bay of Albay, and Antonio de Morga +is ordered by the Audiencia to fortify the port of Cavite and pursue +the enemy. Instructions for this latter proceeding are furnished to +him by the governor (December 10). He in turn gives instructions +to his admiral, Joan de Alcega. Then follows an account not only +of the battle between the Spanish and the Dutch fleets, but also +of Van Noordt's entire voyage to the Philippines. The battle ends, +on the whole, disastrously for Van Noordt. Among the plunder found +on the Dutch ships is a commission granted to Esaias de Lende as a +privateer against the Spaniards in the Indias. Suit being brought +against the admiral Alcega for deserting the flagship in the battle +with Van Noordt, Morga presents therein his version of the affair +(January 5, 1601)--throwing the blame for the loss of the flagship +on Alcega's disobedience to the orders previously given him by Morga. + +Francisco Vaez reports (June 10, 1601) to the general of the Jesuit +order the status of Jesuit missions in the islands. He relates +the deaths of certain priests and brethren while engaged in the +performance of their duties, and proceeds to a detailed report of +each mission station. The Jesuit church at Manila has been ruined by +earthquakes. The fathers of the college there are accomplishing much +good by their labors, especially among those in prison, the soldiers, +and the children. Several instances of the devotion and piety of +converts are related. The losses and calamities which have befallen +the people have made them more inclined to religion. The sodalities +introduced among the natives arouse their devotion and enthusiasm. At +Antipolo a hospital has been begun, as well as a school for boys. At +Cebú also a school has been opened; and the labors of the Jesuits are +highly acceptable to the people, and commended by the bishop. Many +Indians are being converted by them. Connected with the residence +at Cebú is that of Bohol. Here Father Valerio Ledesma has persuaded +the savages to leave the mountains and settle near the river, under +the care of the missionaries; they have built a church, and are fast +becoming converted. Other missionaries in Bohol report many hundreds +of baptisms. Various miraculous cures of illness are related. Good +news comes from Samar also; nearly four thousand have been baptized, +nearly all adults. In Dulac a boys' school has been established, and +many conversions have occurred. At Alangala there are three Indian +chapels. Vaez asks for more missionaries in this so promising field. A +few days later (July 8) the official visitor of the Jesuit missions, +Diego Garcia, writes to Felipe III. He recommends that seminaries +for the instruction of heathen boys be stablished as a means for +hastening the conversion of the natives; and that the Indians be +gathered into settlements. Garcia asks that the Jesuit college at +Manila be authorized to graduate students from its classes; and closes +by recommending to the king's favor Morga and other officials. + +The fiscal, Salazar y Salcedo, declares (July 16, 1601) that Tello +is shielding Morga, and despatches to the king a full report of the +investigation which he has made of the conflict with the Dutch. A +memorial to the king is sent (July 20, 1601) by the cabildo of +Manila, making various complaints in regard to the conduct of Doctor +de Morga. The order given by him and Tello for the abandonment of +Mindanao has caused the natives of that region to commit piracies in +the islands under Spanish rule. Morga has obtained official positions +for his relatives and friends, contrary to the royal ordinances. One +of these men, being utterly incompetent, has failed to drive back the +Mindanao pirates, who have consequently inflicted much damage. Through +various machinations, Morga succeeded in depriving Ronquillo of +the command of the fleet, in the battle with Van Noordt; but in the +conflict he showed himself incompetent to command the troops, and a +coward at the approach of danger; and, in consequence, his flagship +was wrecked, with the loss of many Spaniards and of valuable military +supplies. Moreover, the enemy being allowed to escape, the islands are +more exposed to future attacks from them. The writers of this letter +are sending documents to prove their charges; they also accuse Morga of +writing anonymous letters. A letter from Morga to the king (July 30) +relates his services in the naval battle, and the unfaithfulness of +Joan de Alcega to his trust in that and other instances. Morga asks +to be relieved from his post in the Philippines, and sent to some +other country. On December 11, 1601, the Jesuit school at Cebu is +aided by a royal grant for the erection of buildings. + +Governor Tello is superseded by Pedro de Acuña, and the latter is +provided with instructions (February 16, 1602) by the king. He must +consult with the viceroy of Nueva España regarding the measures +to be taken for the settlement of the islands; and the viceroy has +been ordered to aid the governor therein. Acuña is directed to look +after the defense of the coasts, and the maintenance of a garrison +in Mindanao. He must do what he can to dispense with offices and +salaries which are superfluous, for which the king makes various +recommendations. The frauds which have been committed in the shipment +of goods to Nueva España, and in the payment of duties thereon, must +be stopped. Irregularities and frauds in the assignment of encomiendas +must also cease. These and various other matters are discussed by the +king, in pursuance of the recommendations made by the royal fiscal +in July, 1599. Official inspection of affairs in the islands must +be made by the auditors; and the royal officials must put a stop to +the importation from America of money for investment in the China +trade. The cathedral at Manila must be completed, and the hospitals +aided; and nuns will be sent for Santa Potenciana. The Jesuit seminary +for Indian boys should be cared for; and Acuña is to ascertain its +condition and needs. He must investigate the question of abolishing +the Parian, and see that religious teachers are provided for the +natives of the Ladrones Islands. Agriculture must be encouraged in +the Philippines. Two royal decrees (dated February 16) command the +viceroy of Nueva España to send to the Philippines more colonists, +who shall be persons of good character; and two nuns, to take charge +of the seminary of Santa Potenciana at Manila. Captain Gallinato +sends to the governor at Manila (June 4, 1602) warning of a large +plundering expedition which is about to sail from Mindanao to ravage +the Pintados Islands. The Joloans are also hostile, and ready to attack +the Spaniards; and the natives of Terrenate are aiding the Mindanaos. + +Luis de Dasmariñas writes to Felipe III (June 8, 1602), urging that the +Spaniards reconquer the fortress of Maluco, to protect the Philippines +from attack by "those demons of English and Dutch heretics." Doctor +de Morga again informs the king (June 30) of his services in the +conflict with Van Noordt, and in still another letter (July 8) of +the attacks which his enemies are making upon him in regard to that +affair. The Augustinian officials at Manila notify the king (July 4) +of the election of Pedro Arce as provincial of their order in the +islands; and explain their refusal to receive a visitor recently sent +to the islands from Nueva España. A letter from the fiscal details +(July 10) the measures taken to compel payment by Governor Tello of +the debts owed by him in Sevilla; he has property in Nueva España, +but none in the islands. + +_The Editors_ + +December, 1903. + + + + + +Documents of 1599 + + + + Ordinances enacted by the Audiencia of Manila + (_concluded_.) Francisco Tello, and others; January-July, 1599. + The hospital for Indians at Manila. Domingo de Santiago and + Antonio Valerio; July 3. + Letters from the royal fiscal to the king. Hieronimo de + Salazar y Salcedo; July 21. + Letter from the king of Borneo to Governor Tello. Soltan Adil + Sula; [June?] translated July 27. + Letters to the king. Francisco Tello; July 14 and August 7. + Letters to Tello. Felipe III; August 16. + + + +_Sources_: All these documents save one are obtained from MSS. in the +Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla; the second of the king's letters +(August 16) is from the "Cedulario Indico" in the Archivo Histórico +Nacional, Madrid. + +_Translations_: The first of these documents is translated by Arthur +B. Myrick, of Harvard University; the second, by Emma Helen Blair; +the third, and part of the sixth, by Robert W. Haight; the fourth, +by James A. Robertson; the fifth, by Norman F. Hall, of Harvard +University, and José M. and Clara M. Asensio; the first letter in +the sixth, by Alfonso de Salvio, of Harvard University. + + + + + +Ordinances Enacted by the Audiencia of Manila (_concluded_) + + + +_An act ordering the alcaldes-mayor and their officials to observe +the royal tariff._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas, in the +collection of taxes by the alcaldes-mayor of the provinces of these +islands, and by their notaries and officials, there is great excess +and disorder, from failing to observe his Majesty's royal tariffs, +whence arise many difficulties and obstacles to the service of God +our Lord, and of his Majesty: therefore, to remedy these evils, +they ordered, and they did so order, that all the alcaldes-mayor, +both now and henceforth, in all of the provinces of these said +islands, shall observe and cause to be observed the royal tariff of +his Majesty and his royal Audiencia; and, in conformity with it, +shall levy and cause to be levied the taxes to them appertaining, +as also shall their notaries and officials--levying on the natives +a third less than on the Spaniards, according to the declaration +thereof in the said tariff; and that each one of them shall have a +copy of this tariff. They shall neither use nor levy the said taxes +by any other tariffs, under penalty of a fine of one hundred pesos +for the treasury of his Majesty and the expenses of justice. By this +act they so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez de Almazan_ +The licentiate _Zambrano_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + +_Proclamation_: In the city of Manila, on the twenty-second of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands, who signed their +names to the above act, declared and proclaimed it in public session. + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that there shall be no suits without the filing of +a sworn memorandum of the fees that the parties have paid._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia, Court, and ChancillerÃa of these Philipinas Islands +declared that, whereas it has come to their knowledge that certain +persons--not only Spaniards, but Indians and Sangleys--who bring +suits in this royal Audiencia and outside of it, in the provincial +and ordinary tribunals, complain of the large sums that are charged +by the courts, in great excess of what they are ordered to charge +by the royal tariffs; and that the notaries of the said tribunals, +contrary to orders, send the appealed suits to this royal Audiencia, +without placing at the end of them the fees they have paid; therefore, +in order to remedy the aforesaid evil, and to put an end to complaints +of similar acts of injustice, they ordered, and they did so order, both +the officials of this royal Audiencia and the others in the provincial +and the ordinary tribunals, and those outside of this city, now and +henceforth, not to bring or send any suit to be reviewed in the court +of this royal Audiencia, unaccompanied by a memorandum, signed and +sworn to by the parties to the suit, of what they have spent thereon, +and to what persons they have given the money; and not to bring any +suit for revision in any other manner, under penalty of a fine, for +each time when they shall disobey this order, of ten pesos for his +Majesty's treasury, to be equally divided between the treasury and the +court--to which, from that moment, they are considered as condemned. By +this act they so provided and ordered, and they signed the same. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Alvaro Zambrano_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + +_Proclamation_: In the city of Manila, on the twenty-second day of +the month of January, one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, +the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia and ChancillerÃa +of these Philipinas Islands, who signed their names to the above act, +declared and proclaimed it in public session. + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the clerk of court who receives the bonds +of suitors shall accept only reliable bonds, and at his own risk; +and that his residencia in regard to the said office shall be taken._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas in the +suits that are brought and considered in this royal Audiencia it +is sometimes necessary to order the parties to give bonds, which +are accepted by the clerk of court of this royal Audiencia, without +his knowing whether they are good or not: therefore as some trouble +and annoyance might result from this, and it is expedient to avoid +this, and, where bonds are concerned, to require the residencia, they +ordered, and they did so order, that now and henceforth the said clerk, +in all suits in which bonds are ordered to be given, shall accept only +honest, reliable, and valuable bonds, under the penalty of having them +charged to his own account and risk if they are not so. He shall give +reliable bonds therefor, and shall likewise undergo the residencia of +his said office; and shall pay whatever is adjudged and decided against +him, and any public demands which shall be lodged against him, as he +is obliged to do by law. Thus it was provided, ordered, and decreed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Albaro Cambrano_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + +_Proclamation_: In the city of Manila, on the twenty-second day of +the month of January, one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, +the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia and ChancillerÃa +of these Philipinas Islands, who signed their names to the above act, +declared and proclaimed it in public session. + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the auditors who regularly review the charges +against prisoners may make what decisions shall be necessary in +the suits of prisoners por sala, until their sentences shall be +pronounced._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and ChancillerÃa of these Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas, in despatching suits of the prisoners in the royal prison of +this court, there might be some delay on account of there being many +persons imprisoned _por sala_ who are never released during the review +of cases made, from which they receive great harm by protracting their +release: therefore, the president and auditors agreed, and they did so +resolve, that, now and henceforth, when they shall review the cases in +the royal prison of this court, on the Saturdays appointed therefor, +they may release those who were arrested _por sala_, if arrested +therein by alcaldes of the court; and that, likewise, they may issue +the acts which shall seem fitting to them concerning the regulation +of criminal cases, until they are definitely concluded by sentence, +so that the cases of the said prisoners may be despatched with the +greater celerity. + +By this act they so ordered, provided, and decreed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Alvaro Cambrano_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + +_Proclamation_: In the city of Manila, on the twenty-second day of +the month of January, one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, +the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia and ChancillerÃa +of these islands, who signed their names to the above act, declared +and proclaimed it in public session. + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the interpreters shall not trade or traffic +with the natives._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and ChancillerÃa of these Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas it has come to their knowledge that the interpreters, as a +result of their occupation as interpreters, and being for the most part +friendly to the natives, seek and attempt to acquire, with trinkets +and other illegal means, jewels, slaves, and other things, at lower +prices than they are valued by the said natives: therefore, in order +to put a stop to the aforesaid evil by applying a remedy for it, they +resolved, ordered, and decreed, that now and henceforth, no interpreter +shall buy from the said natives any jewels, slaves, or other valuables, +except in the presence of the magistrate, under penalty of confiscation +of what shall have been bought by the interpreter violating this law, +half of which is immediately to be applied to his Majesty's treasury, +and the other half to the expenses of justice; and furthermore, he +shall not be allowed to exercise the said office any longer. By this +act they so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Cambrano_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-second day of the month of +January, one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and +auditors of the royal Audiencia and ChancillerÃa of these Philipinas +Islands, who signed their names to the above act, declared and +proclaimed it in public session. Diego de Mercado and Juan Garcia, +interpreters, were present and were notified. + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the probate judge shall examine the accounts +of guardians of minors in this court._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and ChancillerÃa of these Philipinas Islands declared +that, whereas in this court there are many minors--encomenderos, +and others--whose property and effects are in charge of guardians +and curators; and because the said property might be spent and +dissipated without these guardians being able afterward to give +an account thereof to their said minors, which would result to +the great harm and prejudice of the latter: therefore, to remedy +the aforesaid, they resolved, and they did so resolve and decree, +that the common probate judge, now or hereafter, in these islands be +empowered to examine, not only in trust but on the party's petition, +the accounts of all the guardianships and curatorships of minors in +this court, and of the administration and conservation of the same; +and he may proceed against those of whom he may be suspicious, or who +administer and manage dishonestly, or waste, the goods and effects of +the said minors; and may make in the case all the inquiries suitable +and necessary, until he shall hand down a definite decision in such +cases--for which, and for everything annexed to and pertaining to it, +they gave him the requisite power and authority, in the sufficiency +required by law. By this act they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Cambrano_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that no one shall keep on his hat or sit down, +while the auditor is taking his deposition._ + +In the city of Manila, in the Philipinas Islands, on the seventh of +January, one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and +auditors of the royal Audiencia of the said islands declared that, +whereas certain persons have been imprisoned in the royal prison of +this court, for criminal cases, who, when their depositions were being +taken, sat down and remained with their heads covered, which is in +disrespect of royal justice; and as it is fitting to apply a remedy to +the aforesaid, now and henceforth, therefore, they ordered, and they +did so order, that each and every one, of whatever rank and condition, +who may be imprisoned on criminal charges, shall, when his deposition +is being taken before any auditor of this royal Audiencia, stand +and bare his head, until such time as his deposition is ended. And, +in order that this may come to the knowledge of everyone, it shall be +made known to the commissioners and attorneys of this royal Audiencia, +who shall give notice of the provisions of this act to such persons, +whenever occasion shall arise, so that it may be observed. By this +act they so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Cambrano_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that no attorney shall enter a petition in a new +suit between Indians, without first communicating it to the auditor +for that week._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas in this +royal Audiencia there are brought and considered suits and causes for +small amounts among the natives of these islands, in which they incur +heavy costs, whereby they receive great injury and vexation: therefore, +they ordered, and they did so order, that no prosecuting attorney of +this royal Audiencia shall bring therein a new suit or petition for +an Indian, without first and foremost bringing it before this royal +Audiencia, or before the auditor for the week, in order that the latter +may determine whether the suit be a proper one--under a penalty of a +fine of six pesos of common gold, immediately upon the conviction of +anyone who may disobey this decree; one-third to go to the receiver of +fines, another third to the royal hospital, and the other third to the +poor in the prison. By this act they so declared ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the royal officials, in the sale of gold and +other goods, from the royal exchequer, see that it be done for cash, +and not auctioned to creditors of the exchequer, in order that the +latter may receive their money_. + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas on account +of his Majesty's royal exchequer of these islands being, as it now is, +embarrassed with many debts, it cannot succeed in paying its creditors +what it thus owes them--which results from the fact that some of the +said creditors, in order to have their accounts paid to them, present +themselves at the royal auctions which are held for the sale of gold, +cotton cloth, and other goods collected from the tributes pertaining +to the royal crown, and bid on such articles, at higher prices than +would be given if they were paying in cash, in order to receive what +the royal exchequer owes them; and that if such things as this were +allowed to continue, the said royal exchequer would not be able to meet +certain necessary matters which continually occur in the service of +the king, our sovereign, and of which consideration should be taken: +therefore, they declared that they ordered, and they did so order, +the official judges of the royal exchequer of the king our sovereign +in these islands, that now and henceforth, in the auctions and sales +which may be made of any royal property, it shall be made over to the +person or persons who bid the highest, being knocked down to them +and paid for immediately. They shall admit or receive in no other +way any other bid which may be made by the said creditors. By this +act they so declared and ordered, and signed the same. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Albaro Çambrano_ + + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the advocates and attorneys of this royal +Audiencia shall follow the customs of the natives._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas in suits +brought by natives of these islands, wherein they consider in this +royal Audiencia questions of slavery, divisions of inheritances, +slaves, marriage-dowries, and other things, it is fitting that the +advocates and attorneys of this royal Audiencia follow the customs +of the said natives, observed formerly and now in the said suits: +therefore, in order that they may be observed as his Majesty orders, +and that to that end they may keep a copy in their possession, in order +that they may know and observe them, they ordered, and they did so +order, that the said advocates and attorneys in all suits at present +pending in this royal Audiencia, as in those which shall be brought +and continued henceforth, touching the said natives, shall approve and +adhere to the said customs which the Indians were thus accustomed to +follow and do follow; and they shall take a copy of the said customs +which are set down in the books [1] of the royal Audiencia resident in +these islands. They ordered that all the aforesaid persons should be +notified of this act, in order that they may observe and execute it, +under penalty of the loss to the parties; and, besides that, their +consciences were charged with it, and it was declared that they would +be judged guilty for any laxity or neglect which should thus occur. By +this act it was so decreed, and they ordered it to be registered. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Albaro Cambrano_ + + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + +_An act declaring that no use shall be made of the tariff made by +this royal Audiencia._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas it has been +provided and ordered that the court clerk and other officials of the +Audiencia and ordinary courts shall collect their fees in conformity +with the tariff of the royal Audiencia of the City of Mexico in Nueva +España: therefore, they ordered, and they did so order, that this be +observed and executed exactly as the king, our sovereign, commands; +and that the said officials may not use the tariff which the Audiencia +made concerning the said fees, which is to be withdrawn. No one of +the persons herein mentioned shall collect fees in conformity with +it, under the penalties imposed upon those who collect excessive +fees. This act shall be made known to all the officials whom it +concerns. So they declared, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the alcaldes-mayor shall not make collections, +nor shall they be given to the official judges; and that the collectors +appointed must be approved by this royal Audiencia._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas, +on account of the alcaldes-mayor of the provinces of these islands +collecting, personally or by their agents, the tributes from the +natives in their jurisdiction who pertain to the royal crown, +by commission granted therefor by the officials of the royal +exchequer, there have resulted many injuries and inconveniences, +both to the said natives and the said royal exchequer: therefore, +because it is necessary to avoid the said injuries, and apply a +remedy to the aforesaid evil, they ordered, and they did so order, +that the officials of the royal exchequer of the king our sovereign +should be notified, so that in no way or manner, now and henceforth, +shall they grant the collections, directly or indirectly, to the said +alcaldes-mayor, nor shall the latter have any part of that which is +granted to the collectors. Therefore, the said collectors shall take +oath in due legal form, that they will make the said collection, +taking it for themselves alone, without granting any part to the +said alcaldes-mayor. The latter shall not collect the tribute under +penalty of deprivation of their offices. The said collectors shall +deliver in kind to the royal exchequer the tributes that they shall +collect from the said natives, unless the said officials shall order +otherwise, for the augmentation of the royal exchequer. And in order +that the collectors sent may be fit and proper persons, it is ordered +that those appointed to the office by the said royal officials shall +present themselves before this royal Audiencia, in order that they +may be there approved. The said royal officials shall cause this to be +done, under a penalty of a third part of their salary for that year, +which must be paid immediately upon conviction of disobedience to +this decree. The said collectors shall be vested with the authority +of justice. By this act it was so declared, ordered, and decreed. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Albaro De Cambrano_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almaçan_ + + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the attorney for minors shall not bring a suit, +without first communicating it to the judge for minors._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas in this +court there are many minors, whose goods and property are in the +charge of their guardians, who might spend and dissipate the said +goods beyond the use and profit of the said minors, which would be to +their great injury: therefore, because by the attorney and defender +of the said minors entering any suits and petitions with regard to +the aforesaid minors without giving notice thereof, or communicating +with the judge for minors, many inconveniences may result, as a remedy +for this, they resolved and ordered that the said attorney for minors +shall bring no suit for a minor against his guardian, without first +communicating it to the judge who sits or shall sit for minors, that +the latter may order what he deems advisable. By this act it was so +ordered, ordained, and decreed. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almaçan_ +The licentiate _Albaro Çambrano_ + + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + +_An act decreeing that all the officials, both of this royal Audiencia +and the ordinary courts, shall be present at the review of charges +against prisoners._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands, declared that, +whereas by the absence of the alcaldes-in-ordinary of this city, and +of the clerk, reporter, alguazils-mayor, attorneys, commissioners, +notaries-public, and other officials, not only of this royal Audiencia +but of the lower court of this city, from the review of charges against +prisoners, many prisoners are not at liberty--from which it follows +that they are vexed and annoyed by long imprisonments and other great +injuries and inconveniences; besides the fact that, in many suits, +they are unable to administer and provide justice on account of not +being present at the said review: therefore, because it is advisable +to institute a reform in this matter, they ordered, and they did so +order, that now and henceforth, every week on the days set apart for +the review of prison charges, the said alcaldes-in-ordinary, the +alguazils-mayor of the court and the city, the clerk and reporter +of this royal Audiencia, the attorneys and commissioners thereof, +the solicitors of the royal offices, the native interpreters, and +the notaries-public, bailiffs, alguazils, and other officials of +this royal Audiencia and the ordinary court, shall be present at +the said review with all punctuality--except the reporter of this +royal Audiencia, who is not obliged to be present at the said review, +unless he has no suit to attend to--under a penalty of a fine of one +peso for every offense, for each one of the aforesaid officials, as +soon as they declared him convicted and did convict him. They ordered +that the receiver of fines of this royal Audiencia shall observe the +aforesaid most carefully for the proper execution and fulfilment of +this act--which, in order that no one may pretend ignorance of it, +shall be made known to all the persons whom it concerns. By this act +it was so provided, ordered, and affirmed. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almaçan_ +The licentiate _Albaro Cambrano_ + + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the royal official judges in the fulfilment of +their duties shall observe the instructions, decrees, and ordinances +of his Majesty._ + +In the city of Manila, on the nineteenth of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and ChancillerÃa of these Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas by the ordinances, decrees, and instructions of his Majesty, +orders have been given to the official judges of the royal exchequer +of these islands, regarding their obligations in the exercise +and discharge of their duties, and, because it is fitting that +his Majesty's orders in those decrees be observed and fulfilled, +they ordered, and they did so order, that the said royal officials +should be notified that in the exercise of their offices they should +observe the said royal ordinances, decrees, and instructions of the +king our sovereign, who has given them, as they are held, exercised, +and observed, and as they must be exercised and observed, by the royal +official judges of the City of Mexico in Nueva España, especially +section seventeen of the said royal ordinance. By this act they so +provided, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + +_An act ordering the commissioners to be present at all sessions of +the Audiencia._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal Audiencia of the Filipinas Islands declared that, whereas, +although by the royal ordinances the commissioners of this royal +Audiencia are obliged to be present at the assemblies, they are not +there; and thus many cases that come up, both civil and criminal, +are delayed in settlement, so that considerable harm and annoyance +result to the parties concerned; and furthermore, that official +and fiscal cases are delayed, because the said commissioners to all +appearances do not employ therein the necessary diligence: therefore, +to remedy this condition of affairs, they decreed and ordered that, +now and henceforth, all the said commissioners, unless they have +legitimate occupation or obstacle, shall be present without fail +in the hall at all the sessions of the Audiencia with the greatest +punctuality, so that in all matters there may be the prompt action +which is desirable, under penalty of a fine of one peso from him who +shall disobey this decree, the fine to be applied immediately upon +condemnation, in this manner--six reals to the poor in the prisons, +and two for the bailiff who has to execute the decree. By this act +they so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + + + +_An act decreeing that orders shall be given regarding the sworn +memoranda of the collector of fines._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and ChancillerÃa of these Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas Pedro Fernandez de Sanctofimia, attorney in the cases of +the Audiencia, is appointed by this royal Audiencia to collect its +fines, and ordered to assess the fines imposed upon its officials and +other persons who do not observe the royal ordinances, and all other +ordinances, decrees, and provisions, to the amount that must be levied +for each fine--for, by not executing the penalties thereof daily, +there are many oversights and no little remissness in the fulfilment +of each one's obligations: therefore, in order that the requisite +system be observed in everything, they decreed that, by giving the +said Pedro Fernandez de Sanctofimia the present sworn memorandum +of fines to be imposed upon everyone, he shall immediately receive +his orders thereby regarding what he is commanded to levy for each +fine. The latter he shall do immediately, as the said memorandum shall +indicate, without any investigation or mandate preceding. The orders +that he shall so give shall be executed by the bailiff or alguazil +of this royal Audiencia, whenever they shall be issued. Whatever +the latter shall collect he shall deliver to the said collector of +fines, who shall take charge of it, and enter it carefully in a book, +that he may give strict and clear account of each fine collected. And +they charged each other's consciences with the fulfilment of all the +above. By this act they so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + + +_An act decreeing the making of a book in which shall be entered +the decrees sent and to be sent by his Majesty to these islands, +in order that they may be observed and executed._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia and ChancillerÃa of these Philipinas Islands +declared that, whereas the king our sovereign, by his royal ordinances, +ordains and orders a book to be made, in which to inscribe the decrees +that he has sent, and shall send, to these islands, and that it contain +an account of their execution: therefore, they thereupon ordered, and +they did so order, the said book to be made, and entrusted it to the +clerk of the court. He shall inscribe therein all the decrees that +the king our sovereign has sent and will send to these islands, so +that henceforth a detailed account of their observation and execution +shall be kept, as his Majesty orders. By this act they so provided, +ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_That interlocutory decisions shall be concluded at one demand from +each party._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal Audiencia and ChancillerÃa of the Philipinas Islands declared +that, whereas his Majesty ordains and commands by one of the royal +ordinances for this royal Audiencia, that interlocutory decisions +shall be concluded, in trial and review, at one demand from each of +the parties, and that the clerk of court receive [no] other demands: +therefore, in order that the aforesaid be exactly executed, they +ordained and decreed that the attorneys of this royal Audiencia shall +conclude the said interlocutory decisions in trial and review, at one +demand from each party, without giving or presenting more demands, +with the warning that any others presented shall not be admitted. The +clerk of court is warned in the present that he shall not receive +them under penalty of a fine of two pesos, to be employed as it shall +seem proper, and delivered into the charge of the collector of fines +of this royal Audiencia, upon whom the execution of the above shall +be most carefully charged. And they ordered it to be proclaimed, +and especially to the said attorneys. So they provided, ordered, +and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act providing that no proceedings shall be conducted in suits +between Indians, without a decree from this royal Audiencia._ + +On the twenty-first of January, one thousand five hundred and +ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia +of the Philipinas Islands, declared that, whereas, in one of his +royal ordinances, the king, our sovereign, commands the aforesaid +president and auditors that, in suits and civil and criminal cases +between Indians, the usual proceedings shall not be conducted or +issued, except in cases decreed and ordered by an act of this royal +Audiencia: therefore, in order that the aforesaid shall be exactly +fulfilled, they ordained and decreed that it should be communicated +to the said attorneys of this royal Audiencia, that when, in the name +of any natives, they shall bring suits against other natives, before +bringing these suits they shall notify this royal Audiencia--in order +that, if thought best, they may be docketed, and if not, that the cost +and expense may be avoided. Those which shall be prosecuted shall be +docketed by formal decree of this royal Audiencia, and in no other +manner. They must strive to be brief and precise in everything. The +notaries both of this royal Audiencia and the other jurisdictions +thereof are ordered, in the collection of fees from said natives, +to employ great moderation, and to despatch their business promptly, +in order that all his Majesty's orders and decrees may be observed +and fulfilled. Moreover, they commanded that the aforesaid notaries +be notified of this act. So they provided, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the attorneys shall go, within three days, to +the office of the clerk of court, to settle suits that are concluded._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and ChancillerÃa of these Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas, on account of the non-appearance of the attorneys of this +royal Audiencia at the office of the clerk of court for this royal +Audiencia, to settle and otherwise regulate suits and cases which are +concluded, in order that they may be reviewed and decided, there is +great delay in their revision and decision, so that the interested +parties are subjected to great harm and annoyance: therefore, +to remedy this, they ordered, and they did so order, that all the +attorneys of this royal Audiencia shall be notified that, whenever +the said suits are concluded, wherever they shall be brought, within +the three days first following they shall appear at the office of +the above-mentioned clerk of court, and there settle and dispose of +them, so that there shall be nothing wanting, and that they may have +the necessary despatch--being warned that, if they do not thus come +within the said term, the said clerk can settle the said processes, +and send them to the reporter for him to review them in court. And if, +by the said attorneys' negligence, the parties suffer any harm, the +said attorneys shall pay them for it in their persons and goods. By +this act they so declared, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the notaries shall not collect their fees +entirely from each of the parties, but that each one shall pay the +part he owes._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia and ChancillerÃa of these Philipinas Islands +declared that, whereas it has come to their knowledge that both the +notaries and the reporter [_relator_] [2] of this royal Audiencia and +of the other jurisdictions of this court, collect fees for the trial of +suits and other acts thereof in entirety from each of the parties at +whose petition they may take action, saying that they should pay them +entirely: therefore, because the aforesaid proceeding is to the great +harm and damage of the parties, to make them thus pay what they do not +owe, and since the aforesaid evil should be remedied, they ordered, +and they did so order, now and henceforth, that the said notaries +and reporter, or either of them, shall not collect in any way, or in +any case, the fees owed by one of the said parties from the others, +but that each one shall pay what he owes. On account of not paying the +total fees, the party who would wish his suit to be tried, shall not +have it delayed; but, as soon as he has paid his share, his suit shall +be despatched with all celerity. And they declared that they charged, +and they did so charge, their consciences with this; and furthermore, +that whoever shall disobey this decree shall be convicted and sentenced +to pay a fine four times as great as the sum thus exacted, for his +Majesty's treasury, in addition to the fines which those who exact +excessive fees incur. By this act they so declared, ordered, and +decreed; and that this act shall apply to any person whom it concerns. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the attorneys shall not speak in suits wherein +they shall not have been authorized to do so._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia and ChancillerÃa of these Philipinas Islands +declared that, whereas the attorneys of this royal Audiencia often take +it upon themselves to speak and make allegations in suits in which they +have no authority, and in which they have not appeared as parties to +the said case, certain nullifications can be created--for which reason +the said case may be brought again, and the parties thereto subjected +to considerable injury and expense: therefore, to obviate the said +injuries and other inconveniences of reconsideration, they ordered, +and they did so order, that, now and henceforth, neither the said +attorneys nor any one of them shall take it upon himself to speak, +nor shall they speak in any suit or case, unless authorized therefor +by the party in whose favor they shall speak, or unless he has proved +himself to be a party to the suit--under penalty that he who shall +disobey this decree shall incur a fine of four pesos of common gold, +as soon as he shall be judged guilty thereof; three of them to be given +to the royal hospital for Spaniards, and one to the bailiff in charge +thereof. And under the said penalty, the clerk of court is ordered +not to give any one of the said attorneys any suits or petitions, +unless empowered thereto by the parties concerned. By this act they +so ordered, declared, and decreed. + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the evidence that the clerk of court cannot +take be entrusted by commission of this royal Audiencia, and assigned +by the members thereof, to the notarial commissioner of examinations._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia and ChancillerÃa of the Philipinas Islands +declared that, whereas, conformably to the royal ordinances, all +the evidences in suits and cases pending in this royal Audiencia, +are committed to the clerk of court; and whereas, on account of the +volume of business incumbent upon his said office, he cannot receive +them all, and commits them to the notaries: therefore, because the +aforesaid taking of evidence cannot be done unless authorized by this +royal Audiencia, under the direction of its members, they ordered, +and they did so order, that in regard to evidence which the said clerk +of court cannot take immediately in interrogatories and petitions, +by virtue of which such evidence must be taken, an act be passed by +which his duty may be committed by this royal Audiencia and assigned by +its members to a commissioner of examinations, the latter to receive +and examine the said evidence, and to take the oaths of witnesses +thereto. The said commissioner shall give a receipt to the parties for +the fees which he shall collect from them for said evidence, and at +the foot of the evidence he shall in like manner sign his name. The +clerk of court shall not receive any fees for such evidence; and +under no circumstances whatever shall the said evidence be taken in +any other way, except as herein stated, under penalty that evidence +given in any other way shall be null and void; and the commissioner +receiving it shall incur a penalty of one hundred pesos of common gold, +as soon as he shall have been judged guilty, the fine to be applied +in equal parts to the royal treasury and court-rooms of this royal +Audiencia. By this act they so declared, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + +_An act decreeing that the officials of this royal Audiencia shall give +bonds at the beginning of every year, and that likewise, they shall +give them for the time during which they have already held office._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and ChancillerÃa of these Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas, in order to conform to the decrees and provisions of his +Majesty, and to be just with the parties entering suits, the officials +of this royal Audiencia are under obligation to give bonds that they +will undergo residencia for the right exercise and discharge of their +duties, at the beginning of each year: therefore, because hitherto they +have not given bonds for the time while they have exercised their said +offices, and because they should give them, both for the aforesaid time +and for the future, they resolved and ordered that the commissioners +of examination, attorneys, assessor of taxes, collector of fines, +deputies of the alguazil-mayor, and the prison warden of this court, +shall each one of them, within fifteen days after being notified of +this act, give safe and reliable bonds, before the undersigned clerk +of court, that they will undergo residencia for the use and exercise +of their offices, and pay everything which may be adjudged against +them in the matter, and also in the suits which may be instituted +against them. They are also warned that after the said term of office +has expired, they shall exercise the said offices no longer, which +shall be immediately declared vacant, and other persons appointed +thereto. Likewise, within the said term and under the said penalty, +they shall give bonds for all the time during which they have already +exercised the said offices in the royal Audiencia, for which they have +not given them. In the future, they shall be notified and ordered to +renew the said bonds at the beginning of every year, under the said +penalty. By this act they so provided, enacted, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that cases of twenty pesos or less shall not be +brought to trial; and that the notary shall not take a larger fee +than one-half peso from each party._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia and ChancillerÃa of the Philipinas Islands +declared that, whereas so many suits involving twenty pesos or less +are wont to be begun, and as much time is consumed therein as if they +were affairs of greater magnitude, whence there results to the parties +concerned great harm and damage by reason of the great cost and expense +wasted therein, beside the long and tedious delays in the collection +of their debts: therefore, to remedy that, they agreed and ordered +that, now and henceforth, no trial shall be made of cases amounting to +twenty pesos or less, unless they are briefly and summarily disposed +of; and that the notary before whom they are brought shall not take +for his fee more than four reals only from each party, even if they +make many investigations in the matter--under penalty that all that +they take above that sum they shall return to the parties concerned, +together with four times as much for his Majesty's treasury. By this +act they so provided, ordered, and decreed; and the notaries whom +its fulfilment concerns shall be notified. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act concerning the order that the alcaldes-mayor are to follow +in trying Indian suits._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of these Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas his +Majesty has ordered, in his royal decrees and ordinances, that the +suits of the Indians shall be treated summarily, and that processes +issued within the limit of the law shall not be so conducted that +the said Indians waste their substance by incurring too heavy costs: +therefore, in order that the royal will of the king our sovereign +might be exactly fulfilled, they resolved and ordered that the +alcaldes-in-ordinary and the alcaldes-mayor and other magistrates and +notaries, in suits of the Indians, shall observe their instructions +and the following articles. + +First, when any Indian--whether man or woman--shall enter suit for +liberty, or any other matter, against another Indian without giving +a _traslado_, [3] the said magistrate shall order the Indian sued +to appear before him and take oath as to the truth of the demands +of the plaintiff. If he shall confess it, justice shall be done by +settling the case; and if he deny it, the case shall be reserved for +evidence within a short time, with obligation for publication and +conclusion. The said magistrates shall order that, as soon as both +parties name their witnesses, the latter shall be brought into court, +and an oath taken from them to tell the truth, and they shall cause +them to tell by word of mouth what they know. After they have thus +testified, the substance of their depositions shall be recorded, +in this form: "So and so of such an age, capable or incapable as a +witness, said so and so under oath;" and the same shall be done with +the other witnesses in the same order. The evidences of both parties +being taken, and the time-limit having expired, a just finding shall +be determined. If either of the parties appeal, the alcaldes-mayor +shall hear them in the court of appeals; and the witnesses named by +either party shall be subpoenaed, and shall give their evidence in the +same form as set forth above, the case being admitted to trial within +a short time, with obligation for publication and conclusion--at the +expiration of which the process shall be sent to this royal Audiencia +to be settled, the original parties being summoned for all trials, +the time and place being appointed by the court. + +Second. _Item_: If the suit be a criminal suit, the complaint and +charge shall be received. If there is guilt, the person shall be +arrested, and the prisoner's declaration taken. The charge shall +be formulated against him, and the case admitted to trial within a +short period, with obligation for publication and conclusion; and +within the probatory limit the testimonies given in the preliminary +process shall be verified, other new ones received, if there be any, +and the defendant's plea taken. The time having expired, the case +shall be decided. If any of the parties shall appeal, the original +process shall be sent to the Audiencia; because in this way the said +natives will avoid heavy expense and cost, and the cases will be more +quickly decided. In criminal cases, no other form of process shall +be used than that which is appointed for civil cases. + +Third. _Item_: If the suit be to the amount of three pesos, or +less, the judgment shall be so summary that only the substance of +the whole matter is to be written, together with the decision, in a +report. The original shall be retained by the notary, and if either +of the parties shall desire an authenticated copy, it shall be given +them as a safeguard of their rights. And in suits for the said amount, +only one real, and no more, may be collected between judge and notary. + +Fourth. _Item_: That if the judge shall attest the testimonies in any +civil or criminal suit by flourishes and signatures that he may make, +he cannot collect any fees; since there are none due him except for +the acts that he shall draw up and sign. + +Fifth. In order that the said instructions be exactly observed and +fulfilled, they declared that they order, and they did so order, the +alcaldes-in-ordinary and the notaries-public to be informed thereof, +and testimony thereof to be sent to all the alcaldes-mayor, whose +consciences they declared they charged, and they did so charge, with +the fulfilment thereof. Furthermore, in the residencias which shall +be taken from them, he who shall not have fulfilled this decree, or +caused it to be fulfilled, shall be punished and with great rigor. So +they provided, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + +_An act decreeing that the alguazils-mayor and their deputies shall +make the rounds every night._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia and ChancillerÃa of the Philipinas Islands +declared that, whereas it has come to their knowledge that neither +do the alguazils-mayor of this court and city, nor their deputies, +make their rounds throughout the city, as they are under obligation to +do--as a result of which, murders, robberies, and other lawless acts +and crimes occur daily, to the great injury of the citizens: therefore, +to remedy this state of affairs and provide this community with the +necessary guard and order, they ordered, and they did so order, the +said alguazils-mayor and their deputies to be notified that they must +make their rounds during the night, as they are under obligation to do +in this city, without fail, under penalty of a fine of ten pesos of +common gold--to be applied, as soon as anyone shall be condemned for +disobeying this decree, in equal shares to the two royal hospitals +of this city--for the Spaniards and for the natives--in addition to +the loss and interest to any parties which may result and occur. By +this act, they so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that there shall be in the courtroom, a list of +the charges fixed by the royal tariff, and that each notary shall +keep one in his house._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and ChancillerÃa of the Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas the king our sovereign, in his royal ordinances, decrees +and orders that a list of the charges fixed by the royal tariff be +placed in the court-room, and that likewise each notary whom it shall +concern shall keep a copy in his house, for its better observation +and execution: therefore, in order that the aforesaid may be exactly +fulfilled, they ordered, and they did so order, a complete copy of +the said royal tariff to be made by this royal Audiencia. It shall +be set forth in a list, and placed in the court-room; and all the +notaries and persons mentioned therein, and those whom it may concern, +shall make a copy, and keep the same in their houses and affixed to a +tablet in some public place, where it may be seen by those transacting +business. This they shall do and fulfil within one week after this +act shall have been made known to them, under penalty of a fine of +six pesos of common gold; and anyone incurring this penalty shall +pay this sum immediately--half of which shall be set aside for the +poor in the prisons, and the other half for the Spanish hospital in +this city--beside incurring and undergoing the penalties contained +in the said royal ordinances. By this act they so provided, ordered, +and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that within four months the royal officials shall +close up the accounts held by the royal treasury._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas it has come to their knowledge that in the royal accountancy +of the king our sovereign there are, at this very day, many accounts +to be balanced and closed of individuals who owe the royal treasury a +large sum of gold pesos, and others to whom money is due--whence has +resulted, and results, the lack therein of the system and management +which should be observed in the said royal exchequer: therefore, +in order that on this account no losses may result, and that the +matter may receive its due consideration, they ordered, and they +did so order, that the official judges of the royal treasury of +the king our sovereign, in these islands, within the four months +first following the day on which they shall have been notified of +this act, shall balance and close each and every account that the +royal treasury holds with any individuals of these islands. They +are warned that whoever shall not so fulfil and execute his orders, +after the expiration of said time, will be charged with everything, +and ordered to pay all accounts not balanced and liquidated. By this +act they so declared, ordered and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that all the officials of the royal Audiencia shall +take copies of the royal ordinances._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas, in one of the royal ordinances, it is ordered that all the +officials of this royal Audiencia, and other persons whom they concern, +shall keep in their possession a copy of the said ordinances; therefore +they ordered, and they did so order, that within thirty days after the +publication of this act, each of the said officials shall take a copy +of the said royal ordinances and keep it in his possession; and each +one, so far as he is concerned, shall observe and execute them, as his +Majesty orders therein, under the penalties therein contained--under +the penalty that if, after the expiration of said time, the said copy +has not been made, they shall be immediately convicted and fined in +the sum of six pesos of common gold, the latter being applied to the +court-rooms of this royal Audiencia. By this act they so declared, +ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that no alcalde-in-ordinary, notary, commissioner, +attorney, or any other official of this royal Audiencia, or of the +ordinary court, shall go outside this city without license._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of +January, one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and +auditors of the royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared +that, whereas the alcaldes-in-ordinary of this city, notaries, +commissioners, attorneys, and other officials, both of this royal +Audiencia and of the ordinary court, whenever they see fit, leave +the city without license--whence results much harm to the litigants, +on account of the delay and unsatisfactory conduct of their business, +beside many other inconveniences resulting therefrom: therefore, to +remedy this evil, they decreed and ordered that, now and henceforth, +no alcalde-in-ordinary, commissioner, attorney, notary-public, +or other official of this royal Audiencia or of the ordinary court, +shall go anywhere outside of this city, without the express permission +of this royal Audiencia, under a penalty of a fine of six pesos of +common gold, in which sum anyone adjudged guilty of the contrary shall +be immediately fined--one-half for the poor in the prison, and the +other half for the poor in the Spanish hospital--beside the loss and +interest which may result to the parties concerned on account of the +delay in justice. By this act they so proclaimed, ordered and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_Ordinances and laws for the Sangleys._ + +We, the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia and ChancillerÃa +of these Philipinas Islands. Whereas it has been learned by experience +in this city that the Sangleys residing in the islands and their +neighborhood have had and maintain among them a custom of practicing, +and they do practice an abominable sin against nature, not only with +the Chinese, but with the Moro and Indian boys of these islands, +by which God, our Lord, is greatly disserved; and, whereas, the said +Chinese have had and have the habit and custom of bringing from China, +or making in this city, money of base metal, and they pare and clip the +royal money, to the great fraud and injury of the royal exchequer; and +although they have seen that some are punished for this, they have not +taken warning; and whereas, the said Sangleys, who are infidels, ally +themselves with the Christian Indian women, and have lawless carnal +intercourse with them; and whereas, besides the aforesaid crimes, the +said Sangleys are wont to buy from slaves and Indians golden jewels, +trinkets, clothes, and other articles which are stolen: therefore, +to supply a remedy for all that, and in order that such crimes and +disorders shall cease, now and henceforth, we command the following +orders to be observed in everything. + +_Laws._--First, we ordain and command that none of the said Chinese +Sangleys, or any other persons whatsoever, shall commit or practice +the said abominable sin against nature, or try to commit it. Whoever +shall do so shall incur the penalty of being burned alive by fire, +beside having all his goods confiscated to the treasury of his Majesty. + +_Item_: We ordain and command that none of the said Sangleys shall +dare to make or coin any sort of silver or gold money, or of any other +metal, nor shall they clip or scrape money already made, or make use +of it, under the penalties contained in the above ordinance. + +_Item_: We ordain and command that none of the aforesaid shall cohabit +or have carnal intercourse with any [Spanish?] woman or Christian +Indian woman, under the penalty that, in such case, he shall incur +a punishment of two hundred lashes and ten years in the galleys, +as criminals sentenced to row, without pay, and of the confiscation +of one-half his property, to be applied as above stated. + +Further, we ordain and command, that none of the said Sangleys, +for any reason or consideration, shall buy from negro slaves or +freemen, Indians or mulattoes, any gold jewels, trinkets, garments, +or any other articles which they sell; but when the said Sangleys go +to them, they shall arrest them and take them before the magistrate, +under penalty that whoever shall disobey this decree shall fall under +and incur the penalties incurred by robbers, and said penalties will +be rigorously executed on their persons and goods. + +And in order that the aforesaid shall be observed and executed without +remission of penalty, and so that no one may pretend ignorance, we +order that these ordinances shall be publicly proclaimed in the public +square, in all other public places of this city, in the Sangley Parian, +and in the village of Tondo, in order that everyone may know of them; +and in each one of the said places a copy of them, written in the +Chinese language, shall be posted. No person shall dare to remove the +said placards, under penalty of two hundred lashes. We order all the +alcaldes-mayor of the environs of this city to have them published and +made known to the natives. We request and charge all the religious to +give instructions to the said Indians, and cause them to understand +these laws and ordinances, and the penalties attached thereto. Given +in the city of Manila, on the twenty-sixth of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almaçan_ +The licentiate _Albaro Çambrano_ + +By order of the royal Audiencia: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_That the official judges shall not grant collections to any collectors +who have not rendered an account and payment of collections that have +been in their charge._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-seventh of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas it has come +to their knowledge that the official judges of the royal exchequer +of the king our sovereign, in these said islands, grant commissions +to certain collectors to make collections from the encomiendas that +pertain to his Majesty's royal crown, who, by virtue thereof, make the +collections; and that it often happens that, without their rendering +any account and payment of them, the said officials again grant them +commissions to make the collections, to the great harm and prejudice +of the royal exchequer, from which many difficulties may result: +therefore, in order to correct the aforesaid evil, they ordered, +and they did so order, that the official judges, now and henceforth, +shall under no consideration grant commissions to any collectors to +make any collections for the royal exchequer and crown, without their +having rendered account and payment of former collections entrusted +to them--under penalty of paying out of their own pockets what such +collectors shall appear to owe the royal estate, as soon as such is +evident, besides undergoing and incurring a fine of two hundred pesos +of common gold (this fine to be applied to the royal treasury of the +king our sovereign), to which sum, from that moment, they declared that +they condemned, and they did so condemn, any one who should disobey +this decree. By this act it was so provided, ordered, and affirmed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ + +The other honorable auditors signed the above. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that the clerk of court shall bring to the first +meeting a minute of the fiscal suits._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-eighth of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas in the +archives of the office of the present clerk of court, many fiscal suits +are pending, as well as others which have been concluded, in which +his Majesty's royal office is interested; but, not knowing which ones +are concluded, the others are not concluded and finished: therefore, +in order that those that are concluded may be known and settled, +they ordered, and they did so order, me, the undersigned clerk of +court, to bring a copy and minutes of those that are concluded, and +[of the suits now pending,] to the next session which shall be held, +in order that they may examine them and provide what is most advisable +therein. By this act it was so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that a book be made in which to enter the fines +applied to the poor of the prison and other pious works, and to the +courts, and the manner of their distribution._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-eighth of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and ChancillerÃa of the Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas the aforesaid Audiencia imposes certain fines of small amounts, +some of which are applied to the poor of the prison, and others to the +courts and other pious works: therefore, because it is advisable that +there should be an account and report of these moneys, and of their +source and the manner of their distribution, they ordered, and they +did so order, a book to be made in which to enter the said penalties, +applied as aforesaid, with the day, month, and year, in what cases +they are imposed, and likewise a report of how they are expended and +distributed; and this shall be done with all clearness, so that the +aforesaid may be evident for all time. This act is to be placed at +the beginning of said book. So they provided, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing the collection of all the debts which are in any +way owed to the royal treasury of the king our sovereign._ + +In the city of Manila, on the thirtieth of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president, and auditors of the +royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas +the licentiate Geronimo de Salazar y Salzedo, fiscal of this royal +Audiencia for his Majesty, has made them a report, declaring that the +royal treasury of the king our sovereign, in these islands, cannot +succeed in paying many of its debts, on account of failure to collect +many that have been due it for some time past; and has besought and +supplicated them to order that the royal official judges shall, within +twenty days, exert all possible diligence to collect everything that +is due the said royal treasury for any reason whatever: therefore, +in order to provide a remedy for the aforesaid difficulty, they +ordered, and they did so order, that the said official judges should +be notified that, within the two months next following the date on +which this act shall be made known to them, they shall collect all the +debts that are in any manner owed to the royal treasury, from all and +any persons whatsoever, and from their goods, exerting therein all +necessary diligence. They are to proceed with the necessary rigor +to do this effectively, being warned that if they do not collect +the said debts, to be liquidated within the said period, all that +shall remain uncollected they will be obliged to pay out of their +own property. For the debts which shall not have been liquidated, +they shall observe and execute the act of this royal Audiencia, which +has been made known to them, under the penalty thereof. By this act +they so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +[No signature.] + + + + +_An act decreeing that it shall be proclaimed in this city, in the +public places thereof, that within three days all natives residing +therein, not servants or otherwise employed, shall leave this city._ + +In the city of Manila, on the eleventh of February, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas the +licentiate Geronimo de Salazar y Salzedo, his Majesty's fiscal in +this royal Audiencia, protector of the natives of these said islands, +has made a report to the effect that there are many natives who are +vagabonds in this city, as a result of which they fall into various +vices dangerous to this community; and that rice and other provisions +have become high-priced and scarce; and as a remedy, he has requested +and petitioned the aforesaid president and auditors to provide in +this regard what is most advisable: therefore, they declared that they +ordered, and they did so order, that, within three days from the date +of this act, it shall be proclaimed to all and whatever natives are and +reside in this city, who are not employed as servants to the Spaniards, +or in some known occupation, that they must leave the city and return +to their own villages, to remain and live therein. Nor shall any other, +now and henceforth, remain in this city, under penalty, to anyone who +shall disobey this decree--for the first time, of one hundred lashes; +and for the second offense, one year of service at the oar in his +Majesty's galleys, without pay--on whom they declared that, as soon as +they condemned them (and they did so condemn them), the said penalty +shall be executed without leniency. In order that it may come to the +notice of all the said natives, and that no one may pretend ignorance, +this act shall be proclaimed in the Tagal language, in this city, in +the public places thereof, and in the hamlet of Tondo, and testimony +shall be taken thereof. Thus they declared, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act concerning the order which the alcaldes-in-ordinary and the +alguazil-mayor of this court must observe in their seats._ + +In the city of Manila, on the fifth of March, one thousand five hundred +and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia of +the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas some dissensions and +difficulties have occurred between the alcaldes-in-ordinary of this +city and the alguazil-mayor of the court of this royal Audiencia, in +the churches and public places where they have met, in regard to the +seats and places which each shall occupy, and their precedence--so +that it has resulted in their coming to blows, to the great scandal +and indecorum of their offices, and particularly in contempt of this +said royal Audiencia: therefore it is necessary in this matter to +provide some regulation to be kept and observed in like cases by the +aforesaid officials, so that the said disturbances shall cease. In +order that the said alcaldes-in-ordinary of this city shall keep +their known seats and places, and that they may be separate from +the said alguazil-mayor and from the ministers of this said royal +Audiencia, they declared that they ought to order, and they did so +order, that, when the alguazil-mayor of this court shall be present +in any of the churches of this city, without the president, auditors, +and fiscal, or any others whom he might join, he shall not take any +seat or bench belonging to the alcaldes-in-ordinary or regidors (nor +shall any other individuals occupy them, or sit in them, or intrude +themselves among them in any part or place that shall be given them), +but shall place and keep his chair and seat in some distinct and +fitting place, as does the president, the Audiencia, or any of the +members thereof. Likewise, in the processions and parades through the +streets, funerals, betrothals, passage of retinues, and other like +occasions on which the towns-people gather, the said alguazil-mayor of +the court, finding himself alone, without any of the aforesaid persons +whom he might accompany, shall refrain from going in company with them +[the alcaldes] in any manner--whether invited, or of his own accord; +whether the city's alcaldes go as a municipal body, or as individuals +to such functions; or whether they are not present at them. Meantime +the question is being considered and consulted as to what is to be +done and observed in all the above matters, and what it is advisable +to do in the future, and whether this royal Audiencia should make any +further provision. All the above shall be observed and fulfilled by +the said alguazil-mayor of the court, and the alcaldes-in-ordinary +of this city, without their having any wrangling or differences, or +any scandal--being warned that, if they do so, proceedings will be +instituted against the guilty persons who violate the order; and they +shall be punished to the full extent of the law. By this act they so +voted, ordered, and decreed. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almaçan_ + + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the taxing officer of this royal Audiencia shall +be notified to fix the costs in the suits, either personally, or by +some other intelligent person whom he shall name for this purpose._ + +In the city of Manila, on the sixteenth of March, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas it has +come to their notice that the taxing officer of this royal Audiencia +does not fix the costs in the suits that are brought there: therefore, +because it is advisable that the above officer fulfil the obligation +of his office, as his Majesty ordains and commands, and that the +inconveniences which arise from this be avoided, they ordered, and +they did so order, that the said taxing officer should be notified +that, now and henceforth, in whatever processes shall be brought for +consideration in this royal Audiencia, whether definitive or under +any plea whatever, the costs shall be fixed by him (thus complying +with the tenor of the royal ordinance treating of this matter), +either personally, or by some other intelligent person whom he shall +designate for the said purpose, and shall appoint in his place, who +shall be a person fit for the said service. They ordered the clerk +of court of this royal Audiencia to be present at those suits which +shall be brought for consideration in the manner above mentioned, +before the said taxing officer, in order that he may fix the costs +therein; and, regarding the aforesaid, they charged one another's +consciences. By this act they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that Doctor Antonio de Morga shall take the +residencia, for the months of January and February, of the deputy +regidors, within the limit of ten days._ + +In the city of Manila, on the sixteenth of March, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas, +for the past months of January and February of the present year, +up to the present time, no residencia for the use and exercise of +their offices has been taken of the deputy regidors of this city, +it is fitting and necessary that it be taken immediately: therefore +they appointed, and they did so appoint, Doctor Antonio de Morga, +auditor of this royal Audiencia, for a term of ten days, to take the +said residencia for the said months of the said appointed regidors, +who have filled their said offices, proceeding therein as the king +our sovereign decrees and commands in his royal ordinance. For this +they granted him the authority and commission as fully as is required +by law. By this act they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_. + + + + +_An act decreeing that Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor of this +royal Audiencia, shall audit the accounts of the city for the past +year, 1598._ + +In the city of Manila, on the sixteenth day of the month of March, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas the auditing of the accounts of this city for the past year, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-eight, was committed to the +licentiate Albaro Çambrano, late auditor of this royal Audiencia +(whom may God keep in His holy glory!), and because by his end and +death the auditing, continuation, and balancing of the accounts, +as his Majesty orders and commands in his royal ordinance, have +been neglected: therefore, they appointed, and they did so appoint, +in place of the said licentiate Alvaro Çambrano, Doctor Antonio de +Morga, auditor of this royal Audiencia, to audit the said accounts, +and to continue and finish them according to the order given to the +said licentiate Albaro Çambrano--for which, they granted, and they +did so grant, him authority and commission as fully as is required +by law. By this act they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that, on account of the end and death of the +licentiate Albaro Çambrano (whom may God keep!), the licentiate +Tellez Almaçan is to continue, close, and complete the accounts of +the royal exchequer._ + +In the city of Manila, on the sixteenth of March, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and ChancillerÃa of the Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas the licentiate Albaro Çambrano, late auditor of this royal +Audiencia (whom may God have in His holy glory!), to whom was assigned +the auditing of the accounts of his Majesty's royal exchequer--which +are at present being audited by the royal judicial officials--is now +dead and passed from this present life: therefore, in order that on +this account the auditing may not be delayed and fail of prosecution, +as is fitting, and as the king our sovereign commands in his royal +ordinance, in place of the licentiate Albaro Çambrano they appointed, +and they did so appoint, the licentiate Tellez de Almaçan, auditor +of this royal Audiencia, to continue, close, and finish the said +auditing, according to the commission given to the said licentiate +Albaro Çambrano, for which they gave him commission in legal form. By +this act, they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the city shall give information regarding its +place of seating in the cathedral of this city._ + +In the city of Manila, on the sixteenth of March, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and ChancillerÃa of the Philipinas Islands declared that, +in order to assign to the cabildo, magistracy, and administration of +this city the place of seating that it must keep in the cathedral: +in order to ascertain the custom hitherto followed in the aforesaid +matter, and in order to provide what is necessary concerning it, +they ordered, and they did so order, the said cabildo, magistracy, +and administration of this city to give an account of the part and +place in which it has been regularly seated in the cathedral of this +city--both in the time when the royal Audiencia formerly resided in +these islands, and after his Majesty ordered it to be suppressed--in +order that, upon examination, the necessary provisions may be made. By +this act they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act concerning the royal magazines._ + +In the city of Manila, on the eighteenth of March, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal Audiencia and ChancillerÃa of the Philipinas Islands, having +examined the opinion of the official judges of the royal exchequer +of these islands, on the question of building magazines in which +to store the merchandise coming from China to this city, and having +investigated other matters connected with the aforesaid, and further +matter which is contained in the decree of the king our sovereign, +ordering that this said Audiencia attend to the matter: they declared +(in conformity with the opinion of Joan de Bustamante, accountant of +the royal exchequer) that at present, and until experience further +shows what it is most advisable to enact in this matter, the said +Chinese merchandise shall be registered and appraised on the same +vessels on which it was brought, as has been done hitherto. In order +that there may be good accounts and reports, and less opportunity for +fraud in the royal customs, they ordered that the official judges of +his Majesty in these islands, as soon as each ship enters this harbor +and anchors therein, shall go out to inspect it, registering and +appraising all the merchandise and other things in the cargo. They +shall exert diligence in the matter and make their inspection with +the punctuality advisable, so that the said merchandise, or any part +of it, may not be discharged or concealed. In order that this may +be enforced more effectually, the necessary guards shall be placed +on the said ships and in the bay, who are to be trustworthy persons, +to the satisfaction of the said president and auditors of this royal +Audiencia, by whom they shall be approved and appointed, The said +official judges shall have, as a reward for their occupation and +labors, one third part of the confiscations which are levied upon any +merchandise found and seized because it had been hidden on the said +ships, or withdrawn from them without registration or appraisal. They +shall also be charged that they shall not allow or consent that, +while the said merchandise is on the said ships, either the royal +officials or their assistants, or any other person--Spanish, Sangley, +or native--shall take, buy, or transport the said merchandise in large +or small quantities, for cash or on credit; but that the merchants +thereof, who brought the merchandise from China on the said ship, +after making registry and appraisal, may take them ashore freely and +where they will, without any obstacle or hindrance from anyone--with +the warning that, if any one of them do not so observe and fulfil +this act, he shall be proceeded against with the full rigor of the +law. They ordered that a commission, in due form, be given to the said +guards, both in order that they may wield the authority of justice, +and that there be no other guards but those who are so nominated by +this royal Audiencia; those hitherto acting as guards shall exercise +the said duty no longer, under the penalties incurred by those who +so act without power or commission in the matter. This act shall be +made known to his Majesty's officials, and the chief clerk of mines, +and the regidors, for those who are at present guards; and it shall +be added to the other acts and investigations made by virtue of the +said royal decree of his Majesty. By this act, they so voted, ordered, +and decreed. + + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that tribute be collected for the king, our +sovereign, from all the Indians found settled and dwelling in this +city and within its bounds, who belong to his Majesty's encomiendas._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-second of March, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and ChancillerÃa of the Philipinas Islands examined the +petition of the licentiate Geronimo de Salazar y Salzedo, fiscal for +his Majesty in this royal Audiencia, that the collectors of the royal +tributes of the king our sovereign, in this city and its environs, +may collect tribute from all the Indians who are found therein, +notwithstanding any obstacle or excuses whatever which may be offered +by the said Indians, or by any encomenderos. Considering that for +many years the Indians have dwelt and resided in this city, and that +their tribute belongs and pertains to his Majesty, they declared +that they ordered, and they did so order, that the collectors of +the royal tribute shall collect their tributes from all the Indians +found settled and dwelling in this city and within its bounds, who +belong to the encomiendas of his Majesty. The said Indians shall +not pay other encomenderos, nor shall such encomenderos collect any +tribute from them, under penalty of returning to the said Indians what +they shall have collected from them. In order that the provisions +of this act be observed, enforced, and executed, they ordered it +to be publicly proclaimed in this city and its limits, in both the +Tagal and the Castilian languages. They committed the execution and +enforcement of it to the official judges of the king our sovereign +in these islands. The aforesaid president and auditors also ordered +that, if any persons claim to have any right contrary to the matter +herein contained, they are to appear before this royal Audiencia, +to petition before it for whatever is fitting in their case. By this +act they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the alguazils, as soon as they arrest +delinquents, shall give notice thereof to one of the auditors and to +the commissioners, who shall formulate their cases and bring them to +the office of the clerk of court._ + +In the city of Manila, on the third of April, one thousand five hundred +and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia +of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas it is continually +happening that the alguazils of this court arrest delinquents whose +cases the notaries and commissioners undertake, and, without giving +notice to the aforesaid president and auditors, or taking such cases +to the office of the present secretary, they allow them to remain in +their possession, and the said prisoners to remain in jail, without any +note or account of their imprisonment, whence result vexations to the +said prisoners, and the said alguazils and commissioners do not fulfil +the obligation which rests upon them: therefore, to find a remedy +for this and other annoyances which may result from it, they ordered, +and they did so order, that now and henceforth, as soon as the said +alguazils shall arrest any delinquent, they shall give notice thereof +to one of the above-mentioned persons, in order that he may take the +fitting action in regard to the said imprisonment. Any commissioner +who shall undertake the cause of said prisoner or prisoners shall +immediately take it to the office of the present clerk of court, +so that in this manner there may be the necessary system. Whatever +one or the other may do shall be despatched with all promptness and +punctuality, and no favor--under penalty of a fine of six pesos for +anyone who shall disobey this decree, to be given the poor in the +prison. By this act they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almaçan_ + + +Before me: + + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the royal officials shall give Doctor Antonio +de Morga three hundred pesos from treasury fines, for ornaments and +other things necessary for the chapel._ + +In the city of Manila, on the tenth of May, one thousand five hundred +and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia +and ChancillerÃa of the Philipinas Islands, being in session, declared +that, whereas the chapel of this royal Audiencia is in great want and +need of many things that are very necessary and indispensable, for +its vestments, decoration, and furniture; and whereas, through lack +of money, the said needs have not as yet been supplied: therefore, +to make provision for them, they ordered, and they did so order, that +the official judges of the royal exchequer of the king our sovereign, +in these islands, shall, from any treasury fines in their charge, +immediately give and deliver to Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor +of this royal Audiencia, three hundred pesos of common gold, which +he shall expend in providing the said chapel with the things most +necessary for it, systematically and carefully. They ordered that he +be given a warrant for the said purpose, in due form. By this act, +they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + +_An act decreeing that secretaries of this court and government may +be attended by slaves with swords._ + +In the city of Manila, on the thirteenth of May, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas, +in conformity with the decrees and ordinances given by his Majesty +for his royal ChancillerÃa of Nueva España, residing in the City of +Mexico, and for other audiencias throughout the Yndias, he orders +that secretaries of the court and the government shall have, as a +retinue and guard, slaves with swords, conformably to the dignity +and gravity of their office: therefore, in order that the same be +done in this court, in regard to the secretaries of this court and +government, and in order to preserve the preeminence and exemptions +which they may and should enjoy here, they ordered, and they did so +order, that, now and henceforth, the said secretaries of this court +and government may freely bring into this court, as their retinue, +the said slaves with swords, according to the usual custom in the said +royal ChancillerÃa of the City of Mexico, and other chancillerÃas of +the Yndias, without the interposition--by any person, of whatever +estate, quality, or rank--of any hindrance or impediment whatever, +under the penalties provided by law. Thus they voted, and ordered it +to be recorded as an act, and signed it in my presence. + + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that the Sangleys shall not be allowed to have +godchildren, on account of the injury which may result therefrom._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventeenth of May, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal ChancillerÃa of these Philipinas Islands, having examined the +information which was referred to this royal Audiencia by Estevan +de Marquina, alcalde-mayor of the village of Tondo and its presidio, +regarding the custom which the Christian Sangleys of that jurisdiction +have among themselves, of receiving and having a great number of +godchildren, both Christian and infidel, in order to have them +ready for any emergency that may arise, and to employ them as false +witnesses--to which they lend themselves with great facility, and at +little cost--and for other evil purposes and intents, exchanging with +them favors and assistance in their affairs; and whereas, on account +of these and other causes which have come to light, and as is quite +evident from the said information, that district is ruined and divided +into factions, and that it would be advisable, for its reform, to +suppress this custom of having godchildren, and that they should not +continue it, under severe penalties: therefore, they declared that +they ordered, and they did so order, that, now and henceforth, the +Sangleys of these islands shall in no manner have or avail themselves +of the said godchildren; nor use their names, nor those of any others, +in order to have them for their partisans or accomplices in any kind of +transaction which might occur, as they have been wont to do hitherto; +nor shall they regard them as such, or receive others in their place; +and they shall give up immediately all those that they had. The others +who are infidels shall do the same, so that there shall remain no +remembrance of the said intercourse--under penalty that any Sangley, +of any rank whatever, who shall be known to have continued it and to +have the said godchildren or godparents, shall be condemned to row +in the galleys for four years, in a place prescribed, without pay, +as soon as they are adjudged guilty thereof. The said alcalde-mayor +of Tondo and its presidio, and all other magistrates whatever, are +ordered to take especial care in the fulfilment and execution of this +act. They shall cause it to be published, in order that all persons +may know of it, and none plead ignorance--for which purpose an order +shall be given in due form, and this act inserted therein. Thus they +voted, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that the Christian Sangleys, and all those who +may become Christians in the future, shall practice and exercise the +occupations that they had before they became Christians._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventeenth of May, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia, Court, and ChancillerÃa of the Philipinas Islands, having +examined this information which was remitted to this royal Audiencia +by Estevan de Marquina, alcalde-mayor of the village of Tondo and its +presidio, concerning the advisability and importance that the Christian +Sangleys living in the said village of Tondo, and in the other villages +of its jurisdiction, and those who become Christians in the future, +shall not abandon the occupations which they had before they became +Christians, as they have been accustomed to do, but shall continue +to exercise and practice them in the same manner as before--for, +by thus abandoning their occupations, that people are unoccupied +and slothful, and spend their time in games and vicious amusements, +whence result the harm and trouble which may be considered: they +declared that, in order to remedy that state of affairs, they ought +to order, and they did so order, that, now and henceforth, the said +Sangleys shall practice and exercise the occupations which they had +practiced and exercised before they became Christians, and shall, +under no consideration, abandon them--this being understood to apply +to those becoming Christians in the future, and to those who have +been Christians for six years previous to the present--under penalty +that whoever disobeys this decree shall be sentenced to row in the +galleys for four years, in a place prescribed, without pay, to which +they declared that they delivered them, and they did so deliver them, +immediately as condemned persons. They declared that they ordered, +and they did so order, the alcalde-mayor of Tondo and of the Parian, +and other magistrates of this city and of these islands, to take great +care in the execution and fulfilment of the aforesaid, under penalty +of being punished. Thus they voted, ordered, and decreed. They ordered +that the said magistrates, each in his own jurisdiction, should make +the necessary inquiries, in order to ascertain who are the Sangleys +that come under the provisions of this act, and the occupations which +they follow. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that no alcaldes-mayor or other magistrates shall +leave their jurisdictions without undergoing residencia; and that +those who shall not have done so, or given a report of the convictions +and fines and tenths of gold which shall have been in their charge, +shall not be appointed._ + +In the city of Manila, on the fifteenth of June, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that they have been +informed that it is customary to appoint as alcaldes-mayor, and +to other offices of justice, some persons who have not undergone +residencia for offices that they have held before, or who have not +rendered account of the treasury fines and expenses of justice and +war which have been in their charge; also that other persons come to +this city after their terms of office have expired, without waiting +to furnish the said residencias, or being present at them, as is +required--whence it results that his Majesty's royal exchequer is +defrauded, since it does not have the income of the said fines and +tenths of gold. On the other hand, the said residencias not being +taken, as is required, nor the public claims before them paid to +their owners, and many other annoyances resulting, of some importance: +therefore, since it is advisable to remedy the aforesaid condition, +they ordered, and they did so order, now and henceforth, the decree +according to the laws of these realms, providing that no persons who +have held other offices be appointed to offices of the justiciary, +until they have furnished residencia of those that they previously +held, which shall have been examined and passed upon; and that such +persons shall have deposited, first and foremost, in his Majesty's +royal treasury, all the fines and condemnations which shall have +been in their charge, with tenths of gold and other things of which +they must give account, together with the payment of these and of +any other sums which they shall have been sentenced to pay in their +residencias. In order that they may furnish these, they must be present +in person, during the time prescribed by law, without leaving their +jurisdictions--being warned that if any person absent himself from +the jurisdiction where he holds office, without first furnishing +residencia, it will not be received or heard by the prosecutor, and +he will be compelled to return to furnish it in his own person. In +order that the provisions of this act may be strictly enforced, +they ordered that his Majesty's fiscal register the letters-patent +which shall have been given to the said offices of justice; so that +whatever is ordained by the said royal laws, and provided by this +act, he may claim when the officials shall be appointed, and the +necessary residencias be taken. Likewise there is to be delivered +to the government secretary of these islands a copy of this act, so +that in the patents of those who shall be appointed the fulfilment +of what is herein contained shall be formally inserted as a clause, +and his Majesty's said fiscal shall register the said patents. They +cannot continue to exercise their offices without first making the said +investigation, exactly observing the provisions of this said act; and +the accountant of the royal exchequer shall likewise register it; so +that whoever shall not have given an account of the said fines, tenths +of gold, and other matters which shall have been in his charge, shall +not take his office. By this act, they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + +In the city of Manila, on the thirteenth of July, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, I, Pedro Hurtado Desquibel, clerk of court +for the royal Audiencia, ChancillerÃa, and Court of these Philipinas +Islands, certify and attest that, from the eighth of June, of the past +year, one thousand five hundred and ninety-eight, to the present day, +the date of this testimony, the president and auditors of this said +royal Audiencia, have from time to time agreed upon and enacted the +acts [4] which are herein copied, for good government, both officially +and at the petition of his Majesty's fiscal, as in them and each one +of them is declared. The copies are true and exact, and, in order +that it may be evident that it is by order of the aforesaid, I gave +the present copy--the witnesses to its transcription, correction, and +revision being Pedro Muñoz de Herrera, Joan de Harana, and Alonso de +Saavedra, citizens of this city. In witness of which, I have affixed +my seal in witness of the truth. + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + +[_Endorsed_: "Filipinas, 1599." "Acts for the good government of +those islands."] + + + + +The Hospital for Indians at Manila + + +May Jesus, our salvation, dwell in the soul of your royal +Majesty. Although I am but wretched dust and ashes, I make bold to +write this letter since I am, in company with two other religious of +the Order of our seraphic father St. Francis, appointed to minister +in this royal hospital of your royal Majesty (which is called the +hospital of Sancta Ana) for the natives; in it all the natives of all +these islands are cared for, and it is situated in this city of Manila. + +Favors were granted to this hospital by our most Catholic king and +sovereign, never sufficiently to be praised, your royal Majesty's +father, Don Phelipe (whom may God keep in His heaven!); he allowed it +one thousand five hundred fanegas of rice, one thousand five hundred +fowls, two hundred pieces of cloth from Ylocos, five hundred ducados +in money, and four toneladas of freight--this last being worth, one +year with another, four hundred pesos. With this income (and we have +no other), usually as many as two hundred poor persons are supported +and cared for in this hospital; besides these, there are three or +four religious who care for the sick and administer the sacraments, +and a considerable number of other people who are in the service of +the hospital. So small is the income, sacred Majesty, and so many are +the poor who come for help, that often we suffer great hardships; for +it is the glory of this hospital not only to belong to your Majesty, +but also not to turn away any one who comes to it to be treated. + +For this reason we religious who are in this hospital, as servants of +the poor who are cared for in it, entreat your royal Majesty with the +utmost humility that you will grant us aid so that we can treat these +poor people with somewhat more convenience; and we especially entreat +your royal Majesty that you will favor us by commanding that the said +four toneladas of freight be continued to us, as we are accustomed +to ship the goods free of customs duties or any other dues, whether +in this city of Manila or in Nueva España, or in any other parts of +your Majesty's realms where your ships enter. + +In this your royal Majesty will render a great service to God our +Lord; and may He preserve for us your royal Majesty, with increase +of His holy grace, and life and prosperity, as your loyal servants +desire. At Manila, July 3, 1599. Your royal Majesty's humble servant, + +_Domingo de Santiago_. + +[_Endorsed_: "Manila; to his Majesty; Domingo de Santiago, for the +hospital of Santa Ana at Manilla. Referred by his Majesty, who directs +that the archbishop and governor shall send information regarding +the treatment of the sick in this hospital, and whether its income +is sufficient for its needs. They shall also ascertain how its funds +are disbursed, and if the accounts are audited; and if anything is +lacking that is absolutely necessary, let them advise what and how +much should be provided, in their opinion."] + + +Catholic and Royal Majesty: + +Antonio Valerio, steward of the royal hospital which the discalced +religious of our seraphic father St. Francis founded in the city of +Manila, with royal expenditures and some alms, for the cure and healing +of all these natives of all these Philipinas Islands which belong +to your royal Majesty. I declare that although in this hospital we, +three religious and myself, serve for the love of God our Lord--by our +services saving the salaries of physician, surgeon, apothecary, and +other officers; and I performing the duties of steward, and the said +religious treating, as they do, all the sick, besides administering the +sacraments--the work of this hospital is continually increasing to such +an extent, by its aiding so many sick persons, and from so many places, +that although the gifts which your royal Majesty has made to this your +hospital are great, they are not sufficient to meet the necessary +expenses to which the said hospital is liable. For the usual number +of those who are cared for in it ranges from one hundred and sixty +to two hundred poor persons; besides, most of the poor people of this +city are provided from this hospital with ointments and medicines for +their ailments. On account of these expenses the hospital is unable +to accomplish many works which should be done--for instance, a house +for the workmen and servants, the improvement of the vegetable-garden, +and other things necessary for the treatment of the sick. + +For these reasons I entreat and supplicate your royal Majesty, with the +utmost humility, on my own part and on that of the said poor who are +treated in the hospital, that you will do us the favor of adding some +further charity to the grants which you have made to this hospital, for +the supply of the many wants which arise every day and are increasing. + +Still further, I entreat and supplicate your royal Majesty that the +favor which the Catholic and royal Majesty, Don Phelipe our lord, +the father of your royal Majesty (whom may God our Lord keep in His +heaven!), granted to us, by commanding that we be allowed to send +four toneladas of freight in his royal ships, be also continued to +us free from customs duties and any other dues which pertain to your +royal Majesty, whether in this city of Manila or in Nueva España, +or in any other part of your realms. + +Moreover, since the minister of this hospital is always a father who +is a priest, who will administer the sacraments not only to the sick +who come to the said hospital for treatment, but to all the people +who serve therein or who reside on the stock-farm which belongs to +the hospital, as well as to many other people in all this city and +in the islands who usually come to this hospital for confession; +and besides this, your Majesty pays from his royal treasury the +archbishop, qura, and canons of the cathedral of Manila for their +labors in ministering to the Indians, in all matters for which the +tithes are not sufficient--I entreat your royal Majesty to command +your royal officials in this city of Manila that they recompense +the said archbishop, cura, and canons in such manner that they shall +not enter the stock-farm of the said hospital to collect tithes and +firstfruits, since hitherto they have never entered there. And in +all things I entreat the royal Majesty of your royal Majesty, etc. + + + + + +Letters from the Royal Fiscal to the King + + + +Sire: + +After having given an account to your Majesty, in so far as concerns my +office of fiscal of this royal Audiencia of these Philipinas Islands, +of the affairs of justice, by another letter which accompanies this, +it seemed best to me to give one concerning those things which touch +the royal exchequer, in the following manner. + +1. The royal exchequer of your Majesty in these islands is not +sufficient by a large sum to supply the salaries and expenses which are +here paid out and incurred. For before the royal Audiencia came here, +the archbishop and bishops drew from Mexico fifteen, twenty, and some +years thirty thousand pesos apiece; but, even with all this, all those +who had to draw money from the royal treasury were complaining and +irregularly paid. Many works were neglected, and necessary expenses +were abandoned. With the new stipends and salaries of an archbishop, +three bishops, four auditors, and a fiscal, which amount to twenty-four +thousand pesos, we must cut down much more. All that sum, which is +the salary of powerful people, must be maintained; and therefore we +must suffer wretched service, and abandon, as has been done, works +and affairs in which there should be no lack. For some remedy and +alleviation of this difficulty, I will point out some expedients which, +in my opinion--as one who understands the present state of affairs, and +has some knowledge of the country--your Majesty, if you are so pleased, +can use, employing such of them as appear to be most expedient. + +2. I find no basis on which people could rest their opinion that +there should be in these islands the said archbishop and bishops; +for the population of them all does not exceed six hundred Spanish +citizens, and the one bishop who was in this city was sufficient. One +is sufficient for all matters which might arise of which the prelates +take cognizance, or which are necessary, for they are very few and +unimportant; and those who appeal to the metropolitan go to Mexico +and return in one year. The three provinces in which were lately +erected the three bishoprics are so near this city that one can come +from them in ten or twelve days; and in the one which has the largest +settlement of Spaniards there are not more than a hundred citizens, +or even so many--namely, in Zubu. The other two, which are Camarines +and Cagayan, do not amount, each one, to seventy Spaniards. In +each one there is a curate, who administers the sacraments to +the Spaniards; and convents of friars, who administer them to the +Indians who live in the said villages and their neighborhood. If the +prelate who is chosen in Manila is a religious of proved integrity, +and industrious, he can very well attend to these matters easily, +and without overwork. Whatever has been said or may be said to your +Majesty to the contrary, either arises from ignorance of the matter +or from private designs, and does not aim at expediency. + +[_In the margin_: "There is nothing to answer."] + +3. By a decree of your Majesty which came in the past year, +ninety-eight, the governor of these islands was commanded to +discontinue a number of false musters which were being paid, and +additions to the expenses of the royal treasury. Without mentioning +the decree, he pronounced an edict in which he commanded the officials +of the royal exchequer of your Majesty to erase them from the royal +books, and pay them no more. Afterward, with different pretexts and by +various means other salaries and additional expenses were incurred, +which it had never been customary to pay--as, for instance, paying +salaries to the captains, alferez, and other officers of war for the +citizens in the villages. The governor appointed, as alferez of the +captain of the town of Arevalo, Don Juan Fajardo; and designated as +his salary that of the post of musketeer, for which he served in the +said post of alferez. Having appealed it before the Audiencia, after +examination and review there, he was commanded to pay the said salary +for the time while he had served in the post of alferez. Captain +Francisco Rrodriguez, as he was of the troops from Zubu, when he +was alcalde-mayor there was ordered by the said governor to give +a hundred pesos of additional cost. He appealed from this, and his +case is pending in the Audiencia. Although these things appear of +little importance, so far as events hitherto are concerned, they +may be very important for the future; for, as they are said to be +confirmed by the Audiencia the governors will take it as a precedent, +in order to be able to make the same move with the other captains +and alferezes. The expenses of the royal treasury will thus suffer +a large increase, and in matters which never have been done nor are +now necessary. It would be well, if your Majesty were so pleased, +to command that all the wages, salary, and additional expenses which +have been given in the said manner be returned to the royal treasury +by the person who ordered them, and that henceforward none should +by any means be granted; and, if it be expedient to give any, your +Majesty should be informed and a royal order for that purpose awaited. + +4. In some provinces where there was one alcalde-mayor only, they +have been so multiplied that now there are three, and each one with +a deputy--all with salaries from the royal exchequer. To some of them +the governors give, beside the salary, additional expenses, amounting +to a hundred pesos; because such alcaldes-mayor are captains of the +citizens, in the manner explained in the clause before this. Likewise +some of the said alcaldes-mayor have Spanish alguazils, although not +with salaries, and although there are royal decrees directing the +governor to check this, and not allow offices to increase. It would +be fitting for your Majesty to command, if you so please, that these +alcaldes-mayor be reduced to the following: + +In the province of Laguna, one alcalde-mayor with three hundred +pesos of salary, which is the ordinary amount. On the opposite coast +of Mauban, one corregidor; this is the district next to the said +Laguna. He should have two hundred pesos of salary. In the province +of Camarines, another alcalde-mayor, with the same salary of three +hundred pesos. Another alcalde-mayor, who has recently been appointed +in the said province for the island of Catanduanes, should be removed; +and the said alcalde-mayor of Camarines should care for that, as +he used to do. In the province of Cagayan, another alcalde-mayor, +with the same salary. In that of Ylocos, another alcalde-mayor, with +the same salary. In Pangasinan, another alcalde-mayor, with the said +salary. In the province of Panpanga, another alcalde-mayor, with the +proper salary, who should administer the jurisdiction of the district +of Bulacan, which borders upon it; all this was formerly under one +alcalde. The one who was lately added in Bulacan should be removed. + +In the village of Tondo and the bay of this city of Manila (all of +which is the suburbs and outskirts of the city), the governors keep +another alcalde-mayor and lieutenant, although the whole of it is +within the five leagues which, by your Majesty's grace, this city +of Manila has as a jurisdiction--whose alcaldes-in-ordinary used to +administer justice in all the districts of the said alcaldÃa-mayor +of Tondo. Now they have no more than within the walls of the city, +although they are vested with authority and can make arrests +outside. It would be well, if such be your Majesty's pleasure, to +discontinue this alcaldÃa-mayor of Tondo, and let it be served by +the two alcaldes-in-ordinary from this city of Manila, each one six +months of the year, while the other one is present in this city. In +this way, with the provincial judge, there will be quite sufficient +people to administer justice in the civil cases; and in the criminal +cases there are the auditors and the said alcalde-in-ordinary. In this +way the salary of the alcalde-mayor of Tondo will be saved, which is +now paid from the royal treasury; and this city will consider it as a +singular grace and favor. So likewise will the Indians, for they will +be better treated and less annoyed by this form of government; because +the man who is appointed to the said alcaldÃa must make his living from +it, and on that account must do things which are illegal--but, as he +is usually a retainer of the governor, the latter shields him in the +matter. This will cease with the alcaldes-in-ordinary, for they perform +their duties without any selfish considerations, being always men of +honor and rich, who do not seek the offices through greed for money. + +In the province of Zubu there used to be only one alcalde-mayor; +but about two years ago another was added in the islands of Leyte, +Çamar, and Babao, which are close to Zubu. It was done to the great +displeasure of the citizens of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, which was +the first city founded and settled in these islands; for the said +three islands were under the jurisdiction of the alcalde-mayor +resident in the said city, and with the other one they would be +greatly annoyed and molested, since most of the citizens who reside +in the said city are encomenderos in the said islands of Leyte, +Çamar, and Babao. The alcalde-mayor of these islands takes them from +the said city and enters suits against them. He takes them to the +said islands as prisoners; and, as they have their property there, +and must needs go there every year for the collection of tributes +from their encomiendas, they cannot refuse to go; and thus the said +alcalde-mayor molests them as encomenderos, and he of Çubu, on the +other hand, as citizens. As this is so, if your Majesty be pleased, +the said alcalde-mayor of the said three islands might be removed, +and they put under the jurisdiction of the said island of Çubu, +whose alcalde-mayor could very well serve all of them. + +On the river of Butuan, which is on the confines of this island of +Zubu and close to the island of Mindanao, is another corregidor, with +a salary of two hundred pesos. In the island of Calamianes is another +corregidor, with the ordinary salary. In the district of Oton is an +alcalde-mayor, with a salary of three hundred pesos. In Panay is a +corregidor, with two hundred pesos salary. All the alcaldes-mayor +and corregidors besides those mentioned should be done away with; +and no alcalde-mayor or corregidor should have a deputy except when +he is absent, and such deputy should not be given a salary. + +[_In the margin_: "If there is any reform to be made, have the new +governor act therein, and advise us of his action. _Idem. Idem. Idem_ +in this matter."] + +5. One of the things in which, I have understood, the royal exchequer +of your Majesty has been the most defrauded and the citizens of these +islands the most aggrieved, is in the freighting and despatching of +vessels which go from here to Nueva España with merchandise; for the +governors have, for some years past, assigned to this duty various +special friends and confidants of themselves, and even at times their +own servants. The said persons lade in the ships their own property, +and even that of their relatives and friends--and likewise, it is +said, of any person who will pay them for it. This transaction and +negotiation is of great profit for them, and a great fraud upon the +royal exchequer; for all the merchandise which they lade in this way, +outside of the amount allotted, goes without paying your Majesty the +royal duties, and is not a part of the cloth which is assigned to the +citizens in the general allotment which is made to them. As a remedy +for this, it will be well that in the future, when the allotment +of the cloth is made, there should be present and superintend it, +besides the governor and the other persons who are appointed, an +auditor and royal official in rotation, each year, commencing with +those longest here. As soon as the said allotment shall be finished, +the royal official shall take a copy of it, and the persons to whom +allotment is made of the said cloth shall come with their invoices, to +bale it and pay the royal duty in the presence of the royal officials, +who should give warrants for it. One or two of the officials should be +present at the port of Cavite, which is the landing-place of ships, +two leagues from this city; and there should be also present on the +ship, during its lading, the freighters who are ordinarily appointed, +and an auditor, so that no cloth will be allowed to be laded except it +be that contained in the said allotment. That which is thus authorized +shall be vouched for by warrants from the said royal officials that +the duties are paid. So great has been the irregularity in this +matter that, by having it checked by these strict methods, there +would probably be a great gain to the royal treasury. + +[_In the margin_: "Write to the new governor about the information +given in this letter, and the complaints that are made; and have him +remedy this evil, appointing for this persons who are of satisfactory +record, and taking care that all this be done with justice--and, +if it seem best to him, being sometimes present in person at the +inspection."] + +6. From the payment of tributes by the Indians in the usual currency +there have resulted and still result many inconveniences, losses, +injuries, and diminutions to the royal exchequer; for formerly they +paid the eight reals of tribute each year in kind, which they gathered +on their lands. A short time ago they were given the alternative of +paying it in coin if they wished; and since then they have ceased +to cultivate the land, make linen fabrics, raise fowls and cattle, +or obtain gold from the mines and rivers, with which articles they +used to pay the said tribute. A great part of those articles usually +remained with them, because they had all the year for trading and +labor, by which the country was supplied with many provisions at a low +cost, and clothing of various kinds of linen, with which they were +dressed. The encomenderos sailed with these things to Nueva España; +and it was not necessary to pay the Chinese what was brought thence in +return, and have them carry it off to their country, as they now do, +in exchange for the said cloths which they sell. There was a great +quantity of gold which was also taken to Nueva España, and from that +your Majesty was paid the tenths, which amounted each year to six +or eight thousand pesos--not counting another larger quantity which +was paid by the tributaries of the encomiendas which are under the +royal crown. By reason of the said Indians not paying in kind, so +little gold has come to be mined, that in the past year, ninety-eight, +from tributes and tenths even, the amount which was collected on your +Majesty's account was not a thousand pesos. From this there follows +another inconvenience, in that, as the natives of these islands are +inclined to laziness and to the vices attendant upon that, since +they can easily pay the tribute for one year with ten reals in coin, +they seek and pay it, and dress themselves with two or three pieces +of cloth, which cost somewhat more. As they find these for sale by +the Chinese, they themselves do not manufacture them. It would be +expedient, in order that these inconveniences may cease, as well as +others which may be seen to result from this matter, that henceforth +these Indians should be compelled to agricultural labors and the +raising of cattle, according to the conditions of the provinces where +they live, and to taking gold from the mines and rivers. If this were +put in force, a great deal would be gained by it; for there is a large +quantity in the said mines, rivers, and placers. In this way a great +part of the trade with the Chinese would cease, and the returns from +what was carried to and sold in Nueva España, from both gold and cloth, +would remain in this country, and would not be taken away to China, +as it now is. The said Indians would be compelled to this, in such +manner that, with the practice and profit which they would get from +it, in a few years they and their descendants would do it of their +own will, without compulsion. The principal thing to be done in order +to start the Indians to do this is, to have them pay the tribute in +the kind which they raise and harvest. + +[_In the margin_: "With this report write to the new governor to +call together the Audiencia, the ecclesiastical prelates who are +present in Manila, and the superiors of the religious orders; and +have him communicate with those who could not conveniently go there, +getting their opinion in writing; and have all of them confer as to +what is expedient and ought to be done in this matter--taking into +consideration the fact that the Indians should not be annoyed or +aggrieved; and that their object should be the cultivation of crops +and other things which the land bears; and that for this purpose +the tribute should be paid in kind, and the valuation should be as +equitable as possible. Whatever they may resolve in regard to this +matter, the governor shall cause to be executed, and advise us as to +what he does, seeing to it that the Indians labor and are not idle."] + +7. With the reestablishment of the said royal Audiencia, the expenses +of the royal treasury have been increased by more than sixteen +thousand five hundred pesos in the salaries of four auditors and one +fiscal. Wherefore it would be well, were your Majesty so pleased, +to command that the encomiendas or repartimientos of Indians which +may in the future be vacated, up to the amount of ten thousand pesos, +be placed under the royal crown, as an aid to the payment of the said +salaries; and that, until these are so placed, the governors shall not +be able to assign any person an encomienda or repartimiento of Indians. + +[_In the margin_: "Have the governor and Audiencia send an information +in this matter, and the archbishop a separate one."] + +8. I have understood that the governors have been accustomed to +assign encomiendas in this country in a manner to suit their own +purposes. Thus, if any person possesses an encomienda which ends +with his life, they add a reserve in such wise that they make +the encomiendas hereditary and perpetual for their relatives, so +that they may resign them, and allow the governor to assign them to +whomsoever they will. On the other hand, they have an agreement with +the governor that he shall assign it to the person designated by the +one who resigns it. That this matter may be the better understood, +I shall relate a case in which it happened. A certain captain, Juan +Maldonado Borrocal, one of the conquerors of these islands, holding a +repartimiento as an encomienda, went from here to the court in Spain; +and there married a widow, and returned with her to these islands. He +died, and conformably to the law of succession, the wife succeeded +to the encomienda. The latter had a son by her former husband, +and as, on her death, the said encomiendas would remain vacant, she +resigned them, and the governor assigned them anew to the son, who +was a boy. Neither he nor his father had served in these islands. It +is easy to imagine how this pleased the old soldiers who had shed +their blood on the said encomiendas to conquer them, and some were +eager for that repartimiento. Accordingly it is easy to see how much +remedy there was left, when the governor granted the said encomiendas +contrary to what your Majesty has ordered. To correct this, it would +be fitting that your Majesty order that such resignation should not +be made in any manner; and that in such cases the governor cannot +assign any repartimiento of Indians. + +[_In the margin_: "Have the decrees which are despatched for the +settlement of these matters duplicated, also those that direct that +appointments cannot be made by resignation and renunciation of the +said encomiendas; order that these be exactly observed and complied +with; and let it be again ordered that encomiendas which have been +resigned shall not be filled by the governor, but that he shall +advise his Majesty, who may order according to his pleasure in the +matter. If he appoints to them, they shall be null and declared void; +and the fiscal shall advise concerning them."] + +9. In the building of churches on the encomiendas of these islands +your royal treasury is subjected to excessive expenses by their being +made, as they are, of wood. Your Majesty pays, for those which stand +on the encomiendas belonging to your royal crown, two-thirds of the +cost--one-third as encomendero, and another as king and lord. In those +possessed by private citizens you pay one-third as king. As woods in +this country decay very easily, they rot within five or six years, +and it is necessary to build the said churches over again. Besides, it +often happens that when they are finished they are soon burned down. It +would be well for the said churches henceforth to be built of stone +or brick; for, with little more than what it costs to build them of +wood, they can be built of stone or brick and will last for many years. + +[_In the margin_: "Let the Audiencia investigate this."] + +10. The custom has been introduced of supplying wine for the +celebration of the mass to the priests of all the orders--not only to +those which are in the encomiendas of the royal crown, but to those in +private ones. As I understand it, your Majesty is under no obligation +to furnish it, except to those who minister in the four convents of +Manila, and to the curates of Spaniards and Indians there, and to those +who are in your Majesty's missions; and the encomenderos are obliged +to furnish them with the said wine on their own encomiendas. Your +Majesty will order the action in this matter which is most fitting +to your royal service. + +[_In the margin_: "Write to the governor to order that the secular +clergy, and those who give instruction in private encomiendas, are +not to be given wine on his Majesty's account for the celebration +of mass."] + +11. During the time of the last royal Audiencia, several offices of +regidor were sold; but of those who bought them at that time two +only have come here. Governor Gomez Perez, by virtue of a clause +of his instructions, appointed, above those which had been bought, +enough to amount in all to twelve regidors, from the worthiest men +of this city. Some of them left in his time, and others in the time +of his son, and finally in that of Governor Don Francisco Tello; +others the latter removed. Thereupon he appointed to several of the +said offices unsatisfactory persons, for his own interests. Some +of these despise the said offices. As it is understood that these +appointments were not by honorable means, it would be well if these +offices were sold--not by auction, but putting upon them a moderate +price, and having them given, with the supervision and approval of +the Audiencia, to the men of most merit and best character. There +should not be more than eight regidors; for, with the other persons +who, by reason of their offices, have votes in the cabildo--namely, +the three royal officials, the two wardens of the fortresses, and the +alguacil-mayor of the city--there are fourteen votes, which, in a place +of three hundred citizens, is a sufficient number. As those appointed +understand that they must pay money for the appointments and gifts, +in this way they will be given to suitable persons; and this should +always be done, so long as they are appointed here, and are not free +to attend to their duties as they should--because the governors have +had the power to take their offices away without cause, whenever it +might appear best to them. The most just way would be to sell them, +and use the proceeds to aid the royal treasury in its needs. + +[_In the margin_: "Have this sent to the new governor, so that the +regidors who were appointed wrongly, or are not proper persons, +may be removed; and let others be appointed (such as possess the +qualifications and capacity), up to the number of eight in all. Let +him advise us of his action."] + +12. After Governor Gomez Perez Dasmariñas came, there was offered from +the royal exchequer of your Majesty to the accountant Andres Cauchela +(who was proprietary), and to Captain Gomez de Machuca--who, on the +death of Juan Baptista Rroman, treasurer and factor, was appointed to +the said offices by the said Gomez Perez--to these two was assigned +the making of a report on all matters which concerned the treasury, +to bring before the said governor. It is understand that there were +some matters needing correction, for those same officials have written +this. This also appears probable from the manner in which the person +who was appointed for that office by the said governor conducted +himself. He signed the account without seeing or examining the reports, +or even noticing whether the charges were made, and if everything had +been collected that should be, nor that which concerned the merchandise +and the royal warehouses. Nor did he afterward audit any account. For +this reason, and because he grew rich during the time while the said +offices were held, it would be well to inspect them, and again take +charge of said accounts of money, and audit those of merchandise +which still remain to be examined. If your Majesty be so pleased, +a warrant might be sent to make the said investigation from the time +when Licentiate Geronimo Erbez del Corral took the account. It could +be entrusted to one of the auditors of this royal Audiencia; but the +fact must be considered that Doctor Antonio de Morga is a great friend +of Captain Gomez de Machuca, who was factor and treasurer, and who +would have to be investigated by him. Likewise it would be expedient +to send a warrant for an accountant to audit and revise the accounts. + +[_In the margin_: "A person shall be named by the lord president of +the Audiencia to investigate these officials; and the governor shall +name, with the consent of the investigator, an accountant to examine +the accounts."] + +13. Your Majesty commanded by a decree that the office of treasurer +of the royal exchequer of these islands be abolished, as it entails +no duties whatever, and the two offices of factor and accountant are +sufficient; accordingly, the duties of the treasurer were performed +by the factor. On account of the death of Juan Baptista Rroman, who +exercised these offices, your Majesty again appointed to the said +office of treasurer Captain Hernando Davila. So far as I know, your +Majesty was not made aware that a command had been issued to abolish +it, since no mention of that is made in the commission of Captain +Hernando Davila. The office is a superfluous one, and, as I say, has +no duties; for everything which has to be done here pertains to the +offices of factor and accountant. It would be well, if your Majesty +is so pleased, to command that when this office of treasurer shall +become vacant, in whatever manner, no other person shall be appointed +to it; but that it shall be merged with that of the factor, as was +formerly done. In this way the royal treasury will be relieved from +paying two thousand pesos, which the said treasurer draws as a salary. + +[_In the margin_: "Let the new governor inform us concerning this."] + +Governor Gomez Perez Dasmariñas established a monopoly on cards, +so that the proceeds therefrom could be used to fortify this city; +and the cabildo of the city collected that, along with the rest of +its property, and expended it in other matters, and not in that for +which it was imposed. Accordingly, in this tax, as well as in the +administration of the said monopoly, there have been interests of +great importance for those who had the power in this community, as +will be evident when it is inspected and investigated. For three years +past nothing of importance has been done on the wall, although there +were many places which needed repairing and finishing, which would +be a great detriment and danger in time of war. It would likewise +be well to send a warrant to make investigations and audit accounts, +concerning both the said monopoly and the other properties of the city. + +[_In the margin_: "Let the person who is charged with the residencia +of the governor be entrusted with that of the cabildo, and see that +that is taken and an account of everything. He shall give an account +to the governor of all which results from this, and of the amount +of this impost, so that it may be converted to the use for which it +was imposed."] + +15. By an ordinance of this royal Audiencia the president and two +auditors thereof are commanded to audit, at the beginning of each +year, the accounts of the royal officials, and to finish them in +two months, with the additional amount, for expenses, of twenty-five +thousand maravedis for each auditor. In the time of the former royal +Audiencia this was done; and they named an accountant each year, +to whom they gave fifty thousand maravedis beside. Since that time, +what has happened is as follows: Governor Gomez Perez Dasmariñas, +at the beginning of the year ninety-five, without an order from +your Majesty, created an accountant-in-ordinary of accounts for this +purpose, with a salary of five hundred pesos, and a secretary with two +hundred and fifty pesos, for which they were to secure the approval +of your Majesty--which they have not done in the past. The accounts +were audited in two months--or at the most, in three. Accordingly it +is not necessary, for so small an account as we have here, to incur +a thousand pesos of expense each year to audit them. It could be done +for a hundred thousand maravedis, as was formerly done. Your Majesty +will command in this as is most fitting for the royal service. + +[_In the margin_: "Send this to the new governor, that he may examine +into and adjust the matter as appears best to him, and advise us of +what action he takes."] + +16 The office of secretary of the cabildo has been given by the +governors to whom they thought best. In this way they learn what +goes on in the cabildo, which is a great evil. It would be better to +have this sold; and accordingly, he who held it--being a proprietor, +and one who could not be removed during good behavior--would be free +to remain silent. + +[_In the margin_: "Let the governor and Audiencia investigate this."] + +17. The office of secretary of the registries has been held by the +secretaries of the governors. As a result of this, claims for justice +have been relinquished in several grievances of great importance, +to the loss both of the Chinese who come to trade here, and of the +citizens of the city. It would be well to sell this office, under +condition that he who buys it cannot be the secretary or in any wise +the servant of the governor at that time acting. As Rroque Espino de +Caceres, who is serving it at present, has begged for your Majesty's +confirmation, and is a person worthy of it, as appears from the +informations made in this royal Audiencia, in its opinion this favor +might be extended to him, as he seeks it, with the said condition, +and with that of a moderate price for the royal treasury. + +[_In the margin_: "Tell the new governor that it is not expedient that +this office should be held by a secretary or servant of the governor, +or a subordinate of the auditors and ministers of the Audiencia; +and that from worthy persons there he shall appoint three, in whom he +believes is found the necessary ability for this office, so that his +Majesty may select the one who may seem best to him. In the meantime +let him appoint as best he can, and without inconvenience."] + +18. In the island of Zubu there is a notary-public who bought the +office from your Majesty. The cabildo there have written to me that +there is need of still another, and that accordingly it might be +sold. Therefore, if your Majesty pleases, you might order another +notaryship sold in said island of Zubu. + +[_In the margin_: "Have the governor and Audiencia send an information +regarding this, and what offices have been sold in those islands, +at what price, and to what persons."] + +19. The city of Nueva Segovia, of the province of Cagayan, the chief +city of that bishopric, has no notary-public named by your Majesty, +but only one appointed by the governor, for the cases which there +arise. This is a great inconvenience, as wills and other writings +cannot be sworn to before him, from which results damage to the +citizens. It would be well, if your Majesty were so pleased, to sell +a notary-public's office there. + +20. The office of depositary-general of this city of Manila, on +account of the governors having appointed to it persons who were their +confidants, is embarrassed with some difficulties, which would cease if +the office were sold, and the royal treasury would be benefited. Your +Majesty will command whatever is most expedient for your royal service. + +[_In the margin_: "Let the governor and Audiencia inform us whether +it is well to sell the office, and who can be found for it; and, +in case that it is not well to sell it, what persons there are of +character, worth, and conscience which fit them to take the commission +for it. Let the royal officials also give information."] + +21. About four years ago the preaching of the bulls was commenced here, +and the governor appoint a treasurer for them; and it is also said that +there came a decree from your Majesty directing that the account be +audited every year by a royal official, and that the proceeds from them +be remitted. Thus far, no royal official has taken the said accounts; +and I have been informed that in sending the proceed thereof there +has not been much punctuality, and that the money has been employed in +uses and investments for certain private persons. For the correction +of all this, it would be well that from now on an auditor should +audit the said accounts of the said treasurer, and cause the balance +which is found to be placed in the royal treasury, charging it as +a separate account to the royal officials; then, in the first ships +which leave, it may be sent to Nueva España, invested in merchandise, +whereby it will be doubled, with no more risk than if it were taken +in coin. The latter is never taken because what has to be sent is +invested, and turned into money in Mexico, and amounts to twice as +much. The profit which can be made in this way might better be, for +so good a work as that for which the alms of the said bulls is applied. + +[_In the margin_: "Let a copy of this clause be given to Señor the +licentiate Valtodano, to be examined in the council for the crusade."] + +22. Since, even if your Majesty should be pleased to command everything +done as above, it will still be necessary to bring money from Mexico +for the costs, expenses, and salaries incurred in these islands; +and as it is not well that, in order to cover them, it should be +necessary for your Majesty to employ more property than they amount to, +it has seemed best to me to seek some other methods for this--which, +if they should appear expedient for the service of your Majesty, +and can be carried out with no scruples of conscience, will not only +render unnecessary the bringing of money from outside these islands, +but even will make it possible to aid other great expenses which your +Majesty has. The means which I have found are the following. Your +Majesty pays a stipend to all the citizens and inhabitants of the +fortified town which you hold in the island of Tidore, which is one +of the Malucas Islands. In order to make these payments, aid is sent +every year from Yndia by a galleon; and a quantity of cloth is brought +from the royal customs treasury at Goa. With this the said citizens +are all given their "quarters," as they call them. [5] This cloth is +disposed of among the natives, who trade provisions for it. + +It is a law of Yndia and of Maluco that no person can lade or take +away cloves from those islands in any manner, unless it be for your +Majesty, under penalty of loss of the ship and rigging; from which +the profit resulting to the royal exchequer amounts to a third of +what is laded, so great is the freight charge. Certain Portuguese +came to these islands in their own ships. They take away a quantity +of cloves and sell it to merchants, who in turn sell it to Chinese +and other persons, who secretly ship it to Nueva España--whence +it is taken to the provinces of Peru, the new realm of Granada, +Tierra Firme, Guatimala, and other regions. From this there result +three losses to the royal exchequer. In the first place, since the +cloves are carried from the Malucas by the hand of a third party, +your Majesty loses the third due on embarcation. In the second place, +it is laded here for Nueva España secretly, and without paying the +duties or freight charges. In the third place, when it has arrived +at Nueva España, Peru, and other regions, that which is brought from +the realms of Castilla loses its value. + +All this expense which your Majesty suffers in providing for that +fortress, and these losses, could be remedied as follows. Your Majesty +has in the island of Panay, one of these Filipinas, which borders on +the Malucas Islands, a number of tributary Indians who pay the larger +part of their tribute in cleaned rice. After their harvest they have +a great deal of rice wine, which is made in these islands, and these +are the provisions necessary for the Malucas. If, conformably to +what has been said, there were built on your Majesty's account two +patages in the island of Panay--such as are commonly built in the +said island by the encomenderos, to sell to the said Portuguese in +these islands, and which cost about five hundred pesos--two thousand +fanegas of cleaned rice, and six hundred jars [_tinajas_] of wine could +be loaded in them. The rice would be collected for your Majesty from +your royal tributes, at two reals and six maravedis. Each tinaja of +wine, with cask and all, is valued at four reals, on board. Likewise +two hundred pesos of fine Sangley earthenware is sufficient, which is +to be used as follows. These two patages must, while going to Maluco, +of necessity take water at the port of La Caldera, and the earthenware +is to be left in the Spanish camp which is there, so that with it they +may buy from the natives five hundred quintals of cinnamon, taking +care to dry it. In the meantime the two patages resume their voyage, +having left this earthenware, and continue with the rice and wine to +the fortress of the said Malucas. They will deliver to the warden there +half of it, to pay those expenses or quarters to the citizens. With +the other half they will buy four hundred _baxes_ of cloves, making +two thousand four hundred quintals, at six quintals to the bax; [6] +this would be brought on your Majesty's account to these islands. Then +they are obliged to go back to the said port of La Caldera, where they +will take on the cinnamon bought with the earthenware; and all will +be brought to the port of Cavite, to be embarked on the ships which +your Majesty sends on the voyage from here to Nueva España. When they +have arrived there, the royal officials at the port of Acapulco will +send a third of the said cloves and cinnamon to Mexico, and two-thirds +to Piru and its provinces. If sold at retail, it would be worth three +hundred pesos a quintal; going to private persons, in quantity, it is +usually worth two hundred pesos; consequently, in this way there would +be a great profit gained. I am ready to say that it would be worth +to your Majesty almost as much as all the income from the customs +of all Portuguese Yndia. For this purpose your Majesty will have +to keep a factor in the said island of Panay, to collect tributes, +despatch the ships to La Caldera and Maluco, and receive them there; +and to correspond with the royal officials in this city so that they +may embark all this spice for Nueva España, and with the factor who +must be at Acapulco, so that he may make the distribution. + +This transaction is so profitable that several of the governors who +have been in these islands have taken the trouble to send an armed +galley merely to make this purchase of cinnamon at the port of La +Caldera, until in the time of Doctor Santiago de Vera this trade +was abandoned. Being aware of the profit in it, Guido de Lavezaris +(who governed these islands on the death of the adelantado Miguel +Lopez de Legazpi) prohibited trading and trafficking in spices in +these islands for any person except the officials of your Majesty, +who were to receive, buy, and lade the spices for Mexico, all on the +account of your royal exchequer; this was done. In consequence of this, +he likewise forbade that any island or any province whatsoever where +there were cloves, cinnamon, or other spices should be assigned in +encomiendas. Accordingly, from that time on, the transportation of +spices by private persons to Nueva España was cut off. All this with +the lapse of time, and the interest of certain persons, has been +neglected, so that, it is understood, a great quantity of spice is +taken to Nueva España every year. + +23. The other expedient which occurs to me is that the income from silk +to the kingdom of Granada is registered as seventy-two millions, with +the condition that no twisted or loose silk can be taken to the Yndias, +which does not come from the said kingdom--although, indeed, to fill up +this quantity, there is sometimes added silk from the kingdom of Murcia +and Andalucia; but it passes through the custom-house of Granada, pays +its duties, and is sealed there. In order that there may be no fraud in +this, there is in Sevilla an administrator and a commissioned judge, +who is ordinarily one of the alcaldes of the criminal court of the +royal Audiencia. From the kingdom of China a quantity of crude silk +is brought in bundles to these islands, and is taken to Nueva España, +where it is woven into fabrics, and part of it is dyed. This silk +is usually worth in this city a hundred and fifty pesos, although at +present it sells at two hundred and forty pesos a pico. + +From the transportation of this silk the royal exchequer suffers +the following losses. In the first place, the silks brought from +Castilla, whether woven or loose, are worth less; and accordingly +the royal duties do not amount to so much. In the second place, +there are not so many silks brought as would come if these were +lacking. Although these pay duties, there is a loss in this, as +duties are not so great as those from Castilla pay. Crude silk is +neither necessary nor useful for ordinary maintenance or support; +and accordingly it seems best that your Majesty should, if such be +your pleasure, obviate these losses which are occurring, and obtain +satisfaction for them in some way and meet the great expenses which +you have here. Your Majesty should leave liberty, as you always have +done, for your vassals to trade in all merchandise with China in +all kinds of goods; but should have monopolized and forbidden this +trade in crude silk, commanding that no ship which comes from China +shall neglect to bring five picos of crude silk, which is a very +small quantity. They should be paid a reasonable price for it. In +this way there would be the profit which they make in bringing it +from China here, whence it is sent to Mexico; and, sold at retail, +there will be the profit on it of four hundred per cent. There come +usually from China to this city thirty ships and some years fifty, +so that the profit on this would be large; and there would remain to +the citizens of these islands a great deal of merchandise with which +to trade, without their missing these goods. There would be enough to +cover all the expenses, salaries, and other things which are necessary +in these islands, and must be paid from the royal treasury--which, with +all the money that is sent from Mexico, has not enough money to cover +all the very important expenses affecting the proper guard, protection, +and defense of these islands. This is all that occurs to me at present +to say concerning matters relating to the royal exchequer, for its +welfare. I shall continue always to watch for what is most fitting for +the royal service of your Majesty, and shall attempt to further it; +and such is always my desire. May God protect your Majesty many years, +with a greater increase of kingdoms and seigniories, according to the +needs of Christendom. In the city of Manila, which is in the island +of Luzon, the principal one of the Filipinas Islands. July 21, 1599. + +The licentiate _Hieronimo de Salazar y Salcedo_ + + + + +Sire: + +Since I have given to your Majesty an account of the affairs of +the administration of justice and of the royal exchequer of these +Philipinas Islands by two other letters which accompany this, I +will here discuss affairs of government. The thing which seems to me +most necessary to do for the good government of these islands--and +especially for correcting the great excesses which are wont to be +committed by some of the religious who have Indian missions in their +charge; and by the alcaldes-mayor, corregidors, deputies, and other +magistrates, and the encomenderos of Indian repartimientos--is that, +at least every two years, an auditor of the royal Audiencia of these +islands, commencing with the oldest of them, should make a visitation +over all the country in his jurisdiction, as is provided by the +ordinances thereof, and in the form which I wrote to your Majesty in +July of the past year, ninety-eight. Although the auditors oppose this, +it is to avoid the great labor, expense, and danger to health, by sea +and enemies, which they must undergo and pass through. Accordingly, +if your Majesty pleases, a reasonable allowance for their expenses +might be made, and soldiers given them to accompany and guard them, +with good vessels, at the expense of the royal exchequer, if the +cost should not be covered by the penalties inflicted during the +visitation. Your Majesty will be pleased to order in this what is +most expedient. + +[_In the margin_: "Write to the governor to have this visitation +carried out in the pacified country, and where there is no obstacle, +conformably to the ordinance. And have him see to it that they do +not send soldiers with the auditor, and that he does not take people +who would be oppressive to the Indians; and let him take care that +this visitation be effectual--for which purpose let him command to +be built, and furnished to the auditor, a vessel of suitable size, +to go outside of the island of Luzon, at his Majesty's expense. As +to the reimbursement which ought to be made beside what is conceded +to them by the ordinance, and the decrees of his Majesty, let him +inform us of his opinion." "Have sent a duplicate of the last decree +despatched in regard to this visitation."] + +The main object of your Majesty's royal decrees, provisions, and orders +given to your governors of these islands, is the prosperity of the +citizens thereof; for in that way they become established and settled +and the islands populated. The governors have not always attended +to this as they should, for they have regarded this, which is their +principal obligation, as accessory and dependent upon their private +interests in order that they may become rich with what the citizens +are to gain, as is already well known. And so little is the profit, +and so poor the subsistence, of those who live here, and so much is +their living interfered with by the governors, and the relatives and +dependents whom they bring with them, that, as a result, so little is +left for the citizens that they cannot in twenty years make the profit +and gain which is acquired in a few years by some of those whom the +said governors bring with them. This has often been experienced. For +the remedy of this I suggest the following things. + +The lading of the ships which go to Nueva España, the allotment of +space in them, and other matters touching this, should be conducted +according to, and after the manner directed by, clause five of the +letter which accompanies this, regarding matters which concern +the royal exchequer. No cloth should be laded except that which +goes according to the allotment; nor should the governor have any +authority therein, because, as the superintendents of lading are +persons appointed by him and in his confidence, with letters and +orders which he gives, much other cloth is laded after the allotment +is made. For the most part this belongs to persons who are underlings, +kinsmen, or creatures of the governor, and must necessarily occupy +space belonging to the cloth of the citizen, who is thus obliged to +give up his cargo. What I describe is the ordinary way that things go. + +[_In the margin_: "This is provided for in the same clause; and let +the governor be charged particularly with the remedy of this."] + +In the appointment of offices and means of gain, both of justice +and of war, and other offices in the country, the said governors +should observe what your Majesty has ordered in so many commands and +royal decrees--namely, that "they shall be given only to citizens; +and if he appoints to them his creatures or kinsmen, or those of +the auditors or fiscal, or of their wives, the royal Audiencia shall +check him without any reserve or hesitancy. The fiscal thereof shall +oppose him, and take all possible measures to this end." This should +be charged upon the consciences of all; and the government notary +should be ordered to put upon all commissions of offices of justice +or war, or of encomiendas of Indians, or of any other positions of +profit whatsoever, which are to be received, the reason therefor, +so that the said fiscal may know and understand whether there is any +objection to giving the said commission. If any such objection is made, +let it remain with the commission, and dispose of it by appealing +from the governor to the royal Audiencia, where the question will +be decided on examination and review. In the meantime the said title +shall not be assumed, for there are many people in these islands whom +we are bound to remunerate merely for their own services and those of +their fathers, because they are poor and needy, and what we have to +give is so little that, even if it were divided among the citizens, +many of them would have to remain unprovided for. + +[_In the margin_: "Tell the governor that in this matter he must +observe exactly what is ordered by decrees and provisions; and, +according to his instructions, shall prefer the most deserving and +those longest in the country."] + +By order of your Majesty, the viceroy of Nueva España appoints the +general, admiral, captains, masters, and other officers of the ships +which are despatched from here to that province with merchanise, at the +time when the said ships return thence. The persons so appointed bring +so large a quantity of money unregistered in the ships as, it may be +readily seen, they can do, with the power attached to their offices, +since they are the servants and underlings of the said viceroy; +accordingly, when they have arrived here they invest their money, +and lade the goods in the said ships, although they are prohibited +from doing so. This is another opportunity, almost equal to that of +the governors who come. That this may be used by the said citizens, it +would be fitting that the said general, admiral, masters, and officers +of the ships be appointed here, in the sessions of the Audiencia, by +vote of the president and auditors; and that those appointed should +be citizens of this city of Manila, or of some of the other towns of +these islands. The salaries which hitherto have been given to the said +general and admiral in Nueva España should be diminished. With the +little which is given here to those who are appointed, and from the +profits which they will make, there will result no little benefit; +since every year, in the ships which are to go, there would be five +or six men, and they would return with a profit large enough to +maintain themselves, and face the enemy. The ships would be better +administered and governed, by persons who understand that better, +through the continual practice which they have in these islands in +maritime and military affairs; for at times persons come in the said +offices who have no experience whatever in the one branch or the other, +which is ordinarily the cause of much loss. + +[_In the margin_: "Place the decree with the letters of the governor +and Audiencia."] + +The troops of war which are raised in Nueva España to be taken to +these islands would best be taken by the captains who levied them to +the port of Acapulco, one of the captains being commissioned for this, +with some moderate addition for expenses. In the said port they should +hand them over to the general of those ships, and the said captain +should not come to these islands. In this way would be obviated the +damage which is done by their bringing cargoes, and the cost of their +coming and returning, which are not necessary for so few troops as +come. When the troops arrive here they should be allotted among the +companies of infantry of this camp. + +[_In the margin_: "Conformably to this, let the viceroy be ordered +to do so."] + +There is great carelessness in appointing artillerymen for the said +ships, for a ship which carries one piece of artillery has had +six artillerymen appointed, whereas one ordinary gunner would be +sufficient. If your Majesty be pleased, it would be well to command +that for each piece of artillery no more than one artilleryman should +be appointed; because, besides their cost to the royal exchequer, they +are likewise a damage to this community, on account of the quantity +of money which they bring and carry back invested to Nueva España. + +[_In the margin_: "Have a letter written to the viceroy together with +this report, that, if this be so, it appears excessive, and he shall +correct it."] + +In the ships which come from Nueva España a great deal of money is +brought which is not registered. Beside not paying in Acapulco the +duties of two and a half per cent, which are due to your Majesty, +there results to this commonwealth a great deal of damage; for this +money belongs for the most part to merchants and citizens of Piru +and Mexico. Although in the sale which is made of the said ships, +when they arrive at the port of Cavite, investigation is made--as I +did this year, when I asked permission from the Audiencia to go to the +inspection of the ships which came--and although I went there, only a +very small quantity of this money was found, on account of the great +care which was taken to hide it. At times, it even belongs to the most +powerful people here; consequently those who are bringing it are very +bold, and it is necessary to inspect the vessels before they arrive +at the said port. It would be expedient for your Majesty to command +that the fiscal of the said Audiencia should always be present at +the making of this inspection, so that he can take all measures which +appear to him suitable for that purpose, and can make the inspection +before the ships arrive at the port, wherever he may wish. All the coin +or silver bullion which is seized for registry should be applied for +the royal treasury, some moderate portion being given to the person +who denounces the culprit, so that there may be persons to do this. + +[_In the margin_: "Write to the governor that it is understood that +this practice has become established, and let him try to prevent +and correct it. Let the fiscal accompany the royal officials +in the inspection of those ships, at the point which may appear +most convenient to them, and let all which is discovered without +registration, and contrary to the decree, be rigorously confiscated; +and let them give to the informer such part as may seem best to +the Audiencia."] + +At present nothing else occurs of which your Majesty should be advised +in matters concerning the government. I shall continually look out for +what is most expedient for it, and will advise you of what should be +done. May God protect your Majesty, according to His power, with a +larger increase of kingdoms and seigniories, according to the needs +of Christendom. Manila, July 21, 1599. + +The licentiate _Hieronimo de Salazar y Salzedo_ + +[_Endorsed:_ "Examined and answered."] + + + + + +Letter from the King of Borneo to Governor Tello + + +The contents of this letter, written this year, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, by the king of Burney to his Highness +Don Francisco Tello, knight of the Order of Santiago, governor and +captain-general of the Philipinas Islands for the king our sovereign, +and president of the royal Audiencia and ChancillerÃa resident therein, +and translated by a good and exact interpreter, are as follows. + +Soltan Adil Lula: + +Letter of friendship sent by the king of Burney to Don Francisco Tello, +captain-general of the fortress of the city of Manila, because of the +information I have received that he governs that city exceedingly well, +not only for the service of God, but furnishing justice to the regions +about, with protection to the poor--whereat I have rejoiced greatly, +and all the nobles and natives of my kingdom have done the same. + +I received the letter that your Lordship sent me through Hernando, +Don Francisco Tael, and Don Joan Solit. It gave me much happiness, +for I understood thoroughly the message conveyed by it to me from +your Lordship. I am exceedingly rejoiced in heart and mind, for I +desire fast friendship with the captain-general of Manila. Therefore, +I request that, when my vassals go to Manila, you will give them +kind treatment; and I shall do the same when men from Manila come +to my country. This is in token of friendship, and if this is always +observed, I shall be very glad, and likewise if you will have pity on +the Burneys. I received two Burneys, whom the Spaniards had captured; +they arrived at my court. And, inasmuch as your Lordship orders me, +in your letter that I receive, to send any Sangleys that I might +have here to Manila, I am now sending two who were captured by the +Camutones; one is named Bonzhuan and the other Adali. I am sending +them to your Lordship as a token of lasting friendship with the +Burneys. Furthermore, I am sending five taes of camphor, of Burney +weight, and three large Burney mats. And that your Highness may not +jest at my present, know that I am sending you a [_word uncertain +in MS_.] + +The above translation was made by Constantino Xuarez and Miguel Yaat, a +native of Burney. They declared it to have been thoroughly and exactly +made, without any change of sense. They signed the same before me, +Estevan de Marquina, alcalde-mayor of Tondo and its district, for the +king our sovereign. July twenty-seven of the said year, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine. [7] + +_Estevan de Marquina_ + ++ + +_Constantyno Xuarez_ +[_Miguel Yaat_] + + +[_Endorsed_: "Original letter written by the king of Burney to Don +Francisco Tello, governor of the Phelippinas, translated from the +Burney tongue into Castilian."] + + + + +Letters from Francisco Tello to the King + + + +Sire: + +I have striven for your Majesty's service in this government to the +extent of my ability, and I have done my duty with much care and +diligence. I have punished certain individuals, as it seemed proper +to do; and hence it has resulted that I have rivals--as have all of +us who have governed, and are engaged in your Majesty's service in the +Indias. Although in all things I have always been favorable to Doctor +Morga--who was my lieutenant-general, and who is now auditor of this +royal Audiencia--I have been informed by many persons that he has +spoken ill of my proceedings, and has even opened the way for others +to write evil of me to your Majesty. I have never paid any attention +to this, since I felt that my actions proved my innocence; nor have I +ever thought it necessary to write to your Majesty about this matter, +although some things seemed to affect my honor; for, having been bred +in honor, I thought that in the end the truth must come to light, +and could not be obscured, [_MS. worn_] the royal service could not +be hindered here. [But now I feel] [8] myself compelled to speak of +this, because a letter was written [to] the auditor, Tellez Almacan, +in September of last year, which was a slanderous libel, without +signature; and I have another which was written this year, at the port, +to the auditor Don Antonio Maldonado, in the name of a friar. The +handwriting of it must be Doctor Morga's, although it is disguised, +[for so it was considered] by the auditor Almaçan, who is writing to +your Majesty about this, as also is the fiscal of this Audiencia. I +beg your Majesty to commission whomsoever your Majesty deems best, +to investigate this matter, for it is not just that this evil act be +passed by in silence. I assure your Majesty that I have seriously +tried, and am still trying, not to be offended by their insults in +this land; and that in the Audiencia, not only have I kept, and still +maintain, great harmony, but I am also trying to harmonize the auditors +and the fiscal; for now they are not in accord, and many [of them] +have disputes and all [come to me,] and I reconcile them. In order +that your Majesty may know the manner in which I have served you, and +my method of procedure in this government, and in order that it may +be seen that [_MS. worn_] whatever may have been reported, or shall +be reported, to your Majesty in another way, I have wished to make, +before this same Doctor Morga, the report that I am sending to your +Majesty, from the most honorable people of this land, in order that +you may understand better my zeal for your Majesty's royal service, +and the good of this realm. May our Lord preserve the Catholic person +of your Majesty, as is befitting. Manila, July 14, 99. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ + +[_Endorsed:_ "Governor Don Francisco Tello, July 14. Let this be +kept until that which is mentioned here arrives, and then let it +be presented."] + + + + +Sire: + +I wrote your Majesty by the ships sailing from here to Nueva +España this year, about the news I had from Malaca concerning the +English ships which had come to Sunda, and had made a settlement and +fortification there; and that I was awaiting a more detailed account +of the enemy's designs from the commandant of Malaca, and everything +else relating to the subject. [9] Advices have now come from the +commandant of Maluco that two English ships had arrived there, and had +formed an alliance with Terrenate, as your Majesty will be informed +in greater detail by the copies of his letters which I enclose, and +also those of the king of Tidore and the people of that stronghold, +requesting in strong terms that I send them aid. [10] + +I then called a council of war to consider the disposition of the +affairs of these islands, and what was to be done therefor--since +affairs are in the condition which I have described to your Majesty +in other letters. As there are but few and badly-armed troops, and so +few supplies with which we could send help, it was unanimously agreed +to give no aid whatever to Maluco, but to undertake the no small task +of preserving this land. Notwithstanding, I am thinking of sending +reenforcements of supplies, powder, ammunition, and other military +supplies such as can be given, also a dozen musketeers. As that land +belongs to your Majesty, it is but just that your Majesty's servants +and vassals should make all possible efforts to aid it. I assure +your Majesty that if you are not pleased to provide this realm with a +goodly number of well-armed troops and with money from Nueva España, +according to the demands made by him who shall be governor--who, since +this fort is placed in his keeping, can well be entrusted with twenty +thousand pesos more, in control of the officials of your Majesty's +royal exchequer--we may find ourselves hard pressed. I fulfil my +duty by giving account thereof to your Majesty, and by defending +this land as occasion may arise therefor. In whatever I find to do, +here or elsewhere, I shall strive to serve your Majesty well; but +if on account of my little strength, I should be somewhat remiss, +I beg your Majesty to understand that I could do no more. + +At the news of the English, it was urgently necessary to aid Cebu. But +as we did not have it to send, and the presidio of La Caldera, +[11] with its eighty Spanish soldiers (who go more than a legua by +water), [12] was in danger; and since the English and Terrenatans are +confederated, they may attack the fort, and if the water is cut off +from them the Spaniards are lost--I have resolved, with the approval +of the council of war, immediately to withdraw those troops with +their artillery; and that they, after burning their fort, shall go to +Cebu. When it shall appear to me that a favorable opportunity occurs, +they can return to La Caldera, from which, according to orders, it +is necessary that punishment be inflicted on the king of Jolo for +the crimes, and the murders of Spaniards committed in this land. + +I am writing to the viceroy of Nueva España the information I have +received of the hostile ships; I am asking for reenforcements, [13] +and that the ships which return next year must sail very cautiously, +as perchance the enemy might be awaiting them at the mouth of the +channel, or outside of it. Moreover, he should send the duties +and freight-charges that are paid at Acapulco from the Chinese +merchandise. Your Majesty has ordered that this money be returned to +us, but it has never been done. If it were sent to this royal treasury, +this kingdom would not suffer its present necessity and danger. + +For some time past I have exercised great care and diligence in the +founding of artillery, [14] and it is being more carefully done. Four +out of five medium-sized pieces, which were being founded, have +resulted well, and I am very well pleased. The said founding is being +continued by native Indians, and I have a quantity of metals for said +work in the royal warehouses of your Majesty. May God our Lord preserve +the royal Catholic person of your Majesty. Manila, August 7, 1599. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ + + + + + +Letters from Felipe III to Tello + + + +The King: To Don Francisco Tello, my governor and captain-general of +the Filipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia therein +established. Your letter of June 23 of last year, 98, has been +received. I understand by it that quiet and peace has been restored +in Mindanao, and that you were examining the papers brought by the +master-of-camp, to see whether any of the subdued people were to be +punished or not. Keep me informed of what you shall do in that respect. + +You speak also of other insurrections among the Canbales Indians in +Panpanga, who were already pacified; and of your intention of taking to +that city [Manila] an Indian who has been the chief of those people, +in order to remove him to a location where his presence would be less +dangerous. This is well; do what is needed and keep me informed of +the proceedings. + +We have considered what you say of your caution and forethought +concerning the fears which Japan is wont to cause; also your behavior, +friendship, and correspondence with certain chiefs of that country, +whom you have entertained. It is well to continue these efforts, +and to give us notice of what takes place. + +What you say about retiring two companies is commendable; nevertheless, +if you think best in the future to increase one of them, do so, and +make the necessary provisions. Keep me informed of the measures that +you shall take. + +I am writing to the viceroy of Nueva España, that I have assisted you +with what is necessary, and shall ask him to see that the people whom +he sends to those islands be useful and carry weapons. He shall take +care to punish the captains for their excesses. You shall do the same +in what concerns you. + +In regard to the needs of the soldiers, which you attribute to their +not having, and the impossibility of providing them with, encomiendas +for a long time; and as it concerns the temporary employments which +you give them instead of the servants, and even these employments +are not sufficient for all--you shall observe the instructions, laws, +and ordinances which you possess. You shall see that the distribution +of what is available be made among worthy men who have served in +that land. + +As to the remedy which you propose in the marriage of elderly women, +and encomenderas of the land, you shall introduce no innovation. But +you shall enable marriages freely to take their proper course. At +Denia, August 16, 1599. + +_I The King_ + +By order of the king our sovereign: + +_Juan de Ybarra_ + + + +The King: To my governor and captain-general of the Philippinas +Islands, and the president and auditors of my royal Audiencia +thereof. I have understood that the Chinese Indians who trade in that +country bring thither each year eight hundred thousand pesos' worth +of merchandise, and often more than a million; and that in the ten +days which they spend in that country they make more than a hundred +per cent, and that in the last year, ninety-eight, it was said that +they secured two hundred per cent. Since in their own country they +pay increased duties, and since so great profit comes to them from +the merchandise which they bring to those islands, while they pay me +no more than three per cent in duties, which is the amount formerly +imposed by Governor Don Gonzalo Ronquillo, it would be just that +they should pay the said duties proportionately to the profits; +and accordingly these might be increased by at least another three +per cent. As I wish to be informed more minutely concerning what is +expedient in this matter, and whether an increase of the said duties +would or could result in any inconvenience whatsoever, and for what +reason; and, in case that there is no objection, to what extent the +duty can be increased--I command you to send a report thereof, with +your opinion. Done at Denia, on the sixteenth of August, of the year +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine. + +_I The King_ + +Countersigned by _Juan de Ybarra_. + +Signed by the Council. + +I [the King:] to the archbishop of Manila. + +[_Endorsed:_ "To the governor and Audiencia of the Philippinas; let +them give information concerning the report that the duties can be +raised on the merchandise from China."] + + + + + +Documents of 1600 + + + + The pacification of Mindanao. [Unsigned and undated; 1600?] + Oliver van Noordt's attack on Luzón. Francisco Tello, and + others; October-December. + + + +_Source_: These documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo +general de Indias, Sevilla. + +_Translations_: The first document is translated by Robert W. Haight; +in the second, the commission to Morga is translated by James +A. Robertson; the instructions to him and to Alcega, by Jose M. and +Clara M. Asensio; the account of the battle, by Arthur B. Myrick, +of Harvard University, and James A. Robertson. + + + + +The Pacification of Mindanao + + +_Concerning the pacification of the island of Mindanao; in the +year 1600_ + +In the relation of the last year you will have learned how occurred +the death, in the pacification of the island of Mindanao, of Estevan +Rodriguez de Figueroa, who offered to carry out this pacification +under the conditions which he stipulated with Gomez Perez Dasmariñas, +formerly governor of these islands--copies of which were sent to +his Majesty, and to master-of-camp Juan de Lajara, formerly of +the said expedition, who succeeded to his place when the camp was +abandoned, and came to Manila. Don Francisco Tello, governor and +captain-general of the said Philipinas Islands, who at that time +had taken possession of the government was considering how to aid +and stimulate the said pacification at the expense of the heirs +of Estevan Rodriguez, and with the agreement of the captains and +persons who were long resident and experienced in war in the said +islands. Don Juan Ronquillo was appointed commander of the galleys, +to prosecute the said pacification; and in the meantime, in order to +be present and continue the expedition, Captain Torivio de Miranda +was sent forward to encourage and animate the troops, under orders +to keep them in his charge; and in case the post should be abandoned, +and a retreat made to Manila, he should detain the troops and return +to Mindanao. The said Captain Toribio de Miranda having arrived at +the island of La Caldera, which lies forty leagues from the river of +Mindanao, there found the whole camp, which was returning from the said +islands. Conformably to the orders which he had, he turned back and +fortified the site where they had first been, which was on the river, +four leagues from the forts of the enemy. Juan Ronquillo, having been +despatched to Mindanao, had taken the camp in his charge, and begun +to achieve some success. He achieved a victory in the battle which +he fought with the Terrenatans, who had entered with eight hundred +men to give aid to the people of Mindanao. Before these successes, +he had written a letter in disparagement of that country (a copy of +which was sent to his Majesty)--on account of which, in a council +of war which had been held, the general Don Juan Ronquillo had been +ordered to make a last effort against the Mindanaos, doing them all +possible damage. He was then to come to the island of La Caldera, and +there build a fort, to be garrisoned with a hundred Spanish soldiers, +with artillery, arms, and munitions; and leave them there as a check +upon Terrenate and Mindanao, in charge of a good soldier, one of the +captains of the camp, and with the rest return to Manila. Although +Don Juan Ronquillo received this order, after having won considerable +victories, he again wrote that he would not abandon that place, even if +such were the order, because it would not be expedient to retire from +the camp and comply with what had been ordered, when he was leaving +the island of Mindanao already pacified--the chiefs, with whom he +had used gentle means, that they might all be more contented, having +again rendered submission to his Majesty; and likewise as the king +of Jolo again rendered obedience and submission. Confiding in this, +Captain Cristoval Villagra, whom Don Juan Ronquillo had appointed +commander of the garrison of La Caldera, had sent thirty soldiers to +the island of Jolo for supplies. They found at this time in Jolo a +Mindanao chief--an uncle of the king of Mindanao, and a brother-in-law +of the king of Jolo--who had been driven out of Mindanao because he was +rebellious. He treacherously killed thirteen Spanish soldiers. When +news of this was brought, Juan Pacho was sent to take the troops of +La Caldera in charge; and, when it should seem best to him, to try to +inflict punishment on the king of Jolo. Having gone out to inflict the +said punishment with six hundred Spaniards, the enemy unfortunately +killed the said Juan Pacho and twenty-nine Spaniards, the rest of them +retiring without any success. This news having come to the governor, +he sent in place of Juan Pacho Captain Toribio de Miranda, a person +in whom he had entire confidence, with an order not to attempt any +punishment until he had force enough for it. After this Captain Toribio +de Miranda arrived at La Caldera on the twenty-sixth of August in +ninety-nine. When the garrison was given into his charge he put the +defensive works in order; and with the arms which he brought, and +those which he found in the fort, he armed all the troops, amounting +to a hundred and fourteen soldiers. As directed by an order of the +governor, he sent a chief of the Pintados to Mindanao with letters to +the chiefs of the island, in which he informed them that they would be +protected, favored, and upheld in justice, as vassals of his Majesty, +and that with this object a garrison had been placed in La Caldera; +and that to aid in maintaining it, and in covering the expenses +which they had caused in the war by their disobedience, the largest +possible quantity of tributes would be collected for his Majesty, and +that he would send for them shortly--which had not been done earlier +because the Mindanaos had been so spent and afflicted. Having arrived +on the second of September at the river of Mindanao, and delivered +his despatch, this chief was well received, and found the people +in the settled state in which General Don Juan Ronquillo had left +them. Adiamora, the main chief of Mindanao, in the name of them all, +sent him back on the fifteenth of the said month, offering to give +to his Majesty all the tribute which they could collect. + +At this time--news from the chief captain of Malaca having reached +the governor, to the effect that in the Sunda, [15] a hundred and +fifty leagues from that port, there had been seen a number of English +ships, whose designs were not known; and, a little later, word from +the commander of the fort of Maluco that there were at Terrenate, +within the port, two English ships with four hundred men and fifty +pieces of artillery--a council of war was held as to what was best to +do. The said council decided to withdraw the garrison from La Caldera +to Zibu, so that the enemy should not take that place; and, if they +should attempt to do damage to that province, they would find it in a +state of defense. Accordingly an order was sent to Captain Toribio de +Miranda to withdraw with the troops, arms, artillery, and munitions, +dismantling the fort; he was also told that he could return shortly +to the island with more troops and arms, in order to assist in its +defense. On the ninth of September Captain Toribio de Miranda arrived +at Zibu, with all the troops, artillery, arms, and munitions; and at +the same time General Don Juan Tello arrived at Zibu with a hundred +men, who came as reënforcement from the city of Manila. Having spent +six months there and commenced to build a fort of stone, the governor, +as they had no more news of the English referred to, sent an order to +the said Don Juan to come to the city of Manila--which he did with the +hundred men, leaving the province of Zibu in a prosperous condition, +with the troops which are usually kept there, and those of the garrison +of La Caldera, which in all amount to two hundred and fifty Spaniards. + +After all this, in June of 1600 the governor received news, by way +of Malaca, that the ships which had passed to the South Sea belonged +to Dutch merchants, who had come to load with spices in the Maluco +Islands. Having transacted their business, they had returned to their +own country by way of Yndia, without doing any damage to the islands +of the west; it therefore seems that we are safe, notwithstanding +the news received of those enemies. + + + + + +Oliver van Noordt's Attack on Luzon + + + +_Commission to Antonio de Morga_ + +In the city of Manila, on the thirty-first of October of the year +one thousand six hundred, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and ChancillerÃa of the Philipinas Islands having assembled, +the president announced to the said auditors that news had been +received that, on the sixteenth of the current month and year, two +foreign ships had anchored in the bay of Albay, outside the mouth +of the channel of these islands; whereupon he sent by land Captains +Pedro de Arceo, Cobarrubias, and Christoval de Axqueta with seventy +soldiers--arquebusiers and musketeers--to the place where said ships +were stationed, in order to make the defense and resistance that +occasion and opportunity might offer. He also ordered several ships +to be equipped and prepared at the port of Cavite, so that they could +attack the said vessels. At this juncture of affairs, it was now +reported that, on the twenty-fourth of the current month and year, +the said ships had weighed anchor, left the said bay of Albay, entered +the channel of Capul, and anchored at the island of Capul, where +they still were. The enemy's intention, according to the president, +is to advance upon this city. Accordingly, whatever may happen, +both in order to resist him, and to prevent among these islands the +possible effects to them and the vessels about to come from Castilla, +it is very advisable and necessary to go, with all haste, in pursuit +of said enemy, and to assure the safety of the vessels and the port +of Cavite. As has been gathered from recent discussions held in the +presence of the said president and auditors, with certain captains and +men of experience, it is necessary to equip the deep-draught vessels +quickly, and what light vessels can be prepared, so that they may +attack the enemy. Now in order that the aforesaid preparations may +be effected and executed with all diligence and precision by all, it +is advisable for the said president and auditors--the latter acting +jointly with the said president--to attend personally to this matter, +on account of its importance; for thus will the despatch be effected +more quickly, and with the necessary equipment. The president requested +that, attentive to the aforesaid, they decide and determine the +course advisable to pursue in this matter. After having considered +the above proposition, the said president and auditors resolved +that Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor of this Audiencia, should go +immediately to the port of Cavite and take charge of the despatch +and preparation of the vessels about to go to attack the said enemy, +and to place the said port in a state of defense. For this purpose +he shall request the necessary means, which shall be given him as +may be provided and ordained. The licentiate Tellez Almazan, also +an auditor of this Audiencia, shall remain in this city to attend to +what is necessary for its defense, and for the provision of the said +port of Cavite. The president declares that the commandant at either +place shall also assist and aid in such work as may be necessary, and +as occasion may demand, so that by this means all possible diligence, +together with the requisite haste, may be observed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado de Esquivel_ + +In the city of Manila, on the thirteenth of January in the year +one thousand six hundred and one, I, Pedro Hurtado de Esquivel, +clerk of court for the king our sovereign, in his royal Audiencia and +ChancillerÃa of these Philipinas Islands, at the request and order of +Doctor Antonio de Morga, of the council of the king our sovereign, +and his auditor in this said royal Audiencia, had this copy drawn +from its original, which is in the book of the government of his +royal Audiencia. It is a true and faithful copy, and agrees with the +original thereof, witnesses to its copying, correction, and comparison, +being Pedro Muñoz de Herrera, Joan de Arana, and Miguel de Talledo, +citizens of Manila. + +In testimony thereof, I affix my seal, in witness of the truth. + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquivel_, clerk of court. + +[_Endorsed_: "Testimony of the resolution of the Audiencia of the +Filipinas in respect to the entrance of the Dutch corsair among +the islands."] + +_Instructions given by the governor to Doctor Antonio de Morga_ + +The course of action to be pursued by Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor +of the royal Audiencia of these Filipinas Islands, and captain-general +of the fleet about to go in pursuit of the English [_sic_] enemy, +is as follows. + +First: Inasmuch as news has been received that the English enemy, +against whom this expedition is directed, is stationed in the harbor of +Marayuma, and inasmuch as he might take flight without awaiting attack, +should he, by any chance, hear of our fleet, it is ordered that our +fleet, with the least possible delay, shall start in pursuit of the +enemy, in order to engage and fight him, until, with our Lord's help, +he is killed or sunk. + +_Item_: The engagement with the enemy must be conducted with +all diligence and care, whether in firing or in boarding his +ships--whichever may be possible, in accordance with the best and +readiest opportunity permitted by the weather. Should the enemy take +flight on sighting our fleet, he must be pursued, until the object +sought is accomplished. + +_Item_: Should the enemy have left this coast when the fleet is +despatched against him, and should information be received that he +has gone to any other of these islands, then the fleet shall seek and +pursue him, until he is captured or sunk. Should the enemy have left +these islands, he shall be pursued as far as possible, in accordance +with his [Morga's] judgment, in order that the end desired may be +attained. + +_Item_: Inasmuch as the master-of-camp and the captains present at a +council of war, held on the second of this current month and year, +declared that, in their opinion, if no exact information as to the +course and route taken by the enemy should be received, said fleet +should follow the coast of Ilocos toward the strait of Zincapura, where +it is thought the enemy must pass, in order to make his voyage. Yet, +notwithstanding the said council of war, the said general, in the event +of receiving no information as to the enemy's course, shall pursue what +course he considers most advisable, as he is the one in direct charge +of the matter, and as weather and occasion allow, endeavoring to attain +the end desired--namely, the pursuit and destruction of the enemy. + +_Item_: Should the fleet encounter any enemies whatsoever, pirates +or others, who may be among the islands, or who shall have left +them after committing depredations among them--whether English or +Japanese, Terrenatans or Mindanaos, or from any other nation--they +must be attacked and punished, in order that some good result may be +attained in this case also, should opportunity arise. + +_Item_: After the capture of the enemy, as it is hoped, God our Lord +willing, the fleet will return with as many of the enemy as are still +living, and the captured ships. + +_Item_: The booty found in said ships shall be divided among those +who gain the victory, as is customary on similar occasions. + +_Item_: The greatest care must be taken that the crews of the fleet +are peaceable and well disciplined, in regard to which the regulations +followed on similar occasions shall be applied. + +_Item_: Good management must be exercised in regard to the supplies +and ammunition carried; and they must be consumed sparingly, especially +if the fleet leaves these islands. + +_Item_: If perchance the fleet shall have engaged the enemy, or +pursued him outside these islands, it must return to the islands as +soon as possible after the desired end has been attained. Should +the weather not permit the return voyage until the coming of the +monsoon, then he [Morga] shall endeavor to preserve, provide, and +equip the fleet with all needful things, at his Majesty's expense, +in order that his voyage may be made with the greatest promptness +and security possible. Given in the city of Manila, on the tenth of +December, one thousand six hundred. [16] + +_Don Francisco Tello_ + +By order of the governor and captain-general, + +_Gaspar de Azevo_ + + + +_Instructions given by Doctor Antonio de Morga to Captain Joan +de Alcega_ + +The order to be pursued by Captain Joan de Alcega, admiral of this +fleet of the king our sovereign, in the course of this voyage and +expedition, is as follows. + +[1.] First: Inasmuch as the end for which this fleet has been prepared +is for the search and pursuit of the English [_sic_] ships, which +have come but lately among these islands, and, as we are informed, +are near this place; and as in conformity with the instructions of the +governor and captain-general of these islands, the said enemy must +be pursued and followed with all care and diligence wherever found, +and must be engaged, and captured or sunk: therefore it is necessary +that the said almiranta [17] proceed very cautiously, and be ready +with sailors, soldiers, and artillery, in order, on their part, +to accomplish the said purpose, when opportunity offers. + +[2.] Further, the said almiranta shall follow the flagship to leeward, +unless it be rendered necessary for progress, or because of the +enemy, to beat to windward. It shall have a care that the other +smaller vessels of the fleet do not fall behind or deviate from the +course--this to be without prejudice to their navigation and voyage, +and their accompanying the flagship, which is the most important thing. + +[3.] _Item_: Should opportunity be offered to engage the enemy, +the almiranta shall endeavor to engage him at the same moment as +the flagship or alone, in case that flagship is to leeward, or so +situated that it cannot do the same so quickly; for the flagship will +endeavor to come to its aid in whatever happens, with all haste and +speed possible. + +4. _Item_: Upon overtaking the two ships of the enemy, efforts shall +be made to grapple and board their flagship, where their force is +carried. This same effort shall be made by the flagship of this fleet; +but in case the flagship of the enemy cannot be overtaken, and their +almiranta is in such a condition that something may be done with it, +it shall be attempted. + +5. _Item_: Should our fleet attack the enemy and grapple, both +ships--the almiranta and the flagship--shall endeavor to grapple on the +same side. But if that cannot be done, care shall be taken that our +artillery and arquebuses are not turned on our own ships and men. In +this the greatest possible care and precaution shall be observed. + +6. _Item_: Upon grappling the enemy, efforts shall be made to make +him fast to our ship and to lower his sails, so that he may not +become separated from us. Before boarding with troops, the nettings +and deck of the enemy shall be rendered safe by clearing and raking +them, in order that there may be as little risk as possible to our men. + +7. In the course of this voyage in pursuit of the enemy, not a musket +or arquebus shall be fired, nor a powder-box touched, until after +his discovery. Neither shall any artillery be fired, for an effort +must be made to find the enemy at anchor, and to see that he have no +knowledge of the fleet that is pursuing him. + +8. Should the almiranta be in any urgent need that requires aid, +a shot shall be fired in the direction of the flagship, as a signal +for help. The same will be done by the flagship in case it encounters +a like necessity. + +9. _Item_: Should the flagship display a flag in the shrouds, it will +be a signal-call for a council of war, or other matters of importance, +for which the admiral shall come to the flagship in whatever boat +may be most convenient. + +10. _Item_: One of the two caracoas that accompany the fleet shall +keep as close to the almiranta as possible, in order to act as tender +to it and supply its necessities. + +11. _Item_: The greatest possible care and caution shall be taken +in the use of the ammunition and supplies, in order that this voyage +may be prolonged. + +12. _Item_: All these vessels must endeavor to keep together. But if +one of the vessels should become separated from the others, by storm +or by any other necessity, no direction for the exact route to be +followed is given, as the design or course of the enemy is unknown. It +is observed only that all the vessels are under obligation to seek for +and pursue the enemy until they shall drive him, if nothing more shall +be possible, from these islands, and leave the islands safe and free +from the said enemy. But the best thing for the ship to do that becomes +separated, as said above, will be to find out the course taken by the +enemy, and to pursue that same course until it shall rejoin the fleet. + +13. _Item_: Inasmuch as the governor and captain-general of these +islands has given Captain Joan Tello y Aguirre, who is aboard the +said almiranta, command as captain of infantry of what men I may +assign him, I do hereby assign to him the infantry troops aboard said +ship for the time that said expedition shall endure and last. The +said admiral shall deliver these men to said Captain Joan Tello y +Aguirre, in order that, as their captain, he may have charge of them, +and punish and discipline them. + +All the above plan must be kept and observed now and henceforth +throughout the course of this voyage. I give these instructions +to the said admiral and other persons whom they may concern, in +conformity with the command that I hold from the said governor and +captain-general of these islands. In testimony thereof, I affixed my +signature aboard the flagship, off the island of Mariveles, Wednesday, +December thirteen, one thousand six hundred. [18] + +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ + + + + + +_Account of the battle between Morga and Van Noordt_ + + +The license and daring of these heretical enemies of our holy +religion and faith are so well known to all, that no one can relate +satisfactorily the misfortunes that they have brought upon us, +the destructions and deaths that they have caused among us, and the +rich booty that they have carried away--which God in His righteous +judgment permitted. As they behold themselves so favored by fortune, +their greed is increasing continually, and they are continuing to +prosecute their designs, as was the case when Francisco Draque [19] +passed the Strait of Magellan and coasted along Chile and Piru, where +he seized the vessel "San Joan" of Anzona, with a large consignment +of silver, in the year 1579. Again in the year 1587, they passed the +straits under the English general Don Tomas Canbler. [20] Within sight +of the Californias they seized and sacked the vessel "Sanctana," which +was sailing from these islands to Nueva España with a large cargo of +silk and gold. Having easily made this seizure, they returned home, +displaying innumerable banners, streamers, and pennons; and it is +even affirmed that their sails were of damask. Their countrymen, +upon seeing them return so rich and prosperous in so short a time, +were so enthusiastic as to launch a similar undertaking. Among those +who resolved to make a voyage to these parts was Oliver Daudtnord [21] +a native of Nostradama [Amsterdam], one of the islands of Olanda and +Xelanda [Holland and Zeeland]. Being persuaded and informed by the +boatswain who sailed on the vessel that seized the ship "Sanctana"--to +whom he gave title as captain and chief pilot--and being attracted +to privateering, he asked permission of Mauricio, count of Nasao, +and prince of Orange, [22] in whose dominions the above islands are +located, to equip four ships. He received permission, whereupon he +collected as many men and as much of supplies and artillery as he +deemed necessary. He placed forty of the total of two hundred and +sixty men aboard two of the ships, which sailed from the port of +Nostradama--while the other two sailed from the port of Rrotadama +[Rotterdam]--on the eleventh or twelfth of August, in the year +1598. They laid their course toward the straits of Magellanes; and +while skirting the coast of Brasil, the Portuguese there hoisted a +flag of peace. This being seen by the English and Irish, twelve of +them went ashore in the shallop, where the Portuguese, who numbered +perhaps ten or twelve, received them with pleasant countenances, and +invited them to dine. But while at dinner the Portuguese murdered all +the Irishmen, among them the chief pilot, upon whom the others relied +because of his familiarity with the said course and voyage. Thereupon +the enemy, furious at the manner in which they had been treated, +landed forty or fifty arquebusiers in order to avenge the injury that +they had received. The Portuguese, in anticipation of this, intrenched +themselves very strongly, so that the enemy was unable to enter their +fort, but was, on the contrary, forced to retire to his boats with a +loss of six men. They set sail and laid their course for the strait +[of Magellan], where they arrived a year and seven months from the +time when they sailed from their own country. When they arrived +there they encountered many storms and head-winds, and sickness +to such an extent that they were obliged to transfer the men still +remaining on one ship to the other three. Then they sunk this vessel, +and with the three vessels pursued their course, followed continually +by storms which never left them. They sighted a vessel, which upon +investigation turned out to be English. By it they were informed +that another squadron of four vessels had sailed from Yngalaterra +[England], and that this vessel, being unable to carry so much sail +as the others, had been left to its fate, and knew naught more of +the others. The Dutch ships continued their course and sailed ahead, +so that within a few days they lost sight of this vessel. They passed +through the strait, where they lost four or five months. After this it +happened that the general fell out with his admiral, whom he charged +with negligence of his orders. The admiral was tried, the charges +sustained, and traitorous misdeeds proved against him; therefore +he was abandoned on a desert island near the coast of Chile. [23] +Then the general appointed as admiral one of the most valiant and +experienced soldiers of his band. He reached the coast of Chile, +where he made a few captures, although of no especial importance. The +first was a fragata, [24] which was seized near the island of Sancta +Maria Domingo de Rramos in the year 1600. They were informed by this +vessel that two ships had gone to Arica for the king's silver; but +they were warned that there were war-vessels at Callao. This fragata, +they say, was carrying three consignments of gold; but our men, upon +seeing that they were lost, threw it overboard. The enemy seized the +pilot, who was a Portuguese, and took the fragata along with them, +together with two negroes who were aboard of her. The latter told +them that the pilot had had all the gold thrown overboard, whereupon +they ordered the pilot to be cast into the sea alive. They captured +at Santiago on the same coast another vessel laden with tallow and +Cordovan leather [morocco]. Considering that it was worth little to +them, they burned it, and its crew escaped by swimming, except a few +Spaniards and natives who perished in the water. The enemy seeing +that they were acquiring small profit in that neighborhood, decided +to go up along the coast of Nueva España, and wait at the entrance of +the Californias for the annual vessels from these islands--the very +purpose and object for which they had resolved upon their navigation, +as is evident from the aforesaid. However they abandoned that purpose, +upon being told by the negroes whom they had brought with them that +Don Luis de Velazco, viceroy of Piru, had left Lima in person for +the port of Callao to superintend the preparation of a large fleet, +as he had been informed that pirates had passed and were along the +coast. The enemy, fearful of this, and recalling the fact that, +five years previously, Arricharse de Aquines, [25] an Englishman, +was defeated and captured by our men, after the greater part of his +force was killed, decided to abandon their voyage to the Californias, +and to head for these islands, with the intention of awaiting at the +Ladrones the shipments of silver from Nueva España to Manila. With +the said intent, they put to sea, but after sailing for several days, +they encountered a storm, which brought them all nearly to the verge +of destruction. One very dark and stormy night they lost sight of +the almiranta, and never saw it again. Seeing himself without this +vessel, the general chose as almiranta the fly-boat which he had +remaining. This was a vessel of perhaps fifty toneladas burden, called +"La Concordia," under command of a captain called Esias Delende. Then +they resumed their course, with the same intention of capturing our +silver, but, if unable to do more, to proceed to Maluco to barter for +cloves, for which purpose they carried mirrors, knives, basins, and +other small wares. They reached the Ladrones Islands--our Lord thus +permitting--four or five days after our vessels had passed. They +were detained there for several days, where, upon seeing their +plans frustrated, they burned the fragata that they had brought +from Piru. Thereupon they set sail and made the principal channel +of these islands, eighty or ninety leguas from this city of Manila, +where they stopped--either for iron, or, as our people here said, +because of a need of provisions; or, as I believe, and as they +themselves asserted, purposely. In short, instead of going by way of +Capul, the right and necessary path for the voyage they were making, +they entered a small bay called Albay, on the Camarines coast, where +they anchored as if they were in their own harbors, and with as little +fear and mistrust, as was clearly seen later on. They were hospitably +received in this district, for our people supplied them with abundance +of rice, with which to satisfy their need. They paid well for it, +in order to relieve their necessity--they could not, had they wished, +pay for more--for the purpose of assuring the natives that they had +not come to harm them. They told the natives that they were vassals +of the king Don Phelipe, our sovereign, in whose service and by whose +permission they were coming. As is proved by those selfsame papers, +the general showed the natives some counterfeit decrees, with which +they ought to be satisfied. A messenger was sent to Manila to give +information of the vessels that had arrived there. The news reached +here on the nineteenth of October, when Captain Xiron reported that he +was in the Camarines, and that he had boarded the general's ship, which +was coming well-supplied with munitions, arms, and artillery. He gave +information also concerning the number of men who, in his opinion, +were carried by the two vessels--about ninety men, of whom some +were sick; and of his dealings with them, and that they claimed to +be vassals of the king our sovereign. As soon as news of the enemy +reached this city, Don Francisco Tello, governor of these islands, +sent soldiers as scouts along the Camarines coast, with orders to +hide all the provisions, as he was unaware of the generous supply +that the enemy had. It is quite true, as the English themselves said, +that they could have had as much as they wanted, by paying for it. + +Captain Pedro de Arseo and Captain Christobal de Arseo Etaminchaca, +both of the infantry, were also ordered to go with a command of men +along the coast to form ambushes, should the enemy land. But this +was all to no purpose, for the enemy, in little more than a month, +came out of the bay and sailed away on one course or another--which +seemed quite impossible to the people here, because they were confident +that the enemy could not get out of the bay in which they lay. But it +finally turned out quite to the contrary; for, as I say, they departed +and laid their course to Capul, until they cast anchor in a harbor, +where they are said to have cleaned the ships and sent men ashore to +burn a small native village. One of the English was left behind there +among the Indians, who seized and brought him to this city. They took +his deposition, in which he told some of the things related above. + +Toward the last of November, one of the negroes, named Salvador, +who had escaped by swimming one night near Capul, arrived here. He +reported that the enemy were directing their course toward Maluco, +and that meanwhile they were trying to discover if there were any +plunder among these islands. He said that the capture of the enemy +would be greatly facilitated by attacking them with a fleet; and +his advice was not bad. All this time the enemy were coming nearer, +until they anchored in the port of El Frayle, near Mariveles, where +they lay very much at ease and without any fear, watching for the +vessels coming to this city. They captured a fragata, which they +sank. They took a quantity of flour from a Japanese vessel that was +on its way here. In order to quiet the Japanese, they gave them a +sword, and a few trinkets of no particular value. They captured a +Chinese champan, by which they were informed that the Chinese vessels +would arrive within a few months, laden with silks and merchandise of +great value. This news pleased the enemy so highly that they did not +propose to leave until they should seize some of the Chinese. From +this place they wrote a letter to Don Francisco Tello, in which they +declared that the Indians there had stolen a number of fowls from +them, that his Lordship should order the Indians to make them good, +and that they were coming to pay their respects to him. It may be +seen by this how little they feared the governor. + +While these things were taking place, the governor had three ships +fitted out--one from the city of Cebu, to act as flagship; another, +a galizabra, still in the shipyard--which was launched a few days +before the departure--called "San Bartolome," to act as almiranta; and +a Portuguese patache [26] which had come from Malaca--with artillery, +men, and munitions sufficient to overbalance the greater strength of +the enemy. Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor of this royal Audiencia, +was appointed captain-general of this fleet, an appointment which +highly displeased the old captains, because in their opinion they +should have been considered. They thought it unjust that the auditors +should take part in the affair, especially because it left only +one auditor in the Audiencia. In the end, however, neither these +nor other reasons sufficed to prevent his appointment. The general +appointed as admiral Captain Joan de Alzega, a very courageous soldier, +of considerable reputation and credit, a Biscayan by birth. Many noble +and wealthy people assisted in serving his Majesty in this expedition, +in all about three hundred men, counting the paid soldiers, the seamen, +and others. They embarked very gallantly, with the resolution and +intention of attempting not only that undertaking, but another of +greater weight and difficulty. + +The general was impatient for the fleet to depart, and accordingly set +sail on Tuesday, the twelfth of December. The flagship and almiranta +left, without waiting for the Portuguese vessel, or allotting it +sufficient crew or munitions, taking advantage of a tide which was +discovered at the time of their departure, which was favorable to +them. Accordingly they began their voyage. As they left the bay, +beyond the river of Canas, three leguas from the harbor, the shallop +which was carried on the stern of the almiranta went to the bottom, +and drowned two seamen who were in it. They continued their voyage, +and that night cast anchor at Mariveles, where they lay the rest of +the night. In the morning they were informed by the alferez Albarran, +who was stationed on that island as sentinel, that the enemy were +anchored at Azebu, five or six leagues from there. Upon receiving +this news, on that same day (St. Lucy's) our men began to spread the +_pavesades_, [27] and ballasted the flagship a trifle more. They were +all in the highest of spirits, and so eager were they to come to close +quarters with the enemy, that every hour's delay seemed a hundred +years to them. At midnight, or a little later, on St. Lucy's day, +the flagship weighed anchor without notifying its almiranta. The +latter, seeing the flagship make sail, followed. Without waiting +for the small Portuguese vessel, they followed the course of the +enemy, and at dawn the next day, which was the fourteenth of the +said month, they discovered them. They investigated and ascertained +beyond all doubt that it was the enemy. Their only fear was lest the +latter might escape from them. Our men thought that if but once the +enemy were grappled, they could overcome ten vessels. However, in a +little while they were made to see the difference between fighting +in imagination and actually using their hands in real earnest. In +short, as above stated, our flagship was leading the advance; and +when the enemy saw it, he ordered his almiranta to weigh anchor and +reconnoiter. The order was obeyed, and although the almiranta put out +to sea but a little distance, it recognized them as armed vessels, +which was reported to the general. The latter ordered the almiranta to +keep a sharp lookout and to run close-hauled; and, if it was apparent +that the two vessels were approaching to attack them, to return to +his assistance. But his intent was to see if he could not in any way +separate their force, because he said that, ship for ship, his force +was the abler. Since our flagship was drawing nearer and outstripping +the almiranta, it was overtaking the enemy, who put to sea with his +flagship and waited close-hauled. He fired a shot, which carried +away part of the tops and the main halyard on our flagship. Ours +returned the fire, but struck the water. When they almost touched +our ship, the enemy fired another shot, which destroyed a pump and +killed two or three Indians. Thereupon our men crowded on all sail, +and attacked with the greatest determination that was ever seen--for, +as they say, they were going with all sails set. Our ship grappled with +its opponent, so that our men could board easily. With the vessels in +this condition, shots were fired on both sides. About twelve of our +men leaped aboard the enemy's ship. The enemy retreated to the bow, +where they intrenched themselves, and made loopholes, through which +they fired their muskets--although, being fearful lest our almiranta +should come up to grapple with them, they did but little damage, +before they were compelled to strike their own colors and hoist +ours in their place. At this moment our almiranta came up with the +intention of boarding on the other side. Thereupon our men who were +aboard the enemy's ship cried out: "Victory! victory! for the king +of España! Pass on ahead! Do not fire and kill us, for the ship has +surrendered already." However, the admiral, Joan de Alezega, caused two +pieces to be fired and a discharge of his musketry and arquebuses upon +the enemy. It is understood that with one piece of this broadside, +he did the enemy considerable injury, as was proved. As soon as +the admiral understood that our men were advising him to pass on, +and that the enemy's almiranta was fleeing under a press of canvas, +he bore away in pursuit of it. + +The enemy's flagship, seeing that our almiranta had departed, began +to serve their artillery more rapidly, and their musketry from the +bow, so that they inflicted considerable loss upon those of our men +who boarded their ship with only shields on their arms, and their +swords. In this way they would have defeated the enemy if they +had attacked with fifty men in a body. Instead of taking such good +counsel, they boarded in parties of threes, while the enemy continued +to wound and kill them. Even this lack of system and concord did not +stop here, but it is understood that the enemy pierced our flagship +with a ball at the water-line. Our men, flushed with the exultation +of the victory they had won at first, and confused by much shouting, +did not hasten to repair the damage; for they were people who did +not like to be ordered, and their general could do nothing with them, +as they were all captains and men of distinction. On account of this, +and as the ship was so occupied by the sailors' berths, they could not, +or did not, notice the shot which our ship received. When they did +perceive it by the rising of the water to the second deck, they all +became frightened; and, instead of boarding the enemy's ship, with +the thought that if they were losing a ship, they were gaining one, +they began to devise means of escape. Accordingly some leaped into +the enemy's small boat without orders from the general, whereby a few +escaped, while others had recourse to our own small boat. Thus eight or +ten of them contrived to escape, without waiting for anything else. A +little before this, they addressed the general, Antonio de Morga, +saying: "Escape, your Grace, for the ship is sinking." He answered +that it was not suitable to his reputation to leave his ship and not +die with all the others, from which answer it was understood that, +in case the ship went down, he was confident of his own strength and +dexterity. The rest of our men--it may be seen what sort of men they +were--seeing that the vessel was settling little by little, and that +the enemy did not cease to serve their guns, huddled together in fright +as they saw their ship filling with water--a state of affairs which +would make others undertake not only the exploit of boarding the ship +and mastering it, but even more difficult enterprises. In short, by the +just judgments of God, which our sinful countrymen so well deserved, +He disturbed their minds and deserted them, so that they would make no +effort, excepting a few--of whom I shall make particular mention below, +because they deserve it. There was one who, in order that he might +take them with him, ordered a gold chain and other jewels brought +to him. Seeing things in this condition and the danger so evident, +a father of the Society, by name Father Santiago, took a crucifix +in his hands, and commenced to call out to the Christian Spaniards: +"Where is that courage of yours? See, this is the cause of God! Die, +die like good soldiers of Jesus Christ! If you do not care to be food +for fishes, consider that the lesser of the two evils which threaten +us is to board that ship of the enemy, for if we are losing one ship, +we are gaining another." After this exhortation, several men hastened +to board their enemy's ship. Those who did not do it were prevented +by two reasons: first, because they saw a fire breaking out on the +enemy's ship, caused by some charges of powder which they set off +purposely to terrify our men, and make them believe that they were +about to blow up the ship; the second, because our pilot told them +that, although the ship was so full of water up to the second deck, +all hands could be saved even if the ship were lost, as the distance +from there to the island of Fortuna was little more than one-half +legua, and, if they would cast loose from the enemy and crowd on sail, +their purpose would be just as well effected. The idea of escaping with +their lives seemed very attractive to all, and accordingly this plan +was immediately put into execution. They began to cut the cables and +to cast loose from the enemy. In a few moments our ship started off +in such a way that they saw the dead bodies of drowned men floating +about between decks. The general, upon seeing this, began to strip +off his clothing, at the persuasion of a private servant of his named +Josepe Denaveda, who gave him a mattress of [_MS. worn_] on which the +two naked men threw themselves into the sea. Many others did likewise, +though only a few reached shore. Our ship gave a lurch and foundered, +carrying down with it all those whom fear of their inability to swim +prevented from taking to the water--some of whom were armed--so that +the majority of the men were carried down with the ship. Many who were +very good swimmers were dragged to the bottom by the force of the +suction. All our men who were still on the surface tried by all the +means in their power to save their lives. It was the unhappy fate of +some of them to reach the enemy's ship itself where those heretics +hastened to receive them with pikes, and speared them with great +cruelty. Among those they wounded Captain Gomez de Molina with a lance; +however he continued to swim thus wounded, until he reached the shore, +where he died from loss of blood, at the water's edge. In this way +many died, and those who escaped took shelter on the island of Fortuna, +eighteen leguas from the city, until some vessels might pass by. + +At this moment the small Portuguese ship, seeing the outcome, laid +its course to Malaca, because it had arrived only at that moment. Our +ship had grappled with the enemy for six hours, from eight in the +morning until two in the afternoon, when the former foundered. + +Admiral Joan de Alcaga, who was chasing the enemy's almiranta, overtook +it, and after he had fired two or three volleys of his artillery, +musketry, and arquebuses, he grappled it on its stern-quarter on the +starboard side. Our men immediately boarded the enemy, the said admiral +being among the first. The enemy defended themselves well, serving +their artillery and thrice setting a fire purposely with some powder +cartridges, but our men hastened to put out the fire with buckets +of water. The enemy seeing the strength of their assailants and how +unfortunately the action was turning out, because the best of them +were killed, honorably surrendered. Admiral Joan de Alcaga agreed, +and so they were captured with nineteen men alive. On our side only +one man was killed by a gun-shot, one Joan Baptista de Mondragon, +a nephew of the precentor in the cathedral at Manila. Another from +the Canarias was drowned while trying to jump from one ship to the +other. Some were seriously wounded; the captain and master of our +almiranta, Joan Lopez de Serra, was shot through the thigh, and a +certain Calderon was shot through one side of his shoulder and part +of his arm. There were others wounded, but none seriously. Some booty +was found on the vessel, two pipes of oil and two of wine, a number +of basins, candlesticks, and brass mortars, iron in plates and bars, +and some other small wares of little value. They captured twelve pieces +of artillery--eight heavy and excellent pieces of cast iron, and four +small ones. Among other things captured, was found a small iron coffer +which was kept in the after-cabin, and in which the admiral carried the +papers and commissions which the prince of Orange had given him when +he appointed him captain of that ship. One was in his own tongue and +the other in ours, which is the one copied at the end of this relation. + +One or two charts were found, which they brought for Piru; these the +holy Inquisition has in its possession. Then Admiral Joan de Alcega +ordered a few sailors to be transferred to the ship surrendered by +the enemy, and set them to making repairs in order to take it into +Manila; for its main mast and rigging were lost, and our men in +boarding left nothing standing by which they could navigate. They +took it to an island near by, called Luban, While there, our men +sighted a dismantled ship which seemed to be coming toward them, +which they took to be the enemy's flagship, which was already ours, +and that it was being sent, like their own, to be repaired. Their +expectation was not unfounded, for they had seen our men in it and +heard them shouting, "Victory!" so that it seemed to them that nothing +else could be possible. But in actual truth it was the enemy, who was +coming, upon seeing his almiranta, to see if he could assist it. But +when the enemy saw the two ships close together, and heard no noise +of guns, he tacked about, and hitherto nothing has been known of his +whereabouts. It is believed that his flagship was badly injured and +battered, since it did not wait, although victorious by having sent +our flagship to the bottom. However, we may give credit to some who +said that when they were in the water, they saw the crew of the enemy +casting lances at our men who were swimming, whom they could overtake. + +Our almiranta, after its recent success, set sail to return to Manila, +where they thought that our flagship was calmly lying at anchor. They +arrived at Mariveles and there they heard of the misfortune our +people had suffered. The admiral sent a messenger to the governor of +this city to procure his orders, and to tell him that he was waiting +there. He was ordered to follow instantly and pursue the enemy as far +as Malaca, or wherever else he might hear that he was. Immediately +he received another order to cruise among those islands--when, if he +should not find the enemy, he was to return. This he did after sending +the survivors of the enemy to this city. The admiral himself came +later to the city, and the governor ordered him to be arrested, but +afterward set him at liberty. I do not know what justification there +was for either act. After all this, the governor, with perfect justice, +notwithstanding the word that Admiral Joan de Alcega had pledged to +them, ordered all the prisoners to be garroted. [28] This sentence +was fulfilled and executed upon thirteen of them because the rest +were boys. The latter, who are not young children, are divided among +the monasteries, with I know not what end in view. Twelve [of those +executed] died good Catholics and converts, and with many tears, so +that the religious were obliged to administer the most holy sacrament +of the eucharist to them. The Confraternity of La Sancta Misericordia +buried them with great charity. The only one who refused conversion +was the English admiral [Lambert Biezman], the most stubborn fellow +[29] and the most obstinate heretic I have ever seen in my life. + +According to the reports received, a total of one hundred and +thirty-seven men were killed or drowned. + +_Copy of the commission which was found in the iron box_ + +(This is a faithful and exact copy of a letter and patent, written +lengthwise on white parchment in large letters, and illuminated with +letters of gold. The first line is covered with a pendent seal of +red wax, the size of a consecrated wafer. This document appears to +have been issued by Mauricio de Nashau, who styles himself "Prince +of Orange," as commission for the captain or second in command of a +certain armed fleet, and is countersigned by J. Melander; its tenor +is as follows. [30]) + +Mauricio, Prince of Orange; Count of Nasau, Catzenelleboghen, and +Bietz; Marquis of Veer and Flissinge; governor, captain-general, +and admiral of the United Provinces of Flandes, etc.: To all who see +or hear these presents, our affectionate greeting, etc. Whereas, in +order to contract friendship with certain foreign nations and kingdoms, +and for many other considerations, we have seen fit to send a goodly +number of vessels, in good order and well equipped, to the coasts +of Asia, Africa, and America, and the islands of Eastern Yndia, to +make treaties and carry on trade with the subjects and inhabitants +thereof; and because we have been informed that the Spanish and +the Portuguese are hostile to the subjects of these provinces, and +obstruct their navigation and commerce in those parts, contrary +to all natural right of all cities and nations; we have found it +necessary to entrust, to certain valiant and experienced captains, +the task of executing this our intention. Being well-informed of the +fidelity and experience of Esaias de Lende, we have appointed him +captain of the ship named "La Concordia," of about fifty toneladas +register, with very detailed and explicit orders to go to the said +islands, to resist and make war on, and to harm and injure as far +as possible, all the said Spanish and Portuguese, and any others +who attempt to obstruct them in their duties, and in the performance +of everything which shall be further commanded by their admiral and +captain-general, Olivier van Noordt. That he may execute this, his +commission and charge, with greater facility and readiness, we have +ordered that he shall raise as many men as he shall deem necessary, +and as shall be entrusted to him by the said admiral. We strictly +order these men to obey and respect the said captain, and to obey all +his orders to them in the name of the said admiral. In everything +else he shall do all that a good and faithful captain is bound and +obliged to do--always excepting that neither he nor any of his men +shall dare to do any harm or injury to the subjects of his imperial +Majesty, or those of the kings of Francia, Anglatierra, Escocia, +Denemarqua, Suedia, and Polonia, or of the princes of the Empire, +[31] or of any other rulers who are friends of these provinces, or +inclined to the true Christian religion. Therefore we request and +require all the said kings and princes, and all other states, and +all persons whom the said Esaias de Lende shall encounter; and we +also give express orders to all admirals, vice-admirals, colonels, +captains, and other military men on sea or land, and others who are +under the government of these provinces and owe them obedience--to +recognize him as captain of the said ship, and to allow him, with +the said ship and crew, not only to go and trade wherever he shall +please, but also to assist him, and extend him all favor, aid, +and succor, from which we shall receive great and especial favor +and satisfaction. We will render favors to them on like occasions, +and our people will perform for them the services for which they are +under obligation. Given at La Haya [The Hague], on the twelfth of +May in the year one thousand five hundred and ninety-eight. + +_Maurici de Nashau_ + +By order of his Excellency: + +_J. Melander_ + +[This is followed by a certificate (dated February 6, 1601) of the +accuracy of the copy, with the statement that the original had been +delivered to the royal notary for copying by Doctor Antonio de Morga.] + + + + + +Documents of 1601 + + + + Report to the governor, on the battle with the Dutch. Antonio + de Morga, January 5. + Annual letters from the Philippine Islands. Francisco Vaez, + S.J.; June 10. + Letter to Felipe III. Diego Garcia, S.J.; July 8. + Letter from the fiscal to Felipe III. Hieronimo de Salazar + y Salcedo; July 16. + Complaint of the cabildo of Manila against Morga. Gonzalo + Ronquillo de Vallesteros, and others; July 20. + Letter to Felipe III. Antonio de Morga; July 30. + Grant to Jesuit school in Cebú. Council of Indias; December 11. + + + + +_Sources_: All these documents save one are obtained from MSS. in the +Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla; the second is taken from John Hay's +compilation _De rebus Iaponicis, Indicis, et Pervanis_ (Antverpiæ, +M. DC. v.), pp. 950-968, from the copy in the Library of Congress. + +_Translations_: The first and fourth of these documents are translated +by Norman F. Hall, of Harvard University; the second, by Henry +B. Lathrop, of the University of Wisconsin; the third, fifth, and +sixth, by Robert W. Haight; the seventh, by James A. Robertson. + + + + +Morga's Report to the Governor on the Battle with the Dutch + + +_Copy of a petition of Dr. Antonio de Morga to the governor, in which +he gives an account of all that happened in the expedition against +the Dutch corsair, presented as soon as he returned from it._ + +This is a copy well and faithfully made from a petition which it +seems was presented by Dr. Antonio de Morga, auditor of the royal +Audiencia of these islands, to Don Francisco Tello, knight of the +Order of Santiago, who is governor and captain-general of these +islands. This is in connection with a suit brought by order of the +said governor against Joan de Alcega, admiral of the royal fleet +which went against the Dutch enemy which was sailing among these +islands. The said auditor was commander-in-chief of this fleet, +and the admiral was the said Joan de Alcega, who deserted the royal +flagship in time of battle. It runs as follows: + +I, Dr. Antonio de Morga, auditor of the royal Audiencia and +Chancilleria of these Philipinas Islands, say that in the month of +October just passed, in the year one thousand six hundred, there +came to these Islands for the purpose of robbery one Oliver de Nor, +corsair and a heretic, and a native of the states of Flandes, with +two men-of-war well provided with men, artillery, and munitions. One +of the two ships was large and strong, and was the flagship; the +other, smaller and of less importance and strength, was the admiral's +ship. With these he had entered the South Sea through the Strait of +Magallanes, and skirted the coast of Chile; and then came and anchored +outside the entrance to these islands, in the bay of Alvay. After +making inquiries about affairs in these islands, and finding that +there was no fleet, and no arrangement by which one that could molest +him could be created, he passed by Capul and proceeded on his way +until he reached the mouth of the bay of this city of Manila. There +he made some captures and committed some robberies on vessels which +entered, and he was hoping to commit greater ones on the ships which +are expected this year, both from China and from Nueva España, with +the money belonging to these islands. On this account your Lordship, +together with the royal Audiencia, by a decree in due form dated the +last day of the aforesaid month of October, commanded me to go to +the port of Cavite and to place it and keep it in a state of defense; +and likewise to finish some vessels which had been begun there in the +dockyard, and to prepare and put in order those which could be used +quickly for a fleet to go out and resist and punish the enemy. By +working personally day and night, without having anything given to +me for it, I put all this into operation with the greatest diligence +and care, in thirty-two days. When I came to this city to give your +Lordship an account of the good condition of the fleet--in order that +it might be immediately arranged who was to go out in it, and the +soldiers and seamen who were to embark--considering the fact that +the corsair still remained near this bay, your Lordship, influenced +by urgent causes and reasons, ordered and commanded me in writing, +in the name of our lord the king, to set out with the volunteers of +this city, who were placed at my disposal for this expedition. It was +understood that I was to conduct this expedition, and, with another +body composed of hired soldiers from this district, was to go out as +quickly as possible in search of the enemy, and was to fight with him +until I overcame him or sent him to the bottom. There were many other +conditions which are contained more fully in the letter of instructions +which your Lordship gave me, signed and sealed, to which I refer. In +fulfilment of this, and only for the service of God and of our lord +the king (which service your Lordship commended to me so strongly), +leaving my house and quiet life, leaving my wife and nine children, +I obeyed your Lordship's command. At my own cost, without having +anything supplied from the royal treasury either to myself or to the +volunteers who were with me, and who formed the larger part of all +the body, I embarked on the fleet on the twelfth day of the month of +December of the aforesaid year, taking as flagship the vessel "San +Diego," which is of about two hundred tons burden; and in its convoy +the ship "San Bartolome" as admiral's ship, of the same burden, +in command of the captain Joan de Alçega, admiral of the fleet, +and other small vessels for the service of the fleet. + +That same day I set sail from the port of Cavite in search of the +enemy; and on the following Thursday, the fourteenth of December, +I came in sight of him. Both ships of his fleet were anchored near +the mouth of the bay at the point of Balagtigui, with his boats at +the stern. The flagship of the enemy, from behind, was very easily +seen to be a strong vessel, but the admiral's ship was not. When +he discovered the two ships of the royal fleet and saw that we were +keeping together, in order jointly to board and attack his flagship, +he weighed anchor; and, after sending the said admiral's ship out +to sea under all sail, in order to divide us, thinking that one of +our ships would go after it, he with his flagship luffed toward our +vessels, in order to get to windward of us, which he was not able +to accomplish. On the contrary, when I discovered the number and +excellence of his artillery, with which he began to cannonade me, I +saw that success must consist in coming hand to hand with him as soon +as possible, with both of our vessels, according to the arrangement +which I had made on the day before, the thirteenth of December, when +I had given orders and instructions to that effect in writing to the +said admiral. So with my flagship I boarded the corsair's flagship, +and grappled with it side to side, on the port quarter of the enemy, +in the expectation that my admiral would do the same on the other +side, as he was perfectly able to do. At the first volley from the +artillery and arquebuses I swept the deck of the enemy, unrigged +his main and mizzen masts, sent his yards and shrouds into the sea, +burned his sails, and won and took into my power the flag at the +topmast, the standard and flag at the stern, and the others which the +ship bore. Then I sent on board of him a band of men with arms and a +banner of infantry, who captured the poop and the cabin and took the +shallop or long-boat which it had at the stern. All the enemy retired +below the harpings and coverings at the bow. Seeing from there that my +admiral was already coming upon them, and that they could not defend +themselves, they sent to ask protection for their lives, and to say +that they would surrender; and I granted their request, in order to end +the battle with the least possible loss and with the greatest safety. + +At this time the admiral's ship of my fleet ought to have boarded the +enemy as I had done, according to his duty, and to the order which he +had from me; and, without orders from me, ought not to have passed by, +and still less to have gone in pursuit of, the opposing admiral's +ship which was going out to sea. These orders, for many reasons, +I could not be expected to give him, especially at that time, until +the flagship had completely surrendered and a guard had been placed +over it and over the people on it, which would be impossible with my +ship alone. Nevertheless our admiral aforesaid, for some reasons of +his own which he had, passed by, and with all sail started to pursue +and overtake the admiral's ship of the corsair. When the enemy on the +flagship saw this, and that they were alone, and that, on account of +the superiority of his ship and artillery, he might hope to defend +himself, he turned a deaf ear to the terms which I sent him; and he +not only did not surrender, but he put himself on the defensive, and +fought with me with all the fury of his artillery and of his musketry, +from both sides of the ship, and with fire contrivances, with which +he was well supplied. The battle lasted six hours, with both ships +lashed side to side, but in all this time my admiral aforesaid did not +leave his course, or return to succor or help me. On the contrary he +began, in our sight, to fight with the admiral's ship of the enemy, +which he had overtaken, and he easily captured it because it was +a very small ship, with about twenty-two men, including boys and +the sick; and after it had surrendered he remained there, instead +of returning to help me in time of battle. The enemy killed ten or +twelve Spaniards of my men, and some Indians of the service, and on +his side most of his men died; so that, being still so hard pressed, +he himself set fire to his ship of his own accord, at the stern, +where our men were on the poop with the banner. The fire so increased +there that we feared that both ships were going to be consumed. + +Furthermore, my flagship, which was not a strong one, having been made +especially for the merchant trade, sprang a leak at the bow with the +force of the artillery which had been fired in this long combat; and it +made water so fast that nothing could be done, because we had no pumps, +as they had been knocked to pieces by one of the enemy's shot. On this +account, by the advice and counsel of the chief pilot and of the seamen +who understood the situation, I was asked to loosen myself from the +enemy and to go to save my ship (or at least the artillery and men +on it) at the island of Fortun, which was to leeward of us a legua +and a half away, and which they said we could reach quickly. When +I saw the opinion of the aforesaid men and the danger which my ship +was in, both from the fire on the enemy and from the risk of sinking, +I followed the advice; and, having withdrawn the men and the banner +that I had on the poop-castle of the corsair's ship, which was left, +as I have said, so broken and disabled, I started for the aforesaid +island of Fortun to make repairs; but the water which the ship was +taking in increased so that all at once the ship sank. + +When the enemy saw himself alone, with the few men that he had, he +hastily began to put out the fire on his ship; and with the foresail, +which he had had up all the time, he took flight toward the island +of Luban, where he has not appeared since that day, nor in any other +of the adjacent islands. From this and from the fact that he was so +broken and so stripped of men and without any long-boat, it may be +inferred that he went to the bottom. Some indications of this have +been seen since in the shape of yards and sails, and bodies of the +enemy's men, so that we may presume that it is so. + +When the flagship of the fleet on which I was went to the bottom, +there was no shallop or boat to saye the men, because the boats had +been taken by some sailors and soldiers, who to escape the danger, had +gone with them to the aforesaid island of Fortun. Consequently when the +ship sank I was left in the water, and saved myself at the end of four +hours by swimming with great exertion to the island of Fortun, which +was a legua and a half away, against many waves and a high wind. The +same thing was done by two hundred other persons, including Spaniards +and slaves, but the rest drowned and perished, with what was left in +the ship. Then I made haste to take all the people from that island, +because it was without inhabitants and without water, and I started +them on the way to this city. After that I went along the coast to +get information about the enemy which had fled, and in search of the +admiral's ship and of the captured vessel; but I could not find them, +nor could I in the islands of that district, although I searched among +them in light vessels, for they had departed thence. At last, having +heard that they were near Mariveles, I came to claim them, but did +not enter them because your Lordship wrote to me, at just that time, +to come to this city on other business in the service of his Majesty. + +Thus that expedition ended. It is true that the desired end was +accomplished--namely, to destroy the aforesaid corsair so that he +should not be able to do the damage which he was doing in this sea, +and to conquer him, which was done. Nevertheless it could have been +accomplished fully without the loss which there was, if my orders +had been followed in the aforesaid fleet, and if there had not been +other transgressions and irregularities--which I should have proceeded +against and executed justice upon if I had had opportunity to return +to the aforesaid fleet, as I tried to do. Since on my part this is +all ended, it remains for your Lordship, as captain-general of this +realm, to take action in this cause--not only to execute whatever +may be just in the matter, but also in order to give an account to +our lord the king of what has happened. I have had this in mind in +giving to your Lordship so faithful and exact an account of the case, +and of the aforesaid irregularities, of which the ones that need +particular attention are the following. + +First. When the fleet was on the point of setting out from the port +of Cavite, although it was already scantily equipped with seamen +and artillerymen (which was a matter of the greatest importance), +the majority of those who had been provided and supplied absented +themselves and fled from the aforesaid fleet at the time of setting +out, so that they could not be reached; and the fleet had to go +without them, which was the cause of a great deal of suffering and +loss. It can be determined who were guilty of this through the lists +of allowances and apportionment which are in the possession of the +factor of the royal treasury, and through the register which the +accountant afterwards made of both fleets at Mariveles. + +_Item_: Although your Lordship, at my request, had some seamen sought +out in this city, and had them sent to me with the sergeant Pedro Lopez +to Mariveles (where the fleet was anchored) on Wednesday, December +thirteenth, and although the aforesaid men arrived on Wednesday, +they refused to go on the expedition because they were men of wealth +and property; and they did not go to the fleet that night, but went +to the settlement on the island. There they remained until the fleet +had gone in pursuit of the enemy in the early morning, when they left +the village and returned to this city. + +Third. The Sangley nation of this city offered themselves, with three +ships, according to their custom, to go in the service and convoy of +the aforesaid fleet. They were armed and set out after it from Cavite +for that purpose, but when they reached the station at Mariveles, +where the fleet was anchored, they left it; and it was necessary to +send to them and order that on the following day they should join the +fleet and follow it without moving off, under pain of their lives. Not +only did they not comply with this, but on the following day, when +they saw the battle, they remained more than three leguas behind, +looking at it; and although they could have been of great assistance, +when they saw my flagship founder, they returned toward the bay, +ringing bells and beating drums, as is their custom. + +Fourth. The aforesaid captain Joan de Alcega, admiral of the fleet, did +not obey the orders and instructions which on the day before the battle +I gave to him in writing, signed with my name, according to which +both ships, flagship and admiral's ship, were to board and fight with +the enemy's flagship, because it was a strong vessel. Nevertheless, +though he had seen me board, he passed by without having an order +from me to do so, and still less having any order to follow and to +fight with the opposing admiral's ship, and thus abandon me. If he +had done as he was under obligation to do, the flagship would have +been made to surrender completely without the loss of one of our +men; and we could have captured for his Majesty a beautiful ship +and twenty-six pieces of artillery, and many other things of price +and value for all, and my flagship would not have been lost, and the +people of worth who died in it would not have perished. After that, +it would have been a sure and easy thing to capture the admiral's +ship, which was a small boat, of no strength. Your Lordship should +send promptly to the admiral to write the instructions which I gave +him originally in Mariveles on the thirteenth of December by the hand +of the captain Joan Tello y Aguirre, who came for them--signed with +my name, without any erasures or changes whatever--because through +them the above matter will be verified, without any fraud or deceit. + +Fifth. After my flagship had foundered, the enemy in his, as broken +as it was, took to flight with only the foresail up, and passed +within sight of the admiral's ship of my convoy, and although the +admiral was aware of my loss, and that that was the enemy's ship, +and made sail after her, he did not try to follow her; and so he let +her go, although he could easily have overtaken her, as she bore only +the foresail, and could have captured her, as she was so broken and +without men. Most of us who were on the island of Fortun saw this +from there; and the captive Flamenco admiral will say the same thing, +as well as those who came in our admiral's ship and remained in it. + +_Item_: Although our admiral's ship ought to have come in search of its +flagship, which it saw sinking in the sea from its companion ship--or +at least in aid of its men who had escaped to the island of Fortun, +which was near, in order to rescue us from that island, uninhabited +and without water, where we were in evident risk of our lives--yet +he did not do it. On the contrary, he went away with all speed, and +returned to the mainland to the station of Mareyuma; consequently +we could not find him, and he could not receive orders from me, his +commander, concerning what he was to do in such matters as following +the aforesaid enemy (in which a great opportunity was lost), as well +as in other things in the service of his Majesty which ought to have +been done. + +Seventh and last. Although the aforesaid admiral ought not to have +allowed out of his convoy the vessel which he had captured and taken +from the enemy, so that it might not be lost again on account of +his having put very few men on it, he left it; and, under pretense +that he was sending it to be repaired, he ordered it to the island of +Luban with other intentions--where on the same day, near night-time, +there appeared the flagship of the enemy, which, if it had seen this +ship, could have seized and taken it easily, because it was without +defense. Then, without having been repaired, it left Luban and returned +to the aforesaid admiral's ship at Mareyuma. + +Of all this your Lordship is sufficiently informed through the reports +which have been sent to your Lordship about the aforesaid event, and +through the investigations made by the alcalde-mayor of the province +of Balayan, in whose territory and under whose jurisdiction the event +took place. Your Lordship will also be informed by the searchings +and investigations which your Lordship ought to make concerning the +aforesaid case and every particular of it, personally and very soon, +before the guilty ones pervert them so that the truth may not be +understood. They have been preparing for this, holding investigations +before themselves in the admiral's ship, about their own affairs +and business; but opportunity ought not to be given for these, +nor any attention paid to them, for they are void and fraudulent, +and malicious. + +I ask and pray your Lordship to do and perform in this matter, since +it is of such quality and importance, whatever may be proper in the +service of God and of his Majesty, so that those may be punished who +are guilty in a matter of such harm and loss, and that our lord the +king and the gentlemen of his Council of the Indias may be informed +faithfully of all that has happened and of what has been done--since, +as far as I am concerned in this matter, as there no longer remains +to me any authority or jurisdiction of commander in the fleet, I have +done my duty. For this I have, etc., and ask it for testimony. + +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ + +In Manila, on the fifth of the month of January in the year one +thousand six hundred and one, before the governor and captain-general +of these islands, Don Francisco Tello, appeared the doctor Antonio +de Morga, and presented this petition; and when his Lordship had +seen it, he ordered it to be joined with the investigation which +the alcalde-mayor of Balayan made, in order that the other proper +verifications may be made according to what is provided, and that +whatever is just may be done. + +_Tello_ + +Before me: + +_Gaspar de Azebo_ + +This copy was made, as has been said, from the aforesaid original +petition, which is in the aforesaid suit of petition and mandate by the +aforesaid auditor, and is exact and correct. In the city of Manila, +on the twentieth of the month of November in the year one thousand +six hundred and two; the witnesses being: Joan P[ablo?] Monfredo, +and Gregorio del Castillo, and Josephe de Naveda Alvarado. + +In testimony of truth, I have affixed my seal. + +_Joan Paez de Sotomayor_, royal notary. + +We, the notaries who sign here, certify and give our word that Joan +Paez de Sotomayor, by whom this testimony is signed and sealed, is +a royal notary, as he signs himself, and commissioner of the royal +Audiencia of these islands; and, as such, complete faith and credit +has been given and is given to all acts and writings which have passed +and do pass before him, in court and out of it. And, to certify to +this, we give these presents in Manila on the twentieth of November +in the year one thousand six hundred and two. I have affixed my seal, +in witness of truth. + +_Francisco de Valencia_, notary-public. + +I have affixed my seal, in testimony of truth. + +_Jhoan Francisco Aparicio_, notary-public. + + + + + +Annual Letters from the Philippine Islands + + +_From Father Francisco Vaez, [32] June 10, 1601, to Reverend Father +Claudio Aquaviva, general of the Society of Jesus._ + + +Amid all the calamities and miseries which it has pleased the Lord to +inflict on these islands, the chief has been the loss of some ships +which were wrecked, including among others the flagship and the ship +of the second in command. They set sail from this coast during the +last year, 1600, for Nueva España, being laden with a large amount of +treasure and merchandise; and by them the records of this province +and the letters from Japan for your Paternity were sent. But, after +sailing for eight months, these ships encountered a violent contrary +wind, and, having on board a great number of sailors, were gradually +driven back by sickness, hunger, and the fury of the waves, which +swept the men from the very decks of the ships to be drowned in the +waters. The vessels struck on rocks and were wrecked, a few men only +being rescued, like the servants of Job, from the immediate danger, +to announce the destruction--which, being increased by one misfortune +and mishap in war after another, heaped sorrow upon us. On one of these +ships, called the "San Geronimo," was Father Pedro Lopez de Parra, a +professed religious of our Society--who, as we trust, after this long +voyage (or rather that longer one of thirty-seven years in religion), +has entered the gate of eternal life, laden with a rich treasure +of good works. He taught philosophy and theology in Nueva España, +having been one of the first members of the Society formerly sent +thither; he trained our ministers with fruitful results. Although we +have heard nothing certain with regard to the details of his death, +yet, as he took great delight in the duty of hearing confessions and +helping souls, it is likely that with great devotion he aided all in +that extremity of danger. [33] + +In another disaster we have lost another priest and a brother, if loss +be the proper name to give to the death of those who have been slain +for the gain of souls, and while aiding their brethren in a just war +against heretic pirates. These were Hollanders and Zeelanders who +were driven to the Philippine Islands in the year 1600, and came to +get booty on the sea called the Northern Ocean, or "Mar del Norte" +(for they had already made spoil of a Portuguese ship), and, after +passing the Strait of Magellan, had, in that southerly ocean called +"Mar del Sur," done likewise with a small vessel from Peru. Their +leading vessels, the flagship and the almiranta, took a station six +leagues from Manila, where the Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese ships +had to unload their cargoes, and to which all the smacks and other +small boats that left the city had to hold their course. Against +these ships of the enemy there were sent out from Manila two ships +provided with three hundred of the best soldiers of these islands, +together with many bombards and other equipments of war. In the chief +ships were Father Diego de Santiago and Brother Bartolomeo Calvo, +at the request of the general, Antonio de Morga, auditor of the +royal Audiencia, and of other officers of rank, who were accustomed +to confess to the said father. + +Now when the father had exerted himself to receive the confessions +of the soldiery, and had exhorted them to fight bravely, on the +fourteenth of December they came in sight of the enemy; and the +flagship spread its sails and bore down so swiftly on the other +flagship that the passage from one to the other was easy. In the +conflict our men tore away the enemy's flags and carried them back to +their own ship, shouting, "Victory!" with joyful voices. Just then +our ship, having taken in a great quantity of water from all sides, +was by the permission of God suddenly swallowed in the waves with +all the sailors, except a few who by the help of a skiff captured +from the Dutch, or by swimming, made their way to land. The general +was one who threw himself into the water with two flags of the enemy's. + +Then the almiranta, having encountered the enemy's almiranta, +captured it, and carried it away to Manila, where punishment was +inflicted on all the sailors. Among the number of those on our side +who were slain or drowned, a hundred and fifty-nine in all, Father +Diego was drowned. He had heard, as it appeared, the confessions of +all; and as he was making the effort to throw himself clear into the +sea, he was called back by the voice of a captain desiring to make +his confession. While he was hearing the confession he was drowned, +with the brother and the rest. The father was in the twenty-ninth year +of his age, and had lived fifteen years in the Society. The brother, +his companion, was of the same age, and had lived in the Society seven +years; he had entered it in these regions. He was a man endowed with +every virtue, being especially noteworthy for his obedience, to which +he was always greatly inclined. + +Of the brethren there has also died Martin Sanchez, a native of these +islands, who was for a decade a member of the Society, and who left a +glorious example in life and death. There remain in this vice-province +thirty priests and twenty-nine brethren (of whom two are scholastics +and four novices)--those nine being included whom your Paternity has +sent hither with Father Gregorio Lopez, in whom this vice-province +assuredly receives a great assistance. As it is of later birth, more +scantily supplied with workers, and further from Rome, it is likewise +poorer; and, as the younger daughter, ought to be the dearer and more +precious to your Paternity. + + + + +College of Manila + + +There live in this college (the leading one [34] in this vice-province) +seventeen of Ours--seven priests and ten brethren. All of them, by the +favor of divine Providence, have by their example and labor brought in +a rich harvest from the spiritual tilling of this city. This has been +added to on account of the war and the earthquake, the loss of the +ships, and other calamities; and we have learned by experience that +piety grows more rapidly in adverse than in prosperous fortune. The +earthquake has made us hesitate to go on with the completion of the +college buildings, for we are compelled first to repair what has +already fallen or is on the verge of ruin. Last year we wrote that +on the twenty-first of June the main part of the nave of the church +had fallen; but in this year of 1601, on the sixteenth of January, +the other part corresponding to it was overthrown, and the rest so +shaken that it had to be leveled with the ground. We regard it as +a great blessing that these buildings fell without injuring anyone, +although the first of the earthquakes came while the people were in +the church at mass, the other when it was least expected. The people +of Manila have accordingly been warned by Ours of the daily peril +of life on earth, and have begun to lift up their hearts to heaven, +and to pray for its care and protection. By a happy lot it has been +obtained for them by the patronage and advocacy of St. Polycarp, +[35] bishop and martyr, the disciple of St. John the Evangelist; +and in his honor they have begun to celebrate an annual feast with +a solemn procession. + +The beginning of another pious work has been made this year with +marked results. This is the practice of scourging, not as hitherto +on three days in Lent, but every Friday throughout the year, in our +church. There is a great concourse of people at that time to hear the +fiftieth psalm, _Miserere_, by the melancholy harmony of which they +are most moved to devotion and to doing penance. Not infrequently +the royal auditors and the governor himself have been present, as +well as other leading men. + +Those in prison also have been aided by the reception of sacramental +confessions and by pious exhortations; and--a thing that has edified +the people not a little--the necessary food was for some days carried +all the way to the prisons on our shoulders. From children, too, +the food of Christian doctrine has not been withheld on Sundays; +and with the children arranged in the form of a procession we went +out during Lent to the military barracks, where after delivering +sermons we reaped fruit not to be ashamed of. + +The congregation of scholastics begun this year has made the best +of progress. Every month, according to the rules, they make their +confession to the priest, and partake of the divine food. On feast-days +they spend the afternoons in listening to spiritual reading and in +commemorating the examples of the saints. The solemn feasts of the +Blessed Virgin they celebrate with the greatest fervor and joy. On one +of these they go with their cloaks cast off, each with a silver ewer +and basin in his hands, and carry food to the prisons, marching in the +finest order and system; and with great readiness and humility they +serve the unhappy men. They are believed to have taken their manner +of procedure, in all respects, from the congregation at Rome. The +privileges of the Sodality, also, have so much attracted laymen that it +has been necessary to divide them into two orders. As for the adult men +and householders who look forward to spending Sundays and feast-days +to advantage in the Sodality, the father-visitor has made a beginning, +by delivering to them familiar exhortations, and narratives of pious +examples taken from the Lives of the Saints; and we have every reason +to hope that the undertaking will succeed to the greater glory of +God, with the most noble of advantages to the city. Even now there +are some who, having heard one or another sermon, have entered upon +more holy and profitable ways of living than they followed before. + +A beginning was also made this year in selecting some saint's name +by lot (a custom introduced in some towns); and there has been a +great concourse of people. One man was plunged into the sea along +with many others in the naval battle with the Dutch already spoken +of; but because he invoked the name of his patron, St. Nicanor, who +had fallen to his lot that month, he was rescued from that danger in +which the others were swallowed up; and by swimming a whole league +at last got to shore, to his own great wonder. + +The number of those confessing and communicating this year has +surpassed that of any previous year, for upon their old devotion has +been heaped up new, kindled by the torches of calamity. The quarrels +of many have also been brought to an end. In Lent, moreover, their +zeal for all piety flamed forth in the confession of many evils, and +in doing penance for them with daily scourgings, and other exercises +of devotion. + +The chastity of a certain woman was assailed by some of the wicked, +with entreaties and the bestowal of gifts; but by the weapons of more +frequent communion and confession she repulsed the attacks of the +enemy. Yet even then the enemy was not made entirely to desist. One +day, after the holy communion, which she had devoutly taken in our +church, she was walking in a lonely place; and there he came up to +her, and with his dagger at her bosom, he threatened her with death +unless she consented to wickedness. But she answered with firmness +that she preferred death to offending God. Then with blows and words +of insult she vanquished the beastly desires of her adversary, barely +escaping with her honor. + +Another, giving up all thought of God and of his own salvation, had +spent many years in dreadful sin, and especially in a disgraceful +lust, which was so deeply rooted and fixed in his innermost heart +that he regarded our priest, who strove to lead him away from this +vile manner of life, as only less than a fool. So completely had he +plunged himself into the filth of these pollutions of his soul that, +like a sow in a wallow, he seemed to take pleasure in nothing else. Yet +at last this obstinate man yielded to argument and persuasion, and +not only gave up visiting his harlot, but tore all lust from his +heart by the roots as completely as if he had had no knowledge of +it; for by a general confession of the lapses of his past life he so +corrected his morals that all those who knew him before were amazed +at the sudden change in his life. + +When the Dutch pirates of whom we have spoken were condemned to death +in Manila by the judges, the governor thought it well to entrust +them to several religious, as they might perhaps abjure their errors +and be reconciled to Holy Church. It pleased the divine goodness to +restore all, to the number of thirteen, except the admiral, who as an +obstinate heretic was hanged and cast into the sea. The others with so +great sorrow for their crimes subjected themselves to the obedience of +the holy Roman church that it seemed good to the religious fathers to +admit them to the holy communion. Of five commended to our Society I +can affirm that they greatly edified all, for they made a confession +of the sins of all their life and approached the holy communion with +many tears, having previously made public profession of the Roman +Catholic faith and abjured their heresies, being prepared to live +and die in the said faith. Two days later, with rosaries around their +necks they were led forth to the place of execution in great joy of +mind that they could atone for their sins by death. + +Our Order has been no less occupied with the Indians in these +regions than with others--partly because there is a greater number +of them gathered in this town of Manila than anywhere else, partly +because they feel a greater good-will toward the members of the +Society than toward any others. They never lack some one of Ours +to aid their confessions; and they would need old priests the year +round, if there were so many who understood the language, to hear +the confessions of all. They greatly affect the holy communion, and +report wonderful fruit from it. Every week, on Saturday, very many +hasten to perform their discipline with the others; and more would +come if the city gates which separate the Indians from the Spaniards +were not closed at nightfall. Indeed many do not fear to creep through +the little hole in the gates in order not to neglect that salutary +penance. They hasten, too, on the Sabbath to hear the sacrament of +the mass of the Blessed Virgin, and in Lent to hear sermons, and that +in such numbers that, although our church is of considerable size, +they fill it completely. And when it was overthrown by the earthquake, +they all hastened together, down to the very children, to give their +help in carrying stones away. It was a delightful sight to see them +swarming like ants upon the rubbish and the wall--men and women, +young and old, powdered with dust and lime, carrying baskets on their +shoulders and vying with each other in carrying off the ruins so as +to clear the space. + +The girls' sodality, recently introduced among the natives, has +marvelously roused all the others. Sometimes they have fed the poor +with such liberality that much was left for the prisoners and other +needy persons. After the meal was over, they poured water for the hands +of the poor persons, and kissed them; and then the poor persons fell +on their knees and prayed God for their benefactors. At another place +these same Indian members of sodalities went to the Indian hospital and +there gave their aid to the sick by making their beds and digging up +the ground for them--a thing worthy of special admiration in this race, +for they abhor visiting hospitals. The sodality members, although poor, +offer the usual alms to the church and to those who are in need. They +are given to hearing sermons and to fasting, being content for whole +weeks with bread and water. They are glad to go to our churches for +confession and spiritual instruction, and obtain great spiritual +benefit and edification. + +A certain Christian woman who was for a long time held in slavery to +the infidels in the islands of Mindanao and Borneo, which are given +to the faith of Mahomet, could not be torn from the true belief, +or be persuaded to the worship of idols, although she visited many +of their places. + +An Indian man, who along with some others had made his confession +that he might receive the holy communion, declares that he had kept +silent as to the circumstances of some sins; and that in a vision he +saw a beautiful child offering to him the holy eucharist. But when +he answered that he was a great sinner, the child replied: "Thou +are indeed not worthy of the communion, for in thy confession thou +hast hidden such and such a circumstance." Therefore when he awoke +he hurried to our church, revealed the vision to one of the fathers, +and desired to repeat his confession. + +Another had so accustomed himself to the scourging of his body that +one day when he was required to march with a troop of soldiers, +he withdrew from it in the night, in order that he might not omit +this holy exercise. When the officer of the infantry, going his +rounds at night, secretly perceived this, he thought the man was +meditating some mischief, and silently followed him. At last he saw +him enter the cemetery of a church, and after pouring forth prayers +to God, beat his back severely. When the scourging was finished, the +officer approached; and when he recognized this Indian, he was even +more edified. And when he asked him where he was from, he answered +that he came from the city of Manila, and said that he was in the +habit of confessing to Ours. The captain, marveling that a tyro in +the Christian religion should take such care of his soul's health, +gave him some money and told him to go back home, that he might not +be perverted by the habits of the soldiery. + +A priest with a brother as his companion was sent off as on a +mission to some Seilan villages, which, being without parish priests, +needed instruction. When they reached there the plague was raging; +and the father and brother freely assisted them, not only by the +administration of the sacraments of confession and the communion, +but by that of food, which was prepared in our church. + +On another mission performed by the rector of the college and another +priest, there was a mighty fruit of their labors reaped in hearing +confessions, in reconciling enemies, and in recalling the perverse to a +better life. Twenty adults were initiated by the sacrament of baptism, +having been imbued with the Christian faith by a certain blind man. He, +though deprived of the use of his eyes, yet took such care of his +catechumens that if a single one out of any number, however great, +was missing, he regularly informed the father. We think the more +of this from the fact that he who formerly was numbered among the +catalons--that is, petty priests of idols--now since his conversion +has become a teacher of Christian doctrine. + + + + +Residence of Antipolo [36] + + +In this residence are ordinarily maintained three priests, to care for +the harvest of three thousand Christians. More than five hundred have +been baptized this year. We have tested the great devotion of this +people, and their rare sense of piety in frequenting the sacraments, +in offering prayers, and in undergoing discipline and performing +other good and edifying works; and, finally, there has been wrought +in them all a great change in conduct. + +The father-visitor has laid the foundation of a hospital, which +is of great importance. On the day when the roof was finished the +father-visitor led them in serving the poor who were gathered there, +by pouring water on their hands, and then kissing their hands on his +bended knees, which example was followed by all the chief men there +present. And thus the custom has been established that four members +of the confraternity established for this purpose bring them their +food every day. The same thing is done by the women for the sick of +their sex. + +A beginning has been made of a school for boys, in which they may be +educated from their earliest years in all virtue and good morals, +according to the laws of Christ, so far as these are open to their +capacity. This is a thing not merely necessary for their receiving +the true doctrine, but also easy and delightful. They are all fed +with rice sent by their parents, and by other contributions. Their +occupations are learning to read and to form their letters, and to +do such other things as are appropriate to childish years. + +The custom has everywhere been introduced of singing throughout +the year, in honor of the Virgin Mother of God, the anthem _Salve +Regina_; and on Saturdays in Lent of performing the discipline in +church. So when some Indians were bathing in the river, as is the +custom in hot countries, and heard the bell give the call for _Salve_ +and the discipline, they put on their clothes and set out. Only one +remained, and laughing at his companions said in their language: +"_Acoi ouian_!"--that is, "Bring back something for me," which is +their expression of ridicule. When the others had gone away, he who +was alone was attacked and killed by a crocodile--a fierce animal of +these regions, which is very fond of human flesh--and that before +they could render him any assistance, spiritual or temporal. This +event was indeed the occasion of no little wonder, for this beast +is very voracious, and swallows men whole, or piece by piece, or at +least tears off hand or foot; but this man he left whole and untorn, +which the Indians attribute to the virtue of the _Salve_ that they +sang and the discipline that they performed. + + + + +Residence of Zebu + + +This residence is in the province called Pintados, in which the +greater part of Ours have lived and are working for the salvation +of the Indians, although ordinarily not more than three priests and +four brothers labor there. The situation is extremely convenient, +because all the other residences carry on their work from it as a +center. The ministry of the Society is exercised with great profit to +the city. A boys' school has been opened, and the Latin language is +taught. Last year the most reverend bishop, the officials, and other +leading men, in letters sent to his Catholic Majesty, made a full +statement of the great spiritual harvest with which Ours in these +regions exercise their ministry, among both Spaniards and Indians; +and they also earnestly entreated that he would be pleased to render +that residence permanent by some annual provision, in order that they +might be able to continue to enjoy the labors of our fathers. + +The excellent bishop walked on foot, although a man sixty years old, +throughout the whole of his diocese; [37] and, turning aside into +our houses, he there dwelt with us in such humility and familiarity +that he seemed to be one of our members. After he had finished the +visitation of the diocese, he was accustomed to say that he had +greatly admired the modesty and piety of the women in it; for in +gossip and conversation their reputation had long been very much to +the contrary. He added that he had seen nothing like it in all Nueva +España. Turning to our fathers, he declared that they ought to be +contented with their lot, because they had undertaken the duty of +disseminating the word of God in those regions; for in his opinion +they were spending their lives in a part of the world which was the +best of all, and the best beloved by God, and that from which they +would be able to obtain the most ample fruit for their labor. + +In our churches we began this year the practice of the discipline, +with a great number of penitents and great devotion from the people. We +also delivered sermons, with the Christian catechism, to the garrison, +with extraordinary results. + +A certain father added that a sick Indian had lost the faculty +of speech before he had confessed, so that he could not receive an +exhortation to a pious death. Accordingly, he urged him to attempt at +least to pronounce the name of Jesus. The sick man obeyed, and uttered +it obscurely so that he could scarcely be heard. The father continued +to urge him to speak more distinctly. Finally with a moderate effort he +uttered it with the greatest distinctness, made a complete confession, +and on the following day left his bed well. + +Father Miguel Gomez [38] was sent to a tribe at a considerable +distance. At first he gave all his attention to learning the names +of those who had not yet been washed in the holy waters of baptism; +and there were brought to him sixty, besides some others who are known +as Visaians. And to all these, after he had sufficiently demonstrated +the vanity of idols and the truth of the Christian belief, he imparted +baptism, with so great a degree of consolation to them all, although +they were old men, that they all marveled. But before dawn, behold +some others, men and women of very great age, who had hidden by the +gate of our house that they might be initiated by means of the same +sacrament. Accordingly sixty, along with six children, were initiated; +and in this number was included the chief of the place, a man already +more than sixty years old. + + + + +Residence of Bohol + + +This residence is subject to the preceding one, that of Zebu. The +harvest reaped in it your Paternity will learn from the letter of +Father Valerio Ledesma [39] herewith enclosed. He says: "In accordance +with the direction of your Reverence I visited the island of Bohol and +gave my first attention to collecting the people, who were scattered +everywhere, into one place. To many I suggested means of peace, and +proposed efficacious remedies; and at last I succeeded in getting a +thousand men, the greater part of whom had been trained in the use of +arms, to leave their mountains, from which it had been impossible to +draw them before, and to assemble at one spot. We also attempted to +attract a number of barbarian inhabitants of the mountains, who had +never looked upon any mortals before they saw our fathers, making use +of all of the offices of humanity and of the allurements suitable +to their nature, and we succeeded. We assigned them a settlement +near the river, where they have now built a church, to which they +flock on Sundays. We have baptized one hundred and twenty of their +children, or even more. The adults have not only laid aside all +of their fierceness, but pray for baptism with the greatest ardor, +singing chants, and night and day recite the Christian faith. + +"On the day sacred to St. Anne, to whom the church was dedicated, +the conversion of a certain old chief, on whom they all look as a +father, made a beginning for the conversion of the rest. He on bended +knees begged me with the most humble prayers that I would bathe him +in the sacred fount. His example greatly confirmed in their purpose +those who were ready for baptism, and excited others to desire it; +so that one after another, to the number of more than one hundred, +came as suppliants for baptism. In Visaia I baptized eighty-nine +adults at one time, and a few days later ninety-four--partly children, +partly adults; and on another day all the rest of the natives. Leaving +here I crossed a mountain; and the Lord obtained as spiritual gain +twenty-nine children, with faces like those of angels; and with the +cleansing water we sprinkled them in the name of the Holy Trinity, +along with three adults whom I had taken with me that they might +hear the sacrifice of the mass, and might by word and example be more +accurately instructed in the Christian faith. After we had gone some +distance thence, we came to a hamlet in which the natives had built +a convenient church in preparation for our arrival, extending over a +space of ten cubits. Here we began to spread our net, or rather the +net of Christ, and caught in it all the fish that were there; for +all the leading men and women, with old and young, great and small, +cast themselves at the feet of Christ Jesus, recognizing Him as the +true God and ardently pleading to be joined to Him in faith through +the mystery of baptism. And here I began to recognize the favor which +God had shown me, in calling me forth from España in these days; +for this single instance was enough reason to call me forth. On the +very first occasion when we baptized, we plunged a hundred persons +in the sacred fount; on the second, all the rest without exception. + +"When I was once explaining to a fierce and barbarous fellow the great +glory of paradise and the dire pains of hell, he answered, just as +if he had been possessed by a demon, that he had rather go to hell +than to paradise; and, as he was one of the chiefs in that region, +he carried a great many with him to the same decision of a perverse +mind. But I did not hesitate to attack the foolish fellow again and +again, and I insisted upon the horror and the eternity of the torments +with great vehemence of language; but he answered that he certainly +ought to go, after this life, there, where his parents and the rest +of his ancestors had departed, rather than anywhere else. Then I +responded that he had better just try the force of fire; but he, with +hands as hard as his heart, did not hesitate to snatch up some burning +coals from the hearth. However, a few days later, his mind divinely +changed, he ran out into the fields and meadows, and, calling all his +tribesmen together, he urged them to accept the Christian sacraments, +with such zeal that he had no equal among the Visaians." + +In another letter sent to the father-visitor from the same place, +the same Father Valerio writes that another father had written to +him that in the islands Lobo and Dita he had sprinkled four hundred +persons, chiefly infants, with the most holy waters. Thus within the +interval of three months more than a thousand had been initiated by +the same sacraments, and numberless others are left burning with the +same desire. Therefore the members of our Order declare that the time +is come for the salvation of that island, and eagerly wait for workers. + +But your Paternity will learn of a more glorious fruit from these +missions in Bohol from the letters of Father Gabriel Sanchez and Father +Cristofero Ximenez, [40] who have been assigned to that mission. [41] +In letters written in the month of October, Father Gabriel writes as +follows: "Our Lord has singularly blessed our attempts and labors. For +after the flocks of the heathen were gathered in one place they were +converted to God with such earnestness, so completely without pretense, +that I can say nothing else than that God their Maker and Redeemer +has desired by some peculiar favor in their calling to add them to +His flock--inasmuch as within two months two thousand mortals have +yielded themselves to the laws and customs of Christ, by accepting +baptism. And it is my opinion that, if some fathers are ready, +the whole of them will accept the yoke of Christ. It is beyond the +power of language to tell with what spiritual joy I am affected when +I see men who are almost savages of the forests hastening down from +the mountains to supplicate the benefits of baptism. Nay, the very +children, like to angels, taught by I know not whom, now repeat the +Christian faith. Indeed, a few days ago one came to me not ignorant +of his catechism, whom I had not seen for ten years, and with great +earnestness begged me not to refuse to baptize him. The catalons, +or priests of the idols, also come, and show by so many proofs that +they desire baptism with all their hearts, that it is necessary +to satisfy their desires. Truly, my Father, I abound in delight, +I rejoice, I exult; nor is there anything in this world set before +me than to serve our Lord God with all my heart, and to desire that +all should be turned to the worship of His Divine Majesty. On Sunday, +in church and elsewhere, there were counted seven hundred persons. If +your Reverence were to see at sunset a hundred mountain boys and girls +who have been newly added to Christ marching in procession along the +bank of the river, praising God in harmony and chanting all together +the Christian faith, he could not help dissolving in tears of joy. A +few days ago in Dita five hundred were purified with holy baptism. Thus +in the whole region of Bohol we may now easily count three thousand +Christians. At the beginning there were only eight hundred; now, +by the accession of a new blessing of God, twice thirteen hundred +have been added in baptism." + +With regard to another brief mission undertaken by a priest, the +same Father writes as follows: "God adorns and enriches this Tobigon +[42] people with so many heavenly gifts that I do not dare depart +hence, and break the thread of our most happy progress. The church +is filled with people morning and evening; no one is anxious about +food, although they may not have it, or may have to bring it from a +distance. All their care is to be Christians, and to be initiated in +baptism. In these fifteen days in which we have instructed them in +the rudiments of the Christian faith, there have been baptized more +than two hundred and fifty adults. There remain forty catechumens, +for the rest will be baptized after our return. + +"An old man, a chief who is held in high honor, and who has hitherto +been obstinate, has at last told me that he is ready to bow his +head to baptism. He is all white-haired and decrepit, so that he +can scarcely combine word with word. Since he is unable to come to +church, I am compelled to go to his house. I will baptize him, with +another man of advanced age, as early as possible. It seems to me no +small evidence that they have been predestinated, that both of them +have waited so long, and that they now begin to glow with so great +a desire for baptism." + +With regard to another mission, Father Gabriel Sanchez writes that the +archdeacon of Zebu, who holds a benefice in Tana, went to the island +of Bohol, twelve leagues distant, to ask our superior for a father +skilled in the language, to preach the gospel to his tribe. Father +Gabriel was sent, and in one month heard four hundred confessions, +and offered to many the sacred body of the Lord. He also baptized +eighty small children and some larger ones. The custom was there +introduced of having boys march in procession in the public streets, +and chant the Christian belief. The same thing has been done in the +church, so greatly to the delight of the people that even the chiefs +of the tribe think it small honor to them if they are not sometimes +examined in the same belief. + +The Indian wife of a local governor was bedridden, and one night began +to suffer so intensely that she was entirely deprived of the power of +speech. A father of the Society was called, who found her entirely +speechless. And since she had not confessed her sins, although she +tried to do so, the father began to recite the holy gospel, and to +sprinkle her with holy water; and when this was done she collected +her strength and, after pronouncing the name of Jesus, said, "Have +mercy upon me!" Then, in the presence of many, she desired to confess; +and after less than a quarter of an hour she arose from her bed, so +well and whole that the father would not listen to her, but directed +her to come to church on the following day to make her confession, +which she did. The same thing happened to the same father in the case +of two other sick persons, whom by the recitation of the gospel and by +the sprinkling of holy water he restored to sense and health, so that +they were able to confess their sins. Further, on two different days +having gone to two children near to death, and deprived of the power +of speech, with the same antidote of the gospel and of holy water, +he restored both to their former health, so that one of them went so +far as to jump suddenly out of his bed and return to his boyish sports. + +The same priest also went, for the sake of hearing confession, to a +man who lived a league and a half from the town, whose body was so +weakened and torn by sickness that he could not bear to be touched +or to be turned from one side to the other. When his confession had +been heard and the gospel had been recited, the father went away on +Saturday of that week. On the following Sunday, when the father asked +how the sick man was, he was told that he had been restored to health, +and had gone out to an island in order to get by hunting what was +necessary for his food. One night, while the daughters of one of the +chiefs were chanting the heads of the Christian law, they looked up +from a sort of portico and saw a crucifix in the sky, with a kind of +crown on the head, rough but beautiful, and with the whole body and +breast plainly visible. It shone like the sun, and went up to heaven +until it reached the sphere of the moon; as soon as it had reached +that it vanished. The sight of this vision caused the spectators as +much joy as its disappearance did sorrow. The father commanded that +the whole thing be recounted in church, in the presence of many, by +those very persons who had seen it; although, as that tribe is very +simple and modest, they showed great fear and shame in telling the +story. Afterwards it was learned that the same crucifix had appeared +in another place two leagues away. This vision ought to be recognized +as of greater value because it befell persons of exceeding virtue, +who are persevering in their pristine habits of holy living. + + + + +Residence of Samar + + +Since the inhabitants of this island are scattered along an extended +coast-line of the sea, it was necessary to send six of the fathers for +the greater part of last year to cultivate it, with the results which +might be expected from such missions. We learned from the letters +of Ours that the people of this island who live along the coast +have begun to offer their names in order to receive the Christian +religion, and that all the chiefs have already been purified by +holy baptism. The duty of visiting fourteen places rests upon this +residence. In this year three thousand six hundred and eighty persons, +for the most part adults, have been joined to the spouse of Christ +through the holy waters of baptism. In one tiny island, which had +not been visited for two years, two of Ours who had been sent thither +on mission were received by the whole tribe with such delight that, +all the way from the beach of the sea to the church of the place, they +adorned all the roads with green branches; and then they were led to +the church by a procession of boys and girls singing the Christian +teaching with joyous voices. And when Ours asked to have placed on +the lists the names of those who desired to receive baptism, they +answered that there was no need of a list, that they all wished to +become Christians. The old men--who are generally more perverse than +the rest, and are unwilling to learn the Christian teaching--brought +forward no other ground for the baptism which they so much desired +than that their old age promised them no long life. Thus all by the +divine grace were made children of God, and inheritors of eternal life. + +The news that these had thus been added to Christ soon moved other +islands also to desire our fathers. On one of these islands, within +fifteen days one hundred and sixty adults and five children forsook +the dark wilderness of infidelity for the light of the gospel. Among +them was one old woman one hundred and thirty years of age--blind, +deaf, incapable of motion; for, wherever she was carried, there she +remained like an unmoving stone. Afterward in other places there were +baptized five hundred adults and two infants. When they returned on +a second mission, after an interval of three months, eight hundred +and thirty-seven were baptized, and from the most of these their +concubines were taken away. Besides this, in other places many were +plunged into the same waters, the total number reaching three thousand +six hundred and eighty. + + + +Residence of Dulac + + +The most ample fruit has resulted from the Christian teaching among +the people of Dulac, [43] given by the seven men of our Society. The +foundations of a boys' school have been laid. In it thirty are imbued +with good morals and solid virtues, and give their aid to Ours in +explaining the catechism to the more ignorant people and those of the +lower order, and that with happy results; for whenever Ours go where +these pupils have exerted their diligence, they find all the people +well prepared to receive baptism. + +To the old Christians and some of the more intelligent adults familiar +sermons are delivered on the life of Christ and those of the saints, +and on the manner of profitably receiving communion, and notable +results are evident. On account of these pious exercises and the +uprightness of life shown by these converts, the Christian religion is +ordinarily held in such high esteem that few remain who do not desire +to be initiated into it by baptism. In Advent and at the feast of the +Nativity we baptized more than seven hundred persons. We have baptized +in all, from last year to the present date, two thousand and twenty, +or more. + +To this residence are annexed, besides other charges, the care of two +great and populous districts, which give surest proof of their virtue +by clean morals and by obedience. We are informed by letters that, +at the feast of the Nativity, in one of them eight hundred infidels +pledged themselves to the Christian faith; and that the believers +do not yield to España in frequenting the sacraments of confession +and communion. + +There was found in one little village an old man leading the life +practically of a hermit; and when our father asked him about his +manner of life, he answered so wisely that the father was greatly +surprised. Among other things he said that though his bodily life +was passed on earth, yet his soul lived in heaven. He had no dreams +at night except about the other life, and he was accustomed to see +the blessed surrounded with great splendor, and one among them who +excelled them all. And when the father gave him a picture of the Last +Judgment to look at, in which was expressed the glory of paradise, +he asked him if his dreams agreed with this picture of the blessed +life. The wonderful old man answered: "Should I see nothing but this, +my father? Much more! much more!" The father was amazed to find such +a treasure of spiritual riches laid up in this man; for he afterward +said that his meditation and the occupation of his mind would be of +nothing else than of Jesus and Mary, until he had exchanged this life +for the eternal one. + +Two of Ours, happening to enter a wretched rustic hut, found a man +more than eighty years old lying upon some reeds. He was deprived +of all his senses and his whole body was so worn out that the skin +scarcely adhered to his bones--a living image of death. Our fathers +pitied the man, and prayed to God for him that He would not deny +His compassion to this most pitiable of men. Soon after, the dying +man revived, and with great joy received baptism. As soon as he had +received it he was again deprived of his senses, and, gently calling +on the names of Jesus and Mary, he rendered up his soul to God. + +Information was brought that there was a man lying grievously ill in +the most distant part of the district. Although we were not a little +deterred from the journey by the darkness of night and the great +number of serpents, as well as by the necessity of crossing a river +full of crocodiles; yet we did not regard all these things as of so +much consequence as the value of a single soul redeemed by the blood +of Jesus Christ. One of the fathers, therefore, went thither, and with +a medicine healed the sick man in the name of Jesus. On the father's +return, something more extraordinary happened to him. He came upon +a sick woman, who, although she did not seem to be dangerously ill, +yet departed to the better life as soon as she had received baptism. As +two of Ours were making their way over a sandy soil at noon, under the +dreadful heat of the burning sun, being without any food or drink, they +laid this their affliction before the Lord God; and behold! suddenly, +at this most unusual time, there was a man sitting on the ground, +who showed himself most kind and courteous. He ungrudgingly offered +to the hungry and thirsty men fresh fruit from his basket. When they +accepted it readily, he not only took great pleasure in that, but +also urged them, with a certain strange earnestness, to feed upon +it as if it were their own. Strengthened with this little meal they +went on, which they could hardly have done otherwise, and offered +great thanks to God that He had come to their assistance in their +extremity. Afterward, when they had considered all the circumstances +of the fact, and of the place in which the man was found with the +fruit, and had reflected that no Indian was in the habit of going on +a journey alone in the heat of the day, and again that, although they +were unknown to him, he had shared the fruit with them so kindly and +generously, they came directly to the conclusion that he was an angel +of God. At least it was a proof of the singular providence of God; +and it is well worthy of belief, that God in this manner had been +willing to show His bounty to them, inasmuch as the said two fathers +had exercised their ministry with great spiritual fruit in that place +from which they had set out on that day. + + + + +Residence of Alangala + + +In this residence four priests and three brethren give their energy to +cultivating the vineyard of the Lord. They go afoot through the rivers, +the pools, and the marshes, the water often reaching to their navels, +and the sun burning above them. But since their labor is wrought +through the love of God, He, in His unmeasured kindness, never +deprives them of His solace in the utmost perils. They write that, +from the end of last year up to the present time, more than fourteen +hundred have received the sacred washing of regeneration. They give +diligent attention to the divine offices, which are celebrated in +this residence with greater magnificence than elsewhere, on account +of the convenience of three Indian chapels, which far surpass the +Spanish. They follow the practice of singing _Salve Regina_, in honor +of our Lady the Virgin; and, throughout Lent, of singing the psalm +_Miserere_ to accompany the discipline. + +Several missions have been established in various places, with +manifold increase of baptisms and other spiritual fruits. I will give +an account of some. While a father was living in one little district, +an Indian, crippled in both hands and feet, made his way straight to +the father by boat, and that alone, to the astonishment of all--God +and his guardian angel doubtless impelling the boat. He begged the +father for baptism, and declared that the author of his request had +been a certain Spaniard who had told him that all those who did not +accept the Christian law would be carried off to hell. + +The greatest results have been obtained from the schools, for the +pupils have each of them become teachers in the paternal homes of +all the domestics; and by the good example of their lives they incite +others to accept the true doctrine. A boy, a cantor in church, being +solicited by a Spaniard to perpetrate a foul deed, answered: "Sir, +I know well by what remedy you should drive away that temptation +of yours. Let us recite together a rosary in honor of the blessed +Virgin Mary, and instantly all these wicked thoughts will vanish in +smoke." Thus by the newly converted Christian he was instructed who +ought rightly to have been the teacher and master of others. + +In the island Leita there were counted last year above five hundred +and twenty-nine thousand souls; and they have the instruction of our +priests only, who are six in number. By their hands the most holy +waters of baptism have, in the course of a year, in this and other +islands, been sprinkled upon at least ten thousand nine hundred +heads. And this, in brief, is the harvest of this vice-province. + + * * * * * + +It only remains that your Paternity should cast your eyes upon this +new and tiny plant, separated from Rome by so great an interval of +distance and situated in the most remote parts of the world, as it +has also obtained the last place in the government of the Society; +and that you should show to it all kindness and favor by sending to it +some laborers with these words from the eighteenth chapter of Isaiah: +_Ite, angeli veloces, ad gentem conuulsam et dilaceratam, ad populum +terribilem, post quem non est alius._ [44] Thus they may bring unto +these places of darkness some light by their preaching of the gospel, +and all may bend the knee before the true God, the maker of the world, +and adore and revere Him. + +These treasures the India of the Philippines offers to your Paternity, +and it is confident that by the divine grace and your blessing it +will offer greater ones. Finally, may our Lord protect and preserve +the health of your Paternity for many years, to the advantage of the +whole church and the increase of the Society. Your Paternity's son +and servant in Christ, + +_Francisco Vaez_ + + + + +Letter from Diego Garcia to Felipe III + + +Sire: + +In the year ninety-nine I came to these islands, by order of my +general, to console and visit in his name the fathers and brothers +of our Society who reside in them. We were much pleased to see how +much has been done for the service of our Lord and your Majesty, +and the good of the Indians. + +The Society of Jesus has in its charge a good part of the islands +called the Pintados, where the holy gospel had never been preached. In +the period of four years, eleven or twelve thousand have been converted +and baptized. Matters are now in such course that in a short time, +with the divine grace, there will be more than forty thousand +baptized. As the priests who are occupied in this conversion are +not more than thirteen, [45] the results, if there were many more, +would also have been incomparably greater. For the honor of God, I +beseech your Majesty to be pleased to command that workers be sent, +as it is a great shame that, when the season for the harvest is upon +us, it should be lost through lack of reapers. + + +_[In the margin of the preceding paragraph_: + +Already provided for."] + +The Indians of these Pintados Islands have by nature good dispositions +and abilities. I have learned by experience with some few, who were +brought up in our houses, from the time when they were children, +that if there were several seminaries where the education of the youth +might be carefully attended to, taking them out of the power of their +heathen parents, while still children (for the latter would give them +up willingly), inside of a few years there would be a very prosperous +Christian community in the sight of God and men. In my opinion there +is no more effective means to establish the faith firmly among these +barbarians than this. + +Your Majesty would do a great service to our Lord by ordering that a +seminary for these people should be established. I believe that the +money which has been collected from the fourths, where there is no +instruction, might well be employed in this work. In all conscience, +it ought to be spent for the spiritual good of those Indians, as +your Majesty directed by your royal decree. And none will do so well +as this, which is the seed for all the rest. I have learned that, +in the royal buildings at Manila, fourteen or fifteen thousand pesos +are spent which are obtained from these fourths. From these and some +other funds which lie in the treasury and are every day accumulating, +several of the said seminaries might be well established. + +[_In the margin of the preceding paragraph:_ "Have the papers brought +which relate to this."] + +It is a great disadvantage for conversions to our holy faith, and +for the civilization of these same Indians, for them to be dispersed +like wild beasts among the mountains. It would be a great relief for +the burden on the royal conscience of your Majesty, if your ministers +should execute the order given by your Majesty to reduce this people +to settlements. As they now are, the labor of the ministers is +immense, and the results are small; and they are unable to establish +Christianity and civilization as they should. [46] + +[_In the margin of the previous paragraph:_ "Write to Don Pedro +de Acuña that with the help of these fathers, with all possible +gentleness, and at the least cost, he shall see to it that the Indians +be thus reduced; and if there be any great difficulty or disadvantage +therein, let him advise us of it."] + +The Indians have many grievances against the corregidors and +encomenderos. With fewer or none of these judges there would be more +justice; and if the encomenderos or collectors of tributes were not +present in villages, the Indians would be better guarded. + +[_In the margin of this paragraph_: "Let Don Pedro de Acuña send +information."] + +The students in this country receive no reward for their studies, +and accordingly tire of them and leave them at the most important +time. It would be well if your Majesty would give permission for us +to graduate them from our courses of study, which are the first that +were established in this country. In this way the sons of the country +will be encouraged; and the cost of bringing masters from España, +and maintaining them with a perpetual salary, will be saved to the +royal treasury. In great part there will also be saved the expense of +bringing ministers from Europe, since they will be trained in this +country--where they are used to the climate, and know the language +of the natives. Although at present we cannot found so organized +a university, at least they can be graduated in arts and theology, +which are the sciences lectured upon in our Society. + +[_In the margin of this paragraph_: "Provided for in the duplicate +of this."] + +There are many persons in these islands who have toiled in the service +of your Majesty, and your Majesty would direct his favor well if +he extended it, among others, to Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor +of this royal Audiencia, who is a man of good parts and fitted for +any matter pertaining to the service of your Majesty. Likewise the +licentiate Don Antonio de Ribera, auditor of this royal Audiencia, +has done a great deal in saving a galleon in which was carried the +entire wealth and support of this country. Captain Hernando de Avila, +treasurer of the royal exchequer of your Majesty, is filling that +office as a faithful servant. Captain Christoval Ascueta Menchaca +has served many years and is worthy of reward. + +[_In the margin_: "On the memorandum of the exchequer."] + +Throughout our entire order, especial care is taken in all matters +respecting your Majesty, and we shall still continue this, beseeching +our Lord to protect your Majesty many years for us, as He may see +is fitting for the welfare of His church and of the kingdoms of your +Majesty. Manila, July 8, 1601. + +_Diego Garcia_, visitor of the Society of Jesus. + + + + + +Letter from the Fiscal to Felipe III + + +Sire: + +I, the licentiate Geronimo de Salazar y Salcedo, fiscal for your +Majesty in the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria of the Philipinas +Islands, say that, as it has been heard in the islands that your +Majesty has done them the favor of appointing Don Pedro de Acuña as +governor and captain-general, and president of the royal Audiencia, +this has greatly pleased and satisfied them, on account of the good +reputation which he has of being an excellent soldier, and not at all +self-seeking. Therefore his arrival is desired, because it is very +necessary for all and [_illegible in MS._] for the matters of war, +in which many mistakes have been made up to the present time--which I +will not mention, however, since the remedy is so soon expected with +the arrival of Don Pedro de Acuña. If this had occurred a year ago, +it is certain that a great misfortune would have been avoided which +these islands suffered, and which was as follows. + +On the sixteenth of October of the year 1600 just past, there entered +the little bay of Aluay, which is in these islands, near the entrance +to them, two vessels, which, from some people who went on board of +them, were found to belong to strangers. After having robbed some +vessels they came toward the port of Cavite, which is two leguas from +this city, and is the place where vessels anchor. It was decided that +some ships should be fitted out in the aforesaid port--namely, a ship +built in the island of Cebu, called the "Sant Diego," which belonged +to some private persons; a galicabra called the "Sant Bartolome," which +belongs to your Majesty; a galley of twenty benches, also belonging to +your Majesty; and a pataje belonging to some Portuguese from Malaca, +who were in the port. [47] + +It seemed to Don Francisco Tello, governor and captain-general of +these islands and president of the royal Audiencia, and to the doctor +Antonio de Morga and the licentiate Cristoval Tellez de Almacan, +auditors therein, that it would be well, in order that the ships +might be got ready in the best way and as quickly as possible, for +the aforesaid Dr. Antonio de Morga to go to Cavite for that purpose, +and so he went there early in November. Later, desiring to go as +commander-in-chief of the expedition, he asked for that office from +the president, who proposed it to the licentiate Cristoval Tellez de +Almacan, desiring him to secure it through a session of the Audiencia, +but the latter opposed it. I afterward spoke to him of the lack there +was of auditors, and of some other matters, and suggested to him to +write about this and let each one give his opinion. Yet, although +the said president agreed to do so, he did not, but secretly gave +the title of commander-in-chief of the fleet to the said Dr. Antonio +de Morga, although your Majesty had here Don Juan Ronquillo, who was +receiving a salary as commander-in-chief of the galleys, and who was +a veteran soldier, together with many others who have well approved +themselves on the occasions for service which have arisen. The doctor, +fearing that the president might change his mind, made haste to leave +the port; and, although he could have had the galeota fitted out, +he did not do so. It was understood that the reason given was that +Don Juan Ronquillo said that it should not go out because he was +commander-in-chief of the galleys for your Majesty, and that the +right to go in the galeota could not be taken from him. Likewise, +although he could have taken the pataje from Malaca, for which he had +received some supplies and artillery at your Majesty's expense, he did +not wait for it; and some say that friends of the doctor said that he +ought not to take the pataje, because the Portuguese on it said that +he should not, although the victory would have been to their account. + +So on the twelfth of December he set out from Cavite for the port of +Mariveles, which is seven leguas distant, and there [_MS. illegible_] +the flagship which was the ship "Sant Diego;" and on the following day, +the thirteenth, at eleven or twelve o'clock of a very black night, +he left the port of Mariveles, without informing his admiral's ship, +which was the galicabra, and in which sailed as admiral the captain +Juan de Alcega. However, after the flagship had been gone more than an +hour, the other ship saw it by accident, and went after it. At daybreak +our flagship recognized that of the enemy, which, together with its +admiral's ship, was between the islands of Anacebu and Fortun. On +account of the roughness of the weather, they were unable to unite; +so the enemy's flagship kept up into the wind to wait for ours, +which gained the windward of it and closed with it under full sail, +while the admiral's ship of the enemy took to flight. + +Meanwhile the two flagships were fighting. For each man of the enemy +our ship had four Spaniards--not to mention the Indians and negroes, +who helped very much--and a great deal of artillery, powder, and +munitions and instruments of war; and they destroyed the enemy to +such an extent that as many of our men as wished to do so entered it +and took the banners and standards and other things belonging to the +enemy, without having anyone appear on it, for they had retired to the +bow. At this point our admiral's ship arrived, and with its artillery +and arquebuses did some damage to the Dutch flagship; and our men on +it, especially Alonso de Mansilla, the sargento-mayor's adjutant, +called aloud, telling the others not to do them any damage, but to +pass on to the admiral's ship of the enemy, because their flagship +had already surrendered to your Majesty; whereupon our admiral's ship +went in pursuit of the Dutch admiral's ship, which was more than two +leguas away. The two flagships remained thus over three hours more, +besides the two during which they had already been together. The enemy +did not fight, and on our ship there was no one to order or govern, +or command anyone to pass to the other ship. Then it was said that +our ship was going to the bottom, and so loudly that the enemy heard +it and took courage again. In our ship there was no one to command +what was to be done, so that it did go to the bottom. There escaped on +mattresses and on shields, and by swimming, Dr. Antonio de Morga and +[_illegible in MS._] other persons; but more than as many Spaniards +again were lost, and more than a hundred Indians and negroes. The best +artillery that there was in these islands, which had been taken from +the fortresses for this purpose, was also utterly lost, besides all +that the vessel carried, which was a great deal. That same day the +admiral, Juan de Alcega, captured the Dutch admiral's ship, and sent +its men to this city. + +Then it was that they were found to be Dutch. They called themselves +vassals of Mauricio, Prince of Orange and Count of Nasau; and they +bore a patent, a copy of which is subjoined. The president thought +it well to send after the enemy's flagship, and for this purpose +he ordered that our admiral's ship should go, with Admiral Juan +de Alcega as commander; and that the Dutch vessel should go as +admiral's ship, with Captain Juan Tello de Aguirre as admiral, who +had had the position over the infantry in our admiral's ship. They +went where they were ordered, but did not find a trace of the Dutch +flagship. The commander of this was Oliver van Noordt, and in command +of the admiral's ship was Lanverto Viesman. They were heretics who, +with other ships, had set out from the port of Nostradamus [_i.e._, +Amsterdam] in Olanda, on the twelfth of September in the year 98; +and had come by the Canaria Islands and by Brasil, through the Strait +of Magallanes and along the coast of Chile, to these islands. + +As I thought from the beginning, as soon as I knew of the loss of +our flagship, that they would try to conceal it from your Majesty, +I made an investigation about it, a copy of which is subjoined. [48] +From this it can be seen who was to blame; and whatever is written to +your Majesty contrary to this, or to what is contained in the report on +the investigation, is not to be relied upon. The president has made an +investigation in this matter, trying to shield himself and the guilty +ones; and it has been carried on in such a way that it is known that +no witness has dared to tell the truth. On this account I presented a +petition to the president, asking that he refrain from trying the case, +because the witnesses did not speak freely for fear of the power of the +guilty, and because I intended to ask your Majesty to appoint a judge +who could try the case, since the president could not do so. I also +asked that a copy might be given to me of all that had been written +about this matter, in order that I might give it to your Majesty and +ask for what might be proper. This was denied me by the president, +and I appealed to the royal Audiencia, but for lack of auditors, +of whom there was only the licentiate Tellez de Almazan, no action +was taken. If a judge were to be appointed, there would be none who +would dare to declare against the will of the guilty. Although the +licentiate Don Antonio de Rivera Maldonado has come since, it has +been impossible for me to take up this matter, because I have been +ill now for more than forty days. So I beg your Majesty to order +that this report be examined, and that whatever is proper may be +done. Our Lord keep the Catholic and royal person of your Majesty, +with a greater increase of realms and power. From Manila, which is +in the Philipinas Islands, on the sixteenth of July of the year 1601. + +_Hieronimo de Salazar y Salcedo_ + + + + + +Complaint of the Cabildo of Manila Against Morga + + +Sire: + +The most faithful city of Manila in the Philipinas Islands humbly +informs your Majesty that for some years past this city and realm +have suffered, and are at present suffering, so many hardships and +misfortunes, both in wars and in the loss of wealth and prestige, that +it has been very close to entire ruin. This has arisen and arises +not from unavoidable accidents which ordinarily happen in states +and communities, but from those which the persons in charge of the +government and who reside there could avoid, but do not prepare for; +and they are notoriously due to the fault and misgovernment of the +persons to whom your Majesty has entrusted the administration of these +islands--partly on account of their scant energy and vigilance, but +most of all through what has resulted from their not being willing +to fulfil the orders, instructions, and royal decrees which your +Majesty had previously issued for the attainment of your objects +and for particular ends; these they have directly violated. Since +such conditions require a remedy, and as this must depend upon the +royal will of your Majesty, who are not informed of the actual truth +concerning events which have occurred here, these states must remain +without relief on your Majesty's part, and with the said danger of our +ruin. Owing to the general obligation which rests upon us as vassals +of your Majesty, and that which in conscience especially obliges us +as regidors of this city, which is the capital of all these islands, +the following account has been written. + +In the first place, a matter whence many other losses have resulted +is this. Your Majesty having ordered the conquest of the kingdom of +Mindanao to be entrusted to Captain Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa, +conformably to the edict or ordinance which treats of the conquest of +newly-discovered countries and settlements in the Yndias, and this +order having been despatched to the said Captain Estevan Rodriguez +de Figueroa, Governor Don Louis Das Mariñas arrived here in the year +96. When the former reached Mindanao with his expedition, he (and he +alone) was killed by the natives of that island on the unfortunate +day of St. Mark of the same year. When Don Francisco Tello arrived +in the following June of the said year and took this government, he +immediately undertook to send a person to conduct the said conquest +of Mindanao. As all the troops were there which had been taken by +the said Captain Estevan Rodriguez, and as Don Joan Ronquillo (your +Majesty's commander of the galleys and of naval affairs in these +islands) had gone there with another detachment of troops, and had +remained in the said islands until March of the year 98--where, during +all this time, he won many victories over the enemy, and latterly one +against the king of Terrenate (who was sending his fleet to aid the +said island), wherein he routed and captured the vessels and killed +their commander, who was an uncle of the said king of Terrenate--at +this the natives of the said island of Mindanao, who until that +time had defended themselves, began negotiations for surrender, +and for rendering submission to your Majesty; a part of them did +so, and paid tribute to your Majesty. The said Don Francisco Tello, +with the approval of Doctor Antonio de Morga, without considering +the state in which this matter lay, or reflecting upon the injuries +which might result from issuing such orders as they did (as may be +seen later by what will be written further on), sent the said Don +Joan Rronquillo an order to dismantle the fortifications of the said +island, without leaving any fortified station, and to tear down the +forts which your Majesty held there. Although he saw the great loss +which would result from this, yet, as there was a clause in the said +order directing him to do this without any reply, under penalty of +being held contumacious and liable to punishment, he left the said +island and came to this city with the fleet and troops which he had +there, in the month of April of the year 98. The said Don Francisco +Tello and the said Doctor Morga, seeing the great error which they had +committed, attempted to exonerate themselves before the said Don Joan +Rronquillo should arrive in this city. They arrested him, charging him +with having taken away the protection of the said island of Mindanao, +without their having sent him any strict order which would oblige him +to do it. In order to give color to this--as they were aware that, in +the voyage which the said Don Joan Rronquillo made while returning, +his ship was partly wrecked, and they supposed that the said order +which they had sent him had been lost, they intrigued with the +government notary, and had him produce in the prosecution against +the said Don Joan the order which had been given to dismantle the +fortresses of Mindanao, omitting therefrom those words which made +it obligatory for him to do so--namely, that he should do so under +penalty of being contumacious and liable to punishment. In this way +they were released from responsibility for their act, and the said +Don Joan Ronquillo was inculpated without excuse, since in so serious +an affair he, being on the spot, should not have done so for a simple +command. The case having been continued, and he having presented the +original order which they thought had been lost, and having given other +explanations, he was even by them acquitted of that charge. All this +appears sufficiently by the record of the case, which remains in these +islands. Your Majesty having been made aware of the abandonment of +the said islands during the last year, there arrived here your royal +decree directing the investigation and punishment of whomsoever was +responsible. As they were to blame in the affair, as can be seen by +this relation, they remained silent, and have taken no action. From +the abandonment of what was already gained, through the said order, +it has followed that the Indians who are natives of the said islands of +Ufanos, which the Spaniards had left, considering that this was due to +fear, assembled, with others from other neighboring kingdoms, to come +to work havoc in the lands of your Majesty. Accordingly, in the past +year of 1600 they came with a fleet of many vessels to the Pintados +provinces, which are subject to your Majesty; and in the region known +as Bantayan they burned the village and the church, killed many, and +took captive more than eight hundred persons. Thence they came to the +river of Panay, an encomienda assigned to the royal crown, and killed +a great many more, taking six hundred more prisoners from the said +encomiendas. They burned the church and the image of our Lady which +was in it, which a few days before that had for a considerable time +miraculously sweated out many drops of water, as if in premonition of +the impending event. They drank out of the chalice in their feasts, +scoffing at the consecration of it, after the fashion of Mahometan +people, whereby the natives and Spaniards of those regions were +greatly afflicted and terrorized, as may be imagined. + +As has already been said, the reason for the coming of these +Indians to inflict the said damage was the command to take away your +Majesty's camp from the said land of Mindanao. But the cause for +their having wrought those injuries after they arrived was, as was +said at the beginning, that the order and decree of your Majesty +was not obeyed. For your Majesty had in this camp four captains +of infantry with the four hundred soldiers which your Majesty had +commanded to be left there as a garrison, and the said captains were +satisfactory persons; and it was ordered that there should be no more +than the said four captains there, as any more would be superfluous, +since there were so few soldiers. Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor of +this royal Audiencia, has reached such arrogance and restlessness of +mind, caused by his having wrought so many injuries to this afflicted +commonwealth through the power and authority which he has, both +in general and in particular, to many citizens thereof; but, with +his customary facility for speaking ill to some one's prejudice, he +escapes, without anyone daring to speak of the matter. In the little +time which he had spent in this country, he found himself rich and +powerful through his trading and commerce. Accordingly he commenced to +procure taking away the employments and offices from soldiers and men +of war whom your Majesty has here, and appropriated them to himself +and his relations. Thus, contrary to the said limitation of number, +and in violation of what your Majesty commands by your ordinances +and decrees--namely, that offices of profit shall not be given to the +auditors, or to their kindred, servants, or dependents--Governor Don +Francisco Tello appointed, as alcalde-mayor of the island of Mindoro, +a certain Pedro Cotelo de Morales, a first cousin of the wife of the +said Doctor Morga, who came with the latter to these islands; and +passed by, in giving it, many of the conquerors and poor settlers. But +the said Doctor Morga would not accept this, saying that he would +have no appointment for him unless it was a paid captaincy. The man +was a mere youth, and in all his life had never fired an arquebus, +and was not skilled or experienced in war. On the contrary, he had +led a very evil life, which cannot be fittingly described to your +Majesty, and so is left unsaid. Accordingly, to give some color to +what he desired to do, and in order that he might not appear to +be exceeding the said number of four captains, the said governor +appointed this man captain of infantry, so that he could go out of +this city to the said Pintados provinces, where they were in fear +that the said enemies were going. He was assigned the regular salary +for a captain, and in like manner the other officers of his company +were established with pay; and they likewise were men of the same way +of life and the same amount of experience in war as the said Pedro +Cotelo. He went with the troops to the city of Santisimo Nombre de +Jhesus, which is in the said provinces of the Pintados, thus leaving +in this city of Manila the four regular captains of infantry, who had +some knowledge of the affair, in idleness and without any troops; +for among all four of the companies there did not remain a hundred +soldiers fit for service. As he was in the said city at the time when +the said enemies came, and received word that they were in the said +village of Bantayan, the alcalde-mayor and commander of the troops +of war, who was in the said city, despatched the said Pedro Cotelo +de Morales with ships and troops against them. Although the journey +from the place where he was to that where the enemies were situated +was two days long, he took four to it. If he had arrived at the time +when he might have done so, he would have found the enemy drawn up +on the land, and would have burned their fleet and taken away their +prizes. When he arrived, sailing on from that place, he again heard +the noise of the engines of war which they had with them, near some +islands; and some of the soldiers, even, climbing up the masts of +the ships, saw those of the enemy. But he would not go against them +either, alleging various excuses--as your Majesty may have seen more +at length by the information which accompanies this. + +Besides this, the said Pedro Cotelo Morales, having arrived with +his fleet at the town of Arevalo, a settlement of Spaniards, the +commander and alcalde-mayor there resident gave him more ships and +troops, and ordered him in a council of war (in which Pedro Cotelo +himself took part) to go and seek the enemy; and, if he did not find +him in an island near there, to come back immediately to the said +town of Arevalo on account of the fear lest the enemy should escape +thither. The said Pedro Cotelo, taking no heed of the said order, +as one who held the post of alcalde should, and in order to flee the +battle, did not observe this command, and went into another region +without coming back to the said town. In the meantime the enemy came +there and landed, and the town was almost ruined. They killed the +alcalde-mayor and commander of the troops, and then withdrew. If the +said Pedro Cotelo had come back as had been ordered by the said council +of war, he would have found them fighting there with their ships +in the bays and rivers, in such wise that not a man or a ship could +escape. In this way the enemy left with the two prizes mentioned. And +this year we have even now information that they are coming back with +increased forces; and in the preparation which has been already made +or is now under way, more than fifty thousand pesos have been spent +from the exchequer of your Majesty and furnished by private persons, +to say nothing of the losses which the pirates will inflict when +they return. The said Doctor Morga has been to blame for all this; +because, contrary to the orders of your Majesty, he succeeded in +having his relative placed in an office which he did not deserve, and +for which he was not competent. Concerning this last affair, a copy +of the proceedings of the council of war was sent to your Majesty, +in which was the above-mentioned order to the said Cotelo. In order +that it may be more thoroughly proved, they sent to the said town of +Arevalo to have the matter investigated; but the magistrate there, +for fear of the said Doctor Morga, would take no action. + +The said Doctor Morga, continuing his bold acts, was not content with +having been responsible for the losses to property. Two Dutch ships +having arrived in the past year of six hundred, in these islands, +and having come in the month of November to the mouth of the bay of +this city, while they were beating about in the bay, ships were put +in readiness to go out against them. The said Don Joan Ronquillo, +commander of the naval forces of your Majesty, having gone to the +port of Cavite for this purpose, the said Doctor Morga commenced his +machinations, and claimed that he should go as commander of the said +expedition. To give this some foundation and color, when the said Don +Joan Ronquillo had come to this city to seek various supplies for the +said expedition, he was arrested; and on the next day following the +said Doctor Morga went to the port of Cavite, saying that he had best +be present in person to encourage the despatching of the fleet. In +fact, through scheming and plotting, and by the authority of his +office, he succeeded in taking the said expedition away from the said +Don Joan Rronquillo, and having it given to himself. He wrote letters, +the originals of which are extant, to the governor of these islands, +asking him that, even if Don Joan Rronquillo should petition for +judgment against him, he in no wise respond or have to do with him +until the despatch of the vessels should be completed, so that the +latter might not appeal to the Audiencia and obtain a decree which +would hinder the said Doctor Morga in the expedition. When three ships +were armed and fitted with artillery to go out against the enemy's +fleet, he went with the two vessels, which were the flagship and +almiranta, to the island of Mariveles, eight leagues from the point of +Cavite and five leagues from where the enemy were--without awaiting +the other third ship which lay at Cavite, and belonged to several +Portuguese, which arrived at the said island of Marbeles the same night +when Doctor Morga sailed away. Having sighted the enemy on Thursday +morning, without waiting for Captain Joan de Alcega, who was in the +other ship, as admiral, or taking advice as to what should be done, +he was confident of the victory on account of the report which had +been made concerning the few troops which the enemy carried, and the +large number that he himself had on board with him. Consequently the +flukes of the anchors were put upon the side of the ship; and having +come up with and grappled the enemy at the sixth hour, the latter, +seeing the force which the flagship had, gave up, and put himself +with all his men under cover, without firing a single arquebus for +more than an hour by the clock. Some of the soldiers and sailors from +our ship, having entered theirs without orders (for the said Doctor +was not able to give the order), and having found the deck of the +enemy's ship without men and all the troops withdrawn--the banners +being captured, and cast over to our ships--when the enemy saw how +little care was given to the taking possession, since the troops were +coming aboard without orders or any plan, they began to recover their +courage somewhat, and commenced to defend themselves. When they had +killed one or two of ours, as the latter had no one to command or +direct them--because the said Doctor, as soon as they came in to +close quarters with the enemy, had thrown himself down behind the +capstan of the ship with a number of mattresses--the troops became so +demoralized that no one was able to accomplish anything. Although some +of them went up to the said Doctor and told him to board the ship, +or to send troops on board of it with an order, he would not do so, +as he was so overcome by fright and lacking in courage. Likewise, +when they came to tell him that the ship was taking in much water +through the gun-ports, because, when the fleeing troops left the +side where they were grappled, and passed to the other side without +fighting, the said ship careened and the water entered--although +he was told of this several times, that he might remedy it, it was +the same in this matter as the rest. Accordingly so much water was +entering the ship that it was in danger. A father of the Society of +Jesus, bearing a crucifix in his hand, told him that since the ship +was in danger he should go over with the men to that of the enemy; +since as they were so near together, and there was no resistance, +it would be like passing from one dwelling to another. He would +not do it, but on the contrary threw the mattresses with which he +had fortified the capstan into the water, in order to go to a small +islet which lay near and escape, as he did. The enemy rushed upon +all the troops, who threw themselves into the water, and the killed +and drowned amounted to more than one hundred and twenty Spaniards +of the most distinguished and important people of these islands, +without counting more than a hundred negroes and natives beside. + +Such was the manner of the surrender of the said ship of the enemy +as soon as it was grappled. When the said captain, Joan de Alcega, +arrived with his almiranta on the other beam of the enemy, giving him +a volley of artillery and musketry, and when he finally undertook to +board the enemy's ship, the Spaniards who were on the inside under +its deck (among them being the adjutant of the sargento-mayor), told +them not to fire, or they would kill the Spaniards; and to go ahead +and follow the enemy's almiranta, which had taken to flight, as the +flagship was already in your Majesty's hands, and there was nothing to +do there. Accordingly the said admiral went after the other ship, and, +coming up with it three or four leagues away, caused its surrender and +brought the enemies who remained alive to this city, where justice was +meted to them. The ship, with very good artillery, lies in this port. + +Besides the said loss, there was much artillery which the said Doctor +Morga was taking in the said ship, and supplies of war, as he had +taken what lay in the forts of this city, leaving them destitute of +supplies, and the royal storehouses almost without powder; for he +took six hundred barrels of it on the said flagship. Owing to the +lack of men--so great that hardly anyone appeared on the streets--and +that of the said artillery and arms of various kinds, this city was +in such danger of ruin as never before, if some of the many enemies +who surround it had attacked it with even a small force. Likewise the +opportunity for the capture of the said flagship of the enemy was lost, +in which was stored all which they had captured since leaving Olanda, +and twenty pieces of artillery which they brought, many stores, and +eight hundred muskets--all of which they were carrying, according +to the declaration of the enemies who were in our power. For this +country, where there is such a want of that kind of articles, and +so many occasions continually arising in which they are necessary, +it would have been of great importance and value; but the enemy is +taking them away to buy with them cloves and pepper, and other drugs +from these regions, as they are at present doing. For we have certain +news that they went to the Maluco Islands, where they are anchored, +and will leave the enemy there--who are most warlike, and who are most +continually making war upon us--strengthened with arms like ours, +whereby they will become skilful in their use; and from that will +follow many difficulties, as may be imagined. + +Likewise there results another very great injury to these regions, +because, the said ship of the enemy having escaped, they carry with +them an excellent knowledge of these regions and of the sailing-routes; +for day by day they record in writing their bearings, and the courses +by which they have navigated. There is a society which has been formed +in Olanda and other states, for the destruction of these regions, +according to the account which all the enemies who were captured alive +agreed in. Five great galleons for this purpose were being built here, +so that if any of those ships should come from there the Spaniards +might sally out with more force. + +We are sending your Majesty a copy of an information in this matter +which was secured by your Majesty's fiscal with great secrecy, before +the licentiate Almacan, auditor of this royal Audiencia. There +is likewise a testimonial concerning the arms, military stores, +artillery, and troops taken by the said Doctor Morga, in his flagship +against that of the enemy; of the troops, not more than fifty-six +people in all came back. There is another to the effect that on the +morning of the day when the enemy were discovered the commander sent +to the admiral fourteen of the twenty-seven that he had. There are +some documents, drawn up at the petition of the said Doctor Morga, +concerning the artillery and other articles which he caused to be given +to the third ship that he was to take with him. On account of his not +waiting for this two hours, and not being willing to assign it men, +the misfortune came about by which, as he confesses in his petition, +two hundred persons escaped; whereas it is known that the dead of the +Spaniards alone amounted to more than a hundred and twenty, so that, +according to this, he took five or six men with him for every enemy. + +He has drawn up a number of informations which, considering the dignity +and power of his office, may obscure this truth and give some color to +his case, as he is confident that it has done--and as he has likewise +done in other matters, as he has used such bold and excessive measures +ever since his arrival in this country. In this manner he has reached +such a point that he petitioned for justice because he, as commander, +had to divide the prize which he took in the enemy's captured ship, +and maintained that a great part of it belonged to him. Afterward, +by another petition he says that, as a vassal and servant of your +Majesty, he relinquishes the part which falls to him and gives it +to your Majesty, so that a share of what was taken may be given to +him. A copy of these petitions is being sent, which makes this evident. + +There is also sent a copy of the commission as commander which the +said Doctor Morga bore, and an edict which he drew up and enacted, by +which the governor ordered him to go as commander. We do not undertake +to explain to your Majesty any of the matter therein contained, +since in these papers may be plainly seen what audacity he shows in +trying to make it understood that he is a warrior, and that at other +times, by your Majesty's order, he has had similar matters in charge; +and from those very papers may be learned his conduct in many other +matters in this country, against many people, without his taking into +consideration in the least what was owing to them. + +The majority of the people through all this city have been hurt and +injured, from the time when he came to this country, by the procedures +of the said Doctor Morga, both in his actions and words against +them, and in letters which he has written treacherously regarding +the circumstances of various people, signing false names to them, +and disguising his handwriting. Afterward he showed copies of these +to other persons, in order to give the impression that he was not +the author of them. At present, since this affair, the ill-feeling +has grown with all these people, and become much greater, because +most of the soldiers whom he took (serving at their own expense) +went under threat and against their will; and as the relatives of our +citizens died on this occasion, and their death was notoriously due +to the fault and mismanagement of the said Doctor, it could not fail +to arouse resentment against him. In the same way the said Doctor has +been opposed to them, so that all the men who went in the almiranta are +desirous of maintaining that they conquered, and not he; consequently +what with the ill-feeling of the said Doctor against some of them, and +of others against him, there are very few people in these islands who +are not concerned. Accordingly he is odious and suspected in his office +by all men; and no lawsuit is brought up in which he is not accused, +as is now happening in several cases. The general ill-feeling here +is no less owing to the fact that, whereas there are so many soldiers +here who have come to these regions with no declared object except to +serve your Majesty, and have done so since their arrival here, with +good success, the said Doctor Morga should bring this about under +the claim and pretext that there were no persons in these islands +to whom such a matter could be entrusted; and that by this means the +Spaniards had lost a victory so obviously theirs that it would without +doubt have been gained if it had been entrusted to the least famous +soldier here. We humbly beseech your Majesty in consideration of all +these matters pertaining to the said Doctor, that a remedy may be +applied to them, as is usually done by your Majesty, owing to your +holy zeal and righteous justice. May our Lord protect your Majesty +as we, your Majesty's vassals, desire. Manila, July 20, 1601. + + +_Don Gonzalo Ronquillo de Vallesteros_ +_Francisco de las Missas_ +_Francisco Mercado Dandrade_ +_Hernando da_ [_illegible in MS._] +_Bernardino de Avila_ +_Diego Melendez Florez_ + + +By command of the city of Manila: + +_Luys de Contreras_, clerk of the cabildo. + + + + + +Letter from Morga to Felipe III + + +Sire: + +During the month of March of the past year, 1600, there passed +through the Strait of Magallanes into the South Sea a squadron of +armed ships from Holland, belonging to Count Mauricio, having as +commander Oliver de el Nort, and as admiral Lamberto Biezman, with +a patent and instructions in Flemish and Castilian to make war with +fire and sword upon the Castilians and Portuguese whom they might +meet in these parts. After they had made a few captures of little +importance on the coast of Piru, the commander's ship and admiral's +ship, together with their long-boats, came to these islands, where they +came out of the channel on the sixteenth of November of the said year. + +Governor Don Francisco Tello found himself unprovided with any kind of +fleet to resist them by sea; for he had no galleys and no other kind +of ship with which to carry on offensive warfare, because a galizabra +which had been commenced the year before in the shipyard of Cavite had +been abandoned, and its build changed to that of a merchant ship. As +he feared that the enemy would come down to the said port, and burn +the few ships which were on the voyage from Nueva España, in order +to secure himself from the seaside at all points he commanded Don +Juan Ronquillo de Castillo (who was drawing his salary as commander +of galleys when there were none) immediately to go to the said port, +and put it in a state of defense, and build a fleet with which to go +out against the pirate. He went to the port, which is two leagues +from this city, and on the third day returned to the city without +having undertaken to do anything, or shown any disposition to do +so. He interposed difficulties, and asked for so many things which +he said were necessary, and which were not at hand, that he made the +thing out impossible; and not only was the governor disgusted with him +for it, but Don Juan allowed himself to say things which obliged the +governor to arrest him, as he did. The pirate continued his voyage in +the direction of the bay of this city, and the president and governor, +seeing himself hard pressed, communicated with the Audiencia and sought +its aid. The latter, desiring to make the greatest effort possible, +decided that I should go to Cavite and put the port in a state of +defense and likewise secure a fleet. I opposed no difficulties or +excuses to this, nor did I seek any rewards or aids for the expense, +nor any impossible things. On the contrary, that same day I went to +the port and fortified it so adequately that it was in a good state +of defense--so that, although the enemy came into the mouth of the +bay, they dared not enter or carry out their designs, on account +of the knowledge that they had of my preparation. At the same time +I finished the galizabra and launched it; and I fitted out another +vessel, belonging to private persons, which lay there. I armed both of +them and set sail in thirty days with a number of volunteer troops, +men of quality, who were resolved to accompany me on the service of +your Majesty on such an occasion (all at their own cost), as the enemy +was well established at the mouth of the bay, waiting for the ships +of the Chinese and the vessels from Nueva España with the silver, +in order to capture them. When the governor saw the state in which +I had put things, and at so little cost to your Majesty's exchequer, +and that the troops with which the expedition must be made would not +do so, or even go in the fleet if I did not go as its leader, and +realized the great importance of promptness, he ordered me in the name +of your Majesty to make the expedition immediately. He told me that in +no other wise on this occasion could I serve your Majesty. I obeyed, +and made ready to go where I was ordered, without seeking any pay of +profit. I spent more than four thousand pesos of my scanty property +to procure the necessaries for the expedition, some reenforcements, an +outfit of arms, and other things. I risked my person, honor, property, +and the support of ten children whom God has given me, and a good wife, +solely for the service of God and your Majesty; for it is certain that +no other interest or profit could take me from my house, where I was +in quiet and safety, since I never sought or asked for this thing. + +This resolution was distasteful to the said Don Juan Ronquillo de el +Castillo and his retainers--chief of whom are the factor, Francisco +de las Missas [49] and the licentiate Tellez Almaçan, auditor of this +Audiencia. These men quite openly proposed to the governor to give +Don Juan the expedition, as he was the commander of the galleys; +and other things to this purpose, which satisfied the governor but +little. It seemed best to him not to change the design if I should +desire it, or at least should not be burdened by it. + +I sailed with the two armed ships in quest of the pirate, from the port +of Cabite, on the twelfth of December. On Thursday, the fourteenth +of the same month, I came to close quarters with him, and the battle +resulted as your Majesty will learn more at length by the relation +which accompanies this. + +I took as admiral, by the appointment of the governor, a certain +captain Juan de Alcega, a citizen of this city, and a partisan of +the said Don Juan Ronquillo; he is for this reason a great friend of +the said licentiate Tellez Almaçan, the auditor, and likewise because +at the time when he came to this city the latter was hospitable and +kind to him, and has always continued so. He is a man skilful in war +with the Indians, as it is practiced here; but is of an irritable +temperament, and desirous of having his own way on occasion, without +obeying his superiors, of which there has been proof enough. When +I had fully recognized the enemy and knew that he was carrying +all his force on the flagship, I ordered the admiral in writing on +the day before the battle, what particularly must be done--namely, +that with both our ships we must engage the said flagship of the +pirates. Accordingly as soon as I discovered the enemy the next day, +I kept the almiranta near me, and grappled with the enemy and moored +to him. When the admiral arrived and should have done the same, +he shoved the tiller aside and, without my order, contrary to the +command which I had given him, went after the almiranta of the pirate, +which was sailing away; thus he left me unprotected and alone, for +which reason my commander's ship fared as recounted in the relation. + +For this disobedience, and others of which he was guilty and of great +importance, immediately upon our entrance into the city the governor +arrested the said captain Juan de Alcega, and is proceeding against +him. Through the favor of the said auditor and his party, and various +measures which they have taken--especially with the licentiate Salazar, +fiscal of this Audiencia, who is openly of the said party--they +have shielded him in this case in such manner as might be expected +of a person who is so near losing his office, and to whom it is so +important not to make more enemies for his residencia. Accordingly +thus far there has been nothing done in the case, and I have no hope +that anything will be accomplished by the present proceedings. + +This Captain Joan de Alcega was freighter of the ship "Santo Thomas" +[50] in the year 99, which left here for Nueva España in company with +two other vessels from this city. In the loading of this ship, so +great was the dishonesty and deceit on his part that it is understood +that your Majesty's exchequer was defrauded of more than a hundred +thousand pesos. The governor, in order to wash his hands of this +wrongdoing, began suit against them and condemned them to heavy +fines and penalties, as he must have informed your Majesty. The case +came on appeal to this Audiencia. On account of the said friendship +and partiality, the fiscal hushed up this case, as he has others, +without discussion upon it, and with no reparation to your Majesty +or to this commonwealth. + +In this manner Juan de Alcega not only remained unpunished but, aided +by the said persons with several letters, informations and documents, +which they had secretly made and composed, they are attempting to +underrate my good service and seek for him the reward. I have not +wished to set down in a boastful way anything more than the naked +truth, which your Majesty now has before your eyes. I most humbly +beseech your Majesty to be pleased to look upon my good intentions +and labors with the clemency and benevolence which they deserve, +extending to me the favor which is due, in such wise that they shall +not remain without the recompense which the servants of your Majesty +receive on similar occasions. And the chief of these should be to +order me withdrawn from this exile, to a place where I can spend the +rest of my life in greater peace in the service of your Majesty, and +start my children upon the same path. God protect the royal Catholic +person of your Majesty for many long years. Manila, June 30, 1601. + +_Don Antonio de Morga_ + + + + + +Grant to Jesuit School in Cebu + + +Sire: + +Hernando de Espinosa, procurator of the Society of Jesus in the +Yndias, in the name of the residence [51] of this order in the +city of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus of the Philipinas Islands, has +represented that, because of the great need of persons to administer +the sacraments to Spaniards, Indians, and Sangleys residing in and +about that city, and to preach to them the holy gospel, the provincial +of the said Society, with the permission of the governor, founded the +said residence six years ago. It is productive of much good, for, +besides the preaching to the Spaniards, natives, and Sangleys, and +hearing their confessions, the other sacraments are administered to +them; and there is a school where reading and writing are taught and +Latin studied, which is of great gain and benefit to the community. The +religious who are there are in great poverty; for they have no income, +nor do they receive any alms from the people. The said procurator +entreats from you a very moderate consideration, on account of their +poverty. This being evident to the said governor, he ordered that +to them be given annually, for such period as should seem fitting to +him, two hundred pesos and two hundred fanegas of rice, as an alms, +from the treasury of the fourths from the encomiendas that are without +instruction. With this it is, however, impossible to support the said +residence. It has need of repairs on its house, and, on account of +its narrow quarters, of erecting new buildings; and because it has +no alms, in lands or chaplaincies, [52] for the mass or any other +of the purposes referred to, it is in great want, as is evident by +the investigations made in the royal Audiencia of the said islands, +which were examined in the Council. He entreats that your Majesty, in +consideration of the aforesaid, will order that the said two hundred +pesos and two hundred fanegas of rice--which were granted to it, +as stated, by the said governor from the treasury of the fourths--be +set aside for it from the royal treasury, as the other fund is not +a permanent one. He further asks that you will bestow upon it from +the royal treasury one thousand pesos of income for its support, +and three thousand, to be paid once, for repairs and buildings for +the said residence; since your Majesty is wont to favor the other +parts of the Yndias for this purpose, as there is no other recourse +for aid. After examining this matter in the Council, our opinion is +that, if your Majesty be so pleased, one thousand pesos of eight reals +each, might be given once to that residence from the royal treasury of +the Philipinas, as an aid in building its houses; and that, besides, +information concerning it should be obtained from the governor and +the archbishop. Valladolid, December 11, 1601. + +[_Endorsed:_ "Council of the Indias; December 11, 1601. In regard +to the aid and alms that should be bestowed upon the residence +of the Society in the city of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, of the +Philippinas." "So let it be."] + + + + + + +Documents of 1602 + + + + Instructions to Pedro de Acuña. Felipe III; February 16. + Two royal decrees. Felipe III; February 16. + Pintados menaced by Mindanao pirates. Juan Juarez Gallinato, + and others; May 29-June 4. + Letters to Felipe III. L. P. Dasmariñas, and others; June + 8-July 10. + + + +_Source_: All these documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo +general de Indias, Sevilla. + +_Translations_: The first document is translated by Alfonso de Salvio, +of Harvard University; the second, and part of the fourth, by Robert +W. Haight; the third, and part of the fourth, by Norman F. Hall, of +Harvard University; the first letter in the fourth, by José M. and +Clara M. Asensio. + + + + + + +Instructions to Pedro de Acuna + + +The King: To Don Pedro de Acuña, whom I have appointed my governor +and captain-general of the Philipinas Islands, and president of my +Audiencia therein. My royal Council of the Indias having examined +some letters from the said islands, I have resolved upon the following. + +Since the Philipinas Islands are so far away and distant, surrounded +by so many great kingdoms of infidels, the entry and intercourse which +the Chinese and Japanese enjoy in Manila, and their friendly relation +with the natives, give us reason to fear that the former, allying +themselves with the natives, may attempt some disturbance, as they +are inclined to do. Considering the fact that the greatest security +and strength of the land lies in the Spanish settlement, and I have +heard that not only does it not increase but is not even maintained in +its previous condition--because, although the viceroys of Nueva España +are ordered to send reenforcements of men every year to the islands, +many people die from the bad climatic conditions of the land, others +are scattered in military expeditions, others must be permitted to +return (either because they have left families in their own country, +or because they cause injury to the commonwealth), and others go +there with no idea of remaining and have refused to become citizens: +considering all this, and seeing that it is a matter requiring much +attention, I charge and command you, in case this despatch shall +reach you in Nueva España, to consult the viceroy concerning all that +may pertain to the improvement of these conditions; or, in case you +receive it in the Philipinas, to do the same by writing, and to make +the arrangements and give the orders which you think best for the +settlement of the said islands, striving to draw the expenses from my +exchequer with the necessary moderation. I shall now write again to +the said viceroy, telling him to take care to provide the islands with +useful people, and permanent settlers; and, in order that such persons +may settle there, and remain in the islands, he shall favor them, +and see that the orders concerning the trade between the said islands +and Nueva España be carried out with exactness and rigor in order to +attain the end and purpose for which we allow this commerce--namely, +the preservation and prosperity of the islands, and the welfare of +their citizens and inhabitants. You yourself must attend to this with +much care, striving for the settlement of the said islands, and their +safety and tranquillity, and for the instruction and conversion of +the Indian natives. + +Governor Don Francisco Tello wrote to me last year, ninety-nine, +about the precautions that he had taken in the punishment of some +Japanese pirates who had repaired to that coast and after whom he had +sent vessels by different routes; and about the inquiries that he had +likewise made among the crews of some merchant ships which had put +into Manila at that time, suspecting that they and the pirates were +all of the same sort. Since it is necessary to take notice and be +careful of this, I charge and command you to be always very vigilant +in foreseeing the troubles which may require your attention and which +may arise in the said islands, even if it be under pretext of trade +by foreigners. You will give a hospitable reception to friends, +and maintain amicable relations with them, keeping the ports and +frontiers of the said islands in the necessary security, and taking +special care that the expenses to be met by my royal exchequer in +the precautions to be taken, the manning of vessels for searching out +and punishing pirates, and the rest, be no more than are absolutely +necessary--since you see the many things which need attention; and, +above all, the limited resources of these islands. + +When you informed me that in order to punish the pirates who resort to +the coast of the Philipinas Islands, it would be well to arm and man +some galleys, I granted you by my letter bearing the date of April 8 +of this year, that if you saw that the galleys could be of service and +usefulness you might cause them to be built and manned. But through a +letter of July 12 in the said year, 1599, the said Don Francisco Tello +informs me that since the galleys are not suited for those seas--as +they had learned by experience, on account of the swift current +and their inability to enter a bay while pursuing the enemy--and +on account of the difficulties which the religious oppose to his +collecting rowers, and as those whom they get possess little skill, +he had decided to build four galizabras; these were already being +built, and when well armed and equipped would, with three galliots, +constitute a sufficient force for the clearing and pacification +of those seas. It is therefore desirable that you carefully note +all these matters, and after you have examined and considered them +thoroughly, you will see whether or not it will be advisable to keep +the said galizabras and galliots in case they are built and manned. You +will give the necessary care to the security of that coast and land, +keeping me informed of what is being done and of the coast which the +said galizabras or vessels appointed for that purpose will guard. + +The said Don Francisco Tello says in the same letter that the province +of Mindanao was already pacified; but that some of the native chiefs +had given no pledge, and matters had not been thoroughly set in order, +and therefore it was necessary to keep there a garrison of two hundred +soldiers. He adds that, as the country is poor and has few sources of +wealth, he thought that the Indians would be unable to pay tribute; +but it was necessary to assure the safety and accessibility of that +post, because that was the landing-place where the Terrenatan landed +on his plundering expeditions against the Pintados, as he did in the +year 95. The said governor, as he had so few men and so little military +strength, decided to place a hundred soldiers in La Caldera, which is +near [the river of] Mindanao, in order to assure safety for that place +and to hold in check him of Terrenate. You will thoroughly inform +yourself of the state of affairs, and make the necessary provision +for them, taking special care to hold what is already pacified and to +have the gospel preached everywhere. As for the tribute to be imposed +upon the Indians you will do what may seem necessary, consulting the +prelates and observing my orders; you will see that those who have +been pacified and are subjected to me be safe, and receive no injury or +molestation from enemies. You will inform me of all that is being done. + +The fiscal of the Audiencia of the said islands has written me +that since the Indians do not pay the eight reals tribute in kind, +as they were wont to do, but it has been left to their choice +instead, many difficulties have been and are being experienced, +detrimental to the newly-pacified Indians, to my exchequer, and to +the commonwealth; because, when they gave the produce of the land +in payment of the tribute, they cultivated and gathered it, and, +besides paying the tribute, there was left to them a large quantity +of produce, which they kept for their trade and crafts. The result +was that the community was well provided with abundance of supplies, +at little cost, and with cloth of various fabrics, with which they +clothed themselves. The encomenderos shipped these articles to Nueva +España, and the returns therefrom remained in the islands instead +of being taken away by the Chinese, as is done now; for the stuffs +are being bought from the Chinese, and the Indians of the islands no +longer manufacture them. Much gold was also taken to Nueva España, +from which the tenth was paid to me to the yearly amount of six or +eight thousand pesos, not to mention the larger amount which was paid +for the tributes of the encomiendas which are assigned to my crown; +but since the tribute is not paid in kind, hardly any gold is mined +now. Another trouble that results from this is, that the Indians, +who are naturally prone to idleness, easily earn enough with which to +pay the tribute and buy stuffs from the Chinese with which to clothe +themselves, and so do not manufacture these. In order to remove these +difficulties, it would be expedient to impose upon the said Indians +the occupations and work for which they and the provinces where they +live are fit and suitable, with the raising of cattle; they should +also be forced to extract gold from the mines and rivers, for, if +this were done, much gold could be obtained from the mines, rivers, +and placers. Thus the Chinese trade would cease in a large degree, and +the returns from the gold and cloths which might be carried to Nueva +España would remain in the land; and that, with the gain which would +thus result to the Indians, would make them well inclined to such work, +and cause them to do it willingly. The main point to be settled in +order that the Indians may be influenced to undertake it is, to make +them pay the tribute in kind. And since much attention and thoughtful +consideration should be given to what is here pointed out, not only +for the welfare of the Indians but for that of the commonwealth--since +if the land itself could provide and supply produce and merchandise, +that would be more advantageous than to procure them from outside; +and the gold and silver which is now taken away to foreign and pagan +kingdoms would remain in the land itself--I charge and command you +that, as soon as you reach the said islands, you call together my royal +Audiencia there; the honored prelates who shall be in Manila, and the +superiors of the religious orders--informing of this matter, by letter, +those who cannot easily go thither--and confer and deliberate with them +on all that is expedient and necessary to be done. In this conference +you shall keep in mind the welfare and preservation of the Indians and +of the country, and see that the said natives be neither molested nor +wronged--striving for this object, that there may be crops and other +products of the country; and that, for this purpose, the Indians shall +pay the tribute in kind. You will observe the necessary system in +taxing them, and will execute whatever decision is reached about the +matter; moreover you will inform me of what is being done, and will +always be careful to see that the Indians work in some occupation or +other and be not idle, since idleness is the chief cause of their ruin. + +My governor of those islands was ordered to abolish many false musters +and extra expenses which were granted out of my treasury; but I have +heard that, although he reduced or abolished some of the said musters, +other stipends and extra expenses have since been given which had not +been usually paid--namely, to captains, alferezes, and other military +officers whom the said governor appointed over the people of the +towns. I have also heard that many alcaldes-mayor and other officials +have been added and their salary increased, so that where there was +only one alcalde-mayor, there are now three, each having a deputy, and +all drawing salaries from my treasury. I have learned that the said +officials could be reduced in the following way: In the province of +La Laguna, one alcalde-mayor, with a salary of three hundred pesos; +in the district of Mauban, [53] on the opposite coast [of Luzon], +one corregidor, with a salary of two hundred pesos; in the province +of Camarines, another alcalde-mayor, with a salary of three hundred +pesos, abolishing the office recently established; in the province +of Cágallan, one alcalde-mayor; in Pangasinan, one alcalde-mayor; +in the province of Ylocos, one alcalde-mayor with the same salary, +who could administer the jurisdiction of the district of Bulacan, +thus dispensing with the alcalde-mayor lately appointed for that +place; we can also dispense with the alcalde-mayor of the town of +Ytondo and of the coast of the city of Manila, all being districts +and suburbs of that city, leaving them under the jurisdiction of the +alcaldes-in-ordinary of the city of Manila, as in former times, so +that one alcalde might administer justice in the suburbs during six +months of the year, and the other serve in the city. It would also +be expedient to dispense with the alcalde-mayor lately appointed for +the islands of Leite, Zamar, and Babao, which may remain in charge +of the alcalde-mayor of Zubu, as they were before; for the natives +are troubled by both of these, and it is not desirable to have there +more than the alcalde-mayor of Zubu. Moreover, one corregidor with a +salary of two hundred pesos would suffice for the river of Butuan; in +the island of Calamianes, one corregidor is enough, drawing the same +salary; in the district of Oton one alcalde-mayor, with a salary of +three hundred pesos; in Panay, one corregidor, with two hundred pesos +salary. Let no alcalde-mayor or corregidor have a deputy except in his +absence, and then without a salary. I charge and command you that, +when you arrive at the said islands, you thoroughly investigate all +the aforesaid matters, and secure information thereon; and ascertain +what offices, salaries, and extra expenses have been added, and the +reason and justification for doing so. You will correct and reform +what there is to remedy and reform, so that, by taking the necessary +precaution in everything, whether it be in the administration of +justice or other matters, you will prevent as much as possible any +waste of my funds; for you see how necessary this is, on account of +the many expenses and works which must be supported by the treasury. + +I have also heard that one of the things by which my exchequer is +most defrauded, and the inhabitants of the islands most wronged, +is to be found in the lading and despatch of the ships for Nueva +España with merchandise; for the governors, for several years, have +appointed to that duty various personal dependents and friends, who +have succeeded through illicit means in lading the ships with their +own goods and even those of their relatives, friends, and others; +and all the cloth which is shipped beyond the general apportionment +goes without paying the duties. To remedy this it would be expedient +that hereafter the allotment of freight be made in the presence and +with the supervision of the governor and other persons appointed for +it--an auditor and a royal official, appointed each year in turn, +beginning with the oldest ones; and that immediately after the said +apportionment the royal official make a copy of it. The persons to +whom the said cloth is allotted should go with their inventories in +order to value the goods and pay the duties in the presence of my +officials, who would give in return a permit for lading. One or two +of the officials should be present in the port of Cavite, the place +where the ships are laded. Likewise the lading of the ships ought to +be witnessed by the freighters who are usually appointed, and by an +auditor, in order to prevent the lading of goods not included in the +apportionment and for which no permit was given by the said officials, +as an acknowledgment that the duty was paid. Since it is not right to +allow opportunity for the irregularities and fraud which are reported +to have occurred, and of which the citizens have complained, I charge +and command you to restore order and to employ the remedy which most +fits the occasion, appointing for the allotment of the merchandise +and the lading of the ships persons in whom great confidence can be +placed. You will see that all this be done according to equity, by +being yourself present at times, if that seem best, and you will take +the necessary measures that my royal rights be in no manner defrauded. + +I have heard that the ordinances are disregarded in assigning +encomiendas of Indians, and that some persons who are enjoying +encomiendas for life relinquish these, in order that they may be +bestowed on others whom they choose, and influence the governors to +assign the encomiendas to those persons. Since through many decrees of +the emperor and king, my sovereign, it is decreed and ordained that +no such relinquishment and renunciation of Indians be made, and that +encomiendas of this sort may not be allotted, I command you to observe +and strictly carry out what is ordered by the instructions sent to the +governors your predecessors, regarding the equitable manner in which +the Indians of those islands must be allotted to the persons who are +most deserving, and have rendered most service therein. Again I order +and command you not to confer relinquished encomiendas, or assign them +again, without notifying me of it, so that I may order what seems +best to me. In case you shall have disposed of such encomiendas, +I order that such allotment be null and of no effect. + +I have been informed that it has become the custom in these islands to +grant at the cost of my treasury the wine for the celebration of mass +to the priests of the orders--not only to those in the encomiendas +allotted to my crown, but to those in private encomiendas; and that +there is no obligation to grant this aid to the doctrinas in private +encomiendas. I therefore command you to give orders that no wine +for the celebration of the mass be granted on the account of my +treasury to the secular priests, or to those who give instruction +in private encomiendas, for it is the duty of the encomenderos to +provide the wine. + +Orders were given that for just reasons, and for the welfare and +preservation of that commonwealth, the governors your predecessors +were to name and appoint a certain number of regidors from trustworthy +men; but I have been told that the said governors have, through bribes +and other means, appointed to these offices certain persons who have +not the requisite and desirable qualifications therefor. I therefore +charge and command you to make a thorough investigation of the matter, +and to remove the regidors whom you find to have been appointed through +questionable means, or who are unfit for the office. You will replace +them with men possessing the necessary character and ability. Let +there be only eight regidors, which seems to be a sufficient number +for a city of that population. You will inform me of the men whom +you appoint, and of their qualities. + +By a clause of the ordinance establishing the Audiencia there, it +is provided that its president and two auditors at the beginning of +every year audit the accounts of the officials of my royal exchequer, +and settle them in the course of two months, for this allowing each +auditor twenty-five thousand maravedÃs. This was done also in the +time of the previous Audiencia, and an accountant was appointed +who received another fifty thousand maravedis. I have learned that +afterward Governor Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, without any orders, +created for that purpose a position of accountant-in-ordinary, with +a salary of five hundred pesos, and a secretary with two hundred +and fifty pesos. This could have have been avoided by pursuing the +former method, with no other expense than the said hundred thousand +maravedis. It has seemed best to me to refer this matter to you, +as I do, in order that you may examine it and apply such remedy as +you think best. You will inform me of the steps you take in the matter. + +I understand that the office of clerk of the regimiento in Manila has +been filled by the secretaries of the governors, and that on this +account justice is no longer sought for certain injuries inflicted +not only on the Chinese but on the citizens. I also learn that it +would be best to sell this office to a person who is not a servant +or a relative of the governors. Since it is not befitting that this +office should be filled by any secretary or follower of yours, or of +an auditor or an official of the Audiencia, you will not allow any +such appointment. You will nominate three from deserving men of those +islands, who in your estimation possess the necessary qualifications +for the office, and will send me their names, in order that I may +elect the one who seems best to me. In the meantime you will make +arrangements for the suitable performance of the duties of that office, +and so that no difficulties will arise. With this I shall order to +be sent you copies of two clauses of a letter, in which are proposed +two expedients which may benefit my exchequer in recompense for the +expenses which are incurred by it in those islands. One of these +relates to the cloves which could be obtained from the Malucas, +carrying thither the produce of the island of Panay in exchange; +and then bringing the said cloves to Nueva España on my account. The +other proposal suggests that a monopoly be established in the raw +silk brought from China--allowing each ship to carry only a certain +quantity of it, and that to be carried to Nueva España on my account +and not for any other, as you will understand more fully from the said +clauses of a letter, which I have thought best to send you. Thus after +you have discussed the matter with my royal Audiencia, and heard the +opinion of my royal officials and of such persons of experience and +intelligence as you think best, you can ascertain what can be done +in the matter, the benefit and advantage which may result from the +said measures, and the difficulty or facility which they offer. You +will send me a detailed account of all, with your opinion. + +I have understood that, by way of remedy for the illegal acts committed +by the magistrates, and the wrongs which the Indians suffer, it would +be of great importance to have the official inspection of affairs in +those islands--which according to the ordinances constituting the +Audiencia there, and to my orders, the auditors ought to make in +turn. The latter have refused to do so, on acount of the expenses +and danger which they incur. Since it is necessary that the said +inspection be made, I charge and command you to cause it to be made +in the land which has been pacified, and where there is no obstacle; +and that in this inspection the auditor who is selected in turn, +conformably to the said ordinances, be accompanied by no soldiers +or other people who might prove to be burdensome or injurious to the +Indians. You will endeavor to make the said inspection bring about the +good results for which it is intended; and will give the auditor to +whose lot it falls a vessel of fair size with which to sail from those +islands of Luzon to the others, at the expense of my treasury. As for +the additional pay or gratuity which should be allowed to the said +auditors beyond their salary, and beyond what is granted them by the +ordinances and decrees, you will send me a report, with your opinion. + +I have heard that the said islands contain many poor and needy +persons, to whom on account of their services and those of their +fathers a remuneration is due out of the profits of the land and +appointments to offices; but that as these sources of revenue are so +few, and the governors confer them on their relatives, servants, and +followers, as I have heard they have done, the others have remained +without anything. It is not just that there should be opportunity +for such appointments; therefore I order you to observe and fulfil +in this matter exactly what is enjoined by the decrees, provisions, +and instructions sent to the governors, preferring the most deserving +and the older inhabitants of the land, who have best and most served +the country without having been yet rewarded. + +I have been informed that the ships which go to those islands from +Nueva España carry each year, without a merchandise register, a large +quantity of money from that country and Pirú--which is not found on +reaching the port, on account of the care with which they hide it; +and that it was necessary to make investigations and inspect the +said ships before their reaching port. Since I understand that there +is some foundation in this, and that many irregularities occur in +this respect, I charge and command you to prevent and correct this +evil in a fitting manner; and to see that the fiscal shall go with +the officials of my exchequer to inspect those ships, at such place +as they find convenient. Let the penalty be rigorously enforced in +connection with what is found and discovered to be brought without +register and against orders, adjudging to the informer the share +which may seem to be best to my royal Audiencia of those islands. + +Since I have learned that the office of treasurer of my exchequer in +those islands has very little work attached to it, since its duties +consist mainly in those of factor and accountant; and that therefore +there is no need of the said treasurer, and that office could be +fused with that of factor and the latter could act as treasurer, as +was done before--I command you to send me a report of what would be +expedient in this matter; also, of the duties of the said treasurer, +and if, as it has been said, dispensing with the office, the factor +and the accountant could take sufficient care of the administration +of my exchequer. + +I have learned that the governors, your predecessors, have often +interfered in the affairs pertaining to the administration of my +exchequer, which is entrusted to its officials; and that, contrary +to the orders given them, they have not allowed the said officials +suitable freedom in the exercise of their offices. Since in matters +of this nature it is right to keep in mind the necessary security +of my exchequer, I order you to observe and cause others to observe +the ordinances and decrees which were issued in regard to this. You +will maintain friendly relations with the officials of my exchequer +in everything, and will give them the favor and aid necessary in +the exercise of their offices, so that they may fulfil their charge +and see that nothing is lacking to my service, and to the security, +accounts, and order of my exchequer. + +The accountant and the treasurer of my exchequer have written to +me that my storehouses in the city of Manila have been in charge of +the factor, who placed over them a man with the title of "lieutenant +of shipping," whose duty was to keep an account of the receipt and +distribution of what came under his supervision, thus relieving the +work of the factor. A few years ago, on account of an information sent +against the factor, it was ordained that each of the said officials +should have his own key, and a person at the said storehouses in order +to have all transactions pass through three hands, and that two hundred +pesos a year should be paid to each person. They complained of this, +saying that they were unable to furnish a man for this on account of +their small salaries, which they needed entirely for their own support; +and they besought me to free them from this obligation. Since I desire +to be informed of the facts and occurrences therein; and how and under +whose charge, and on whose account, the said storehouses have been +usually kept; and the reason for ordering each of the said officials +to have his own key to the said storehouses; and whether they are more +secure for that precaution; and what sort of persons are placed there +by the said officials and at what salaries--I command you that, after +having examined the orders that have been given, and obtained thorough +information of what is expedient to do, you send me an account of it, +together with your opinion about the matter. + +Although, as there are so excellent judges and officials in the +Audiencia of Manila, it is reasonable to believe that justice is +administered therein, I have learned that in certain cases there +has been laxity, and especially in two--namely, when Melchor Ramirez +de Alarcon, being intoxicated in the said city of Manila, and being +reprimanded by his son-in-law, Pedro Munez, gave the latter a blow +with his fist, receiving in return nine dagger-thrusts, of which he +died; and when, in the city of Cazeres, Captain Pedro Cid killed Joan +Martin Morcillo in a duel. In spite of the gravity of these cases, +the delinquents were not sent to prison, but were set free on paying +a fine of eight hundred pesos each--a procedure which caused censure +and discontent among the people. Since it is right that similar cases +be not left unpunished, I charge and command you that, as soon as you +reach the islands, you demand and copy, without declaring your purpose, +the record of the proceedings in regard to the said two murders, +and examine it in company with the licentiate Don Antonio de Rivera, +auditor of the Audiencia; and with the consent of the fiscal; and, +if you find sufficient cause for action, you will have the culprits +seized, and will make all the investigations and efforts necessary for +ascertaining the truth. If it seem to you that the administration of +justice requires it, you will send the prisoners under arrest to Nueva +España, together with the records of their cases, and will inform me +of what has been done and of the investigation made. You will always +take great care that justice be done and administered in every case, +and that crimes which merit punishment receive it, so that disorders +may be repressed and justice exist and be feared, and that it shall +not set a bad example or occasion lawless conduct in the land. + +I have learned that many of the decrees and orders issued for those +islands are not being executed, and that there is laxity in this +respect, especially as concerns the ordinances about the equity with +which the positions of profit in that country should be apportioned, +and those persons who have not yet been remunerated should be +rewarded. When my fiscal demanded the observance of the decrees, +and especially in the case where the governor appointed Captain +Cerban Gutierrez de Cespedes to the office of alcalde-mayor while +he possessed an encomienda of Indians worth fifteen hundred ducados, +and the fiscal asked that the said captain be not allowed to exercise +the office until the completion of the trial, the Audiencia postponed +its final decision, and meanwhile the said Cerban Gutierrez continued +to exercise the office, and finished his term before the case was +settled. I have thought best to refer this case to you, as I do, +because in similar cases you will take suitable measures to prevent +difficulties of this sort. It is especially necessary to observe and +minutely fulfil the ordinances concerning the distribution of the +profits of the country and the grant of rewards to persons who have +not received them. + +I charge and command you to examine the copy of a letter which I send +you with the present, and which was written to me from those islands +on matters concerning the Sangleys of the Parian, and on what ought +to be provided and remedied in the islands. You will inform me of +all matters and advices contained in the said letter. Meanwhile you +will provide and ordain whatever may seem necessary for the spread of +the Christian faith, and for the cessation of the troubles already +mentioned and others which may be expected, anticipating everything +as is most convenient. + +I send you, besides, a copy of what has been written to me from those +islands concerning the precautions which should be taken in matters +of war and defense of the land. That letter also gives information +that the governors without any other reason but their own private +aims and interests, are wont to abolish the companies of infantry +and other offices of war, on account of which complaints arise. It +also states that they have been accustomed to appoint captains of the +number in the city of Manila, who are entirely useless, and that we +could dispense with the appointing those captains and granting their +commissions, as well as those of captains-general and masters-of-camp +which the governors have hitherto granted. You will examine all the +references made to the above-mentioned matters, and what pertains +to the garrisons and defense of the forts and fortified towns. You +will take the necessary precautions in these things, in order that +no loss or trouble may result from them; and will not fill the said +offices of captains-general and masters-of-camp--except that, when they +shall become vacant, you will appoint men to serve in these offices +until the appointments are made by me; and in the appointments of the +captains you shall consider very carefully the persons, and the need +that there is of them. + +I am writing to the provincials of the religious orders the letters +which go with this, regarding the kind treatment of the Indians; and, +that the Indians must not be molested by the religious who give them +instruction. You will give them these letters and will take special +care to see how my commands are fulfilled, and that those natives +shall not receive injury from anyone. You will have great care taken +in teaching and instructing them in our holy Catholic faith. + +The said Don Francisco Tello writes me that the work on the cathedral +of Manila has been stopped for lack of means to carry it on; but +that it would not take much money to build a tower and a sacristy, +which would complete the church. Although he said that he would aid +the work by various grants and imposts, and that, if any balances +should result from the auditing of accounts which he had ordered to +be made in the funds which he had set aside for that work, he would +have them collected for that purpose, I charge and order you to take +special care in helping and furthering the work on the said church +as much as you can, so that it may be promptly completed. You will +notify me in what manner this shall be done. + +The said Don Francisco Tello writes to me that the two hospitals of +the city of Manila, for Spaniards and Indians respectively, are in good +and prosperous condition, and that he has taken possession in my name +of that for the Indians. He adds that the accounts of the latter have +been audited by his order, and that those of the Spanish hospital were +audited every year. This meets my approval; and I charge you always to +be attentive to the preservation and prosperity of the said hospitals, +and to notify me of the result when the accounts are audited. + +Don Francisco Tello also informed me of the good condition in which +remained the Seminary of Santa Potenciana in the city of Manila, +where some young girls and other women were sheltered; and that all +were living in great retirement and offering a good example. He added +that many of them desired to remain in that seclusion, and that the +viceroy of Nueva España, whom he had asked to send two nuns for the +said monastery, had replied that no one of them dared to go. Since +I shall write to the viceroy about this matter, you will make the +necessary efforts that the said religious may go there; for this will +be of great importance in fully establishing the said monastery and in +completing the training of the nuns who have been sheltered there. You +will aid and heartily favor this work as being so desirable for the +service of God. + +The said Don Francisco writes me that when the king my lord (may +he rest in glory) charged the governors your predecessors to found +a seminary where the children of the native chiefs of these islands +could be taught and receive instruction in the ways of civilization, +Don Luis Perez Dasmariñas, governor of the islands, made a contract +with the religious of the Society of Jesus for the foundation of the +said seminary, and assigned to it a perpetual income of a thousand +pesos yearly. To begin the work, he immediately gave them six hundred +pesos and for the income he set aside a fund in the treasury of the +fourths; but as the income was uncertain, on account of the needy +circumstances of the said treasury, and the amount of money given to +commence the work was small, and it was of great importance that the +work be begun, the said Don Francisco entreated me to be responsible +for this income, and thus make it perpetual. He also asked me to +give him permission to assign the said seminary a repartimiento of a +thousand Indians, the first one that should be vacant. Since I desire +to receive a report from you on the whole matter, I command you to +send me one, notifying me, with your opinion, of any other means, +besides the Indians, by which aid can be given to the said seminary, +and in what condition its endowment is. + +Don Francisco Tello informs me that in the Parian of the Sangleys of +Manila--which was founded only for some of them to live in, and those +to be workmen, in such number as to be sufficient for the service of +the commonwealth--houses have been gradually built; and that by this +time there are more than three hundred of them, and three thousand +Sangleys who do nothing but eat up the provisions and enhance the +price of commodities in the land. He adds that this could be remedied +only by abolishing the Parian altogether, and letting the Sangleys +sell their merchandise in the streets or in their ships as they +were accustomed to do when there was no Parian. This would bring the +commonwealth a gain of more than one hundred thousand pesos a year, +and would give more security to the land; for, having no houses of +their own, the Sangleys would frequent that country less, and would +endeavor to sell their goods as soon as they reached the islands; +they would also sell at a moderate price, and there would be no +hucksters. He ends by saying that he was considering the necessary +steps to take in this regard. Since this is a matter whose importance +and consideration ought not to be overlooked, I charge and order you to +examine and discuss the question with the Audiencia and the prelates; +and to inform me of your opinions, decisions, and agreements before +taking any decisive action or making any changes--taking care in +the meantime, as I have already charged you, to see that all be done +prudently and for the security of the land. + +The said Don Francisco Tello notified me that he had erected buildings +for the cabildo, and had placed thereon the coat-of-arms which was +granted to the city of Manila. This is well done; and, if my royal +coat-of-arms is not placed on the said house of the cabildo, you will +cause this to be done, placing it above the coat-of-arms of the city. + +The said Don Francisco Tello writes that because he did not carry with +him the instructions which were given to him, he did not execute +what he was therein ordered to do when passing by the Ladrones +Islands--namely, that he was to provide for the religious instruction +of those Indians, leaving there such persons as he should select. He +said that, with the consent of the Audiencia, he wrote to the viceroy +of Nueva España, requesting him to fulfil that command by ordering the +officers of the ships which were to sail for those islands last year, +sixteen hundred, to leave there two religious, with ten soldiers for +their guard. He added that this work would prove of great service +to God, as those islands were thickly settled with Indians who were +docile, and inclined to receive instruction; and that, if religious +should enter that region, there is reason to expect that they would +convert many of the natives. And because this means no less than +the salvation of so many souls, I charge and order you that, if the +viceroy has not fulfilled the above order, you yourself shall do so, +in accordance with the orders regarding it which were given to the +said Don Francisco in his instructions. You will notify me of what +is being done in this matter. + +The instructions order Don Francisco Tello to carry to those +islands from Mexico a certain number of farmers to cultivate the +land, who should be associated with the natives, and teach them +agriculture. This he did not then do, because the instructions did +not reach him there. I wrote, however, to the viceroy of Nueva España +to send them at the first opportunity; but, if he has not done so, +you will endeavor to have the said farmers conveyed to the islands, +because they are so necessary to make that land productive. You will +also make diligent efforts to introduce there, and carry over from +Nueva España, mares and horses of good blood for breeding purposes, +since this is of great importance for the service of the people. + +The copy of a portion of a letter which accompanies this, which +was written to me by the said Don Francisco Tello, will show you +how he wished to enter the kingdom of Siam; and how he despatched +Captain Juan de Mendoza on an embassy to the king of that country, +requesting him to consent that four monks should go there, of the +Order of St. Domini, of which order the king had already a friar with +him. You will inform me how the matter stands, and report the answer +which the king will have given you. You will notify me of it, and +will encourage, so far as you can, the conversion of those infidels +and the preaching of the gospel to them. + +The said Don Francisco Tello writes that, although it has been decreed +that the Indians shall not be condemned to pay money fines, it would be +advisable to make them, although with due moderation, pay some fines in +money, because on account of their disobedience and natural disposition +they feel more the punishment of paying one real than that of a hundred +lashes; the result is that we do not gain the expected result--namely, +to have them engaged in cultivating the fields and raising fowls, +cattle and other articles for the general need and welfare. Since I +desire to learn from you the facts, and what takes place in regard +to the aforesaid matter, and what measures are expedient in regard +to punishing them for their crimes and offenses by money fines, +and whether this causes or may cause some difficulties, I order you, +after having examined the question thoroughly and discussed it with +the Audiencia, archbishops, and ecclesiastical cabildo, to let me +know the result and the opinion of all. + +I have heard that the buildings which have been erected for the +Audiencia and for the president's residence are in great need of a +hall in which the president and the auditors might hold their meetings; +for it is not convenient for them to meet in a hall of the president's +house, where the desirable secrecy cannot be observed because their +discussions can easily be overheard. Therefore it would be expedient +to build the said hall beyond the hall of the Audiencia, and next to +it, on the side where the clock is. As it is so important that the +said meetings be held in a suitable hall, and that great secrecy +be maintained in regard to the affairs transacted by them, it has +seemed good to me to notify you of this, and to charge you as I do, +that with the advice of the Audiencia you erect such building in +suitable style; so that the above-mentioned difficulties may cease, +and occur no longer on account of the authority and secrecy which +should prevail in the said meetings. + +I have learned that Governor Don Francisco Tello, your predecessor, +went to the Audiencia and attended its meetings and visitations, +in unbefitting garments; and that at times he went half-dressed, +without sword or jacket. Since in positions of that sort, in places +and regions so remote, it is necessary to exercise the authority and +propriety due to those offices, I charge you to be very careful in +that respect, and always to attend meetings and courts with the garb +and decorum which befit the occasion. + +The fiscal of the Audiencia of the said islands, to whom is entrusted +the protection of the Indians, has informed me that, as their lawsuits +are many and involve much work, with the Audiencia's permission he +appointed a solicitor, with a salary of two hundred pesos, and an +interpreter with a salary of eighty pesos, at the expense of the +encomenderos. I charge you that, as soon as you reach the islands, +you discuss this matter with the Audiencia; and, if it be necessary +to retain the said solicitor and interpreter, to see that their +salaries be paid, and that they be trustworthy men and competent to +fill those offices. You will always take special care to see that +the Indians be relieved from burdens, and protected and favored in +all permissible ways, and that their affairs be promptly settled, +endeavoring to avoid lawsuits whenever possible. At Zamora, on the +sixteenth day of February in the year one thousand six hundred and two. + +I, The King + +Countersigned by Juan De Ybarra + + + + +Two Royal Decrees + + + +Colonists for the Islands + + +The King: To the Conde de Monterrey, my kinsman, and viceroy, +governor and captain-general of Nueva Spaña, or to the person or +persons in whose charge the government thereof may be: The kingdoms +of infidels and enemies of our holy Catholic faith, with which the +Philipinas Islands are surrounded, being so numerous and so great, the +most advisable thing for its safety and defense is to settle it with +Spaniards. That colony, I am informed, is not only not being augmented, +but is not even being preserved in its present state; for the people +who are sent to those islands are few compared with the number of +those who die from the unhealthful climate of the country, and those +who are dispersed in expeditions, and because most of those who go to +the said islands do not intend to abide there, and accordingly return +with their wealth. It is considered expedient to give such persons +permission to return, so that others may be willing to go to the +islands; and it is necessary to give others such permission, either +because they are married in España, or because they are Peruvians, a +people who are injurious to the community. Consequently there is always +a lack of people, and those who remain there are the poorest. As it +is expedient to attend with great care to the settlement of the said +Islands and their conservation, I charge and command you to provide +for and send thither useful people, and to see to it that settlers +of good character go thither. In order that this may be done, and +that they may live and remain there, you will see to the careful and +rigorous execution of the orders already given concerning the trade of +the Philipinas with your country of Nueva España, and that the object +be attained for which it is permitted--that is, that it be directed +to the settlement and conservation of the said islands and applied to +the benefit and advantage of the citizens--taking care that nothing +be done which shall transgress any order which has been given in the +matter, or which may be so given in the future, and with great care +favoring the interests of the said islands. In this you will please me. + +Given at Zamora, on the sixteenth of February, in the year one thousand +six hundred and two. + +_I, The King_ + +Countersigned by + +_Joan de Ybarra_ + +Signed by the Council. + +[_Endorsed:_ "To the Viceroy of Nueva Spaña, concerning the settlement +of the Philipinas Islands, and directing him to send useful people +there."] + + + + +Nuns for Santa Potenciana + + +The King: To the Conde de Monterrey, my kinsman, and viceroy, governor +and captain-general of Nueva Spaña, or to the person or persons in +whose charge the government thereof may be: Don Francisco Tello, my +governor and captain-general of the Philipinas Islands, has informed +me of the prosperous condition of the seminary of Sancta Potenciana +at Manila, where girls are sheltered, and of the retirement and the +exemplary lives which they lead, and that many of them intend to remain +in the said seminary. I wrote to you to send them, from Nueva Spaña, +two religious women for the said seminary, but you answered to the +effect that none of them dared to go. As this is of great importance, +and should be carried out, for the establishment of that seminary and +the settlement there of professed nuns, and that its inmates may be +thoroughly trained in piety, I charge and command that you that, in +any event, you make arrangements to send there the said two religious +women from one of the convents of your country, and that they shall +be persons of approved character--and this on account of the great +service which this will be for our Lord; and you shall advise me of +what is done in the matter. + +Given at Camora, on the sixteenth of February, in the year one thousand +six hundred and two. + +_I, The King_ + +Countersigned by + +_Joan de Ybarra_ + +Signed by the Council. + +[_Endorsed:_ "To the viceroy of Nueva Spaña, directing him to send +thence to the Philipinas certain religious for the establishment of +a seminary."] + + + + + +Pintados Menaced by Mindanao Pirates + + +_Testimony which Captain Gallinato sent to the governor of the +Filipinas concerning the help which the king of Terrenate is giving +to the Mindanaos._ + +On the sea, off the tinguis ["hills"] of La Caldera, on the +twenty-ninth day of the month of May in the year one thousand six +hundred and two. The purveyor-general, Juan Juarez Gallinato. Whereas +Ensign Antonio de Alarcon, commander of the patrona, [54] took with +his galley from a vessel of Lutaos an Indian of San Buangan [_i.e._, +Zamboanga,] who is supposed to be a spy, I command, in order to learn +the truth and the design of the enemy, that his confession be taken; +and so I order it and sign my name. + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato_ + +By his order: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + +_Deposition_. Then on the day, month, and year aforesaid, the +purveyor-general caused to appear before him the said Lutao, who was +questioned by the interpreter Pedro Navarro, encomendero of Canamucan +and Baibay. + +He was asked what his name was, of what place he was a native, and +if he were a slave or a timagua; and he replied that his name was +Saliot, that he was a native of Sanbuangan, which is near La Caldera, +and that he was a timagua. This was his answer. + +When asked for what purpose he was coming yesterday when he was taken, +and who sent him, he said that he was sent by a chief named Bato, a +native of the witness's village, who told the witness to take fowls +and wax and fish, and go to the place where the fleet was, or was +coming, and find out who was in it, what sort of ships there were, +where it was going, what people it carried, and how many ships; +and the witness came to do what the aforesaid chief had ordered, +and was captured. This was his answer. + +He was asked what ships there were in the river of Mindanao, armed +to set out; and where they were going, who was going as commander +of them, and what fighting men there were. He said that there were +a hundred ships in the aforesaid river of Mindanao, large and small, +intending to go out to plunder Pintados and Cebu, and Oton, and all the +regions that they could; and that for commander there goes Silonga, +with Raxamora and Buysan. He said that a large number of men were +going on the war-vessels, because they take a hundred men from each +village; and he said that within ten days they would set out from +the river for Pintados. This was his answer. + +When asked if the Mindanaos knew that the Spanish fleet was going to +help Pintados, or what they understood about it, he said that a son of +Liguana, called Ssapay, with Gumapas and Nasa, were sent from Mindanao +as spies in order to know what the Spaniards were doing, and where +they were; and that they told where the Spanish fleet was, and what +it was doing. He said that the Lutaos who came with him yesterday had +returned to give news of the coming of the fleet. This was his answer. + +He was asked whether Liguana, chief of Taguima, had planned to +go to Pintados with the enemy's fleet. He said that he had, and +that likewise his sons were going with him, and all the chiefs of +his country; and thirty-five vessels were going from Sanbuangan, +Tragima, and Basilanban. This he said to be the truth, according to +the obligation of his oath, which he had taken after his custom. He +said that he was about twenty years old; and he did not sign this +paper, but the interpreter signed it. + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato Pedro Navarro_ + +Before me: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + +_Official act_. On the sea, off the mainland of Dapitan, on the +thirtieth day of the month of May in the year one thousand six hundred +and two. The purveyor-general, Juan Juarez Gallinato. Whereas Ensign +Pedro de Carrion, while scouting among the little islands opposite +the kingdom of Xolo in the last few days, captured a Lutao in a +[_MS. defective_] and was fleeing; it is proper, in order to know +the design of the inhabitants of the aforesaid kingdom, that his +deposition be taken; and thus I command it and sign my name. + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato Pedro Navarro_ + +By his command: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + +_Deposition_. On the aforesaid day, month, and year, the aforesaid +purveyor-general ordered to appear before him the aforesaid Indian, +in order to take his deposition, through the interpreter Pedro Navarro, +encomendero of Baibay. The following questions were asked of him. + +After he had taken the oath according to his custom, and after he had +promised to tell the truth, he was asked what his name was, where he +lived, what his occupation was, and if he was a slave or a timagua. He +said that he was called Onarano; that he was a Lutao of the village of +Lumian, which is near Xolo; that his occupation was always to fight; +and that he was a timague. This was his answer. + +When asked if it was true that the son of Diguana, called Sapaz, [55] +was with the natives of Jolo on the morning on which they attacked the +Spanish quarters, and if Diguana knew of the attack, he said that he +did not know; nor had he heard it said, because the witness was not +in that affray, for he had gone away to fight at that time. This was +his answer. + +He was asked if it was true that the king of Xolo sent to Mindanao +to seek help against the Spaniards. He said that it was, and that +a chief of the aforesaid kingdom, called Diaga, went in a ship to +seek it on behalf of the king; but that it was not known what reply +he brought back. This was his answer. + +He was asked if it was true that the Mindanao enemy was preparing a +great fleet to come against the provinces of Pintados and against the +Spaniards. The witness said that he had heard from other natives of +the kingdom of Xolo that, as long as the Spaniards remained in the +aforesaid kingdom, all the natives of Mindanao would go with a large +fleet to Pintados, to plunder it. This was his answer. + +He was asked other questions in regard to the matter, but he said that +he did not know anything more than what he had already declared; and +this he affirmed. He did not sign this paper, but the aforesaid Pedro +Navarro signed it. He declared that he was more than fifty years old. + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato Pedro Navarro_ + +Before me: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + + +_Official act_. In the port of Biara, which is on the mainland of +Dapitan and Mindanao, on the thirty-first day of the month of May in +the year one thousand six hundred and two. The purveyor-general, Juan +Juarez Gallinato. Whereas Captain Benito Gomez Descobara y Esquivel +captured on a little island (or rather on the sea-coast) an Indian, +a native of Sanbuangan, who is supposed to be a spy; I command, in +order to learn if he is one, and to ascertain about the enemy's fleet, +that his confession be taken; and thus I order it and sign my name. + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato_ + +By his command: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + + +_Deposition_. Thereupon, immediately, on the day, month, and year +aforesaid, the said purveyor-general caused to appear before him +the aforesaid Indian, in order to receive his confession, through +Agustin de Sepulbeda--who swore in due form to fulfil the office +of interpreter well and faithfully, and administered an oath to the +Indian according to the latter's custom. He promised to tell the truth, +and the following questions were asked of him. He was asked his name, +where he lived, his occupation, his age, and whether he was slave or +free; and he replied that his name was Panran, that he was a native +of the town of Linpapa (which is near Rabos), that he was a slave +of Sumanpie, chief of the said village of Linpapa, and that he was +about twenty years old. This was his answer. + +He was asked what ships had gathered and from what nations, and +also where they were and for what purpose. He said that from Maluco +there had come fifty vessels--Terrenatans, Sangils, and Togolandans +[56]--which were brought by Buisan, who is master-of-camp to the one +whom they call Captain Lant. The rest which are going from Mindanao +consisted of forty large caracoas and twenty carangailes and bireyes, +with one caracoa and two bireyes from Sanbuangan and Tagima. All these +had agreed that, if the Spaniards were in Jolo, they should fall upon +them; and that, if they were not there, they should go to plunder in +Pintados, Cebu and Oton. This was his answer. + +He was asked where it was said that they were to go. He said that +those who were returning from Oton had agreed to pass through some +little islands which are opposite Quipit; and that those going to +Cebu were to go from Similon, which is opposite Dapitan; and that +they were to return that way. This was his answer. + +When he was asked how he knew this that he had said, he replied that +it was generally known and reported among the chiefs of Sanbuangan +and among the Lutaos. + +He was asked what agreement Liguana had made with the chiefs of Tagima +and Sanbuangan, and what he said to them against the Spaniards. He +replied that the aforesaid Liguana had ordered the chiefs and the +Lutaos to be assembled together, and in readiness, along with the +Mindanaos, against the Spaniards. This was his answer. + +He was asked how many days it would be before the fleet would set out +for Pintados; and he replied that the fleet was ready in Mindanao, +and that he had heard that it was to start shortly, within ten days, +and that five of these had passed. This was his answer. + +He was asked other questions in regard to the matter, and he replied +that what he had said was the truth; and he affirmed this and ratified +it. He did not sign this, but Agustin de Sepulbeda signed it. + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato_ +_Agustin de Sepulbeda_ + +Before me: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + + +_Official act_. On the sea, near Dapitan, on the fourth day of the +month of June in the year one thousand six hundred and two. The captain +and sargento-mayor, Juan Juarez Gallinato, purveyor-general and head +of the provinces of Pintados for his Majesty. Whereas it has come to +his notice that yesterday, Monday, the third of this month, Captain +Garcia Gutierres Guerrero and Ensign Domingo Martir and Diego Mendez +went in a caracoa to the river of Sioco to get water; and that, while +they were doing so, there came to them an Indian, the chief of the +said river, who told them that it was he who had given notice to the +captains about the enemy's fleet, in order to warn the Spaniards: now +therefore, in order to ascertain whether this is so or not, I command +that the depositions of the aforesaid men be taken; and I order it, +and sign my name. + + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato_ + +By his command: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + + +_Deposition._ Thereupon, on the day, month, and year aforesaid, the +said purveyor-general caused to appear before him the said Captain +Garcia Gutierrez Guerrero, in order to receive his deposition. He took +oath in due form of law, and promised to tell the truth; and, when +questioned in accordance with the above order, the witness declared +that he had gone to the bank of the river of Sioco, where some Indians +who pay tribute to him live; and that when he had arrived there the +witness caused an arquebus to be fired, at the noise of which there +came up an Indian, the chief of that river, called Tumarahoc. The +said chief came to where the witness was, and told him that he had +told the Indians of Dapitan--those who took fowls to the Jolo army +for the commander--that they should warn the Spaniards that in the +river of Mindanao a great fleet was being prepared, with many men, +which they said was to go to Jolo and Pintados; and the aforesaid +Indian likewise told the witness that he would be on the watch, and +that he would warn the Dapitans if the fleet should set out, and where +it was going; and he said that he would also tell the witness. This +he declared to be the truth, under the oath which he had taken; and +he affirmed and ratified it, and signed it, and declared that he was +about forty years old. + + +_Garcia Guerrero_ +_Juan Juarez Gallinato_ + +Before me: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + + + +_Deposition_. Then, on the day, month, and year aforesaid, the said +purveyor-general caused to appear before him Ensign Domingo Martin, +in order to take his testimony. He took oath in due form of law, +and promised to tell the truth. When questioned in accordance with +the above order, the witness said that he went in company with +Captain Guerrero to the bank of the river of Sioco to get water; +and that when they arrived there they fired an arquebus-shot from the +witness's caracoa, and that, after they had fired it, there came to the +aforesaid bank an Indian, the chief of the river, who was a friend of +the Spaniards and paid tribute to the aforesaid Captain Guerrero. When +he reached the caracoa, he told the witness and Captain Guerrero that +he had told the Dapitan Indians (who had gone to Jolo with fowls for +the commander), that they should warn the Spaniards that a large number +of ships were being gathered in the river of Mindanao; and that a very +great number of men was to depart in them to go against the Spaniards +in Jolo and to plunder Pintados. The said chief also said that he had +told the said Indians that if they did not warn the said Spaniards he +would have them beaten with sticks; and that he would be on the watch, +and that he would warn the Dapitan chiefs and Captain Guerrero of what +happened. This he declared to be the truth, under the oath which he +had already taken; and he affirmed and ratified it, and signed it; +and he said that he was about twenty-eight years old. + + +_Domingo Martin_ +_Juan Juarez Gallinato_ + + +Before me: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + + +These agree with the originals, which are in the possession of the +purveyor-general, who signed here with his name; and it is exact and +accurate. And to the fact that it was accurately copied, corrected, +and made to agree, were witnesses: Ensign Juan Rodriguez de Santa, +and the royal ensign Pedro Mendez de Sotomayor, and Francisco +Hernandez. Done in Dapitan, on the fourth day of the month of June +in the year one thousand six hundred and two. + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato_ + +In testimony of which, I have affixed my name and the customary +rubrics. + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + + + +Letters to Felipe III + + + +Sire: + +Don Pedro de Acuña, [57] to whom your Majesty granted the favor of +sending him to govern this land, arrived here with a very considerable +reenforcement of troops. This and his arrival are so important and +timely that I think there must follow many results beneficial to +the service of God and of your Majesty, as also the correction of +important matters--which have greatly needed it, as I have informed +your Majesty at greater length in a report and letter that treats of +this matter, and of the great and urgent necessity for your Majesty +to command that the town and fort of Maluco be occupied as promptly +as possible. From this will result the greatest advantages, and great +danger to this land will be averted; and thus may be repaired the many +losses and destructive raids which this country may suffer, which may +result from the inroad of those demons of English and Dutch heretics, +with their intentions and desires. We should have aid, and means +of communication, and strongholds in these regions, and especially +in this one of Maluco, which is the most important, dangerous, and +near to these islands, and whose people are unfriendly. Our enemies, +the Xoloan and Mindanaos, avail themselves of it, and are succored +therefrom, and with this aid have inflicted many damages, which they +will continue to do, if they are not checked. Great cost and expense +must be incurred in these islands, merely to preserve and defend them; +and there are great hindrances and difficulties in the way of their +growth. By gaining this fort the door is closed to notable evils and +troubles, and benefits of the utmost importance, both spiritual and +temporal, through which God our Lord and your Majesty will be well +served, the Christian faith and the extension of the gospel will +be assured and increased in these regions; and the crown and royal +possessions of your Majesty, and the reputation of España, well +maintained and accredited, as is not the case now. Other important +undertakings and expeditions which may hereafter be made will be +facilitated; for that place is the capital, and has most reputation; +and it rules as subjects and tributaries many surrounding peoples, +who may be easily reduced after the conquest of this stronghold, and +after those who so greatly fear and respect us have been vanquished and +chastised. Moreover, expenses for supplies and garrisons which must be +maintained, and which are necessary until this is accomplished, will +be saved; and a large amount of property and income will be left for +other expenses and affairs in the service of your Majesty. In short, +until this is once for all assured and established, a certain amount +of damage must be expected, and will inevitably result; and it is very +evident that for the aforesaid reasons it is necessary sooner or later +to undertake this expedition for the preservation and security of these +regions. It is also better not to postpone it, and not to wait until +that place has greater fortification, strength, and defense, thereby +rendering its conquest more difficult and costly. I conclude, Sire, +by saying that as God and your Majesty have sent Don Pedro de Acuña +to this government, and he has inclination and desire for military +service, and for the faithful fulfilling his performance of what +pertains to his office and to the service of your Majesty, (as has been +observed), and besides has experience and the qualifications suitable +and necessary for this undertaking, may your Majesty not defer it, or +wait for another governor to perform this most important service. The +opportunity of having a person so well fitted for such a contingency +(which is by no means unimportant) is not to be lost. To say this +and what else pertains to this matter, Sire, I am constrained only +by the duty which I owe to the service of God and His church, and to +your Majesty and your crown, and to the general welfare of these most +important regions. If this were not so, nothing in this matter would +concern or could influence me; for it has cost me most dear and was +so disastrous to me that I lost by it my father and a great amount of +property, and met other losses to which I shall not refer. For this +reason, I desired to prosecute this expedition after the death of my +father; but I could not do so, on account of the great fear and dread +of hostile Chinese and Japanese. As a man, Sire, I can but desire the +accomplishment of that thing which my father and I had tried to achieve +and had almost succeeded in doing. But may our Lord not permit that +this or any other enterprise should be abandoned, for lack of desire +and effort to secure a result so desirable for the said objects; +and may it come through the hand and means which God shall choose, +and by which He shall be served. May His Divine Majesty guard your +Majesty as He can, and as we all desire and need. At Manila, June 8, +in the year 1602. + +_Luis Perez Dasmariñas_ + +[_Endorsed_: "April 27, 1604. To the Conde de Lemos. Suitable provision +has already been made; at Valladolid, [58] May 14, 1605."] + + + + +Sire: + +As I was in doubt whether the letter which I wrote last year regarding +the matter in this was received by your Majesty, I give an account +of the same matter in this letter. + +Toward the close of the previous year, 1600, there entered into +these islands, by way of the Strait of Magallanes, Oliver de Nort, +a Hollander, with two ships of war belonging to Count Mauriçio. He +took prizes and caused damage, until he established himself at the +mouth of the bay of this city, intending to await the merchant ships +from China, and the galleon "Santo Thomas" from Nueva España, with +the silver for two years belonging to the business men of this kingdom. + +As military affairs were at that time little cared for in these +islands, and there was no sort of preparation, the royal Audiencia +of your Majesty, at the petition of the president, Don Francisco +Tello, was obliged to take measures to provide aid in so urgent a +necessity, with all possible haste and efficiency. For this end I was +commissioned to go immediately to the port of Cabite, and place and +keep it in a state of defense; and to arm several ships, with which +to meet the pirate and divert him from his intention. Accordingly, +I did so to the best of my ability, and put two ships of moderate +size in readiness in a short time, there being no others. + +The president ordered me again in your Majesty's name, and in +writing--as he considered that by no other authority, in view of +the state of affairs, could the expedition be made--to go out with +this fleet in my charge, against the enemy, and fight until I should +destroy him. In compliance with this I sought him, and encountered +him outside the bay of this city. We engaged the enemy in a long and +obstinate battle, which occurred between the two fleets on December +14. The outcome is related in the certified account by the president +and governor, which accompanies this, by which your Majesty will +be informed of the punishment which was inflicted upon this enemy, +and how our aim was attained as we had wished, and likewise of the +dangers and hardships which I encountered and underwent on this +occasion. In this I should be content if I had, for my only reward, +succeeded in serving your Majesty; for this aim alone drew me from +my home at so much danger to my honor, life, and children. + +I humbly beg your Majesty to be pleased to pardon whatever fault there +may have been, in consideration of my good intention and desire to +obey, and to succeed in what I was commanded to do. God protect the +Catholic person of your Majesty. At Manila, June 30, 1602. + +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ + + + + +Sire: + +Although the obligation to advise your Majesty of the state of this +your province, of the Order of our father St. Augustine, is always +binding, yet for many new reasons it is especially binding this year; +for at the recent meeting cf the chapter here, by acclamation, and +without voting, father Fray Pedro Arze (concerning whom your Majesty +must already have a report), was elected provincial, with the consent +of all. From this we hope that, with the favor of God and your Majesty, +he will be successful in his government, since its commencement is +so propitious. The letter and mandate which your Majesty sent last +year serves him as a guide for the correction of what stands in +need of remedy, and the severity necessary to prevent disobedience; +accordingly, the province is enjoying the greatest peace and quiet +that it has ever had. In the meantime there came this year Fray Pedro +Sossa, with a commission as visitor, sent by Fray Christoval de la +Cruz from Nueva España, in virtue of several messages which he bears +from the father-general, Alejandro Genense. We did not receive him, +not because we did not desire a visitation--which, on the contrary, +we do desire, and humbly seek from your Majesty, for the justification +of this province--but because he did not come by order of your Majesty, +and for other reasons which the Audiencia of these islands examined; +and because some other and further messages which he bore from the +father vicar-general Fulvio relating to us appeared suspicious. In what +concerns this matter, we refer your Majesty to the said Audiencia, +which, we believe, will advise your Majesty with due fidelity. Your +Majesty has therein two very faithful vassals and servants, namely, +Doctor Antonio de Morga and the licentiate Tellez Almazan--both the +fathers of children, excellent judges, poor, and deserving of whatever +favor your Majesty may extend to them; and especially of being removed +from this country, which is poor and of scant resources, and where +they cannot provide for the fortunes of their children. In this way +we consider that your Majesty would do a great service to God. + +The bearer of this is the father definitor, Fray Diego Cerravi, [59] +who came to these regions from Castilla about eight years ago, and has +served your Majesty and the order here very advantageously. He is a +learned and virtuous religious, who speaks the truth; accordingly your +Majesty may credit what he says. He is a man of so many good qualities +that, to tell your Majesty in a word, he leaves us at his departure +lonely, sad, and disconsolate at losing him--although we are consoled +by our confidence in the favor and grace which your Majesty will show +this province and to him in its name, by ordering that aid be given to +him in the business which he has in his charge; and especially that he +may bring us friars from the province of Castilla, who are here much +approved for their virtue and learning. And we are confident that +your Majesty will favor us in all matters as our protector, patron, +and only defender; we trust no less that our Lord will protect for +us the royal person of your Majesty, according to the needs of your +kingdoms and seigniories, and of us, your ministers and chaplains. We +beseech, etc. From this your Majesty's convent of the Order of our +father Saint Augustine. In the city of Manila, on the fourth of July +in the year one thousand six hundred and two. + + +_Fray Pedro Arce_, provincial +_Fray Agustin de Tapia_, definitor +_Fray Bernave de Villalovos_, definitor +_Fray Diego Cerrabe_, definitor +_Fray Pedro de Salzedo_, definitor + + +[_Endorsed with the following order_: "Join this with the letter from +the Audiencia, and bring them in on January 28, 1604."] + + + +Sire: + +Since the last year, 601, an account has been given to your Majesty +of the expedition which I conducted at the close of the previous year, +1600, by order of the governor and president, Don Francisco de Tello, +against Olibert de Norte, a corsair from Holland who entered among +these islands, taking prizes with two ships of war; and of the outcome +of the expedition, by which the said corsair was punished and harassed. + +Francisco de las Missas, factor and overseer of your Majesty's +exchequer in these islands, whom I inspected a short time ago +... [under a] [60] special commission from your Majesty, and passed +sentence upon him ... penalties and restitutions as will appear by +the report of the inspection which I have sent to your ... [Majesty] +by three routes. He has been so hostile ... that he displays his +jealousy of me in all matters [in so far as] he can. Accordingly, +on account of this--as well as to cover his fault at the time of +the despatch of the fleet which I took, by sending me unsupplied +with sailors and other things necessary, which it was his duty to +furnish--among other measures which he has taken since the past +year, one has been under color and appearance of proceeding from +the licentiate Salazar de Salzedo, fiscal of this Audiencia (whom, +for private reasons, he holds quite in his power). The said factor +induced the fiscal, in the affair of his investigation, to draw up a +secret information with suborned witnesses--sailors and others, who +are at his call--by which it is intimated that he furnished me well, +and that the commander's ship was lost through my fault, imputing to +me by the statements of these men other and illegal actions, in order +to disparage my faithful service; by this may be seen the malice and +passion of those concerned in this affair. That document was sent to +your Majesty and the ministers before whom this matter is considered. + +In like manner Captain Joan de Alcega (his intimate friend, +and likewise a partisan of the said fiscal and factor), whom I +took as admiral, in order to cover up his own guilt--for which he +was arrested by the president and governor, and is being proceeded +against officially because, at the beginning of the fight, he left the +commander's ship unsustained, contrary to the order which he had from +me in writing; and on account of other illegal acts, and because he +took a part of the benefits of the success which resulted--he also, +driven by the same heat of passion, has taken secret measures and +procured documents with which to inform your Majesty in a sinister +way to my prejudice. + +Since it is just that in all matters your Majesty should be informed of +the truth, I send certain documents which are not drawn in secret, nor +cunningly, nor maliciously, whereby the truth will appear--especially +the information which was drawn by the alcalde-mayor of the province +of Valayan (on whose coast and in whose district the ship was lost), +the very next day, and obtained from the men who were saved from the +wreck. By this may be seen what passed in this region, and the guilt +of the said factor, and that of the admiral, as has been pointed out. + +Beside this, in the ships which leave here this year goes a religious +of the Order of St. Augustine, Fray Francisco de Valdes by name, who +was sent, in company with Fray Diego de Cerrabi, by his order to the +court of your Majesty on the business of the order. This religious +can inform your Majesty of all which occurred on the said expedition, +as his order sent him on it to confess and administer the sacraments; +and he was present during the fight on the commander's ship, and saved +himself by swimming. As a trustworthy and disinterested person, he will +tell the truth, without being influenced by personal considerations. + +I humbly beg your Majesty that, with this understanding, your Majesty +may be pleased to command that opportunity be not given for distortion +of facts in such a way, by persons so jealous and so suspicious, who +are moved alone by anger and passion to avenge themselves and procure +satisfaction from the ministers who, for the service of your Majesty, +have administered (as they still do) justice in your behalf; and +that you will command that the illegality which appears to have been +committed in this be punished, as is most fitting for the service of +your Majesty. God protect the Catholic person of your Majesty. Manila, +July 8, 1602. + +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ + + + +Sire: + +I, the licentiate Gerónimo de Salazar y Salcedo, your fiscal in +the royal Chancilleria of the Philipinas Islands, say that on the +sixteenth of January of the year one thousand six hundred your Majesty +was pleased to command that a royal commission be given to Don Pedro +de Acuña, governor and captain-general of these islands, empowering +him, when he should reach them, to cause the royal officials to give +him a report of what they have collected from Don Francisco Tello, +his predecessor, toward the sixteen millions [of maravedis?] which +were still due from the balance which was incurred by him at the +time when he was treasurer of the Sevilla House of Trade; and also +to cause that whatever remained to be paid should be collected from +the said Don Francisco Tello and from his property. + +In the course of the execution of this commission by the said Don +Pedro de Acuña, the royal officials certified that the said Don +Francisco Tello had paid them twenty-seven thousand two hundred +pesos of common gold, which should be twenty-eight thousand one +hundred and eighty-four pesos, according to your command by a royal +decree dated in San Lorenco, on the thirteenth of September in the +year one thousand five hundred and ninety-five. The said officials +decided that the eight thousand pesos which were lost in the year +one thousand six hundred in the ship "Santa Margarita" should be +for your Majesty's account--because, since the debt was contracted +in the Sevilla House of Trade, the payment should be there; and +the said Don Francisco Tello must run the risk as far as that. They +also decided that what was ordered in the aforesaid royal decree of +the thirteenth of September, ninety-five, was that each year three +thousand ducados should be deducted from the salary of Don Francisco +Tello, which were to be sent each year; and, as he failed to pay in +the years ninety-six, ninety-seven, and ninety-eight, for the rest +of the time it came about that eight thousand pesos were sent each +year. It was thus that the aforesaid eight thousand pesos were lost +which were going in the said ship "Santa Margarita;" whereas, if the +aforesaid royal decree had been followed and three thousand ducados +sent, no more than that sum would have been lost. + +The governor gave me authority to follow up the matter, and I asked +from him an order of execution for the whole sum, with the assurance +that I would receive on account whatever seemed lawfully to have been +paid; it was given to me on the person and goods of the aforesaid +Don Francisco Tello, but property was not found to the value of four +hundred pesos. He opposed the execution, saying that he had paid in +Sevilla with the income of his family estate, together with what he +had paid here, all the balance that was due. I replied to this that +this did not appear, from the aforesaid royal decree of January, one +thousand six hundred, and that a forced sale would have to be made +for the amount that was therein ordered--not taking account of the +payments that had been made here until they should arrive at Sevilla, +as the official judges of these islands have decided--and that what +was lost must be at the risk of the said Don Francisco Tello. + +This was proper, since at the time when the said royal officials +gave the said money to the masters of the ships to be delivered to +the treasury of Mexico, the aforesaid Don Francisco Tello, by the +authority of his position, gave orders that the said masters should +give him the money; and he invested it in merchandise, which, if it +had arrived in Mexico, would have gained a great deal. It was right +that, since he was to have the profit, he should bear what risk there +was--which was greater than if he had allowed the royal officials to +send the money as it suited them. Since each year a great quantity +of money is sent from the treasury of Mexico to the one here, they +would have given orders that, instead of sending the money from here, +it should be deducted from what was to be sent from Mexico, in order +that that quantity might be sent to Sevilla. In this way the risk of +going and coming would have been avoided; and, even if there had not +been any opportunity for this, they might have sent the said money +in gold--which is a less risk, because it is of less bulk and weight +than reals--and thirty per cent would have been gained in Mexico. + +Both sides brought evidence, but that for the opposition was of no +importance; so the governor gave judgment according to the opinion +of the licentiate Luis Ortis de Padilla, reporter of the aforesaid +royal Chancilleria, ordering that his property be sold to the highest +bidder, in order to recover the amount for which the execution had been +granted--deducting from it all which the royal officials certify to +have been paid here, and also, eight thousand pesos for what he says he +has paid in Sevilla. I consented to the judgment as far as concerned +what was favorable, and I appealed from what was in opposition, to +what I had asked to have received as evidence. The opposing side has +denied this, and made a declaration of nullity against the aforesaid +royal decree of the year six hundred, saying that, according to it, +it was ordered that the accountants of the royal Council of the +Indias should make a record of this matter, which they did not do; +so that everything that was done by its authority is void. Thus the +suit remains in this position. + +Seeing that I did not find any property of the said Don Francisco +Tello with which to fulfil the aforesaid commission, and hearing that +he had some property which he kept secret, I asked for and received +letters of excommunication and censure against those who might know +of property belonging to the said Don Francisco Tello, in order that +they should make it known. They opposed this, and tried to delay it +as much as possible; but nevertheless it was ordered that the three +letters should be given. They appealed from this, and menaced me with +the aid of fuerza [61]--with the result that until the sixth of this +month the last letter could not be read, so that the examination of +the depositions that were taken has been delayed. According to them, +it appears that he has no property of any account in these islands, +but that what he has is in Nueva España; and whatever I have been able +to hear of I give notice to the viceroy of that country to attach, +because the ships are about to sail, and the governor is in Cavite, +and I cannot get a warrant for it. God keep the Catholic person of +your Majesty, according to His power. From Manila, on the tenth of +July of the year 1602. + +The licentiate _Hieronimo de Salazar y Salzedo_ + +[_Endorsed_: "Examined on the second of July, 1604. Let it be put with +another from the royal officials of Philipinas, of July 18, 1603."] + + + + + + +Bibliographical Data + + +All documents in this volume save two are obtained from the original +MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla; and their pressmarks +therein are indicated as follows: + +1. _Ordinances of the Audiencia_ (concluded).--See _Vol_. X, No. 15. + +2. _Hospital for Indians._--"Simancas-Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; +cartas y expedientes de personas seculares, vistos en el Consejo; +años 1595 á 1606; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 35." + +3. _Letters from the fiscal, 1599._--"Simancas-Secular; Audiencia +de Filipinas; cartas y espedientes del presidente y oidores de dicha +audiencia vistos en el Consejo; años de 1583 á 1600; est. 67, caj. 6, +leg. 18." + +4. _Letter from king of Borneo._--The same as No. 3, save that the +dates read, "1583 á 1599." + +5. _Letters from Telia._--"Simancas-Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; +cartas y expedientes del gobernador de Filipinas vistos en el Consejo; +años de 1567 á 1599; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 6." + +6. _Letters from Felipe III._--The first one: "Simancas-Filipinas; +cartas y espedientes del presidente y oidores de dha Audiencia vistos +en el Consejo; años de 1600 á [1606]; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 19." (The +second: in "Cedulario Indico" of Archivo Historico Nacional, Madrid, +"Tomo 38, fº. 131.6, nº. 101.") + +7. _Pacification of Mindanao._--The same as No. 6, first part. + +8. _Van Noordt's attack._--"Simancas-Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; +cartas y expedientes del presidente y oidores de dicha Audiencia vistos +en el Consejo; años de 1600 á 1612; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 19;" but +on the last of the papers in this group the dates read, "1600 á 1606." + +9. _Morga's report of battle._--The same as No. 8. + +10. _Letter from Garcia._--"Simancas-Secular; cartas y espedientes +de personas eclesiasticas vistos en el Consejo; años 1570 á 1608; +est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 42." + +11. _Letter from the fiscal, 1601._--The same as No. 8. + +12. _Complaint of cabildo._--The same as No. 2. + +13. _Letter from Morga._--The same as No. 6, first part. + +14. _Grant to Jesuit school._--"Simancas-Audiencia de Filipinas; +consultas originales correspondientes á dha Audiencia desde el año +1586 á 1636; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 1." + +15. _Instructions to Acuña._--"Audiencia de Filipinas; registros de +oficio reales ordenes dirigidas á las autoridades del distrito de la +Audiencia; años 1597 á 1634; est. 105, caj. 2, leg. 1." + +16. _Royal decrees, 1602._--The same as No. 15. + +17. _Pintados menaced._--The same as No. 8. + +18. _Letters to Felipe III._--The first, second, and fifth, the same +as No. 8; the third, the same as No. 10, save that the heading reads, +"Simancas-Eclesiastico;" the fourth, the same as No. 6, first part. + +_Annual letters from the Philippine Islands, 1601._--This document +is obtained from a compilation of missionary letters by John Hay, +S.J., entitled _De rebus Iaponicis Indicis, et Pervanis_ (Antverpiæ, +M. DC. V), pp. 950-968. Our translation is made from a copy of this +book in the Library of Congress. + + + + + + + +NOTES + +[1] Evidently a reference to the memoir of Fray Juan Plasencia upon +the customs of the Tagal natives (_Vol_. VII. pp. 173-196), which was +long used as a guide by Spanish magistrates and officials in their +dealings with the Indians. + +[2] A counsellor-at-law appointed by the supreme court to make the +briefs of the causes to be tried; he reads them before the court, after +they have been first examined and approved by the parties concerned. + +[3] The reference or act of delivering written judicial proceedings +to the other party, in order that, on examination of them, he may +prepare the answer. + +[4] Inserted among these decrees is a copy of the account written by +Fray Juan de Plasencia, O.S.F., of the customs of the Tagal Indians--a +document presented in vol. VII of this series; also (unsigned and +undated, but probably by the same writer) a paper entitled, "Remarks +on the customs which the natives of Pampanga formerly observed in +their lawsuits." + +[5] _Cuarteles_: referring to the cost of quartering soldiers on +the citizens. + +[6] So in the official transcript from the original MS.; but apparently +an error for _bar--i.e., bahar_, which is an Arabic weight, computed +in the Moluccas at about five hundred and ninety pounds (Crawfurd's +_Dictionary_, p. 103). + +[7] The Spanish translation of this letter is written on the back of +the letter itself. + +[8] The words in brackets throughout this letter are conjectural +readings. + +[9] _Marginal note, apparently made to facilitate reference_: "That +at the end of July, 1599, information was received through letters +from the captains of the forces at Malaca and Maluco that at Sunda +and Terrenate were a number of English ships, whose designs were +not known; that help was asked for Maluco, but the request was not +granted, it being impossible for this kingdom of the Phelippinas to +do more; and that it is necessary that we be provided with troops, +arms, and money from Nueva España, of all of which advices have been +given the viceroy." + +[10] The letters here mentioned are found at the end of this document; +they are all written in Portuguese. They are not presented here, +as all that is essential in them is contained in Tello's letter. + +[11] _Marginal note_: "That the troops and artillery are to retire +from the fort of La Caldera, and proceed to Cebu, as they are needed +there; and the fort is burned." + +[12] Spanish, _que van por el agua mas de una legua_; apparently some +word or phrase is missing. Montero y Vidal (_Hist. de la piraterÃa_, +i, p. 144) says that the fort of La Caldera was two and one-half +kilometers (a little more than one and one-half miles) from Zamboanga. + +[13] _Marginal note_: "That information regarding the English has +been given to the viceroy of Nueva España, in order that he may send +reënforcements." + +[14] _Marginal note_: "That the work of casting artillery is being +continued." + +[15] The Strait of Sunda, which separates Java from Sumatra. + +[16] This is followed by notarial attestations regarding the drawing +and collation of the above copy of instructions from the original, +at the order of Pedro de Acuña and Antonio de Morga, in 1602, and +the certification as to the qualifications of the government notary, +also dated in 1602. + +[17] The ship ranking second in a fleet. + +[18] Preceding this document, which is a copy and not the original, +is a notarial declaration attesting that the present copy was made +from the original by order of Antonio de Morga, for use in a suit +brought by him against his admiral, Joan de Alcega, for deserting the +flagship during the battle, which caused the loss of the flagship. At +the close of the instructions is the notarial attestation of Joan +Paez de Sotomayor as to the correctness of the copy, under witness of +Geronimo Xuarez and Joan de Aldave, and bearing date of August 27, +1602; and the further attestation by three notaries that Paez de +Sotomayor is entitled to act as notary. + +[19] Francis Drake; see mention of this voyage in _Vol_. IV, p. 313. + +[20] Thomas Candish; see _Vol_. VII, p. 52. + +[21] Oliver van Noordt; he was a native of Utrecht, and led this +expedition in behalf of a commercial company which had been formed in +1598 by certain citizens of the United Provinces. Although the main +object of their enterprise was trade, the commission issued to Esaias +de Lende (q.v., _post_) shows that the Dutch government gladly seized +this opportunity to attack Spanish possessions in the Orient. See +the detailed account of Van Noordt's voyage in _Recueil des voiages +... des Indes Orientales_ (Amsterdam, MDCCXXV), ii. pp. 1-117. + +[22] Maurice of Nassau, born in 1567, succeeded his father as governor +of the United Provinces in 1584, and was for forty years the leader +of the Dutch cause; but he did not become Prince of Orange until the +death of his elder brother in 1618. Maurice died in 1625. + +[23] This was Jacob Claasz; he was sentenced to be set ashore and +abandoned at the Strait of Magellan. A little bread and wine was given +him, and it was expected that "he would die of hunger in a few days, +or else be captured and eaten by the savages" (_Rec. des voiages_, +ii, p. 30). The same record says that Peter de Lint was promoted to +Claasz's post. + +[24] This vessel was named "El buen Jesus." + +[25] A corrupt phonetic rendering of the name of Sir Richard Hawkins, +son of the noted English freebooter Sir John Hawkins. The reference +in the text is to the fight between Richard Hawkins and the Spanish +admiral Beltran de Castro, off the coast of Peru, June 20-22, 1594; +after a long and desperate contest, the English were forced to +surrender. Hawkins was taken a prisoner to Spain, but afterward sent +back to England; he died soon after 1620. See his work, _Observations +... in his Voyage into the South Sea_ (London, 1622; reprinted by +Hakluyt Society, 1847, and again in 1877), 99. 182-225. + +[26] As is shown by another document in the same legajo, this patache +was named "San Xacinto;" it came from Malaca some time before the +battle with the Dutch, and with news that they had been seen in those +waters; it was commanded by Estevan Rodriguez de Paez. An embargo was +laid upon this vessel, in order to secure it for use against the Dutch; +but this was removed on November 22, 1600. The decree releasing the +vessel was one of the documents used in a lawsuit brought by Paez +in regard to the freight charges for the merchandise carried by +the patache. + +[27] Screens of canvas, spread along the sides of a vessel to prevent +an enemy from seeing what is done on the deck. + +[28] Since the independence of the United Provinces was not recognized +by Spain until 1609, these Dutch prisoners might have been executed +as rebels against their former lord the king of Spain--an argument +doubtless emphasized by the tenor of De Lende's commission, which +follows this account of the battle. + +[29] Spanish, _le mas perro_--literally, "the most of a dog." + +[30] This descriptive paragraph is found in another copy of De +Lende's commission, preserved in the same legajo with the original +of the document just presented. We use this second copy, partly for +the sake of this description, partly because it is more exact in the +spelling of proper names. The estates belonging to the house of Orange +were Nassau, Catzenellenbogen, Vianden, Dietz, Veer, and Vlissingue +(anglicized to Flushing). + +[31] Alluding to the Holy Roman Empire, which, founded by Charlemagne +in the year 800, was long the temporal arm of the ecclesiastical +power in Europe. Carlos I of Spain was its head, under the title of +Charles V, during his reign as king of Spain. The Holy Roman Empire +came to an end in August, 1806, with the resignation of its head, +Francis II of Austria. + +[32] Francisco Vaez was born at Segovia in 1543, and received into +the Jesuit order in 1566. After his ordination he was sent to Mexico, +where he filled various responsible offices, among them that of +provincial. He died at Mexico, July 14, 1619. Sommervogel does not +mention his presence in the Philippine Islands. The letter by Vaez is +translated from the Latin version published by John Hay (1546-1607--a +Jesuit of Scotch birth, noted for his disputes with Protestants), +under the title _De rebus Iaponicis, Indicis_, etc., as seen in the +title-page herewith reproduced (Antverpiæ, M. DC. v). But the letter +had already been printed, two years earlier, in the _Relatione breve_ +of Diego de Torres, S.J. (Milano, MDCIII), the title-page of which +is also given here. Torres held various high official positions in +his order in Peru, Paraguay, and other South American countries; +and Sommervogel says (_Bibliotheque Comp. Jésus_, viii, col. 132): +"Father Torres, having been sent to Rome as procurator of his province, +profited by his sojourn in Rome to have his relation printed; it is +dated at Rome, February 25, 1603." It is not certain whether either +of these versions is the original production of Vaez; but as he +was a Spaniard, and writing to the general of his order, it seems +probable that he wrote in Latin, and that the Latin version which +we follow is Vaez's own composition, rather than the Italian--which +latter may have been Torres's translation from the Latin original, +to suit better his own account written in Italian. + +The Latin title-page reads thus in English: "Recent letters on affairs +in Japan, India, and Peru; collected in one volume by John Hay, a Scot, +of Dalgatty, of the Society of Jesus. Antwerp; from the printing-house +of Martin Nutius, at the sign of the two storks; in the year 1605." + +The Italian title-page is thus translated: "A brief relation by +Father Diego de Torres, of the Society of Jesus, procurator of the +province of Peru, regarding the fruit which is being gathered among +the Indians of that realm; for the consolation of the religious of +that Society in Europe. At the end is added the annual letter from +the Philippine Islands for 1600. At Milan; by the heirs of the late +Pacifico Pontio, and Giovanni Battista Piccaglia, partners; 1603. By +permission of the superiors." + +[33] Pedro Lopez de la Parra was a native of Salamanca; entering +the Jesuit order, he completed his studies and was ordained at +Mexico--where for some years he was both an instructor and preacher, +being regarded as an unusually eloquent orator. Desiring to be a +missionary in the Philippines, he came to the islands, but found +that he could not master the language of the natives; discouraged +by this, and finding that no other employment was available, he +obtained permission from the visitor Garcia to return to Mexico; and +on the voyage perished by shipwreck, as here related. (La Concepción, +_Hist. de Philipinas_, iii, pp. 391, 392.) + +[34] The word _collegium_, as used here, means rather "residence" than +"college;" but we retain the latter rendering because the Jesuits were +then actually conducting an educational institution at Manila, in which +they gave instruction to the Spaniards and to some natives. This was +the college of San José, for which provision had been made as early +as 1585; but for various reasons it was not opened until 1600. Its +first rector was Pedro Chirino; among its first students (thirteen +in all) were Pedro Tello, a nephew of the governor, and Antonio de +Morga, a son of the auditor. See La Concepción's detailed account, +in _Hist. de Philipinas_, iii, pp. 403-409. + +[35] La Concepción states (_Hist. de Philipinas_, iii, pp. 386-387) +that St. Polycarp was chosen by lot, in a solemn and public assembly +as the especial patron of the city of Manila, for its protection +against earthquakes, as Santa Potenciana was its patron in hurricanes +and tempests. + +[36] Antipolo is a town lying about thirteen miles east of Manila, +near the northwest corner of Laguna de Bay. + +[37] La Concepción gives (_Hist. de Philipinas_, iii, pp. 409-412) +an interesting account of the labors of this bishop, Fray Pedro de +Agurto, during the year 1600. Assembling the clergy and friars of his +diocese, he proposed to them various measures, especially intended to +facilitate the instruction and conversion of the natives. The catechism +of the church had been already translated into the Visayan speech; +but this version was now entrusted to a committee of six (equally +divided between the Jesuits, Augustinians, and regular clergy) +for revision. This assembly resolved to attempt the suppression of +polygamy among the heathen Indians subject to the Spaniards, and +to check the easy divorces prevalent among them. Agurto undertook a +visitation in Leyte and Samar, but could not complete it on account +of those islands being invaded by pirates from Mindanao. + +[38] Miguel Gomez entered the Jesuit order at Alcalá in 1582; after +his ordination was sent to the Philippines; during his stay there +was for some time an instructor in the college at Manila; and died +there December 28, 1622. + +[39] Ledesma was born in 1556, and became a novice in the Jesuit order +at the age of sixteen. In 1596 he came to the Philippines, where he +filled high positions in his order--rector at Zebu, rector at Manila, +and provincial of the islands. He died at Manila, May 15, 1639. + +[40] Christoval Ximenes was born in 1573, and entered the Jesuit order +in 1588. Coming to the Philippines in 1596, he spent thirty-two years +in the Visayan missions; he died at Alangatang, in Leyte, December +3, 1628. He was noted as a linguist, and composed various works, +religious or poetical, in the Visayan tongue; one of these was a +translation of Bellarmino's _Doctrina Christiana_ (Manila, 1610). + +Gabriel Sanchez is not mentioned by Sommervogel. + +[41] See La Concepción's account of the work of the Jesuits in Bohol +(_Hist. de Philipinas_, iii, pp. 356-362). Gabriel Sanchez and Juan +de Torres were the first of their missionaries there. The Boholans +did not, like the other natives of those islands, practice polygamy; +thus their conversion was greatly facilitated. The fathers gathered +many of the natives into a reduction; and they healed many sick +persons with holy water. Among their converts was Catunao, a chief +one hundred and twenty years old, who had guided Legazpi to Cebú. + +[42] Apparently the same as the present Tubigon, a considerable town +on the western coast of Bohol. + +[43] Dúlag is a town on the eastern coast of Leyte; and Alangalang +(named in the last section of this letter) is in the northern part +of that island, some twenty miles up the Cabayong River. + +[44] "Go ye, swift angels, to a people wrenched up and torn, a fearful +people, after whom is none other." + +[45] In MS., _treze_ (thirteen)--apparently an error in transcription +(probably arising from almost illegible writing in the original), +since Vaez, in the document preceding this, makes the number of Jesuit +priests in the islands to be thirty (_treinta_). + +[46] La Concepción relates (_Hist. de Philipinas_, iii, +pp. 380-382) the labors accomplished in less than a year by Garcia +as visitor. Collecting over one thousand pesos of contributions, +he restored the Jesuit church at Manila, which had been ruined by +earthquakes; and appointed Pedro Chirino as rector of the college. He +reorganized the missions of the Society, and their administration, and +presented a more liberal interpretation of the rule and constitution +of the order. He visited the various missions; and the missionaries +who had been stationed in different villages were gathered by Garcia +into a few central residences, from which they made journeys to carry +on their labors. La Concepción writes in a critical tone, regarding +Garcia as an innovator, and as doing more harm than good by some of +his too radical measures. Sommervogel does not mention Diego Garcia. + +[47] For interesting accounts, descriptive and historical, of early +ships, see article by Admiral George H. Preble on "Ships of the +Sixteenth Century," and similar papers on those of the next three +centuries, in _The United Service_, November, 1883-June, 1884. See also +Edward Shippen's account of galleys and the life of the galley-slaves +("Galleys of the Sixteenth Century"), in the same periodical, +September, 1884. On galleons, cf. note in _The Spanish War_, 1585-87 +(published by Navy Records Society; London, 1898), pp. 337-341. + +[48] The document here referred to (dated January 15-June 12, 1601), +and another recording a similar investigation made by Morga (July 6-9, +1602), are in the Sevilla archives, bearing the same pressmark as +the fiscal's letter in our text. Both are too long and unimportant +to be here presented. + +[49] On June 13, 1597, Felipe II issued a commission to Antonio de +Morga to investigate charges of peculation which had been made against +this man, as factor of the royal exchequer in the Philippines. + +[50] See La Concepción's account of the loss of this ship (_Hist. de +Philipinas_, iii, pp. 428-435). + +[51] Spanish, _colegio_; see note 32, _ante_. + +[52] A fund, the interest of which is required by the Spanish laws +for the support of an ecclesiastic. + +[53] Mauban is a town and anchorage in the northeast corner of +Tayabas province, Luzón; it lies on the Pacific coast of the island, +and southeast from Manila. + +[54] In a squadron, the galley next in rank to the flagship or +_capitana_. + +[55] These names appear thus in the text; but they evidently refer +to the same persons who are previously mentioned as Liguana and Ssapay. + +[56] Sangir (or Sanguir) is a small island midway between Mindanao +and Celebes; Tagolanda is another one, south of Sangir, about fifty +miles northeast of Celebes. + +[57] At the beginning of this letter is a brief summary of its +contents. + +[58] In 1601 the capital of Spain was removed from Madrid to +Valladolid; but this measure proved so disastrous that Felipe III +found it necessary to return to Madrid in 1606. + +[59] Diego Cerrabe entered the Augustinian order at Burgos in 1584. He +came to the Philippines in 1595, and after various official services +there, and two years' ministry at Pasig, he went to Spain with +messages from his chapter at Manila; apparently he did not return to +the islands. (Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 47.) + +[60] The MS. is worn or mutilated at the places marked by leaders; +the words in brackets are the translator's conjectural readings. + +[61] See definition of fuerza in _Vol_. V, p. 292. The reference here +indicates that Tello or his friends, in order to oppose the fiscal's +proceedings, secured the interference of some ecclesiastical judge, +who thus committed fuerza. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14685 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9d86e57 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #14685 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14685) diff --git a/old/14685-8.txt b/old/14685-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a7c8080 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14685-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9160 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 + Volume XI, 1599-1602 + +Author: Various + +Release Date: January 13, 2005 [EBook #14685] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, 1493-1898 *** + + + + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the PG Distributed Proofreaders Team + + + + + +THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, 1493-1898 + +Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and +their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, +as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the +political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those +islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the +close of the nineteenth century, + + + +Volume XI, 1599-1602 + + + +Edited and annotated by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson +with historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord +Bourne. + + + +Contents of Volume XI + + + + Preface 9 + Documents of 1599 + + Ordinances enacted by the Audiencia of Manila + (_concluded_). Francisco Tello, and others; + Manila, June, 1598-July, 1599 21 + The hospital for Indians at Manila. Domingo + de Santiago and Antonio Valerio; Manila, + July 3 82 + Letters from the royal fiscal to the + king. Hieronimo de Salazar y Salcedo; Manila, + July 21 86 + Letter from the king of Borneo to Governor + Tello. Soltan Adil Sula; [June?] translated + July 27 120 + Letters to the king. Francisco Tello; Manila, + July 14 and August 7 123 + Letters to Tello. Felipe III; Denia, August + 16 129 + + Documents of 1600 + + The pacification of Mindanao. [Unsigned and + undated; 1600?] 135 + Oliver van Noordt's attack on Luzón. Francisco + Tello, and others; Manila, October-December + 140 + + Documents of 1601 + + Report to the governor, on the battle + with the Dutch. Antonio de Morga; Manila, + January 5. 173 + Annual letters from the Philippine + Islands. Francisco Vaez, S.J.; [Manila?], + June 10. 191 + Letter to Felipe III. Diego Garcia, S.J.; + Manila, July 8. 223 + Letter from the fiscal to Felipe III. Hieronimo + de Salazar y Salcedo; Manila, July 16. 228 + Complaint of the cabildo of Manila against + Morga. Gonzalo Ronquillo de Vallesteros, + and others; Manila, July 20. 235 + Letter to Felipe III. Antonio de Morga; + Manila, July 30. 251 + Grant to Jesuit school in Cebú. Council of + Indias; Valladolid, December 11. 257 + + Documents of 1602 + + Instructions to Pedro de Acuña. Felipe III; + Zamora, February 16. 263 + Two royal decrees. Felipe III; Zamora, + February 16. 289 + Pintados menaced by Mindanao pirates. Juan + Juarez Gallinato, and others; off Mindanao, + May 29-June 4. 292 + Letters to Felipe III. L. P. Dasmariñas, + and others; Manila, June 8-July 10. 302 + + Bibliographical Data. 317 + + + + + +Illustrations + + + + Title-page of _De rebus Iaponicis_, compiled by John Hay, + S J. (Antverpiæ, M. DC. V); photographic facsimile, from copy + in Library of Congress. 187 + Title-page of _Relatione breve_, by Diego de Torres (Milano, + MDCIII); photographic facsimile, from copy in library of + Harvard University. 189 + + + + + +Preface + + +During the three years or more covered in this volume (1599-1602), +the most notable occurrence is the coming to the archipelago (in 1600) +of the fleet commanded by the Dutch adventurer Oliver van Noordt, +bent on plunder and the damage of the Spanish settlements there: +but he is defeated and driven away, although with heavy loss to the +Spaniards. This event, with the quarrels which it arouses in Manila, +and fears of like danger in the future, disturb the colony for several +years. The people, both Spaniards and Indians, are also in constant +dread of the Moro pirates, who ravage the coasts of the Pintados +(Visayas) Islands, encouraged to commit these depredations by the late +withdrawal of Spanish troops from Mindanao. In the face of all these +difficulties, the government is also embarrassed by the poverty of +the local treasury; its funds are wasted by unnecessary expenses and +salaries, and lessened by frauds in the customs duties, and by other +violations of the laws regarding trade. There are too many officials, +both secular and religious; and the former are often incompetent or +corrupt. The Indians are demoralized by having learned the use of +the white men's money; their native industries are neglected, which +causes scarcity and high prices of goods and supplies. New impulse +and wider scope are given to the missions conducted by the Jesuits, +who begin the task of gathering the scattered Indian converts into +mission villages, thus more easily to civilize and christianize the +natives. A new governor for the islands is appointed, Pedro de Acuña. + +In this volume is completed the document begun in _Vol_. X, "Ordinances +of the Audiencia enacted in 1598-99;" here are presented those for the +first half of the year 1599. The alcaldes-mayor must, in collecting the +taxes, observe the royal tariffs. To remedy the exorbitant charges for +fees in the inferior courts, all suits appealed to the Audiencia must +be accompanied by a sworn statement of the fees thus paid. The bonds +accepted in law-suits must be more reliable. Auditors are given special +powers in expediting the cases of persons imprisoned. Interpreters +are not allowed to trade with the natives, except in the presence of +a magistrate. The accounts of guardians of minors shall be examined +by the probate judge. Attorneys are restricted in bringing new suits +between Indians. Goods sold at auction for the benefit of the royal +treasury must be knocked down to the highest bidder, and for cash +only. Lawyers are ordered to follow the customs of the natives, +where these are involved in lawsuits. Collection of tributes shall +not be made by the alcaldes-mayor; and appointments for the post of +collector must be approved by the Audiencia. Various acts prescribe +the duties of officials of the Audiencia, and its procedures in +certain cases; also limits of action by attorneys. The officials +of the Audiencia shall give bonds each year. Cases involving twenty +pesos or less shall not be brought to trial. Directions are given for +the trial of suits between Indians. The alguazils-mayor must make +the rounds of the city at night. All accounts due to or from the +royal treasury shall be closed up and balanced within the next four +months. Officials of the Audiencia shall not go outside of the city +without permission. Certain punishments are prescribed for the Chinese +inhabitants--for vicious practices, for making or clipping coin, +and for buying stolen goods from Indians. All natives residing in +Manila who have not some employment are ordered to leave the city at +three days' notice. The duties of the late Alvaro Çambrano, deceased, +are to be assumed by others of the auditors. Provision is made for due +inspection, appraisal, and sale of merchandise brought from China. All +Indians belonging to the royal encomiendas must pay their tributes, +even when they reside in Manila. The sum of three hundred pesos is +appropriated to furnish and adorn the chapel of the Audiencia. The +Chinese are forbidden to have godchildren, a practice which has led to +many evils; and the Christians are ordered to follow the occupations +which they had exercised before their conversion. Officials whose +terms of office expire must furnish residencia before receiving any +further appointment. + +On July 3, 1599, one of the Franciscans in charge of the hospital for +the Indians at Manila writes to the king, asking further grants of +aid for its work. The governor and bishop are directed by the king +to advise him as to the needs of the hospital. A letter from the +royal fiscal to the king (July 21) displays the needs of the royal +exchequer in the islands, and suggests means for supplying these. He +complains of the burden imposed on the colony by the support of an +archbishop and three bishops. Much is wasted in salaries, for useless +or nominal services. Salazar y Salzedo advises that the offices and +their salaries be both reduced. Especial loss and injury to the royal +income arises from the frauds and violations of law which are practiced +in the Mexican trade. The payment of tributes by the Indians in money +is demoralizing them; they no longer pursue their former usual labors, +and their products are now scarce and high-priced. They ought to be +compelled to work, at agriculture, stock-raising, and mining. The +treasury needs more money, and more Indians should be assigned to the +crown. Encomiendas are fraudulently assigned by the governors. The +erection of wooden churches in the encomiendas is another source +of useless expense; these should be built of stone or brick. Certain +offices should be taken from their present incumbents, and conferred on +men of character and standing. The fiscal complains of lax management +of the treasury by its officials, and calls for an investigation; +and the same with the cabildo of Manila. Other charges where public +moneys are involved should be inspected by the crown, and the waste +of those funds should be checked. Even all these reforms will not +provide all the funds for necessary expenses; the fiscal therefore +proposes that the crown monopolize the trade in spices and raw silk, +which would bring immense profits to the royal treasury. Another letter +from the fiscal to the king, of the same date, makes recommendations +as to certain affairs of government. He urges that the auditors +should make regular official inspection of the administration of +justice throughout the islands. He complains that the profits of +trade are absorbed by the officials and their dependents, leaving +the citizens poor. Offices and other sources of profit must not be +bestowed on those dependents, but on the citizens; and the officers +of the ships that carry goods to Nueva España should not be appointed +there, but in the islands. The ships should be more strictly inspected. + +The ruler of Borneo sends (June. 1599) to Governor Tello a gift, +accompanied by a letter in which he expresses firm friendship for the +Spaniards. In a letter dated July 14, Tello complains that Morga is +hostile to him, and even writes anonymous letters against the governor; +the latter defends himself against these attacks. On August 7 he +reports to the king the arrival of English ships at Maluco, and his +intention of sending reenforcements to the Spanish fort there, and +to that in Cebu. He is asking aid from the viceroy of Nueva España, +and is trying to manufacture more artillery at Manila. Two letters +from Felipe III to Tello are dated August 16, 1599. The king commends +his proceedings in certain matters, and orders the viceroy of Nueva +España to send hereafter only useful colonists to the Philippines. He +also desires Tello to advise him whether the duties on Chinese goods +can be increased. + +A brief account of the pacification of Mindanao (1600?) furnishes +some additional information as to events there, up to 1600. The +troops have been withdrawn from this island, owing to an alarm +of danger from English pirates; but these prove to be peaceable +Dutch merchants. In October of that year, certain foreign vessels +(thought to be English) enter the bay of Albay, and Antonio de Morga +is ordered by the Audiencia to fortify the port of Cavite and pursue +the enemy. Instructions for this latter proceeding are furnished to +him by the governor (December 10). He in turn gives instructions +to his admiral, Joan de Alcega. Then follows an account not only +of the battle between the Spanish and the Dutch fleets, but also +of Van Noordt's entire voyage to the Philippines. The battle ends, +on the whole, disastrously for Van Noordt. Among the plunder found +on the Dutch ships is a commission granted to Esaias de Lende as a +privateer against the Spaniards in the Indias. Suit being brought +against the admiral Alcega for deserting the flagship in the battle +with Van Noordt, Morga presents therein his version of the affair +(January 5, 1601)--throwing the blame for the loss of the flagship +on Alcega's disobedience to the orders previously given him by Morga. + +Francisco Vaez reports (June 10, 1601) to the general of the Jesuit +order the status of Jesuit missions in the islands. He relates +the deaths of certain priests and brethren while engaged in the +performance of their duties, and proceeds to a detailed report of +each mission station. The Jesuit church at Manila has been ruined by +earthquakes. The fathers of the college there are accomplishing much +good by their labors, especially among those in prison, the soldiers, +and the children. Several instances of the devotion and piety of +converts are related. The losses and calamities which have befallen +the people have made them more inclined to religion. The sodalities +introduced among the natives arouse their devotion and enthusiasm. At +Antipolo a hospital has been begun, as well as a school for boys. At +Cebú also a school has been opened; and the labors of the Jesuits are +highly acceptable to the people, and commended by the bishop. Many +Indians are being converted by them. Connected with the residence +at Cebú is that of Bohol. Here Father Valerio Ledesma has persuaded +the savages to leave the mountains and settle near the river, under +the care of the missionaries; they have built a church, and are fast +becoming converted. Other missionaries in Bohol report many hundreds +of baptisms. Various miraculous cures of illness are related. Good +news comes from Samar also; nearly four thousand have been baptized, +nearly all adults. In Dulac a boys' school has been established, and +many conversions have occurred. At Alangala there are three Indian +chapels. Vaez asks for more missionaries in this so promising field. A +few days later (July 8) the official visitor of the Jesuit missions, +Diego Garcia, writes to Felipe III. He recommends that seminaries +for the instruction of heathen boys be stablished as a means for +hastening the conversion of the natives; and that the Indians be +gathered into settlements. Garcia asks that the Jesuit college at +Manila be authorized to graduate students from its classes; and closes +by recommending to the king's favor Morga and other officials. + +The fiscal, Salazar y Salcedo, declares (July 16, 1601) that Tello +is shielding Morga, and despatches to the king a full report of the +investigation which he has made of the conflict with the Dutch. A +memorial to the king is sent (July 20, 1601) by the cabildo of +Manila, making various complaints in regard to the conduct of Doctor +de Morga. The order given by him and Tello for the abandonment of +Mindanao has caused the natives of that region to commit piracies in +the islands under Spanish rule. Morga has obtained official positions +for his relatives and friends, contrary to the royal ordinances. One +of these men, being utterly incompetent, has failed to drive back the +Mindanao pirates, who have consequently inflicted much damage. Through +various machinations, Morga succeeded in depriving Ronquillo of +the command of the fleet, in the battle with Van Noordt; but in the +conflict he showed himself incompetent to command the troops, and a +coward at the approach of danger; and, in consequence, his flagship +was wrecked, with the loss of many Spaniards and of valuable military +supplies. Moreover, the enemy being allowed to escape, the islands are +more exposed to future attacks from them. The writers of this letter +are sending documents to prove their charges; they also accuse Morga of +writing anonymous letters. A letter from Morga to the king (July 30) +relates his services in the naval battle, and the unfaithfulness of +Joan de Alcega to his trust in that and other instances. Morga asks +to be relieved from his post in the Philippines, and sent to some +other country. On December 11, 1601, the Jesuit school at Cebu is +aided by a royal grant for the erection of buildings. + +Governor Tello is superseded by Pedro de Acuña, and the latter is +provided with instructions (February 16, 1602) by the king. He must +consult with the viceroy of Nueva España regarding the measures +to be taken for the settlement of the islands; and the viceroy has +been ordered to aid the governor therein. Acuña is directed to look +after the defense of the coasts, and the maintenance of a garrison +in Mindanao. He must do what he can to dispense with offices and +salaries which are superfluous, for which the king makes various +recommendations. The frauds which have been committed in the shipment +of goods to Nueva España, and in the payment of duties thereon, must +be stopped. Irregularities and frauds in the assignment of encomiendas +must also cease. These and various other matters are discussed by the +king, in pursuance of the recommendations made by the royal fiscal +in July, 1599. Official inspection of affairs in the islands must +be made by the auditors; and the royal officials must put a stop to +the importation from America of money for investment in the China +trade. The cathedral at Manila must be completed, and the hospitals +aided; and nuns will be sent for Santa Potenciana. The Jesuit seminary +for Indian boys should be cared for; and Acuña is to ascertain its +condition and needs. He must investigate the question of abolishing +the Parian, and see that religious teachers are provided for the +natives of the Ladrones Islands. Agriculture must be encouraged in +the Philippines. Two royal decrees (dated February 16) command the +viceroy of Nueva España to send to the Philippines more colonists, +who shall be persons of good character; and two nuns, to take charge +of the seminary of Santa Potenciana at Manila. Captain Gallinato +sends to the governor at Manila (June 4, 1602) warning of a large +plundering expedition which is about to sail from Mindanao to ravage +the Pintados Islands. The Joloans are also hostile, and ready to attack +the Spaniards; and the natives of Terrenate are aiding the Mindanaos. + +Luis de Dasmariñas writes to Felipe III (June 8, 1602), urging that the +Spaniards reconquer the fortress of Maluco, to protect the Philippines +from attack by "those demons of English and Dutch heretics." Doctor +de Morga again informs the king (June 30) of his services in the +conflict with Van Noordt, and in still another letter (July 8) of +the attacks which his enemies are making upon him in regard to that +affair. The Augustinian officials at Manila notify the king (July 4) +of the election of Pedro Arce as provincial of their order in the +islands; and explain their refusal to receive a visitor recently sent +to the islands from Nueva España. A letter from the fiscal details +(July 10) the measures taken to compel payment by Governor Tello of +the debts owed by him in Sevilla; he has property in Nueva España, +but none in the islands. + +_The Editors_ + +December, 1903. + + + + + +Documents of 1599 + + + + Ordinances enacted by the Audiencia of Manila + (_concluded_.) Francisco Tello, and others; January-July, 1599. + The hospital for Indians at Manila. Domingo de Santiago and + Antonio Valerio; July 3. + Letters from the royal fiscal to the king. Hieronimo de + Salazar y Salcedo; July 21. + Letter from the king of Borneo to Governor Tello. Soltan Adil + Sula; [June?] translated July 27. + Letters to the king. Francisco Tello; July 14 and August 7. + Letters to Tello. Felipe III; August 16. + + + +_Sources_: All these documents save one are obtained from MSS. in the +Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla; the second of the king's letters +(August 16) is from the "Cedulario Indico" in the Archivo Histórico +Nacional, Madrid. + +_Translations_: The first of these documents is translated by Arthur +B. Myrick, of Harvard University; the second, by Emma Helen Blair; +the third, and part of the sixth, by Robert W. Haight; the fourth, +by James A. Robertson; the fifth, by Norman F. Hall, of Harvard +University, and José M. and Clara M. Asensio; the first letter in +the sixth, by Alfonso de Salvio, of Harvard University. + + + + + +Ordinances Enacted by the Audiencia of Manila (_concluded_) + + + +_An act ordering the alcaldes-mayor and their officials to observe +the royal tariff._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas, in the +collection of taxes by the alcaldes-mayor of the provinces of these +islands, and by their notaries and officials, there is great excess +and disorder, from failing to observe his Majesty's royal tariffs, +whence arise many difficulties and obstacles to the service of God +our Lord, and of his Majesty: therefore, to remedy these evils, +they ordered, and they did so order, that all the alcaldes-mayor, +both now and henceforth, in all of the provinces of these said +islands, shall observe and cause to be observed the royal tariff of +his Majesty and his royal Audiencia; and, in conformity with it, +shall levy and cause to be levied the taxes to them appertaining, +as also shall their notaries and officials--levying on the natives +a third less than on the Spaniards, according to the declaration +thereof in the said tariff; and that each one of them shall have a +copy of this tariff. They shall neither use nor levy the said taxes +by any other tariffs, under penalty of a fine of one hundred pesos +for the treasury of his Majesty and the expenses of justice. By this +act they so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez de Almazan_ +The licentiate _Zambrano_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + +_Proclamation_: In the city of Manila, on the twenty-second of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands, who signed their +names to the above act, declared and proclaimed it in public session. + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that there shall be no suits without the filing of +a sworn memorandum of the fees that the parties have paid._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia, Court, and Chancillería of these Philipinas Islands +declared that, whereas it has come to their knowledge that certain +persons--not only Spaniards, but Indians and Sangleys--who bring +suits in this royal Audiencia and outside of it, in the provincial +and ordinary tribunals, complain of the large sums that are charged +by the courts, in great excess of what they are ordered to charge +by the royal tariffs; and that the notaries of the said tribunals, +contrary to orders, send the appealed suits to this royal Audiencia, +without placing at the end of them the fees they have paid; therefore, +in order to remedy the aforesaid evil, and to put an end to complaints +of similar acts of injustice, they ordered, and they did so order, both +the officials of this royal Audiencia and the others in the provincial +and the ordinary tribunals, and those outside of this city, now and +henceforth, not to bring or send any suit to be reviewed in the court +of this royal Audiencia, unaccompanied by a memorandum, signed and +sworn to by the parties to the suit, of what they have spent thereon, +and to what persons they have given the money; and not to bring any +suit for revision in any other manner, under penalty of a fine, for +each time when they shall disobey this order, of ten pesos for his +Majesty's treasury, to be equally divided between the treasury and the +court--to which, from that moment, they are considered as condemned. By +this act they so provided and ordered, and they signed the same. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Alvaro Zambrano_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + +_Proclamation_: In the city of Manila, on the twenty-second day of +the month of January, one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, +the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia and Chancillería +of these Philipinas Islands, who signed their names to the above act, +declared and proclaimed it in public session. + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the clerk of court who receives the bonds +of suitors shall accept only reliable bonds, and at his own risk; +and that his residencia in regard to the said office shall be taken._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas in the +suits that are brought and considered in this royal Audiencia it +is sometimes necessary to order the parties to give bonds, which +are accepted by the clerk of court of this royal Audiencia, without +his knowing whether they are good or not: therefore as some trouble +and annoyance might result from this, and it is expedient to avoid +this, and, where bonds are concerned, to require the residencia, they +ordered, and they did so order, that now and henceforth the said clerk, +in all suits in which bonds are ordered to be given, shall accept only +honest, reliable, and valuable bonds, under the penalty of having them +charged to his own account and risk if they are not so. He shall give +reliable bonds therefor, and shall likewise undergo the residencia of +his said office; and shall pay whatever is adjudged and decided against +him, and any public demands which shall be lodged against him, as he +is obliged to do by law. Thus it was provided, ordered, and decreed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Albaro Cambrano_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + +_Proclamation_: In the city of Manila, on the twenty-second day of +the month of January, one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, +the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia and Chancillería +of these Philipinas Islands, who signed their names to the above act, +declared and proclaimed it in public session. + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the auditors who regularly review the charges +against prisoners may make what decisions shall be necessary in +the suits of prisoners por sala, until their sentences shall be +pronounced._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancillería of these Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas, in despatching suits of the prisoners in the royal prison of +this court, there might be some delay on account of there being many +persons imprisoned _por sala_ who are never released during the review +of cases made, from which they receive great harm by protracting their +release: therefore, the president and auditors agreed, and they did so +resolve, that, now and henceforth, when they shall review the cases in +the royal prison of this court, on the Saturdays appointed therefor, +they may release those who were arrested _por sala_, if arrested +therein by alcaldes of the court; and that, likewise, they may issue +the acts which shall seem fitting to them concerning the regulation +of criminal cases, until they are definitely concluded by sentence, +so that the cases of the said prisoners may be despatched with the +greater celerity. + +By this act they so ordered, provided, and decreed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Alvaro Cambrano_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + +_Proclamation_: In the city of Manila, on the twenty-second day of +the month of January, one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, +the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia and Chancillería +of these islands, who signed their names to the above act, declared +and proclaimed it in public session. + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the interpreters shall not trade or traffic +with the natives._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancillería of these Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas it has come to their knowledge that the interpreters, as a +result of their occupation as interpreters, and being for the most part +friendly to the natives, seek and attempt to acquire, with trinkets +and other illegal means, jewels, slaves, and other things, at lower +prices than they are valued by the said natives: therefore, in order +to put a stop to the aforesaid evil by applying a remedy for it, they +resolved, ordered, and decreed, that now and henceforth, no interpreter +shall buy from the said natives any jewels, slaves, or other valuables, +except in the presence of the magistrate, under penalty of confiscation +of what shall have been bought by the interpreter violating this law, +half of which is immediately to be applied to his Majesty's treasury, +and the other half to the expenses of justice; and furthermore, he +shall not be allowed to exercise the said office any longer. By this +act they so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Cambrano_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-second day of the month of +January, one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and +auditors of the royal Audiencia and Chancillería of these Philipinas +Islands, who signed their names to the above act, declared and +proclaimed it in public session. Diego de Mercado and Juan Garcia, +interpreters, were present and were notified. + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the probate judge shall examine the accounts +of guardians of minors in this court._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancillería of these Philipinas Islands declared +that, whereas in this court there are many minors--encomenderos, +and others--whose property and effects are in charge of guardians +and curators; and because the said property might be spent and +dissipated without these guardians being able afterward to give +an account thereof to their said minors, which would result to +the great harm and prejudice of the latter: therefore, to remedy +the aforesaid, they resolved, and they did so resolve and decree, +that the common probate judge, now or hereafter, in these islands be +empowered to examine, not only in trust but on the party's petition, +the accounts of all the guardianships and curatorships of minors in +this court, and of the administration and conservation of the same; +and he may proceed against those of whom he may be suspicious, or who +administer and manage dishonestly, or waste, the goods and effects of +the said minors; and may make in the case all the inquiries suitable +and necessary, until he shall hand down a definite decision in such +cases--for which, and for everything annexed to and pertaining to it, +they gave him the requisite power and authority, in the sufficiency +required by law. By this act they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Cambrano_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that no one shall keep on his hat or sit down, +while the auditor is taking his deposition._ + +In the city of Manila, in the Philipinas Islands, on the seventh of +January, one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and +auditors of the royal Audiencia of the said islands declared that, +whereas certain persons have been imprisoned in the royal prison of +this court, for criminal cases, who, when their depositions were being +taken, sat down and remained with their heads covered, which is in +disrespect of royal justice; and as it is fitting to apply a remedy to +the aforesaid, now and henceforth, therefore, they ordered, and they +did so order, that each and every one, of whatever rank and condition, +who may be imprisoned on criminal charges, shall, when his deposition +is being taken before any auditor of this royal Audiencia, stand +and bare his head, until such time as his deposition is ended. And, +in order that this may come to the knowledge of everyone, it shall be +made known to the commissioners and attorneys of this royal Audiencia, +who shall give notice of the provisions of this act to such persons, +whenever occasion shall arise, so that it may be observed. By this +act they so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Cambrano_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that no attorney shall enter a petition in a new +suit between Indians, without first communicating it to the auditor +for that week._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas in this +royal Audiencia there are brought and considered suits and causes for +small amounts among the natives of these islands, in which they incur +heavy costs, whereby they receive great injury and vexation: therefore, +they ordered, and they did so order, that no prosecuting attorney of +this royal Audiencia shall bring therein a new suit or petition for +an Indian, without first and foremost bringing it before this royal +Audiencia, or before the auditor for the week, in order that the latter +may determine whether the suit be a proper one--under a penalty of a +fine of six pesos of common gold, immediately upon the conviction of +anyone who may disobey this decree; one-third to go to the receiver of +fines, another third to the royal hospital, and the other third to the +poor in the prison. By this act they so declared ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the royal officials, in the sale of gold and +other goods, from the royal exchequer, see that it be done for cash, +and not auctioned to creditors of the exchequer, in order that the +latter may receive their money_. + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas on account +of his Majesty's royal exchequer of these islands being, as it now is, +embarrassed with many debts, it cannot succeed in paying its creditors +what it thus owes them--which results from the fact that some of the +said creditors, in order to have their accounts paid to them, present +themselves at the royal auctions which are held for the sale of gold, +cotton cloth, and other goods collected from the tributes pertaining +to the royal crown, and bid on such articles, at higher prices than +would be given if they were paying in cash, in order to receive what +the royal exchequer owes them; and that if such things as this were +allowed to continue, the said royal exchequer would not be able to meet +certain necessary matters which continually occur in the service of +the king, our sovereign, and of which consideration should be taken: +therefore, they declared that they ordered, and they did so order, +the official judges of the royal exchequer of the king our sovereign +in these islands, that now and henceforth, in the auctions and sales +which may be made of any royal property, it shall be made over to the +person or persons who bid the highest, being knocked down to them +and paid for immediately. They shall admit or receive in no other +way any other bid which may be made by the said creditors. By this +act they so declared and ordered, and signed the same. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Albaro Çambrano_ + + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the advocates and attorneys of this royal +Audiencia shall follow the customs of the natives._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas in suits +brought by natives of these islands, wherein they consider in this +royal Audiencia questions of slavery, divisions of inheritances, +slaves, marriage-dowries, and other things, it is fitting that the +advocates and attorneys of this royal Audiencia follow the customs +of the said natives, observed formerly and now in the said suits: +therefore, in order that they may be observed as his Majesty orders, +and that to that end they may keep a copy in their possession, in order +that they may know and observe them, they ordered, and they did so +order, that the said advocates and attorneys in all suits at present +pending in this royal Audiencia, as in those which shall be brought +and continued henceforth, touching the said natives, shall approve and +adhere to the said customs which the Indians were thus accustomed to +follow and do follow; and they shall take a copy of the said customs +which are set down in the books [1] of the royal Audiencia resident in +these islands. They ordered that all the aforesaid persons should be +notified of this act, in order that they may observe and execute it, +under penalty of the loss to the parties; and, besides that, their +consciences were charged with it, and it was declared that they would +be judged guilty for any laxity or neglect which should thus occur. By +this act it was so decreed, and they ordered it to be registered. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Albaro Cambrano_ + + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + +_An act declaring that no use shall be made of the tariff made by +this royal Audiencia._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas it has been +provided and ordered that the court clerk and other officials of the +Audiencia and ordinary courts shall collect their fees in conformity +with the tariff of the royal Audiencia of the City of Mexico in Nueva +España: therefore, they ordered, and they did so order, that this be +observed and executed exactly as the king, our sovereign, commands; +and that the said officials may not use the tariff which the Audiencia +made concerning the said fees, which is to be withdrawn. No one of +the persons herein mentioned shall collect fees in conformity with +it, under the penalties imposed upon those who collect excessive +fees. This act shall be made known to all the officials whom it +concerns. So they declared, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the alcaldes-mayor shall not make collections, +nor shall they be given to the official judges; and that the collectors +appointed must be approved by this royal Audiencia._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas, +on account of the alcaldes-mayor of the provinces of these islands +collecting, personally or by their agents, the tributes from the +natives in their jurisdiction who pertain to the royal crown, +by commission granted therefor by the officials of the royal +exchequer, there have resulted many injuries and inconveniences, +both to the said natives and the said royal exchequer: therefore, +because it is necessary to avoid the said injuries, and apply a +remedy to the aforesaid evil, they ordered, and they did so order, +that the officials of the royal exchequer of the king our sovereign +should be notified, so that in no way or manner, now and henceforth, +shall they grant the collections, directly or indirectly, to the said +alcaldes-mayor, nor shall the latter have any part of that which is +granted to the collectors. Therefore, the said collectors shall take +oath in due legal form, that they will make the said collection, +taking it for themselves alone, without granting any part to the +said alcaldes-mayor. The latter shall not collect the tribute under +penalty of deprivation of their offices. The said collectors shall +deliver in kind to the royal exchequer the tributes that they shall +collect from the said natives, unless the said officials shall order +otherwise, for the augmentation of the royal exchequer. And in order +that the collectors sent may be fit and proper persons, it is ordered +that those appointed to the office by the said royal officials shall +present themselves before this royal Audiencia, in order that they +may be there approved. The said royal officials shall cause this to be +done, under a penalty of a third part of their salary for that year, +which must be paid immediately upon conviction of disobedience to +this decree. The said collectors shall be vested with the authority +of justice. By this act it was so declared, ordered, and decreed. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Albaro De Cambrano_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almaçan_ + + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the attorney for minors shall not bring a suit, +without first communicating it to the judge for minors._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas in this +court there are many minors, whose goods and property are in the +charge of their guardians, who might spend and dissipate the said +goods beyond the use and profit of the said minors, which would be to +their great injury: therefore, because by the attorney and defender +of the said minors entering any suits and petitions with regard to +the aforesaid minors without giving notice thereof, or communicating +with the judge for minors, many inconveniences may result, as a remedy +for this, they resolved and ordered that the said attorney for minors +shall bring no suit for a minor against his guardian, without first +communicating it to the judge who sits or shall sit for minors, that +the latter may order what he deems advisable. By this act it was so +ordered, ordained, and decreed. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almaçan_ +The licentiate _Albaro Çambrano_ + + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + +_An act decreeing that all the officials, both of this royal Audiencia +and the ordinary courts, shall be present at the review of charges +against prisoners._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands, declared that, +whereas by the absence of the alcaldes-in-ordinary of this city, and +of the clerk, reporter, alguazils-mayor, attorneys, commissioners, +notaries-public, and other officials, not only of this royal Audiencia +but of the lower court of this city, from the review of charges against +prisoners, many prisoners are not at liberty--from which it follows +that they are vexed and annoyed by long imprisonments and other great +injuries and inconveniences; besides the fact that, in many suits, +they are unable to administer and provide justice on account of not +being present at the said review: therefore, because it is advisable +to institute a reform in this matter, they ordered, and they did so +order, that now and henceforth, every week on the days set apart for +the review of prison charges, the said alcaldes-in-ordinary, the +alguazils-mayor of the court and the city, the clerk and reporter +of this royal Audiencia, the attorneys and commissioners thereof, +the solicitors of the royal offices, the native interpreters, and +the notaries-public, bailiffs, alguazils, and other officials of +this royal Audiencia and the ordinary court, shall be present at +the said review with all punctuality--except the reporter of this +royal Audiencia, who is not obliged to be present at the said review, +unless he has no suit to attend to--under a penalty of a fine of one +peso for every offense, for each one of the aforesaid officials, as +soon as they declared him convicted and did convict him. They ordered +that the receiver of fines of this royal Audiencia shall observe the +aforesaid most carefully for the proper execution and fulfilment of +this act--which, in order that no one may pretend ignorance of it, +shall be made known to all the persons whom it concerns. By this act +it was so provided, ordered, and affirmed. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almaçan_ +The licentiate _Albaro Cambrano_ + + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the royal official judges in the fulfilment of +their duties shall observe the instructions, decrees, and ordinances +of his Majesty._ + +In the city of Manila, on the nineteenth of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancillería of these Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas by the ordinances, decrees, and instructions of his Majesty, +orders have been given to the official judges of the royal exchequer +of these islands, regarding their obligations in the exercise +and discharge of their duties, and, because it is fitting that +his Majesty's orders in those decrees be observed and fulfilled, +they ordered, and they did so order, that the said royal officials +should be notified that in the exercise of their offices they should +observe the said royal ordinances, decrees, and instructions of the +king our sovereign, who has given them, as they are held, exercised, +and observed, and as they must be exercised and observed, by the royal +official judges of the City of Mexico in Nueva España, especially +section seventeen of the said royal ordinance. By this act they so +provided, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + +_An act ordering the commissioners to be present at all sessions of +the Audiencia._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal Audiencia of the Filipinas Islands declared that, whereas, +although by the royal ordinances the commissioners of this royal +Audiencia are obliged to be present at the assemblies, they are not +there; and thus many cases that come up, both civil and criminal, +are delayed in settlement, so that considerable harm and annoyance +result to the parties concerned; and furthermore, that official +and fiscal cases are delayed, because the said commissioners to all +appearances do not employ therein the necessary diligence: therefore, +to remedy this condition of affairs, they decreed and ordered that, +now and henceforth, all the said commissioners, unless they have +legitimate occupation or obstacle, shall be present without fail +in the hall at all the sessions of the Audiencia with the greatest +punctuality, so that in all matters there may be the prompt action +which is desirable, under penalty of a fine of one peso from him who +shall disobey this decree, the fine to be applied immediately upon +condemnation, in this manner--six reals to the poor in the prisons, +and two for the bailiff who has to execute the decree. By this act +they so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + + + +_An act decreeing that orders shall be given regarding the sworn +memoranda of the collector of fines._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancillería of these Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas Pedro Fernandez de Sanctofimia, attorney in the cases of +the Audiencia, is appointed by this royal Audiencia to collect its +fines, and ordered to assess the fines imposed upon its officials and +other persons who do not observe the royal ordinances, and all other +ordinances, decrees, and provisions, to the amount that must be levied +for each fine--for, by not executing the penalties thereof daily, +there are many oversights and no little remissness in the fulfilment +of each one's obligations: therefore, in order that the requisite +system be observed in everything, they decreed that, by giving the +said Pedro Fernandez de Sanctofimia the present sworn memorandum +of fines to be imposed upon everyone, he shall immediately receive +his orders thereby regarding what he is commanded to levy for each +fine. The latter he shall do immediately, as the said memorandum shall +indicate, without any investigation or mandate preceding. The orders +that he shall so give shall be executed by the bailiff or alguazil +of this royal Audiencia, whenever they shall be issued. Whatever +the latter shall collect he shall deliver to the said collector of +fines, who shall take charge of it, and enter it carefully in a book, +that he may give strict and clear account of each fine collected. And +they charged each other's consciences with the fulfilment of all the +above. By this act they so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + + +_An act decreeing the making of a book in which shall be entered +the decrees sent and to be sent by his Majesty to these islands, +in order that they may be observed and executed._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia and Chancillería of these Philipinas Islands +declared that, whereas the king our sovereign, by his royal ordinances, +ordains and orders a book to be made, in which to inscribe the decrees +that he has sent, and shall send, to these islands, and that it contain +an account of their execution: therefore, they thereupon ordered, and +they did so order, the said book to be made, and entrusted it to the +clerk of the court. He shall inscribe therein all the decrees that +the king our sovereign has sent and will send to these islands, so +that henceforth a detailed account of their observation and execution +shall be kept, as his Majesty orders. By this act they so provided, +ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_That interlocutory decisions shall be concluded at one demand from +each party._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal Audiencia and Chancillería of the Philipinas Islands declared +that, whereas his Majesty ordains and commands by one of the royal +ordinances for this royal Audiencia, that interlocutory decisions +shall be concluded, in trial and review, at one demand from each of +the parties, and that the clerk of court receive [no] other demands: +therefore, in order that the aforesaid be exactly executed, they +ordained and decreed that the attorneys of this royal Audiencia shall +conclude the said interlocutory decisions in trial and review, at one +demand from each party, without giving or presenting more demands, +with the warning that any others presented shall not be admitted. The +clerk of court is warned in the present that he shall not receive +them under penalty of a fine of two pesos, to be employed as it shall +seem proper, and delivered into the charge of the collector of fines +of this royal Audiencia, upon whom the execution of the above shall +be most carefully charged. And they ordered it to be proclaimed, +and especially to the said attorneys. So they provided, ordered, +and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act providing that no proceedings shall be conducted in suits +between Indians, without a decree from this royal Audiencia._ + +On the twenty-first of January, one thousand five hundred and +ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia +of the Philipinas Islands, declared that, whereas, in one of his +royal ordinances, the king, our sovereign, commands the aforesaid +president and auditors that, in suits and civil and criminal cases +between Indians, the usual proceedings shall not be conducted or +issued, except in cases decreed and ordered by an act of this royal +Audiencia: therefore, in order that the aforesaid shall be exactly +fulfilled, they ordained and decreed that it should be communicated +to the said attorneys of this royal Audiencia, that when, in the name +of any natives, they shall bring suits against other natives, before +bringing these suits they shall notify this royal Audiencia--in order +that, if thought best, they may be docketed, and if not, that the cost +and expense may be avoided. Those which shall be prosecuted shall be +docketed by formal decree of this royal Audiencia, and in no other +manner. They must strive to be brief and precise in everything. The +notaries both of this royal Audiencia and the other jurisdictions +thereof are ordered, in the collection of fees from said natives, +to employ great moderation, and to despatch their business promptly, +in order that all his Majesty's orders and decrees may be observed +and fulfilled. Moreover, they commanded that the aforesaid notaries +be notified of this act. So they provided, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the attorneys shall go, within three days, to +the office of the clerk of court, to settle suits that are concluded._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancillería of these Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas, on account of the non-appearance of the attorneys of this +royal Audiencia at the office of the clerk of court for this royal +Audiencia, to settle and otherwise regulate suits and cases which are +concluded, in order that they may be reviewed and decided, there is +great delay in their revision and decision, so that the interested +parties are subjected to great harm and annoyance: therefore, +to remedy this, they ordered, and they did so order, that all the +attorneys of this royal Audiencia shall be notified that, whenever +the said suits are concluded, wherever they shall be brought, within +the three days first following they shall appear at the office of +the above-mentioned clerk of court, and there settle and dispose of +them, so that there shall be nothing wanting, and that they may have +the necessary despatch--being warned that, if they do not thus come +within the said term, the said clerk can settle the said processes, +and send them to the reporter for him to review them in court. And if, +by the said attorneys' negligence, the parties suffer any harm, the +said attorneys shall pay them for it in their persons and goods. By +this act they so declared, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the notaries shall not collect their fees +entirely from each of the parties, but that each one shall pay the +part he owes._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia and Chancillería of these Philipinas Islands +declared that, whereas it has come to their knowledge that both the +notaries and the reporter [_relator_] [2] of this royal Audiencia and +of the other jurisdictions of this court, collect fees for the trial of +suits and other acts thereof in entirety from each of the parties at +whose petition they may take action, saying that they should pay them +entirely: therefore, because the aforesaid proceeding is to the great +harm and damage of the parties, to make them thus pay what they do not +owe, and since the aforesaid evil should be remedied, they ordered, +and they did so order, now and henceforth, that the said notaries +and reporter, or either of them, shall not collect in any way, or in +any case, the fees owed by one of the said parties from the others, +but that each one shall pay what he owes. On account of not paying the +total fees, the party who would wish his suit to be tried, shall not +have it delayed; but, as soon as he has paid his share, his suit shall +be despatched with all celerity. And they declared that they charged, +and they did so charge, their consciences with this; and furthermore, +that whoever shall disobey this decree shall be convicted and sentenced +to pay a fine four times as great as the sum thus exacted, for his +Majesty's treasury, in addition to the fines which those who exact +excessive fees incur. By this act they so declared, ordered, and +decreed; and that this act shall apply to any person whom it concerns. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the attorneys shall not speak in suits wherein +they shall not have been authorized to do so._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia and Chancillería of these Philipinas Islands +declared that, whereas the attorneys of this royal Audiencia often take +it upon themselves to speak and make allegations in suits in which they +have no authority, and in which they have not appeared as parties to +the said case, certain nullifications can be created--for which reason +the said case may be brought again, and the parties thereto subjected +to considerable injury and expense: therefore, to obviate the said +injuries and other inconveniences of reconsideration, they ordered, +and they did so order, that, now and henceforth, neither the said +attorneys nor any one of them shall take it upon himself to speak, +nor shall they speak in any suit or case, unless authorized therefor +by the party in whose favor they shall speak, or unless he has proved +himself to be a party to the suit--under penalty that he who shall +disobey this decree shall incur a fine of four pesos of common gold, +as soon as he shall be judged guilty thereof; three of them to be given +to the royal hospital for Spaniards, and one to the bailiff in charge +thereof. And under the said penalty, the clerk of court is ordered +not to give any one of the said attorneys any suits or petitions, +unless empowered thereto by the parties concerned. By this act they +so ordered, declared, and decreed. + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the evidence that the clerk of court cannot +take be entrusted by commission of this royal Audiencia, and assigned +by the members thereof, to the notarial commissioner of examinations._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia and Chancillería of the Philipinas Islands +declared that, whereas, conformably to the royal ordinances, all +the evidences in suits and cases pending in this royal Audiencia, +are committed to the clerk of court; and whereas, on account of the +volume of business incumbent upon his said office, he cannot receive +them all, and commits them to the notaries: therefore, because the +aforesaid taking of evidence cannot be done unless authorized by this +royal Audiencia, under the direction of its members, they ordered, +and they did so order, that in regard to evidence which the said clerk +of court cannot take immediately in interrogatories and petitions, +by virtue of which such evidence must be taken, an act be passed by +which his duty may be committed by this royal Audiencia and assigned by +its members to a commissioner of examinations, the latter to receive +and examine the said evidence, and to take the oaths of witnesses +thereto. The said commissioner shall give a receipt to the parties for +the fees which he shall collect from them for said evidence, and at +the foot of the evidence he shall in like manner sign his name. The +clerk of court shall not receive any fees for such evidence; and +under no circumstances whatever shall the said evidence be taken in +any other way, except as herein stated, under penalty that evidence +given in any other way shall be null and void; and the commissioner +receiving it shall incur a penalty of one hundred pesos of common gold, +as soon as he shall have been judged guilty, the fine to be applied +in equal parts to the royal treasury and court-rooms of this royal +Audiencia. By this act they so declared, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + +_An act decreeing that the officials of this royal Audiencia shall give +bonds at the beginning of every year, and that likewise, they shall +give them for the time during which they have already held office._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancillería of these Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas, in order to conform to the decrees and provisions of his +Majesty, and to be just with the parties entering suits, the officials +of this royal Audiencia are under obligation to give bonds that they +will undergo residencia for the right exercise and discharge of their +duties, at the beginning of each year: therefore, because hitherto they +have not given bonds for the time while they have exercised their said +offices, and because they should give them, both for the aforesaid time +and for the future, they resolved and ordered that the commissioners +of examination, attorneys, assessor of taxes, collector of fines, +deputies of the alguazil-mayor, and the prison warden of this court, +shall each one of them, within fifteen days after being notified of +this act, give safe and reliable bonds, before the undersigned clerk +of court, that they will undergo residencia for the use and exercise +of their offices, and pay everything which may be adjudged against +them in the matter, and also in the suits which may be instituted +against them. They are also warned that after the said term of office +has expired, they shall exercise the said offices no longer, which +shall be immediately declared vacant, and other persons appointed +thereto. Likewise, within the said term and under the said penalty, +they shall give bonds for all the time during which they have already +exercised the said offices in the royal Audiencia, for which they have +not given them. In the future, they shall be notified and ordered to +renew the said bonds at the beginning of every year, under the said +penalty. By this act they so provided, enacted, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that cases of twenty pesos or less shall not be +brought to trial; and that the notary shall not take a larger fee +than one-half peso from each party._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia and Chancillería of the Philipinas Islands +declared that, whereas so many suits involving twenty pesos or less +are wont to be begun, and as much time is consumed therein as if they +were affairs of greater magnitude, whence there results to the parties +concerned great harm and damage by reason of the great cost and expense +wasted therein, beside the long and tedious delays in the collection +of their debts: therefore, to remedy that, they agreed and ordered +that, now and henceforth, no trial shall be made of cases amounting to +twenty pesos or less, unless they are briefly and summarily disposed +of; and that the notary before whom they are brought shall not take +for his fee more than four reals only from each party, even if they +make many investigations in the matter--under penalty that all that +they take above that sum they shall return to the parties concerned, +together with four times as much for his Majesty's treasury. By this +act they so provided, ordered, and decreed; and the notaries whom +its fulfilment concerns shall be notified. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act concerning the order that the alcaldes-mayor are to follow +in trying Indian suits._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of these Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas his +Majesty has ordered, in his royal decrees and ordinances, that the +suits of the Indians shall be treated summarily, and that processes +issued within the limit of the law shall not be so conducted that +the said Indians waste their substance by incurring too heavy costs: +therefore, in order that the royal will of the king our sovereign +might be exactly fulfilled, they resolved and ordered that the +alcaldes-in-ordinary and the alcaldes-mayor and other magistrates and +notaries, in suits of the Indians, shall observe their instructions +and the following articles. + +First, when any Indian--whether man or woman--shall enter suit for +liberty, or any other matter, against another Indian without giving +a _traslado_, [3] the said magistrate shall order the Indian sued +to appear before him and take oath as to the truth of the demands +of the plaintiff. If he shall confess it, justice shall be done by +settling the case; and if he deny it, the case shall be reserved for +evidence within a short time, with obligation for publication and +conclusion. The said magistrates shall order that, as soon as both +parties name their witnesses, the latter shall be brought into court, +and an oath taken from them to tell the truth, and they shall cause +them to tell by word of mouth what they know. After they have thus +testified, the substance of their depositions shall be recorded, +in this form: "So and so of such an age, capable or incapable as a +witness, said so and so under oath;" and the same shall be done with +the other witnesses in the same order. The evidences of both parties +being taken, and the time-limit having expired, a just finding shall +be determined. If either of the parties appeal, the alcaldes-mayor +shall hear them in the court of appeals; and the witnesses named by +either party shall be subpoenaed, and shall give their evidence in the +same form as set forth above, the case being admitted to trial within +a short time, with obligation for publication and conclusion--at the +expiration of which the process shall be sent to this royal Audiencia +to be settled, the original parties being summoned for all trials, +the time and place being appointed by the court. + +Second. _Item_: If the suit be a criminal suit, the complaint and +charge shall be received. If there is guilt, the person shall be +arrested, and the prisoner's declaration taken. The charge shall +be formulated against him, and the case admitted to trial within a +short period, with obligation for publication and conclusion; and +within the probatory limit the testimonies given in the preliminary +process shall be verified, other new ones received, if there be any, +and the defendant's plea taken. The time having expired, the case +shall be decided. If any of the parties shall appeal, the original +process shall be sent to the Audiencia; because in this way the said +natives will avoid heavy expense and cost, and the cases will be more +quickly decided. In criminal cases, no other form of process shall +be used than that which is appointed for civil cases. + +Third. _Item_: If the suit be to the amount of three pesos, or +less, the judgment shall be so summary that only the substance of +the whole matter is to be written, together with the decision, in a +report. The original shall be retained by the notary, and if either +of the parties shall desire an authenticated copy, it shall be given +them as a safeguard of their rights. And in suits for the said amount, +only one real, and no more, may be collected between judge and notary. + +Fourth. _Item_: That if the judge shall attest the testimonies in any +civil or criminal suit by flourishes and signatures that he may make, +he cannot collect any fees; since there are none due him except for +the acts that he shall draw up and sign. + +Fifth. In order that the said instructions be exactly observed and +fulfilled, they declared that they order, and they did so order, the +alcaldes-in-ordinary and the notaries-public to be informed thereof, +and testimony thereof to be sent to all the alcaldes-mayor, whose +consciences they declared they charged, and they did so charge, with +the fulfilment thereof. Furthermore, in the residencias which shall +be taken from them, he who shall not have fulfilled this decree, or +caused it to be fulfilled, shall be punished and with great rigor. So +they provided, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + +_An act decreeing that the alguazils-mayor and their deputies shall +make the rounds every night._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia and Chancillería of the Philipinas Islands +declared that, whereas it has come to their knowledge that neither +do the alguazils-mayor of this court and city, nor their deputies, +make their rounds throughout the city, as they are under obligation to +do--as a result of which, murders, robberies, and other lawless acts +and crimes occur daily, to the great injury of the citizens: therefore, +to remedy this state of affairs and provide this community with the +necessary guard and order, they ordered, and they did so order, the +said alguazils-mayor and their deputies to be notified that they must +make their rounds during the night, as they are under obligation to do +in this city, without fail, under penalty of a fine of ten pesos of +common gold--to be applied, as soon as anyone shall be condemned for +disobeying this decree, in equal shares to the two royal hospitals +of this city--for the Spaniards and for the natives--in addition to +the loss and interest to any parties which may result and occur. By +this act, they so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that there shall be in the courtroom, a list of +the charges fixed by the royal tariff, and that each notary shall +keep one in his house._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancillería of the Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas the king our sovereign, in his royal ordinances, decrees +and orders that a list of the charges fixed by the royal tariff be +placed in the court-room, and that likewise each notary whom it shall +concern shall keep a copy in his house, for its better observation +and execution: therefore, in order that the aforesaid may be exactly +fulfilled, they ordered, and they did so order, a complete copy of +the said royal tariff to be made by this royal Audiencia. It shall +be set forth in a list, and placed in the court-room; and all the +notaries and persons mentioned therein, and those whom it may concern, +shall make a copy, and keep the same in their houses and affixed to a +tablet in some public place, where it may be seen by those transacting +business. This they shall do and fulfil within one week after this +act shall have been made known to them, under penalty of a fine of +six pesos of common gold; and anyone incurring this penalty shall +pay this sum immediately--half of which shall be set aside for the +poor in the prisons, and the other half for the Spanish hospital in +this city--beside incurring and undergoing the penalties contained +in the said royal ordinances. By this act they so provided, ordered, +and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that within four months the royal officials shall +close up the accounts held by the royal treasury._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas it has come to their knowledge that in the royal accountancy +of the king our sovereign there are, at this very day, many accounts +to be balanced and closed of individuals who owe the royal treasury a +large sum of gold pesos, and others to whom money is due--whence has +resulted, and results, the lack therein of the system and management +which should be observed in the said royal exchequer: therefore, +in order that on this account no losses may result, and that the +matter may receive its due consideration, they ordered, and they +did so order, that the official judges of the royal treasury of +the king our sovereign, in these islands, within the four months +first following the day on which they shall have been notified of +this act, shall balance and close each and every account that the +royal treasury holds with any individuals of these islands. They +are warned that whoever shall not so fulfil and execute his orders, +after the expiration of said time, will be charged with everything, +and ordered to pay all accounts not balanced and liquidated. By this +act they so declared, ordered and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that all the officials of the royal Audiencia shall +take copies of the royal ordinances._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas, in one of the royal ordinances, it is ordered that all the +officials of this royal Audiencia, and other persons whom they concern, +shall keep in their possession a copy of the said ordinances; therefore +they ordered, and they did so order, that within thirty days after the +publication of this act, each of the said officials shall take a copy +of the said royal ordinances and keep it in his possession; and each +one, so far as he is concerned, shall observe and execute them, as his +Majesty orders therein, under the penalties therein contained--under +the penalty that if, after the expiration of said time, the said copy +has not been made, they shall be immediately convicted and fined in +the sum of six pesos of common gold, the latter being applied to the +court-rooms of this royal Audiencia. By this act they so declared, +ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that no alcalde-in-ordinary, notary, commissioner, +attorney, or any other official of this royal Audiencia, or of the +ordinary court, shall go outside this city without license._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of +January, one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and +auditors of the royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared +that, whereas the alcaldes-in-ordinary of this city, notaries, +commissioners, attorneys, and other officials, both of this royal +Audiencia and of the ordinary court, whenever they see fit, leave +the city without license--whence results much harm to the litigants, +on account of the delay and unsatisfactory conduct of their business, +beside many other inconveniences resulting therefrom: therefore, to +remedy this evil, they decreed and ordered that, now and henceforth, +no alcalde-in-ordinary, commissioner, attorney, notary-public, +or other official of this royal Audiencia or of the ordinary court, +shall go anywhere outside of this city, without the express permission +of this royal Audiencia, under a penalty of a fine of six pesos of +common gold, in which sum anyone adjudged guilty of the contrary shall +be immediately fined--one-half for the poor in the prison, and the +other half for the poor in the Spanish hospital--beside the loss and +interest which may result to the parties concerned on account of the +delay in justice. By this act they so proclaimed, ordered and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_Ordinances and laws for the Sangleys._ + +We, the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia and Chancillería +of these Philipinas Islands. Whereas it has been learned by experience +in this city that the Sangleys residing in the islands and their +neighborhood have had and maintain among them a custom of practicing, +and they do practice an abominable sin against nature, not only with +the Chinese, but with the Moro and Indian boys of these islands, +by which God, our Lord, is greatly disserved; and, whereas, the said +Chinese have had and have the habit and custom of bringing from China, +or making in this city, money of base metal, and they pare and clip the +royal money, to the great fraud and injury of the royal exchequer; and +although they have seen that some are punished for this, they have not +taken warning; and whereas, the said Sangleys, who are infidels, ally +themselves with the Christian Indian women, and have lawless carnal +intercourse with them; and whereas, besides the aforesaid crimes, the +said Sangleys are wont to buy from slaves and Indians golden jewels, +trinkets, clothes, and other articles which are stolen: therefore, +to supply a remedy for all that, and in order that such crimes and +disorders shall cease, now and henceforth, we command the following +orders to be observed in everything. + +_Laws._--First, we ordain and command that none of the said Chinese +Sangleys, or any other persons whatsoever, shall commit or practice +the said abominable sin against nature, or try to commit it. Whoever +shall do so shall incur the penalty of being burned alive by fire, +beside having all his goods confiscated to the treasury of his Majesty. + +_Item_: We ordain and command that none of the said Sangleys shall +dare to make or coin any sort of silver or gold money, or of any other +metal, nor shall they clip or scrape money already made, or make use +of it, under the penalties contained in the above ordinance. + +_Item_: We ordain and command that none of the aforesaid shall cohabit +or have carnal intercourse with any [Spanish?] woman or Christian +Indian woman, under the penalty that, in such case, he shall incur +a punishment of two hundred lashes and ten years in the galleys, +as criminals sentenced to row, without pay, and of the confiscation +of one-half his property, to be applied as above stated. + +Further, we ordain and command, that none of the said Sangleys, +for any reason or consideration, shall buy from negro slaves or +freemen, Indians or mulattoes, any gold jewels, trinkets, garments, +or any other articles which they sell; but when the said Sangleys go +to them, they shall arrest them and take them before the magistrate, +under penalty that whoever shall disobey this decree shall fall under +and incur the penalties incurred by robbers, and said penalties will +be rigorously executed on their persons and goods. + +And in order that the aforesaid shall be observed and executed without +remission of penalty, and so that no one may pretend ignorance, we +order that these ordinances shall be publicly proclaimed in the public +square, in all other public places of this city, in the Sangley Parian, +and in the village of Tondo, in order that everyone may know of them; +and in each one of the said places a copy of them, written in the +Chinese language, shall be posted. No person shall dare to remove the +said placards, under penalty of two hundred lashes. We order all the +alcaldes-mayor of the environs of this city to have them published and +made known to the natives. We request and charge all the religious to +give instructions to the said Indians, and cause them to understand +these laws and ordinances, and the penalties attached thereto. Given +in the city of Manila, on the twenty-sixth of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almaçan_ +The licentiate _Albaro Çambrano_ + +By order of the royal Audiencia: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_That the official judges shall not grant collections to any collectors +who have not rendered an account and payment of collections that have +been in their charge._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-seventh of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas it has come +to their knowledge that the official judges of the royal exchequer +of the king our sovereign, in these said islands, grant commissions +to certain collectors to make collections from the encomiendas that +pertain to his Majesty's royal crown, who, by virtue thereof, make the +collections; and that it often happens that, without their rendering +any account and payment of them, the said officials again grant them +commissions to make the collections, to the great harm and prejudice +of the royal exchequer, from which many difficulties may result: +therefore, in order to correct the aforesaid evil, they ordered, +and they did so order, that the official judges, now and henceforth, +shall under no consideration grant commissions to any collectors to +make any collections for the royal exchequer and crown, without their +having rendered account and payment of former collections entrusted +to them--under penalty of paying out of their own pockets what such +collectors shall appear to owe the royal estate, as soon as such is +evident, besides undergoing and incurring a fine of two hundred pesos +of common gold (this fine to be applied to the royal treasury of the +king our sovereign), to which sum, from that moment, they declared that +they condemned, and they did so condemn, any one who should disobey +this decree. By this act it was so provided, ordered, and affirmed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ + +The other honorable auditors signed the above. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that the clerk of court shall bring to the first +meeting a minute of the fiscal suits._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-eighth of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas in the +archives of the office of the present clerk of court, many fiscal suits +are pending, as well as others which have been concluded, in which +his Majesty's royal office is interested; but, not knowing which ones +are concluded, the others are not concluded and finished: therefore, +in order that those that are concluded may be known and settled, +they ordered, and they did so order, me, the undersigned clerk of +court, to bring a copy and minutes of those that are concluded, and +[of the suits now pending,] to the next session which shall be held, +in order that they may examine them and provide what is most advisable +therein. By this act it was so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that a book be made in which to enter the fines +applied to the poor of the prison and other pious works, and to the +courts, and the manner of their distribution._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-eighth of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancillería of the Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas the aforesaid Audiencia imposes certain fines of small amounts, +some of which are applied to the poor of the prison, and others to the +courts and other pious works: therefore, because it is advisable that +there should be an account and report of these moneys, and of their +source and the manner of their distribution, they ordered, and they +did so order, a book to be made in which to enter the said penalties, +applied as aforesaid, with the day, month, and year, in what cases +they are imposed, and likewise a report of how they are expended and +distributed; and this shall be done with all clearness, so that the +aforesaid may be evident for all time. This act is to be placed at +the beginning of said book. So they provided, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing the collection of all the debts which are in any +way owed to the royal treasury of the king our sovereign._ + +In the city of Manila, on the thirtieth of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president, and auditors of the +royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas +the licentiate Geronimo de Salazar y Salzedo, fiscal of this royal +Audiencia for his Majesty, has made them a report, declaring that the +royal treasury of the king our sovereign, in these islands, cannot +succeed in paying many of its debts, on account of failure to collect +many that have been due it for some time past; and has besought and +supplicated them to order that the royal official judges shall, within +twenty days, exert all possible diligence to collect everything that +is due the said royal treasury for any reason whatever: therefore, +in order to provide a remedy for the aforesaid difficulty, they +ordered, and they did so order, that the said official judges should +be notified that, within the two months next following the date on +which this act shall be made known to them, they shall collect all the +debts that are in any manner owed to the royal treasury, from all and +any persons whatsoever, and from their goods, exerting therein all +necessary diligence. They are to proceed with the necessary rigor +to do this effectively, being warned that if they do not collect +the said debts, to be liquidated within the said period, all that +shall remain uncollected they will be obliged to pay out of their +own property. For the debts which shall not have been liquidated, +they shall observe and execute the act of this royal Audiencia, which +has been made known to them, under the penalty thereof. By this act +they so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +[No signature.] + + + + +_An act decreeing that it shall be proclaimed in this city, in the +public places thereof, that within three days all natives residing +therein, not servants or otherwise employed, shall leave this city._ + +In the city of Manila, on the eleventh of February, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas the +licentiate Geronimo de Salazar y Salzedo, his Majesty's fiscal in +this royal Audiencia, protector of the natives of these said islands, +has made a report to the effect that there are many natives who are +vagabonds in this city, as a result of which they fall into various +vices dangerous to this community; and that rice and other provisions +have become high-priced and scarce; and as a remedy, he has requested +and petitioned the aforesaid president and auditors to provide in +this regard what is most advisable: therefore, they declared that they +ordered, and they did so order, that, within three days from the date +of this act, it shall be proclaimed to all and whatever natives are and +reside in this city, who are not employed as servants to the Spaniards, +or in some known occupation, that they must leave the city and return +to their own villages, to remain and live therein. Nor shall any other, +now and henceforth, remain in this city, under penalty, to anyone who +shall disobey this decree--for the first time, of one hundred lashes; +and for the second offense, one year of service at the oar in his +Majesty's galleys, without pay--on whom they declared that, as soon as +they condemned them (and they did so condemn them), the said penalty +shall be executed without leniency. In order that it may come to the +notice of all the said natives, and that no one may pretend ignorance, +this act shall be proclaimed in the Tagal language, in this city, in +the public places thereof, and in the hamlet of Tondo, and testimony +shall be taken thereof. Thus they declared, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act concerning the order which the alcaldes-in-ordinary and the +alguazil-mayor of this court must observe in their seats._ + +In the city of Manila, on the fifth of March, one thousand five hundred +and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia of +the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas some dissensions and +difficulties have occurred between the alcaldes-in-ordinary of this +city and the alguazil-mayor of the court of this royal Audiencia, in +the churches and public places where they have met, in regard to the +seats and places which each shall occupy, and their precedence--so +that it has resulted in their coming to blows, to the great scandal +and indecorum of their offices, and particularly in contempt of this +said royal Audiencia: therefore it is necessary in this matter to +provide some regulation to be kept and observed in like cases by the +aforesaid officials, so that the said disturbances shall cease. In +order that the said alcaldes-in-ordinary of this city shall keep +their known seats and places, and that they may be separate from +the said alguazil-mayor and from the ministers of this said royal +Audiencia, they declared that they ought to order, and they did so +order, that, when the alguazil-mayor of this court shall be present +in any of the churches of this city, without the president, auditors, +and fiscal, or any others whom he might join, he shall not take any +seat or bench belonging to the alcaldes-in-ordinary or regidors (nor +shall any other individuals occupy them, or sit in them, or intrude +themselves among them in any part or place that shall be given them), +but shall place and keep his chair and seat in some distinct and +fitting place, as does the president, the Audiencia, or any of the +members thereof. Likewise, in the processions and parades through the +streets, funerals, betrothals, passage of retinues, and other like +occasions on which the towns-people gather, the said alguazil-mayor of +the court, finding himself alone, without any of the aforesaid persons +whom he might accompany, shall refrain from going in company with them +[the alcaldes] in any manner--whether invited, or of his own accord; +whether the city's alcaldes go as a municipal body, or as individuals +to such functions; or whether they are not present at them. Meantime +the question is being considered and consulted as to what is to be +done and observed in all the above matters, and what it is advisable +to do in the future, and whether this royal Audiencia should make any +further provision. All the above shall be observed and fulfilled by +the said alguazil-mayor of the court, and the alcaldes-in-ordinary +of this city, without their having any wrangling or differences, or +any scandal--being warned that, if they do so, proceedings will be +instituted against the guilty persons who violate the order; and they +shall be punished to the full extent of the law. By this act they so +voted, ordered, and decreed. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almaçan_ + + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the taxing officer of this royal Audiencia shall +be notified to fix the costs in the suits, either personally, or by +some other intelligent person whom he shall name for this purpose._ + +In the city of Manila, on the sixteenth of March, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas it has +come to their notice that the taxing officer of this royal Audiencia +does not fix the costs in the suits that are brought there: therefore, +because it is advisable that the above officer fulfil the obligation +of his office, as his Majesty ordains and commands, and that the +inconveniences which arise from this be avoided, they ordered, and +they did so order, that the said taxing officer should be notified +that, now and henceforth, in whatever processes shall be brought for +consideration in this royal Audiencia, whether definitive or under +any plea whatever, the costs shall be fixed by him (thus complying +with the tenor of the royal ordinance treating of this matter), +either personally, or by some other intelligent person whom he shall +designate for the said purpose, and shall appoint in his place, who +shall be a person fit for the said service. They ordered the clerk +of court of this royal Audiencia to be present at those suits which +shall be brought for consideration in the manner above mentioned, +before the said taxing officer, in order that he may fix the costs +therein; and, regarding the aforesaid, they charged one another's +consciences. By this act they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that Doctor Antonio de Morga shall take the +residencia, for the months of January and February, of the deputy +regidors, within the limit of ten days._ + +In the city of Manila, on the sixteenth of March, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas, +for the past months of January and February of the present year, +up to the present time, no residencia for the use and exercise of +their offices has been taken of the deputy regidors of this city, +it is fitting and necessary that it be taken immediately: therefore +they appointed, and they did so appoint, Doctor Antonio de Morga, +auditor of this royal Audiencia, for a term of ten days, to take the +said residencia for the said months of the said appointed regidors, +who have filled their said offices, proceeding therein as the king +our sovereign decrees and commands in his royal ordinance. For this +they granted him the authority and commission as fully as is required +by law. By this act they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_. + + + + +_An act decreeing that Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor of this +royal Audiencia, shall audit the accounts of the city for the past +year, 1598._ + +In the city of Manila, on the sixteenth day of the month of March, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas the auditing of the accounts of this city for the past year, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-eight, was committed to the +licentiate Albaro Çambrano, late auditor of this royal Audiencia +(whom may God keep in His holy glory!), and because by his end and +death the auditing, continuation, and balancing of the accounts, +as his Majesty orders and commands in his royal ordinance, have +been neglected: therefore, they appointed, and they did so appoint, +in place of the said licentiate Alvaro Çambrano, Doctor Antonio de +Morga, auditor of this royal Audiencia, to audit the said accounts, +and to continue and finish them according to the order given to the +said licentiate Albaro Çambrano--for which, they granted, and they +did so grant, him authority and commission as fully as is required +by law. By this act they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that, on account of the end and death of the +licentiate Albaro Çambrano (whom may God keep!), the licentiate +Tellez Almaçan is to continue, close, and complete the accounts of +the royal exchequer._ + +In the city of Manila, on the sixteenth of March, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancillería of the Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas the licentiate Albaro Çambrano, late auditor of this royal +Audiencia (whom may God have in His holy glory!), to whom was assigned +the auditing of the accounts of his Majesty's royal exchequer--which +are at present being audited by the royal judicial officials--is now +dead and passed from this present life: therefore, in order that on +this account the auditing may not be delayed and fail of prosecution, +as is fitting, and as the king our sovereign commands in his royal +ordinance, in place of the licentiate Albaro Çambrano they appointed, +and they did so appoint, the licentiate Tellez de Almaçan, auditor +of this royal Audiencia, to continue, close, and finish the said +auditing, according to the commission given to the said licentiate +Albaro Çambrano, for which they gave him commission in legal form. By +this act, they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the city shall give information regarding its +place of seating in the cathedral of this city._ + +In the city of Manila, on the sixteenth of March, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancillería of the Philipinas Islands declared that, +in order to assign to the cabildo, magistracy, and administration of +this city the place of seating that it must keep in the cathedral: +in order to ascertain the custom hitherto followed in the aforesaid +matter, and in order to provide what is necessary concerning it, +they ordered, and they did so order, the said cabildo, magistracy, +and administration of this city to give an account of the part and +place in which it has been regularly seated in the cathedral of this +city--both in the time when the royal Audiencia formerly resided in +these islands, and after his Majesty ordered it to be suppressed--in +order that, upon examination, the necessary provisions may be made. By +this act they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act concerning the royal magazines._ + +In the city of Manila, on the eighteenth of March, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal Audiencia and Chancillería of the Philipinas Islands, having +examined the opinion of the official judges of the royal exchequer +of these islands, on the question of building magazines in which +to store the merchandise coming from China to this city, and having +investigated other matters connected with the aforesaid, and further +matter which is contained in the decree of the king our sovereign, +ordering that this said Audiencia attend to the matter: they declared +(in conformity with the opinion of Joan de Bustamante, accountant of +the royal exchequer) that at present, and until experience further +shows what it is most advisable to enact in this matter, the said +Chinese merchandise shall be registered and appraised on the same +vessels on which it was brought, as has been done hitherto. In order +that there may be good accounts and reports, and less opportunity for +fraud in the royal customs, they ordered that the official judges of +his Majesty in these islands, as soon as each ship enters this harbor +and anchors therein, shall go out to inspect it, registering and +appraising all the merchandise and other things in the cargo. They +shall exert diligence in the matter and make their inspection with +the punctuality advisable, so that the said merchandise, or any part +of it, may not be discharged or concealed. In order that this may +be enforced more effectually, the necessary guards shall be placed +on the said ships and in the bay, who are to be trustworthy persons, +to the satisfaction of the said president and auditors of this royal +Audiencia, by whom they shall be approved and appointed, The said +official judges shall have, as a reward for their occupation and +labors, one third part of the confiscations which are levied upon any +merchandise found and seized because it had been hidden on the said +ships, or withdrawn from them without registration or appraisal. They +shall also be charged that they shall not allow or consent that, +while the said merchandise is on the said ships, either the royal +officials or their assistants, or any other person--Spanish, Sangley, +or native--shall take, buy, or transport the said merchandise in large +or small quantities, for cash or on credit; but that the merchants +thereof, who brought the merchandise from China on the said ship, +after making registry and appraisal, may take them ashore freely and +where they will, without any obstacle or hindrance from anyone--with +the warning that, if any one of them do not so observe and fulfil +this act, he shall be proceeded against with the full rigor of the +law. They ordered that a commission, in due form, be given to the said +guards, both in order that they may wield the authority of justice, +and that there be no other guards but those who are so nominated by +this royal Audiencia; those hitherto acting as guards shall exercise +the said duty no longer, under the penalties incurred by those who +so act without power or commission in the matter. This act shall be +made known to his Majesty's officials, and the chief clerk of mines, +and the regidors, for those who are at present guards; and it shall +be added to the other acts and investigations made by virtue of the +said royal decree of his Majesty. By this act, they so voted, ordered, +and decreed. + + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that tribute be collected for the king, our +sovereign, from all the Indians found settled and dwelling in this +city and within its bounds, who belong to his Majesty's encomiendas._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-second of March, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancillería of the Philipinas Islands examined the +petition of the licentiate Geronimo de Salazar y Salzedo, fiscal for +his Majesty in this royal Audiencia, that the collectors of the royal +tributes of the king our sovereign, in this city and its environs, +may collect tribute from all the Indians who are found therein, +notwithstanding any obstacle or excuses whatever which may be offered +by the said Indians, or by any encomenderos. Considering that for +many years the Indians have dwelt and resided in this city, and that +their tribute belongs and pertains to his Majesty, they declared +that they ordered, and they did so order, that the collectors of +the royal tribute shall collect their tributes from all the Indians +found settled and dwelling in this city and within its bounds, who +belong to the encomiendas of his Majesty. The said Indians shall +not pay other encomenderos, nor shall such encomenderos collect any +tribute from them, under penalty of returning to the said Indians what +they shall have collected from them. In order that the provisions +of this act be observed, enforced, and executed, they ordered it +to be publicly proclaimed in this city and its limits, in both the +Tagal and the Castilian languages. They committed the execution and +enforcement of it to the official judges of the king our sovereign +in these islands. The aforesaid president and auditors also ordered +that, if any persons claim to have any right contrary to the matter +herein contained, they are to appear before this royal Audiencia, +to petition before it for whatever is fitting in their case. By this +act they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the alguazils, as soon as they arrest +delinquents, shall give notice thereof to one of the auditors and to +the commissioners, who shall formulate their cases and bring them to +the office of the clerk of court._ + +In the city of Manila, on the third of April, one thousand five hundred +and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia +of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas it is continually +happening that the alguazils of this court arrest delinquents whose +cases the notaries and commissioners undertake, and, without giving +notice to the aforesaid president and auditors, or taking such cases +to the office of the present secretary, they allow them to remain in +their possession, and the said prisoners to remain in jail, without any +note or account of their imprisonment, whence result vexations to the +said prisoners, and the said alguazils and commissioners do not fulfil +the obligation which rests upon them: therefore, to find a remedy +for this and other annoyances which may result from it, they ordered, +and they did so order, that now and henceforth, as soon as the said +alguazils shall arrest any delinquent, they shall give notice thereof +to one of the above-mentioned persons, in order that he may take the +fitting action in regard to the said imprisonment. Any commissioner +who shall undertake the cause of said prisoner or prisoners shall +immediately take it to the office of the present clerk of court, +so that in this manner there may be the necessary system. Whatever +one or the other may do shall be despatched with all promptness and +punctuality, and no favor--under penalty of a fine of six pesos for +anyone who shall disobey this decree, to be given the poor in the +prison. By this act they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almaçan_ + + +Before me: + + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the royal officials shall give Doctor Antonio +de Morga three hundred pesos from treasury fines, for ornaments and +other things necessary for the chapel._ + +In the city of Manila, on the tenth of May, one thousand five hundred +and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia +and Chancillería of the Philipinas Islands, being in session, declared +that, whereas the chapel of this royal Audiencia is in great want and +need of many things that are very necessary and indispensable, for +its vestments, decoration, and furniture; and whereas, through lack +of money, the said needs have not as yet been supplied: therefore, +to make provision for them, they ordered, and they did so order, that +the official judges of the royal exchequer of the king our sovereign, +in these islands, shall, from any treasury fines in their charge, +immediately give and deliver to Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor +of this royal Audiencia, three hundred pesos of common gold, which +he shall expend in providing the said chapel with the things most +necessary for it, systematically and carefully. They ordered that he +be given a warrant for the said purpose, in due form. By this act, +they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + +_An act decreeing that secretaries of this court and government may +be attended by slaves with swords._ + +In the city of Manila, on the thirteenth of May, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas, +in conformity with the decrees and ordinances given by his Majesty +for his royal Chancillería of Nueva España, residing in the City of +Mexico, and for other audiencias throughout the Yndias, he orders +that secretaries of the court and the government shall have, as a +retinue and guard, slaves with swords, conformably to the dignity +and gravity of their office: therefore, in order that the same be +done in this court, in regard to the secretaries of this court and +government, and in order to preserve the preeminence and exemptions +which they may and should enjoy here, they ordered, and they did so +order, that, now and henceforth, the said secretaries of this court +and government may freely bring into this court, as their retinue, +the said slaves with swords, according to the usual custom in the said +royal Chancillería of the City of Mexico, and other chancillerías of +the Yndias, without the interposition--by any person, of whatever +estate, quality, or rank--of any hindrance or impediment whatever, +under the penalties provided by law. Thus they voted, and ordered it +to be recorded as an act, and signed it in my presence. + + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that the Sangleys shall not be allowed to have +godchildren, on account of the injury which may result therefrom._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventeenth of May, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal Chancillería of these Philipinas Islands, having examined the +information which was referred to this royal Audiencia by Estevan +de Marquina, alcalde-mayor of the village of Tondo and its presidio, +regarding the custom which the Christian Sangleys of that jurisdiction +have among themselves, of receiving and having a great number of +godchildren, both Christian and infidel, in order to have them +ready for any emergency that may arise, and to employ them as false +witnesses--to which they lend themselves with great facility, and at +little cost--and for other evil purposes and intents, exchanging with +them favors and assistance in their affairs; and whereas, on account +of these and other causes which have come to light, and as is quite +evident from the said information, that district is ruined and divided +into factions, and that it would be advisable, for its reform, to +suppress this custom of having godchildren, and that they should not +continue it, under severe penalties: therefore, they declared that +they ordered, and they did so order, that, now and henceforth, the +Sangleys of these islands shall in no manner have or avail themselves +of the said godchildren; nor use their names, nor those of any others, +in order to have them for their partisans or accomplices in any kind of +transaction which might occur, as they have been wont to do hitherto; +nor shall they regard them as such, or receive others in their place; +and they shall give up immediately all those that they had. The others +who are infidels shall do the same, so that there shall remain no +remembrance of the said intercourse--under penalty that any Sangley, +of any rank whatever, who shall be known to have continued it and to +have the said godchildren or godparents, shall be condemned to row +in the galleys for four years, in a place prescribed, without pay, +as soon as they are adjudged guilty thereof. The said alcalde-mayor +of Tondo and its presidio, and all other magistrates whatever, are +ordered to take especial care in the fulfilment and execution of this +act. They shall cause it to be published, in order that all persons +may know of it, and none plead ignorance--for which purpose an order +shall be given in due form, and this act inserted therein. Thus they +voted, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that the Christian Sangleys, and all those who +may become Christians in the future, shall practice and exercise the +occupations that they had before they became Christians._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventeenth of May, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia, Court, and Chancillería of the Philipinas Islands, having +examined this information which was remitted to this royal Audiencia +by Estevan de Marquina, alcalde-mayor of the village of Tondo and its +presidio, concerning the advisability and importance that the Christian +Sangleys living in the said village of Tondo, and in the other villages +of its jurisdiction, and those who become Christians in the future, +shall not abandon the occupations which they had before they became +Christians, as they have been accustomed to do, but shall continue +to exercise and practice them in the same manner as before--for, +by thus abandoning their occupations, that people are unoccupied +and slothful, and spend their time in games and vicious amusements, +whence result the harm and trouble which may be considered: they +declared that, in order to remedy that state of affairs, they ought +to order, and they did so order, that, now and henceforth, the said +Sangleys shall practice and exercise the occupations which they had +practiced and exercised before they became Christians, and shall, +under no consideration, abandon them--this being understood to apply +to those becoming Christians in the future, and to those who have +been Christians for six years previous to the present--under penalty +that whoever disobeys this decree shall be sentenced to row in the +galleys for four years, in a place prescribed, without pay, to which +they declared that they delivered them, and they did so deliver them, +immediately as condemned persons. They declared that they ordered, +and they did so order, the alcalde-mayor of Tondo and of the Parian, +and other magistrates of this city and of these islands, to take great +care in the execution and fulfilment of the aforesaid, under penalty +of being punished. Thus they voted, ordered, and decreed. They ordered +that the said magistrates, each in his own jurisdiction, should make +the necessary inquiries, in order to ascertain who are the Sangleys +that come under the provisions of this act, and the occupations which +they follow. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that no alcaldes-mayor or other magistrates shall +leave their jurisdictions without undergoing residencia; and that +those who shall not have done so, or given a report of the convictions +and fines and tenths of gold which shall have been in their charge, +shall not be appointed._ + +In the city of Manila, on the fifteenth of June, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that they have been +informed that it is customary to appoint as alcaldes-mayor, and +to other offices of justice, some persons who have not undergone +residencia for offices that they have held before, or who have not +rendered account of the treasury fines and expenses of justice and +war which have been in their charge; also that other persons come to +this city after their terms of office have expired, without waiting +to furnish the said residencias, or being present at them, as is +required--whence it results that his Majesty's royal exchequer is +defrauded, since it does not have the income of the said fines and +tenths of gold. On the other hand, the said residencias not being +taken, as is required, nor the public claims before them paid to +their owners, and many other annoyances resulting, of some importance: +therefore, since it is advisable to remedy the aforesaid condition, +they ordered, and they did so order, now and henceforth, the decree +according to the laws of these realms, providing that no persons who +have held other offices be appointed to offices of the justiciary, +until they have furnished residencia of those that they previously +held, which shall have been examined and passed upon; and that such +persons shall have deposited, first and foremost, in his Majesty's +royal treasury, all the fines and condemnations which shall have +been in their charge, with tenths of gold and other things of which +they must give account, together with the payment of these and of +any other sums which they shall have been sentenced to pay in their +residencias. In order that they may furnish these, they must be present +in person, during the time prescribed by law, without leaving their +jurisdictions--being warned that if any person absent himself from +the jurisdiction where he holds office, without first furnishing +residencia, it will not be received or heard by the prosecutor, and +he will be compelled to return to furnish it in his own person. In +order that the provisions of this act may be strictly enforced, +they ordered that his Majesty's fiscal register the letters-patent +which shall have been given to the said offices of justice; so that +whatever is ordained by the said royal laws, and provided by this +act, he may claim when the officials shall be appointed, and the +necessary residencias be taken. Likewise there is to be delivered +to the government secretary of these islands a copy of this act, so +that in the patents of those who shall be appointed the fulfilment +of what is herein contained shall be formally inserted as a clause, +and his Majesty's said fiscal shall register the said patents. They +cannot continue to exercise their offices without first making the said +investigation, exactly observing the provisions of this said act; and +the accountant of the royal exchequer shall likewise register it; so +that whoever shall not have given an account of the said fines, tenths +of gold, and other matters which shall have been in his charge, shall +not take his office. By this act, they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + +In the city of Manila, on the thirteenth of July, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, I, Pedro Hurtado Desquibel, clerk of court +for the royal Audiencia, Chancillería, and Court of these Philipinas +Islands, certify and attest that, from the eighth of June, of the past +year, one thousand five hundred and ninety-eight, to the present day, +the date of this testimony, the president and auditors of this said +royal Audiencia, have from time to time agreed upon and enacted the +acts [4] which are herein copied, for good government, both officially +and at the petition of his Majesty's fiscal, as in them and each one +of them is declared. The copies are true and exact, and, in order +that it may be evident that it is by order of the aforesaid, I gave +the present copy--the witnesses to its transcription, correction, and +revision being Pedro Muñoz de Herrera, Joan de Harana, and Alonso de +Saavedra, citizens of this city. In witness of which, I have affixed +my seal in witness of the truth. + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + +[_Endorsed_: "Filipinas, 1599." "Acts for the good government of +those islands."] + + + + +The Hospital for Indians at Manila + + +May Jesus, our salvation, dwell in the soul of your royal +Majesty. Although I am but wretched dust and ashes, I make bold to +write this letter since I am, in company with two other religious of +the Order of our seraphic father St. Francis, appointed to minister +in this royal hospital of your royal Majesty (which is called the +hospital of Sancta Ana) for the natives; in it all the natives of all +these islands are cared for, and it is situated in this city of Manila. + +Favors were granted to this hospital by our most Catholic king and +sovereign, never sufficiently to be praised, your royal Majesty's +father, Don Phelipe (whom may God keep in His heaven!); he allowed it +one thousand five hundred fanegas of rice, one thousand five hundred +fowls, two hundred pieces of cloth from Ylocos, five hundred ducados +in money, and four toneladas of freight--this last being worth, one +year with another, four hundred pesos. With this income (and we have +no other), usually as many as two hundred poor persons are supported +and cared for in this hospital; besides these, there are three or +four religious who care for the sick and administer the sacraments, +and a considerable number of other people who are in the service of +the hospital. So small is the income, sacred Majesty, and so many are +the poor who come for help, that often we suffer great hardships; for +it is the glory of this hospital not only to belong to your Majesty, +but also not to turn away any one who comes to it to be treated. + +For this reason we religious who are in this hospital, as servants of +the poor who are cared for in it, entreat your royal Majesty with the +utmost humility that you will grant us aid so that we can treat these +poor people with somewhat more convenience; and we especially entreat +your royal Majesty that you will favor us by commanding that the said +four toneladas of freight be continued to us, as we are accustomed +to ship the goods free of customs duties or any other dues, whether +in this city of Manila or in Nueva España, or in any other parts of +your Majesty's realms where your ships enter. + +In this your royal Majesty will render a great service to God our +Lord; and may He preserve for us your royal Majesty, with increase +of His holy grace, and life and prosperity, as your loyal servants +desire. At Manila, July 3, 1599. Your royal Majesty's humble servant, + +_Domingo de Santiago_. + +[_Endorsed_: "Manila; to his Majesty; Domingo de Santiago, for the +hospital of Santa Ana at Manilla. Referred by his Majesty, who directs +that the archbishop and governor shall send information regarding +the treatment of the sick in this hospital, and whether its income +is sufficient for its needs. They shall also ascertain how its funds +are disbursed, and if the accounts are audited; and if anything is +lacking that is absolutely necessary, let them advise what and how +much should be provided, in their opinion."] + + +Catholic and Royal Majesty: + +Antonio Valerio, steward of the royal hospital which the discalced +religious of our seraphic father St. Francis founded in the city of +Manila, with royal expenditures and some alms, for the cure and healing +of all these natives of all these Philipinas Islands which belong +to your royal Majesty. I declare that although in this hospital we, +three religious and myself, serve for the love of God our Lord--by our +services saving the salaries of physician, surgeon, apothecary, and +other officers; and I performing the duties of steward, and the said +religious treating, as they do, all the sick, besides administering the +sacraments--the work of this hospital is continually increasing to such +an extent, by its aiding so many sick persons, and from so many places, +that although the gifts which your royal Majesty has made to this your +hospital are great, they are not sufficient to meet the necessary +expenses to which the said hospital is liable. For the usual number +of those who are cared for in it ranges from one hundred and sixty +to two hundred poor persons; besides, most of the poor people of this +city are provided from this hospital with ointments and medicines for +their ailments. On account of these expenses the hospital is unable +to accomplish many works which should be done--for instance, a house +for the workmen and servants, the improvement of the vegetable-garden, +and other things necessary for the treatment of the sick. + +For these reasons I entreat and supplicate your royal Majesty, with the +utmost humility, on my own part and on that of the said poor who are +treated in the hospital, that you will do us the favor of adding some +further charity to the grants which you have made to this hospital, for +the supply of the many wants which arise every day and are increasing. + +Still further, I entreat and supplicate your royal Majesty that the +favor which the Catholic and royal Majesty, Don Phelipe our lord, +the father of your royal Majesty (whom may God our Lord keep in His +heaven!), granted to us, by commanding that we be allowed to send +four toneladas of freight in his royal ships, be also continued to +us free from customs duties and any other dues which pertain to your +royal Majesty, whether in this city of Manila or in Nueva España, +or in any other part of your realms. + +Moreover, since the minister of this hospital is always a father who +is a priest, who will administer the sacraments not only to the sick +who come to the said hospital for treatment, but to all the people +who serve therein or who reside on the stock-farm which belongs to +the hospital, as well as to many other people in all this city and +in the islands who usually come to this hospital for confession; +and besides this, your Majesty pays from his royal treasury the +archbishop, qura, and canons of the cathedral of Manila for their +labors in ministering to the Indians, in all matters for which the +tithes are not sufficient--I entreat your royal Majesty to command +your royal officials in this city of Manila that they recompense +the said archbishop, cura, and canons in such manner that they shall +not enter the stock-farm of the said hospital to collect tithes and +firstfruits, since hitherto they have never entered there. And in +all things I entreat the royal Majesty of your royal Majesty, etc. + + + + + +Letters from the Royal Fiscal to the King + + + +Sire: + +After having given an account to your Majesty, in so far as concerns my +office of fiscal of this royal Audiencia of these Philipinas Islands, +of the affairs of justice, by another letter which accompanies this, +it seemed best to me to give one concerning those things which touch +the royal exchequer, in the following manner. + +1. The royal exchequer of your Majesty in these islands is not +sufficient by a large sum to supply the salaries and expenses which are +here paid out and incurred. For before the royal Audiencia came here, +the archbishop and bishops drew from Mexico fifteen, twenty, and some +years thirty thousand pesos apiece; but, even with all this, all those +who had to draw money from the royal treasury were complaining and +irregularly paid. Many works were neglected, and necessary expenses +were abandoned. With the new stipends and salaries of an archbishop, +three bishops, four auditors, and a fiscal, which amount to twenty-four +thousand pesos, we must cut down much more. All that sum, which is +the salary of powerful people, must be maintained; and therefore we +must suffer wretched service, and abandon, as has been done, works +and affairs in which there should be no lack. For some remedy and +alleviation of this difficulty, I will point out some expedients which, +in my opinion--as one who understands the present state of affairs, and +has some knowledge of the country--your Majesty, if you are so pleased, +can use, employing such of them as appear to be most expedient. + +2. I find no basis on which people could rest their opinion that +there should be in these islands the said archbishop and bishops; +for the population of them all does not exceed six hundred Spanish +citizens, and the one bishop who was in this city was sufficient. One +is sufficient for all matters which might arise of which the prelates +take cognizance, or which are necessary, for they are very few and +unimportant; and those who appeal to the metropolitan go to Mexico +and return in one year. The three provinces in which were lately +erected the three bishoprics are so near this city that one can come +from them in ten or twelve days; and in the one which has the largest +settlement of Spaniards there are not more than a hundred citizens, +or even so many--namely, in Zubu. The other two, which are Camarines +and Cagayan, do not amount, each one, to seventy Spaniards. In +each one there is a curate, who administers the sacraments to +the Spaniards; and convents of friars, who administer them to the +Indians who live in the said villages and their neighborhood. If the +prelate who is chosen in Manila is a religious of proved integrity, +and industrious, he can very well attend to these matters easily, +and without overwork. Whatever has been said or may be said to your +Majesty to the contrary, either arises from ignorance of the matter +or from private designs, and does not aim at expediency. + +[_In the margin_: "There is nothing to answer."] + +3. By a decree of your Majesty which came in the past year, +ninety-eight, the governor of these islands was commanded to +discontinue a number of false musters which were being paid, and +additions to the expenses of the royal treasury. Without mentioning +the decree, he pronounced an edict in which he commanded the officials +of the royal exchequer of your Majesty to erase them from the royal +books, and pay them no more. Afterward, with different pretexts and by +various means other salaries and additional expenses were incurred, +which it had never been customary to pay--as, for instance, paying +salaries to the captains, alferez, and other officers of war for the +citizens in the villages. The governor appointed, as alferez of the +captain of the town of Arevalo, Don Juan Fajardo; and designated as +his salary that of the post of musketeer, for which he served in the +said post of alferez. Having appealed it before the Audiencia, after +examination and review there, he was commanded to pay the said salary +for the time while he had served in the post of alferez. Captain +Francisco Rrodriguez, as he was of the troops from Zubu, when he +was alcalde-mayor there was ordered by the said governor to give +a hundred pesos of additional cost. He appealed from this, and his +case is pending in the Audiencia. Although these things appear of +little importance, so far as events hitherto are concerned, they +may be very important for the future; for, as they are said to be +confirmed by the Audiencia the governors will take it as a precedent, +in order to be able to make the same move with the other captains +and alferezes. The expenses of the royal treasury will thus suffer +a large increase, and in matters which never have been done nor are +now necessary. It would be well, if your Majesty were so pleased, +to command that all the wages, salary, and additional expenses which +have been given in the said manner be returned to the royal treasury +by the person who ordered them, and that henceforward none should +by any means be granted; and, if it be expedient to give any, your +Majesty should be informed and a royal order for that purpose awaited. + +4. In some provinces where there was one alcalde-mayor only, they +have been so multiplied that now there are three, and each one with +a deputy--all with salaries from the royal exchequer. To some of them +the governors give, beside the salary, additional expenses, amounting +to a hundred pesos; because such alcaldes-mayor are captains of the +citizens, in the manner explained in the clause before this. Likewise +some of the said alcaldes-mayor have Spanish alguazils, although not +with salaries, and although there are royal decrees directing the +governor to check this, and not allow offices to increase. It would +be fitting for your Majesty to command, if you so please, that these +alcaldes-mayor be reduced to the following: + +In the province of Laguna, one alcalde-mayor with three hundred +pesos of salary, which is the ordinary amount. On the opposite coast +of Mauban, one corregidor; this is the district next to the said +Laguna. He should have two hundred pesos of salary. In the province +of Camarines, another alcalde-mayor, with the same salary of three +hundred pesos. Another alcalde-mayor, who has recently been appointed +in the said province for the island of Catanduanes, should be removed; +and the said alcalde-mayor of Camarines should care for that, as +he used to do. In the province of Cagayan, another alcalde-mayor, +with the same salary. In that of Ylocos, another alcalde-mayor, with +the same salary. In Pangasinan, another alcalde-mayor, with the said +salary. In the province of Panpanga, another alcalde-mayor, with the +proper salary, who should administer the jurisdiction of the district +of Bulacan, which borders upon it; all this was formerly under one +alcalde. The one who was lately added in Bulacan should be removed. + +In the village of Tondo and the bay of this city of Manila (all of +which is the suburbs and outskirts of the city), the governors keep +another alcalde-mayor and lieutenant, although the whole of it is +within the five leagues which, by your Majesty's grace, this city +of Manila has as a jurisdiction--whose alcaldes-in-ordinary used to +administer justice in all the districts of the said alcaldía-mayor +of Tondo. Now they have no more than within the walls of the city, +although they are vested with authority and can make arrests +outside. It would be well, if such be your Majesty's pleasure, to +discontinue this alcaldía-mayor of Tondo, and let it be served by +the two alcaldes-in-ordinary from this city of Manila, each one six +months of the year, while the other one is present in this city. In +this way, with the provincial judge, there will be quite sufficient +people to administer justice in the civil cases; and in the criminal +cases there are the auditors and the said alcalde-in-ordinary. In this +way the salary of the alcalde-mayor of Tondo will be saved, which is +now paid from the royal treasury; and this city will consider it as a +singular grace and favor. So likewise will the Indians, for they will +be better treated and less annoyed by this form of government; because +the man who is appointed to the said alcaldía must make his living from +it, and on that account must do things which are illegal--but, as he +is usually a retainer of the governor, the latter shields him in the +matter. This will cease with the alcaldes-in-ordinary, for they perform +their duties without any selfish considerations, being always men of +honor and rich, who do not seek the offices through greed for money. + +In the province of Zubu there used to be only one alcalde-mayor; +but about two years ago another was added in the islands of Leyte, +Çamar, and Babao, which are close to Zubu. It was done to the great +displeasure of the citizens of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, which was +the first city founded and settled in these islands; for the said +three islands were under the jurisdiction of the alcalde-mayor +resident in the said city, and with the other one they would be +greatly annoyed and molested, since most of the citizens who reside +in the said city are encomenderos in the said islands of Leyte, +Çamar, and Babao. The alcalde-mayor of these islands takes them from +the said city and enters suits against them. He takes them to the +said islands as prisoners; and, as they have their property there, +and must needs go there every year for the collection of tributes +from their encomiendas, they cannot refuse to go; and thus the said +alcalde-mayor molests them as encomenderos, and he of Çubu, on the +other hand, as citizens. As this is so, if your Majesty be pleased, +the said alcalde-mayor of the said three islands might be removed, +and they put under the jurisdiction of the said island of Çubu, +whose alcalde-mayor could very well serve all of them. + +On the river of Butuan, which is on the confines of this island of +Zubu and close to the island of Mindanao, is another corregidor, with +a salary of two hundred pesos. In the island of Calamianes is another +corregidor, with the ordinary salary. In the district of Oton is an +alcalde-mayor, with a salary of three hundred pesos. In Panay is a +corregidor, with two hundred pesos salary. All the alcaldes-mayor +and corregidors besides those mentioned should be done away with; +and no alcalde-mayor or corregidor should have a deputy except when +he is absent, and such deputy should not be given a salary. + +[_In the margin_: "If there is any reform to be made, have the new +governor act therein, and advise us of his action. _Idem. Idem. Idem_ +in this matter."] + +5. One of the things in which, I have understood, the royal exchequer +of your Majesty has been the most defrauded and the citizens of these +islands the most aggrieved, is in the freighting and despatching of +vessels which go from here to Nueva España with merchandise; for the +governors have, for some years past, assigned to this duty various +special friends and confidants of themselves, and even at times their +own servants. The said persons lade in the ships their own property, +and even that of their relatives and friends--and likewise, it is +said, of any person who will pay them for it. This transaction and +negotiation is of great profit for them, and a great fraud upon the +royal exchequer; for all the merchandise which they lade in this way, +outside of the amount allotted, goes without paying your Majesty the +royal duties, and is not a part of the cloth which is assigned to the +citizens in the general allotment which is made to them. As a remedy +for this, it will be well that in the future, when the allotment +of the cloth is made, there should be present and superintend it, +besides the governor and the other persons who are appointed, an +auditor and royal official in rotation, each year, commencing with +those longest here. As soon as the said allotment shall be finished, +the royal official shall take a copy of it, and the persons to whom +allotment is made of the said cloth shall come with their invoices, to +bale it and pay the royal duty in the presence of the royal officials, +who should give warrants for it. One or two of the officials should be +present at the port of Cavite, which is the landing-place of ships, +two leagues from this city; and there should be also present on the +ship, during its lading, the freighters who are ordinarily appointed, +and an auditor, so that no cloth will be allowed to be laded except it +be that contained in the said allotment. That which is thus authorized +shall be vouched for by warrants from the said royal officials that +the duties are paid. So great has been the irregularity in this +matter that, by having it checked by these strict methods, there +would probably be a great gain to the royal treasury. + +[_In the margin_: "Write to the new governor about the information +given in this letter, and the complaints that are made; and have him +remedy this evil, appointing for this persons who are of satisfactory +record, and taking care that all this be done with justice--and, +if it seem best to him, being sometimes present in person at the +inspection."] + +6. From the payment of tributes by the Indians in the usual currency +there have resulted and still result many inconveniences, losses, +injuries, and diminutions to the royal exchequer; for formerly they +paid the eight reals of tribute each year in kind, which they gathered +on their lands. A short time ago they were given the alternative of +paying it in coin if they wished; and since then they have ceased +to cultivate the land, make linen fabrics, raise fowls and cattle, +or obtain gold from the mines and rivers, with which articles they +used to pay the said tribute. A great part of those articles usually +remained with them, because they had all the year for trading and +labor, by which the country was supplied with many provisions at a low +cost, and clothing of various kinds of linen, with which they were +dressed. The encomenderos sailed with these things to Nueva España; +and it was not necessary to pay the Chinese what was brought thence in +return, and have them carry it off to their country, as they now do, +in exchange for the said cloths which they sell. There was a great +quantity of gold which was also taken to Nueva España, and from that +your Majesty was paid the tenths, which amounted each year to six +or eight thousand pesos--not counting another larger quantity which +was paid by the tributaries of the encomiendas which are under the +royal crown. By reason of the said Indians not paying in kind, so +little gold has come to be mined, that in the past year, ninety-eight, +from tributes and tenths even, the amount which was collected on your +Majesty's account was not a thousand pesos. From this there follows +another inconvenience, in that, as the natives of these islands are +inclined to laziness and to the vices attendant upon that, since +they can easily pay the tribute for one year with ten reals in coin, +they seek and pay it, and dress themselves with two or three pieces +of cloth, which cost somewhat more. As they find these for sale by +the Chinese, they themselves do not manufacture them. It would be +expedient, in order that these inconveniences may cease, as well as +others which may be seen to result from this matter, that henceforth +these Indians should be compelled to agricultural labors and the +raising of cattle, according to the conditions of the provinces where +they live, and to taking gold from the mines and rivers. If this were +put in force, a great deal would be gained by it; for there is a large +quantity in the said mines, rivers, and placers. In this way a great +part of the trade with the Chinese would cease, and the returns from +what was carried to and sold in Nueva España, from both gold and cloth, +would remain in this country, and would not be taken away to China, +as it now is. The said Indians would be compelled to this, in such +manner that, with the practice and profit which they would get from +it, in a few years they and their descendants would do it of their +own will, without compulsion. The principal thing to be done in order +to start the Indians to do this is, to have them pay the tribute in +the kind which they raise and harvest. + +[_In the margin_: "With this report write to the new governor to +call together the Audiencia, the ecclesiastical prelates who are +present in Manila, and the superiors of the religious orders; and +have him communicate with those who could not conveniently go there, +getting their opinion in writing; and have all of them confer as to +what is expedient and ought to be done in this matter--taking into +consideration the fact that the Indians should not be annoyed or +aggrieved; and that their object should be the cultivation of crops +and other things which the land bears; and that for this purpose +the tribute should be paid in kind, and the valuation should be as +equitable as possible. Whatever they may resolve in regard to this +matter, the governor shall cause to be executed, and advise us as to +what he does, seeing to it that the Indians labor and are not idle."] + +7. With the reestablishment of the said royal Audiencia, the expenses +of the royal treasury have been increased by more than sixteen +thousand five hundred pesos in the salaries of four auditors and one +fiscal. Wherefore it would be well, were your Majesty so pleased, +to command that the encomiendas or repartimientos of Indians which +may in the future be vacated, up to the amount of ten thousand pesos, +be placed under the royal crown, as an aid to the payment of the said +salaries; and that, until these are so placed, the governors shall not +be able to assign any person an encomienda or repartimiento of Indians. + +[_In the margin_: "Have the governor and Audiencia send an information +in this matter, and the archbishop a separate one."] + +8. I have understood that the governors have been accustomed to +assign encomiendas in this country in a manner to suit their own +purposes. Thus, if any person possesses an encomienda which ends +with his life, they add a reserve in such wise that they make +the encomiendas hereditary and perpetual for their relatives, so +that they may resign them, and allow the governor to assign them to +whomsoever they will. On the other hand, they have an agreement with +the governor that he shall assign it to the person designated by the +one who resigns it. That this matter may be the better understood, +I shall relate a case in which it happened. A certain captain, Juan +Maldonado Borrocal, one of the conquerors of these islands, holding a +repartimiento as an encomienda, went from here to the court in Spain; +and there married a widow, and returned with her to these islands. He +died, and conformably to the law of succession, the wife succeeded +to the encomienda. The latter had a son by her former husband, +and as, on her death, the said encomiendas would remain vacant, she +resigned them, and the governor assigned them anew to the son, who +was a boy. Neither he nor his father had served in these islands. It +is easy to imagine how this pleased the old soldiers who had shed +their blood on the said encomiendas to conquer them, and some were +eager for that repartimiento. Accordingly it is easy to see how much +remedy there was left, when the governor granted the said encomiendas +contrary to what your Majesty has ordered. To correct this, it would +be fitting that your Majesty order that such resignation should not +be made in any manner; and that in such cases the governor cannot +assign any repartimiento of Indians. + +[_In the margin_: "Have the decrees which are despatched for the +settlement of these matters duplicated, also those that direct that +appointments cannot be made by resignation and renunciation of the +said encomiendas; order that these be exactly observed and complied +with; and let it be again ordered that encomiendas which have been +resigned shall not be filled by the governor, but that he shall +advise his Majesty, who may order according to his pleasure in the +matter. If he appoints to them, they shall be null and declared void; +and the fiscal shall advise concerning them."] + +9. In the building of churches on the encomiendas of these islands +your royal treasury is subjected to excessive expenses by their being +made, as they are, of wood. Your Majesty pays, for those which stand +on the encomiendas belonging to your royal crown, two-thirds of the +cost--one-third as encomendero, and another as king and lord. In those +possessed by private citizens you pay one-third as king. As woods in +this country decay very easily, they rot within five or six years, +and it is necessary to build the said churches over again. Besides, it +often happens that when they are finished they are soon burned down. It +would be well for the said churches henceforth to be built of stone +or brick; for, with little more than what it costs to build them of +wood, they can be built of stone or brick and will last for many years. + +[_In the margin_: "Let the Audiencia investigate this."] + +10. The custom has been introduced of supplying wine for the +celebration of the mass to the priests of all the orders--not only to +those which are in the encomiendas of the royal crown, but to those in +private ones. As I understand it, your Majesty is under no obligation +to furnish it, except to those who minister in the four convents of +Manila, and to the curates of Spaniards and Indians there, and to those +who are in your Majesty's missions; and the encomenderos are obliged +to furnish them with the said wine on their own encomiendas. Your +Majesty will order the action in this matter which is most fitting +to your royal service. + +[_In the margin_: "Write to the governor to order that the secular +clergy, and those who give instruction in private encomiendas, are +not to be given wine on his Majesty's account for the celebration +of mass."] + +11. During the time of the last royal Audiencia, several offices of +regidor were sold; but of those who bought them at that time two +only have come here. Governor Gomez Perez, by virtue of a clause +of his instructions, appointed, above those which had been bought, +enough to amount in all to twelve regidors, from the worthiest men +of this city. Some of them left in his time, and others in the time +of his son, and finally in that of Governor Don Francisco Tello; +others the latter removed. Thereupon he appointed to several of the +said offices unsatisfactory persons, for his own interests. Some +of these despise the said offices. As it is understood that these +appointments were not by honorable means, it would be well if these +offices were sold--not by auction, but putting upon them a moderate +price, and having them given, with the supervision and approval of +the Audiencia, to the men of most merit and best character. There +should not be more than eight regidors; for, with the other persons +who, by reason of their offices, have votes in the cabildo--namely, +the three royal officials, the two wardens of the fortresses, and the +alguacil-mayor of the city--there are fourteen votes, which, in a place +of three hundred citizens, is a sufficient number. As those appointed +understand that they must pay money for the appointments and gifts, +in this way they will be given to suitable persons; and this should +always be done, so long as they are appointed here, and are not free +to attend to their duties as they should--because the governors have +had the power to take their offices away without cause, whenever it +might appear best to them. The most just way would be to sell them, +and use the proceeds to aid the royal treasury in its needs. + +[_In the margin_: "Have this sent to the new governor, so that the +regidors who were appointed wrongly, or are not proper persons, +may be removed; and let others be appointed (such as possess the +qualifications and capacity), up to the number of eight in all. Let +him advise us of his action."] + +12. After Governor Gomez Perez Dasmariñas came, there was offered from +the royal exchequer of your Majesty to the accountant Andres Cauchela +(who was proprietary), and to Captain Gomez de Machuca--who, on the +death of Juan Baptista Rroman, treasurer and factor, was appointed to +the said offices by the said Gomez Perez--to these two was assigned +the making of a report on all matters which concerned the treasury, +to bring before the said governor. It is understand that there were +some matters needing correction, for those same officials have written +this. This also appears probable from the manner in which the person +who was appointed for that office by the said governor conducted +himself. He signed the account without seeing or examining the reports, +or even noticing whether the charges were made, and if everything had +been collected that should be, nor that which concerned the merchandise +and the royal warehouses. Nor did he afterward audit any account. For +this reason, and because he grew rich during the time while the said +offices were held, it would be well to inspect them, and again take +charge of said accounts of money, and audit those of merchandise +which still remain to be examined. If your Majesty be so pleased, +a warrant might be sent to make the said investigation from the time +when Licentiate Geronimo Erbez del Corral took the account. It could +be entrusted to one of the auditors of this royal Audiencia; but the +fact must be considered that Doctor Antonio de Morga is a great friend +of Captain Gomez de Machuca, who was factor and treasurer, and who +would have to be investigated by him. Likewise it would be expedient +to send a warrant for an accountant to audit and revise the accounts. + +[_In the margin_: "A person shall be named by the lord president of +the Audiencia to investigate these officials; and the governor shall +name, with the consent of the investigator, an accountant to examine +the accounts."] + +13. Your Majesty commanded by a decree that the office of treasurer +of the royal exchequer of these islands be abolished, as it entails +no duties whatever, and the two offices of factor and accountant are +sufficient; accordingly, the duties of the treasurer were performed +by the factor. On account of the death of Juan Baptista Rroman, who +exercised these offices, your Majesty again appointed to the said +office of treasurer Captain Hernando Davila. So far as I know, your +Majesty was not made aware that a command had been issued to abolish +it, since no mention of that is made in the commission of Captain +Hernando Davila. The office is a superfluous one, and, as I say, has +no duties; for everything which has to be done here pertains to the +offices of factor and accountant. It would be well, if your Majesty +is so pleased, to command that when this office of treasurer shall +become vacant, in whatever manner, no other person shall be appointed +to it; but that it shall be merged with that of the factor, as was +formerly done. In this way the royal treasury will be relieved from +paying two thousand pesos, which the said treasurer draws as a salary. + +[_In the margin_: "Let the new governor inform us concerning this."] + +Governor Gomez Perez Dasmariñas established a monopoly on cards, +so that the proceeds therefrom could be used to fortify this city; +and the cabildo of the city collected that, along with the rest of +its property, and expended it in other matters, and not in that for +which it was imposed. Accordingly, in this tax, as well as in the +administration of the said monopoly, there have been interests of +great importance for those who had the power in this community, as +will be evident when it is inspected and investigated. For three years +past nothing of importance has been done on the wall, although there +were many places which needed repairing and finishing, which would +be a great detriment and danger in time of war. It would likewise +be well to send a warrant to make investigations and audit accounts, +concerning both the said monopoly and the other properties of the city. + +[_In the margin_: "Let the person who is charged with the residencia +of the governor be entrusted with that of the cabildo, and see that +that is taken and an account of everything. He shall give an account +to the governor of all which results from this, and of the amount +of this impost, so that it may be converted to the use for which it +was imposed."] + +15. By an ordinance of this royal Audiencia the president and two +auditors thereof are commanded to audit, at the beginning of each +year, the accounts of the royal officials, and to finish them in +two months, with the additional amount, for expenses, of twenty-five +thousand maravedis for each auditor. In the time of the former royal +Audiencia this was done; and they named an accountant each year, +to whom they gave fifty thousand maravedis beside. Since that time, +what has happened is as follows: Governor Gomez Perez Dasmariñas, +at the beginning of the year ninety-five, without an order from +your Majesty, created an accountant-in-ordinary of accounts for this +purpose, with a salary of five hundred pesos, and a secretary with two +hundred and fifty pesos, for which they were to secure the approval +of your Majesty--which they have not done in the past. The accounts +were audited in two months--or at the most, in three. Accordingly it +is not necessary, for so small an account as we have here, to incur +a thousand pesos of expense each year to audit them. It could be done +for a hundred thousand maravedis, as was formerly done. Your Majesty +will command in this as is most fitting for the royal service. + +[_In the margin_: "Send this to the new governor, that he may examine +into and adjust the matter as appears best to him, and advise us of +what action he takes."] + +16 The office of secretary of the cabildo has been given by the +governors to whom they thought best. In this way they learn what +goes on in the cabildo, which is a great evil. It would be better to +have this sold; and accordingly, he who held it--being a proprietor, +and one who could not be removed during good behavior--would be free +to remain silent. + +[_In the margin_: "Let the governor and Audiencia investigate this."] + +17. The office of secretary of the registries has been held by the +secretaries of the governors. As a result of this, claims for justice +have been relinquished in several grievances of great importance, +to the loss both of the Chinese who come to trade here, and of the +citizens of the city. It would be well to sell this office, under +condition that he who buys it cannot be the secretary or in any wise +the servant of the governor at that time acting. As Rroque Espino de +Caceres, who is serving it at present, has begged for your Majesty's +confirmation, and is a person worthy of it, as appears from the +informations made in this royal Audiencia, in its opinion this favor +might be extended to him, as he seeks it, with the said condition, +and with that of a moderate price for the royal treasury. + +[_In the margin_: "Tell the new governor that it is not expedient that +this office should be held by a secretary or servant of the governor, +or a subordinate of the auditors and ministers of the Audiencia; +and that from worthy persons there he shall appoint three, in whom he +believes is found the necessary ability for this office, so that his +Majesty may select the one who may seem best to him. In the meantime +let him appoint as best he can, and without inconvenience."] + +18. In the island of Zubu there is a notary-public who bought the +office from your Majesty. The cabildo there have written to me that +there is need of still another, and that accordingly it might be +sold. Therefore, if your Majesty pleases, you might order another +notaryship sold in said island of Zubu. + +[_In the margin_: "Have the governor and Audiencia send an information +regarding this, and what offices have been sold in those islands, +at what price, and to what persons."] + +19. The city of Nueva Segovia, of the province of Cagayan, the chief +city of that bishopric, has no notary-public named by your Majesty, +but only one appointed by the governor, for the cases which there +arise. This is a great inconvenience, as wills and other writings +cannot be sworn to before him, from which results damage to the +citizens. It would be well, if your Majesty were so pleased, to sell +a notary-public's office there. + +20. The office of depositary-general of this city of Manila, on +account of the governors having appointed to it persons who were their +confidants, is embarrassed with some difficulties, which would cease if +the office were sold, and the royal treasury would be benefited. Your +Majesty will command whatever is most expedient for your royal service. + +[_In the margin_: "Let the governor and Audiencia inform us whether +it is well to sell the office, and who can be found for it; and, +in case that it is not well to sell it, what persons there are of +character, worth, and conscience which fit them to take the commission +for it. Let the royal officials also give information."] + +21. About four years ago the preaching of the bulls was commenced here, +and the governor appoint a treasurer for them; and it is also said that +there came a decree from your Majesty directing that the account be +audited every year by a royal official, and that the proceeds from them +be remitted. Thus far, no royal official has taken the said accounts; +and I have been informed that in sending the proceed thereof there +has not been much punctuality, and that the money has been employed in +uses and investments for certain private persons. For the correction +of all this, it would be well that from now on an auditor should +audit the said accounts of the said treasurer, and cause the balance +which is found to be placed in the royal treasury, charging it as +a separate account to the royal officials; then, in the first ships +which leave, it may be sent to Nueva España, invested in merchandise, +whereby it will be doubled, with no more risk than if it were taken +in coin. The latter is never taken because what has to be sent is +invested, and turned into money in Mexico, and amounts to twice as +much. The profit which can be made in this way might better be, for +so good a work as that for which the alms of the said bulls is applied. + +[_In the margin_: "Let a copy of this clause be given to Señor the +licentiate Valtodano, to be examined in the council for the crusade."] + +22. Since, even if your Majesty should be pleased to command everything +done as above, it will still be necessary to bring money from Mexico +for the costs, expenses, and salaries incurred in these islands; +and as it is not well that, in order to cover them, it should be +necessary for your Majesty to employ more property than they amount to, +it has seemed best to me to seek some other methods for this--which, +if they should appear expedient for the service of your Majesty, +and can be carried out with no scruples of conscience, will not only +render unnecessary the bringing of money from outside these islands, +but even will make it possible to aid other great expenses which your +Majesty has. The means which I have found are the following. Your +Majesty pays a stipend to all the citizens and inhabitants of the +fortified town which you hold in the island of Tidore, which is one +of the Malucas Islands. In order to make these payments, aid is sent +every year from Yndia by a galleon; and a quantity of cloth is brought +from the royal customs treasury at Goa. With this the said citizens +are all given their "quarters," as they call them. [5] This cloth is +disposed of among the natives, who trade provisions for it. + +It is a law of Yndia and of Maluco that no person can lade or take +away cloves from those islands in any manner, unless it be for your +Majesty, under penalty of loss of the ship and rigging; from which +the profit resulting to the royal exchequer amounts to a third of +what is laded, so great is the freight charge. Certain Portuguese +came to these islands in their own ships. They take away a quantity +of cloves and sell it to merchants, who in turn sell it to Chinese +and other persons, who secretly ship it to Nueva España--whence +it is taken to the provinces of Peru, the new realm of Granada, +Tierra Firme, Guatimala, and other regions. From this there result +three losses to the royal exchequer. In the first place, since the +cloves are carried from the Malucas by the hand of a third party, +your Majesty loses the third due on embarcation. In the second place, +it is laded here for Nueva España secretly, and without paying the +duties or freight charges. In the third place, when it has arrived +at Nueva España, Peru, and other regions, that which is brought from +the realms of Castilla loses its value. + +All this expense which your Majesty suffers in providing for that +fortress, and these losses, could be remedied as follows. Your Majesty +has in the island of Panay, one of these Filipinas, which borders on +the Malucas Islands, a number of tributary Indians who pay the larger +part of their tribute in cleaned rice. After their harvest they have +a great deal of rice wine, which is made in these islands, and these +are the provisions necessary for the Malucas. If, conformably to +what has been said, there were built on your Majesty's account two +patages in the island of Panay--such as are commonly built in the +said island by the encomenderos, to sell to the said Portuguese in +these islands, and which cost about five hundred pesos--two thousand +fanegas of cleaned rice, and six hundred jars [_tinajas_] of wine could +be loaded in them. The rice would be collected for your Majesty from +your royal tributes, at two reals and six maravedis. Each tinaja of +wine, with cask and all, is valued at four reals, on board. Likewise +two hundred pesos of fine Sangley earthenware is sufficient, which is +to be used as follows. These two patages must, while going to Maluco, +of necessity take water at the port of La Caldera, and the earthenware +is to be left in the Spanish camp which is there, so that with it they +may buy from the natives five hundred quintals of cinnamon, taking +care to dry it. In the meantime the two patages resume their voyage, +having left this earthenware, and continue with the rice and wine to +the fortress of the said Malucas. They will deliver to the warden there +half of it, to pay those expenses or quarters to the citizens. With +the other half they will buy four hundred _baxes_ of cloves, making +two thousand four hundred quintals, at six quintals to the bax; [6] +this would be brought on your Majesty's account to these islands. Then +they are obliged to go back to the said port of La Caldera, where they +will take on the cinnamon bought with the earthenware; and all will +be brought to the port of Cavite, to be embarked on the ships which +your Majesty sends on the voyage from here to Nueva España. When they +have arrived there, the royal officials at the port of Acapulco will +send a third of the said cloves and cinnamon to Mexico, and two-thirds +to Piru and its provinces. If sold at retail, it would be worth three +hundred pesos a quintal; going to private persons, in quantity, it is +usually worth two hundred pesos; consequently, in this way there would +be a great profit gained. I am ready to say that it would be worth +to your Majesty almost as much as all the income from the customs +of all Portuguese Yndia. For this purpose your Majesty will have +to keep a factor in the said island of Panay, to collect tributes, +despatch the ships to La Caldera and Maluco, and receive them there; +and to correspond with the royal officials in this city so that they +may embark all this spice for Nueva España, and with the factor who +must be at Acapulco, so that he may make the distribution. + +This transaction is so profitable that several of the governors who +have been in these islands have taken the trouble to send an armed +galley merely to make this purchase of cinnamon at the port of La +Caldera, until in the time of Doctor Santiago de Vera this trade +was abandoned. Being aware of the profit in it, Guido de Lavezaris +(who governed these islands on the death of the adelantado Miguel +Lopez de Legazpi) prohibited trading and trafficking in spices in +these islands for any person except the officials of your Majesty, +who were to receive, buy, and lade the spices for Mexico, all on the +account of your royal exchequer; this was done. In consequence of this, +he likewise forbade that any island or any province whatsoever where +there were cloves, cinnamon, or other spices should be assigned in +encomiendas. Accordingly, from that time on, the transportation of +spices by private persons to Nueva España was cut off. All this with +the lapse of time, and the interest of certain persons, has been +neglected, so that, it is understood, a great quantity of spice is +taken to Nueva España every year. + +23. The other expedient which occurs to me is that the income from silk +to the kingdom of Granada is registered as seventy-two millions, with +the condition that no twisted or loose silk can be taken to the Yndias, +which does not come from the said kingdom--although, indeed, to fill up +this quantity, there is sometimes added silk from the kingdom of Murcia +and Andalucia; but it passes through the custom-house of Granada, pays +its duties, and is sealed there. In order that there may be no fraud in +this, there is in Sevilla an administrator and a commissioned judge, +who is ordinarily one of the alcaldes of the criminal court of the +royal Audiencia. From the kingdom of China a quantity of crude silk +is brought in bundles to these islands, and is taken to Nueva España, +where it is woven into fabrics, and part of it is dyed. This silk +is usually worth in this city a hundred and fifty pesos, although at +present it sells at two hundred and forty pesos a pico. + +From the transportation of this silk the royal exchequer suffers +the following losses. In the first place, the silks brought from +Castilla, whether woven or loose, are worth less; and accordingly +the royal duties do not amount to so much. In the second place, +there are not so many silks brought as would come if these were +lacking. Although these pay duties, there is a loss in this, as +duties are not so great as those from Castilla pay. Crude silk is +neither necessary nor useful for ordinary maintenance or support; +and accordingly it seems best that your Majesty should, if such be +your pleasure, obviate these losses which are occurring, and obtain +satisfaction for them in some way and meet the great expenses which +you have here. Your Majesty should leave liberty, as you always have +done, for your vassals to trade in all merchandise with China in +all kinds of goods; but should have monopolized and forbidden this +trade in crude silk, commanding that no ship which comes from China +shall neglect to bring five picos of crude silk, which is a very +small quantity. They should be paid a reasonable price for it. In +this way there would be the profit which they make in bringing it +from China here, whence it is sent to Mexico; and, sold at retail, +there will be the profit on it of four hundred per cent. There come +usually from China to this city thirty ships and some years fifty, +so that the profit on this would be large; and there would remain to +the citizens of these islands a great deal of merchandise with which +to trade, without their missing these goods. There would be enough to +cover all the expenses, salaries, and other things which are necessary +in these islands, and must be paid from the royal treasury--which, with +all the money that is sent from Mexico, has not enough money to cover +all the very important expenses affecting the proper guard, protection, +and defense of these islands. This is all that occurs to me at present +to say concerning matters relating to the royal exchequer, for its +welfare. I shall continue always to watch for what is most fitting for +the royal service of your Majesty, and shall attempt to further it; +and such is always my desire. May God protect your Majesty many years, +with a greater increase of kingdoms and seigniories, according to the +needs of Christendom. In the city of Manila, which is in the island +of Luzon, the principal one of the Filipinas Islands. July 21, 1599. + +The licentiate _Hieronimo de Salazar y Salcedo_ + + + + +Sire: + +Since I have given to your Majesty an account of the affairs of +the administration of justice and of the royal exchequer of these +Philipinas Islands by two other letters which accompany this, I +will here discuss affairs of government. The thing which seems to me +most necessary to do for the good government of these islands--and +especially for correcting the great excesses which are wont to be +committed by some of the religious who have Indian missions in their +charge; and by the alcaldes-mayor, corregidors, deputies, and other +magistrates, and the encomenderos of Indian repartimientos--is that, +at least every two years, an auditor of the royal Audiencia of these +islands, commencing with the oldest of them, should make a visitation +over all the country in his jurisdiction, as is provided by the +ordinances thereof, and in the form which I wrote to your Majesty in +July of the past year, ninety-eight. Although the auditors oppose this, +it is to avoid the great labor, expense, and danger to health, by sea +and enemies, which they must undergo and pass through. Accordingly, +if your Majesty pleases, a reasonable allowance for their expenses +might be made, and soldiers given them to accompany and guard them, +with good vessels, at the expense of the royal exchequer, if the +cost should not be covered by the penalties inflicted during the +visitation. Your Majesty will be pleased to order in this what is +most expedient. + +[_In the margin_: "Write to the governor to have this visitation +carried out in the pacified country, and where there is no obstacle, +conformably to the ordinance. And have him see to it that they do +not send soldiers with the auditor, and that he does not take people +who would be oppressive to the Indians; and let him take care that +this visitation be effectual--for which purpose let him command to +be built, and furnished to the auditor, a vessel of suitable size, +to go outside of the island of Luzon, at his Majesty's expense. As +to the reimbursement which ought to be made beside what is conceded +to them by the ordinance, and the decrees of his Majesty, let him +inform us of his opinion." "Have sent a duplicate of the last decree +despatched in regard to this visitation."] + +The main object of your Majesty's royal decrees, provisions, and orders +given to your governors of these islands, is the prosperity of the +citizens thereof; for in that way they become established and settled +and the islands populated. The governors have not always attended +to this as they should, for they have regarded this, which is their +principal obligation, as accessory and dependent upon their private +interests in order that they may become rich with what the citizens +are to gain, as is already well known. And so little is the profit, +and so poor the subsistence, of those who live here, and so much is +their living interfered with by the governors, and the relatives and +dependents whom they bring with them, that, as a result, so little is +left for the citizens that they cannot in twenty years make the profit +and gain which is acquired in a few years by some of those whom the +said governors bring with them. This has often been experienced. For +the remedy of this I suggest the following things. + +The lading of the ships which go to Nueva España, the allotment of +space in them, and other matters touching this, should be conducted +according to, and after the manner directed by, clause five of the +letter which accompanies this, regarding matters which concern +the royal exchequer. No cloth should be laded except that which +goes according to the allotment; nor should the governor have any +authority therein, because, as the superintendents of lading are +persons appointed by him and in his confidence, with letters and +orders which he gives, much other cloth is laded after the allotment +is made. For the most part this belongs to persons who are underlings, +kinsmen, or creatures of the governor, and must necessarily occupy +space belonging to the cloth of the citizen, who is thus obliged to +give up his cargo. What I describe is the ordinary way that things go. + +[_In the margin_: "This is provided for in the same clause; and let +the governor be charged particularly with the remedy of this."] + +In the appointment of offices and means of gain, both of justice +and of war, and other offices in the country, the said governors +should observe what your Majesty has ordered in so many commands and +royal decrees--namely, that "they shall be given only to citizens; +and if he appoints to them his creatures or kinsmen, or those of +the auditors or fiscal, or of their wives, the royal Audiencia shall +check him without any reserve or hesitancy. The fiscal thereof shall +oppose him, and take all possible measures to this end." This should +be charged upon the consciences of all; and the government notary +should be ordered to put upon all commissions of offices of justice +or war, or of encomiendas of Indians, or of any other positions of +profit whatsoever, which are to be received, the reason therefor, +so that the said fiscal may know and understand whether there is any +objection to giving the said commission. If any such objection is made, +let it remain with the commission, and dispose of it by appealing +from the governor to the royal Audiencia, where the question will +be decided on examination and review. In the meantime the said title +shall not be assumed, for there are many people in these islands whom +we are bound to remunerate merely for their own services and those of +their fathers, because they are poor and needy, and what we have to +give is so little that, even if it were divided among the citizens, +many of them would have to remain unprovided for. + +[_In the margin_: "Tell the governor that in this matter he must +observe exactly what is ordered by decrees and provisions; and, +according to his instructions, shall prefer the most deserving and +those longest in the country."] + +By order of your Majesty, the viceroy of Nueva España appoints the +general, admiral, captains, masters, and other officers of the ships +which are despatched from here to that province with merchanise, at the +time when the said ships return thence. The persons so appointed bring +so large a quantity of money unregistered in the ships as, it may be +readily seen, they can do, with the power attached to their offices, +since they are the servants and underlings of the said viceroy; +accordingly, when they have arrived here they invest their money, +and lade the goods in the said ships, although they are prohibited +from doing so. This is another opportunity, almost equal to that of +the governors who come. That this may be used by the said citizens, it +would be fitting that the said general, admiral, masters, and officers +of the ships be appointed here, in the sessions of the Audiencia, by +vote of the president and auditors; and that those appointed should +be citizens of this city of Manila, or of some of the other towns of +these islands. The salaries which hitherto have been given to the said +general and admiral in Nueva España should be diminished. With the +little which is given here to those who are appointed, and from the +profits which they will make, there will result no little benefit; +since every year, in the ships which are to go, there would be five +or six men, and they would return with a profit large enough to +maintain themselves, and face the enemy. The ships would be better +administered and governed, by persons who understand that better, +through the continual practice which they have in these islands in +maritime and military affairs; for at times persons come in the said +offices who have no experience whatever in the one branch or the other, +which is ordinarily the cause of much loss. + +[_In the margin_: "Place the decree with the letters of the governor +and Audiencia."] + +The troops of war which are raised in Nueva España to be taken to +these islands would best be taken by the captains who levied them to +the port of Acapulco, one of the captains being commissioned for this, +with some moderate addition for expenses. In the said port they should +hand them over to the general of those ships, and the said captain +should not come to these islands. In this way would be obviated the +damage which is done by their bringing cargoes, and the cost of their +coming and returning, which are not necessary for so few troops as +come. When the troops arrive here they should be allotted among the +companies of infantry of this camp. + +[_In the margin_: "Conformably to this, let the viceroy be ordered +to do so."] + +There is great carelessness in appointing artillerymen for the said +ships, for a ship which carries one piece of artillery has had +six artillerymen appointed, whereas one ordinary gunner would be +sufficient. If your Majesty be pleased, it would be well to command +that for each piece of artillery no more than one artilleryman should +be appointed; because, besides their cost to the royal exchequer, they +are likewise a damage to this community, on account of the quantity +of money which they bring and carry back invested to Nueva España. + +[_In the margin_: "Have a letter written to the viceroy together with +this report, that, if this be so, it appears excessive, and he shall +correct it."] + +In the ships which come from Nueva España a great deal of money is +brought which is not registered. Beside not paying in Acapulco the +duties of two and a half per cent, which are due to your Majesty, +there results to this commonwealth a great deal of damage; for this +money belongs for the most part to merchants and citizens of Piru +and Mexico. Although in the sale which is made of the said ships, +when they arrive at the port of Cavite, investigation is made--as I +did this year, when I asked permission from the Audiencia to go to the +inspection of the ships which came--and although I went there, only a +very small quantity of this money was found, on account of the great +care which was taken to hide it. At times, it even belongs to the most +powerful people here; consequently those who are bringing it are very +bold, and it is necessary to inspect the vessels before they arrive +at the said port. It would be expedient for your Majesty to command +that the fiscal of the said Audiencia should always be present at +the making of this inspection, so that he can take all measures which +appear to him suitable for that purpose, and can make the inspection +before the ships arrive at the port, wherever he may wish. All the coin +or silver bullion which is seized for registry should be applied for +the royal treasury, some moderate portion being given to the person +who denounces the culprit, so that there may be persons to do this. + +[_In the margin_: "Write to the governor that it is understood that +this practice has become established, and let him try to prevent +and correct it. Let the fiscal accompany the royal officials +in the inspection of those ships, at the point which may appear +most convenient to them, and let all which is discovered without +registration, and contrary to the decree, be rigorously confiscated; +and let them give to the informer such part as may seem best to +the Audiencia."] + +At present nothing else occurs of which your Majesty should be advised +in matters concerning the government. I shall continually look out for +what is most expedient for it, and will advise you of what should be +done. May God protect your Majesty, according to His power, with a +larger increase of kingdoms and seigniories, according to the needs +of Christendom. Manila, July 21, 1599. + +The licentiate _Hieronimo de Salazar y Salzedo_ + +[_Endorsed:_ "Examined and answered."] + + + + + +Letter from the King of Borneo to Governor Tello + + +The contents of this letter, written this year, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, by the king of Burney to his Highness +Don Francisco Tello, knight of the Order of Santiago, governor and +captain-general of the Philipinas Islands for the king our sovereign, +and president of the royal Audiencia and Chancillería resident therein, +and translated by a good and exact interpreter, are as follows. + +Soltan Adil Lula: + +Letter of friendship sent by the king of Burney to Don Francisco Tello, +captain-general of the fortress of the city of Manila, because of the +information I have received that he governs that city exceedingly well, +not only for the service of God, but furnishing justice to the regions +about, with protection to the poor--whereat I have rejoiced greatly, +and all the nobles and natives of my kingdom have done the same. + +I received the letter that your Lordship sent me through Hernando, +Don Francisco Tael, and Don Joan Solit. It gave me much happiness, +for I understood thoroughly the message conveyed by it to me from +your Lordship. I am exceedingly rejoiced in heart and mind, for I +desire fast friendship with the captain-general of Manila. Therefore, +I request that, when my vassals go to Manila, you will give them +kind treatment; and I shall do the same when men from Manila come +to my country. This is in token of friendship, and if this is always +observed, I shall be very glad, and likewise if you will have pity on +the Burneys. I received two Burneys, whom the Spaniards had captured; +they arrived at my court. And, inasmuch as your Lordship orders me, +in your letter that I receive, to send any Sangleys that I might +have here to Manila, I am now sending two who were captured by the +Camutones; one is named Bonzhuan and the other Adali. I am sending +them to your Lordship as a token of lasting friendship with the +Burneys. Furthermore, I am sending five taes of camphor, of Burney +weight, and three large Burney mats. And that your Highness may not +jest at my present, know that I am sending you a [_word uncertain +in MS_.] + +The above translation was made by Constantino Xuarez and Miguel Yaat, a +native of Burney. They declared it to have been thoroughly and exactly +made, without any change of sense. They signed the same before me, +Estevan de Marquina, alcalde-mayor of Tondo and its district, for the +king our sovereign. July twenty-seven of the said year, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine. [7] + +_Estevan de Marquina_ + ++ + +_Constantyno Xuarez_ +[_Miguel Yaat_] + + +[_Endorsed_: "Original letter written by the king of Burney to Don +Francisco Tello, governor of the Phelippinas, translated from the +Burney tongue into Castilian."] + + + + +Letters from Francisco Tello to the King + + + +Sire: + +I have striven for your Majesty's service in this government to the +extent of my ability, and I have done my duty with much care and +diligence. I have punished certain individuals, as it seemed proper +to do; and hence it has resulted that I have rivals--as have all of +us who have governed, and are engaged in your Majesty's service in the +Indias. Although in all things I have always been favorable to Doctor +Morga--who was my lieutenant-general, and who is now auditor of this +royal Audiencia--I have been informed by many persons that he has +spoken ill of my proceedings, and has even opened the way for others +to write evil of me to your Majesty. I have never paid any attention +to this, since I felt that my actions proved my innocence; nor have I +ever thought it necessary to write to your Majesty about this matter, +although some things seemed to affect my honor; for, having been bred +in honor, I thought that in the end the truth must come to light, +and could not be obscured, [_MS. worn_] the royal service could not +be hindered here. [But now I feel] [8] myself compelled to speak of +this, because a letter was written [to] the auditor, Tellez Almacan, +in September of last year, which was a slanderous libel, without +signature; and I have another which was written this year, at the port, +to the auditor Don Antonio Maldonado, in the name of a friar. The +handwriting of it must be Doctor Morga's, although it is disguised, +[for so it was considered] by the auditor Almaçan, who is writing to +your Majesty about this, as also is the fiscal of this Audiencia. I +beg your Majesty to commission whomsoever your Majesty deems best, +to investigate this matter, for it is not just that this evil act be +passed by in silence. I assure your Majesty that I have seriously +tried, and am still trying, not to be offended by their insults in +this land; and that in the Audiencia, not only have I kept, and still +maintain, great harmony, but I am also trying to harmonize the auditors +and the fiscal; for now they are not in accord, and many [of them] +have disputes and all [come to me,] and I reconcile them. In order +that your Majesty may know the manner in which I have served you, and +my method of procedure in this government, and in order that it may +be seen that [_MS. worn_] whatever may have been reported, or shall +be reported, to your Majesty in another way, I have wished to make, +before this same Doctor Morga, the report that I am sending to your +Majesty, from the most honorable people of this land, in order that +you may understand better my zeal for your Majesty's royal service, +and the good of this realm. May our Lord preserve the Catholic person +of your Majesty, as is befitting. Manila, July 14, 99. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ + +[_Endorsed:_ "Governor Don Francisco Tello, July 14. Let this be +kept until that which is mentioned here arrives, and then let it +be presented."] + + + + +Sire: + +I wrote your Majesty by the ships sailing from here to Nueva +España this year, about the news I had from Malaca concerning the +English ships which had come to Sunda, and had made a settlement and +fortification there; and that I was awaiting a more detailed account +of the enemy's designs from the commandant of Malaca, and everything +else relating to the subject. [9] Advices have now come from the +commandant of Maluco that two English ships had arrived there, and had +formed an alliance with Terrenate, as your Majesty will be informed +in greater detail by the copies of his letters which I enclose, and +also those of the king of Tidore and the people of that stronghold, +requesting in strong terms that I send them aid. [10] + +I then called a council of war to consider the disposition of the +affairs of these islands, and what was to be done therefor--since +affairs are in the condition which I have described to your Majesty +in other letters. As there are but few and badly-armed troops, and so +few supplies with which we could send help, it was unanimously agreed +to give no aid whatever to Maluco, but to undertake the no small task +of preserving this land. Notwithstanding, I am thinking of sending +reenforcements of supplies, powder, ammunition, and other military +supplies such as can be given, also a dozen musketeers. As that land +belongs to your Majesty, it is but just that your Majesty's servants +and vassals should make all possible efforts to aid it. I assure +your Majesty that if you are not pleased to provide this realm with a +goodly number of well-armed troops and with money from Nueva España, +according to the demands made by him who shall be governor--who, since +this fort is placed in his keeping, can well be entrusted with twenty +thousand pesos more, in control of the officials of your Majesty's +royal exchequer--we may find ourselves hard pressed. I fulfil my +duty by giving account thereof to your Majesty, and by defending +this land as occasion may arise therefor. In whatever I find to do, +here or elsewhere, I shall strive to serve your Majesty well; but +if on account of my little strength, I should be somewhat remiss, +I beg your Majesty to understand that I could do no more. + +At the news of the English, it was urgently necessary to aid Cebu. But +as we did not have it to send, and the presidio of La Caldera, +[11] with its eighty Spanish soldiers (who go more than a legua by +water), [12] was in danger; and since the English and Terrenatans are +confederated, they may attack the fort, and if the water is cut off +from them the Spaniards are lost--I have resolved, with the approval +of the council of war, immediately to withdraw those troops with +their artillery; and that they, after burning their fort, shall go to +Cebu. When it shall appear to me that a favorable opportunity occurs, +they can return to La Caldera, from which, according to orders, it +is necessary that punishment be inflicted on the king of Jolo for +the crimes, and the murders of Spaniards committed in this land. + +I am writing to the viceroy of Nueva España the information I have +received of the hostile ships; I am asking for reenforcements, [13] +and that the ships which return next year must sail very cautiously, +as perchance the enemy might be awaiting them at the mouth of the +channel, or outside of it. Moreover, he should send the duties +and freight-charges that are paid at Acapulco from the Chinese +merchandise. Your Majesty has ordered that this money be returned to +us, but it has never been done. If it were sent to this royal treasury, +this kingdom would not suffer its present necessity and danger. + +For some time past I have exercised great care and diligence in the +founding of artillery, [14] and it is being more carefully done. Four +out of five medium-sized pieces, which were being founded, have +resulted well, and I am very well pleased. The said founding is being +continued by native Indians, and I have a quantity of metals for said +work in the royal warehouses of your Majesty. May God our Lord preserve +the royal Catholic person of your Majesty. Manila, August 7, 1599. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ + + + + + +Letters from Felipe III to Tello + + + +The King: To Don Francisco Tello, my governor and captain-general of +the Filipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia therein +established. Your letter of June 23 of last year, 98, has been +received. I understand by it that quiet and peace has been restored +in Mindanao, and that you were examining the papers brought by the +master-of-camp, to see whether any of the subdued people were to be +punished or not. Keep me informed of what you shall do in that respect. + +You speak also of other insurrections among the Canbales Indians in +Panpanga, who were already pacified; and of your intention of taking to +that city [Manila] an Indian who has been the chief of those people, +in order to remove him to a location where his presence would be less +dangerous. This is well; do what is needed and keep me informed of +the proceedings. + +We have considered what you say of your caution and forethought +concerning the fears which Japan is wont to cause; also your behavior, +friendship, and correspondence with certain chiefs of that country, +whom you have entertained. It is well to continue these efforts, +and to give us notice of what takes place. + +What you say about retiring two companies is commendable; nevertheless, +if you think best in the future to increase one of them, do so, and +make the necessary provisions. Keep me informed of the measures that +you shall take. + +I am writing to the viceroy of Nueva España, that I have assisted you +with what is necessary, and shall ask him to see that the people whom +he sends to those islands be useful and carry weapons. He shall take +care to punish the captains for their excesses. You shall do the same +in what concerns you. + +In regard to the needs of the soldiers, which you attribute to their +not having, and the impossibility of providing them with, encomiendas +for a long time; and as it concerns the temporary employments which +you give them instead of the servants, and even these employments +are not sufficient for all--you shall observe the instructions, laws, +and ordinances which you possess. You shall see that the distribution +of what is available be made among worthy men who have served in +that land. + +As to the remedy which you propose in the marriage of elderly women, +and encomenderas of the land, you shall introduce no innovation. But +you shall enable marriages freely to take their proper course. At +Denia, August 16, 1599. + +_I The King_ + +By order of the king our sovereign: + +_Juan de Ybarra_ + + + +The King: To my governor and captain-general of the Philippinas +Islands, and the president and auditors of my royal Audiencia +thereof. I have understood that the Chinese Indians who trade in that +country bring thither each year eight hundred thousand pesos' worth +of merchandise, and often more than a million; and that in the ten +days which they spend in that country they make more than a hundred +per cent, and that in the last year, ninety-eight, it was said that +they secured two hundred per cent. Since in their own country they +pay increased duties, and since so great profit comes to them from +the merchandise which they bring to those islands, while they pay me +no more than three per cent in duties, which is the amount formerly +imposed by Governor Don Gonzalo Ronquillo, it would be just that +they should pay the said duties proportionately to the profits; +and accordingly these might be increased by at least another three +per cent. As I wish to be informed more minutely concerning what is +expedient in this matter, and whether an increase of the said duties +would or could result in any inconvenience whatsoever, and for what +reason; and, in case that there is no objection, to what extent the +duty can be increased--I command you to send a report thereof, with +your opinion. Done at Denia, on the sixteenth of August, of the year +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine. + +_I The King_ + +Countersigned by _Juan de Ybarra_. + +Signed by the Council. + +I [the King:] to the archbishop of Manila. + +[_Endorsed:_ "To the governor and Audiencia of the Philippinas; let +them give information concerning the report that the duties can be +raised on the merchandise from China."] + + + + + +Documents of 1600 + + + + The pacification of Mindanao. [Unsigned and undated; 1600?] + Oliver van Noordt's attack on Luzón. Francisco Tello, and + others; October-December. + + + +_Source_: These documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo +general de Indias, Sevilla. + +_Translations_: The first document is translated by Robert W. Haight; +in the second, the commission to Morga is translated by James +A. Robertson; the instructions to him and to Alcega, by Jose M. and +Clara M. Asensio; the account of the battle, by Arthur B. Myrick, +of Harvard University, and James A. Robertson. + + + + +The Pacification of Mindanao + + +_Concerning the pacification of the island of Mindanao; in the +year 1600_ + +In the relation of the last year you will have learned how occurred +the death, in the pacification of the island of Mindanao, of Estevan +Rodriguez de Figueroa, who offered to carry out this pacification +under the conditions which he stipulated with Gomez Perez Dasmariñas, +formerly governor of these islands--copies of which were sent to +his Majesty, and to master-of-camp Juan de Lajara, formerly of +the said expedition, who succeeded to his place when the camp was +abandoned, and came to Manila. Don Francisco Tello, governor and +captain-general of the said Philipinas Islands, who at that time +had taken possession of the government was considering how to aid +and stimulate the said pacification at the expense of the heirs +of Estevan Rodriguez, and with the agreement of the captains and +persons who were long resident and experienced in war in the said +islands. Don Juan Ronquillo was appointed commander of the galleys, +to prosecute the said pacification; and in the meantime, in order to +be present and continue the expedition, Captain Torivio de Miranda +was sent forward to encourage and animate the troops, under orders +to keep them in his charge; and in case the post should be abandoned, +and a retreat made to Manila, he should detain the troops and return +to Mindanao. The said Captain Toribio de Miranda having arrived at +the island of La Caldera, which lies forty leagues from the river of +Mindanao, there found the whole camp, which was returning from the said +islands. Conformably to the orders which he had, he turned back and +fortified the site where they had first been, which was on the river, +four leagues from the forts of the enemy. Juan Ronquillo, having been +despatched to Mindanao, had taken the camp in his charge, and begun +to achieve some success. He achieved a victory in the battle which +he fought with the Terrenatans, who had entered with eight hundred +men to give aid to the people of Mindanao. Before these successes, +he had written a letter in disparagement of that country (a copy of +which was sent to his Majesty)--on account of which, in a council +of war which had been held, the general Don Juan Ronquillo had been +ordered to make a last effort against the Mindanaos, doing them all +possible damage. He was then to come to the island of La Caldera, and +there build a fort, to be garrisoned with a hundred Spanish soldiers, +with artillery, arms, and munitions; and leave them there as a check +upon Terrenate and Mindanao, in charge of a good soldier, one of the +captains of the camp, and with the rest return to Manila. Although +Don Juan Ronquillo received this order, after having won considerable +victories, he again wrote that he would not abandon that place, even if +such were the order, because it would not be expedient to retire from +the camp and comply with what had been ordered, when he was leaving +the island of Mindanao already pacified--the chiefs, with whom he +had used gentle means, that they might all be more contented, having +again rendered submission to his Majesty; and likewise as the king +of Jolo again rendered obedience and submission. Confiding in this, +Captain Cristoval Villagra, whom Don Juan Ronquillo had appointed +commander of the garrison of La Caldera, had sent thirty soldiers to +the island of Jolo for supplies. They found at this time in Jolo a +Mindanao chief--an uncle of the king of Mindanao, and a brother-in-law +of the king of Jolo--who had been driven out of Mindanao because he was +rebellious. He treacherously killed thirteen Spanish soldiers. When +news of this was brought, Juan Pacho was sent to take the troops of +La Caldera in charge; and, when it should seem best to him, to try to +inflict punishment on the king of Jolo. Having gone out to inflict the +said punishment with six hundred Spaniards, the enemy unfortunately +killed the said Juan Pacho and twenty-nine Spaniards, the rest of them +retiring without any success. This news having come to the governor, +he sent in place of Juan Pacho Captain Toribio de Miranda, a person +in whom he had entire confidence, with an order not to attempt any +punishment until he had force enough for it. After this Captain Toribio +de Miranda arrived at La Caldera on the twenty-sixth of August in +ninety-nine. When the garrison was given into his charge he put the +defensive works in order; and with the arms which he brought, and +those which he found in the fort, he armed all the troops, amounting +to a hundred and fourteen soldiers. As directed by an order of the +governor, he sent a chief of the Pintados to Mindanao with letters to +the chiefs of the island, in which he informed them that they would be +protected, favored, and upheld in justice, as vassals of his Majesty, +and that with this object a garrison had been placed in La Caldera; +and that to aid in maintaining it, and in covering the expenses +which they had caused in the war by their disobedience, the largest +possible quantity of tributes would be collected for his Majesty, and +that he would send for them shortly--which had not been done earlier +because the Mindanaos had been so spent and afflicted. Having arrived +on the second of September at the river of Mindanao, and delivered +his despatch, this chief was well received, and found the people +in the settled state in which General Don Juan Ronquillo had left +them. Adiamora, the main chief of Mindanao, in the name of them all, +sent him back on the fifteenth of the said month, offering to give +to his Majesty all the tribute which they could collect. + +At this time--news from the chief captain of Malaca having reached +the governor, to the effect that in the Sunda, [15] a hundred and +fifty leagues from that port, there had been seen a number of English +ships, whose designs were not known; and, a little later, word from +the commander of the fort of Maluco that there were at Terrenate, +within the port, two English ships with four hundred men and fifty +pieces of artillery--a council of war was held as to what was best to +do. The said council decided to withdraw the garrison from La Caldera +to Zibu, so that the enemy should not take that place; and, if they +should attempt to do damage to that province, they would find it in a +state of defense. Accordingly an order was sent to Captain Toribio de +Miranda to withdraw with the troops, arms, artillery, and munitions, +dismantling the fort; he was also told that he could return shortly +to the island with more troops and arms, in order to assist in its +defense. On the ninth of September Captain Toribio de Miranda arrived +at Zibu, with all the troops, artillery, arms, and munitions; and at +the same time General Don Juan Tello arrived at Zibu with a hundred +men, who came as reënforcement from the city of Manila. Having spent +six months there and commenced to build a fort of stone, the governor, +as they had no more news of the English referred to, sent an order to +the said Don Juan to come to the city of Manila--which he did with the +hundred men, leaving the province of Zibu in a prosperous condition, +with the troops which are usually kept there, and those of the garrison +of La Caldera, which in all amount to two hundred and fifty Spaniards. + +After all this, in June of 1600 the governor received news, by way +of Malaca, that the ships which had passed to the South Sea belonged +to Dutch merchants, who had come to load with spices in the Maluco +Islands. Having transacted their business, they had returned to their +own country by way of Yndia, without doing any damage to the islands +of the west; it therefore seems that we are safe, notwithstanding +the news received of those enemies. + + + + + +Oliver van Noordt's Attack on Luzon + + + +_Commission to Antonio de Morga_ + +In the city of Manila, on the thirty-first of October of the year +one thousand six hundred, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancillería of the Philipinas Islands having assembled, +the president announced to the said auditors that news had been +received that, on the sixteenth of the current month and year, two +foreign ships had anchored in the bay of Albay, outside the mouth +of the channel of these islands; whereupon he sent by land Captains +Pedro de Arceo, Cobarrubias, and Christoval de Axqueta with seventy +soldiers--arquebusiers and musketeers--to the place where said ships +were stationed, in order to make the defense and resistance that +occasion and opportunity might offer. He also ordered several ships +to be equipped and prepared at the port of Cavite, so that they could +attack the said vessels. At this juncture of affairs, it was now +reported that, on the twenty-fourth of the current month and year, +the said ships had weighed anchor, left the said bay of Albay, entered +the channel of Capul, and anchored at the island of Capul, where +they still were. The enemy's intention, according to the president, +is to advance upon this city. Accordingly, whatever may happen, +both in order to resist him, and to prevent among these islands the +possible effects to them and the vessels about to come from Castilla, +it is very advisable and necessary to go, with all haste, in pursuit +of said enemy, and to assure the safety of the vessels and the port +of Cavite. As has been gathered from recent discussions held in the +presence of the said president and auditors, with certain captains and +men of experience, it is necessary to equip the deep-draught vessels +quickly, and what light vessels can be prepared, so that they may +attack the enemy. Now in order that the aforesaid preparations may +be effected and executed with all diligence and precision by all, it +is advisable for the said president and auditors--the latter acting +jointly with the said president--to attend personally to this matter, +on account of its importance; for thus will the despatch be effected +more quickly, and with the necessary equipment. The president requested +that, attentive to the aforesaid, they decide and determine the +course advisable to pursue in this matter. After having considered +the above proposition, the said president and auditors resolved +that Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor of this Audiencia, should go +immediately to the port of Cavite and take charge of the despatch +and preparation of the vessels about to go to attack the said enemy, +and to place the said port in a state of defense. For this purpose +he shall request the necessary means, which shall be given him as +may be provided and ordained. The licentiate Tellez Almazan, also +an auditor of this Audiencia, shall remain in this city to attend to +what is necessary for its defense, and for the provision of the said +port of Cavite. The president declares that the commandant at either +place shall also assist and aid in such work as may be necessary, and +as occasion may demand, so that by this means all possible diligence, +together with the requisite haste, may be observed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado de Esquivel_ + +In the city of Manila, on the thirteenth of January in the year +one thousand six hundred and one, I, Pedro Hurtado de Esquivel, +clerk of court for the king our sovereign, in his royal Audiencia and +Chancillería of these Philipinas Islands, at the request and order of +Doctor Antonio de Morga, of the council of the king our sovereign, +and his auditor in this said royal Audiencia, had this copy drawn +from its original, which is in the book of the government of his +royal Audiencia. It is a true and faithful copy, and agrees with the +original thereof, witnesses to its copying, correction, and comparison, +being Pedro Muñoz de Herrera, Joan de Arana, and Miguel de Talledo, +citizens of Manila. + +In testimony thereof, I affix my seal, in witness of the truth. + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquivel_, clerk of court. + +[_Endorsed_: "Testimony of the resolution of the Audiencia of the +Filipinas in respect to the entrance of the Dutch corsair among +the islands."] + +_Instructions given by the governor to Doctor Antonio de Morga_ + +The course of action to be pursued by Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor +of the royal Audiencia of these Filipinas Islands, and captain-general +of the fleet about to go in pursuit of the English [_sic_] enemy, +is as follows. + +First: Inasmuch as news has been received that the English enemy, +against whom this expedition is directed, is stationed in the harbor of +Marayuma, and inasmuch as he might take flight without awaiting attack, +should he, by any chance, hear of our fleet, it is ordered that our +fleet, with the least possible delay, shall start in pursuit of the +enemy, in order to engage and fight him, until, with our Lord's help, +he is killed or sunk. + +_Item_: The engagement with the enemy must be conducted with +all diligence and care, whether in firing or in boarding his +ships--whichever may be possible, in accordance with the best and +readiest opportunity permitted by the weather. Should the enemy take +flight on sighting our fleet, he must be pursued, until the object +sought is accomplished. + +_Item_: Should the enemy have left this coast when the fleet is +despatched against him, and should information be received that he +has gone to any other of these islands, then the fleet shall seek and +pursue him, until he is captured or sunk. Should the enemy have left +these islands, he shall be pursued as far as possible, in accordance +with his [Morga's] judgment, in order that the end desired may be +attained. + +_Item_: Inasmuch as the master-of-camp and the captains present at a +council of war, held on the second of this current month and year, +declared that, in their opinion, if no exact information as to the +course and route taken by the enemy should be received, said fleet +should follow the coast of Ilocos toward the strait of Zincapura, where +it is thought the enemy must pass, in order to make his voyage. Yet, +notwithstanding the said council of war, the said general, in the event +of receiving no information as to the enemy's course, shall pursue what +course he considers most advisable, as he is the one in direct charge +of the matter, and as weather and occasion allow, endeavoring to attain +the end desired--namely, the pursuit and destruction of the enemy. + +_Item_: Should the fleet encounter any enemies whatsoever, pirates +or others, who may be among the islands, or who shall have left +them after committing depredations among them--whether English or +Japanese, Terrenatans or Mindanaos, or from any other nation--they +must be attacked and punished, in order that some good result may be +attained in this case also, should opportunity arise. + +_Item_: After the capture of the enemy, as it is hoped, God our Lord +willing, the fleet will return with as many of the enemy as are still +living, and the captured ships. + +_Item_: The booty found in said ships shall be divided among those +who gain the victory, as is customary on similar occasions. + +_Item_: The greatest care must be taken that the crews of the fleet +are peaceable and well disciplined, in regard to which the regulations +followed on similar occasions shall be applied. + +_Item_: Good management must be exercised in regard to the supplies +and ammunition carried; and they must be consumed sparingly, especially +if the fleet leaves these islands. + +_Item_: If perchance the fleet shall have engaged the enemy, or +pursued him outside these islands, it must return to the islands as +soon as possible after the desired end has been attained. Should +the weather not permit the return voyage until the coming of the +monsoon, then he [Morga] shall endeavor to preserve, provide, and +equip the fleet with all needful things, at his Majesty's expense, +in order that his voyage may be made with the greatest promptness +and security possible. Given in the city of Manila, on the tenth of +December, one thousand six hundred. [16] + +_Don Francisco Tello_ + +By order of the governor and captain-general, + +_Gaspar de Azevo_ + + + +_Instructions given by Doctor Antonio de Morga to Captain Joan +de Alcega_ + +The order to be pursued by Captain Joan de Alcega, admiral of this +fleet of the king our sovereign, in the course of this voyage and +expedition, is as follows. + +[1.] First: Inasmuch as the end for which this fleet has been prepared +is for the search and pursuit of the English [_sic_] ships, which +have come but lately among these islands, and, as we are informed, +are near this place; and as in conformity with the instructions of the +governor and captain-general of these islands, the said enemy must +be pursued and followed with all care and diligence wherever found, +and must be engaged, and captured or sunk: therefore it is necessary +that the said almiranta [17] proceed very cautiously, and be ready +with sailors, soldiers, and artillery, in order, on their part, +to accomplish the said purpose, when opportunity offers. + +[2.] Further, the said almiranta shall follow the flagship to leeward, +unless it be rendered necessary for progress, or because of the +enemy, to beat to windward. It shall have a care that the other +smaller vessels of the fleet do not fall behind or deviate from the +course--this to be without prejudice to their navigation and voyage, +and their accompanying the flagship, which is the most important thing. + +[3.] _Item_: Should opportunity be offered to engage the enemy, +the almiranta shall endeavor to engage him at the same moment as +the flagship or alone, in case that flagship is to leeward, or so +situated that it cannot do the same so quickly; for the flagship will +endeavor to come to its aid in whatever happens, with all haste and +speed possible. + +4. _Item_: Upon overtaking the two ships of the enemy, efforts shall +be made to grapple and board their flagship, where their force is +carried. This same effort shall be made by the flagship of this fleet; +but in case the flagship of the enemy cannot be overtaken, and their +almiranta is in such a condition that something may be done with it, +it shall be attempted. + +5. _Item_: Should our fleet attack the enemy and grapple, both +ships--the almiranta and the flagship--shall endeavor to grapple on the +same side. But if that cannot be done, care shall be taken that our +artillery and arquebuses are not turned on our own ships and men. In +this the greatest possible care and precaution shall be observed. + +6. _Item_: Upon grappling the enemy, efforts shall be made to make +him fast to our ship and to lower his sails, so that he may not +become separated from us. Before boarding with troops, the nettings +and deck of the enemy shall be rendered safe by clearing and raking +them, in order that there may be as little risk as possible to our men. + +7. In the course of this voyage in pursuit of the enemy, not a musket +or arquebus shall be fired, nor a powder-box touched, until after +his discovery. Neither shall any artillery be fired, for an effort +must be made to find the enemy at anchor, and to see that he have no +knowledge of the fleet that is pursuing him. + +8. Should the almiranta be in any urgent need that requires aid, +a shot shall be fired in the direction of the flagship, as a signal +for help. The same will be done by the flagship in case it encounters +a like necessity. + +9. _Item_: Should the flagship display a flag in the shrouds, it will +be a signal-call for a council of war, or other matters of importance, +for which the admiral shall come to the flagship in whatever boat +may be most convenient. + +10. _Item_: One of the two caracoas that accompany the fleet shall +keep as close to the almiranta as possible, in order to act as tender +to it and supply its necessities. + +11. _Item_: The greatest possible care and caution shall be taken +in the use of the ammunition and supplies, in order that this voyage +may be prolonged. + +12. _Item_: All these vessels must endeavor to keep together. But if +one of the vessels should become separated from the others, by storm +or by any other necessity, no direction for the exact route to be +followed is given, as the design or course of the enemy is unknown. It +is observed only that all the vessels are under obligation to seek for +and pursue the enemy until they shall drive him, if nothing more shall +be possible, from these islands, and leave the islands safe and free +from the said enemy. But the best thing for the ship to do that becomes +separated, as said above, will be to find out the course taken by the +enemy, and to pursue that same course until it shall rejoin the fleet. + +13. _Item_: Inasmuch as the governor and captain-general of these +islands has given Captain Joan Tello y Aguirre, who is aboard the +said almiranta, command as captain of infantry of what men I may +assign him, I do hereby assign to him the infantry troops aboard said +ship for the time that said expedition shall endure and last. The +said admiral shall deliver these men to said Captain Joan Tello y +Aguirre, in order that, as their captain, he may have charge of them, +and punish and discipline them. + +All the above plan must be kept and observed now and henceforth +throughout the course of this voyage. I give these instructions +to the said admiral and other persons whom they may concern, in +conformity with the command that I hold from the said governor and +captain-general of these islands. In testimony thereof, I affixed my +signature aboard the flagship, off the island of Mariveles, Wednesday, +December thirteen, one thousand six hundred. [18] + +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ + + + + + +_Account of the battle between Morga and Van Noordt_ + + +The license and daring of these heretical enemies of our holy +religion and faith are so well known to all, that no one can relate +satisfactorily the misfortunes that they have brought upon us, +the destructions and deaths that they have caused among us, and the +rich booty that they have carried away--which God in His righteous +judgment permitted. As they behold themselves so favored by fortune, +their greed is increasing continually, and they are continuing to +prosecute their designs, as was the case when Francisco Draque [19] +passed the Strait of Magellan and coasted along Chile and Piru, where +he seized the vessel "San Joan" of Anzona, with a large consignment +of silver, in the year 1579. Again in the year 1587, they passed the +straits under the English general Don Tomas Canbler. [20] Within sight +of the Californias they seized and sacked the vessel "Sanctana," which +was sailing from these islands to Nueva España with a large cargo of +silk and gold. Having easily made this seizure, they returned home, +displaying innumerable banners, streamers, and pennons; and it is +even affirmed that their sails were of damask. Their countrymen, +upon seeing them return so rich and prosperous in so short a time, +were so enthusiastic as to launch a similar undertaking. Among those +who resolved to make a voyage to these parts was Oliver Daudtnord [21] +a native of Nostradama [Amsterdam], one of the islands of Olanda and +Xelanda [Holland and Zeeland]. Being persuaded and informed by the +boatswain who sailed on the vessel that seized the ship "Sanctana"--to +whom he gave title as captain and chief pilot--and being attracted +to privateering, he asked permission of Mauricio, count of Nasao, +and prince of Orange, [22] in whose dominions the above islands are +located, to equip four ships. He received permission, whereupon he +collected as many men and as much of supplies and artillery as he +deemed necessary. He placed forty of the total of two hundred and +sixty men aboard two of the ships, which sailed from the port of +Nostradama--while the other two sailed from the port of Rrotadama +[Rotterdam]--on the eleventh or twelfth of August, in the year +1598. They laid their course toward the straits of Magellanes; and +while skirting the coast of Brasil, the Portuguese there hoisted a +flag of peace. This being seen by the English and Irish, twelve of +them went ashore in the shallop, where the Portuguese, who numbered +perhaps ten or twelve, received them with pleasant countenances, and +invited them to dine. But while at dinner the Portuguese murdered all +the Irishmen, among them the chief pilot, upon whom the others relied +because of his familiarity with the said course and voyage. Thereupon +the enemy, furious at the manner in which they had been treated, +landed forty or fifty arquebusiers in order to avenge the injury that +they had received. The Portuguese, in anticipation of this, intrenched +themselves very strongly, so that the enemy was unable to enter their +fort, but was, on the contrary, forced to retire to his boats with a +loss of six men. They set sail and laid their course for the strait +[of Magellan], where they arrived a year and seven months from the +time when they sailed from their own country. When they arrived +there they encountered many storms and head-winds, and sickness +to such an extent that they were obliged to transfer the men still +remaining on one ship to the other three. Then they sunk this vessel, +and with the three vessels pursued their course, followed continually +by storms which never left them. They sighted a vessel, which upon +investigation turned out to be English. By it they were informed +that another squadron of four vessels had sailed from Yngalaterra +[England], and that this vessel, being unable to carry so much sail +as the others, had been left to its fate, and knew naught more of +the others. The Dutch ships continued their course and sailed ahead, +so that within a few days they lost sight of this vessel. They passed +through the strait, where they lost four or five months. After this it +happened that the general fell out with his admiral, whom he charged +with negligence of his orders. The admiral was tried, the charges +sustained, and traitorous misdeeds proved against him; therefore +he was abandoned on a desert island near the coast of Chile. [23] +Then the general appointed as admiral one of the most valiant and +experienced soldiers of his band. He reached the coast of Chile, +where he made a few captures, although of no especial importance. The +first was a fragata, [24] which was seized near the island of Sancta +Maria Domingo de Rramos in the year 1600. They were informed by this +vessel that two ships had gone to Arica for the king's silver; but +they were warned that there were war-vessels at Callao. This fragata, +they say, was carrying three consignments of gold; but our men, upon +seeing that they were lost, threw it overboard. The enemy seized the +pilot, who was a Portuguese, and took the fragata along with them, +together with two negroes who were aboard of her. The latter told +them that the pilot had had all the gold thrown overboard, whereupon +they ordered the pilot to be cast into the sea alive. They captured +at Santiago on the same coast another vessel laden with tallow and +Cordovan leather [morocco]. Considering that it was worth little to +them, they burned it, and its crew escaped by swimming, except a few +Spaniards and natives who perished in the water. The enemy seeing +that they were acquiring small profit in that neighborhood, decided +to go up along the coast of Nueva España, and wait at the entrance of +the Californias for the annual vessels from these islands--the very +purpose and object for which they had resolved upon their navigation, +as is evident from the aforesaid. However they abandoned that purpose, +upon being told by the negroes whom they had brought with them that +Don Luis de Velazco, viceroy of Piru, had left Lima in person for +the port of Callao to superintend the preparation of a large fleet, +as he had been informed that pirates had passed and were along the +coast. The enemy, fearful of this, and recalling the fact that, +five years previously, Arricharse de Aquines, [25] an Englishman, +was defeated and captured by our men, after the greater part of his +force was killed, decided to abandon their voyage to the Californias, +and to head for these islands, with the intention of awaiting at the +Ladrones the shipments of silver from Nueva España to Manila. With +the said intent, they put to sea, but after sailing for several days, +they encountered a storm, which brought them all nearly to the verge +of destruction. One very dark and stormy night they lost sight of +the almiranta, and never saw it again. Seeing himself without this +vessel, the general chose as almiranta the fly-boat which he had +remaining. This was a vessel of perhaps fifty toneladas burden, called +"La Concordia," under command of a captain called Esias Delende. Then +they resumed their course, with the same intention of capturing our +silver, but, if unable to do more, to proceed to Maluco to barter for +cloves, for which purpose they carried mirrors, knives, basins, and +other small wares. They reached the Ladrones Islands--our Lord thus +permitting--four or five days after our vessels had passed. They +were detained there for several days, where, upon seeing their +plans frustrated, they burned the fragata that they had brought +from Piru. Thereupon they set sail and made the principal channel +of these islands, eighty or ninety leguas from this city of Manila, +where they stopped--either for iron, or, as our people here said, +because of a need of provisions; or, as I believe, and as they +themselves asserted, purposely. In short, instead of going by way of +Capul, the right and necessary path for the voyage they were making, +they entered a small bay called Albay, on the Camarines coast, where +they anchored as if they were in their own harbors, and with as little +fear and mistrust, as was clearly seen later on. They were hospitably +received in this district, for our people supplied them with abundance +of rice, with which to satisfy their need. They paid well for it, +in order to relieve their necessity--they could not, had they wished, +pay for more--for the purpose of assuring the natives that they had +not come to harm them. They told the natives that they were vassals +of the king Don Phelipe, our sovereign, in whose service and by whose +permission they were coming. As is proved by those selfsame papers, +the general showed the natives some counterfeit decrees, with which +they ought to be satisfied. A messenger was sent to Manila to give +information of the vessels that had arrived there. The news reached +here on the nineteenth of October, when Captain Xiron reported that he +was in the Camarines, and that he had boarded the general's ship, which +was coming well-supplied with munitions, arms, and artillery. He gave +information also concerning the number of men who, in his opinion, +were carried by the two vessels--about ninety men, of whom some +were sick; and of his dealings with them, and that they claimed to +be vassals of the king our sovereign. As soon as news of the enemy +reached this city, Don Francisco Tello, governor of these islands, +sent soldiers as scouts along the Camarines coast, with orders to +hide all the provisions, as he was unaware of the generous supply +that the enemy had. It is quite true, as the English themselves said, +that they could have had as much as they wanted, by paying for it. + +Captain Pedro de Arseo and Captain Christobal de Arseo Etaminchaca, +both of the infantry, were also ordered to go with a command of men +along the coast to form ambushes, should the enemy land. But this +was all to no purpose, for the enemy, in little more than a month, +came out of the bay and sailed away on one course or another--which +seemed quite impossible to the people here, because they were confident +that the enemy could not get out of the bay in which they lay. But it +finally turned out quite to the contrary; for, as I say, they departed +and laid their course to Capul, until they cast anchor in a harbor, +where they are said to have cleaned the ships and sent men ashore to +burn a small native village. One of the English was left behind there +among the Indians, who seized and brought him to this city. They took +his deposition, in which he told some of the things related above. + +Toward the last of November, one of the negroes, named Salvador, +who had escaped by swimming one night near Capul, arrived here. He +reported that the enemy were directing their course toward Maluco, +and that meanwhile they were trying to discover if there were any +plunder among these islands. He said that the capture of the enemy +would be greatly facilitated by attacking them with a fleet; and +his advice was not bad. All this time the enemy were coming nearer, +until they anchored in the port of El Frayle, near Mariveles, where +they lay very much at ease and without any fear, watching for the +vessels coming to this city. They captured a fragata, which they +sank. They took a quantity of flour from a Japanese vessel that was +on its way here. In order to quiet the Japanese, they gave them a +sword, and a few trinkets of no particular value. They captured a +Chinese champan, by which they were informed that the Chinese vessels +would arrive within a few months, laden with silks and merchandise of +great value. This news pleased the enemy so highly that they did not +propose to leave until they should seize some of the Chinese. From +this place they wrote a letter to Don Francisco Tello, in which they +declared that the Indians there had stolen a number of fowls from +them, that his Lordship should order the Indians to make them good, +and that they were coming to pay their respects to him. It may be +seen by this how little they feared the governor. + +While these things were taking place, the governor had three ships +fitted out--one from the city of Cebu, to act as flagship; another, +a galizabra, still in the shipyard--which was launched a few days +before the departure--called "San Bartolome," to act as almiranta; and +a Portuguese patache [26] which had come from Malaca--with artillery, +men, and munitions sufficient to overbalance the greater strength of +the enemy. Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor of this royal Audiencia, +was appointed captain-general of this fleet, an appointment which +highly displeased the old captains, because in their opinion they +should have been considered. They thought it unjust that the auditors +should take part in the affair, especially because it left only +one auditor in the Audiencia. In the end, however, neither these +nor other reasons sufficed to prevent his appointment. The general +appointed as admiral Captain Joan de Alzega, a very courageous soldier, +of considerable reputation and credit, a Biscayan by birth. Many noble +and wealthy people assisted in serving his Majesty in this expedition, +in all about three hundred men, counting the paid soldiers, the seamen, +and others. They embarked very gallantly, with the resolution and +intention of attempting not only that undertaking, but another of +greater weight and difficulty. + +The general was impatient for the fleet to depart, and accordingly set +sail on Tuesday, the twelfth of December. The flagship and almiranta +left, without waiting for the Portuguese vessel, or allotting it +sufficient crew or munitions, taking advantage of a tide which was +discovered at the time of their departure, which was favorable to +them. Accordingly they began their voyage. As they left the bay, +beyond the river of Canas, three leguas from the harbor, the shallop +which was carried on the stern of the almiranta went to the bottom, +and drowned two seamen who were in it. They continued their voyage, +and that night cast anchor at Mariveles, where they lay the rest of +the night. In the morning they were informed by the alferez Albarran, +who was stationed on that island as sentinel, that the enemy were +anchored at Azebu, five or six leagues from there. Upon receiving +this news, on that same day (St. Lucy's) our men began to spread the +_pavesades_, [27] and ballasted the flagship a trifle more. They were +all in the highest of spirits, and so eager were they to come to close +quarters with the enemy, that every hour's delay seemed a hundred +years to them. At midnight, or a little later, on St. Lucy's day, +the flagship weighed anchor without notifying its almiranta. The +latter, seeing the flagship make sail, followed. Without waiting +for the small Portuguese vessel, they followed the course of the +enemy, and at dawn the next day, which was the fourteenth of the +said month, they discovered them. They investigated and ascertained +beyond all doubt that it was the enemy. Their only fear was lest the +latter might escape from them. Our men thought that if but once the +enemy were grappled, they could overcome ten vessels. However, in a +little while they were made to see the difference between fighting +in imagination and actually using their hands in real earnest. In +short, as above stated, our flagship was leading the advance; and +when the enemy saw it, he ordered his almiranta to weigh anchor and +reconnoiter. The order was obeyed, and although the almiranta put out +to sea but a little distance, it recognized them as armed vessels, +which was reported to the general. The latter ordered the almiranta to +keep a sharp lookout and to run close-hauled; and, if it was apparent +that the two vessels were approaching to attack them, to return to +his assistance. But his intent was to see if he could not in any way +separate their force, because he said that, ship for ship, his force +was the abler. Since our flagship was drawing nearer and outstripping +the almiranta, it was overtaking the enemy, who put to sea with his +flagship and waited close-hauled. He fired a shot, which carried +away part of the tops and the main halyard on our flagship. Ours +returned the fire, but struck the water. When they almost touched +our ship, the enemy fired another shot, which destroyed a pump and +killed two or three Indians. Thereupon our men crowded on all sail, +and attacked with the greatest determination that was ever seen--for, +as they say, they were going with all sails set. Our ship grappled with +its opponent, so that our men could board easily. With the vessels in +this condition, shots were fired on both sides. About twelve of our +men leaped aboard the enemy's ship. The enemy retreated to the bow, +where they intrenched themselves, and made loopholes, through which +they fired their muskets--although, being fearful lest our almiranta +should come up to grapple with them, they did but little damage, +before they were compelled to strike their own colors and hoist +ours in their place. At this moment our almiranta came up with the +intention of boarding on the other side. Thereupon our men who were +aboard the enemy's ship cried out: "Victory! victory! for the king +of España! Pass on ahead! Do not fire and kill us, for the ship has +surrendered already." However, the admiral, Joan de Alezega, caused two +pieces to be fired and a discharge of his musketry and arquebuses upon +the enemy. It is understood that with one piece of this broadside, +he did the enemy considerable injury, as was proved. As soon as +the admiral understood that our men were advising him to pass on, +and that the enemy's almiranta was fleeing under a press of canvas, +he bore away in pursuit of it. + +The enemy's flagship, seeing that our almiranta had departed, began +to serve their artillery more rapidly, and their musketry from the +bow, so that they inflicted considerable loss upon those of our men +who boarded their ship with only shields on their arms, and their +swords. In this way they would have defeated the enemy if they +had attacked with fifty men in a body. Instead of taking such good +counsel, they boarded in parties of threes, while the enemy continued +to wound and kill them. Even this lack of system and concord did not +stop here, but it is understood that the enemy pierced our flagship +with a ball at the water-line. Our men, flushed with the exultation +of the victory they had won at first, and confused by much shouting, +did not hasten to repair the damage; for they were people who did +not like to be ordered, and their general could do nothing with them, +as they were all captains and men of distinction. On account of this, +and as the ship was so occupied by the sailors' berths, they could not, +or did not, notice the shot which our ship received. When they did +perceive it by the rising of the water to the second deck, they all +became frightened; and, instead of boarding the enemy's ship, with +the thought that if they were losing a ship, they were gaining one, +they began to devise means of escape. Accordingly some leaped into +the enemy's small boat without orders from the general, whereby a few +escaped, while others had recourse to our own small boat. Thus eight or +ten of them contrived to escape, without waiting for anything else. A +little before this, they addressed the general, Antonio de Morga, +saying: "Escape, your Grace, for the ship is sinking." He answered +that it was not suitable to his reputation to leave his ship and not +die with all the others, from which answer it was understood that, +in case the ship went down, he was confident of his own strength and +dexterity. The rest of our men--it may be seen what sort of men they +were--seeing that the vessel was settling little by little, and that +the enemy did not cease to serve their guns, huddled together in fright +as they saw their ship filling with water--a state of affairs which +would make others undertake not only the exploit of boarding the ship +and mastering it, but even more difficult enterprises. In short, by the +just judgments of God, which our sinful countrymen so well deserved, +He disturbed their minds and deserted them, so that they would make no +effort, excepting a few--of whom I shall make particular mention below, +because they deserve it. There was one who, in order that he might +take them with him, ordered a gold chain and other jewels brought +to him. Seeing things in this condition and the danger so evident, +a father of the Society, by name Father Santiago, took a crucifix +in his hands, and commenced to call out to the Christian Spaniards: +"Where is that courage of yours? See, this is the cause of God! Die, +die like good soldiers of Jesus Christ! If you do not care to be food +for fishes, consider that the lesser of the two evils which threaten +us is to board that ship of the enemy, for if we are losing one ship, +we are gaining another." After this exhortation, several men hastened +to board their enemy's ship. Those who did not do it were prevented +by two reasons: first, because they saw a fire breaking out on the +enemy's ship, caused by some charges of powder which they set off +purposely to terrify our men, and make them believe that they were +about to blow up the ship; the second, because our pilot told them +that, although the ship was so full of water up to the second deck, +all hands could be saved even if the ship were lost, as the distance +from there to the island of Fortuna was little more than one-half +legua, and, if they would cast loose from the enemy and crowd on sail, +their purpose would be just as well effected. The idea of escaping with +their lives seemed very attractive to all, and accordingly this plan +was immediately put into execution. They began to cut the cables and +to cast loose from the enemy. In a few moments our ship started off +in such a way that they saw the dead bodies of drowned men floating +about between decks. The general, upon seeing this, began to strip +off his clothing, at the persuasion of a private servant of his named +Josepe Denaveda, who gave him a mattress of [_MS. worn_] on which the +two naked men threw themselves into the sea. Many others did likewise, +though only a few reached shore. Our ship gave a lurch and foundered, +carrying down with it all those whom fear of their inability to swim +prevented from taking to the water--some of whom were armed--so that +the majority of the men were carried down with the ship. Many who were +very good swimmers were dragged to the bottom by the force of the +suction. All our men who were still on the surface tried by all the +means in their power to save their lives. It was the unhappy fate of +some of them to reach the enemy's ship itself where those heretics +hastened to receive them with pikes, and speared them with great +cruelty. Among those they wounded Captain Gomez de Molina with a lance; +however he continued to swim thus wounded, until he reached the shore, +where he died from loss of blood, at the water's edge. In this way +many died, and those who escaped took shelter on the island of Fortuna, +eighteen leguas from the city, until some vessels might pass by. + +At this moment the small Portuguese ship, seeing the outcome, laid +its course to Malaca, because it had arrived only at that moment. Our +ship had grappled with the enemy for six hours, from eight in the +morning until two in the afternoon, when the former foundered. + +Admiral Joan de Alcaga, who was chasing the enemy's almiranta, overtook +it, and after he had fired two or three volleys of his artillery, +musketry, and arquebuses, he grappled it on its stern-quarter on the +starboard side. Our men immediately boarded the enemy, the said admiral +being among the first. The enemy defended themselves well, serving +their artillery and thrice setting a fire purposely with some powder +cartridges, but our men hastened to put out the fire with buckets +of water. The enemy seeing the strength of their assailants and how +unfortunately the action was turning out, because the best of them +were killed, honorably surrendered. Admiral Joan de Alcaga agreed, +and so they were captured with nineteen men alive. On our side only +one man was killed by a gun-shot, one Joan Baptista de Mondragon, +a nephew of the precentor in the cathedral at Manila. Another from +the Canarias was drowned while trying to jump from one ship to the +other. Some were seriously wounded; the captain and master of our +almiranta, Joan Lopez de Serra, was shot through the thigh, and a +certain Calderon was shot through one side of his shoulder and part +of his arm. There were others wounded, but none seriously. Some booty +was found on the vessel, two pipes of oil and two of wine, a number +of basins, candlesticks, and brass mortars, iron in plates and bars, +and some other small wares of little value. They captured twelve pieces +of artillery--eight heavy and excellent pieces of cast iron, and four +small ones. Among other things captured, was found a small iron coffer +which was kept in the after-cabin, and in which the admiral carried the +papers and commissions which the prince of Orange had given him when +he appointed him captain of that ship. One was in his own tongue and +the other in ours, which is the one copied at the end of this relation. + +One or two charts were found, which they brought for Piru; these the +holy Inquisition has in its possession. Then Admiral Joan de Alcega +ordered a few sailors to be transferred to the ship surrendered by +the enemy, and set them to making repairs in order to take it into +Manila; for its main mast and rigging were lost, and our men in +boarding left nothing standing by which they could navigate. They +took it to an island near by, called Luban, While there, our men +sighted a dismantled ship which seemed to be coming toward them, +which they took to be the enemy's flagship, which was already ours, +and that it was being sent, like their own, to be repaired. Their +expectation was not unfounded, for they had seen our men in it and +heard them shouting, "Victory!" so that it seemed to them that nothing +else could be possible. But in actual truth it was the enemy, who was +coming, upon seeing his almiranta, to see if he could assist it. But +when the enemy saw the two ships close together, and heard no noise +of guns, he tacked about, and hitherto nothing has been known of his +whereabouts. It is believed that his flagship was badly injured and +battered, since it did not wait, although victorious by having sent +our flagship to the bottom. However, we may give credit to some who +said that when they were in the water, they saw the crew of the enemy +casting lances at our men who were swimming, whom they could overtake. + +Our almiranta, after its recent success, set sail to return to Manila, +where they thought that our flagship was calmly lying at anchor. They +arrived at Mariveles and there they heard of the misfortune our +people had suffered. The admiral sent a messenger to the governor of +this city to procure his orders, and to tell him that he was waiting +there. He was ordered to follow instantly and pursue the enemy as far +as Malaca, or wherever else he might hear that he was. Immediately +he received another order to cruise among those islands--when, if he +should not find the enemy, he was to return. This he did after sending +the survivors of the enemy to this city. The admiral himself came +later to the city, and the governor ordered him to be arrested, but +afterward set him at liberty. I do not know what justification there +was for either act. After all this, the governor, with perfect justice, +notwithstanding the word that Admiral Joan de Alcega had pledged to +them, ordered all the prisoners to be garroted. [28] This sentence +was fulfilled and executed upon thirteen of them because the rest +were boys. The latter, who are not young children, are divided among +the monasteries, with I know not what end in view. Twelve [of those +executed] died good Catholics and converts, and with many tears, so +that the religious were obliged to administer the most holy sacrament +of the eucharist to them. The Confraternity of La Sancta Misericordia +buried them with great charity. The only one who refused conversion +was the English admiral [Lambert Biezman], the most stubborn fellow +[29] and the most obstinate heretic I have ever seen in my life. + +According to the reports received, a total of one hundred and +thirty-seven men were killed or drowned. + +_Copy of the commission which was found in the iron box_ + +(This is a faithful and exact copy of a letter and patent, written +lengthwise on white parchment in large letters, and illuminated with +letters of gold. The first line is covered with a pendent seal of +red wax, the size of a consecrated wafer. This document appears to +have been issued by Mauricio de Nashau, who styles himself "Prince +of Orange," as commission for the captain or second in command of a +certain armed fleet, and is countersigned by J. Melander; its tenor +is as follows. [30]) + +Mauricio, Prince of Orange; Count of Nasau, Catzenelleboghen, and +Bietz; Marquis of Veer and Flissinge; governor, captain-general, +and admiral of the United Provinces of Flandes, etc.: To all who see +or hear these presents, our affectionate greeting, etc. Whereas, in +order to contract friendship with certain foreign nations and kingdoms, +and for many other considerations, we have seen fit to send a goodly +number of vessels, in good order and well equipped, to the coasts +of Asia, Africa, and America, and the islands of Eastern Yndia, to +make treaties and carry on trade with the subjects and inhabitants +thereof; and because we have been informed that the Spanish and +the Portuguese are hostile to the subjects of these provinces, and +obstruct their navigation and commerce in those parts, contrary +to all natural right of all cities and nations; we have found it +necessary to entrust, to certain valiant and experienced captains, +the task of executing this our intention. Being well-informed of the +fidelity and experience of Esaias de Lende, we have appointed him +captain of the ship named "La Concordia," of about fifty toneladas +register, with very detailed and explicit orders to go to the said +islands, to resist and make war on, and to harm and injure as far +as possible, all the said Spanish and Portuguese, and any others +who attempt to obstruct them in their duties, and in the performance +of everything which shall be further commanded by their admiral and +captain-general, Olivier van Noordt. That he may execute this, his +commission and charge, with greater facility and readiness, we have +ordered that he shall raise as many men as he shall deem necessary, +and as shall be entrusted to him by the said admiral. We strictly +order these men to obey and respect the said captain, and to obey all +his orders to them in the name of the said admiral. In everything +else he shall do all that a good and faithful captain is bound and +obliged to do--always excepting that neither he nor any of his men +shall dare to do any harm or injury to the subjects of his imperial +Majesty, or those of the kings of Francia, Anglatierra, Escocia, +Denemarqua, Suedia, and Polonia, or of the princes of the Empire, +[31] or of any other rulers who are friends of these provinces, or +inclined to the true Christian religion. Therefore we request and +require all the said kings and princes, and all other states, and +all persons whom the said Esaias de Lende shall encounter; and we +also give express orders to all admirals, vice-admirals, colonels, +captains, and other military men on sea or land, and others who are +under the government of these provinces and owe them obedience--to +recognize him as captain of the said ship, and to allow him, with +the said ship and crew, not only to go and trade wherever he shall +please, but also to assist him, and extend him all favor, aid, +and succor, from which we shall receive great and especial favor +and satisfaction. We will render favors to them on like occasions, +and our people will perform for them the services for which they are +under obligation. Given at La Haya [The Hague], on the twelfth of +May in the year one thousand five hundred and ninety-eight. + +_Maurici de Nashau_ + +By order of his Excellency: + +_J. Melander_ + +[This is followed by a certificate (dated February 6, 1601) of the +accuracy of the copy, with the statement that the original had been +delivered to the royal notary for copying by Doctor Antonio de Morga.] + + + + + +Documents of 1601 + + + + Report to the governor, on the battle with the Dutch. Antonio + de Morga, January 5. + Annual letters from the Philippine Islands. Francisco Vaez, + S.J.; June 10. + Letter to Felipe III. Diego Garcia, S.J.; July 8. + Letter from the fiscal to Felipe III. Hieronimo de Salazar + y Salcedo; July 16. + Complaint of the cabildo of Manila against Morga. Gonzalo + Ronquillo de Vallesteros, and others; July 20. + Letter to Felipe III. Antonio de Morga; July 30. + Grant to Jesuit school in Cebú. Council of Indias; December 11. + + + + +_Sources_: All these documents save one are obtained from MSS. in the +Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla; the second is taken from John Hay's +compilation _De rebus Iaponicis, Indicis, et Pervanis_ (Antverpiæ, +M. DC. v.), pp. 950-968, from the copy in the Library of Congress. + +_Translations_: The first and fourth of these documents are translated +by Norman F. Hall, of Harvard University; the second, by Henry +B. Lathrop, of the University of Wisconsin; the third, fifth, and +sixth, by Robert W. Haight; the seventh, by James A. Robertson. + + + + +Morga's Report to the Governor on the Battle with the Dutch + + +_Copy of a petition of Dr. Antonio de Morga to the governor, in which +he gives an account of all that happened in the expedition against +the Dutch corsair, presented as soon as he returned from it._ + +This is a copy well and faithfully made from a petition which it +seems was presented by Dr. Antonio de Morga, auditor of the royal +Audiencia of these islands, to Don Francisco Tello, knight of the +Order of Santiago, who is governor and captain-general of these +islands. This is in connection with a suit brought by order of the +said governor against Joan de Alcega, admiral of the royal fleet +which went against the Dutch enemy which was sailing among these +islands. The said auditor was commander-in-chief of this fleet, +and the admiral was the said Joan de Alcega, who deserted the royal +flagship in time of battle. It runs as follows: + +I, Dr. Antonio de Morga, auditor of the royal Audiencia and +Chancilleria of these Philipinas Islands, say that in the month of +October just passed, in the year one thousand six hundred, there +came to these Islands for the purpose of robbery one Oliver de Nor, +corsair and a heretic, and a native of the states of Flandes, with +two men-of-war well provided with men, artillery, and munitions. One +of the two ships was large and strong, and was the flagship; the +other, smaller and of less importance and strength, was the admiral's +ship. With these he had entered the South Sea through the Strait of +Magallanes, and skirted the coast of Chile; and then came and anchored +outside the entrance to these islands, in the bay of Alvay. After +making inquiries about affairs in these islands, and finding that +there was no fleet, and no arrangement by which one that could molest +him could be created, he passed by Capul and proceeded on his way +until he reached the mouth of the bay of this city of Manila. There +he made some captures and committed some robberies on vessels which +entered, and he was hoping to commit greater ones on the ships which +are expected this year, both from China and from Nueva España, with +the money belonging to these islands. On this account your Lordship, +together with the royal Audiencia, by a decree in due form dated the +last day of the aforesaid month of October, commanded me to go to +the port of Cavite and to place it and keep it in a state of defense; +and likewise to finish some vessels which had been begun there in the +dockyard, and to prepare and put in order those which could be used +quickly for a fleet to go out and resist and punish the enemy. By +working personally day and night, without having anything given to +me for it, I put all this into operation with the greatest diligence +and care, in thirty-two days. When I came to this city to give your +Lordship an account of the good condition of the fleet--in order that +it might be immediately arranged who was to go out in it, and the +soldiers and seamen who were to embark--considering the fact that +the corsair still remained near this bay, your Lordship, influenced +by urgent causes and reasons, ordered and commanded me in writing, +in the name of our lord the king, to set out with the volunteers of +this city, who were placed at my disposal for this expedition. It was +understood that I was to conduct this expedition, and, with another +body composed of hired soldiers from this district, was to go out as +quickly as possible in search of the enemy, and was to fight with him +until I overcame him or sent him to the bottom. There were many other +conditions which are contained more fully in the letter of instructions +which your Lordship gave me, signed and sealed, to which I refer. In +fulfilment of this, and only for the service of God and of our lord +the king (which service your Lordship commended to me so strongly), +leaving my house and quiet life, leaving my wife and nine children, +I obeyed your Lordship's command. At my own cost, without having +anything supplied from the royal treasury either to myself or to the +volunteers who were with me, and who formed the larger part of all +the body, I embarked on the fleet on the twelfth day of the month of +December of the aforesaid year, taking as flagship the vessel "San +Diego," which is of about two hundred tons burden; and in its convoy +the ship "San Bartolome" as admiral's ship, of the same burden, +in command of the captain Joan de Alçega, admiral of the fleet, +and other small vessels for the service of the fleet. + +That same day I set sail from the port of Cavite in search of the +enemy; and on the following Thursday, the fourteenth of December, +I came in sight of him. Both ships of his fleet were anchored near +the mouth of the bay at the point of Balagtigui, with his boats at +the stern. The flagship of the enemy, from behind, was very easily +seen to be a strong vessel, but the admiral's ship was not. When +he discovered the two ships of the royal fleet and saw that we were +keeping together, in order jointly to board and attack his flagship, +he weighed anchor; and, after sending the said admiral's ship out +to sea under all sail, in order to divide us, thinking that one of +our ships would go after it, he with his flagship luffed toward our +vessels, in order to get to windward of us, which he was not able +to accomplish. On the contrary, when I discovered the number and +excellence of his artillery, with which he began to cannonade me, I +saw that success must consist in coming hand to hand with him as soon +as possible, with both of our vessels, according to the arrangement +which I had made on the day before, the thirteenth of December, when +I had given orders and instructions to that effect in writing to the +said admiral. So with my flagship I boarded the corsair's flagship, +and grappled with it side to side, on the port quarter of the enemy, +in the expectation that my admiral would do the same on the other +side, as he was perfectly able to do. At the first volley from the +artillery and arquebuses I swept the deck of the enemy, unrigged +his main and mizzen masts, sent his yards and shrouds into the sea, +burned his sails, and won and took into my power the flag at the +topmast, the standard and flag at the stern, and the others which the +ship bore. Then I sent on board of him a band of men with arms and a +banner of infantry, who captured the poop and the cabin and took the +shallop or long-boat which it had at the stern. All the enemy retired +below the harpings and coverings at the bow. Seeing from there that my +admiral was already coming upon them, and that they could not defend +themselves, they sent to ask protection for their lives, and to say +that they would surrender; and I granted their request, in order to end +the battle with the least possible loss and with the greatest safety. + +At this time the admiral's ship of my fleet ought to have boarded the +enemy as I had done, according to his duty, and to the order which he +had from me; and, without orders from me, ought not to have passed by, +and still less to have gone in pursuit of, the opposing admiral's +ship which was going out to sea. These orders, for many reasons, +I could not be expected to give him, especially at that time, until +the flagship had completely surrendered and a guard had been placed +over it and over the people on it, which would be impossible with my +ship alone. Nevertheless our admiral aforesaid, for some reasons of +his own which he had, passed by, and with all sail started to pursue +and overtake the admiral's ship of the corsair. When the enemy on the +flagship saw this, and that they were alone, and that, on account of +the superiority of his ship and artillery, he might hope to defend +himself, he turned a deaf ear to the terms which I sent him; and he +not only did not surrender, but he put himself on the defensive, and +fought with me with all the fury of his artillery and of his musketry, +from both sides of the ship, and with fire contrivances, with which +he was well supplied. The battle lasted six hours, with both ships +lashed side to side, but in all this time my admiral aforesaid did not +leave his course, or return to succor or help me. On the contrary he +began, in our sight, to fight with the admiral's ship of the enemy, +which he had overtaken, and he easily captured it because it was +a very small ship, with about twenty-two men, including boys and +the sick; and after it had surrendered he remained there, instead +of returning to help me in time of battle. The enemy killed ten or +twelve Spaniards of my men, and some Indians of the service, and on +his side most of his men died; so that, being still so hard pressed, +he himself set fire to his ship of his own accord, at the stern, +where our men were on the poop with the banner. The fire so increased +there that we feared that both ships were going to be consumed. + +Furthermore, my flagship, which was not a strong one, having been made +especially for the merchant trade, sprang a leak at the bow with the +force of the artillery which had been fired in this long combat; and it +made water so fast that nothing could be done, because we had no pumps, +as they had been knocked to pieces by one of the enemy's shot. On this +account, by the advice and counsel of the chief pilot and of the seamen +who understood the situation, I was asked to loosen myself from the +enemy and to go to save my ship (or at least the artillery and men +on it) at the island of Fortun, which was to leeward of us a legua +and a half away, and which they said we could reach quickly. When +I saw the opinion of the aforesaid men and the danger which my ship +was in, both from the fire on the enemy and from the risk of sinking, +I followed the advice; and, having withdrawn the men and the banner +that I had on the poop-castle of the corsair's ship, which was left, +as I have said, so broken and disabled, I started for the aforesaid +island of Fortun to make repairs; but the water which the ship was +taking in increased so that all at once the ship sank. + +When the enemy saw himself alone, with the few men that he had, he +hastily began to put out the fire on his ship; and with the foresail, +which he had had up all the time, he took flight toward the island +of Luban, where he has not appeared since that day, nor in any other +of the adjacent islands. From this and from the fact that he was so +broken and so stripped of men and without any long-boat, it may be +inferred that he went to the bottom. Some indications of this have +been seen since in the shape of yards and sails, and bodies of the +enemy's men, so that we may presume that it is so. + +When the flagship of the fleet on which I was went to the bottom, +there was no shallop or boat to saye the men, because the boats had +been taken by some sailors and soldiers, who to escape the danger, had +gone with them to the aforesaid island of Fortun. Consequently when the +ship sank I was left in the water, and saved myself at the end of four +hours by swimming with great exertion to the island of Fortun, which +was a legua and a half away, against many waves and a high wind. The +same thing was done by two hundred other persons, including Spaniards +and slaves, but the rest drowned and perished, with what was left in +the ship. Then I made haste to take all the people from that island, +because it was without inhabitants and without water, and I started +them on the way to this city. After that I went along the coast to +get information about the enemy which had fled, and in search of the +admiral's ship and of the captured vessel; but I could not find them, +nor could I in the islands of that district, although I searched among +them in light vessels, for they had departed thence. At last, having +heard that they were near Mariveles, I came to claim them, but did +not enter them because your Lordship wrote to me, at just that time, +to come to this city on other business in the service of his Majesty. + +Thus that expedition ended. It is true that the desired end was +accomplished--namely, to destroy the aforesaid corsair so that he +should not be able to do the damage which he was doing in this sea, +and to conquer him, which was done. Nevertheless it could have been +accomplished fully without the loss which there was, if my orders +had been followed in the aforesaid fleet, and if there had not been +other transgressions and irregularities--which I should have proceeded +against and executed justice upon if I had had opportunity to return +to the aforesaid fleet, as I tried to do. Since on my part this is +all ended, it remains for your Lordship, as captain-general of this +realm, to take action in this cause--not only to execute whatever +may be just in the matter, but also in order to give an account to +our lord the king of what has happened. I have had this in mind in +giving to your Lordship so faithful and exact an account of the case, +and of the aforesaid irregularities, of which the ones that need +particular attention are the following. + +First. When the fleet was on the point of setting out from the port +of Cavite, although it was already scantily equipped with seamen +and artillerymen (which was a matter of the greatest importance), +the majority of those who had been provided and supplied absented +themselves and fled from the aforesaid fleet at the time of setting +out, so that they could not be reached; and the fleet had to go +without them, which was the cause of a great deal of suffering and +loss. It can be determined who were guilty of this through the lists +of allowances and apportionment which are in the possession of the +factor of the royal treasury, and through the register which the +accountant afterwards made of both fleets at Mariveles. + +_Item_: Although your Lordship, at my request, had some seamen sought +out in this city, and had them sent to me with the sergeant Pedro Lopez +to Mariveles (where the fleet was anchored) on Wednesday, December +thirteenth, and although the aforesaid men arrived on Wednesday, +they refused to go on the expedition because they were men of wealth +and property; and they did not go to the fleet that night, but went +to the settlement on the island. There they remained until the fleet +had gone in pursuit of the enemy in the early morning, when they left +the village and returned to this city. + +Third. The Sangley nation of this city offered themselves, with three +ships, according to their custom, to go in the service and convoy of +the aforesaid fleet. They were armed and set out after it from Cavite +for that purpose, but when they reached the station at Mariveles, +where the fleet was anchored, they left it; and it was necessary to +send to them and order that on the following day they should join the +fleet and follow it without moving off, under pain of their lives. Not +only did they not comply with this, but on the following day, when +they saw the battle, they remained more than three leguas behind, +looking at it; and although they could have been of great assistance, +when they saw my flagship founder, they returned toward the bay, +ringing bells and beating drums, as is their custom. + +Fourth. The aforesaid captain Joan de Alcega, admiral of the fleet, did +not obey the orders and instructions which on the day before the battle +I gave to him in writing, signed with my name, according to which +both ships, flagship and admiral's ship, were to board and fight with +the enemy's flagship, because it was a strong vessel. Nevertheless, +though he had seen me board, he passed by without having an order +from me to do so, and still less having any order to follow and to +fight with the opposing admiral's ship, and thus abandon me. If he +had done as he was under obligation to do, the flagship would have +been made to surrender completely without the loss of one of our +men; and we could have captured for his Majesty a beautiful ship +and twenty-six pieces of artillery, and many other things of price +and value for all, and my flagship would not have been lost, and the +people of worth who died in it would not have perished. After that, +it would have been a sure and easy thing to capture the admiral's +ship, which was a small boat, of no strength. Your Lordship should +send promptly to the admiral to write the instructions which I gave +him originally in Mariveles on the thirteenth of December by the hand +of the captain Joan Tello y Aguirre, who came for them--signed with +my name, without any erasures or changes whatever--because through +them the above matter will be verified, without any fraud or deceit. + +Fifth. After my flagship had foundered, the enemy in his, as broken +as it was, took to flight with only the foresail up, and passed +within sight of the admiral's ship of my convoy, and although the +admiral was aware of my loss, and that that was the enemy's ship, +and made sail after her, he did not try to follow her; and so he let +her go, although he could easily have overtaken her, as she bore only +the foresail, and could have captured her, as she was so broken and +without men. Most of us who were on the island of Fortun saw this +from there; and the captive Flamenco admiral will say the same thing, +as well as those who came in our admiral's ship and remained in it. + +_Item_: Although our admiral's ship ought to have come in search of its +flagship, which it saw sinking in the sea from its companion ship--or +at least in aid of its men who had escaped to the island of Fortun, +which was near, in order to rescue us from that island, uninhabited +and without water, where we were in evident risk of our lives--yet +he did not do it. On the contrary, he went away with all speed, and +returned to the mainland to the station of Mareyuma; consequently +we could not find him, and he could not receive orders from me, his +commander, concerning what he was to do in such matters as following +the aforesaid enemy (in which a great opportunity was lost), as well +as in other things in the service of his Majesty which ought to have +been done. + +Seventh and last. Although the aforesaid admiral ought not to have +allowed out of his convoy the vessel which he had captured and taken +from the enemy, so that it might not be lost again on account of +his having put very few men on it, he left it; and, under pretense +that he was sending it to be repaired, he ordered it to the island of +Luban with other intentions--where on the same day, near night-time, +there appeared the flagship of the enemy, which, if it had seen this +ship, could have seized and taken it easily, because it was without +defense. Then, without having been repaired, it left Luban and returned +to the aforesaid admiral's ship at Mareyuma. + +Of all this your Lordship is sufficiently informed through the reports +which have been sent to your Lordship about the aforesaid event, and +through the investigations made by the alcalde-mayor of the province +of Balayan, in whose territory and under whose jurisdiction the event +took place. Your Lordship will also be informed by the searchings +and investigations which your Lordship ought to make concerning the +aforesaid case and every particular of it, personally and very soon, +before the guilty ones pervert them so that the truth may not be +understood. They have been preparing for this, holding investigations +before themselves in the admiral's ship, about their own affairs +and business; but opportunity ought not to be given for these, +nor any attention paid to them, for they are void and fraudulent, +and malicious. + +I ask and pray your Lordship to do and perform in this matter, since +it is of such quality and importance, whatever may be proper in the +service of God and of his Majesty, so that those may be punished who +are guilty in a matter of such harm and loss, and that our lord the +king and the gentlemen of his Council of the Indias may be informed +faithfully of all that has happened and of what has been done--since, +as far as I am concerned in this matter, as there no longer remains +to me any authority or jurisdiction of commander in the fleet, I have +done my duty. For this I have, etc., and ask it for testimony. + +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ + +In Manila, on the fifth of the month of January in the year one +thousand six hundred and one, before the governor and captain-general +of these islands, Don Francisco Tello, appeared the doctor Antonio +de Morga, and presented this petition; and when his Lordship had +seen it, he ordered it to be joined with the investigation which +the alcalde-mayor of Balayan made, in order that the other proper +verifications may be made according to what is provided, and that +whatever is just may be done. + +_Tello_ + +Before me: + +_Gaspar de Azebo_ + +This copy was made, as has been said, from the aforesaid original +petition, which is in the aforesaid suit of petition and mandate by the +aforesaid auditor, and is exact and correct. In the city of Manila, +on the twentieth of the month of November in the year one thousand +six hundred and two; the witnesses being: Joan P[ablo?] Monfredo, +and Gregorio del Castillo, and Josephe de Naveda Alvarado. + +In testimony of truth, I have affixed my seal. + +_Joan Paez de Sotomayor_, royal notary. + +We, the notaries who sign here, certify and give our word that Joan +Paez de Sotomayor, by whom this testimony is signed and sealed, is +a royal notary, as he signs himself, and commissioner of the royal +Audiencia of these islands; and, as such, complete faith and credit +has been given and is given to all acts and writings which have passed +and do pass before him, in court and out of it. And, to certify to +this, we give these presents in Manila on the twentieth of November +in the year one thousand six hundred and two. I have affixed my seal, +in witness of truth. + +_Francisco de Valencia_, notary-public. + +I have affixed my seal, in testimony of truth. + +_Jhoan Francisco Aparicio_, notary-public. + + + + + +Annual Letters from the Philippine Islands + + +_From Father Francisco Vaez, [32] June 10, 1601, to Reverend Father +Claudio Aquaviva, general of the Society of Jesus._ + + +Amid all the calamities and miseries which it has pleased the Lord to +inflict on these islands, the chief has been the loss of some ships +which were wrecked, including among others the flagship and the ship +of the second in command. They set sail from this coast during the +last year, 1600, for Nueva España, being laden with a large amount of +treasure and merchandise; and by them the records of this province +and the letters from Japan for your Paternity were sent. But, after +sailing for eight months, these ships encountered a violent contrary +wind, and, having on board a great number of sailors, were gradually +driven back by sickness, hunger, and the fury of the waves, which +swept the men from the very decks of the ships to be drowned in the +waters. The vessels struck on rocks and were wrecked, a few men only +being rescued, like the servants of Job, from the immediate danger, +to announce the destruction--which, being increased by one misfortune +and mishap in war after another, heaped sorrow upon us. On one of these +ships, called the "San Geronimo," was Father Pedro Lopez de Parra, a +professed religious of our Society--who, as we trust, after this long +voyage (or rather that longer one of thirty-seven years in religion), +has entered the gate of eternal life, laden with a rich treasure +of good works. He taught philosophy and theology in Nueva España, +having been one of the first members of the Society formerly sent +thither; he trained our ministers with fruitful results. Although we +have heard nothing certain with regard to the details of his death, +yet, as he took great delight in the duty of hearing confessions and +helping souls, it is likely that with great devotion he aided all in +that extremity of danger. [33] + +In another disaster we have lost another priest and a brother, if loss +be the proper name to give to the death of those who have been slain +for the gain of souls, and while aiding their brethren in a just war +against heretic pirates. These were Hollanders and Zeelanders who +were driven to the Philippine Islands in the year 1600, and came to +get booty on the sea called the Northern Ocean, or "Mar del Norte" +(for they had already made spoil of a Portuguese ship), and, after +passing the Strait of Magellan, had, in that southerly ocean called +"Mar del Sur," done likewise with a small vessel from Peru. Their +leading vessels, the flagship and the almiranta, took a station six +leagues from Manila, where the Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese ships +had to unload their cargoes, and to which all the smacks and other +small boats that left the city had to hold their course. Against +these ships of the enemy there were sent out from Manila two ships +provided with three hundred of the best soldiers of these islands, +together with many bombards and other equipments of war. In the chief +ships were Father Diego de Santiago and Brother Bartolomeo Calvo, +at the request of the general, Antonio de Morga, auditor of the +royal Audiencia, and of other officers of rank, who were accustomed +to confess to the said father. + +Now when the father had exerted himself to receive the confessions +of the soldiery, and had exhorted them to fight bravely, on the +fourteenth of December they came in sight of the enemy; and the +flagship spread its sails and bore down so swiftly on the other +flagship that the passage from one to the other was easy. In the +conflict our men tore away the enemy's flags and carried them back to +their own ship, shouting, "Victory!" with joyful voices. Just then +our ship, having taken in a great quantity of water from all sides, +was by the permission of God suddenly swallowed in the waves with +all the sailors, except a few who by the help of a skiff captured +from the Dutch, or by swimming, made their way to land. The general +was one who threw himself into the water with two flags of the enemy's. + +Then the almiranta, having encountered the enemy's almiranta, +captured it, and carried it away to Manila, where punishment was +inflicted on all the sailors. Among the number of those on our side +who were slain or drowned, a hundred and fifty-nine in all, Father +Diego was drowned. He had heard, as it appeared, the confessions of +all; and as he was making the effort to throw himself clear into the +sea, he was called back by the voice of a captain desiring to make +his confession. While he was hearing the confession he was drowned, +with the brother and the rest. The father was in the twenty-ninth year +of his age, and had lived fifteen years in the Society. The brother, +his companion, was of the same age, and had lived in the Society seven +years; he had entered it in these regions. He was a man endowed with +every virtue, being especially noteworthy for his obedience, to which +he was always greatly inclined. + +Of the brethren there has also died Martin Sanchez, a native of these +islands, who was for a decade a member of the Society, and who left a +glorious example in life and death. There remain in this vice-province +thirty priests and twenty-nine brethren (of whom two are scholastics +and four novices)--those nine being included whom your Paternity has +sent hither with Father Gregorio Lopez, in whom this vice-province +assuredly receives a great assistance. As it is of later birth, more +scantily supplied with workers, and further from Rome, it is likewise +poorer; and, as the younger daughter, ought to be the dearer and more +precious to your Paternity. + + + + +College of Manila + + +There live in this college (the leading one [34] in this vice-province) +seventeen of Ours--seven priests and ten brethren. All of them, by the +favor of divine Providence, have by their example and labor brought in +a rich harvest from the spiritual tilling of this city. This has been +added to on account of the war and the earthquake, the loss of the +ships, and other calamities; and we have learned by experience that +piety grows more rapidly in adverse than in prosperous fortune. The +earthquake has made us hesitate to go on with the completion of the +college buildings, for we are compelled first to repair what has +already fallen or is on the verge of ruin. Last year we wrote that +on the twenty-first of June the main part of the nave of the church +had fallen; but in this year of 1601, on the sixteenth of January, +the other part corresponding to it was overthrown, and the rest so +shaken that it had to be leveled with the ground. We regard it as +a great blessing that these buildings fell without injuring anyone, +although the first of the earthquakes came while the people were in +the church at mass, the other when it was least expected. The people +of Manila have accordingly been warned by Ours of the daily peril +of life on earth, and have begun to lift up their hearts to heaven, +and to pray for its care and protection. By a happy lot it has been +obtained for them by the patronage and advocacy of St. Polycarp, +[35] bishop and martyr, the disciple of St. John the Evangelist; +and in his honor they have begun to celebrate an annual feast with +a solemn procession. + +The beginning of another pious work has been made this year with +marked results. This is the practice of scourging, not as hitherto +on three days in Lent, but every Friday throughout the year, in our +church. There is a great concourse of people at that time to hear the +fiftieth psalm, _Miserere_, by the melancholy harmony of which they +are most moved to devotion and to doing penance. Not infrequently +the royal auditors and the governor himself have been present, as +well as other leading men. + +Those in prison also have been aided by the reception of sacramental +confessions and by pious exhortations; and--a thing that has edified +the people not a little--the necessary food was for some days carried +all the way to the prisons on our shoulders. From children, too, +the food of Christian doctrine has not been withheld on Sundays; +and with the children arranged in the form of a procession we went +out during Lent to the military barracks, where after delivering +sermons we reaped fruit not to be ashamed of. + +The congregation of scholastics begun this year has made the best +of progress. Every month, according to the rules, they make their +confession to the priest, and partake of the divine food. On feast-days +they spend the afternoons in listening to spiritual reading and in +commemorating the examples of the saints. The solemn feasts of the +Blessed Virgin they celebrate with the greatest fervor and joy. On one +of these they go with their cloaks cast off, each with a silver ewer +and basin in his hands, and carry food to the prisons, marching in the +finest order and system; and with great readiness and humility they +serve the unhappy men. They are believed to have taken their manner +of procedure, in all respects, from the congregation at Rome. The +privileges of the Sodality, also, have so much attracted laymen that it +has been necessary to divide them into two orders. As for the adult men +and householders who look forward to spending Sundays and feast-days +to advantage in the Sodality, the father-visitor has made a beginning, +by delivering to them familiar exhortations, and narratives of pious +examples taken from the Lives of the Saints; and we have every reason +to hope that the undertaking will succeed to the greater glory of +God, with the most noble of advantages to the city. Even now there +are some who, having heard one or another sermon, have entered upon +more holy and profitable ways of living than they followed before. + +A beginning was also made this year in selecting some saint's name +by lot (a custom introduced in some towns); and there has been a +great concourse of people. One man was plunged into the sea along +with many others in the naval battle with the Dutch already spoken +of; but because he invoked the name of his patron, St. Nicanor, who +had fallen to his lot that month, he was rescued from that danger in +which the others were swallowed up; and by swimming a whole league +at last got to shore, to his own great wonder. + +The number of those confessing and communicating this year has +surpassed that of any previous year, for upon their old devotion has +been heaped up new, kindled by the torches of calamity. The quarrels +of many have also been brought to an end. In Lent, moreover, their +zeal for all piety flamed forth in the confession of many evils, and +in doing penance for them with daily scourgings, and other exercises +of devotion. + +The chastity of a certain woman was assailed by some of the wicked, +with entreaties and the bestowal of gifts; but by the weapons of more +frequent communion and confession she repulsed the attacks of the +enemy. Yet even then the enemy was not made entirely to desist. One +day, after the holy communion, which she had devoutly taken in our +church, she was walking in a lonely place; and there he came up to +her, and with his dagger at her bosom, he threatened her with death +unless she consented to wickedness. But she answered with firmness +that she preferred death to offending God. Then with blows and words +of insult she vanquished the beastly desires of her adversary, barely +escaping with her honor. + +Another, giving up all thought of God and of his own salvation, had +spent many years in dreadful sin, and especially in a disgraceful +lust, which was so deeply rooted and fixed in his innermost heart +that he regarded our priest, who strove to lead him away from this +vile manner of life, as only less than a fool. So completely had he +plunged himself into the filth of these pollutions of his soul that, +like a sow in a wallow, he seemed to take pleasure in nothing else. Yet +at last this obstinate man yielded to argument and persuasion, and +not only gave up visiting his harlot, but tore all lust from his +heart by the roots as completely as if he had had no knowledge of +it; for by a general confession of the lapses of his past life he so +corrected his morals that all those who knew him before were amazed +at the sudden change in his life. + +When the Dutch pirates of whom we have spoken were condemned to death +in Manila by the judges, the governor thought it well to entrust +them to several religious, as they might perhaps abjure their errors +and be reconciled to Holy Church. It pleased the divine goodness to +restore all, to the number of thirteen, except the admiral, who as an +obstinate heretic was hanged and cast into the sea. The others with so +great sorrow for their crimes subjected themselves to the obedience of +the holy Roman church that it seemed good to the religious fathers to +admit them to the holy communion. Of five commended to our Society I +can affirm that they greatly edified all, for they made a confession +of the sins of all their life and approached the holy communion with +many tears, having previously made public profession of the Roman +Catholic faith and abjured their heresies, being prepared to live +and die in the said faith. Two days later, with rosaries around their +necks they were led forth to the place of execution in great joy of +mind that they could atone for their sins by death. + +Our Order has been no less occupied with the Indians in these +regions than with others--partly because there is a greater number +of them gathered in this town of Manila than anywhere else, partly +because they feel a greater good-will toward the members of the +Society than toward any others. They never lack some one of Ours +to aid their confessions; and they would need old priests the year +round, if there were so many who understood the language, to hear +the confessions of all. They greatly affect the holy communion, and +report wonderful fruit from it. Every week, on Saturday, very many +hasten to perform their discipline with the others; and more would +come if the city gates which separate the Indians from the Spaniards +were not closed at nightfall. Indeed many do not fear to creep through +the little hole in the gates in order not to neglect that salutary +penance. They hasten, too, on the Sabbath to hear the sacrament of +the mass of the Blessed Virgin, and in Lent to hear sermons, and that +in such numbers that, although our church is of considerable size, +they fill it completely. And when it was overthrown by the earthquake, +they all hastened together, down to the very children, to give their +help in carrying stones away. It was a delightful sight to see them +swarming like ants upon the rubbish and the wall--men and women, +young and old, powdered with dust and lime, carrying baskets on their +shoulders and vying with each other in carrying off the ruins so as +to clear the space. + +The girls' sodality, recently introduced among the natives, has +marvelously roused all the others. Sometimes they have fed the poor +with such liberality that much was left for the prisoners and other +needy persons. After the meal was over, they poured water for the hands +of the poor persons, and kissed them; and then the poor persons fell +on their knees and prayed God for their benefactors. At another place +these same Indian members of sodalities went to the Indian hospital and +there gave their aid to the sick by making their beds and digging up +the ground for them--a thing worthy of special admiration in this race, +for they abhor visiting hospitals. The sodality members, although poor, +offer the usual alms to the church and to those who are in need. They +are given to hearing sermons and to fasting, being content for whole +weeks with bread and water. They are glad to go to our churches for +confession and spiritual instruction, and obtain great spiritual +benefit and edification. + +A certain Christian woman who was for a long time held in slavery to +the infidels in the islands of Mindanao and Borneo, which are given +to the faith of Mahomet, could not be torn from the true belief, +or be persuaded to the worship of idols, although she visited many +of their places. + +An Indian man, who along with some others had made his confession +that he might receive the holy communion, declares that he had kept +silent as to the circumstances of some sins; and that in a vision he +saw a beautiful child offering to him the holy eucharist. But when +he answered that he was a great sinner, the child replied: "Thou +are indeed not worthy of the communion, for in thy confession thou +hast hidden such and such a circumstance." Therefore when he awoke +he hurried to our church, revealed the vision to one of the fathers, +and desired to repeat his confession. + +Another had so accustomed himself to the scourging of his body that +one day when he was required to march with a troop of soldiers, +he withdrew from it in the night, in order that he might not omit +this holy exercise. When the officer of the infantry, going his +rounds at night, secretly perceived this, he thought the man was +meditating some mischief, and silently followed him. At last he saw +him enter the cemetery of a church, and after pouring forth prayers +to God, beat his back severely. When the scourging was finished, the +officer approached; and when he recognized this Indian, he was even +more edified. And when he asked him where he was from, he answered +that he came from the city of Manila, and said that he was in the +habit of confessing to Ours. The captain, marveling that a tyro in +the Christian religion should take such care of his soul's health, +gave him some money and told him to go back home, that he might not +be perverted by the habits of the soldiery. + +A priest with a brother as his companion was sent off as on a +mission to some Seilan villages, which, being without parish priests, +needed instruction. When they reached there the plague was raging; +and the father and brother freely assisted them, not only by the +administration of the sacraments of confession and the communion, +but by that of food, which was prepared in our church. + +On another mission performed by the rector of the college and another +priest, there was a mighty fruit of their labors reaped in hearing +confessions, in reconciling enemies, and in recalling the perverse to a +better life. Twenty adults were initiated by the sacrament of baptism, +having been imbued with the Christian faith by a certain blind man. He, +though deprived of the use of his eyes, yet took such care of his +catechumens that if a single one out of any number, however great, +was missing, he regularly informed the father. We think the more +of this from the fact that he who formerly was numbered among the +catalons--that is, petty priests of idols--now since his conversion +has become a teacher of Christian doctrine. + + + + +Residence of Antipolo [36] + + +In this residence are ordinarily maintained three priests, to care for +the harvest of three thousand Christians. More than five hundred have +been baptized this year. We have tested the great devotion of this +people, and their rare sense of piety in frequenting the sacraments, +in offering prayers, and in undergoing discipline and performing +other good and edifying works; and, finally, there has been wrought +in them all a great change in conduct. + +The father-visitor has laid the foundation of a hospital, which +is of great importance. On the day when the roof was finished the +father-visitor led them in serving the poor who were gathered there, +by pouring water on their hands, and then kissing their hands on his +bended knees, which example was followed by all the chief men there +present. And thus the custom has been established that four members +of the confraternity established for this purpose bring them their +food every day. The same thing is done by the women for the sick of +their sex. + +A beginning has been made of a school for boys, in which they may be +educated from their earliest years in all virtue and good morals, +according to the laws of Christ, so far as these are open to their +capacity. This is a thing not merely necessary for their receiving +the true doctrine, but also easy and delightful. They are all fed +with rice sent by their parents, and by other contributions. Their +occupations are learning to read and to form their letters, and to +do such other things as are appropriate to childish years. + +The custom has everywhere been introduced of singing throughout +the year, in honor of the Virgin Mother of God, the anthem _Salve +Regina_; and on Saturdays in Lent of performing the discipline in +church. So when some Indians were bathing in the river, as is the +custom in hot countries, and heard the bell give the call for _Salve_ +and the discipline, they put on their clothes and set out. Only one +remained, and laughing at his companions said in their language: +"_Acoi ouian_!"--that is, "Bring back something for me," which is +their expression of ridicule. When the others had gone away, he who +was alone was attacked and killed by a crocodile--a fierce animal of +these regions, which is very fond of human flesh--and that before +they could render him any assistance, spiritual or temporal. This +event was indeed the occasion of no little wonder, for this beast +is very voracious, and swallows men whole, or piece by piece, or at +least tears off hand or foot; but this man he left whole and untorn, +which the Indians attribute to the virtue of the _Salve_ that they +sang and the discipline that they performed. + + + + +Residence of Zebu + + +This residence is in the province called Pintados, in which the +greater part of Ours have lived and are working for the salvation +of the Indians, although ordinarily not more than three priests and +four brothers labor there. The situation is extremely convenient, +because all the other residences carry on their work from it as a +center. The ministry of the Society is exercised with great profit to +the city. A boys' school has been opened, and the Latin language is +taught. Last year the most reverend bishop, the officials, and other +leading men, in letters sent to his Catholic Majesty, made a full +statement of the great spiritual harvest with which Ours in these +regions exercise their ministry, among both Spaniards and Indians; +and they also earnestly entreated that he would be pleased to render +that residence permanent by some annual provision, in order that they +might be able to continue to enjoy the labors of our fathers. + +The excellent bishop walked on foot, although a man sixty years old, +throughout the whole of his diocese; [37] and, turning aside into +our houses, he there dwelt with us in such humility and familiarity +that he seemed to be one of our members. After he had finished the +visitation of the diocese, he was accustomed to say that he had +greatly admired the modesty and piety of the women in it; for in +gossip and conversation their reputation had long been very much to +the contrary. He added that he had seen nothing like it in all Nueva +España. Turning to our fathers, he declared that they ought to be +contented with their lot, because they had undertaken the duty of +disseminating the word of God in those regions; for in his opinion +they were spending their lives in a part of the world which was the +best of all, and the best beloved by God, and that from which they +would be able to obtain the most ample fruit for their labor. + +In our churches we began this year the practice of the discipline, +with a great number of penitents and great devotion from the people. We +also delivered sermons, with the Christian catechism, to the garrison, +with extraordinary results. + +A certain father added that a sick Indian had lost the faculty +of speech before he had confessed, so that he could not receive an +exhortation to a pious death. Accordingly, he urged him to attempt at +least to pronounce the name of Jesus. The sick man obeyed, and uttered +it obscurely so that he could scarcely be heard. The father continued +to urge him to speak more distinctly. Finally with a moderate effort he +uttered it with the greatest distinctness, made a complete confession, +and on the following day left his bed well. + +Father Miguel Gomez [38] was sent to a tribe at a considerable +distance. At first he gave all his attention to learning the names +of those who had not yet been washed in the holy waters of baptism; +and there were brought to him sixty, besides some others who are known +as Visaians. And to all these, after he had sufficiently demonstrated +the vanity of idols and the truth of the Christian belief, he imparted +baptism, with so great a degree of consolation to them all, although +they were old men, that they all marveled. But before dawn, behold +some others, men and women of very great age, who had hidden by the +gate of our house that they might be initiated by means of the same +sacrament. Accordingly sixty, along with six children, were initiated; +and in this number was included the chief of the place, a man already +more than sixty years old. + + + + +Residence of Bohol + + +This residence is subject to the preceding one, that of Zebu. The +harvest reaped in it your Paternity will learn from the letter of +Father Valerio Ledesma [39] herewith enclosed. He says: "In accordance +with the direction of your Reverence I visited the island of Bohol and +gave my first attention to collecting the people, who were scattered +everywhere, into one place. To many I suggested means of peace, and +proposed efficacious remedies; and at last I succeeded in getting a +thousand men, the greater part of whom had been trained in the use of +arms, to leave their mountains, from which it had been impossible to +draw them before, and to assemble at one spot. We also attempted to +attract a number of barbarian inhabitants of the mountains, who had +never looked upon any mortals before they saw our fathers, making use +of all of the offices of humanity and of the allurements suitable +to their nature, and we succeeded. We assigned them a settlement +near the river, where they have now built a church, to which they +flock on Sundays. We have baptized one hundred and twenty of their +children, or even more. The adults have not only laid aside all +of their fierceness, but pray for baptism with the greatest ardor, +singing chants, and night and day recite the Christian faith. + +"On the day sacred to St. Anne, to whom the church was dedicated, +the conversion of a certain old chief, on whom they all look as a +father, made a beginning for the conversion of the rest. He on bended +knees begged me with the most humble prayers that I would bathe him +in the sacred fount. His example greatly confirmed in their purpose +those who were ready for baptism, and excited others to desire it; +so that one after another, to the number of more than one hundred, +came as suppliants for baptism. In Visaia I baptized eighty-nine +adults at one time, and a few days later ninety-four--partly children, +partly adults; and on another day all the rest of the natives. Leaving +here I crossed a mountain; and the Lord obtained as spiritual gain +twenty-nine children, with faces like those of angels; and with the +cleansing water we sprinkled them in the name of the Holy Trinity, +along with three adults whom I had taken with me that they might +hear the sacrifice of the mass, and might by word and example be more +accurately instructed in the Christian faith. After we had gone some +distance thence, we came to a hamlet in which the natives had built +a convenient church in preparation for our arrival, extending over a +space of ten cubits. Here we began to spread our net, or rather the +net of Christ, and caught in it all the fish that were there; for +all the leading men and women, with old and young, great and small, +cast themselves at the feet of Christ Jesus, recognizing Him as the +true God and ardently pleading to be joined to Him in faith through +the mystery of baptism. And here I began to recognize the favor which +God had shown me, in calling me forth from España in these days; +for this single instance was enough reason to call me forth. On the +very first occasion when we baptized, we plunged a hundred persons +in the sacred fount; on the second, all the rest without exception. + +"When I was once explaining to a fierce and barbarous fellow the great +glory of paradise and the dire pains of hell, he answered, just as +if he had been possessed by a demon, that he had rather go to hell +than to paradise; and, as he was one of the chiefs in that region, +he carried a great many with him to the same decision of a perverse +mind. But I did not hesitate to attack the foolish fellow again and +again, and I insisted upon the horror and the eternity of the torments +with great vehemence of language; but he answered that he certainly +ought to go, after this life, there, where his parents and the rest +of his ancestors had departed, rather than anywhere else. Then I +responded that he had better just try the force of fire; but he, with +hands as hard as his heart, did not hesitate to snatch up some burning +coals from the hearth. However, a few days later, his mind divinely +changed, he ran out into the fields and meadows, and, calling all his +tribesmen together, he urged them to accept the Christian sacraments, +with such zeal that he had no equal among the Visaians." + +In another letter sent to the father-visitor from the same place, +the same Father Valerio writes that another father had written to +him that in the islands Lobo and Dita he had sprinkled four hundred +persons, chiefly infants, with the most holy waters. Thus within the +interval of three months more than a thousand had been initiated by +the same sacraments, and numberless others are left burning with the +same desire. Therefore the members of our Order declare that the time +is come for the salvation of that island, and eagerly wait for workers. + +But your Paternity will learn of a more glorious fruit from these +missions in Bohol from the letters of Father Gabriel Sanchez and Father +Cristofero Ximenez, [40] who have been assigned to that mission. [41] +In letters written in the month of October, Father Gabriel writes as +follows: "Our Lord has singularly blessed our attempts and labors. For +after the flocks of the heathen were gathered in one place they were +converted to God with such earnestness, so completely without pretense, +that I can say nothing else than that God their Maker and Redeemer +has desired by some peculiar favor in their calling to add them to +His flock--inasmuch as within two months two thousand mortals have +yielded themselves to the laws and customs of Christ, by accepting +baptism. And it is my opinion that, if some fathers are ready, +the whole of them will accept the yoke of Christ. It is beyond the +power of language to tell with what spiritual joy I am affected when +I see men who are almost savages of the forests hastening down from +the mountains to supplicate the benefits of baptism. Nay, the very +children, like to angels, taught by I know not whom, now repeat the +Christian faith. Indeed, a few days ago one came to me not ignorant +of his catechism, whom I had not seen for ten years, and with great +earnestness begged me not to refuse to baptize him. The catalons, +or priests of the idols, also come, and show by so many proofs that +they desire baptism with all their hearts, that it is necessary +to satisfy their desires. Truly, my Father, I abound in delight, +I rejoice, I exult; nor is there anything in this world set before +me than to serve our Lord God with all my heart, and to desire that +all should be turned to the worship of His Divine Majesty. On Sunday, +in church and elsewhere, there were counted seven hundred persons. If +your Reverence were to see at sunset a hundred mountain boys and girls +who have been newly added to Christ marching in procession along the +bank of the river, praising God in harmony and chanting all together +the Christian faith, he could not help dissolving in tears of joy. A +few days ago in Dita five hundred were purified with holy baptism. Thus +in the whole region of Bohol we may now easily count three thousand +Christians. At the beginning there were only eight hundred; now, +by the accession of a new blessing of God, twice thirteen hundred +have been added in baptism." + +With regard to another brief mission undertaken by a priest, the +same Father writes as follows: "God adorns and enriches this Tobigon +[42] people with so many heavenly gifts that I do not dare depart +hence, and break the thread of our most happy progress. The church +is filled with people morning and evening; no one is anxious about +food, although they may not have it, or may have to bring it from a +distance. All their care is to be Christians, and to be initiated in +baptism. In these fifteen days in which we have instructed them in +the rudiments of the Christian faith, there have been baptized more +than two hundred and fifty adults. There remain forty catechumens, +for the rest will be baptized after our return. + +"An old man, a chief who is held in high honor, and who has hitherto +been obstinate, has at last told me that he is ready to bow his +head to baptism. He is all white-haired and decrepit, so that he +can scarcely combine word with word. Since he is unable to come to +church, I am compelled to go to his house. I will baptize him, with +another man of advanced age, as early as possible. It seems to me no +small evidence that they have been predestinated, that both of them +have waited so long, and that they now begin to glow with so great +a desire for baptism." + +With regard to another mission, Father Gabriel Sanchez writes that the +archdeacon of Zebu, who holds a benefice in Tana, went to the island +of Bohol, twelve leagues distant, to ask our superior for a father +skilled in the language, to preach the gospel to his tribe. Father +Gabriel was sent, and in one month heard four hundred confessions, +and offered to many the sacred body of the Lord. He also baptized +eighty small children and some larger ones. The custom was there +introduced of having boys march in procession in the public streets, +and chant the Christian belief. The same thing has been done in the +church, so greatly to the delight of the people that even the chiefs +of the tribe think it small honor to them if they are not sometimes +examined in the same belief. + +The Indian wife of a local governor was bedridden, and one night began +to suffer so intensely that she was entirely deprived of the power of +speech. A father of the Society was called, who found her entirely +speechless. And since she had not confessed her sins, although she +tried to do so, the father began to recite the holy gospel, and to +sprinkle her with holy water; and when this was done she collected +her strength and, after pronouncing the name of Jesus, said, "Have +mercy upon me!" Then, in the presence of many, she desired to confess; +and after less than a quarter of an hour she arose from her bed, so +well and whole that the father would not listen to her, but directed +her to come to church on the following day to make her confession, +which she did. The same thing happened to the same father in the case +of two other sick persons, whom by the recitation of the gospel and by +the sprinkling of holy water he restored to sense and health, so that +they were able to confess their sins. Further, on two different days +having gone to two children near to death, and deprived of the power +of speech, with the same antidote of the gospel and of holy water, +he restored both to their former health, so that one of them went so +far as to jump suddenly out of his bed and return to his boyish sports. + +The same priest also went, for the sake of hearing confession, to a +man who lived a league and a half from the town, whose body was so +weakened and torn by sickness that he could not bear to be touched +or to be turned from one side to the other. When his confession had +been heard and the gospel had been recited, the father went away on +Saturday of that week. On the following Sunday, when the father asked +how the sick man was, he was told that he had been restored to health, +and had gone out to an island in order to get by hunting what was +necessary for his food. One night, while the daughters of one of the +chiefs were chanting the heads of the Christian law, they looked up +from a sort of portico and saw a crucifix in the sky, with a kind of +crown on the head, rough but beautiful, and with the whole body and +breast plainly visible. It shone like the sun, and went up to heaven +until it reached the sphere of the moon; as soon as it had reached +that it vanished. The sight of this vision caused the spectators as +much joy as its disappearance did sorrow. The father commanded that +the whole thing be recounted in church, in the presence of many, by +those very persons who had seen it; although, as that tribe is very +simple and modest, they showed great fear and shame in telling the +story. Afterwards it was learned that the same crucifix had appeared +in another place two leagues away. This vision ought to be recognized +as of greater value because it befell persons of exceeding virtue, +who are persevering in their pristine habits of holy living. + + + + +Residence of Samar + + +Since the inhabitants of this island are scattered along an extended +coast-line of the sea, it was necessary to send six of the fathers for +the greater part of last year to cultivate it, with the results which +might be expected from such missions. We learned from the letters +of Ours that the people of this island who live along the coast +have begun to offer their names in order to receive the Christian +religion, and that all the chiefs have already been purified by +holy baptism. The duty of visiting fourteen places rests upon this +residence. In this year three thousand six hundred and eighty persons, +for the most part adults, have been joined to the spouse of Christ +through the holy waters of baptism. In one tiny island, which had +not been visited for two years, two of Ours who had been sent thither +on mission were received by the whole tribe with such delight that, +all the way from the beach of the sea to the church of the place, they +adorned all the roads with green branches; and then they were led to +the church by a procession of boys and girls singing the Christian +teaching with joyous voices. And when Ours asked to have placed on +the lists the names of those who desired to receive baptism, they +answered that there was no need of a list, that they all wished to +become Christians. The old men--who are generally more perverse than +the rest, and are unwilling to learn the Christian teaching--brought +forward no other ground for the baptism which they so much desired +than that their old age promised them no long life. Thus all by the +divine grace were made children of God, and inheritors of eternal life. + +The news that these had thus been added to Christ soon moved other +islands also to desire our fathers. On one of these islands, within +fifteen days one hundred and sixty adults and five children forsook +the dark wilderness of infidelity for the light of the gospel. Among +them was one old woman one hundred and thirty years of age--blind, +deaf, incapable of motion; for, wherever she was carried, there she +remained like an unmoving stone. Afterward in other places there were +baptized five hundred adults and two infants. When they returned on +a second mission, after an interval of three months, eight hundred +and thirty-seven were baptized, and from the most of these their +concubines were taken away. Besides this, in other places many were +plunged into the same waters, the total number reaching three thousand +six hundred and eighty. + + + +Residence of Dulac + + +The most ample fruit has resulted from the Christian teaching among +the people of Dulac, [43] given by the seven men of our Society. The +foundations of a boys' school have been laid. In it thirty are imbued +with good morals and solid virtues, and give their aid to Ours in +explaining the catechism to the more ignorant people and those of the +lower order, and that with happy results; for whenever Ours go where +these pupils have exerted their diligence, they find all the people +well prepared to receive baptism. + +To the old Christians and some of the more intelligent adults familiar +sermons are delivered on the life of Christ and those of the saints, +and on the manner of profitably receiving communion, and notable +results are evident. On account of these pious exercises and the +uprightness of life shown by these converts, the Christian religion is +ordinarily held in such high esteem that few remain who do not desire +to be initiated into it by baptism. In Advent and at the feast of the +Nativity we baptized more than seven hundred persons. We have baptized +in all, from last year to the present date, two thousand and twenty, +or more. + +To this residence are annexed, besides other charges, the care of two +great and populous districts, which give surest proof of their virtue +by clean morals and by obedience. We are informed by letters that, +at the feast of the Nativity, in one of them eight hundred infidels +pledged themselves to the Christian faith; and that the believers +do not yield to España in frequenting the sacraments of confession +and communion. + +There was found in one little village an old man leading the life +practically of a hermit; and when our father asked him about his +manner of life, he answered so wisely that the father was greatly +surprised. Among other things he said that though his bodily life +was passed on earth, yet his soul lived in heaven. He had no dreams +at night except about the other life, and he was accustomed to see +the blessed surrounded with great splendor, and one among them who +excelled them all. And when the father gave him a picture of the Last +Judgment to look at, in which was expressed the glory of paradise, +he asked him if his dreams agreed with this picture of the blessed +life. The wonderful old man answered: "Should I see nothing but this, +my father? Much more! much more!" The father was amazed to find such +a treasure of spiritual riches laid up in this man; for he afterward +said that his meditation and the occupation of his mind would be of +nothing else than of Jesus and Mary, until he had exchanged this life +for the eternal one. + +Two of Ours, happening to enter a wretched rustic hut, found a man +more than eighty years old lying upon some reeds. He was deprived +of all his senses and his whole body was so worn out that the skin +scarcely adhered to his bones--a living image of death. Our fathers +pitied the man, and prayed to God for him that He would not deny +His compassion to this most pitiable of men. Soon after, the dying +man revived, and with great joy received baptism. As soon as he had +received it he was again deprived of his senses, and, gently calling +on the names of Jesus and Mary, he rendered up his soul to God. + +Information was brought that there was a man lying grievously ill in +the most distant part of the district. Although we were not a little +deterred from the journey by the darkness of night and the great +number of serpents, as well as by the necessity of crossing a river +full of crocodiles; yet we did not regard all these things as of so +much consequence as the value of a single soul redeemed by the blood +of Jesus Christ. One of the fathers, therefore, went thither, and with +a medicine healed the sick man in the name of Jesus. On the father's +return, something more extraordinary happened to him. He came upon +a sick woman, who, although she did not seem to be dangerously ill, +yet departed to the better life as soon as she had received baptism. As +two of Ours were making their way over a sandy soil at noon, under the +dreadful heat of the burning sun, being without any food or drink, they +laid this their affliction before the Lord God; and behold! suddenly, +at this most unusual time, there was a man sitting on the ground, +who showed himself most kind and courteous. He ungrudgingly offered +to the hungry and thirsty men fresh fruit from his basket. When they +accepted it readily, he not only took great pleasure in that, but +also urged them, with a certain strange earnestness, to feed upon +it as if it were their own. Strengthened with this little meal they +went on, which they could hardly have done otherwise, and offered +great thanks to God that He had come to their assistance in their +extremity. Afterward, when they had considered all the circumstances +of the fact, and of the place in which the man was found with the +fruit, and had reflected that no Indian was in the habit of going on +a journey alone in the heat of the day, and again that, although they +were unknown to him, he had shared the fruit with them so kindly and +generously, they came directly to the conclusion that he was an angel +of God. At least it was a proof of the singular providence of God; +and it is well worthy of belief, that God in this manner had been +willing to show His bounty to them, inasmuch as the said two fathers +had exercised their ministry with great spiritual fruit in that place +from which they had set out on that day. + + + + +Residence of Alangala + + +In this residence four priests and three brethren give their energy to +cultivating the vineyard of the Lord. They go afoot through the rivers, +the pools, and the marshes, the water often reaching to their navels, +and the sun burning above them. But since their labor is wrought +through the love of God, He, in His unmeasured kindness, never +deprives them of His solace in the utmost perils. They write that, +from the end of last year up to the present time, more than fourteen +hundred have received the sacred washing of regeneration. They give +diligent attention to the divine offices, which are celebrated in +this residence with greater magnificence than elsewhere, on account +of the convenience of three Indian chapels, which far surpass the +Spanish. They follow the practice of singing _Salve Regina_, in honor +of our Lady the Virgin; and, throughout Lent, of singing the psalm +_Miserere_ to accompany the discipline. + +Several missions have been established in various places, with +manifold increase of baptisms and other spiritual fruits. I will give +an account of some. While a father was living in one little district, +an Indian, crippled in both hands and feet, made his way straight to +the father by boat, and that alone, to the astonishment of all--God +and his guardian angel doubtless impelling the boat. He begged the +father for baptism, and declared that the author of his request had +been a certain Spaniard who had told him that all those who did not +accept the Christian law would be carried off to hell. + +The greatest results have been obtained from the schools, for the +pupils have each of them become teachers in the paternal homes of +all the domestics; and by the good example of their lives they incite +others to accept the true doctrine. A boy, a cantor in church, being +solicited by a Spaniard to perpetrate a foul deed, answered: "Sir, +I know well by what remedy you should drive away that temptation +of yours. Let us recite together a rosary in honor of the blessed +Virgin Mary, and instantly all these wicked thoughts will vanish in +smoke." Thus by the newly converted Christian he was instructed who +ought rightly to have been the teacher and master of others. + +In the island Leita there were counted last year above five hundred +and twenty-nine thousand souls; and they have the instruction of our +priests only, who are six in number. By their hands the most holy +waters of baptism have, in the course of a year, in this and other +islands, been sprinkled upon at least ten thousand nine hundred +heads. And this, in brief, is the harvest of this vice-province. + + * * * * * + +It only remains that your Paternity should cast your eyes upon this +new and tiny plant, separated from Rome by so great an interval of +distance and situated in the most remote parts of the world, as it +has also obtained the last place in the government of the Society; +and that you should show to it all kindness and favor by sending to it +some laborers with these words from the eighteenth chapter of Isaiah: +_Ite, angeli veloces, ad gentem conuulsam et dilaceratam, ad populum +terribilem, post quem non est alius._ [44] Thus they may bring unto +these places of darkness some light by their preaching of the gospel, +and all may bend the knee before the true God, the maker of the world, +and adore and revere Him. + +These treasures the India of the Philippines offers to your Paternity, +and it is confident that by the divine grace and your blessing it +will offer greater ones. Finally, may our Lord protect and preserve +the health of your Paternity for many years, to the advantage of the +whole church and the increase of the Society. Your Paternity's son +and servant in Christ, + +_Francisco Vaez_ + + + + +Letter from Diego Garcia to Felipe III + + +Sire: + +In the year ninety-nine I came to these islands, by order of my +general, to console and visit in his name the fathers and brothers +of our Society who reside in them. We were much pleased to see how +much has been done for the service of our Lord and your Majesty, +and the good of the Indians. + +The Society of Jesus has in its charge a good part of the islands +called the Pintados, where the holy gospel had never been preached. In +the period of four years, eleven or twelve thousand have been converted +and baptized. Matters are now in such course that in a short time, +with the divine grace, there will be more than forty thousand +baptized. As the priests who are occupied in this conversion are +not more than thirteen, [45] the results, if there were many more, +would also have been incomparably greater. For the honor of God, I +beseech your Majesty to be pleased to command that workers be sent, +as it is a great shame that, when the season for the harvest is upon +us, it should be lost through lack of reapers. + + +_[In the margin of the preceding paragraph_: + +Already provided for."] + +The Indians of these Pintados Islands have by nature good dispositions +and abilities. I have learned by experience with some few, who were +brought up in our houses, from the time when they were children, +that if there were several seminaries where the education of the youth +might be carefully attended to, taking them out of the power of their +heathen parents, while still children (for the latter would give them +up willingly), inside of a few years there would be a very prosperous +Christian community in the sight of God and men. In my opinion there +is no more effective means to establish the faith firmly among these +barbarians than this. + +Your Majesty would do a great service to our Lord by ordering that a +seminary for these people should be established. I believe that the +money which has been collected from the fourths, where there is no +instruction, might well be employed in this work. In all conscience, +it ought to be spent for the spiritual good of those Indians, as +your Majesty directed by your royal decree. And none will do so well +as this, which is the seed for all the rest. I have learned that, +in the royal buildings at Manila, fourteen or fifteen thousand pesos +are spent which are obtained from these fourths. From these and some +other funds which lie in the treasury and are every day accumulating, +several of the said seminaries might be well established. + +[_In the margin of the preceding paragraph:_ "Have the papers brought +which relate to this."] + +It is a great disadvantage for conversions to our holy faith, and +for the civilization of these same Indians, for them to be dispersed +like wild beasts among the mountains. It would be a great relief for +the burden on the royal conscience of your Majesty, if your ministers +should execute the order given by your Majesty to reduce this people +to settlements. As they now are, the labor of the ministers is +immense, and the results are small; and they are unable to establish +Christianity and civilization as they should. [46] + +[_In the margin of the previous paragraph:_ "Write to Don Pedro +de Acuña that with the help of these fathers, with all possible +gentleness, and at the least cost, he shall see to it that the Indians +be thus reduced; and if there be any great difficulty or disadvantage +therein, let him advise us of it."] + +The Indians have many grievances against the corregidors and +encomenderos. With fewer or none of these judges there would be more +justice; and if the encomenderos or collectors of tributes were not +present in villages, the Indians would be better guarded. + +[_In the margin of this paragraph_: "Let Don Pedro de Acuña send +information."] + +The students in this country receive no reward for their studies, +and accordingly tire of them and leave them at the most important +time. It would be well if your Majesty would give permission for us +to graduate them from our courses of study, which are the first that +were established in this country. In this way the sons of the country +will be encouraged; and the cost of bringing masters from España, +and maintaining them with a perpetual salary, will be saved to the +royal treasury. In great part there will also be saved the expense of +bringing ministers from Europe, since they will be trained in this +country--where they are used to the climate, and know the language +of the natives. Although at present we cannot found so organized +a university, at least they can be graduated in arts and theology, +which are the sciences lectured upon in our Society. + +[_In the margin of this paragraph_: "Provided for in the duplicate +of this."] + +There are many persons in these islands who have toiled in the service +of your Majesty, and your Majesty would direct his favor well if +he extended it, among others, to Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor +of this royal Audiencia, who is a man of good parts and fitted for +any matter pertaining to the service of your Majesty. Likewise the +licentiate Don Antonio de Ribera, auditor of this royal Audiencia, +has done a great deal in saving a galleon in which was carried the +entire wealth and support of this country. Captain Hernando de Avila, +treasurer of the royal exchequer of your Majesty, is filling that +office as a faithful servant. Captain Christoval Ascueta Menchaca +has served many years and is worthy of reward. + +[_In the margin_: "On the memorandum of the exchequer."] + +Throughout our entire order, especial care is taken in all matters +respecting your Majesty, and we shall still continue this, beseeching +our Lord to protect your Majesty many years for us, as He may see +is fitting for the welfare of His church and of the kingdoms of your +Majesty. Manila, July 8, 1601. + +_Diego Garcia_, visitor of the Society of Jesus. + + + + + +Letter from the Fiscal to Felipe III + + +Sire: + +I, the licentiate Geronimo de Salazar y Salcedo, fiscal for your +Majesty in the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria of the Philipinas +Islands, say that, as it has been heard in the islands that your +Majesty has done them the favor of appointing Don Pedro de Acuña as +governor and captain-general, and president of the royal Audiencia, +this has greatly pleased and satisfied them, on account of the good +reputation which he has of being an excellent soldier, and not at all +self-seeking. Therefore his arrival is desired, because it is very +necessary for all and [_illegible in MS._] for the matters of war, +in which many mistakes have been made up to the present time--which I +will not mention, however, since the remedy is so soon expected with +the arrival of Don Pedro de Acuña. If this had occurred a year ago, +it is certain that a great misfortune would have been avoided which +these islands suffered, and which was as follows. + +On the sixteenth of October of the year 1600 just past, there entered +the little bay of Aluay, which is in these islands, near the entrance +to them, two vessels, which, from some people who went on board of +them, were found to belong to strangers. After having robbed some +vessels they came toward the port of Cavite, which is two leguas from +this city, and is the place where vessels anchor. It was decided that +some ships should be fitted out in the aforesaid port--namely, a ship +built in the island of Cebu, called the "Sant Diego," which belonged +to some private persons; a galicabra called the "Sant Bartolome," which +belongs to your Majesty; a galley of twenty benches, also belonging to +your Majesty; and a pataje belonging to some Portuguese from Malaca, +who were in the port. [47] + +It seemed to Don Francisco Tello, governor and captain-general of +these islands and president of the royal Audiencia, and to the doctor +Antonio de Morga and the licentiate Cristoval Tellez de Almacan, +auditors therein, that it would be well, in order that the ships +might be got ready in the best way and as quickly as possible, for +the aforesaid Dr. Antonio de Morga to go to Cavite for that purpose, +and so he went there early in November. Later, desiring to go as +commander-in-chief of the expedition, he asked for that office from +the president, who proposed it to the licentiate Cristoval Tellez de +Almacan, desiring him to secure it through a session of the Audiencia, +but the latter opposed it. I afterward spoke to him of the lack there +was of auditors, and of some other matters, and suggested to him to +write about this and let each one give his opinion. Yet, although +the said president agreed to do so, he did not, but secretly gave +the title of commander-in-chief of the fleet to the said Dr. Antonio +de Morga, although your Majesty had here Don Juan Ronquillo, who was +receiving a salary as commander-in-chief of the galleys, and who was +a veteran soldier, together with many others who have well approved +themselves on the occasions for service which have arisen. The doctor, +fearing that the president might change his mind, made haste to leave +the port; and, although he could have had the galeota fitted out, +he did not do so. It was understood that the reason given was that +Don Juan Ronquillo said that it should not go out because he was +commander-in-chief of the galleys for your Majesty, and that the +right to go in the galeota could not be taken from him. Likewise, +although he could have taken the pataje from Malaca, for which he had +received some supplies and artillery at your Majesty's expense, he did +not wait for it; and some say that friends of the doctor said that he +ought not to take the pataje, because the Portuguese on it said that +he should not, although the victory would have been to their account. + +So on the twelfth of December he set out from Cavite for the port of +Mariveles, which is seven leguas distant, and there [_MS. illegible_] +the flagship which was the ship "Sant Diego;" and on the following day, +the thirteenth, at eleven or twelve o'clock of a very black night, +he left the port of Mariveles, without informing his admiral's ship, +which was the galicabra, and in which sailed as admiral the captain +Juan de Alcega. However, after the flagship had been gone more than an +hour, the other ship saw it by accident, and went after it. At daybreak +our flagship recognized that of the enemy, which, together with its +admiral's ship, was between the islands of Anacebu and Fortun. On +account of the roughness of the weather, they were unable to unite; +so the enemy's flagship kept up into the wind to wait for ours, +which gained the windward of it and closed with it under full sail, +while the admiral's ship of the enemy took to flight. + +Meanwhile the two flagships were fighting. For each man of the enemy +our ship had four Spaniards--not to mention the Indians and negroes, +who helped very much--and a great deal of artillery, powder, and +munitions and instruments of war; and they destroyed the enemy to +such an extent that as many of our men as wished to do so entered it +and took the banners and standards and other things belonging to the +enemy, without having anyone appear on it, for they had retired to the +bow. At this point our admiral's ship arrived, and with its artillery +and arquebuses did some damage to the Dutch flagship; and our men on +it, especially Alonso de Mansilla, the sargento-mayor's adjutant, +called aloud, telling the others not to do them any damage, but to +pass on to the admiral's ship of the enemy, because their flagship +had already surrendered to your Majesty; whereupon our admiral's ship +went in pursuit of the Dutch admiral's ship, which was more than two +leguas away. The two flagships remained thus over three hours more, +besides the two during which they had already been together. The enemy +did not fight, and on our ship there was no one to order or govern, +or command anyone to pass to the other ship. Then it was said that +our ship was going to the bottom, and so loudly that the enemy heard +it and took courage again. In our ship there was no one to command +what was to be done, so that it did go to the bottom. There escaped on +mattresses and on shields, and by swimming, Dr. Antonio de Morga and +[_illegible in MS._] other persons; but more than as many Spaniards +again were lost, and more than a hundred Indians and negroes. The best +artillery that there was in these islands, which had been taken from +the fortresses for this purpose, was also utterly lost, besides all +that the vessel carried, which was a great deal. That same day the +admiral, Juan de Alcega, captured the Dutch admiral's ship, and sent +its men to this city. + +Then it was that they were found to be Dutch. They called themselves +vassals of Mauricio, Prince of Orange and Count of Nasau; and they +bore a patent, a copy of which is subjoined. The president thought +it well to send after the enemy's flagship, and for this purpose +he ordered that our admiral's ship should go, with Admiral Juan +de Alcega as commander; and that the Dutch vessel should go as +admiral's ship, with Captain Juan Tello de Aguirre as admiral, who +had had the position over the infantry in our admiral's ship. They +went where they were ordered, but did not find a trace of the Dutch +flagship. The commander of this was Oliver van Noordt, and in command +of the admiral's ship was Lanverto Viesman. They were heretics who, +with other ships, had set out from the port of Nostradamus [_i.e._, +Amsterdam] in Olanda, on the twelfth of September in the year 98; +and had come by the Canaria Islands and by Brasil, through the Strait +of Magallanes and along the coast of Chile, to these islands. + +As I thought from the beginning, as soon as I knew of the loss of +our flagship, that they would try to conceal it from your Majesty, +I made an investigation about it, a copy of which is subjoined. [48] +From this it can be seen who was to blame; and whatever is written to +your Majesty contrary to this, or to what is contained in the report on +the investigation, is not to be relied upon. The president has made an +investigation in this matter, trying to shield himself and the guilty +ones; and it has been carried on in such a way that it is known that +no witness has dared to tell the truth. On this account I presented a +petition to the president, asking that he refrain from trying the case, +because the witnesses did not speak freely for fear of the power of the +guilty, and because I intended to ask your Majesty to appoint a judge +who could try the case, since the president could not do so. I also +asked that a copy might be given to me of all that had been written +about this matter, in order that I might give it to your Majesty and +ask for what might be proper. This was denied me by the president, +and I appealed to the royal Audiencia, but for lack of auditors, +of whom there was only the licentiate Tellez de Almazan, no action +was taken. If a judge were to be appointed, there would be none who +would dare to declare against the will of the guilty. Although the +licentiate Don Antonio de Rivera Maldonado has come since, it has +been impossible for me to take up this matter, because I have been +ill now for more than forty days. So I beg your Majesty to order +that this report be examined, and that whatever is proper may be +done. Our Lord keep the Catholic and royal person of your Majesty, +with a greater increase of realms and power. From Manila, which is +in the Philipinas Islands, on the sixteenth of July of the year 1601. + +_Hieronimo de Salazar y Salcedo_ + + + + + +Complaint of the Cabildo of Manila Against Morga + + +Sire: + +The most faithful city of Manila in the Philipinas Islands humbly +informs your Majesty that for some years past this city and realm +have suffered, and are at present suffering, so many hardships and +misfortunes, both in wars and in the loss of wealth and prestige, that +it has been very close to entire ruin. This has arisen and arises +not from unavoidable accidents which ordinarily happen in states +and communities, but from those which the persons in charge of the +government and who reside there could avoid, but do not prepare for; +and they are notoriously due to the fault and misgovernment of the +persons to whom your Majesty has entrusted the administration of these +islands--partly on account of their scant energy and vigilance, but +most of all through what has resulted from their not being willing +to fulfil the orders, instructions, and royal decrees which your +Majesty had previously issued for the attainment of your objects +and for particular ends; these they have directly violated. Since +such conditions require a remedy, and as this must depend upon the +royal will of your Majesty, who are not informed of the actual truth +concerning events which have occurred here, these states must remain +without relief on your Majesty's part, and with the said danger of our +ruin. Owing to the general obligation which rests upon us as vassals +of your Majesty, and that which in conscience especially obliges us +as regidors of this city, which is the capital of all these islands, +the following account has been written. + +In the first place, a matter whence many other losses have resulted +is this. Your Majesty having ordered the conquest of the kingdom of +Mindanao to be entrusted to Captain Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa, +conformably to the edict or ordinance which treats of the conquest of +newly-discovered countries and settlements in the Yndias, and this +order having been despatched to the said Captain Estevan Rodriguez +de Figueroa, Governor Don Louis Das Mariñas arrived here in the year +96. When the former reached Mindanao with his expedition, he (and he +alone) was killed by the natives of that island on the unfortunate +day of St. Mark of the same year. When Don Francisco Tello arrived +in the following June of the said year and took this government, he +immediately undertook to send a person to conduct the said conquest +of Mindanao. As all the troops were there which had been taken by +the said Captain Estevan Rodriguez, and as Don Joan Ronquillo (your +Majesty's commander of the galleys and of naval affairs in these +islands) had gone there with another detachment of troops, and had +remained in the said islands until March of the year 98--where, during +all this time, he won many victories over the enemy, and latterly one +against the king of Terrenate (who was sending his fleet to aid the +said island), wherein he routed and captured the vessels and killed +their commander, who was an uncle of the said king of Terrenate--at +this the natives of the said island of Mindanao, who until that +time had defended themselves, began negotiations for surrender, +and for rendering submission to your Majesty; a part of them did +so, and paid tribute to your Majesty. The said Don Francisco Tello, +with the approval of Doctor Antonio de Morga, without considering +the state in which this matter lay, or reflecting upon the injuries +which might result from issuing such orders as they did (as may be +seen later by what will be written further on), sent the said Don +Joan Rronquillo an order to dismantle the fortifications of the said +island, without leaving any fortified station, and to tear down the +forts which your Majesty held there. Although he saw the great loss +which would result from this, yet, as there was a clause in the said +order directing him to do this without any reply, under penalty of +being held contumacious and liable to punishment, he left the said +island and came to this city with the fleet and troops which he had +there, in the month of April of the year 98. The said Don Francisco +Tello and the said Doctor Morga, seeing the great error which they had +committed, attempted to exonerate themselves before the said Don Joan +Rronquillo should arrive in this city. They arrested him, charging him +with having taken away the protection of the said island of Mindanao, +without their having sent him any strict order which would oblige him +to do it. In order to give color to this--as they were aware that, in +the voyage which the said Don Joan Rronquillo made while returning, +his ship was partly wrecked, and they supposed that the said order +which they had sent him had been lost, they intrigued with the +government notary, and had him produce in the prosecution against +the said Don Joan the order which had been given to dismantle the +fortresses of Mindanao, omitting therefrom those words which made +it obligatory for him to do so--namely, that he should do so under +penalty of being contumacious and liable to punishment. In this way +they were released from responsibility for their act, and the said +Don Joan Ronquillo was inculpated without excuse, since in so serious +an affair he, being on the spot, should not have done so for a simple +command. The case having been continued, and he having presented the +original order which they thought had been lost, and having given other +explanations, he was even by them acquitted of that charge. All this +appears sufficiently by the record of the case, which remains in these +islands. Your Majesty having been made aware of the abandonment of +the said islands during the last year, there arrived here your royal +decree directing the investigation and punishment of whomsoever was +responsible. As they were to blame in the affair, as can be seen by +this relation, they remained silent, and have taken no action. From +the abandonment of what was already gained, through the said order, +it has followed that the Indians who are natives of the said islands of +Ufanos, which the Spaniards had left, considering that this was due to +fear, assembled, with others from other neighboring kingdoms, to come +to work havoc in the lands of your Majesty. Accordingly, in the past +year of 1600 they came with a fleet of many vessels to the Pintados +provinces, which are subject to your Majesty; and in the region known +as Bantayan they burned the village and the church, killed many, and +took captive more than eight hundred persons. Thence they came to the +river of Panay, an encomienda assigned to the royal crown, and killed +a great many more, taking six hundred more prisoners from the said +encomiendas. They burned the church and the image of our Lady which +was in it, which a few days before that had for a considerable time +miraculously sweated out many drops of water, as if in premonition of +the impending event. They drank out of the chalice in their feasts, +scoffing at the consecration of it, after the fashion of Mahometan +people, whereby the natives and Spaniards of those regions were +greatly afflicted and terrorized, as may be imagined. + +As has already been said, the reason for the coming of these +Indians to inflict the said damage was the command to take away your +Majesty's camp from the said land of Mindanao. But the cause for +their having wrought those injuries after they arrived was, as was +said at the beginning, that the order and decree of your Majesty +was not obeyed. For your Majesty had in this camp four captains +of infantry with the four hundred soldiers which your Majesty had +commanded to be left there as a garrison, and the said captains were +satisfactory persons; and it was ordered that there should be no more +than the said four captains there, as any more would be superfluous, +since there were so few soldiers. Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor of +this royal Audiencia, has reached such arrogance and restlessness of +mind, caused by his having wrought so many injuries to this afflicted +commonwealth through the power and authority which he has, both +in general and in particular, to many citizens thereof; but, with +his customary facility for speaking ill to some one's prejudice, he +escapes, without anyone daring to speak of the matter. In the little +time which he had spent in this country, he found himself rich and +powerful through his trading and commerce. Accordingly he commenced to +procure taking away the employments and offices from soldiers and men +of war whom your Majesty has here, and appropriated them to himself +and his relations. Thus, contrary to the said limitation of number, +and in violation of what your Majesty commands by your ordinances +and decrees--namely, that offices of profit shall not be given to the +auditors, or to their kindred, servants, or dependents--Governor Don +Francisco Tello appointed, as alcalde-mayor of the island of Mindoro, +a certain Pedro Cotelo de Morales, a first cousin of the wife of the +said Doctor Morga, who came with the latter to these islands; and +passed by, in giving it, many of the conquerors and poor settlers. But +the said Doctor Morga would not accept this, saying that he would +have no appointment for him unless it was a paid captaincy. The man +was a mere youth, and in all his life had never fired an arquebus, +and was not skilled or experienced in war. On the contrary, he had +led a very evil life, which cannot be fittingly described to your +Majesty, and so is left unsaid. Accordingly, to give some color to +what he desired to do, and in order that he might not appear to +be exceeding the said number of four captains, the said governor +appointed this man captain of infantry, so that he could go out of +this city to the said Pintados provinces, where they were in fear +that the said enemies were going. He was assigned the regular salary +for a captain, and in like manner the other officers of his company +were established with pay; and they likewise were men of the same way +of life and the same amount of experience in war as the said Pedro +Cotelo. He went with the troops to the city of Santisimo Nombre de +Jhesus, which is in the said provinces of the Pintados, thus leaving +in this city of Manila the four regular captains of infantry, who had +some knowledge of the affair, in idleness and without any troops; +for among all four of the companies there did not remain a hundred +soldiers fit for service. As he was in the said city at the time when +the said enemies came, and received word that they were in the said +village of Bantayan, the alcalde-mayor and commander of the troops +of war, who was in the said city, despatched the said Pedro Cotelo +de Morales with ships and troops against them. Although the journey +from the place where he was to that where the enemies were situated +was two days long, he took four to it. If he had arrived at the time +when he might have done so, he would have found the enemy drawn up +on the land, and would have burned their fleet and taken away their +prizes. When he arrived, sailing on from that place, he again heard +the noise of the engines of war which they had with them, near some +islands; and some of the soldiers, even, climbing up the masts of +the ships, saw those of the enemy. But he would not go against them +either, alleging various excuses--as your Majesty may have seen more +at length by the information which accompanies this. + +Besides this, the said Pedro Cotelo Morales, having arrived with +his fleet at the town of Arevalo, a settlement of Spaniards, the +commander and alcalde-mayor there resident gave him more ships and +troops, and ordered him in a council of war (in which Pedro Cotelo +himself took part) to go and seek the enemy; and, if he did not find +him in an island near there, to come back immediately to the said +town of Arevalo on account of the fear lest the enemy should escape +thither. The said Pedro Cotelo, taking no heed of the said order, +as one who held the post of alcalde should, and in order to flee the +battle, did not observe this command, and went into another region +without coming back to the said town. In the meantime the enemy came +there and landed, and the town was almost ruined. They killed the +alcalde-mayor and commander of the troops, and then withdrew. If the +said Pedro Cotelo had come back as had been ordered by the said council +of war, he would have found them fighting there with their ships +in the bays and rivers, in such wise that not a man or a ship could +escape. In this way the enemy left with the two prizes mentioned. And +this year we have even now information that they are coming back with +increased forces; and in the preparation which has been already made +or is now under way, more than fifty thousand pesos have been spent +from the exchequer of your Majesty and furnished by private persons, +to say nothing of the losses which the pirates will inflict when +they return. The said Doctor Morga has been to blame for all this; +because, contrary to the orders of your Majesty, he succeeded in +having his relative placed in an office which he did not deserve, and +for which he was not competent. Concerning this last affair, a copy +of the proceedings of the council of war was sent to your Majesty, +in which was the above-mentioned order to the said Cotelo. In order +that it may be more thoroughly proved, they sent to the said town of +Arevalo to have the matter investigated; but the magistrate there, +for fear of the said Doctor Morga, would take no action. + +The said Doctor Morga, continuing his bold acts, was not content with +having been responsible for the losses to property. Two Dutch ships +having arrived in the past year of six hundred, in these islands, +and having come in the month of November to the mouth of the bay of +this city, while they were beating about in the bay, ships were put +in readiness to go out against them. The said Don Joan Ronquillo, +commander of the naval forces of your Majesty, having gone to the +port of Cavite for this purpose, the said Doctor Morga commenced his +machinations, and claimed that he should go as commander of the said +expedition. To give this some foundation and color, when the said Don +Joan Ronquillo had come to this city to seek various supplies for the +said expedition, he was arrested; and on the next day following the +said Doctor Morga went to the port of Cavite, saying that he had best +be present in person to encourage the despatching of the fleet. In +fact, through scheming and plotting, and by the authority of his +office, he succeeded in taking the said expedition away from the said +Don Joan Rronquillo, and having it given to himself. He wrote letters, +the originals of which are extant, to the governor of these islands, +asking him that, even if Don Joan Rronquillo should petition for +judgment against him, he in no wise respond or have to do with him +until the despatch of the vessels should be completed, so that the +latter might not appeal to the Audiencia and obtain a decree which +would hinder the said Doctor Morga in the expedition. When three ships +were armed and fitted with artillery to go out against the enemy's +fleet, he went with the two vessels, which were the flagship and +almiranta, to the island of Mariveles, eight leagues from the point of +Cavite and five leagues from where the enemy were--without awaiting +the other third ship which lay at Cavite, and belonged to several +Portuguese, which arrived at the said island of Marbeles the same night +when Doctor Morga sailed away. Having sighted the enemy on Thursday +morning, without waiting for Captain Joan de Alcega, who was in the +other ship, as admiral, or taking advice as to what should be done, +he was confident of the victory on account of the report which had +been made concerning the few troops which the enemy carried, and the +large number that he himself had on board with him. Consequently the +flukes of the anchors were put upon the side of the ship; and having +come up with and grappled the enemy at the sixth hour, the latter, +seeing the force which the flagship had, gave up, and put himself +with all his men under cover, without firing a single arquebus for +more than an hour by the clock. Some of the soldiers and sailors from +our ship, having entered theirs without orders (for the said Doctor +was not able to give the order), and having found the deck of the +enemy's ship without men and all the troops withdrawn--the banners +being captured, and cast over to our ships--when the enemy saw how +little care was given to the taking possession, since the troops were +coming aboard without orders or any plan, they began to recover their +courage somewhat, and commenced to defend themselves. When they had +killed one or two of ours, as the latter had no one to command or +direct them--because the said Doctor, as soon as they came in to +close quarters with the enemy, had thrown himself down behind the +capstan of the ship with a number of mattresses--the troops became so +demoralized that no one was able to accomplish anything. Although some +of them went up to the said Doctor and told him to board the ship, +or to send troops on board of it with an order, he would not do so, +as he was so overcome by fright and lacking in courage. Likewise, +when they came to tell him that the ship was taking in much water +through the gun-ports, because, when the fleeing troops left the +side where they were grappled, and passed to the other side without +fighting, the said ship careened and the water entered--although +he was told of this several times, that he might remedy it, it was +the same in this matter as the rest. Accordingly so much water was +entering the ship that it was in danger. A father of the Society of +Jesus, bearing a crucifix in his hand, told him that since the ship +was in danger he should go over with the men to that of the enemy; +since as they were so near together, and there was no resistance, +it would be like passing from one dwelling to another. He would +not do it, but on the contrary threw the mattresses with which he +had fortified the capstan into the water, in order to go to a small +islet which lay near and escape, as he did. The enemy rushed upon +all the troops, who threw themselves into the water, and the killed +and drowned amounted to more than one hundred and twenty Spaniards +of the most distinguished and important people of these islands, +without counting more than a hundred negroes and natives beside. + +Such was the manner of the surrender of the said ship of the enemy +as soon as it was grappled. When the said captain, Joan de Alcega, +arrived with his almiranta on the other beam of the enemy, giving him +a volley of artillery and musketry, and when he finally undertook to +board the enemy's ship, the Spaniards who were on the inside under +its deck (among them being the adjutant of the sargento-mayor), told +them not to fire, or they would kill the Spaniards; and to go ahead +and follow the enemy's almiranta, which had taken to flight, as the +flagship was already in your Majesty's hands, and there was nothing to +do there. Accordingly the said admiral went after the other ship, and, +coming up with it three or four leagues away, caused its surrender and +brought the enemies who remained alive to this city, where justice was +meted to them. The ship, with very good artillery, lies in this port. + +Besides the said loss, there was much artillery which the said Doctor +Morga was taking in the said ship, and supplies of war, as he had +taken what lay in the forts of this city, leaving them destitute of +supplies, and the royal storehouses almost without powder; for he +took six hundred barrels of it on the said flagship. Owing to the +lack of men--so great that hardly anyone appeared on the streets--and +that of the said artillery and arms of various kinds, this city was +in such danger of ruin as never before, if some of the many enemies +who surround it had attacked it with even a small force. Likewise the +opportunity for the capture of the said flagship of the enemy was lost, +in which was stored all which they had captured since leaving Olanda, +and twenty pieces of artillery which they brought, many stores, and +eight hundred muskets--all of which they were carrying, according +to the declaration of the enemies who were in our power. For this +country, where there is such a want of that kind of articles, and +so many occasions continually arising in which they are necessary, +it would have been of great importance and value; but the enemy is +taking them away to buy with them cloves and pepper, and other drugs +from these regions, as they are at present doing. For we have certain +news that they went to the Maluco Islands, where they are anchored, +and will leave the enemy there--who are most warlike, and who are most +continually making war upon us--strengthened with arms like ours, +whereby they will become skilful in their use; and from that will +follow many difficulties, as may be imagined. + +Likewise there results another very great injury to these regions, +because, the said ship of the enemy having escaped, they carry with +them an excellent knowledge of these regions and of the sailing-routes; +for day by day they record in writing their bearings, and the courses +by which they have navigated. There is a society which has been formed +in Olanda and other states, for the destruction of these regions, +according to the account which all the enemies who were captured alive +agreed in. Five great galleons for this purpose were being built here, +so that if any of those ships should come from there the Spaniards +might sally out with more force. + +We are sending your Majesty a copy of an information in this matter +which was secured by your Majesty's fiscal with great secrecy, before +the licentiate Almacan, auditor of this royal Audiencia. There +is likewise a testimonial concerning the arms, military stores, +artillery, and troops taken by the said Doctor Morga, in his flagship +against that of the enemy; of the troops, not more than fifty-six +people in all came back. There is another to the effect that on the +morning of the day when the enemy were discovered the commander sent +to the admiral fourteen of the twenty-seven that he had. There are +some documents, drawn up at the petition of the said Doctor Morga, +concerning the artillery and other articles which he caused to be given +to the third ship that he was to take with him. On account of his not +waiting for this two hours, and not being willing to assign it men, +the misfortune came about by which, as he confesses in his petition, +two hundred persons escaped; whereas it is known that the dead of the +Spaniards alone amounted to more than a hundred and twenty, so that, +according to this, he took five or six men with him for every enemy. + +He has drawn up a number of informations which, considering the dignity +and power of his office, may obscure this truth and give some color to +his case, as he is confident that it has done--and as he has likewise +done in other matters, as he has used such bold and excessive measures +ever since his arrival in this country. In this manner he has reached +such a point that he petitioned for justice because he, as commander, +had to divide the prize which he took in the enemy's captured ship, +and maintained that a great part of it belonged to him. Afterward, +by another petition he says that, as a vassal and servant of your +Majesty, he relinquishes the part which falls to him and gives it +to your Majesty, so that a share of what was taken may be given to +him. A copy of these petitions is being sent, which makes this evident. + +There is also sent a copy of the commission as commander which the +said Doctor Morga bore, and an edict which he drew up and enacted, by +which the governor ordered him to go as commander. We do not undertake +to explain to your Majesty any of the matter therein contained, +since in these papers may be plainly seen what audacity he shows in +trying to make it understood that he is a warrior, and that at other +times, by your Majesty's order, he has had similar matters in charge; +and from those very papers may be learned his conduct in many other +matters in this country, against many people, without his taking into +consideration in the least what was owing to them. + +The majority of the people through all this city have been hurt and +injured, from the time when he came to this country, by the procedures +of the said Doctor Morga, both in his actions and words against +them, and in letters which he has written treacherously regarding +the circumstances of various people, signing false names to them, +and disguising his handwriting. Afterward he showed copies of these +to other persons, in order to give the impression that he was not +the author of them. At present, since this affair, the ill-feeling +has grown with all these people, and become much greater, because +most of the soldiers whom he took (serving at their own expense) +went under threat and against their will; and as the relatives of our +citizens died on this occasion, and their death was notoriously due +to the fault and mismanagement of the said Doctor, it could not fail +to arouse resentment against him. In the same way the said Doctor has +been opposed to them, so that all the men who went in the almiranta are +desirous of maintaining that they conquered, and not he; consequently +what with the ill-feeling of the said Doctor against some of them, and +of others against him, there are very few people in these islands who +are not concerned. Accordingly he is odious and suspected in his office +by all men; and no lawsuit is brought up in which he is not accused, +as is now happening in several cases. The general ill-feeling here +is no less owing to the fact that, whereas there are so many soldiers +here who have come to these regions with no declared object except to +serve your Majesty, and have done so since their arrival here, with +good success, the said Doctor Morga should bring this about under +the claim and pretext that there were no persons in these islands +to whom such a matter could be entrusted; and that by this means the +Spaniards had lost a victory so obviously theirs that it would without +doubt have been gained if it had been entrusted to the least famous +soldier here. We humbly beseech your Majesty in consideration of all +these matters pertaining to the said Doctor, that a remedy may be +applied to them, as is usually done by your Majesty, owing to your +holy zeal and righteous justice. May our Lord protect your Majesty +as we, your Majesty's vassals, desire. Manila, July 20, 1601. + + +_Don Gonzalo Ronquillo de Vallesteros_ +_Francisco de las Missas_ +_Francisco Mercado Dandrade_ +_Hernando da_ [_illegible in MS._] +_Bernardino de Avila_ +_Diego Melendez Florez_ + + +By command of the city of Manila: + +_Luys de Contreras_, clerk of the cabildo. + + + + + +Letter from Morga to Felipe III + + +Sire: + +During the month of March of the past year, 1600, there passed +through the Strait of Magallanes into the South Sea a squadron of +armed ships from Holland, belonging to Count Mauricio, having as +commander Oliver de el Nort, and as admiral Lamberto Biezman, with +a patent and instructions in Flemish and Castilian to make war with +fire and sword upon the Castilians and Portuguese whom they might +meet in these parts. After they had made a few captures of little +importance on the coast of Piru, the commander's ship and admiral's +ship, together with their long-boats, came to these islands, where they +came out of the channel on the sixteenth of November of the said year. + +Governor Don Francisco Tello found himself unprovided with any kind of +fleet to resist them by sea; for he had no galleys and no other kind +of ship with which to carry on offensive warfare, because a galizabra +which had been commenced the year before in the shipyard of Cavite had +been abandoned, and its build changed to that of a merchant ship. As +he feared that the enemy would come down to the said port, and burn +the few ships which were on the voyage from Nueva España, in order +to secure himself from the seaside at all points he commanded Don +Juan Ronquillo de Castillo (who was drawing his salary as commander +of galleys when there were none) immediately to go to the said port, +and put it in a state of defense, and build a fleet with which to go +out against the pirate. He went to the port, which is two leagues +from this city, and on the third day returned to the city without +having undertaken to do anything, or shown any disposition to do +so. He interposed difficulties, and asked for so many things which +he said were necessary, and which were not at hand, that he made the +thing out impossible; and not only was the governor disgusted with him +for it, but Don Juan allowed himself to say things which obliged the +governor to arrest him, as he did. The pirate continued his voyage in +the direction of the bay of this city, and the president and governor, +seeing himself hard pressed, communicated with the Audiencia and sought +its aid. The latter, desiring to make the greatest effort possible, +decided that I should go to Cavite and put the port in a state of +defense and likewise secure a fleet. I opposed no difficulties or +excuses to this, nor did I seek any rewards or aids for the expense, +nor any impossible things. On the contrary, that same day I went to +the port and fortified it so adequately that it was in a good state +of defense--so that, although the enemy came into the mouth of the +bay, they dared not enter or carry out their designs, on account +of the knowledge that they had of my preparation. At the same time +I finished the galizabra and launched it; and I fitted out another +vessel, belonging to private persons, which lay there. I armed both of +them and set sail in thirty days with a number of volunteer troops, +men of quality, who were resolved to accompany me on the service of +your Majesty on such an occasion (all at their own cost), as the enemy +was well established at the mouth of the bay, waiting for the ships +of the Chinese and the vessels from Nueva España with the silver, +in order to capture them. When the governor saw the state in which +I had put things, and at so little cost to your Majesty's exchequer, +and that the troops with which the expedition must be made would not +do so, or even go in the fleet if I did not go as its leader, and +realized the great importance of promptness, he ordered me in the name +of your Majesty to make the expedition immediately. He told me that in +no other wise on this occasion could I serve your Majesty. I obeyed, +and made ready to go where I was ordered, without seeking any pay of +profit. I spent more than four thousand pesos of my scanty property +to procure the necessaries for the expedition, some reenforcements, an +outfit of arms, and other things. I risked my person, honor, property, +and the support of ten children whom God has given me, and a good wife, +solely for the service of God and your Majesty; for it is certain that +no other interest or profit could take me from my house, where I was +in quiet and safety, since I never sought or asked for this thing. + +This resolution was distasteful to the said Don Juan Ronquillo de el +Castillo and his retainers--chief of whom are the factor, Francisco +de las Missas [49] and the licentiate Tellez Almaçan, auditor of this +Audiencia. These men quite openly proposed to the governor to give +Don Juan the expedition, as he was the commander of the galleys; +and other things to this purpose, which satisfied the governor but +little. It seemed best to him not to change the design if I should +desire it, or at least should not be burdened by it. + +I sailed with the two armed ships in quest of the pirate, from the port +of Cabite, on the twelfth of December. On Thursday, the fourteenth +of the same month, I came to close quarters with him, and the battle +resulted as your Majesty will learn more at length by the relation +which accompanies this. + +I took as admiral, by the appointment of the governor, a certain +captain Juan de Alcega, a citizen of this city, and a partisan of +the said Don Juan Ronquillo; he is for this reason a great friend of +the said licentiate Tellez Almaçan, the auditor, and likewise because +at the time when he came to this city the latter was hospitable and +kind to him, and has always continued so. He is a man skilful in war +with the Indians, as it is practiced here; but is of an irritable +temperament, and desirous of having his own way on occasion, without +obeying his superiors, of which there has been proof enough. When +I had fully recognized the enemy and knew that he was carrying +all his force on the flagship, I ordered the admiral in writing on +the day before the battle, what particularly must be done--namely, +that with both our ships we must engage the said flagship of the +pirates. Accordingly as soon as I discovered the enemy the next day, +I kept the almiranta near me, and grappled with the enemy and moored +to him. When the admiral arrived and should have done the same, +he shoved the tiller aside and, without my order, contrary to the +command which I had given him, went after the almiranta of the pirate, +which was sailing away; thus he left me unprotected and alone, for +which reason my commander's ship fared as recounted in the relation. + +For this disobedience, and others of which he was guilty and of great +importance, immediately upon our entrance into the city the governor +arrested the said captain Juan de Alcega, and is proceeding against +him. Through the favor of the said auditor and his party, and various +measures which they have taken--especially with the licentiate Salazar, +fiscal of this Audiencia, who is openly of the said party--they +have shielded him in this case in such manner as might be expected +of a person who is so near losing his office, and to whom it is so +important not to make more enemies for his residencia. Accordingly +thus far there has been nothing done in the case, and I have no hope +that anything will be accomplished by the present proceedings. + +This Captain Joan de Alcega was freighter of the ship "Santo Thomas" +[50] in the year 99, which left here for Nueva España in company with +two other vessels from this city. In the loading of this ship, so +great was the dishonesty and deceit on his part that it is understood +that your Majesty's exchequer was defrauded of more than a hundred +thousand pesos. The governor, in order to wash his hands of this +wrongdoing, began suit against them and condemned them to heavy +fines and penalties, as he must have informed your Majesty. The case +came on appeal to this Audiencia. On account of the said friendship +and partiality, the fiscal hushed up this case, as he has others, +without discussion upon it, and with no reparation to your Majesty +or to this commonwealth. + +In this manner Juan de Alcega not only remained unpunished but, aided +by the said persons with several letters, informations and documents, +which they had secretly made and composed, they are attempting to +underrate my good service and seek for him the reward. I have not +wished to set down in a boastful way anything more than the naked +truth, which your Majesty now has before your eyes. I most humbly +beseech your Majesty to be pleased to look upon my good intentions +and labors with the clemency and benevolence which they deserve, +extending to me the favor which is due, in such wise that they shall +not remain without the recompense which the servants of your Majesty +receive on similar occasions. And the chief of these should be to +order me withdrawn from this exile, to a place where I can spend the +rest of my life in greater peace in the service of your Majesty, and +start my children upon the same path. God protect the royal Catholic +person of your Majesty for many long years. Manila, June 30, 1601. + +_Don Antonio de Morga_ + + + + + +Grant to Jesuit School in Cebu + + +Sire: + +Hernando de Espinosa, procurator of the Society of Jesus in the +Yndias, in the name of the residence [51] of this order in the +city of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus of the Philipinas Islands, has +represented that, because of the great need of persons to administer +the sacraments to Spaniards, Indians, and Sangleys residing in and +about that city, and to preach to them the holy gospel, the provincial +of the said Society, with the permission of the governor, founded the +said residence six years ago. It is productive of much good, for, +besides the preaching to the Spaniards, natives, and Sangleys, and +hearing their confessions, the other sacraments are administered to +them; and there is a school where reading and writing are taught and +Latin studied, which is of great gain and benefit to the community. The +religious who are there are in great poverty; for they have no income, +nor do they receive any alms from the people. The said procurator +entreats from you a very moderate consideration, on account of their +poverty. This being evident to the said governor, he ordered that +to them be given annually, for such period as should seem fitting to +him, two hundred pesos and two hundred fanegas of rice, as an alms, +from the treasury of the fourths from the encomiendas that are without +instruction. With this it is, however, impossible to support the said +residence. It has need of repairs on its house, and, on account of +its narrow quarters, of erecting new buildings; and because it has +no alms, in lands or chaplaincies, [52] for the mass or any other +of the purposes referred to, it is in great want, as is evident by +the investigations made in the royal Audiencia of the said islands, +which were examined in the Council. He entreats that your Majesty, in +consideration of the aforesaid, will order that the said two hundred +pesos and two hundred fanegas of rice--which were granted to it, +as stated, by the said governor from the treasury of the fourths--be +set aside for it from the royal treasury, as the other fund is not +a permanent one. He further asks that you will bestow upon it from +the royal treasury one thousand pesos of income for its support, +and three thousand, to be paid once, for repairs and buildings for +the said residence; since your Majesty is wont to favor the other +parts of the Yndias for this purpose, as there is no other recourse +for aid. After examining this matter in the Council, our opinion is +that, if your Majesty be so pleased, one thousand pesos of eight reals +each, might be given once to that residence from the royal treasury of +the Philipinas, as an aid in building its houses; and that, besides, +information concerning it should be obtained from the governor and +the archbishop. Valladolid, December 11, 1601. + +[_Endorsed:_ "Council of the Indias; December 11, 1601. In regard +to the aid and alms that should be bestowed upon the residence +of the Society in the city of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, of the +Philippinas." "So let it be."] + + + + + + +Documents of 1602 + + + + Instructions to Pedro de Acuña. Felipe III; February 16. + Two royal decrees. Felipe III; February 16. + Pintados menaced by Mindanao pirates. Juan Juarez Gallinato, + and others; May 29-June 4. + Letters to Felipe III. L. P. Dasmariñas, and others; June + 8-July 10. + + + +_Source_: All these documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo +general de Indias, Sevilla. + +_Translations_: The first document is translated by Alfonso de Salvio, +of Harvard University; the second, and part of the fourth, by Robert +W. Haight; the third, and part of the fourth, by Norman F. Hall, of +Harvard University; the first letter in the fourth, by José M. and +Clara M. Asensio. + + + + + + +Instructions to Pedro de Acuna + + +The King: To Don Pedro de Acuña, whom I have appointed my governor +and captain-general of the Philipinas Islands, and president of my +Audiencia therein. My royal Council of the Indias having examined +some letters from the said islands, I have resolved upon the following. + +Since the Philipinas Islands are so far away and distant, surrounded +by so many great kingdoms of infidels, the entry and intercourse which +the Chinese and Japanese enjoy in Manila, and their friendly relation +with the natives, give us reason to fear that the former, allying +themselves with the natives, may attempt some disturbance, as they +are inclined to do. Considering the fact that the greatest security +and strength of the land lies in the Spanish settlement, and I have +heard that not only does it not increase but is not even maintained in +its previous condition--because, although the viceroys of Nueva España +are ordered to send reenforcements of men every year to the islands, +many people die from the bad climatic conditions of the land, others +are scattered in military expeditions, others must be permitted to +return (either because they have left families in their own country, +or because they cause injury to the commonwealth), and others go +there with no idea of remaining and have refused to become citizens: +considering all this, and seeing that it is a matter requiring much +attention, I charge and command you, in case this despatch shall +reach you in Nueva España, to consult the viceroy concerning all that +may pertain to the improvement of these conditions; or, in case you +receive it in the Philipinas, to do the same by writing, and to make +the arrangements and give the orders which you think best for the +settlement of the said islands, striving to draw the expenses from my +exchequer with the necessary moderation. I shall now write again to +the said viceroy, telling him to take care to provide the islands with +useful people, and permanent settlers; and, in order that such persons +may settle there, and remain in the islands, he shall favor them, +and see that the orders concerning the trade between the said islands +and Nueva España be carried out with exactness and rigor in order to +attain the end and purpose for which we allow this commerce--namely, +the preservation and prosperity of the islands, and the welfare of +their citizens and inhabitants. You yourself must attend to this with +much care, striving for the settlement of the said islands, and their +safety and tranquillity, and for the instruction and conversion of +the Indian natives. + +Governor Don Francisco Tello wrote to me last year, ninety-nine, +about the precautions that he had taken in the punishment of some +Japanese pirates who had repaired to that coast and after whom he had +sent vessels by different routes; and about the inquiries that he had +likewise made among the crews of some merchant ships which had put +into Manila at that time, suspecting that they and the pirates were +all of the same sort. Since it is necessary to take notice and be +careful of this, I charge and command you to be always very vigilant +in foreseeing the troubles which may require your attention and which +may arise in the said islands, even if it be under pretext of trade +by foreigners. You will give a hospitable reception to friends, +and maintain amicable relations with them, keeping the ports and +frontiers of the said islands in the necessary security, and taking +special care that the expenses to be met by my royal exchequer in +the precautions to be taken, the manning of vessels for searching out +and punishing pirates, and the rest, be no more than are absolutely +necessary--since you see the many things which need attention; and, +above all, the limited resources of these islands. + +When you informed me that in order to punish the pirates who resort to +the coast of the Philipinas Islands, it would be well to arm and man +some galleys, I granted you by my letter bearing the date of April 8 +of this year, that if you saw that the galleys could be of service and +usefulness you might cause them to be built and manned. But through a +letter of July 12 in the said year, 1599, the said Don Francisco Tello +informs me that since the galleys are not suited for those seas--as +they had learned by experience, on account of the swift current +and their inability to enter a bay while pursuing the enemy--and +on account of the difficulties which the religious oppose to his +collecting rowers, and as those whom they get possess little skill, +he had decided to build four galizabras; these were already being +built, and when well armed and equipped would, with three galliots, +constitute a sufficient force for the clearing and pacification +of those seas. It is therefore desirable that you carefully note +all these matters, and after you have examined and considered them +thoroughly, you will see whether or not it will be advisable to keep +the said galizabras and galliots in case they are built and manned. You +will give the necessary care to the security of that coast and land, +keeping me informed of what is being done and of the coast which the +said galizabras or vessels appointed for that purpose will guard. + +The said Don Francisco Tello says in the same letter that the province +of Mindanao was already pacified; but that some of the native chiefs +had given no pledge, and matters had not been thoroughly set in order, +and therefore it was necessary to keep there a garrison of two hundred +soldiers. He adds that, as the country is poor and has few sources of +wealth, he thought that the Indians would be unable to pay tribute; +but it was necessary to assure the safety and accessibility of that +post, because that was the landing-place where the Terrenatan landed +on his plundering expeditions against the Pintados, as he did in the +year 95. The said governor, as he had so few men and so little military +strength, decided to place a hundred soldiers in La Caldera, which is +near [the river of] Mindanao, in order to assure safety for that place +and to hold in check him of Terrenate. You will thoroughly inform +yourself of the state of affairs, and make the necessary provision +for them, taking special care to hold what is already pacified and to +have the gospel preached everywhere. As for the tribute to be imposed +upon the Indians you will do what may seem necessary, consulting the +prelates and observing my orders; you will see that those who have +been pacified and are subjected to me be safe, and receive no injury or +molestation from enemies. You will inform me of all that is being done. + +The fiscal of the Audiencia of the said islands has written me +that since the Indians do not pay the eight reals tribute in kind, +as they were wont to do, but it has been left to their choice +instead, many difficulties have been and are being experienced, +detrimental to the newly-pacified Indians, to my exchequer, and to +the commonwealth; because, when they gave the produce of the land +in payment of the tribute, they cultivated and gathered it, and, +besides paying the tribute, there was left to them a large quantity +of produce, which they kept for their trade and crafts. The result +was that the community was well provided with abundance of supplies, +at little cost, and with cloth of various fabrics, with which they +clothed themselves. The encomenderos shipped these articles to Nueva +España, and the returns therefrom remained in the islands instead +of being taken away by the Chinese, as is done now; for the stuffs +are being bought from the Chinese, and the Indians of the islands no +longer manufacture them. Much gold was also taken to Nueva España, +from which the tenth was paid to me to the yearly amount of six or +eight thousand pesos, not to mention the larger amount which was paid +for the tributes of the encomiendas which are assigned to my crown; +but since the tribute is not paid in kind, hardly any gold is mined +now. Another trouble that results from this is, that the Indians, +who are naturally prone to idleness, easily earn enough with which to +pay the tribute and buy stuffs from the Chinese with which to clothe +themselves, and so do not manufacture these. In order to remove these +difficulties, it would be expedient to impose upon the said Indians +the occupations and work for which they and the provinces where they +live are fit and suitable, with the raising of cattle; they should +also be forced to extract gold from the mines and rivers, for, if +this were done, much gold could be obtained from the mines, rivers, +and placers. Thus the Chinese trade would cease in a large degree, and +the returns from the gold and cloths which might be carried to Nueva +España would remain in the land; and that, with the gain which would +thus result to the Indians, would make them well inclined to such work, +and cause them to do it willingly. The main point to be settled in +order that the Indians may be influenced to undertake it is, to make +them pay the tribute in kind. And since much attention and thoughtful +consideration should be given to what is here pointed out, not only +for the welfare of the Indians but for that of the commonwealth--since +if the land itself could provide and supply produce and merchandise, +that would be more advantageous than to procure them from outside; +and the gold and silver which is now taken away to foreign and pagan +kingdoms would remain in the land itself--I charge and command you +that, as soon as you reach the said islands, you call together my royal +Audiencia there; the honored prelates who shall be in Manila, and the +superiors of the religious orders--informing of this matter, by letter, +those who cannot easily go thither--and confer and deliberate with them +on all that is expedient and necessary to be done. In this conference +you shall keep in mind the welfare and preservation of the Indians and +of the country, and see that the said natives be neither molested nor +wronged--striving for this object, that there may be crops and other +products of the country; and that, for this purpose, the Indians shall +pay the tribute in kind. You will observe the necessary system in +taxing them, and will execute whatever decision is reached about the +matter; moreover you will inform me of what is being done, and will +always be careful to see that the Indians work in some occupation or +other and be not idle, since idleness is the chief cause of their ruin. + +My governor of those islands was ordered to abolish many false musters +and extra expenses which were granted out of my treasury; but I have +heard that, although he reduced or abolished some of the said musters, +other stipends and extra expenses have since been given which had not +been usually paid--namely, to captains, alferezes, and other military +officers whom the said governor appointed over the people of the +towns. I have also heard that many alcaldes-mayor and other officials +have been added and their salary increased, so that where there was +only one alcalde-mayor, there are now three, each having a deputy, and +all drawing salaries from my treasury. I have learned that the said +officials could be reduced in the following way: In the province of +La Laguna, one alcalde-mayor, with a salary of three hundred pesos; +in the district of Mauban, [53] on the opposite coast [of Luzon], +one corregidor, with a salary of two hundred pesos; in the province +of Camarines, another alcalde-mayor, with a salary of three hundred +pesos, abolishing the office recently established; in the province +of Cágallan, one alcalde-mayor; in Pangasinan, one alcalde-mayor; +in the province of Ylocos, one alcalde-mayor with the same salary, +who could administer the jurisdiction of the district of Bulacan, +thus dispensing with the alcalde-mayor lately appointed for that +place; we can also dispense with the alcalde-mayor of the town of +Ytondo and of the coast of the city of Manila, all being districts +and suburbs of that city, leaving them under the jurisdiction of the +alcaldes-in-ordinary of the city of Manila, as in former times, so +that one alcalde might administer justice in the suburbs during six +months of the year, and the other serve in the city. It would also +be expedient to dispense with the alcalde-mayor lately appointed for +the islands of Leite, Zamar, and Babao, which may remain in charge +of the alcalde-mayor of Zubu, as they were before; for the natives +are troubled by both of these, and it is not desirable to have there +more than the alcalde-mayor of Zubu. Moreover, one corregidor with a +salary of two hundred pesos would suffice for the river of Butuan; in +the island of Calamianes, one corregidor is enough, drawing the same +salary; in the district of Oton one alcalde-mayor, with a salary of +three hundred pesos; in Panay, one corregidor, with two hundred pesos +salary. Let no alcalde-mayor or corregidor have a deputy except in his +absence, and then without a salary. I charge and command you that, +when you arrive at the said islands, you thoroughly investigate all +the aforesaid matters, and secure information thereon; and ascertain +what offices, salaries, and extra expenses have been added, and the +reason and justification for doing so. You will correct and reform +what there is to remedy and reform, so that, by taking the necessary +precaution in everything, whether it be in the administration of +justice or other matters, you will prevent as much as possible any +waste of my funds; for you see how necessary this is, on account of +the many expenses and works which must be supported by the treasury. + +I have also heard that one of the things by which my exchequer is +most defrauded, and the inhabitants of the islands most wronged, +is to be found in the lading and despatch of the ships for Nueva +España with merchandise; for the governors, for several years, have +appointed to that duty various personal dependents and friends, who +have succeeded through illicit means in lading the ships with their +own goods and even those of their relatives, friends, and others; +and all the cloth which is shipped beyond the general apportionment +goes without paying the duties. To remedy this it would be expedient +that hereafter the allotment of freight be made in the presence and +with the supervision of the governor and other persons appointed for +it--an auditor and a royal official, appointed each year in turn, +beginning with the oldest ones; and that immediately after the said +apportionment the royal official make a copy of it. The persons to +whom the said cloth is allotted should go with their inventories in +order to value the goods and pay the duties in the presence of my +officials, who would give in return a permit for lading. One or two +of the officials should be present in the port of Cavite, the place +where the ships are laded. Likewise the lading of the ships ought to +be witnessed by the freighters who are usually appointed, and by an +auditor, in order to prevent the lading of goods not included in the +apportionment and for which no permit was given by the said officials, +as an acknowledgment that the duty was paid. Since it is not right to +allow opportunity for the irregularities and fraud which are reported +to have occurred, and of which the citizens have complained, I charge +and command you to restore order and to employ the remedy which most +fits the occasion, appointing for the allotment of the merchandise +and the lading of the ships persons in whom great confidence can be +placed. You will see that all this be done according to equity, by +being yourself present at times, if that seem best, and you will take +the necessary measures that my royal rights be in no manner defrauded. + +I have heard that the ordinances are disregarded in assigning +encomiendas of Indians, and that some persons who are enjoying +encomiendas for life relinquish these, in order that they may be +bestowed on others whom they choose, and influence the governors to +assign the encomiendas to those persons. Since through many decrees of +the emperor and king, my sovereign, it is decreed and ordained that +no such relinquishment and renunciation of Indians be made, and that +encomiendas of this sort may not be allotted, I command you to observe +and strictly carry out what is ordered by the instructions sent to the +governors your predecessors, regarding the equitable manner in which +the Indians of those islands must be allotted to the persons who are +most deserving, and have rendered most service therein. Again I order +and command you not to confer relinquished encomiendas, or assign them +again, without notifying me of it, so that I may order what seems +best to me. In case you shall have disposed of such encomiendas, +I order that such allotment be null and of no effect. + +I have been informed that it has become the custom in these islands to +grant at the cost of my treasury the wine for the celebration of mass +to the priests of the orders--not only to those in the encomiendas +allotted to my crown, but to those in private encomiendas; and that +there is no obligation to grant this aid to the doctrinas in private +encomiendas. I therefore command you to give orders that no wine +for the celebration of the mass be granted on the account of my +treasury to the secular priests, or to those who give instruction +in private encomiendas, for it is the duty of the encomenderos to +provide the wine. + +Orders were given that for just reasons, and for the welfare and +preservation of that commonwealth, the governors your predecessors +were to name and appoint a certain number of regidors from trustworthy +men; but I have been told that the said governors have, through bribes +and other means, appointed to these offices certain persons who have +not the requisite and desirable qualifications therefor. I therefore +charge and command you to make a thorough investigation of the matter, +and to remove the regidors whom you find to have been appointed through +questionable means, or who are unfit for the office. You will replace +them with men possessing the necessary character and ability. Let +there be only eight regidors, which seems to be a sufficient number +for a city of that population. You will inform me of the men whom +you appoint, and of their qualities. + +By a clause of the ordinance establishing the Audiencia there, it +is provided that its president and two auditors at the beginning of +every year audit the accounts of the officials of my royal exchequer, +and settle them in the course of two months, for this allowing each +auditor twenty-five thousand maravedís. This was done also in the +time of the previous Audiencia, and an accountant was appointed +who received another fifty thousand maravedis. I have learned that +afterward Governor Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, without any orders, +created for that purpose a position of accountant-in-ordinary, with +a salary of five hundred pesos, and a secretary with two hundred +and fifty pesos. This could have have been avoided by pursuing the +former method, with no other expense than the said hundred thousand +maravedis. It has seemed best to me to refer this matter to you, +as I do, in order that you may examine it and apply such remedy as +you think best. You will inform me of the steps you take in the matter. + +I understand that the office of clerk of the regimiento in Manila has +been filled by the secretaries of the governors, and that on this +account justice is no longer sought for certain injuries inflicted +not only on the Chinese but on the citizens. I also learn that it +would be best to sell this office to a person who is not a servant +or a relative of the governors. Since it is not befitting that this +office should be filled by any secretary or follower of yours, or of +an auditor or an official of the Audiencia, you will not allow any +such appointment. You will nominate three from deserving men of those +islands, who in your estimation possess the necessary qualifications +for the office, and will send me their names, in order that I may +elect the one who seems best to me. In the meantime you will make +arrangements for the suitable performance of the duties of that office, +and so that no difficulties will arise. With this I shall order to +be sent you copies of two clauses of a letter, in which are proposed +two expedients which may benefit my exchequer in recompense for the +expenses which are incurred by it in those islands. One of these +relates to the cloves which could be obtained from the Malucas, +carrying thither the produce of the island of Panay in exchange; +and then bringing the said cloves to Nueva España on my account. The +other proposal suggests that a monopoly be established in the raw +silk brought from China--allowing each ship to carry only a certain +quantity of it, and that to be carried to Nueva España on my account +and not for any other, as you will understand more fully from the said +clauses of a letter, which I have thought best to send you. Thus after +you have discussed the matter with my royal Audiencia, and heard the +opinion of my royal officials and of such persons of experience and +intelligence as you think best, you can ascertain what can be done +in the matter, the benefit and advantage which may result from the +said measures, and the difficulty or facility which they offer. You +will send me a detailed account of all, with your opinion. + +I have understood that, by way of remedy for the illegal acts committed +by the magistrates, and the wrongs which the Indians suffer, it would +be of great importance to have the official inspection of affairs in +those islands--which according to the ordinances constituting the +Audiencia there, and to my orders, the auditors ought to make in +turn. The latter have refused to do so, on acount of the expenses +and danger which they incur. Since it is necessary that the said +inspection be made, I charge and command you to cause it to be made +in the land which has been pacified, and where there is no obstacle; +and that in this inspection the auditor who is selected in turn, +conformably to the said ordinances, be accompanied by no soldiers +or other people who might prove to be burdensome or injurious to the +Indians. You will endeavor to make the said inspection bring about the +good results for which it is intended; and will give the auditor to +whose lot it falls a vessel of fair size with which to sail from those +islands of Luzon to the others, at the expense of my treasury. As for +the additional pay or gratuity which should be allowed to the said +auditors beyond their salary, and beyond what is granted them by the +ordinances and decrees, you will send me a report, with your opinion. + +I have heard that the said islands contain many poor and needy +persons, to whom on account of their services and those of their +fathers a remuneration is due out of the profits of the land and +appointments to offices; but that as these sources of revenue are so +few, and the governors confer them on their relatives, servants, and +followers, as I have heard they have done, the others have remained +without anything. It is not just that there should be opportunity +for such appointments; therefore I order you to observe and fulfil +in this matter exactly what is enjoined by the decrees, provisions, +and instructions sent to the governors, preferring the most deserving +and the older inhabitants of the land, who have best and most served +the country without having been yet rewarded. + +I have been informed that the ships which go to those islands from +Nueva España carry each year, without a merchandise register, a large +quantity of money from that country and Pirú--which is not found on +reaching the port, on account of the care with which they hide it; +and that it was necessary to make investigations and inspect the +said ships before their reaching port. Since I understand that there +is some foundation in this, and that many irregularities occur in +this respect, I charge and command you to prevent and correct this +evil in a fitting manner; and to see that the fiscal shall go with +the officials of my exchequer to inspect those ships, at such place +as they find convenient. Let the penalty be rigorously enforced in +connection with what is found and discovered to be brought without +register and against orders, adjudging to the informer the share +which may seem to be best to my royal Audiencia of those islands. + +Since I have learned that the office of treasurer of my exchequer in +those islands has very little work attached to it, since its duties +consist mainly in those of factor and accountant; and that therefore +there is no need of the said treasurer, and that office could be +fused with that of factor and the latter could act as treasurer, as +was done before--I command you to send me a report of what would be +expedient in this matter; also, of the duties of the said treasurer, +and if, as it has been said, dispensing with the office, the factor +and the accountant could take sufficient care of the administration +of my exchequer. + +I have learned that the governors, your predecessors, have often +interfered in the affairs pertaining to the administration of my +exchequer, which is entrusted to its officials; and that, contrary +to the orders given them, they have not allowed the said officials +suitable freedom in the exercise of their offices. Since in matters +of this nature it is right to keep in mind the necessary security +of my exchequer, I order you to observe and cause others to observe +the ordinances and decrees which were issued in regard to this. You +will maintain friendly relations with the officials of my exchequer +in everything, and will give them the favor and aid necessary in +the exercise of their offices, so that they may fulfil their charge +and see that nothing is lacking to my service, and to the security, +accounts, and order of my exchequer. + +The accountant and the treasurer of my exchequer have written to +me that my storehouses in the city of Manila have been in charge of +the factor, who placed over them a man with the title of "lieutenant +of shipping," whose duty was to keep an account of the receipt and +distribution of what came under his supervision, thus relieving the +work of the factor. A few years ago, on account of an information sent +against the factor, it was ordained that each of the said officials +should have his own key, and a person at the said storehouses in order +to have all transactions pass through three hands, and that two hundred +pesos a year should be paid to each person. They complained of this, +saying that they were unable to furnish a man for this on account of +their small salaries, which they needed entirely for their own support; +and they besought me to free them from this obligation. Since I desire +to be informed of the facts and occurrences therein; and how and under +whose charge, and on whose account, the said storehouses have been +usually kept; and the reason for ordering each of the said officials +to have his own key to the said storehouses; and whether they are more +secure for that precaution; and what sort of persons are placed there +by the said officials and at what salaries--I command you that, after +having examined the orders that have been given, and obtained thorough +information of what is expedient to do, you send me an account of it, +together with your opinion about the matter. + +Although, as there are so excellent judges and officials in the +Audiencia of Manila, it is reasonable to believe that justice is +administered therein, I have learned that in certain cases there +has been laxity, and especially in two--namely, when Melchor Ramirez +de Alarcon, being intoxicated in the said city of Manila, and being +reprimanded by his son-in-law, Pedro Munez, gave the latter a blow +with his fist, receiving in return nine dagger-thrusts, of which he +died; and when, in the city of Cazeres, Captain Pedro Cid killed Joan +Martin Morcillo in a duel. In spite of the gravity of these cases, +the delinquents were not sent to prison, but were set free on paying +a fine of eight hundred pesos each--a procedure which caused censure +and discontent among the people. Since it is right that similar cases +be not left unpunished, I charge and command you that, as soon as you +reach the islands, you demand and copy, without declaring your purpose, +the record of the proceedings in regard to the said two murders, +and examine it in company with the licentiate Don Antonio de Rivera, +auditor of the Audiencia; and with the consent of the fiscal; and, +if you find sufficient cause for action, you will have the culprits +seized, and will make all the investigations and efforts necessary for +ascertaining the truth. If it seem to you that the administration of +justice requires it, you will send the prisoners under arrest to Nueva +España, together with the records of their cases, and will inform me +of what has been done and of the investigation made. You will always +take great care that justice be done and administered in every case, +and that crimes which merit punishment receive it, so that disorders +may be repressed and justice exist and be feared, and that it shall +not set a bad example or occasion lawless conduct in the land. + +I have learned that many of the decrees and orders issued for those +islands are not being executed, and that there is laxity in this +respect, especially as concerns the ordinances about the equity with +which the positions of profit in that country should be apportioned, +and those persons who have not yet been remunerated should be +rewarded. When my fiscal demanded the observance of the decrees, +and especially in the case where the governor appointed Captain +Cerban Gutierrez de Cespedes to the office of alcalde-mayor while +he possessed an encomienda of Indians worth fifteen hundred ducados, +and the fiscal asked that the said captain be not allowed to exercise +the office until the completion of the trial, the Audiencia postponed +its final decision, and meanwhile the said Cerban Gutierrez continued +to exercise the office, and finished his term before the case was +settled. I have thought best to refer this case to you, as I do, +because in similar cases you will take suitable measures to prevent +difficulties of this sort. It is especially necessary to observe and +minutely fulfil the ordinances concerning the distribution of the +profits of the country and the grant of rewards to persons who have +not received them. + +I charge and command you to examine the copy of a letter which I send +you with the present, and which was written to me from those islands +on matters concerning the Sangleys of the Parian, and on what ought +to be provided and remedied in the islands. You will inform me of +all matters and advices contained in the said letter. Meanwhile you +will provide and ordain whatever may seem necessary for the spread of +the Christian faith, and for the cessation of the troubles already +mentioned and others which may be expected, anticipating everything +as is most convenient. + +I send you, besides, a copy of what has been written to me from those +islands concerning the precautions which should be taken in matters +of war and defense of the land. That letter also gives information +that the governors without any other reason but their own private +aims and interests, are wont to abolish the companies of infantry +and other offices of war, on account of which complaints arise. It +also states that they have been accustomed to appoint captains of the +number in the city of Manila, who are entirely useless, and that we +could dispense with the appointing those captains and granting their +commissions, as well as those of captains-general and masters-of-camp +which the governors have hitherto granted. You will examine all the +references made to the above-mentioned matters, and what pertains +to the garrisons and defense of the forts and fortified towns. You +will take the necessary precautions in these things, in order that +no loss or trouble may result from them; and will not fill the said +offices of captains-general and masters-of-camp--except that, when they +shall become vacant, you will appoint men to serve in these offices +until the appointments are made by me; and in the appointments of the +captains you shall consider very carefully the persons, and the need +that there is of them. + +I am writing to the provincials of the religious orders the letters +which go with this, regarding the kind treatment of the Indians; and, +that the Indians must not be molested by the religious who give them +instruction. You will give them these letters and will take special +care to see how my commands are fulfilled, and that those natives +shall not receive injury from anyone. You will have great care taken +in teaching and instructing them in our holy Catholic faith. + +The said Don Francisco Tello writes me that the work on the cathedral +of Manila has been stopped for lack of means to carry it on; but +that it would not take much money to build a tower and a sacristy, +which would complete the church. Although he said that he would aid +the work by various grants and imposts, and that, if any balances +should result from the auditing of accounts which he had ordered to +be made in the funds which he had set aside for that work, he would +have them collected for that purpose, I charge and order you to take +special care in helping and furthering the work on the said church +as much as you can, so that it may be promptly completed. You will +notify me in what manner this shall be done. + +The said Don Francisco Tello writes to me that the two hospitals of +the city of Manila, for Spaniards and Indians respectively, are in good +and prosperous condition, and that he has taken possession in my name +of that for the Indians. He adds that the accounts of the latter have +been audited by his order, and that those of the Spanish hospital were +audited every year. This meets my approval; and I charge you always to +be attentive to the preservation and prosperity of the said hospitals, +and to notify me of the result when the accounts are audited. + +Don Francisco Tello also informed me of the good condition in which +remained the Seminary of Santa Potenciana in the city of Manila, +where some young girls and other women were sheltered; and that all +were living in great retirement and offering a good example. He added +that many of them desired to remain in that seclusion, and that the +viceroy of Nueva España, whom he had asked to send two nuns for the +said monastery, had replied that no one of them dared to go. Since +I shall write to the viceroy about this matter, you will make the +necessary efforts that the said religious may go there; for this will +be of great importance in fully establishing the said monastery and in +completing the training of the nuns who have been sheltered there. You +will aid and heartily favor this work as being so desirable for the +service of God. + +The said Don Francisco writes me that when the king my lord (may +he rest in glory) charged the governors your predecessors to found +a seminary where the children of the native chiefs of these islands +could be taught and receive instruction in the ways of civilization, +Don Luis Perez Dasmariñas, governor of the islands, made a contract +with the religious of the Society of Jesus for the foundation of the +said seminary, and assigned to it a perpetual income of a thousand +pesos yearly. To begin the work, he immediately gave them six hundred +pesos and for the income he set aside a fund in the treasury of the +fourths; but as the income was uncertain, on account of the needy +circumstances of the said treasury, and the amount of money given to +commence the work was small, and it was of great importance that the +work be begun, the said Don Francisco entreated me to be responsible +for this income, and thus make it perpetual. He also asked me to +give him permission to assign the said seminary a repartimiento of a +thousand Indians, the first one that should be vacant. Since I desire +to receive a report from you on the whole matter, I command you to +send me one, notifying me, with your opinion, of any other means, +besides the Indians, by which aid can be given to the said seminary, +and in what condition its endowment is. + +Don Francisco Tello informs me that in the Parian of the Sangleys of +Manila--which was founded only for some of them to live in, and those +to be workmen, in such number as to be sufficient for the service of +the commonwealth--houses have been gradually built; and that by this +time there are more than three hundred of them, and three thousand +Sangleys who do nothing but eat up the provisions and enhance the +price of commodities in the land. He adds that this could be remedied +only by abolishing the Parian altogether, and letting the Sangleys +sell their merchandise in the streets or in their ships as they +were accustomed to do when there was no Parian. This would bring the +commonwealth a gain of more than one hundred thousand pesos a year, +and would give more security to the land; for, having no houses of +their own, the Sangleys would frequent that country less, and would +endeavor to sell their goods as soon as they reached the islands; +they would also sell at a moderate price, and there would be no +hucksters. He ends by saying that he was considering the necessary +steps to take in this regard. Since this is a matter whose importance +and consideration ought not to be overlooked, I charge and order you to +examine and discuss the question with the Audiencia and the prelates; +and to inform me of your opinions, decisions, and agreements before +taking any decisive action or making any changes--taking care in +the meantime, as I have already charged you, to see that all be done +prudently and for the security of the land. + +The said Don Francisco Tello notified me that he had erected buildings +for the cabildo, and had placed thereon the coat-of-arms which was +granted to the city of Manila. This is well done; and, if my royal +coat-of-arms is not placed on the said house of the cabildo, you will +cause this to be done, placing it above the coat-of-arms of the city. + +The said Don Francisco Tello writes that because he did not carry with +him the instructions which were given to him, he did not execute +what he was therein ordered to do when passing by the Ladrones +Islands--namely, that he was to provide for the religious instruction +of those Indians, leaving there such persons as he should select. He +said that, with the consent of the Audiencia, he wrote to the viceroy +of Nueva España, requesting him to fulfil that command by ordering the +officers of the ships which were to sail for those islands last year, +sixteen hundred, to leave there two religious, with ten soldiers for +their guard. He added that this work would prove of great service +to God, as those islands were thickly settled with Indians who were +docile, and inclined to receive instruction; and that, if religious +should enter that region, there is reason to expect that they would +convert many of the natives. And because this means no less than +the salvation of so many souls, I charge and order you that, if the +viceroy has not fulfilled the above order, you yourself shall do so, +in accordance with the orders regarding it which were given to the +said Don Francisco in his instructions. You will notify me of what +is being done in this matter. + +The instructions order Don Francisco Tello to carry to those +islands from Mexico a certain number of farmers to cultivate the +land, who should be associated with the natives, and teach them +agriculture. This he did not then do, because the instructions did +not reach him there. I wrote, however, to the viceroy of Nueva España +to send them at the first opportunity; but, if he has not done so, +you will endeavor to have the said farmers conveyed to the islands, +because they are so necessary to make that land productive. You will +also make diligent efforts to introduce there, and carry over from +Nueva España, mares and horses of good blood for breeding purposes, +since this is of great importance for the service of the people. + +The copy of a portion of a letter which accompanies this, which +was written to me by the said Don Francisco Tello, will show you +how he wished to enter the kingdom of Siam; and how he despatched +Captain Juan de Mendoza on an embassy to the king of that country, +requesting him to consent that four monks should go there, of the +Order of St. Domini, of which order the king had already a friar with +him. You will inform me how the matter stands, and report the answer +which the king will have given you. You will notify me of it, and +will encourage, so far as you can, the conversion of those infidels +and the preaching of the gospel to them. + +The said Don Francisco Tello writes that, although it has been decreed +that the Indians shall not be condemned to pay money fines, it would be +advisable to make them, although with due moderation, pay some fines in +money, because on account of their disobedience and natural disposition +they feel more the punishment of paying one real than that of a hundred +lashes; the result is that we do not gain the expected result--namely, +to have them engaged in cultivating the fields and raising fowls, +cattle and other articles for the general need and welfare. Since I +desire to learn from you the facts, and what takes place in regard +to the aforesaid matter, and what measures are expedient in regard +to punishing them for their crimes and offenses by money fines, +and whether this causes or may cause some difficulties, I order you, +after having examined the question thoroughly and discussed it with +the Audiencia, archbishops, and ecclesiastical cabildo, to let me +know the result and the opinion of all. + +I have heard that the buildings which have been erected for the +Audiencia and for the president's residence are in great need of a +hall in which the president and the auditors might hold their meetings; +for it is not convenient for them to meet in a hall of the president's +house, where the desirable secrecy cannot be observed because their +discussions can easily be overheard. Therefore it would be expedient +to build the said hall beyond the hall of the Audiencia, and next to +it, on the side where the clock is. As it is so important that the +said meetings be held in a suitable hall, and that great secrecy +be maintained in regard to the affairs transacted by them, it has +seemed good to me to notify you of this, and to charge you as I do, +that with the advice of the Audiencia you erect such building in +suitable style; so that the above-mentioned difficulties may cease, +and occur no longer on account of the authority and secrecy which +should prevail in the said meetings. + +I have learned that Governor Don Francisco Tello, your predecessor, +went to the Audiencia and attended its meetings and visitations, +in unbefitting garments; and that at times he went half-dressed, +without sword or jacket. Since in positions of that sort, in places +and regions so remote, it is necessary to exercise the authority and +propriety due to those offices, I charge you to be very careful in +that respect, and always to attend meetings and courts with the garb +and decorum which befit the occasion. + +The fiscal of the Audiencia of the said islands, to whom is entrusted +the protection of the Indians, has informed me that, as their lawsuits +are many and involve much work, with the Audiencia's permission he +appointed a solicitor, with a salary of two hundred pesos, and an +interpreter with a salary of eighty pesos, at the expense of the +encomenderos. I charge you that, as soon as you reach the islands, +you discuss this matter with the Audiencia; and, if it be necessary +to retain the said solicitor and interpreter, to see that their +salaries be paid, and that they be trustworthy men and competent to +fill those offices. You will always take special care to see that +the Indians be relieved from burdens, and protected and favored in +all permissible ways, and that their affairs be promptly settled, +endeavoring to avoid lawsuits whenever possible. At Zamora, on the +sixteenth day of February in the year one thousand six hundred and two. + +I, The King + +Countersigned by Juan De Ybarra + + + + +Two Royal Decrees + + + +Colonists for the Islands + + +The King: To the Conde de Monterrey, my kinsman, and viceroy, +governor and captain-general of Nueva Spaña, or to the person or +persons in whose charge the government thereof may be: The kingdoms +of infidels and enemies of our holy Catholic faith, with which the +Philipinas Islands are surrounded, being so numerous and so great, the +most advisable thing for its safety and defense is to settle it with +Spaniards. That colony, I am informed, is not only not being augmented, +but is not even being preserved in its present state; for the people +who are sent to those islands are few compared with the number of +those who die from the unhealthful climate of the country, and those +who are dispersed in expeditions, and because most of those who go to +the said islands do not intend to abide there, and accordingly return +with their wealth. It is considered expedient to give such persons +permission to return, so that others may be willing to go to the +islands; and it is necessary to give others such permission, either +because they are married in España, or because they are Peruvians, a +people who are injurious to the community. Consequently there is always +a lack of people, and those who remain there are the poorest. As it +is expedient to attend with great care to the settlement of the said +Islands and their conservation, I charge and command you to provide +for and send thither useful people, and to see to it that settlers +of good character go thither. In order that this may be done, and +that they may live and remain there, you will see to the careful and +rigorous execution of the orders already given concerning the trade of +the Philipinas with your country of Nueva España, and that the object +be attained for which it is permitted--that is, that it be directed +to the settlement and conservation of the said islands and applied to +the benefit and advantage of the citizens--taking care that nothing +be done which shall transgress any order which has been given in the +matter, or which may be so given in the future, and with great care +favoring the interests of the said islands. In this you will please me. + +Given at Zamora, on the sixteenth of February, in the year one thousand +six hundred and two. + +_I, The King_ + +Countersigned by + +_Joan de Ybarra_ + +Signed by the Council. + +[_Endorsed:_ "To the Viceroy of Nueva Spaña, concerning the settlement +of the Philipinas Islands, and directing him to send useful people +there."] + + + + +Nuns for Santa Potenciana + + +The King: To the Conde de Monterrey, my kinsman, and viceroy, governor +and captain-general of Nueva Spaña, or to the person or persons in +whose charge the government thereof may be: Don Francisco Tello, my +governor and captain-general of the Philipinas Islands, has informed +me of the prosperous condition of the seminary of Sancta Potenciana +at Manila, where girls are sheltered, and of the retirement and the +exemplary lives which they lead, and that many of them intend to remain +in the said seminary. I wrote to you to send them, from Nueva Spaña, +two religious women for the said seminary, but you answered to the +effect that none of them dared to go. As this is of great importance, +and should be carried out, for the establishment of that seminary and +the settlement there of professed nuns, and that its inmates may be +thoroughly trained in piety, I charge and command that you that, in +any event, you make arrangements to send there the said two religious +women from one of the convents of your country, and that they shall +be persons of approved character--and this on account of the great +service which this will be for our Lord; and you shall advise me of +what is done in the matter. + +Given at Camora, on the sixteenth of February, in the year one thousand +six hundred and two. + +_I, The King_ + +Countersigned by + +_Joan de Ybarra_ + +Signed by the Council. + +[_Endorsed:_ "To the viceroy of Nueva Spaña, directing him to send +thence to the Philipinas certain religious for the establishment of +a seminary."] + + + + + +Pintados Menaced by Mindanao Pirates + + +_Testimony which Captain Gallinato sent to the governor of the +Filipinas concerning the help which the king of Terrenate is giving +to the Mindanaos._ + +On the sea, off the tinguis ["hills"] of La Caldera, on the +twenty-ninth day of the month of May in the year one thousand six +hundred and two. The purveyor-general, Juan Juarez Gallinato. Whereas +Ensign Antonio de Alarcon, commander of the patrona, [54] took with +his galley from a vessel of Lutaos an Indian of San Buangan [_i.e._, +Zamboanga,] who is supposed to be a spy, I command, in order to learn +the truth and the design of the enemy, that his confession be taken; +and so I order it and sign my name. + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato_ + +By his order: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + +_Deposition_. Then on the day, month, and year aforesaid, the +purveyor-general caused to appear before him the said Lutao, who was +questioned by the interpreter Pedro Navarro, encomendero of Canamucan +and Baibay. + +He was asked what his name was, of what place he was a native, and +if he were a slave or a timagua; and he replied that his name was +Saliot, that he was a native of Sanbuangan, which is near La Caldera, +and that he was a timagua. This was his answer. + +When asked for what purpose he was coming yesterday when he was taken, +and who sent him, he said that he was sent by a chief named Bato, a +native of the witness's village, who told the witness to take fowls +and wax and fish, and go to the place where the fleet was, or was +coming, and find out who was in it, what sort of ships there were, +where it was going, what people it carried, and how many ships; +and the witness came to do what the aforesaid chief had ordered, +and was captured. This was his answer. + +He was asked what ships there were in the river of Mindanao, armed +to set out; and where they were going, who was going as commander +of them, and what fighting men there were. He said that there were +a hundred ships in the aforesaid river of Mindanao, large and small, +intending to go out to plunder Pintados and Cebu, and Oton, and all the +regions that they could; and that for commander there goes Silonga, +with Raxamora and Buysan. He said that a large number of men were +going on the war-vessels, because they take a hundred men from each +village; and he said that within ten days they would set out from +the river for Pintados. This was his answer. + +When asked if the Mindanaos knew that the Spanish fleet was going to +help Pintados, or what they understood about it, he said that a son of +Liguana, called Ssapay, with Gumapas and Nasa, were sent from Mindanao +as spies in order to know what the Spaniards were doing, and where +they were; and that they told where the Spanish fleet was, and what +it was doing. He said that the Lutaos who came with him yesterday had +returned to give news of the coming of the fleet. This was his answer. + +He was asked whether Liguana, chief of Taguima, had planned to +go to Pintados with the enemy's fleet. He said that he had, and +that likewise his sons were going with him, and all the chiefs of +his country; and thirty-five vessels were going from Sanbuangan, +Tragima, and Basilanban. This he said to be the truth, according to +the obligation of his oath, which he had taken after his custom. He +said that he was about twenty years old; and he did not sign this +paper, but the interpreter signed it. + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato Pedro Navarro_ + +Before me: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + +_Official act_. On the sea, off the mainland of Dapitan, on the +thirtieth day of the month of May in the year one thousand six hundred +and two. The purveyor-general, Juan Juarez Gallinato. Whereas Ensign +Pedro de Carrion, while scouting among the little islands opposite +the kingdom of Xolo in the last few days, captured a Lutao in a +[_MS. defective_] and was fleeing; it is proper, in order to know +the design of the inhabitants of the aforesaid kingdom, that his +deposition be taken; and thus I command it and sign my name. + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato Pedro Navarro_ + +By his command: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + +_Deposition_. On the aforesaid day, month, and year, the aforesaid +purveyor-general ordered to appear before him the aforesaid Indian, +in order to take his deposition, through the interpreter Pedro Navarro, +encomendero of Baibay. The following questions were asked of him. + +After he had taken the oath according to his custom, and after he had +promised to tell the truth, he was asked what his name was, where he +lived, what his occupation was, and if he was a slave or a timagua. He +said that he was called Onarano; that he was a Lutao of the village of +Lumian, which is near Xolo; that his occupation was always to fight; +and that he was a timague. This was his answer. + +When asked if it was true that the son of Diguana, called Sapaz, [55] +was with the natives of Jolo on the morning on which they attacked the +Spanish quarters, and if Diguana knew of the attack, he said that he +did not know; nor had he heard it said, because the witness was not +in that affray, for he had gone away to fight at that time. This was +his answer. + +He was asked if it was true that the king of Xolo sent to Mindanao +to seek help against the Spaniards. He said that it was, and that +a chief of the aforesaid kingdom, called Diaga, went in a ship to +seek it on behalf of the king; but that it was not known what reply +he brought back. This was his answer. + +He was asked if it was true that the Mindanao enemy was preparing a +great fleet to come against the provinces of Pintados and against the +Spaniards. The witness said that he had heard from other natives of +the kingdom of Xolo that, as long as the Spaniards remained in the +aforesaid kingdom, all the natives of Mindanao would go with a large +fleet to Pintados, to plunder it. This was his answer. + +He was asked other questions in regard to the matter, but he said that +he did not know anything more than what he had already declared; and +this he affirmed. He did not sign this paper, but the aforesaid Pedro +Navarro signed it. He declared that he was more than fifty years old. + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato Pedro Navarro_ + +Before me: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + + +_Official act_. In the port of Biara, which is on the mainland of +Dapitan and Mindanao, on the thirty-first day of the month of May in +the year one thousand six hundred and two. The purveyor-general, Juan +Juarez Gallinato. Whereas Captain Benito Gomez Descobara y Esquivel +captured on a little island (or rather on the sea-coast) an Indian, +a native of Sanbuangan, who is supposed to be a spy; I command, in +order to learn if he is one, and to ascertain about the enemy's fleet, +that his confession be taken; and thus I order it and sign my name. + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato_ + +By his command: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + + +_Deposition_. Thereupon, immediately, on the day, month, and year +aforesaid, the said purveyor-general caused to appear before him +the aforesaid Indian, in order to receive his confession, through +Agustin de Sepulbeda--who swore in due form to fulfil the office +of interpreter well and faithfully, and administered an oath to the +Indian according to the latter's custom. He promised to tell the truth, +and the following questions were asked of him. He was asked his name, +where he lived, his occupation, his age, and whether he was slave or +free; and he replied that his name was Panran, that he was a native +of the town of Linpapa (which is near Rabos), that he was a slave +of Sumanpie, chief of the said village of Linpapa, and that he was +about twenty years old. This was his answer. + +He was asked what ships had gathered and from what nations, and +also where they were and for what purpose. He said that from Maluco +there had come fifty vessels--Terrenatans, Sangils, and Togolandans +[56]--which were brought by Buisan, who is master-of-camp to the one +whom they call Captain Lant. The rest which are going from Mindanao +consisted of forty large caracoas and twenty carangailes and bireyes, +with one caracoa and two bireyes from Sanbuangan and Tagima. All these +had agreed that, if the Spaniards were in Jolo, they should fall upon +them; and that, if they were not there, they should go to plunder in +Pintados, Cebu and Oton. This was his answer. + +He was asked where it was said that they were to go. He said that +those who were returning from Oton had agreed to pass through some +little islands which are opposite Quipit; and that those going to +Cebu were to go from Similon, which is opposite Dapitan; and that +they were to return that way. This was his answer. + +When he was asked how he knew this that he had said, he replied that +it was generally known and reported among the chiefs of Sanbuangan +and among the Lutaos. + +He was asked what agreement Liguana had made with the chiefs of Tagima +and Sanbuangan, and what he said to them against the Spaniards. He +replied that the aforesaid Liguana had ordered the chiefs and the +Lutaos to be assembled together, and in readiness, along with the +Mindanaos, against the Spaniards. This was his answer. + +He was asked how many days it would be before the fleet would set out +for Pintados; and he replied that the fleet was ready in Mindanao, +and that he had heard that it was to start shortly, within ten days, +and that five of these had passed. This was his answer. + +He was asked other questions in regard to the matter, and he replied +that what he had said was the truth; and he affirmed this and ratified +it. He did not sign this, but Agustin de Sepulbeda signed it. + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato_ +_Agustin de Sepulbeda_ + +Before me: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + + +_Official act_. On the sea, near Dapitan, on the fourth day of the +month of June in the year one thousand six hundred and two. The captain +and sargento-mayor, Juan Juarez Gallinato, purveyor-general and head +of the provinces of Pintados for his Majesty. Whereas it has come to +his notice that yesterday, Monday, the third of this month, Captain +Garcia Gutierres Guerrero and Ensign Domingo Martir and Diego Mendez +went in a caracoa to the river of Sioco to get water; and that, while +they were doing so, there came to them an Indian, the chief of the +said river, who told them that it was he who had given notice to the +captains about the enemy's fleet, in order to warn the Spaniards: now +therefore, in order to ascertain whether this is so or not, I command +that the depositions of the aforesaid men be taken; and I order it, +and sign my name. + + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato_ + +By his command: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + + +_Deposition._ Thereupon, on the day, month, and year aforesaid, the +said purveyor-general caused to appear before him the said Captain +Garcia Gutierrez Guerrero, in order to receive his deposition. He took +oath in due form of law, and promised to tell the truth; and, when +questioned in accordance with the above order, the witness declared +that he had gone to the bank of the river of Sioco, where some Indians +who pay tribute to him live; and that when he had arrived there the +witness caused an arquebus to be fired, at the noise of which there +came up an Indian, the chief of that river, called Tumarahoc. The +said chief came to where the witness was, and told him that he had +told the Indians of Dapitan--those who took fowls to the Jolo army +for the commander--that they should warn the Spaniards that in the +river of Mindanao a great fleet was being prepared, with many men, +which they said was to go to Jolo and Pintados; and the aforesaid +Indian likewise told the witness that he would be on the watch, and +that he would warn the Dapitans if the fleet should set out, and where +it was going; and he said that he would also tell the witness. This +he declared to be the truth, under the oath which he had taken; and +he affirmed and ratified it, and signed it, and declared that he was +about forty years old. + + +_Garcia Guerrero_ +_Juan Juarez Gallinato_ + +Before me: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + + + +_Deposition_. Then, on the day, month, and year aforesaid, the said +purveyor-general caused to appear before him Ensign Domingo Martin, +in order to take his testimony. He took oath in due form of law, +and promised to tell the truth. When questioned in accordance with +the above order, the witness said that he went in company with +Captain Guerrero to the bank of the river of Sioco to get water; +and that when they arrived there they fired an arquebus-shot from the +witness's caracoa, and that, after they had fired it, there came to the +aforesaid bank an Indian, the chief of the river, who was a friend of +the Spaniards and paid tribute to the aforesaid Captain Guerrero. When +he reached the caracoa, he told the witness and Captain Guerrero that +he had told the Dapitan Indians (who had gone to Jolo with fowls for +the commander), that they should warn the Spaniards that a large number +of ships were being gathered in the river of Mindanao; and that a very +great number of men was to depart in them to go against the Spaniards +in Jolo and to plunder Pintados. The said chief also said that he had +told the said Indians that if they did not warn the said Spaniards he +would have them beaten with sticks; and that he would be on the watch, +and that he would warn the Dapitan chiefs and Captain Guerrero of what +happened. This he declared to be the truth, under the oath which he +had already taken; and he affirmed and ratified it, and signed it; +and he said that he was about twenty-eight years old. + + +_Domingo Martin_ +_Juan Juarez Gallinato_ + + +Before me: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + + +These agree with the originals, which are in the possession of the +purveyor-general, who signed here with his name; and it is exact and +accurate. And to the fact that it was accurately copied, corrected, +and made to agree, were witnesses: Ensign Juan Rodriguez de Santa, +and the royal ensign Pedro Mendez de Sotomayor, and Francisco +Hernandez. Done in Dapitan, on the fourth day of the month of June +in the year one thousand six hundred and two. + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato_ + +In testimony of which, I have affixed my name and the customary +rubrics. + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + + + +Letters to Felipe III + + + +Sire: + +Don Pedro de Acuña, [57] to whom your Majesty granted the favor of +sending him to govern this land, arrived here with a very considerable +reenforcement of troops. This and his arrival are so important and +timely that I think there must follow many results beneficial to +the service of God and of your Majesty, as also the correction of +important matters--which have greatly needed it, as I have informed +your Majesty at greater length in a report and letter that treats of +this matter, and of the great and urgent necessity for your Majesty +to command that the town and fort of Maluco be occupied as promptly +as possible. From this will result the greatest advantages, and great +danger to this land will be averted; and thus may be repaired the many +losses and destructive raids which this country may suffer, which may +result from the inroad of those demons of English and Dutch heretics, +with their intentions and desires. We should have aid, and means +of communication, and strongholds in these regions, and especially +in this one of Maluco, which is the most important, dangerous, and +near to these islands, and whose people are unfriendly. Our enemies, +the Xoloan and Mindanaos, avail themselves of it, and are succored +therefrom, and with this aid have inflicted many damages, which they +will continue to do, if they are not checked. Great cost and expense +must be incurred in these islands, merely to preserve and defend them; +and there are great hindrances and difficulties in the way of their +growth. By gaining this fort the door is closed to notable evils and +troubles, and benefits of the utmost importance, both spiritual and +temporal, through which God our Lord and your Majesty will be well +served, the Christian faith and the extension of the gospel will +be assured and increased in these regions; and the crown and royal +possessions of your Majesty, and the reputation of España, well +maintained and accredited, as is not the case now. Other important +undertakings and expeditions which may hereafter be made will be +facilitated; for that place is the capital, and has most reputation; +and it rules as subjects and tributaries many surrounding peoples, +who may be easily reduced after the conquest of this stronghold, and +after those who so greatly fear and respect us have been vanquished and +chastised. Moreover, expenses for supplies and garrisons which must be +maintained, and which are necessary until this is accomplished, will +be saved; and a large amount of property and income will be left for +other expenses and affairs in the service of your Majesty. In short, +until this is once for all assured and established, a certain amount +of damage must be expected, and will inevitably result; and it is very +evident that for the aforesaid reasons it is necessary sooner or later +to undertake this expedition for the preservation and security of these +regions. It is also better not to postpone it, and not to wait until +that place has greater fortification, strength, and defense, thereby +rendering its conquest more difficult and costly. I conclude, Sire, +by saying that as God and your Majesty have sent Don Pedro de Acuña +to this government, and he has inclination and desire for military +service, and for the faithful fulfilling his performance of what +pertains to his office and to the service of your Majesty, (as has been +observed), and besides has experience and the qualifications suitable +and necessary for this undertaking, may your Majesty not defer it, or +wait for another governor to perform this most important service. The +opportunity of having a person so well fitted for such a contingency +(which is by no means unimportant) is not to be lost. To say this +and what else pertains to this matter, Sire, I am constrained only +by the duty which I owe to the service of God and His church, and to +your Majesty and your crown, and to the general welfare of these most +important regions. If this were not so, nothing in this matter would +concern or could influence me; for it has cost me most dear and was +so disastrous to me that I lost by it my father and a great amount of +property, and met other losses to which I shall not refer. For this +reason, I desired to prosecute this expedition after the death of my +father; but I could not do so, on account of the great fear and dread +of hostile Chinese and Japanese. As a man, Sire, I can but desire the +accomplishment of that thing which my father and I had tried to achieve +and had almost succeeded in doing. But may our Lord not permit that +this or any other enterprise should be abandoned, for lack of desire +and effort to secure a result so desirable for the said objects; +and may it come through the hand and means which God shall choose, +and by which He shall be served. May His Divine Majesty guard your +Majesty as He can, and as we all desire and need. At Manila, June 8, +in the year 1602. + +_Luis Perez Dasmariñas_ + +[_Endorsed_: "April 27, 1604. To the Conde de Lemos. Suitable provision +has already been made; at Valladolid, [58] May 14, 1605."] + + + + +Sire: + +As I was in doubt whether the letter which I wrote last year regarding +the matter in this was received by your Majesty, I give an account +of the same matter in this letter. + +Toward the close of the previous year, 1600, there entered into +these islands, by way of the Strait of Magallanes, Oliver de Nort, +a Hollander, with two ships of war belonging to Count Mauriçio. He +took prizes and caused damage, until he established himself at the +mouth of the bay of this city, intending to await the merchant ships +from China, and the galleon "Santo Thomas" from Nueva España, with +the silver for two years belonging to the business men of this kingdom. + +As military affairs were at that time little cared for in these +islands, and there was no sort of preparation, the royal Audiencia +of your Majesty, at the petition of the president, Don Francisco +Tello, was obliged to take measures to provide aid in so urgent a +necessity, with all possible haste and efficiency. For this end I was +commissioned to go immediately to the port of Cabite, and place and +keep it in a state of defense; and to arm several ships, with which +to meet the pirate and divert him from his intention. Accordingly, +I did so to the best of my ability, and put two ships of moderate +size in readiness in a short time, there being no others. + +The president ordered me again in your Majesty's name, and in +writing--as he considered that by no other authority, in view of +the state of affairs, could the expedition be made--to go out with +this fleet in my charge, against the enemy, and fight until I should +destroy him. In compliance with this I sought him, and encountered +him outside the bay of this city. We engaged the enemy in a long and +obstinate battle, which occurred between the two fleets on December +14. The outcome is related in the certified account by the president +and governor, which accompanies this, by which your Majesty will +be informed of the punishment which was inflicted upon this enemy, +and how our aim was attained as we had wished, and likewise of the +dangers and hardships which I encountered and underwent on this +occasion. In this I should be content if I had, for my only reward, +succeeded in serving your Majesty; for this aim alone drew me from +my home at so much danger to my honor, life, and children. + +I humbly beg your Majesty to be pleased to pardon whatever fault there +may have been, in consideration of my good intention and desire to +obey, and to succeed in what I was commanded to do. God protect the +Catholic person of your Majesty. At Manila, June 30, 1602. + +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ + + + + +Sire: + +Although the obligation to advise your Majesty of the state of this +your province, of the Order of our father St. Augustine, is always +binding, yet for many new reasons it is especially binding this year; +for at the recent meeting cf the chapter here, by acclamation, and +without voting, father Fray Pedro Arze (concerning whom your Majesty +must already have a report), was elected provincial, with the consent +of all. From this we hope that, with the favor of God and your Majesty, +he will be successful in his government, since its commencement is +so propitious. The letter and mandate which your Majesty sent last +year serves him as a guide for the correction of what stands in +need of remedy, and the severity necessary to prevent disobedience; +accordingly, the province is enjoying the greatest peace and quiet +that it has ever had. In the meantime there came this year Fray Pedro +Sossa, with a commission as visitor, sent by Fray Christoval de la +Cruz from Nueva España, in virtue of several messages which he bears +from the father-general, Alejandro Genense. We did not receive him, +not because we did not desire a visitation--which, on the contrary, +we do desire, and humbly seek from your Majesty, for the justification +of this province--but because he did not come by order of your Majesty, +and for other reasons which the Audiencia of these islands examined; +and because some other and further messages which he bore from the +father vicar-general Fulvio relating to us appeared suspicious. In what +concerns this matter, we refer your Majesty to the said Audiencia, +which, we believe, will advise your Majesty with due fidelity. Your +Majesty has therein two very faithful vassals and servants, namely, +Doctor Antonio de Morga and the licentiate Tellez Almazan--both the +fathers of children, excellent judges, poor, and deserving of whatever +favor your Majesty may extend to them; and especially of being removed +from this country, which is poor and of scant resources, and where +they cannot provide for the fortunes of their children. In this way +we consider that your Majesty would do a great service to God. + +The bearer of this is the father definitor, Fray Diego Cerravi, [59] +who came to these regions from Castilla about eight years ago, and has +served your Majesty and the order here very advantageously. He is a +learned and virtuous religious, who speaks the truth; accordingly your +Majesty may credit what he says. He is a man of so many good qualities +that, to tell your Majesty in a word, he leaves us at his departure +lonely, sad, and disconsolate at losing him--although we are consoled +by our confidence in the favor and grace which your Majesty will show +this province and to him in its name, by ordering that aid be given to +him in the business which he has in his charge; and especially that he +may bring us friars from the province of Castilla, who are here much +approved for their virtue and learning. And we are confident that +your Majesty will favor us in all matters as our protector, patron, +and only defender; we trust no less that our Lord will protect for +us the royal person of your Majesty, according to the needs of your +kingdoms and seigniories, and of us, your ministers and chaplains. We +beseech, etc. From this your Majesty's convent of the Order of our +father Saint Augustine. In the city of Manila, on the fourth of July +in the year one thousand six hundred and two. + + +_Fray Pedro Arce_, provincial +_Fray Agustin de Tapia_, definitor +_Fray Bernave de Villalovos_, definitor +_Fray Diego Cerrabe_, definitor +_Fray Pedro de Salzedo_, definitor + + +[_Endorsed with the following order_: "Join this with the letter from +the Audiencia, and bring them in on January 28, 1604."] + + + +Sire: + +Since the last year, 601, an account has been given to your Majesty +of the expedition which I conducted at the close of the previous year, +1600, by order of the governor and president, Don Francisco de Tello, +against Olibert de Norte, a corsair from Holland who entered among +these islands, taking prizes with two ships of war; and of the outcome +of the expedition, by which the said corsair was punished and harassed. + +Francisco de las Missas, factor and overseer of your Majesty's +exchequer in these islands, whom I inspected a short time ago +... [under a] [60] special commission from your Majesty, and passed +sentence upon him ... penalties and restitutions as will appear by +the report of the inspection which I have sent to your ... [Majesty] +by three routes. He has been so hostile ... that he displays his +jealousy of me in all matters [in so far as] he can. Accordingly, +on account of this--as well as to cover his fault at the time of +the despatch of the fleet which I took, by sending me unsupplied +with sailors and other things necessary, which it was his duty to +furnish--among other measures which he has taken since the past +year, one has been under color and appearance of proceeding from +the licentiate Salazar de Salzedo, fiscal of this Audiencia (whom, +for private reasons, he holds quite in his power). The said factor +induced the fiscal, in the affair of his investigation, to draw up a +secret information with suborned witnesses--sailors and others, who +are at his call--by which it is intimated that he furnished me well, +and that the commander's ship was lost through my fault, imputing to +me by the statements of these men other and illegal actions, in order +to disparage my faithful service; by this may be seen the malice and +passion of those concerned in this affair. That document was sent to +your Majesty and the ministers before whom this matter is considered. + +In like manner Captain Joan de Alcega (his intimate friend, +and likewise a partisan of the said fiscal and factor), whom I +took as admiral, in order to cover up his own guilt--for which he +was arrested by the president and governor, and is being proceeded +against officially because, at the beginning of the fight, he left the +commander's ship unsustained, contrary to the order which he had from +me in writing; and on account of other illegal acts, and because he +took a part of the benefits of the success which resulted--he also, +driven by the same heat of passion, has taken secret measures and +procured documents with which to inform your Majesty in a sinister +way to my prejudice. + +Since it is just that in all matters your Majesty should be informed of +the truth, I send certain documents which are not drawn in secret, nor +cunningly, nor maliciously, whereby the truth will appear--especially +the information which was drawn by the alcalde-mayor of the province +of Valayan (on whose coast and in whose district the ship was lost), +the very next day, and obtained from the men who were saved from the +wreck. By this may be seen what passed in this region, and the guilt +of the said factor, and that of the admiral, as has been pointed out. + +Beside this, in the ships which leave here this year goes a religious +of the Order of St. Augustine, Fray Francisco de Valdes by name, who +was sent, in company with Fray Diego de Cerrabi, by his order to the +court of your Majesty on the business of the order. This religious +can inform your Majesty of all which occurred on the said expedition, +as his order sent him on it to confess and administer the sacraments; +and he was present during the fight on the commander's ship, and saved +himself by swimming. As a trustworthy and disinterested person, he will +tell the truth, without being influenced by personal considerations. + +I humbly beg your Majesty that, with this understanding, your Majesty +may be pleased to command that opportunity be not given for distortion +of facts in such a way, by persons so jealous and so suspicious, who +are moved alone by anger and passion to avenge themselves and procure +satisfaction from the ministers who, for the service of your Majesty, +have administered (as they still do) justice in your behalf; and +that you will command that the illegality which appears to have been +committed in this be punished, as is most fitting for the service of +your Majesty. God protect the Catholic person of your Majesty. Manila, +July 8, 1602. + +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ + + + +Sire: + +I, the licentiate Gerónimo de Salazar y Salcedo, your fiscal in +the royal Chancilleria of the Philipinas Islands, say that on the +sixteenth of January of the year one thousand six hundred your Majesty +was pleased to command that a royal commission be given to Don Pedro +de Acuña, governor and captain-general of these islands, empowering +him, when he should reach them, to cause the royal officials to give +him a report of what they have collected from Don Francisco Tello, +his predecessor, toward the sixteen millions [of maravedis?] which +were still due from the balance which was incurred by him at the +time when he was treasurer of the Sevilla House of Trade; and also +to cause that whatever remained to be paid should be collected from +the said Don Francisco Tello and from his property. + +In the course of the execution of this commission by the said Don +Pedro de Acuña, the royal officials certified that the said Don +Francisco Tello had paid them twenty-seven thousand two hundred +pesos of common gold, which should be twenty-eight thousand one +hundred and eighty-four pesos, according to your command by a royal +decree dated in San Lorenco, on the thirteenth of September in the +year one thousand five hundred and ninety-five. The said officials +decided that the eight thousand pesos which were lost in the year +one thousand six hundred in the ship "Santa Margarita" should be +for your Majesty's account--because, since the debt was contracted +in the Sevilla House of Trade, the payment should be there; and +the said Don Francisco Tello must run the risk as far as that. They +also decided that what was ordered in the aforesaid royal decree of +the thirteenth of September, ninety-five, was that each year three +thousand ducados should be deducted from the salary of Don Francisco +Tello, which were to be sent each year; and, as he failed to pay in +the years ninety-six, ninety-seven, and ninety-eight, for the rest +of the time it came about that eight thousand pesos were sent each +year. It was thus that the aforesaid eight thousand pesos were lost +which were going in the said ship "Santa Margarita;" whereas, if the +aforesaid royal decree had been followed and three thousand ducados +sent, no more than that sum would have been lost. + +The governor gave me authority to follow up the matter, and I asked +from him an order of execution for the whole sum, with the assurance +that I would receive on account whatever seemed lawfully to have been +paid; it was given to me on the person and goods of the aforesaid +Don Francisco Tello, but property was not found to the value of four +hundred pesos. He opposed the execution, saying that he had paid in +Sevilla with the income of his family estate, together with what he +had paid here, all the balance that was due. I replied to this that +this did not appear, from the aforesaid royal decree of January, one +thousand six hundred, and that a forced sale would have to be made +for the amount that was therein ordered--not taking account of the +payments that had been made here until they should arrive at Sevilla, +as the official judges of these islands have decided--and that what +was lost must be at the risk of the said Don Francisco Tello. + +This was proper, since at the time when the said royal officials +gave the said money to the masters of the ships to be delivered to +the treasury of Mexico, the aforesaid Don Francisco Tello, by the +authority of his position, gave orders that the said masters should +give him the money; and he invested it in merchandise, which, if it +had arrived in Mexico, would have gained a great deal. It was right +that, since he was to have the profit, he should bear what risk there +was--which was greater than if he had allowed the royal officials to +send the money as it suited them. Since each year a great quantity +of money is sent from the treasury of Mexico to the one here, they +would have given orders that, instead of sending the money from here, +it should be deducted from what was to be sent from Mexico, in order +that that quantity might be sent to Sevilla. In this way the risk of +going and coming would have been avoided; and, even if there had not +been any opportunity for this, they might have sent the said money +in gold--which is a less risk, because it is of less bulk and weight +than reals--and thirty per cent would have been gained in Mexico. + +Both sides brought evidence, but that for the opposition was of no +importance; so the governor gave judgment according to the opinion +of the licentiate Luis Ortis de Padilla, reporter of the aforesaid +royal Chancilleria, ordering that his property be sold to the highest +bidder, in order to recover the amount for which the execution had been +granted--deducting from it all which the royal officials certify to +have been paid here, and also, eight thousand pesos for what he says he +has paid in Sevilla. I consented to the judgment as far as concerned +what was favorable, and I appealed from what was in opposition, to +what I had asked to have received as evidence. The opposing side has +denied this, and made a declaration of nullity against the aforesaid +royal decree of the year six hundred, saying that, according to it, +it was ordered that the accountants of the royal Council of the +Indias should make a record of this matter, which they did not do; +so that everything that was done by its authority is void. Thus the +suit remains in this position. + +Seeing that I did not find any property of the said Don Francisco +Tello with which to fulfil the aforesaid commission, and hearing that +he had some property which he kept secret, I asked for and received +letters of excommunication and censure against those who might know +of property belonging to the said Don Francisco Tello, in order that +they should make it known. They opposed this, and tried to delay it +as much as possible; but nevertheless it was ordered that the three +letters should be given. They appealed from this, and menaced me with +the aid of fuerza [61]--with the result that until the sixth of this +month the last letter could not be read, so that the examination of +the depositions that were taken has been delayed. According to them, +it appears that he has no property of any account in these islands, +but that what he has is in Nueva España; and whatever I have been able +to hear of I give notice to the viceroy of that country to attach, +because the ships are about to sail, and the governor is in Cavite, +and I cannot get a warrant for it. God keep the Catholic person of +your Majesty, according to His power. From Manila, on the tenth of +July of the year 1602. + +The licentiate _Hieronimo de Salazar y Salzedo_ + +[_Endorsed_: "Examined on the second of July, 1604. Let it be put with +another from the royal officials of Philipinas, of July 18, 1603."] + + + + + + +Bibliographical Data + + +All documents in this volume save two are obtained from the original +MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla; and their pressmarks +therein are indicated as follows: + +1. _Ordinances of the Audiencia_ (concluded).--See _Vol_. X, No. 15. + +2. _Hospital for Indians._--"Simancas-Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; +cartas y expedientes de personas seculares, vistos en el Consejo; +años 1595 á 1606; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 35." + +3. _Letters from the fiscal, 1599._--"Simancas-Secular; Audiencia +de Filipinas; cartas y espedientes del presidente y oidores de dicha +audiencia vistos en el Consejo; años de 1583 á 1600; est. 67, caj. 6, +leg. 18." + +4. _Letter from king of Borneo._--The same as No. 3, save that the +dates read, "1583 á 1599." + +5. _Letters from Telia._--"Simancas-Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; +cartas y expedientes del gobernador de Filipinas vistos en el Consejo; +años de 1567 á 1599; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 6." + +6. _Letters from Felipe III._--The first one: "Simancas-Filipinas; +cartas y espedientes del presidente y oidores de dha Audiencia vistos +en el Consejo; años de 1600 á [1606]; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 19." (The +second: in "Cedulario Indico" of Archivo Historico Nacional, Madrid, +"Tomo 38, fº. 131.6, nº. 101.") + +7. _Pacification of Mindanao._--The same as No. 6, first part. + +8. _Van Noordt's attack._--"Simancas-Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; +cartas y expedientes del presidente y oidores de dicha Audiencia vistos +en el Consejo; años de 1600 á 1612; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 19;" but +on the last of the papers in this group the dates read, "1600 á 1606." + +9. _Morga's report of battle._--The same as No. 8. + +10. _Letter from Garcia._--"Simancas-Secular; cartas y espedientes +de personas eclesiasticas vistos en el Consejo; años 1570 á 1608; +est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 42." + +11. _Letter from the fiscal, 1601._--The same as No. 8. + +12. _Complaint of cabildo._--The same as No. 2. + +13. _Letter from Morga._--The same as No. 6, first part. + +14. _Grant to Jesuit school._--"Simancas-Audiencia de Filipinas; +consultas originales correspondientes á dha Audiencia desde el año +1586 á 1636; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 1." + +15. _Instructions to Acuña._--"Audiencia de Filipinas; registros de +oficio reales ordenes dirigidas á las autoridades del distrito de la +Audiencia; años 1597 á 1634; est. 105, caj. 2, leg. 1." + +16. _Royal decrees, 1602._--The same as No. 15. + +17. _Pintados menaced._--The same as No. 8. + +18. _Letters to Felipe III._--The first, second, and fifth, the same +as No. 8; the third, the same as No. 10, save that the heading reads, +"Simancas-Eclesiastico;" the fourth, the same as No. 6, first part. + +_Annual letters from the Philippine Islands, 1601._--This document +is obtained from a compilation of missionary letters by John Hay, +S.J., entitled _De rebus Iaponicis Indicis, et Pervanis_ (Antverpiæ, +M. DC. V), pp. 950-968. Our translation is made from a copy of this +book in the Library of Congress. + + + + + + + +NOTES + +[1] Evidently a reference to the memoir of Fray Juan Plasencia upon +the customs of the Tagal natives (_Vol_. VII. pp. 173-196), which was +long used as a guide by Spanish magistrates and officials in their +dealings with the Indians. + +[2] A counsellor-at-law appointed by the supreme court to make the +briefs of the causes to be tried; he reads them before the court, after +they have been first examined and approved by the parties concerned. + +[3] The reference or act of delivering written judicial proceedings +to the other party, in order that, on examination of them, he may +prepare the answer. + +[4] Inserted among these decrees is a copy of the account written by +Fray Juan de Plasencia, O.S.F., of the customs of the Tagal Indians--a +document presented in vol. VII of this series; also (unsigned and +undated, but probably by the same writer) a paper entitled, "Remarks +on the customs which the natives of Pampanga formerly observed in +their lawsuits." + +[5] _Cuarteles_: referring to the cost of quartering soldiers on +the citizens. + +[6] So in the official transcript from the original MS.; but apparently +an error for _bar--i.e., bahar_, which is an Arabic weight, computed +in the Moluccas at about five hundred and ninety pounds (Crawfurd's +_Dictionary_, p. 103). + +[7] The Spanish translation of this letter is written on the back of +the letter itself. + +[8] The words in brackets throughout this letter are conjectural +readings. + +[9] _Marginal note, apparently made to facilitate reference_: "That +at the end of July, 1599, information was received through letters +from the captains of the forces at Malaca and Maluco that at Sunda +and Terrenate were a number of English ships, whose designs were +not known; that help was asked for Maluco, but the request was not +granted, it being impossible for this kingdom of the Phelippinas to +do more; and that it is necessary that we be provided with troops, +arms, and money from Nueva España, of all of which advices have been +given the viceroy." + +[10] The letters here mentioned are found at the end of this document; +they are all written in Portuguese. They are not presented here, +as all that is essential in them is contained in Tello's letter. + +[11] _Marginal note_: "That the troops and artillery are to retire +from the fort of La Caldera, and proceed to Cebu, as they are needed +there; and the fort is burned." + +[12] Spanish, _que van por el agua mas de una legua_; apparently some +word or phrase is missing. Montero y Vidal (_Hist. de la piratería_, +i, p. 144) says that the fort of La Caldera was two and one-half +kilometers (a little more than one and one-half miles) from Zamboanga. + +[13] _Marginal note_: "That information regarding the English has +been given to the viceroy of Nueva España, in order that he may send +reënforcements." + +[14] _Marginal note_: "That the work of casting artillery is being +continued." + +[15] The Strait of Sunda, which separates Java from Sumatra. + +[16] This is followed by notarial attestations regarding the drawing +and collation of the above copy of instructions from the original, +at the order of Pedro de Acuña and Antonio de Morga, in 1602, and +the certification as to the qualifications of the government notary, +also dated in 1602. + +[17] The ship ranking second in a fleet. + +[18] Preceding this document, which is a copy and not the original, +is a notarial declaration attesting that the present copy was made +from the original by order of Antonio de Morga, for use in a suit +brought by him against his admiral, Joan de Alcega, for deserting the +flagship during the battle, which caused the loss of the flagship. At +the close of the instructions is the notarial attestation of Joan +Paez de Sotomayor as to the correctness of the copy, under witness of +Geronimo Xuarez and Joan de Aldave, and bearing date of August 27, +1602; and the further attestation by three notaries that Paez de +Sotomayor is entitled to act as notary. + +[19] Francis Drake; see mention of this voyage in _Vol_. IV, p. 313. + +[20] Thomas Candish; see _Vol_. VII, p. 52. + +[21] Oliver van Noordt; he was a native of Utrecht, and led this +expedition in behalf of a commercial company which had been formed in +1598 by certain citizens of the United Provinces. Although the main +object of their enterprise was trade, the commission issued to Esaias +de Lende (q.v., _post_) shows that the Dutch government gladly seized +this opportunity to attack Spanish possessions in the Orient. See +the detailed account of Van Noordt's voyage in _Recueil des voiages +... des Indes Orientales_ (Amsterdam, MDCCXXV), ii. pp. 1-117. + +[22] Maurice of Nassau, born in 1567, succeeded his father as governor +of the United Provinces in 1584, and was for forty years the leader +of the Dutch cause; but he did not become Prince of Orange until the +death of his elder brother in 1618. Maurice died in 1625. + +[23] This was Jacob Claasz; he was sentenced to be set ashore and +abandoned at the Strait of Magellan. A little bread and wine was given +him, and it was expected that "he would die of hunger in a few days, +or else be captured and eaten by the savages" (_Rec. des voiages_, +ii, p. 30). The same record says that Peter de Lint was promoted to +Claasz's post. + +[24] This vessel was named "El buen Jesus." + +[25] A corrupt phonetic rendering of the name of Sir Richard Hawkins, +son of the noted English freebooter Sir John Hawkins. The reference +in the text is to the fight between Richard Hawkins and the Spanish +admiral Beltran de Castro, off the coast of Peru, June 20-22, 1594; +after a long and desperate contest, the English were forced to +surrender. Hawkins was taken a prisoner to Spain, but afterward sent +back to England; he died soon after 1620. See his work, _Observations +... in his Voyage into the South Sea_ (London, 1622; reprinted by +Hakluyt Society, 1847, and again in 1877), 99. 182-225. + +[26] As is shown by another document in the same legajo, this patache +was named "San Xacinto;" it came from Malaca some time before the +battle with the Dutch, and with news that they had been seen in those +waters; it was commanded by Estevan Rodriguez de Paez. An embargo was +laid upon this vessel, in order to secure it for use against the Dutch; +but this was removed on November 22, 1600. The decree releasing the +vessel was one of the documents used in a lawsuit brought by Paez +in regard to the freight charges for the merchandise carried by +the patache. + +[27] Screens of canvas, spread along the sides of a vessel to prevent +an enemy from seeing what is done on the deck. + +[28] Since the independence of the United Provinces was not recognized +by Spain until 1609, these Dutch prisoners might have been executed +as rebels against their former lord the king of Spain--an argument +doubtless emphasized by the tenor of De Lende's commission, which +follows this account of the battle. + +[29] Spanish, _le mas perro_--literally, "the most of a dog." + +[30] This descriptive paragraph is found in another copy of De +Lende's commission, preserved in the same legajo with the original +of the document just presented. We use this second copy, partly for +the sake of this description, partly because it is more exact in the +spelling of proper names. The estates belonging to the house of Orange +were Nassau, Catzenellenbogen, Vianden, Dietz, Veer, and Vlissingue +(anglicized to Flushing). + +[31] Alluding to the Holy Roman Empire, which, founded by Charlemagne +in the year 800, was long the temporal arm of the ecclesiastical +power in Europe. Carlos I of Spain was its head, under the title of +Charles V, during his reign as king of Spain. The Holy Roman Empire +came to an end in August, 1806, with the resignation of its head, +Francis II of Austria. + +[32] Francisco Vaez was born at Segovia in 1543, and received into +the Jesuit order in 1566. After his ordination he was sent to Mexico, +where he filled various responsible offices, among them that of +provincial. He died at Mexico, July 14, 1619. Sommervogel does not +mention his presence in the Philippine Islands. The letter by Vaez is +translated from the Latin version published by John Hay (1546-1607--a +Jesuit of Scotch birth, noted for his disputes with Protestants), +under the title _De rebus Iaponicis, Indicis_, etc., as seen in the +title-page herewith reproduced (Antverpiæ, M. DC. v). But the letter +had already been printed, two years earlier, in the _Relatione breve_ +of Diego de Torres, S.J. (Milano, MDCIII), the title-page of which +is also given here. Torres held various high official positions in +his order in Peru, Paraguay, and other South American countries; +and Sommervogel says (_Bibliotheque Comp. Jésus_, viii, col. 132): +"Father Torres, having been sent to Rome as procurator of his province, +profited by his sojourn in Rome to have his relation printed; it is +dated at Rome, February 25, 1603." It is not certain whether either +of these versions is the original production of Vaez; but as he +was a Spaniard, and writing to the general of his order, it seems +probable that he wrote in Latin, and that the Latin version which +we follow is Vaez's own composition, rather than the Italian--which +latter may have been Torres's translation from the Latin original, +to suit better his own account written in Italian. + +The Latin title-page reads thus in English: "Recent letters on affairs +in Japan, India, and Peru; collected in one volume by John Hay, a Scot, +of Dalgatty, of the Society of Jesus. Antwerp; from the printing-house +of Martin Nutius, at the sign of the two storks; in the year 1605." + +The Italian title-page is thus translated: "A brief relation by +Father Diego de Torres, of the Society of Jesus, procurator of the +province of Peru, regarding the fruit which is being gathered among +the Indians of that realm; for the consolation of the religious of +that Society in Europe. At the end is added the annual letter from +the Philippine Islands for 1600. At Milan; by the heirs of the late +Pacifico Pontio, and Giovanni Battista Piccaglia, partners; 1603. By +permission of the superiors." + +[33] Pedro Lopez de la Parra was a native of Salamanca; entering +the Jesuit order, he completed his studies and was ordained at +Mexico--where for some years he was both an instructor and preacher, +being regarded as an unusually eloquent orator. Desiring to be a +missionary in the Philippines, he came to the islands, but found +that he could not master the language of the natives; discouraged +by this, and finding that no other employment was available, he +obtained permission from the visitor Garcia to return to Mexico; and +on the voyage perished by shipwreck, as here related. (La Concepción, +_Hist. de Philipinas_, iii, pp. 391, 392.) + +[34] The word _collegium_, as used here, means rather "residence" than +"college;" but we retain the latter rendering because the Jesuits were +then actually conducting an educational institution at Manila, in which +they gave instruction to the Spaniards and to some natives. This was +the college of San José, for which provision had been made as early +as 1585; but for various reasons it was not opened until 1600. Its +first rector was Pedro Chirino; among its first students (thirteen +in all) were Pedro Tello, a nephew of the governor, and Antonio de +Morga, a son of the auditor. See La Concepción's detailed account, +in _Hist. de Philipinas_, iii, pp. 403-409. + +[35] La Concepción states (_Hist. de Philipinas_, iii, pp. 386-387) +that St. Polycarp was chosen by lot, in a solemn and public assembly +as the especial patron of the city of Manila, for its protection +against earthquakes, as Santa Potenciana was its patron in hurricanes +and tempests. + +[36] Antipolo is a town lying about thirteen miles east of Manila, +near the northwest corner of Laguna de Bay. + +[37] La Concepción gives (_Hist. de Philipinas_, iii, pp. 409-412) +an interesting account of the labors of this bishop, Fray Pedro de +Agurto, during the year 1600. Assembling the clergy and friars of his +diocese, he proposed to them various measures, especially intended to +facilitate the instruction and conversion of the natives. The catechism +of the church had been already translated into the Visayan speech; +but this version was now entrusted to a committee of six (equally +divided between the Jesuits, Augustinians, and regular clergy) +for revision. This assembly resolved to attempt the suppression of +polygamy among the heathen Indians subject to the Spaniards, and +to check the easy divorces prevalent among them. Agurto undertook a +visitation in Leyte and Samar, but could not complete it on account +of those islands being invaded by pirates from Mindanao. + +[38] Miguel Gomez entered the Jesuit order at Alcalá in 1582; after +his ordination was sent to the Philippines; during his stay there +was for some time an instructor in the college at Manila; and died +there December 28, 1622. + +[39] Ledesma was born in 1556, and became a novice in the Jesuit order +at the age of sixteen. In 1596 he came to the Philippines, where he +filled high positions in his order--rector at Zebu, rector at Manila, +and provincial of the islands. He died at Manila, May 15, 1639. + +[40] Christoval Ximenes was born in 1573, and entered the Jesuit order +in 1588. Coming to the Philippines in 1596, he spent thirty-two years +in the Visayan missions; he died at Alangatang, in Leyte, December +3, 1628. He was noted as a linguist, and composed various works, +religious or poetical, in the Visayan tongue; one of these was a +translation of Bellarmino's _Doctrina Christiana_ (Manila, 1610). + +Gabriel Sanchez is not mentioned by Sommervogel. + +[41] See La Concepción's account of the work of the Jesuits in Bohol +(_Hist. de Philipinas_, iii, pp. 356-362). Gabriel Sanchez and Juan +de Torres were the first of their missionaries there. The Boholans +did not, like the other natives of those islands, practice polygamy; +thus their conversion was greatly facilitated. The fathers gathered +many of the natives into a reduction; and they healed many sick +persons with holy water. Among their converts was Catunao, a chief +one hundred and twenty years old, who had guided Legazpi to Cebú. + +[42] Apparently the same as the present Tubigon, a considerable town +on the western coast of Bohol. + +[43] Dúlag is a town on the eastern coast of Leyte; and Alangalang +(named in the last section of this letter) is in the northern part +of that island, some twenty miles up the Cabayong River. + +[44] "Go ye, swift angels, to a people wrenched up and torn, a fearful +people, after whom is none other." + +[45] In MS., _treze_ (thirteen)--apparently an error in transcription +(probably arising from almost illegible writing in the original), +since Vaez, in the document preceding this, makes the number of Jesuit +priests in the islands to be thirty (_treinta_). + +[46] La Concepción relates (_Hist. de Philipinas_, iii, +pp. 380-382) the labors accomplished in less than a year by Garcia +as visitor. Collecting over one thousand pesos of contributions, +he restored the Jesuit church at Manila, which had been ruined by +earthquakes; and appointed Pedro Chirino as rector of the college. He +reorganized the missions of the Society, and their administration, and +presented a more liberal interpretation of the rule and constitution +of the order. He visited the various missions; and the missionaries +who had been stationed in different villages were gathered by Garcia +into a few central residences, from which they made journeys to carry +on their labors. La Concepción writes in a critical tone, regarding +Garcia as an innovator, and as doing more harm than good by some of +his too radical measures. Sommervogel does not mention Diego Garcia. + +[47] For interesting accounts, descriptive and historical, of early +ships, see article by Admiral George H. Preble on "Ships of the +Sixteenth Century," and similar papers on those of the next three +centuries, in _The United Service_, November, 1883-June, 1884. See also +Edward Shippen's account of galleys and the life of the galley-slaves +("Galleys of the Sixteenth Century"), in the same periodical, +September, 1884. On galleons, cf. note in _The Spanish War_, 1585-87 +(published by Navy Records Society; London, 1898), pp. 337-341. + +[48] The document here referred to (dated January 15-June 12, 1601), +and another recording a similar investigation made by Morga (July 6-9, +1602), are in the Sevilla archives, bearing the same pressmark as +the fiscal's letter in our text. Both are too long and unimportant +to be here presented. + +[49] On June 13, 1597, Felipe II issued a commission to Antonio de +Morga to investigate charges of peculation which had been made against +this man, as factor of the royal exchequer in the Philippines. + +[50] See La Concepción's account of the loss of this ship (_Hist. de +Philipinas_, iii, pp. 428-435). + +[51] Spanish, _colegio_; see note 32, _ante_. + +[52] A fund, the interest of which is required by the Spanish laws +for the support of an ecclesiastic. + +[53] Mauban is a town and anchorage in the northeast corner of +Tayabas province, Luzón; it lies on the Pacific coast of the island, +and southeast from Manila. + +[54] In a squadron, the galley next in rank to the flagship or +_capitana_. + +[55] These names appear thus in the text; but they evidently refer +to the same persons who are previously mentioned as Liguana and Ssapay. + +[56] Sangir (or Sanguir) is a small island midway between Mindanao +and Celebes; Tagolanda is another one, south of Sangir, about fifty +miles northeast of Celebes. + +[57] At the beginning of this letter is a brief summary of its +contents. + +[58] In 1601 the capital of Spain was removed from Madrid to +Valladolid; but this measure proved so disastrous that Felipe III +found it necessary to return to Madrid in 1606. + +[59] Diego Cerrabe entered the Augustinian order at Burgos in 1584. He +came to the Philippines in 1595, and after various official services +there, and two years' ministry at Pasig, he went to Spain with +messages from his chapter at Manila; apparently he did not return to +the islands. (Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 47.) + +[60] The MS. is worn or mutilated at the places marked by leaders; +the words in brackets are the translator's conjectural readings. + +[61] See definition of fuerza in _Vol_. V, p. 292. The reference here +indicates that Tello or his friends, in order to oppose the fiscal's +proceedings, secured the interference of some ecclesiastical judge, +who thus committed fuerza. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, 1493-1898 *** + +***** This file should be named 14685-8.txt or 14685-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/6/8/14685/ + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the PG Distributed Proofreaders Team + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/14685-8.zip b/old/14685-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..032cf2c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14685-8.zip diff --git a/old/14685.txt b/old/14685.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..187cce9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14685.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9160 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 + Volume XI, 1599-1602 + +Author: Various + +Release Date: January 13, 2005 [EBook #14685] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, 1493-1898 *** + + + + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the PG Distributed Proofreaders Team + + + + + +THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, 1493-1898 + +Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and +their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, +as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the +political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those +islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the +close of the nineteenth century, + + + +Volume XI, 1599-1602 + + + +Edited and annotated by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson +with historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord +Bourne. + + + +Contents of Volume XI + + + + Preface 9 + Documents of 1599 + + Ordinances enacted by the Audiencia of Manila + (_concluded_). Francisco Tello, and others; + Manila, June, 1598-July, 1599 21 + The hospital for Indians at Manila. Domingo + de Santiago and Antonio Valerio; Manila, + July 3 82 + Letters from the royal fiscal to the + king. Hieronimo de Salazar y Salcedo; Manila, + July 21 86 + Letter from the king of Borneo to Governor + Tello. Soltan Adil Sula; [June?] translated + July 27 120 + Letters to the king. Francisco Tello; Manila, + July 14 and August 7 123 + Letters to Tello. Felipe III; Denia, August + 16 129 + + Documents of 1600 + + The pacification of Mindanao. [Unsigned and + undated; 1600?] 135 + Oliver van Noordt's attack on Luzon. Francisco + Tello, and others; Manila, October-December + 140 + + Documents of 1601 + + Report to the governor, on the battle + with the Dutch. Antonio de Morga; Manila, + January 5. 173 + Annual letters from the Philippine + Islands. Francisco Vaez, S.J.; [Manila?], + June 10. 191 + Letter to Felipe III. Diego Garcia, S.J.; + Manila, July 8. 223 + Letter from the fiscal to Felipe III. Hieronimo + de Salazar y Salcedo; Manila, July 16. 228 + Complaint of the cabildo of Manila against + Morga. Gonzalo Ronquillo de Vallesteros, + and others; Manila, July 20. 235 + Letter to Felipe III. Antonio de Morga; + Manila, July 30. 251 + Grant to Jesuit school in Cebu. Council of + Indias; Valladolid, December 11. 257 + + Documents of 1602 + + Instructions to Pedro de Acuna. Felipe III; + Zamora, February 16. 263 + Two royal decrees. Felipe III; Zamora, + February 16. 289 + Pintados menaced by Mindanao pirates. Juan + Juarez Gallinato, and others; off Mindanao, + May 29-June 4. 292 + Letters to Felipe III. L. P. Dasmarinas, + and others; Manila, June 8-July 10. 302 + + Bibliographical Data. 317 + + + + + +Illustrations + + + + Title-page of _De rebus Iaponicis_, compiled by John Hay, + S J. (Antverpiae, M. DC. V); photographic facsimile, from copy + in Library of Congress. 187 + Title-page of _Relatione breve_, by Diego de Torres (Milano, + MDCIII); photographic facsimile, from copy in library of + Harvard University. 189 + + + + + +Preface + + +During the three years or more covered in this volume (1599-1602), +the most notable occurrence is the coming to the archipelago (in 1600) +of the fleet commanded by the Dutch adventurer Oliver van Noordt, +bent on plunder and the damage of the Spanish settlements there: +but he is defeated and driven away, although with heavy loss to the +Spaniards. This event, with the quarrels which it arouses in Manila, +and fears of like danger in the future, disturb the colony for several +years. The people, both Spaniards and Indians, are also in constant +dread of the Moro pirates, who ravage the coasts of the Pintados +(Visayas) Islands, encouraged to commit these depredations by the late +withdrawal of Spanish troops from Mindanao. In the face of all these +difficulties, the government is also embarrassed by the poverty of +the local treasury; its funds are wasted by unnecessary expenses and +salaries, and lessened by frauds in the customs duties, and by other +violations of the laws regarding trade. There are too many officials, +both secular and religious; and the former are often incompetent or +corrupt. The Indians are demoralized by having learned the use of +the white men's money; their native industries are neglected, which +causes scarcity and high prices of goods and supplies. New impulse +and wider scope are given to the missions conducted by the Jesuits, +who begin the task of gathering the scattered Indian converts into +mission villages, thus more easily to civilize and christianize the +natives. A new governor for the islands is appointed, Pedro de Acuna. + +In this volume is completed the document begun in _Vol_. X, "Ordinances +of the Audiencia enacted in 1598-99;" here are presented those for the +first half of the year 1599. The alcaldes-mayor must, in collecting the +taxes, observe the royal tariffs. To remedy the exorbitant charges for +fees in the inferior courts, all suits appealed to the Audiencia must +be accompanied by a sworn statement of the fees thus paid. The bonds +accepted in law-suits must be more reliable. Auditors are given special +powers in expediting the cases of persons imprisoned. Interpreters +are not allowed to trade with the natives, except in the presence of +a magistrate. The accounts of guardians of minors shall be examined +by the probate judge. Attorneys are restricted in bringing new suits +between Indians. Goods sold at auction for the benefit of the royal +treasury must be knocked down to the highest bidder, and for cash +only. Lawyers are ordered to follow the customs of the natives, +where these are involved in lawsuits. Collection of tributes shall +not be made by the alcaldes-mayor; and appointments for the post of +collector must be approved by the Audiencia. Various acts prescribe +the duties of officials of the Audiencia, and its procedures in +certain cases; also limits of action by attorneys. The officials +of the Audiencia shall give bonds each year. Cases involving twenty +pesos or less shall not be brought to trial. Directions are given for +the trial of suits between Indians. The alguazils-mayor must make +the rounds of the city at night. All accounts due to or from the +royal treasury shall be closed up and balanced within the next four +months. Officials of the Audiencia shall not go outside of the city +without permission. Certain punishments are prescribed for the Chinese +inhabitants--for vicious practices, for making or clipping coin, +and for buying stolen goods from Indians. All natives residing in +Manila who have not some employment are ordered to leave the city at +three days' notice. The duties of the late Alvaro Cambrano, deceased, +are to be assumed by others of the auditors. Provision is made for due +inspection, appraisal, and sale of merchandise brought from China. All +Indians belonging to the royal encomiendas must pay their tributes, +even when they reside in Manila. The sum of three hundred pesos is +appropriated to furnish and adorn the chapel of the Audiencia. The +Chinese are forbidden to have godchildren, a practice which has led to +many evils; and the Christians are ordered to follow the occupations +which they had exercised before their conversion. Officials whose +terms of office expire must furnish residencia before receiving any +further appointment. + +On July 3, 1599, one of the Franciscans in charge of the hospital for +the Indians at Manila writes to the king, asking further grants of +aid for its work. The governor and bishop are directed by the king +to advise him as to the needs of the hospital. A letter from the +royal fiscal to the king (July 21) displays the needs of the royal +exchequer in the islands, and suggests means for supplying these. He +complains of the burden imposed on the colony by the support of an +archbishop and three bishops. Much is wasted in salaries, for useless +or nominal services. Salazar y Salzedo advises that the offices and +their salaries be both reduced. Especial loss and injury to the royal +income arises from the frauds and violations of law which are practiced +in the Mexican trade. The payment of tributes by the Indians in money +is demoralizing them; they no longer pursue their former usual labors, +and their products are now scarce and high-priced. They ought to be +compelled to work, at agriculture, stock-raising, and mining. The +treasury needs more money, and more Indians should be assigned to the +crown. Encomiendas are fraudulently assigned by the governors. The +erection of wooden churches in the encomiendas is another source +of useless expense; these should be built of stone or brick. Certain +offices should be taken from their present incumbents, and conferred on +men of character and standing. The fiscal complains of lax management +of the treasury by its officials, and calls for an investigation; +and the same with the cabildo of Manila. Other charges where public +moneys are involved should be inspected by the crown, and the waste +of those funds should be checked. Even all these reforms will not +provide all the funds for necessary expenses; the fiscal therefore +proposes that the crown monopolize the trade in spices and raw silk, +which would bring immense profits to the royal treasury. Another letter +from the fiscal to the king, of the same date, makes recommendations +as to certain affairs of government. He urges that the auditors +should make regular official inspection of the administration of +justice throughout the islands. He complains that the profits of +trade are absorbed by the officials and their dependents, leaving +the citizens poor. Offices and other sources of profit must not be +bestowed on those dependents, but on the citizens; and the officers +of the ships that carry goods to Nueva Espana should not be appointed +there, but in the islands. The ships should be more strictly inspected. + +The ruler of Borneo sends (June. 1599) to Governor Tello a gift, +accompanied by a letter in which he expresses firm friendship for the +Spaniards. In a letter dated July 14, Tello complains that Morga is +hostile to him, and even writes anonymous letters against the governor; +the latter defends himself against these attacks. On August 7 he +reports to the king the arrival of English ships at Maluco, and his +intention of sending reenforcements to the Spanish fort there, and +to that in Cebu. He is asking aid from the viceroy of Nueva Espana, +and is trying to manufacture more artillery at Manila. Two letters +from Felipe III to Tello are dated August 16, 1599. The king commends +his proceedings in certain matters, and orders the viceroy of Nueva +Espana to send hereafter only useful colonists to the Philippines. He +also desires Tello to advise him whether the duties on Chinese goods +can be increased. + +A brief account of the pacification of Mindanao (1600?) furnishes +some additional information as to events there, up to 1600. The +troops have been withdrawn from this island, owing to an alarm +of danger from English pirates; but these prove to be peaceable +Dutch merchants. In October of that year, certain foreign vessels +(thought to be English) enter the bay of Albay, and Antonio de Morga +is ordered by the Audiencia to fortify the port of Cavite and pursue +the enemy. Instructions for this latter proceeding are furnished to +him by the governor (December 10). He in turn gives instructions +to his admiral, Joan de Alcega. Then follows an account not only +of the battle between the Spanish and the Dutch fleets, but also +of Van Noordt's entire voyage to the Philippines. The battle ends, +on the whole, disastrously for Van Noordt. Among the plunder found +on the Dutch ships is a commission granted to Esaias de Lende as a +privateer against the Spaniards in the Indias. Suit being brought +against the admiral Alcega for deserting the flagship in the battle +with Van Noordt, Morga presents therein his version of the affair +(January 5, 1601)--throwing the blame for the loss of the flagship +on Alcega's disobedience to the orders previously given him by Morga. + +Francisco Vaez reports (June 10, 1601) to the general of the Jesuit +order the status of Jesuit missions in the islands. He relates +the deaths of certain priests and brethren while engaged in the +performance of their duties, and proceeds to a detailed report of +each mission station. The Jesuit church at Manila has been ruined by +earthquakes. The fathers of the college there are accomplishing much +good by their labors, especially among those in prison, the soldiers, +and the children. Several instances of the devotion and piety of +converts are related. The losses and calamities which have befallen +the people have made them more inclined to religion. The sodalities +introduced among the natives arouse their devotion and enthusiasm. At +Antipolo a hospital has been begun, as well as a school for boys. At +Cebu also a school has been opened; and the labors of the Jesuits are +highly acceptable to the people, and commended by the bishop. Many +Indians are being converted by them. Connected with the residence +at Cebu is that of Bohol. Here Father Valerio Ledesma has persuaded +the savages to leave the mountains and settle near the river, under +the care of the missionaries; they have built a church, and are fast +becoming converted. Other missionaries in Bohol report many hundreds +of baptisms. Various miraculous cures of illness are related. Good +news comes from Samar also; nearly four thousand have been baptized, +nearly all adults. In Dulac a boys' school has been established, and +many conversions have occurred. At Alangala there are three Indian +chapels. Vaez asks for more missionaries in this so promising field. A +few days later (July 8) the official visitor of the Jesuit missions, +Diego Garcia, writes to Felipe III. He recommends that seminaries +for the instruction of heathen boys be stablished as a means for +hastening the conversion of the natives; and that the Indians be +gathered into settlements. Garcia asks that the Jesuit college at +Manila be authorized to graduate students from its classes; and closes +by recommending to the king's favor Morga and other officials. + +The fiscal, Salazar y Salcedo, declares (July 16, 1601) that Tello +is shielding Morga, and despatches to the king a full report of the +investigation which he has made of the conflict with the Dutch. A +memorial to the king is sent (July 20, 1601) by the cabildo of +Manila, making various complaints in regard to the conduct of Doctor +de Morga. The order given by him and Tello for the abandonment of +Mindanao has caused the natives of that region to commit piracies in +the islands under Spanish rule. Morga has obtained official positions +for his relatives and friends, contrary to the royal ordinances. One +of these men, being utterly incompetent, has failed to drive back the +Mindanao pirates, who have consequently inflicted much damage. Through +various machinations, Morga succeeded in depriving Ronquillo of +the command of the fleet, in the battle with Van Noordt; but in the +conflict he showed himself incompetent to command the troops, and a +coward at the approach of danger; and, in consequence, his flagship +was wrecked, with the loss of many Spaniards and of valuable military +supplies. Moreover, the enemy being allowed to escape, the islands are +more exposed to future attacks from them. The writers of this letter +are sending documents to prove their charges; they also accuse Morga of +writing anonymous letters. A letter from Morga to the king (July 30) +relates his services in the naval battle, and the unfaithfulness of +Joan de Alcega to his trust in that and other instances. Morga asks +to be relieved from his post in the Philippines, and sent to some +other country. On December 11, 1601, the Jesuit school at Cebu is +aided by a royal grant for the erection of buildings. + +Governor Tello is superseded by Pedro de Acuna, and the latter is +provided with instructions (February 16, 1602) by the king. He must +consult with the viceroy of Nueva Espana regarding the measures +to be taken for the settlement of the islands; and the viceroy has +been ordered to aid the governor therein. Acuna is directed to look +after the defense of the coasts, and the maintenance of a garrison +in Mindanao. He must do what he can to dispense with offices and +salaries which are superfluous, for which the king makes various +recommendations. The frauds which have been committed in the shipment +of goods to Nueva Espana, and in the payment of duties thereon, must +be stopped. Irregularities and frauds in the assignment of encomiendas +must also cease. These and various other matters are discussed by the +king, in pursuance of the recommendations made by the royal fiscal +in July, 1599. Official inspection of affairs in the islands must +be made by the auditors; and the royal officials must put a stop to +the importation from America of money for investment in the China +trade. The cathedral at Manila must be completed, and the hospitals +aided; and nuns will be sent for Santa Potenciana. The Jesuit seminary +for Indian boys should be cared for; and Acuna is to ascertain its +condition and needs. He must investigate the question of abolishing +the Parian, and see that religious teachers are provided for the +natives of the Ladrones Islands. Agriculture must be encouraged in +the Philippines. Two royal decrees (dated February 16) command the +viceroy of Nueva Espana to send to the Philippines more colonists, +who shall be persons of good character; and two nuns, to take charge +of the seminary of Santa Potenciana at Manila. Captain Gallinato +sends to the governor at Manila (June 4, 1602) warning of a large +plundering expedition which is about to sail from Mindanao to ravage +the Pintados Islands. The Joloans are also hostile, and ready to attack +the Spaniards; and the natives of Terrenate are aiding the Mindanaos. + +Luis de Dasmarinas writes to Felipe III (June 8, 1602), urging that the +Spaniards reconquer the fortress of Maluco, to protect the Philippines +from attack by "those demons of English and Dutch heretics." Doctor +de Morga again informs the king (June 30) of his services in the +conflict with Van Noordt, and in still another letter (July 8) of +the attacks which his enemies are making upon him in regard to that +affair. The Augustinian officials at Manila notify the king (July 4) +of the election of Pedro Arce as provincial of their order in the +islands; and explain their refusal to receive a visitor recently sent +to the islands from Nueva Espana. A letter from the fiscal details +(July 10) the measures taken to compel payment by Governor Tello of +the debts owed by him in Sevilla; he has property in Nueva Espana, +but none in the islands. + +_The Editors_ + +December, 1903. + + + + + +Documents of 1599 + + + + Ordinances enacted by the Audiencia of Manila + (_concluded_.) Francisco Tello, and others; January-July, 1599. + The hospital for Indians at Manila. Domingo de Santiago and + Antonio Valerio; July 3. + Letters from the royal fiscal to the king. Hieronimo de + Salazar y Salcedo; July 21. + Letter from the king of Borneo to Governor Tello. Soltan Adil + Sula; [June?] translated July 27. + Letters to the king. Francisco Tello; July 14 and August 7. + Letters to Tello. Felipe III; August 16. + + + +_Sources_: All these documents save one are obtained from MSS. in the +Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla; the second of the king's letters +(August 16) is from the "Cedulario Indico" in the Archivo Historico +Nacional, Madrid. + +_Translations_: The first of these documents is translated by Arthur +B. Myrick, of Harvard University; the second, by Emma Helen Blair; +the third, and part of the sixth, by Robert W. Haight; the fourth, +by James A. Robertson; the fifth, by Norman F. Hall, of Harvard +University, and Jose M. and Clara M. Asensio; the first letter in +the sixth, by Alfonso de Salvio, of Harvard University. + + + + + +Ordinances Enacted by the Audiencia of Manila (_concluded_) + + + +_An act ordering the alcaldes-mayor and their officials to observe +the royal tariff._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas, in the +collection of taxes by the alcaldes-mayor of the provinces of these +islands, and by their notaries and officials, there is great excess +and disorder, from failing to observe his Majesty's royal tariffs, +whence arise many difficulties and obstacles to the service of God +our Lord, and of his Majesty: therefore, to remedy these evils, +they ordered, and they did so order, that all the alcaldes-mayor, +both now and henceforth, in all of the provinces of these said +islands, shall observe and cause to be observed the royal tariff of +his Majesty and his royal Audiencia; and, in conformity with it, +shall levy and cause to be levied the taxes to them appertaining, +as also shall their notaries and officials--levying on the natives +a third less than on the Spaniards, according to the declaration +thereof in the said tariff; and that each one of them shall have a +copy of this tariff. They shall neither use nor levy the said taxes +by any other tariffs, under penalty of a fine of one hundred pesos +for the treasury of his Majesty and the expenses of justice. By this +act they so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez de Almazan_ +The licentiate _Zambrano_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + +_Proclamation_: In the city of Manila, on the twenty-second of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands, who signed their +names to the above act, declared and proclaimed it in public session. + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that there shall be no suits without the filing of +a sworn memorandum of the fees that the parties have paid._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia, Court, and Chancilleria of these Philipinas Islands +declared that, whereas it has come to their knowledge that certain +persons--not only Spaniards, but Indians and Sangleys--who bring +suits in this royal Audiencia and outside of it, in the provincial +and ordinary tribunals, complain of the large sums that are charged +by the courts, in great excess of what they are ordered to charge +by the royal tariffs; and that the notaries of the said tribunals, +contrary to orders, send the appealed suits to this royal Audiencia, +without placing at the end of them the fees they have paid; therefore, +in order to remedy the aforesaid evil, and to put an end to complaints +of similar acts of injustice, they ordered, and they did so order, both +the officials of this royal Audiencia and the others in the provincial +and the ordinary tribunals, and those outside of this city, now and +henceforth, not to bring or send any suit to be reviewed in the court +of this royal Audiencia, unaccompanied by a memorandum, signed and +sworn to by the parties to the suit, of what they have spent thereon, +and to what persons they have given the money; and not to bring any +suit for revision in any other manner, under penalty of a fine, for +each time when they shall disobey this order, of ten pesos for his +Majesty's treasury, to be equally divided between the treasury and the +court--to which, from that moment, they are considered as condemned. By +this act they so provided and ordered, and they signed the same. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Alvaro Zambrano_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + +_Proclamation_: In the city of Manila, on the twenty-second day of +the month of January, one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, +the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria +of these Philipinas Islands, who signed their names to the above act, +declared and proclaimed it in public session. + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the clerk of court who receives the bonds +of suitors shall accept only reliable bonds, and at his own risk; +and that his residencia in regard to the said office shall be taken._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas in the +suits that are brought and considered in this royal Audiencia it +is sometimes necessary to order the parties to give bonds, which +are accepted by the clerk of court of this royal Audiencia, without +his knowing whether they are good or not: therefore as some trouble +and annoyance might result from this, and it is expedient to avoid +this, and, where bonds are concerned, to require the residencia, they +ordered, and they did so order, that now and henceforth the said clerk, +in all suits in which bonds are ordered to be given, shall accept only +honest, reliable, and valuable bonds, under the penalty of having them +charged to his own account and risk if they are not so. He shall give +reliable bonds therefor, and shall likewise undergo the residencia of +his said office; and shall pay whatever is adjudged and decided against +him, and any public demands which shall be lodged against him, as he +is obliged to do by law. Thus it was provided, ordered, and decreed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Albaro Cambrano_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + +_Proclamation_: In the city of Manila, on the twenty-second day of +the month of January, one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, +the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria +of these Philipinas Islands, who signed their names to the above act, +declared and proclaimed it in public session. + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the auditors who regularly review the charges +against prisoners may make what decisions shall be necessary in +the suits of prisoners por sala, until their sentences shall be +pronounced._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancilleria of these Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas, in despatching suits of the prisoners in the royal prison of +this court, there might be some delay on account of there being many +persons imprisoned _por sala_ who are never released during the review +of cases made, from which they receive great harm by protracting their +release: therefore, the president and auditors agreed, and they did so +resolve, that, now and henceforth, when they shall review the cases in +the royal prison of this court, on the Saturdays appointed therefor, +they may release those who were arrested _por sala_, if arrested +therein by alcaldes of the court; and that, likewise, they may issue +the acts which shall seem fitting to them concerning the regulation +of criminal cases, until they are definitely concluded by sentence, +so that the cases of the said prisoners may be despatched with the +greater celerity. + +By this act they so ordered, provided, and decreed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Alvaro Cambrano_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + +_Proclamation_: In the city of Manila, on the twenty-second day of +the month of January, one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, +the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria +of these islands, who signed their names to the above act, declared +and proclaimed it in public session. + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the interpreters shall not trade or traffic +with the natives._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancilleria of these Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas it has come to their knowledge that the interpreters, as a +result of their occupation as interpreters, and being for the most part +friendly to the natives, seek and attempt to acquire, with trinkets +and other illegal means, jewels, slaves, and other things, at lower +prices than they are valued by the said natives: therefore, in order +to put a stop to the aforesaid evil by applying a remedy for it, they +resolved, ordered, and decreed, that now and henceforth, no interpreter +shall buy from the said natives any jewels, slaves, or other valuables, +except in the presence of the magistrate, under penalty of confiscation +of what shall have been bought by the interpreter violating this law, +half of which is immediately to be applied to his Majesty's treasury, +and the other half to the expenses of justice; and furthermore, he +shall not be allowed to exercise the said office any longer. By this +act they so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Cambrano_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-second day of the month of +January, one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and +auditors of the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria of these Philipinas +Islands, who signed their names to the above act, declared and +proclaimed it in public session. Diego de Mercado and Juan Garcia, +interpreters, were present and were notified. + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the probate judge shall examine the accounts +of guardians of minors in this court._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancilleria of these Philipinas Islands declared +that, whereas in this court there are many minors--encomenderos, +and others--whose property and effects are in charge of guardians +and curators; and because the said property might be spent and +dissipated without these guardians being able afterward to give +an account thereof to their said minors, which would result to +the great harm and prejudice of the latter: therefore, to remedy +the aforesaid, they resolved, and they did so resolve and decree, +that the common probate judge, now or hereafter, in these islands be +empowered to examine, not only in trust but on the party's petition, +the accounts of all the guardianships and curatorships of minors in +this court, and of the administration and conservation of the same; +and he may proceed against those of whom he may be suspicious, or who +administer and manage dishonestly, or waste, the goods and effects of +the said minors; and may make in the case all the inquiries suitable +and necessary, until he shall hand down a definite decision in such +cases--for which, and for everything annexed to and pertaining to it, +they gave him the requisite power and authority, in the sufficiency +required by law. By this act they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Cambrano_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that no one shall keep on his hat or sit down, +while the auditor is taking his deposition._ + +In the city of Manila, in the Philipinas Islands, on the seventh of +January, one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and +auditors of the royal Audiencia of the said islands declared that, +whereas certain persons have been imprisoned in the royal prison of +this court, for criminal cases, who, when their depositions were being +taken, sat down and remained with their heads covered, which is in +disrespect of royal justice; and as it is fitting to apply a remedy to +the aforesaid, now and henceforth, therefore, they ordered, and they +did so order, that each and every one, of whatever rank and condition, +who may be imprisoned on criminal charges, shall, when his deposition +is being taken before any auditor of this royal Audiencia, stand +and bare his head, until such time as his deposition is ended. And, +in order that this may come to the knowledge of everyone, it shall be +made known to the commissioners and attorneys of this royal Audiencia, +who shall give notice of the provisions of this act to such persons, +whenever occasion shall arise, so that it may be observed. By this +act they so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Cambrano_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that no attorney shall enter a petition in a new +suit between Indians, without first communicating it to the auditor +for that week._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas in this +royal Audiencia there are brought and considered suits and causes for +small amounts among the natives of these islands, in which they incur +heavy costs, whereby they receive great injury and vexation: therefore, +they ordered, and they did so order, that no prosecuting attorney of +this royal Audiencia shall bring therein a new suit or petition for +an Indian, without first and foremost bringing it before this royal +Audiencia, or before the auditor for the week, in order that the latter +may determine whether the suit be a proper one--under a penalty of a +fine of six pesos of common gold, immediately upon the conviction of +anyone who may disobey this decree; one-third to go to the receiver of +fines, another third to the royal hospital, and the other third to the +poor in the prison. By this act they so declared ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the royal officials, in the sale of gold and +other goods, from the royal exchequer, see that it be done for cash, +and not auctioned to creditors of the exchequer, in order that the +latter may receive their money_. + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas on account +of his Majesty's royal exchequer of these islands being, as it now is, +embarrassed with many debts, it cannot succeed in paying its creditors +what it thus owes them--which results from the fact that some of the +said creditors, in order to have their accounts paid to them, present +themselves at the royal auctions which are held for the sale of gold, +cotton cloth, and other goods collected from the tributes pertaining +to the royal crown, and bid on such articles, at higher prices than +would be given if they were paying in cash, in order to receive what +the royal exchequer owes them; and that if such things as this were +allowed to continue, the said royal exchequer would not be able to meet +certain necessary matters which continually occur in the service of +the king, our sovereign, and of which consideration should be taken: +therefore, they declared that they ordered, and they did so order, +the official judges of the royal exchequer of the king our sovereign +in these islands, that now and henceforth, in the auctions and sales +which may be made of any royal property, it shall be made over to the +person or persons who bid the highest, being knocked down to them +and paid for immediately. They shall admit or receive in no other +way any other bid which may be made by the said creditors. By this +act they so declared and ordered, and signed the same. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Albaro Cambrano_ + + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the advocates and attorneys of this royal +Audiencia shall follow the customs of the natives._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas in suits +brought by natives of these islands, wherein they consider in this +royal Audiencia questions of slavery, divisions of inheritances, +slaves, marriage-dowries, and other things, it is fitting that the +advocates and attorneys of this royal Audiencia follow the customs +of the said natives, observed formerly and now in the said suits: +therefore, in order that they may be observed as his Majesty orders, +and that to that end they may keep a copy in their possession, in order +that they may know and observe them, they ordered, and they did so +order, that the said advocates and attorneys in all suits at present +pending in this royal Audiencia, as in those which shall be brought +and continued henceforth, touching the said natives, shall approve and +adhere to the said customs which the Indians were thus accustomed to +follow and do follow; and they shall take a copy of the said customs +which are set down in the books [1] of the royal Audiencia resident in +these islands. They ordered that all the aforesaid persons should be +notified of this act, in order that they may observe and execute it, +under penalty of the loss to the parties; and, besides that, their +consciences were charged with it, and it was declared that they would +be judged guilty for any laxity or neglect which should thus occur. By +this act it was so decreed, and they ordered it to be registered. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ +The licentiate _Albaro Cambrano_ + + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + +_An act declaring that no use shall be made of the tariff made by +this royal Audiencia._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas it has been +provided and ordered that the court clerk and other officials of the +Audiencia and ordinary courts shall collect their fees in conformity +with the tariff of the royal Audiencia of the City of Mexico in Nueva +Espana: therefore, they ordered, and they did so order, that this be +observed and executed exactly as the king, our sovereign, commands; +and that the said officials may not use the tariff which the Audiencia +made concerning the said fees, which is to be withdrawn. No one of +the persons herein mentioned shall collect fees in conformity with +it, under the penalties imposed upon those who collect excessive +fees. This act shall be made known to all the officials whom it +concerns. So they declared, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the alcaldes-mayor shall not make collections, +nor shall they be given to the official judges; and that the collectors +appointed must be approved by this royal Audiencia._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas, +on account of the alcaldes-mayor of the provinces of these islands +collecting, personally or by their agents, the tributes from the +natives in their jurisdiction who pertain to the royal crown, +by commission granted therefor by the officials of the royal +exchequer, there have resulted many injuries and inconveniences, +both to the said natives and the said royal exchequer: therefore, +because it is necessary to avoid the said injuries, and apply a +remedy to the aforesaid evil, they ordered, and they did so order, +that the officials of the royal exchequer of the king our sovereign +should be notified, so that in no way or manner, now and henceforth, +shall they grant the collections, directly or indirectly, to the said +alcaldes-mayor, nor shall the latter have any part of that which is +granted to the collectors. Therefore, the said collectors shall take +oath in due legal form, that they will make the said collection, +taking it for themselves alone, without granting any part to the +said alcaldes-mayor. The latter shall not collect the tribute under +penalty of deprivation of their offices. The said collectors shall +deliver in kind to the royal exchequer the tributes that they shall +collect from the said natives, unless the said officials shall order +otherwise, for the augmentation of the royal exchequer. And in order +that the collectors sent may be fit and proper persons, it is ordered +that those appointed to the office by the said royal officials shall +present themselves before this royal Audiencia, in order that they +may be there approved. The said royal officials shall cause this to be +done, under a penalty of a third part of their salary for that year, +which must be paid immediately upon conviction of disobedience to +this decree. The said collectors shall be vested with the authority +of justice. By this act it was so declared, ordered, and decreed. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Albaro De Cambrano_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almacan_ + + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the attorney for minors shall not bring a suit, +without first communicating it to the judge for minors._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas in this +court there are many minors, whose goods and property are in the +charge of their guardians, who might spend and dissipate the said +goods beyond the use and profit of the said minors, which would be to +their great injury: therefore, because by the attorney and defender +of the said minors entering any suits and petitions with regard to +the aforesaid minors without giving notice thereof, or communicating +with the judge for minors, many inconveniences may result, as a remedy +for this, they resolved and ordered that the said attorney for minors +shall bring no suit for a minor against his guardian, without first +communicating it to the judge who sits or shall sit for minors, that +the latter may order what he deems advisable. By this act it was so +ordered, ordained, and decreed. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almacan_ +The licentiate _Albaro Cambrano_ + + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + +_An act decreeing that all the officials, both of this royal Audiencia +and the ordinary courts, shall be present at the review of charges +against prisoners._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventh day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands, declared that, +whereas by the absence of the alcaldes-in-ordinary of this city, and +of the clerk, reporter, alguazils-mayor, attorneys, commissioners, +notaries-public, and other officials, not only of this royal Audiencia +but of the lower court of this city, from the review of charges against +prisoners, many prisoners are not at liberty--from which it follows +that they are vexed and annoyed by long imprisonments and other great +injuries and inconveniences; besides the fact that, in many suits, +they are unable to administer and provide justice on account of not +being present at the said review: therefore, because it is advisable +to institute a reform in this matter, they ordered, and they did so +order, that now and henceforth, every week on the days set apart for +the review of prison charges, the said alcaldes-in-ordinary, the +alguazils-mayor of the court and the city, the clerk and reporter +of this royal Audiencia, the attorneys and commissioners thereof, +the solicitors of the royal offices, the native interpreters, and +the notaries-public, bailiffs, alguazils, and other officials of +this royal Audiencia and the ordinary court, shall be present at +the said review with all punctuality--except the reporter of this +royal Audiencia, who is not obliged to be present at the said review, +unless he has no suit to attend to--under a penalty of a fine of one +peso for every offense, for each one of the aforesaid officials, as +soon as they declared him convicted and did convict him. They ordered +that the receiver of fines of this royal Audiencia shall observe the +aforesaid most carefully for the proper execution and fulfilment of +this act--which, in order that no one may pretend ignorance of it, +shall be made known to all the persons whom it concerns. By this act +it was so provided, ordered, and affirmed. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almacan_ +The licentiate _Albaro Cambrano_ + + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the royal official judges in the fulfilment of +their duties shall observe the instructions, decrees, and ordinances +of his Majesty._ + +In the city of Manila, on the nineteenth of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancilleria of these Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas by the ordinances, decrees, and instructions of his Majesty, +orders have been given to the official judges of the royal exchequer +of these islands, regarding their obligations in the exercise +and discharge of their duties, and, because it is fitting that +his Majesty's orders in those decrees be observed and fulfilled, +they ordered, and they did so order, that the said royal officials +should be notified that in the exercise of their offices they should +observe the said royal ordinances, decrees, and instructions of the +king our sovereign, who has given them, as they are held, exercised, +and observed, and as they must be exercised and observed, by the royal +official judges of the City of Mexico in Nueva Espana, especially +section seventeen of the said royal ordinance. By this act they so +provided, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + +_An act ordering the commissioners to be present at all sessions of +the Audiencia._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal Audiencia of the Filipinas Islands declared that, whereas, +although by the royal ordinances the commissioners of this royal +Audiencia are obliged to be present at the assemblies, they are not +there; and thus many cases that come up, both civil and criminal, +are delayed in settlement, so that considerable harm and annoyance +result to the parties concerned; and furthermore, that official +and fiscal cases are delayed, because the said commissioners to all +appearances do not employ therein the necessary diligence: therefore, +to remedy this condition of affairs, they decreed and ordered that, +now and henceforth, all the said commissioners, unless they have +legitimate occupation or obstacle, shall be present without fail +in the hall at all the sessions of the Audiencia with the greatest +punctuality, so that in all matters there may be the prompt action +which is desirable, under penalty of a fine of one peso from him who +shall disobey this decree, the fine to be applied immediately upon +condemnation, in this manner--six reals to the poor in the prisons, +and two for the bailiff who has to execute the decree. By this act +they so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + + + +_An act decreeing that orders shall be given regarding the sworn +memoranda of the collector of fines._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancilleria of these Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas Pedro Fernandez de Sanctofimia, attorney in the cases of +the Audiencia, is appointed by this royal Audiencia to collect its +fines, and ordered to assess the fines imposed upon its officials and +other persons who do not observe the royal ordinances, and all other +ordinances, decrees, and provisions, to the amount that must be levied +for each fine--for, by not executing the penalties thereof daily, +there are many oversights and no little remissness in the fulfilment +of each one's obligations: therefore, in order that the requisite +system be observed in everything, they decreed that, by giving the +said Pedro Fernandez de Sanctofimia the present sworn memorandum +of fines to be imposed upon everyone, he shall immediately receive +his orders thereby regarding what he is commanded to levy for each +fine. The latter he shall do immediately, as the said memorandum shall +indicate, without any investigation or mandate preceding. The orders +that he shall so give shall be executed by the bailiff or alguazil +of this royal Audiencia, whenever they shall be issued. Whatever +the latter shall collect he shall deliver to the said collector of +fines, who shall take charge of it, and enter it carefully in a book, +that he may give strict and clear account of each fine collected. And +they charged each other's consciences with the fulfilment of all the +above. By this act they so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + + +_An act decreeing the making of a book in which shall be entered +the decrees sent and to be sent by his Majesty to these islands, +in order that they may be observed and executed._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria of these Philipinas Islands +declared that, whereas the king our sovereign, by his royal ordinances, +ordains and orders a book to be made, in which to inscribe the decrees +that he has sent, and shall send, to these islands, and that it contain +an account of their execution: therefore, they thereupon ordered, and +they did so order, the said book to be made, and entrusted it to the +clerk of the court. He shall inscribe therein all the decrees that +the king our sovereign has sent and will send to these islands, so +that henceforth a detailed account of their observation and execution +shall be kept, as his Majesty orders. By this act they so provided, +ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_That interlocutory decisions shall be concluded at one demand from +each party._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal Audiencia and Chancilleria of the Philipinas Islands declared +that, whereas his Majesty ordains and commands by one of the royal +ordinances for this royal Audiencia, that interlocutory decisions +shall be concluded, in trial and review, at one demand from each of +the parties, and that the clerk of court receive [no] other demands: +therefore, in order that the aforesaid be exactly executed, they +ordained and decreed that the attorneys of this royal Audiencia shall +conclude the said interlocutory decisions in trial and review, at one +demand from each party, without giving or presenting more demands, +with the warning that any others presented shall not be admitted. The +clerk of court is warned in the present that he shall not receive +them under penalty of a fine of two pesos, to be employed as it shall +seem proper, and delivered into the charge of the collector of fines +of this royal Audiencia, upon whom the execution of the above shall +be most carefully charged. And they ordered it to be proclaimed, +and especially to the said attorneys. So they provided, ordered, +and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act providing that no proceedings shall be conducted in suits +between Indians, without a decree from this royal Audiencia._ + +On the twenty-first of January, one thousand five hundred and +ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia +of the Philipinas Islands, declared that, whereas, in one of his +royal ordinances, the king, our sovereign, commands the aforesaid +president and auditors that, in suits and civil and criminal cases +between Indians, the usual proceedings shall not be conducted or +issued, except in cases decreed and ordered by an act of this royal +Audiencia: therefore, in order that the aforesaid shall be exactly +fulfilled, they ordained and decreed that it should be communicated +to the said attorneys of this royal Audiencia, that when, in the name +of any natives, they shall bring suits against other natives, before +bringing these suits they shall notify this royal Audiencia--in order +that, if thought best, they may be docketed, and if not, that the cost +and expense may be avoided. Those which shall be prosecuted shall be +docketed by formal decree of this royal Audiencia, and in no other +manner. They must strive to be brief and precise in everything. The +notaries both of this royal Audiencia and the other jurisdictions +thereof are ordered, in the collection of fees from said natives, +to employ great moderation, and to despatch their business promptly, +in order that all his Majesty's orders and decrees may be observed +and fulfilled. Moreover, they commanded that the aforesaid notaries +be notified of this act. So they provided, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the attorneys shall go, within three days, to +the office of the clerk of court, to settle suits that are concluded._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancilleria of these Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas, on account of the non-appearance of the attorneys of this +royal Audiencia at the office of the clerk of court for this royal +Audiencia, to settle and otherwise regulate suits and cases which are +concluded, in order that they may be reviewed and decided, there is +great delay in their revision and decision, so that the interested +parties are subjected to great harm and annoyance: therefore, +to remedy this, they ordered, and they did so order, that all the +attorneys of this royal Audiencia shall be notified that, whenever +the said suits are concluded, wherever they shall be brought, within +the three days first following they shall appear at the office of +the above-mentioned clerk of court, and there settle and dispose of +them, so that there shall be nothing wanting, and that they may have +the necessary despatch--being warned that, if they do not thus come +within the said term, the said clerk can settle the said processes, +and send them to the reporter for him to review them in court. And if, +by the said attorneys' negligence, the parties suffer any harm, the +said attorneys shall pay them for it in their persons and goods. By +this act they so declared, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the notaries shall not collect their fees +entirely from each of the parties, but that each one shall pay the +part he owes._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria of these Philipinas Islands +declared that, whereas it has come to their knowledge that both the +notaries and the reporter [_relator_] [2] of this royal Audiencia and +of the other jurisdictions of this court, collect fees for the trial of +suits and other acts thereof in entirety from each of the parties at +whose petition they may take action, saying that they should pay them +entirely: therefore, because the aforesaid proceeding is to the great +harm and damage of the parties, to make them thus pay what they do not +owe, and since the aforesaid evil should be remedied, they ordered, +and they did so order, now and henceforth, that the said notaries +and reporter, or either of them, shall not collect in any way, or in +any case, the fees owed by one of the said parties from the others, +but that each one shall pay what he owes. On account of not paying the +total fees, the party who would wish his suit to be tried, shall not +have it delayed; but, as soon as he has paid his share, his suit shall +be despatched with all celerity. And they declared that they charged, +and they did so charge, their consciences with this; and furthermore, +that whoever shall disobey this decree shall be convicted and sentenced +to pay a fine four times as great as the sum thus exacted, for his +Majesty's treasury, in addition to the fines which those who exact +excessive fees incur. By this act they so declared, ordered, and +decreed; and that this act shall apply to any person whom it concerns. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the attorneys shall not speak in suits wherein +they shall not have been authorized to do so._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria of these Philipinas Islands +declared that, whereas the attorneys of this royal Audiencia often take +it upon themselves to speak and make allegations in suits in which they +have no authority, and in which they have not appeared as parties to +the said case, certain nullifications can be created--for which reason +the said case may be brought again, and the parties thereto subjected +to considerable injury and expense: therefore, to obviate the said +injuries and other inconveniences of reconsideration, they ordered, +and they did so order, that, now and henceforth, neither the said +attorneys nor any one of them shall take it upon himself to speak, +nor shall they speak in any suit or case, unless authorized therefor +by the party in whose favor they shall speak, or unless he has proved +himself to be a party to the suit--under penalty that he who shall +disobey this decree shall incur a fine of four pesos of common gold, +as soon as he shall be judged guilty thereof; three of them to be given +to the royal hospital for Spaniards, and one to the bailiff in charge +thereof. And under the said penalty, the clerk of court is ordered +not to give any one of the said attorneys any suits or petitions, +unless empowered thereto by the parties concerned. By this act they +so ordered, declared, and decreed. + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the evidence that the clerk of court cannot +take be entrusted by commission of this royal Audiencia, and assigned +by the members thereof, to the notarial commissioner of examinations._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria of the Philipinas Islands +declared that, whereas, conformably to the royal ordinances, all +the evidences in suits and cases pending in this royal Audiencia, +are committed to the clerk of court; and whereas, on account of the +volume of business incumbent upon his said office, he cannot receive +them all, and commits them to the notaries: therefore, because the +aforesaid taking of evidence cannot be done unless authorized by this +royal Audiencia, under the direction of its members, they ordered, +and they did so order, that in regard to evidence which the said clerk +of court cannot take immediately in interrogatories and petitions, +by virtue of which such evidence must be taken, an act be passed by +which his duty may be committed by this royal Audiencia and assigned by +its members to a commissioner of examinations, the latter to receive +and examine the said evidence, and to take the oaths of witnesses +thereto. The said commissioner shall give a receipt to the parties for +the fees which he shall collect from them for said evidence, and at +the foot of the evidence he shall in like manner sign his name. The +clerk of court shall not receive any fees for such evidence; and +under no circumstances whatever shall the said evidence be taken in +any other way, except as herein stated, under penalty that evidence +given in any other way shall be null and void; and the commissioner +receiving it shall incur a penalty of one hundred pesos of common gold, +as soon as he shall have been judged guilty, the fine to be applied +in equal parts to the royal treasury and court-rooms of this royal +Audiencia. By this act they so declared, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + +_An act decreeing that the officials of this royal Audiencia shall give +bonds at the beginning of every year, and that likewise, they shall +give them for the time during which they have already held office._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancilleria of these Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas, in order to conform to the decrees and provisions of his +Majesty, and to be just with the parties entering suits, the officials +of this royal Audiencia are under obligation to give bonds that they +will undergo residencia for the right exercise and discharge of their +duties, at the beginning of each year: therefore, because hitherto they +have not given bonds for the time while they have exercised their said +offices, and because they should give them, both for the aforesaid time +and for the future, they resolved and ordered that the commissioners +of examination, attorneys, assessor of taxes, collector of fines, +deputies of the alguazil-mayor, and the prison warden of this court, +shall each one of them, within fifteen days after being notified of +this act, give safe and reliable bonds, before the undersigned clerk +of court, that they will undergo residencia for the use and exercise +of their offices, and pay everything which may be adjudged against +them in the matter, and also in the suits which may be instituted +against them. They are also warned that after the said term of office +has expired, they shall exercise the said offices no longer, which +shall be immediately declared vacant, and other persons appointed +thereto. Likewise, within the said term and under the said penalty, +they shall give bonds for all the time during which they have already +exercised the said offices in the royal Audiencia, for which they have +not given them. In the future, they shall be notified and ordered to +renew the said bonds at the beginning of every year, under the said +penalty. By this act they so provided, enacted, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that cases of twenty pesos or less shall not be +brought to trial; and that the notary shall not take a larger fee +than one-half peso from each party._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria of the Philipinas Islands +declared that, whereas so many suits involving twenty pesos or less +are wont to be begun, and as much time is consumed therein as if they +were affairs of greater magnitude, whence there results to the parties +concerned great harm and damage by reason of the great cost and expense +wasted therein, beside the long and tedious delays in the collection +of their debts: therefore, to remedy that, they agreed and ordered +that, now and henceforth, no trial shall be made of cases amounting to +twenty pesos or less, unless they are briefly and summarily disposed +of; and that the notary before whom they are brought shall not take +for his fee more than four reals only from each party, even if they +make many investigations in the matter--under penalty that all that +they take above that sum they shall return to the parties concerned, +together with four times as much for his Majesty's treasury. By this +act they so provided, ordered, and decreed; and the notaries whom +its fulfilment concerns shall be notified. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act concerning the order that the alcaldes-mayor are to follow +in trying Indian suits._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of these Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas his +Majesty has ordered, in his royal decrees and ordinances, that the +suits of the Indians shall be treated summarily, and that processes +issued within the limit of the law shall not be so conducted that +the said Indians waste their substance by incurring too heavy costs: +therefore, in order that the royal will of the king our sovereign +might be exactly fulfilled, they resolved and ordered that the +alcaldes-in-ordinary and the alcaldes-mayor and other magistrates and +notaries, in suits of the Indians, shall observe their instructions +and the following articles. + +First, when any Indian--whether man or woman--shall enter suit for +liberty, or any other matter, against another Indian without giving +a _traslado_, [3] the said magistrate shall order the Indian sued +to appear before him and take oath as to the truth of the demands +of the plaintiff. If he shall confess it, justice shall be done by +settling the case; and if he deny it, the case shall be reserved for +evidence within a short time, with obligation for publication and +conclusion. The said magistrates shall order that, as soon as both +parties name their witnesses, the latter shall be brought into court, +and an oath taken from them to tell the truth, and they shall cause +them to tell by word of mouth what they know. After they have thus +testified, the substance of their depositions shall be recorded, +in this form: "So and so of such an age, capable or incapable as a +witness, said so and so under oath;" and the same shall be done with +the other witnesses in the same order. The evidences of both parties +being taken, and the time-limit having expired, a just finding shall +be determined. If either of the parties appeal, the alcaldes-mayor +shall hear them in the court of appeals; and the witnesses named by +either party shall be subpoenaed, and shall give their evidence in the +same form as set forth above, the case being admitted to trial within +a short time, with obligation for publication and conclusion--at the +expiration of which the process shall be sent to this royal Audiencia +to be settled, the original parties being summoned for all trials, +the time and place being appointed by the court. + +Second. _Item_: If the suit be a criminal suit, the complaint and +charge shall be received. If there is guilt, the person shall be +arrested, and the prisoner's declaration taken. The charge shall +be formulated against him, and the case admitted to trial within a +short period, with obligation for publication and conclusion; and +within the probatory limit the testimonies given in the preliminary +process shall be verified, other new ones received, if there be any, +and the defendant's plea taken. The time having expired, the case +shall be decided. If any of the parties shall appeal, the original +process shall be sent to the Audiencia; because in this way the said +natives will avoid heavy expense and cost, and the cases will be more +quickly decided. In criminal cases, no other form of process shall +be used than that which is appointed for civil cases. + +Third. _Item_: If the suit be to the amount of three pesos, or +less, the judgment shall be so summary that only the substance of +the whole matter is to be written, together with the decision, in a +report. The original shall be retained by the notary, and if either +of the parties shall desire an authenticated copy, it shall be given +them as a safeguard of their rights. And in suits for the said amount, +only one real, and no more, may be collected between judge and notary. + +Fourth. _Item_: That if the judge shall attest the testimonies in any +civil or criminal suit by flourishes and signatures that he may make, +he cannot collect any fees; since there are none due him except for +the acts that he shall draw up and sign. + +Fifth. In order that the said instructions be exactly observed and +fulfilled, they declared that they order, and they did so order, the +alcaldes-in-ordinary and the notaries-public to be informed thereof, +and testimony thereof to be sent to all the alcaldes-mayor, whose +consciences they declared they charged, and they did so charge, with +the fulfilment thereof. Furthermore, in the residencias which shall +be taken from them, he who shall not have fulfilled this decree, or +caused it to be fulfilled, shall be punished and with great rigor. So +they provided, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + +_An act decreeing that the alguazils-mayor and their deputies shall +make the rounds every night._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria of the Philipinas Islands +declared that, whereas it has come to their knowledge that neither +do the alguazils-mayor of this court and city, nor their deputies, +make their rounds throughout the city, as they are under obligation to +do--as a result of which, murders, robberies, and other lawless acts +and crimes occur daily, to the great injury of the citizens: therefore, +to remedy this state of affairs and provide this community with the +necessary guard and order, they ordered, and they did so order, the +said alguazils-mayor and their deputies to be notified that they must +make their rounds during the night, as they are under obligation to do +in this city, without fail, under penalty of a fine of ten pesos of +common gold--to be applied, as soon as anyone shall be condemned for +disobeying this decree, in equal shares to the two royal hospitals +of this city--for the Spaniards and for the natives--in addition to +the loss and interest to any parties which may result and occur. By +this act, they so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that there shall be in the courtroom, a list of +the charges fixed by the royal tariff, and that each notary shall +keep one in his house._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancilleria of the Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas the king our sovereign, in his royal ordinances, decrees +and orders that a list of the charges fixed by the royal tariff be +placed in the court-room, and that likewise each notary whom it shall +concern shall keep a copy in his house, for its better observation +and execution: therefore, in order that the aforesaid may be exactly +fulfilled, they ordered, and they did so order, a complete copy of +the said royal tariff to be made by this royal Audiencia. It shall +be set forth in a list, and placed in the court-room; and all the +notaries and persons mentioned therein, and those whom it may concern, +shall make a copy, and keep the same in their houses and affixed to a +tablet in some public place, where it may be seen by those transacting +business. This they shall do and fulfil within one week after this +act shall have been made known to them, under penalty of a fine of +six pesos of common gold; and anyone incurring this penalty shall +pay this sum immediately--half of which shall be set aside for the +poor in the prisons, and the other half for the Spanish hospital in +this city--beside incurring and undergoing the penalties contained +in the said royal ordinances. By this act they so provided, ordered, +and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that within four months the royal officials shall +close up the accounts held by the royal treasury._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas it has come to their knowledge that in the royal accountancy +of the king our sovereign there are, at this very day, many accounts +to be balanced and closed of individuals who owe the royal treasury a +large sum of gold pesos, and others to whom money is due--whence has +resulted, and results, the lack therein of the system and management +which should be observed in the said royal exchequer: therefore, +in order that on this account no losses may result, and that the +matter may receive its due consideration, they ordered, and they +did so order, that the official judges of the royal treasury of +the king our sovereign, in these islands, within the four months +first following the day on which they shall have been notified of +this act, shall balance and close each and every account that the +royal treasury holds with any individuals of these islands. They +are warned that whoever shall not so fulfil and execute his orders, +after the expiration of said time, will be charged with everything, +and ordered to pay all accounts not balanced and liquidated. By this +act they so declared, ordered and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that all the officials of the royal Audiencia shall +take copies of the royal ordinances._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of January, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas, in one of the royal ordinances, it is ordered that all the +officials of this royal Audiencia, and other persons whom they concern, +shall keep in their possession a copy of the said ordinances; therefore +they ordered, and they did so order, that within thirty days after the +publication of this act, each of the said officials shall take a copy +of the said royal ordinances and keep it in his possession; and each +one, so far as he is concerned, shall observe and execute them, as his +Majesty orders therein, under the penalties therein contained--under +the penalty that if, after the expiration of said time, the said copy +has not been made, they shall be immediately convicted and fined in +the sum of six pesos of common gold, the latter being applied to the +court-rooms of this royal Audiencia. By this act they so declared, +ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that no alcalde-in-ordinary, notary, commissioner, +attorney, or any other official of this royal Audiencia, or of the +ordinary court, shall go outside this city without license._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of the month of +January, one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and +auditors of the royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared +that, whereas the alcaldes-in-ordinary of this city, notaries, +commissioners, attorneys, and other officials, both of this royal +Audiencia and of the ordinary court, whenever they see fit, leave +the city without license--whence results much harm to the litigants, +on account of the delay and unsatisfactory conduct of their business, +beside many other inconveniences resulting therefrom: therefore, to +remedy this evil, they decreed and ordered that, now and henceforth, +no alcalde-in-ordinary, commissioner, attorney, notary-public, +or other official of this royal Audiencia or of the ordinary court, +shall go anywhere outside of this city, without the express permission +of this royal Audiencia, under a penalty of a fine of six pesos of +common gold, in which sum anyone adjudged guilty of the contrary shall +be immediately fined--one-half for the poor in the prison, and the +other half for the poor in the Spanish hospital--beside the loss and +interest which may result to the parties concerned on account of the +delay in justice. By this act they so proclaimed, ordered and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_Ordinances and laws for the Sangleys._ + +We, the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria +of these Philipinas Islands. Whereas it has been learned by experience +in this city that the Sangleys residing in the islands and their +neighborhood have had and maintain among them a custom of practicing, +and they do practice an abominable sin against nature, not only with +the Chinese, but with the Moro and Indian boys of these islands, +by which God, our Lord, is greatly disserved; and, whereas, the said +Chinese have had and have the habit and custom of bringing from China, +or making in this city, money of base metal, and they pare and clip the +royal money, to the great fraud and injury of the royal exchequer; and +although they have seen that some are punished for this, they have not +taken warning; and whereas, the said Sangleys, who are infidels, ally +themselves with the Christian Indian women, and have lawless carnal +intercourse with them; and whereas, besides the aforesaid crimes, the +said Sangleys are wont to buy from slaves and Indians golden jewels, +trinkets, clothes, and other articles which are stolen: therefore, +to supply a remedy for all that, and in order that such crimes and +disorders shall cease, now and henceforth, we command the following +orders to be observed in everything. + +_Laws._--First, we ordain and command that none of the said Chinese +Sangleys, or any other persons whatsoever, shall commit or practice +the said abominable sin against nature, or try to commit it. Whoever +shall do so shall incur the penalty of being burned alive by fire, +beside having all his goods confiscated to the treasury of his Majesty. + +_Item_: We ordain and command that none of the said Sangleys shall +dare to make or coin any sort of silver or gold money, or of any other +metal, nor shall they clip or scrape money already made, or make use +of it, under the penalties contained in the above ordinance. + +_Item_: We ordain and command that none of the aforesaid shall cohabit +or have carnal intercourse with any [Spanish?] woman or Christian +Indian woman, under the penalty that, in such case, he shall incur +a punishment of two hundred lashes and ten years in the galleys, +as criminals sentenced to row, without pay, and of the confiscation +of one-half his property, to be applied as above stated. + +Further, we ordain and command, that none of the said Sangleys, +for any reason or consideration, shall buy from negro slaves or +freemen, Indians or mulattoes, any gold jewels, trinkets, garments, +or any other articles which they sell; but when the said Sangleys go +to them, they shall arrest them and take them before the magistrate, +under penalty that whoever shall disobey this decree shall fall under +and incur the penalties incurred by robbers, and said penalties will +be rigorously executed on their persons and goods. + +And in order that the aforesaid shall be observed and executed without +remission of penalty, and so that no one may pretend ignorance, we +order that these ordinances shall be publicly proclaimed in the public +square, in all other public places of this city, in the Sangley Parian, +and in the village of Tondo, in order that everyone may know of them; +and in each one of the said places a copy of them, written in the +Chinese language, shall be posted. No person shall dare to remove the +said placards, under penalty of two hundred lashes. We order all the +alcaldes-mayor of the environs of this city to have them published and +made known to the natives. We request and charge all the religious to +give instructions to the said Indians, and cause them to understand +these laws and ordinances, and the penalties attached thereto. Given +in the city of Manila, on the twenty-sixth of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almacan_ +The licentiate _Albaro Cambrano_ + +By order of the royal Audiencia: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_That the official judges shall not grant collections to any collectors +who have not rendered an account and payment of collections that have +been in their charge._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-seventh of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas it has come +to their knowledge that the official judges of the royal exchequer +of the king our sovereign, in these said islands, grant commissions +to certain collectors to make collections from the encomiendas that +pertain to his Majesty's royal crown, who, by virtue thereof, make the +collections; and that it often happens that, without their rendering +any account and payment of them, the said officials again grant them +commissions to make the collections, to the great harm and prejudice +of the royal exchequer, from which many difficulties may result: +therefore, in order to correct the aforesaid evil, they ordered, +and they did so order, that the official judges, now and henceforth, +shall under no consideration grant commissions to any collectors to +make any collections for the royal exchequer and crown, without their +having rendered account and payment of former collections entrusted +to them--under penalty of paying out of their own pockets what such +collectors shall appear to owe the royal estate, as soon as such is +evident, besides undergoing and incurring a fine of two hundred pesos +of common gold (this fine to be applied to the royal treasury of the +king our sovereign), to which sum, from that moment, they declared that +they condemned, and they did so condemn, any one who should disobey +this decree. By this act it was so provided, ordered, and affirmed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ + +The other honorable auditors signed the above. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that the clerk of court shall bring to the first +meeting a minute of the fiscal suits._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-eighth of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas in the +archives of the office of the present clerk of court, many fiscal suits +are pending, as well as others which have been concluded, in which +his Majesty's royal office is interested; but, not knowing which ones +are concluded, the others are not concluded and finished: therefore, +in order that those that are concluded may be known and settled, +they ordered, and they did so order, me, the undersigned clerk of +court, to bring a copy and minutes of those that are concluded, and +[of the suits now pending,] to the next session which shall be held, +in order that they may examine them and provide what is most advisable +therein. By this act it was so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that a book be made in which to enter the fines +applied to the poor of the prison and other pious works, and to the +courts, and the manner of their distribution._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-eighth of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancilleria of the Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas the aforesaid Audiencia imposes certain fines of small amounts, +some of which are applied to the poor of the prison, and others to the +courts and other pious works: therefore, because it is advisable that +there should be an account and report of these moneys, and of their +source and the manner of their distribution, they ordered, and they +did so order, a book to be made in which to enter the said penalties, +applied as aforesaid, with the day, month, and year, in what cases +they are imposed, and likewise a report of how they are expended and +distributed; and this shall be done with all clearness, so that the +aforesaid may be evident for all time. This act is to be placed at +the beginning of said book. So they provided, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing the collection of all the debts which are in any +way owed to the royal treasury of the king our sovereign._ + +In the city of Manila, on the thirtieth of January, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president, and auditors of the +royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas +the licentiate Geronimo de Salazar y Salzedo, fiscal of this royal +Audiencia for his Majesty, has made them a report, declaring that the +royal treasury of the king our sovereign, in these islands, cannot +succeed in paying many of its debts, on account of failure to collect +many that have been due it for some time past; and has besought and +supplicated them to order that the royal official judges shall, within +twenty days, exert all possible diligence to collect everything that +is due the said royal treasury for any reason whatever: therefore, +in order to provide a remedy for the aforesaid difficulty, they +ordered, and they did so order, that the said official judges should +be notified that, within the two months next following the date on +which this act shall be made known to them, they shall collect all the +debts that are in any manner owed to the royal treasury, from all and +any persons whatsoever, and from their goods, exerting therein all +necessary diligence. They are to proceed with the necessary rigor +to do this effectively, being warned that if they do not collect +the said debts, to be liquidated within the said period, all that +shall remain uncollected they will be obliged to pay out of their +own property. For the debts which shall not have been liquidated, +they shall observe and execute the act of this royal Audiencia, which +has been made known to them, under the penalty thereof. By this act +they so provided, ordered, and decreed. + +[No signature.] + + + + +_An act decreeing that it shall be proclaimed in this city, in the +public places thereof, that within three days all natives residing +therein, not servants or otherwise employed, shall leave this city._ + +In the city of Manila, on the eleventh of February, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas the +licentiate Geronimo de Salazar y Salzedo, his Majesty's fiscal in +this royal Audiencia, protector of the natives of these said islands, +has made a report to the effect that there are many natives who are +vagabonds in this city, as a result of which they fall into various +vices dangerous to this community; and that rice and other provisions +have become high-priced and scarce; and as a remedy, he has requested +and petitioned the aforesaid president and auditors to provide in +this regard what is most advisable: therefore, they declared that they +ordered, and they did so order, that, within three days from the date +of this act, it shall be proclaimed to all and whatever natives are and +reside in this city, who are not employed as servants to the Spaniards, +or in some known occupation, that they must leave the city and return +to their own villages, to remain and live therein. Nor shall any other, +now and henceforth, remain in this city, under penalty, to anyone who +shall disobey this decree--for the first time, of one hundred lashes; +and for the second offense, one year of service at the oar in his +Majesty's galleys, without pay--on whom they declared that, as soon as +they condemned them (and they did so condemn them), the said penalty +shall be executed without leniency. In order that it may come to the +notice of all the said natives, and that no one may pretend ignorance, +this act shall be proclaimed in the Tagal language, in this city, in +the public places thereof, and in the hamlet of Tondo, and testimony +shall be taken thereof. Thus they declared, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act concerning the order which the alcaldes-in-ordinary and the +alguazil-mayor of this court must observe in their seats._ + +In the city of Manila, on the fifth of March, one thousand five hundred +and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia of +the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas some dissensions and +difficulties have occurred between the alcaldes-in-ordinary of this +city and the alguazil-mayor of the court of this royal Audiencia, in +the churches and public places where they have met, in regard to the +seats and places which each shall occupy, and their precedence--so +that it has resulted in their coming to blows, to the great scandal +and indecorum of their offices, and particularly in contempt of this +said royal Audiencia: therefore it is necessary in this matter to +provide some regulation to be kept and observed in like cases by the +aforesaid officials, so that the said disturbances shall cease. In +order that the said alcaldes-in-ordinary of this city shall keep +their known seats and places, and that they may be separate from +the said alguazil-mayor and from the ministers of this said royal +Audiencia, they declared that they ought to order, and they did so +order, that, when the alguazil-mayor of this court shall be present +in any of the churches of this city, without the president, auditors, +and fiscal, or any others whom he might join, he shall not take any +seat or bench belonging to the alcaldes-in-ordinary or regidors (nor +shall any other individuals occupy them, or sit in them, or intrude +themselves among them in any part or place that shall be given them), +but shall place and keep his chair and seat in some distinct and +fitting place, as does the president, the Audiencia, or any of the +members thereof. Likewise, in the processions and parades through the +streets, funerals, betrothals, passage of retinues, and other like +occasions on which the towns-people gather, the said alguazil-mayor of +the court, finding himself alone, without any of the aforesaid persons +whom he might accompany, shall refrain from going in company with them +[the alcaldes] in any manner--whether invited, or of his own accord; +whether the city's alcaldes go as a municipal body, or as individuals +to such functions; or whether they are not present at them. Meantime +the question is being considered and consulted as to what is to be +done and observed in all the above matters, and what it is advisable +to do in the future, and whether this royal Audiencia should make any +further provision. All the above shall be observed and fulfilled by +the said alguazil-mayor of the court, and the alcaldes-in-ordinary +of this city, without their having any wrangling or differences, or +any scandal--being warned that, if they do so, proceedings will be +instituted against the guilty persons who violate the order; and they +shall be punished to the full extent of the law. By this act they so +voted, ordered, and decreed. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almacan_ + + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the taxing officer of this royal Audiencia shall +be notified to fix the costs in the suits, either personally, or by +some other intelligent person whom he shall name for this purpose._ + +In the city of Manila, on the sixteenth of March, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas it has +come to their notice that the taxing officer of this royal Audiencia +does not fix the costs in the suits that are brought there: therefore, +because it is advisable that the above officer fulfil the obligation +of his office, as his Majesty ordains and commands, and that the +inconveniences which arise from this be avoided, they ordered, and +they did so order, that the said taxing officer should be notified +that, now and henceforth, in whatever processes shall be brought for +consideration in this royal Audiencia, whether definitive or under +any plea whatever, the costs shall be fixed by him (thus complying +with the tenor of the royal ordinance treating of this matter), +either personally, or by some other intelligent person whom he shall +designate for the said purpose, and shall appoint in his place, who +shall be a person fit for the said service. They ordered the clerk +of court of this royal Audiencia to be present at those suits which +shall be brought for consideration in the manner above mentioned, +before the said taxing officer, in order that he may fix the costs +therein; and, regarding the aforesaid, they charged one another's +consciences. By this act they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that Doctor Antonio de Morga shall take the +residencia, for the months of January and February, of the deputy +regidors, within the limit of ten days._ + +In the city of Manila, on the sixteenth of March, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas, +for the past months of January and February of the present year, +up to the present time, no residencia for the use and exercise of +their offices has been taken of the deputy regidors of this city, +it is fitting and necessary that it be taken immediately: therefore +they appointed, and they did so appoint, Doctor Antonio de Morga, +auditor of this royal Audiencia, for a term of ten days, to take the +said residencia for the said months of the said appointed regidors, +who have filled their said offices, proceeding therein as the king +our sovereign decrees and commands in his royal ordinance. For this +they granted him the authority and commission as fully as is required +by law. By this act they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_. + + + + +_An act decreeing that Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor of this +royal Audiencia, shall audit the accounts of the city for the past +year, 1598._ + +In the city of Manila, on the sixteenth day of the month of March, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas the auditing of the accounts of this city for the past year, +one thousand five hundred and ninety-eight, was committed to the +licentiate Albaro Cambrano, late auditor of this royal Audiencia +(whom may God keep in His holy glory!), and because by his end and +death the auditing, continuation, and balancing of the accounts, +as his Majesty orders and commands in his royal ordinance, have +been neglected: therefore, they appointed, and they did so appoint, +in place of the said licentiate Alvaro Cambrano, Doctor Antonio de +Morga, auditor of this royal Audiencia, to audit the said accounts, +and to continue and finish them according to the order given to the +said licentiate Albaro Cambrano--for which, they granted, and they +did so grant, him authority and commission as fully as is required +by law. By this act they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that, on account of the end and death of the +licentiate Albaro Cambrano (whom may God keep!), the licentiate +Tellez Almacan is to continue, close, and complete the accounts of +the royal exchequer._ + +In the city of Manila, on the sixteenth of March, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancilleria of the Philipinas Islands declared that, +whereas the licentiate Albaro Cambrano, late auditor of this royal +Audiencia (whom may God have in His holy glory!), to whom was assigned +the auditing of the accounts of his Majesty's royal exchequer--which +are at present being audited by the royal judicial officials--is now +dead and passed from this present life: therefore, in order that on +this account the auditing may not be delayed and fail of prosecution, +as is fitting, and as the king our sovereign commands in his royal +ordinance, in place of the licentiate Albaro Cambrano they appointed, +and they did so appoint, the licentiate Tellez de Almacan, auditor +of this royal Audiencia, to continue, close, and finish the said +auditing, according to the commission given to the said licentiate +Albaro Cambrano, for which they gave him commission in legal form. By +this act, they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the city shall give information regarding its +place of seating in the cathedral of this city._ + +In the city of Manila, on the sixteenth of March, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancilleria of the Philipinas Islands declared that, +in order to assign to the cabildo, magistracy, and administration of +this city the place of seating that it must keep in the cathedral: +in order to ascertain the custom hitherto followed in the aforesaid +matter, and in order to provide what is necessary concerning it, +they ordered, and they did so order, the said cabildo, magistracy, +and administration of this city to give an account of the part and +place in which it has been regularly seated in the cathedral of this +city--both in the time when the royal Audiencia formerly resided in +these islands, and after his Majesty ordered it to be suppressed--in +order that, upon examination, the necessary provisions may be made. By +this act they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act concerning the royal magazines._ + +In the city of Manila, on the eighteenth of March, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal Audiencia and Chancilleria of the Philipinas Islands, having +examined the opinion of the official judges of the royal exchequer +of these islands, on the question of building magazines in which +to store the merchandise coming from China to this city, and having +investigated other matters connected with the aforesaid, and further +matter which is contained in the decree of the king our sovereign, +ordering that this said Audiencia attend to the matter: they declared +(in conformity with the opinion of Joan de Bustamante, accountant of +the royal exchequer) that at present, and until experience further +shows what it is most advisable to enact in this matter, the said +Chinese merchandise shall be registered and appraised on the same +vessels on which it was brought, as has been done hitherto. In order +that there may be good accounts and reports, and less opportunity for +fraud in the royal customs, they ordered that the official judges of +his Majesty in these islands, as soon as each ship enters this harbor +and anchors therein, shall go out to inspect it, registering and +appraising all the merchandise and other things in the cargo. They +shall exert diligence in the matter and make their inspection with +the punctuality advisable, so that the said merchandise, or any part +of it, may not be discharged or concealed. In order that this may +be enforced more effectually, the necessary guards shall be placed +on the said ships and in the bay, who are to be trustworthy persons, +to the satisfaction of the said president and auditors of this royal +Audiencia, by whom they shall be approved and appointed, The said +official judges shall have, as a reward for their occupation and +labors, one third part of the confiscations which are levied upon any +merchandise found and seized because it had been hidden on the said +ships, or withdrawn from them without registration or appraisal. They +shall also be charged that they shall not allow or consent that, +while the said merchandise is on the said ships, either the royal +officials or their assistants, or any other person--Spanish, Sangley, +or native--shall take, buy, or transport the said merchandise in large +or small quantities, for cash or on credit; but that the merchants +thereof, who brought the merchandise from China on the said ship, +after making registry and appraisal, may take them ashore freely and +where they will, without any obstacle or hindrance from anyone--with +the warning that, if any one of them do not so observe and fulfil +this act, he shall be proceeded against with the full rigor of the +law. They ordered that a commission, in due form, be given to the said +guards, both in order that they may wield the authority of justice, +and that there be no other guards but those who are so nominated by +this royal Audiencia; those hitherto acting as guards shall exercise +the said duty no longer, under the penalties incurred by those who +so act without power or commission in the matter. This act shall be +made known to his Majesty's officials, and the chief clerk of mines, +and the regidors, for those who are at present guards; and it shall +be added to the other acts and investigations made by virtue of the +said royal decree of his Majesty. By this act, they so voted, ordered, +and decreed. + + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that tribute be collected for the king, our +sovereign, from all the Indians found settled and dwelling in this +city and within its bounds, who belong to his Majesty's encomiendas._ + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-second of March, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancilleria of the Philipinas Islands examined the +petition of the licentiate Geronimo de Salazar y Salzedo, fiscal for +his Majesty in this royal Audiencia, that the collectors of the royal +tributes of the king our sovereign, in this city and its environs, +may collect tribute from all the Indians who are found therein, +notwithstanding any obstacle or excuses whatever which may be offered +by the said Indians, or by any encomenderos. Considering that for +many years the Indians have dwelt and resided in this city, and that +their tribute belongs and pertains to his Majesty, they declared +that they ordered, and they did so order, that the collectors of +the royal tribute shall collect their tributes from all the Indians +found settled and dwelling in this city and within its bounds, who +belong to the encomiendas of his Majesty. The said Indians shall +not pay other encomenderos, nor shall such encomenderos collect any +tribute from them, under penalty of returning to the said Indians what +they shall have collected from them. In order that the provisions +of this act be observed, enforced, and executed, they ordered it +to be publicly proclaimed in this city and its limits, in both the +Tagal and the Castilian languages. They committed the execution and +enforcement of it to the official judges of the king our sovereign +in these islands. The aforesaid president and auditors also ordered +that, if any persons claim to have any right contrary to the matter +herein contained, they are to appear before this royal Audiencia, +to petition before it for whatever is fitting in their case. By this +act they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the alguazils, as soon as they arrest +delinquents, shall give notice thereof to one of the auditors and to +the commissioners, who shall formulate their cases and bring them to +the office of the clerk of court._ + +In the city of Manila, on the third of April, one thousand five hundred +and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia +of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas it is continually +happening that the alguazils of this court arrest delinquents whose +cases the notaries and commissioners undertake, and, without giving +notice to the aforesaid president and auditors, or taking such cases +to the office of the present secretary, they allow them to remain in +their possession, and the said prisoners to remain in jail, without any +note or account of their imprisonment, whence result vexations to the +said prisoners, and the said alguazils and commissioners do not fulfil +the obligation which rests upon them: therefore, to find a remedy +for this and other annoyances which may result from it, they ordered, +and they did so order, that now and henceforth, as soon as the said +alguazils shall arrest any delinquent, they shall give notice thereof +to one of the above-mentioned persons, in order that he may take the +fitting action in regard to the said imprisonment. Any commissioner +who shall undertake the cause of said prisoner or prisoners shall +immediately take it to the office of the present clerk of court, +so that in this manner there may be the necessary system. Whatever +one or the other may do shall be despatched with all promptness and +punctuality, and no favor--under penalty of a fine of six pesos for +anyone who shall disobey this decree, to be given the poor in the +prison. By this act they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almacan_ + + +Before me: + + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + +_An act decreeing that the royal officials shall give Doctor Antonio +de Morga three hundred pesos from treasury fines, for ornaments and +other things necessary for the chapel._ + +In the city of Manila, on the tenth of May, one thousand five hundred +and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia +and Chancilleria of the Philipinas Islands, being in session, declared +that, whereas the chapel of this royal Audiencia is in great want and +need of many things that are very necessary and indispensable, for +its vestments, decoration, and furniture; and whereas, through lack +of money, the said needs have not as yet been supplied: therefore, +to make provision for them, they ordered, and they did so order, that +the official judges of the royal exchequer of the king our sovereign, +in these islands, shall, from any treasury fines in their charge, +immediately give and deliver to Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor +of this royal Audiencia, three hundred pesos of common gold, which +he shall expend in providing the said chapel with the things most +necessary for it, systematically and carefully. They ordered that he +be given a warrant for the said purpose, in due form. By this act, +they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + + + +_An act decreeing that secretaries of this court and government may +be attended by slaves with swords._ + +In the city of Manila, on the thirteenth of May, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas, +in conformity with the decrees and ordinances given by his Majesty +for his royal Chancilleria of Nueva Espana, residing in the City of +Mexico, and for other audiencias throughout the Yndias, he orders +that secretaries of the court and the government shall have, as a +retinue and guard, slaves with swords, conformably to the dignity +and gravity of their office: therefore, in order that the same be +done in this court, in regard to the secretaries of this court and +government, and in order to preserve the preeminence and exemptions +which they may and should enjoy here, they ordered, and they did so +order, that, now and henceforth, the said secretaries of this court +and government may freely bring into this court, as their retinue, +the said slaves with swords, according to the usual custom in the said +royal Chancilleria of the City of Mexico, and other chancillerias of +the Yndias, without the interposition--by any person, of whatever +estate, quality, or rank--of any hindrance or impediment whatever, +under the penalties provided by law. Thus they voted, and ordered it +to be recorded as an act, and signed it in my presence. + + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that the Sangleys shall not be allowed to have +godchildren, on account of the injury which may result therefrom._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventeenth of May, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the +royal Chancilleria of these Philipinas Islands, having examined the +information which was referred to this royal Audiencia by Estevan +de Marquina, alcalde-mayor of the village of Tondo and its presidio, +regarding the custom which the Christian Sangleys of that jurisdiction +have among themselves, of receiving and having a great number of +godchildren, both Christian and infidel, in order to have them +ready for any emergency that may arise, and to employ them as false +witnesses--to which they lend themselves with great facility, and at +little cost--and for other evil purposes and intents, exchanging with +them favors and assistance in their affairs; and whereas, on account +of these and other causes which have come to light, and as is quite +evident from the said information, that district is ruined and divided +into factions, and that it would be advisable, for its reform, to +suppress this custom of having godchildren, and that they should not +continue it, under severe penalties: therefore, they declared that +they ordered, and they did so order, that, now and henceforth, the +Sangleys of these islands shall in no manner have or avail themselves +of the said godchildren; nor use their names, nor those of any others, +in order to have them for their partisans or accomplices in any kind of +transaction which might occur, as they have been wont to do hitherto; +nor shall they regard them as such, or receive others in their place; +and they shall give up immediately all those that they had. The others +who are infidels shall do the same, so that there shall remain no +remembrance of the said intercourse--under penalty that any Sangley, +of any rank whatever, who shall be known to have continued it and to +have the said godchildren or godparents, shall be condemned to row +in the galleys for four years, in a place prescribed, without pay, +as soon as they are adjudged guilty thereof. The said alcalde-mayor +of Tondo and its presidio, and all other magistrates whatever, are +ordered to take especial care in the fulfilment and execution of this +act. They shall cause it to be published, in order that all persons +may know of it, and none plead ignorance--for which purpose an order +shall be given in due form, and this act inserted therein. Thus they +voted, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that the Christian Sangleys, and all those who +may become Christians in the future, shall practice and exercise the +occupations that they had before they became Christians._ + +In the city of Manila, on the seventeenth of May, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia, Court, and Chancilleria of the Philipinas Islands, having +examined this information which was remitted to this royal Audiencia +by Estevan de Marquina, alcalde-mayor of the village of Tondo and its +presidio, concerning the advisability and importance that the Christian +Sangleys living in the said village of Tondo, and in the other villages +of its jurisdiction, and those who become Christians in the future, +shall not abandon the occupations which they had before they became +Christians, as they have been accustomed to do, but shall continue +to exercise and practice them in the same manner as before--for, +by thus abandoning their occupations, that people are unoccupied +and slothful, and spend their time in games and vicious amusements, +whence result the harm and trouble which may be considered: they +declared that, in order to remedy that state of affairs, they ought +to order, and they did so order, that, now and henceforth, the said +Sangleys shall practice and exercise the occupations which they had +practiced and exercised before they became Christians, and shall, +under no consideration, abandon them--this being understood to apply +to those becoming Christians in the future, and to those who have +been Christians for six years previous to the present--under penalty +that whoever disobeys this decree shall be sentenced to row in the +galleys for four years, in a place prescribed, without pay, to which +they declared that they delivered them, and they did so deliver them, +immediately as condemned persons. They declared that they ordered, +and they did so order, the alcalde-mayor of Tondo and of the Parian, +and other magistrates of this city and of these islands, to take great +care in the execution and fulfilment of the aforesaid, under penalty +of being punished. Thus they voted, ordered, and decreed. They ordered +that the said magistrates, each in his own jurisdiction, should make +the necessary inquiries, in order to ascertain who are the Sangleys +that come under the provisions of this act, and the occupations which +they follow. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + + + +_An act decreeing that no alcaldes-mayor or other magistrates shall +leave their jurisdictions without undergoing residencia; and that +those who shall not have done so, or given a report of the convictions +and fines and tenths of gold which shall have been in their charge, +shall not be appointed._ + +In the city of Manila, on the fifteenth of June, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that they have been +informed that it is customary to appoint as alcaldes-mayor, and +to other offices of justice, some persons who have not undergone +residencia for offices that they have held before, or who have not +rendered account of the treasury fines and expenses of justice and +war which have been in their charge; also that other persons come to +this city after their terms of office have expired, without waiting +to furnish the said residencias, or being present at them, as is +required--whence it results that his Majesty's royal exchequer is +defrauded, since it does not have the income of the said fines and +tenths of gold. On the other hand, the said residencias not being +taken, as is required, nor the public claims before them paid to +their owners, and many other annoyances resulting, of some importance: +therefore, since it is advisable to remedy the aforesaid condition, +they ordered, and they did so order, now and henceforth, the decree +according to the laws of these realms, providing that no persons who +have held other offices be appointed to offices of the justiciary, +until they have furnished residencia of those that they previously +held, which shall have been examined and passed upon; and that such +persons shall have deposited, first and foremost, in his Majesty's +royal treasury, all the fines and condemnations which shall have +been in their charge, with tenths of gold and other things of which +they must give account, together with the payment of these and of +any other sums which they shall have been sentenced to pay in their +residencias. In order that they may furnish these, they must be present +in person, during the time prescribed by law, without leaving their +jurisdictions--being warned that if any person absent himself from +the jurisdiction where he holds office, without first furnishing +residencia, it will not be received or heard by the prosecutor, and +he will be compelled to return to furnish it in his own person. In +order that the provisions of this act may be strictly enforced, +they ordered that his Majesty's fiscal register the letters-patent +which shall have been given to the said offices of justice; so that +whatever is ordained by the said royal laws, and provided by this +act, he may claim when the officials shall be appointed, and the +necessary residencias be taken. Likewise there is to be delivered +to the government secretary of these islands a copy of this act, so +that in the patents of those who shall be appointed the fulfilment +of what is herein contained shall be formally inserted as a clause, +and his Majesty's said fiscal shall register the said patents. They +cannot continue to exercise their offices without first making the said +investigation, exactly observing the provisions of this said act; and +the accountant of the royal exchequer shall likewise register it; so +that whoever shall not have given an account of the said fines, tenths +of gold, and other matters which shall have been in his charge, shall +not take his office. By this act, they so voted, ordered, and decreed. + +Before me: + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + +In the city of Manila, on the thirteenth of July, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, I, Pedro Hurtado Desquibel, clerk of court +for the royal Audiencia, Chancilleria, and Court of these Philipinas +Islands, certify and attest that, from the eighth of June, of the past +year, one thousand five hundred and ninety-eight, to the present day, +the date of this testimony, the president and auditors of this said +royal Audiencia, have from time to time agreed upon and enacted the +acts [4] which are herein copied, for good government, both officially +and at the petition of his Majesty's fiscal, as in them and each one +of them is declared. The copies are true and exact, and, in order +that it may be evident that it is by order of the aforesaid, I gave +the present copy--the witnesses to its transcription, correction, and +revision being Pedro Munoz de Herrera, Joan de Harana, and Alonso de +Saavedra, citizens of this city. In witness of which, I have affixed +my seal in witness of the truth. + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_ + +[_Endorsed_: "Filipinas, 1599." "Acts for the good government of +those islands."] + + + + +The Hospital for Indians at Manila + + +May Jesus, our salvation, dwell in the soul of your royal +Majesty. Although I am but wretched dust and ashes, I make bold to +write this letter since I am, in company with two other religious of +the Order of our seraphic father St. Francis, appointed to minister +in this royal hospital of your royal Majesty (which is called the +hospital of Sancta Ana) for the natives; in it all the natives of all +these islands are cared for, and it is situated in this city of Manila. + +Favors were granted to this hospital by our most Catholic king and +sovereign, never sufficiently to be praised, your royal Majesty's +father, Don Phelipe (whom may God keep in His heaven!); he allowed it +one thousand five hundred fanegas of rice, one thousand five hundred +fowls, two hundred pieces of cloth from Ylocos, five hundred ducados +in money, and four toneladas of freight--this last being worth, one +year with another, four hundred pesos. With this income (and we have +no other), usually as many as two hundred poor persons are supported +and cared for in this hospital; besides these, there are three or +four religious who care for the sick and administer the sacraments, +and a considerable number of other people who are in the service of +the hospital. So small is the income, sacred Majesty, and so many are +the poor who come for help, that often we suffer great hardships; for +it is the glory of this hospital not only to belong to your Majesty, +but also not to turn away any one who comes to it to be treated. + +For this reason we religious who are in this hospital, as servants of +the poor who are cared for in it, entreat your royal Majesty with the +utmost humility that you will grant us aid so that we can treat these +poor people with somewhat more convenience; and we especially entreat +your royal Majesty that you will favor us by commanding that the said +four toneladas of freight be continued to us, as we are accustomed +to ship the goods free of customs duties or any other dues, whether +in this city of Manila or in Nueva Espana, or in any other parts of +your Majesty's realms where your ships enter. + +In this your royal Majesty will render a great service to God our +Lord; and may He preserve for us your royal Majesty, with increase +of His holy grace, and life and prosperity, as your loyal servants +desire. At Manila, July 3, 1599. Your royal Majesty's humble servant, + +_Domingo de Santiago_. + +[_Endorsed_: "Manila; to his Majesty; Domingo de Santiago, for the +hospital of Santa Ana at Manilla. Referred by his Majesty, who directs +that the archbishop and governor shall send information regarding +the treatment of the sick in this hospital, and whether its income +is sufficient for its needs. They shall also ascertain how its funds +are disbursed, and if the accounts are audited; and if anything is +lacking that is absolutely necessary, let them advise what and how +much should be provided, in their opinion."] + + +Catholic and Royal Majesty: + +Antonio Valerio, steward of the royal hospital which the discalced +religious of our seraphic father St. Francis founded in the city of +Manila, with royal expenditures and some alms, for the cure and healing +of all these natives of all these Philipinas Islands which belong +to your royal Majesty. I declare that although in this hospital we, +three religious and myself, serve for the love of God our Lord--by our +services saving the salaries of physician, surgeon, apothecary, and +other officers; and I performing the duties of steward, and the said +religious treating, as they do, all the sick, besides administering the +sacraments--the work of this hospital is continually increasing to such +an extent, by its aiding so many sick persons, and from so many places, +that although the gifts which your royal Majesty has made to this your +hospital are great, they are not sufficient to meet the necessary +expenses to which the said hospital is liable. For the usual number +of those who are cared for in it ranges from one hundred and sixty +to two hundred poor persons; besides, most of the poor people of this +city are provided from this hospital with ointments and medicines for +their ailments. On account of these expenses the hospital is unable +to accomplish many works which should be done--for instance, a house +for the workmen and servants, the improvement of the vegetable-garden, +and other things necessary for the treatment of the sick. + +For these reasons I entreat and supplicate your royal Majesty, with the +utmost humility, on my own part and on that of the said poor who are +treated in the hospital, that you will do us the favor of adding some +further charity to the grants which you have made to this hospital, for +the supply of the many wants which arise every day and are increasing. + +Still further, I entreat and supplicate your royal Majesty that the +favor which the Catholic and royal Majesty, Don Phelipe our lord, +the father of your royal Majesty (whom may God our Lord keep in His +heaven!), granted to us, by commanding that we be allowed to send +four toneladas of freight in his royal ships, be also continued to +us free from customs duties and any other dues which pertain to your +royal Majesty, whether in this city of Manila or in Nueva Espana, +or in any other part of your realms. + +Moreover, since the minister of this hospital is always a father who +is a priest, who will administer the sacraments not only to the sick +who come to the said hospital for treatment, but to all the people +who serve therein or who reside on the stock-farm which belongs to +the hospital, as well as to many other people in all this city and +in the islands who usually come to this hospital for confession; +and besides this, your Majesty pays from his royal treasury the +archbishop, qura, and canons of the cathedral of Manila for their +labors in ministering to the Indians, in all matters for which the +tithes are not sufficient--I entreat your royal Majesty to command +your royal officials in this city of Manila that they recompense +the said archbishop, cura, and canons in such manner that they shall +not enter the stock-farm of the said hospital to collect tithes and +firstfruits, since hitherto they have never entered there. And in +all things I entreat the royal Majesty of your royal Majesty, etc. + + + + + +Letters from the Royal Fiscal to the King + + + +Sire: + +After having given an account to your Majesty, in so far as concerns my +office of fiscal of this royal Audiencia of these Philipinas Islands, +of the affairs of justice, by another letter which accompanies this, +it seemed best to me to give one concerning those things which touch +the royal exchequer, in the following manner. + +1. The royal exchequer of your Majesty in these islands is not +sufficient by a large sum to supply the salaries and expenses which are +here paid out and incurred. For before the royal Audiencia came here, +the archbishop and bishops drew from Mexico fifteen, twenty, and some +years thirty thousand pesos apiece; but, even with all this, all those +who had to draw money from the royal treasury were complaining and +irregularly paid. Many works were neglected, and necessary expenses +were abandoned. With the new stipends and salaries of an archbishop, +three bishops, four auditors, and a fiscal, which amount to twenty-four +thousand pesos, we must cut down much more. All that sum, which is +the salary of powerful people, must be maintained; and therefore we +must suffer wretched service, and abandon, as has been done, works +and affairs in which there should be no lack. For some remedy and +alleviation of this difficulty, I will point out some expedients which, +in my opinion--as one who understands the present state of affairs, and +has some knowledge of the country--your Majesty, if you are so pleased, +can use, employing such of them as appear to be most expedient. + +2. I find no basis on which people could rest their opinion that +there should be in these islands the said archbishop and bishops; +for the population of them all does not exceed six hundred Spanish +citizens, and the one bishop who was in this city was sufficient. One +is sufficient for all matters which might arise of which the prelates +take cognizance, or which are necessary, for they are very few and +unimportant; and those who appeal to the metropolitan go to Mexico +and return in one year. The three provinces in which were lately +erected the three bishoprics are so near this city that one can come +from them in ten or twelve days; and in the one which has the largest +settlement of Spaniards there are not more than a hundred citizens, +or even so many--namely, in Zubu. The other two, which are Camarines +and Cagayan, do not amount, each one, to seventy Spaniards. In +each one there is a curate, who administers the sacraments to +the Spaniards; and convents of friars, who administer them to the +Indians who live in the said villages and their neighborhood. If the +prelate who is chosen in Manila is a religious of proved integrity, +and industrious, he can very well attend to these matters easily, +and without overwork. Whatever has been said or may be said to your +Majesty to the contrary, either arises from ignorance of the matter +or from private designs, and does not aim at expediency. + +[_In the margin_: "There is nothing to answer."] + +3. By a decree of your Majesty which came in the past year, +ninety-eight, the governor of these islands was commanded to +discontinue a number of false musters which were being paid, and +additions to the expenses of the royal treasury. Without mentioning +the decree, he pronounced an edict in which he commanded the officials +of the royal exchequer of your Majesty to erase them from the royal +books, and pay them no more. Afterward, with different pretexts and by +various means other salaries and additional expenses were incurred, +which it had never been customary to pay--as, for instance, paying +salaries to the captains, alferez, and other officers of war for the +citizens in the villages. The governor appointed, as alferez of the +captain of the town of Arevalo, Don Juan Fajardo; and designated as +his salary that of the post of musketeer, for which he served in the +said post of alferez. Having appealed it before the Audiencia, after +examination and review there, he was commanded to pay the said salary +for the time while he had served in the post of alferez. Captain +Francisco Rrodriguez, as he was of the troops from Zubu, when he +was alcalde-mayor there was ordered by the said governor to give +a hundred pesos of additional cost. He appealed from this, and his +case is pending in the Audiencia. Although these things appear of +little importance, so far as events hitherto are concerned, they +may be very important for the future; for, as they are said to be +confirmed by the Audiencia the governors will take it as a precedent, +in order to be able to make the same move with the other captains +and alferezes. The expenses of the royal treasury will thus suffer +a large increase, and in matters which never have been done nor are +now necessary. It would be well, if your Majesty were so pleased, +to command that all the wages, salary, and additional expenses which +have been given in the said manner be returned to the royal treasury +by the person who ordered them, and that henceforward none should +by any means be granted; and, if it be expedient to give any, your +Majesty should be informed and a royal order for that purpose awaited. + +4. In some provinces where there was one alcalde-mayor only, they +have been so multiplied that now there are three, and each one with +a deputy--all with salaries from the royal exchequer. To some of them +the governors give, beside the salary, additional expenses, amounting +to a hundred pesos; because such alcaldes-mayor are captains of the +citizens, in the manner explained in the clause before this. Likewise +some of the said alcaldes-mayor have Spanish alguazils, although not +with salaries, and although there are royal decrees directing the +governor to check this, and not allow offices to increase. It would +be fitting for your Majesty to command, if you so please, that these +alcaldes-mayor be reduced to the following: + +In the province of Laguna, one alcalde-mayor with three hundred +pesos of salary, which is the ordinary amount. On the opposite coast +of Mauban, one corregidor; this is the district next to the said +Laguna. He should have two hundred pesos of salary. In the province +of Camarines, another alcalde-mayor, with the same salary of three +hundred pesos. Another alcalde-mayor, who has recently been appointed +in the said province for the island of Catanduanes, should be removed; +and the said alcalde-mayor of Camarines should care for that, as +he used to do. In the province of Cagayan, another alcalde-mayor, +with the same salary. In that of Ylocos, another alcalde-mayor, with +the same salary. In Pangasinan, another alcalde-mayor, with the said +salary. In the province of Panpanga, another alcalde-mayor, with the +proper salary, who should administer the jurisdiction of the district +of Bulacan, which borders upon it; all this was formerly under one +alcalde. The one who was lately added in Bulacan should be removed. + +In the village of Tondo and the bay of this city of Manila (all of +which is the suburbs and outskirts of the city), the governors keep +another alcalde-mayor and lieutenant, although the whole of it is +within the five leagues which, by your Majesty's grace, this city +of Manila has as a jurisdiction--whose alcaldes-in-ordinary used to +administer justice in all the districts of the said alcaldia-mayor +of Tondo. Now they have no more than within the walls of the city, +although they are vested with authority and can make arrests +outside. It would be well, if such be your Majesty's pleasure, to +discontinue this alcaldia-mayor of Tondo, and let it be served by +the two alcaldes-in-ordinary from this city of Manila, each one six +months of the year, while the other one is present in this city. In +this way, with the provincial judge, there will be quite sufficient +people to administer justice in the civil cases; and in the criminal +cases there are the auditors and the said alcalde-in-ordinary. In this +way the salary of the alcalde-mayor of Tondo will be saved, which is +now paid from the royal treasury; and this city will consider it as a +singular grace and favor. So likewise will the Indians, for they will +be better treated and less annoyed by this form of government; because +the man who is appointed to the said alcaldia must make his living from +it, and on that account must do things which are illegal--but, as he +is usually a retainer of the governor, the latter shields him in the +matter. This will cease with the alcaldes-in-ordinary, for they perform +their duties without any selfish considerations, being always men of +honor and rich, who do not seek the offices through greed for money. + +In the province of Zubu there used to be only one alcalde-mayor; +but about two years ago another was added in the islands of Leyte, +Camar, and Babao, which are close to Zubu. It was done to the great +displeasure of the citizens of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, which was +the first city founded and settled in these islands; for the said +three islands were under the jurisdiction of the alcalde-mayor +resident in the said city, and with the other one they would be +greatly annoyed and molested, since most of the citizens who reside +in the said city are encomenderos in the said islands of Leyte, +Camar, and Babao. The alcalde-mayor of these islands takes them from +the said city and enters suits against them. He takes them to the +said islands as prisoners; and, as they have their property there, +and must needs go there every year for the collection of tributes +from their encomiendas, they cannot refuse to go; and thus the said +alcalde-mayor molests them as encomenderos, and he of Cubu, on the +other hand, as citizens. As this is so, if your Majesty be pleased, +the said alcalde-mayor of the said three islands might be removed, +and they put under the jurisdiction of the said island of Cubu, +whose alcalde-mayor could very well serve all of them. + +On the river of Butuan, which is on the confines of this island of +Zubu and close to the island of Mindanao, is another corregidor, with +a salary of two hundred pesos. In the island of Calamianes is another +corregidor, with the ordinary salary. In the district of Oton is an +alcalde-mayor, with a salary of three hundred pesos. In Panay is a +corregidor, with two hundred pesos salary. All the alcaldes-mayor +and corregidors besides those mentioned should be done away with; +and no alcalde-mayor or corregidor should have a deputy except when +he is absent, and such deputy should not be given a salary. + +[_In the margin_: "If there is any reform to be made, have the new +governor act therein, and advise us of his action. _Idem. Idem. Idem_ +in this matter."] + +5. One of the things in which, I have understood, the royal exchequer +of your Majesty has been the most defrauded and the citizens of these +islands the most aggrieved, is in the freighting and despatching of +vessels which go from here to Nueva Espana with merchandise; for the +governors have, for some years past, assigned to this duty various +special friends and confidants of themselves, and even at times their +own servants. The said persons lade in the ships their own property, +and even that of their relatives and friends--and likewise, it is +said, of any person who will pay them for it. This transaction and +negotiation is of great profit for them, and a great fraud upon the +royal exchequer; for all the merchandise which they lade in this way, +outside of the amount allotted, goes without paying your Majesty the +royal duties, and is not a part of the cloth which is assigned to the +citizens in the general allotment which is made to them. As a remedy +for this, it will be well that in the future, when the allotment +of the cloth is made, there should be present and superintend it, +besides the governor and the other persons who are appointed, an +auditor and royal official in rotation, each year, commencing with +those longest here. As soon as the said allotment shall be finished, +the royal official shall take a copy of it, and the persons to whom +allotment is made of the said cloth shall come with their invoices, to +bale it and pay the royal duty in the presence of the royal officials, +who should give warrants for it. One or two of the officials should be +present at the port of Cavite, which is the landing-place of ships, +two leagues from this city; and there should be also present on the +ship, during its lading, the freighters who are ordinarily appointed, +and an auditor, so that no cloth will be allowed to be laded except it +be that contained in the said allotment. That which is thus authorized +shall be vouched for by warrants from the said royal officials that +the duties are paid. So great has been the irregularity in this +matter that, by having it checked by these strict methods, there +would probably be a great gain to the royal treasury. + +[_In the margin_: "Write to the new governor about the information +given in this letter, and the complaints that are made; and have him +remedy this evil, appointing for this persons who are of satisfactory +record, and taking care that all this be done with justice--and, +if it seem best to him, being sometimes present in person at the +inspection."] + +6. From the payment of tributes by the Indians in the usual currency +there have resulted and still result many inconveniences, losses, +injuries, and diminutions to the royal exchequer; for formerly they +paid the eight reals of tribute each year in kind, which they gathered +on their lands. A short time ago they were given the alternative of +paying it in coin if they wished; and since then they have ceased +to cultivate the land, make linen fabrics, raise fowls and cattle, +or obtain gold from the mines and rivers, with which articles they +used to pay the said tribute. A great part of those articles usually +remained with them, because they had all the year for trading and +labor, by which the country was supplied with many provisions at a low +cost, and clothing of various kinds of linen, with which they were +dressed. The encomenderos sailed with these things to Nueva Espana; +and it was not necessary to pay the Chinese what was brought thence in +return, and have them carry it off to their country, as they now do, +in exchange for the said cloths which they sell. There was a great +quantity of gold which was also taken to Nueva Espana, and from that +your Majesty was paid the tenths, which amounted each year to six +or eight thousand pesos--not counting another larger quantity which +was paid by the tributaries of the encomiendas which are under the +royal crown. By reason of the said Indians not paying in kind, so +little gold has come to be mined, that in the past year, ninety-eight, +from tributes and tenths even, the amount which was collected on your +Majesty's account was not a thousand pesos. From this there follows +another inconvenience, in that, as the natives of these islands are +inclined to laziness and to the vices attendant upon that, since +they can easily pay the tribute for one year with ten reals in coin, +they seek and pay it, and dress themselves with two or three pieces +of cloth, which cost somewhat more. As they find these for sale by +the Chinese, they themselves do not manufacture them. It would be +expedient, in order that these inconveniences may cease, as well as +others which may be seen to result from this matter, that henceforth +these Indians should be compelled to agricultural labors and the +raising of cattle, according to the conditions of the provinces where +they live, and to taking gold from the mines and rivers. If this were +put in force, a great deal would be gained by it; for there is a large +quantity in the said mines, rivers, and placers. In this way a great +part of the trade with the Chinese would cease, and the returns from +what was carried to and sold in Nueva Espana, from both gold and cloth, +would remain in this country, and would not be taken away to China, +as it now is. The said Indians would be compelled to this, in such +manner that, with the practice and profit which they would get from +it, in a few years they and their descendants would do it of their +own will, without compulsion. The principal thing to be done in order +to start the Indians to do this is, to have them pay the tribute in +the kind which they raise and harvest. + +[_In the margin_: "With this report write to the new governor to +call together the Audiencia, the ecclesiastical prelates who are +present in Manila, and the superiors of the religious orders; and +have him communicate with those who could not conveniently go there, +getting their opinion in writing; and have all of them confer as to +what is expedient and ought to be done in this matter--taking into +consideration the fact that the Indians should not be annoyed or +aggrieved; and that their object should be the cultivation of crops +and other things which the land bears; and that for this purpose +the tribute should be paid in kind, and the valuation should be as +equitable as possible. Whatever they may resolve in regard to this +matter, the governor shall cause to be executed, and advise us as to +what he does, seeing to it that the Indians labor and are not idle."] + +7. With the reestablishment of the said royal Audiencia, the expenses +of the royal treasury have been increased by more than sixteen +thousand five hundred pesos in the salaries of four auditors and one +fiscal. Wherefore it would be well, were your Majesty so pleased, +to command that the encomiendas or repartimientos of Indians which +may in the future be vacated, up to the amount of ten thousand pesos, +be placed under the royal crown, as an aid to the payment of the said +salaries; and that, until these are so placed, the governors shall not +be able to assign any person an encomienda or repartimiento of Indians. + +[_In the margin_: "Have the governor and Audiencia send an information +in this matter, and the archbishop a separate one."] + +8. I have understood that the governors have been accustomed to +assign encomiendas in this country in a manner to suit their own +purposes. Thus, if any person possesses an encomienda which ends +with his life, they add a reserve in such wise that they make +the encomiendas hereditary and perpetual for their relatives, so +that they may resign them, and allow the governor to assign them to +whomsoever they will. On the other hand, they have an agreement with +the governor that he shall assign it to the person designated by the +one who resigns it. That this matter may be the better understood, +I shall relate a case in which it happened. A certain captain, Juan +Maldonado Borrocal, one of the conquerors of these islands, holding a +repartimiento as an encomienda, went from here to the court in Spain; +and there married a widow, and returned with her to these islands. He +died, and conformably to the law of succession, the wife succeeded +to the encomienda. The latter had a son by her former husband, +and as, on her death, the said encomiendas would remain vacant, she +resigned them, and the governor assigned them anew to the son, who +was a boy. Neither he nor his father had served in these islands. It +is easy to imagine how this pleased the old soldiers who had shed +their blood on the said encomiendas to conquer them, and some were +eager for that repartimiento. Accordingly it is easy to see how much +remedy there was left, when the governor granted the said encomiendas +contrary to what your Majesty has ordered. To correct this, it would +be fitting that your Majesty order that such resignation should not +be made in any manner; and that in such cases the governor cannot +assign any repartimiento of Indians. + +[_In the margin_: "Have the decrees which are despatched for the +settlement of these matters duplicated, also those that direct that +appointments cannot be made by resignation and renunciation of the +said encomiendas; order that these be exactly observed and complied +with; and let it be again ordered that encomiendas which have been +resigned shall not be filled by the governor, but that he shall +advise his Majesty, who may order according to his pleasure in the +matter. If he appoints to them, they shall be null and declared void; +and the fiscal shall advise concerning them."] + +9. In the building of churches on the encomiendas of these islands +your royal treasury is subjected to excessive expenses by their being +made, as they are, of wood. Your Majesty pays, for those which stand +on the encomiendas belonging to your royal crown, two-thirds of the +cost--one-third as encomendero, and another as king and lord. In those +possessed by private citizens you pay one-third as king. As woods in +this country decay very easily, they rot within five or six years, +and it is necessary to build the said churches over again. Besides, it +often happens that when they are finished they are soon burned down. It +would be well for the said churches henceforth to be built of stone +or brick; for, with little more than what it costs to build them of +wood, they can be built of stone or brick and will last for many years. + +[_In the margin_: "Let the Audiencia investigate this."] + +10. The custom has been introduced of supplying wine for the +celebration of the mass to the priests of all the orders--not only to +those which are in the encomiendas of the royal crown, but to those in +private ones. As I understand it, your Majesty is under no obligation +to furnish it, except to those who minister in the four convents of +Manila, and to the curates of Spaniards and Indians there, and to those +who are in your Majesty's missions; and the encomenderos are obliged +to furnish them with the said wine on their own encomiendas. Your +Majesty will order the action in this matter which is most fitting +to your royal service. + +[_In the margin_: "Write to the governor to order that the secular +clergy, and those who give instruction in private encomiendas, are +not to be given wine on his Majesty's account for the celebration +of mass."] + +11. During the time of the last royal Audiencia, several offices of +regidor were sold; but of those who bought them at that time two +only have come here. Governor Gomez Perez, by virtue of a clause +of his instructions, appointed, above those which had been bought, +enough to amount in all to twelve regidors, from the worthiest men +of this city. Some of them left in his time, and others in the time +of his son, and finally in that of Governor Don Francisco Tello; +others the latter removed. Thereupon he appointed to several of the +said offices unsatisfactory persons, for his own interests. Some +of these despise the said offices. As it is understood that these +appointments were not by honorable means, it would be well if these +offices were sold--not by auction, but putting upon them a moderate +price, and having them given, with the supervision and approval of +the Audiencia, to the men of most merit and best character. There +should not be more than eight regidors; for, with the other persons +who, by reason of their offices, have votes in the cabildo--namely, +the three royal officials, the two wardens of the fortresses, and the +alguacil-mayor of the city--there are fourteen votes, which, in a place +of three hundred citizens, is a sufficient number. As those appointed +understand that they must pay money for the appointments and gifts, +in this way they will be given to suitable persons; and this should +always be done, so long as they are appointed here, and are not free +to attend to their duties as they should--because the governors have +had the power to take their offices away without cause, whenever it +might appear best to them. The most just way would be to sell them, +and use the proceeds to aid the royal treasury in its needs. + +[_In the margin_: "Have this sent to the new governor, so that the +regidors who were appointed wrongly, or are not proper persons, +may be removed; and let others be appointed (such as possess the +qualifications and capacity), up to the number of eight in all. Let +him advise us of his action."] + +12. After Governor Gomez Perez Dasmarinas came, there was offered from +the royal exchequer of your Majesty to the accountant Andres Cauchela +(who was proprietary), and to Captain Gomez de Machuca--who, on the +death of Juan Baptista Rroman, treasurer and factor, was appointed to +the said offices by the said Gomez Perez--to these two was assigned +the making of a report on all matters which concerned the treasury, +to bring before the said governor. It is understand that there were +some matters needing correction, for those same officials have written +this. This also appears probable from the manner in which the person +who was appointed for that office by the said governor conducted +himself. He signed the account without seeing or examining the reports, +or even noticing whether the charges were made, and if everything had +been collected that should be, nor that which concerned the merchandise +and the royal warehouses. Nor did he afterward audit any account. For +this reason, and because he grew rich during the time while the said +offices were held, it would be well to inspect them, and again take +charge of said accounts of money, and audit those of merchandise +which still remain to be examined. If your Majesty be so pleased, +a warrant might be sent to make the said investigation from the time +when Licentiate Geronimo Erbez del Corral took the account. It could +be entrusted to one of the auditors of this royal Audiencia; but the +fact must be considered that Doctor Antonio de Morga is a great friend +of Captain Gomez de Machuca, who was factor and treasurer, and who +would have to be investigated by him. Likewise it would be expedient +to send a warrant for an accountant to audit and revise the accounts. + +[_In the margin_: "A person shall be named by the lord president of +the Audiencia to investigate these officials; and the governor shall +name, with the consent of the investigator, an accountant to examine +the accounts."] + +13. Your Majesty commanded by a decree that the office of treasurer +of the royal exchequer of these islands be abolished, as it entails +no duties whatever, and the two offices of factor and accountant are +sufficient; accordingly, the duties of the treasurer were performed +by the factor. On account of the death of Juan Baptista Rroman, who +exercised these offices, your Majesty again appointed to the said +office of treasurer Captain Hernando Davila. So far as I know, your +Majesty was not made aware that a command had been issued to abolish +it, since no mention of that is made in the commission of Captain +Hernando Davila. The office is a superfluous one, and, as I say, has +no duties; for everything which has to be done here pertains to the +offices of factor and accountant. It would be well, if your Majesty +is so pleased, to command that when this office of treasurer shall +become vacant, in whatever manner, no other person shall be appointed +to it; but that it shall be merged with that of the factor, as was +formerly done. In this way the royal treasury will be relieved from +paying two thousand pesos, which the said treasurer draws as a salary. + +[_In the margin_: "Let the new governor inform us concerning this."] + +Governor Gomez Perez Dasmarinas established a monopoly on cards, +so that the proceeds therefrom could be used to fortify this city; +and the cabildo of the city collected that, along with the rest of +its property, and expended it in other matters, and not in that for +which it was imposed. Accordingly, in this tax, as well as in the +administration of the said monopoly, there have been interests of +great importance for those who had the power in this community, as +will be evident when it is inspected and investigated. For three years +past nothing of importance has been done on the wall, although there +were many places which needed repairing and finishing, which would +be a great detriment and danger in time of war. It would likewise +be well to send a warrant to make investigations and audit accounts, +concerning both the said monopoly and the other properties of the city. + +[_In the margin_: "Let the person who is charged with the residencia +of the governor be entrusted with that of the cabildo, and see that +that is taken and an account of everything. He shall give an account +to the governor of all which results from this, and of the amount +of this impost, so that it may be converted to the use for which it +was imposed."] + +15. By an ordinance of this royal Audiencia the president and two +auditors thereof are commanded to audit, at the beginning of each +year, the accounts of the royal officials, and to finish them in +two months, with the additional amount, for expenses, of twenty-five +thousand maravedis for each auditor. In the time of the former royal +Audiencia this was done; and they named an accountant each year, +to whom they gave fifty thousand maravedis beside. Since that time, +what has happened is as follows: Governor Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, +at the beginning of the year ninety-five, without an order from +your Majesty, created an accountant-in-ordinary of accounts for this +purpose, with a salary of five hundred pesos, and a secretary with two +hundred and fifty pesos, for which they were to secure the approval +of your Majesty--which they have not done in the past. The accounts +were audited in two months--or at the most, in three. Accordingly it +is not necessary, for so small an account as we have here, to incur +a thousand pesos of expense each year to audit them. It could be done +for a hundred thousand maravedis, as was formerly done. Your Majesty +will command in this as is most fitting for the royal service. + +[_In the margin_: "Send this to the new governor, that he may examine +into and adjust the matter as appears best to him, and advise us of +what action he takes."] + +16 The office of secretary of the cabildo has been given by the +governors to whom they thought best. In this way they learn what +goes on in the cabildo, which is a great evil. It would be better to +have this sold; and accordingly, he who held it--being a proprietor, +and one who could not be removed during good behavior--would be free +to remain silent. + +[_In the margin_: "Let the governor and Audiencia investigate this."] + +17. The office of secretary of the registries has been held by the +secretaries of the governors. As a result of this, claims for justice +have been relinquished in several grievances of great importance, +to the loss both of the Chinese who come to trade here, and of the +citizens of the city. It would be well to sell this office, under +condition that he who buys it cannot be the secretary or in any wise +the servant of the governor at that time acting. As Rroque Espino de +Caceres, who is serving it at present, has begged for your Majesty's +confirmation, and is a person worthy of it, as appears from the +informations made in this royal Audiencia, in its opinion this favor +might be extended to him, as he seeks it, with the said condition, +and with that of a moderate price for the royal treasury. + +[_In the margin_: "Tell the new governor that it is not expedient that +this office should be held by a secretary or servant of the governor, +or a subordinate of the auditors and ministers of the Audiencia; +and that from worthy persons there he shall appoint three, in whom he +believes is found the necessary ability for this office, so that his +Majesty may select the one who may seem best to him. In the meantime +let him appoint as best he can, and without inconvenience."] + +18. In the island of Zubu there is a notary-public who bought the +office from your Majesty. The cabildo there have written to me that +there is need of still another, and that accordingly it might be +sold. Therefore, if your Majesty pleases, you might order another +notaryship sold in said island of Zubu. + +[_In the margin_: "Have the governor and Audiencia send an information +regarding this, and what offices have been sold in those islands, +at what price, and to what persons."] + +19. The city of Nueva Segovia, of the province of Cagayan, the chief +city of that bishopric, has no notary-public named by your Majesty, +but only one appointed by the governor, for the cases which there +arise. This is a great inconvenience, as wills and other writings +cannot be sworn to before him, from which results damage to the +citizens. It would be well, if your Majesty were so pleased, to sell +a notary-public's office there. + +20. The office of depositary-general of this city of Manila, on +account of the governors having appointed to it persons who were their +confidants, is embarrassed with some difficulties, which would cease if +the office were sold, and the royal treasury would be benefited. Your +Majesty will command whatever is most expedient for your royal service. + +[_In the margin_: "Let the governor and Audiencia inform us whether +it is well to sell the office, and who can be found for it; and, +in case that it is not well to sell it, what persons there are of +character, worth, and conscience which fit them to take the commission +for it. Let the royal officials also give information."] + +21. About four years ago the preaching of the bulls was commenced here, +and the governor appoint a treasurer for them; and it is also said that +there came a decree from your Majesty directing that the account be +audited every year by a royal official, and that the proceeds from them +be remitted. Thus far, no royal official has taken the said accounts; +and I have been informed that in sending the proceed thereof there +has not been much punctuality, and that the money has been employed in +uses and investments for certain private persons. For the correction +of all this, it would be well that from now on an auditor should +audit the said accounts of the said treasurer, and cause the balance +which is found to be placed in the royal treasury, charging it as +a separate account to the royal officials; then, in the first ships +which leave, it may be sent to Nueva Espana, invested in merchandise, +whereby it will be doubled, with no more risk than if it were taken +in coin. The latter is never taken because what has to be sent is +invested, and turned into money in Mexico, and amounts to twice as +much. The profit which can be made in this way might better be, for +so good a work as that for which the alms of the said bulls is applied. + +[_In the margin_: "Let a copy of this clause be given to Senor the +licentiate Valtodano, to be examined in the council for the crusade."] + +22. Since, even if your Majesty should be pleased to command everything +done as above, it will still be necessary to bring money from Mexico +for the costs, expenses, and salaries incurred in these islands; +and as it is not well that, in order to cover them, it should be +necessary for your Majesty to employ more property than they amount to, +it has seemed best to me to seek some other methods for this--which, +if they should appear expedient for the service of your Majesty, +and can be carried out with no scruples of conscience, will not only +render unnecessary the bringing of money from outside these islands, +but even will make it possible to aid other great expenses which your +Majesty has. The means which I have found are the following. Your +Majesty pays a stipend to all the citizens and inhabitants of the +fortified town which you hold in the island of Tidore, which is one +of the Malucas Islands. In order to make these payments, aid is sent +every year from Yndia by a galleon; and a quantity of cloth is brought +from the royal customs treasury at Goa. With this the said citizens +are all given their "quarters," as they call them. [5] This cloth is +disposed of among the natives, who trade provisions for it. + +It is a law of Yndia and of Maluco that no person can lade or take +away cloves from those islands in any manner, unless it be for your +Majesty, under penalty of loss of the ship and rigging; from which +the profit resulting to the royal exchequer amounts to a third of +what is laded, so great is the freight charge. Certain Portuguese +came to these islands in their own ships. They take away a quantity +of cloves and sell it to merchants, who in turn sell it to Chinese +and other persons, who secretly ship it to Nueva Espana--whence +it is taken to the provinces of Peru, the new realm of Granada, +Tierra Firme, Guatimala, and other regions. From this there result +three losses to the royal exchequer. In the first place, since the +cloves are carried from the Malucas by the hand of a third party, +your Majesty loses the third due on embarcation. In the second place, +it is laded here for Nueva Espana secretly, and without paying the +duties or freight charges. In the third place, when it has arrived +at Nueva Espana, Peru, and other regions, that which is brought from +the realms of Castilla loses its value. + +All this expense which your Majesty suffers in providing for that +fortress, and these losses, could be remedied as follows. Your Majesty +has in the island of Panay, one of these Filipinas, which borders on +the Malucas Islands, a number of tributary Indians who pay the larger +part of their tribute in cleaned rice. After their harvest they have +a great deal of rice wine, which is made in these islands, and these +are the provisions necessary for the Malucas. If, conformably to +what has been said, there were built on your Majesty's account two +patages in the island of Panay--such as are commonly built in the +said island by the encomenderos, to sell to the said Portuguese in +these islands, and which cost about five hundred pesos--two thousand +fanegas of cleaned rice, and six hundred jars [_tinajas_] of wine could +be loaded in them. The rice would be collected for your Majesty from +your royal tributes, at two reals and six maravedis. Each tinaja of +wine, with cask and all, is valued at four reals, on board. Likewise +two hundred pesos of fine Sangley earthenware is sufficient, which is +to be used as follows. These two patages must, while going to Maluco, +of necessity take water at the port of La Caldera, and the earthenware +is to be left in the Spanish camp which is there, so that with it they +may buy from the natives five hundred quintals of cinnamon, taking +care to dry it. In the meantime the two patages resume their voyage, +having left this earthenware, and continue with the rice and wine to +the fortress of the said Malucas. They will deliver to the warden there +half of it, to pay those expenses or quarters to the citizens. With +the other half they will buy four hundred _baxes_ of cloves, making +two thousand four hundred quintals, at six quintals to the bax; [6] +this would be brought on your Majesty's account to these islands. Then +they are obliged to go back to the said port of La Caldera, where they +will take on the cinnamon bought with the earthenware; and all will +be brought to the port of Cavite, to be embarked on the ships which +your Majesty sends on the voyage from here to Nueva Espana. When they +have arrived there, the royal officials at the port of Acapulco will +send a third of the said cloves and cinnamon to Mexico, and two-thirds +to Piru and its provinces. If sold at retail, it would be worth three +hundred pesos a quintal; going to private persons, in quantity, it is +usually worth two hundred pesos; consequently, in this way there would +be a great profit gained. I am ready to say that it would be worth +to your Majesty almost as much as all the income from the customs +of all Portuguese Yndia. For this purpose your Majesty will have +to keep a factor in the said island of Panay, to collect tributes, +despatch the ships to La Caldera and Maluco, and receive them there; +and to correspond with the royal officials in this city so that they +may embark all this spice for Nueva Espana, and with the factor who +must be at Acapulco, so that he may make the distribution. + +This transaction is so profitable that several of the governors who +have been in these islands have taken the trouble to send an armed +galley merely to make this purchase of cinnamon at the port of La +Caldera, until in the time of Doctor Santiago de Vera this trade +was abandoned. Being aware of the profit in it, Guido de Lavezaris +(who governed these islands on the death of the adelantado Miguel +Lopez de Legazpi) prohibited trading and trafficking in spices in +these islands for any person except the officials of your Majesty, +who were to receive, buy, and lade the spices for Mexico, all on the +account of your royal exchequer; this was done. In consequence of this, +he likewise forbade that any island or any province whatsoever where +there were cloves, cinnamon, or other spices should be assigned in +encomiendas. Accordingly, from that time on, the transportation of +spices by private persons to Nueva Espana was cut off. All this with +the lapse of time, and the interest of certain persons, has been +neglected, so that, it is understood, a great quantity of spice is +taken to Nueva Espana every year. + +23. The other expedient which occurs to me is that the income from silk +to the kingdom of Granada is registered as seventy-two millions, with +the condition that no twisted or loose silk can be taken to the Yndias, +which does not come from the said kingdom--although, indeed, to fill up +this quantity, there is sometimes added silk from the kingdom of Murcia +and Andalucia; but it passes through the custom-house of Granada, pays +its duties, and is sealed there. In order that there may be no fraud in +this, there is in Sevilla an administrator and a commissioned judge, +who is ordinarily one of the alcaldes of the criminal court of the +royal Audiencia. From the kingdom of China a quantity of crude silk +is brought in bundles to these islands, and is taken to Nueva Espana, +where it is woven into fabrics, and part of it is dyed. This silk +is usually worth in this city a hundred and fifty pesos, although at +present it sells at two hundred and forty pesos a pico. + +From the transportation of this silk the royal exchequer suffers +the following losses. In the first place, the silks brought from +Castilla, whether woven or loose, are worth less; and accordingly +the royal duties do not amount to so much. In the second place, +there are not so many silks brought as would come if these were +lacking. Although these pay duties, there is a loss in this, as +duties are not so great as those from Castilla pay. Crude silk is +neither necessary nor useful for ordinary maintenance or support; +and accordingly it seems best that your Majesty should, if such be +your pleasure, obviate these losses which are occurring, and obtain +satisfaction for them in some way and meet the great expenses which +you have here. Your Majesty should leave liberty, as you always have +done, for your vassals to trade in all merchandise with China in +all kinds of goods; but should have monopolized and forbidden this +trade in crude silk, commanding that no ship which comes from China +shall neglect to bring five picos of crude silk, which is a very +small quantity. They should be paid a reasonable price for it. In +this way there would be the profit which they make in bringing it +from China here, whence it is sent to Mexico; and, sold at retail, +there will be the profit on it of four hundred per cent. There come +usually from China to this city thirty ships and some years fifty, +so that the profit on this would be large; and there would remain to +the citizens of these islands a great deal of merchandise with which +to trade, without their missing these goods. There would be enough to +cover all the expenses, salaries, and other things which are necessary +in these islands, and must be paid from the royal treasury--which, with +all the money that is sent from Mexico, has not enough money to cover +all the very important expenses affecting the proper guard, protection, +and defense of these islands. This is all that occurs to me at present +to say concerning matters relating to the royal exchequer, for its +welfare. I shall continue always to watch for what is most fitting for +the royal service of your Majesty, and shall attempt to further it; +and such is always my desire. May God protect your Majesty many years, +with a greater increase of kingdoms and seigniories, according to the +needs of Christendom. In the city of Manila, which is in the island +of Luzon, the principal one of the Filipinas Islands. July 21, 1599. + +The licentiate _Hieronimo de Salazar y Salcedo_ + + + + +Sire: + +Since I have given to your Majesty an account of the affairs of +the administration of justice and of the royal exchequer of these +Philipinas Islands by two other letters which accompany this, I +will here discuss affairs of government. The thing which seems to me +most necessary to do for the good government of these islands--and +especially for correcting the great excesses which are wont to be +committed by some of the religious who have Indian missions in their +charge; and by the alcaldes-mayor, corregidors, deputies, and other +magistrates, and the encomenderos of Indian repartimientos--is that, +at least every two years, an auditor of the royal Audiencia of these +islands, commencing with the oldest of them, should make a visitation +over all the country in his jurisdiction, as is provided by the +ordinances thereof, and in the form which I wrote to your Majesty in +July of the past year, ninety-eight. Although the auditors oppose this, +it is to avoid the great labor, expense, and danger to health, by sea +and enemies, which they must undergo and pass through. Accordingly, +if your Majesty pleases, a reasonable allowance for their expenses +might be made, and soldiers given them to accompany and guard them, +with good vessels, at the expense of the royal exchequer, if the +cost should not be covered by the penalties inflicted during the +visitation. Your Majesty will be pleased to order in this what is +most expedient. + +[_In the margin_: "Write to the governor to have this visitation +carried out in the pacified country, and where there is no obstacle, +conformably to the ordinance. And have him see to it that they do +not send soldiers with the auditor, and that he does not take people +who would be oppressive to the Indians; and let him take care that +this visitation be effectual--for which purpose let him command to +be built, and furnished to the auditor, a vessel of suitable size, +to go outside of the island of Luzon, at his Majesty's expense. As +to the reimbursement which ought to be made beside what is conceded +to them by the ordinance, and the decrees of his Majesty, let him +inform us of his opinion." "Have sent a duplicate of the last decree +despatched in regard to this visitation."] + +The main object of your Majesty's royal decrees, provisions, and orders +given to your governors of these islands, is the prosperity of the +citizens thereof; for in that way they become established and settled +and the islands populated. The governors have not always attended +to this as they should, for they have regarded this, which is their +principal obligation, as accessory and dependent upon their private +interests in order that they may become rich with what the citizens +are to gain, as is already well known. And so little is the profit, +and so poor the subsistence, of those who live here, and so much is +their living interfered with by the governors, and the relatives and +dependents whom they bring with them, that, as a result, so little is +left for the citizens that they cannot in twenty years make the profit +and gain which is acquired in a few years by some of those whom the +said governors bring with them. This has often been experienced. For +the remedy of this I suggest the following things. + +The lading of the ships which go to Nueva Espana, the allotment of +space in them, and other matters touching this, should be conducted +according to, and after the manner directed by, clause five of the +letter which accompanies this, regarding matters which concern +the royal exchequer. No cloth should be laded except that which +goes according to the allotment; nor should the governor have any +authority therein, because, as the superintendents of lading are +persons appointed by him and in his confidence, with letters and +orders which he gives, much other cloth is laded after the allotment +is made. For the most part this belongs to persons who are underlings, +kinsmen, or creatures of the governor, and must necessarily occupy +space belonging to the cloth of the citizen, who is thus obliged to +give up his cargo. What I describe is the ordinary way that things go. + +[_In the margin_: "This is provided for in the same clause; and let +the governor be charged particularly with the remedy of this."] + +In the appointment of offices and means of gain, both of justice +and of war, and other offices in the country, the said governors +should observe what your Majesty has ordered in so many commands and +royal decrees--namely, that "they shall be given only to citizens; +and if he appoints to them his creatures or kinsmen, or those of +the auditors or fiscal, or of their wives, the royal Audiencia shall +check him without any reserve or hesitancy. The fiscal thereof shall +oppose him, and take all possible measures to this end." This should +be charged upon the consciences of all; and the government notary +should be ordered to put upon all commissions of offices of justice +or war, or of encomiendas of Indians, or of any other positions of +profit whatsoever, which are to be received, the reason therefor, +so that the said fiscal may know and understand whether there is any +objection to giving the said commission. If any such objection is made, +let it remain with the commission, and dispose of it by appealing +from the governor to the royal Audiencia, where the question will +be decided on examination and review. In the meantime the said title +shall not be assumed, for there are many people in these islands whom +we are bound to remunerate merely for their own services and those of +their fathers, because they are poor and needy, and what we have to +give is so little that, even if it were divided among the citizens, +many of them would have to remain unprovided for. + +[_In the margin_: "Tell the governor that in this matter he must +observe exactly what is ordered by decrees and provisions; and, +according to his instructions, shall prefer the most deserving and +those longest in the country."] + +By order of your Majesty, the viceroy of Nueva Espana appoints the +general, admiral, captains, masters, and other officers of the ships +which are despatched from here to that province with merchanise, at the +time when the said ships return thence. The persons so appointed bring +so large a quantity of money unregistered in the ships as, it may be +readily seen, they can do, with the power attached to their offices, +since they are the servants and underlings of the said viceroy; +accordingly, when they have arrived here they invest their money, +and lade the goods in the said ships, although they are prohibited +from doing so. This is another opportunity, almost equal to that of +the governors who come. That this may be used by the said citizens, it +would be fitting that the said general, admiral, masters, and officers +of the ships be appointed here, in the sessions of the Audiencia, by +vote of the president and auditors; and that those appointed should +be citizens of this city of Manila, or of some of the other towns of +these islands. The salaries which hitherto have been given to the said +general and admiral in Nueva Espana should be diminished. With the +little which is given here to those who are appointed, and from the +profits which they will make, there will result no little benefit; +since every year, in the ships which are to go, there would be five +or six men, and they would return with a profit large enough to +maintain themselves, and face the enemy. The ships would be better +administered and governed, by persons who understand that better, +through the continual practice which they have in these islands in +maritime and military affairs; for at times persons come in the said +offices who have no experience whatever in the one branch or the other, +which is ordinarily the cause of much loss. + +[_In the margin_: "Place the decree with the letters of the governor +and Audiencia."] + +The troops of war which are raised in Nueva Espana to be taken to +these islands would best be taken by the captains who levied them to +the port of Acapulco, one of the captains being commissioned for this, +with some moderate addition for expenses. In the said port they should +hand them over to the general of those ships, and the said captain +should not come to these islands. In this way would be obviated the +damage which is done by their bringing cargoes, and the cost of their +coming and returning, which are not necessary for so few troops as +come. When the troops arrive here they should be allotted among the +companies of infantry of this camp. + +[_In the margin_: "Conformably to this, let the viceroy be ordered +to do so."] + +There is great carelessness in appointing artillerymen for the said +ships, for a ship which carries one piece of artillery has had +six artillerymen appointed, whereas one ordinary gunner would be +sufficient. If your Majesty be pleased, it would be well to command +that for each piece of artillery no more than one artilleryman should +be appointed; because, besides their cost to the royal exchequer, they +are likewise a damage to this community, on account of the quantity +of money which they bring and carry back invested to Nueva Espana. + +[_In the margin_: "Have a letter written to the viceroy together with +this report, that, if this be so, it appears excessive, and he shall +correct it."] + +In the ships which come from Nueva Espana a great deal of money is +brought which is not registered. Beside not paying in Acapulco the +duties of two and a half per cent, which are due to your Majesty, +there results to this commonwealth a great deal of damage; for this +money belongs for the most part to merchants and citizens of Piru +and Mexico. Although in the sale which is made of the said ships, +when they arrive at the port of Cavite, investigation is made--as I +did this year, when I asked permission from the Audiencia to go to the +inspection of the ships which came--and although I went there, only a +very small quantity of this money was found, on account of the great +care which was taken to hide it. At times, it even belongs to the most +powerful people here; consequently those who are bringing it are very +bold, and it is necessary to inspect the vessels before they arrive +at the said port. It would be expedient for your Majesty to command +that the fiscal of the said Audiencia should always be present at +the making of this inspection, so that he can take all measures which +appear to him suitable for that purpose, and can make the inspection +before the ships arrive at the port, wherever he may wish. All the coin +or silver bullion which is seized for registry should be applied for +the royal treasury, some moderate portion being given to the person +who denounces the culprit, so that there may be persons to do this. + +[_In the margin_: "Write to the governor that it is understood that +this practice has become established, and let him try to prevent +and correct it. Let the fiscal accompany the royal officials +in the inspection of those ships, at the point which may appear +most convenient to them, and let all which is discovered without +registration, and contrary to the decree, be rigorously confiscated; +and let them give to the informer such part as may seem best to +the Audiencia."] + +At present nothing else occurs of which your Majesty should be advised +in matters concerning the government. I shall continually look out for +what is most expedient for it, and will advise you of what should be +done. May God protect your Majesty, according to His power, with a +larger increase of kingdoms and seigniories, according to the needs +of Christendom. Manila, July 21, 1599. + +The licentiate _Hieronimo de Salazar y Salzedo_ + +[_Endorsed:_ "Examined and answered."] + + + + + +Letter from the King of Borneo to Governor Tello + + +The contents of this letter, written this year, one thousand five +hundred and ninety-nine, by the king of Burney to his Highness +Don Francisco Tello, knight of the Order of Santiago, governor and +captain-general of the Philipinas Islands for the king our sovereign, +and president of the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria resident therein, +and translated by a good and exact interpreter, are as follows. + +Soltan Adil Lula: + +Letter of friendship sent by the king of Burney to Don Francisco Tello, +captain-general of the fortress of the city of Manila, because of the +information I have received that he governs that city exceedingly well, +not only for the service of God, but furnishing justice to the regions +about, with protection to the poor--whereat I have rejoiced greatly, +and all the nobles and natives of my kingdom have done the same. + +I received the letter that your Lordship sent me through Hernando, +Don Francisco Tael, and Don Joan Solit. It gave me much happiness, +for I understood thoroughly the message conveyed by it to me from +your Lordship. I am exceedingly rejoiced in heart and mind, for I +desire fast friendship with the captain-general of Manila. Therefore, +I request that, when my vassals go to Manila, you will give them +kind treatment; and I shall do the same when men from Manila come +to my country. This is in token of friendship, and if this is always +observed, I shall be very glad, and likewise if you will have pity on +the Burneys. I received two Burneys, whom the Spaniards had captured; +they arrived at my court. And, inasmuch as your Lordship orders me, +in your letter that I receive, to send any Sangleys that I might +have here to Manila, I am now sending two who were captured by the +Camutones; one is named Bonzhuan and the other Adali. I am sending +them to your Lordship as a token of lasting friendship with the +Burneys. Furthermore, I am sending five taes of camphor, of Burney +weight, and three large Burney mats. And that your Highness may not +jest at my present, know that I am sending you a [_word uncertain +in MS_.] + +The above translation was made by Constantino Xuarez and Miguel Yaat, a +native of Burney. They declared it to have been thoroughly and exactly +made, without any change of sense. They signed the same before me, +Estevan de Marquina, alcalde-mayor of Tondo and its district, for the +king our sovereign. July twenty-seven of the said year, one thousand +five hundred and ninety-nine. [7] + +_Estevan de Marquina_ + ++ + +_Constantyno Xuarez_ +[_Miguel Yaat_] + + +[_Endorsed_: "Original letter written by the king of Burney to Don +Francisco Tello, governor of the Phelippinas, translated from the +Burney tongue into Castilian."] + + + + +Letters from Francisco Tello to the King + + + +Sire: + +I have striven for your Majesty's service in this government to the +extent of my ability, and I have done my duty with much care and +diligence. I have punished certain individuals, as it seemed proper +to do; and hence it has resulted that I have rivals--as have all of +us who have governed, and are engaged in your Majesty's service in the +Indias. Although in all things I have always been favorable to Doctor +Morga--who was my lieutenant-general, and who is now auditor of this +royal Audiencia--I have been informed by many persons that he has +spoken ill of my proceedings, and has even opened the way for others +to write evil of me to your Majesty. I have never paid any attention +to this, since I felt that my actions proved my innocence; nor have I +ever thought it necessary to write to your Majesty about this matter, +although some things seemed to affect my honor; for, having been bred +in honor, I thought that in the end the truth must come to light, +and could not be obscured, [_MS. worn_] the royal service could not +be hindered here. [But now I feel] [8] myself compelled to speak of +this, because a letter was written [to] the auditor, Tellez Almacan, +in September of last year, which was a slanderous libel, without +signature; and I have another which was written this year, at the port, +to the auditor Don Antonio Maldonado, in the name of a friar. The +handwriting of it must be Doctor Morga's, although it is disguised, +[for so it was considered] by the auditor Almacan, who is writing to +your Majesty about this, as also is the fiscal of this Audiencia. I +beg your Majesty to commission whomsoever your Majesty deems best, +to investigate this matter, for it is not just that this evil act be +passed by in silence. I assure your Majesty that I have seriously +tried, and am still trying, not to be offended by their insults in +this land; and that in the Audiencia, not only have I kept, and still +maintain, great harmony, but I am also trying to harmonize the auditors +and the fiscal; for now they are not in accord, and many [of them] +have disputes and all [come to me,] and I reconcile them. In order +that your Majesty may know the manner in which I have served you, and +my method of procedure in this government, and in order that it may +be seen that [_MS. worn_] whatever may have been reported, or shall +be reported, to your Majesty in another way, I have wished to make, +before this same Doctor Morga, the report that I am sending to your +Majesty, from the most honorable people of this land, in order that +you may understand better my zeal for your Majesty's royal service, +and the good of this realm. May our Lord preserve the Catholic person +of your Majesty, as is befitting. Manila, July 14, 99. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ + +[_Endorsed:_ "Governor Don Francisco Tello, July 14. Let this be +kept until that which is mentioned here arrives, and then let it +be presented."] + + + + +Sire: + +I wrote your Majesty by the ships sailing from here to Nueva +Espana this year, about the news I had from Malaca concerning the +English ships which had come to Sunda, and had made a settlement and +fortification there; and that I was awaiting a more detailed account +of the enemy's designs from the commandant of Malaca, and everything +else relating to the subject. [9] Advices have now come from the +commandant of Maluco that two English ships had arrived there, and had +formed an alliance with Terrenate, as your Majesty will be informed +in greater detail by the copies of his letters which I enclose, and +also those of the king of Tidore and the people of that stronghold, +requesting in strong terms that I send them aid. [10] + +I then called a council of war to consider the disposition of the +affairs of these islands, and what was to be done therefor--since +affairs are in the condition which I have described to your Majesty +in other letters. As there are but few and badly-armed troops, and so +few supplies with which we could send help, it was unanimously agreed +to give no aid whatever to Maluco, but to undertake the no small task +of preserving this land. Notwithstanding, I am thinking of sending +reenforcements of supplies, powder, ammunition, and other military +supplies such as can be given, also a dozen musketeers. As that land +belongs to your Majesty, it is but just that your Majesty's servants +and vassals should make all possible efforts to aid it. I assure +your Majesty that if you are not pleased to provide this realm with a +goodly number of well-armed troops and with money from Nueva Espana, +according to the demands made by him who shall be governor--who, since +this fort is placed in his keeping, can well be entrusted with twenty +thousand pesos more, in control of the officials of your Majesty's +royal exchequer--we may find ourselves hard pressed. I fulfil my +duty by giving account thereof to your Majesty, and by defending +this land as occasion may arise therefor. In whatever I find to do, +here or elsewhere, I shall strive to serve your Majesty well; but +if on account of my little strength, I should be somewhat remiss, +I beg your Majesty to understand that I could do no more. + +At the news of the English, it was urgently necessary to aid Cebu. But +as we did not have it to send, and the presidio of La Caldera, +[11] with its eighty Spanish soldiers (who go more than a legua by +water), [12] was in danger; and since the English and Terrenatans are +confederated, they may attack the fort, and if the water is cut off +from them the Spaniards are lost--I have resolved, with the approval +of the council of war, immediately to withdraw those troops with +their artillery; and that they, after burning their fort, shall go to +Cebu. When it shall appear to me that a favorable opportunity occurs, +they can return to La Caldera, from which, according to orders, it +is necessary that punishment be inflicted on the king of Jolo for +the crimes, and the murders of Spaniards committed in this land. + +I am writing to the viceroy of Nueva Espana the information I have +received of the hostile ships; I am asking for reenforcements, [13] +and that the ships which return next year must sail very cautiously, +as perchance the enemy might be awaiting them at the mouth of the +channel, or outside of it. Moreover, he should send the duties +and freight-charges that are paid at Acapulco from the Chinese +merchandise. Your Majesty has ordered that this money be returned to +us, but it has never been done. If it were sent to this royal treasury, +this kingdom would not suffer its present necessity and danger. + +For some time past I have exercised great care and diligence in the +founding of artillery, [14] and it is being more carefully done. Four +out of five medium-sized pieces, which were being founded, have +resulted well, and I am very well pleased. The said founding is being +continued by native Indians, and I have a quantity of metals for said +work in the royal warehouses of your Majesty. May God our Lord preserve +the royal Catholic person of your Majesty. Manila, August 7, 1599. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ + + + + + +Letters from Felipe III to Tello + + + +The King: To Don Francisco Tello, my governor and captain-general of +the Filipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia therein +established. Your letter of June 23 of last year, 98, has been +received. I understand by it that quiet and peace has been restored +in Mindanao, and that you were examining the papers brought by the +master-of-camp, to see whether any of the subdued people were to be +punished or not. Keep me informed of what you shall do in that respect. + +You speak also of other insurrections among the Canbales Indians in +Panpanga, who were already pacified; and of your intention of taking to +that city [Manila] an Indian who has been the chief of those people, +in order to remove him to a location where his presence would be less +dangerous. This is well; do what is needed and keep me informed of +the proceedings. + +We have considered what you say of your caution and forethought +concerning the fears which Japan is wont to cause; also your behavior, +friendship, and correspondence with certain chiefs of that country, +whom you have entertained. It is well to continue these efforts, +and to give us notice of what takes place. + +What you say about retiring two companies is commendable; nevertheless, +if you think best in the future to increase one of them, do so, and +make the necessary provisions. Keep me informed of the measures that +you shall take. + +I am writing to the viceroy of Nueva Espana, that I have assisted you +with what is necessary, and shall ask him to see that the people whom +he sends to those islands be useful and carry weapons. He shall take +care to punish the captains for their excesses. You shall do the same +in what concerns you. + +In regard to the needs of the soldiers, which you attribute to their +not having, and the impossibility of providing them with, encomiendas +for a long time; and as it concerns the temporary employments which +you give them instead of the servants, and even these employments +are not sufficient for all--you shall observe the instructions, laws, +and ordinances which you possess. You shall see that the distribution +of what is available be made among worthy men who have served in +that land. + +As to the remedy which you propose in the marriage of elderly women, +and encomenderas of the land, you shall introduce no innovation. But +you shall enable marriages freely to take their proper course. At +Denia, August 16, 1599. + +_I The King_ + +By order of the king our sovereign: + +_Juan de Ybarra_ + + + +The King: To my governor and captain-general of the Philippinas +Islands, and the president and auditors of my royal Audiencia +thereof. I have understood that the Chinese Indians who trade in that +country bring thither each year eight hundred thousand pesos' worth +of merchandise, and often more than a million; and that in the ten +days which they spend in that country they make more than a hundred +per cent, and that in the last year, ninety-eight, it was said that +they secured two hundred per cent. Since in their own country they +pay increased duties, and since so great profit comes to them from +the merchandise which they bring to those islands, while they pay me +no more than three per cent in duties, which is the amount formerly +imposed by Governor Don Gonzalo Ronquillo, it would be just that +they should pay the said duties proportionately to the profits; +and accordingly these might be increased by at least another three +per cent. As I wish to be informed more minutely concerning what is +expedient in this matter, and whether an increase of the said duties +would or could result in any inconvenience whatsoever, and for what +reason; and, in case that there is no objection, to what extent the +duty can be increased--I command you to send a report thereof, with +your opinion. Done at Denia, on the sixteenth of August, of the year +one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine. + +_I The King_ + +Countersigned by _Juan de Ybarra_. + +Signed by the Council. + +I [the King:] to the archbishop of Manila. + +[_Endorsed:_ "To the governor and Audiencia of the Philippinas; let +them give information concerning the report that the duties can be +raised on the merchandise from China."] + + + + + +Documents of 1600 + + + + The pacification of Mindanao. [Unsigned and undated; 1600?] + Oliver van Noordt's attack on Luzon. Francisco Tello, and + others; October-December. + + + +_Source_: These documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo +general de Indias, Sevilla. + +_Translations_: The first document is translated by Robert W. Haight; +in the second, the commission to Morga is translated by James +A. Robertson; the instructions to him and to Alcega, by Jose M. and +Clara M. Asensio; the account of the battle, by Arthur B. Myrick, +of Harvard University, and James A. Robertson. + + + + +The Pacification of Mindanao + + +_Concerning the pacification of the island of Mindanao; in the +year 1600_ + +In the relation of the last year you will have learned how occurred +the death, in the pacification of the island of Mindanao, of Estevan +Rodriguez de Figueroa, who offered to carry out this pacification +under the conditions which he stipulated with Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, +formerly governor of these islands--copies of which were sent to +his Majesty, and to master-of-camp Juan de Lajara, formerly of +the said expedition, who succeeded to his place when the camp was +abandoned, and came to Manila. Don Francisco Tello, governor and +captain-general of the said Philipinas Islands, who at that time +had taken possession of the government was considering how to aid +and stimulate the said pacification at the expense of the heirs +of Estevan Rodriguez, and with the agreement of the captains and +persons who were long resident and experienced in war in the said +islands. Don Juan Ronquillo was appointed commander of the galleys, +to prosecute the said pacification; and in the meantime, in order to +be present and continue the expedition, Captain Torivio de Miranda +was sent forward to encourage and animate the troops, under orders +to keep them in his charge; and in case the post should be abandoned, +and a retreat made to Manila, he should detain the troops and return +to Mindanao. The said Captain Toribio de Miranda having arrived at +the island of La Caldera, which lies forty leagues from the river of +Mindanao, there found the whole camp, which was returning from the said +islands. Conformably to the orders which he had, he turned back and +fortified the site where they had first been, which was on the river, +four leagues from the forts of the enemy. Juan Ronquillo, having been +despatched to Mindanao, had taken the camp in his charge, and begun +to achieve some success. He achieved a victory in the battle which +he fought with the Terrenatans, who had entered with eight hundred +men to give aid to the people of Mindanao. Before these successes, +he had written a letter in disparagement of that country (a copy of +which was sent to his Majesty)--on account of which, in a council +of war which had been held, the general Don Juan Ronquillo had been +ordered to make a last effort against the Mindanaos, doing them all +possible damage. He was then to come to the island of La Caldera, and +there build a fort, to be garrisoned with a hundred Spanish soldiers, +with artillery, arms, and munitions; and leave them there as a check +upon Terrenate and Mindanao, in charge of a good soldier, one of the +captains of the camp, and with the rest return to Manila. Although +Don Juan Ronquillo received this order, after having won considerable +victories, he again wrote that he would not abandon that place, even if +such were the order, because it would not be expedient to retire from +the camp and comply with what had been ordered, when he was leaving +the island of Mindanao already pacified--the chiefs, with whom he +had used gentle means, that they might all be more contented, having +again rendered submission to his Majesty; and likewise as the king +of Jolo again rendered obedience and submission. Confiding in this, +Captain Cristoval Villagra, whom Don Juan Ronquillo had appointed +commander of the garrison of La Caldera, had sent thirty soldiers to +the island of Jolo for supplies. They found at this time in Jolo a +Mindanao chief--an uncle of the king of Mindanao, and a brother-in-law +of the king of Jolo--who had been driven out of Mindanao because he was +rebellious. He treacherously killed thirteen Spanish soldiers. When +news of this was brought, Juan Pacho was sent to take the troops of +La Caldera in charge; and, when it should seem best to him, to try to +inflict punishment on the king of Jolo. Having gone out to inflict the +said punishment with six hundred Spaniards, the enemy unfortunately +killed the said Juan Pacho and twenty-nine Spaniards, the rest of them +retiring without any success. This news having come to the governor, +he sent in place of Juan Pacho Captain Toribio de Miranda, a person +in whom he had entire confidence, with an order not to attempt any +punishment until he had force enough for it. After this Captain Toribio +de Miranda arrived at La Caldera on the twenty-sixth of August in +ninety-nine. When the garrison was given into his charge he put the +defensive works in order; and with the arms which he brought, and +those which he found in the fort, he armed all the troops, amounting +to a hundred and fourteen soldiers. As directed by an order of the +governor, he sent a chief of the Pintados to Mindanao with letters to +the chiefs of the island, in which he informed them that they would be +protected, favored, and upheld in justice, as vassals of his Majesty, +and that with this object a garrison had been placed in La Caldera; +and that to aid in maintaining it, and in covering the expenses +which they had caused in the war by their disobedience, the largest +possible quantity of tributes would be collected for his Majesty, and +that he would send for them shortly--which had not been done earlier +because the Mindanaos had been so spent and afflicted. Having arrived +on the second of September at the river of Mindanao, and delivered +his despatch, this chief was well received, and found the people +in the settled state in which General Don Juan Ronquillo had left +them. Adiamora, the main chief of Mindanao, in the name of them all, +sent him back on the fifteenth of the said month, offering to give +to his Majesty all the tribute which they could collect. + +At this time--news from the chief captain of Malaca having reached +the governor, to the effect that in the Sunda, [15] a hundred and +fifty leagues from that port, there had been seen a number of English +ships, whose designs were not known; and, a little later, word from +the commander of the fort of Maluco that there were at Terrenate, +within the port, two English ships with four hundred men and fifty +pieces of artillery--a council of war was held as to what was best to +do. The said council decided to withdraw the garrison from La Caldera +to Zibu, so that the enemy should not take that place; and, if they +should attempt to do damage to that province, they would find it in a +state of defense. Accordingly an order was sent to Captain Toribio de +Miranda to withdraw with the troops, arms, artillery, and munitions, +dismantling the fort; he was also told that he could return shortly +to the island with more troops and arms, in order to assist in its +defense. On the ninth of September Captain Toribio de Miranda arrived +at Zibu, with all the troops, artillery, arms, and munitions; and at +the same time General Don Juan Tello arrived at Zibu with a hundred +men, who came as reenforcement from the city of Manila. Having spent +six months there and commenced to build a fort of stone, the governor, +as they had no more news of the English referred to, sent an order to +the said Don Juan to come to the city of Manila--which he did with the +hundred men, leaving the province of Zibu in a prosperous condition, +with the troops which are usually kept there, and those of the garrison +of La Caldera, which in all amount to two hundred and fifty Spaniards. + +After all this, in June of 1600 the governor received news, by way +of Malaca, that the ships which had passed to the South Sea belonged +to Dutch merchants, who had come to load with spices in the Maluco +Islands. Having transacted their business, they had returned to their +own country by way of Yndia, without doing any damage to the islands +of the west; it therefore seems that we are safe, notwithstanding +the news received of those enemies. + + + + + +Oliver van Noordt's Attack on Luzon + + + +_Commission to Antonio de Morga_ + +In the city of Manila, on the thirty-first of October of the year +one thousand six hundred, the president and auditors of the royal +Audiencia and Chancilleria of the Philipinas Islands having assembled, +the president announced to the said auditors that news had been +received that, on the sixteenth of the current month and year, two +foreign ships had anchored in the bay of Albay, outside the mouth +of the channel of these islands; whereupon he sent by land Captains +Pedro de Arceo, Cobarrubias, and Christoval de Axqueta with seventy +soldiers--arquebusiers and musketeers--to the place where said ships +were stationed, in order to make the defense and resistance that +occasion and opportunity might offer. He also ordered several ships +to be equipped and prepared at the port of Cavite, so that they could +attack the said vessels. At this juncture of affairs, it was now +reported that, on the twenty-fourth of the current month and year, +the said ships had weighed anchor, left the said bay of Albay, entered +the channel of Capul, and anchored at the island of Capul, where +they still were. The enemy's intention, according to the president, +is to advance upon this city. Accordingly, whatever may happen, +both in order to resist him, and to prevent among these islands the +possible effects to them and the vessels about to come from Castilla, +it is very advisable and necessary to go, with all haste, in pursuit +of said enemy, and to assure the safety of the vessels and the port +of Cavite. As has been gathered from recent discussions held in the +presence of the said president and auditors, with certain captains and +men of experience, it is necessary to equip the deep-draught vessels +quickly, and what light vessels can be prepared, so that they may +attack the enemy. Now in order that the aforesaid preparations may +be effected and executed with all diligence and precision by all, it +is advisable for the said president and auditors--the latter acting +jointly with the said president--to attend personally to this matter, +on account of its importance; for thus will the despatch be effected +more quickly, and with the necessary equipment. The president requested +that, attentive to the aforesaid, they decide and determine the +course advisable to pursue in this matter. After having considered +the above proposition, the said president and auditors resolved +that Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor of this Audiencia, should go +immediately to the port of Cavite and take charge of the despatch +and preparation of the vessels about to go to attack the said enemy, +and to place the said port in a state of defense. For this purpose +he shall request the necessary means, which shall be given him as +may be provided and ordained. The licentiate Tellez Almazan, also +an auditor of this Audiencia, shall remain in this city to attend to +what is necessary for its defense, and for the provision of the said +port of Cavite. The president declares that the commandant at either +place shall also assist and aid in such work as may be necessary, and +as occasion may demand, so that by this means all possible diligence, +together with the requisite haste, may be observed. + +_Don Francisco Tello_ +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_ + +Before me: _Pedro Hurtado de Esquivel_ + +In the city of Manila, on the thirteenth of January in the year +one thousand six hundred and one, I, Pedro Hurtado de Esquivel, +clerk of court for the king our sovereign, in his royal Audiencia and +Chancilleria of these Philipinas Islands, at the request and order of +Doctor Antonio de Morga, of the council of the king our sovereign, +and his auditor in this said royal Audiencia, had this copy drawn +from its original, which is in the book of the government of his +royal Audiencia. It is a true and faithful copy, and agrees with the +original thereof, witnesses to its copying, correction, and comparison, +being Pedro Munoz de Herrera, Joan de Arana, and Miguel de Talledo, +citizens of Manila. + +In testimony thereof, I affix my seal, in witness of the truth. + +_Pedro Hurtado Desquivel_, clerk of court. + +[_Endorsed_: "Testimony of the resolution of the Audiencia of the +Filipinas in respect to the entrance of the Dutch corsair among +the islands."] + +_Instructions given by the governor to Doctor Antonio de Morga_ + +The course of action to be pursued by Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor +of the royal Audiencia of these Filipinas Islands, and captain-general +of the fleet about to go in pursuit of the English [_sic_] enemy, +is as follows. + +First: Inasmuch as news has been received that the English enemy, +against whom this expedition is directed, is stationed in the harbor of +Marayuma, and inasmuch as he might take flight without awaiting attack, +should he, by any chance, hear of our fleet, it is ordered that our +fleet, with the least possible delay, shall start in pursuit of the +enemy, in order to engage and fight him, until, with our Lord's help, +he is killed or sunk. + +_Item_: The engagement with the enemy must be conducted with +all diligence and care, whether in firing or in boarding his +ships--whichever may be possible, in accordance with the best and +readiest opportunity permitted by the weather. Should the enemy take +flight on sighting our fleet, he must be pursued, until the object +sought is accomplished. + +_Item_: Should the enemy have left this coast when the fleet is +despatched against him, and should information be received that he +has gone to any other of these islands, then the fleet shall seek and +pursue him, until he is captured or sunk. Should the enemy have left +these islands, he shall be pursued as far as possible, in accordance +with his [Morga's] judgment, in order that the end desired may be +attained. + +_Item_: Inasmuch as the master-of-camp and the captains present at a +council of war, held on the second of this current month and year, +declared that, in their opinion, if no exact information as to the +course and route taken by the enemy should be received, said fleet +should follow the coast of Ilocos toward the strait of Zincapura, where +it is thought the enemy must pass, in order to make his voyage. Yet, +notwithstanding the said council of war, the said general, in the event +of receiving no information as to the enemy's course, shall pursue what +course he considers most advisable, as he is the one in direct charge +of the matter, and as weather and occasion allow, endeavoring to attain +the end desired--namely, the pursuit and destruction of the enemy. + +_Item_: Should the fleet encounter any enemies whatsoever, pirates +or others, who may be among the islands, or who shall have left +them after committing depredations among them--whether English or +Japanese, Terrenatans or Mindanaos, or from any other nation--they +must be attacked and punished, in order that some good result may be +attained in this case also, should opportunity arise. + +_Item_: After the capture of the enemy, as it is hoped, God our Lord +willing, the fleet will return with as many of the enemy as are still +living, and the captured ships. + +_Item_: The booty found in said ships shall be divided among those +who gain the victory, as is customary on similar occasions. + +_Item_: The greatest care must be taken that the crews of the fleet +are peaceable and well disciplined, in regard to which the regulations +followed on similar occasions shall be applied. + +_Item_: Good management must be exercised in regard to the supplies +and ammunition carried; and they must be consumed sparingly, especially +if the fleet leaves these islands. + +_Item_: If perchance the fleet shall have engaged the enemy, or +pursued him outside these islands, it must return to the islands as +soon as possible after the desired end has been attained. Should +the weather not permit the return voyage until the coming of the +monsoon, then he [Morga] shall endeavor to preserve, provide, and +equip the fleet with all needful things, at his Majesty's expense, +in order that his voyage may be made with the greatest promptness +and security possible. Given in the city of Manila, on the tenth of +December, one thousand six hundred. [16] + +_Don Francisco Tello_ + +By order of the governor and captain-general, + +_Gaspar de Azevo_ + + + +_Instructions given by Doctor Antonio de Morga to Captain Joan +de Alcega_ + +The order to be pursued by Captain Joan de Alcega, admiral of this +fleet of the king our sovereign, in the course of this voyage and +expedition, is as follows. + +[1.] First: Inasmuch as the end for which this fleet has been prepared +is for the search and pursuit of the English [_sic_] ships, which +have come but lately among these islands, and, as we are informed, +are near this place; and as in conformity with the instructions of the +governor and captain-general of these islands, the said enemy must +be pursued and followed with all care and diligence wherever found, +and must be engaged, and captured or sunk: therefore it is necessary +that the said almiranta [17] proceed very cautiously, and be ready +with sailors, soldiers, and artillery, in order, on their part, +to accomplish the said purpose, when opportunity offers. + +[2.] Further, the said almiranta shall follow the flagship to leeward, +unless it be rendered necessary for progress, or because of the +enemy, to beat to windward. It shall have a care that the other +smaller vessels of the fleet do not fall behind or deviate from the +course--this to be without prejudice to their navigation and voyage, +and their accompanying the flagship, which is the most important thing. + +[3.] _Item_: Should opportunity be offered to engage the enemy, +the almiranta shall endeavor to engage him at the same moment as +the flagship or alone, in case that flagship is to leeward, or so +situated that it cannot do the same so quickly; for the flagship will +endeavor to come to its aid in whatever happens, with all haste and +speed possible. + +4. _Item_: Upon overtaking the two ships of the enemy, efforts shall +be made to grapple and board their flagship, where their force is +carried. This same effort shall be made by the flagship of this fleet; +but in case the flagship of the enemy cannot be overtaken, and their +almiranta is in such a condition that something may be done with it, +it shall be attempted. + +5. _Item_: Should our fleet attack the enemy and grapple, both +ships--the almiranta and the flagship--shall endeavor to grapple on the +same side. But if that cannot be done, care shall be taken that our +artillery and arquebuses are not turned on our own ships and men. In +this the greatest possible care and precaution shall be observed. + +6. _Item_: Upon grappling the enemy, efforts shall be made to make +him fast to our ship and to lower his sails, so that he may not +become separated from us. Before boarding with troops, the nettings +and deck of the enemy shall be rendered safe by clearing and raking +them, in order that there may be as little risk as possible to our men. + +7. In the course of this voyage in pursuit of the enemy, not a musket +or arquebus shall be fired, nor a powder-box touched, until after +his discovery. Neither shall any artillery be fired, for an effort +must be made to find the enemy at anchor, and to see that he have no +knowledge of the fleet that is pursuing him. + +8. Should the almiranta be in any urgent need that requires aid, +a shot shall be fired in the direction of the flagship, as a signal +for help. The same will be done by the flagship in case it encounters +a like necessity. + +9. _Item_: Should the flagship display a flag in the shrouds, it will +be a signal-call for a council of war, or other matters of importance, +for which the admiral shall come to the flagship in whatever boat +may be most convenient. + +10. _Item_: One of the two caracoas that accompany the fleet shall +keep as close to the almiranta as possible, in order to act as tender +to it and supply its necessities. + +11. _Item_: The greatest possible care and caution shall be taken +in the use of the ammunition and supplies, in order that this voyage +may be prolonged. + +12. _Item_: All these vessels must endeavor to keep together. But if +one of the vessels should become separated from the others, by storm +or by any other necessity, no direction for the exact route to be +followed is given, as the design or course of the enemy is unknown. It +is observed only that all the vessels are under obligation to seek for +and pursue the enemy until they shall drive him, if nothing more shall +be possible, from these islands, and leave the islands safe and free +from the said enemy. But the best thing for the ship to do that becomes +separated, as said above, will be to find out the course taken by the +enemy, and to pursue that same course until it shall rejoin the fleet. + +13. _Item_: Inasmuch as the governor and captain-general of these +islands has given Captain Joan Tello y Aguirre, who is aboard the +said almiranta, command as captain of infantry of what men I may +assign him, I do hereby assign to him the infantry troops aboard said +ship for the time that said expedition shall endure and last. The +said admiral shall deliver these men to said Captain Joan Tello y +Aguirre, in order that, as their captain, he may have charge of them, +and punish and discipline them. + +All the above plan must be kept and observed now and henceforth +throughout the course of this voyage. I give these instructions +to the said admiral and other persons whom they may concern, in +conformity with the command that I hold from the said governor and +captain-general of these islands. In testimony thereof, I affixed my +signature aboard the flagship, off the island of Mariveles, Wednesday, +December thirteen, one thousand six hundred. [18] + +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ + + + + + +_Account of the battle between Morga and Van Noordt_ + + +The license and daring of these heretical enemies of our holy +religion and faith are so well known to all, that no one can relate +satisfactorily the misfortunes that they have brought upon us, +the destructions and deaths that they have caused among us, and the +rich booty that they have carried away--which God in His righteous +judgment permitted. As they behold themselves so favored by fortune, +their greed is increasing continually, and they are continuing to +prosecute their designs, as was the case when Francisco Draque [19] +passed the Strait of Magellan and coasted along Chile and Piru, where +he seized the vessel "San Joan" of Anzona, with a large consignment +of silver, in the year 1579. Again in the year 1587, they passed the +straits under the English general Don Tomas Canbler. [20] Within sight +of the Californias they seized and sacked the vessel "Sanctana," which +was sailing from these islands to Nueva Espana with a large cargo of +silk and gold. Having easily made this seizure, they returned home, +displaying innumerable banners, streamers, and pennons; and it is +even affirmed that their sails were of damask. Their countrymen, +upon seeing them return so rich and prosperous in so short a time, +were so enthusiastic as to launch a similar undertaking. Among those +who resolved to make a voyage to these parts was Oliver Daudtnord [21] +a native of Nostradama [Amsterdam], one of the islands of Olanda and +Xelanda [Holland and Zeeland]. Being persuaded and informed by the +boatswain who sailed on the vessel that seized the ship "Sanctana"--to +whom he gave title as captain and chief pilot--and being attracted +to privateering, he asked permission of Mauricio, count of Nasao, +and prince of Orange, [22] in whose dominions the above islands are +located, to equip four ships. He received permission, whereupon he +collected as many men and as much of supplies and artillery as he +deemed necessary. He placed forty of the total of two hundred and +sixty men aboard two of the ships, which sailed from the port of +Nostradama--while the other two sailed from the port of Rrotadama +[Rotterdam]--on the eleventh or twelfth of August, in the year +1598. They laid their course toward the straits of Magellanes; and +while skirting the coast of Brasil, the Portuguese there hoisted a +flag of peace. This being seen by the English and Irish, twelve of +them went ashore in the shallop, where the Portuguese, who numbered +perhaps ten or twelve, received them with pleasant countenances, and +invited them to dine. But while at dinner the Portuguese murdered all +the Irishmen, among them the chief pilot, upon whom the others relied +because of his familiarity with the said course and voyage. Thereupon +the enemy, furious at the manner in which they had been treated, +landed forty or fifty arquebusiers in order to avenge the injury that +they had received. The Portuguese, in anticipation of this, intrenched +themselves very strongly, so that the enemy was unable to enter their +fort, but was, on the contrary, forced to retire to his boats with a +loss of six men. They set sail and laid their course for the strait +[of Magellan], where they arrived a year and seven months from the +time when they sailed from their own country. When they arrived +there they encountered many storms and head-winds, and sickness +to such an extent that they were obliged to transfer the men still +remaining on one ship to the other three. Then they sunk this vessel, +and with the three vessels pursued their course, followed continually +by storms which never left them. They sighted a vessel, which upon +investigation turned out to be English. By it they were informed +that another squadron of four vessels had sailed from Yngalaterra +[England], and that this vessel, being unable to carry so much sail +as the others, had been left to its fate, and knew naught more of +the others. The Dutch ships continued their course and sailed ahead, +so that within a few days they lost sight of this vessel. They passed +through the strait, where they lost four or five months. After this it +happened that the general fell out with his admiral, whom he charged +with negligence of his orders. The admiral was tried, the charges +sustained, and traitorous misdeeds proved against him; therefore +he was abandoned on a desert island near the coast of Chile. [23] +Then the general appointed as admiral one of the most valiant and +experienced soldiers of his band. He reached the coast of Chile, +where he made a few captures, although of no especial importance. The +first was a fragata, [24] which was seized near the island of Sancta +Maria Domingo de Rramos in the year 1600. They were informed by this +vessel that two ships had gone to Arica for the king's silver; but +they were warned that there were war-vessels at Callao. This fragata, +they say, was carrying three consignments of gold; but our men, upon +seeing that they were lost, threw it overboard. The enemy seized the +pilot, who was a Portuguese, and took the fragata along with them, +together with two negroes who were aboard of her. The latter told +them that the pilot had had all the gold thrown overboard, whereupon +they ordered the pilot to be cast into the sea alive. They captured +at Santiago on the same coast another vessel laden with tallow and +Cordovan leather [morocco]. Considering that it was worth little to +them, they burned it, and its crew escaped by swimming, except a few +Spaniards and natives who perished in the water. The enemy seeing +that they were acquiring small profit in that neighborhood, decided +to go up along the coast of Nueva Espana, and wait at the entrance of +the Californias for the annual vessels from these islands--the very +purpose and object for which they had resolved upon their navigation, +as is evident from the aforesaid. However they abandoned that purpose, +upon being told by the negroes whom they had brought with them that +Don Luis de Velazco, viceroy of Piru, had left Lima in person for +the port of Callao to superintend the preparation of a large fleet, +as he had been informed that pirates had passed and were along the +coast. The enemy, fearful of this, and recalling the fact that, +five years previously, Arricharse de Aquines, [25] an Englishman, +was defeated and captured by our men, after the greater part of his +force was killed, decided to abandon their voyage to the Californias, +and to head for these islands, with the intention of awaiting at the +Ladrones the shipments of silver from Nueva Espana to Manila. With +the said intent, they put to sea, but after sailing for several days, +they encountered a storm, which brought them all nearly to the verge +of destruction. One very dark and stormy night they lost sight of +the almiranta, and never saw it again. Seeing himself without this +vessel, the general chose as almiranta the fly-boat which he had +remaining. This was a vessel of perhaps fifty toneladas burden, called +"La Concordia," under command of a captain called Esias Delende. Then +they resumed their course, with the same intention of capturing our +silver, but, if unable to do more, to proceed to Maluco to barter for +cloves, for which purpose they carried mirrors, knives, basins, and +other small wares. They reached the Ladrones Islands--our Lord thus +permitting--four or five days after our vessels had passed. They +were detained there for several days, where, upon seeing their +plans frustrated, they burned the fragata that they had brought +from Piru. Thereupon they set sail and made the principal channel +of these islands, eighty or ninety leguas from this city of Manila, +where they stopped--either for iron, or, as our people here said, +because of a need of provisions; or, as I believe, and as they +themselves asserted, purposely. In short, instead of going by way of +Capul, the right and necessary path for the voyage they were making, +they entered a small bay called Albay, on the Camarines coast, where +they anchored as if they were in their own harbors, and with as little +fear and mistrust, as was clearly seen later on. They were hospitably +received in this district, for our people supplied them with abundance +of rice, with which to satisfy their need. They paid well for it, +in order to relieve their necessity--they could not, had they wished, +pay for more--for the purpose of assuring the natives that they had +not come to harm them. They told the natives that they were vassals +of the king Don Phelipe, our sovereign, in whose service and by whose +permission they were coming. As is proved by those selfsame papers, +the general showed the natives some counterfeit decrees, with which +they ought to be satisfied. A messenger was sent to Manila to give +information of the vessels that had arrived there. The news reached +here on the nineteenth of October, when Captain Xiron reported that he +was in the Camarines, and that he had boarded the general's ship, which +was coming well-supplied with munitions, arms, and artillery. He gave +information also concerning the number of men who, in his opinion, +were carried by the two vessels--about ninety men, of whom some +were sick; and of his dealings with them, and that they claimed to +be vassals of the king our sovereign. As soon as news of the enemy +reached this city, Don Francisco Tello, governor of these islands, +sent soldiers as scouts along the Camarines coast, with orders to +hide all the provisions, as he was unaware of the generous supply +that the enemy had. It is quite true, as the English themselves said, +that they could have had as much as they wanted, by paying for it. + +Captain Pedro de Arseo and Captain Christobal de Arseo Etaminchaca, +both of the infantry, were also ordered to go with a command of men +along the coast to form ambushes, should the enemy land. But this +was all to no purpose, for the enemy, in little more than a month, +came out of the bay and sailed away on one course or another--which +seemed quite impossible to the people here, because they were confident +that the enemy could not get out of the bay in which they lay. But it +finally turned out quite to the contrary; for, as I say, they departed +and laid their course to Capul, until they cast anchor in a harbor, +where they are said to have cleaned the ships and sent men ashore to +burn a small native village. One of the English was left behind there +among the Indians, who seized and brought him to this city. They took +his deposition, in which he told some of the things related above. + +Toward the last of November, one of the negroes, named Salvador, +who had escaped by swimming one night near Capul, arrived here. He +reported that the enemy were directing their course toward Maluco, +and that meanwhile they were trying to discover if there were any +plunder among these islands. He said that the capture of the enemy +would be greatly facilitated by attacking them with a fleet; and +his advice was not bad. All this time the enemy were coming nearer, +until they anchored in the port of El Frayle, near Mariveles, where +they lay very much at ease and without any fear, watching for the +vessels coming to this city. They captured a fragata, which they +sank. They took a quantity of flour from a Japanese vessel that was +on its way here. In order to quiet the Japanese, they gave them a +sword, and a few trinkets of no particular value. They captured a +Chinese champan, by which they were informed that the Chinese vessels +would arrive within a few months, laden with silks and merchandise of +great value. This news pleased the enemy so highly that they did not +propose to leave until they should seize some of the Chinese. From +this place they wrote a letter to Don Francisco Tello, in which they +declared that the Indians there had stolen a number of fowls from +them, that his Lordship should order the Indians to make them good, +and that they were coming to pay their respects to him. It may be +seen by this how little they feared the governor. + +While these things were taking place, the governor had three ships +fitted out--one from the city of Cebu, to act as flagship; another, +a galizabra, still in the shipyard--which was launched a few days +before the departure--called "San Bartolome," to act as almiranta; and +a Portuguese patache [26] which had come from Malaca--with artillery, +men, and munitions sufficient to overbalance the greater strength of +the enemy. Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor of this royal Audiencia, +was appointed captain-general of this fleet, an appointment which +highly displeased the old captains, because in their opinion they +should have been considered. They thought it unjust that the auditors +should take part in the affair, especially because it left only +one auditor in the Audiencia. In the end, however, neither these +nor other reasons sufficed to prevent his appointment. The general +appointed as admiral Captain Joan de Alzega, a very courageous soldier, +of considerable reputation and credit, a Biscayan by birth. Many noble +and wealthy people assisted in serving his Majesty in this expedition, +in all about three hundred men, counting the paid soldiers, the seamen, +and others. They embarked very gallantly, with the resolution and +intention of attempting not only that undertaking, but another of +greater weight and difficulty. + +The general was impatient for the fleet to depart, and accordingly set +sail on Tuesday, the twelfth of December. The flagship and almiranta +left, without waiting for the Portuguese vessel, or allotting it +sufficient crew or munitions, taking advantage of a tide which was +discovered at the time of their departure, which was favorable to +them. Accordingly they began their voyage. As they left the bay, +beyond the river of Canas, three leguas from the harbor, the shallop +which was carried on the stern of the almiranta went to the bottom, +and drowned two seamen who were in it. They continued their voyage, +and that night cast anchor at Mariveles, where they lay the rest of +the night. In the morning they were informed by the alferez Albarran, +who was stationed on that island as sentinel, that the enemy were +anchored at Azebu, five or six leagues from there. Upon receiving +this news, on that same day (St. Lucy's) our men began to spread the +_pavesades_, [27] and ballasted the flagship a trifle more. They were +all in the highest of spirits, and so eager were they to come to close +quarters with the enemy, that every hour's delay seemed a hundred +years to them. At midnight, or a little later, on St. Lucy's day, +the flagship weighed anchor without notifying its almiranta. The +latter, seeing the flagship make sail, followed. Without waiting +for the small Portuguese vessel, they followed the course of the +enemy, and at dawn the next day, which was the fourteenth of the +said month, they discovered them. They investigated and ascertained +beyond all doubt that it was the enemy. Their only fear was lest the +latter might escape from them. Our men thought that if but once the +enemy were grappled, they could overcome ten vessels. However, in a +little while they were made to see the difference between fighting +in imagination and actually using their hands in real earnest. In +short, as above stated, our flagship was leading the advance; and +when the enemy saw it, he ordered his almiranta to weigh anchor and +reconnoiter. The order was obeyed, and although the almiranta put out +to sea but a little distance, it recognized them as armed vessels, +which was reported to the general. The latter ordered the almiranta to +keep a sharp lookout and to run close-hauled; and, if it was apparent +that the two vessels were approaching to attack them, to return to +his assistance. But his intent was to see if he could not in any way +separate their force, because he said that, ship for ship, his force +was the abler. Since our flagship was drawing nearer and outstripping +the almiranta, it was overtaking the enemy, who put to sea with his +flagship and waited close-hauled. He fired a shot, which carried +away part of the tops and the main halyard on our flagship. Ours +returned the fire, but struck the water. When they almost touched +our ship, the enemy fired another shot, which destroyed a pump and +killed two or three Indians. Thereupon our men crowded on all sail, +and attacked with the greatest determination that was ever seen--for, +as they say, they were going with all sails set. Our ship grappled with +its opponent, so that our men could board easily. With the vessels in +this condition, shots were fired on both sides. About twelve of our +men leaped aboard the enemy's ship. The enemy retreated to the bow, +where they intrenched themselves, and made loopholes, through which +they fired their muskets--although, being fearful lest our almiranta +should come up to grapple with them, they did but little damage, +before they were compelled to strike their own colors and hoist +ours in their place. At this moment our almiranta came up with the +intention of boarding on the other side. Thereupon our men who were +aboard the enemy's ship cried out: "Victory! victory! for the king +of Espana! Pass on ahead! Do not fire and kill us, for the ship has +surrendered already." However, the admiral, Joan de Alezega, caused two +pieces to be fired and a discharge of his musketry and arquebuses upon +the enemy. It is understood that with one piece of this broadside, +he did the enemy considerable injury, as was proved. As soon as +the admiral understood that our men were advising him to pass on, +and that the enemy's almiranta was fleeing under a press of canvas, +he bore away in pursuit of it. + +The enemy's flagship, seeing that our almiranta had departed, began +to serve their artillery more rapidly, and their musketry from the +bow, so that they inflicted considerable loss upon those of our men +who boarded their ship with only shields on their arms, and their +swords. In this way they would have defeated the enemy if they +had attacked with fifty men in a body. Instead of taking such good +counsel, they boarded in parties of threes, while the enemy continued +to wound and kill them. Even this lack of system and concord did not +stop here, but it is understood that the enemy pierced our flagship +with a ball at the water-line. Our men, flushed with the exultation +of the victory they had won at first, and confused by much shouting, +did not hasten to repair the damage; for they were people who did +not like to be ordered, and their general could do nothing with them, +as they were all captains and men of distinction. On account of this, +and as the ship was so occupied by the sailors' berths, they could not, +or did not, notice the shot which our ship received. When they did +perceive it by the rising of the water to the second deck, they all +became frightened; and, instead of boarding the enemy's ship, with +the thought that if they were losing a ship, they were gaining one, +they began to devise means of escape. Accordingly some leaped into +the enemy's small boat without orders from the general, whereby a few +escaped, while others had recourse to our own small boat. Thus eight or +ten of them contrived to escape, without waiting for anything else. A +little before this, they addressed the general, Antonio de Morga, +saying: "Escape, your Grace, for the ship is sinking." He answered +that it was not suitable to his reputation to leave his ship and not +die with all the others, from which answer it was understood that, +in case the ship went down, he was confident of his own strength and +dexterity. The rest of our men--it may be seen what sort of men they +were--seeing that the vessel was settling little by little, and that +the enemy did not cease to serve their guns, huddled together in fright +as they saw their ship filling with water--a state of affairs which +would make others undertake not only the exploit of boarding the ship +and mastering it, but even more difficult enterprises. In short, by the +just judgments of God, which our sinful countrymen so well deserved, +He disturbed their minds and deserted them, so that they would make no +effort, excepting a few--of whom I shall make particular mention below, +because they deserve it. There was one who, in order that he might +take them with him, ordered a gold chain and other jewels brought +to him. Seeing things in this condition and the danger so evident, +a father of the Society, by name Father Santiago, took a crucifix +in his hands, and commenced to call out to the Christian Spaniards: +"Where is that courage of yours? See, this is the cause of God! Die, +die like good soldiers of Jesus Christ! If you do not care to be food +for fishes, consider that the lesser of the two evils which threaten +us is to board that ship of the enemy, for if we are losing one ship, +we are gaining another." After this exhortation, several men hastened +to board their enemy's ship. Those who did not do it were prevented +by two reasons: first, because they saw a fire breaking out on the +enemy's ship, caused by some charges of powder which they set off +purposely to terrify our men, and make them believe that they were +about to blow up the ship; the second, because our pilot told them +that, although the ship was so full of water up to the second deck, +all hands could be saved even if the ship were lost, as the distance +from there to the island of Fortuna was little more than one-half +legua, and, if they would cast loose from the enemy and crowd on sail, +their purpose would be just as well effected. The idea of escaping with +their lives seemed very attractive to all, and accordingly this plan +was immediately put into execution. They began to cut the cables and +to cast loose from the enemy. In a few moments our ship started off +in such a way that they saw the dead bodies of drowned men floating +about between decks. The general, upon seeing this, began to strip +off his clothing, at the persuasion of a private servant of his named +Josepe Denaveda, who gave him a mattress of [_MS. worn_] on which the +two naked men threw themselves into the sea. Many others did likewise, +though only a few reached shore. Our ship gave a lurch and foundered, +carrying down with it all those whom fear of their inability to swim +prevented from taking to the water--some of whom were armed--so that +the majority of the men were carried down with the ship. Many who were +very good swimmers were dragged to the bottom by the force of the +suction. All our men who were still on the surface tried by all the +means in their power to save their lives. It was the unhappy fate of +some of them to reach the enemy's ship itself where those heretics +hastened to receive them with pikes, and speared them with great +cruelty. Among those they wounded Captain Gomez de Molina with a lance; +however he continued to swim thus wounded, until he reached the shore, +where he died from loss of blood, at the water's edge. In this way +many died, and those who escaped took shelter on the island of Fortuna, +eighteen leguas from the city, until some vessels might pass by. + +At this moment the small Portuguese ship, seeing the outcome, laid +its course to Malaca, because it had arrived only at that moment. Our +ship had grappled with the enemy for six hours, from eight in the +morning until two in the afternoon, when the former foundered. + +Admiral Joan de Alcaga, who was chasing the enemy's almiranta, overtook +it, and after he had fired two or three volleys of his artillery, +musketry, and arquebuses, he grappled it on its stern-quarter on the +starboard side. Our men immediately boarded the enemy, the said admiral +being among the first. The enemy defended themselves well, serving +their artillery and thrice setting a fire purposely with some powder +cartridges, but our men hastened to put out the fire with buckets +of water. The enemy seeing the strength of their assailants and how +unfortunately the action was turning out, because the best of them +were killed, honorably surrendered. Admiral Joan de Alcaga agreed, +and so they were captured with nineteen men alive. On our side only +one man was killed by a gun-shot, one Joan Baptista de Mondragon, +a nephew of the precentor in the cathedral at Manila. Another from +the Canarias was drowned while trying to jump from one ship to the +other. Some were seriously wounded; the captain and master of our +almiranta, Joan Lopez de Serra, was shot through the thigh, and a +certain Calderon was shot through one side of his shoulder and part +of his arm. There were others wounded, but none seriously. Some booty +was found on the vessel, two pipes of oil and two of wine, a number +of basins, candlesticks, and brass mortars, iron in plates and bars, +and some other small wares of little value. They captured twelve pieces +of artillery--eight heavy and excellent pieces of cast iron, and four +small ones. Among other things captured, was found a small iron coffer +which was kept in the after-cabin, and in which the admiral carried the +papers and commissions which the prince of Orange had given him when +he appointed him captain of that ship. One was in his own tongue and +the other in ours, which is the one copied at the end of this relation. + +One or two charts were found, which they brought for Piru; these the +holy Inquisition has in its possession. Then Admiral Joan de Alcega +ordered a few sailors to be transferred to the ship surrendered by +the enemy, and set them to making repairs in order to take it into +Manila; for its main mast and rigging were lost, and our men in +boarding left nothing standing by which they could navigate. They +took it to an island near by, called Luban, While there, our men +sighted a dismantled ship which seemed to be coming toward them, +which they took to be the enemy's flagship, which was already ours, +and that it was being sent, like their own, to be repaired. Their +expectation was not unfounded, for they had seen our men in it and +heard them shouting, "Victory!" so that it seemed to them that nothing +else could be possible. But in actual truth it was the enemy, who was +coming, upon seeing his almiranta, to see if he could assist it. But +when the enemy saw the two ships close together, and heard no noise +of guns, he tacked about, and hitherto nothing has been known of his +whereabouts. It is believed that his flagship was badly injured and +battered, since it did not wait, although victorious by having sent +our flagship to the bottom. However, we may give credit to some who +said that when they were in the water, they saw the crew of the enemy +casting lances at our men who were swimming, whom they could overtake. + +Our almiranta, after its recent success, set sail to return to Manila, +where they thought that our flagship was calmly lying at anchor. They +arrived at Mariveles and there they heard of the misfortune our +people had suffered. The admiral sent a messenger to the governor of +this city to procure his orders, and to tell him that he was waiting +there. He was ordered to follow instantly and pursue the enemy as far +as Malaca, or wherever else he might hear that he was. Immediately +he received another order to cruise among those islands--when, if he +should not find the enemy, he was to return. This he did after sending +the survivors of the enemy to this city. The admiral himself came +later to the city, and the governor ordered him to be arrested, but +afterward set him at liberty. I do not know what justification there +was for either act. After all this, the governor, with perfect justice, +notwithstanding the word that Admiral Joan de Alcega had pledged to +them, ordered all the prisoners to be garroted. [28] This sentence +was fulfilled and executed upon thirteen of them because the rest +were boys. The latter, who are not young children, are divided among +the monasteries, with I know not what end in view. Twelve [of those +executed] died good Catholics and converts, and with many tears, so +that the religious were obliged to administer the most holy sacrament +of the eucharist to them. The Confraternity of La Sancta Misericordia +buried them with great charity. The only one who refused conversion +was the English admiral [Lambert Biezman], the most stubborn fellow +[29] and the most obstinate heretic I have ever seen in my life. + +According to the reports received, a total of one hundred and +thirty-seven men were killed or drowned. + +_Copy of the commission which was found in the iron box_ + +(This is a faithful and exact copy of a letter and patent, written +lengthwise on white parchment in large letters, and illuminated with +letters of gold. The first line is covered with a pendent seal of +red wax, the size of a consecrated wafer. This document appears to +have been issued by Mauricio de Nashau, who styles himself "Prince +of Orange," as commission for the captain or second in command of a +certain armed fleet, and is countersigned by J. Melander; its tenor +is as follows. [30]) + +Mauricio, Prince of Orange; Count of Nasau, Catzenelleboghen, and +Bietz; Marquis of Veer and Flissinge; governor, captain-general, +and admiral of the United Provinces of Flandes, etc.: To all who see +or hear these presents, our affectionate greeting, etc. Whereas, in +order to contract friendship with certain foreign nations and kingdoms, +and for many other considerations, we have seen fit to send a goodly +number of vessels, in good order and well equipped, to the coasts +of Asia, Africa, and America, and the islands of Eastern Yndia, to +make treaties and carry on trade with the subjects and inhabitants +thereof; and because we have been informed that the Spanish and +the Portuguese are hostile to the subjects of these provinces, and +obstruct their navigation and commerce in those parts, contrary +to all natural right of all cities and nations; we have found it +necessary to entrust, to certain valiant and experienced captains, +the task of executing this our intention. Being well-informed of the +fidelity and experience of Esaias de Lende, we have appointed him +captain of the ship named "La Concordia," of about fifty toneladas +register, with very detailed and explicit orders to go to the said +islands, to resist and make war on, and to harm and injure as far +as possible, all the said Spanish and Portuguese, and any others +who attempt to obstruct them in their duties, and in the performance +of everything which shall be further commanded by their admiral and +captain-general, Olivier van Noordt. That he may execute this, his +commission and charge, with greater facility and readiness, we have +ordered that he shall raise as many men as he shall deem necessary, +and as shall be entrusted to him by the said admiral. We strictly +order these men to obey and respect the said captain, and to obey all +his orders to them in the name of the said admiral. In everything +else he shall do all that a good and faithful captain is bound and +obliged to do--always excepting that neither he nor any of his men +shall dare to do any harm or injury to the subjects of his imperial +Majesty, or those of the kings of Francia, Anglatierra, Escocia, +Denemarqua, Suedia, and Polonia, or of the princes of the Empire, +[31] or of any other rulers who are friends of these provinces, or +inclined to the true Christian religion. Therefore we request and +require all the said kings and princes, and all other states, and +all persons whom the said Esaias de Lende shall encounter; and we +also give express orders to all admirals, vice-admirals, colonels, +captains, and other military men on sea or land, and others who are +under the government of these provinces and owe them obedience--to +recognize him as captain of the said ship, and to allow him, with +the said ship and crew, not only to go and trade wherever he shall +please, but also to assist him, and extend him all favor, aid, +and succor, from which we shall receive great and especial favor +and satisfaction. We will render favors to them on like occasions, +and our people will perform for them the services for which they are +under obligation. Given at La Haya [The Hague], on the twelfth of +May in the year one thousand five hundred and ninety-eight. + +_Maurici de Nashau_ + +By order of his Excellency: + +_J. Melander_ + +[This is followed by a certificate (dated February 6, 1601) of the +accuracy of the copy, with the statement that the original had been +delivered to the royal notary for copying by Doctor Antonio de Morga.] + + + + + +Documents of 1601 + + + + Report to the governor, on the battle with the Dutch. Antonio + de Morga, January 5. + Annual letters from the Philippine Islands. Francisco Vaez, + S.J.; June 10. + Letter to Felipe III. Diego Garcia, S.J.; July 8. + Letter from the fiscal to Felipe III. Hieronimo de Salazar + y Salcedo; July 16. + Complaint of the cabildo of Manila against Morga. Gonzalo + Ronquillo de Vallesteros, and others; July 20. + Letter to Felipe III. Antonio de Morga; July 30. + Grant to Jesuit school in Cebu. Council of Indias; December 11. + + + + +_Sources_: All these documents save one are obtained from MSS. in the +Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla; the second is taken from John Hay's +compilation _De rebus Iaponicis, Indicis, et Pervanis_ (Antverpiae, +M. DC. v.), pp. 950-968, from the copy in the Library of Congress. + +_Translations_: The first and fourth of these documents are translated +by Norman F. Hall, of Harvard University; the second, by Henry +B. Lathrop, of the University of Wisconsin; the third, fifth, and +sixth, by Robert W. Haight; the seventh, by James A. Robertson. + + + + +Morga's Report to the Governor on the Battle with the Dutch + + +_Copy of a petition of Dr. Antonio de Morga to the governor, in which +he gives an account of all that happened in the expedition against +the Dutch corsair, presented as soon as he returned from it._ + +This is a copy well and faithfully made from a petition which it +seems was presented by Dr. Antonio de Morga, auditor of the royal +Audiencia of these islands, to Don Francisco Tello, knight of the +Order of Santiago, who is governor and captain-general of these +islands. This is in connection with a suit brought by order of the +said governor against Joan de Alcega, admiral of the royal fleet +which went against the Dutch enemy which was sailing among these +islands. The said auditor was commander-in-chief of this fleet, +and the admiral was the said Joan de Alcega, who deserted the royal +flagship in time of battle. It runs as follows: + +I, Dr. Antonio de Morga, auditor of the royal Audiencia and +Chancilleria of these Philipinas Islands, say that in the month of +October just passed, in the year one thousand six hundred, there +came to these Islands for the purpose of robbery one Oliver de Nor, +corsair and a heretic, and a native of the states of Flandes, with +two men-of-war well provided with men, artillery, and munitions. One +of the two ships was large and strong, and was the flagship; the +other, smaller and of less importance and strength, was the admiral's +ship. With these he had entered the South Sea through the Strait of +Magallanes, and skirted the coast of Chile; and then came and anchored +outside the entrance to these islands, in the bay of Alvay. After +making inquiries about affairs in these islands, and finding that +there was no fleet, and no arrangement by which one that could molest +him could be created, he passed by Capul and proceeded on his way +until he reached the mouth of the bay of this city of Manila. There +he made some captures and committed some robberies on vessels which +entered, and he was hoping to commit greater ones on the ships which +are expected this year, both from China and from Nueva Espana, with +the money belonging to these islands. On this account your Lordship, +together with the royal Audiencia, by a decree in due form dated the +last day of the aforesaid month of October, commanded me to go to +the port of Cavite and to place it and keep it in a state of defense; +and likewise to finish some vessels which had been begun there in the +dockyard, and to prepare and put in order those which could be used +quickly for a fleet to go out and resist and punish the enemy. By +working personally day and night, without having anything given to +me for it, I put all this into operation with the greatest diligence +and care, in thirty-two days. When I came to this city to give your +Lordship an account of the good condition of the fleet--in order that +it might be immediately arranged who was to go out in it, and the +soldiers and seamen who were to embark--considering the fact that +the corsair still remained near this bay, your Lordship, influenced +by urgent causes and reasons, ordered and commanded me in writing, +in the name of our lord the king, to set out with the volunteers of +this city, who were placed at my disposal for this expedition. It was +understood that I was to conduct this expedition, and, with another +body composed of hired soldiers from this district, was to go out as +quickly as possible in search of the enemy, and was to fight with him +until I overcame him or sent him to the bottom. There were many other +conditions which are contained more fully in the letter of instructions +which your Lordship gave me, signed and sealed, to which I refer. In +fulfilment of this, and only for the service of God and of our lord +the king (which service your Lordship commended to me so strongly), +leaving my house and quiet life, leaving my wife and nine children, +I obeyed your Lordship's command. At my own cost, without having +anything supplied from the royal treasury either to myself or to the +volunteers who were with me, and who formed the larger part of all +the body, I embarked on the fleet on the twelfth day of the month of +December of the aforesaid year, taking as flagship the vessel "San +Diego," which is of about two hundred tons burden; and in its convoy +the ship "San Bartolome" as admiral's ship, of the same burden, +in command of the captain Joan de Alcega, admiral of the fleet, +and other small vessels for the service of the fleet. + +That same day I set sail from the port of Cavite in search of the +enemy; and on the following Thursday, the fourteenth of December, +I came in sight of him. Both ships of his fleet were anchored near +the mouth of the bay at the point of Balagtigui, with his boats at +the stern. The flagship of the enemy, from behind, was very easily +seen to be a strong vessel, but the admiral's ship was not. When +he discovered the two ships of the royal fleet and saw that we were +keeping together, in order jointly to board and attack his flagship, +he weighed anchor; and, after sending the said admiral's ship out +to sea under all sail, in order to divide us, thinking that one of +our ships would go after it, he with his flagship luffed toward our +vessels, in order to get to windward of us, which he was not able +to accomplish. On the contrary, when I discovered the number and +excellence of his artillery, with which he began to cannonade me, I +saw that success must consist in coming hand to hand with him as soon +as possible, with both of our vessels, according to the arrangement +which I had made on the day before, the thirteenth of December, when +I had given orders and instructions to that effect in writing to the +said admiral. So with my flagship I boarded the corsair's flagship, +and grappled with it side to side, on the port quarter of the enemy, +in the expectation that my admiral would do the same on the other +side, as he was perfectly able to do. At the first volley from the +artillery and arquebuses I swept the deck of the enemy, unrigged +his main and mizzen masts, sent his yards and shrouds into the sea, +burned his sails, and won and took into my power the flag at the +topmast, the standard and flag at the stern, and the others which the +ship bore. Then I sent on board of him a band of men with arms and a +banner of infantry, who captured the poop and the cabin and took the +shallop or long-boat which it had at the stern. All the enemy retired +below the harpings and coverings at the bow. Seeing from there that my +admiral was already coming upon them, and that they could not defend +themselves, they sent to ask protection for their lives, and to say +that they would surrender; and I granted their request, in order to end +the battle with the least possible loss and with the greatest safety. + +At this time the admiral's ship of my fleet ought to have boarded the +enemy as I had done, according to his duty, and to the order which he +had from me; and, without orders from me, ought not to have passed by, +and still less to have gone in pursuit of, the opposing admiral's +ship which was going out to sea. These orders, for many reasons, +I could not be expected to give him, especially at that time, until +the flagship had completely surrendered and a guard had been placed +over it and over the people on it, which would be impossible with my +ship alone. Nevertheless our admiral aforesaid, for some reasons of +his own which he had, passed by, and with all sail started to pursue +and overtake the admiral's ship of the corsair. When the enemy on the +flagship saw this, and that they were alone, and that, on account of +the superiority of his ship and artillery, he might hope to defend +himself, he turned a deaf ear to the terms which I sent him; and he +not only did not surrender, but he put himself on the defensive, and +fought with me with all the fury of his artillery and of his musketry, +from both sides of the ship, and with fire contrivances, with which +he was well supplied. The battle lasted six hours, with both ships +lashed side to side, but in all this time my admiral aforesaid did not +leave his course, or return to succor or help me. On the contrary he +began, in our sight, to fight with the admiral's ship of the enemy, +which he had overtaken, and he easily captured it because it was +a very small ship, with about twenty-two men, including boys and +the sick; and after it had surrendered he remained there, instead +of returning to help me in time of battle. The enemy killed ten or +twelve Spaniards of my men, and some Indians of the service, and on +his side most of his men died; so that, being still so hard pressed, +he himself set fire to his ship of his own accord, at the stern, +where our men were on the poop with the banner. The fire so increased +there that we feared that both ships were going to be consumed. + +Furthermore, my flagship, which was not a strong one, having been made +especially for the merchant trade, sprang a leak at the bow with the +force of the artillery which had been fired in this long combat; and it +made water so fast that nothing could be done, because we had no pumps, +as they had been knocked to pieces by one of the enemy's shot. On this +account, by the advice and counsel of the chief pilot and of the seamen +who understood the situation, I was asked to loosen myself from the +enemy and to go to save my ship (or at least the artillery and men +on it) at the island of Fortun, which was to leeward of us a legua +and a half away, and which they said we could reach quickly. When +I saw the opinion of the aforesaid men and the danger which my ship +was in, both from the fire on the enemy and from the risk of sinking, +I followed the advice; and, having withdrawn the men and the banner +that I had on the poop-castle of the corsair's ship, which was left, +as I have said, so broken and disabled, I started for the aforesaid +island of Fortun to make repairs; but the water which the ship was +taking in increased so that all at once the ship sank. + +When the enemy saw himself alone, with the few men that he had, he +hastily began to put out the fire on his ship; and with the foresail, +which he had had up all the time, he took flight toward the island +of Luban, where he has not appeared since that day, nor in any other +of the adjacent islands. From this and from the fact that he was so +broken and so stripped of men and without any long-boat, it may be +inferred that he went to the bottom. Some indications of this have +been seen since in the shape of yards and sails, and bodies of the +enemy's men, so that we may presume that it is so. + +When the flagship of the fleet on which I was went to the bottom, +there was no shallop or boat to saye the men, because the boats had +been taken by some sailors and soldiers, who to escape the danger, had +gone with them to the aforesaid island of Fortun. Consequently when the +ship sank I was left in the water, and saved myself at the end of four +hours by swimming with great exertion to the island of Fortun, which +was a legua and a half away, against many waves and a high wind. The +same thing was done by two hundred other persons, including Spaniards +and slaves, but the rest drowned and perished, with what was left in +the ship. Then I made haste to take all the people from that island, +because it was without inhabitants and without water, and I started +them on the way to this city. After that I went along the coast to +get information about the enemy which had fled, and in search of the +admiral's ship and of the captured vessel; but I could not find them, +nor could I in the islands of that district, although I searched among +them in light vessels, for they had departed thence. At last, having +heard that they were near Mariveles, I came to claim them, but did +not enter them because your Lordship wrote to me, at just that time, +to come to this city on other business in the service of his Majesty. + +Thus that expedition ended. It is true that the desired end was +accomplished--namely, to destroy the aforesaid corsair so that he +should not be able to do the damage which he was doing in this sea, +and to conquer him, which was done. Nevertheless it could have been +accomplished fully without the loss which there was, if my orders +had been followed in the aforesaid fleet, and if there had not been +other transgressions and irregularities--which I should have proceeded +against and executed justice upon if I had had opportunity to return +to the aforesaid fleet, as I tried to do. Since on my part this is +all ended, it remains for your Lordship, as captain-general of this +realm, to take action in this cause--not only to execute whatever +may be just in the matter, but also in order to give an account to +our lord the king of what has happened. I have had this in mind in +giving to your Lordship so faithful and exact an account of the case, +and of the aforesaid irregularities, of which the ones that need +particular attention are the following. + +First. When the fleet was on the point of setting out from the port +of Cavite, although it was already scantily equipped with seamen +and artillerymen (which was a matter of the greatest importance), +the majority of those who had been provided and supplied absented +themselves and fled from the aforesaid fleet at the time of setting +out, so that they could not be reached; and the fleet had to go +without them, which was the cause of a great deal of suffering and +loss. It can be determined who were guilty of this through the lists +of allowances and apportionment which are in the possession of the +factor of the royal treasury, and through the register which the +accountant afterwards made of both fleets at Mariveles. + +_Item_: Although your Lordship, at my request, had some seamen sought +out in this city, and had them sent to me with the sergeant Pedro Lopez +to Mariveles (where the fleet was anchored) on Wednesday, December +thirteenth, and although the aforesaid men arrived on Wednesday, +they refused to go on the expedition because they were men of wealth +and property; and they did not go to the fleet that night, but went +to the settlement on the island. There they remained until the fleet +had gone in pursuit of the enemy in the early morning, when they left +the village and returned to this city. + +Third. The Sangley nation of this city offered themselves, with three +ships, according to their custom, to go in the service and convoy of +the aforesaid fleet. They were armed and set out after it from Cavite +for that purpose, but when they reached the station at Mariveles, +where the fleet was anchored, they left it; and it was necessary to +send to them and order that on the following day they should join the +fleet and follow it without moving off, under pain of their lives. Not +only did they not comply with this, but on the following day, when +they saw the battle, they remained more than three leguas behind, +looking at it; and although they could have been of great assistance, +when they saw my flagship founder, they returned toward the bay, +ringing bells and beating drums, as is their custom. + +Fourth. The aforesaid captain Joan de Alcega, admiral of the fleet, did +not obey the orders and instructions which on the day before the battle +I gave to him in writing, signed with my name, according to which +both ships, flagship and admiral's ship, were to board and fight with +the enemy's flagship, because it was a strong vessel. Nevertheless, +though he had seen me board, he passed by without having an order +from me to do so, and still less having any order to follow and to +fight with the opposing admiral's ship, and thus abandon me. If he +had done as he was under obligation to do, the flagship would have +been made to surrender completely without the loss of one of our +men; and we could have captured for his Majesty a beautiful ship +and twenty-six pieces of artillery, and many other things of price +and value for all, and my flagship would not have been lost, and the +people of worth who died in it would not have perished. After that, +it would have been a sure and easy thing to capture the admiral's +ship, which was a small boat, of no strength. Your Lordship should +send promptly to the admiral to write the instructions which I gave +him originally in Mariveles on the thirteenth of December by the hand +of the captain Joan Tello y Aguirre, who came for them--signed with +my name, without any erasures or changes whatever--because through +them the above matter will be verified, without any fraud or deceit. + +Fifth. After my flagship had foundered, the enemy in his, as broken +as it was, took to flight with only the foresail up, and passed +within sight of the admiral's ship of my convoy, and although the +admiral was aware of my loss, and that that was the enemy's ship, +and made sail after her, he did not try to follow her; and so he let +her go, although he could easily have overtaken her, as she bore only +the foresail, and could have captured her, as she was so broken and +without men. Most of us who were on the island of Fortun saw this +from there; and the captive Flamenco admiral will say the same thing, +as well as those who came in our admiral's ship and remained in it. + +_Item_: Although our admiral's ship ought to have come in search of its +flagship, which it saw sinking in the sea from its companion ship--or +at least in aid of its men who had escaped to the island of Fortun, +which was near, in order to rescue us from that island, uninhabited +and without water, where we were in evident risk of our lives--yet +he did not do it. On the contrary, he went away with all speed, and +returned to the mainland to the station of Mareyuma; consequently +we could not find him, and he could not receive orders from me, his +commander, concerning what he was to do in such matters as following +the aforesaid enemy (in which a great opportunity was lost), as well +as in other things in the service of his Majesty which ought to have +been done. + +Seventh and last. Although the aforesaid admiral ought not to have +allowed out of his convoy the vessel which he had captured and taken +from the enemy, so that it might not be lost again on account of +his having put very few men on it, he left it; and, under pretense +that he was sending it to be repaired, he ordered it to the island of +Luban with other intentions--where on the same day, near night-time, +there appeared the flagship of the enemy, which, if it had seen this +ship, could have seized and taken it easily, because it was without +defense. Then, without having been repaired, it left Luban and returned +to the aforesaid admiral's ship at Mareyuma. + +Of all this your Lordship is sufficiently informed through the reports +which have been sent to your Lordship about the aforesaid event, and +through the investigations made by the alcalde-mayor of the province +of Balayan, in whose territory and under whose jurisdiction the event +took place. Your Lordship will also be informed by the searchings +and investigations which your Lordship ought to make concerning the +aforesaid case and every particular of it, personally and very soon, +before the guilty ones pervert them so that the truth may not be +understood. They have been preparing for this, holding investigations +before themselves in the admiral's ship, about their own affairs +and business; but opportunity ought not to be given for these, +nor any attention paid to them, for they are void and fraudulent, +and malicious. + +I ask and pray your Lordship to do and perform in this matter, since +it is of such quality and importance, whatever may be proper in the +service of God and of his Majesty, so that those may be punished who +are guilty in a matter of such harm and loss, and that our lord the +king and the gentlemen of his Council of the Indias may be informed +faithfully of all that has happened and of what has been done--since, +as far as I am concerned in this matter, as there no longer remains +to me any authority or jurisdiction of commander in the fleet, I have +done my duty. For this I have, etc., and ask it for testimony. + +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ + +In Manila, on the fifth of the month of January in the year one +thousand six hundred and one, before the governor and captain-general +of these islands, Don Francisco Tello, appeared the doctor Antonio +de Morga, and presented this petition; and when his Lordship had +seen it, he ordered it to be joined with the investigation which +the alcalde-mayor of Balayan made, in order that the other proper +verifications may be made according to what is provided, and that +whatever is just may be done. + +_Tello_ + +Before me: + +_Gaspar de Azebo_ + +This copy was made, as has been said, from the aforesaid original +petition, which is in the aforesaid suit of petition and mandate by the +aforesaid auditor, and is exact and correct. In the city of Manila, +on the twentieth of the month of November in the year one thousand +six hundred and two; the witnesses being: Joan P[ablo?] Monfredo, +and Gregorio del Castillo, and Josephe de Naveda Alvarado. + +In testimony of truth, I have affixed my seal. + +_Joan Paez de Sotomayor_, royal notary. + +We, the notaries who sign here, certify and give our word that Joan +Paez de Sotomayor, by whom this testimony is signed and sealed, is +a royal notary, as he signs himself, and commissioner of the royal +Audiencia of these islands; and, as such, complete faith and credit +has been given and is given to all acts and writings which have passed +and do pass before him, in court and out of it. And, to certify to +this, we give these presents in Manila on the twentieth of November +in the year one thousand six hundred and two. I have affixed my seal, +in witness of truth. + +_Francisco de Valencia_, notary-public. + +I have affixed my seal, in testimony of truth. + +_Jhoan Francisco Aparicio_, notary-public. + + + + + +Annual Letters from the Philippine Islands + + +_From Father Francisco Vaez, [32] June 10, 1601, to Reverend Father +Claudio Aquaviva, general of the Society of Jesus._ + + +Amid all the calamities and miseries which it has pleased the Lord to +inflict on these islands, the chief has been the loss of some ships +which were wrecked, including among others the flagship and the ship +of the second in command. They set sail from this coast during the +last year, 1600, for Nueva Espana, being laden with a large amount of +treasure and merchandise; and by them the records of this province +and the letters from Japan for your Paternity were sent. But, after +sailing for eight months, these ships encountered a violent contrary +wind, and, having on board a great number of sailors, were gradually +driven back by sickness, hunger, and the fury of the waves, which +swept the men from the very decks of the ships to be drowned in the +waters. The vessels struck on rocks and were wrecked, a few men only +being rescued, like the servants of Job, from the immediate danger, +to announce the destruction--which, being increased by one misfortune +and mishap in war after another, heaped sorrow upon us. On one of these +ships, called the "San Geronimo," was Father Pedro Lopez de Parra, a +professed religious of our Society--who, as we trust, after this long +voyage (or rather that longer one of thirty-seven years in religion), +has entered the gate of eternal life, laden with a rich treasure +of good works. He taught philosophy and theology in Nueva Espana, +having been one of the first members of the Society formerly sent +thither; he trained our ministers with fruitful results. Although we +have heard nothing certain with regard to the details of his death, +yet, as he took great delight in the duty of hearing confessions and +helping souls, it is likely that with great devotion he aided all in +that extremity of danger. [33] + +In another disaster we have lost another priest and a brother, if loss +be the proper name to give to the death of those who have been slain +for the gain of souls, and while aiding their brethren in a just war +against heretic pirates. These were Hollanders and Zeelanders who +were driven to the Philippine Islands in the year 1600, and came to +get booty on the sea called the Northern Ocean, or "Mar del Norte" +(for they had already made spoil of a Portuguese ship), and, after +passing the Strait of Magellan, had, in that southerly ocean called +"Mar del Sur," done likewise with a small vessel from Peru. Their +leading vessels, the flagship and the almiranta, took a station six +leagues from Manila, where the Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese ships +had to unload their cargoes, and to which all the smacks and other +small boats that left the city had to hold their course. Against +these ships of the enemy there were sent out from Manila two ships +provided with three hundred of the best soldiers of these islands, +together with many bombards and other equipments of war. In the chief +ships were Father Diego de Santiago and Brother Bartolomeo Calvo, +at the request of the general, Antonio de Morga, auditor of the +royal Audiencia, and of other officers of rank, who were accustomed +to confess to the said father. + +Now when the father had exerted himself to receive the confessions +of the soldiery, and had exhorted them to fight bravely, on the +fourteenth of December they came in sight of the enemy; and the +flagship spread its sails and bore down so swiftly on the other +flagship that the passage from one to the other was easy. In the +conflict our men tore away the enemy's flags and carried them back to +their own ship, shouting, "Victory!" with joyful voices. Just then +our ship, having taken in a great quantity of water from all sides, +was by the permission of God suddenly swallowed in the waves with +all the sailors, except a few who by the help of a skiff captured +from the Dutch, or by swimming, made their way to land. The general +was one who threw himself into the water with two flags of the enemy's. + +Then the almiranta, having encountered the enemy's almiranta, +captured it, and carried it away to Manila, where punishment was +inflicted on all the sailors. Among the number of those on our side +who were slain or drowned, a hundred and fifty-nine in all, Father +Diego was drowned. He had heard, as it appeared, the confessions of +all; and as he was making the effort to throw himself clear into the +sea, he was called back by the voice of a captain desiring to make +his confession. While he was hearing the confession he was drowned, +with the brother and the rest. The father was in the twenty-ninth year +of his age, and had lived fifteen years in the Society. The brother, +his companion, was of the same age, and had lived in the Society seven +years; he had entered it in these regions. He was a man endowed with +every virtue, being especially noteworthy for his obedience, to which +he was always greatly inclined. + +Of the brethren there has also died Martin Sanchez, a native of these +islands, who was for a decade a member of the Society, and who left a +glorious example in life and death. There remain in this vice-province +thirty priests and twenty-nine brethren (of whom two are scholastics +and four novices)--those nine being included whom your Paternity has +sent hither with Father Gregorio Lopez, in whom this vice-province +assuredly receives a great assistance. As it is of later birth, more +scantily supplied with workers, and further from Rome, it is likewise +poorer; and, as the younger daughter, ought to be the dearer and more +precious to your Paternity. + + + + +College of Manila + + +There live in this college (the leading one [34] in this vice-province) +seventeen of Ours--seven priests and ten brethren. All of them, by the +favor of divine Providence, have by their example and labor brought in +a rich harvest from the spiritual tilling of this city. This has been +added to on account of the war and the earthquake, the loss of the +ships, and other calamities; and we have learned by experience that +piety grows more rapidly in adverse than in prosperous fortune. The +earthquake has made us hesitate to go on with the completion of the +college buildings, for we are compelled first to repair what has +already fallen or is on the verge of ruin. Last year we wrote that +on the twenty-first of June the main part of the nave of the church +had fallen; but in this year of 1601, on the sixteenth of January, +the other part corresponding to it was overthrown, and the rest so +shaken that it had to be leveled with the ground. We regard it as +a great blessing that these buildings fell without injuring anyone, +although the first of the earthquakes came while the people were in +the church at mass, the other when it was least expected. The people +of Manila have accordingly been warned by Ours of the daily peril +of life on earth, and have begun to lift up their hearts to heaven, +and to pray for its care and protection. By a happy lot it has been +obtained for them by the patronage and advocacy of St. Polycarp, +[35] bishop and martyr, the disciple of St. John the Evangelist; +and in his honor they have begun to celebrate an annual feast with +a solemn procession. + +The beginning of another pious work has been made this year with +marked results. This is the practice of scourging, not as hitherto +on three days in Lent, but every Friday throughout the year, in our +church. There is a great concourse of people at that time to hear the +fiftieth psalm, _Miserere_, by the melancholy harmony of which they +are most moved to devotion and to doing penance. Not infrequently +the royal auditors and the governor himself have been present, as +well as other leading men. + +Those in prison also have been aided by the reception of sacramental +confessions and by pious exhortations; and--a thing that has edified +the people not a little--the necessary food was for some days carried +all the way to the prisons on our shoulders. From children, too, +the food of Christian doctrine has not been withheld on Sundays; +and with the children arranged in the form of a procession we went +out during Lent to the military barracks, where after delivering +sermons we reaped fruit not to be ashamed of. + +The congregation of scholastics begun this year has made the best +of progress. Every month, according to the rules, they make their +confession to the priest, and partake of the divine food. On feast-days +they spend the afternoons in listening to spiritual reading and in +commemorating the examples of the saints. The solemn feasts of the +Blessed Virgin they celebrate with the greatest fervor and joy. On one +of these they go with their cloaks cast off, each with a silver ewer +and basin in his hands, and carry food to the prisons, marching in the +finest order and system; and with great readiness and humility they +serve the unhappy men. They are believed to have taken their manner +of procedure, in all respects, from the congregation at Rome. The +privileges of the Sodality, also, have so much attracted laymen that it +has been necessary to divide them into two orders. As for the adult men +and householders who look forward to spending Sundays and feast-days +to advantage in the Sodality, the father-visitor has made a beginning, +by delivering to them familiar exhortations, and narratives of pious +examples taken from the Lives of the Saints; and we have every reason +to hope that the undertaking will succeed to the greater glory of +God, with the most noble of advantages to the city. Even now there +are some who, having heard one or another sermon, have entered upon +more holy and profitable ways of living than they followed before. + +A beginning was also made this year in selecting some saint's name +by lot (a custom introduced in some towns); and there has been a +great concourse of people. One man was plunged into the sea along +with many others in the naval battle with the Dutch already spoken +of; but because he invoked the name of his patron, St. Nicanor, who +had fallen to his lot that month, he was rescued from that danger in +which the others were swallowed up; and by swimming a whole league +at last got to shore, to his own great wonder. + +The number of those confessing and communicating this year has +surpassed that of any previous year, for upon their old devotion has +been heaped up new, kindled by the torches of calamity. The quarrels +of many have also been brought to an end. In Lent, moreover, their +zeal for all piety flamed forth in the confession of many evils, and +in doing penance for them with daily scourgings, and other exercises +of devotion. + +The chastity of a certain woman was assailed by some of the wicked, +with entreaties and the bestowal of gifts; but by the weapons of more +frequent communion and confession she repulsed the attacks of the +enemy. Yet even then the enemy was not made entirely to desist. One +day, after the holy communion, which she had devoutly taken in our +church, she was walking in a lonely place; and there he came up to +her, and with his dagger at her bosom, he threatened her with death +unless she consented to wickedness. But she answered with firmness +that she preferred death to offending God. Then with blows and words +of insult she vanquished the beastly desires of her adversary, barely +escaping with her honor. + +Another, giving up all thought of God and of his own salvation, had +spent many years in dreadful sin, and especially in a disgraceful +lust, which was so deeply rooted and fixed in his innermost heart +that he regarded our priest, who strove to lead him away from this +vile manner of life, as only less than a fool. So completely had he +plunged himself into the filth of these pollutions of his soul that, +like a sow in a wallow, he seemed to take pleasure in nothing else. Yet +at last this obstinate man yielded to argument and persuasion, and +not only gave up visiting his harlot, but tore all lust from his +heart by the roots as completely as if he had had no knowledge of +it; for by a general confession of the lapses of his past life he so +corrected his morals that all those who knew him before were amazed +at the sudden change in his life. + +When the Dutch pirates of whom we have spoken were condemned to death +in Manila by the judges, the governor thought it well to entrust +them to several religious, as they might perhaps abjure their errors +and be reconciled to Holy Church. It pleased the divine goodness to +restore all, to the number of thirteen, except the admiral, who as an +obstinate heretic was hanged and cast into the sea. The others with so +great sorrow for their crimes subjected themselves to the obedience of +the holy Roman church that it seemed good to the religious fathers to +admit them to the holy communion. Of five commended to our Society I +can affirm that they greatly edified all, for they made a confession +of the sins of all their life and approached the holy communion with +many tears, having previously made public profession of the Roman +Catholic faith and abjured their heresies, being prepared to live +and die in the said faith. Two days later, with rosaries around their +necks they were led forth to the place of execution in great joy of +mind that they could atone for their sins by death. + +Our Order has been no less occupied with the Indians in these +regions than with others--partly because there is a greater number +of them gathered in this town of Manila than anywhere else, partly +because they feel a greater good-will toward the members of the +Society than toward any others. They never lack some one of Ours +to aid their confessions; and they would need old priests the year +round, if there were so many who understood the language, to hear +the confessions of all. They greatly affect the holy communion, and +report wonderful fruit from it. Every week, on Saturday, very many +hasten to perform their discipline with the others; and more would +come if the city gates which separate the Indians from the Spaniards +were not closed at nightfall. Indeed many do not fear to creep through +the little hole in the gates in order not to neglect that salutary +penance. They hasten, too, on the Sabbath to hear the sacrament of +the mass of the Blessed Virgin, and in Lent to hear sermons, and that +in such numbers that, although our church is of considerable size, +they fill it completely. And when it was overthrown by the earthquake, +they all hastened together, down to the very children, to give their +help in carrying stones away. It was a delightful sight to see them +swarming like ants upon the rubbish and the wall--men and women, +young and old, powdered with dust and lime, carrying baskets on their +shoulders and vying with each other in carrying off the ruins so as +to clear the space. + +The girls' sodality, recently introduced among the natives, has +marvelously roused all the others. Sometimes they have fed the poor +with such liberality that much was left for the prisoners and other +needy persons. After the meal was over, they poured water for the hands +of the poor persons, and kissed them; and then the poor persons fell +on their knees and prayed God for their benefactors. At another place +these same Indian members of sodalities went to the Indian hospital and +there gave their aid to the sick by making their beds and digging up +the ground for them--a thing worthy of special admiration in this race, +for they abhor visiting hospitals. The sodality members, although poor, +offer the usual alms to the church and to those who are in need. They +are given to hearing sermons and to fasting, being content for whole +weeks with bread and water. They are glad to go to our churches for +confession and spiritual instruction, and obtain great spiritual +benefit and edification. + +A certain Christian woman who was for a long time held in slavery to +the infidels in the islands of Mindanao and Borneo, which are given +to the faith of Mahomet, could not be torn from the true belief, +or be persuaded to the worship of idols, although she visited many +of their places. + +An Indian man, who along with some others had made his confession +that he might receive the holy communion, declares that he had kept +silent as to the circumstances of some sins; and that in a vision he +saw a beautiful child offering to him the holy eucharist. But when +he answered that he was a great sinner, the child replied: "Thou +are indeed not worthy of the communion, for in thy confession thou +hast hidden such and such a circumstance." Therefore when he awoke +he hurried to our church, revealed the vision to one of the fathers, +and desired to repeat his confession. + +Another had so accustomed himself to the scourging of his body that +one day when he was required to march with a troop of soldiers, +he withdrew from it in the night, in order that he might not omit +this holy exercise. When the officer of the infantry, going his +rounds at night, secretly perceived this, he thought the man was +meditating some mischief, and silently followed him. At last he saw +him enter the cemetery of a church, and after pouring forth prayers +to God, beat his back severely. When the scourging was finished, the +officer approached; and when he recognized this Indian, he was even +more edified. And when he asked him where he was from, he answered +that he came from the city of Manila, and said that he was in the +habit of confessing to Ours. The captain, marveling that a tyro in +the Christian religion should take such care of his soul's health, +gave him some money and told him to go back home, that he might not +be perverted by the habits of the soldiery. + +A priest with a brother as his companion was sent off as on a +mission to some Seilan villages, which, being without parish priests, +needed instruction. When they reached there the plague was raging; +and the father and brother freely assisted them, not only by the +administration of the sacraments of confession and the communion, +but by that of food, which was prepared in our church. + +On another mission performed by the rector of the college and another +priest, there was a mighty fruit of their labors reaped in hearing +confessions, in reconciling enemies, and in recalling the perverse to a +better life. Twenty adults were initiated by the sacrament of baptism, +having been imbued with the Christian faith by a certain blind man. He, +though deprived of the use of his eyes, yet took such care of his +catechumens that if a single one out of any number, however great, +was missing, he regularly informed the father. We think the more +of this from the fact that he who formerly was numbered among the +catalons--that is, petty priests of idols--now since his conversion +has become a teacher of Christian doctrine. + + + + +Residence of Antipolo [36] + + +In this residence are ordinarily maintained three priests, to care for +the harvest of three thousand Christians. More than five hundred have +been baptized this year. We have tested the great devotion of this +people, and their rare sense of piety in frequenting the sacraments, +in offering prayers, and in undergoing discipline and performing +other good and edifying works; and, finally, there has been wrought +in them all a great change in conduct. + +The father-visitor has laid the foundation of a hospital, which +is of great importance. On the day when the roof was finished the +father-visitor led them in serving the poor who were gathered there, +by pouring water on their hands, and then kissing their hands on his +bended knees, which example was followed by all the chief men there +present. And thus the custom has been established that four members +of the confraternity established for this purpose bring them their +food every day. The same thing is done by the women for the sick of +their sex. + +A beginning has been made of a school for boys, in which they may be +educated from their earliest years in all virtue and good morals, +according to the laws of Christ, so far as these are open to their +capacity. This is a thing not merely necessary for their receiving +the true doctrine, but also easy and delightful. They are all fed +with rice sent by their parents, and by other contributions. Their +occupations are learning to read and to form their letters, and to +do such other things as are appropriate to childish years. + +The custom has everywhere been introduced of singing throughout +the year, in honor of the Virgin Mother of God, the anthem _Salve +Regina_; and on Saturdays in Lent of performing the discipline in +church. So when some Indians were bathing in the river, as is the +custom in hot countries, and heard the bell give the call for _Salve_ +and the discipline, they put on their clothes and set out. Only one +remained, and laughing at his companions said in their language: +"_Acoi ouian_!"--that is, "Bring back something for me," which is +their expression of ridicule. When the others had gone away, he who +was alone was attacked and killed by a crocodile--a fierce animal of +these regions, which is very fond of human flesh--and that before +they could render him any assistance, spiritual or temporal. This +event was indeed the occasion of no little wonder, for this beast +is very voracious, and swallows men whole, or piece by piece, or at +least tears off hand or foot; but this man he left whole and untorn, +which the Indians attribute to the virtue of the _Salve_ that they +sang and the discipline that they performed. + + + + +Residence of Zebu + + +This residence is in the province called Pintados, in which the +greater part of Ours have lived and are working for the salvation +of the Indians, although ordinarily not more than three priests and +four brothers labor there. The situation is extremely convenient, +because all the other residences carry on their work from it as a +center. The ministry of the Society is exercised with great profit to +the city. A boys' school has been opened, and the Latin language is +taught. Last year the most reverend bishop, the officials, and other +leading men, in letters sent to his Catholic Majesty, made a full +statement of the great spiritual harvest with which Ours in these +regions exercise their ministry, among both Spaniards and Indians; +and they also earnestly entreated that he would be pleased to render +that residence permanent by some annual provision, in order that they +might be able to continue to enjoy the labors of our fathers. + +The excellent bishop walked on foot, although a man sixty years old, +throughout the whole of his diocese; [37] and, turning aside into +our houses, he there dwelt with us in such humility and familiarity +that he seemed to be one of our members. After he had finished the +visitation of the diocese, he was accustomed to say that he had +greatly admired the modesty and piety of the women in it; for in +gossip and conversation their reputation had long been very much to +the contrary. He added that he had seen nothing like it in all Nueva +Espana. Turning to our fathers, he declared that they ought to be +contented with their lot, because they had undertaken the duty of +disseminating the word of God in those regions; for in his opinion +they were spending their lives in a part of the world which was the +best of all, and the best beloved by God, and that from which they +would be able to obtain the most ample fruit for their labor. + +In our churches we began this year the practice of the discipline, +with a great number of penitents and great devotion from the people. We +also delivered sermons, with the Christian catechism, to the garrison, +with extraordinary results. + +A certain father added that a sick Indian had lost the faculty +of speech before he had confessed, so that he could not receive an +exhortation to a pious death. Accordingly, he urged him to attempt at +least to pronounce the name of Jesus. The sick man obeyed, and uttered +it obscurely so that he could scarcely be heard. The father continued +to urge him to speak more distinctly. Finally with a moderate effort he +uttered it with the greatest distinctness, made a complete confession, +and on the following day left his bed well. + +Father Miguel Gomez [38] was sent to a tribe at a considerable +distance. At first he gave all his attention to learning the names +of those who had not yet been washed in the holy waters of baptism; +and there were brought to him sixty, besides some others who are known +as Visaians. And to all these, after he had sufficiently demonstrated +the vanity of idols and the truth of the Christian belief, he imparted +baptism, with so great a degree of consolation to them all, although +they were old men, that they all marveled. But before dawn, behold +some others, men and women of very great age, who had hidden by the +gate of our house that they might be initiated by means of the same +sacrament. Accordingly sixty, along with six children, were initiated; +and in this number was included the chief of the place, a man already +more than sixty years old. + + + + +Residence of Bohol + + +This residence is subject to the preceding one, that of Zebu. The +harvest reaped in it your Paternity will learn from the letter of +Father Valerio Ledesma [39] herewith enclosed. He says: "In accordance +with the direction of your Reverence I visited the island of Bohol and +gave my first attention to collecting the people, who were scattered +everywhere, into one place. To many I suggested means of peace, and +proposed efficacious remedies; and at last I succeeded in getting a +thousand men, the greater part of whom had been trained in the use of +arms, to leave their mountains, from which it had been impossible to +draw them before, and to assemble at one spot. We also attempted to +attract a number of barbarian inhabitants of the mountains, who had +never looked upon any mortals before they saw our fathers, making use +of all of the offices of humanity and of the allurements suitable +to their nature, and we succeeded. We assigned them a settlement +near the river, where they have now built a church, to which they +flock on Sundays. We have baptized one hundred and twenty of their +children, or even more. The adults have not only laid aside all +of their fierceness, but pray for baptism with the greatest ardor, +singing chants, and night and day recite the Christian faith. + +"On the day sacred to St. Anne, to whom the church was dedicated, +the conversion of a certain old chief, on whom they all look as a +father, made a beginning for the conversion of the rest. He on bended +knees begged me with the most humble prayers that I would bathe him +in the sacred fount. His example greatly confirmed in their purpose +those who were ready for baptism, and excited others to desire it; +so that one after another, to the number of more than one hundred, +came as suppliants for baptism. In Visaia I baptized eighty-nine +adults at one time, and a few days later ninety-four--partly children, +partly adults; and on another day all the rest of the natives. Leaving +here I crossed a mountain; and the Lord obtained as spiritual gain +twenty-nine children, with faces like those of angels; and with the +cleansing water we sprinkled them in the name of the Holy Trinity, +along with three adults whom I had taken with me that they might +hear the sacrifice of the mass, and might by word and example be more +accurately instructed in the Christian faith. After we had gone some +distance thence, we came to a hamlet in which the natives had built +a convenient church in preparation for our arrival, extending over a +space of ten cubits. Here we began to spread our net, or rather the +net of Christ, and caught in it all the fish that were there; for +all the leading men and women, with old and young, great and small, +cast themselves at the feet of Christ Jesus, recognizing Him as the +true God and ardently pleading to be joined to Him in faith through +the mystery of baptism. And here I began to recognize the favor which +God had shown me, in calling me forth from Espana in these days; +for this single instance was enough reason to call me forth. On the +very first occasion when we baptized, we plunged a hundred persons +in the sacred fount; on the second, all the rest without exception. + +"When I was once explaining to a fierce and barbarous fellow the great +glory of paradise and the dire pains of hell, he answered, just as +if he had been possessed by a demon, that he had rather go to hell +than to paradise; and, as he was one of the chiefs in that region, +he carried a great many with him to the same decision of a perverse +mind. But I did not hesitate to attack the foolish fellow again and +again, and I insisted upon the horror and the eternity of the torments +with great vehemence of language; but he answered that he certainly +ought to go, after this life, there, where his parents and the rest +of his ancestors had departed, rather than anywhere else. Then I +responded that he had better just try the force of fire; but he, with +hands as hard as his heart, did not hesitate to snatch up some burning +coals from the hearth. However, a few days later, his mind divinely +changed, he ran out into the fields and meadows, and, calling all his +tribesmen together, he urged them to accept the Christian sacraments, +with such zeal that he had no equal among the Visaians." + +In another letter sent to the father-visitor from the same place, +the same Father Valerio writes that another father had written to +him that in the islands Lobo and Dita he had sprinkled four hundred +persons, chiefly infants, with the most holy waters. Thus within the +interval of three months more than a thousand had been initiated by +the same sacraments, and numberless others are left burning with the +same desire. Therefore the members of our Order declare that the time +is come for the salvation of that island, and eagerly wait for workers. + +But your Paternity will learn of a more glorious fruit from these +missions in Bohol from the letters of Father Gabriel Sanchez and Father +Cristofero Ximenez, [40] who have been assigned to that mission. [41] +In letters written in the month of October, Father Gabriel writes as +follows: "Our Lord has singularly blessed our attempts and labors. For +after the flocks of the heathen were gathered in one place they were +converted to God with such earnestness, so completely without pretense, +that I can say nothing else than that God their Maker and Redeemer +has desired by some peculiar favor in their calling to add them to +His flock--inasmuch as within two months two thousand mortals have +yielded themselves to the laws and customs of Christ, by accepting +baptism. And it is my opinion that, if some fathers are ready, +the whole of them will accept the yoke of Christ. It is beyond the +power of language to tell with what spiritual joy I am affected when +I see men who are almost savages of the forests hastening down from +the mountains to supplicate the benefits of baptism. Nay, the very +children, like to angels, taught by I know not whom, now repeat the +Christian faith. Indeed, a few days ago one came to me not ignorant +of his catechism, whom I had not seen for ten years, and with great +earnestness begged me not to refuse to baptize him. The catalons, +or priests of the idols, also come, and show by so many proofs that +they desire baptism with all their hearts, that it is necessary +to satisfy their desires. Truly, my Father, I abound in delight, +I rejoice, I exult; nor is there anything in this world set before +me than to serve our Lord God with all my heart, and to desire that +all should be turned to the worship of His Divine Majesty. On Sunday, +in church and elsewhere, there were counted seven hundred persons. If +your Reverence were to see at sunset a hundred mountain boys and girls +who have been newly added to Christ marching in procession along the +bank of the river, praising God in harmony and chanting all together +the Christian faith, he could not help dissolving in tears of joy. A +few days ago in Dita five hundred were purified with holy baptism. Thus +in the whole region of Bohol we may now easily count three thousand +Christians. At the beginning there were only eight hundred; now, +by the accession of a new blessing of God, twice thirteen hundred +have been added in baptism." + +With regard to another brief mission undertaken by a priest, the +same Father writes as follows: "God adorns and enriches this Tobigon +[42] people with so many heavenly gifts that I do not dare depart +hence, and break the thread of our most happy progress. The church +is filled with people morning and evening; no one is anxious about +food, although they may not have it, or may have to bring it from a +distance. All their care is to be Christians, and to be initiated in +baptism. In these fifteen days in which we have instructed them in +the rudiments of the Christian faith, there have been baptized more +than two hundred and fifty adults. There remain forty catechumens, +for the rest will be baptized after our return. + +"An old man, a chief who is held in high honor, and who has hitherto +been obstinate, has at last told me that he is ready to bow his +head to baptism. He is all white-haired and decrepit, so that he +can scarcely combine word with word. Since he is unable to come to +church, I am compelled to go to his house. I will baptize him, with +another man of advanced age, as early as possible. It seems to me no +small evidence that they have been predestinated, that both of them +have waited so long, and that they now begin to glow with so great +a desire for baptism." + +With regard to another mission, Father Gabriel Sanchez writes that the +archdeacon of Zebu, who holds a benefice in Tana, went to the island +of Bohol, twelve leagues distant, to ask our superior for a father +skilled in the language, to preach the gospel to his tribe. Father +Gabriel was sent, and in one month heard four hundred confessions, +and offered to many the sacred body of the Lord. He also baptized +eighty small children and some larger ones. The custom was there +introduced of having boys march in procession in the public streets, +and chant the Christian belief. The same thing has been done in the +church, so greatly to the delight of the people that even the chiefs +of the tribe think it small honor to them if they are not sometimes +examined in the same belief. + +The Indian wife of a local governor was bedridden, and one night began +to suffer so intensely that she was entirely deprived of the power of +speech. A father of the Society was called, who found her entirely +speechless. And since she had not confessed her sins, although she +tried to do so, the father began to recite the holy gospel, and to +sprinkle her with holy water; and when this was done she collected +her strength and, after pronouncing the name of Jesus, said, "Have +mercy upon me!" Then, in the presence of many, she desired to confess; +and after less than a quarter of an hour she arose from her bed, so +well and whole that the father would not listen to her, but directed +her to come to church on the following day to make her confession, +which she did. The same thing happened to the same father in the case +of two other sick persons, whom by the recitation of the gospel and by +the sprinkling of holy water he restored to sense and health, so that +they were able to confess their sins. Further, on two different days +having gone to two children near to death, and deprived of the power +of speech, with the same antidote of the gospel and of holy water, +he restored both to their former health, so that one of them went so +far as to jump suddenly out of his bed and return to his boyish sports. + +The same priest also went, for the sake of hearing confession, to a +man who lived a league and a half from the town, whose body was so +weakened and torn by sickness that he could not bear to be touched +or to be turned from one side to the other. When his confession had +been heard and the gospel had been recited, the father went away on +Saturday of that week. On the following Sunday, when the father asked +how the sick man was, he was told that he had been restored to health, +and had gone out to an island in order to get by hunting what was +necessary for his food. One night, while the daughters of one of the +chiefs were chanting the heads of the Christian law, they looked up +from a sort of portico and saw a crucifix in the sky, with a kind of +crown on the head, rough but beautiful, and with the whole body and +breast plainly visible. It shone like the sun, and went up to heaven +until it reached the sphere of the moon; as soon as it had reached +that it vanished. The sight of this vision caused the spectators as +much joy as its disappearance did sorrow. The father commanded that +the whole thing be recounted in church, in the presence of many, by +those very persons who had seen it; although, as that tribe is very +simple and modest, they showed great fear and shame in telling the +story. Afterwards it was learned that the same crucifix had appeared +in another place two leagues away. This vision ought to be recognized +as of greater value because it befell persons of exceeding virtue, +who are persevering in their pristine habits of holy living. + + + + +Residence of Samar + + +Since the inhabitants of this island are scattered along an extended +coast-line of the sea, it was necessary to send six of the fathers for +the greater part of last year to cultivate it, with the results which +might be expected from such missions. We learned from the letters +of Ours that the people of this island who live along the coast +have begun to offer their names in order to receive the Christian +religion, and that all the chiefs have already been purified by +holy baptism. The duty of visiting fourteen places rests upon this +residence. In this year three thousand six hundred and eighty persons, +for the most part adults, have been joined to the spouse of Christ +through the holy waters of baptism. In one tiny island, which had +not been visited for two years, two of Ours who had been sent thither +on mission were received by the whole tribe with such delight that, +all the way from the beach of the sea to the church of the place, they +adorned all the roads with green branches; and then they were led to +the church by a procession of boys and girls singing the Christian +teaching with joyous voices. And when Ours asked to have placed on +the lists the names of those who desired to receive baptism, they +answered that there was no need of a list, that they all wished to +become Christians. The old men--who are generally more perverse than +the rest, and are unwilling to learn the Christian teaching--brought +forward no other ground for the baptism which they so much desired +than that their old age promised them no long life. Thus all by the +divine grace were made children of God, and inheritors of eternal life. + +The news that these had thus been added to Christ soon moved other +islands also to desire our fathers. On one of these islands, within +fifteen days one hundred and sixty adults and five children forsook +the dark wilderness of infidelity for the light of the gospel. Among +them was one old woman one hundred and thirty years of age--blind, +deaf, incapable of motion; for, wherever she was carried, there she +remained like an unmoving stone. Afterward in other places there were +baptized five hundred adults and two infants. When they returned on +a second mission, after an interval of three months, eight hundred +and thirty-seven were baptized, and from the most of these their +concubines were taken away. Besides this, in other places many were +plunged into the same waters, the total number reaching three thousand +six hundred and eighty. + + + +Residence of Dulac + + +The most ample fruit has resulted from the Christian teaching among +the people of Dulac, [43] given by the seven men of our Society. The +foundations of a boys' school have been laid. In it thirty are imbued +with good morals and solid virtues, and give their aid to Ours in +explaining the catechism to the more ignorant people and those of the +lower order, and that with happy results; for whenever Ours go where +these pupils have exerted their diligence, they find all the people +well prepared to receive baptism. + +To the old Christians and some of the more intelligent adults familiar +sermons are delivered on the life of Christ and those of the saints, +and on the manner of profitably receiving communion, and notable +results are evident. On account of these pious exercises and the +uprightness of life shown by these converts, the Christian religion is +ordinarily held in such high esteem that few remain who do not desire +to be initiated into it by baptism. In Advent and at the feast of the +Nativity we baptized more than seven hundred persons. We have baptized +in all, from last year to the present date, two thousand and twenty, +or more. + +To this residence are annexed, besides other charges, the care of two +great and populous districts, which give surest proof of their virtue +by clean morals and by obedience. We are informed by letters that, +at the feast of the Nativity, in one of them eight hundred infidels +pledged themselves to the Christian faith; and that the believers +do not yield to Espana in frequenting the sacraments of confession +and communion. + +There was found in one little village an old man leading the life +practically of a hermit; and when our father asked him about his +manner of life, he answered so wisely that the father was greatly +surprised. Among other things he said that though his bodily life +was passed on earth, yet his soul lived in heaven. He had no dreams +at night except about the other life, and he was accustomed to see +the blessed surrounded with great splendor, and one among them who +excelled them all. And when the father gave him a picture of the Last +Judgment to look at, in which was expressed the glory of paradise, +he asked him if his dreams agreed with this picture of the blessed +life. The wonderful old man answered: "Should I see nothing but this, +my father? Much more! much more!" The father was amazed to find such +a treasure of spiritual riches laid up in this man; for he afterward +said that his meditation and the occupation of his mind would be of +nothing else than of Jesus and Mary, until he had exchanged this life +for the eternal one. + +Two of Ours, happening to enter a wretched rustic hut, found a man +more than eighty years old lying upon some reeds. He was deprived +of all his senses and his whole body was so worn out that the skin +scarcely adhered to his bones--a living image of death. Our fathers +pitied the man, and prayed to God for him that He would not deny +His compassion to this most pitiable of men. Soon after, the dying +man revived, and with great joy received baptism. As soon as he had +received it he was again deprived of his senses, and, gently calling +on the names of Jesus and Mary, he rendered up his soul to God. + +Information was brought that there was a man lying grievously ill in +the most distant part of the district. Although we were not a little +deterred from the journey by the darkness of night and the great +number of serpents, as well as by the necessity of crossing a river +full of crocodiles; yet we did not regard all these things as of so +much consequence as the value of a single soul redeemed by the blood +of Jesus Christ. One of the fathers, therefore, went thither, and with +a medicine healed the sick man in the name of Jesus. On the father's +return, something more extraordinary happened to him. He came upon +a sick woman, who, although she did not seem to be dangerously ill, +yet departed to the better life as soon as she had received baptism. As +two of Ours were making their way over a sandy soil at noon, under the +dreadful heat of the burning sun, being without any food or drink, they +laid this their affliction before the Lord God; and behold! suddenly, +at this most unusual time, there was a man sitting on the ground, +who showed himself most kind and courteous. He ungrudgingly offered +to the hungry and thirsty men fresh fruit from his basket. When they +accepted it readily, he not only took great pleasure in that, but +also urged them, with a certain strange earnestness, to feed upon +it as if it were their own. Strengthened with this little meal they +went on, which they could hardly have done otherwise, and offered +great thanks to God that He had come to their assistance in their +extremity. Afterward, when they had considered all the circumstances +of the fact, and of the place in which the man was found with the +fruit, and had reflected that no Indian was in the habit of going on +a journey alone in the heat of the day, and again that, although they +were unknown to him, he had shared the fruit with them so kindly and +generously, they came directly to the conclusion that he was an angel +of God. At least it was a proof of the singular providence of God; +and it is well worthy of belief, that God in this manner had been +willing to show His bounty to them, inasmuch as the said two fathers +had exercised their ministry with great spiritual fruit in that place +from which they had set out on that day. + + + + +Residence of Alangala + + +In this residence four priests and three brethren give their energy to +cultivating the vineyard of the Lord. They go afoot through the rivers, +the pools, and the marshes, the water often reaching to their navels, +and the sun burning above them. But since their labor is wrought +through the love of God, He, in His unmeasured kindness, never +deprives them of His solace in the utmost perils. They write that, +from the end of last year up to the present time, more than fourteen +hundred have received the sacred washing of regeneration. They give +diligent attention to the divine offices, which are celebrated in +this residence with greater magnificence than elsewhere, on account +of the convenience of three Indian chapels, which far surpass the +Spanish. They follow the practice of singing _Salve Regina_, in honor +of our Lady the Virgin; and, throughout Lent, of singing the psalm +_Miserere_ to accompany the discipline. + +Several missions have been established in various places, with +manifold increase of baptisms and other spiritual fruits. I will give +an account of some. While a father was living in one little district, +an Indian, crippled in both hands and feet, made his way straight to +the father by boat, and that alone, to the astonishment of all--God +and his guardian angel doubtless impelling the boat. He begged the +father for baptism, and declared that the author of his request had +been a certain Spaniard who had told him that all those who did not +accept the Christian law would be carried off to hell. + +The greatest results have been obtained from the schools, for the +pupils have each of them become teachers in the paternal homes of +all the domestics; and by the good example of their lives they incite +others to accept the true doctrine. A boy, a cantor in church, being +solicited by a Spaniard to perpetrate a foul deed, answered: "Sir, +I know well by what remedy you should drive away that temptation +of yours. Let us recite together a rosary in honor of the blessed +Virgin Mary, and instantly all these wicked thoughts will vanish in +smoke." Thus by the newly converted Christian he was instructed who +ought rightly to have been the teacher and master of others. + +In the island Leita there were counted last year above five hundred +and twenty-nine thousand souls; and they have the instruction of our +priests only, who are six in number. By their hands the most holy +waters of baptism have, in the course of a year, in this and other +islands, been sprinkled upon at least ten thousand nine hundred +heads. And this, in brief, is the harvest of this vice-province. + + * * * * * + +It only remains that your Paternity should cast your eyes upon this +new and tiny plant, separated from Rome by so great an interval of +distance and situated in the most remote parts of the world, as it +has also obtained the last place in the government of the Society; +and that you should show to it all kindness and favor by sending to it +some laborers with these words from the eighteenth chapter of Isaiah: +_Ite, angeli veloces, ad gentem conuulsam et dilaceratam, ad populum +terribilem, post quem non est alius._ [44] Thus they may bring unto +these places of darkness some light by their preaching of the gospel, +and all may bend the knee before the true God, the maker of the world, +and adore and revere Him. + +These treasures the India of the Philippines offers to your Paternity, +and it is confident that by the divine grace and your blessing it +will offer greater ones. Finally, may our Lord protect and preserve +the health of your Paternity for many years, to the advantage of the +whole church and the increase of the Society. Your Paternity's son +and servant in Christ, + +_Francisco Vaez_ + + + + +Letter from Diego Garcia to Felipe III + + +Sire: + +In the year ninety-nine I came to these islands, by order of my +general, to console and visit in his name the fathers and brothers +of our Society who reside in them. We were much pleased to see how +much has been done for the service of our Lord and your Majesty, +and the good of the Indians. + +The Society of Jesus has in its charge a good part of the islands +called the Pintados, where the holy gospel had never been preached. In +the period of four years, eleven or twelve thousand have been converted +and baptized. Matters are now in such course that in a short time, +with the divine grace, there will be more than forty thousand +baptized. As the priests who are occupied in this conversion are +not more than thirteen, [45] the results, if there were many more, +would also have been incomparably greater. For the honor of God, I +beseech your Majesty to be pleased to command that workers be sent, +as it is a great shame that, when the season for the harvest is upon +us, it should be lost through lack of reapers. + + +_[In the margin of the preceding paragraph_: + +Already provided for."] + +The Indians of these Pintados Islands have by nature good dispositions +and abilities. I have learned by experience with some few, who were +brought up in our houses, from the time when they were children, +that if there were several seminaries where the education of the youth +might be carefully attended to, taking them out of the power of their +heathen parents, while still children (for the latter would give them +up willingly), inside of a few years there would be a very prosperous +Christian community in the sight of God and men. In my opinion there +is no more effective means to establish the faith firmly among these +barbarians than this. + +Your Majesty would do a great service to our Lord by ordering that a +seminary for these people should be established. I believe that the +money which has been collected from the fourths, where there is no +instruction, might well be employed in this work. In all conscience, +it ought to be spent for the spiritual good of those Indians, as +your Majesty directed by your royal decree. And none will do so well +as this, which is the seed for all the rest. I have learned that, +in the royal buildings at Manila, fourteen or fifteen thousand pesos +are spent which are obtained from these fourths. From these and some +other funds which lie in the treasury and are every day accumulating, +several of the said seminaries might be well established. + +[_In the margin of the preceding paragraph:_ "Have the papers brought +which relate to this."] + +It is a great disadvantage for conversions to our holy faith, and +for the civilization of these same Indians, for them to be dispersed +like wild beasts among the mountains. It would be a great relief for +the burden on the royal conscience of your Majesty, if your ministers +should execute the order given by your Majesty to reduce this people +to settlements. As they now are, the labor of the ministers is +immense, and the results are small; and they are unable to establish +Christianity and civilization as they should. [46] + +[_In the margin of the previous paragraph:_ "Write to Don Pedro +de Acuna that with the help of these fathers, with all possible +gentleness, and at the least cost, he shall see to it that the Indians +be thus reduced; and if there be any great difficulty or disadvantage +therein, let him advise us of it."] + +The Indians have many grievances against the corregidors and +encomenderos. With fewer or none of these judges there would be more +justice; and if the encomenderos or collectors of tributes were not +present in villages, the Indians would be better guarded. + +[_In the margin of this paragraph_: "Let Don Pedro de Acuna send +information."] + +The students in this country receive no reward for their studies, +and accordingly tire of them and leave them at the most important +time. It would be well if your Majesty would give permission for us +to graduate them from our courses of study, which are the first that +were established in this country. In this way the sons of the country +will be encouraged; and the cost of bringing masters from Espana, +and maintaining them with a perpetual salary, will be saved to the +royal treasury. In great part there will also be saved the expense of +bringing ministers from Europe, since they will be trained in this +country--where they are used to the climate, and know the language +of the natives. Although at present we cannot found so organized +a university, at least they can be graduated in arts and theology, +which are the sciences lectured upon in our Society. + +[_In the margin of this paragraph_: "Provided for in the duplicate +of this."] + +There are many persons in these islands who have toiled in the service +of your Majesty, and your Majesty would direct his favor well if +he extended it, among others, to Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor +of this royal Audiencia, who is a man of good parts and fitted for +any matter pertaining to the service of your Majesty. Likewise the +licentiate Don Antonio de Ribera, auditor of this royal Audiencia, +has done a great deal in saving a galleon in which was carried the +entire wealth and support of this country. Captain Hernando de Avila, +treasurer of the royal exchequer of your Majesty, is filling that +office as a faithful servant. Captain Christoval Ascueta Menchaca +has served many years and is worthy of reward. + +[_In the margin_: "On the memorandum of the exchequer."] + +Throughout our entire order, especial care is taken in all matters +respecting your Majesty, and we shall still continue this, beseeching +our Lord to protect your Majesty many years for us, as He may see +is fitting for the welfare of His church and of the kingdoms of your +Majesty. Manila, July 8, 1601. + +_Diego Garcia_, visitor of the Society of Jesus. + + + + + +Letter from the Fiscal to Felipe III + + +Sire: + +I, the licentiate Geronimo de Salazar y Salcedo, fiscal for your +Majesty in the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria of the Philipinas +Islands, say that, as it has been heard in the islands that your +Majesty has done them the favor of appointing Don Pedro de Acuna as +governor and captain-general, and president of the royal Audiencia, +this has greatly pleased and satisfied them, on account of the good +reputation which he has of being an excellent soldier, and not at all +self-seeking. Therefore his arrival is desired, because it is very +necessary for all and [_illegible in MS._] for the matters of war, +in which many mistakes have been made up to the present time--which I +will not mention, however, since the remedy is so soon expected with +the arrival of Don Pedro de Acuna. If this had occurred a year ago, +it is certain that a great misfortune would have been avoided which +these islands suffered, and which was as follows. + +On the sixteenth of October of the year 1600 just past, there entered +the little bay of Aluay, which is in these islands, near the entrance +to them, two vessels, which, from some people who went on board of +them, were found to belong to strangers. After having robbed some +vessels they came toward the port of Cavite, which is two leguas from +this city, and is the place where vessels anchor. It was decided that +some ships should be fitted out in the aforesaid port--namely, a ship +built in the island of Cebu, called the "Sant Diego," which belonged +to some private persons; a galicabra called the "Sant Bartolome," which +belongs to your Majesty; a galley of twenty benches, also belonging to +your Majesty; and a pataje belonging to some Portuguese from Malaca, +who were in the port. [47] + +It seemed to Don Francisco Tello, governor and captain-general of +these islands and president of the royal Audiencia, and to the doctor +Antonio de Morga and the licentiate Cristoval Tellez de Almacan, +auditors therein, that it would be well, in order that the ships +might be got ready in the best way and as quickly as possible, for +the aforesaid Dr. Antonio de Morga to go to Cavite for that purpose, +and so he went there early in November. Later, desiring to go as +commander-in-chief of the expedition, he asked for that office from +the president, who proposed it to the licentiate Cristoval Tellez de +Almacan, desiring him to secure it through a session of the Audiencia, +but the latter opposed it. I afterward spoke to him of the lack there +was of auditors, and of some other matters, and suggested to him to +write about this and let each one give his opinion. Yet, although +the said president agreed to do so, he did not, but secretly gave +the title of commander-in-chief of the fleet to the said Dr. Antonio +de Morga, although your Majesty had here Don Juan Ronquillo, who was +receiving a salary as commander-in-chief of the galleys, and who was +a veteran soldier, together with many others who have well approved +themselves on the occasions for service which have arisen. The doctor, +fearing that the president might change his mind, made haste to leave +the port; and, although he could have had the galeota fitted out, +he did not do so. It was understood that the reason given was that +Don Juan Ronquillo said that it should not go out because he was +commander-in-chief of the galleys for your Majesty, and that the +right to go in the galeota could not be taken from him. Likewise, +although he could have taken the pataje from Malaca, for which he had +received some supplies and artillery at your Majesty's expense, he did +not wait for it; and some say that friends of the doctor said that he +ought not to take the pataje, because the Portuguese on it said that +he should not, although the victory would have been to their account. + +So on the twelfth of December he set out from Cavite for the port of +Mariveles, which is seven leguas distant, and there [_MS. illegible_] +the flagship which was the ship "Sant Diego;" and on the following day, +the thirteenth, at eleven or twelve o'clock of a very black night, +he left the port of Mariveles, without informing his admiral's ship, +which was the galicabra, and in which sailed as admiral the captain +Juan de Alcega. However, after the flagship had been gone more than an +hour, the other ship saw it by accident, and went after it. At daybreak +our flagship recognized that of the enemy, which, together with its +admiral's ship, was between the islands of Anacebu and Fortun. On +account of the roughness of the weather, they were unable to unite; +so the enemy's flagship kept up into the wind to wait for ours, +which gained the windward of it and closed with it under full sail, +while the admiral's ship of the enemy took to flight. + +Meanwhile the two flagships were fighting. For each man of the enemy +our ship had four Spaniards--not to mention the Indians and negroes, +who helped very much--and a great deal of artillery, powder, and +munitions and instruments of war; and they destroyed the enemy to +such an extent that as many of our men as wished to do so entered it +and took the banners and standards and other things belonging to the +enemy, without having anyone appear on it, for they had retired to the +bow. At this point our admiral's ship arrived, and with its artillery +and arquebuses did some damage to the Dutch flagship; and our men on +it, especially Alonso de Mansilla, the sargento-mayor's adjutant, +called aloud, telling the others not to do them any damage, but to +pass on to the admiral's ship of the enemy, because their flagship +had already surrendered to your Majesty; whereupon our admiral's ship +went in pursuit of the Dutch admiral's ship, which was more than two +leguas away. The two flagships remained thus over three hours more, +besides the two during which they had already been together. The enemy +did not fight, and on our ship there was no one to order or govern, +or command anyone to pass to the other ship. Then it was said that +our ship was going to the bottom, and so loudly that the enemy heard +it and took courage again. In our ship there was no one to command +what was to be done, so that it did go to the bottom. There escaped on +mattresses and on shields, and by swimming, Dr. Antonio de Morga and +[_illegible in MS._] other persons; but more than as many Spaniards +again were lost, and more than a hundred Indians and negroes. The best +artillery that there was in these islands, which had been taken from +the fortresses for this purpose, was also utterly lost, besides all +that the vessel carried, which was a great deal. That same day the +admiral, Juan de Alcega, captured the Dutch admiral's ship, and sent +its men to this city. + +Then it was that they were found to be Dutch. They called themselves +vassals of Mauricio, Prince of Orange and Count of Nasau; and they +bore a patent, a copy of which is subjoined. The president thought +it well to send after the enemy's flagship, and for this purpose +he ordered that our admiral's ship should go, with Admiral Juan +de Alcega as commander; and that the Dutch vessel should go as +admiral's ship, with Captain Juan Tello de Aguirre as admiral, who +had had the position over the infantry in our admiral's ship. They +went where they were ordered, but did not find a trace of the Dutch +flagship. The commander of this was Oliver van Noordt, and in command +of the admiral's ship was Lanverto Viesman. They were heretics who, +with other ships, had set out from the port of Nostradamus [_i.e._, +Amsterdam] in Olanda, on the twelfth of September in the year 98; +and had come by the Canaria Islands and by Brasil, through the Strait +of Magallanes and along the coast of Chile, to these islands. + +As I thought from the beginning, as soon as I knew of the loss of +our flagship, that they would try to conceal it from your Majesty, +I made an investigation about it, a copy of which is subjoined. [48] +From this it can be seen who was to blame; and whatever is written to +your Majesty contrary to this, or to what is contained in the report on +the investigation, is not to be relied upon. The president has made an +investigation in this matter, trying to shield himself and the guilty +ones; and it has been carried on in such a way that it is known that +no witness has dared to tell the truth. On this account I presented a +petition to the president, asking that he refrain from trying the case, +because the witnesses did not speak freely for fear of the power of the +guilty, and because I intended to ask your Majesty to appoint a judge +who could try the case, since the president could not do so. I also +asked that a copy might be given to me of all that had been written +about this matter, in order that I might give it to your Majesty and +ask for what might be proper. This was denied me by the president, +and I appealed to the royal Audiencia, but for lack of auditors, +of whom there was only the licentiate Tellez de Almazan, no action +was taken. If a judge were to be appointed, there would be none who +would dare to declare against the will of the guilty. Although the +licentiate Don Antonio de Rivera Maldonado has come since, it has +been impossible for me to take up this matter, because I have been +ill now for more than forty days. So I beg your Majesty to order +that this report be examined, and that whatever is proper may be +done. Our Lord keep the Catholic and royal person of your Majesty, +with a greater increase of realms and power. From Manila, which is +in the Philipinas Islands, on the sixteenth of July of the year 1601. + +_Hieronimo de Salazar y Salcedo_ + + + + + +Complaint of the Cabildo of Manila Against Morga + + +Sire: + +The most faithful city of Manila in the Philipinas Islands humbly +informs your Majesty that for some years past this city and realm +have suffered, and are at present suffering, so many hardships and +misfortunes, both in wars and in the loss of wealth and prestige, that +it has been very close to entire ruin. This has arisen and arises +not from unavoidable accidents which ordinarily happen in states +and communities, but from those which the persons in charge of the +government and who reside there could avoid, but do not prepare for; +and they are notoriously due to the fault and misgovernment of the +persons to whom your Majesty has entrusted the administration of these +islands--partly on account of their scant energy and vigilance, but +most of all through what has resulted from their not being willing +to fulfil the orders, instructions, and royal decrees which your +Majesty had previously issued for the attainment of your objects +and for particular ends; these they have directly violated. Since +such conditions require a remedy, and as this must depend upon the +royal will of your Majesty, who are not informed of the actual truth +concerning events which have occurred here, these states must remain +without relief on your Majesty's part, and with the said danger of our +ruin. Owing to the general obligation which rests upon us as vassals +of your Majesty, and that which in conscience especially obliges us +as regidors of this city, which is the capital of all these islands, +the following account has been written. + +In the first place, a matter whence many other losses have resulted +is this. Your Majesty having ordered the conquest of the kingdom of +Mindanao to be entrusted to Captain Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa, +conformably to the edict or ordinance which treats of the conquest of +newly-discovered countries and settlements in the Yndias, and this +order having been despatched to the said Captain Estevan Rodriguez +de Figueroa, Governor Don Louis Das Marinas arrived here in the year +96. When the former reached Mindanao with his expedition, he (and he +alone) was killed by the natives of that island on the unfortunate +day of St. Mark of the same year. When Don Francisco Tello arrived +in the following June of the said year and took this government, he +immediately undertook to send a person to conduct the said conquest +of Mindanao. As all the troops were there which had been taken by +the said Captain Estevan Rodriguez, and as Don Joan Ronquillo (your +Majesty's commander of the galleys and of naval affairs in these +islands) had gone there with another detachment of troops, and had +remained in the said islands until March of the year 98--where, during +all this time, he won many victories over the enemy, and latterly one +against the king of Terrenate (who was sending his fleet to aid the +said island), wherein he routed and captured the vessels and killed +their commander, who was an uncle of the said king of Terrenate--at +this the natives of the said island of Mindanao, who until that +time had defended themselves, began negotiations for surrender, +and for rendering submission to your Majesty; a part of them did +so, and paid tribute to your Majesty. The said Don Francisco Tello, +with the approval of Doctor Antonio de Morga, without considering +the state in which this matter lay, or reflecting upon the injuries +which might result from issuing such orders as they did (as may be +seen later by what will be written further on), sent the said Don +Joan Rronquillo an order to dismantle the fortifications of the said +island, without leaving any fortified station, and to tear down the +forts which your Majesty held there. Although he saw the great loss +which would result from this, yet, as there was a clause in the said +order directing him to do this without any reply, under penalty of +being held contumacious and liable to punishment, he left the said +island and came to this city with the fleet and troops which he had +there, in the month of April of the year 98. The said Don Francisco +Tello and the said Doctor Morga, seeing the great error which they had +committed, attempted to exonerate themselves before the said Don Joan +Rronquillo should arrive in this city. They arrested him, charging him +with having taken away the protection of the said island of Mindanao, +without their having sent him any strict order which would oblige him +to do it. In order to give color to this--as they were aware that, in +the voyage which the said Don Joan Rronquillo made while returning, +his ship was partly wrecked, and they supposed that the said order +which they had sent him had been lost, they intrigued with the +government notary, and had him produce in the prosecution against +the said Don Joan the order which had been given to dismantle the +fortresses of Mindanao, omitting therefrom those words which made +it obligatory for him to do so--namely, that he should do so under +penalty of being contumacious and liable to punishment. In this way +they were released from responsibility for their act, and the said +Don Joan Ronquillo was inculpated without excuse, since in so serious +an affair he, being on the spot, should not have done so for a simple +command. The case having been continued, and he having presented the +original order which they thought had been lost, and having given other +explanations, he was even by them acquitted of that charge. All this +appears sufficiently by the record of the case, which remains in these +islands. Your Majesty having been made aware of the abandonment of +the said islands during the last year, there arrived here your royal +decree directing the investigation and punishment of whomsoever was +responsible. As they were to blame in the affair, as can be seen by +this relation, they remained silent, and have taken no action. From +the abandonment of what was already gained, through the said order, +it has followed that the Indians who are natives of the said islands of +Ufanos, which the Spaniards had left, considering that this was due to +fear, assembled, with others from other neighboring kingdoms, to come +to work havoc in the lands of your Majesty. Accordingly, in the past +year of 1600 they came with a fleet of many vessels to the Pintados +provinces, which are subject to your Majesty; and in the region known +as Bantayan they burned the village and the church, killed many, and +took captive more than eight hundred persons. Thence they came to the +river of Panay, an encomienda assigned to the royal crown, and killed +a great many more, taking six hundred more prisoners from the said +encomiendas. They burned the church and the image of our Lady which +was in it, which a few days before that had for a considerable time +miraculously sweated out many drops of water, as if in premonition of +the impending event. They drank out of the chalice in their feasts, +scoffing at the consecration of it, after the fashion of Mahometan +people, whereby the natives and Spaniards of those regions were +greatly afflicted and terrorized, as may be imagined. + +As has already been said, the reason for the coming of these +Indians to inflict the said damage was the command to take away your +Majesty's camp from the said land of Mindanao. But the cause for +their having wrought those injuries after they arrived was, as was +said at the beginning, that the order and decree of your Majesty +was not obeyed. For your Majesty had in this camp four captains +of infantry with the four hundred soldiers which your Majesty had +commanded to be left there as a garrison, and the said captains were +satisfactory persons; and it was ordered that there should be no more +than the said four captains there, as any more would be superfluous, +since there were so few soldiers. Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor of +this royal Audiencia, has reached such arrogance and restlessness of +mind, caused by his having wrought so many injuries to this afflicted +commonwealth through the power and authority which he has, both +in general and in particular, to many citizens thereof; but, with +his customary facility for speaking ill to some one's prejudice, he +escapes, without anyone daring to speak of the matter. In the little +time which he had spent in this country, he found himself rich and +powerful through his trading and commerce. Accordingly he commenced to +procure taking away the employments and offices from soldiers and men +of war whom your Majesty has here, and appropriated them to himself +and his relations. Thus, contrary to the said limitation of number, +and in violation of what your Majesty commands by your ordinances +and decrees--namely, that offices of profit shall not be given to the +auditors, or to their kindred, servants, or dependents--Governor Don +Francisco Tello appointed, as alcalde-mayor of the island of Mindoro, +a certain Pedro Cotelo de Morales, a first cousin of the wife of the +said Doctor Morga, who came with the latter to these islands; and +passed by, in giving it, many of the conquerors and poor settlers. But +the said Doctor Morga would not accept this, saying that he would +have no appointment for him unless it was a paid captaincy. The man +was a mere youth, and in all his life had never fired an arquebus, +and was not skilled or experienced in war. On the contrary, he had +led a very evil life, which cannot be fittingly described to your +Majesty, and so is left unsaid. Accordingly, to give some color to +what he desired to do, and in order that he might not appear to +be exceeding the said number of four captains, the said governor +appointed this man captain of infantry, so that he could go out of +this city to the said Pintados provinces, where they were in fear +that the said enemies were going. He was assigned the regular salary +for a captain, and in like manner the other officers of his company +were established with pay; and they likewise were men of the same way +of life and the same amount of experience in war as the said Pedro +Cotelo. He went with the troops to the city of Santisimo Nombre de +Jhesus, which is in the said provinces of the Pintados, thus leaving +in this city of Manila the four regular captains of infantry, who had +some knowledge of the affair, in idleness and without any troops; +for among all four of the companies there did not remain a hundred +soldiers fit for service. As he was in the said city at the time when +the said enemies came, and received word that they were in the said +village of Bantayan, the alcalde-mayor and commander of the troops +of war, who was in the said city, despatched the said Pedro Cotelo +de Morales with ships and troops against them. Although the journey +from the place where he was to that where the enemies were situated +was two days long, he took four to it. If he had arrived at the time +when he might have done so, he would have found the enemy drawn up +on the land, and would have burned their fleet and taken away their +prizes. When he arrived, sailing on from that place, he again heard +the noise of the engines of war which they had with them, near some +islands; and some of the soldiers, even, climbing up the masts of +the ships, saw those of the enemy. But he would not go against them +either, alleging various excuses--as your Majesty may have seen more +at length by the information which accompanies this. + +Besides this, the said Pedro Cotelo Morales, having arrived with +his fleet at the town of Arevalo, a settlement of Spaniards, the +commander and alcalde-mayor there resident gave him more ships and +troops, and ordered him in a council of war (in which Pedro Cotelo +himself took part) to go and seek the enemy; and, if he did not find +him in an island near there, to come back immediately to the said +town of Arevalo on account of the fear lest the enemy should escape +thither. The said Pedro Cotelo, taking no heed of the said order, +as one who held the post of alcalde should, and in order to flee the +battle, did not observe this command, and went into another region +without coming back to the said town. In the meantime the enemy came +there and landed, and the town was almost ruined. They killed the +alcalde-mayor and commander of the troops, and then withdrew. If the +said Pedro Cotelo had come back as had been ordered by the said council +of war, he would have found them fighting there with their ships +in the bays and rivers, in such wise that not a man or a ship could +escape. In this way the enemy left with the two prizes mentioned. And +this year we have even now information that they are coming back with +increased forces; and in the preparation which has been already made +or is now under way, more than fifty thousand pesos have been spent +from the exchequer of your Majesty and furnished by private persons, +to say nothing of the losses which the pirates will inflict when +they return. The said Doctor Morga has been to blame for all this; +because, contrary to the orders of your Majesty, he succeeded in +having his relative placed in an office which he did not deserve, and +for which he was not competent. Concerning this last affair, a copy +of the proceedings of the council of war was sent to your Majesty, +in which was the above-mentioned order to the said Cotelo. In order +that it may be more thoroughly proved, they sent to the said town of +Arevalo to have the matter investigated; but the magistrate there, +for fear of the said Doctor Morga, would take no action. + +The said Doctor Morga, continuing his bold acts, was not content with +having been responsible for the losses to property. Two Dutch ships +having arrived in the past year of six hundred, in these islands, +and having come in the month of November to the mouth of the bay of +this city, while they were beating about in the bay, ships were put +in readiness to go out against them. The said Don Joan Ronquillo, +commander of the naval forces of your Majesty, having gone to the +port of Cavite for this purpose, the said Doctor Morga commenced his +machinations, and claimed that he should go as commander of the said +expedition. To give this some foundation and color, when the said Don +Joan Ronquillo had come to this city to seek various supplies for the +said expedition, he was arrested; and on the next day following the +said Doctor Morga went to the port of Cavite, saying that he had best +be present in person to encourage the despatching of the fleet. In +fact, through scheming and plotting, and by the authority of his +office, he succeeded in taking the said expedition away from the said +Don Joan Rronquillo, and having it given to himself. He wrote letters, +the originals of which are extant, to the governor of these islands, +asking him that, even if Don Joan Rronquillo should petition for +judgment against him, he in no wise respond or have to do with him +until the despatch of the vessels should be completed, so that the +latter might not appeal to the Audiencia and obtain a decree which +would hinder the said Doctor Morga in the expedition. When three ships +were armed and fitted with artillery to go out against the enemy's +fleet, he went with the two vessels, which were the flagship and +almiranta, to the island of Mariveles, eight leagues from the point of +Cavite and five leagues from where the enemy were--without awaiting +the other third ship which lay at Cavite, and belonged to several +Portuguese, which arrived at the said island of Marbeles the same night +when Doctor Morga sailed away. Having sighted the enemy on Thursday +morning, without waiting for Captain Joan de Alcega, who was in the +other ship, as admiral, or taking advice as to what should be done, +he was confident of the victory on account of the report which had +been made concerning the few troops which the enemy carried, and the +large number that he himself had on board with him. Consequently the +flukes of the anchors were put upon the side of the ship; and having +come up with and grappled the enemy at the sixth hour, the latter, +seeing the force which the flagship had, gave up, and put himself +with all his men under cover, without firing a single arquebus for +more than an hour by the clock. Some of the soldiers and sailors from +our ship, having entered theirs without orders (for the said Doctor +was not able to give the order), and having found the deck of the +enemy's ship without men and all the troops withdrawn--the banners +being captured, and cast over to our ships--when the enemy saw how +little care was given to the taking possession, since the troops were +coming aboard without orders or any plan, they began to recover their +courage somewhat, and commenced to defend themselves. When they had +killed one or two of ours, as the latter had no one to command or +direct them--because the said Doctor, as soon as they came in to +close quarters with the enemy, had thrown himself down behind the +capstan of the ship with a number of mattresses--the troops became so +demoralized that no one was able to accomplish anything. Although some +of them went up to the said Doctor and told him to board the ship, +or to send troops on board of it with an order, he would not do so, +as he was so overcome by fright and lacking in courage. Likewise, +when they came to tell him that the ship was taking in much water +through the gun-ports, because, when the fleeing troops left the +side where they were grappled, and passed to the other side without +fighting, the said ship careened and the water entered--although +he was told of this several times, that he might remedy it, it was +the same in this matter as the rest. Accordingly so much water was +entering the ship that it was in danger. A father of the Society of +Jesus, bearing a crucifix in his hand, told him that since the ship +was in danger he should go over with the men to that of the enemy; +since as they were so near together, and there was no resistance, +it would be like passing from one dwelling to another. He would +not do it, but on the contrary threw the mattresses with which he +had fortified the capstan into the water, in order to go to a small +islet which lay near and escape, as he did. The enemy rushed upon +all the troops, who threw themselves into the water, and the killed +and drowned amounted to more than one hundred and twenty Spaniards +of the most distinguished and important people of these islands, +without counting more than a hundred negroes and natives beside. + +Such was the manner of the surrender of the said ship of the enemy +as soon as it was grappled. When the said captain, Joan de Alcega, +arrived with his almiranta on the other beam of the enemy, giving him +a volley of artillery and musketry, and when he finally undertook to +board the enemy's ship, the Spaniards who were on the inside under +its deck (among them being the adjutant of the sargento-mayor), told +them not to fire, or they would kill the Spaniards; and to go ahead +and follow the enemy's almiranta, which had taken to flight, as the +flagship was already in your Majesty's hands, and there was nothing to +do there. Accordingly the said admiral went after the other ship, and, +coming up with it three or four leagues away, caused its surrender and +brought the enemies who remained alive to this city, where justice was +meted to them. The ship, with very good artillery, lies in this port. + +Besides the said loss, there was much artillery which the said Doctor +Morga was taking in the said ship, and supplies of war, as he had +taken what lay in the forts of this city, leaving them destitute of +supplies, and the royal storehouses almost without powder; for he +took six hundred barrels of it on the said flagship. Owing to the +lack of men--so great that hardly anyone appeared on the streets--and +that of the said artillery and arms of various kinds, this city was +in such danger of ruin as never before, if some of the many enemies +who surround it had attacked it with even a small force. Likewise the +opportunity for the capture of the said flagship of the enemy was lost, +in which was stored all which they had captured since leaving Olanda, +and twenty pieces of artillery which they brought, many stores, and +eight hundred muskets--all of which they were carrying, according +to the declaration of the enemies who were in our power. For this +country, where there is such a want of that kind of articles, and +so many occasions continually arising in which they are necessary, +it would have been of great importance and value; but the enemy is +taking them away to buy with them cloves and pepper, and other drugs +from these regions, as they are at present doing. For we have certain +news that they went to the Maluco Islands, where they are anchored, +and will leave the enemy there--who are most warlike, and who are most +continually making war upon us--strengthened with arms like ours, +whereby they will become skilful in their use; and from that will +follow many difficulties, as may be imagined. + +Likewise there results another very great injury to these regions, +because, the said ship of the enemy having escaped, they carry with +them an excellent knowledge of these regions and of the sailing-routes; +for day by day they record in writing their bearings, and the courses +by which they have navigated. There is a society which has been formed +in Olanda and other states, for the destruction of these regions, +according to the account which all the enemies who were captured alive +agreed in. Five great galleons for this purpose were being built here, +so that if any of those ships should come from there the Spaniards +might sally out with more force. + +We are sending your Majesty a copy of an information in this matter +which was secured by your Majesty's fiscal with great secrecy, before +the licentiate Almacan, auditor of this royal Audiencia. There +is likewise a testimonial concerning the arms, military stores, +artillery, and troops taken by the said Doctor Morga, in his flagship +against that of the enemy; of the troops, not more than fifty-six +people in all came back. There is another to the effect that on the +morning of the day when the enemy were discovered the commander sent +to the admiral fourteen of the twenty-seven that he had. There are +some documents, drawn up at the petition of the said Doctor Morga, +concerning the artillery and other articles which he caused to be given +to the third ship that he was to take with him. On account of his not +waiting for this two hours, and not being willing to assign it men, +the misfortune came about by which, as he confesses in his petition, +two hundred persons escaped; whereas it is known that the dead of the +Spaniards alone amounted to more than a hundred and twenty, so that, +according to this, he took five or six men with him for every enemy. + +He has drawn up a number of informations which, considering the dignity +and power of his office, may obscure this truth and give some color to +his case, as he is confident that it has done--and as he has likewise +done in other matters, as he has used such bold and excessive measures +ever since his arrival in this country. In this manner he has reached +such a point that he petitioned for justice because he, as commander, +had to divide the prize which he took in the enemy's captured ship, +and maintained that a great part of it belonged to him. Afterward, +by another petition he says that, as a vassal and servant of your +Majesty, he relinquishes the part which falls to him and gives it +to your Majesty, so that a share of what was taken may be given to +him. A copy of these petitions is being sent, which makes this evident. + +There is also sent a copy of the commission as commander which the +said Doctor Morga bore, and an edict which he drew up and enacted, by +which the governor ordered him to go as commander. We do not undertake +to explain to your Majesty any of the matter therein contained, +since in these papers may be plainly seen what audacity he shows in +trying to make it understood that he is a warrior, and that at other +times, by your Majesty's order, he has had similar matters in charge; +and from those very papers may be learned his conduct in many other +matters in this country, against many people, without his taking into +consideration in the least what was owing to them. + +The majority of the people through all this city have been hurt and +injured, from the time when he came to this country, by the procedures +of the said Doctor Morga, both in his actions and words against +them, and in letters which he has written treacherously regarding +the circumstances of various people, signing false names to them, +and disguising his handwriting. Afterward he showed copies of these +to other persons, in order to give the impression that he was not +the author of them. At present, since this affair, the ill-feeling +has grown with all these people, and become much greater, because +most of the soldiers whom he took (serving at their own expense) +went under threat and against their will; and as the relatives of our +citizens died on this occasion, and their death was notoriously due +to the fault and mismanagement of the said Doctor, it could not fail +to arouse resentment against him. In the same way the said Doctor has +been opposed to them, so that all the men who went in the almiranta are +desirous of maintaining that they conquered, and not he; consequently +what with the ill-feeling of the said Doctor against some of them, and +of others against him, there are very few people in these islands who +are not concerned. Accordingly he is odious and suspected in his office +by all men; and no lawsuit is brought up in which he is not accused, +as is now happening in several cases. The general ill-feeling here +is no less owing to the fact that, whereas there are so many soldiers +here who have come to these regions with no declared object except to +serve your Majesty, and have done so since their arrival here, with +good success, the said Doctor Morga should bring this about under +the claim and pretext that there were no persons in these islands +to whom such a matter could be entrusted; and that by this means the +Spaniards had lost a victory so obviously theirs that it would without +doubt have been gained if it had been entrusted to the least famous +soldier here. We humbly beseech your Majesty in consideration of all +these matters pertaining to the said Doctor, that a remedy may be +applied to them, as is usually done by your Majesty, owing to your +holy zeal and righteous justice. May our Lord protect your Majesty +as we, your Majesty's vassals, desire. Manila, July 20, 1601. + + +_Don Gonzalo Ronquillo de Vallesteros_ +_Francisco de las Missas_ +_Francisco Mercado Dandrade_ +_Hernando da_ [_illegible in MS._] +_Bernardino de Avila_ +_Diego Melendez Florez_ + + +By command of the city of Manila: + +_Luys de Contreras_, clerk of the cabildo. + + + + + +Letter from Morga to Felipe III + + +Sire: + +During the month of March of the past year, 1600, there passed +through the Strait of Magallanes into the South Sea a squadron of +armed ships from Holland, belonging to Count Mauricio, having as +commander Oliver de el Nort, and as admiral Lamberto Biezman, with +a patent and instructions in Flemish and Castilian to make war with +fire and sword upon the Castilians and Portuguese whom they might +meet in these parts. After they had made a few captures of little +importance on the coast of Piru, the commander's ship and admiral's +ship, together with their long-boats, came to these islands, where they +came out of the channel on the sixteenth of November of the said year. + +Governor Don Francisco Tello found himself unprovided with any kind of +fleet to resist them by sea; for he had no galleys and no other kind +of ship with which to carry on offensive warfare, because a galizabra +which had been commenced the year before in the shipyard of Cavite had +been abandoned, and its build changed to that of a merchant ship. As +he feared that the enemy would come down to the said port, and burn +the few ships which were on the voyage from Nueva Espana, in order +to secure himself from the seaside at all points he commanded Don +Juan Ronquillo de Castillo (who was drawing his salary as commander +of galleys when there were none) immediately to go to the said port, +and put it in a state of defense, and build a fleet with which to go +out against the pirate. He went to the port, which is two leagues +from this city, and on the third day returned to the city without +having undertaken to do anything, or shown any disposition to do +so. He interposed difficulties, and asked for so many things which +he said were necessary, and which were not at hand, that he made the +thing out impossible; and not only was the governor disgusted with him +for it, but Don Juan allowed himself to say things which obliged the +governor to arrest him, as he did. The pirate continued his voyage in +the direction of the bay of this city, and the president and governor, +seeing himself hard pressed, communicated with the Audiencia and sought +its aid. The latter, desiring to make the greatest effort possible, +decided that I should go to Cavite and put the port in a state of +defense and likewise secure a fleet. I opposed no difficulties or +excuses to this, nor did I seek any rewards or aids for the expense, +nor any impossible things. On the contrary, that same day I went to +the port and fortified it so adequately that it was in a good state +of defense--so that, although the enemy came into the mouth of the +bay, they dared not enter or carry out their designs, on account +of the knowledge that they had of my preparation. At the same time +I finished the galizabra and launched it; and I fitted out another +vessel, belonging to private persons, which lay there. I armed both of +them and set sail in thirty days with a number of volunteer troops, +men of quality, who were resolved to accompany me on the service of +your Majesty on such an occasion (all at their own cost), as the enemy +was well established at the mouth of the bay, waiting for the ships +of the Chinese and the vessels from Nueva Espana with the silver, +in order to capture them. When the governor saw the state in which +I had put things, and at so little cost to your Majesty's exchequer, +and that the troops with which the expedition must be made would not +do so, or even go in the fleet if I did not go as its leader, and +realized the great importance of promptness, he ordered me in the name +of your Majesty to make the expedition immediately. He told me that in +no other wise on this occasion could I serve your Majesty. I obeyed, +and made ready to go where I was ordered, without seeking any pay of +profit. I spent more than four thousand pesos of my scanty property +to procure the necessaries for the expedition, some reenforcements, an +outfit of arms, and other things. I risked my person, honor, property, +and the support of ten children whom God has given me, and a good wife, +solely for the service of God and your Majesty; for it is certain that +no other interest or profit could take me from my house, where I was +in quiet and safety, since I never sought or asked for this thing. + +This resolution was distasteful to the said Don Juan Ronquillo de el +Castillo and his retainers--chief of whom are the factor, Francisco +de las Missas [49] and the licentiate Tellez Almacan, auditor of this +Audiencia. These men quite openly proposed to the governor to give +Don Juan the expedition, as he was the commander of the galleys; +and other things to this purpose, which satisfied the governor but +little. It seemed best to him not to change the design if I should +desire it, or at least should not be burdened by it. + +I sailed with the two armed ships in quest of the pirate, from the port +of Cabite, on the twelfth of December. On Thursday, the fourteenth +of the same month, I came to close quarters with him, and the battle +resulted as your Majesty will learn more at length by the relation +which accompanies this. + +I took as admiral, by the appointment of the governor, a certain +captain Juan de Alcega, a citizen of this city, and a partisan of +the said Don Juan Ronquillo; he is for this reason a great friend of +the said licentiate Tellez Almacan, the auditor, and likewise because +at the time when he came to this city the latter was hospitable and +kind to him, and has always continued so. He is a man skilful in war +with the Indians, as it is practiced here; but is of an irritable +temperament, and desirous of having his own way on occasion, without +obeying his superiors, of which there has been proof enough. When +I had fully recognized the enemy and knew that he was carrying +all his force on the flagship, I ordered the admiral in writing on +the day before the battle, what particularly must be done--namely, +that with both our ships we must engage the said flagship of the +pirates. Accordingly as soon as I discovered the enemy the next day, +I kept the almiranta near me, and grappled with the enemy and moored +to him. When the admiral arrived and should have done the same, +he shoved the tiller aside and, without my order, contrary to the +command which I had given him, went after the almiranta of the pirate, +which was sailing away; thus he left me unprotected and alone, for +which reason my commander's ship fared as recounted in the relation. + +For this disobedience, and others of which he was guilty and of great +importance, immediately upon our entrance into the city the governor +arrested the said captain Juan de Alcega, and is proceeding against +him. Through the favor of the said auditor and his party, and various +measures which they have taken--especially with the licentiate Salazar, +fiscal of this Audiencia, who is openly of the said party--they +have shielded him in this case in such manner as might be expected +of a person who is so near losing his office, and to whom it is so +important not to make more enemies for his residencia. Accordingly +thus far there has been nothing done in the case, and I have no hope +that anything will be accomplished by the present proceedings. + +This Captain Joan de Alcega was freighter of the ship "Santo Thomas" +[50] in the year 99, which left here for Nueva Espana in company with +two other vessels from this city. In the loading of this ship, so +great was the dishonesty and deceit on his part that it is understood +that your Majesty's exchequer was defrauded of more than a hundred +thousand pesos. The governor, in order to wash his hands of this +wrongdoing, began suit against them and condemned them to heavy +fines and penalties, as he must have informed your Majesty. The case +came on appeal to this Audiencia. On account of the said friendship +and partiality, the fiscal hushed up this case, as he has others, +without discussion upon it, and with no reparation to your Majesty +or to this commonwealth. + +In this manner Juan de Alcega not only remained unpunished but, aided +by the said persons with several letters, informations and documents, +which they had secretly made and composed, they are attempting to +underrate my good service and seek for him the reward. I have not +wished to set down in a boastful way anything more than the naked +truth, which your Majesty now has before your eyes. I most humbly +beseech your Majesty to be pleased to look upon my good intentions +and labors with the clemency and benevolence which they deserve, +extending to me the favor which is due, in such wise that they shall +not remain without the recompense which the servants of your Majesty +receive on similar occasions. And the chief of these should be to +order me withdrawn from this exile, to a place where I can spend the +rest of my life in greater peace in the service of your Majesty, and +start my children upon the same path. God protect the royal Catholic +person of your Majesty for many long years. Manila, June 30, 1601. + +_Don Antonio de Morga_ + + + + + +Grant to Jesuit School in Cebu + + +Sire: + +Hernando de Espinosa, procurator of the Society of Jesus in the +Yndias, in the name of the residence [51] of this order in the +city of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus of the Philipinas Islands, has +represented that, because of the great need of persons to administer +the sacraments to Spaniards, Indians, and Sangleys residing in and +about that city, and to preach to them the holy gospel, the provincial +of the said Society, with the permission of the governor, founded the +said residence six years ago. It is productive of much good, for, +besides the preaching to the Spaniards, natives, and Sangleys, and +hearing their confessions, the other sacraments are administered to +them; and there is a school where reading and writing are taught and +Latin studied, which is of great gain and benefit to the community. The +religious who are there are in great poverty; for they have no income, +nor do they receive any alms from the people. The said procurator +entreats from you a very moderate consideration, on account of their +poverty. This being evident to the said governor, he ordered that +to them be given annually, for such period as should seem fitting to +him, two hundred pesos and two hundred fanegas of rice, as an alms, +from the treasury of the fourths from the encomiendas that are without +instruction. With this it is, however, impossible to support the said +residence. It has need of repairs on its house, and, on account of +its narrow quarters, of erecting new buildings; and because it has +no alms, in lands or chaplaincies, [52] for the mass or any other +of the purposes referred to, it is in great want, as is evident by +the investigations made in the royal Audiencia of the said islands, +which were examined in the Council. He entreats that your Majesty, in +consideration of the aforesaid, will order that the said two hundred +pesos and two hundred fanegas of rice--which were granted to it, +as stated, by the said governor from the treasury of the fourths--be +set aside for it from the royal treasury, as the other fund is not +a permanent one. He further asks that you will bestow upon it from +the royal treasury one thousand pesos of income for its support, +and three thousand, to be paid once, for repairs and buildings for +the said residence; since your Majesty is wont to favor the other +parts of the Yndias for this purpose, as there is no other recourse +for aid. After examining this matter in the Council, our opinion is +that, if your Majesty be so pleased, one thousand pesos of eight reals +each, might be given once to that residence from the royal treasury of +the Philipinas, as an aid in building its houses; and that, besides, +information concerning it should be obtained from the governor and +the archbishop. Valladolid, December 11, 1601. + +[_Endorsed:_ "Council of the Indias; December 11, 1601. In regard +to the aid and alms that should be bestowed upon the residence +of the Society in the city of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, of the +Philippinas." "So let it be."] + + + + + + +Documents of 1602 + + + + Instructions to Pedro de Acuna. Felipe III; February 16. + Two royal decrees. Felipe III; February 16. + Pintados menaced by Mindanao pirates. Juan Juarez Gallinato, + and others; May 29-June 4. + Letters to Felipe III. L. P. Dasmarinas, and others; June + 8-July 10. + + + +_Source_: All these documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo +general de Indias, Sevilla. + +_Translations_: The first document is translated by Alfonso de Salvio, +of Harvard University; the second, and part of the fourth, by Robert +W. Haight; the third, and part of the fourth, by Norman F. Hall, of +Harvard University; the first letter in the fourth, by Jose M. and +Clara M. Asensio. + + + + + + +Instructions to Pedro de Acuna + + +The King: To Don Pedro de Acuna, whom I have appointed my governor +and captain-general of the Philipinas Islands, and president of my +Audiencia therein. My royal Council of the Indias having examined +some letters from the said islands, I have resolved upon the following. + +Since the Philipinas Islands are so far away and distant, surrounded +by so many great kingdoms of infidels, the entry and intercourse which +the Chinese and Japanese enjoy in Manila, and their friendly relation +with the natives, give us reason to fear that the former, allying +themselves with the natives, may attempt some disturbance, as they +are inclined to do. Considering the fact that the greatest security +and strength of the land lies in the Spanish settlement, and I have +heard that not only does it not increase but is not even maintained in +its previous condition--because, although the viceroys of Nueva Espana +are ordered to send reenforcements of men every year to the islands, +many people die from the bad climatic conditions of the land, others +are scattered in military expeditions, others must be permitted to +return (either because they have left families in their own country, +or because they cause injury to the commonwealth), and others go +there with no idea of remaining and have refused to become citizens: +considering all this, and seeing that it is a matter requiring much +attention, I charge and command you, in case this despatch shall +reach you in Nueva Espana, to consult the viceroy concerning all that +may pertain to the improvement of these conditions; or, in case you +receive it in the Philipinas, to do the same by writing, and to make +the arrangements and give the orders which you think best for the +settlement of the said islands, striving to draw the expenses from my +exchequer with the necessary moderation. I shall now write again to +the said viceroy, telling him to take care to provide the islands with +useful people, and permanent settlers; and, in order that such persons +may settle there, and remain in the islands, he shall favor them, +and see that the orders concerning the trade between the said islands +and Nueva Espana be carried out with exactness and rigor in order to +attain the end and purpose for which we allow this commerce--namely, +the preservation and prosperity of the islands, and the welfare of +their citizens and inhabitants. You yourself must attend to this with +much care, striving for the settlement of the said islands, and their +safety and tranquillity, and for the instruction and conversion of +the Indian natives. + +Governor Don Francisco Tello wrote to me last year, ninety-nine, +about the precautions that he had taken in the punishment of some +Japanese pirates who had repaired to that coast and after whom he had +sent vessels by different routes; and about the inquiries that he had +likewise made among the crews of some merchant ships which had put +into Manila at that time, suspecting that they and the pirates were +all of the same sort. Since it is necessary to take notice and be +careful of this, I charge and command you to be always very vigilant +in foreseeing the troubles which may require your attention and which +may arise in the said islands, even if it be under pretext of trade +by foreigners. You will give a hospitable reception to friends, +and maintain amicable relations with them, keeping the ports and +frontiers of the said islands in the necessary security, and taking +special care that the expenses to be met by my royal exchequer in +the precautions to be taken, the manning of vessels for searching out +and punishing pirates, and the rest, be no more than are absolutely +necessary--since you see the many things which need attention; and, +above all, the limited resources of these islands. + +When you informed me that in order to punish the pirates who resort to +the coast of the Philipinas Islands, it would be well to arm and man +some galleys, I granted you by my letter bearing the date of April 8 +of this year, that if you saw that the galleys could be of service and +usefulness you might cause them to be built and manned. But through a +letter of July 12 in the said year, 1599, the said Don Francisco Tello +informs me that since the galleys are not suited for those seas--as +they had learned by experience, on account of the swift current +and their inability to enter a bay while pursuing the enemy--and +on account of the difficulties which the religious oppose to his +collecting rowers, and as those whom they get possess little skill, +he had decided to build four galizabras; these were already being +built, and when well armed and equipped would, with three galliots, +constitute a sufficient force for the clearing and pacification +of those seas. It is therefore desirable that you carefully note +all these matters, and after you have examined and considered them +thoroughly, you will see whether or not it will be advisable to keep +the said galizabras and galliots in case they are built and manned. You +will give the necessary care to the security of that coast and land, +keeping me informed of what is being done and of the coast which the +said galizabras or vessels appointed for that purpose will guard. + +The said Don Francisco Tello says in the same letter that the province +of Mindanao was already pacified; but that some of the native chiefs +had given no pledge, and matters had not been thoroughly set in order, +and therefore it was necessary to keep there a garrison of two hundred +soldiers. He adds that, as the country is poor and has few sources of +wealth, he thought that the Indians would be unable to pay tribute; +but it was necessary to assure the safety and accessibility of that +post, because that was the landing-place where the Terrenatan landed +on his plundering expeditions against the Pintados, as he did in the +year 95. The said governor, as he had so few men and so little military +strength, decided to place a hundred soldiers in La Caldera, which is +near [the river of] Mindanao, in order to assure safety for that place +and to hold in check him of Terrenate. You will thoroughly inform +yourself of the state of affairs, and make the necessary provision +for them, taking special care to hold what is already pacified and to +have the gospel preached everywhere. As for the tribute to be imposed +upon the Indians you will do what may seem necessary, consulting the +prelates and observing my orders; you will see that those who have +been pacified and are subjected to me be safe, and receive no injury or +molestation from enemies. You will inform me of all that is being done. + +The fiscal of the Audiencia of the said islands has written me +that since the Indians do not pay the eight reals tribute in kind, +as they were wont to do, but it has been left to their choice +instead, many difficulties have been and are being experienced, +detrimental to the newly-pacified Indians, to my exchequer, and to +the commonwealth; because, when they gave the produce of the land +in payment of the tribute, they cultivated and gathered it, and, +besides paying the tribute, there was left to them a large quantity +of produce, which they kept for their trade and crafts. The result +was that the community was well provided with abundance of supplies, +at little cost, and with cloth of various fabrics, with which they +clothed themselves. The encomenderos shipped these articles to Nueva +Espana, and the returns therefrom remained in the islands instead +of being taken away by the Chinese, as is done now; for the stuffs +are being bought from the Chinese, and the Indians of the islands no +longer manufacture them. Much gold was also taken to Nueva Espana, +from which the tenth was paid to me to the yearly amount of six or +eight thousand pesos, not to mention the larger amount which was paid +for the tributes of the encomiendas which are assigned to my crown; +but since the tribute is not paid in kind, hardly any gold is mined +now. Another trouble that results from this is, that the Indians, +who are naturally prone to idleness, easily earn enough with which to +pay the tribute and buy stuffs from the Chinese with which to clothe +themselves, and so do not manufacture these. In order to remove these +difficulties, it would be expedient to impose upon the said Indians +the occupations and work for which they and the provinces where they +live are fit and suitable, with the raising of cattle; they should +also be forced to extract gold from the mines and rivers, for, if +this were done, much gold could be obtained from the mines, rivers, +and placers. Thus the Chinese trade would cease in a large degree, and +the returns from the gold and cloths which might be carried to Nueva +Espana would remain in the land; and that, with the gain which would +thus result to the Indians, would make them well inclined to such work, +and cause them to do it willingly. The main point to be settled in +order that the Indians may be influenced to undertake it is, to make +them pay the tribute in kind. And since much attention and thoughtful +consideration should be given to what is here pointed out, not only +for the welfare of the Indians but for that of the commonwealth--since +if the land itself could provide and supply produce and merchandise, +that would be more advantageous than to procure them from outside; +and the gold and silver which is now taken away to foreign and pagan +kingdoms would remain in the land itself--I charge and command you +that, as soon as you reach the said islands, you call together my royal +Audiencia there; the honored prelates who shall be in Manila, and the +superiors of the religious orders--informing of this matter, by letter, +those who cannot easily go thither--and confer and deliberate with them +on all that is expedient and necessary to be done. In this conference +you shall keep in mind the welfare and preservation of the Indians and +of the country, and see that the said natives be neither molested nor +wronged--striving for this object, that there may be crops and other +products of the country; and that, for this purpose, the Indians shall +pay the tribute in kind. You will observe the necessary system in +taxing them, and will execute whatever decision is reached about the +matter; moreover you will inform me of what is being done, and will +always be careful to see that the Indians work in some occupation or +other and be not idle, since idleness is the chief cause of their ruin. + +My governor of those islands was ordered to abolish many false musters +and extra expenses which were granted out of my treasury; but I have +heard that, although he reduced or abolished some of the said musters, +other stipends and extra expenses have since been given which had not +been usually paid--namely, to captains, alferezes, and other military +officers whom the said governor appointed over the people of the +towns. I have also heard that many alcaldes-mayor and other officials +have been added and their salary increased, so that where there was +only one alcalde-mayor, there are now three, each having a deputy, and +all drawing salaries from my treasury. I have learned that the said +officials could be reduced in the following way: In the province of +La Laguna, one alcalde-mayor, with a salary of three hundred pesos; +in the district of Mauban, [53] on the opposite coast [of Luzon], +one corregidor, with a salary of two hundred pesos; in the province +of Camarines, another alcalde-mayor, with a salary of three hundred +pesos, abolishing the office recently established; in the province +of Cagallan, one alcalde-mayor; in Pangasinan, one alcalde-mayor; +in the province of Ylocos, one alcalde-mayor with the same salary, +who could administer the jurisdiction of the district of Bulacan, +thus dispensing with the alcalde-mayor lately appointed for that +place; we can also dispense with the alcalde-mayor of the town of +Ytondo and of the coast of the city of Manila, all being districts +and suburbs of that city, leaving them under the jurisdiction of the +alcaldes-in-ordinary of the city of Manila, as in former times, so +that one alcalde might administer justice in the suburbs during six +months of the year, and the other serve in the city. It would also +be expedient to dispense with the alcalde-mayor lately appointed for +the islands of Leite, Zamar, and Babao, which may remain in charge +of the alcalde-mayor of Zubu, as they were before; for the natives +are troubled by both of these, and it is not desirable to have there +more than the alcalde-mayor of Zubu. Moreover, one corregidor with a +salary of two hundred pesos would suffice for the river of Butuan; in +the island of Calamianes, one corregidor is enough, drawing the same +salary; in the district of Oton one alcalde-mayor, with a salary of +three hundred pesos; in Panay, one corregidor, with two hundred pesos +salary. Let no alcalde-mayor or corregidor have a deputy except in his +absence, and then without a salary. I charge and command you that, +when you arrive at the said islands, you thoroughly investigate all +the aforesaid matters, and secure information thereon; and ascertain +what offices, salaries, and extra expenses have been added, and the +reason and justification for doing so. You will correct and reform +what there is to remedy and reform, so that, by taking the necessary +precaution in everything, whether it be in the administration of +justice or other matters, you will prevent as much as possible any +waste of my funds; for you see how necessary this is, on account of +the many expenses and works which must be supported by the treasury. + +I have also heard that one of the things by which my exchequer is +most defrauded, and the inhabitants of the islands most wronged, +is to be found in the lading and despatch of the ships for Nueva +Espana with merchandise; for the governors, for several years, have +appointed to that duty various personal dependents and friends, who +have succeeded through illicit means in lading the ships with their +own goods and even those of their relatives, friends, and others; +and all the cloth which is shipped beyond the general apportionment +goes without paying the duties. To remedy this it would be expedient +that hereafter the allotment of freight be made in the presence and +with the supervision of the governor and other persons appointed for +it--an auditor and a royal official, appointed each year in turn, +beginning with the oldest ones; and that immediately after the said +apportionment the royal official make a copy of it. The persons to +whom the said cloth is allotted should go with their inventories in +order to value the goods and pay the duties in the presence of my +officials, who would give in return a permit for lading. One or two +of the officials should be present in the port of Cavite, the place +where the ships are laded. Likewise the lading of the ships ought to +be witnessed by the freighters who are usually appointed, and by an +auditor, in order to prevent the lading of goods not included in the +apportionment and for which no permit was given by the said officials, +as an acknowledgment that the duty was paid. Since it is not right to +allow opportunity for the irregularities and fraud which are reported +to have occurred, and of which the citizens have complained, I charge +and command you to restore order and to employ the remedy which most +fits the occasion, appointing for the allotment of the merchandise +and the lading of the ships persons in whom great confidence can be +placed. You will see that all this be done according to equity, by +being yourself present at times, if that seem best, and you will take +the necessary measures that my royal rights be in no manner defrauded. + +I have heard that the ordinances are disregarded in assigning +encomiendas of Indians, and that some persons who are enjoying +encomiendas for life relinquish these, in order that they may be +bestowed on others whom they choose, and influence the governors to +assign the encomiendas to those persons. Since through many decrees of +the emperor and king, my sovereign, it is decreed and ordained that +no such relinquishment and renunciation of Indians be made, and that +encomiendas of this sort may not be allotted, I command you to observe +and strictly carry out what is ordered by the instructions sent to the +governors your predecessors, regarding the equitable manner in which +the Indians of those islands must be allotted to the persons who are +most deserving, and have rendered most service therein. Again I order +and command you not to confer relinquished encomiendas, or assign them +again, without notifying me of it, so that I may order what seems +best to me. In case you shall have disposed of such encomiendas, +I order that such allotment be null and of no effect. + +I have been informed that it has become the custom in these islands to +grant at the cost of my treasury the wine for the celebration of mass +to the priests of the orders--not only to those in the encomiendas +allotted to my crown, but to those in private encomiendas; and that +there is no obligation to grant this aid to the doctrinas in private +encomiendas. I therefore command you to give orders that no wine +for the celebration of the mass be granted on the account of my +treasury to the secular priests, or to those who give instruction +in private encomiendas, for it is the duty of the encomenderos to +provide the wine. + +Orders were given that for just reasons, and for the welfare and +preservation of that commonwealth, the governors your predecessors +were to name and appoint a certain number of regidors from trustworthy +men; but I have been told that the said governors have, through bribes +and other means, appointed to these offices certain persons who have +not the requisite and desirable qualifications therefor. I therefore +charge and command you to make a thorough investigation of the matter, +and to remove the regidors whom you find to have been appointed through +questionable means, or who are unfit for the office. You will replace +them with men possessing the necessary character and ability. Let +there be only eight regidors, which seems to be a sufficient number +for a city of that population. You will inform me of the men whom +you appoint, and of their qualities. + +By a clause of the ordinance establishing the Audiencia there, it +is provided that its president and two auditors at the beginning of +every year audit the accounts of the officials of my royal exchequer, +and settle them in the course of two months, for this allowing each +auditor twenty-five thousand maravedis. This was done also in the +time of the previous Audiencia, and an accountant was appointed +who received another fifty thousand maravedis. I have learned that +afterward Governor Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, without any orders, +created for that purpose a position of accountant-in-ordinary, with +a salary of five hundred pesos, and a secretary with two hundred +and fifty pesos. This could have have been avoided by pursuing the +former method, with no other expense than the said hundred thousand +maravedis. It has seemed best to me to refer this matter to you, +as I do, in order that you may examine it and apply such remedy as +you think best. You will inform me of the steps you take in the matter. + +I understand that the office of clerk of the regimiento in Manila has +been filled by the secretaries of the governors, and that on this +account justice is no longer sought for certain injuries inflicted +not only on the Chinese but on the citizens. I also learn that it +would be best to sell this office to a person who is not a servant +or a relative of the governors. Since it is not befitting that this +office should be filled by any secretary or follower of yours, or of +an auditor or an official of the Audiencia, you will not allow any +such appointment. You will nominate three from deserving men of those +islands, who in your estimation possess the necessary qualifications +for the office, and will send me their names, in order that I may +elect the one who seems best to me. In the meantime you will make +arrangements for the suitable performance of the duties of that office, +and so that no difficulties will arise. With this I shall order to +be sent you copies of two clauses of a letter, in which are proposed +two expedients which may benefit my exchequer in recompense for the +expenses which are incurred by it in those islands. One of these +relates to the cloves which could be obtained from the Malucas, +carrying thither the produce of the island of Panay in exchange; +and then bringing the said cloves to Nueva Espana on my account. The +other proposal suggests that a monopoly be established in the raw +silk brought from China--allowing each ship to carry only a certain +quantity of it, and that to be carried to Nueva Espana on my account +and not for any other, as you will understand more fully from the said +clauses of a letter, which I have thought best to send you. Thus after +you have discussed the matter with my royal Audiencia, and heard the +opinion of my royal officials and of such persons of experience and +intelligence as you think best, you can ascertain what can be done +in the matter, the benefit and advantage which may result from the +said measures, and the difficulty or facility which they offer. You +will send me a detailed account of all, with your opinion. + +I have understood that, by way of remedy for the illegal acts committed +by the magistrates, and the wrongs which the Indians suffer, it would +be of great importance to have the official inspection of affairs in +those islands--which according to the ordinances constituting the +Audiencia there, and to my orders, the auditors ought to make in +turn. The latter have refused to do so, on acount of the expenses +and danger which they incur. Since it is necessary that the said +inspection be made, I charge and command you to cause it to be made +in the land which has been pacified, and where there is no obstacle; +and that in this inspection the auditor who is selected in turn, +conformably to the said ordinances, be accompanied by no soldiers +or other people who might prove to be burdensome or injurious to the +Indians. You will endeavor to make the said inspection bring about the +good results for which it is intended; and will give the auditor to +whose lot it falls a vessel of fair size with which to sail from those +islands of Luzon to the others, at the expense of my treasury. As for +the additional pay or gratuity which should be allowed to the said +auditors beyond their salary, and beyond what is granted them by the +ordinances and decrees, you will send me a report, with your opinion. + +I have heard that the said islands contain many poor and needy +persons, to whom on account of their services and those of their +fathers a remuneration is due out of the profits of the land and +appointments to offices; but that as these sources of revenue are so +few, and the governors confer them on their relatives, servants, and +followers, as I have heard they have done, the others have remained +without anything. It is not just that there should be opportunity +for such appointments; therefore I order you to observe and fulfil +in this matter exactly what is enjoined by the decrees, provisions, +and instructions sent to the governors, preferring the most deserving +and the older inhabitants of the land, who have best and most served +the country without having been yet rewarded. + +I have been informed that the ships which go to those islands from +Nueva Espana carry each year, without a merchandise register, a large +quantity of money from that country and Piru--which is not found on +reaching the port, on account of the care with which they hide it; +and that it was necessary to make investigations and inspect the +said ships before their reaching port. Since I understand that there +is some foundation in this, and that many irregularities occur in +this respect, I charge and command you to prevent and correct this +evil in a fitting manner; and to see that the fiscal shall go with +the officials of my exchequer to inspect those ships, at such place +as they find convenient. Let the penalty be rigorously enforced in +connection with what is found and discovered to be brought without +register and against orders, adjudging to the informer the share +which may seem to be best to my royal Audiencia of those islands. + +Since I have learned that the office of treasurer of my exchequer in +those islands has very little work attached to it, since its duties +consist mainly in those of factor and accountant; and that therefore +there is no need of the said treasurer, and that office could be +fused with that of factor and the latter could act as treasurer, as +was done before--I command you to send me a report of what would be +expedient in this matter; also, of the duties of the said treasurer, +and if, as it has been said, dispensing with the office, the factor +and the accountant could take sufficient care of the administration +of my exchequer. + +I have learned that the governors, your predecessors, have often +interfered in the affairs pertaining to the administration of my +exchequer, which is entrusted to its officials; and that, contrary +to the orders given them, they have not allowed the said officials +suitable freedom in the exercise of their offices. Since in matters +of this nature it is right to keep in mind the necessary security +of my exchequer, I order you to observe and cause others to observe +the ordinances and decrees which were issued in regard to this. You +will maintain friendly relations with the officials of my exchequer +in everything, and will give them the favor and aid necessary in +the exercise of their offices, so that they may fulfil their charge +and see that nothing is lacking to my service, and to the security, +accounts, and order of my exchequer. + +The accountant and the treasurer of my exchequer have written to +me that my storehouses in the city of Manila have been in charge of +the factor, who placed over them a man with the title of "lieutenant +of shipping," whose duty was to keep an account of the receipt and +distribution of what came under his supervision, thus relieving the +work of the factor. A few years ago, on account of an information sent +against the factor, it was ordained that each of the said officials +should have his own key, and a person at the said storehouses in order +to have all transactions pass through three hands, and that two hundred +pesos a year should be paid to each person. They complained of this, +saying that they were unable to furnish a man for this on account of +their small salaries, which they needed entirely for their own support; +and they besought me to free them from this obligation. Since I desire +to be informed of the facts and occurrences therein; and how and under +whose charge, and on whose account, the said storehouses have been +usually kept; and the reason for ordering each of the said officials +to have his own key to the said storehouses; and whether they are more +secure for that precaution; and what sort of persons are placed there +by the said officials and at what salaries--I command you that, after +having examined the orders that have been given, and obtained thorough +information of what is expedient to do, you send me an account of it, +together with your opinion about the matter. + +Although, as there are so excellent judges and officials in the +Audiencia of Manila, it is reasonable to believe that justice is +administered therein, I have learned that in certain cases there +has been laxity, and especially in two--namely, when Melchor Ramirez +de Alarcon, being intoxicated in the said city of Manila, and being +reprimanded by his son-in-law, Pedro Munez, gave the latter a blow +with his fist, receiving in return nine dagger-thrusts, of which he +died; and when, in the city of Cazeres, Captain Pedro Cid killed Joan +Martin Morcillo in a duel. In spite of the gravity of these cases, +the delinquents were not sent to prison, but were set free on paying +a fine of eight hundred pesos each--a procedure which caused censure +and discontent among the people. Since it is right that similar cases +be not left unpunished, I charge and command you that, as soon as you +reach the islands, you demand and copy, without declaring your purpose, +the record of the proceedings in regard to the said two murders, +and examine it in company with the licentiate Don Antonio de Rivera, +auditor of the Audiencia; and with the consent of the fiscal; and, +if you find sufficient cause for action, you will have the culprits +seized, and will make all the investigations and efforts necessary for +ascertaining the truth. If it seem to you that the administration of +justice requires it, you will send the prisoners under arrest to Nueva +Espana, together with the records of their cases, and will inform me +of what has been done and of the investigation made. You will always +take great care that justice be done and administered in every case, +and that crimes which merit punishment receive it, so that disorders +may be repressed and justice exist and be feared, and that it shall +not set a bad example or occasion lawless conduct in the land. + +I have learned that many of the decrees and orders issued for those +islands are not being executed, and that there is laxity in this +respect, especially as concerns the ordinances about the equity with +which the positions of profit in that country should be apportioned, +and those persons who have not yet been remunerated should be +rewarded. When my fiscal demanded the observance of the decrees, +and especially in the case where the governor appointed Captain +Cerban Gutierrez de Cespedes to the office of alcalde-mayor while +he possessed an encomienda of Indians worth fifteen hundred ducados, +and the fiscal asked that the said captain be not allowed to exercise +the office until the completion of the trial, the Audiencia postponed +its final decision, and meanwhile the said Cerban Gutierrez continued +to exercise the office, and finished his term before the case was +settled. I have thought best to refer this case to you, as I do, +because in similar cases you will take suitable measures to prevent +difficulties of this sort. It is especially necessary to observe and +minutely fulfil the ordinances concerning the distribution of the +profits of the country and the grant of rewards to persons who have +not received them. + +I charge and command you to examine the copy of a letter which I send +you with the present, and which was written to me from those islands +on matters concerning the Sangleys of the Parian, and on what ought +to be provided and remedied in the islands. You will inform me of +all matters and advices contained in the said letter. Meanwhile you +will provide and ordain whatever may seem necessary for the spread of +the Christian faith, and for the cessation of the troubles already +mentioned and others which may be expected, anticipating everything +as is most convenient. + +I send you, besides, a copy of what has been written to me from those +islands concerning the precautions which should be taken in matters +of war and defense of the land. That letter also gives information +that the governors without any other reason but their own private +aims and interests, are wont to abolish the companies of infantry +and other offices of war, on account of which complaints arise. It +also states that they have been accustomed to appoint captains of the +number in the city of Manila, who are entirely useless, and that we +could dispense with the appointing those captains and granting their +commissions, as well as those of captains-general and masters-of-camp +which the governors have hitherto granted. You will examine all the +references made to the above-mentioned matters, and what pertains +to the garrisons and defense of the forts and fortified towns. You +will take the necessary precautions in these things, in order that +no loss or trouble may result from them; and will not fill the said +offices of captains-general and masters-of-camp--except that, when they +shall become vacant, you will appoint men to serve in these offices +until the appointments are made by me; and in the appointments of the +captains you shall consider very carefully the persons, and the need +that there is of them. + +I am writing to the provincials of the religious orders the letters +which go with this, regarding the kind treatment of the Indians; and, +that the Indians must not be molested by the religious who give them +instruction. You will give them these letters and will take special +care to see how my commands are fulfilled, and that those natives +shall not receive injury from anyone. You will have great care taken +in teaching and instructing them in our holy Catholic faith. + +The said Don Francisco Tello writes me that the work on the cathedral +of Manila has been stopped for lack of means to carry it on; but +that it would not take much money to build a tower and a sacristy, +which would complete the church. Although he said that he would aid +the work by various grants and imposts, and that, if any balances +should result from the auditing of accounts which he had ordered to +be made in the funds which he had set aside for that work, he would +have them collected for that purpose, I charge and order you to take +special care in helping and furthering the work on the said church +as much as you can, so that it may be promptly completed. You will +notify me in what manner this shall be done. + +The said Don Francisco Tello writes to me that the two hospitals of +the city of Manila, for Spaniards and Indians respectively, are in good +and prosperous condition, and that he has taken possession in my name +of that for the Indians. He adds that the accounts of the latter have +been audited by his order, and that those of the Spanish hospital were +audited every year. This meets my approval; and I charge you always to +be attentive to the preservation and prosperity of the said hospitals, +and to notify me of the result when the accounts are audited. + +Don Francisco Tello also informed me of the good condition in which +remained the Seminary of Santa Potenciana in the city of Manila, +where some young girls and other women were sheltered; and that all +were living in great retirement and offering a good example. He added +that many of them desired to remain in that seclusion, and that the +viceroy of Nueva Espana, whom he had asked to send two nuns for the +said monastery, had replied that no one of them dared to go. Since +I shall write to the viceroy about this matter, you will make the +necessary efforts that the said religious may go there; for this will +be of great importance in fully establishing the said monastery and in +completing the training of the nuns who have been sheltered there. You +will aid and heartily favor this work as being so desirable for the +service of God. + +The said Don Francisco writes me that when the king my lord (may +he rest in glory) charged the governors your predecessors to found +a seminary where the children of the native chiefs of these islands +could be taught and receive instruction in the ways of civilization, +Don Luis Perez Dasmarinas, governor of the islands, made a contract +with the religious of the Society of Jesus for the foundation of the +said seminary, and assigned to it a perpetual income of a thousand +pesos yearly. To begin the work, he immediately gave them six hundred +pesos and for the income he set aside a fund in the treasury of the +fourths; but as the income was uncertain, on account of the needy +circumstances of the said treasury, and the amount of money given to +commence the work was small, and it was of great importance that the +work be begun, the said Don Francisco entreated me to be responsible +for this income, and thus make it perpetual. He also asked me to +give him permission to assign the said seminary a repartimiento of a +thousand Indians, the first one that should be vacant. Since I desire +to receive a report from you on the whole matter, I command you to +send me one, notifying me, with your opinion, of any other means, +besides the Indians, by which aid can be given to the said seminary, +and in what condition its endowment is. + +Don Francisco Tello informs me that in the Parian of the Sangleys of +Manila--which was founded only for some of them to live in, and those +to be workmen, in such number as to be sufficient for the service of +the commonwealth--houses have been gradually built; and that by this +time there are more than three hundred of them, and three thousand +Sangleys who do nothing but eat up the provisions and enhance the +price of commodities in the land. He adds that this could be remedied +only by abolishing the Parian altogether, and letting the Sangleys +sell their merchandise in the streets or in their ships as they +were accustomed to do when there was no Parian. This would bring the +commonwealth a gain of more than one hundred thousand pesos a year, +and would give more security to the land; for, having no houses of +their own, the Sangleys would frequent that country less, and would +endeavor to sell their goods as soon as they reached the islands; +they would also sell at a moderate price, and there would be no +hucksters. He ends by saying that he was considering the necessary +steps to take in this regard. Since this is a matter whose importance +and consideration ought not to be overlooked, I charge and order you to +examine and discuss the question with the Audiencia and the prelates; +and to inform me of your opinions, decisions, and agreements before +taking any decisive action or making any changes--taking care in +the meantime, as I have already charged you, to see that all be done +prudently and for the security of the land. + +The said Don Francisco Tello notified me that he had erected buildings +for the cabildo, and had placed thereon the coat-of-arms which was +granted to the city of Manila. This is well done; and, if my royal +coat-of-arms is not placed on the said house of the cabildo, you will +cause this to be done, placing it above the coat-of-arms of the city. + +The said Don Francisco Tello writes that because he did not carry with +him the instructions which were given to him, he did not execute +what he was therein ordered to do when passing by the Ladrones +Islands--namely, that he was to provide for the religious instruction +of those Indians, leaving there such persons as he should select. He +said that, with the consent of the Audiencia, he wrote to the viceroy +of Nueva Espana, requesting him to fulfil that command by ordering the +officers of the ships which were to sail for those islands last year, +sixteen hundred, to leave there two religious, with ten soldiers for +their guard. He added that this work would prove of great service +to God, as those islands were thickly settled with Indians who were +docile, and inclined to receive instruction; and that, if religious +should enter that region, there is reason to expect that they would +convert many of the natives. And because this means no less than +the salvation of so many souls, I charge and order you that, if the +viceroy has not fulfilled the above order, you yourself shall do so, +in accordance with the orders regarding it which were given to the +said Don Francisco in his instructions. You will notify me of what +is being done in this matter. + +The instructions order Don Francisco Tello to carry to those +islands from Mexico a certain number of farmers to cultivate the +land, who should be associated with the natives, and teach them +agriculture. This he did not then do, because the instructions did +not reach him there. I wrote, however, to the viceroy of Nueva Espana +to send them at the first opportunity; but, if he has not done so, +you will endeavor to have the said farmers conveyed to the islands, +because they are so necessary to make that land productive. You will +also make diligent efforts to introduce there, and carry over from +Nueva Espana, mares and horses of good blood for breeding purposes, +since this is of great importance for the service of the people. + +The copy of a portion of a letter which accompanies this, which +was written to me by the said Don Francisco Tello, will show you +how he wished to enter the kingdom of Siam; and how he despatched +Captain Juan de Mendoza on an embassy to the king of that country, +requesting him to consent that four monks should go there, of the +Order of St. Domini, of which order the king had already a friar with +him. You will inform me how the matter stands, and report the answer +which the king will have given you. You will notify me of it, and +will encourage, so far as you can, the conversion of those infidels +and the preaching of the gospel to them. + +The said Don Francisco Tello writes that, although it has been decreed +that the Indians shall not be condemned to pay money fines, it would be +advisable to make them, although with due moderation, pay some fines in +money, because on account of their disobedience and natural disposition +they feel more the punishment of paying one real than that of a hundred +lashes; the result is that we do not gain the expected result--namely, +to have them engaged in cultivating the fields and raising fowls, +cattle and other articles for the general need and welfare. Since I +desire to learn from you the facts, and what takes place in regard +to the aforesaid matter, and what measures are expedient in regard +to punishing them for their crimes and offenses by money fines, +and whether this causes or may cause some difficulties, I order you, +after having examined the question thoroughly and discussed it with +the Audiencia, archbishops, and ecclesiastical cabildo, to let me +know the result and the opinion of all. + +I have heard that the buildings which have been erected for the +Audiencia and for the president's residence are in great need of a +hall in which the president and the auditors might hold their meetings; +for it is not convenient for them to meet in a hall of the president's +house, where the desirable secrecy cannot be observed because their +discussions can easily be overheard. Therefore it would be expedient +to build the said hall beyond the hall of the Audiencia, and next to +it, on the side where the clock is. As it is so important that the +said meetings be held in a suitable hall, and that great secrecy +be maintained in regard to the affairs transacted by them, it has +seemed good to me to notify you of this, and to charge you as I do, +that with the advice of the Audiencia you erect such building in +suitable style; so that the above-mentioned difficulties may cease, +and occur no longer on account of the authority and secrecy which +should prevail in the said meetings. + +I have learned that Governor Don Francisco Tello, your predecessor, +went to the Audiencia and attended its meetings and visitations, +in unbefitting garments; and that at times he went half-dressed, +without sword or jacket. Since in positions of that sort, in places +and regions so remote, it is necessary to exercise the authority and +propriety due to those offices, I charge you to be very careful in +that respect, and always to attend meetings and courts with the garb +and decorum which befit the occasion. + +The fiscal of the Audiencia of the said islands, to whom is entrusted +the protection of the Indians, has informed me that, as their lawsuits +are many and involve much work, with the Audiencia's permission he +appointed a solicitor, with a salary of two hundred pesos, and an +interpreter with a salary of eighty pesos, at the expense of the +encomenderos. I charge you that, as soon as you reach the islands, +you discuss this matter with the Audiencia; and, if it be necessary +to retain the said solicitor and interpreter, to see that their +salaries be paid, and that they be trustworthy men and competent to +fill those offices. You will always take special care to see that +the Indians be relieved from burdens, and protected and favored in +all permissible ways, and that their affairs be promptly settled, +endeavoring to avoid lawsuits whenever possible. At Zamora, on the +sixteenth day of February in the year one thousand six hundred and two. + +I, The King + +Countersigned by Juan De Ybarra + + + + +Two Royal Decrees + + + +Colonists for the Islands + + +The King: To the Conde de Monterrey, my kinsman, and viceroy, +governor and captain-general of Nueva Spana, or to the person or +persons in whose charge the government thereof may be: The kingdoms +of infidels and enemies of our holy Catholic faith, with which the +Philipinas Islands are surrounded, being so numerous and so great, the +most advisable thing for its safety and defense is to settle it with +Spaniards. That colony, I am informed, is not only not being augmented, +but is not even being preserved in its present state; for the people +who are sent to those islands are few compared with the number of +those who die from the unhealthful climate of the country, and those +who are dispersed in expeditions, and because most of those who go to +the said islands do not intend to abide there, and accordingly return +with their wealth. It is considered expedient to give such persons +permission to return, so that others may be willing to go to the +islands; and it is necessary to give others such permission, either +because they are married in Espana, or because they are Peruvians, a +people who are injurious to the community. Consequently there is always +a lack of people, and those who remain there are the poorest. As it +is expedient to attend with great care to the settlement of the said +Islands and their conservation, I charge and command you to provide +for and send thither useful people, and to see to it that settlers +of good character go thither. In order that this may be done, and +that they may live and remain there, you will see to the careful and +rigorous execution of the orders already given concerning the trade of +the Philipinas with your country of Nueva Espana, and that the object +be attained for which it is permitted--that is, that it be directed +to the settlement and conservation of the said islands and applied to +the benefit and advantage of the citizens--taking care that nothing +be done which shall transgress any order which has been given in the +matter, or which may be so given in the future, and with great care +favoring the interests of the said islands. In this you will please me. + +Given at Zamora, on the sixteenth of February, in the year one thousand +six hundred and two. + +_I, The King_ + +Countersigned by + +_Joan de Ybarra_ + +Signed by the Council. + +[_Endorsed:_ "To the Viceroy of Nueva Spana, concerning the settlement +of the Philipinas Islands, and directing him to send useful people +there."] + + + + +Nuns for Santa Potenciana + + +The King: To the Conde de Monterrey, my kinsman, and viceroy, governor +and captain-general of Nueva Spana, or to the person or persons in +whose charge the government thereof may be: Don Francisco Tello, my +governor and captain-general of the Philipinas Islands, has informed +me of the prosperous condition of the seminary of Sancta Potenciana +at Manila, where girls are sheltered, and of the retirement and the +exemplary lives which they lead, and that many of them intend to remain +in the said seminary. I wrote to you to send them, from Nueva Spana, +two religious women for the said seminary, but you answered to the +effect that none of them dared to go. As this is of great importance, +and should be carried out, for the establishment of that seminary and +the settlement there of professed nuns, and that its inmates may be +thoroughly trained in piety, I charge and command that you that, in +any event, you make arrangements to send there the said two religious +women from one of the convents of your country, and that they shall +be persons of approved character--and this on account of the great +service which this will be for our Lord; and you shall advise me of +what is done in the matter. + +Given at Camora, on the sixteenth of February, in the year one thousand +six hundred and two. + +_I, The King_ + +Countersigned by + +_Joan de Ybarra_ + +Signed by the Council. + +[_Endorsed:_ "To the viceroy of Nueva Spana, directing him to send +thence to the Philipinas certain religious for the establishment of +a seminary."] + + + + + +Pintados Menaced by Mindanao Pirates + + +_Testimony which Captain Gallinato sent to the governor of the +Filipinas concerning the help which the king of Terrenate is giving +to the Mindanaos._ + +On the sea, off the tinguis ["hills"] of La Caldera, on the +twenty-ninth day of the month of May in the year one thousand six +hundred and two. The purveyor-general, Juan Juarez Gallinato. Whereas +Ensign Antonio de Alarcon, commander of the patrona, [54] took with +his galley from a vessel of Lutaos an Indian of San Buangan [_i.e._, +Zamboanga,] who is supposed to be a spy, I command, in order to learn +the truth and the design of the enemy, that his confession be taken; +and so I order it and sign my name. + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato_ + +By his order: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + +_Deposition_. Then on the day, month, and year aforesaid, the +purveyor-general caused to appear before him the said Lutao, who was +questioned by the interpreter Pedro Navarro, encomendero of Canamucan +and Baibay. + +He was asked what his name was, of what place he was a native, and +if he were a slave or a timagua; and he replied that his name was +Saliot, that he was a native of Sanbuangan, which is near La Caldera, +and that he was a timagua. This was his answer. + +When asked for what purpose he was coming yesterday when he was taken, +and who sent him, he said that he was sent by a chief named Bato, a +native of the witness's village, who told the witness to take fowls +and wax and fish, and go to the place where the fleet was, or was +coming, and find out who was in it, what sort of ships there were, +where it was going, what people it carried, and how many ships; +and the witness came to do what the aforesaid chief had ordered, +and was captured. This was his answer. + +He was asked what ships there were in the river of Mindanao, armed +to set out; and where they were going, who was going as commander +of them, and what fighting men there were. He said that there were +a hundred ships in the aforesaid river of Mindanao, large and small, +intending to go out to plunder Pintados and Cebu, and Oton, and all the +regions that they could; and that for commander there goes Silonga, +with Raxamora and Buysan. He said that a large number of men were +going on the war-vessels, because they take a hundred men from each +village; and he said that within ten days they would set out from +the river for Pintados. This was his answer. + +When asked if the Mindanaos knew that the Spanish fleet was going to +help Pintados, or what they understood about it, he said that a son of +Liguana, called Ssapay, with Gumapas and Nasa, were sent from Mindanao +as spies in order to know what the Spaniards were doing, and where +they were; and that they told where the Spanish fleet was, and what +it was doing. He said that the Lutaos who came with him yesterday had +returned to give news of the coming of the fleet. This was his answer. + +He was asked whether Liguana, chief of Taguima, had planned to +go to Pintados with the enemy's fleet. He said that he had, and +that likewise his sons were going with him, and all the chiefs of +his country; and thirty-five vessels were going from Sanbuangan, +Tragima, and Basilanban. This he said to be the truth, according to +the obligation of his oath, which he had taken after his custom. He +said that he was about twenty years old; and he did not sign this +paper, but the interpreter signed it. + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato Pedro Navarro_ + +Before me: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + +_Official act_. On the sea, off the mainland of Dapitan, on the +thirtieth day of the month of May in the year one thousand six hundred +and two. The purveyor-general, Juan Juarez Gallinato. Whereas Ensign +Pedro de Carrion, while scouting among the little islands opposite +the kingdom of Xolo in the last few days, captured a Lutao in a +[_MS. defective_] and was fleeing; it is proper, in order to know +the design of the inhabitants of the aforesaid kingdom, that his +deposition be taken; and thus I command it and sign my name. + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato Pedro Navarro_ + +By his command: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + +_Deposition_. On the aforesaid day, month, and year, the aforesaid +purveyor-general ordered to appear before him the aforesaid Indian, +in order to take his deposition, through the interpreter Pedro Navarro, +encomendero of Baibay. The following questions were asked of him. + +After he had taken the oath according to his custom, and after he had +promised to tell the truth, he was asked what his name was, where he +lived, what his occupation was, and if he was a slave or a timagua. He +said that he was called Onarano; that he was a Lutao of the village of +Lumian, which is near Xolo; that his occupation was always to fight; +and that he was a timague. This was his answer. + +When asked if it was true that the son of Diguana, called Sapaz, [55] +was with the natives of Jolo on the morning on which they attacked the +Spanish quarters, and if Diguana knew of the attack, he said that he +did not know; nor had he heard it said, because the witness was not +in that affray, for he had gone away to fight at that time. This was +his answer. + +He was asked if it was true that the king of Xolo sent to Mindanao +to seek help against the Spaniards. He said that it was, and that +a chief of the aforesaid kingdom, called Diaga, went in a ship to +seek it on behalf of the king; but that it was not known what reply +he brought back. This was his answer. + +He was asked if it was true that the Mindanao enemy was preparing a +great fleet to come against the provinces of Pintados and against the +Spaniards. The witness said that he had heard from other natives of +the kingdom of Xolo that, as long as the Spaniards remained in the +aforesaid kingdom, all the natives of Mindanao would go with a large +fleet to Pintados, to plunder it. This was his answer. + +He was asked other questions in regard to the matter, but he said that +he did not know anything more than what he had already declared; and +this he affirmed. He did not sign this paper, but the aforesaid Pedro +Navarro signed it. He declared that he was more than fifty years old. + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato Pedro Navarro_ + +Before me: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + + +_Official act_. In the port of Biara, which is on the mainland of +Dapitan and Mindanao, on the thirty-first day of the month of May in +the year one thousand six hundred and two. The purveyor-general, Juan +Juarez Gallinato. Whereas Captain Benito Gomez Descobara y Esquivel +captured on a little island (or rather on the sea-coast) an Indian, +a native of Sanbuangan, who is supposed to be a spy; I command, in +order to learn if he is one, and to ascertain about the enemy's fleet, +that his confession be taken; and thus I order it and sign my name. + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato_ + +By his command: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + + +_Deposition_. Thereupon, immediately, on the day, month, and year +aforesaid, the said purveyor-general caused to appear before him +the aforesaid Indian, in order to receive his confession, through +Agustin de Sepulbeda--who swore in due form to fulfil the office +of interpreter well and faithfully, and administered an oath to the +Indian according to the latter's custom. He promised to tell the truth, +and the following questions were asked of him. He was asked his name, +where he lived, his occupation, his age, and whether he was slave or +free; and he replied that his name was Panran, that he was a native +of the town of Linpapa (which is near Rabos), that he was a slave +of Sumanpie, chief of the said village of Linpapa, and that he was +about twenty years old. This was his answer. + +He was asked what ships had gathered and from what nations, and +also where they were and for what purpose. He said that from Maluco +there had come fifty vessels--Terrenatans, Sangils, and Togolandans +[56]--which were brought by Buisan, who is master-of-camp to the one +whom they call Captain Lant. The rest which are going from Mindanao +consisted of forty large caracoas and twenty carangailes and bireyes, +with one caracoa and two bireyes from Sanbuangan and Tagima. All these +had agreed that, if the Spaniards were in Jolo, they should fall upon +them; and that, if they were not there, they should go to plunder in +Pintados, Cebu and Oton. This was his answer. + +He was asked where it was said that they were to go. He said that +those who were returning from Oton had agreed to pass through some +little islands which are opposite Quipit; and that those going to +Cebu were to go from Similon, which is opposite Dapitan; and that +they were to return that way. This was his answer. + +When he was asked how he knew this that he had said, he replied that +it was generally known and reported among the chiefs of Sanbuangan +and among the Lutaos. + +He was asked what agreement Liguana had made with the chiefs of Tagima +and Sanbuangan, and what he said to them against the Spaniards. He +replied that the aforesaid Liguana had ordered the chiefs and the +Lutaos to be assembled together, and in readiness, along with the +Mindanaos, against the Spaniards. This was his answer. + +He was asked how many days it would be before the fleet would set out +for Pintados; and he replied that the fleet was ready in Mindanao, +and that he had heard that it was to start shortly, within ten days, +and that five of these had passed. This was his answer. + +He was asked other questions in regard to the matter, and he replied +that what he had said was the truth; and he affirmed this and ratified +it. He did not sign this, but Agustin de Sepulbeda signed it. + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato_ +_Agustin de Sepulbeda_ + +Before me: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + + +_Official act_. On the sea, near Dapitan, on the fourth day of the +month of June in the year one thousand six hundred and two. The captain +and sargento-mayor, Juan Juarez Gallinato, purveyor-general and head +of the provinces of Pintados for his Majesty. Whereas it has come to +his notice that yesterday, Monday, the third of this month, Captain +Garcia Gutierres Guerrero and Ensign Domingo Martir and Diego Mendez +went in a caracoa to the river of Sioco to get water; and that, while +they were doing so, there came to them an Indian, the chief of the +said river, who told them that it was he who had given notice to the +captains about the enemy's fleet, in order to warn the Spaniards: now +therefore, in order to ascertain whether this is so or not, I command +that the depositions of the aforesaid men be taken; and I order it, +and sign my name. + + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato_ + +By his command: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + + +_Deposition._ Thereupon, on the day, month, and year aforesaid, the +said purveyor-general caused to appear before him the said Captain +Garcia Gutierrez Guerrero, in order to receive his deposition. He took +oath in due form of law, and promised to tell the truth; and, when +questioned in accordance with the above order, the witness declared +that he had gone to the bank of the river of Sioco, where some Indians +who pay tribute to him live; and that when he had arrived there the +witness caused an arquebus to be fired, at the noise of which there +came up an Indian, the chief of that river, called Tumarahoc. The +said chief came to where the witness was, and told him that he had +told the Indians of Dapitan--those who took fowls to the Jolo army +for the commander--that they should warn the Spaniards that in the +river of Mindanao a great fleet was being prepared, with many men, +which they said was to go to Jolo and Pintados; and the aforesaid +Indian likewise told the witness that he would be on the watch, and +that he would warn the Dapitans if the fleet should set out, and where +it was going; and he said that he would also tell the witness. This +he declared to be the truth, under the oath which he had taken; and +he affirmed and ratified it, and signed it, and declared that he was +about forty years old. + + +_Garcia Guerrero_ +_Juan Juarez Gallinato_ + +Before me: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + + + +_Deposition_. Then, on the day, month, and year aforesaid, the said +purveyor-general caused to appear before him Ensign Domingo Martin, +in order to take his testimony. He took oath in due form of law, +and promised to tell the truth. When questioned in accordance with +the above order, the witness said that he went in company with +Captain Guerrero to the bank of the river of Sioco to get water; +and that when they arrived there they fired an arquebus-shot from the +witness's caracoa, and that, after they had fired it, there came to the +aforesaid bank an Indian, the chief of the river, who was a friend of +the Spaniards and paid tribute to the aforesaid Captain Guerrero. When +he reached the caracoa, he told the witness and Captain Guerrero that +he had told the Dapitan Indians (who had gone to Jolo with fowls for +the commander), that they should warn the Spaniards that a large number +of ships were being gathered in the river of Mindanao; and that a very +great number of men was to depart in them to go against the Spaniards +in Jolo and to plunder Pintados. The said chief also said that he had +told the said Indians that if they did not warn the said Spaniards he +would have them beaten with sticks; and that he would be on the watch, +and that he would warn the Dapitan chiefs and Captain Guerrero of what +happened. This he declared to be the truth, under the oath which he +had already taken; and he affirmed and ratified it, and signed it; +and he said that he was about twenty-eight years old. + + +_Domingo Martin_ +_Juan Juarez Gallinato_ + + +Before me: + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + + +These agree with the originals, which are in the possession of the +purveyor-general, who signed here with his name; and it is exact and +accurate. And to the fact that it was accurately copied, corrected, +and made to agree, were witnesses: Ensign Juan Rodriguez de Santa, +and the royal ensign Pedro Mendez de Sotomayor, and Francisco +Hernandez. Done in Dapitan, on the fourth day of the month of June +in the year one thousand six hundred and two. + +_Juan Juarez Gallinato_ + +In testimony of which, I have affixed my name and the customary +rubrics. + +_Rafael de Sarria_, notary + + + +Letters to Felipe III + + + +Sire: + +Don Pedro de Acuna, [57] to whom your Majesty granted the favor of +sending him to govern this land, arrived here with a very considerable +reenforcement of troops. This and his arrival are so important and +timely that I think there must follow many results beneficial to +the service of God and of your Majesty, as also the correction of +important matters--which have greatly needed it, as I have informed +your Majesty at greater length in a report and letter that treats of +this matter, and of the great and urgent necessity for your Majesty +to command that the town and fort of Maluco be occupied as promptly +as possible. From this will result the greatest advantages, and great +danger to this land will be averted; and thus may be repaired the many +losses and destructive raids which this country may suffer, which may +result from the inroad of those demons of English and Dutch heretics, +with their intentions and desires. We should have aid, and means +of communication, and strongholds in these regions, and especially +in this one of Maluco, which is the most important, dangerous, and +near to these islands, and whose people are unfriendly. Our enemies, +the Xoloan and Mindanaos, avail themselves of it, and are succored +therefrom, and with this aid have inflicted many damages, which they +will continue to do, if they are not checked. Great cost and expense +must be incurred in these islands, merely to preserve and defend them; +and there are great hindrances and difficulties in the way of their +growth. By gaining this fort the door is closed to notable evils and +troubles, and benefits of the utmost importance, both spiritual and +temporal, through which God our Lord and your Majesty will be well +served, the Christian faith and the extension of the gospel will +be assured and increased in these regions; and the crown and royal +possessions of your Majesty, and the reputation of Espana, well +maintained and accredited, as is not the case now. Other important +undertakings and expeditions which may hereafter be made will be +facilitated; for that place is the capital, and has most reputation; +and it rules as subjects and tributaries many surrounding peoples, +who may be easily reduced after the conquest of this stronghold, and +after those who so greatly fear and respect us have been vanquished and +chastised. Moreover, expenses for supplies and garrisons which must be +maintained, and which are necessary until this is accomplished, will +be saved; and a large amount of property and income will be left for +other expenses and affairs in the service of your Majesty. In short, +until this is once for all assured and established, a certain amount +of damage must be expected, and will inevitably result; and it is very +evident that for the aforesaid reasons it is necessary sooner or later +to undertake this expedition for the preservation and security of these +regions. It is also better not to postpone it, and not to wait until +that place has greater fortification, strength, and defense, thereby +rendering its conquest more difficult and costly. I conclude, Sire, +by saying that as God and your Majesty have sent Don Pedro de Acuna +to this government, and he has inclination and desire for military +service, and for the faithful fulfilling his performance of what +pertains to his office and to the service of your Majesty, (as has been +observed), and besides has experience and the qualifications suitable +and necessary for this undertaking, may your Majesty not defer it, or +wait for another governor to perform this most important service. The +opportunity of having a person so well fitted for such a contingency +(which is by no means unimportant) is not to be lost. To say this +and what else pertains to this matter, Sire, I am constrained only +by the duty which I owe to the service of God and His church, and to +your Majesty and your crown, and to the general welfare of these most +important regions. If this were not so, nothing in this matter would +concern or could influence me; for it has cost me most dear and was +so disastrous to me that I lost by it my father and a great amount of +property, and met other losses to which I shall not refer. For this +reason, I desired to prosecute this expedition after the death of my +father; but I could not do so, on account of the great fear and dread +of hostile Chinese and Japanese. As a man, Sire, I can but desire the +accomplishment of that thing which my father and I had tried to achieve +and had almost succeeded in doing. But may our Lord not permit that +this or any other enterprise should be abandoned, for lack of desire +and effort to secure a result so desirable for the said objects; +and may it come through the hand and means which God shall choose, +and by which He shall be served. May His Divine Majesty guard your +Majesty as He can, and as we all desire and need. At Manila, June 8, +in the year 1602. + +_Luis Perez Dasmarinas_ + +[_Endorsed_: "April 27, 1604. To the Conde de Lemos. Suitable provision +has already been made; at Valladolid, [58] May 14, 1605."] + + + + +Sire: + +As I was in doubt whether the letter which I wrote last year regarding +the matter in this was received by your Majesty, I give an account +of the same matter in this letter. + +Toward the close of the previous year, 1600, there entered into +these islands, by way of the Strait of Magallanes, Oliver de Nort, +a Hollander, with two ships of war belonging to Count Mauricio. He +took prizes and caused damage, until he established himself at the +mouth of the bay of this city, intending to await the merchant ships +from China, and the galleon "Santo Thomas" from Nueva Espana, with +the silver for two years belonging to the business men of this kingdom. + +As military affairs were at that time little cared for in these +islands, and there was no sort of preparation, the royal Audiencia +of your Majesty, at the petition of the president, Don Francisco +Tello, was obliged to take measures to provide aid in so urgent a +necessity, with all possible haste and efficiency. For this end I was +commissioned to go immediately to the port of Cabite, and place and +keep it in a state of defense; and to arm several ships, with which +to meet the pirate and divert him from his intention. Accordingly, +I did so to the best of my ability, and put two ships of moderate +size in readiness in a short time, there being no others. + +The president ordered me again in your Majesty's name, and in +writing--as he considered that by no other authority, in view of +the state of affairs, could the expedition be made--to go out with +this fleet in my charge, against the enemy, and fight until I should +destroy him. In compliance with this I sought him, and encountered +him outside the bay of this city. We engaged the enemy in a long and +obstinate battle, which occurred between the two fleets on December +14. The outcome is related in the certified account by the president +and governor, which accompanies this, by which your Majesty will +be informed of the punishment which was inflicted upon this enemy, +and how our aim was attained as we had wished, and likewise of the +dangers and hardships which I encountered and underwent on this +occasion. In this I should be content if I had, for my only reward, +succeeded in serving your Majesty; for this aim alone drew me from +my home at so much danger to my honor, life, and children. + +I humbly beg your Majesty to be pleased to pardon whatever fault there +may have been, in consideration of my good intention and desire to +obey, and to succeed in what I was commanded to do. God protect the +Catholic person of your Majesty. At Manila, June 30, 1602. + +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ + + + + +Sire: + +Although the obligation to advise your Majesty of the state of this +your province, of the Order of our father St. Augustine, is always +binding, yet for many new reasons it is especially binding this year; +for at the recent meeting cf the chapter here, by acclamation, and +without voting, father Fray Pedro Arze (concerning whom your Majesty +must already have a report), was elected provincial, with the consent +of all. From this we hope that, with the favor of God and your Majesty, +he will be successful in his government, since its commencement is +so propitious. The letter and mandate which your Majesty sent last +year serves him as a guide for the correction of what stands in +need of remedy, and the severity necessary to prevent disobedience; +accordingly, the province is enjoying the greatest peace and quiet +that it has ever had. In the meantime there came this year Fray Pedro +Sossa, with a commission as visitor, sent by Fray Christoval de la +Cruz from Nueva Espana, in virtue of several messages which he bears +from the father-general, Alejandro Genense. We did not receive him, +not because we did not desire a visitation--which, on the contrary, +we do desire, and humbly seek from your Majesty, for the justification +of this province--but because he did not come by order of your Majesty, +and for other reasons which the Audiencia of these islands examined; +and because some other and further messages which he bore from the +father vicar-general Fulvio relating to us appeared suspicious. In what +concerns this matter, we refer your Majesty to the said Audiencia, +which, we believe, will advise your Majesty with due fidelity. Your +Majesty has therein two very faithful vassals and servants, namely, +Doctor Antonio de Morga and the licentiate Tellez Almazan--both the +fathers of children, excellent judges, poor, and deserving of whatever +favor your Majesty may extend to them; and especially of being removed +from this country, which is poor and of scant resources, and where +they cannot provide for the fortunes of their children. In this way +we consider that your Majesty would do a great service to God. + +The bearer of this is the father definitor, Fray Diego Cerravi, [59] +who came to these regions from Castilla about eight years ago, and has +served your Majesty and the order here very advantageously. He is a +learned and virtuous religious, who speaks the truth; accordingly your +Majesty may credit what he says. He is a man of so many good qualities +that, to tell your Majesty in a word, he leaves us at his departure +lonely, sad, and disconsolate at losing him--although we are consoled +by our confidence in the favor and grace which your Majesty will show +this province and to him in its name, by ordering that aid be given to +him in the business which he has in his charge; and especially that he +may bring us friars from the province of Castilla, who are here much +approved for their virtue and learning. And we are confident that +your Majesty will favor us in all matters as our protector, patron, +and only defender; we trust no less that our Lord will protect for +us the royal person of your Majesty, according to the needs of your +kingdoms and seigniories, and of us, your ministers and chaplains. We +beseech, etc. From this your Majesty's convent of the Order of our +father Saint Augustine. In the city of Manila, on the fourth of July +in the year one thousand six hundred and two. + + +_Fray Pedro Arce_, provincial +_Fray Agustin de Tapia_, definitor +_Fray Bernave de Villalovos_, definitor +_Fray Diego Cerrabe_, definitor +_Fray Pedro de Salzedo_, definitor + + +[_Endorsed with the following order_: "Join this with the letter from +the Audiencia, and bring them in on January 28, 1604."] + + + +Sire: + +Since the last year, 601, an account has been given to your Majesty +of the expedition which I conducted at the close of the previous year, +1600, by order of the governor and president, Don Francisco de Tello, +against Olibert de Norte, a corsair from Holland who entered among +these islands, taking prizes with two ships of war; and of the outcome +of the expedition, by which the said corsair was punished and harassed. + +Francisco de las Missas, factor and overseer of your Majesty's +exchequer in these islands, whom I inspected a short time ago +... [under a] [60] special commission from your Majesty, and passed +sentence upon him ... penalties and restitutions as will appear by +the report of the inspection which I have sent to your ... [Majesty] +by three routes. He has been so hostile ... that he displays his +jealousy of me in all matters [in so far as] he can. Accordingly, +on account of this--as well as to cover his fault at the time of +the despatch of the fleet which I took, by sending me unsupplied +with sailors and other things necessary, which it was his duty to +furnish--among other measures which he has taken since the past +year, one has been under color and appearance of proceeding from +the licentiate Salazar de Salzedo, fiscal of this Audiencia (whom, +for private reasons, he holds quite in his power). The said factor +induced the fiscal, in the affair of his investigation, to draw up a +secret information with suborned witnesses--sailors and others, who +are at his call--by which it is intimated that he furnished me well, +and that the commander's ship was lost through my fault, imputing to +me by the statements of these men other and illegal actions, in order +to disparage my faithful service; by this may be seen the malice and +passion of those concerned in this affair. That document was sent to +your Majesty and the ministers before whom this matter is considered. + +In like manner Captain Joan de Alcega (his intimate friend, +and likewise a partisan of the said fiscal and factor), whom I +took as admiral, in order to cover up his own guilt--for which he +was arrested by the president and governor, and is being proceeded +against officially because, at the beginning of the fight, he left the +commander's ship unsustained, contrary to the order which he had from +me in writing; and on account of other illegal acts, and because he +took a part of the benefits of the success which resulted--he also, +driven by the same heat of passion, has taken secret measures and +procured documents with which to inform your Majesty in a sinister +way to my prejudice. + +Since it is just that in all matters your Majesty should be informed of +the truth, I send certain documents which are not drawn in secret, nor +cunningly, nor maliciously, whereby the truth will appear--especially +the information which was drawn by the alcalde-mayor of the province +of Valayan (on whose coast and in whose district the ship was lost), +the very next day, and obtained from the men who were saved from the +wreck. By this may be seen what passed in this region, and the guilt +of the said factor, and that of the admiral, as has been pointed out. + +Beside this, in the ships which leave here this year goes a religious +of the Order of St. Augustine, Fray Francisco de Valdes by name, who +was sent, in company with Fray Diego de Cerrabi, by his order to the +court of your Majesty on the business of the order. This religious +can inform your Majesty of all which occurred on the said expedition, +as his order sent him on it to confess and administer the sacraments; +and he was present during the fight on the commander's ship, and saved +himself by swimming. As a trustworthy and disinterested person, he will +tell the truth, without being influenced by personal considerations. + +I humbly beg your Majesty that, with this understanding, your Majesty +may be pleased to command that opportunity be not given for distortion +of facts in such a way, by persons so jealous and so suspicious, who +are moved alone by anger and passion to avenge themselves and procure +satisfaction from the ministers who, for the service of your Majesty, +have administered (as they still do) justice in your behalf; and +that you will command that the illegality which appears to have been +committed in this be punished, as is most fitting for the service of +your Majesty. God protect the Catholic person of your Majesty. Manila, +July 8, 1602. + +_Doctor Antonio de Morga_ + + + +Sire: + +I, the licentiate Geronimo de Salazar y Salcedo, your fiscal in +the royal Chancilleria of the Philipinas Islands, say that on the +sixteenth of January of the year one thousand six hundred your Majesty +was pleased to command that a royal commission be given to Don Pedro +de Acuna, governor and captain-general of these islands, empowering +him, when he should reach them, to cause the royal officials to give +him a report of what they have collected from Don Francisco Tello, +his predecessor, toward the sixteen millions [of maravedis?] which +were still due from the balance which was incurred by him at the +time when he was treasurer of the Sevilla House of Trade; and also +to cause that whatever remained to be paid should be collected from +the said Don Francisco Tello and from his property. + +In the course of the execution of this commission by the said Don +Pedro de Acuna, the royal officials certified that the said Don +Francisco Tello had paid them twenty-seven thousand two hundred +pesos of common gold, which should be twenty-eight thousand one +hundred and eighty-four pesos, according to your command by a royal +decree dated in San Lorenco, on the thirteenth of September in the +year one thousand five hundred and ninety-five. The said officials +decided that the eight thousand pesos which were lost in the year +one thousand six hundred in the ship "Santa Margarita" should be +for your Majesty's account--because, since the debt was contracted +in the Sevilla House of Trade, the payment should be there; and +the said Don Francisco Tello must run the risk as far as that. They +also decided that what was ordered in the aforesaid royal decree of +the thirteenth of September, ninety-five, was that each year three +thousand ducados should be deducted from the salary of Don Francisco +Tello, which were to be sent each year; and, as he failed to pay in +the years ninety-six, ninety-seven, and ninety-eight, for the rest +of the time it came about that eight thousand pesos were sent each +year. It was thus that the aforesaid eight thousand pesos were lost +which were going in the said ship "Santa Margarita;" whereas, if the +aforesaid royal decree had been followed and three thousand ducados +sent, no more than that sum would have been lost. + +The governor gave me authority to follow up the matter, and I asked +from him an order of execution for the whole sum, with the assurance +that I would receive on account whatever seemed lawfully to have been +paid; it was given to me on the person and goods of the aforesaid +Don Francisco Tello, but property was not found to the value of four +hundred pesos. He opposed the execution, saying that he had paid in +Sevilla with the income of his family estate, together with what he +had paid here, all the balance that was due. I replied to this that +this did not appear, from the aforesaid royal decree of January, one +thousand six hundred, and that a forced sale would have to be made +for the amount that was therein ordered--not taking account of the +payments that had been made here until they should arrive at Sevilla, +as the official judges of these islands have decided--and that what +was lost must be at the risk of the said Don Francisco Tello. + +This was proper, since at the time when the said royal officials +gave the said money to the masters of the ships to be delivered to +the treasury of Mexico, the aforesaid Don Francisco Tello, by the +authority of his position, gave orders that the said masters should +give him the money; and he invested it in merchandise, which, if it +had arrived in Mexico, would have gained a great deal. It was right +that, since he was to have the profit, he should bear what risk there +was--which was greater than if he had allowed the royal officials to +send the money as it suited them. Since each year a great quantity +of money is sent from the treasury of Mexico to the one here, they +would have given orders that, instead of sending the money from here, +it should be deducted from what was to be sent from Mexico, in order +that that quantity might be sent to Sevilla. In this way the risk of +going and coming would have been avoided; and, even if there had not +been any opportunity for this, they might have sent the said money +in gold--which is a less risk, because it is of less bulk and weight +than reals--and thirty per cent would have been gained in Mexico. + +Both sides brought evidence, but that for the opposition was of no +importance; so the governor gave judgment according to the opinion +of the licentiate Luis Ortis de Padilla, reporter of the aforesaid +royal Chancilleria, ordering that his property be sold to the highest +bidder, in order to recover the amount for which the execution had been +granted--deducting from it all which the royal officials certify to +have been paid here, and also, eight thousand pesos for what he says he +has paid in Sevilla. I consented to the judgment as far as concerned +what was favorable, and I appealed from what was in opposition, to +what I had asked to have received as evidence. The opposing side has +denied this, and made a declaration of nullity against the aforesaid +royal decree of the year six hundred, saying that, according to it, +it was ordered that the accountants of the royal Council of the +Indias should make a record of this matter, which they did not do; +so that everything that was done by its authority is void. Thus the +suit remains in this position. + +Seeing that I did not find any property of the said Don Francisco +Tello with which to fulfil the aforesaid commission, and hearing that +he had some property which he kept secret, I asked for and received +letters of excommunication and censure against those who might know +of property belonging to the said Don Francisco Tello, in order that +they should make it known. They opposed this, and tried to delay it +as much as possible; but nevertheless it was ordered that the three +letters should be given. They appealed from this, and menaced me with +the aid of fuerza [61]--with the result that until the sixth of this +month the last letter could not be read, so that the examination of +the depositions that were taken has been delayed. According to them, +it appears that he has no property of any account in these islands, +but that what he has is in Nueva Espana; and whatever I have been able +to hear of I give notice to the viceroy of that country to attach, +because the ships are about to sail, and the governor is in Cavite, +and I cannot get a warrant for it. God keep the Catholic person of +your Majesty, according to His power. From Manila, on the tenth of +July of the year 1602. + +The licentiate _Hieronimo de Salazar y Salzedo_ + +[_Endorsed_: "Examined on the second of July, 1604. Let it be put with +another from the royal officials of Philipinas, of July 18, 1603."] + + + + + + +Bibliographical Data + + +All documents in this volume save two are obtained from the original +MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla; and their pressmarks +therein are indicated as follows: + +1. _Ordinances of the Audiencia_ (concluded).--See _Vol_. X, No. 15. + +2. _Hospital for Indians._--"Simancas-Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; +cartas y expedientes de personas seculares, vistos en el Consejo; +anos 1595 a 1606; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 35." + +3. _Letters from the fiscal, 1599._--"Simancas-Secular; Audiencia +de Filipinas; cartas y espedientes del presidente y oidores de dicha +audiencia vistos en el Consejo; anos de 1583 a 1600; est. 67, caj. 6, +leg. 18." + +4. _Letter from king of Borneo._--The same as No. 3, save that the +dates read, "1583 a 1599." + +5. _Letters from Telia._--"Simancas-Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; +cartas y expedientes del gobernador de Filipinas vistos en el Consejo; +anos de 1567 a 1599; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 6." + +6. _Letters from Felipe III._--The first one: "Simancas-Filipinas; +cartas y espedientes del presidente y oidores de dha Audiencia vistos +en el Consejo; anos de 1600 a [1606]; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 19." (The +second: in "Cedulario Indico" of Archivo Historico Nacional, Madrid, +"Tomo 38, fº. 131.6, nº. 101.") + +7. _Pacification of Mindanao._--The same as No. 6, first part. + +8. _Van Noordt's attack._--"Simancas-Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; +cartas y expedientes del presidente y oidores de dicha Audiencia vistos +en el Consejo; anos de 1600 a 1612; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 19;" but +on the last of the papers in this group the dates read, "1600 a 1606." + +9. _Morga's report of battle._--The same as No. 8. + +10. _Letter from Garcia._--"Simancas-Secular; cartas y espedientes +de personas eclesiasticas vistos en el Consejo; anos 1570 a 1608; +est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 42." + +11. _Letter from the fiscal, 1601._--The same as No. 8. + +12. _Complaint of cabildo._--The same as No. 2. + +13. _Letter from Morga._--The same as No. 6, first part. + +14. _Grant to Jesuit school._--"Simancas-Audiencia de Filipinas; +consultas originales correspondientes a dha Audiencia desde el ano +1586 a 1636; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 1." + +15. _Instructions to Acuna._--"Audiencia de Filipinas; registros de +oficio reales ordenes dirigidas a las autoridades del distrito de la +Audiencia; anos 1597 a 1634; est. 105, caj. 2, leg. 1." + +16. _Royal decrees, 1602._--The same as No. 15. + +17. _Pintados menaced._--The same as No. 8. + +18. _Letters to Felipe III._--The first, second, and fifth, the same +as No. 8; the third, the same as No. 10, save that the heading reads, +"Simancas-Eclesiastico;" the fourth, the same as No. 6, first part. + +_Annual letters from the Philippine Islands, 1601._--This document +is obtained from a compilation of missionary letters by John Hay, +S.J., entitled _De rebus Iaponicis Indicis, et Pervanis_ (Antverpiae, +M. DC. V), pp. 950-968. Our translation is made from a copy of this +book in the Library of Congress. + + + + + + + +NOTES + +[1] Evidently a reference to the memoir of Fray Juan Plasencia upon +the customs of the Tagal natives (_Vol_. VII. pp. 173-196), which was +long used as a guide by Spanish magistrates and officials in their +dealings with the Indians. + +[2] A counsellor-at-law appointed by the supreme court to make the +briefs of the causes to be tried; he reads them before the court, after +they have been first examined and approved by the parties concerned. + +[3] The reference or act of delivering written judicial proceedings +to the other party, in order that, on examination of them, he may +prepare the answer. + +[4] Inserted among these decrees is a copy of the account written by +Fray Juan de Plasencia, O.S.F., of the customs of the Tagal Indians--a +document presented in vol. VII of this series; also (unsigned and +undated, but probably by the same writer) a paper entitled, "Remarks +on the customs which the natives of Pampanga formerly observed in +their lawsuits." + +[5] _Cuarteles_: referring to the cost of quartering soldiers on +the citizens. + +[6] So in the official transcript from the original MS.; but apparently +an error for _bar--i.e., bahar_, which is an Arabic weight, computed +in the Moluccas at about five hundred and ninety pounds (Crawfurd's +_Dictionary_, p. 103). + +[7] The Spanish translation of this letter is written on the back of +the letter itself. + +[8] The words in brackets throughout this letter are conjectural +readings. + +[9] _Marginal note, apparently made to facilitate reference_: "That +at the end of July, 1599, information was received through letters +from the captains of the forces at Malaca and Maluco that at Sunda +and Terrenate were a number of English ships, whose designs were +not known; that help was asked for Maluco, but the request was not +granted, it being impossible for this kingdom of the Phelippinas to +do more; and that it is necessary that we be provided with troops, +arms, and money from Nueva Espana, of all of which advices have been +given the viceroy." + +[10] The letters here mentioned are found at the end of this document; +they are all written in Portuguese. They are not presented here, +as all that is essential in them is contained in Tello's letter. + +[11] _Marginal note_: "That the troops and artillery are to retire +from the fort of La Caldera, and proceed to Cebu, as they are needed +there; and the fort is burned." + +[12] Spanish, _que van por el agua mas de una legua_; apparently some +word or phrase is missing. Montero y Vidal (_Hist. de la pirateria_, +i, p. 144) says that the fort of La Caldera was two and one-half +kilometers (a little more than one and one-half miles) from Zamboanga. + +[13] _Marginal note_: "That information regarding the English has +been given to the viceroy of Nueva Espana, in order that he may send +reenforcements." + +[14] _Marginal note_: "That the work of casting artillery is being +continued." + +[15] The Strait of Sunda, which separates Java from Sumatra. + +[16] This is followed by notarial attestations regarding the drawing +and collation of the above copy of instructions from the original, +at the order of Pedro de Acuna and Antonio de Morga, in 1602, and +the certification as to the qualifications of the government notary, +also dated in 1602. + +[17] The ship ranking second in a fleet. + +[18] Preceding this document, which is a copy and not the original, +is a notarial declaration attesting that the present copy was made +from the original by order of Antonio de Morga, for use in a suit +brought by him against his admiral, Joan de Alcega, for deserting the +flagship during the battle, which caused the loss of the flagship. At +the close of the instructions is the notarial attestation of Joan +Paez de Sotomayor as to the correctness of the copy, under witness of +Geronimo Xuarez and Joan de Aldave, and bearing date of August 27, +1602; and the further attestation by three notaries that Paez de +Sotomayor is entitled to act as notary. + +[19] Francis Drake; see mention of this voyage in _Vol_. IV, p. 313. + +[20] Thomas Candish; see _Vol_. VII, p. 52. + +[21] Oliver van Noordt; he was a native of Utrecht, and led this +expedition in behalf of a commercial company which had been formed in +1598 by certain citizens of the United Provinces. Although the main +object of their enterprise was trade, the commission issued to Esaias +de Lende (q.v., _post_) shows that the Dutch government gladly seized +this opportunity to attack Spanish possessions in the Orient. See +the detailed account of Van Noordt's voyage in _Recueil des voiages +... des Indes Orientales_ (Amsterdam, MDCCXXV), ii. pp. 1-117. + +[22] Maurice of Nassau, born in 1567, succeeded his father as governor +of the United Provinces in 1584, and was for forty years the leader +of the Dutch cause; but he did not become Prince of Orange until the +death of his elder brother in 1618. Maurice died in 1625. + +[23] This was Jacob Claasz; he was sentenced to be set ashore and +abandoned at the Strait of Magellan. A little bread and wine was given +him, and it was expected that "he would die of hunger in a few days, +or else be captured and eaten by the savages" (_Rec. des voiages_, +ii, p. 30). The same record says that Peter de Lint was promoted to +Claasz's post. + +[24] This vessel was named "El buen Jesus." + +[25] A corrupt phonetic rendering of the name of Sir Richard Hawkins, +son of the noted English freebooter Sir John Hawkins. The reference +in the text is to the fight between Richard Hawkins and the Spanish +admiral Beltran de Castro, off the coast of Peru, June 20-22, 1594; +after a long and desperate contest, the English were forced to +surrender. Hawkins was taken a prisoner to Spain, but afterward sent +back to England; he died soon after 1620. See his work, _Observations +... in his Voyage into the South Sea_ (London, 1622; reprinted by +Hakluyt Society, 1847, and again in 1877), 99. 182-225. + +[26] As is shown by another document in the same legajo, this patache +was named "San Xacinto;" it came from Malaca some time before the +battle with the Dutch, and with news that they had been seen in those +waters; it was commanded by Estevan Rodriguez de Paez. An embargo was +laid upon this vessel, in order to secure it for use against the Dutch; +but this was removed on November 22, 1600. The decree releasing the +vessel was one of the documents used in a lawsuit brought by Paez +in regard to the freight charges for the merchandise carried by +the patache. + +[27] Screens of canvas, spread along the sides of a vessel to prevent +an enemy from seeing what is done on the deck. + +[28] Since the independence of the United Provinces was not recognized +by Spain until 1609, these Dutch prisoners might have been executed +as rebels against their former lord the king of Spain--an argument +doubtless emphasized by the tenor of De Lende's commission, which +follows this account of the battle. + +[29] Spanish, _le mas perro_--literally, "the most of a dog." + +[30] This descriptive paragraph is found in another copy of De +Lende's commission, preserved in the same legajo with the original +of the document just presented. We use this second copy, partly for +the sake of this description, partly because it is more exact in the +spelling of proper names. The estates belonging to the house of Orange +were Nassau, Catzenellenbogen, Vianden, Dietz, Veer, and Vlissingue +(anglicized to Flushing). + +[31] Alluding to the Holy Roman Empire, which, founded by Charlemagne +in the year 800, was long the temporal arm of the ecclesiastical +power in Europe. Carlos I of Spain was its head, under the title of +Charles V, during his reign as king of Spain. The Holy Roman Empire +came to an end in August, 1806, with the resignation of its head, +Francis II of Austria. + +[32] Francisco Vaez was born at Segovia in 1543, and received into +the Jesuit order in 1566. After his ordination he was sent to Mexico, +where he filled various responsible offices, among them that of +provincial. He died at Mexico, July 14, 1619. Sommervogel does not +mention his presence in the Philippine Islands. The letter by Vaez is +translated from the Latin version published by John Hay (1546-1607--a +Jesuit of Scotch birth, noted for his disputes with Protestants), +under the title _De rebus Iaponicis, Indicis_, etc., as seen in the +title-page herewith reproduced (Antverpiae, M. DC. v). But the letter +had already been printed, two years earlier, in the _Relatione breve_ +of Diego de Torres, S.J. (Milano, MDCIII), the title-page of which +is also given here. Torres held various high official positions in +his order in Peru, Paraguay, and other South American countries; +and Sommervogel says (_Bibliotheque Comp. Jesus_, viii, col. 132): +"Father Torres, having been sent to Rome as procurator of his province, +profited by his sojourn in Rome to have his relation printed; it is +dated at Rome, February 25, 1603." It is not certain whether either +of these versions is the original production of Vaez; but as he +was a Spaniard, and writing to the general of his order, it seems +probable that he wrote in Latin, and that the Latin version which +we follow is Vaez's own composition, rather than the Italian--which +latter may have been Torres's translation from the Latin original, +to suit better his own account written in Italian. + +The Latin title-page reads thus in English: "Recent letters on affairs +in Japan, India, and Peru; collected in one volume by John Hay, a Scot, +of Dalgatty, of the Society of Jesus. Antwerp; from the printing-house +of Martin Nutius, at the sign of the two storks; in the year 1605." + +The Italian title-page is thus translated: "A brief relation by +Father Diego de Torres, of the Society of Jesus, procurator of the +province of Peru, regarding the fruit which is being gathered among +the Indians of that realm; for the consolation of the religious of +that Society in Europe. At the end is added the annual letter from +the Philippine Islands for 1600. At Milan; by the heirs of the late +Pacifico Pontio, and Giovanni Battista Piccaglia, partners; 1603. By +permission of the superiors." + +[33] Pedro Lopez de la Parra was a native of Salamanca; entering +the Jesuit order, he completed his studies and was ordained at +Mexico--where for some years he was both an instructor and preacher, +being regarded as an unusually eloquent orator. Desiring to be a +missionary in the Philippines, he came to the islands, but found +that he could not master the language of the natives; discouraged +by this, and finding that no other employment was available, he +obtained permission from the visitor Garcia to return to Mexico; and +on the voyage perished by shipwreck, as here related. (La Concepcion, +_Hist. de Philipinas_, iii, pp. 391, 392.) + +[34] The word _collegium_, as used here, means rather "residence" than +"college;" but we retain the latter rendering because the Jesuits were +then actually conducting an educational institution at Manila, in which +they gave instruction to the Spaniards and to some natives. This was +the college of San Jose, for which provision had been made as early +as 1585; but for various reasons it was not opened until 1600. Its +first rector was Pedro Chirino; among its first students (thirteen +in all) were Pedro Tello, a nephew of the governor, and Antonio de +Morga, a son of the auditor. See La Concepcion's detailed account, +in _Hist. de Philipinas_, iii, pp. 403-409. + +[35] La Concepcion states (_Hist. de Philipinas_, iii, pp. 386-387) +that St. Polycarp was chosen by lot, in a solemn and public assembly +as the especial patron of the city of Manila, for its protection +against earthquakes, as Santa Potenciana was its patron in hurricanes +and tempests. + +[36] Antipolo is a town lying about thirteen miles east of Manila, +near the northwest corner of Laguna de Bay. + +[37] La Concepcion gives (_Hist. de Philipinas_, iii, pp. 409-412) +an interesting account of the labors of this bishop, Fray Pedro de +Agurto, during the year 1600. Assembling the clergy and friars of his +diocese, he proposed to them various measures, especially intended to +facilitate the instruction and conversion of the natives. The catechism +of the church had been already translated into the Visayan speech; +but this version was now entrusted to a committee of six (equally +divided between the Jesuits, Augustinians, and regular clergy) +for revision. This assembly resolved to attempt the suppression of +polygamy among the heathen Indians subject to the Spaniards, and +to check the easy divorces prevalent among them. Agurto undertook a +visitation in Leyte and Samar, but could not complete it on account +of those islands being invaded by pirates from Mindanao. + +[38] Miguel Gomez entered the Jesuit order at Alcala in 1582; after +his ordination was sent to the Philippines; during his stay there +was for some time an instructor in the college at Manila; and died +there December 28, 1622. + +[39] Ledesma was born in 1556, and became a novice in the Jesuit order +at the age of sixteen. In 1596 he came to the Philippines, where he +filled high positions in his order--rector at Zebu, rector at Manila, +and provincial of the islands. He died at Manila, May 15, 1639. + +[40] Christoval Ximenes was born in 1573, and entered the Jesuit order +in 1588. Coming to the Philippines in 1596, he spent thirty-two years +in the Visayan missions; he died at Alangatang, in Leyte, December +3, 1628. He was noted as a linguist, and composed various works, +religious or poetical, in the Visayan tongue; one of these was a +translation of Bellarmino's _Doctrina Christiana_ (Manila, 1610). + +Gabriel Sanchez is not mentioned by Sommervogel. + +[41] See La Concepcion's account of the work of the Jesuits in Bohol +(_Hist. de Philipinas_, iii, pp. 356-362). Gabriel Sanchez and Juan +de Torres were the first of their missionaries there. The Boholans +did not, like the other natives of those islands, practice polygamy; +thus their conversion was greatly facilitated. The fathers gathered +many of the natives into a reduction; and they healed many sick +persons with holy water. Among their converts was Catunao, a chief +one hundred and twenty years old, who had guided Legazpi to Cebu. + +[42] Apparently the same as the present Tubigon, a considerable town +on the western coast of Bohol. + +[43] Dulag is a town on the eastern coast of Leyte; and Alangalang +(named in the last section of this letter) is in the northern part +of that island, some twenty miles up the Cabayong River. + +[44] "Go ye, swift angels, to a people wrenched up and torn, a fearful +people, after whom is none other." + +[45] In MS., _treze_ (thirteen)--apparently an error in transcription +(probably arising from almost illegible writing in the original), +since Vaez, in the document preceding this, makes the number of Jesuit +priests in the islands to be thirty (_treinta_). + +[46] La Concepcion relates (_Hist. de Philipinas_, iii, +pp. 380-382) the labors accomplished in less than a year by Garcia +as visitor. Collecting over one thousand pesos of contributions, +he restored the Jesuit church at Manila, which had been ruined by +earthquakes; and appointed Pedro Chirino as rector of the college. He +reorganized the missions of the Society, and their administration, and +presented a more liberal interpretation of the rule and constitution +of the order. He visited the various missions; and the missionaries +who had been stationed in different villages were gathered by Garcia +into a few central residences, from which they made journeys to carry +on their labors. La Concepcion writes in a critical tone, regarding +Garcia as an innovator, and as doing more harm than good by some of +his too radical measures. Sommervogel does not mention Diego Garcia. + +[47] For interesting accounts, descriptive and historical, of early +ships, see article by Admiral George H. Preble on "Ships of the +Sixteenth Century," and similar papers on those of the next three +centuries, in _The United Service_, November, 1883-June, 1884. See also +Edward Shippen's account of galleys and the life of the galley-slaves +("Galleys of the Sixteenth Century"), in the same periodical, +September, 1884. On galleons, cf. note in _The Spanish War_, 1585-87 +(published by Navy Records Society; London, 1898), pp. 337-341. + +[48] The document here referred to (dated January 15-June 12, 1601), +and another recording a similar investigation made by Morga (July 6-9, +1602), are in the Sevilla archives, bearing the same pressmark as +the fiscal's letter in our text. Both are too long and unimportant +to be here presented. + +[49] On June 13, 1597, Felipe II issued a commission to Antonio de +Morga to investigate charges of peculation which had been made against +this man, as factor of the royal exchequer in the Philippines. + +[50] See La Concepcion's account of the loss of this ship (_Hist. de +Philipinas_, iii, pp. 428-435). + +[51] Spanish, _colegio_; see note 32, _ante_. + +[52] A fund, the interest of which is required by the Spanish laws +for the support of an ecclesiastic. + +[53] Mauban is a town and anchorage in the northeast corner of +Tayabas province, Luzon; it lies on the Pacific coast of the island, +and southeast from Manila. + +[54] In a squadron, the galley next in rank to the flagship or +_capitana_. + +[55] These names appear thus in the text; but they evidently refer +to the same persons who are previously mentioned as Liguana and Ssapay. + +[56] Sangir (or Sanguir) is a small island midway between Mindanao +and Celebes; Tagolanda is another one, south of Sangir, about fifty +miles northeast of Celebes. + +[57] At the beginning of this letter is a brief summary of its +contents. + +[58] In 1601 the capital of Spain was removed from Madrid to +Valladolid; but this measure proved so disastrous that Felipe III +found it necessary to return to Madrid in 1606. + +[59] Diego Cerrabe entered the Augustinian order at Burgos in 1584. He +came to the Philippines in 1595, and after various official services +there, and two years' ministry at Pasig, he went to Spain with +messages from his chapter at Manila; apparently he did not return to +the islands. (Perez's _Catalogo_, p. 47.) + +[60] The MS. is worn or mutilated at the places marked by leaders; +the words in brackets are the translator's conjectural readings. + +[61] See definition of fuerza in _Vol_. V, p. 292. The reference here +indicates that Tello or his friends, in order to oppose the fiscal's +proceedings, secured the interference of some ecclesiastical judge, +who thus committed fuerza. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, 1493-1898 *** + +***** This file should be named 14685.txt or 14685.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/6/8/14685/ + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the PG Distributed Proofreaders Team + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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