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diff --git a/16297.txt b/16297.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8e73aec --- /dev/null +++ b/16297.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8994 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898: Volume +XXII, 1625-29, 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 XXII, 1625-29 + 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 + +Author: Various + +Editor: Emma Helen Blair + +Release Date: July 15, 2005 [EBook #16297] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS *** + + + + +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 XXII, 1625-29 + + + + Edited and annotated by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson + with historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord + Bourne. + + + + + + + + +CONTENTS OF VOLUME XXII + + + Preface + Documents of 1625 + + Report of the Spanish Council of State + on the appointment of a governor for the + Philippines. Madrid, March 7. + Royal decree granting income to the Society + of Jesus. Felipe IV; Madrid, June 1. + Letter from the archbishop of Manila to Felipe + IV. Miguel Garcia Serrano; July 25. + Royal festivities at Manila. Diego de Rueda + y Mendoza; Manila, August 1. + Letter to Felipe IV. Fernando de Silva; + Manila, August 4. + + Documents of 1626 + + Letter from the archbishop to Felipe IV. Miguel + Garcia Serrano; Manila, July 25. + Letter to Felipe IV. Fernando de Silva; + Manila, July 30. + Letter from the sisters of St. Clare to Felipe + IV. Jeronima de la Asunsion, and others; + Manila, July 31. + Petition for aid to the seminary of San Juan + de Letran. Juan Geronimo de Guerrero; Manila, + August 1. + Royal decrees. Felipe IV; Madrid, June-October. + Military affairs of the islands. [Unsigned]; + Sevilla, 1626 (but written at Cebu) + + Documents of 1627 + + Importance of the Philippines. Martin Castano; + [undated; 1627?] + Relation of 1626. [Unsigned and undated; + _ca._ 1627] + Letter to Tavora. Felipe IV; Madrid, + September 3. + Laws regarding the Sangleys. [From + _Recopilacion de leyes de las Indias_]; + 1594-1627. + Decrees regarding the religious. Felipe IV; + Madrid, May-November. + Decrees regarding the Chinese. Felipe IV; + Madrid, September 10 and November 19. + Inadvisability of a Spanish post on the + island of Formosa. Juan Cevicos; Madrid, + December 20. + + Documents of 1628-1629 + + Relation of 1627-28. [Unsigned]; Manila, + July, 1628. + Report of appointments made by the + governor. Juan Nino de Tavora; Cavite, August + 2, 1628. + Letters to Felipe IV. Juan Nino de Tavora; + August 4, 1628. + Economic reasons for suppressing the silk + trade of China in Spain and its colonies. Juan + Velazquez Madrco; October 7, 1628. + Decrees regarding the Chinese. Felipe IV; + Madrid, June, 1628-March, 1629. + Relations of 1628-29. Hernando Estrada, + and others; Manila, etc., 1628-29. + + Bibliographical Data + + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + Autograph signature of Fernando de Silva; photographic + facsimile from original MS. in Archivo general de Indias, + Sevilla. + Plan of the city and port of Macao; photographic facsimile of + engraving in Bellin's _Petit atlas maritime_ ([Paris], 1764) + no. 57; from copy in the library of Wisconsin-Historical + Society. + + + + + + +PREFACE + + +The present volume covers (1625-29) the governorship of Fernando +de Silva, and half of that of Juan Nino de Tavora. Besides the +staple topics of trade restrictions, conflicts between the civil and +ecclesiastical authorities, and hostilities with the Dutch, it contains +more than usual matter which sheds light on social conditions in +Manila and the internal affairs of the colony. A vivid and picturesque +description of social life in Manila is furnished in the document on +"Royal festivities;" and educational interests are represented in +others, regarding aid to the Jesuit college there, and a school for +orphan boys. An order of nuns has for some time been established in +Manila, and they ask for more liberty to receive novices--a proceeding +apparently objected to in that community: they receive liberal aid from +many persons, especially wealthy women. A solid bridge of stone has +been built across the Pasig River, facilitating intercourse and traffic +among the people. The Parian has been destroyed by fire, but is rebuilt +in better and more extensive form than ever before. Special efforts are +made to protect the Chinese resident there, who are often wronged and +ill-treated by the Spaniards. In this volume is much concerning the +persecution of Christians in Japan, the proceedings of the Dutch in +the Eastern seas, affairs in China, and the raids of Moro pirates upon +the Pintados Islands. The limits of Spanish domination are somewhat +extended by the establishment of a military post on Formosa Island; +but many feel that this is an expensive and burdensome enterprise. + +The Spanish royal Council of State send to the king (March 7, 1625) a +report on the appointment of a governor for the Philippines, in place +of Fajardo, who had in 1623 asked permission to return to Spain. Many +candidates for this office are enumerated, with the merits and services +of each, and the number of votes given to each in the session of the +Council; the whole is submitted to the king that he may choose from +them. On June 1 of the same year Felipe grants to the Jesuit college +at Manila an annual income for sixteen years. + +A letter from Archbishop Serrano to the king (July 25, 1625) reports +the arrival of the new governor, Fernando de Silva, and the auspicious +beginning of his rule. The persecution of the Christians in Japan is +increasing in severity, and Serrano therefore tries to prevent any +further passage of missionaries to that country; but the zeal of the +friars outruns their discretion, and some have gone to Japan. Serrano +asks the king to interpose his authority, and restrain the friars. The +bishop of Nueva Segovia is dead, and Serrano has placed an ecclesiastic +in charge of that diocese. The officials of the Philippine government +should be officially inspected, for which duty he recommends one +of his own subordinates, Juan Cevicos. He asks the king to aid the +Jesuit college at Manila. + +The accession of Felipe IV is celebrated at Manila (January, 1623) with +"royal festivities"--bull-fights, games, decoration of the streets, +etc., which are described in picturesque and enthusiastic terms by a +citizen of Manila. Fernando de Silva, appointed successor to Fajardo, +notifies the king (August 4, 1625) of his arrival in the islands, +and reports the condition of affairs there, and various events of +interest. He complains that the Audiencia arrogates undue authority +to itself, and he has already annulled their action in assigning +encomiendas. Geronimo de Silva has been deposed by them from the +military command, and some of them have made illegal appointments to +army and navy offices; the governor has annulled these also. Hostile +Dutch ships are menacing the rich trading vessels that ply to Nueva +Espana; Silva has taken measures of defense and precaution against +them. A powerful Dutch fleet has already reached Ternate; he hopes +to obtain some ships, provided by the missionaries, to defend the +islands against the foe. The royal treasury and magazines are, however, +empty; and he has had to send a cargo to Japan to buy supplies. But the +persecutions of Christians in that country lead to great restrictions +on the commerce of Spaniards there; and the embassy sent from Manila +was not even received by the Japanese. The rebellion in Cagayan +will be punished as severely as possible; and Silva will endeavor +to improve the condition of affairs in the Moluccas. He recommends +that the captive Ternatan king be restored to his own country. The +attempt to work the Igorrote gold mines has been abandoned. Silva +has sold certain municipal offices, but recommends that hereafter +these be conferred on deserving citizens. The export duty on goods +sent to Nueva Espana should be lowered. The governor complains of +the lawless conduct of the religious, who pay no heed to the civil +authorities and do as they please with the Indians; and he asks for +more authority to restrain them. More troops are needed in the islands; +and Silva desires to check the Dutch who are getting a foothold in +the island of Formosa. Complaint is made that the treasury officials +of Mexico exceed their rights in auditing the accounts sent them from +Manila. Silva closes by recommending to the royal favor certain of +the Spanish citizens of Manila, and asking for his wife permission +to absent herself from the islands in case of his death. + +The archbishop of Manila writes to the king (July 25, 1626) about +various ecclesiastical matters. He enumerates the salaries of the +archbishop and his prebendaries, and asks that these be increased. The +cathedral's income is very inadequate, and needs aid. Serrano +enumerates the number of secular benefices in his diocese, and the +number of convents and priests belonging to the respective orders, +with the number of souls under their spiritual charge. The same +enumeration is made for the suffragan dioceses under his care. The +archbishop then commends the government (_ad interim_) and procedure +of Fernando de Silva, recounting various acts of the latter which +are beneficial to the colony. The new proprietary governor, Juan +Nino de Tavora, has arrived at Manila. The Dutch have not made their +usual raids on the islands, and trade with China, India, and other +nations has consequently been more flourishing, during the past +year. Moro pirates have, however, inflicted considerable damage; +and one of their fleets even assaulted Serrano and his company while +on an official visitation--the latter barely saving their lives +by flight. Serrano commends the auditor Messa y Lugo, and asks for +promotion for him. Dominican religious have established a mission on +the island of Hermosa, where a Spanish post was recently formed. + +Fernando de Silva makes a final report to the king (July 31, 1626) +of his government, up to the arrival of his successor, Juan Nino de +Tavora. Affairs in both the Moluccas and the Philippines are in a quiet +and safe condition; the royal magazines are well supplied, and the +forts equipped with artillery. Silva has lessened the burdens imposed +on the natives, and quieted the revolt in Cagayan; and he has punished +the savage tribes who harassed the peaceful Indians. Barracks for the +troops, and a stone bridge over the Pasig, are improvements made at +Manila. The Spaniards are excluded from trade in Japan; and the Dutch +have built a fort on the island of Formosa. Silva sends an expedition +to that island, and establishes a Spanish post at its northern end. He +explains the advantage of this in restoring to Manila the Chinese +trade, which has been injured by both the Dutch and the Portuguese; +it will also be a point of vantage for the Japanese trade. Silva +concludes by expressing his personal opinion of the characters of the +respective auditors, and renewing his request that his wife may enjoy +possession of her encomiendas in the islands, without residence there. + +In 1620 the order of Poor Clares had been established in the +Philippines; and, six years later, they write a letter to the king +(July 31, 1626) asking that they be not restricted in the number of +women whom they may receive into their order. A seminary for orphan +Spanish boys was opened, at nearly the same time, at Manila; its +founder asks the king, in letters of 1626, to assist his enterprise +with money and other aid; in accordance with this request, the +government assigns an income to the school. A royal decree of June 19 +in that year orders that the religious (especially the Augustinians) +in the islands shall cease to commit lawless acts in contravention +of the civil authorities. Another of the same date commands that +municipal court sessions be not hindered by treasury auction sales. A +third (dated October 16) orders Tavora to see that the hospitals in +Manila be suitably aided and conducted. + +The military affairs of the islands are related in an unsigned pamphlet +(Sevilla, 1626). The Moros of Mindanao discontinue their plundering +expeditions for a time, and ask aid from the Spaniards against other +Moros who are their enemies; this is promised, but hostile encounters +soon arise between them and the Spaniards, which are related in +detail. The Dutch besiege the Portuguese settlement in Macao, but +are repulsed with great loss. Captain Fernando de Silva conducts +a Spanish expedition from Manila to relieve Macao. News has come +that he is in Siam, and in danger of attack from enemies there. In +Japan the persecution of Christians increases, and all trade with +the Philippines is strictly prohibited. + +In an undated document (1627?), Martin Castano, procurator of the +Philippine colony at the Spanish court, urges upon the king the +importance of keeping his possessions in the Far East, and not allowing +his enemies the Dutch to profit by the wealth therein. Castano urges +the duty of extending the Christian religion among the heathen, for +which the Philippines offer the best opportunity in the world. This +object is being frustrated in Japan by the influence of the Dutch +heretics, who also are monopolizing the trade of that country, and +injuring that of the Chinese with the Spaniards. If the Dutch gain +Filipinas, they will soon conquer Portuguese India, and even harass +the Spanish colonies in America. Castano calls attention to the natural +wealth of the islands in gold and cloves, and to their valuable trade +with Japan and China--all which sources of profit should be kept for +the Spanish crown. + +A. "relation of 1626" (actually covering part of 1627)--unsigned, +but evidently by a Jesuit of Manila--recounts the leading events of +those years in the countries of the Far East. In the Moluccas there has +been peace; but it is expected that, as soon as the wars in Flanders +cease, the Dutch ships will again infest the eastern seas. The pirates +of the Camucones have harried some of the islands, plundering and +killing; punitive expeditions are sent against them, but accomplish +little. Better success, however, has attended an enterprise of this +sort against the Mindanaos. A relief expedition is sent to Macao, +under Captain Fernando de Silva. On his return, he is forced by a +storm to land in Siam; and there is slain, with most of his men, +in a fight with the Siamese and Japanese. Governor Fernando de Silva +sends two Jesuits as ambassadors to Siam, to recover the property of +Spaniards that was in Captain Silva's ship; but most of it has been +plundered by the Siamese soldiers. One of the Jesuits remains there, +and begins a mission. The settlement in Formosa has been successful, +and the natives are now on friendly terms with the Spaniards. Tavora +sends supplies for the troops there, which finally reach them after +long delays from stormy weather. Trade from Manila to Japan is even +more strictly prohibited than before. + +Felipe IV writes to Governor Tavora (September 3, 1627), in answer +to his letters of the previous year. The king approves of his +establishing a fort at the northern end of Celebes, promises to send +him aid and arms, and gives him directions for procedure in various +matters of detail. + +From _Recopilacion de leyes de las Indias_ are translated a group of +laws (1594-1627) relating to the Chinese in the Philippines. It is +decreed that they shall be charged no fee for leaving Manila; the +sale of their goods is regulated; no oppression or injury to them +shall be permitted; they shall not be allowed to live in the houses +of Spaniards; their suits shall come first before the governor of the +Parian, with appeal to the Audiencia, and that neither auditors nor +municipal officials shall begin such suits; the Audiencia shall not +meddle with the affairs of the Parian, which shall be in charge of the +governor of the islands; and assessments of fowls shall not be made +upon the Chinese. The governor is ordered to promote agriculture among +them, and not to exact personal services; their number must be limited +to six thousand, and no bribes or fees for licenses may be exacted; +they must be kept in due subjection, but always through mild and just +methods; provision is made regarding the fees for their licenses; +Chinese converts are exempted for ten years from paying tributes; and a +limit is placed to the assessment made upon them for the royal service. + +The king orders the Audiencia of Manila (May 21, 1627) to punish +certain Augustinians who have attacked a government official. On June +11 following, he grants certain additional supplies to the Augustinian +convent at Manila. Later (November 4) the Council of the Indias +recommend that a grant be made to the Recollects in the islands, of +a certain amount for medicines. In a decree of September 10, the king +orders that a protector for the Chinese be appointed, who shall not be +the royal fiscal; and that any balance in the fund that they maintain +for the royal service shall be left to their disposal, or credited on +the next year's assessment. Another decree, dated November 19, recites +the oppression of the Chinese in the Parian in compelling their hair +to be cut at baptism, and levying from them an extortionate tribute; +and orders that both these vexations be abolished. + +Juan Cevicos, a resident of Manila who is at the Spanish court, writes +a memorial (December 20, 1627) on "the inadvisability of a Spanish post +in the island of Hermosa." He thinks that the Dutch have established +themselves there not so much to pillage the Chinese merchant ships, +as to establish a factory on Formosa, from which they can gain the +Chinese and Japanese trade. Their success in this would result in the +destruction of Macao and ruin the Japan trade for the Philippines; +therefore they should be driven out of Formosa, and before they +have time to lure the Chinese trade also from the Spaniards. But, +even then, it is an expensive and undesirable enterprise for the +Spaniards to maintain a fort there, as the island of Formosa is of +little importance for its products, and there would be no advantage in +making it a way-station for the Chinese trade. To attempt this would +but shift thither the scene of hostilities with the Dutch, and impose +new burdens on the already overtaxed people of the Philippines. It is +useless to keep the island as a port of refuge for the Spanish ships; +there is danger that the Chinese will attack it; and even for the +conversion of the heathen the king is not under obligations to do +more than is required by his subjects in the Philippines. + +The Jesuit chronicle of events for 1627-28 has much of interest. In +July and August, 1627, Tavora equips an expedition to expel the +Dutch from Formosa; but it sails too late, and is compelled by +storms to return to Cavite, some of the vessels being lost. One of +the ships reaches the Spanish fort in Formosa, only to find that one +of its officers and some of his men have been slain by treacherous +natives. The ship supplies the garrison with the food of which they +are in need, and returns to Luzon. Soon afterward a richly-laden +Portuguese fleet sails from Manila to Macao, and two Spanish galleons +are sent with it as escort, to defend it from the Dutch. The galleons, +on the return from Macao, pursue a semi-piratical career for several +months, capturing several Siamese vessels with valuable cargoes, +by way of reprisal for the injuries inflicted on Spaniards in Siam; +and taking other prizes, not all of which are regarded as lawful. + +The Christian religion is flourishing in China. The coasts of +that country are infested by pirates, who even capture and destroy +towns. The noted stone of Singanfu has been discovered, making known +the early establishment of Christianity in China. The Manchu foe +Noorhachu is dead. In Formosa the Chinese are making inquiries as +to the Spanish occupation; and the commandant Carreno rescues the +mandarin envoy from hostile natives. The relief expedition to Ternate +is attacked by a Dutch ship, the Spaniards losing two vessels. The +Camucones pirates are repulsed this year. Some strange people, +probably from distant islands, are blown ashore on Cebu. A shipyard +is established in Camarines; it is attacked and plundered by Joloan +pirates. Accordingly a Spanish expedition is sent against them from +Oton and Cebu; and the Joloans are heavily punished, their finest town +being destroyed and their ships and supplies of rice burned. The +revolted province of Cagayan (Luzon), is also entered and laid +waste. Several destructive fires occur, among the losses being that +of the Parian at Manila--which is, however, rebuilt within four months. + +Another relation for the same period contains some additional +information. An earthquake occurs in northern Luzon. Two Spanish +galleys enter and reconnoiter the Dutch port on Formosa; then a storm +drives them back to Luzon, and finally destroys them. The old king +of Ternate, who has been captive at Manila for many years, at last +dies there. + +In conformity to the royal commands, Tavora sends to the king (August +2, 1628) a report on the appointments made by him, with their salaries, +revenues, etc.; he also recounts the merits or services of each, +for which such appointment was made. This list includes grants of +encomiendas, and appointments to offices of justice and war. + +Two days later, the governor sends a full annual report +of administration in the islands--judicial, financial, and +governmental. Under the first, he refers to the king certain legal +difficulties that have arisen in the courts of the islands. These +relate to the possession of two encomiendas by married persons, the +decision of Indian lawsuits, the jurisdiction of the Audiencia in +affairs concerning the Chinese, and the privileges of the governor's +office. Tavora takes especial pains to describe the character of the +Chinese, and the power that they have secured over the Spaniards among +whom they live, through their control of all trades and of commerce. He +advises that they be tried and punished by the methods in vogue in +their own country, and not allowed to appeal to the Audiencia. + +In the letter relating to affairs of the treasury, Tavora makes +some explanations regarding his relations with the royal officials +at Manila. He finds it necessary to supervise their drafts on the +royal treasury, since its funds are so low; and he has taken charge +of the business of issuing licenses to the Chinese who remain in +the islands. Tavora is endeavoring to reduce expenses and secure +economy in the necessary expenditures of government. He asks that +notarial offices be not sold, but filled by appointment, and changed +annually. In regard to the question whether the Indians should +pay their tributes in kind or in money, he urges that the former +be required, as otherwise the natives will not, through laziness, +produce food supplies. The treasury of the islands is heavily indebted, +on account of unusual expenses arising, with scanty receipts from +the revenues. The soldiers suffer great hardships, and some are +deserting. The viceroy of Nueva Espana must aid the Philippines more +liberally; and the governor of the islands must know on what aid he +can depend, Tavora asks to be relieved from his present office unless +the means necessary for carrying on the government can be supplied. + +A third letter relates to general affairs of government, in which he +reports that peace and harmony exist among the various departments. The +bridge across the river Pasig is being constructed. The Parian at +Manila was destroyed by fire in January, but has been rebuilt in +better style; and other destructive fires are mentioned. The rice +crop has been abundant, and agriculture is improving. In conjunction +with the other royal officials, Tavora has allowed the citizens to +send goods this year to Mexico without the usual restrictions, on +account of the impoverished condition of the islands. He finds the +Indians much harassed by the exactions made upon them for the public +service, and, with the consent of all interested--the royal officials, +the encomenderos, and the ecclesiastics--prepares new instructions +and ordinances, which are designed to relieve the natives from all +oppression, and provide fair wages for their labor on public works. The +royal officials are endeavoring to secure more satisfactory methods of +government for the Chinese who are in the islands, both residents and +transients. Tavora asks for a printed copy of all the royal decrees +that apply to his government. He has done all in his power to aid +the seminary for orphan boys at Manila, but it needs more; and he +asks the king to grant an encomienda in support of this charity. He +is doing what he can for the hospitals, but asks that brethren from +a hospital order be sent to manage them. The ships from Mexico were +sent late this year, and were almost lost through storms; Tavora +urges that this be not allowed to occur, as the very existence of +the Philippine colony is thus imperiled. + +A document dated October 7, 1628, presents (apparently to the Council +of the Indias) various arguments for suppressing the silk trade of +China in Spain and its colonies. The old complaint is reiterated, +that the silver coin of Nueva Espana is being drained away into +China; besides, this trade deprives Spain of all this money, and the +customs duties are greatly decreased from what they might amount +to. Large quantities of contraband goods are, moreover, carried +to the South American colonies, thus injuring the exports from the +mother country. The Chinese wares are apparently cheap, but their +poor quality, and their depreciating effect on the values of Spanish +goods, diminish the real profits of the Chinese trade. The necessity +of protecting the silk industry in the kingdom of Granada is used +as a strong argument against allowing the Chinese silk trade in the +Spanish colonies, as the former adds greatly to the revenues of the +crown. If Chinese silks were prohibited, those of Granada (the sale +of which is much diminished) would be in much greater demand; and +the producers there could meet their obligations, while the royal +revenues would increase accordingly. + +Some decrees are issued by Felipe IV for the protection of the +Chinese. One (dated June 8, 1628) orders the governor of the +Philippines to protect them from extortion and oppression in the +matter of tributes and that of permissions granted them to travel in +the islands; another (August 17) refers to him the demand that all +Chinese except the married Christians be strictly confined within the +Parian. On March 7, 1629, the king orders him to ascertain whether the +Chinese need a protector; and, if so, to send him a list of persons +from whom such official may be chosen by the Council of the Indias. + +The Jesuit annals are continued for 1628-29; there are two relations +for this year, one of which consists of letters from various fathers +of the Society, merely strung together. Hernando Estrada relates +the success of a Spanish fleet from Oton in punishing the Joloan +pirates. Pedro de Prado writes of the raids made by the Camuzones, +other pirates, and the dangers encountered by the missionaries; and +describes the animals and products of the country. Another letter +(unsigned) states that the Dutch have been driven out of their +establishments in Eastern India. + +A second general relation (but unsigned) for the same year contains +mention of various events both ecclesiastical and secular. On the night +of November 25 the Jesuit church falls in ruins, for the third time; +it is being rebuilt. The monstrance and host kept in the cathedral +are stolen by sacrilegious hands, (an occurrence which causes the +death of Archbishop Serrano). An image of the Virgin Mary is seen to +weep, as if lamenting the ravages made by pirates in the Pintados. In +these raids several of the Jesuit missionaries have narrowly escaped +death. The Dutch in Java have been attacked by the natives, and are +menaced by the Portuguese there and elsewhere. The Spaniards go to +Camboja for lumber, and Dominican missionaries go with them to labor +among the heathen. Affairs with Siam are not yet restored to a peaceful +condition. The missions in Cochinchina and Tonkin are doing well. The +Chinese, at war with the Tartars, borrow aid from the Portuguese at +Macao. In Japan the Christians are being exterminated by torture and +death. There was talk of expelling the Dutch from that country; but +news arrives there of the destruction of a Japanese ship off Siam by +the Spaniards, and the Japanese begin to talk of uniting with the Dutch +to attack the Spaniards in Formosa and even Manila. "The Philipinas +Islands are at present in a ruinous condition." A postscript to this +relation describes an encounter between a small Spanish ship from +India and a large English ship, at Fayal, in which the former saves +itself, after inflicting much damage on its opponent. + + +The Editors + +October, 1904. + + + + + + +DOCUMENTS OF 1625 + + + + Report of the Spanish Council of State on the appointment of + a governor for the Philippines. March 7. + Royal decree granting income to the Society of Jesus. Felipe + IV; June 1. + Letter from the archbishop of Manila to Felipe IV. Miguel + Garcia Serrano; July 25. + Royal festivities at Manila. Diego de Rueda y Mendosa; + August 1. + Letter to Felipe IV. Fernando de Silva; August 4. + + + +_Sources_: The first, third, and fifth of these documents are from +MSS. in the Archive general de Indias, Sevilla; the second, from +Pastells's edition of Colin's _Labor evangelica_, iii, pp. 754-755; +the fourth, from a pamphlet, _Toros y canas_ (Barcelona, 1903). + +_Translations_: These are all made by James A. Robertson. + + + +REPORT OF THE SPANISH COUNCIL OF STATE ON APPOINTMENT OF A GOVERNOR +FOR THE PHILIPPINES + + +Sire: + +On the occasion of a letter written to your Majesty by Don Alonso +Fajardo de Tenza, governor and captain-general of the Filipinas +Islands, and president of the royal Audiencia established therein, +on the seventeenth of August of the past year 623, petitioning among +other things for permission to come to Espana, the Council advised +your Majesty of what occurred to them with regard to the appointment +to that office. Your Majesty was pleased to order that persons +be proposed for it, and that a relation be made, in the report of +the Council, of the pretensions of Don Alonso; and that action be +immediate, so that he whom your Majesty should appoint might sail +in the trading-fleet bound for Nueva Espana--or, if he should be in +the Yndias, that he might be advised so that he could sail in March +of the coming year for Filipinas. [Your Majesty also ordered] that +Don Alonso's pay should run until his departure thence in the first +vessel, and one year longer, in order that he might come here. In +fulfilment of your Majesty's orders, it appears that the demands of +Don Alonso Fajardo are reduced to a better office in reward for his +services and those of his father and forbears; and that your Majesty, +by providing what you deem best, make good his pay during all the time +while he should be detained there without power to embark, and one +year longer, to enable him to come to these kingdoms, offering his +person to serve in this interim at the order of his successor. Don +Juan Fajardo, his brother, wrote to me, the president, in a letter +of November 4 of the past year that, since Don Alonso desires leave +to go to Espana, it must be after there has been time to conclude +the inspection that was ordered to be made of him and the Audiencia, +and after your Majesty has assigned him a post in the Council of War +with an adequate salary. In accordance with the charges against him, +Don Juan petitions that the permission be revoked until he himself +shall return from the expedition of Brazil and come to this court. Will +your Majesty show him the favor that may be your pleasure. + +The Council having examined personally the services and merits that +follow for this office (which carries a salary of eight thousand +pesos de minas, of four hundred and fifty maravedis apiece), those +who are considered most fitting to receive that office--which must +be held for eight years, in accordance with the order given regarding +it--are proposed to your Majesty. The first two have seven votes. + +Don Geronimo Agustin, of the habit of Calatrava, who has served from +the year 88. In that of 89, the duke of Terra Nova, while governor +of Milan, assigned him a Spanish infantry company of arquebusiers in +the regiment of Lombardia. The same year he went to Flandes, where, +at different periods, he served for ten years with appointments +and infantry companies; and the last three years as captain and +sargento-mayor of the regiments of the masters-of-camp, Don Ynigo +de Borja, Don Alvaro Huaser, Don Fernando Giron, and Don Alonso de +Leyla. He commanded some of the regiments; and for special services +that he performed, the king our sovereign (may he rest in peace), +your Majesty's father, granted him four hundred reals [1] income +in Milan. In the year 60-[?] he was appointed master-of-camp of +a regiment of men in the fleet of the Ocean Sea, in which he has +served. Embarking with his regiment, he went to the Terceras to +relieve three ships of Yndia which had arrived there in a dilapidated +condition; and afterward went with the marquis of Santa Cruz to the +undertaking of Alarache. Thence he went to the Mediterranean Sea until +he sighted Tunez [_i.e._, Tunis], in whose bay were burned twenty-two +pirate ships and one galliot. [2] On his return from the expedition, +he took part in the expulsion of the Moriscos [3] from Valencia, +Aragon, and Murcia. Finally, he went with his regiment to La Mamora, +and was in full command of all the companies in which served the +seigniors and cities of Andalucia and three hundred soldiers of the +coast of Granada. Through his determination, the men whom he headed +were landed; and they gained and occupied those positions, responding +with great courage to their defense and to the fortifications. In +consideration of that, he was in the former year of 617 considered for +the offices of governor and captain-general of the province of Panama +and those of Chile, and as president of the royal Audiencia of those +provinces. On account of your Majesty's assurance in his person and +services, you granted him the office of viceroy of Mallorca, which +he holds at present. + +Don Gaspar Ruiz de Pereda, of the habit of San Tiago, has served +for more than thirty-six years in the Terceras, in the expedition +to Ynglaterra, in the States of Flandes, and in the fleet of the +Ocean Sea, where considerable pay and appointments were granted +him. Afterward he served in Bretana; and the Council of State entrusted +to him matters touching the right of the infanta to that state. [4] +He was corregidor and war-captain of the four towns of the seacoast. He +attended to the preparation and building of ships and the despatch of +fleets satisfactorily. At the conclusion of his office, he returned +to that coast, and became superintendent of it all from La Raya of +Portugal to Francia. The king our sovereign (may he rest in peace) +granted him the government of Habana, which he exercised for nine +years. In the residencia taken from him he was regarded as free from +blame; and, on his arrival at these kingdoms, was appointed corregidor +of Malaga. Later, on account of the satisfaction given by his person, +your Majesty appointed him inspector-general in the States of Flandes. + +The following three have five votes apiece. + +Don Juan Nino de Tavora, who, having been gentleman of the bed chamber +to the archduke Alberto, and cavalry captain in the States of Flandes, +is at present master-of-camp of Spanish infantry there. With his +services and capacity there is entire satisfaction. He is the son +of Don Gabriel Nino, formerly chief master-of-camp of the king our +sovereign who is in glory. + +General Don Juan de Venavides, of the habit of San Tiago, is the son +of the marquis of Jaralquinto. He has been in the service for the past +twenty-two years, seven of them with additional pay under the marquis +of Santa Cruz in the galleys of the kingdom of Portugal, and thirteen +years with the pay of thirty reals [_sc._ ducados?] per month in the +trade-route to the Yndias. He made five voyages, in that of 610 going +as captain of one of the infantry companies of the trading-fleet of +Tierra Firme. That same year, the flagship of the galleons having +been lost at the departure from Buen Aire, he, having escaped naked, +stayed to rescue the men of the ship; and having done this, took them +in a patache to Cartagena. In the year 613 he went as admiral of the +trading-fleet of Nueva Espana. On the return trip some ships of the +fleet were lost in a storm. He was carrying in his ship more than one +million [pesos] of silver belonging to your Majesty and to private +persons. The masts and the rudder were snapped in twain; the ship +began to leak at the bow; and yet he repaired it and anchored in the +port of San Lucar without having thrown anything overboard. In 615 +he again filled the same office of admiral, and, the flagship from +Honduras having been wrecked, he saved many of its crew. In 617 he +was recommended as commander of the trading-fleet of Nueva Espana, +and was granted the office of its admiral. Finally, he was twice +proposed as commander of the Filipinas fleet. On January 13, 620, +he was appointed commander of the trading-fleet of Nueva Espana, from +which post he came with good reputation and fame. Licentiate Pedro de +Vergara Gaviria, in a letter that he wrote to your Majesty from Vera +Cruz, where he was inspecting the royal officials, declares that he +has seen in his person an excellent zeal and a manner of procedure +quite different from what is said there of other commanders, and +accordingly he is obliged to give account of it; and that the honors +and rewards that your Majesty would be pleased to bestow on him will +be well employed. In the year 623, he was for the second time granted +the office of commander of the said trading-fleet of Nueba Espana +(whence he had come the year before); he took the fleet and brought +it in safety. While at the port of Vera Cruz, the Mexican Audiencia +committed to him, on the occasion of the rebellion of that city, the +fort of San Juan de Ulua, and appointed him as its commandant, and as +military captain of all that coast. He served in that capacity until +he returned to Espana, desiring to obtain the quiet and peace of that +kingdom. In the residencias that have been taken of the appointments +as commander that he has held, he has been declared a good official, +and worthy of greater honors and emoluments. This present year he +was proposed for the office of commander of the trading-fleet of +Nueba Espana. + +The master-of-camp, Don Francisco Zapata Ossorio, knight of the +habit of Santiago, has served for twenty-two years, sixteen in +Flandes, at fifty reals [_sc._ ducados?] pay. He was later captain +of a Spanish infantry company, with which he took part as occasion +offered. He, went to Napoles and was there governor and military +captain of the province of Calabria. In the residencia taken of that +office, he was exonerated. He commanded the galley of the Napoles +squadron at the appointment of Cardinal Capata, in the absence of the +regularly-appointed commander, with pay of one hundred and fifty reals +[_sc._ ducados?] per month. In the year of 622 the said cardinal +appointed him master-of-camp of the seven companies of Spanish +infantry that went to the state of Milan, and captain of one of +them, namely, the one that belongs to him as master-of-camp. He came +with the permission of the duke of Alva, who wrote to your Majesty +recommending him and mentions the said Don Francisco. Your Majesty +has ordered him to go to visit the duke of Lorena; also that, going +to Flandes, he be given there the first regiment that falls vacant, +and that in the meanwhile he enjoy the salary of master-of-camp of +halberdiers--namely, one hundred and sixteen ducados per month. His +father served more than fifty years, and was in the battle of Lepanto, +in the States of Flandes, the war with Portugal, the Terceras Islands, +and the expedition to Ynglaterra; he served twice in the inspection of +many men in the department of Sevylla, and served in the government +of Alcantara, and as corregidor of Joro, and lastly in that of +Cordoba. His uncle, Don Juan Capata Ossorio, was bishop of Camora; +and his other ancestors, paternal and maternal, died in the service. + +Don Garcia Giron has four votes. He has served since the expedition +to Ynglaterra. He was lieutenant of the cavalry captain, Don Fernando +Giron, his brother, in Lengua-doc [_i.e._, Languedoc], whence he went +to Bretana as arquebusier captain. He took part in all the sieges and +in all the reenforcements that occurred during his time, many times +having in charge convoys. When the said his brother took two thousand +infantrymen for the fleet, he served on it. The adelantado-mayor of +Castilla gave him command of a galleon, and later the command of twenty +companies when coming from Vigo. When some thirty companies went to +Ytalia with the count of Fuentes, he took charge of them by order of +the duke of Medina-Sidonia. On those occasions and in Flandes, while +serving as captain and sargento-mayor, he gave an excellent account of +his person and served with satisfaction to his superiors. In the year +of 610, his Majesty who is in glory bestowed upon him the government +of Cartagena, I mean of Benezuela. At the expiration of the time for +which he was appointed, he was granted the government of Cartagena, +and now he has been given that of Habana. + +The following seven have each one vote. + +Don Antonio Sarmiento, son of Count Gondomar. After having served +on various occasions, your Majesty bestowed upon him a post in the +Council of the Treasury, in which he serves with approval. + +Don Sancho de Zeyba, of whose capacity and of the services of his +forbears and his own, your Majesty has full notice. + +General Don Geronimo Gomez de Sandoval, of the habit of Santiago, +captain of a company of men-of-arms in the guards of Castilla, who +has served for twenty-three years past on various occasions. In 602, +the city of Cartagena appointed him to raise one hundred and fifty +infantrymen who were embarked in the galleys of Espana. He went on the +expedition of Argel with appointment as Spanish infantry captain. In +the year of 604, his Majesty who is in heaven granted him twenty-five +ducados pay, which was later increased to thirty. His father being +appointed governor and captain-general of Ysla Espanola [_i.e._, +Hayti], and president of that Audiencia, Don Geronimo went with him, +having been appointed commandant of the fort of Santo Domingo. At +the order of the Audiencia, he took command of the ships of the fleet +there for its defense for more than four years. As commander of them, +he sailed out at various times to clear that entire coast of enemies, +engaging them with great valor. Once he captured two lanchas, and +on another occasion a ship, while he sank another. His services were +held as very considerable at that time. Having come to this coast to +request the office of commander of some fleet, he was granted the post +of admiral of that of Nueba Espana, which came in 621. On that voyage, +he helped the ships that were unmasted and unrigged, both going and +coming. By his great diligence he helped to withdraw one that was +burning in the port of San Juan de Ulua from among all the fleet, +by which act the greater part of the fleet escaped the fire. It +was a great peril, for all the silver and merchandise was embarked +for the voyage. In respect to that service, the prior and consuls, +as those interested in it, petitioned, in a letter to your Majesty, +that you be pleased to give him the place of commander of the fleet +in the following year. Having consulted in regard to it, your Majesty +was pleased to grant him that of admiral for the good account that +he had given of the offices which he had had in charge. Your Majesty +will have an account of his person. On this voyage he served with +especial approval as an excellent and careful mariner, and is fitted +for employment in any command of importance of this kind. Accordingly, +he was proposed for the place of captain-general of the trading-fleet +that is to go to Nueba Espana this year, which your Majesty bestowed +upon Don Lope de Hou y Cordova; and now your Majesty has bestowed +upon him that of Tierra Firme. He is the son, as above stated, of +Don Diego Gomez de Sandoval (whose capacity is very well known), who, +having served more than forty years in various offices, died in the +past year of 623, as governor and captain-general of Ysla Espanola, +where he was for five years. The Audiencia, the archbishop, and the +secular cabildo of Santo Domingo wrote in a letter to your Majesty how +well he served in governmental affairs, and in those of war, justice, +and peace. He left many debtors because he had conducted his government +uprightly; and his property was not able to pay them. They consider +Don Geronimo, his son and successor, as capable and worthy of what +your Majesty pleases to do for him and what charge you may give him. + +Don Rodrigo de Vivero, who, having come to these kingdoms from Nueva +Espana, where he was born, and having served Queen Dona Ana, your wife, +who is in heaven, as a page, returned to that country. There he was +appointed from his youth to the most important duties by the viceroys, +for they knew his ability and good qualities. That being known to +the king our sovereign who is in glory, your Majesty's grandfather, +he appointed him governor and captain-general of the provinces of +Nueha Vizcaya, where with great valor, continuous toil, and at his +own cost, he made war upon the rebel Indians, until he had reduced +more than sixty towns, and brought down many men from the mountains, +where they were committing great depredations. By those means they +were able to discontinue several presidios, and save the great expense +that these occasioned to the royal revenues. Having been attacked by +a serious illness that was induced by the hardships of the war, he +was forced to return to Mexico, where the viceroy, Marquis de Salinas, +his uncle, appointed him governor and captain-general of the Filipinas +Islands, because of the arrival at that juncture of news of the death +of Don Pedro de Acuna. Without stopping to consider the discomfort and +lack that he was causing his family, and the short time in which his +successor would arrive, he accepted and went to take charge of the said +duties. During the period of his government, he made peace with the +Mindanaos, and reenforced the kingdom of Maluco, then besieged by the +Dutch, besides performing other special services. Don Juan de Silva, +his successor, having arrived, and he having embarked to return to +his home, a storm overtook him that forced him to put in at the coast +of Japon. There the ship foundered and many of those aboard it were +drowned. He escaped on a plank, and was captured with the others who +were rescued. That emperor afterward treated them well, gave them a +ship and passage, and lent money to Don Rodrigo. He asked the latter +to make a treaty with the king, our sovereign (may he rest in peace), +in his name, in regard to certain matters touching trade and commerce +with Nueba Espana. He granted passage to those who wished to return to +Filipinas. Everything was well directed on account of Don Rodrigo's +energy. The viceroys, and finally the marquis of Guadalcazar, have +given very approving relation of the good qualities that concur in his +person, and of his character, prudence, and good management. Thereby it +is learned that they are thoroughly satisfied of his person by their +treatment. In consideration of that, he was in the former year of 620 +elected governor and captain-general and president of the Audiencia +of Tierra Firme, which office he at present holds. + +Don Diego de Cardenas, of the habit of Santiago, brother of the +count of La Puebla de Llesena, has served ten years, six of them +in the States of Flandes, on all the occasions that offered in his +time, especially at the siege of Ostende for thirty months, where +he was wounded by an arquebus-shot in the face and a pike-thrust in +the arm. Through the satisfaction that Archduke Alebrto had in his +person and services, he was given command of a company of Spanish +pike infantry, which he had at the victories of Alinguin, Aldoncel, +and Arinverque, and at the capture and relief of Grol, and in that +of Bolduque, Obstrat, and Gave. After the conclusion of the war, +he came to Espana, by the permission of his Highness; and his wife, +infanta Dona Isavel, wrote to the king, our sovereign who is in glory, +your Majesty's father, recommending him. The marquis of Espinola +did the same, and in the year 609 granted him a permit to raise +two hundred and fifty infantrymen, whom he led to the expulsion of +the Moriscos from the kingdom of Valencia. Having been retired on +half-pay, he went with the marquis de la Ynojosa on the expedition +of Alarache. Lastly, he was in that of La Mamora, serving at his own +cost. In the year of 620, your Majesty rewarded him with the office +of governor and captain-general of the province of Yucatan, which he +is filling with approval, and with especial attention [to his duties], +which he exhibited in the gift that that province sent to your Majesty. + +Don Juan de Velasco Castaneda, of the habit of San Tiago, has served +for thirty-eight years, commencing his service on the expedition +to Ynglaterra. Thence he went to the States of Flandes. There he +was given thirty ducados pay to serve near the person of the duke +of Parma. He was present at many sieges, captures, and reliefs. He +came to these kingdoms in the year 96 to the relief of Cadiz, with +Don Pedro de Velasco, who gave him command of an infantry company; +and in the year of 593 the adelantado-mayor of Castilla gave him +another. With it, he returned to the said States, taking under his +charge a troop of ten companies. He continued his services on all +occasions that offered, fighting and proving himself therein as +a gallant gentleman and a valiant soldier, until the year of 609, +when he took part in the expulsion of the Moriscos from Andalucia and +the kingdom of Granada. Later he was at Milan where the constable of +Castilla employed him in commissions very important to the service +of your Majesty. In the year of 617 he was granted the government of +Cremona, and afterward made lieutenant of the captain-general of the +soldiers of the kingdom of Aragon, having in charge the castle of +Xaca; in those places he has served three years with much approval, +valor, and prudence, and, in order to preserve his jurisdiction +and preeminences, has often risked his life. For that your Majesty +has considered yourself well served, and ordered him rewarded for +it. Because of the satisfaction that the Council found in his person, +they proposed him to your Majesty for the government of the province +of Cartagena, to which your Majesty was pleased to appoint him; but as +he did not choose to accept it, your Majesty gave it to another person. + +Don Geronimo de Silva, knight of the Order of St. John--to whom after +having served on various occasions, the king our sovereign who is in +heaven, your Majesty's grandfather, granted him title as captain in +the year 89. He raised two hundred and fifty men for the defense of +Portugal. In the year 92, Don Alonso de Bargas gave him a company in +the Aragon expedition, where his Majesty ordered him to go to serve +with twenty-five ducados pay per month. Having gone to Flandes, +he continued with his company in the assaults of Durlans, and in +the captures of Chatelet and Cambray, always acting as a valiant and +respected gentleman. There he was grievously wounded. In the year 96 +the duke of Medina-Sidonia appointed him captain and sargento-mayor +of the infantry that he was sending to Portugal. That same year, his +Majesty granted him one of the ordinary companies of light cavalry of +the state of Milan. In consideration of that, in the year 609 he was +given the place of commandant of the forces of Terrenate, and governor +of the soldiers of that presidio, which he served until the year 616, +when he was promoted to the post of master-of-camp of the military +forces of the Filipinas Islands, which he is serving, notwithstanding +that the Council has received certain letters condemning his actions. + +Will your Majesty appoint one or other of these, according to your +pleasure. Madrid, March 7, 1625. + + + + + + +ROYAL DECREE GRANTING INCOME TO THE SOCIETY OF JESUS + + +Don Juan Nino de Tavora, knight of the Order of Calatraba, +comendador of Puerto Llano, whom I have appointed as my governor and +captain-general of the Philipinas Islands, or the person or persons +in whose charge is or shall be the government of the said islands: +Father Francisco Crespo, [5] procurator-general of the Society of +Jesus, of the Yndias, in the name of the college of his order in +the city of Manila, of the said islands, has reported to me that +the church and house of the residence, inasmuch as it was built +by the fathers who first went there, is very old, and that it is +falling down, on account of the earthquakes that have happened, so +that only the house has remained standing, which is in danger of +falling also; and that grammar, the arts, and theology have been +studied there for more than the last thirty years, from which has +followed the benefit that is well known. In respect to its needs, +and the expenses that have been incurred in treating the sick, since +its alms are very few, and its income very slight, they do not have +the wherewithal with which to support the religious who live there, +inasmuch as they do not ask any alms for their sacrifices [_i.e._, +masses], or for building their church or house. Although the church is +commenced, the building cannot be continued. In consideration of that, +he petitions me to concede them there the sixteen thousand ducados, +of which concession was made in the sum of one thousand ducados every +year for sixteen years to the convent of St. Augustine, of the said +city, in tributes of vacant Indians of the said islands, so that with +this grant they might continue the erection of the said church, and +build a comfortable house in which the religious may live, and apply +themselves to the said branches, and where missionaries may be trained +with whom to attend to the conversion of the Indians and the preaching +of the holy gospel. After having examined what your predecessor and +the archbishop of the said city reported to me in my royal Council +of the Indias, and after they consulted with me, I have considered +it advisable to concede to the college of the Society of Jesus in +the said city of Manila, for the present, for each of ten years, +one thousand ducados, which amount to three hundred and seventy-five +thousand maravedis, in Indians of whom the encomienda shall be vacant, +or shall first become vacant, in the said Philipinas Islands, just +in the same way as the concession was made to the said convent of the +Order of St. Augustine of the said city for its buildings. Accordingly, +I command you to assign to the said college of the Society of Jesus in +the said city of Manila, the said one thousand ducados in tributes of +the Indians whose encomienda shall be vacant, or shall first become +vacant, in the said islands, so that this sum may be paid to them in +each one of ten years, as above said. You shall give the necessary +despatch to this, so that those fathers may be assisted with it for +the said purpose. I order the officials of my treasury of the said +Filipinas Islands to obey what you shall order by virtue of this my +decree; and they shall not place any obstacle to it, notwithstanding +anything provided to the contrary. Given in Madrid, June first, +one thousand six hundred and twenty-five. + +_I The King_ + +Countersigned by Don Francisco Ruis de Contreras, and signed by the +members of the Council. + + + + + +LETTER FROM THE ARCHBISHOP TO FELIPE IV + + +I have informed your Majesty fully of the condition of these Filipinas +Islands in all the despatches that have left them, in what concerns +both ecclesiastical and secular affairs. As I am certain that my +letters have been received in that royal Council, I am now only +advising you of the arrival of Governor Don Fernando de Silva, knight +of the habit of Sanctiago, who left these islands for those kingdoms +in the former year 21, and returned to govern them about twenty days +ago, with the appointment given him by the viceroy of Nueva Espana, +marques de Cerralvo. [6] The choice of Don Fernando has seemed a good +one, and he is governing well, as one who knows the country and has +experience in it, and of the merits of his subordinates; and I see +these inhabitants universally contented, [_In the margin_: "Seen."] + +I find it very unadvisable for religious of any order to go for the +present to the kingdom of Japon, and until God shall open the eyes of +the emperor--either so that he may receive the holy gospel, or at least +not persecute so cruelly those who preach and obey it. His severity +is such that he is not satisfied with martyring its preachers with +exquisite and extraordinary forms of martyrdoms--as well as those +who have received the preachers into their houses and districts, +even though ignorant of their identity; but he has issued an edict +that no one, under penalty of death, may receive them into his +ship. What may cause greater anxiety is the fact that, a number of +Japanese being angered by the Dutch, who make port in their kingdom, +it will be easy enough both to place these islands in danger, and, +what is more, to extinguish the spark of the Catholic faith in these +regions. Because of that I called a meeting of the provincials of +the orders, so that they should refrain from sending their religious +[to Japon] without the governor's orders and mine. Having seen the +great difficulties [thus occasioned], and although, convinced of it, +they promised compliance, yet their zeal for the saving of souls +is so great that, without informing us, they actually sent four +religious. I fear great danger from that action, and am powerless to +avert the continuation of this, unless your Majesty interpose your +powerful hand by ordering absolutely that which, according to this, +is most advisable for the service of our Lord and your service. + +[_In the margin_: "Let what he says be carefully heeded."] + +Our Lord took Doctor Don Juan de Renteria, bishop of Nueva Segovia, +to himself on November 4 of last year, 24, while he was coming from +his bishopric to this city of Manila. His loss has been deeply felt +in this country, as he was a man of so eminent qualities. Because of +the lack of a cabildo in that bishopric I sent a man to govern it, +and there is as yet nothing new of moment there of which to inform +your Majesty. The inspection of this royal Audiencia and the royal +officials, which your Majesty entrusted to the said bishop, was +not effected because of his death. Consequently, I am bound by my +obligations to your Majesty's service to remind you of what I said in +regard to this matter in my letter to that royal Council in the month +of August of the former year of 23, which is as follows. "Persons +entirely trustworthy and zealous for your Majesty's royal service +have informed me of the need of inspecting this royal treasury. If +your Majesty be pleased to make choice of the person of Don Juan +Cevicos who is at that court attending to affairs of this church, +for this matter and for other matters of inspection, I regard it as +certain that your Majesty will be well served, as he is one of the +most intelligent persons in the Yndias. He also has experience with +papers and accounts, so that many people in this city were wont to +send such to him; and, even though most complicated, they were very +easy for him. Also, since the person mentioned is at that royal court, +your Majesty may test his abilities, so that he may serve you therein +in like matters of your royal service. These islands have the same +need of inspection, especially the cabildo of this city of Manila." I +add to the above that no person can be found in that kingdom, nor is +there anyone who may go to those kingdoms of the Yndias, more fitted +for this employment, nor one, to my way of thinking, of greater zeal. + +[_Marginal note_: "Seen."]. + +The Society of Jesus in these regions need the favor and grace of +your Majesty to continue the work of the church of their college +in this city of Manila, which they began, trusting to the alms of +the faithful. Since those alms have failed, as the country has been +and is very much exhausted, and since they are without any aid from +your Majesty, it is impossible for them to continue and finish it, +as has happened in the building of San Agustin and other churches on +which your Majesty has been kind enough to lay your royal hand. The +concession that your Majesty was pleased to make to the Society of +the passage from the Parian or alcaiceria of the Chinese to their +lands on the other side of the river has been of vast importance to +them. But they fear lest the hospital of the said Chinese is about to +petition your Majesty, not only for confirmation of the passage that +they have to the door of the said hospital, but for a limit of distance +in which is included the said passage from the lands of the Society, +which are two arquebus-shots apart. I inform your Majesty of this, +so that, considering the need of the said college, you may order what +may be most advisable for your royal service. May our Lord preserve +the very Catholic person of your Majesty to us, with increase of your +kingdoms, as is necessary for Christendom. Manila, July 25, 1625. + + +_Fray Miguel Garcia Serrano_, +archbishop of Manila. + + +[_In the margin_: "That we are advised of this; have this clause +filed with what the Society petitions." "This clause was copied."] + +[_Endorsed_: "Satisfied. Examined and decreed July 13, 626."] + + + + + +ROYAL FESTIVITIES AT MANILA + + +On the fourth day of January, one thousand six hundred and +twenty-three, other royal festivities occurred, [7] in which twelve +bulls were fought; and four matches of canas were played, each of +them between two gentlemen, in accordance with the inclination of +the country. The wealth, embroideries, holiday attire, liveries, +and ornaments, were so abundant, so sightly, and of so great price +and splendor, of so many floral decorations and of so many different +shades, that they surpassed those of our Espana in beauty and splendor. + +The square was adorned with rich hangings of great value and price, +of gold, silk, and variegated cloths, so that one cannot describe so +great a variety of colors, the curious adornments in the windows, +the great beauty of the women, the richness of their ornaments +and clothing, and the concourse of so many conspicuous people; for +all the assembly appeared to be a priceless cluster of jewels, and +everything by itself a precious gem set in the cluster. And as the +country contains so many and so beautiful women--who have, as a rule, +faces so angelic--and since the festivities were of so great splendor, +and for so great a personage, the like of which were never seen, +they eclipsed everything else, and the whole scene formed a sight of +beauty and an agreeable garden. About three o'clock in the afternoon, +a trumpet began to sound, immediately after which appeared a number of +horsemen on fine horses caparisoned and equipped with many beautiful +trappings, liveries, and wealth of bands, necklaces, plumes, jewels, +and ornaments of gold, precious gems, enamel, and things of great +rarity. The ministers of justice followed, and the mace-bearers +of the city, besides the magistrates and alcaldes-in-ordinary, +who were then Doctor Juan Fernandez de Ledo--a personage worthy of +attaining to great heights because of his great modesty, learning, and +capacity--and Captain Miguel de Arnalto, an influential citizen, and +a man of great virtue. Shortly behind them came the governor's guard, +the royal Audiencia, and a number of pages and servants in beautiful +and elegant livery. After they had gone the round of the square, +the royal Audiencia went to its place, which was located very near +the city hall in which are the halls of the regidors and alcaldes, +where there are very rich and beautiful balconies. + +Each one having taken his seat, two companies of Spanish infantry came +in through the square, and formed a guard, one company on one side, +and the other on the other side. The arquebusiers and musketeers, +firing many shots, discharged their pieces many times against one +another in a sham battle that was made, one troop from one company +charging on one troop of the other, and the other company doing +the same. And as this city is a Salamanca [8] in arms, the soldiers +are very skilful and well-disciplined. As the master-of-camp, Don +Geronimo de Silva, holds the soldiers under so good discipline, the +militia in these regions is very efficient. When troops have become +habituated to work and application, they give great delight; and when +the officers are firm, and represent splendor and gravity, they hold +their subordinates well in restraint and submissive--in which Scipio +Africanus, Don Alonso, first king of Naples, and the Great Captain, +[9] were marvels. After having spent a little more than half an hour in +the military exercise--which caused great pleasure to the spectators, +and aroused a furious courage in the ministers of Mars--the soldiers +began again to march, some on one side and some on another, passing +before the governor and the Audiencia; while the alferezes lowered +their banners in salute to their captain-general, and the captains made +a profound bow and courtesy, which with the many gala dresses, scarfs, +and plumes, made many foolish persons desirous of imitating them. + +After the infantry had left the square, those delegated from +it--namely, General Don Fernando de Ayala, Captain Don Luis Enriquez +de Guzman, alcalde-in-ordinary, Captain Martin de Esquivel, chief +court constable, and Captain Jose de Naveda, royal alferez--went +out to make preparations for the canas match. They were very fine +gallants, and had considerable gala livery. Don Fernando de Ayala +bestrode a bay horse, with gilded stirrups, bit, buckles, and all the +trappings of the same; he wore black hose of Milan buckram, white +boots, amber-colored doublet, and jacket of the same cloth as the +hose. For a shoulder-sash he wore a heavy chain of gold; and he had +a golden plume of great value, and a heavy tuft of heron feathers, +also a gilded sword-hilt, and spurs of the same. Captain Don Luis +Enriquez bestrode a black Cuatreno horse, with a saddle embroidered +with gold and silver edging, a tuft of black and gray feathers, long +and very costly hose lined with Milan cloth, jacket of the same, an +embroidered doublet, of the workmanship of the hose, black boots, with +a chain for a shoulder-sash; a hatband set with rubies, and a plume +of great value, consisting of many heron feathers; sword and dagger +with gilded furnishings, and sword-belt and waistband embroidered +and edged with gold. Captain Martin de Esquivel bestrode a chestnut +roadster and was adorned with a plume of many heron feathers, long +black hose, black boots, a doublet corresponding to the hose, and +a cloth jacket; a gold chain and gilded sword-hilt and dagger and +spurs of the same. Captain Jose Naveda was carried by a bay horse, +with black tail and mane well combed and long; an embroidered saddle, +stirrups, bit, and spurs, gilded and silvered, very beautiful and +of great value; a crest of unusually elegant feathers, the one that +he carried on Banner day; [10] white boots, red shoulder-sash, +long hose of red buckram, jacket embroidered with cloth of gold, +an amber-colored doublet with rich gold buttons, a gold sword and +dagger of great value; and still more precious were the diamond band +and the plume of his hat. All came riding with their gilded staffs, +and were followed by many servants and pages, clad in costly and +gay livery. They commenced, some on one side, and some on another, +to clear the square of the crowd that had gathered to see these royal +festivities, and who filled all parts of the square. + +Some gentlemen went into the square with their _rejons_. [11] About +four in the afternoon, a wild and active bull was turned loose. In two +or three light bounds, it made the round of the square, making itself +master of it all, with which it made all the people afraid. There +several lance-thrusts were given it by the people on foot and those +mounted, until, the bull having been overcome, they opened the gate +of the square, and delivered it to the secular arm of the infantry, +who in quick order gave a good account of it, as was desirable. After +three or four bulls had been run, about half past four, the gentlemen +who were to engage in the canas [12] matches thought that it was high +time to begin them. Accordingly, they went to dress for their entrance, +which was made in the following order: One clarion-player went ahead, +being followed after a short interval by trumpeters, minstrels, and +drummers, all mounted, and clad in livery of different colors. Behind +them were two mules, laden with bundles of lances for the canas; one +mule bore a covering with the arms of Governor Don Alonso Fajardo, +and the other a covering with the arms of the master-of-camp, Don +Geronimo de Silva--both coverings being of velvet, and the arms of +each person being embroidered on them in gold and silver. They were +accompanied by lackeys clad in livery, while others led the horses by +the bridle. Then followed thirty-two horses with sixteen gentlemen, +besides those who led them in. They formed two files, and came from +two opposite positions. The saddlebows of the horses were hung on the +outside with the shields of their owners, with enigmas and devices +painted on them, and covered with scarfs and tassels. The horses had +their breast-leathers covered with hawk's-bells, and all had rich, +rare, and costly harnesses and headstalls of gold and silver covered +with precious stones, plumes, and sashes, in the utmost profusion. + +They entered by a gate of the square and, after making a turn about +it, they went out again. When the horses had left, the gentlemen +came in on the run two by two, forming eight couples, with their +liveries, and lances in hand. Brandishing the latter in their hands, +it looked as if the butt ends of the lances of some of the gentlemen +were joined with the points [of others]. The horses, spurred on by +cries and wounded by the sharp spurs, seemed to fly. + +Governor Don Alonso Fajardo made his appearance, in the place +assigned to the city, taking as his companion Captain Don Juan +Claudio de Verastegui. They were clad in robes of tawny-colored +satin embroidered with gold and silver edging. For his cipher the +governor had an "S" crowned with palms at the sides, and with scrolls +at the foot. On his shield was a blue band, and on that a heart that +two hands were opening, with a device as follows: "Well broken, but +ill requited." His cap was embroidered, and bore in cipher an "S" +of pearls, rubies, and diamonds, so beautiful, costly, and elegant, +that it attracted the eyes of the people, as a thing beyond all price; +while above his cap was a great tuft of rich feathers, blue, tawny, +white, and straw-colored. He was mounted on a grayish horse, of noble +bearing, that had a band of very fine cloth covered with pearls and +silver embroidery, an embroidered saddle, and gilded stirrups and +bit. The furnishings of his sword and dagger were of wrought gold, +and formed ornaments of considerable value. His companion had a band +of tawny-colored taffeta on his shield, with an "M" as cipher. + +Then followed General Don Luis Fajardo, the governor's brother, an +energetic youth, whose judgment and talent at a so tender age promise +great hopes; and he was very splendidly dressed. His companion was +Captain Don Juan Alonso de Sosa, regidor of this city, well known +for his worth and good qualities. Their livery was of blue satin and +gold, embroidered in outline through its field, and many flowers; +as cipher they had a "J" while there was a blue band on the shield +with letters of gold, that read: "For my king;" and on the streamer +of the lance others that read, "Philipus," which was surmounted by a +golden crown. Their caps and flying ornaments were very beautiful, +and had many feathers and silver embroidery. They were followed by +many servants clad in the same livery. + +Behind them went Captain Pedro de Chaves, regidor of Manila, son of +the master-of-camp, Pedro de Chaves; and as his companion, Alferez +Don Mateo de Avila, now captain of infantry. Their livery consisted +of straw-colored satin embroidered in rose color, with ornaments of +silver. On their shields were bands of rose colored taffeta, bearing +in cipher the name of "Isabel," in silver. On the streamers of the +lances were the respective ciphers "Isabel" and "Maria," in letters +of gold. They bore ornaments of gilded swords and daggers, and great +tufts of feathers. The bands of the horses were of taffeta gilded and +embroidered in gold. Their boots were silvered, their caps embroidered, +and they had many more ornaments. Behind them were Sargento-mayor +Pedro de Cuenca Montalvo and his companion Don Diego Maldonado, clad +in livery of blue and yellow satin, embroidered in orange color, with +many fringes of gold and silver, and as a cipher an "A" surmounted by +a golden crown. On the shield was a yellow band, that read in letters +of gold: "Steadfast unto death." On the streamers of the lances were +these words: "I will be steadfast," and some very green palms. + +Captains Diego Lorenzo de Trezo and Luis Alonso de Roa followed in +blue livery, which was adorned with many fleurs-de-lis made of silver, +edged with wavy lines, and very bright and beautiful. On the shield +was a blue band with silver letters that read, "Long live King Philipe +Fourth," and on the streamers of the lances was the word, in silver +letters, "Philipus." Behind them entered Admiral Don Pedro de Zarate, +a prudent youth, and one of great good sense. His companion was Captain +Juan Rodriguez del Castillo. Their livery was green, embroidered +with gold and silver, and on the shields were tawny-colored bands. On +one part of the shield of Captain Juan Rodriguez del Castillo was a +tower, and on another a castle, with a chain that encircled both; +on one part of the streamers of the lances were the royal arms, +and on the other those of the city. + +They were followed by Captain Mateo de Heredia, ex-factor of the +royal treasury, and Captain Silvestre de Aybar, regidor of this city, +both worthy of being promoted to higher places by their talent and +ability. They wore livery of violet velvet embroidered with many +knots of gold and silver, with figures and designs in black and gray, +orange, and green, which made an agreeable and very beautiful sight, +because of the fine livery and its brilliancy. Their shields had green +bands with silver letters that read: "My hopes are the highest." On the +streamers of the lances, in illuminated golden letters, was the cipher +of the name of "Dorotea." Their caps and the bands of the horses, +their boots, and the other ornaments and liveries of the servants +were beautiful, and so costly that their value cannot be reckoned. + +Lastly went the master-of-camp, Don Geronimo de Silva, so gallant +a trooper and so great a gentleman that with reason one may award +him the laurel, both for valor and gallantry, and for his wealth and +courage, as will yet be made known. The robe that he wore was of yellow +satin embroidered in black with palm-trees, with clusters of fruit +on them. His shield had a field of solid silver plates edged with +gold. His lance was of ebony, and twenty palmos long; and instead of +an iron head, a colic-stone, [13] so splendid to the sight and so well +made that, however beautiful may be that of a painter, it cannot equal +it. It was enclosed in a case of solid gold, a thing of inestimable +value for its efficacy and its so brilliant beauty. On the banner was a +palm-tree crowned, tassels, a red ribbon with large silver letters that +read: "Alas for the delay, if it liveth in thee; but how well lives +the faith that thou placedst in me." He wore a cap embroidered with +diamonds, rubies, and large pearls, which formed a knot and ornament +with a great quantity of seedpearls interwoven with some feathers, +and an especially beautiful plume which gleamed among all. He had +sword and dagger with furnishings of solid gold. His sword-belt was +embroidered with gold of Milan; and his stirrups and spurs, buckles, +and all the bolts of the bit and saddlebows were of solid gold. He +bestrode a grayish horse, a fine goer, of magnificent spirit and +body. He had an embroidered saddle of great value. The band on the +horse was set with many pearls and rich embroidery; so that the value +of the wealth that he bore was, in the judgment of experienced persons, +estimated at nine or ten thousand pesos. In front were lackeys, while +behind were his pages, all clad in very showy livery of yellow and +black. All had feathers that beautified and glorified the festival. Not +of less value and price were the jewels and ornaments of the governor +estimated, because of the many diamonds, rubies, topazes, pearls, +and other precious gems that he wore; and one could not estimate the +value of those of the other gentlemen who engaged in the canas matches. + +The charge of this pertained to the master-of-camp, who took as his +companion Captain Don Juan Ezquerra, son of General Juan Ezquerra, +a prudent and well-inclined gentleman. The latter went out clad in +the same livery and habit, and was very splendid and showy. + +Some erudite person will say what Apelles said to a painter who had +painted the picture of Queen Elena richly decked in finery, jewels, +gold, and precious stones: "Since thou didst not know how to paint her +beautiful, thou didst paint her rich." But I adhere to and declare +the truth, and I even curtail in this relation what I might say of +it. Although I confess that this relation has not been designedly +embellished, it is written rich in truth (which is the greatest +beauty and splendor that can be given a history), with which its +defects will be supplied, since there is nothing in this life that +can be said not to possess some defect. + +The gentlemen who were to take part in the play made their entrance +in the above manner with great dexterity. They paraded through both +sides of the square, couple by couple, in excellent order. + +After the entrance, they changed horses; the places were assigned +in divisions of fours, and they took their spears. They engaged +in a well-concerted play, one division against another, two and +two. From that post went out another division against the one that +was advancing. It lasted more than an hour, with great gallantry, +without any misfortune or disaster happening, until from the plaza +the deputies entered their midst and separated them. At that juncture +a fiery bull was let out. The gentlemen made very skilful movements +against this bull with their rejons, and against others that were run, +until the sun's light retired to illuminate the antipodes; and the +gentlemen and ladies left the square, and the balconies and galleries +[_miradors_], to return to reoccupy them on another occasion one week +thereafter, when the same canas matches were played, and bulls were +run for four days in succession. [14] At this second canas match, +Don Fernando Galindo, a gentleman of Ecija, and at present infantry +captain in this camp, entered instead of Don Diego Maldonado. On this +occasion, the governor had another livery of blue cloth and silver, +entirely covered with ornaments. The entrance was made as on the +first day, and the play was in the same manner--thereby causing +general rejoicing because the game had been so skilfully played, +and has been so few times seen in this city. + + + + +LETTER FROM FERNANDO DE SILVA TO FELIPE IV + + +Sire: + +I advised your Majesty that I left Capulco April 6. That is one of +the latest dates on which the ships have set sail, and we were fearful +lest we would not make the coasts of these islands, as the weather was +contrary--although one can reach them in a voyage of three months, +which is the usual duration. When we started, the wind was so light +that my fear increased because we did not sail one hundred leguas +in thirteen days. During that time I found that my almiranta was +sailing very slowly, so that I was obliged to resolve, in order not +to risk everything, to leave it, with a goodly supply of food for a +longer voyage. Considering how easily the almiranta could be wrecked, +and that the enemy would be waiting in the strait for a prize of so +great profit; and that if once they sighted the almiranta, escape was +impossible, while I could not be of any aid, as I was quite without +resources: I thought it advisable for your Majesty's service to take +out all your silver and that of private persons, trusting that I +would not have the enemy any more to windward as had been the case +while I was coming. This seems to have been the proper course, for +I made the port of Cavite July eight. I arrived at so opportune a +season, that I believe the islands were never in so great need of a +new government and such aid. For the Audiencia having objected to the +directions sent them in your name by the marquis de Yelbes [_i.e.,_ +Gelves], ordering them not to interpret doubtfully the decree in +which your Majesty gave him authority to do so, although he cited in +those decrees your Majesty's own signature, and that of the notary +before whom it was drawn, retained the government for itself, and by +its own authority gave the title of captain-general to Don Geronimo +de Ssilba. Thus did the obstacle that your Majesty has experienced +at other times of like government remain in the greatest force and +vigor. According to what I have heard, the matter came to such a pass +that most of the citizens of Manila were only waiting to abandon this +city, [that depending on] whether or not the aid should arrive from +Nueba Espana; for they were exhausted with the extortions and bad +treatment of the Audiencia. Their first action was to dismiss those +whom Don Alonso Fajardo had lawfully appointed to offices of justice, +without allowing them to complete their first year. [_In the margin_: +"Seen."] + +Their second--the auditors being dissatisfied with the honesty of +Licentiate Don Alvaro de Mesa y Lugo, their associate, who as the +senior auditor presided over them--was to admit Licentiate Geronimo de +Legaspi into the assembly hall by a secret postern. He had been removed +from office a long time before by act of the said Don Alonso Fajardo, +a measure taken in virtue of your Majesty's decree which was sent, to +take his residencia; this was confirmed by all the Audiencia. Although +it was advisable to remedy that matter, the little time that I have +had since my arrival until now, and my heavy press of unfinished +business, and what has happened in regard to forced aid sent to +various provinces, with the despatch of the vessels to Nueva Espana, +and the ordinary transaction of business, have not permitted it. I +shall ask for the documents, and after examining them, and after +mature deliberation, I shall do what shall seem expedient for the +service of your Majesty and the quiet of this community, as I may +find it. My course is hastened by the return of the said Licentiate +Legaspi to his post, as it is without your Majesty's order, and as, +when he is there, he heeds only his own interests. [_In the margin:_ +"See what has been decreed in this particular. Have it brought."] + +From the day of my arrival until now, there have been dissensions +and quarrels among the members [of the Audiencia], because they did +not agree in the division of offices. That was a matter of no slight +importance, because not all the appointments had been given to them, +as well as the encomiendas. And although your Majesty, seeing this +danger before, prohibits it by your royal decrees, they apportioned +some of the latter. I have regarded such encomiendas as vacant, +ordering that their tributes be placed in the royal treasury. [_In +the margin:_ "It is well. Advise the new governor that this decision +is approved, and that he shall put it into practice accordingly."] + +The auditors of this Audiencia are all at odds. Some among them are +continually refusing to act, influenced by the confidants, and even +abetting these. As a result, in the sessions of the court there is +nothing to be observed except dissensions; and thus the despatch of +business is delayed, by the rehearings [of cases] that proceed from the +tie-votes [of the auditors]. Thus they accept the salaries for their +posts without serving them, so far as their judicature is concerned, +which is a wrong that urgently needs remedy, for the litigants. [_In +the margin_: "Seen."] The Dutch enemy came to this coast with a fleet +of three large vessels and two small ones, while your Majesty had at +the port of Cavite two galleons of very heavy burden, three of five +hundred or six hundred toneladas of the northern sea, one patache of +more than two hundred and fifty toneladas, and two galleys, together +with many good soldiers and sailors and a goodly abundance of heavy +artillery. Within forty days or thereabout, they were all ready to +sail, and in charge of the master-of-camp, Don Geronimo de Silba. He +encountered the enemy, but did not fight, after an expense in preparing +that fleet, of many more ducados than the condition of the treasury +could warrant; I found the treasury pledged to about one hundred and +ten thousand pesos, while the infantry and substitutes were loaded with +vouchers against it, because of the lack of reenforcements for more +than a year back. The matter is so serious that the captain-general, +Don Geronimo de Ssilva, having been arrested, by the Audiencia, and +deposed from his office, appealed the cause to me, and I do not dare +write more minutely concerning it, because of the short time. The +verbal process is made, and, the said Don Geronimo's deposition +having been taken, both he and the commanders of the other ships +will be prosecuted. All claim that they will be cleared; each one +throwing the burden of guilt on the other. When the matter assumes +a proper condition I shall remit an account of it to your Majesty, +so that you may take the measures advisable. [_In the margin_: "File."] + +Under pretext of the arrest and removal of Don Geronimo de Silva, +Licentiate Legaspi, not heeding the second nomination from the +ships, exercised the office of captain-general, carrying the staff +of office and making them lower the banners to him, and address +him as "your Lordship," and his wife as "my lady." He immediately +appointed his elder son to the post of sargento-mayor of this camp, +and his younger son to a company, while another company was assigned +to a relative of Auditor Don Matias Flores y Cassila. Others were +assigned to brothers of the said Don Matias, the fiscal, and other +auditors, except Don Albaro, who refused to have anything given to +his household. Upon seeing the illegality of those appointments, +I issued an act declaring them vacant and restoring those posts to +those who had held them before. + +I did the same in regard to the posts that I found filled for the +ships which I am despatching now to Nueva Espana, as those appointments +were not made to suitable persons. Such were holding them with their +followers by illegal means and had no services or qualifications, +although there are persons of excellent abilities, as are those who +now hold them. + +The ships are the best and most suitable that have sailed hence +for a number of years past, and are of five hundred or six hundred +tons burden apiece. They are well equipped with artillery and other +necessities. They are heavily laden, for, although the enemy was along +the coasts in smaller craft than other years, this year the Chinese +came and have brought the Portuguese from Macan. Regarding the danger +that might be feared on the coast of Nueba Espana from a Dutch fleet +which we heard would pass through the strait of Magallanes, I left the +viceroy warned, so that when those ships can reach that coast, he will +have a sentinel and lookout at the island of Cedros, in front of the +gulf of California--where they are ordered to reconnoiter the enemy's +condition, and where the foe never expect them--and with a port to +windward of the cape of Corrientes, which is the place where they may +be awaited; with that I trust, God helping, that they will be secure. + +Eleven of the fourteen Dutch ships that passed [the strait] this +year went to Capulco; they were those which the pirate took from +Olanda. Seven of them were large ships, and four small; three of them +were captured in Piru. They reached Terrenate with all of them, and +with eight hundred men aboard. Accordingly I believe that they will +come here in a few months; and as this state and its conservation +depends on maritime forces (as does that of all the islands of the +world); and as the building of three ships of the size of these +two (which, as it could not be avoided, are going to Nueva Espana) +resulted, I hope from the willingness with which the fathers of the +Society offer to make two ships for me in the province of Leyte +(where they have their missions), and the Franciscans another in +those of Camarines, that they will be provided for me. The condition +of the royal treasury and your Majesty's heavy expenses on the point +of Cavite require that very urgently. + +Having found the magazines so empty of everything needed (which +supplies, it seems, have been stolen from them), I was accordingly +forced to send a ship to Japon with products that are esteemed there, +in order to exchange them for things needed here. [_In the margin_: +"Seen."] + +Affairs in that kingdom are so bloody because of the matter of +religion, that it is a lamentable thing. Ships are sent with great +danger because of the close scrutiny that the Japanese make, in their +fear lest religious are conveyed in them. The embassy returned, after +so heavy expenses, without those barbarians having been willing to +receive it. It sailed very late, since it gave the Dutch opportunity to +believe, and to give that emperor to understand, that your Majesty's +vassals were entering under pretense of religion to despoil them of +their kingdoms. + +Sargento-mayor Don Fernando de Silba, who returned with the +reenforcements that he took to Macan, put in at the kingdom of +Sian with one of your Majesty's ships, some artillery, and seventy +Spaniards. As I have been informed, endeavor was made to carry matters +with so high a hand that the natives, aided by Japanese, decapitated +him and most of his men; while about thirty of them are in prison, +and most of the property of your Lordship from this place, quite a +large amount, is in the power of that king. I shall endeavor with all +my power to collect them peaceably; for the enemy, since they are on +the lookout for us, give no opportunity to punish the deed. + +We have heard that Nun Albaros Botello has had good results in two +battles in East India with the Dutch, over Ormus; and that he expected +the recovery of those forts. However, I doubt it, because of the scant +obedience of the Portuguese to the officers who commanded them in war, +[_In the margin_: "Seen."] + +The province of Cagayan has continued in revolt. I shall immediately +provide a remedy, and hope to obtain one, by ordering those troops +for its conquest not to leave it, as they have done hitherto, but +to fortify and maintain themselves; for by their leaving the natives +their fields and palm plantations, two consecutive years are necessary +to reduce them. [_In the margin_: "Seen."] + +The bishop of that province, Don Juan de Rrenteria, to whom your +Majesty committed the general inspection of this royal Audiencia, died +November 4 of last year. If your Majesty should decide to send another +person for this place rather than for another place, it is necessary, +as also that he be one who has experience, and is disinterested and +conscientious. [_In the margin_: "Seen."] + +The forts of Terrenate are garrisoned with soldiers and necessary +supplies, although all, as I have heard, are quite discontented with +their governor, Pedro de Heredia, because of his trade and intercourse +with the enemy, of which they accuse him, and his usurpation of the +duties from the export of cloves and other things. I shall investigate +the truth and advise your Majesty of the result, and in the meantime +I shall correct the matter. The enemy have dismantled the forts +of Calomatas and Motil, and are, as I believe, somewhat weakened +in those districts. I shall send the usual expedition early, with +what is asked from me from there; and shall endeavor to secure very +friendly intercourse with the king of Macassar, who proves himself +ever a most zealous servitor of your Majesty, which is of importance +for Maluco affairs. [_In the margin_: "File."] + +The Ternatans beg urgently for this king whom we are keeping here in +prison, and offer to make treaties of peace--although it would mean +no more than to divide them between father and son, and to join the +powerful Chile, for all are hostile. It would surely be advisable, +for if what they offer were not obtained, the king is nothing more +than an old and worn-out Moro, who remains here to no purpose, +consuming your Majesty's revenues. [_In the margin_: "See whether +provision has been made in this matter. Discuss it in a letter to +Don Juan Nino de Tabora."] + +Your Majesty orders me to advise you of the mines of the Ygolotes, [15] +and the success of the nutmeg of La Laguna. The latter is considered as +wild nutmeg, and now as of no importance. I shall endeavor to ascertain +whether it may be cultivated, and shall attempt to do so. More than +fifty thousand pesos were spent in the mines, but nothing was found +at last. A quantity of rocks were sent to Nueba Espana, in order +to be assayed there, as we had no one here who understood it; and, +the soldiers having been withdrawn, that exploration was abandoned, +as a matter that did not have the desired result. + +[_In the margin_: "Seen; have Don Juan Nino de Tabora inform me more +minutely of this."] + +I found this city without regidors, because the Audiencia had removed +those who held that office. By virtue of a decree of your Majesty, +the observance of which was demanded by the fiscal, those offices were +offered at auction; but only two of them were sold. The purchasers were +persons whose standing did your Majesty but know, you would surely +not consider yourself served that [these offices should be sold] for +so small a price as is two thousand pesos for each--and one thousand +pesos of that sum was paid in due-bills. They should be discontinued, +to be conceded to the persons of highest standing in this community, +who because of their good character will attend more carefully to +your Majesty's service, and the conservation and increase of the +community, than do those who buy them; for the latter generally try to +get from the community the sum that the offices cost them. However, +I am ordering the proclamations to be continued; and if there are no +persons to buy the offices, after the time-limit has expired I shall +appoint the most suitable persons to them, with the guarantee that, +if your Majesty shall not consider this satisfactory, they shall pay +to the treasury the maximum price for which any of the offices shall +have been sold." [16] [_In the margin_: "Gather what has been decreed +and bring it here for all the councilors. Bring the general decree +which was despatched ordering those offices to be sold. Inform the +governor and Audiencia that there must be no innovation."] + +Some years [_illegible words in MS._] in the additional two per cent +duty that your Majesty ordered to be paid on the goods sent to Nueba +Espana from here, attentive to the petition that they presented. I +assure your Majesty that the trade has so greatly decreased, and +the succors that the inhabitants here furnish to the royal treasury +are so great, that even if the continual personal service with which +they generally serve your Majesty did not deserve such a favor, this +additional duty should be remitted; for I consider it impossible +that at the price goods are bought here they can pay the duty. Will +your Majesty decide what is most advisable, and order what is your +pleasure. [_In the margin_: "Let those [papers] necessary be brought."] + +Your Majesty has no need so pressing in any part of the world as that +your governors should have authority to remove or promote religious +missionaries to the natives from the districts where they are, because +of their lawless and loose mode of life. That has come to such a pass +that they have lost respect, by their deeds, for the alcaldes-mayor, +and the said religious do not pay any attention to their jurisdiction +or to the royal patronage. The Augustinians, who are more exorbitant +than others, are very owners of the wills of the Indians, and give +out that the quiet or disobedience of the latter hinges on them. For +when the alcalde-mayor of Balayan tried to restrain the excesses +that he saw, they entered his house armed, and bound and flogged him; +that was during the government of the Audiencia. But lately another +alcalde-mayor, in Bulacan, having arrested two Indians, seamen on +a ship of your Majesty's fleet, so that they might serve at their +posts, the religious at that place took them out of prison. Even more +oppressive acts occur daily, which need a severe remedy. I petition +your Majesty to have sent to me the decree which was sent to Nueba +Espana this past year, with more definite restrictions, so that they +may not have any ground for opposing it, and so that their generals, +especially he of St. Augustine, may order them to restrain themselves, +and so that his Holiness may do the same, the briefs or patents being +passed by the Council and everything being sent to me. So great haste +is necessary in order not to fall out with them. [_In the margin_: +"Send that decree, and write to the governor and archbishop to summon +the provincial of the Augustinians and tell him how advisable it is +to punish that religious, and those who act so; and have them advised +that no mission shall under any consideration be granted to religious +against whom such accusations are made. Have them advise us of what +is done." "This decree was carried out."] + +I am quartering the infantry, and am surprised that it has not been +done in so many years. It is not causing any expense to the royal +treasury. For, besides that it is impossible that the soldiers be +well disciplined in any other way--three-fourths living, as they do, +outside the city--I trust that by this means a much smaller number +will die, and that many offenses against God will be avoided. + +Although your Majesty has often been petitioned from this country to +aid these islands with a fleet, my experience in sailing to India +by way of the cape of Buena Esperanca, and outside the island of +San Lorenco, causes me to desist from that request, as I consider it +impossible. But considering that the forces here are for naught else +than defensive war, and how important it would be to dislodge the +enemy from the Malucas Islands, it seems to me an easier and more +advisable method for your Majesty to send the soldiers and sailors +who could be a reenforcement, at the account of Philipinas, in the +merchant vessels of the trading-fleets [from Espana], so that in due +time they might be taken from San Juan de Ulua, together with the men +raised in Nueva Espana, to the port of Acapulco. For if sufficient +money be sent from Nueba Espana, better ships can be built no-where +than here; and thereby could be attained what I doubt greatly could +be secured in any other way. + +Don Bernardino del Castillo, castellan of this fort of Santiago, has +died. I have appointed in his place, and I trust that your Majesty +will confirm it, or appoint him to that post, Governor Lucas de +Vergara Gavira, who has been governor of the forces of Terrenate, +and who served your Majesty with approval in Flandes and in these +regions for many years. + +The island of Ermossa lies between Great China and the province +of Ylocos, which is situated in these islands. There is so short +a distance from one part to the other that one can cross over in +one night. Although my predecessor, Don Alonso Fajardo, was advised +that the Dutch were thinking of fortifying themselves there, and how +important it was to these islands to gain the position, he did not do +so, perhaps because the enemy were more powerful. Now the latter have a +fort with four ramparts (two of stone), which will soon be completed, +for the Chinese subjects of that kingdom are helping them. The island +has no port for large ships; but the Dutch, together with Japanese, +did considerable damage with small craft--so much, in fact, that +the past year they captured a vessel with thirty thousand pesos. If +time and opportunity permit, I shall endeavor to gain a foothold in +another port, in order to drive out the Dutch in the future from what +they have there now. If your Majesty would establish a factory there, +it would result in the complete restoration of this country to its +old-time luster, and with greater prosperity. + +The treasury accountants of the City of Mexico have this year exceeded +their authority, contrary to the provisions of section 24 of the last +ordinances which your Majesty gave to the said treasury accountants, +and ordered them to observe, in the year 609. For the ordinances of +this royal Audiencia made in the year 1596 are in force--sections +67 and 69 of which treat of the manner in which the accounts of the +royal officials are to be audited; and section 29, of the powers +given to them for the exercise of their offices--and section 22 of +those given to the said accountants in the year of the foundation +of that tribunal, which was the year 1609; and the said section 24, +lastly, rules that after auditing the accounts in this Audiencia, they +shall be sent to Mexico, so that, having been examined, the officials +there may inform your Majesty of their opinion. Not heeding that, +they have, by extending their jurisdiction, rendered decisions against +the royal officials of this treasury in the review of their accounts, +and have added things to these, which [these royal officials], as they +do not bear them in mind, judge to be unnecessary. It can easily be +understood that since your Majesty, by the said section 24, ordered +these accounts to be audited here by the president, two auditors, and +the fiscal, because of the long distance to Mexico, they are not again +to be judged by an inferior tribunal; since these ministers are not to +be accused twice for one cause, nor even are additions to be lodged +against them, as those in Mexico do. Will your Majesty order them to +refrain from sending such despatches through their tribunals, without +having your Majesty's new commission for it, thus annulling the said +ordinances and sections. I assure your Majesty of what I can testify, +that the royal officials in few regions serve with greater fidelity +and trust than those here, with continual aid in the documents and +other things in their charge. [_In the margin_: "Have what the royal +officials write about this matter brought." "This section was copied."] + +Your Majesty orders me to give you information as to how General +Rodrigo de Guillestegui, who is commander of the vessels that sail +to Nueva Espana this year, may be granted reward. According to his +good service here and his great capability, the future succession +[to the command] of this fort, or that to the post of master-of-camp, +will be very well entrusted to him. + +I knew the master-of-camp, Don Luis de Bracamonte, in Flandes, all the +time while he was in those states. He served there for seven years in +a most satisfactory manner, when he came to these islands with pay of +eighty escudos. With that pay, he served in the government of Terrenate +until your Majesty appointed a person to that office. He is poor and +out of employment. I beseech your Majesty to be pleased to show him +honor and to reward him, since his rank and services deserve it. + +Your Majesty also has here one Captain Don Antonio de Vera, captain in +this camp, who has served for many years, of which I can testify as +an eyewitness from the States of Flandes. He desires your Majesty to +reward him with a habit; and beyond doubt that will be well bestowed, +and a great encouragement to those who are serving here. + +I found Admiral Don Cristoval de Lugo i Montalbo here, a man of very +well-known character, and who has rendered excellent service in Milan, +and in the wars of Saboya and Piamonte [_i.e._, Savoy and Piedmont]. I +have busied him in the post of chief commandant of Pintados, and as +my lieutenant in military matters of that province. He deserves honor +and reward from your Majesty. + +Your Majesty conceded for another lifetime to my wife, Dona Maria de +Ssalacar (whose parents and grandparents served your Majesty well in +these regions), the encomiendas that her mother possessed. Inasmuch as +I am so liable to die at any occasion in your Majesty's service that +may arise, which desired end I shall endeavor to attain; and since +she cannot remain decently as a widow in this country: I petition +your Majesty, in consideration of all my services and those of her +father and grandfather, to reward her, and to concede to her, for +the time while she holds it, absence from the said encomiendas, that +she may enjoy them wherever she pleases to dwell. For that will not +result in any harm to a third party, nor can the personal presence +of a woman be of any service to your Majesty. This reward can not +serve as a precedent, while there are many other precedents in other +parts of the Indias to private persons (and they not of my position) +[that render it possible]. + +The almiranta arrived July 29, and its being able to get here seems +miraculous, as this is the season when there are no vendavals. I am +giving employment to all the paid substitutes possible, in order to +stop to some extent the so great waste of the royal treasury, which +such men use up without any profit. + +I found the deanship of this holy church vacant because of the death +of Don Francisco Gomez de Arrellano. On the twenty-eighth of the +past month the archdeanship fell vacant because of the death of +Ssantiago de Castro. I have made presentations in the following +dignities in your Majesty's name, for your royal patronage, _ad +interim_, and I trust that your Majesty will confirm them: dean, +precentor, schoolmaster, archdean, one canon for the precentorship, +one cura for the schoolmaster, canon, one racionero, in the ration +of Lorenzo Rramirez--all persons of proved virtue and deserving of +these rewards. May God preserve your Majesty. Manila, August 4, 1625. + +_Fernando de Silva_ + + + + + +DOCUMENTS OF 1626 + + + + Letter from the archbishop to Felipe IV. Miguel Garcia Serrano; + July 25. + Letter to Felipe IV. Fernando de Silva; July 30. + Letter from the sisters of St. Clare to Felipe IV. Jeronima + de la Asunsion, and others; July 31. + Petition for aid to the seminary of San Juan Letran. Juan + Geronimo de Guerrero; August 1. + Royal decrees. Felipe IV; June-October. + Military affairs of the islands. [Unsigned]; 1626. + + + +_Sources_: Most of these documents are obtained from MSS. in the +Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla. The last two of the "Royal decrees" +are from MSS. in the Archivo Historico Nacional, Madrid; and the +sixth document is from a rare pamphlet in the British Museum, London. + +_Translations_: These are all made by James A. Robertson, except the +second, by Robert W. Haight. + + + + + +LETTER FROM ARCHBISHOP SERRANO TO FELIPE IV + + +Sire: + +In the ships that came from Nueva Espana to these islands this last +month of June, I received a decree of your Majesty dated Madrid, +December six of the former year six hundred and twenty-four, with +a copy of the one that your Majesty wrote to the governor of these +islands, in respect to the gold mines of the Ygolotes. I shall discuss +it with the said governor, as your Majesty orders, as soon as this +despatch shall be made, which will be at the end of this month. I +shall exert all the effort possible, so far as I am concerned, so +that your Majesty may be well served in everything. I believe that +Governor Don Juan Nino de Tavora will not be lacking in the same, +for he shows very earnest desires to employ himself in your Majesty's +service. [_In the margin_: "That it is well."] + +I received two other decrees, of the fourteenth and thirtieth of +August, of the same year, in which your Majesty is pleased to lay down +the form that must be observed in the visitation of the missionary +religious; and ordering that the latter may not make arrests or employ +stocks or prisons, or fiscals or constables who make arrests, besides +those whom the archbishop or bishop shall assign, or who shall have +the latter's authority to do so in cases permitted by law--all of which +will be observed and obeyed as your Majesty orders, [_In the margin_: +"Seen."] + +In another decree, of June twenty of the past year twenty-five, +your Majesty also orders me to inform you, with the distinctness and +clearness necessary for the better understanding of what you desire, +of the annual incomes and values of the benefices and revenues of this +archbishopric of Manila, and what sum pertains to the dignidades, +canonries, and prebends, both of this church and of the others of +my diocese. [Your Majesty also asks for] the number in each church; +how many beneficed curacies there are in each district, and their +income; the number of missions, their value, and whether they are in +charge of seculars or religious of the orders. I gave your Majesty +a long account of that in a letter that I wrote the former year of +six hundred and twenty-one on the twenty-fifth of July, to which I +have had answer from that royal Council that it was received in the +following year of six hundred and twenty-two. I only neglected to place +in that letter the incomes of the archbishopric and the prebends of +this church--taking that for granted, as a matter very well known, +since your Majesty sustains both the archbishop and the dignidades, +canonries, and prebends from your royal treasury, because there is +no other source, and the tithes are not sufficient. The latter are +placed in the said treasury, and are collected at the account of +your Majesty. They amount to a very small sum, since, from what I +have experienced, only the stock farms of the larger cattle of the +Spaniards pay tithes to your Majesty, and that has not, as yet, +been practiced with the Indians. Consequently your Majesty pays +the archbishop a salary of three thousand ducados of eleven reals +each; the dean, six hundred pesos of eight-real pieces; the four +dignities of archdean, precentor, schoolmaster, and treasurer, five +hundred pesos; four canons, four hundred pesos; two racions, three +hundred pesos; two media-racions, each two hundred pesos--all paid in +thirds. Consequently both the archbishop and his prebendaries suffer +abundant misery; and, because of that, your Majesty is petitioned to +favor us by increasing these salaries, since they hardly suffice to pay +their house-rent, and support them very moderately. [_In the margin_: +"Set down everything in the books that have been ordered to be made."] + +This cathedral church has no other revenue than the alms received +from burials; and if it were not for the four hundred pesos that your +Majesty has granted it for a limited time, it would have nothing for +the wine, wax, and flour for divine worship. With this and with some +allotment of cargo (although little) that the city generally gives it, +the band of musicians, who come to serve on their feast days in the +same church, is maintained. + +What seculars administer in this archbishopric is divided into nine +benefices, besides the three curacies of Spaniards in Manila, Santiago +(which is in Manila's suburbs), and the port of Cavite. Twenty thousand +souls are ministered to in the said benefices. [_In the margin_: +"_Idem_."] [17] + +The Order of St. Augustine has thirty-two convents, in all of which +are fifty-six priests, who have in charge ninety thousand souls. + +The Order of St. Francis has thirty-eight convents, with guardianias +and presidencies, in which are forty-seven priests. In all of them +forty-eight thousand four hundred souls are ministered to. + +The Order of St. Dominic has three convents in this archbishopric. It +ministers to three thousand souls, and has five religious. + +The Society of Jesus has eight priests in three residences, and +ministers to ten thousand six hundred souls. + +The discalced Augustinians have three convents in which are six +priests. They minister to eight thousand souls. + +Consequently, the souls of the natives alone who are ministered to +in the district of this archbishopric of Manila amount to two hundred +and one thousand, six hundred souls. + +The bishopric of Nueva Segovia has four secular benefices, two of +them for Spaniards, one in the said city of Nueva Segovia, and the +other in Villa Fernandina. The other two benefices are for Indians. + +The Order of St. Augustine has fifteen convents in this bishopric, +and they minister to fifty-eight thousand souls there. + +The Order of St. Dominic has twenty-five convents in the said +bishopric, in the province of Cagayan and that of Pangasinan. They +minister to seventy thousand souls in these. + +Consequently the number of souls of the natives ministered to in +the said bishopric of Nueva Segovia is one hundred and twenty-eight +thousand. + +There are six secular benefices in the bishopric of Camarines, whose +seat is in the city of Caceres. They minister to ten thousand six +hundred souls. + +The Order of St. Francis has twenty-four convents, with guardianias +and presidencies, in this bishopric, and minister to forty-five +thousand souls. + +All the souls ministered to in the said bishopric of Camarines amount +to fifty-six thousand eight hundred. + +These two churches of Caceres and Nueva Segovia (and the bishop +of Zibu gives account of the church there to your Majesty) have no +prebendaries; and there is no one besides the cura, who serves the +said church and ministers to the few Spaniards there. + +Each of the secular beneficiaries in these islands has an annual +stipend of one hundred and ninety pesos, which are paid from +your Majesty's royal treasury to those who minister to your royal +tributarios. The same sum is paid to the religious, except that the +ninety pesos are given in rice. To both classes is given one arroba +of Castilian wine, and flour for the mass. The other encomenderos +give the same to the ministers of their encomiendas. + +Now then I have satisfied what your Majesty orders me by the aforesaid +royal decree, as clearly as possible. If I have not named the villages +and chief places of the benefices, the reason is that I believe myself +excused from that labor. + +The government of Don Fernando de Silva, knight of the habit +of Sanctiago, during this interim in these islands has been very +successful; and he has proceeded as prudently as if he had exercised +the government for many years. He has secured peace both with the +royal Audiencia and with all the other corporations. + +He has occupied a port of the island of Hermosa--the best or only good +one--which was so recommended and ordered to be occupied by his Majesty +Phillippo Second, your Majesty's grandfather, in the instructions +ordered given to Governor Don Francisco Tello; of its importance, time +will tell. It has seemed a desirable thing, at least in the present, +so that the Dutch shall not have the opportunity that they desire +for taking the silk from China and transporting it to Europa and to +Japon. That brought them very great wealth; for, selling it for the +bars of silver with which the latter kingdom abounds, the Dutch had +money enough to continue the trade with China. They shortened the +voyage every year to that country. Don Fernando de Silva also built a +galleon that is now in the port of Cavite. He built some small rooms +or quarters of stone for the soldiers in the Plaza de Armas, wherein +three hundred men may be lodged, without the expenditure of a single +peso from your Majesty's royal treasury. He is a calm and prudent man, +one of good example, fearful of God, and zealous for your Majesty's +service and the increase of your royal treasury. He has abilities +for governing, and if your Majesty occupies him in other governments, +you will be as well served as you have been during the time while he +has had this charge. [_In the margin_: "That we are advised of what +he says."] + +Governor Don Juan Nino de Tavora, who just arrived in these ships that +came from Nueva Espana with reenforcements, shows excellent valor and +zeal for the service of your Majesty; and if God grants him life to +execute the good purposes that he evidently possesses, I doubt not +that these islands will not only lift their head, but that they will +return to their former grandeur. He has entered on his government with +a secure foothold, since he finds them free from the Dutch enemy--who +have allowed us to breathe this year, and have given opportunity for +more ships to come from China than for several years past. The same has +been true of the ships from Goa, India, and Macan. All of them have +entered the port of Cavite; so that already this community appears +another and a very different one from what it was before. I trust, +with the help of His Divine Majesty, that the governor will aid it, +for the proofs that he has hitherto given are those of an excellent +governor and Christian, and one fearful of his conscience. + +Although we have had no Dutch enemies this past year, powerful +enemies of the inhabitants about these islands have not been wanting +to disturb the natives and those whom they capture suddenly in the +villages of the coast. It is a thing that I have experienced myself, +suffering so great anguish that I thought I should lose my life in it; +for I found myself surrounded by thirty-four caracoas and galeotas of +Mahometan enemies--Borneans, Joloans, Camucones, and Mindanaos--about +one hundred leguas from this city of Manila, while going to visit my +district at a village called Cabotagan. They assaulted me at five in +the morning, while I and all my retinue were asleep. We awoke at the +clamors, and had no other resolution or opportunity to take than to +flee to the mountain; for we were abed, as I have stated. I secured +my habit and girdle, which was a not slight act of mercy from the +Lord, because of what I afterward suffered in the mountain, until the +necessary clothing and food were brought to me and my followers from +Manila. Although Governor Fernando de Silva exerted himself by sending +men and several vessels in different directions after the enemy, he +did not have the good luck to fall in with them. The new governor, +Don Juan Nino de Tavora, tells me that he will make every effort to +chastise those barbarians and assure the coasts. I trust thoroughly +that he will succeed in his holy purpose, because he has so well +understood that it is greatly to the service of our Lord and of your +Majesty. [_In the margin_: "Thank him for his care in visiting his +bishopric, and say that we are assured of his zeal, and trust that +the same will be exercised in the future--in consideration of which, +account will be taken of his person as opportunity offers, so that +he may be promoted. Have a letter sent to Don Juan Nino, telling him +what the archbishop writes of him; thank him, and let him advise us +of what has been done."] + +Doctor Don Alvaro de Mesa y Lugo, auditor of this royal Audiencia, +is one of the persons who most evidently excel in your Majesty's +royal service, and who most firmly defend everything touching it, +in both matters of justice and of revenue. He has ever been so keen +a defender of your Majesty's interests that he has suffered for that +many and very great annoyances and troubles. Thus has he shown by his +actions that he has a very upright conscience. From this it results +that he suffers great necessity, because he has not allowed or opened +the door even to the gratuities that seem lawful to others not so +well regulated in conscience. In short, his actions are such that I +am obliged to continue in this letter, as in others, to inform your +Majesty of his good and praiseworthy qualities. Will your Majesty, upon +knowing them, be pleased to promote him and advance him to other posts +of greater importance. I find him sufficiently capable and deserving +of much better posts; for, wherever it please your Majesty to reward +him, your Majesty will be well served, and he will be free from the +sickness and the lack of health with which he lives in this country, +to employ himself much better in your Majesty's service. [_In the +margin_: "At hand."] + +I was expecting the bishop of Nueva Caceres this year, according to +letters sent me last year. Not only has he not come, but also not +even have I had any letter from him. Consequently I am appointing a +governor of that bishopric for the good and necessary expedition of +the ecclesiastical causes, which are falling behind for lack of the +judge of appeals. Although those appeals could go to the tribunal of +the bishopric of Zibu, it is necessary to conclude definitively that +there be a third tribunal, according to the brief obtained by your +Majesty regarding appeals. Consequently, it is necessary to provide +now and henceforth for the government of the bishopric of Nueva +Segovia, until the arrival of the rightfully-appointed bishop whom +your Majesty may be pleased to send to that church. [_In the margin_: +"That it is well, and that the necessary provision has been made in +this, and the viceroy directed to make him embark."] + +Because we have settled in the island of Hermosa, our obligations to +send ministers to those heathen nations who inhabit it, and are without +the light of the holy gospel, are increased. The conquest or settlement +has been effected by the energy of Fray Bartolome Martinez of the +Order of St. Dominic, the present provincial of this province. To +him is due the excellent success that it has hitherto had; for he +himself, with other three or four associates, and no other order, +went to explore it. They remained there and sent one religious here +to Manila to report what had been done, and to get an order from the +governor for what was to be done in the future. The island is densely +populated, as they will relate to your Majesty. It will be a pity for +those peoples to remain in the obscurity of their blindness, without +the light of our holy Catholic faith, for lack of ministers. Since the +fathers of St Dominic have taken that conquest in charge, it will be +very advisable for the present to settle it with religious of that +order, if your Majesty be pleased to have a goodly consignment of +religious sent to them; for, although eighteen or twenty of them came +in these ships, the need of this province was so great, because of +the many who have died, that scarcely are there sufficient for their +ministries, even if they did not have the island of Hermosa, as I +have said. [_In the margin_: "They have been given to them already."] + +Governor Don Juan Nino will report on the other matters touching this +community. Consequently I shall not relate them in this letter to your +Majesty, whose very Catholic person may our Lord preserve, with the +increase of great kingdoms, as is necessary to Christendom. Manila, +July 25, 1626. + +_Fray Miguel_, archbishop of Manila. + +[_Endorsed:_ "Manila. To his Majesty; 1626. The archbishop of Manila, +[_MS. holed_] of July. Seen and decreed within, July 30, 627."] + + + + + + +LETTER FROM FERNANDO DE SILVA TO FELIPE IV + + +Sire: + +Last year I advised your Majesty of the state in which I found these +islands; and now I could tell you that they have not been in better +condition for thirty years past. I kiss your Majesty's hand for the +great favor which you do me in sending as my successor Don Juan Nino +de Tabora, a person who, I am confident, will carry out whatever is +ordered there for the service of your Majesty; for my part I shall +aid him as much as I can, without heeding trifles. + +As the despatch of last year was made early, the ships arrived at +Nueva Espana in less than six months, and returned to this city on the +twenty-eighth of June, the day on which the governor took possession +of these offices. + +The commander of the Terrenate relief expedition arrived, and we +learn from those forts that all the aid reached them, as it was sent +early--which could not have been accomplished if it had been eight +days later. They are in peace and well provisioned, since the people +of Terrenate and Tidore are friendly. They likewise inform us that +the fort of Calomata, which the enemy dismantled, which is half a +legua from Malayo, has been fortified, because it was understood +that the Dutch were about to come back again; and that the natives +killed two hundred men of the enemy, who had arrived to punish them +with fifteen ships, which seem few for those seas. + +This year there has been peace everywhere in this commonwealth, and +I have maintained it with the Audiencia--being patient with them when +necessary, and at times administering rebuke, whereby your Majesty's +service was furthered. Commodities nave been cheap, and all necessary +supplies have been procured without our having felt the much-feared +failure of iron, bronze, and tin from Japon. Through my diligence, +there is abundance in the warehouses, with which we could construct +and cast [cannon for] fifty moulds which I have had made for more +than four months, whereby the islands are fully supplied with the +necessary artillery. + +Of the ships which I informed you were being built, one is in Cavite, +and the other, it is supposed, can be completed by Christmas, each +of them of a thousand toneladas of the North Sea. Two galleys are +likewise being finished, which makes a sufficient fleet for anything +which may happen here. By the way, I inform your Majesty that finding +no remedy for the thefts of rigging, on account of the many foreign +ships that arrive here, I have had a black thread put in the rigging +belonging to your Majesty, so that it can be recognized and this loss +will be obviated. + +I found the natives of these islands exhausted by the harsh +repartimiento which obtained of personal services, from which the +rich and powerful chiefs were exempted, and the wretched people so +burdened that they had not enough with four pesos a year for each +Indian, and now they have it with four reals. + +The affairs of the province of Cagaian are in a better state, for +with the entry made by the two companies which I sent, more than a +thousand of the rebels were reduced, with a considerable quantity +of silver recovered which they had taken from the churches; and, +under a general pardon, more of them are continually becoming peaceful. + +For the punishment of the Camucones, a people who are accustomed +to rob these coasts in vessels so light that they rely upon these +alone, I sent a captain who has had experience in their islands +(which extend from Paragua to Borney), with fifty-five Spaniards and +more than six hundred Indians. They found none of the people, as they +had all retired from that kingdom to the island of Mindanao and the +coast of Caraga. An entry was made, whereby more than five thousand +tributarios were reduced to peace. Here in the neighborhood of Manila a +great many Negrillos from the mountains have been reduced and settled, +who used to inflict great injury on the neighboring villages. + +Of the quarters which I informed you were being built for the infantry, +three are finished, the best which I have seen, where about three +hundred men can be lodged. I believe that the governor will continue +so beneficial a work. I have brought all the troops inside the city, +whereby it and its suburbs have been in peace, without a wounded man +having been under care for eight months, where so many used to be +killed every month. + +The city had decided to build a stone bridge over the main river. It +is begun, and, if it is finished, it will much increase the value of +property, and be of the highest benefit to the community and to the +persons who hold property on the other bank. + +The ship which I despatched to Japon for military supplies arrived +at Nanguaciqui, where they took precautionary measures until the +emperor was informed. This resulted in their being notified a few +days later that they must return without trading at all, and make +it known that no vessel should go from these islands under pain of +death, on account of the religious which they conveyed from here; +accordingly, it is impossible to enter that country alive. The ship +returned, and this year goes as the admiral's ship to Nueva Espana, +of which the new governor will inform you. + +In the provincial chapter of the Augustinians held on the first of +May I was present, at their instance; for they were divided into +two parties by their usual passion. They were presided over by the +most serious friar of their order, but the bold acts of the youthful +friars at every juncture violated the rules of obedience, which they +certainly are subverting. I proceeded with the utmost moderation, +sometimes denying the aid which was asked from me, and restraining +them by threats that I would appoint secular ecclesiastics to the +missions. They were finally quieted by this, for otherwise the province +would have been divided, as they threatened. Not a little blame is +due to the fiscal, who attempted by means of his negotiations to make +himself master even of these elections. + +I have received advices from Macan by six galleotas, which have arrived +with goods; they are demanding that a check be given to the progress +that the enemy are making in their fort on the island of Hermosa. [18] +They say that it is finished, and made of stone, sand-banks, and brick, +having six bastions and at the edge of the water a platform with six +cannon. The bay is eight leguas around, and an anchoring-place is on +the north side. The fresh water is below a redoubt two leguas from +the fort. The bar is thirteen feet under water with reefs, so the +large ships remain outside. There is much to be gained in all kinds of +trade with the natives, in purchases of deer-hides and merchandise for +Japon. This port is in twenty-two degrees. Their object in fortifying +it now was that this place commanded the passage of the ships from +Chincheo to this city. They have accomplished their end through the +presents which they have given to the mandarins, and the threats to +rob them, as hitherto--namely, to secure the silks and carry them to +Japon and Holland, as they are now doing, and take them away from this +country, in this way ruining it, for there is nothing of importance +except this commerce. This loss is clearly shown, for in fifty ships +which have arrived at these islands, there were not forty picos of +silk brought, while the enemy had nine hundred, excluding the woven +goods; and, if it were not for what has come from Macan, the ships +[for Nueva Espana] would have nothing to carry. + +This trade of the Portuguese is most injurious, not only on account +of their unfriendly attitude, but because they have raised the prices +of goods, securing the profit thereon, and draining the wealth of +the citizens here. Considering this, then, and what your Majesty has +ordered regarding the pacification of the Hermosa Islands (which my +predecessor so desired), after I had used all possible diligence, +as in a matter of so great importance, and found that the security +and rehabilitation of these islands depended upon having a port +to windward from that of the enemy--as this city besought me to do, +since that was its only refuge--I made ready in all secrecy, and at so +little expense that, although I found the treasury embarrassed with a +debt of three thousand pesos, it remained with less than twenty-five +thousand of debt, which was borrowed from citizens. I despatched +from here Sargento-mayor Antonio Carreno de Valdes, with all the +necessary supplies and two galleys. He is a person remarkably fit +for this purpose, and an excellent servant of your Majesty. He left +Cagaian on the fifth of May and arrived on the eleventh at the place +where his instructions directed, which is at the head of the island, +at twenty-five degrees north. He explored the bottom and anchored +with all his fleet in the best port imaginable, a remarkable favor +from heaven, if those of Japon are closed to him [_MS. holed_]. It is +distant from the mainland of China eighteen leguas, and has a depth +at the entrance of eighteen brazas, and a capacity of five hundred +ships. The site if the fortification is naturally very strong, all of +which appears by his plan which accompanies this. He found a village +of fifteen hundred houses built of fragrant woods, with a people like +[_MS. defective_] somewhat lighter in color and differing in language +[19] [_MS. holed_] thanks be to God. The fortification was under +way and in the despatch[-boat] which he sent me with the information +there were a hundred and twenty picos of iron pikes and two hundred +and thirteen arrobas of sulphur, which is brought from Castilla +for the powder. They have supplies for a year; and the enterprise is +already proving advantageous. It is most expedient that this should be +furthered, on account of the great advantages which will result from +this post being in the vicinity of China; in that locality there are +excellent water, Castilian fruits, and partridges, although these have +not red beaks. Since some evil-intentioned person has tried to make +the governor think, as he is new in the knowledge of this country, +that this will commence a new war, I shall tell him what I think, +leaving to time the results. Let it not appear that I am praising my +own cares, because I seek no other reward for my services except that +of rendering them to so great a king. + +In the first place, the trade of the enemy is established and that +from this country has stopped; but, as this is without the knowledge +of the king of China, he will, as soon as his attention is called +to it, take rigorous measures to prevent the Dutch trade. By the +measures which I have set on foot, this object could be secured +by the galley, which could patrol the coast. For fifty years they +[_i.e._, the Chinese] have had proved the steadiness of our trade and +the abundance of our silver, and they have desired nothing further +than to see us with a post where they can seek us without danger, +as they will do at present; for in so short a distance, and with so +strong currents [in the sea] the enemy cannot disturb our post--from +which will result the dismantling of his fort, for he will be outside +the line of traffic and on the coast opposite. On the other hand the +Japanese, who cannot dispense with silks, must come for them to our +port, bringing us silver. We are the masters of all their traffic as +far as Sian, Cochinchina, and Camboja, as they have to pass through +this strait; and accordingly our friendship will be valued, and a +door will be opened for the conversion [of the heathen], which is +the principal aim of your Majesty. [_In the margin_: "Let this clause +and the one which follows it be read word for word."] + +Although there have been persons who thought an armed fleet necessary +to bring over the goods from the island to this city, this doubt is +unfounded, because that route can be navigated during nine months +in the year among the islands and currents, without any port on the +eastern side. During the northern monsoons it is impossible for a +vessel to hold its own in that locality while they blow, for they are +following winds for us; it is therefore certain that the enemy will +not be able to trouble us. Even in case the fleet were necessary, it +remains in port rotting, and the men are causing the same expense; +and it would be better for it to go for goods that are sure and +bought at very low prices, the duties and freight charges on which +would equal the expense of going out to drive the enemy from the +coast after he has robbed it, without profit to your Majesty, or the +citizens here, or those in Nueva Espana. It is not a bad port where +ships from Castilla may put in, being as safe as is that of Santisima +Trinidad. [20] The fleets which have gone out from here in my time +have not dared, for lack of such a port, to follow the enemy or to +leave the coast, for they could not make it again if they entered +the vendavals; this was one of the excuses for the last retreat +which Don Geronimo de Silva made. In his lawsuit and that of the +commanders of the "San Yldefonso" and "San Rimundo," the governor +found for an abandonment of proceedings, pronouncing sentence, I +assure your Majesty, without favor or prejudice. The master-of-camp +died on the same day when my successor arrived here; and, a few days +before, Factor Diego de Castro Lison, a good servant I appointed in +his place in the interim Captain Christoval de Mercado--a person +who is so fit for the position that I sought him out; and who has +served almost all the offices of justice which exist in the islands, +whereby he has gained knowledge of the commodities that the provinces +can furnish. He has left these with a good, clean reputation, and +personally appears to be well qualified. I shall appreciate it if +your Majesty will confirm this. I will say the same of the warder, +Pedro Sotelo de Morales, appointed to Fort Santiago without salary, +as your Majesty has commanded, in place of Lucas de Bergara, deceased. + +Considering the great importance of effective collection for the +exchequer of your Majesty, and the auditing of the accounts that +are in arrears, I have accomplished as much as I could this year, +and they have been audited from the year 18 to that of 23. + +For the unburdening of my conscience I will, now that my presidency is +over, tell your Majesty incidentally what I think of the officers of +this Audiencia, whose inspection is awaited; and if, as is desirable, +your Majesty send it, that will tell you better. Don Alvaro de Lugo +y Messa is an upright judge, and zealous in the service of your +Majesty. Geronimo de Legaspi does what his two sons wish, whom, on +account of their reckless lives, the governors cannot employ, and +thus are unable to satisfy their father, who is not contented except +with favors. Don Juan de Valderrama does as his wife says; and Don +Matias Flores, although a young man, is less harmful; when he is so, +it is owing to his passions or affections. He makes all the profit +he can from the office, and on the whole is not acceptable to the +community, which is always disturbed by him. I consider his office +incompatible with that of protector; but, although your Majesty had +issued a decree directing that this should not be, they annulled it. I +do not wish to annoy your Majesty any further, for there are persons +who will write this from a sense of duty; and I refer, for information +regarding my earnest desires for the service of your Majesty, to what +all classes of people will write. Since coming to serve you in these +islands I have undergone so many expenses that I am poor and in debt as +president. I beg your Majesty to remember me by giving me the favor of +the presidency of Panama, or the future succession to it [_MS. holed_] +realm or governorship of Guatemala, whichever may first be vacant; for +I have not property enough remaining to go and claim it in your court. + +I likewise requested your Majesty last year not to allow my wife, since +she is such, and cannot remain here as a private citizen, to lose the +encomiendas which she inherited from her father and grandfather, who +served so long in these islands; and that you would command a decree +to be despatched so that she might enjoy them wherever you might choose +that she and her daughter should live, as the latter is the last heir; +and this I beg, for the reasons which I have mentioned to your Majesty. + +At the proper time, I despatched to Sian a private ship, in order +to avoid the cost of carrying the troops, goods, and supplies which +remain there by the death of Don Fernando de Silva. [21] Everything +went well. I also sent a father of the Society, a man of great +experience, to get under way the collection from all that comes +from Yndia and other parts. Don Juan Nino will inform your Majesty +of it. May our Lord protect your royal person according to the needs +of Christendom. Manila, July 30, 626. + +_Don Fernando de Silva_ + +[_On the back of this letter_: "The original descriptions of the +island Hermosa and the relation concerning all those localities, +are in the possession of Senor Don Andres de Rozas."] + + + + + +LETTER FROM THE SISTERS OF ST. CLARE TO FELIPE IV + + +_Jesus, Mary_ + +May all empires and kingdoms be made subject to your royal Majesty. We +were sent here by the great king, Don Felipe, our sovereign (may +he rest in peace), by his royal decree and favor he ordering the +governor and royal Audiencia to receive us under his royal protection +as nuns of the first rule of St. Clare, [22] so that the daughters +of the conquistadors who do not have the means for marriage may be +aided; and [it was ordered] that, when the provincial of our order +should be present they should make regulations according to our +rule and profession--his royal Majesty ordering the above with the +earnestness that is made evident in his decree. We have found in this +kingdom so friendly a disposition and so great abundance of what is +necessary (with which we are supplied in the city), that although +at present we number only thirty-three sisters, seventy could be +supported on the alms that are bestowed upon us every week in small +contributions--besides those given in quantity by private persons and +bequeathed to us in wills; and those from women who are admitted to +the order, who have wealth for this purpose. + +Our rule declares that we may not solicit the property of those who +enter to become nuns, and we are not to be careful of aught else +than their virtues; but that if any one of these wishes to give +some alms of her own freewill, we may receive it, as from any other +person. Consequently, having observed faithfully this rule--I mean, +in not desiring or striving for any more than the said benefit (and +we exercise great care in this)--our Lord moves hearts, so that one +woman alone has given us fourteen thousand pesos. With that the +work on the convent is progressing. Other women who are about to +make profession say that they will give the same amount that they +would give their husbands if they married; and that, since God is +their spouse, they wish to give it to Him so that a convent capable +of sustaining many nuns may be built, so that they may serve his +Majesty. Some have as their dowry only the spiritual wealth that +the rule requires. Consequently, there are liable to be many orphan +girls who serve God, daughters and granddaughters of conquistadors, +who are calling aloud, and they refuse to allow them to enter. It is +a pity to see so pious desires disappointed. I petition your Majesty +to send me a royal decree that no limit shall be set to the number of +nuns that the convent may contain. The rule does not limit the number, +nor does any other convent throughout all these kingdoms. The city is +very rich, and food so cheap that fourteen libras of beef cost one +real; another real buys eight libras of fish; six libras of sugar, +one real; and fowls, salt pork, and all other things in the same +proportion; of salt alone, they have given us, on this last arrival +of the ships, three hundred and seventy baras [i.e., bahars]; also +a goodly supply of wine for the mass; and linen, which is very cheap. + +Consequently we, these least important vassals of your Majesty, do +not need human aid, but the divine. That aid we have entreated from +the royal favor, so that no restriction be laid on the nuns that the +convent shall contain. It is a great pity to see how they hinder the +souls who serve God in so great perfection as those women who are +here, the natives of these kingdoms. I consider beyond any doubt +that they will be most devoted servants of God, who works marvels +in all those whom He shrives, and all set themselves to observe the +warnings of the gospel. An infinite number of little girls and older +orphans come weeping, with their widowed mothers, begging us for the +love of God to give them the habit. Since the king, our sovereign, +sent them so great a spiritual and temporal consolation, and since +their parents gained it for them by conquering this country at the +cost of their own lives, we all are so bounden. Beseeching our Lord to +prosper your royal Majesty, spiritually and temporally, with infinite +increase; and may He subject to the royal power of your royal Majesty +all empires and kingdoms that He has created for the greater honor, +glory, and increase of the faithful, and the exaltation of the holy +Catholic faith. Manila, July 31. Given in this convent of La Concepcion +of the discalced nuns of St. Clare, in the year 1626. + +The most humble vassals of your royal and sacred Majesty, + +_Jeronima de la Asunsion_, [23] + +abbess, and her sisters, + +_Ana de Christo Bicaria_ +_Leonor [de] San Francisco_ +_Leonor de Sant Buena Bentura_ +_Lueysa de Jesus_ +_Magdalena de Christo_ +_Juana de San Antonio_ +_Maria de los Angeles_ +_Maria Magdalena_ +_Ana de Jesus_ +_Ana de Christo Bicaria_ + + + + + +PETITION FOR AID TO THE SEMINARY OF SAN JUAN DE LETRAN + + +Sire: + +Brother Juan Geronimo Guerrero, [24] who has charge of the seminary of +Sant Juan de Letran for orphan boys in the city of Manila, declares +that in consideration of the general welfare of the said children, +and their education and teaching, your Majesty was pleased to order +Don Fernando de Silva, governor of those islands, by your royal decree +of July 16, 623, to aid the said seminary with some taxes, so that +the boys in it might be reared and supported. But, as no taxes were +found, the said royal decree has had no effect; and to this day not +more than the small sum of three hundred pesos has been assigned to the +seminary--an amount so small that it does not suffice to provide shoes +for the boys who are now there. The number there is daily increasing, +and the expenses incurred are very considerable and the alms but +little. With what they have they cannot be supported. In order that +so pious a work may continue, and so that those orphan boys may be +suitably assisted with the necessaries of life, and not be ruined: + +He petitions your Majesty that, favoring by your sovereign mercy a work +so greatly to the service of our Lord, you will be pleased to order +that some encomienda of Indians, or a pension from those that shall +be allotted, may be set aside for the said seminary--or in any other +manner which your Majesty pleases, and for the period that your royal +will deems best. [I ask this] because from it will follow considerable +profit for your royal service; for the boys reared there incline to +become soldiers, and up to the present time forty of them have gone out +to serve your Majesty in that employ, while five have become friars, +and twelve are studying. And, in order that they may learn the art of +navigation, will your Majesty be pleased to command an examined pilot +to come to the said seminary to teach it to them. Will your Majesty +also be pleased to order that, inasmuch as there are many children +of Spaniards among the Indian women of these islands, conceived by +the latter, these children may be taken from them and brought to be +reared in the said seminary, so that they may not become idolaters +like the Indian women, when they are grown. Our Lord will be served +by that, and will receive especial blessing and favor. + +[_Endorsed:_ "The seminary of Sant Juan de Letran for orphan boys in +the city of Manila."] + +[_Instructions:_ "Senor Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras: Let a decree +be issued for them that, in the same manner as the other three hundred +pesos, I set aside for them, from the taxes that I shall possess there, +the further sum of three hundred ducados. As for the other things +that he requests, refer them to the governor, so that he may take +what measures are advisable in everything, in order that the service +of God our Lord and of his Majesty may be attended to. November 18."] + +[_In the margin_: "In regard to what is asked in this section, his +Majesty issued a decree, that the governor of Philipinas shall assign +the said seminary three hundred ducados in taxes that do not belong +to the treasury, as another three hundred pesos were assigned. All +the other things requested are referred to the governor, so that he +may provide everything advisable, in order that they may attend to +the service of God and that of his Majesty."] + +Sire: + +Since the beginning of the so firm foundation of this seminary of +San Juan de Letran, I have made known to your Majesty by faithful +relations the great fruit obtained for God our Lord and for the service +of your Majesty, in protecting and sheltering in the seminary so many +orphan boys, the sons of old Spanish soldiers, who [without it] would +evidently be ruined for lack of instruction and good morals. So good +results have been achieved in this, as experience has shown by those +who have left this seminary--forty for the service of your Majesty, to +serve as soldiers, six others as religious, and six who serve in this +cathedral church as acolytes. There are now in the seminary more than +fifty boys. Your Majesty, having examined the despatches, was pleased +to send me a royal decree, ordering the governors of these islands to +protect and favor this seminary with incomes. In these islands revenues +are so few, that Governor Don Fernando de Silva assigned three hundred +pesos in chattels--namely, certain small shops, which are suppressed +today and opened to-morrow. In order that this enterprise may go on +increasing for the service of God and of your Majesty, will you order +that an encomienda be given to us. With it and my feeble efforts we +could support ourselves, and so great a work as this is would not fail. + +I beseech your Majesty, for the love of God, that when my life is over, +[the Confraternity of] La Misericordia may take charge of the seminary, +with the brothers of the third order; and that a boy who has been +very long in this college may remain to shelter them, so that this +work, that is so acceptable to God our Lord, may continue to increase +and not to diminish. May God preserve your Majesty for many years, +as Christendom desires and as is necessary. Manila, August first, +one thousand six hundred and twenty-six. + +Your Majesty's humble vassal, + +_Brother Juan Geronimo Guerrero_ + +[_Instructions:_ "Let the governor be again charged to observe what +has been ordered him. May 11, 628."] + + + + + +ROYAL DECREES + + +_Ordering the correction of abuses by the Augustinians_ + + +The King. To Don Juan Nino de Tavora, member of my Council of War, +my governor and captain-general of the Philipinas Islands, and +president of the royal Audiencia therein: In a letter written to +me by Don Fernando de Silva, in whose charge that government was +_ad interim_, dated August four of the past year one thousand six +hundred and twenty-five, he declares that there is not so great need +anywhere else as in those islands for the governors to have authority +to remove or promote religious teachers because of their unbridled +or steady lives; and that the religious have come to lose respect, by +their deeds, for the alcaldes-mayor, and pay no attention to the royal +jurisdiction and patronage--especially the Augustinians who are more +extravagant than the others. They are entirely masters of the wills +of the Indians, and give out that in them consists the quietness or +disobedience of the Indians. Inasmuch as the alcalde-mayor of Bayaban +tried to moderate the excesses that were being committed, the religious +entered his house, attacked him, and beat him. Another alcalde-mayor, +who resides in Bulacan, having arrested two Indian seamen of my royal +fleet so that they should go to serve in their places, the religious +there took them from him; and every day more dangerous incidents are +occurring, in which they need some intervention. It would therefore be +advisable to send them the decree that was issued in the former year of +six hundred and twenty-four for Nueva Espana, ordering that the heads +of the religious, especially he of St. Augustine, order the religious +to restrain themselves. Notwithstanding that the said decree has been +sent already to those islands, and now goes in duplicate, I order +you to summon the provincial of the Augustinians and tell him that +it is greatly advisable to punish that religious; and that he shall +accordingly do so. You are hereby advised that under no consideration +shall a mission be granted to those religious who shall be guilty of +such offenses, and you shall advise me of what you shall do. Madrid, +June nineteen, one thousand six hundred and twenty-six. + +_I The King_ + +Countersigned by Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras, and signed by the +members of the Council. + +[_Endorsed:_ "To the governor of Philipinas, ordering him to summon the +provincial of the Augustinians, and command him to punish a certain +religious, a missionary, for the excess of which he has been guilty; +and that he see that those religious who should be guilty be not +admitted to a mission."] + + +_Concerning the courts of the alcaldes-in-ordinary_ + + +The King: To the president and auditors of my Audiencia of the city of +Manila in the Filipinas Islands. Martin Castano, procurator-general of +the islands, has made me a report, stating that the auctions of what +is sold and leased from my royal estate, at which one auditor and the +fiscal of that Audiencia are present, are held by the royal officials +in the cabildo houses of the said city, where the alcaldes-in-ordinary +hold their court to administer justice; and that, although the hall +where the aforesaid officials hold the said auctions is distinct and +separate from that of the alcaldes, you have now lately ordered that, +when the said auctions are to be held, if the said alcaldes should be +present in the said hall, they suspend court, although it is necessary +for them to conduct their hearings at the accustomed hours. He has +petitioned me that, since the court of the said alcaldes does not +disturb or hinder the auctions, but rather is the cause of more +people resorting thither, I be pleased to order you not to make any +innovation in the aforesaid practice. The matter having been examined +in my royal Council of the Indias, I have considered it expedient, +and accordingly I order you, to allow the said alcaldes-in-ordinary +to call their courts in the said cabildo houses where they hold their +court, at the usual hours, even though the said auctions happen to +be held even at the same time. Madrid, June 19, 1626. + + +_I The King_ +By order of the king our sovereign: +_Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras_ + + + +_Regarding the hospitals_ + + +The King. To Don Juan Nino de Tabora, knight of the habit of Calatrava, +member of my Council of War, my governor and captain-general of the +Philipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia therein: +In a letter written to me by that city on August 13, of the former +year 1624, it mentions that in the hospitals there the sick endure +great hardships, and that the hospitals are not administered with +the care that is advisable, which causes many to die (and those +chiefly soldiers); and that it would be very advisable for the +brothers of [St.] John of God to take charge of their administration +and service. Having been examined by my Council of the Indias, I order +you, as it is a pious matter and one suitable for your office, on your +part to have all care so that the poor have the best accommodation +possible, and be aided, as I expect from you; for besides fulfilling +your obligations in this you will serve me. Madrid, October 16, 1626. + + +_I The King_ +By order of the king our sovereign: +_Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras_ + + + + + +MILITARY AFFAIRS OF THE ISLANDS + + +_Most authentic relation, in which is narrated the present condition +of the wars against the Dutch in the Filipinas and the kingdoms of +Japon; and the famous deeds of Don Fernando de Silva, sargento-mayor, +together with the great victories of the Spaniards, who destroyed +four hundred Dutchmen. The year 1626_. + + + +I shall relate what things are new in these remote districts. I shall +give a brief narrative both of the island of Mindanao, whose conquest +is being made at present, and of Don Fernando de Silva, captain and +commander of the soldiers, who went to China. The island of Mindanao is +one of the largest that are seen in this archipelago. It has quantities +of cinnamon, and is very rich, through the trade that they carry on +with all the nations and with these islands. Its natives are given +over to the vile worship of Mahoma to a degree not reached by the Moors +[i.e., those of Spain] themselves. That worship holds them so tightly +in its abominations that it rears them with extreme hatred toward +Christians, both Spaniards and Indians. The disposition of the people +is vile but bold, and they are given to insults and robbery. They +make raids through the islands that are instructed by the Society of +Jesus, plundering, robbing, and capturing many. But having recognized +the valor of the Spaniards on various occasions when the latter have +scattered and destroyed their fleets of small vessels, they recently +made treaties of peace, and sent ambassadors to Manila to the governor +with captives and presents--requesting an alliance, and soldiers, +in order that these make a settlement in their lands, and aid them +against others who are their enemies, inhabitants of the same island, +with whom they wage civil war. They were well received by the governor, +and given a valiant captain with five hundred soldiers; and the father +provincial of the Society of Jesus gave two fathers from his residence, +to instruct them. All assembled at the town of Arevalo, where the chief +commandant of these provinces lives, one Juan Claudio de Verastigui, +who was ordered to set out immediately for Mindanao with his fleet, +whither he himself is going in person with his ships. The alcalde-mayor +of this city [25] is going to aid with fifty other soldiers for the +said purpose. A good result is hoped from it, and that either by +friendship of by force they will get a piece of artillery and some +ammunition from the Mindanaos that they took one year ago from the +governor. The latter ordered Don Juan Claudio not to return without it. + +The occasion for that piece belonging to his Majesty remaining +in Mindanao was that Cachil Coralat, the natural lord of Mindanao, +seeing himself pressed by a tyrant in his kingdom, and seeing himself +conquered in a battle that they fought with him, hastened to this city +of Zebu to ask the Spaniards for help, sending one of his captains for +it. The latter was well entertained, and the piece was given to him +among other presents, twelve Spaniards and some ammunition being also +furnished with it. After the twelve Spaniards had been there for some +time, they were withdrawn, some say through fault of the Mindanaos, +and others that of the Spaniards. Consequently, as they left in haste, +the piece of artillery remained in Coralat's possession. At this +time, the Mindanaos from Manila having reached Octong, the piece was +requested from them in his Majesty's name, or satisfaction for it. The +Spaniards took from them some gold and equivalent articles in exchange, +and tried to capture some of them by means of an alferez, adjutant, +and soldiers. The Mindanaos, however, put themselves on the defensive +so courageously, and with so great wrath (or rather barbarity), that +their chief, one Salin--in the midst of the Spanish force and arms, +and in front of a fort that his Majesty has there--drawing a dagger, +plunged it into the adjutant through his groin and left him stretched +out. The officer next to the alferez--who was a fine soldier, and, +like the other, was on the inner guard in the Sangley ship on which +they had come--defended himself as well as he could, but was finally +killed by a stroke of a campilan (a Mindanao weapon); and they took +away his sword and dagger. Seeing our soldiers, who were in their +guardship unprepared, the Mindanaos threw them overboard, and, +cutting the cable, made off with the ship. However, when that was +seen by our men, they quickly prepared boats and pursued them with a +goodly number of soldiers and killed them with arquebus-shots. Salin, +wounded in the breast, fell into the water, but did not loose his +hold on his campilan. There, while struggling with the waves, he saw +a Spaniard who had fallen overboard in the fray, hanging on to a rope +from a pirogue, who, as he could not swim, was being carried along, +thus held fast. Salin made for him, and, wounded as he was, gave +him in his fury so severe a blow with his campilan that he split the +Spaniard's head, from which blow he died. Of the Spaniards, three men +were killed; and, of the Mindanaos, three were wounded and six killed, +besides two wounded who were taken prisoners. + +At this time, Don Fernando de Silva, who came as sargento-mayor of the +present governor, [26] has always given proofs of so great [ability as] +a captain that he was sent as commander of two hundred Spaniards who +went to aid the city of Macam, which the Portuguese have in China. A +Dutch fleet arrived at the city of Macam on this occasion and besieged +it, landing four hundred men. But the inhabitants of Macam issued +forth in their orderly array and concert, and attacked the Dutch +so courageously that they destroyed all the four hundred in their +camp. Then the Portuguese, ascertaining that the Dutch were gathering +force once more to avenge that injury, begged for aid from the governor +of Manila. On that so honorable occasion Captain Don Fernando de Silva +went out with his two hundred chosen Spaniards. There were very welcome +to the Portuguese, and he was always highly esteemed by them because +of his gracious manner. The Portuguese delivered to him a ship laden +with merchandise, the profits to be shared by all. He took it to the +kingdom of Siam and ascended the river for thirty leguas, unladed +his goods, and disposed of them as well as possible, for they were +injured by the water. The Japanese, many of whom live there, tried, +in their greed, to attack the Spaniards; but Don Fernando de Silva +understood them, and resisted them with his infantry. The Dutch, +who have their factory there, notified others near there to come to +their aid, in order to attack the ship with its three hundred persons, +which is supplied with arms and force sufficiently abundant for its +defense. Some evil outcome is feared, for the ship cannot leave the +bar without unlading its goods. + +The persecution in Japon is even more bloody, for they returned +his present to the ambassador from Macan, and ordered him to return +home. A governor was sent down with orders to kill the Christians +and the captive religious whom he should find. In short, the order +has gone forth to suppress trade with Macan and Filipinas, and that +no ships be received from, or leave Japon for, these regions. + +It has been learned by way of Macan that the Chinese seized from the +Dutch their almiranta. + +With the severe persecution of Japon, we are advised that four hundred +Catholics have been slain for the faith. While two cavaliers were +present at the martyrdom _irruit spiritus Domini_, [27] and they +went forth in public, crying out: "Surely this is a good faith that +teaches so lofty things. Salvation cometh only by it, as is proven +by so many dying in order not to abandon it." Thus crying out and +acting, they went running into the fire, where they were burned, +leaving the bystanders amazed, and all the world marveling at so +wonderful an example. + +It is rumored that beyond doubt the emperor of Japon will order +Nangazaqui to be razed, and all the Europeans driven out and +exiled--commanding that they depart with their children and wives; +but that, if the wives are Japanese, they as well as their daughters +must be given up, and the sons be taken away. + +_Laus Deo_ + +Printed with permission of Don Luys Remirez de Arellano, deputy-mayor +of Sevilla. + +Printed in Sevilla by Juan de Cabrera, opposite the post-office. The +year 1626. + + + + + +DOCUMENTS OF 1627 + + + + Importance of the Philippines. Martin Castano; [undated; + 1627?]. + Relation of 1626. [Unsigned and undated; _ca._ 1627]. + Letter to Tavora. Felipe IV; September 3. + Laws regarding the Sangleys. [From _Recopilacion de leyes de + las Indias_]; 1594-1627. + Decrees regarding the religious. Felipe IV; May-November. + Decrees regarding the Chinese. Felipe IV; September 10 and + November 19. + Inadvisability of a Spanish post on the island of Formosa. Juan + Cevicos; December 20. + + + + +_Sources_: The first, fifth, and seventh of these documents are +obtained from MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla; +the second, from the Ventura del Arco MSS. (Ayer library), vol. i, +pp. 523-545; the third and sixth, from the Archivo Historico Nacional, +Madrid; the fourth, from _Recopilacion de leyes de las Indias,_ +lib. vi, tit. xviii. + +_Translations_: These are all made by James A. Robertson, except the +third, by Arthur B. Myrick. + + + + + + +THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PHILIPPINES + + +Sire: + +I, Martin Castano, procurator-general of the Filipinas, declare +that--having examined and carefully considered, in the course of so +long a period as I have spent here, the region of these islands, +their great importance, and the little energy displayed in coming +to their help while the enemies from Olanda are exerting themselves +so strenuously to gain possession of them--I am convinced that such +inaction can proceed only from a failure to estimate that country at +its proper value, imagining it to be of less importance than it is, +since it is regarded as being so far away [from Espana]. But those +islands are the most important part of your Majesty's dominion; +and from delay it results that the enemy is continually gaining, and +your Majesty losing, while recovery becomes more difficult. If they +should be lost, and the country given up to the natives, it would be, +even if the Hollanders had not gone thither, a loss of the magnitude +which will be made evident by this paper; but if your Majesty lose +them, and your greatest enemy gain them, the loss will be beyond all +exaggeration. Therefore, I have desired to advance four important +considerations regarding those islands: namely, the extension of +the faith, and the increase of your Majesty's dominion, glory, and +riches. And in case of any doubt as to the truth of my assertions, +I will prove them by trustworthy witnesses and authentic papers, +to your entire satisfaction. + +As to the increase of the faith, it is quite well known that no other +gate in all the world has been opened through which so many souls +may come into the knowledge of it as in the Filipinas; for they are +situated amid so vast kingdoms, so densely inhabited, so ready to be +christianized, as has been proved in China and Japon. And had not the +Hollanders gained the friendship of the Japanese, the greater part +of that kingdom would have been converted, as things were going; for +at Nangasaqui, the port of entry for those going from the Filipinas, +there were so many Christians that they formed processions for the +discipline during Holy Week, just as in Espana. But since the entrance +of the Hollanders there, Christianity has been so rooted out that +there is not one declared Christian, because of the severe punishments +inflicted at the Dutch instigation. It is a great misfortune that +these heretics have managed to gain the friendship of the emperor of +Japon, by promising him Chinese silks--depending on those that they +expect to steal from the Chinese and the citizens of Manila. It is +a misfortune that at the same time your Majesty has not preserved +your friendship with them, as we are in so much better a position +to let them have silks in trade, which are the things that they +want. This is of so great importance, that it would be advisable to +send an embassy to the emperor, to inform him that those heretics are +rebellious vassals of your Majesty; and that it is not right that any +king should receive those who have revolted from your obedience. For +the Hollanders provide themselves with all necessary munitions of +war and food supplies there, as that kingdom is so well furnished +with everything; while your Majesty's vassals are in want of those +things, although they are so near at hand. One other very great loss +is suffered, namely, that, since the Hollanders live in Japon as if +in their own land, well supplied with all necessities, and so near +Manila, they enter the bay of that city with much greater facility, +and carry away as plunder all the merchandise from China and other +countries. They remain there most of the year, because they have a +safer retreat, when the weather compels them to retire. Returning to +the increase of the faith, besides that it was extending itself in the +neighboring kingdoms, years ago I was informed, by the religious who +instructed those fields of Christendom, of the number of Christians +that were vassals of your Majesty, reckoned by congregations; and the +number exceeded six hundred thousand. Consider, then, your Majesty, +what should be done to preserve and cultivate that new plant, and +not allow it to be lost, and heresy to be substituted for it. + +As to the increase of your Majesty's dominion, there is no doubt that +while you are master and lord of the Filipinas, your crown encircles +and embraces all the world; for today your kingdom stretches on +the eastern side from Portuguese India to Malaca, and between the +point of the mainland of Malaca and the island of Samatra is the +strait of Sincapura by which one enters the South Sea and goes to +the above-named places and the Filipinas, while on the western side +the coasts of Piru and Nuevaespana border on the South Sea, whence +one goes likewise to the Filipinas. Thus it is proved that with those +islands your Majesty's crown encircles and embraces the whole world--a +greatness which furnishes a reason for great energy. Further, if the +enemy succeeds in getting possession of the Filipinas, toward which +end he is putting forth so great effort, not only will this richest +fragment of your Majesty's crown be lost, but the enemy will make +himself master of Portuguese India immediately; and then by way of the +South Sea, he will disturb Piru and Nuevaespana, so that they can be +of no profit to your Majesty. And if the enemy perceives himself to +be so powerful, he will even dare to undertake other great enterprises. + +As to reputation, one word is sufficient. All the kings and nations +of the world are watching to see who comes out ahead in this +undertaking--your Majesty or the rebels of Olanda. + +As to wealth, to see the efforts that the Hollanders are making +for it, having experienced it--for nothing but wealth comes to +them--might well answer as sufficient proof. But yet I notify your +Majesty of three extremely great sources of wealth in the Filipinas: +first, the wonderfully rich gold mines, of which I have given accounts +separately, so that I shall not repeat them now; second, the cloves of +the Malucos, which amount to three and one-half millions per year. Of +this likewise I have given detailed reports. It is the sole inducement +of the Hollanders to go there, and therefore they have exerted great +care and effort to gain possession, as they have done, of the islands +where it is grown, so that they enjoy nearly all of it. The third is +the trade from China to Japon, and from Japon to China, in which--as +those two kingdoms bear so mortal a hatred to one another that under no +considerations can they trade with one another, and China has so much +silk that is wanted in Japon, and Japon so much silver, so desired +by the Chinese-the inhabitants of the Filipinas, which lie between +both kingdoms, traffic in these articles with very great profit. The +Hollanders desire that traffic exceedingly; and, as they have acquired +the trade of Japon, so they will be able to acquire that of China, +although the Chinese are hostile to them, because of the robberies +that the Hollanders have committed on them. But, for this very reason +it might even be feared that, seeing the Hollanders so powerful and +superior on the sea, and that they steal their property from them, +without leaving them any for their own trading, and your Majesty's +forces are so weak that they cannot defend them, they will abandon +us and become friendly with the Hollanders, just as those who were +formerly your Majesty's vassals are doing. For all those barbarous +nations, inasmuch as neither religion, kinship, nor friendship binds +them, are ever on the lookout to make friends with him who is most +powerful. Admitting all the foregoing, I beseech your Majesty not +to permit further delay in coming to the aid of this so important +matter; for the enemy is so needfully profiting by the time that is +being lost here. + +[_Endorsed in writing_: "In regard to the importance of the Filipinas."] + + + + + +RELATION OF 1626 + +_Relation of the condition of the Filipinas Islands and other regions +surrounding, in the year 1626._ + + + +Although I have been interrupted for several years in doing this, +because of occupations that have allowed me no time for it, and have +neglected to give advice of the condition of these islands, at present +I have not, although my occupations are not fewer than in the past, +attempted to shirk my duty in reporting what has happened this year +in these regions, but briefly and concisely. + +Commencing with the Malucas Islands, they are at present in the best +condition that they have experienced, from our standpoint; for the +Dutch enemy are spent, inasmuch as no succor has been sent to them +from Holanda for many years--it appearing that the wars which they +have had there must have hindered them. Consequently, it has been +recognized that, when the war ceases, their ships will come here +in multitudes; and we shall enjoy war, and Flandes peace. The king +of Tidore, who was very aged, and was always our friend, died this +year. One of his sons took his place, and continues the same friendship +[with us]. The Ternatans, who have always been friends of the Dutch +and very hostile to us, made peace with us. That has had a very good +result for us, for we receive more damage from them than from the +Dutch themselves. There have been in this city since the time when the +strongholds of the Malucas were taken--which was twenty years ago, +during the term of Governor Don Pedro de Acuna--certain cachils, +who are chiefs among them, and the same king of Ternate, a great +Moro. The governor sent one of the cachils to Maluco to talk and +confer with his people, especially with Cachil Leali. The latter had, +as it were, usurped the kingdom of Ternate--and, as we understand, +prevented his fellow-countrymen from receiving the king whom we hold +captive here, even if he should return--and continued the war against +us. The matter turned out well, and now the said cachil who went +from here is returning, in the capacity of ambassador of his people, +petitioning that their king be sent to them, whom they promise to +receive as such, and to make and unmake for us. I do not know what +Governor Don Juan Nino de Tabora will do. What I know is, that the +Dutch do not like any of these agreements and friendships that we +are making with the Ternatans; but since they are at present fallen, +and can do no more, they endure it patiently. + +The Dutch have no fleets in the Malucas, while there are scarcely two +hundred men in their forts in their islands of Terrenate, Machien, and +Motiel (five or six in number); and many of these are so discontented, +because of the hardships and misery which they suffer, that some six +or eight have come to our camp this year, and many more would have +come if there were a place for them, or if opportunity for it had +offered. That was a fine opportunity to attack them with our fleet, +which was already prepared in the port of Cavite. It is not certainly +known where it is going, but we suspect that it is going to attack the +fort of the Dutch in the island of Hermosa. It is also thought that +the following year will not pass without the fleet attacking them. If +the wars in Flandes continue, and help does not come to the Dutch, +we may hope for a very fine outcome. + +The Camucones (who are certain robbers who infest these seas, +pillaging, and are, moreover, a vile people, to whom we have paid but +little attention) came with their fleet of small vessels in the past +year of 1625, and at dawn one morning in October attacked a village, +where the archbishop of Manila was visiting the cura. He as well as +his followers had great trouble in escaping, all without clothes or +nearly so. They captured all his wardrobe and his pontifical robes, +among which he had some very rich garments. + +The enemy then attacked a boat in which there was a father of our +Society, who was returning to his house and residence, which is located +on the island of Marinduque, after having preached at some missions +of Franciscan friars who had invited him for that purpose. They spied +the enemy suddenly, in a place where it was impossible to escape, +and it was necessary for them to fight. Father Juan de las Missas +(such was the name of the father) commenced to encourage the Indians +with a crucifix to make them fight. But it happened that a shot +from a verso, fired by the enemy at the first encounter, struck the +father. The enemy immediately entered the boat even while the father +was yet alive and took his skull from his head to use as a drinking +cup--a thing which they are accustomed to do to Spaniards, without +granting life to anyone. After that event, guided by a treacherous +Chinese, they suddenly attacked the chief town of Samar, which is a +very fine village called Catbalogan. They attacked at dawn, and the +father rector and another father and a brother had no little trouble in +escaping; they were scarcely able to remove the monstrance of the most +holy sacrament, and to hide it in a thicket. The Indians also fled, +as far as they were able. Some had not time to do so much, and were +captured. Some were sick with smallpox, a kind of pestilence that was +among the Indians at that time. They were unable to escape, whereupon +the enemy arriving relieved them all of the smallpox by cutting off +their heads. In short, they plundered as much as they could, especially +the silver and ornaments of the church, which were many and excellent, +our residence there being better supplied than our others. + +When news was received of the damage inflicted by the enemy, two +Spanish fleets went in pursuit of them--one from the island of Cebu, +and the other from that of Panay. But such was our misfortune that +they were unable to encounter the enemy by any means. Thus did the +latter go away, laughing at the robberies that they had committed +and greedy to make others. + +Don Fernando de Silva, who was then governing, because Don Juan Nino +had not yet arrived, despatched a small fleet this year to the lands +of those enemies, to punish them. Their country lies near Borney, +to whose king they are subject. But inasmuch as they have no fixed +house or dwelling, as they generally live in their boats, today here +and tomorrow there, nothing was done. Consequently, Don Juan Nino, +upon his arrival, ordered our fleet prepared in the island of Oton, +so that when that enemy came it might attack them. The enemy came, +and our fleet sailed out; but half of the caracoas were wrecked in +a storm. However, our fleet reforming pursued the enemy, but were +unable to overtake them; for as their boats are light and have two +prows, in order to escape they do not have to turn their boats about, +but only to change the rowers and so return. At least, the result +obtained was that the enemy did no damage this year in these islands, +and did not capture anything. + +The island of Mindanao, which is one of these Filipinas Islands, +has rebelled against us; and its chief places have easily accepted +the law of Mahoma, which was brought there from the Malucas by the +Ternatans. They have done us no damage this year. On the contrary, +we have done them considerable. Captain Benitez has made some very +successful raids in their country, and has killed many and captured +others--who are made slaves, in accordance with the old-time usage of +this country, on account of the damages which we have received from +those enemies. Now the governor has offered to conquer that island, +which is not a very difficult thing to do; but there is always so much +attention to be paid to the Dutch, that he has as yet been unable to +attend to this. + +The Dutch enemy, together with the English, went to attack Macan during +former years with seventeen ships. They landed many men on the shore, +but the affair turned out so badly for them that they were forced, +after many men had been killed, to retire and to raise the siege. But +the Portuguese, fearing that the enemy would attempt another year +what they had not been able to accomplish then, set about enclosing +the city with an excellent wall (for it had none before), and sent +Father Geronimo Rodriguez [28] to Manila for some good artillery, +which Don Alonso Fajardo gave him. A master founder also went there +to make many other pieces, which have been founded; and the city +is placed in a very good state of defense. The Portuguese also +asked for a good captain and some infantry for whatever occasion +might arise. Don Alonso Fajardo gave them as many as one hundred +infantrymen, with Don Fernando de Silva, sargento-mayor of the camp +of Manila, and an excellent soldier. They stayed in Macan for some +time, but the Portuguese, seeing that the Dutch enemy did not come, +and that, even if they did come, the city was more than defended; +and inasmuch as they did not get along very well with the Castilians, +since there was considerable quarreling and strife between those of the +two nations, tried to despatch them to Manila. They did so, in a vessel +that carried more than five hundred thousand ducados in merchandise. + +The Spanish encountered so grievous a storm on their voyage that they +were forced to put in at Siam, where they unladed their ship; and, +trying to get over the bar of a river in order to relade, they were +wrecked. They bought in place of that ship two others, in order to +go to Manila; but as the season was advanced, and they could not get +away so quickly, they despatched a champan with some eight Spanish +sailors. The latter took some of the merchandise, and came to Manila +to give news of what had happened. At that time there was a Dutch +patache established in the river of Siam, a very beautiful and large +river. That vessel had also entered and traded in that kingdom. It was +rumored among our men that that Dutch patache had captured the champan +that our men were sending to Manila--although such a rumor was untrue, +for the said champan arrived safely at Manila. But induced by that +false report, Don Fernando de Silva, who was stationed some leguas +up the river, having one day observed the Dutch patache attacked +it at night with certain very small craft (I think they were two +small boats or lanchas, for they had not bought larger vessels); and +after fighting with the enemy, with the loss of only one Spaniard, +captured the Dutch patache. It had more than twenty thousand pesos in +silver and merchandise, and the Dutch aboard it were captured. Had +the matter ended there, it would have been a fortunate result. The +king of Siam was informed of it, and sent a message to Don Fernando +de Silva saying that he should set the Dutch at liberty and give +them back their ship and the property which he had taken or captured +from them, since it was captured while the Dutch were in his kingdom, +under his royal favor and protection. Don Fernando de Silva answered +that he would not do so, and broke out in words that might well have +been avoided toward the king. The latter quickly collected a numerous +fleet of boats, and one day attacked our ships with Japanese (who form +the guard of that kingdom) and many Siamese. Our men, fearing what +would happen, were hurriedly embarking their merchandise, in order +to come to Manila. Our men began to serve the artillery, but there +were so many hostile boats that they covered the water. The Spanish +craft ran aground in the confusion and danger, whereupon the Siamese +(and chiefly the Japanese) entered the ships. Don Fernando de Silva, +with sword and buckler in hand, sold his life dearly, and others did +the same. But the enemy killed them except those who fled at the first +stroke of the victory, who remained alive. I think some thirty were +captured. The goods were pillaged, notwithstanding the fact that the +king had ordered that good care be taken of them. + +The captured Spaniards were taken to the court of the king, which +is a city more than twice as large as Sevilla. [29] They were led +manacled through the streets, receiving many blows, and regarded as +traitors. That happened in the year 1624. This disastrous event was +learned in Manila by way of Macan, but no attention was given to the +matter on account of the death of Governor Don Alonso Fajardo. In the +year 1625, another Don Fernando de Silva, of the habit of Santiago, +came to act as governor. At that time Father Pedro Morejon [30] arrived +at Manila. He came from Roma by way of Yndia and Camboja (which lies +next Siam), and was informed of that disaster there. Governor Don +Fernando de Silva, seeing that Father Pedro Morejon, as he had been +so long a minister in Japon, had great knowledge of, and access to, +the Japanese, and that those Japanese who live in Siam have a great +part in the government of that kingdom, suggested to the father to +go there as ambassador, to see whether he could get what they had +captured from our Spaniards, which belonged for the most part to the +inhabitants of Manila. The father replied that he could not neglect, +before all else, to go to Macan in order to advise his provincial of +his procuratorship to Roma; but that his Lordship should write to him, +and that he would return at the beginning of the year 1626, which +was the season when one could go to Siam. The governor wrote, and the +father provincial of Macan sent Father Pedro de Morejon for the said +time, besides another Portuguese father, called Antonio Cardin. [31] +They reached here in good time. The governor prepared a vessel with +some Spaniards of good standing, and despatched them all by the month +of January. They reached the kingdom and court of Siam and negotiated +what they were able--namely, that the captives be delivered to them, +as well as the artillery, and a quantity of iron belonging to our +king which the ships were carrying, and which they seized from us, +and some other merchandise. For although the king ordered everything +to be given up, thinking that the goods were safe, as he had ordered, +it was impossible to get them, the soldiers having pillaged them and +divided them among themselves. + +Father Pedro de Morejon was given a cordial reception by the king, +who showed him many favors. At his departure the father told the +king that he was leaving Father Cardin in his kingdom, and asked +his Highness to protect him. The king offered to do so, and gave +permission for all who wished to become Christians. Father Cardin +erected his church and commenced his ministry. Father Morejon and the +Spaniards returned to Manila, where they arrived in August of 1626; +and they delivered to Governor Don Juan Nino, who had now arrived, +a present given to them by the king of Siam. Father Morejon, being +summoned by his provincial, went to Macao for the second time, where +he is now. It is now reported that the governor is not satisfied with +what they sent him. Perhaps he will attack Siam with the galleys, +in order to punish that kingdom for its actions toward the Spaniards. + +In order to destroy the trade between this city of Manila and Great +China, and between Macan and Japon--the former for us, and the latter +for the Portuguese--the Dutch formed a scheme to build a fort on the +island of Hermosa. That is an island between Japon, China, and Manila, +which extends north and south for more than fifty leguas, while it +is about thirty broad. The Dutch built the said fort some years ago, +and they have been fortifying it ever since; so that they have already +erected four cavaliers, in which they have mounted twenty-four pieces +of artillery--besides others that they have mounted on a platform +which defends the entrance of the port, as those of the fort do not +command it. The Dutch also have a stock-farm, which they began with +cattle and horses brought from Japon. For its defense they built +another large cavalier in which they mounted a half-dozen pieces, +and stationed a few Dutchmen to guard it. They are now at peace with +the natives, with whom they were formerly at war and who killed some +of their men. In this way they have been established for some five +or six years at that point, which they call Pachan. The Chinese have +gone there with a great abundance of silks and other merchandise to +trade. Consequently, they have made on that account a large alcaiceria, +where there are generally more than six thousand Chinese. The Japanese +have also gone there from Japon with their ships, although it is +said that they are ill satisfied because of I know not what duties +that the Dutch asked them to pay. From that, notable damage can +ensue to Castilians, Portuguese, and Chinese, since the Dutch are in +the passage by which one goes from here to China, and from Macan to +Japon. If we have not yet seen the damage so plainly with the eyes, +it has been because the enemy are in great lack of ships and men. + +In order to counterbalance that scheme and the designs of the Dutch, +Don Fernando formed another scheme. He went to seize another port on +the same island of Hermosa, some twenty leguas distant from China +and thirty from the enemy. For that purpose he sent, in this year +of 1626, two galleys with many small boats, infantry, and all that +was necessary for the settlement, under an experienced captain called +Carreno. They occupied the said port, and it is very good and suitable +for our purpose. As our men entered the port, the whole population, +numbering fully a thousand houses of the natives who were settled +there, fled. Entering the houses, they were enabled to see, by the +articles that they found there, that those people were intelligent and +civilized. Our soldiers took some food, of which they kept account +in order to pay for it--as they ought to do; since I know not what +pretext they could have for showing hostility to the natives, since +they had received no injury from them. + +Our soldiers have fortified themselves there excellently. However, at +the beginning, the land tried them, for many died, and they suffered +great wretchedness and hardships--eating even dogs and rats, also +grubs, and unknown herbs, because they soon finished the provisions +which they had brought with them, and others had not arrived from +Manila, as I shall relate later. But afterwards they got along very +well, for many ships came from Great China with many presents and +food. The climate is very fine, and like that of Nueva Espana. It has +its winter and summer quite temperate, and has many fruits such as +we have in our Espana--as for instance, pears and peaches, which are +indications that it is as fine a country as is reported. We have also +heard that wheat is harvested. The soldiers found skins of lions and +tigers; and although there were none of those animals, as there are +none in Filipinas, they had no lack of the skins. They sent to summon +the Indians, some of whom came. They won them by means of caresses +and presents, so that they continue to come. They are not driven +from our fort; and they even delivered two infants to us for baptism, +and others are petitioning it. There is great need of learning their +language. They bring some food, which they exchange for jars, gems, +agate, and silver, which they know thoroughly, and whose value they +esteem. They have no headman or chief who governs them, but each +village governs itself, and some villages have war with others. + +The joy received in Manila at the news of the island of Hermosa was +exuberant. At that time Don Juan Nino came to govern. He was unable +to send them help at the right season [for sailing]; consequently, +after it had sailed, the ship put back and was detained for more than +four months in a port of this island. It sailed again, and again +took refuge at Macan, whence they tried to make the voyage for the +third time. They had so severe a storm that they lost their rudder, +and reached the coast of China. After great danger and opposition +from the Chinese of that region, they refitted, and finally made our +port in the island of Hermosa, where they arrived April 29, 1627, +and were received with the joy that can be imagined. They left there +the supplies they had brought, and returned to Manila. + +The governor sent to Macan to ask for a mestizo, Salvator Diaz, +who was in the fort of the Dutch and who escaped from them. He has +also prohibited vessels from sailing to China which pass near the +establishment of the Dutch on the island of Hermosa. It is inferred +from that that he is thinking of attacking the fort of the Dutch. + +The persecution of the missionaries in Japon has daily been assuming +greater fury, and the doors are daily being shut more closely on the +religious. It has been ordered under penalty of death, and of being +burned with their merchandise and ships, that no ship sail from Manila +to Japon. Accordingly, one ship which sailed last year and which they +had not notified of the edict, they notified and ordered to return +immediately to Manila, without allowing anyone to disembark, or to buy +or sell anything--keeping them, on the contrary, shut up on the ship +and guarded. The Japanese made a law that no Japanese could leave or +enter the kingdom unless he first forswore our holy faith, etc. + + + + + +LETTER FROM FELIPE IV TO TAVORA + + +The King. To Don Juan Nino de Tavora, my governor and captain-general +of the Filipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia there: +Six letters which you wrote me--five on the twentieth of the month of +July, and the other on the twenty-second of the same month last year +(1626)--dealing with the wars, have been received and considered in my +Council of War for the Indias, and you will be satisfied on all points. + +You say that Pedro de Heredia wrote to you that he had not fortified +the island of Manados [32] and the straits of Santa Margarita, because +it seemed to him of little use. Afterward, however, seeing that many +tributarios might be acquired; that, being pagans, missionaries were +needed; and that the expenses of these strongholds might be lightened +by the rice which they furnished--he sent to you asking for fifty +men to occupy the fort which he was to build there. Seeing that he +had orders for it and that it was so advantageous for the service of +God and myself, you sent them to him. It is well, and I order you, as +having the affair under your present direction, to provide everything +which is necessary thereto. + +In your advices, the said Pedro de Heredia wrote also that it would +be to our great advantage to send him the lord of Terrenate, who is +in this city, in order to bring about some agreement between him and +the king of Tidore, which will be of considerable value. Your orders +in this matter have already been sent you. + +I am advised by you that three of the enemy's ships were in the port +of Malayo, and that it was understood that a fleet would arrive in +May, 1625; I am also advised of the ten ships which the said Pedro +de Heredia had. + +I have considered the number of galleons and pataches with which you +are provided, and the galleys which were in process of construction. I +confide in your zeal and care to provide for the defense of those +islands, as I expect from you, doing on your part all that you +shall find possible. You will have assistance from here, and I have +written to my viceroy in Nueva Espana regarding the measures to be +taken therefor. He and my royal officials have now been ordered to +send at the first opportunity to these kingdoms six thousand ducados, +on account of the usual situado that goes to those islands. The money +will be sent on a separate account to the House of Trade in Sevilla, +to buy the arms that you ask for; when it arrives there, these will +be forwarded to you. + +You informed me that at the death of Don Geronimo de Silva his property +was distrained, on account of the suit that was proceeding against +him for beating a retreat two years ago with the fleet. You petition +that in such a case property should be distrained from no one, except +the proceedings be always taken in conformity with justice. The same +[33] in the other matter which you mention, that in prosecuting the +commanders of the ships of the said fleet, process should be conducted +by written charges. + +You say also that because the Order of Saint John was the heir to the +estate of the said Don Geronimo, you ordered that whatever property +might be found should be deposited in the probate treasury, and that +the landed property should be administered by the courts. You also +notified the said order, that it might decide what course to take, +and that any debts of the said Don Geronimo must first be paid. The +matter has been considered, and you and that Audiencia will take such +measures as are just, in case the estate is any further indebted. + +You say also that the office of sargento-mayor was held at first by +alferezes, and afterward by captains--who drew, however, only the pay +of captains; and that sixty-five escudos of ten reals were assigned +to Don Fernando de Silva by the treasury council that was held in +that city--which sum you understood was paid everywhere to captains +ranking as sargentos-mayor--on condition of obtaining my approval, +which has not yet been presented, and you ask me to approve it because +it seems just that if captains and the master-of-camp receive what +is elsewhere received by the sargento-mayor, who has more arduous +duties, the latter should receive a salary accordingly. It has seemed +unwise to me to make any change. You will give orders, then, that the +payment of this salary shall proceed no further; and that no person +filling the said position of sargento-mayor shall receive any more +than the salary formerly paid; and you will cause the increase to +be collected from those who have obtained it, or ordered it, or from +their bondsmen, so that the amount shall be immediately deposited in +my royal exchequer. In order that this be more exactly fulfilled, +I have had decrees to this effect sent to the inspector of that +Audiencia and the officers of my royal exchequer in that city. This +must also be understood in the case of Don Juan de Quinones, whom +you appointed to this place. + +In conformity with what you wrote regarding the sentence which Doctor +Don Alvaro de Mesa y Lugo issued against Captain Miguel de Villegas +(who had been a captain in the infantry, and was a substitute in +your personal service), of three hundred lashes and ten years in the +galleys, I have sent a decree that the said sentence shall not be +executed. The said sentence is overruled; and the said Don Alvaro +is to send to my said Council an official copy of the proceedings, +and the reasons which he had for giving that sentence. In the future +military customs must be observed, and no such punishments imposed, as +you will see by the said decree, which is sent to you with this letter. + +In regard to your request that it be proclaimed that the shipmen +who serve in those islands--such as pilots, masters, and other +officers--need not pay the tax on their salaries in virtue of the +decree which I commanded to be sent, ordering the collection of dues on +all the grants for offices, incomes and gratuities that are conferred, +I think it well that the said shipmen--mariners, pilots, masters, or +other persons who draw pay on the rolls--shall be excused from paying +the said salary tax; but it must be collected from all other officers +holding commissions or decrees in which our favor is declared. You +will cause the said decree to be executed in conformity with this. + +In the letter in which you spoke of the offices to which you had +made appointments after you took possession of your duties, you +say that on account of the resignation of Pedro Sotelo de Morales, +[34] who served as the warden of the Santiago fort in that city, you +appointed Don Antonio de Leoz to that office with a yearly salary +of eight hundred pesos, the same salary which his predecessors +have received, with the condition of receiving my approval within +five years. But because persons who hold the offices _ad interim_ +are not to take more than half the salary which is attached to the +office, in conformity with the provisions of various royal decrees, +you will take measures and give orders that the said Don Antonio de +Leoz or his bondsmen shall return to my royal exchequer any sum that +he has received exceeding half the said salary; and I shall write to +my royal officials in that city to collect it. You are advised that +in the future such appointees are not to receive more than half the +salary. [Madrid, September 3, 1627.] + + +_I The King_ +Countersigned by Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras. + + + + + + +LAWS REGARDING THE SANGLEYS + + +[The following laws are translated from _Recopilacion de leyes de las +Indias_ (Madrid, 1841), lib. vi, tit. xviii. For method of treatment, +sec _Vol_. XVII of this series, p. 27.] + + + +Law III + +The bishops do not permit the Christian Chinese who are converted to +our holy Catholic faith in the Filipinas Islands to return to their +own country, so that intercourse and living among heathen may not +cause them to fall into the peril of apostasy; and the governor, +knowing that they have no other manner of livelihood except their +trading in the neighborhood, buying provisions in order to supply the +community, does not allow them to leave Manila without permission, +which is a very great obstacle and stumbling-block to the conversion +of others. We order that no fee be charged for those permits; and the +governor shall have great consideration and care, that no trouble +results from them, in respect to the Chinese having free passage +through those islands. [Felipe II--Madrid, June 11, 1594.] + + + +Law IX + +The goods of the Sangleys who come to trade in Filipinas with Chinese +merchandise, and who sell them at wholesale at a price [named] by +persons deputed for it (which is what is there called _pancada_), are +left in their possession under guarantee that they will not dispose +of them without an order from the governor; and that a price will not +be set on the small things, but only on certain fine products. And +inasmuch as this is advisable, we order that the Sangleys be notified +who shall have to return to those islands, that they must and shall +pass according to the laws and orders that shall be made for them. And, +in respect to the pancada, it shall be continued with, all gentleness, +so that the Sangleys shall not receive any injury; and so that no +occasion be given them so that they shall discontinue their coming +to attend to their trading. [Felipe II--Madrid, June 11, 1594.] + + + +Law X + +We have been informed that the Sangley Indians who go from China +to Filipinas to trade, receive injuries and harsh treatment from +the Spaniards; and especially that the guards posted in their ships +by our royal officials ask and take bribes from them, in order that +they might permit and allow the Sangleys to take out certain things +that they bring from their country to give to private persons; that +the employees who go to register the ships take and scatter all the +best merchandise, and leave that which is not of so good quality, +from which there results a considerable loss on the balance, and +often the Sangleys cannot sell what is left, as they could have done +with the good merchandise which was taken away from them; that even +when the Chinese who go to register take the best, the officials +say that they will pay for it at the price for which the balance +is sold, so that they only pay the price of the worst and common +merchandise. Thus the Chinese lose what would be the most valuable +things that they have if they sold them freely; for, fearing lest the +employees who go to register take from them the merchandise at the time +of evaluation, they place on their merchandise a greater value than it +is really worth, so that they pay the duties at the rate at which the +merchandise is valued, although the truth is that they sell it later +for much less. [We are also informed] that the masts of their vessels +are taken from them, in order to step these in the vessels built in +those islands, for their masts are light; and that they are given in +exchange others so heavy that their ships cannot support them and are +wrecked, from which the Chinese suffer grievously. And since it is +right that when those people go to trade they be welcomed and given +good treatment, in order that upon their return to their country, +they may take good accounts of the treatment and welcome received +from our vassals, that others may thereby be induced to go, and by +means of that communication receive the Christian instruction and +profess our holy Catholic faith, to which our chief desire and intent +is directed: we order the governors that, after having examined the +character of these injuries, they issue the necessary orders for +the cessation of such troubles. They shall not allow the Sangley +Chinese, or any other traders, to receive any injury, molestation, +or oppression such as is mentioned herein, or others of any sort; +and they shall be very careful to treat the Sangleys well and to give +them good despatch. They shall punish those who offend and aggrieve +them. We charge this upon them very earnestly, as it is a matter of +great moment to our royal service. [Felipe II--Madrid, June 11, 1594.] + + + +Law XIII + +We order the governor and captain-general not to allow the citizens +and residents of Manila to keep Sangleys in their houses; and to +prohibit them from sleeping inside the city. He shall, if necessary, +order the judge of the foreigners to punish him who does not observe +this, severely and with heavy fines. [Felipe III--Madrid, May 6, 1608.] + + + +Law VI + +Inasmuch as the alcaldes-mayor of Manila have claimed the right +to try the suits and causes of the Chinese who live in the Parian, +jointly with its governor, we consider it fitting to order the ruling +of ley xxiv, titulo iii, libro v, which concedes the first instance +exclusively to the governor [of the Parian], with appeals to the +Audiencia. [35] Now it is our will, and we order the president, +governor, and captain-general, and the Audiencia, not to allow any +ordinary judge or one who has received a commission, to try civil or +criminal suits or causes of the Sangleys in the first instance, even +if they be auditors of that Audiencia, who shall be performing the +duties of criminal alcaldes; neither shall they try cases regarding +the locations or inspection of shops or their trade (for it pertains +exclusively to the governor of the Parian to try such), except it be +a case so extraordinary, necessary, and requisite that it becomes +advisable to limit this rule. [Felipe III--Ventosilla, October 15, +1603; El Pardo, June 12, 1614.] + + + +Law XI + +In the city of Manila the custom was established that a certain +number of fowls be given to the president, auditors, and officials of +the Audiencia annually at a price lower than the current rate. The +governor of the Chinese was ordered to make the assessment among +all the Chinese, obliging them to give weekly so many fowls at a +fixed and lower price, and to punish and fine him who did not obey +it. That has caused the Chinese considerable injury. The governor +of the Chinese got as many others at the same price. We order that +no such assessment be made or asked from the Chinese, and that it be +left to each person's own will to buy those fowls that are necessary +to him, and to the Chinese to sell them at the price that they can +and that is current. [Felipe III--Madrid, May 29, 1619.] + + + +Law VIII + +Many Sangleys are converted to our holy Catholic faith in the Filipinas +Islands, who are married to native Indian women of those islands, +and live in the environs of the city. If a site be given them in the +unfilled lands where they can assemble and form a village, in order to +cultivate and sow the land, in which they are very skillful, they would +become very useful to the community, and would not occupy themselves in +retailing and hawking food; while they would become more domestic and +peaceful, and the city more secure, even should the Sangleys increase +in number. We order the governor and captain-general to enact thus, +and to endeavor to preserve them and to look out for them with the +care that is advisable. [Felipe III--San Lorenzo, August 25, 1620.] + + + +Law IV + +The governor shall have particular care not to impose personal +services on the Sangleys, outside of their [usual] employment and +rules; and he shall endeavor to give them good treatment, in order +to induce and incite others to go thither, to be converted to our +holy Catholic faith. [Felipe III--San Lorenzo, September 5, 1620.] + + + +Law I + +It is advisable for the security of the city of Manila, the island +of Luzon, and all the other islands of that government, that the +number of the Chinese be very moderate, and that it do not exceed +six thousand, since that number is sufficient for the service of +the country; and, if that number be increased, the troubles that +have been experienced may result, notwithstanding the permission +that was conceded by ley lv, titulo xv, libro ii, [36] which is +to be understood until this limitation is reached. Likewise it is +advisable that there should not be so many Japanese in that city, +for they already exceed three thousand, because there has been +neglect and carelessness in driving them away from there; while the +number of the Chinese has been increased through greed for the eight +pesos that each one pays for his license. In regard to the above, we +order our governor and captain-general to apply the fitting remedy, +taking note that the licenses are not to be given for money, or for +any other interest, either in their own behalf, or for that of other +government employees. They shall only consider what is most advisable +to the welfare of the public cause, the security of the land, trade and +commerce, and the friendly reception of the foreigners and surrounding +peoples, and the other nations with whom there shall be peace. That +commerce and relationship shall be continued, and all care and caution +shall always be taken so that the Chinese and Japanese shall not be +so numerous, and that those who shall be there may live in quietness, +fear, and submission. But that shall not be any reason for not treating +them well. [Felipe III--Ventosilla, November 4, 1606; Madrid, May 29, +1620. Felipe IV--Madrid, December 31, 1622.] + + +Law II + +The licenses that the governor of Filipinas shall issue so that some +Sangley Chinese may remain in the islands, shall be with the consent of +our royal officials, and account shall be rendered of all. The money +resulting therefrom (eight pesos for each license) shall be placed in +our royal treasury. A separate book shall be kept there, and names +and marks [of identification?] shall be entered in it distinctly, +so that there may be no concealment. [37] [Felipe III--Madrid, +January 12, 1614. Felipe IV--Madrid, November 21, 1625.] + + +Law VII + +The Sangleys converted to our holy Catholic faith shall not pay tribute +for the first ten years after their conversion; after that time it +shall be collected from them as from the natives of Filipinas. [38] +[Felipe IV--Madrid, June 14, 1627.] + + + +Law XII + + +The Sangley Chinese of Filipinas have a box with three keys, in +which each Sangley deposits twelve reals per year in order to meet +their obligations to our royal service with that fund. We order +that if there be any balance in any year, it be not withdrawn; and +that the Sangleys be assessed so much less the following year. [39] +[Felipe IV--Madrid, September 10, 1627.] + + + + + + +DECREES REGARDING THE RELIGIOUS + +_Concerning lawlessness of Augustinian religious_ + + + +The King. To the president and auditors of my royal Audiencia of +the city of Manila of the Philipinas Islands: In a letter written +to me by Don Francisco de Caravajal Campo Frio, dated August two +of the former year six hundred and twenty-five, he declares that +while alcalde-mayor of the province of Balayan, he heard that Diego +Larias Maldonado had arrived there, who had run away with the wife +of a certain man. He had them arrested in the town of Batangas, a +mission of Augustinian friars. He declares that Fray Antonio Muxica, +prior of the said order, at the head of his fiscal and choristers, +broke open the gates of the prison, and loosed the prisoners, +after maltreating the government agents. And although he drew up a +report about this action, and informed their superior of it--sending +the latter a copy of the report, while he kept the original, in +order to give you an account of it--the superior did not inflict +punishment, but on the contrary exerted himself to get hold of the +original report. But as he did not succeed in this, two religious, +accompanied by over one hundred natives, went to Caravajal's house, +surrounded it, went up stairs where he was, and took away the said +[original] report from him, after having bound him and maltreated +him by word and deed. Although he informed you of it, that crime has +not yet been punished. Inasmuch as it is not right that such a crime +remain without punishment, I have considered it fitting to send you +a copy of the said letter, so that if the relation made by the said +Don Francisco de Caravajal Campo Frio be true, you may enact justice, +in order that, in the future, it may serve as a warding. For this +you shall have recourse to the provincial of the said order. Given +in Madrid, May twenty-one, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. + + +_I The King_ + +Countersigned by Don Juan Fernando Ruiz de Contreras, and signed by +the members of the Council. + +[_Endorsed_: "To the Manila Audiencia, sending it a copy of a letter +written to your Majesty by Don Francisco Caravajal Campo Frio in +regard to the outrage committed against him by certain religious of +St. Augustine, so that, if his report be true, justice may be done."] + +_Granting alms to the Augustinians_ + +The King. To the officials of my royal treasury of the Philipinas +Islands: You know already that it was ordered by a decree of the king +my father (who is in glory), dated August seven, of the former year +six hundred and one, that a ration for two additional religious be +given for four years longer to the convent of St. Augustine, of that +city of Manila, in the manner that it is given to four religious in +that convent; and that he prolonged the said time for another four +years by another decree of six hundred and sixteen, and for another +four years (which are completed) by another decree of May nine, six +hundred and twenty. Now Fray Hernando Guerrero, of the said order, +bishop-elect of the city of Nueva Segovia in those islands, has +reported to me in the name of the said convent, that the religious +of his order from the other convents are entertained and treated +there in their sicknesses; and that it is in a college and seminary +of grammar, the arts, and theology, whence subjects go out to preach +the holy gospel. In consideration of that, he petitions me to order +that the said ration continue to be given to the said two religious +for such time as I may choose. + +The matter having been examined by the members of my royal Council of +the Indias, I have considered it advisable to order that it be given +to them for another four years, that time to run and be counted from +the day on which the said last four years were completed. Accordingly, +I order you to pay to the said monastery of the Order of St. Augustine +in that city, from any revenue that may be in that my treasury, the +said ration for the said two additional religious, during the said +four years of this prolongation, in the same form and manner as it +is given to the other four religious; for such is my will. + +Given in Madrid, June eleven, one thousand six hundred and +twenty-seven. + + +_I The King_ +Countersigned by Fernando Ruiz de Contreras. + + + +_Recommendation of the Council of the Indias regarding the Recollects_ + +Sire: + +Fray Pedro de la Madre de Dios, procurator of the order of discalced +Augustinians in the Philipinas Islands, has represented that the +poverty of the religious of that order is very great, as they have no +income; and inasmuch as medicines are dear, they cannot get the money +in order to buy those necessary for the sick, whence it follows that +they cannot maintain the health necessary for their attending to the +ministry of preaching and instruction among the Indians, and the relief +of the royal conscience. He petitions your Majesty, in consideration +of the above, to grant alms to the said religious, so that they be +given the medicines urgently necessary to treat themselves, as these +are given to the religious of St. Dominic and St. Francis. He says +that what they can use would amount to one hundred and fifty pesos +annually. The matter having been examined in the Council, and the +poverty of the said order appearing, and seeing that they have no +income, and having considered how well they serve our Lord in the +conversion of the natives under their charge; it seems best that +your Majesty grant favor to the said religious, for six years, of the +medicines that may be necessary in order to cure the sick, provided +that it do not exceed in any year the stated sum of one hundred and +fifty pesos above mentioned. Your Majesty will show them such favor +as is in accord with your royal will. Madrid, November 4, 1627. + +[Signed by the members of the Council.] + +[_Endorsed_: "Council of the Indias. November 4, 1627." "+That your +Majesty might grant concession for six years to the discalced friars +of the Order of St. Augustine, of the medicines necessary for the +treatment of their sick." _In a different hand, evidently that of +the king_: "+It is well."] + + + + + + +DECREES REGARDING THE CHINESE + + +The King. To Don Juan Nino de Tavora, my governor and captain-general +of the Filipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia +resident therein: Fray Melchor de Manzano, of the Order of Preachers, +has reported to me, in the name of the Sangley Chinese who live +in those islands, that the said Chinese, in order to avoid the +wrongs that they received from the [government] ministers who were +exacting daily assessments that were levied on them for my royal +service, established a chest with three keys, in which each one was +to deposit annually twelve reals in silver, in order to aid in the +despatches of the warships, galleys, and trading-vessels for Nueva +Espana, the powder-house, the artillery, the building of ships and +other undertakings. Among other conditions that they required, in +order that this assessment might be made among them, was one that +they were to have no protector; but that in case one were assigned +them, he be not the fiscal of that Audiencia, as such office was +incompatible with his duties, and because of the experience of long +years that it was rather a damage than an advantage to him--and that, +for that reason, the said office of protector had been made separate +in the beginning from that of fiscal, until Don Juan de Albarado +Bracamonte, when fiscal, had so negotiated that the said occupation +be assigned to him. The father petitioned me that since the said +Sangley Chinese spend so much in aiding my service and pay so fully +the salaries to their alcalde, and chief of guard, lesser protector, +and to the ministers of instruction, without any expense therein to +my royal treasury, it be ordered that the said fund cannot be altered +or suppressed, unless the said Chinese should voluntarily wish to +do away with it or to make some alteration, or change certain of the +conditions which they established when the fund was established; and +that the said office of protector be distinct from that of fiscal, +and that the office be given to a person who will protect and defend +them. If there remain any balance in the said fund at the end of each +year, he petitions that the Chinese be allowed to spend it, without +the permission of any person, for the welfare and benefit of their +village or church. By that means they will be spared new expenses +that must necessarily be made for that purpose. After examination by +the members of my Council of the Indias, of this request and of the +statements regarding it by my fiscal of the Council, Licentiate Juan +Pardo, it was voted that I should order this my decree to be given, +by which I command you to provide and order that the said office of +protector be not held by the fiscal of that Audiencia. From now and +henceforth, you shall appoint to it a satisfactory person, giving him +the salary that is assigned. You shall charge him to look after the +said Sangley Chinese very carefully, so that they may not be annoyed +or vexed, and that no ill treatment be accorded them. You shall order +that the balance remaining each year in the said fund be left there, +and that the Chinese be assessed so much less the following year, +After the accomplishment and execution of the aforesaid, you and the +said Audiencia shall inform me of the status of matters, and what +are the facts in regard to what is mentioned by the said Fray Melchor +de Manzano, and the advantages or disadvantages, present and future, +of what he asks for; so that, after my said Council has examined it, +the advisable measures may be taken. Madrid, September 10, 1627. + + +_I The King_ +By order of the king, our sovereign: +_Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras_ + + +The King. Fray Melchor Manzano, of the Order of St. Dominic, has +reported to me, in behalf of the Sangley Chinese living in the Parian +outside the walls of the city of Manila, that they experience much +extortion and injury, on account of not only what pertains to the +Christianity that they profess, but their liberty, possessions, and +honor, by making them cut their hair when they become Christians--a +thing regarded as ignominious by their nation, and which is an obstacle +to their conversion, and contrary to the orders of the decree of +the king our sovereign and grandfather, who is in glory; as also +that they pay annually sixty-four reals in silver, in addition to +the ordinary tribute, or that they return to their own country, +which means that they are forced to abandon the faith which they +received with baptism. He declares that that tribute was never paid +by the Christians until it was imposed by Don Alonso de Faxardo, my +former governor of the Filipinas Islands, contrary to the advice of +my Audiencia resident therein. Fray Melchor has petitioned me that, +attentive to the above, I be pleased to order that those converted to +our holy Catholic faith be not obliged to cut their hair, or pay the +said tribute, or anything else besides the ordinary tribute paid by +the natives of the said islands; or that it be moderated so that their +conversion may not thereby be made difficult, and that those who once +receive the faith be not obliged to abandon it by returning to their +country because of their inability to pay so large a tribute--since +the majority of those converted are poor laborers, who cannot earn +that tribute. Having examined the matter in my royal Council of the +Indias, I have considered it expedient to order this my decree to +be issued. By it I order that for the first ten years after their +conversion the said Sangley Chinese pay no tribute, and that none +be collected from them, as I have commanded shall be done in regard +to the other pagan Indians who are converted. After the ten years, +the tribute shall be collected from them, as from the natives of +the said islands. I order my governor and captain-general of the +islands to see that the above is strictly obeyed and observed, and +not to allow their hair to be cut, in observance of the decree that +has been issued concerning this matter. Madrid, November 19, 1627. + + +_I The King_ +By order of the king, our sovereign: +_Don Fernando Ruiz De Contreras_ + + + + + + +INADVISABILITY OF A SPANISH POST ON THE ISLAND OF FORMOSA + + +I would consider it a very important fact that the Spaniards of +Filipinas have seized and fortified a site on the island of Hermosa, +if that would be the efficacious means of driving out the Dutch from +their fort and from that island by force of arms, but otherwise not. + +In order to discuss this proposition reasonably, it will be necessary +first to investigate the objects that the Dutch may have had in order +to have fortified, as they have done for the last three or four years, +the island of Hermosa. + +Some have thought that the purpose of the Dutch must be to destroy +commerce between China and Filipinas, by plundering more at their +ease the Chinese ships, because they are there near China, and in a +place where the fleets from Manila which have sometimes defeated them, +cannot attack them. But in my judgment, this is not their purpose, +although it is a fact that they are very near the coasts of China in +the island of Hermosa. For that reason, even the Chinese, before they +set sail, ascertain by means of oared craft whether Dutch vessels are +waiting in that place. Consequently, they either do not leave their +ports, or if they leave, accomplish their voyage, since they can do so +easily by sailing so as not to go within sight of the island. But it +is impossible to escape the Dutch ships when they await the Chinese +on the coasts of Filipinas, as they have done since the year 609, +when they began that practice, until that of 625. During that time +scarcely any ship escaped them; for the Dutch generally go to the +coasts of Filipinas when there is no time to advise the Chinese not +to leave their country. The latter, having sailed, necessarily fall +into the hands of the Dutch. However, it is true that when the Dutch +await the Chinese on the coasts of Manila, they need a larger fleet; +and that they risk its loss by fighting with that of Manila. Here +the capture of the Chinese is assured, while for the above reasons +(of which the Dutch are not ignorant) that is almost impossible in +the island of Hermosa. + +In my opinion, then, the purpose of the Dutch is to establish a +factory in the island of Hermosa, in order to trade with the Chinese +by buying silks from them, and to sail with these to Japon (although +taking some of them to Europa also, as well as other goods), just as +the Portuguese of Macan do. I am persuaded of this, for, while I was +sailing from Filipinas to Nueva Espana as captain and master of the +ship "San Francisco," which was wrecked in Japon in the year 609--the +first time when the Dutch went to that kingdom--the Dutch petitioned +for a factory from him whom we style emperor of Japon, offering to take +him silks from China. Thereupon it was given to them, notwithstanding +that the emperor was informed by the Spaniards, and by one Guillermo +Adan [40]--an Englishman who had been living married in Japon for many +years, to whom the emperor turned for information--that the Dutch were +rebel vassals [of the Spaniards] and pirates; and that they could not +get the silks if they did not plunder them from the Chinese. Thus did +they establish their factory in the port of Firando, where they have +maintained themselves to this very day, taking the silks that they +have pillaged from the Chinese, and certain cloth stuffs from Europa, +and buying food and supplies for their forces in the Malucas and other +islands of those regions. Governor Don Juan de Silva, having conquered +on the coasts of Filipinas the fleet of the Dutch who were robbing the +Chinese in the year 610, it was learned from the instructions of Count +Mauricio that they were forbidden to plunder the Chinese and other +nations, and that they were only permitted to trade with them. Thus, +although they robbed the Chinese, it was on their own responsibility, +and incited by greed; and even that they palliated by making a price +on the silks, by weighing them, and settling the account for that +amount. Paying for the goods partly in reals--although only a small +part--they gave to the Chinese due-bills on the factory of La Sunda. I +saw those papers in their own flagship, as I was captured by the Dutch +in the said year 610, when I was returning from the wreck at Japon to +the Filipinas. Nor does it contradict this that since then they have +continued to plunder the Chinese, since they have given out that they +do it because the silks were bought for silver which the Spaniards +of Manila are sending to China; and because even supposing that the +silks be some belonging to the Chinese, they do not wish the latter +to trade with the Spaniards, their enemies. Consequently, although +the Dutch have pillaged them, it has been by affecting this pretext, +and giving them to understand that the Dutch were not their enemies. + +But what most persuades me to believe that this is the object of +the Dutch is because they are not ignorant of the great advantage to +them of buying silks from the Chinese and taking their investments +to Japon; for it is evident to them from the high profits made by the +Portuguese of Macan. That profit will be greater for them because of +the greater ease of making the investment, and their nearer and easier +navigation. Whenever any other nation wishes to trade with the Chinese, +that trading must be done entirely with silver; and as the Dutch can +take so little silver from Europa, and have no opportunity to get it +from Japon unless in exchange for Chinese merchandise, it is certain +that, both because of the high profits of this trade and in order to +maintain themselves in their factory at Japon--whence they furnish the +forts of the Malucas, Ambueno, and other places with supplies and some +food--they will procure the trade with the Chinese by all possible +means, by maintaining a factory in the island of Hermosa. Thus, +becoming wealthy, they will utterly destroy Macan and deprive the +Filipinas of the trade of Chinese silks which they had in Japon, +which was formerly of so great profit that the investment generally +yielded one hundred per cent in eight or nine months. + +It is to be noted that this trade of Macan and Filipinas with Japon +is the principal thing that should be aided by Espana, for it does +not involve the danger of having the silver of the Indias wasted in +China, if voyages are made to Macan from Lisboa by way of India, +because it comes from China to Portugal, and from Nueva Espana to +the Filipinas in return for what is taken to Nueva Espana. As for +the investments made in Macan and Filipinas for Japon, the return +for these is silver from the mines of Japon itself. + +Now, then, it seems very advisable, for the above reasons, immediately +to drive out the Dutch from the island of Hermosa, if there is any +possibility and power therefor, uniting the forces of Filipinas, +if necessary, with those of Macan--to whom the question is so vital, +both because of the said reason of the commerce (which is of prime +importance), and because the island of Hermosa lies in the path of +the voyage from Macan to Japon; and also, I do not deny, because it +is possible that the Dutch have taken a port in the island of Hermosa +in order to conquer Macan therefrom, to which they are very near, +as they attempted to do in the year 622. Therefore, it will be more +expedient and convenient to drive out the Dutch from this island of +Hermosa as soon as it is attempted; and that will be very gratifying +to the Chinese, who are much offended at the Dutch because of the many +robberies of their ships in the Filipinas trade that the Dutch have +committed for the last seventeen years, and are bitterly hostile to +them. But although it seems that that hostility will be sufficient, +for the present, for the Chinese not to make any beginning in commerce +in the island of Hermosa with the Dutch, that disinclination will +disappear in a short time--both because of the kind reception that the +Chinese will experience from the Dutch, and because the Chinese are so +notably covetous that, although they are prohibited under penalty of +losing life and property from trading with Japon, some ships laden +with silks have gone to that kingdom during the last few years, +pretending in Chinese ports that they are going to the Filipinas. + +The above is what occurs to me in regard to the first part. In regard +to the second, namely, that it is not advisable for us to have a +port in the island of Hermosa, whether the Dutch are there or not, +my opinion is the following. + +Since the Dutch are there, one would think it advisable to prevent +them by force of arms from the commerce of China. But for that one +must attack either the Chinese or the Dutch. Since the Chinese are +our friends, and since we cannot live in the Filipinas without their +trade, I do not see how it can be done justifiably, as they are free +to trade with all. Even should we attempt it, they will oblige us +to permit them [to trade as they choose] by taking the trade from +the Filipinas. But if it should have to be by attacking the ships of +the Dutch, new and very long and costly wars would be renewed which +would complete the exhaustion of the Filipinas, as has been done in +those of Terrenate. Then, too, we would not have greater advantages +in this war in the island of Hermosa than in those of Terrenate; +for it also is a war to be carried on with ships, and the Dutch have +their factories of Japon very near by. They are not inferior to us in +accommodations, although the island of Hermosa is near the Filipinas. + +But if the Dutch were expelled from it, neither do I find any advantage +in the Spaniards having a fort and settlement in that island at +present, considering the condition of the Filipinas, unless it be +to prevent the return of the enemy to refortify it. For first we +must determine for that purpose, whether we can prevent that, by the +nature of the island and by other circumstances that would render it +very difficult--as was seen in Terrenate, when, although we had five +hundred or more Spaniards there, the Dutch built another fort almost +in sight of ours (which they still hold), as soon as we gained that +small island. Now, too, although the Dutch were fortified first in +the island of Hermosa, they have not prevented us from effecting a +settlement there. For among other things, for such purposes, more +men are necessary, and the cost of those men with whom a fortress in +a kingdom not one's own is generally maintained. + +But, as this object is not involved in the other considerations which +present themselves to my mind for keeping up a Spanish settlement +in that island, I do not see that, for the present, the Spaniards +are obliged to do that. For that island is not of importance to us, +either for its own products or for the commerce of China--on the +former ground, because it is a poor and barren land, of which it is now +always said in the Filipinas that it only produces fruits and timber; +nor is it for the second, for if it be made a way-station, wherein +to invest in the silks of China, that means to add a new voyage from +the Filipinas, which on account of its expenses cannot make up for +the convenience of purchasing in Filipinas those same products, which +the Chinese carry to Manila. If one tries to say that, by this means, +the Chinese ships would not be stopped by the Dutch ships that await +them on the coasts of Filipinas; and that if that voyage be made from +the island of Hermosa in Spanish ships, they will sail more secure: +I answer that there is less danger for the ships as they sail now. For, +since the Chinese do not understand latitude and the directions of the +compass perfectly, they do not know enough to go [by direct routes] +to sight land in the Filipinas, thus making safe the coast where the +Dutch await them; [41] but in that case [i.e., if they go only to +Formosa] the Dutch, changing their position, would go to await the +Chinese and our ships near our port or the island of Hermosa. Since +those ships would have to sail so well equipped that they could defend +themselves, it would be so costly an undertaking that it could not be +maintained--especially at the present time, when the Filipinas are so +exhausted and so in need of men, by reason of the reenforcements to +Maluco, the entrances into Mindanao, and the insurrections in certain +provinces of the natives. Besides, there is the so great danger to +Manila from the swarms of abandoned heathen Sangleys who live there, +besides other Chinese residents who are married and Christians, but +lazy, and the great number of non-producing Japanese there also; +and for security and defense from all these, the Spaniards do not +even possess what is necessary. + +Neither has that island of Hermosa such a location that it can be +desirable for the ships of Filipinas that sail both to Japon and to +Macan, to put in or to seek shelter there; and even less so for those +returning from a port where they have taken refuge when they sail to +Nueva Espana, or when, in sailing from Nueva Espana to Filipinas, +by arriving late, the vendavals overtake them; or for ships on any +other of the courses that we sail today. + +But if one would say that it is a matter of importance for greater +attempts that could be offered in time, by reason of the entrance into +or conversion of China, that is not approved now. On the contrary, +I fear from the caution and mistrust of the Chinese, that if we +maintain a settlement in the island of Hermosa, and it is not clear +to them that it is strictly necessary for that conservation, [they +will act] without heeding other ends which they must obtain by way of +diverting the trade with the Filipinas (since we see that they forced +the Portuguese to tear down the fortification that they permitted +them to erect in Macan, in view of the risk of its being captured +by the Dutch in the year 622, who threatened to return to attempt +it with a greater fleet the following year, although they had not +returned up to the year 625). They are not unaware that Castilians +and Portuguese are vassals of one and the same king. Neither have +the Dutch failed to publish (as they did in Japon), that it is the +custom of the king of Espana to conquer kingdoms under pretext of +religion. That report, according to the religious of Japon themselves, +has been one of the chief causes for the instigation of so terrible +a persecution against Christians. Very true is it that the success in +conversion in which his Majesty has so disinterested and holy an end, +can neither be assured nor guided only by human reason. Consequently, +what I judge to be an unsuitable thing might be the best method to +attain it. In this argument one ought also to consider the heathen +natives themselves in the island of Hermosa; but, admitting this, +even for them at present I conclude that his Majesty is under no +obligations whatever, because he has in the Filipinas not a few +Indians who pay tribute, but who do not have sufficient ministers +to instruct them. Also there are many heathen, who, because their +country is not yet conquered, are without any knowledge at all of the +holy gospel. But I shall not go into greater detail on this point, +for it may, perhaps, seem to be outside the question. + +Neither do I imagine that all that has occurred to me concerning this +matter, and much more, has been left unconsidered by Don Fernando +de Silva, governor of Filipinas, at whose order a site was occupied +on Hermosa Island; for he is a very prudent gentleman and a gallant +soldier, and one who will not have permitted the desire for glory +and honor, of which the discoverers and conquerors of new lands are +justly worthy, to carry him away. Yet I do not, on that account, regard +myself as under no obligations to advise you of my opinion. Madrid, +December 20, 1627. + +_Doctor Don Juan Cevicos_ + + + + + + +DOCUMENTS OF 1628-1629 + + + + Relation of 1627-28. [Unsigned]; July, 1628. + Report of appointments made by the governor. Juan Nino de + Tavora; August 2, 1628. + Letters to Felipe IV. Juan Nino de Tavora; August 4, 1628. + Economic reasons for suppressing the silk trade of China + in Spain and its colonies. Juan Velazquez Madrco; October + 7, 1628. + Decrees regarding the Chinese. Felipe IV; June, 1628-March, + 1629. + Relations of 1628-29. Hernando Estrado, and others; 1628-29. + + + + +_Sources_: Most of these documents are from MSS. in the Archivo +general de Indias, Sevilla, The first one is from the Ventura del Arco +MSS. (Ayer library); the fifth, from the Archivo Historico Nacional, +Madrid; and the last, from MSS. in the Real Academia de la Historia, +Madrid. + +_Translations_: The second of these documents is translated by Robert +W. Haight; the second part of the last, by Arthur B. Myrick; all the +rest, by James A. Robertson. + + + + + + +RELATION OF 1627-28 + +_Copy of a relation-written by a father of this residence of Manila +on the condition of these Filipinas Islands, and other surrounding +kingdoms and provinces, from the month of July, 1627, until that +of 1628._ + + +In the port of Cavite, which lies three leguas away from and opposite +the city of Manila, four very fine galleons were being equipped, that +in size and strength could compare with the best in the world. For +the flagship was the "Concepcion;" for almiranta, the "Santa Teresa;" +while the other two were called "San Yldefonso" and the "Pena de +Francia." Besides these there was another smaller ship called the +"Rosario," and two other pataches and two galleys. The work was +progressing rapidly; for as soon as the merchant ships that sail to +Nueva Espana were despatched, our people had to begin their voyage to +the island of Hermosa near China, in order to dislodge the Dutch who +were fortifying themselves there. [42] That might result in notable +damage to this city of Manila, and to Macao, by obstructing their +trade with China, Japon, and other kingdoms. The food, ammunition, +and artillery were already embarked, and many implements of war, +in order to carry on the war by sea and land. On July 7. they began +to lade the flagship with quantities of tiling which it was also +necessary to take. But, burdened with the great weight, the flagship +showed that it was not to make the voyage; for it commenced to leak +so badly that it could not be kept pumped out. Consequently, it was +necessary to unlade it, and they had to resolve to leave it behind +in the port, to their great sorrow. + +The galleon "San Yldefonso" became the flagship. The season was already +advanced, and especially for the galleys, which need more calm weather +to enable them to navigate. Accordingly, the galleys were despatched +ahead July 26, under command of Don Pedro Alcarazo. On August 17, +the chief part of the fleet, namely, the galleons and pataches, +left port. Governor Don Juan Nino de Tabora was in the flagship; +master-of-camp Don Lorenzo de Olaso in the almiranta; in the "Pena de +Francia," Sargento-mayor Alonso Martin Quirante, an old and well-tried +soldier; in the ship "Rosario," Captain Lazaro de Torres, a daring +man in war; and in the other two pataches, two other captains. Each +vessel carried a quantity of artillery, each galleon having more than +forty very large pieces. There were many and very courageous men; +although when they saw that contrary weather was setting in it did +not fail to dishearten them, as was immediately seen. For scarcely +had they left the port of Cavite (even before emerging from that +bay), when so fierce a storm overtook them that the fleet was in +danger of being wrecked. One patache sprang a leak, and commenced to +take in water so badly that it was forced to make port and remain +there. The governor--seeing that as the season was so late, it was +quite possible that he could not get to the island of Hermosa and +return to port with the fleet; and as quite a long period had passed +since any reenforcement had been sent to our fort on the same island +of Hermosa; and since he imagined that they were suffering very +great need of everything necessary--in the probability of what might +happen, determined to send Captain Lazaro de Torres ahead with his +little vessel the "Rosario," which was carrying a large quantity of +food. As it was a small, swift-sailing ship, he hoped that it would +surely arrive, which was not looked for in regard to the rest of the +fleet. We shall relate the experience of this vessel later. + +Our fleet proceeded on its course, but with so contrary winds from +the north that they [as it were,] consumed the vessels; and the seas +ran mountain high toward the heavens, so that one would believe +that they were trying to engulf them. They reached Cape Bojeador, +although after considerable danger. That is the end of the island of +Manila, where one crosses to the island of Hermosa. At that point the +storms increased so violently that, a council of the pilots having +been called, all thought that they should put in to port; for it was +impossible to go any farther until the next year, when the expedition +could be undertaken at a better season. They put back, and the fleet +reentered Cavite on September 6. That was considered as not a little +[good fortune by the Dutch]; for, as was afterward learned from some +Dutchmen, whom the Portuguese of Macan captured, the enemy on the +island of Hermosa were very weak and determined not to fight, but to +leave their fort at the arrival of our fleet. Now the Dutch will be +in a state of readiness, so that it will cost a triumph to capture +the fort; and, even, may it please God that we can gain such a result. + +Some fathers of St. Dominic and of our Society were going in the fleet +with the intention of remaining in the island of Hermosa, in order to +engage in the conversion of its natives who are heathen. As servants +of our fathers were also going two disguised Japanese fathers, in +order to see whether they might go to Japon by way of the island of +Hermosa. Their provincial had sent them for that purpose from Macan; +for, as the door of Japon is so tightly closed, Ours seek extraordinary +means to enter there, to aid that afflicted Christian people. + +But let us return to follow our galleys. One can well guess how they +would fare, when so large galleons suffered from the storm. They +were struck very severely, but they made their voyage nevertheless, +until they sighted the fort of the Dutch enemy on the island of +Hermosa. From there, they put back to this island of Manila, in the +province of Ylocos, because of the violence of the weather. While in +port there, they had so fierce a storm that, having been hardly used by +the past storm, their seams opened and they went to the bottom. Twenty +convicts were drowned, and three Spaniards. The other men, even the +commander himself, got away by swimming, and, as the land was near, +they were able to reach it without much difficulty. That disastrous +news reached this city October 20. + +We come now to the ship "Rosario" in which Captain Lazaro de +Torres was sailing. It made its voyage, although not without +trouble. It reached our fort on the island of Hermosa, and its +arrival gladdened and rejoiced our men greatly, for they were in +great need of food. It had been more than a year since aid had +been sent to them from Manila. At the ship's arrival, it was found +that a disaster had overtaken our men. It happened that there was a +chief on the river of Tanchuy, not far from our fort, who professed +great friendship for our men for his reasons of state, which are not +wanting even among barbarians. Those reasons were that that chief +had wars of long standing with another chief whose domain was on the +other side of the river; and he wished to have our men on his side, +for whatever might happen. Our men trusting to his friendship, and +forced by the necessity that they were suffering, the commander sent +Captain Don Antonio de Vera with twenty Spaniards to the said river +of Tanchuy to bring back rice to our men; for that is the ordinary +bread, and that country abounds plentifully with it. Captain Antonio +de Vera and his twenty Spaniards remained one or two months with the +chief of Tanchuy, who, although he feasted them, did not conclude by +giving them the provisions to return. The captain began to fear some +detention, and sent to our fort for more men, in order to negotiate +with arquebuses what they were unable to compass by kindness; but +these were not sent. The chief concerted secretly with his opponent, +and made peace with him. One day he took Captain Don Antonio and the +other Spaniards out hunting; and suddenly attacked them, and killed +the said captain and seven others. They first sold their lives, +and with greed for death itself, killed some of their false friends, +really their enemies--among them the very chief who contrived that +treachery. The other Spaniards sought shelter in a small boat which +they had there, left the river, and went to our fort, giving news +of the disaster just as Captain Lazaro de Torres arrived. With the +help that had just come to them, they determined to take vengeance +for that perfidy. The commandant sent the said captain, Lazaro de +Torres, with one of the galleys which they had there, accompanied +by one hundred infantrymen. They entered the river of Tanchuy, which +is very beautiful, and densely inhabited by the natives. The latter +immediately deserted their settlements, and our men went to the rice +granaries, and filled their galley and four large champans, which are +used as freight ships in these seas. They could have filled fifty if +they had had them, so great is the abundance in that country. They +captured I know not how many persons; then without doing any more +evil or burning their villages, they retired with plenty of food, +which was the most important thing. This feat having been performed, +the said Lazaro de Torres returned with his ship to Manila, where he +entered February 21, 1628. + +On the same day that our fleet reached the port of Cavite, which was, +as aforesaid, September 6, 1627, a _cho_ (a craft which is used in +these waters, whose sails are made of rushes) came from Macan. It +warned the Portuguese galliots which had come from that city to this +with great wealth of merchandise, and which were about to return +with about one million in silver, that they should take note that +the Dutch enemy were stationed in the passage of Macan, awaiting +them with four ships in order to capture them, and that they should +change their direction and course. Thereupon, Governor Don Juan Nino +de Tabora, seeing that our fleet was ready, and that it would be +a fine thing to effect some stroke with the Dutch, as well as for +other ends which will be told later, resolved to send two galleons, +to act as escort to the Macan galliots. The Portuguese gave twenty +thousand pesos to help the soldiers. On October 13 the said galliots, +five in number, left with the flagship "San Yldefonse," in which Don +Juan de Alcarazo went as commander; in the other galleon, the "Pena +de Francia," Don Pedro de Mendiola went as commander. Each galleon +carried about six hundred persons. They were so well equipped that they +could fight with any Dutch ships whatever. Father Ygnacio de Muxica +of our Society, and a brother, were in the flagship, and a father of +St. Francis in the other galleon. Both galleons suffered great troubles +from whirlwinds, seas, and storms all the way to Macan. One day our +flagship snapped the topmast of its mainmast and it fell down. Another +day the mast sprang, and knocked the rudder out of place, and it had +to be repaired. Another day they were all but wrecked on the reefs +of La Plata. On another occasion they lost their rudder completely, +and they had to steer the ship with the sheets of the mizzenmast; +on another, they lost their anchors while quite near Macan. They +grounded in two and one-half brazas of water, and had not the bottom +been sandy they would have been smashed into a thousand pieces. They +cut down the mainmast and lightened the ship, and got it out of the +sand after the greatest of toil, for it was almost buried. The other +galleon had its troubles too, but it was fortunate in making port at +Sanchuan on the Chinese coast, where our father St. Francis Javier +died, about thirty leguas from Macan. The galliots entered the latter +place safely, for the Dutch ships were no longer in the strait, as I +shall recount later in order not to interrupt at present the thread +of our history of our galleons and their adventures. The latter were +very ill received by the Portuguese because of the twenty thousand +pesos which they cost, and because it was seen that the Dutch had +deserted the strait. They judged the matter by the effect and not +by what might have happened had the enemy captured their galliots +with so great a sum of silver. Our galleons stayed more than three +months at that place refitting, stepping a mast and replacing the +rudder, and getting food in Macan. They bought a patache, of which +they had great need. On the eighteenth of February the two galleons +and patache sailed out to pursue their voyage. The latter was sent +by the commander, Don Juan Alcarazo, to take its station in the bay +of the kingdom of Tonquin and Cochinchina, in order to await a ship +from Siam of which it should make a prize; and then to go with it in +search of the two galleons. The fact is that they had an order from +Governor Don Juan Nino de Tabora to capture all the Siamese vessels +for reprisal, inasmuch as five years ago a ship was taken from us +in that kingdom, although it was friendly to us. The ship was said +to be valued at one million in merchandise, and was on its way from +Macan to Manila. Several Spaniards were killed. An embassy having been +sent under Father Pedro de Morejon, as I wrote in another relation, +the Siamese returned to us only the value of ten thousand pesos. + +That patache, whose captain was Diego Lopez Lobo, a Portuguese, and +which carried thirty Spaniards, waited two months in the said place, +sailing about hither and thither. When the king of Cochinchina saw +it, fearing lest it capture some vessels that he was expecting in his +kingdom, he sent a father of the Society (one of those who reside in +his court and other places, who I think are sixteen in number) in a +small ship to tell the captain not to do any harm to anything belonging +to his kingdom, and that he had always been a friend to us. Answer +was returned that the presence of the ship in that region was not +to do harm to Cochinchina, but to attain certain purposes which his +captain-general had ordered him. Finally, on Thursday, the twentieth +of April, a great freight ship was sighted, one of the sort that sail +these seas. The Spaniards attacked it, and although its occupants +tried to defend themselves, they were obliged to see that they had +no defense against our artillery and musketry. They surrendered, and +it was found to be the ship which was being sought. It was one which +the king of Siam sends every year to Canton with some tribute for the +king of China. It was returning with great wealth of silks and other +things, and carried sixty Siamese and sixty Chinese. Half of the men +were placed aboard our patache, and soldiers were transferred from +the patache to the said Siamese ship. The strict vigilance necessary +was maintained, as our men were so few, so that they should not be +killed some night. The patache set out in search of the galleons, in +the direction that had been set. But the winds were contrary in that +direction, and they were unable to make any distance. Consequently, +they had to sail with a stern wind to Manila. With their captured +reprisal they reached this city on May 14. The cargo of the Siamese +ship was unladed carefully, and it was found that it was worth about +one hundred thousand pesos. It was placed on deposit in a building and +excellent treatment is being given to the Siamese. But I think that +they will be sent to their king, so that he may return us what he took +from us, in which case we shall return what we captured from him. If +that is not done, then we shall continue to capture their ships. + +When the two galleons left Manila, the governor offered to send a +patache after them to a certain place, and did so a little later; +it was under command of Don Fernando Becerra, with about sixty +men. They had bad weather. They looked for our galleons, and although +they found traces of their having been in certain parts, they did +not find the vessels. They only found a fine ship which was well +equipped with artillery, and, thinking it to be one of our galleons, +drew near it. But when quite near they saw that it was a Dutch ship, +and consequently began to retire in all haste. The ship followed +our patache, but as the latter was as swift as a bird it made so +much headway in a short time that the ship abandoned the chase +in despair. Our patache continued to retire toward Manila, where +it arrived June 6, having lost fifteen men, who died of sickness, +among them a Franciscan religious who was aboard. Consequently, our +galleons were left without any patache, for one patache came in with +the Siamese ship and the other did not find them. That was a matter +of considerable damage; for, as the galleons were so large, they +drew much water, and could not well go close to the shore in order +to secure the desired results--as we shall see during the course of +their voyage, which was as follows. + +As soon as they left the patache in the said passage for the purpose +of capturing the Siamese ship, they ran along the whole coast of Asia +until they reached the island of Hainam, where the fishery of Great +China is located, a place most plentifully supplied with food. They +went to the kingdom of Champa, and anchored at Pulo Condor, where +they sent out their lanchas with forty Spaniards, and about twenty +Indians and negroes, to see whether they could get the water which +was very necessary to them. In the meantime the galleons kept moving +about on one tack or another; but they were overtaken by so violent a +storm that they had to go to another island called Pulo Ubi, leaving +the lanchas with their men ashore, and as yet nothing has been heard +of the latter. But it is thought that they are in Camboja, for that +king is friendly to us, and will have welcomed them, as they were only +eight leguas from the bar of Camboja. [43] Thus the galleons were left +without pataches or lanchas. They went to Pulo to land at the kingdom +of Pan, where they anchored and got water; and they took food from the +inhabitants of the country until the latter arose against and wounded +some of our men. But our men killed some of them, among them a nephew +of the king of Pan himself. The Spaniards took away two boats from +them, from which they made boats such as we use. While at that place, +a ship manned by Chinese and Malays was captured. They were coming with +flags and passports from the Dutch, with whom they were trading. They +were captured on that account, although they had nothing of any value, +for they had left their merchandise in the kingdom of Pan. It was +heard that there were Dutch ships in the strait of Malaca, which +were committing depredations. The Spaniards sent a lancha manned by +soldiers and an adjutant, to reconnoiter; but after spying carefully +until they were quite near Malaca, no Dutch were discovered, and they +returned to the galleons with that news. While they were there, the +king of Pan wrote in very complimentary manner to our commander, and, +not saying that he knew of the death of his nephew, offered our men +everything that they needed, so great fear had seized him. A lancha +was sent to the kingdom of Patani to see whether there was a Dutch +factory there, as was usual. Two Javanese were brought back, who said +that two years ago, when that kingdom was in power, they had driven +the Dutch from that place. They had a great quantity of pepper (which +is the product yielded by that kingdom), for there was no one to whom +to sell it, as they had sold it to the Dutch before. The commander +wrote to them to have their men take a load of it to Manila, and +that it would be bought from them; and also that he would give them +indemnity for a slight injury which some of his men had done them, +not knowing that they were friends, by taking a small quantity of +rice from them, which the fleet and those who brought it needed. The +men fled, without giving any account of themselves. + +The galleons went to the coasts of Ligor and Siam, and discovered +three _somas_, freight ships of these seas. The lanchas attacked them; +and, while fighting with them, fire was set to two jars of powder +that the Spaniards had there. Twelve persons were burned, seven of +whom died. Thereupon they retired, and the somas escaped. Afterward +three other somas were discovered, which were coming from Siam. The +lanchas were sent after them and defeated them, and brought them to +the galleons. They were carrying as merchandise, rice, considerable +pepper, and some cloth. The last named was much needed by the infantry, +who already had rib shirts on account of the long voyage. The galleons +entered the bay of Siam, and found three somas on the bar. One was +Japanese, and carried drugs and merchandise. It was captured in good +faith, but the justification of this act is being discussed. It is +thought that the Japanese will be remunerated for the injury received, +as they ought not to have been harmed. + +Another of the somas belonged to the Siamese king, and was being laden +to go to China for the purpose of trading lead, ivory, silver, leather, +etc. As they were unable to get it outside of the bar, for it was +very large and needed the high tide, they set fire to it and took the +Siamese to the galleons. That would have been a prize or reprisal of +importance had it been captured, and not burned. Then another Siamese +soma laden with pepper and tin was captured, and a reprisal was made +of it. The galleons returned, reconnoitering all those ports, to see +whether there were any Dutch in them. Although they did not find any, +they left those kingdoms in terror, for although our galleons were +very large, report made them much greater. Rumor said that each one +contained more than one thousand men, and pieces of vast size, which +fear magnified greatly. Finally, the two galleons returned to port on +the thirteenth of June after an eight months' voyage, with the death of +more than forty men. The galleon "Pena de Francia" had many sick men, +but only one man had died in the flagship; and he had died in port, +as he was sick when he had embarked. The chief cause was the great +care taken of the sick. That was attended to chiefly by the father +and brother of our Society who were in the said flagship. Thus they +all arrived safe and sound and happy, and all this city was joyful +over their return. [44] + +I said above that when our galleons arrived at Macan with the galliots +they did not find the Dutch ships, and I said that I would tell why; +and I shall do so now, before passing on. While the Chinese of Macan +were awaiting the ships from Yndia, and thinking of making the usual +voyage to Japon with four ships which they had already prepared, two +ships and a patache and a galliot of the Dutch came in sight of the +city, on July 21. The larger ship and the galliot stationed themselves +in an entrance where the galliots from India enter and those for Japon +leave. The other smaller ship and the patache took the other entrance, +where the vessels that sail from Manila and other places enter. The +design of the Dutch was to capture the vessels en route from Yndia, +Filipinas, and other kingdoms; and to prevent the voyage to Japon, +which forms the chief gain of the city of Macan. The people, seeing +their affliction--and that a galliot en route from Yndia had escaped +the enemy as by a miracle, and entered the city safely; and that +they had scarcely been able to despatch to Japon one of the ships +which they had prepared, at great risk of the Dutch capturing it, +which the latter made all possible efforts to do--set about preparing +a small fleet of merchant vessels to see whether they could lure +away some vessel of the enemy, and attack and capture it. Five ships +and six chos were prepared, the latter weak vessels which sail the +Chinese seas. Artillery was mounted in them which could not have been +very large, for the ships were not very large or strong. Commanders +were appointed for all of them. A father of our Society embarked in +each one for the expedition. In short, everything was prepared with +the efficient care and solicitude of the chief captain of Macan, +Don Felipe Lobo, who was governing that city. It only remained to +assign the chief commander of all, over which there was great strife, +for all wished to command and no one to obey. Consequently, one thing +was resolved upon, which except among the Portuguese of Yndia, where +there is so little practice in war or military knowledge, could not +pass, and will cause laughter to whoever reads it--namely, that each +one of the commanders of the ships should have command for his day, +and should be superior of the others. They were to begin by lot, and he +who should get the first lot was to have command the first day, and he +the second who should get the second lot, and so one with the others, +until the five days were finished. Then they were to take command +again in the same way. They left port and found that the flagship of +the Dutch was alone; for the galliot which accompanied it had gone to +Japon, and the other ship with the patache had gone to their fort on +the island of Hermosa. The Portuguese attacked the ship with great +energy and valor, although with little plan, and defeated it. The +Dutch captain-general, who was a circumspect man, by name Nicholas +Cadem, sailed out to seek a hot engagement, and was killed. Thereupon +the Dutch boldly set fire to the powder-barrels and blew up a great +part of the ship, many of the Dutch jumping into the water. They were +picked up by the Portuguese and taken into their ships. Twelve men +of the Portuguese were killed and twenty-seven of the Dutch, while +some thirty odd were captured. The half-burnt ship of the enemy was +taken to Macan. They captured fourteen pieces of artillery in it and +more than one thousand balls and other weapons. It was a pity that +that ship was burned, for it was very fine and was well built. It was +covered and lined with leather and sheets of lead. However, it is said +that it will be of use if repaired. That victory happened on August +25, 1627. Consequently, when our galleons arrived with the galliots, +the sea was already cleared of the enemy. + +Since we do not find a port of China in Macan it will be right for us +to enter the interior, and we shall tell what is passing [there] in +the spiritual and temporal. Christianity continues to increase. There +are twenty-two members of the Society in all China, established at +the court of Pequin and other chief cities. Ours go about there with +more liberty and publicity than they have ever done. Happy times are +expected if the uncle of the king who is now reigning enters into the +kingdom, as is heard, and if the king is held in guardianship, as he +is a boy. The latter succeeded his brother who died. [45] Immediately +upon entering his kingdom, he exiled from his court a eunuch, a prime +favorite of his brother, who had command of everything and even played +the tyrant; he also exiled other favorites. The seas of that kingdom +of China are infested with pirates from China itself, and they are so +numerous that it is said that there are more than a thousand ships of +them. They pillage everything and infest all places, and have sacked +and burned many maritime places of that great kingdom. They have been +the cause this year of very few ships coming to these islands to trade; +for the mandarins have put an embargo on all ships, in order to build +a large fleet to oppose the said pirates. A large stone was found +in the interior of China with Chinese and some Chaldean characters, +which tell how preachers of the gospel came to China a thousand years +ago and preached the gospel. They had bishops, and many churches and +Christians, and the mysteries of our faith were established there. As +it is a long matter I shall not relate it here, but shall only say +that after having examined the circumstances, it appears to be true, +without ground for doubt of it. [46] + +Father Juan Adan, of the Society of Jesus, wrote the following. He +lives in Pequin. + +"The affairs of this kingdom of China are in a condition of perfect +peace. A rumor was current many days ago that the Tartar king, the fear +of this empire, was dead. [47] As he had many sons, and had conquered +many lands from his other neighbors, the sons will be kept quite +busy for some few years in coming to terms with one another, and in +dividing and maintaining what their aged father left them. A few days +ago, a mandarin related to Father Nicolas Longobardo [48] that he had +seen in the palace an image of a woman with two small boys and an old +man. It must be David who was playing the harp for them. It is not an +idol of the Chinese, for the image is about a thousand years old, and +was a present from foreigners in the time of Tam-Chao, when our holy +law entered China, as your Reverence will already know from the stone +which was found, and the painting of the old man on linen, a figure +which resembles us. This point needs investigation, in order that we +may know what it is with greater certainty." The father continues, +making mention of an earthquake that happened in China. + +Let us return to the island of Hermosa, whence a boat came on March 13, +with the news that a great mandarin had come from China to our fort, +to ascertain what people they had recently received as neighbors. I +will briefly state the reason for his coming. A Chinaman bribed +by the Dutch took certain memoranda to the mandarins, in which a +thousand evil things were said of the Spaniards (namely, that they +were certain robbers), while the Dutch were praised--all with the +object that trade be forbidden with Manila, and opened with the +Dutch, which is the thing that they have always been trying to do, +and to which the Chinese have always been opposed. Another Chinaman +was not wanting who took up the matter on his own account, and said: +"The Dutch who pillage those kingdoms, and are rebels to their king, +are rather the robbers and pirates, and not the Spaniards, who are +good men; with them we trade in Manila, and they do not constrain us +except by many very good works." Upon seeing that, the viceroy of the +maritime provinces sent the said mandarin to the new port which we had +occupied in the island of Hermosa, to examine and investigate what kind +of people we were, and what were our purposes in making a settlement so +near China. The mandarin was very cordially received by the commandant +of the island of Hermosa, Antonio Carreno de Valdes, who regaled him +and made much of him, and gave him a fine present at his departure. He +told the mandarin that our intentions were good, and that we did not +intend to harm China, but rather to aid them by punishing the pirates +who infested those seas. The mandarin was despatched, but put back +once and twice to the fort. He was received well each time and well +treated by the said commandant. He put back the third time, and for +shame refused to return to our fort, but anchored not far from it; +there the natives cut his moorings one night, and, drawing the ship +to land, entered it and pillaged whatever they wished, and treated the +mandarin with contumely. In the morning, when the commandant got wind +of the affair, he sent a troop of soldiers. Attacking the natives with +orders not to kill them (for the soldiers shot their bullets into the +sky), they captured some chiefs. Thereupon, the chiefs restored to +the Chinese mandarin what they had pillaged from him; and, in order +to regain their liberty, handed over to us their sons as hostages, +who are being reared in our fort. Thereupon the mandarin was sent +away, very thankful. An account of all this affair was sent to Manila +to the governor, who immediately despatched the father-provincial of +St. Dominic--who knows the Chinese language, and has tried by various +ways and means for many years to enter China, but never has been able +to succeed. [49] This despatch seemed now to be a good means to him--I +mean to the said father-provincial--so that in company with the said +commandant of the island of Hermosa, they might go to the viceroy +of the maritime provinces with a very rich present of silver, cloth, +and other things. Those articles were sent for that purpose so that +those provinces might make a treaty with our fort on the island of +Hermosa, where the said father-provincial is preparing to go with the +commandant on the embassy, the result of which I shall tell next year. + +The aid of food and ammunition was sent to the forts which we have in +the Malucas Islands this year, as usual. Three pataches went, under +the command of a valiant soldier, Captain Francisco Hernandez. The +Dutch had received a very large and well-equipped ship, with which +they were waiting to capture our relief expedition. The two pataches +easily escaped, and sought the protection of our forts. But the ship +in which the said Captain Francisco Hernandez was, seeing that it +could not escape, courageously went to attack the [Dutch] ship. When +that was seen from our fort of Terrenate, the galley was despatched to +the aid of our ship. The latter grappled with the hostile vessel and +fought so courageously, that its men were about to enter the latter, +when, the Dutch firing a piece, it struck in the powder which had +been brought up on deck for the fight. Thereupon our vessel caught +fire, and the men took to the water, and reached the shore, which +was near, by swimming. The galley, which through fear of the powder +of our ship which was blown up, had approached very near the enemy's +ship, was capsized by all the men going to one side. Consequently, +all its men took to the water in order to escape by swimming. Thus the +enemy were victorious, although more of their men were killed than of +ours. They tried to take the galley, notwithstanding its condition, +but it sank in a few moments. That was a great misfortune. The enemy +were triumphant, and made much ado about the outcome. + +The Camucones are certain robbers who live on the sea, and constantly +infest our seas of Filipinas; they came this year, as they have done in +others. A small fleet of our caracoas--vessels that look like galleys, +although they are smaller and weaker--went out to attack them from the +island of Oton. Our vessels captured three of the enemy's caracoas, +while four others grounded on the beach. The latter were burned by our +Indians, and the Camucones who disembarked were killed. Therefore, we +are free from that canaille for this year, and they nave done us but +little harm. A large hostile caracoa was discovered on the coast of +the city of Cebu. The Spaniards went out to it and, having overtaken +it, its people instead of surrendering and delivering up themselves, +received our men with a volley of stones which they cast from certain +slings, and showers of spears. When our men saw that the enemy would +not easily come to terms, they attacked and killed them. Only six +of them were left alive, who with the prize and boat were taken +to the said city of Cebu, where the attempt was made to ascertain +their purpose and from what land they came. But it was impossible to +ascertain anything, for they understood none of the languages spoken +here, although there are so many. They were thought to be people +who had been blown from some island. [50] They were naked, and had +no firearms, nor even weapons of iron. Their ship had no nails, and +a chisel that was found was made of bone. They ate lice with a good +grace--by that propensity, being people of good taste. Some thought +them to be from an island more distant than Borney; for the inhabitants +of that island eat lice, and the fat ones with especial liking. + +The governor established a shipyard this year in the province of +Camarines--which is a part of this island of Manila--in order to +build a couple of galleons, two or three galleys, and a like number +of brigantines, for there was need of all. For that purpose he sent +some Spaniards, and a number of Chinese and Indians, to build the +ships; a considerable quantity of iron for nails, much rice for food, +four pieces of artillery to garrison themselves, and, in short, all +that was necessary. They settled at the said place and began their +building. The king of Jolo left his island, which was subject and +tributary for a long time, and it was years since he was rebellious. He +went out with two thousand men, in more than thirty caracoas, which +are called _joangas_ when they are large. He came among our islands, +and first captured from us a ship and a quantity of iron (which +is an article that they esteem highly). They also captured balls, +fuses, and all that the ship was carrying to the shipyard. Then they +captured another ship from us with sixty Indians and two Spaniards, +who were going to cut wood for the building of the ships. They had +interpreters, and found out where the shipyard was located. They +went there before dawn, landed seven hundred well-armed men, and +commenced to kill and rob. The Spaniards were quite off their guard, +and had not fortified themselves and mounted the artillery, as they +ought to have done. They quickly seized their arms, and began to fire +their arquebuses. The enemy first killed for us two of our Spaniards, +whereupon only twelve Spaniards were left. Of the other men the enemy +took no account, for many were already captured or killed. Some tried +to flee, and some sought the shelter of our arquebuses in a storehouse +where the provisions were kept, where the Spaniards had retired, +and where they remained fighting, because of their few number, until +shortly after midday. By that time five of them were wounded, and only +seven were left who could fight. They ran short of ammunition and +fuses, because the enemy had taken them, as I have said. Thereupon, +they resolved to embark in a large boat which they had, back of +the said storehouse on a river, his Majesty's silver, all the arms, +the women and children, and the other Indians who had taken shelter +there. Immediately the twelve Spaniards, both the wounded and the +sound, embarked, and went up the river. Therefore, the camp was left +to the king of Jolo and his men. They remained there for some days, +eating and drinking as if in their own homes. They embarked the four +pieces of artillery which our men could not take, and collected all +the iron that they could load into their ships; and even then they did +not take all that there was, for there was much of it. Consequently, +they left a great part of it ashore. They robbed many things of +value, and a great quantity of rice which they found--a matter of +about one thousand fanegas--they scattered and threw into the sea, +for they had no need of it. They killed and captured many, and among +them a Spanish woman, and thereupon they retired triumphant. However +they were surprised that so few Castilians, as they say, made front +for so long against so many of their men. The king left a letter for +the governor; and one of the seigniors of Europa could not apparently +write more prudently or in more just manner. He said in the letter +that he had made that demonstration because a chief of his named Achen, +having been sent as ambassador to Manila, had been ill-treated here. He +had been thrust into prison and his possessions taken away from him, +among them three exceedingly beautiful pearls of extraordinary size, +such as are obtained in that kingdom and island. It is a fact that +all the above was done to his ambassador Achen; but the reason for +it was because, after he had been honorably despatched from Manila +in order that he might return to his country, he sailed out with his +vessel, which resembled a beautiful small galley, pillaging all whom he +met. Consequently, men were sent against him; and they captured him on +his way and took him to Manila, where they took away his possessions +and imprisoned him. Although they might have hanged him, they did +not do so, but despatched him to his country once more. He returned +thence for the second time as ambassador, with a very haughty and +arrogant message. They sent him away, and he went to the limits of +these Filipinas Islands; and as soon as he thought that he would be +safe, began to pillage, and took refuge [with his allies]. Accordingly +the king of Jolo was ill informed in what he wrote. The latter, on +leaving the shipyard, attacked another of our islands, called Bantayan, +where he was resisted by three Spaniards and one secular priest with +arquebuses, until their powder was gone. That happened during the +night; and then the Spaniards and the ecclesiastic retired, whereupon +the Joloans landed. Inasmuch as the island abounds in certain large +thorns, which form its greatest defense against a barefooted enemy, +such as are the Joloans, they wore as a protection certain wooden +shoes resembling coarse leather sandals [_abarca_] with which they +landed. They captured many of the natives. Then they attacked Ogonuc, +a village in charge of the fathers of the Society, and pillaged it, +as well as what our house and church contained, even to the bells. The +father was not there, and so they did not capture him. The enemy took +heavy spoils in everything; but, what was a cause for greater pain, +they captured more than three hundred Indians. They sell them as +slaves to heathen kingdoms, and in the end the slaves become like +the masters. While the above was happening, as report of it had +already gone forth, the commandant of Cebu and lieutenant of the +captain-general, Christobal de Lugo, prepared his fleet of caracoas, +in order to go out to engage the enemy and take away their booty. He +sailed out and sighted the enemy at two in the afternoon. The enemy, +seeing him, began to flee; and in order to do so with greater freedom, +abandoned astern some eight small boats boats--a matter of small +importance. Our fleet continued to pursue them, but they put so much +strength into their rowing that they distanced our men. Their craft are +extremely swift, and have two prows, so that it is unnecessary to turn +about in order to flee. The night descended, and the enemy escaped, +to the great grief of our men. They, seeing the so great disaster +that was happening to us, and that the enemy had gone away making a +jest of us, sent Father Fabricio Sarsali of our Society from the city +of Cebu with orders to go to Manila to inform the governor, and get +permission from him to go to seek the enemy in their own country. For +that purpose they needed food, some silver, and some soldiers, besides +those that they had there. The father came, negotiated successfully, +and all that he requested was given him; and they were ordered to +go to punish the Joloan enemy. However they were not to approach a +strong fort that the Joloans had on a hill on top of a steep rock, +as that was a very dangerous undertaking, where twice in former years +the Spaniards had been defeated. Accordingly, the capture of that +fort required a greater force and a more favorable opportunity. The +father returned with his despatch. The caracoas of the island of +Oton and those of Cebu were prepared, which formed, as it were, two +squadrons. Many other caracoas of volunteer Indian chiefs joined them, +so that all together they numbered thirty or forty. About two hundred +Spaniards and more than one thousand six hundred Indians embarked in +them. On April 22, they reached the beach of the island of Jolo. At +one o'clock of the day, the commander landed one hundred Spaniards and +a number of Indians, leaving the other men behind for the defense of +the fleet so that it might come to no hurt. They espied a flourishing +settlement, of which they had hitherto had no information; for the +king and his men live on top of the hill, for greater safety. But, +being desirous of enjoying trade and commerce with other kingdoms, +they had built that city. Between it and us was the river. Seeing that +this matter was one of quickness and determination, they immediately +crossed the river, part in boats, but the majority in water up to +their waists. They attacked the settlement, and although the Joloans +tried to resist, they were unable; accordingly, they retired, and our +men entered the settlement and sacked it. It contained quantities +of gold, cloth, and other things, especially in the palaces of the +king, which were very rich and beautiful, and curiously carved, +as was also the mosque. That island is inhabited by Moros. Our men +captured three versos and two falcons, one hundred and fifty muskets +and arquebuses, and a flag which the enemy had captured from us in the +shipyard. They esteemed the flag very highly, as they had captured +it from Spaniards. The Spaniards set fire to the settlement and to +a village of Lutaos, who are fishermen, as well as to the alcaiceria +which the Chinese had there. Everything was burned, including a very +large supply of rice which they had gathered, and which will cause +them great want. A quantity of powder and sulphur was also burned, +besides more than sixty joangas. These were the ships of their fleet, +in which they went out to pillage, using besides more than a hundred +other small craft, which also were broken up and burned; so that not a +single ship was left to them. Then the Spaniards looked for the tombs +of the kings, in accordance with the order given from Manila by the +governor. The tombs are highly esteemed by the Joloans. They found +three wonderful and splendid ones, especially one of them, which was +the one for the present king. They also burned these, although the +Joloans tried to prevent them. All this was accomplished in the same +afternoon when much of the fleet arrived; the men then retired to their +ships. Next day, which was Easter Sunday, the Spaniards heard that at +a certain point there was a large joanga belonging to the same king, +and three versos. Again they disembarked and burned the said joanga +and captured the versos. Upon all these occasions the captain-general +was the first to disembark, the last to enter the vessel, and the first +in all places where they went. With him went Father Fabricio Sarsali, +with a banner on which was an image of our father St Francis Javier, +who had been taken as patron of that expedition. + +After all that had been accomplished, the commander, Don Cristobal +de Lugo, sent a letter to the king which had been sent him from +Manila by the governor, in reply to that which the king had written +him. The governor had ordered that the letter should not be sent +until after the punishment had been accomplished. The king replied, +as the senate of Venecia might have done, with more courtesies and +reasons of state. For writing it he employed as secretary the Spanish +woman whom he had captured at the shipyard, who is named Dona Lucia, +of whom he is very fond. Consequently, although the Spanish commander +tried to ransom her and offered as much as six hundred pesos for her, +the king would not surrender her--answering that it was not consistent +with his greatness to give her up for money; but that he would send her +freely, if they would give him in recompense the falcons and versos +which they had captured from him, and one of the slave women who was +in our power. The slave woman was sent him, but not the artillery, +and a fine thing it would have been to arm the enemy to ransom one +woman. Thus did she remain in their power, but made half a queen. Some +of the enemy were killed, and others captured. Some of those whom +the king had captured from us came to us, but not all, for most of +them had been sold in other kingdoms. Great was the booty, and the +Indians who went on that expedition were rich and eager for other +expeditions. Not a single one of our men was killed or wounded. Thus +all of them returned to embark, laden with spoils and happy. The +enemy were left chastised and ruined for many years. Then our fleet +went to another island near there, called Taguima, whose inhabitants +went out to pillage with the Joloans. They had already been advised, +and accordingly fled to the mountains. Our men landed, and burned a +large village, in which there was nothing but common things. They laid +waste all the palm-trees, and did them all the damage possible. Then +the fleet went to the island of Mindanao. A letter was despatched +from the port of La Caldera to the sultan of that island, notifying +him to come to see our commander, but he refused to do so, and made +excuses; but the truth was, that he was afraid. He sent an ambassador +and wrote a letter to the governor of Manila, in which he begged for +fathers of the Society and one hundred infantrymen to build a fort +(which is the thing that we desire), from which to destroy the Joloans, +who are also his enemy at present. + +A great portion of the province of Cagayan, which is located in this +island of Manila, has been in revolt for some years. An extensive +raid was made this year by our Spaniards and two thousand friendly +Indians. Some of the enemy were killed, and eight villages burned. The +country was laid waste, with the fields that the enemy had there; +and thus were they punished for the insolent acts that they had +committed. Consequently, these islands have four wars on the tapis at +present: in the island of Hermosa, with the natives and the Dutch; +in Terrenate and the Malucas Islands, with the Dutch also; in Jolo +and other near-by islands whose inhabitants infest our seas; and in +Cagayan with the insurgents. For so much war we must have greater aid +from Espana and Nueva Espana, so that the condition of these islands +may not fall lower. + +I will conclude this relation with the fires that we have experienced +this year, which have been many and important. + +The convent of St. Francis, the hospital, and other houses were burned +in Maluco. The convent of St. Nicolas (which belongs to the Recollects) +in Cebu was burned March 29; and that of St. Augustine and a great +portion of the city on April 8. It was a miracle that our residence +escaped, for the fire was near it. + +Fire caught, at one o'clock at night on March 13, in the Parian or +alcaiceria of the Chinese, where more than twelve thousand Chinese +live, outside the walls of this city of Manila. Inside of five hours +it was all leveled. It naturally seems impossible that so large a +settlement, with wooden pillars which two men could not encircle, +could have burned in so short a time. But that must have been the +fire and punishment of heaven for the so horrible sins by which those +heathen Chinese have provoked the wrath of God. The church and convent +of St. Dominic, which is one of the most splendid wooden buildings +that there can be, escaped from the midst of this fire of Sodom. A +house owned there by the Society, which was even yet unfinished, was +also unburnt. All the rest was burned to the very foundations. The +inhabitants of Manila, who owned many of the houses, lost considerable +in that fire. But in the space of four months, most of that alcaiceria +has been rebuilt in squares and straight streets and uniform houses. It +presents a very beautiful appearance, and is as large as the city of +Manila itself. It is no wonder that a city should be built entire in +so short a time, when more than three thousand men have worked on +it. I do not know whether there can be any other part of the world +than Manila where there are so many workmen and so abundant materials. + +[Volume i of the Ventura del Arco MSS. (Ayer library) contains the +following synopsis of another relation for the years 1627-1628.] + + + +_Events in the Filipinas Islands from August, 1627, until June, 1628._ + + +In August, 1627, Governor Don Juan Nino de Tabora left the bay of +Manila with the fleet, going toward the island of Hermosa in order to +drive away the Dutch who had established themselves there two years +before the Spaniards. + +The fleet sailed out of season, for the relief ships from Nueva +Espana arrived a month later than they ought. Accordingly, the fleet +encountered northerly winds when they reached Cape Bojeador. They +remained there for some days, beating to windward, until after several +storms they had to put back to Manila. + +The galleys joined the fleet at Bangui, which is located at the same +cape. The smaller vessels, not being able to withstand the weather, +became separated from the fleet; and one of them, with the heavy +storm that overtook them, ended its voyage at a port of China, in +the province of Fo-chiu, and another at the island of Hermosa. The +galleys lost their moorings at Bangui, where the earth and even the sea +trembled fourteen times in one day. Hills were toppled over; and one +called Los Caraballos, which was on the road to Nueva Segovia, and was +inaccessible, sank and became very level. Some of the convents of the +Dominican religious (who instruct that province) fell. The hurricane +wrecked immense numbers of trees, which covered the beaches of the +sea. By the middle of September the weather moderated. The commander +of the galleys, not knowing that the galleons had put back, continued +his voyage, and reached the point on the island of Hermosa, and +entered the Dutch port without knowing it. He went within cannon-shot, +reconnoitered the port, and sounded the coast. He observed the fort, +and the preparations made by the Dutch, who were fearful of some +attack. Then he went to a small island inhabited by Chinese fishermen, +who received him cordially; they expressed hatred for the Dutch, and +their desire to aid the Spaniards to drive them from the island of +Hermosa. They had some Dutch prisoners, who had been shipwrecked from +a galleon that had been lost on their coasts, or on the reefs of the +said island. The galleys sailed thence toward our port in the island +of Hermosa, but so furious a north wind caught them, when near it, +that they were carried to Cape Bojeador in five days; and they were +able to make the port called Japones. There another storm struck them +on the first of October, and the two galleys were smashed to pieces, +although the artillery and men were saved. + +The ship that put in at Fo-chiu returned to the port of the island +of Hermosa with whose infantry and that of another small patache, +which had arrived before, and with some silver and clothing which it +carried, the fort was relieved; and its garrison were able to punish, +as they did, the Chinese who had killed two captains, with twenty-five +or thirty Spaniards. + +The governor, having returned to the bay of Manila with his galleons, +was notified from Macao, before he had disembarked, that four Dutch +vessels had been sighted, whose intention was to make prizes and +prevent the commerce. He sent two galleons as a convoy for the +Portuguese galleys of that port; but when they reached Macao the +Dutch vessels were no longer there, the battle having already occurred +which was referred to in the preceding document. + +The two galleons having been freed [from the convoy] went--after +suffering a severe storm in which they were nearly wrecked, from +the effects of which they had to be repaired--in accordance with the +orders of the governor, to scour all the coast as far as Malaca in +pursuit of the Dutch. For that purpose they equipped a patache before +leaving Macao, while another patache was despatched from Manila to +join them. During the eight months while the voyage lasted, those +four boats scoured all the places where the Dutch are accustomed +to go, without omitting any save to enter Jacatra [51] itself. They +went first to the island of Aynao [_i.e._, Hainan], which has four +cities, and is the pearl fishery of Great China. Then they skirted +the coast of Cochinchina, where the king sent to request them, +through a Spaniard who was there and the superior of the mission +which the fathers of the Society have there, not to attack them, +since he was our friend. They did not meddle with his possessions, +but, before leaving the coast, captured a junk belonging to the king +of Siam, which was coming from Canton laden with silks, earthenware, +and tobacco, which was valued at more than fifty thousand ducados. + +Between the islands of Pulo Condor and Puluibi, which are opposite +the kingdom of Camboja, one of the two pataches met a very large +Dutch ship, which it was thought was going to Siam, where the galleons +were awaiting it. But it was not so, and it was believed to have gone +to Japon. + +The raid of the fleet, and especially of those galleons, was feared +by all the kings of the coast and by those of Java and Borneo, and +they desired peace with the Spaniards. Even the mandarin of Fo-chiu +thought that the fleet was going to attack China, and ordered an +agent to go to the island of Hermosa to find out about it. + +The relief expedition sent to Maluco had the outcome mentioned in +the preceding document. + +During that year, the old king of Ternate died at Manila. He had +been captured at the recovery of the Malucas. He was a Moro, of royal +appearance and speech; and died in the Moro belief, of which he had +always been most observant. He thoroughly understood the teachings of +our holy faith, and said that the only reason that he did not embrace +it was because it was not fitting for a king to change his religion +because he had been captured. + +This document refers to the invasion of the islands by the king of +Jolo, in the same manner as the preceding document; and concludes by +saying that after he had been punished, the Spaniards began to build +three galleys, four brigantines, and forty large caracoas at the +order of the governor; and that they must be preparing themselves to +take vengeance on the Moros of Borneo, and the Camucones and Joloans, +for the damages sustained from them during the preceding years. + + + + + +REPORT OF APPOINTMENTS MADE BY GOVERNOR TAVORA + + +Sire: + +Proceeding in conformity with what your Majesty orders me by royal +decree, dated at Madrid on the twentieth of January, one thousand six +hundred and twenty-five, and countersigned by Senor Don Fernando Ruiz +de Contreras, directing that I should send a relation of the places, +offices, encomiendas, gratuities, incomes, allowances, additional +pay, and whatsoever other advantages I might confer, making a special +record for this; after having complied with this, and sent an account +in the ships which left this island for Nueva Espana in the year six +hundred and twenty-seven, I have thus far made appointments to the +following encomiendas, places, and offices: + +Captain Blas Lopez Baltadano was granted, in the name of your +Majesty, the encomienda of natives at Agonoc and its dependencies in +the province of Camarines, which was left vacant by the demise and +death of Don Diego Arias Xiron; it contains four hundred and sixty +tributary Indians, each one of them paying every year ten reals, two +for the royal revenue, and the rest for the encomendero. Four reals +of the latter are paid in kind--a hundred and ten gantas of rice in +the husk, fit for sowing and cooking; and two fowls for one real; +the rest being in money, of which two reals are paid to the minister +who instructs them. This grant was extended to him in conformity with +the law of succession, for services which he has rendered your Majesty +during the twenty-eight years past while he has been in these islands, +at first as a soldier in the company of Captain Juan de Laxara. He +was in the expedition for the discovery of the province of Tuy, as +an adventurer and head of the veteran soldiers. He was corregidor +of Butuan, and afterward went to the coast of Caraga, against the +natives of Mindanao, as commander of a caracoa which belonged to him; +and likewise in other parts of Mindanao, where he burned six caracoas +and protected and defended the natives of his jurisdiction. Later, +while corregidor of Ybalon, he attended to furnishing provisions for +the galleys which were sent there to await the ships from Nueva Espana, +as the Dutch were there again. He spent therein a great deal of labor, +as he was obliged to bring the supplies from another jurisdiction, +since there were not sufficient in his own. Twice he was alcalde-mayor +of Pangasinan, where he brought about the reduction of the rebellious +Indians, through the wise counsels of war which he gave. A few of them +were executed, and they surrendered and sued for peace. He was in the +expedition which Governor Don Luis Perez das Marinas made to Camboxa, +holding a captaincy and paying his own expenses. In the port of Pinal +he performed great labors in seeking supplies and money for the troops +of another fleet. At that time he was appointed royal alferez, and came +out wounded in his left arm from an encounter which he had with the +Portuguese of Macan, in attempting to capture their commander. After +his arrival at this city, he was made captain of Spanish infantry in +the said province of Pangasinan, and twice their commander-in-chief, +beside being alcalde-mayor and corregidor of Butuan at two other +times. During this time he performed other services, as appears from +the documents which he presented before me. On the said encomienda +there was levied and exacted from him fifty pesos of pension, each +year, which are to be given and paid to Alferez Juan Gomez, these being +a part of the hundred which he holds from the encomienda of Yguey and +its dependencies, belonging to Captain Juan Bautista Perez de Helquera, +in the said province of Camarines, by a grant which was made of that +sum to the said Alferez Juan Gomez by the royal Audiencia of these +islands, when their government was in its charge through the death +of Governor Juan de Silva. The said fifty pesos are taken away from +the said encomienda of Yguey that it may be free from them, as it has +few tributarios; and I have imposed them upon this said encomienda +so that the said Alferez Juan Gomez may enjoy them, comformably +to the grant which was made him. The said Captain Baltadano must +secure a confirmation of this grant from your Majesty inside of four +years, reckoned from the day of sailing of the first ships which are +despatched from these and the other islands for Nueva Espana--as is +ordered by the royal decrees of the twelfth of October, six hundred +and twelve, and the twelfth of July, six hundred and twenty-five, +under the penalties therein provided. He must likewise send a special +power of attorney to petition for the said confirmation, in the form +which is provided by another decree dated at Madrid, the twenty-eighth +of May, one thousand six hundred and twenty-five; and he must send and +remit to that court [a statement of] the amount of his monthly income, +when he sends for the said confirmation--in failure whereof the said +confirmation will not be accorded him, as your Majesty commands by +another decree of the eighth of June, one thousand six hundred and +twenty-six. I sent him the commission on the twenty-ninth of October, +one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven, having previously posted +notices in public places in the said city, for the benefit of those +who might have claims on the said encomienda, as is ordered by another +royal decree of the twenty-fifth of June, one thousand six hundred and +twenty-six; and have found by investigation that it is not included +in the royal decree which treats of the appointment to encomiendas +and offices in the form which is therein provided. + +Captain Francisco de la Haya was granted the encomienda of natives at +Lobo and Galban, and their dependencies, in the province of Balayan, +which was vacated by the demise and death of Don Joseph Arnalte. It +has three hundred and eighty-three tributarios, each one paying +every year ten reals, two for the royal revenue, and eight for the +encomendero. Four reals of these are in kind--sixty gantas of rice +in the husk, fit for sowing and cooking; and one fowl for one real; +and the other three reals in money, two of which are given to the +minister who instructs them. If they are paid in white cotton blankets, +of the ordinary size of three baras and a half in length and three +quarters of a bara in width, these are to be counted at two reals +apiece; and if they are of _soyol_, which are fine, at four reals; +and if hand-worked for altar cloths, at five reals. The grant was +made him in conformity with the law of succession, on account of his +meritorious acts and services which he has rendered to your Majesty +during the twenty-five years past, having enlisted as a soldier in +those kingdoms, in the company of Captain Don Fernando de Silva. In +that company he came to these islands, where he continued to serve, +being present in such occasions for service as occurred. In particular +he was present at the battle which was fought by Governor Don Juan +de Silva against the Dutch enemy in Playa Honda, in the year six +hundred and ten, where he received a wound, a musket-ball traversing +his right thigh. Afterward he accompanied the said governor in the +fleet which he took to the ports of Terrenate. He was at the capture +of Sabugo. [52] He was alferez in the company of Captain Antonio de +Morga. He was present with Governor Don Juan de Silva in the fleet +which the latter took to the strait of Sincapura; and afterward was +likewise in that of General Don Juan Ronquillo, who fought against +the said Dutch at the said Playa Honda, he being present on the +admiral's galley. He was a second time made alferez in this camp, +and resigned from service in the infantry to embark in the fleet which +Governor Don Alonso Fajardo prepared to oppose that of the Dutch, in +the year six hundred and nineteen, where he served as a soldier in +the company of Master-of-camp Don Geronimo de Silva. The next year +he was in the fleet of General Don Luis Fajardo, for the protection +of these coasts; and in the said position of soldier he served three +years, one hundred and eighty-four days, until he was advanced to +fill the place of adjutant sargento-mayor of this camp. Serving in +this capacity, he went in the fleet which left in the year six hundred +and twenty-five to oppose the Dutch who were upon this coast, having +as commander the said Master-of-camp Don Hieronimo de Silva. Finally +he was captain of infantry in this camp, and during this time has +rendered other services, as appeared more at length by his papers +which he presented before me. On the said encomienda there was levied +and exacted from him fifty pesos of pension each year which were to be +paid to Alferez Juan Gomez, which are a part of the hundred which he +holds as a pension from the encomienda of Yguey and its dependencies, +belonging to Captain Juan Baptista Perez de Helquerra, by a grant +which was made to the said Alferez Juan Gomez by the royal Audiencia +of these islands, while the government was in its charge through the +death of the said Governor Don Juan de Silva. I have taken the said +fifty pesos from the encomienda of Yguey, so that the said Captain +Bautista Perez may be free therefrom, as the tributarios which he +has are few; and I have imposed it upon this said encomienda so that +the said Alferez Juan Gomez may enjoy it, comformably to the grant +which was made him. The said Captain Francisco de la Haya is bound +to secure a confirmation thereof from your Majesty inside of four +years reckoned from the day of sailing of the first vessels which are +despatched from the islands for Nueva Espana, as is ordered by the +said two royal decrees cited, and under the penalties there provided; +and likewise he must send special power of attorney to petition for +and secure the said confirmation; and when he shall send for it he +must remit to that court the amount of his monthly income, failing +which the said confirmation will not be given him, as is provided +in the said royal decrees cited. I sent him the commission on the +twenty-ninth of October, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven, +having previously posted edicts in public places in this city for +a reasonable length of time, for the benefit of those who may have +claims on the said encomienda, as is ordered by another said royal +decree cited. I have ascertained by investigation that it does not +come under the provisions for the appointment to encomiendas and +offices in the form therein provided. + +Captain Pedro de Navarrete was granted the encomienda of natives in +the villages of Tabuco and its subjects, in the province of La Laguna +de Vay, which was vacated by the death of Captain Don Luis Enrriquez +de Guzman. There are five hundred and two tributarios, each one of +them paying every year ten reals, two for the royal treasury and +eight for the encomendero. Four of these are paid in kind--fifty-five +gantas of rice in the husk, half of which is cleaned for sowing and +cooking; and one fowl at one real; and the other three in money. Of +this the minister who teaches them is paid each year at the rate of a +hundred pesos of eight reals, a hundred fanegas of rice in the husk, +and one arroba of wine for the celebration of mass, for every five +hundred tributarios to whom they minister. This grant was made to +him for his merits, and the services which he has rendered your +Majesty during more than twenty-five years since he came over to +these islands with Governor Don Pedro de Acuna, in the capacity of +a soldier in the company of Don Thomas Bravo de Acuna. He served in +the said employment in this camp, and afterward went to the province +of Zibu, in the Pintados, where he remained more than four years, +connected with the company which was in Zibu, going out on all the +armed expeditions which occurred--namely, six times, against the enemy +from Mindanao, Caraga, and the Sanguiles, who were robbing and harrying +those regions, causing much damage, death, and pillage. He was present +at the taking of the fort of Sagao and the islands of Caraga, when +the natives there rebelled, and refused obedience to the king. He +was one of the soldiers who distinguished themselves, and climbed +to the crest of the ridge, until it surrendered, and many Indians +were captured, bringing the rebels back to the royal obedience. On +this occasion he received a wound in the head, from the many stones +which they threw. He served at his own expense and voluntarily, on +the said occasions; and in the said garrison of Zibu he performed +watch and sentinel duty with the other soldiers. He was present at +the rebellion of the Japanese against this city outside of its walls, +and was one of those who went out to fight against them in the year +six hundred and eight, and in that of six hundred and sixteen. He +was alferez of a Spanish company in this camp, and served in that +capacity in the post at Cavite, for its protection and defense, when +the Dutch had come with six ships to the harbor mouth of Mariveles, +intending to enter the bay, at the time when Governor Don Juan de +Silva had gone with his royal fleet to the strait of Sincapura. He +was personally present on the rampart of the curtains of the said +fort, which were breached at four points. He expended much of his +property, maintaining therewith a number of soldiers of his company +on account of the poverty of the royal treasury. In the year six +hundred and eighteen, he was made captain of infantry of the company +which was in garrison in the said fort of Cavite; and the next year +he was made a second time captain of another company of this camp, +where he served until it was disbanded. On many occasions when the +royal treasury was embarrassed, he has lent it a great quantity of +money. He is married to Dona Augustina de Morales, legitimate daughter +of Captain Pedro Navarro and Dona Luisa de Morales, and granddaughter +of Captain Gaspar Ruiz de Morales, one of the first conquerors and +settlers of these islands, prominent people of rank. During this +time he has rendered other services to your Majesty, all of which +appears more at length from his papers which he has presented before +me. Beside this, command is given by a royal decree dated at Madrid +on the nineteenth of June, six hundred and twenty-six, countersigned +by Senor Don Fernando Rruiz de Contreras, to the effect that in every +possible way should be furthered the work for the protection and aid +of orphan children and those lacking support, which was administered +and managed by Brother Juan Geronimo Guerrero in this city, as that +is so pious and charitable a cause, and it is so necessary to secure +its perpetuity and the support of the said children, whose fathers +have died in these islands in the royal service. As means were to be +sought for this, since they could not come from the royal treasury, the +said Captain Pedro de Navarrete, as one of the benefactors of the said +work, offered and bound himself to give as alms five thousand pesos of +eight reals at the coming of the ships which were expected from Nueva +Espana this present year; that sum is to be distributed and expended +in the said work, and to erect a building for the orphans, as that +which they have is in danger of falling. He bound himself to deliver +the said amount to the person who should be designated by myself. In +consideration of all which has been recounted, I have extended to +him this grant, charging him to secure a confirmation thereof from +your Majesty within four years reckoned from the day of sailing of +the first ships from these islands for Nueva Espana, and to send a +special power of attorney to petition for the said confirmation in +that court. Likewise he must remit there the amount of his monthly +income when he sends for the said confirmation, as is ordered +and commanded by the royal decrees cited, and under the penalties +therein provided. I had previously posted notices in public places +of this city for those who might have claims to the said encomienda, +a reasonable time before, as is ordered by the said royal decree +cited, which treats of this matter. I have found by investigation that +this is not included in the provisions for the order of appointments +to encomiendas and offices, as is therein provided. I sent him the +commission on the fourth of December, one thousand six hundred and +twenty-seven. + + + +_Appointments to offices of justice and war_ + + +I have appointed Sergeant Pedro Diaz Barroso as corregidor of the +island of Mariveles and its jurisdiction, as he is a man with the +qualifications which that office seems to require, and has served +your Majesty in these islands for a long time. He has a yearly salary +of one hundred and fifty pesos, which is the same as was enjoyed +by his predecessor. I sent the commission on the sixth of August, +one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. + +I appointed Alferez Geronimo Banegas, a citizen of this island, +as corregidor of the Negros Islands and their jurisdiction, and as +military commander there; for he is a person of the qualifications +which this position demands, and an old settler in this country who +has served your Majesty here. He has a salary of a hundred and fifty +pesos of common gold per year, and with that is to serve both offices, +which is the same as his predecessors have had. I sent his commission +on the third of August of one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. + +I have appointed Alferez Andres Martin as corregidor of the island +of Mindoro and its jurisdiction, and as military commander there; +for he is a person of the qualifications which the place demands. He +has served your Majesty more than twenty years in these islands and +those of Terrenate, and been present at the various battles which have +occurred. He has a salary of a hundred pesos of common gold per year, +for which he serves both offices. I sent him the commission on the +fifth of August of one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. + +I have appointed Captain Juan de Mendoza as alcalde-mayor of +the province of Pangasinan and its jurisdiction; and military +commander there; for he is a person of the necessary abilities and +qualifications, and has been more than twenty years in these islands +in your Majesty's service, when occasion offered. He has a salary of +three hundred pesos of common gold per year, and with this serves +both offices. I sent his commission on the ninth of August of one +thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. + +Admiral Don Christoval de Lugo y Montalvo, who is fulfilling the duties +of my lieutenant-governor and commander-in-chief in the provinces of +the Pintados, I have appointed alcalde-mayor of the province of Zibu +and its jurisdiction, and captain of infantry of the company which is +in garrison in that camp; for he is a person of many merits, and has +served your Majesty in these islands and other regions sufficiently +to deserve all the said offices of my lieutenant, alcalde-mayor, and +captain of infantry. He has only the salary of a captain, amounting +to about six hundred pesos per year, and no more. Thereby is saved +to the royal treasury the eight hundred which he drew merely for +the office of my lieutenant-governor and commander-in-chief. I sent +him the commissions on the ninth of August, one thousand six hundred +and twenty-seven. + +Captain Don Fernando Galindo I have appointed alcalde-mayor of the +province of La Laguna de Vay and its jurisdiction, and military +commander there; for he is a person of many excellent qualifications +for this office, and has been occupied in the service of your Majesty +in these islands whenever occasion has offered, where he has acquitted +himself very well. He has a yearly salary of three hundred pesos of +common gold, and for it serves both offices. I sent him the commission +on the tenth of August, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. + +I have appointed Captain Diego Lorenso de Trexo alcalde-mayor of the +province of Calilaya and its jurisdiction, and military commander +there, as he is a person of the qualifications and parts required for +this office. For thirty-two years he has been in these islands, and +has served whenever occasion offered, and acquitted himself well. He +has a yearly salary of three hundred pesos of common gold, for which +he serves both offices. I sent his commission on the eighth of August, +one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. + +I have appointed Captain and Sargento-mayor Juan Garcia Pelaez chief +justice of the port of Cavite, and military commander, and keeper of +Fort San Philipe there, as he is a person of many excellent qualities, +and has served your Majesty many years in these islands. For these +three offices he has no appointed salary from the royal treasury, +and accordingly serves without it. I sent him the commission as chief +justice on the thirteenth of August of one thousand six hundred and +twenty-seven. + +Alferez Luis Triscomia I have appointed alcalde-mayor of the Calamianes +Islands and their jurisdiction, and military commander there, as he has +been more than seventeen years in these islands, serving your Majesty +when occasion offered, and has the necessary qualifications. He has +a salary of three hundred pesos per year, for which he serves both +offices. I sent his commission on the third of August of one thousand +six hundred and twenty-seven. + +I have appointed Alferez Pedro Alvarez corregidor of the jurisdiction +of Ybalon, and military commander there, as he is possessed of the +qualifications required for this office, and has served your Majesty +in these islands more than sixteen years when occasion offered. He +has a salary of a hundred pesos of common gold per year, for which he +serves both offices. I sent him the commission on the fifth of August, +one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. + +I have appointed Captain Silvestre de Aybar warden of the camp and fort +San Gabriel, which overlooks the Parian of the Sangleys, with power to +administer justice in all matters which may arise in the said Parian; +for he is a person of proved capability, and of the qualifications +and abilities which are necessary for this office. He has served your +Majesty for thirty years past in those kingdoms, Nueva Espana and +these islands. He has a salary of a thousand pesos per year, which +is not paid from the royal treasury, but from that maintained by the +community of Sangleys in the said Parian, where they contribute each +year for matters necessary there, and for others pertaining to the +royal service. I sent his commission on the seventeenth of September, +one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. + +I have appointed General Don Andres Perez Franco as warden of the +fort San Philippe at the port of Cavite, and military commander there +and chief justice; for he has many talents and qualifications, and is +well acquainted with the said port, where he has been at other times +and has occupied honorable offices. He has no salary appointed from +the royal treasury, and accordingly serves without it, on account +of the promotion of Sargento-mayor Juan Garcia Pelaez, who held the +said offices, to be commander-in-chief of the provinces of Cagaian, +Ylocos, and Pangasinan. I sent him the commission as such warden +on the twenty-eighth of September of one thousand six hundred and +twenty-seven. + +General Don Juan de Alcarazo I have appointed chief commander of the +two galleons "San Yldifonso" and "Nuestra Senora de Pena de Francia," +which I sent as a fleet against the Dutch enemy who was at the port +of Macan awaiting the ships of the Portuguese, which were going back +from here with the produce from the merchandise which they brought. The +said galleons went to protect and guard them, and for other purposes +pertaining to the service of your Majesty in the localities which the +Dutch infested. I made this appointment on account of his many good +qualities and because he has served your Majesty in the military habit +and profession twenty-three years--both in the royal navy in those +parts, and in these islands--whenever occasion offered, occupying posts +and offices of the most honor, wherein he has acquitted himself very +well. He performed the said office for six hundred Castilian ducados +per month, which is the salary drawn by similar commanders. I sent +him the commission on the ninth of October, one thousand six hundred +and twenty-seven. + +Captain and Sargento-mayor Don Pedro Munoz de Mendiola, who serves in +this royal camp of Manila, I have appointed commander of the galleon +"Nuestra Senora de Pena de Francia," one of those which was sent in +charge of the said Don Juan de Alcaraso, to the said port of the city +of Macan, and other places, against the said Dutch enemy. For he is +possessed of the suitable abilities and qualifications, and has served +your Majesty in these islands, Flandez, and other parts of Europe, +in the military profession; and had been serving in the said office, +retaining the said position as sargento-mayor and with the same salary +which he gained before, and no other. I sent him his commission on +the fifth of October, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. + +I have appointed Captain Francisco Hernandez as captain of the +company of Spanish infantry which served in the forts of Therrenate +under Captain and Sargento-mayor Pedro Tufino, and as commander +of the royal galleys for the protection of those islands, because +permission has been given to the said Tufino to come to this city. I +made this appointment of the said Captain Francisco Hernandez because +he is possessed of the necessary qualifications and ability, and has +served your Majesty in the military profession for twenty-two years +in this region. He came to these islands as a soldier, and from them +went to the said forts of Terrenate, where he served twenty years +as a soldier and with extra pay as head of a squadron, sergeant, +alferez, adjutant, and captain of infantry, being present whenever +occasion for his service arose, and rendering especial services +there. He has a salary of six hundred pesos per year, for which he +has to serve both offices, as soon as the said company is delivered +to him. I sent him the commission on the twenty-ninth of October, +one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. + +On the said day I appointed the said Captain Francisco Hernandez +commander of the relief that is carried to the forts of Therrenate, +as he is in every way satisfactory, and possessed of the necessary +qualifications, as has been said in the previous clause. For his +services in the said duty he received six hundred Castilian ducados +per month, during the whole time that he served, which is the salary +drawn by similar commanders. + +I have appointed Adjutant Alonso Serrano a captain of Spanish infantry, +of the company which serves in the forts of Therrenate under Captain +Lorenso Hernandez, as the latter had permission to come to this +city. I made this appointment because he has the qualifications and +abilities which are required. Twenty-four years ago he came to these +islands in the capacity of a soldier, and during twenty of them has +resided and served in the said fort--being a soldier, commander of a +squadron with extra pay, sergeant, alferez, and adjutant, and being +present on all occasions when his services were necessary. He has +a salary of six hundred pesos per year, reckoning from the day when +the company is given over to him. I sent him his commission on the +eighteenth of November, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. + +Former Adjutant Alonso de Peraza, of this camp, I have appointed +captain of infantry, of the company which served in the said forts of +Therrenate under Captain Don Juan de Santiesteban Bracamonte, as the +latter had permission to come to this city. I made this appointment +because he has the necessary qualifications and abilities, and has +served your Majesty twenty-four years in this region in the military +profession, in these islands and those of Therrenate. He was present +at the recovery of the latter, and during the two fights when the +Dutch General Pablos Blancanden was taken, and in other encounters +and battles which took place on land and sea, against the Dutch, +and the natives of Therrenate. He became a sergeant, and was present +at the battle between General Don Juan Rronquillo and the Dutch. He +was a second time made sergeant, and again alferez, from which he +was promoted to be an adjutant, and has rendered other distinguished +services. He has a salary of six hundred pesos per year, which he is +to enjoy, from the day when the said company is given over to him. I +sent him his commission on the seventeenth of November, one thousand +six hundred and twenty-seven. + +Captain Roderigo de Mesa I have appointed captain of a company which +was brought to this city, and which he took to reinforce the forts of +Therrenate. For he is a person of the necessary qualifications, and has +served your Majesty twenty-four years in this region in the military +profession, both in these islands and in those of Therrenate--where he +served fifteen years with success as a private musketeer, a commander +of a squadron with extra pay, sergeant, alferez, and adjutant, in the +said camp--being present whenever there was occasion for his service, +on land or sea, and rendering distinguished services, as appeared +by his papers. He draws as salary six hundred pesos per year. I sent +his commission on the twenty-seventh of November of one thousand six +hundred and twenty-seven. + +I have appointed Captain Alonso de Balle alcalde-mayor and +military commander of the province of Ylocos, owing to the death of +Captain Alvaro de Loazes, for there are found in him the necessary +qualifications and abilities. He has served your Majesty for twenty-two +years past in these islands, being present when occasion offered, +and has acquitted himself well. From the offices with which he is +entrusted he draws a salary of three hundred pesos of common gold per +year, for which he serves both offices. I sent his commission on the +sixth of December, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. + +Captain Don Fernando Bezerra I have appointed commander of the ship +"Santisima Trinidad," which I sent with reenforcements and supplies +to join the two armed galleons which General Don Juan de Alcaraso took +in his charge to Pulotimon, and other parts of Sian, to secure thereby +good results for the service of your Majesty, because it was impossible +to take with them a patache when they left for Macan. I gave him this +appointment because he has the qualifications needed, and has served +in the military profession in these islands and in Therrenate for a +long time, rendering distinguished services. He drew a salary at the +rate of six hundred Castilian ducados a month, which is the wages of +similar commanders. I sent him the commission on the thirteenth of +December of the year one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. + +Captain Don Lope de Sosa I have appointed alcalde-mayor of the +jurisdiction of Tondo, and military commander there, as he is of the +abilities and qualifications which are necessary. He came to these +islands twenty years ago, and has here served when occasion arose, and +held honorable offices and charges, wherein he has acquitted himself +well. He has three hundred pesos of common gold per year as a salary, +for which he serves both offices. I sent him the commission on the +eleventh of January, one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. + +Alferez Pedro de Mora Salcedo I have appointed corregidor of the +jurisdiction of Leyte, Zamare, and Babao, and captain and military +commander there, as he has the qualifications and ability demanded +by the office. He came to these islands ten years ago in the service +of your Majesty, and has served here and in Therrenate, having been +a sergeant, and alferez, and a substitute. In an encounter with the +Dutch, at which he was present, the two lower bones of his right +leg were both broken by a musket-ball, and he was present in other +engagements. He has a yearly salary of two hundred pesos of common +gold. I sent him his commission on the nineteenth of January of one +thousand, six hundred and twenty-eight. + +I appointed Captain Fernando Lopez de Perona alcalde-mayor of the +province of Bulacan and military commander there, as he is possessed +of the necessary qualifications and abilities for this office, and +has served your Majesty for sixteen years, both in the fleet of the +Ocean Sea and in these islands, and acquitted himself well of what +has been entrusted to him. He has a yearly salary of three hundred +pesos of common gold, for which he serves both offices. I sent him +his commission on the fifteenth of March, one thousand six hundred +and twenty-eight. + +Alferez Martin Larios, deputy warden of Fort Santiago of this city +of Manila, I have promoted to be captain of Spanish infantry, of the +company which served under Captain and Sargento-mayor Don Antonio +de Vera in the garrison of San Salvador in Hermosa Island; for he +has the necessary qualifications and abilities, and has served your +Majesty thirteen years past in military habit and profession in the +states of Flandez, having been a soldier, commander of a squadron, +and a sergeant, being present on the occasions and at the places +where his services were needed, where he performed distinguished +services. He came over to these islands with the reenforcements which +he brought here. He was alferez in Nueva Espana of a company which +was raised in Zacatecas; and in that position he came to this city, +where he was appointed lieutenant of the said Fort Santiago. He has a +salary of six hundred pesos of common gold per year, as do the rest +in this camp. I sent him his commission on the sixteenth of March, +one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. + +Alferez Juan Moreno Criado I have appointed lieutenant warden of +the said Fort Santiago of this city, as he is of the requisite +qualifications and has served in military habit and profession more +than twenty-four years past, since he came to these islands. He was +present at the recovering of the forts at Therrenate, where he served, +and was present at the actions which took place, as he likewise was +in these islands, rendering especial service. He has four hundred +and twenty pesos a year as salary. I sent him his commission on the +twentieth of March of one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. + +Captain Juan de Herrera I appointed alcalde-mayor and military +commander of the province of Camarines, as he was of the qualifications +and ability necessary for that office. He came to these islands +twenty-three years ago and has served your Majesty in military +profession and in offices of justice, and other employments in which he +has been occupied, wherein he has acquitted himself well. He has three +hundred pesos a year as salary, for which he serves both offices. I +sent him his commission on the fourteenth of April of one thousand +six hundred and twenty-eight. + +Captain Francisco Ramos, a soldier of the company of Captain Diego +Lopez Lobo, I have appointed captain of the galley "Nuestra Senora +de Loreto," which was built in the province of Camarines, and is to +be sent to the forts of Therrenate; for he possesses the required +qualifications and ability, and for eighteen years has served +your Majesty in these islands and in those of Therrenate. He has +a salary of thirty-five Castilian ducados per month, which is the +wage of galley-captains of the forts of Therrenate. I sent him his +commission on the thirteenth of April of one thousand six hundred +and twenty-eight. + +Alferez Francisco de los Rios Coronel I have appointed corregidor and +military commander of the Catanduanes Islands, as he has the required +qualifications, and has served in the capacity of soldier in these +islands since the year one thousand six hundred and nine, when he came +out here, and has been present at the actions which have occurred. He +has a salary of a hundred pesos per year. I sent him the commission +on the twentieth of May of one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. + +Captain Francisco Gimenez I have appointed captain of Spanish infantry, +of the company which served in the garrison of Hermosa Island under +Captain Don Benito Flores, and as sargento-mayor of all the infantry +of the said garrison; for he possesses the required qualifications and +ability. During the twenty years while he has served your Majesty in +military service in these islands he has been present when occasion +offered, and likewise in the forts of Therrenate. He has always +acquitted himself well, and performed distinguished services. He +draws a salary of six hundred pesos per year, as do the rest of this +camp, and with it serves both offices. I sent him the commission +on the twenty-sixth of June of the year one thousand six hundred +and twenty-eight. + +Alferez Don Pedro de Axqueda Menchaca I have appointed alferez-royal +of the ships which are despatched this present year to Nueva Espana, +as he has the requisite qualifications and ability. He has served +in military service in this camp in the capacity of soldier, and in +that of alferez. He is the son of the master-of-camp Christoval de +Axcueta Menchaca, who died in these islands in the service of your +Majesty. He has eight hundred pesos per year of salary. 1 sent him +his commission on the fourth of July of the year one thousand six +hundred and twenty-eight. + +Alferez-royal Augustin de Salduendo I have appointed captain of +infantry, of the Spanish infantry company, which served in this camp +under Captain Don Diego de Axqueta Menchaca--who was promoted to the +position of admiral of the ships which this year go to Nueva Espana; +and later to the command of them, on account of Sargento-mayor +Don Gonzalo Rronquillo remaining in these islands, who had been +appointed commander of them. I gave this appointment to the said +Augustin de Salduendo because he was possessed of the requisite +qualifications and abilities, and had served your Majesty in these +islands in military habit and profession nineteen years in the +capacity of soldier, commander of squadron with extra pay, sergeant, +alferez, and other offices, and was present when occasion offered, +and rendered especial services. He has a salary of six hundred pesos +per year. I sent him his commission on the twenty-eighth of July of +one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. + +I appointed Alferez Domingo Francisco de Portilla as corregidor of the +island of Mindoro and its jurisdiction, and military commander there, +as he has the requisite qualifications, and has served your Majesty +in these islands for twenty years past in military service. He has +a salary of a hundred pesos per year. I sent his commission on the +thirteenth of July, one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. + +Sargento-mayor Don Philippe de Lezcano I appointed captain of +infantry, of the company which is in garrison at the fort of Tanda, +in the province of Caraga, and keeper of the fort there, and military +commander, as he has the requisite qualifications and ability. He has +served your Majesty thirteen years in military service in Flandez, +and passed to these islands in the position of sargento-mayor of +infantry which came as reinforcements last year, one thousand six +hundred and twenty-seven. He is assigned a salary of six hundred +pesos per year, which is what the other captains of this camp have, +and with this he will serve the two offices. I sent him the commission +on the twentieth of July of one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. + +Admiral Don Diego de Axcueta Menchaca, who was appointed admiral of +the ships which go to Nueva Espana this year, I have promoted to the +office of commander of them on account of Sargento-mayor Don Gonzalo +Rronquillo (who was appointed to this office) remaining in these +islands. I have made this appointment because the said Don Diego de +Axcueta has the requisite qualifications and ability. He has served +your Majesty in military service in these islands for nineteen years +past, having been a soldier, alferez, and several times a captain of +infantry, and one of the guard of Governor Don Juan de Silva. He was +present at the battle with the Dutch enemy under the said governor +in the year six hundred and ten, at Playa Honda. He went with the +governor to the forts of Therrenate, and was present at the taking +of Xilolo and Sabugo. On his return to this city he went to the +strait of Sincapura with the said governor, and was afterward in the +battle with the Dutch enemy in the year sixteen at the said Plaia +Honda where Master-of-camp Don Juan Rronquillo acted as general of +the fleet. He afterward became captain of infantry in this camp; +and while he held this position I appointed him commander of a ship +which went with the fleet in my charge to Hermosa Island. He is the +son of Master-of-camp Christoval de Axcueta Menchaca, who died in these +islands in the service of your Majesty. He has a decree directing that +he be occupied in offices of justice and war, conformably to his rank +and ability. He has performed other distinguished services for your +Majesty. He has a yearly salary of three thousand Castilian ducados, +which is the same as has been enjoyed by the commanders of similar +vessels. I sent him the commission on the twenty-fourth of July of +one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. + +Captain Don Fernando Galindo I have appointed admiral of the ships +which will go this present year to Nueva Espana, as he has the +requisite qualifications and ability, and has served your Majesty in +military service for twenty-two years past in the galleys of Ytalia +and other parts of Europa, and in these islands. While here he was +captain of infantry three times, once in this camp and twice in the +garrison of Cagayan. He was alcalde-mayor and military commander +in that province, and afterward was made alcalde-mayor and military +commander in the province of La Laguna de Vay. He was present when +occasion offered for his services, and acquitted himself well with +what was entrusted to him, rendering other important services to your +Majesty. He has a yearly salary of two thousand Castilian ducados. I +sent him the commission on the twenty-eighth of July, one thousand +six hundred and twenty-eight. + +Concerning the other appointments that may be made, I will send a +report during the coming year, in the same manner as your Majesty +orders me. May God our Lord protect you many years, with the addition +of greater kingdoms and seigniories, according to the needs of +Christendom. At the port of Cavite, on the second day of the month +of August of the year one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. + +In the ships which have just arrived from Nueva Spana in these islands +there came a royal decree by which your Majesty was pleased to confirm +and approve the grant which Governor Don Alonso Faxardo made to these +islands, while he was governor, to Don Luis Faxardo, his brother, on +the first of April of the former year one thousand six hundred and +twenty-one, giving him the encomienda of natives at Bombon and its +dependencies, in the province of Balayan, which contains two thousand +seven hundred and twenty-five tributarios. For this within four years +he was to secure a confirmation from your Majesty, as appeared from +the royal decree under date of the tenth of September of one thousand +six hundred and twenty-six, countersigned by the secretary Don Fernando +Ruiz de Contreras--which decided me not to proceed to the execution of +this without first informing your Majesty as to what has passed in this +matter, and the state in which affairs are at present. I found, Sire, +when I arrived in these islands and undertook the government thereof +in the said year of one thousand six hundred and twenty-six, that the +said encomienda was vacated, and declared so by Governor Don Fernando +de Silva, because the said Don Luis Faxardo had not secured the said +confirmation from your Majesty within the designated period. During +the vacancy, the proceeds of the products and the profits were placed +in the royal treasury. This encomienda had two thousand five hundred +and seven tributarios, which, as they appeared to me to be a large +number, I divided. I made a grant thereof in the name of your Majesty, +according to law, as being vacant, to two persons of considerable rank, +ability, merits, and services. One of these is general Don Antonio +de Leoz, to whom I gave one thousand six hundred tributarios thereof, +as I knew that he had served your Majesty for twenty-four years past, +both in the kingdom of Napoles and in these islands--whither he +came from that kingdom with Governor Don Juan de Silva, as alferez +of the company. Afterward he was made captain, and served in this +camp with other offices, being present when occasion arose. He has +always acquitted himself well of what was entrusted to him, as will +appear by his papers and commission--which I have despatched to him; +and which I understand should already be in that court to petition +for and secure the confirmation, according to the command. He is +married to Dona Juana Gallinato, legitimate daughter and sole heir +of Master-of-camp Juan Xuarez Gallinato, who died in these islands in +your Majesty's service, being a person of many services. I charged him +with a pension, from the said tributarios, of one hundred and fifty +pesos, which he each year gives and pays to Dona Beatriz Cornexo de +Tapia--a widow, who had been the wife of Doctor Juan Manuel de La +Vega, formerly auditor of the royal Audiencia and of these islands; +for she was very poor and was suffering need. In consideration of +making this grant Dona Juana Gallinato resigned one thousand two +hundred tributarios, which she held as an encomienda for a second +life, so that these might be assigned to other persons. The other +nine hundred and seven tributarios remaining I assigned to General +Don Juan de Arcarasso, likewise a person of great ability and merit, +and many services. He has served your Majesty for thirty-four years +past in those lands of Europa, in the royal fleet and elsewhere, +as well as in these islands--where he came as captain of a company +of Spanish infantry, which came with the reenforcements of the year +six hundred and fourteen. He has held and served in other charges +and honorable offices, being present when occasion arose. Thus far +and ever he has acquitted himself very well, as will appear more +at length by his paper and the commission which I sent him--which +should already be in that court to secure the confirmation of the +said encomienda. They are likewise recounted in a clause of a letter +which I despatched to your Majesty in the past year of one thousand +six hundred and twenty-seven, with the report concerning encomiendas +and offices. I made these two grants on the eleventh of December one +thousand six hundred and twenty-six, and issued decrees for them, +having fulfilled all the requirements which are ordered by the royal +decrees. I beseech your Majesty to have examined the matter referred +to, and the said encomienda considered vacant and so declared, in +conformity to the royal decrees which treat of this matter; and as +such to have the appointment given to the said two worthy persons, +who are in possession thereof by a just title. Above all, I beseech +you to command that it be your pleasure that this be observed and +complied with; and in the meantime I shall make no change, because it +appears to me that I acted justly, and that it is expedient for the +service of your Majesty. Dated _ut supra_. Sire, the humble vassal +of your Majesty. + +_Don Juan Nino de Tavora_ + +[_Endorsed_: "Examined; have it joined with the others on this +matter." "In the Council, October 9, 630."] + + + + + + +LETTERS TO FELIPE IV FROM GOVERNOR TAVORA + + +_Doubts in judicial matters_ + + + +Sire: + +1. Problems in regard to matters of justice are continually arising, +of which to inform your Majesty, in order that you may have the +advisable decision made therein, and so that the dissensions that +are wont to arise here from such doubts may be avoided. In regard to +the Spaniards and inhabitants of these islands, but one problem has +arisen--namely, when an encomendero marries an encomendera, whether +they may both retain encomiendas; or whether, after choosing the one +that they may esteem better, the other should he vacated. The practice +of these islands is that one of the two encomiendas is vacated. In +virtue of that, your Majesty's fiscal is at present petitioning +before the royal Audiencia for the revenues of a certain encomienda +given to a citizen. The auditors cannot find any order or decree from +your Majesty, by which this is ordered. Consequently, there is not +sufficient justification to declare judgment in favor of the fiscal. It +will be advisable for your Majesty to declare it; and to my mind, +in considering the fact that the encomiendas are few in number, it +would be advisable that there be no change in the practice--namely, +that by the very fact of an encomendero marrying an encomendera, +they choose that encomienda from the two which they consider better; +and that they leave the other, so that it may be regarded as belonging +to another citizen. [_In the margin_: "Observe the decree in regard +to this matter."] [_Note:_ "In this despatch arose the doubt that is +written on a separate piece of paper enclosed with this letter. There +it is decreed what must be executed."] + +2. In regard to the native Indians of these islands, I last year +represented to your Majesty that it would be advisable to have +judgments in their suits not rendered in the Audiencia, but by the +government, by having one or two advocates or salaried men for that +purpose, as is done in Nueva Espana, inasmuch as the same reasons +exist here. I trust that your Majesty will have it considered, and +answer in accordance with your pleasure. + +3. The most usual doubts have been in regard to the Chinese or +Sangleys who reside in these islands. An edict was published, at +the instance of the inhabitants, in regard to the measures, quality, +and prices of lumber, tile, brick, and other materials, in order to +avoid the frauds and illegalities which were being introduced into this +region, to the great damage of this community. The edict was published +under the auspices of the government, and its execution was charged +upon the alcaldes-in-ordinary. A few days after that a denunciation +was made; but, when the alcalde tried to enforce the penalty, the +Sangleys appealed to the royal Audiencia. The matter seemed a knotty +one to me, because the edict was notoriously a government measure, +and it was not advisable for its proper execution that the Sangleys +be allowed such delays. I considered it best to advise the auditors +of this, quoting to them the royal decrees, which ruled that they +should not mix in matters of government. They, desiring to extend +their jurisdiction, claimed that the trial of that appeal belonged +to them, as well as the decision whether the penalty of the edict +was excessive or not. I ordered the lawyers to be consulted, and all +those here gave their opinion in writing, namely, that the Audiencia +had no right to try such causes. Consequently, after having seen your +Majesty's decree of November 4, 1606, given to Don Pedro de Acuna, +in which is stated the method that must be followed in such doubts, +I resolved to order that the Audiencia should not try such appeal +until your Majesty, after having been informed of the matter, should +rule otherwise. [_In the margin_: "Have the fiscal examine it." "It +was taken to him." "Answered on a separate paper."] + +4. Almost similar was another question that arose a few days after, +when some Chinese merchants had been condemned, by the judge who visits +the Chinese ships, to pay the penalty which they had incurred because +of not having brought the ammunition and stores for your Majesty's +magazines which were ordered from them since the time of Don Juan de +Silva. They appealed to the royal Audiencia, who ordered the judge to +come to report on the matter. It seemed to me that the same argument +ruled in that as in the preceding case, and even more closely, as it +was a matter of war. However, I had the lawyers consulted again. They +decided that it was a military matter, and that it did not belong to +the royal Audiencia. Consequently, I ordered that they do nothing +further in the matter until your Majesty should be informed. [_In +the margin_: "Have the fiscal examine this also." "It was taken to +him." "Answered on a separate paper."] + +5. Another appeal has also come in these last few days to the royal +Audiencia from the governor of the Sangleys themselves. He is a person +appointed to govern them in their own manner, and to take charge of the +suits that are brought before him, written in the Chinese characters, +and according, to their custom. And although I did not think that +such appeals should be listened to, and gave my reason therefor, still +the auditors persisted in endeavoring to try this case. In order not +to irritate them, I have overlooked the matter, as it seemed to me +that they could act in this case with less evil consequences than +in the others. I advise your Majesty of it, petitioning you that it +may be to your royal service to have the Audiencia notified as to +what regulations cover not only the governmental and military suits, +but also those of justice, touching the Chinese or Sangleys. For this +some arguments occur to me, which I shall represent to your Majesty, +in order to say at one time what I believe in this matter. [_In the +margin_: "Take this to the fiscal also." "It was taken." "Answered +on a separate paper."] + +6. The Chinese, Sire, who live in these islands are almost all +infidels. Their god is silver, and their religion the various ways +that they have of gaining it. Their nature is cowardly; and those who +come to this country have so little character that, as they are not +entitled to anything among their own countrymen, they come to get their +livelihood among us, serving in the most menial trades. They engage in +suits and disputes very readily, in which they threaten one another; +and each day they arm themselves for their sinister ends. They have +innumerable methods of hiding the truth. They furnish as many false +witnesses as they choose, for, as they are infidels, they do not fear +God; and as they are so greedy for money, they swear [falsely], and +even sell their own parents. Their names and occupations are changed +in every step, although for this there may be no better reason or +argument than their own ideas. They are many strangers, coming and +going. Every year some go and others come, and consequently, the +uncertainty and confusion is unavoidable. They are as freehanded in +their bribes as interested in their gains. As they have control of all +the merchandise, trading, gains, and mechanical trades of the country, +their extreme readiness to scatter bribes is remarkable. There is no +Spaniard, secular or religious, who obtains his food, clothing, or +shoes, except through them. Consequently, there is scarce a Sangley +who does not have his protector. Among themselves they have great +system and energy in all those of one trade acting together in all +matters that affect them. They guard one another against the Spaniard +to such an extent that, if I wish to change my shoemaker, I will not +be able to find among all those engaged in that occupation another who +will sell me a shoe. If anyone would dare to do so, the others upon +his return to China would bring suit before their mandarins, and thus +they would destroy him and all his relatives. [_In the margin_: "Take +it to the fiscal." "It was taken." "Answered on a separate paper."] + +7. Therefore, since those of this nation are infidels and of so mean +a condition, one can easily infer that to attempt to govern them +with the method, rigor, and terms of our laws and regulations is +the highest injustice and a great abuse. The usual method of judging +them in their country is by a summary and verbal investigation, and +an immediate punishment with the bamboo. The latter is the strap or +whip which the mandarins always carry with them, as any superior is +allowed to flog his inferior, without other justification or authority +than that of his own plain reason. By that method is attained greater +respect and obedience than in any other nation. We do not have less +need for them to fear us and to obey our edicts, since they are our +feet and hands for all that arises for the service of the community +and that of your Majesty. But we shall never obtain that obedience +and respect, unless we conform (as far as the Christian religion +allows) to the methods practiced by their mandarins in commanding +them. This consists in having them punished instantly by the nearest +justices whenever they are found in disobedience or fraud--namely, +their governor and the alcaldes-in-ordinary--without giving them any +opportunity to go from one tribunal to another, or to drag them from +one prison to another. In that they are the greater losers, as their +property is wasted among the constables, attorneys, and notaries, +all of whom are doing their best to skin [_pelar_] them. At the end, +and in the long run, the truth is not laid bare, nor is the service +of your Majesty accomplished. The Sangleys have so many methods of +placing private persons, both religious and laymen, under obligation, +by services and by presents, that when anything is ordered for +them which does not suit them--even though it be for your Majesty's +service, or very necessary for the common welfare--they manage to +prevent the execution of it by a thousand methods, of favors and +negotiations. Therefore, if in addition to all the above, the door +of appeal to the royal Audiencia be opened to them from what is +ordered for them, well can one see that justice itself will become +the obstacle of what it should be the support. [_In the margin_: +"And this." "It was taken." "Reply in a separate section."] + +8. I have desired to represent all the above, so that your Majesty may +be pleased to order the royal Audiencia not to meddle in the affairs of +the Sangleys, whether they concern government, or war, or justice. For +if it has been advisable to order that--as is ordered in Nueva Espana +(and the same is petitioned here)--the Audiencia do not meddle with +the suits of the Indians, it will be much more advisable to observe +the same in regard to the Sangleys, for the above stated reasons. + +9. Likewise I have been advised that it is necessary for many +matters, both of grace and of justice, that it be declared whether +the governor of these islands possesses your Majesty's authority in +his government and district; and whether he represents your royal +person with the privilege of alternates which the viceroys possess +in their districts. Although one would believe that it must be so by +law, since the person of the governor is that which is here in your +Majesty's name, and the so great distance to that court dictates how +necessary it is in many cases that the governors have the authority +of doing what your Majesty would do if present, with the obligation +of reporting it to your Majesty; still in certain cases of grace and +justice that have arisen since my arrival at these islands, the lawyers +have declared that this was not plainly stated; and, consequently, +I propose them to your Majesty. [_In the margin_: "Let him observe the +tenor of his warrant, and the decrees and orders given regarding it."] + +10. Likewise it would be necessary that the same courtesy be ordered to +be shown to the governors of the Filipinas Islands as to the viceroys +in Nueva Espana, since in regard to them there are also here the same +reasons and advisability for doing so. By this some little matters +that have caused me innovations would be avoided. Although I pass +these over, it might be that in the time of my successors they would +cause some opposition. Such are for instance, that the auditors, do +not permit the governor's wife to go to the church with her husband +when the assembly goes there in a body; and that the preachers do not +salute the governor with words, as it is the custom to do in all the +kingdoms to the person who has the authority of representing that of +your Majesty. [_In the margin_: "Let the custom be followed."] + +11. This very day a case occurred while in the hall of the public +assembly, which I have thought best to refer to your Majesty. It was +in regard to a decision that I gave, apropos of one of the parties, +for the royal Audiencia. The secretary having come to sign the decision +that the Audiencia gave in approbation of the one that I had given, +called me in the record of the decision "the lord governor." One of +the auditors thought that that should not be the manner of naming +me in decisions; and chided the secretary before me, saying that he +was doing it to flatter me, and other things of like purport. The +secretary defended himself, saying that that was the style that he +had always used, and to prove it showed other decisions where not +only my person is named as "lord," but also those of the auditors. I +asked the others who were present for their opinion, and they replied +that it was very proper that the Audiencia should exercise that +courtesy toward the governor and captain-general of these islands; +and with greater reason, since he was their president, they were not +to treat him the same as an alcalde-in-ordinary. Thereupon I ordered +the secretary to do the same as heretofore, until your Majesty should +be pleased to order differently. I petition your Majesty to be pleased +to give the auditors to understand the estimation that it may please +you to have for the person of your governor and captain-general; +for this matter is not at all understood here. That is the reason +why the governors have always been at odds with the Audiencia. I am +not at odds with them, nor will I be, for I am the one who suffers, +and I shall suffer it, since I am under greater obligations than +they. I petition that what your Majesty may be pleased to order me +be expressed so clearly that they cannot give it any other meaning; +for this matter of interpreting your Majesty's decrees is done with +great ease in the Yndias, and truly rare are the decrees, if they touch +upon any controversy, in which it is not necessary for your Majesty +to declare them over again. [_In the margin_: "Let the custom be kept; +and in the records and decisions, let the governor be called 'lord.'"] + +12. I am enclosing an official record with this letter in regard to +what is forbidden to the auditors touching the suits and appeals of the +Chinese or Sangleys--a caution that I am taking, as I have seen that +they are complaining confusedly to your Majesty that I am preventing +them from receiving suits as alcaldes of the court, not specifying +as clearly as is possible what those suits and appeals are. It is my +opinion that the Audiencia should not meddle with matters pertaining +to the Sangleys, for the reasons that I have given for it in this +despatch, and in that of the year past. Will your Majesty order what +is most advisable, being assured that experience has obliged me to +give the report that I submit. May our Lord preserve the Catholic and +royal person of your Majesty with the increase of new kingdoms, as +we your vassals desire, and as we need. Manila, August 4, 1628. Your +Majesty's humble vassal, + + +_Don Juan Nino de Tavora_ + +[_In the margin_: "Let the fiscal see it." "It was taken to +him." "Answered on a separate paper."] + + +_Affairs of the treasury_ + + + +Sire: + +Since I have to give account in this letter to your Majesty of what +there is to tell in regard to your royal treasury, I shall begin it +by explaining some decrees that I received the past year, which were +despatched at the instance of the royal officials. + +In the first decree, they complained that my predecessor, Don Alonso +Faxardo, did not allow them to exercise their duties in the port +of Cavite; and that he had appointed as lieutenant of the governor +and captain-general, Don Andres Perez Franco, castellan of those +forts. Your Majesty orders that they be allowed to perform their +duties, and that commissaries be not appointed for what pertains +to them. They will not conduct those suits with him; for, although +I retain Don Andres Perez Franco in Cavite, I have not given him +the title given him by Don Alonso--although he never used it, as +I am informed. The efficient collection and care of the revenues +of your Majesty belong to the royal officials; and with that power +they take part in all the equipping, building, and despatch of the +vessels. But the appointments of the officials of the vessels, and +all else touching government and war, have always been attended to by +the governors, who for this have maintained in Cavite a castellan, +commandant, and chief justice, of the abilities and experience of +Don Andres Perez Franco; so that, although I could rest, still I +have not been negligent, but have gone in person, on the occasions +for the equipment and building of vessels, every week to that port, +which is a very necessary thing. [_In the margin_: "Seen."] + +In the second decree they informed your Majesty that the said my +predecessor did not accept the replies that were made to them in +accordance with the ordinances. I trust that there will be no fault +to find with me in this regard. However it is advisable to have it +well understood that it cannot be done and that it is not advisable, +because of the accidents that happen by observing the ordinances with +the strictness that some ministers demand at times. What is certain is, +that I shall never depart from what I consider to be for the greater +service of your Majesty. [_In the margin_: "Seen."] + +In the third decree the royal officials petition for the suppression +of the rule that was introduced in the time of Don Juan de Silva, +by which the royal officials should not pay anyone without an order +from the governor. Your Majesty orders me to observe toward them +their rights and instructions. What is done in my time is that the +royal officials adjust the accounts and issue warrants; but they are +not paid without my order. The reason therefor is that, because this +government has not one-half the money necessary to meet expenses +and debts--as well as the support of the infantry, the building of +ships, the repair of the fleets that guard these coasts, relief for +the Malucas and the island of Hermosa and other presidios--besides +inevitable things, it is necessary that the governor, who is charged +with all this, know how much money there is in the treasury, and that +he divide it so that it may not fail for the most necessary things, +If he trusted to the royal officials in this, without having a private +book of the receipts and disbursements of the treasury (as I have), +when he imagined that there was money for the reenforcements of the +infantry and the despatch of the fleets he would find nothing. If the +treasury were supplied, there would be enough for all, and the royal +officials by justifying the payments would be fulfilling their duties; +but since there is not more money than for one-half of what is needed, +and since we live by the art of enchantment, it is necessary that the +royal officials do not pay whomever they wish, but what is most urgent +and inevitable for the preservation of these kingdoms. Accordingly, +the measures introduced in this regard during the term of Don Juan +de Silva were very commendable and necessary. As it was so necessary +a thing, persons of great experience advised me of it even before I +had taken over the government, and experience shows me that it cannot +be dispensed with. [_In the margin_: "Take it to the fiscal." "The +fiscal says that after having considered the reasons written by the +governor, the practice which the latter declares has been followed, +and is followed, namely, of not permitting the royal officials to make +any payments from the royal treasury without his advice and decree, +can be tolerated; for in such cases the other viceroys and governors +are wont to provide the same, notwithstanding that it is ordered that +they allow the royal officials to perform their duties freely. Madrid, +November 19, 1630." "That for the present, the plan now followed in +this be observed, and note shall be taken that the payments made be +with all justification."] + +The fourth decree is in regard to the collection of the licenses which +are given to the Sangleys allowing them to remain in the islands, that +this shall be made by the royal officials, and the proceeds from it +punctually deposited in the royal treasury, without its being given, +under any consideration, into the possession of another person. What +I have to say in this particular is that, although since my arrival +at these islands that money has always been deposited with the judge +of the licenses, it was always delivered every week and month to the +royal officials. The collection has been so well attended to that, +although there were the same number of Sangleys in the time of Don +Alonso Faxardo, during the interim of the Audiencia, and that of Don +Fernando de Silva, when the most that was collected was eight thousand +pesos, during these last two years it amounted one year to ninety-eight +thousand pesos, and the other to ninety-five thousand. Besides this, +when at the last everything was exhausted, old notes were presented; +and during these last two years about twenty thousand pesos were +paid. Now although the royal officials have no time so that they +can take part in this collection--as it is different from all other +collections that are made, and one has to keep at it all day--I have +ordered them by an act, in accordance with the decree of your Majesty, +that it be done in a room assigned for it, in order that it may be +paid in these royal houses; and so that they may really collect in +person the money which the judge whom I appoint (as I cannot attend +to it), and the agents whom I hire, collect from the Sangleys who +shall bring it to them. By that method your Majesty's order will be +accomplished. That is not its intention, but only to keep tab on the +Sangleys, and on the profit that results from the licenses. This sum is +distributed in official service, and is a matter of justice. Diligent +toil is expended on this collection, and the Sangleys are sought in +the hills and in a thousand places where they hide, in order not to +pay. Only the authority of the governor, to whom your Majesty has +assigned the giving of licenses allowing the Sangleys to remain +in the country, can issue the licenses and order the collection, +but no other person. Your Majesty may be assured that your service +is performed with great affection and care; and that I am looking +out for your royal revenues much more than for my own. For since I +arrived in these islands considerable has been saved for your Majesty; +as it will be seen by the accounts that what cost six in former years +and did not gain any profit, today costs four and is profitable; and +the profit is not lost, for it is carefully expended. I know that it +will be impossible for the royal officials to collect personally; +but they can authorize some one to collect and deposit the money +in the royal treasury every night. By that means everything will be +regulated, although they never remain satisfied, for they do not have +the profits which they have desired. [_In the margin:_ "Seen."] + +Another decree came by which your Majesty orders me to investigate +the troubles which the royal Audiencia had represented as being +due to the sale of the offices of the notaries for the provinces of +these islands. I discussed the matter in an assembly of persons of +considerable experience, both seculars and religious; and all were +of the opinion that it was not advisable to sell the said offices, +but that they should be filled by appointment, and changed annually +along with the alcaldes-mayor. For besides that they are of very small +profit to your Majesty, it is certain that if the said notaries were +permanent, the said Indians would not dare to bring suits against +them at the time of their residencia, which is taken each year when +the alcaldes-mayor finish their office. Consequently, they come to be +so tyrannical that they destroy the poor Indians. For that purpose, +I had already resolved before the reception of the decree not to +continue the sale of the said offices; and, when those which I found +sold became vacant, not to resell them. Will your Majesty please +consider this matter favorably, since what is most important for +your royal service is that these afflicted natives be not injured by +your agents. [_In the margin_: "Take it to the fiscal." "The fiscal +says that, notwithstanding what the governor writes in this section, +these notaryships must be ordered to be sold, or at least one in the +capital of each province. For while some troubles may result from +this, those which are experienced daily in regulating the notaries +who are called 'appointed' are greater. Consequently, general decrees +are despatched ordering the suppression of this practice in all parts +of the Yndias, although it has been carried out in but few, because +the said governors refuse. He petitions that it be so provided and +ordered, and justice done. Madrid, November 19, 1630." "Let what is +decreed be obeyed." "Observe what is decreed, in accordance with what +the fiscal says."] + +By the last decree concerning this matter of revenue, your Majesty +orders me to investigate whether it would be advisable to make a +new appraisement of the tribute which the Indians are ordered to +pay in kind; and whether it will be advisable for the Indians not to +be compelled to pay in kind, but in gold or silver, or in what they +were able and willing to pay. What I can say to your Majesty about +this is, that the present practice in these islands was introduced +by order of Governor Don Pedro de Acuna, with the consent of the +royal Audiencia and the ecclesiastical prelates, by which the natives +pay four reals of their tribute in kind, and one fowl besides, and +the rest in money. In regard to the quantity and kinds of products +which had to be given for the said four reals, the appraisement was +made according as the circumstances of each province required. After +the religious and ministers who instruct the provinces had conferred +among themselves, at the command of the said governor this was done, +in the year 604. Since then times have changed, and the prices have +been different. Accordingly, the quantity of rice or other products +that the Indians are ordered to pay on account of the said four +reals is too much in some provinces. Consequently, I think that your +Majesty ought to order, with the assistance of another council that +was called in the time of Don Pedro de Acuna that the matter be again +conferred over, and decision made whether it is advisable to make a +new appraisement; and that, if that be found desirable, it be done +at once. But in regard to leaving it to the Indians whether they +will or will not pay the said four reals in kind, besides the fowl, +in no consideration am I of the opinion that that should be left to +their choice; for the natives are generally so inclined to laziness +that they do not sow or cultivate the lands, unless forced to do so +by the obligation of paying the tribute in kind, as it is assigned +in accordance with the different fruits and products of the many +different provinces in these islands. It is seen in these provinces +by experience that the obligation of sowing in order to pay their +tribute is what keeps them supplied with all kinds of food. These +considerations occur to me in regard to this decree, and to the others +that I received the past year concerning this matter. [_In the margin_: +"Take it to the fiscal." "The fiscal says that he agrees with what +the governor writes in this section, and he is certain that it is +advisable for the Indians to pay a portion of their taxes in kind; +for, in any other way, they would not have the care that is advisable +in rearing and planting. Madrid, November 19, 1630." "Observe what +the fiscal says."] + +Coming now to the special consideration of the revenues of this year, +the receipts have been less than ever. One hundred and eighty thousand +pesos came from Nueva Espana. The licenses will have amounted to +ninety thousand; and the other revenues--duties, situados, moneys from +vacant offices, and balances of accounts--to another fifty thousand, +including in this twenty thousand that the procurators of the city of +Macan gave as aid in the voyage which the galleons made in convoy of +their galliots. In all it does not amount to more than three hundred +and fifty thousand pesos. The expenses are more than five hundred +thousand pesos; but they have been greater [than in other years], +for besides the stipends of this holy church, the salaries of the +royal Audiencia and other officials, the pay of the infantry of +this camp and the presidios, the aid for Terrenate and the island of +Hermosa, the naval storehouse at Cavite, and other ordinary expenses, +many extraordinary ones have arisen. These include the fleet, the +voyage of the galleons, and the embassy to China; the construction +of three galleons, four brigantines, and one galleon which is being +built--together with more than seven thousand pesos that the governor +of Terrenate bought in food and clothing, in order to supply the +lack of those which were in the flagship which was lost; and also +the unavoidable expenses of this government, although the infantry +have not received their entire pay. Your Majesty can easily see how +we shall have passed this year. The relief has been mostly through +the large contributions by which I am exhausting the inhabitants; +by loans; by neglecting to collect many salaries; and by sending more +than one-half of the camp on ships through those seas for eight months, +in order to save the effective succor which it was necessary to give +them while ashore. Consequently, I find myself owing, in loans and +debts contracted in this year, to the amount of one hundred and fifty +thousand pesos. That sum must be paid on the arrival of the succor +from Nueva Espana. If that succor is as short as it was last year, +it will mean to drive us out by the gates, and render it impossible +for this government to do anything for its increase and the service +of your Majesty. [_In the margin_: "Seen."] + +Nothing has placed the states of Flandes and those wars in greater +stress than the mutinies. Your Majesty has a large body of infantry +in these islands; and although it is in the Yndias, where it seems +to those in Espana that everything is in superabundance, that is +a delusion; for the soldiers experience much misery and hardships, +and see only a scanty relief, and every year a large amount of pay +remains still due to them. All the remote presidios suffer, and in +Terrenate the soldiers desert to the enemy. I humbly entreat your +Majesty to consider these reasons, and have the viceroys of Nueva +Espana strictly ordered to send us what is asked from them. For in +no other way will they succor these islands, as is advisable; nor do +they, in other things, provide anyone to whom can be entrusted the +assaying [of metals]. Some persons have done this, but have not had +the certainty that was desired. I trust in God that He will help me +to attain some success. I shall not desist from the effort--and that, +be it understood, without expense to your Majesty. I have some ores +in my house again, which I am assaying--mainly because I have no +one who understands it thoroughly--although I am proceeding almost +blindly. [_In the margin_: "Seen."] + +After having written this, news came of the arrival of the ships of +this year, and a report of the succor that is sent in it, namely, +250,000 pesos in reals. The treasury now owes 150,000 pesos to the +citizens for loans, and for food which has been taken from the natives +on credit, for the expenses of this year. We cannot neglect to pay +any part of that sum as soon as the ships reach port, in order not +to lose credit with the inhabitants and natives, who are the ones who +support us most. Taking then 150,000 pesos from the 250,000 that come, +only 100,000 remain to be deposited in the treasury for the expenses of +this year. Last year, when the succor arrived there was nothing owing +for loans or food. In the matter of expenses I have been so moderate +that I have not paid the salaries of the government employees, nor +the debts of any of the back years. I have kept the infantry on ships +for the space of eight months, in order to save the succor and actual +cash that would have to be given them if they were ashore. Yet at the +end of the year the treasury has been found pledged to the extent of +the said 150,000 pesos. Since at least 80,000 pesos in reals are to be +expended from the treasury this year in relief expeditions, and since +we can not fail to have the expenses of last year, I find that in the +coming July of 629, when the ships which I am now despatching arrive +(if God be pleased to bring them back safely), we will owe 250,000 +pesos in loans and food. That will be all the succor that I can count +upon as being ordered to be sent me. Neither of those can I get here in +this country, for the loan is a grievous burden on the inhabitants. My +rigor cannot be greater than that of the present year. And, even did +I secure these supplies, we shall be ruined none the less on that +account in the following year, since at the time of the arrival of +the succor, we shall be owing it all. [_In the margin_: "Seen."] + +The ordinary expense of these islands, if the infantry are given +the full amount of their pay, is seven hundred and fifty thousand +pesos per year, at appears from the reports of accounts that I am now +sending. The unavoidable expense of necessary aid, factories, salaries, +and stipends, amounts to 550,000 pesos. What these islands produce +from year to year, in money which can be deposited in the treasury, +as an aid to the ordinary expenses, amounts to 150,000 pesos. That +leaves 400,000 pesos, which must be sent in reals every year from +Nueva Espana. That should be by way of a gift or consignment (as your +Majesty does in other places of less importance and danger than these); +and it should not remain at the will of the viceroys of Nueva Espana +whether they will send the money or not--even if they have to get it by +loans. And even if this be ordered in the manner in which I request, +the treasury will still remain under the obligations and shortage in +which it will have been involved all these current years. With good +administration and better intelligence--and every day I am trying +to further the increase of the royal possessions--I hope that this +will be retrieved. For if we have the means necessary to maintain the +fleets in activity, we shall endeavor therewith to retrieve most of our +arrears. But if the necessary funds be not given, we must necessarily +lose what is now sent, which will be of no advantage when our fleet is +rendered useless for lack of what is needed. [_In the margin_: "Seen."] + +I am very sure that your Majesty will have heard by different ways of +my care in watching your royal treasury, and the change that has taken +place in it, and the reform in the expenses since my arrival in this +government. But I feel obliged humbly to petition your Majesty to be +pleased to withdraw me from it in case that there is no opportunity +of succoring it, as I petition; for I am very certain of the rapidity +with which it is hastening to its final destruction, and it is not +proper that a possession of so great importance for the Roman church +and the crown of your Majesty be lost in the hands of persons of my +character and desires. May our Lord preserve the Catholic and royal +person of your Majesty, with the increase and prosperity which we +your vassals desire and as we need. Manila, August 4, 1628. + +Just now has been brought to me what this royal Audiencia writes to +your Majesty, all complaining that the thirds of their salaries are +not paid to them with the promptness that is ordered; that sometimes +two or three thirds are owing to them; and that the cause of this is +the annoyance and trouble brought about by the governors ordering +that they be not paid without their special order. What has been +done in this matter during my term will be seen by the testimony +that I enclose with the present letter. It would be a strong case if +there were any money in the royal treasury, in view of the shortness +of the succors as the ships cannot be expected for the last third, +that of April. The same measure has been taken this year with all the +officials in general, as well as to myself. The treasury owes me ten +thousand pesos, and to the citizens a great sum in loans, for since +the needs of the treasury are so pressing, we all must feel it. The +ships have arrived late, and order has been given to pay immediately +the third that is due. What remains to be paid will be paid by the end +of this month, when it will be due. Thus have we been doing hitherto, +and there has been no delay in any third, unless for two or three +days that are spent in making out the vouchers and giving the decree +or order--without which nothing is paid, for the reason that I gave +above in the third section of this letter. This appears a vexation +to the Audiencia. May God preserve the Catholic and royal person of +your Majesty, as Christendom needs. Manila, August 4, 1628. Sire, +the humble vassal of your Majesty, + + +_Don Juan Nino de Tavora_ + + +[_In the margin_: "Take it to the fiscal." "The fiscal says that in +regard to the governor taking charge of the payments that are to be +made in the royal treasury, he refers to what he has said in another +section of this letter. In regard to his holding back the thirds of +the salaries of the auditors, it must be ordered that that be not done +unless it is rendered necessary by a very urgent occasion. Madrid, +November 19, 1630." "Let him see that their salaries are not withheld +from the auditors, preferring them to all the other payments that +shall be made."] + + + +_Governmental affairs_ + + +Sire: + +What occurs to me, of which to write your Majesty concerning this +government, in addition to the matters of justice, revenue, and war +(of which I am writing in separate letters), is, first, of the peace +and quiet that has been enjoyed in this community. All the tribunals +maintain peace among themselves, and act with great harmony and +unanimity. And although a few occasions and controversies do not +fail to arise in the course of the year in all of the tribunals, +I endeavor to lean toward that which is of most importance to us, +namely, peace. [_In the margin:_ "Seen."] + +The city has been beautified by the building of a bridge which was +desired for a long time; and, although it had been regarded as almost +impossible, we now see it in such condition that we can cross by it +within two months. Then we shall be able to attend to the conducting +of the water or fountain with which your Majesty so earnestly charged +me. In this and other buildings, I exert myself very willingly. If +the inhabitants were in so easy circumstances that taxes could be +imposed on their possessions to carry this construction forward, +there would be much more work, [_In the margin:_ "Seen."] + +One night in the month of January, fire was carelessly set (as far as +could be learned) in the Parian of the Sangleys or Chinese who live +close to the walls of this city. All the buildings were of wood and +straw; and consequently, although we went to the rescue as quickly and +energetically as possible, the fire could not be extinguished. I viewed +the fire from the guard-house itself, which looks out on the Parian, +in order to prevent the movements that the Chinese might attempt under +such circumstances. The master-of-camp, Don Lorenco Olaco, entered the +Parian itself, and by his timely efforts, and through God's help, he +saved the convent and church of the fathers of St. Dominic, who have +charge of the Chinese. The latter, being infidels, were not a little +surprised at seeing only the convent and house of the fathers escape +so great a fire. Almost all the Parian has been rebuilt, with much +better outlines and edifices than before, and that to such an extent +that this city is beautified by buildings so fine. [_In the margin_: +"Seen."] + +There have also been other fires this year. One was in the city of +Cibu, where the convents of the calced and discalced religious of +St. Augustine were burned, together with some houses of the most +influential inhabitants. Another was in the city of [Nuestra Senora] +del Rosario de Terrenate, where the convent of St. Francis and the +royal hospital were burned, together with a considerable portion of +the native village. The edifices in these regions are generally of +wood or bamboo, and the roofs of straw. Consequently, they are very +liable to such disasters. Now edifices of stone are being introduced, +roofed with tile or brick, and therefore these troubles are being +averted. [_In the margin_: "Seen."] + +The year has been a productive one for rice, which is the wheat of this +country. We are experiencing the great blessing that will result from +the cultivated farms that have recently commenced to be established by +the Spaniards. They are cultivated by the Chinese, who are excellent +farmers. I am encouraging it to the best of my ability, as I believe +this is the shortest road to provide this city with plenty of food. + +In regard to the trade and commerce of silks and other products +of China, in which consists all the substance of the inhabitants +of this community, certain straits will be experienced this year, +because the returns from Nueva Espana have been very slight, and +prices here are very high. Consequently, all the city has thought, +with the general consent, that there should be no [record of] +investment, or register, in the ships that are despatched this year +to Nueva Espana for aid. Thus was I petitioned in the name of the +whole city. I discussed it in the session with the auditors, and in +a treasury meeting with those who attend that. All thought that what +the city petitioned should be conceded, as it was well known that +it would tend to its increase and profit, or to say better, to the +restoration of this community. Your Majesty has much more interest +in that than in the duties on the investment and register, which +are of slight consideration to this treasury and to that of Mexico; +while it is of great interest to all the monarchy that so much silver +be not sent to China as was going every year from these kingdoms of +your Majesty. Since your royal decrees make so much of the harm that +would follow to those kingdoms and to all the monarchy from excesses +in these regions, I do not doubt that the decision to set aside the +[record of] investment for this year will be quite in accord with +its welfare and to your Majesty's pleasure. [_In the margin_: "Take +it to the fiscal." "The fiscal says that, in spite of the causes +mentioned by the governor in this section of his letter, he has +been notified from Mexico and various other places in regard to this +particular; and that the ships were laden with merchandise of great +value. Hence the omission of the register only served to defraud the +royal duties. Consequently, the governor should be censured for his +act and a greater demonstration [of displeasure] reserved for what +should result from his inspection and residencia from Mexico, that +being one of the matters referred to that city." "Let the decision +of the fiscal be followed; and advise the inspector of this, so that +he may charge those who are guilty."] + +Not less attention has been paid to the government of the Indians +and natives of these provinces. I found them greatly oppressed and +harassed by the many burdens, assessments, and services that were +imposed on them for the service of your Majesty and the support of the +government employees and justices. In regard to this matter, I held +several conferences with the ecclesiastical prelates, the regulars, +and the seculars. At these were present your Majesty's fiscal, the +assessor of the government, and two encomenderos in the name of the +others, and I conferred with them on the most important points. Later, +with general consent, I made a new set of instructions and ordinances +concerning the justices and encomenderos. By them was prohibited under +heavy penalties whatever had been introduced that was harmful to the +Indians. An attested copy of certain points was given to the superiors +of the orders and to the ministers who are not regulars, of which it +seemed best that they should be notified at the same meeting. They were +strictly charged with the execution of those clauses; under penalty +that if redress were not made by their own action, your Majesty will +enforce it. And in order that some cooperation might be supplied on +the part of your royal treasury to this general relief which we are +trying to effect for the Indians, it was resolved, with the consent +of the tribunal of the treasury, to pay the natives who serve in the +naval storehouse, the rope-factory, and in the repairs of the ships of +your Majesty, a moderate sum which seemed a just recompense for their +labor. By that means, and without any remarkable cost to your Majesty +(since other expenses were cut down), the villages were relieved of +many thousands of ducados which they had to contribute (to their own +ruin) every year for the just payment of the aforesaid services. Thus, +adding to all this the efforts that, as I wrote in the letter on +military affairs, have been made and are being undertaken in regard to +their protection, I think everything possible will have been done this +year for the just government and administration of these unfortunate +natives. [_In the margin_: "Take it to the fiscal." "The fiscal says +that from what this section shows, the zeal and care of the governor +in the welfare, protection, and instruction of those natives ought +to be esteemed, and he ought to be ordered to go ahead. At present +nothing else in particular can be answered or advised, because this +letter does not contain the matters mentioned in it and said to have +been given to the religious orders, etc." "Advise him that the papers +have not come, and that we are awaiting them, in order to decide as +shall be most advisable."] + +Quite a number of meetings were also held in regard to the government +of the Sangleys or Chinese, both those naturalized in the country +and those who are transient--the traders and mechanics, who are very +numerous. All that needed reform was discussed very deliberately, and +is being carried out in accordance with the decisions of the other +tribunals. However, we cannot help having a million difficulties +in regard to all the matters concerning that nation, as we do not +govern them after their own manner--as I state in greater detail to +your Majesty in the letter on judicial matters, when discussing the +manner in which I think those people should be governed. It is sure +and certain that so long as there cannot be the remedy that I ask for +in this matter, what is desired and expedient cannot be attained. [_In +the margin_: "Seen; and have particular care in this."] + +The decrees, instructions, and ordinances sent to these islands, +both to the governors and to other tribunals and officials, are the +rule for the right government of the islands. Very many of them +are missing--some being lost by carelessness, and others hidden +through malice--and orders are not found for many things that would +be necessary, while others, because they were carelessly drawn up, +are, when placed in practice, overruled by saying that there was a +decree for it. Consequently, desirous of the clarity required in so +important a matter, I petition your Majesty to be pleased to have some +folios of them printed and sent to this government. [_In the margin:_ +"For all the Council." "Have a pamphlet printed of all these orders +and send it to him, and for that purpose send Antonio de Leon to +me." "I have made an agreement with Don Fernando and Antonio de Leon."] + +A seminary for orphan boys is a work of great importance for this city, +as there arc usually, in lands so remote, many who are unprotected and +without parents or relatives. Your Majesty orders me by a royal decree +to favor it, and to seek means by which to found it. Consequently, +in accordance with the order, I granted an encomienda of five +hundred tributes to one of the foremost inhabitants of this city, +namely, Captain Pedro de Navarrete, on condition that he would give a +pension of five thousand pesos in ready cash as revenue for the work +of the said seminary. By that means was made good the deficiency in +his services--which, although they have not been of moment in war +affairs, still were sufficient for him to be granted an encomienda; +and on condition of the five thousand pesos he was to be preferred +to the others. I am awaiting another similar opportunity in order to +get enough to be enabled to finish the work [on a building for them] +The services of the fathers of the boys who are reared in this house +make up for the deficiency of those who do not furnish services, +but who can give like sums. By this means, I believe that the house +will be established. But in order that it may have some fixed income, +it will be necessary for your Majesty to be pleased to command me to +give them one thousand five hundred or two thousand tributes that are +vacant. With this the seminary will be placed in good condition, and +can have a secular priest as rector to govern it, who will be chosen +by the governors. Your Majesty will have the patronage of this boys' +seminary, as you have in that of the girls of Santa Potenciana--and at +less cost, since all the expenses will be met from encomiendas--than +if these had to be enjoyed by worthy men; but their sons will enjoy the +encomiendas, since this seminary is founded in order to rear them. [_In +the margin_: "[To be considered by] the whole Council. Take it to +the fiscal." "The fiscal says that he does not consider the means +employed by the governor to get these five thousand pesos as good, +for it really means selling the encomiendas, and giving them for +prices to those who do not deserve them. It will result in the general +affliction and discontent of the deserving. Consequently, in case that +the sum given in this may be approved, the governor must be ordered +that no others be given henceforth in like manner. He considers it as +better and more suitable that the governor assign some encomiendas +for the revenues and income of this seminary, to the quantity that +shall be deemed advisable. Thus has it been, and is being, done with +other like foundations in Peru and Nueva Espana. Madrid, December 5, +1630." "That the encomienda given was well done, under the conditions +that existed. For the support [of the said seminary], the governor +shall continue to impose pensions on the encomiendas up to the sum +of one thousand ducados, and shall advise us of what is done."] + +Since my arrival, I have had the care of the hospitals of this city, +ordered to me by your Majesty in one of your royal decrees received +this year. The hospitals are in charge of the discalced religious +of St. Francis. I do not doubt that if there were some brothers of +[St.] John of God here, they would administer them better; but I have +not found them in these islands as yet. I am charging the fathers to +look after them carefully, and I personally visit and aid the sick +whenever my occupations admit; and I wish that that were often. [_In +the margin_: "Thank him, and tell him to continue what he is doing, +since it is not advisable to send any of those brothers at present."] + +I wrote at length my opinion in regard to the spiritual matters of +the convents and orders, and at present nothing especial occurs 10 +me of which to advise your Majesty. [_In the margin_: "Seen."] + +The characters of Juan Ruiz de Escalona, treasurer of the royal +revenues of these islands, and of the accountant, Martin Ruiz +de Salazar, are excellent. They attend to their duties with all +punctuality and earnest zeal, which deserve from your Majesty the +favor that all who comply with their obligations may hope from your +royal hand. They are informing you of their especial petitions, +and hence I shall not go into greater detail. [_In the margin_: +"Let persons of these abilities be kept in mind."] + +The inspector who was assigned to this royal Audiencia has not +come this year because of his lack of health, according to what he +writes me. That is a pity, for it is important to the service of your +Majesty that these islands be inspected. [But that should be done] +with the mildness and prudence that is proper; for I do not consider +it advisable to unearth old matters that now have no redress, and +to investigate them will have no other result than to disturb this +community. [_In the margin_: "That this is already provided."] + +This despatch is being made August 4, one day after the arrival at +this port of the ships from Nueva Espana. Those ships spent just +four months in a voyage that can be and usually is made in less than +three, and after suffering innumerable storms and maladies--with the +evident risk of leaving these islands without help, because they had +not left Nueva Espana a fortnight earlier. Sire, this government, +notwithstanding the strenuous efforts of him who may govern here, +will be only, what the viceroys of Nueva Espana wish. If aid comes +in time and is abundant (or at least sufficient), all goes well +and affairs progress, for everything is obtained. If the aid comes +late, and does not contain what is necessary, everything is lost and +destroyed, as was pointed out more minutely to your Majesty in the +letters of war and revenue. I petition you humbly that--although I +have come to these islands so desirous of furthering their prosperity, +but have found them tied down by undertakings and expenses greater +than in the time of my predecessors--since I do not merit being +aided as they were, or cannot be aided because of the inclemency of +the weather, your Majesty will be pleased to use me in another place +where the employment and attainment of my desires is not impossible +through the lack of cooeperation and outside aid. May God preserve +the Catholic royal person of your Majesty with the increase that we, +your vassals, desire, and which Christendom needs. Manila, August 4, +1628. Sire, your Majesty's humble vassals, + + +_Don Juan Nino de Tavora_ + + +[_In the margin_: "Seen. Have the viceroy charged to be very punctual +in this."] + + + + + + +ECONOMIC REASONS FOR SUPPRESSING THE SILK TRADE OF CHINA IN SPAIN +AND ITS COLONIES + + +_Reasons of expediency existing why the importation of the silk +of China and the other merchandise of that country ought not to be +permitted in the Indias and these kingdoms, but rather prohibited; +and the damages and troubles that follow from its not being prohibited +in every point, and its trade, are the following._ + + + +It is very pernicious to permit the importation of the silk of China +and its trade, both in the Indias and in Espana. For although not +more than two hundred and fifty thousand pesos de Tipuzque can be +taken from Nueva Espana to the Filipinas annually, besides that sum +another incalculable quantity of money is taken in reals of eight; +for the said silk can be bought or traded for nothing else, nor will +the Chinese give or exchange it for other merchandise. Consequently, +they manage to get hold of and carry away annually the greater part +of the eight-real pieces which are made in the said Nueva Espana, +in exchange for grass, which is the substance of that coarse and +harsh silk which is so plentiful among the Chinese. [53] Thus do they +weaken our strength and increase their own; and consequently they can +make war on us whenever they wish, without any cost to them as far +as we are concerned. And since this money does not come to Espana, +it cannot be invested there in merchandise, and the customs duties and +the excise duty cannot be collected from them; and they cannot return +with a greater sum of money with which to make larger investments, +resulting in the great increase of the said royal incomes, and the +common benefit of his Majesty's vassals. Besides, if that silk were +not taken from China to Nueva Espana, it would not be used there; +nor would it be poured into Piru and Tierra Firme, as is done. For, +notwithstanding the prohibition established forbidding any merchandise +to be taken there from China, a very large quantity of it is taken +to the said provinces from Nueva Espana, and it is used there--the +viceroys, generals, and justices concealing and favoring it for +their own private interest and benefit. For that reason much less +Spanish merchandise is used in the said Piru and Tierra Firme than +was formerly consumed, and than would be used if the merchandise of +China were not sent there. That condition causes the merchandise of +Espana to have one-half less value than before. Hence it results +that daily fewer trading ships arc sent from these kingdoms than +formerly, and than would be sent if the said trade with China were to +cease. That is the reason why the Spanish silks and other merchandise +are so seldom demanded or consumed in the Indias. That, with the low +prices at which they are sold, and the numerous duties which are paid, +and the trade so ruined, makes the exporters and merchants derive so +little gain from their investments that they do not care to increase +or to continue their trade, and cease to attend to it. On that account, +the said Indias do not depend, as it is right that they should depend, +on these kingdoms; while, as there and in these kingdoms is consumed +the merchandise of China, which is only bought with standard reals of +eight, an enormous amount of coin is taken there in exchange for the +merchandise, and thus is not sent to these kingdoms to be invested +here, in order to return them to the said Indias. [If that were +done], the duties thereon (together with the great cargoes and the +increase of business in all directions) would increase very greatly, +as would be clearly and quickly seen in the increase of the royal +revenues. The prohibition of the said merchandise of China is of much +greater advantage to the royal revenues than the permission; besides, +it is the universal remedy [for the troubles] of these kingdoms +and of the said Indias, that the said merchandise be not exported +to either the former or the latter. [There is a parallel to this in +our domestic trade], for in place of the wheat (because of the lack +of it that is generally experienced in the maritime towns of this +kingdom), foreigners are continually carrying away from us so great +an amount of money through the permissions given to them for export, +and with what they demand besides, for the wheat, and in exchange for +the copper coins that they force on us, and other articles that they +bring to us, which they have in plenty--but which we do not need, as +we have all of them in our Espana. Thus they weaken our resources and +strengthen their own; but this would be avoided if we did not need the +wheat, and they were not permitted to bring the other things. Just so, +not having need (as there is none) of the wares from China, because +we have so many of them in these kingdoms (which moreover are known +to be so much better in quality), we should cease this trade, which +only carries to China that great treasure which is annually withdrawn +and conveyed thither, without any hope that any part of it will ever +return to us. For the Chinese have a great surplus of all goods, +and never come to buy anything, but only to sell--and that only for +reals of eight; and consequently, they make their prices so cheap, in +order to get the reals, that they constrain one to buy a much greater +quantity of their merchandise than he would buy if the prices were +higher and the profits less. And although the profits are seemingly +large at first, they are not so in reality, because of the little +durability of the Chinese goods, and because of the damage caused to +the merchandise of Espana by their importation; for, by permitting +it, the consumption of Spanish goods is lessened, and they have less +value. Consequently--setting aside the so universal damage to all the +natives [of Espana], and in particular that to the producers of the +said silk (and its production is daily diminishing, to such an extent, +indeed, that in a very few years so little will be produced that +the damage will be made plainly evident in the royal duties, and +in its lack and scarcity), and how much greater benefit would be +the prohibition than the permission of the said silk of China--his +Majesty and his ministers, in attending to his royal revenues, are +under obligation to furnish suitable relief for this, for the welfare +of his kingdoms and vassals. Since the towns of the kingdom of Granada +were given, after their insurrection, [54] under an annuity obligation +[censo] to private persons so that they might settle therein, and +the annuity amounts to more than one hundred thousand ducados of +revenue, which are paid through the increase in the production of +the silk; and [it is necessary] that there should be a ready sale +and handling of it, for the estates that were given to them have no +other important products from which they could obtain the money to pay +the said annuity; necessarily, if the production of the silk ceases, +then the payment of the annuity will cease. For in that and in the +ready sale of the said silk consists the power [to pay the annuity]; +and it also consists in the many people who, having the silk, would +occupy themselves in its production, culture, and preparation, who +will consume and use a great quantity of food. That would cause an +excise duty on the food of more than one hundred thousand additional +ducados per year; but this income would cease if the production and +cultivation of the silk ceased, and his Majesty would lose the said +one hundred thousand ducados. Besides, the said silk paying, as it +does, three hundred and two maravedis per libra--without reckoning +the tenth, or the forty per cent on the gross price at which it is +at once sold in the alcaicerias--as soon as it is sold, while there +would be less produced and sold, and the price of it would be lower, +the duties will be less. And since the silk of China does not pay more +than fifteen per cent of import tax and excise, because it is foreign, +his Majesty loses twenty-five per cent on each libra of the silk of +the kingdom of Granada. That silk is produced in less quantity by +the importation of that of China; and since our silk pays higher +duties than the foreign--either because of its excellent quality, +or because it is native, or for some other reason--that freedom from +duties ought to be extended to it rather than to the Chinese silk, +instead of burdening it with greater duties. These latter should be +imposed upon the Chinese silk, so that, less of it being imported +for that reason, less money would be taken from Nueva Espana to +Filipinas for its purchase; while more money would be brought to +these kingdoms. That would result in greater investments and cargoes, +and more silk would be produced in these kingdoms. For so little +silk has been produced in the kingdom of Granada for the last two +years, because of its little sale and value and its great cost, that +the duties from the revenues of their silk have been worth thirty +thousand ducados less each of those two years than they were worth +during the years before. Two signal losses have resulted from that, +and they will become greater every day, and more irreparable. The +first is that as so little silk is produced, and the producers have +left the leaves on the mulberry-trees, the trees have come to such a +pass that for lack of pruning and care they will be ruined in little +time and destroyed--so that when one may try to remedy them he will be +unable. The other is that the little silk that has been produced has +been of so little profit to the producers because of its diminished +value during this time--on account of the quantity of foreign silk +that has been imported and its better sale, because of the lower price +at which it has been sold--that the said producers and the holders +of the annuity grants have not had sufficient means to pay the said +annuities; and for the last two years they have owed his Majesty two +hundred thousand ducados. It will be impossible to pay that sum and +what shall be owing in the future years, as long as the importation +and sale of that foreign silk is not prohibited. But if that be done, +the production will be increased, and the trade and value [of the +Spanish silk] will return to its former figure. By that benefit all +the producers will be encouraged to persevere in it, and will cause +greater duties, not only for the larger amount of silk that there will +be, but in the excise duty for the consumption of food. The producers +will have the means to pay what they owe on the annuities that are due +and will fall due. And although the silks will be dearer than now, the +greater durability of what will be made from them, because of their +good quality and worth, will make them cheaper. For if the Chinese +silk is not imported, nor ours mixed with it (which is the thing that +spoils, harms, and damages ours), what is woven will never break, +and will not be dear at any price. The money [now] invested in the silk +of China and taken to that country will come to these kingdoms, and +will be invested in our silks and merchandise and the returns from them +will continue to increase both in the increase of the royal revenues, +and in the universal welfare of his Majesty's vassals. Thus will it +be seen in a very short time how well advised has been the decision +that will be made in the prohibition of the said silks of China, as +well as the great damage that its importation has caused. Besides, +the danger of navigation will not be so great, because of both its +less distance and its greater safety; nor will there be so many losses +of ships and property as there arc continually now. This trade will +proceed with less coercion by the enemies; consequently, the power of +the latter will not be so great, nor will the depredations that they +commit on our own coasts by robbing us have to be feared. That is all +worth very considerable thought, in order that one may see how just is +this claim, and so that the remedy for this difficulty be procured, +as it is the one that demands reform most urgently of all that now +present themselves to our attention. + + +_Juan Velazquez Madrco_ + +[_Endorsed in writing_: [55] "Arguments why the silk of China should +not be admitted into the Yndias or into Espana. October 7, 628." "File +it with the papers that treat of this matter."] + + + + + + +DECREES REGARDING THE CHINESE + + + +The King. To Don Juan Nino de Tavora, member of my Council of war, my +governor and captain-general of the Filipinas Islands, and president of +my royal Audiencia therein, or the person or persons in whose charge +their government may be: Fray Melchor de Manzano, of the Order of +St. Dominic, has reported to me, in the name of the Chinese living +in those islands, that the said Chinese pay me annually sixty-four +reals in silver for the sole purpose of remaining in that country, +in addition to five more, which is the usual tribute, and twelve +more for the treasury, which are spent in assessments for affairs +of my service; and that, for a few years back, the alcaldes-mayor +have introduced the practice that no Chinese enter or live in their +districts without their permission (even though they have yours), +and the permission given by the alcaldes-mayor is for a very short +period, in order to get from them the fees for the said permission very +frequently. Although orders have been issued in this matter by that +Audiencia of mine, prohibiting the granting of the said permissions, +those orders have not been obeyed. On the contrary, those officials +proceed in their own interest, and oblige the Chinese at the same time +to attend to the service of the city, by going to fish and to provide +all the necessaries of life; and, whenever they go they experience +many annoyances. He petitions me that I will be pleased to order that, +since the Chinese pay so large fees to live in that country, the +permissions that you shall grant them be valid in all the districts +of the said alcaldes-mayor; and that the latter take no other fee, +or the former have no need of any other permission, besides yours; +and that for yours not more than one real in silver be collected. If +the expedition made by the said Chinese should not last longer than +one month, the permission of the alcalde-mayor of their district +will be sufficient, and they shall not be obliged to get another in +that place to which they go, within the said month. That given by +the said alcalde-mayor shall not carry fees in excess of one-half +real. If the alcalde-mayor of the Parian grant such permission, he +shall collect no fee, since the said Chinese pay ten pesos to him, +and the same amount to the clerk of the salary fund. Having examined +the matter in my royal Council of the Indias, I have considered +it advisable to refer the matter herein contained to you, so that +you may provide that the said Chinese be not annoyed or molested, +in order that there may be no occasion for their coming to complain; +and you shall advise the said my royal Council of the Indias of the +correction that you shall apply in this matter. Madrid, June 8, 1628 + + +_I The King_ +By order of the king our sovereign: +_Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras_ + + +The King. To the president and auditors of my royal Audiencia resident +in the city of Manila of the Filipinas Islands: Fray Melchor Manzano, +of the Order of Preachers, in the name of the Chinese living in those +islands has reported to me that it has been ordered for the security +of the islands that the Chinese live in the village of the Parian, +outside the walls of that city; but that for a few years past they +have been scattered among different settlements outside of the said +village. There with difficulty can the wrongs experienced at various +times by such settlements be righted, as many of them do not go to mass +or hear the word of God, but indulge in excessive gambling, to their +own hurt and that of the inhabitants of that city. Any insurrection can +easily be feared because they can arrange one very safely in the said +settlements, where they can hold secret assemblies and meetings--from +which resulted the impositions, false testimonies one against another, +and false witnesses; and the fortifications of the walls of that city +are in great danger. For if the said Chinese live in the village of +the Parian, one can derive from that means to fortify the walls and +prevent destruction and losses; but if they live outside the Parian, +that will be lacking, and consequently the safety of that city [will +be endangered]. I have been petitioned that I be pleased to order, +under severe penalties, that no Chinese be permitted to have a dwelling +outside the Parian; and that those now outside return there, except +the married Christians who may live in the village of Vindanoc [i.e., +Binondo], which has been assigned to them. Having examined the matter +in my royal Council of the Indias, I have considered it fitting to +refer the matter to you, so that you may proceed in it with all the +haste that may be advisable for the service of God our Lord and my +own, in order that those troubles cease. You shall advise me of what +you shall do, on the first opportunity. Madrid, August 17, 1628. + + +_I The King_ + +By order of his Majesty: +_Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras_ + + +The King. To Don Juan Nino de Tavora, member of my Council of War, my +governor and captain-general of the Filipinas Islands, and president of +my royal Audiencia therein, or the person or persons in whose charge +their government may be: I ordered you by a decree of September 10, +627, to appoint to the office of protector of the Sangley Chinese +(which was held by the fiscal of that Audiencia) a person who should +prove competent, with the salary that was assigned to him; and to order +that my said fiscal of those regions exercise the office no longer. You +were ordered to charge the person whom you thus appointed to watch +over the said Sangley Chinese most carefully, so that they might not +be troubled or annoyed, or any ill-treatment shown them; and that any +balance left any year in the fund that he keeps should remain there, +in order that the Sangleys may be assessed so much less the following +year. When that order was executed, you were to inform me of what had +been done and what took place in respect to those who are mentioned +in the said decree, as well as the advantages or troubles that its +execution might cause, as is contained more in detail in the decree, +to which I refer. Doctor Don Juan de Quesada Hurtado de Mendoza, +whom I have appointed as my fiscal of that Audiencia, has reported to +me that, having petitioned that the documents be given to him as to +his predecessors, and one of them being the decree that orders that +the fiscal of that my Audiencia be the protector of the natives and +the Sangleys, he found that the above decree had been despatched, +ordering you to appoint a competent person. The cause therefor was +that Fray Melchor Manzano, of the Order of St. Dominic, urged it for +private purposes, until he actually obtained it. The fiscal declared +that it was advisable for my service to have the decree suspended, +and that my fiscals of that Audiencia exercise the said office, as +they had always done; and that the said Fray Melchor Manzano, while he +was in those islands, and other religious of his order, having made +themselves protectors of the said Sangleys, and having petitioned +the governor to order that the fiscal be not the protector of them, +and that the salary of whoever should be protector be moderated, +the said governor did not change the custom of whether the fiscal +should or should not be the protector. In regard to the salary, +it was moderated only to eight hundred pesos. When the matter came +before that my Audiencia, it declared by acts of examination and +review that the said protection pertained to the said my fiscal. In +consideration of that, Don Fernando de Silva, my governor _ad interim_ +of those islands, ordered that the said acts be executed; and that, in +conformity with them, the office of protector of natives and Sangleys +be exercised by Licentiate Marcos Zapata de Galvez, my fiscal of that +my Audiencia at that time. I am petitioned, in consideration of that, +to be pleased to have a decree despatched ordering that he and other +fiscals who shall succeed him in that my Audiencia be protectors of +the said Sangleys and natives, as they have been, notwithstanding +the ruling of the said decree of September 10, 627. Having examined +the matter in my royal Council of the Indias, together with what +Licentiate Juan Pardo, my fiscal therein, stated and alleged--for +I wish to know whether the Sangleys have need of that protector and +whether they ask for him--I order you to inform me of what you find +out concerning this; and in case that it appears necessary that they +have one, I order you and that Audiencia to appoint six persons who +may be suitable for such protector. You shall cause such nominations +to be sent to the said my Council, so that it may indicate that one +of the six appointees who is most suitable. He must not have trade +or business relations with the said Sangleys; and the one named by +the said Council shall be, for the time being, the one who shall seem +most suitable to the Council. Madrid, March 27, 1629. + + +_I The King_ + +By order of his Majesty: +_Andres de Rozas_ + + + + + +RELATIONS OF 1628-29 + + + +I + +_Relation of affairs in the Filipinas and in other regions, for the +year of 1628 and 629, sent by the fathers [of the Society]; and of +a victory gained by our men_. + + + +An excellent and large fleet has left this great island of Mindanao +during these last few days to punish the insolence of the Dutch and of +the Joloans, the neighbors of Mindanao, who are robbing the country +from us and capturing the Indians of these Filipinas. The fleet is +there, and I was to embark with it, but in order not to leave this +district alone Father Fabricio Sersali, a Sicilian, went. The fleet +consisted of thirty ships and more, and in them sailed two hundred +Spaniards and innumerable Indian soldiers and rowers. May our Lord +give us the success that we hope. [56] + +A fleet of two galleons with high freeboard has also left, and in them +four companies of soldiers, in pursuit of the Dutch enemy who were in +Macan and along the coast of Great China. Advices were received of a +Dutch ship which was carrying one million pesos' worth of wealth. The +result has not been ascertained as yet. + +[_Word in MS. illegible_] On March 13, fire fell from heaven upon +the Parian or fair of the Chinese (according to what they themselves +swear, namely, that they saw it fall), and burned it all, without a +single one of the more than eight hundred houses that it contained +being left; and the only thing that was left standing was a church +which was in the Parian. [57] The Parian of Manila and almost all +the city of Zebu were burned, with great loss. + +The fleet which went from the province of Oton to punish Jolo has +arrived at this very moment. I shall relate here a very fortunate +result that our Lord gave them. It is as follows. The island of +Jolo is next to that of Mindanao. The fleet left here, as I said, +on the first of April. At dawn of Holy Saturday it reached the mouth +of the river of Jolo, and entering it and attacking the village, +the enemy fled as a single man to the mountain, so that the energy +of all our men was directed to pillaging. The sack amounted to thirty +thousand pesos. What was pillaged from the house of the king amounted +to six thousand pesos in silk, cloth, wax, huge quantities of wax, +innumerable weapons, and other things of great value. It was all +divided among the villagers. That news was one of the best which +this country has heard, as that enemy was the one who does us most +harm. Father Fabricio Sersali, who was with the fleet, preceded them +all with an image of St. Francis Xavier raised on a spear. In this +manner did the aged saint enter the mosque, and leap for joy. Now boats +are being prepared in this town of Arebalo to complete the uprooting +from these islands of those nations who disturb them. They burned the +town, and the house of the king, the mosque, and the rice which they +could not carry away. They felled the palm trees, so that they might +deprive those people of support. They did all that in one day. They +burned one hundred and forty ships--forty large ones and the others +of less burden. Such and such people were captured; and then they set +out on their return in high spirits, in order to go out another time, +for which they are preparing. Oton, May 30, 628. + +_Hernando Estrada_ [58] + +Will your Reverence aid me with your holy sacrifices and prayers, so +that I may imitate many apostolic laborers whom we have had here, and +of whom we have at present many, who have come from all those provinces +of Espana; they have made and are making gardens pleasant to the sight +of God, from the obscure forests which the devil has possessed so many +thousands of years and still possesses in these islands. For, as we +have been told, there are eleven thousand islands, of which that of +Manila is the largest and most important. It has more Christians [than +the others], and yet even in it there are many infidels, who make war +on us. Among the other islands there are very few [with Christians] +because of the many which are so full of infidel people who profess +the devilish worship of Mahoma. I cannot depict to your Reverence how +surrounded we are by that canaille on all sides, and the wars that +they so frequently make upon us--so that, in the summer especially, +no one can be safe in his house. Daily do they enter our villages, +burn them and their churches, break into bits the saints and images, +and capture the poor Indians. + +I left Manila in a champan, which is a boat used by the Chinese, and +in which they come from their country here. We were four of the Society +who embarked in it, and God was pleased to give it so favorable a wind +that by means of it we escaped from the hands of the enemy, who were +in ambush, watching for an opportune moment. The father-provincial +[59] took the same route in a caracoa--a boat used in this country; +but that craft was knocked to pieces before reaching the place where +the enemy had established themselves. Hence it was necessary for +him and his associate to come overland, suffering extraordinary +hardships, over mountains and through rivers, for more than one +hundred leguas. Thus does it seem that they escaped as by a miracle, +as well as did the champan. + +Soon thirty or more boatloads of Camuzones Indians arrived here. They +were naked, having only a bit of cloth with which they cover, +etc. Their weapons are certain pointed bamboos, but those bamboos +are very strong. They entered a village which was under my charge, +and burned it, together with its house and church. They broke the +saints into pieces, although the ornaments were saved. Nine persons +were captured here. + +Another brother and I were going to another village, without thought +of enemies. We entered the bar of a river at about one in the +afternoon. That afternoon the enemy entered the same river. The next +day, while we were giving thanks, they made a sudden attack on the +village, whereupon all the people fled. We two went to the mountains, +where we remained eleven days. Thence the enemy took their way toward +another village, where the father-provincial was, together with Father +Juan Lopez, [60] his associate, and other fathers. Before the enemy +arrived, they received the warning which I sent them. Consequently, +all took to the mountains, and the father-provincial and the other +fathers were among the mountains for a number of days, where they +suffered hardships. But our Lord was pleased to order that the enemy +should not reach that village nor the village where I was staying, +for fear of the narrowness of the rivers, lest they could not get +through them when they departed. But they went thence to another town +located on the seashore, and burned it entirely. The enemy also went +to other villages of our missions and burned them, and the fathers +escaped as by a miracle from their hands. When the enemy capture the +fathers they cut off their heads, as they did two years ago with a +father whom they captured. They treat the Spaniards whom they capture +in the same way. Consequently, we all go about as if we were soldiers; +our ships are laden with arms; and forts have been built in the chief +villages and fortified with firearms, with which to defend ourselves; +while forts are being built in the other villages. + +All those coasts of this sea have been crowded with sentinels this +year, for it was rumored that many Dutch ships were to come, and they +always come to sight land at the cape of Espiritu Santo. + +When we go from some villages to others, we cross many deep rivers, +which are all generally full of caymans or crocodiles. These [reptiles] +swallow a bull, a cow, or a deer even to their horns, thus causing +great loss. They also catch and eat the Indians daily. + +There is a most abundant quantity of snakes, almost all of which +cause death when they sting. There is but one remedy for the wounds, +namely, if they happen to have a little of the earth from San Pablo. By +having it blessed, they are infallibly cured; and he who is treated +with this remedy does not die. There are other snakes which are not +poisonous. They are so large that they can swallow a large wild boar, +or a large deer, horns and all. A father and some Indians killed one +which was eating a hog; they ran up on hearing the grunts of the hog, +and speared and killed the snake. + +There is great abundance of material products, and the country is very +fertile. The grain of these regions is rice, and as a rule each fanega +of grain sowed yields one hundred fanegas, and many yield two hundred +fanegas, especially if it is irrigated and transplanted. There are +oranges of many varieties, some of them resembling large melons. Honey +and wax is found in the trees, where the bees make it. The wax is worth +sixteen or twenty reals an arroba, and a jar of honey one real. I +saw a tree which had many honeycombs hanging on the branches. The +mountains are fuller of wild boars than are the commons of Espana +of swine and cattle in acorn time. One of those swine, if it is fat, +is worth two reals, but only one if not fat; and a deer is worth the +same sum. There are almost no fruits of Espana. There are melons, +cucumbers, pumpkins, and radishes of the country, and quantities of +cabbages and lettuce. There are many native fruits, some of which are +excellent, but they are not so many or so good as those of Espana, +while the food does not have the same nourishment as in Espana. The +swine here are excellent, and better and more healthful than those +of Espana; for they are eaten like mutton, and are given to the sick +as mutton is in Espana. + +God is ever our physician and apothecary in sickness, and but few times +does one fall grievously sick when our Lord does not supply the lack +of medicines, without which [_MS. holed_: we?] get along very well, +and God helps [us]. Panbohen, July 6, 1629. + +_Pedro de Prado_ + +We received a letter from Eastern India which gives very good news of +its condition; for the Dutch are now in small numbers and are very +much disaccredited, with both the Moros and the heathen, and these +have revolted against the Dutch and driven them from their lands and +from the houses of trade that they owned, because they have found +them false in their commerce and deceitful in their trading. Our men +went to help drive out the Dutch. + +Good news comes from Zeilan and Tebet of the great conversion to +Christianity that is being effected there and in other regions, +and that the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ continues to increase. + +Ruy Freire went to besiege Ormuz with some ships, and the viceroy told +him that he was going in person with [_MS. holed_] ships to capture it. + +Father Geronimo Perez [61] had cut down, at a residence, a tree +which was called nino, in order to dispel the superstitions of the +Indians. That tree was twenty-five brazas in circumference, and there +are other trees of this species whose trunks are used by the Indians +as houses. [62] + +Father Muxica writes from Macan that Father Trigautio had come from +China to Macan, and said that there were many highborn and influential +people in China who were being converted, and that they were living +very exemplary lives. Manila, July 5, 1628 [_sic_]. + + + + +II + +_A relation of events in the Philipinas Islands, and other neighboring +kingdoms, from the month of July, 1628, to July,1629._ + + + +Continuing my project begun last year, I will proceed in this account +to relate the events which have happened this year, without observing +any other order than that in which they occur to me. + +At half past one on the night of November 25, Our church fell, +with so terrible a crash that it seemed as if the heavens were +falling. It was due to God's great providence that it did not happen +several hours later, for without doubt some of our fathers would have +been caught in the ruins. It is the third time that this church has +fallen; for years ago, just as they finished saying the last mass, +and locked the doors, the whole vault, which was built of brick, +fell in a great earthquake. If it had happened an hour before, it +would have wrought great injury, by imprisoning beneath it all the +people who were in the church. Then six years later, in the month of +September, on the same day, just as they were beginning to decorate +the church for celebrating the feasts of St. Ignatius and St. Xavier, +one large pillar and two arches fell, leaving the roof in the air, +without any means of support for more than eight yards--a thing which +seemed miraculous; two of Ours were caught, but neither received +much harm. On this last occasion the ruin was greater, because one +pillar, when it fell, carried with it half of the church. Thus it +remained, without repairs being possible; there was nothing to be +done but to finish the work of destruction, and build a hut in which +to accommodate our fathers in their ministries, until we finish the +new church building and house--which is a very good one, and well on +its way to completion. [63] + + +On the twentieth of December, at eight o'clock in the evening, they +omitted the holy sacrament in the Cathedral church of this city, +because it had been stolen, together with the monstrance in which +it was kept. Diligent search was made for it, arresting some and +putting others to the torture, and making earnest prayers to placate +the wrath of God, but no trace of the thief could be found in these +or any other ways, even to the present day. [64] + +On the twentieth of June an eclipse of the sun began at eleven o'clock, +and at thirteen minutes after twelve it was so far eclipsed that it +could not be seen at all. It seemed as if it were night, and the stars +were seen in the sky, so that we were forced to light candles in order +to eat; for there was a dinner that afternoon, on the occasion of a +certain feast. As far as I know, this eclipse was not seen in Nueva +Espana; it is the most complete one that I have ever seen, though I +have seen many. + +On the eighteenth of July last, in the village of Guiguan, which is +a mission of the Society, an image of the Immaculate Conception of +Our Lady with a gilded face, began to weep piteously--in the sight +of all, and of the father who was expounding Christian doctrine in +that village--with a saddened countenance, to the great terror of +all who were present. It seemed as if this was the announcement of +the disasters and calamities which have been suffered by those poor +islands of the Pintados (which are in our missionary charge) from +their enemies the Camucones and the Joloans, who have become very +insolent--plundering many ships on the sea, some of them valuable; +robbing and burning towns, capturing the people, and destroying the +images, which the fathers have kept well until their flight and refuge +in the mountains. It has been considered a singular providence that +no one of our fathers has been captured (although there are fears +about one, but nothing certain is known about it). The enemy suddenly +landing, one father was surprised in bed, but made his escape almost in +his shirt; they surprised another while saying mass, and he was obliged +to make his escape in his chasuble, fleeing through the marshes; +another they found sprinkling with holy water the whole population +of the town in the church; another they met on the sea, and having +given chase to his vessel, the father leaped overboard and finally +escaped. The father provincial was in great danger several times, but +in the end God preserved him and all the other fathers. The greatest +hardship is, that it seems as if those who conduct the government do +not endeavor to check these raids; may the Lord do so by restraining +the enemies. + +Relief was sent this year to the Malucas Islands, as has usually been +done in past years, in several pataches and a galley. The Dutch enemy +had at their Malayo fort (which is almost within sight of our fort +at Terrenate), a very powerful ship which passed in front of our fort +several times discharging their artillery as if defying us to come out +and fight. After this bravado our men and Pedro de Heredia, governor +of those fortifications, armed two pataches and the galley (a force +much inferior to that of so powerful a ship) and went out to meet the +enemy. He boarded it and began to attack the soldiers in it; the enemy, +seeing that the fight was going against them, cut loose from our ship, +and retreated or fled to their fort. There their people arrested the +captain, because, although he had had the advantage on his side, he +had not sunk our little pataches, but instead had taken to flight. Some +of the Dutch and some of our men were killed in this fight. + +At Xacatra, which is the capital of the Dutch possessions in all +these eastern regions, and at which their governor and captain-general +resides, there have been many harassing wars this year, because King +Xabo with a very powerful army had besieged them for many months, +seized and burned the suburbs, and killed many men. However, on account +of the many winter floods, Xabo had to retreat; but the Dutch are left +in considerable fear lest he will return, with the Portuguese giving +him assistance. On that account they have still further fortified their +forts, made greater provision of all necessaries, and detailed there +six galleons from the great fleet, which they maintain at Ormus for +the aid and defense of the Persian, [65] in order that the Portuguese, +who are threatening that fortress, may not recover it. + +With the aim of relieving these islands and their natives from +the suffering that they endured in building galleys and ships, the +governor decided to send some Spaniards to the kingdom of Camboja, +which abounds in fine woods, to establish dock-yards; this purpose +was carried out. With the Spaniards it was decided to send some of +the Society, but for certain reasons this was not done, nor would +we permit it. The fathers of St. Dominic, however, permitted it; +and so some of them went there with the Spaniards, and were very well +received by the king of Camboja. They immediately commenced to carry +out their plans for the ships, while the religious built a church. The +king gave them permission to baptize and convert to Christianity any +persons in his kingdom who wished it. + +I wrote last year, that, annoyed by the injuries which these islands +had received from the king of Sian, who had seized in one of his ports +a ship of ours richly laden with silks, our galleons had gone there +and made reprisals on some of his ships. The latest news is that +a ship was sent there with some of the Sianese who were captured, +and some Spaniards, to give an account of the affair; and to tell the +king that our people desired to continue in peace and friendship, but +that he must satisfy us for what he had seized from us, and in return +we would satisfy him for what we had seized from his people. As yet +we have had no answer from there, nor have we heard how the matter +was concluded--much less if our fathers who reside there lost their +lives when our galleons did so much damage to the Sianese ships. + +The outlook for Christianity in Cochinchina was very promising, and +in the year 1627 eight hundred adults were baptized; but this year +we have had news that the fathers had encountered adverse fortune, +and were fearing expulsion from that kingdom--but now they write that +the tempest has already abated, and the skies are clearing. + +In late years, there have been many wars in the kingdom of Tongin, +which adjoins that of Cochinchina; but the Christians have been +left in peace, and thus many have been converted to Christianity. It +is even reported that this same king and a brother of his had been +or were to be baptized. Would to Heaven that it were so! although +hitherto there has been no certainty of anything, because we have +had no letters from our fathers, on account of the said wars. + +The Tartars have again revolted against the Chinese, who are so hard +pressed that they have sent to Macan for artillerymen and artillery +for the war. The Portuguese lent them two heavy guns, and thirty men +to go with them, among whom was Father Palmerin, the visitor of that +province [_in the margin_: in the secular habit], to visit, on this +occasion, the houses and the residences in China. + +As to the condition of Christianity in Japon, I cannot better give +account than by inserting here letters and relations sent from +there. The first, dated 1627, reads as follows: + +"The persecution of the Christians here, which was begun several +years ago, continues without any remission of its vigor, but rather +increases with every day--not throughout the whole kingdom, however, +but in certain parts of the Xymo or Tacab, in which the Christians +are persecuted more than they have been hitherto. It commenced among +the Christian converts of Tacacu and the lands of Arima, by soliciting +the tono of that region, Gentir, to return to the favor of the lord of +Japon, of which he has been deprived for some time, and to dissuade +from the faith all the Christians who should enter his lands. An +official was sent to all places with orders that they should not +fail to go through every village, and to cause everyone, by any way +or means whatever, to renounce the faith, in order that they might +instead adopt one of the Japanese sects. The officials obeyed their +orders and searched out all, whether steadfast or wavering; and some, +in order not to risk their faith, left their homes secretly. Some of +the strong ones were rigorously treated, and others gently, among +whom some exiled themselves. Those Christians suffered, for their +constancy, various and extreme torments never before seen in Japon, +which at the said tono's command were inflicted in order to subdue +them--stripping both men and women, and hanging them in their shame; +hurling them from a height into cold water, in the depth of winter; +placing them near a fire so that they would burn; and burning them +with lighted torches. Two of them they roasted on burning coals, as +St. Laurence suffered. Others were left so that they died in a few +days. They also burned the men with a hot iron upon the forehead, +leaving the word "Christian" stamped upon it. They cut the fingers +from the hands, even of children, inflicting other indignities that +cannot be written. The inhuman pagan, not content with this, had +some men and women conducted through the streets of certain villages +with insignia of dishonor commonly applied among the heathen to +criminals, but of great glory to our Lord God, for whose love they +suffered. When the servants of the Lord arrived at some of these +places, they bound them in a shameful manner to stakes, in order +to frighten the Christian inhabitants in this fashion; but with all +their efforts they were not strong enough to conquer any Christian, +or make him recant. Forty-seven, of all ages, were condemned to death; +three were beheaded, and the rest drowned in the sea. Eighteen others, +of all ages, they took to a mountain, where there were some very hot +baths; and, binding them with ropes, they put them into the water, +asking them again and again if they would not recant. Seeing their +constancy, they bound them to stones, with which they were sunk in the +sea. Twenty-six others, of varying ages, they also took to the said +baths; and having especially distinguished ten of these by torments, +they kept them for some time on the edge of the baths, repeatedly +asking them if they would give up their religion. At the same time +they poured upon their shoulders jars of that boiling hot water, +drawing from them cries of pain; until, becoming convinced of their +constancy, they drowned them in the said baths. Because the body of +one of them was not burst open like the rest by the heat of the water, +they cut it open in various places with a knife. In this torture he +died, and, like the others, was flung into the baths. Adding to these +two others who died of the terrible torture inflicted upon them, the +number of those who died in the province of Tacacu, by fire, blood, +and water was forty-seven. They went to rest and abide with Christ, +and will always be able to say with David: _Transivimus per ignem et +aqua e reduxisti nos in refrigerium_. [66] We would never finish if we +undertook to tell in detail all the particulars of these martyrdoms, +which we shall leave for a more extended relation, in which they may +be viewed; and great consolation will be had from the fact that those +Christians have endured such atrocious and unheard-of torments with +such constancy, for the love of Christ. + +"Let us speak of the persecution which another pagan tono set in +motion against the Christians in his lands, adjacent to those of +Tacacu. They buried three of the martyrs whom the tono of Tacacu +had condemned, and three others were captured who were going there; +he ordered them to recant if they wished to save their lives, or +else they would be subjected to various torments, but these they +suffered rather than lose the life of the soul. Besides this, the +Japanese persecuted the Christians of that town, and others near +by, trying every means in their power to divert them from our holy +faith. Some of them were steadfast, and others wavered. The tono, +however, ordered them not to kill anyone then as a Christian, and this +order was obeyed--although two widows, named Maria, gave a noble [_word +illegible in MS_.] in order to show that they were more constant. They +insulted these women in many ways, putting them to shame; and +finally, as they were triumphant over every injury and torment, +they were set free. Then they hastened to the city of Nangasaqui, +the chief of Christian communities in Japon, where on August 16, 1627, +they arrested and burned alive father Fray Francisco de Santa Maria, +and the lay brother, Fray Bartholome, both Franciscans, together with +their servants and other men and women. Others they beheaded, among +whom the lot fell to a woman with three children, two of whom were +two years old and the other older. On the sixth of September of the +same year, they arrested and burned alive a Japanese father of Ours, +together with two chiefs, his servants. The governor and president +of that city was present at all these murders. He, in conformity +with his orders, tried to make all the Christian inhabitants recant, +without respect to age or estate, and to persuade them all to adopt +some one of the Japanese sects, making use of many ingenious artifices +for this purpose. Seeing that he could not effect his purpose, he +tried locking some of them in their houses, nailing up the doors, +and depriving them of all communication with relatives and friends, to +which end he set guards around them. Some weak-spirited persons obeyed +him; but the greater number, both chiefs and common people, resisted +him. The governor, seeing that so many resisted, as he had no orders +to take their lives, but only to send them as prisoners to the court, +sent those whom he thought best, and among them fifteen of the most +prominent persons. Fearing because some of these were persons of rank, +and had many relatives, and some of them were actually officials in +the same city, in order to prevent any revolt from arising he asked +the neighboring tonos for a large number of soldiers. A great many +of these came, who were lodged throughout the city; but, seeing that +there was no resistance he ordered them back to their fortresses, +and, the confessors being much rejoiced, he sent them prisoners to +the court. Others are kept in captivity until the arrival of a decree +from the court. Four distinguished families were exiled to Macan, with +four hundred and thirty of the common people, who were driven to the +neighboring mountains as a warning and intimidation to many others, +and all intercourse and communication with them was cut off. It was +ordered that no one should admit them to their houses. They were +commanded not to build huts, even for the infant children, to defend +them from the inclemencies of the weather. Guards were set over them +so that no one should grant them even a mat for their shelter, the +persecutors hoping by this means to bend them to their will. Although +the confessors of Christ undergo great suffering, they do so with joy +and invincible constancy. Others who were not banished were deprived +of their employment, to force them to abandon their resistance. Many +fled for this reason, leaving the most populous city in Japan almost +depopulated, although it still contains confessors who ennoble it. [67] + +"On the twenty-ninth of July of this year (1627) they burned alive at +Omura, together with another who wished to accompany them, a Dominican +father and three domestics, who had been kept in close captivity since +the year 1626. This persecution was begun because, having confiscated +the property belonging to the Franciscan fathers in Nangasaqui, +they found a list in which those fathers enumerated the servants and +houses which each one possessed in the land of Omura; and because they +had sent a ship with a cargo of flour to Manila, in order to bring +religious to Japon on its return--although those of Omura were more +than twice advised by the religious of Nangasaqui to consider that it +was against the Japanese law, and that by so doing they were exposing +themselves and others to the risk of destruction, by furnishing pagans +and renegade Christians with a pretext to persecute them, especially +the religious at the port from which the ship sailed. Twenty-five of +the constant ones were murdered--of all ages, men and women--some +for having displayed their constancy, and others for admitting +religious into their houses. Among others who died by burning alive, +one, a good laboring woman, was especially distinguished, whom, +because she was discovered to have admitted religious to her house, +they exposed to public shame, taking her in this manner for more +than twenty leguas round about. Finally, she was burned alive, ever +displaying the most remarkable constancy. The same fortitude was shown +by three men, whom they buried up to their shoulders. Another who saw +some one being burned alive, displayed no less courage; for, filled +with fervor, he voluntarily plunged into the flames, where he was +entirely consumed. All these were martyred at Omura for their faith, +or for receiving religious into their houses. More than forty were +executed for sending the said ship, and even now the punishment is +not concluded. Thus that Christian community, one of the earliest in +Xapon, is greatly afflicted [_apparently some words missing in MS._] +in order that it may be preserved and aided. + +"From the kingdom of Figen, they passed to that of Fingo. At Amacusa, +in Fingo, there was no general persecution, leaving the chiefs +and laborers, so that if it were conducted rigorously with all, +some would be found to be weak-spirited. However, they martyred one +man, who showed unusual constancy. At the end of this year 1627, +this Christian church had devoted one hundred and eight martyrs to +the Lord. In other parts of Japon the Christians and their ministers +were left in comparative quiet, so that in the year 1626 their ranks +were increased by more than two thousand converts who were baptized +by members of our Society, to say nothing of those who were baptized +by religious of other orders. We believe that in the year 27 there +will be a still greater number of converts in the kingdom of Oxu, +because in this kingdom (which is the farthest in Japan) many of the +people are well disposed. There are at present there four of Ours, +five Franciscans, and one Augustinian. May the Lord assist them there +in all Xapon, opening doors so long locked, through which many others +can enter." + +This is the first relation. The second is a letter from the father +provincial of Xapon, Matheo de Couros, dated February 25, 1626. It +reads as follows: "The Xongu [i.e., shogun] lives with his queen, +obeyed and feared by all. There is no human hope of any change +here. All these kingdoms enjoy considerable peace during the tempest, +and Christianity only is persecuted with fire and sword. From others +you may have learned that the Franciscan fathers sent a ship to +the city of Manila. This has more than twice resulted in the total +destruction of Christian work in Omura; and its lord, although he +is a child, runs the risk that they will behead him (or at least +his governors), because the said ship was fitted out in one of his +ports. We do not know how this will end. On January 21, they arrested +Father Antonio of the Franciscan order at Nangasaqui. The embassy of +the Dutch had an unfortunate ending at the court of Xapon, because +it was known to be only a pretext. It is also said that one of the +great governors of Xapon remarked at court that it would be a great +injury to that kingdom, were it said that they welcomed in their +ports a people who came only to rob upon the high seas, and that it +was taken ill in foreign kingdoms." + +In another letter, of November 28, 1627, it is said by Father Xacome +Antonio, after the departure of the galeotas, that "there is no +news from these countries; the persecution at Nangasaqui has ended, +because the presidents had all gone to the court, and so at present +there is comparative quiet. At first those who were banished to the +mountains were not allowed, under the penalty of burning, imposed by +the ministers of justice, to build any shelter from the inclemencies +of the weather; but afterward they were allowed to build huts of +straw. It was also granted that no minister of justice dwell among +them, which is a great blessing. The Christians who were sent to court +arrived there in safety; and although at the beginning they found no +one to welcome them the governors afterward ordered that houses be +given them. They are well accommodated in a monastery of bonzes, who, +beyond the kind treatment they accord them, are urging the governors to +accord to them, and to the other Christians at Nangasaqui, liberty of +conscience. The chief bonze of this monastery, a man of great authority +on account of his dignity, is pushing this negotiation. Besides this, +these same Christians presented a petition or memorial, asking the +governors at this court to intercede for them, and procure for them +such liberty at Nangasaqui as they had had in the days of the Daifu, +so that their inhabitants might live there as Christians. It was well +received, and they were given hopes of a favorable decision. The same +encouragement is given to all those who come to the court. Even the +heathen talk of it, and say that the permission will doubtless be +accorded. May the Lord grant it; for if it succeeds the whole country +in the neighborhood of Nangasaqui will remain in some peace." + +In another of March 16, 1628, the same father, Xacome Antonio, says +that father Fray Juan de Ribera, of the Dominican order, while he was +returning from Manila to Xapon, was left on the Lechios [i.e., Riu-Kiu +Islands], where it is said that he was murdered in an attempt to rob +him, though the motive is not certainly known. Three of the same order +came last year to Japon, and when they were within sight of land, the +Chinese crews threw them overboard, on account of some superstitious +fear. It was known afterward, because on their return a sudden squall +struck the Chinese ship two leguas from Nangasaqui. The vessel was +wrecked and many lost, eight saving their lives by swimming. This +was a punishment for their sins, and for the large amount of silver +that they took from the said religious, which they say must amount +to two thousand sacks of treasure; [68] they took it on condition of +returning the same amount at their return from the voyage. + +The last news we have from Xapon is as follows: There was a great +outbreak in the palace, in the emperor's anteroom, and a tono among +great governors of the kingdom was killed. The emperor came forth +at the noise, and, attempting to put his hand upon his sword, he was +foully stabbed in the abdomen, an example showing how skilled they are +in wielding arms. This death has caused much restlessness, and many +risings, which will not be crushed for a long time. The Indians of +the island of Hermosa sent ambassadors to the emperor of Xapon, asking +for assistance to help them expel the Dutch from that port where they +have their fortress. They were well received and help was offered to +them, and they were sent back with assurances of friendship. The Dutch +themselves were arrested in Xapon and their ships detained, because +they owed large sums and did not pay; and there was talk of expelling +them from the entire land of Xapon. Just then, unfortunately for us, +news arrived there of the Japanese ship that our galleons burned last +year on the bar of Sian, [69] whereupon the tables were turned; the +prospects of the Dutch improved, and ours grew worse. There was talk of +making an agreement with them, and even of raising an armada of Dutch +and Japanese, to proceed against our fort at the island of Hermosa +and even against Manila--a matter which does not fail to occasion +considerable anxiety, though it is not known how it will turn out. + +We have had no news from the island of Hermosa, which keeps us in great +anxiety, because more than two hundred thousand pesos were sent there +from this city of Manila to be invested in Chinese silks. We do not +know what has been done with it, or whether the money has been lost, +an uncertainty which occasions anxiety to the merchants. In short, +these Philipinas Islands are at present in a ruinous condition, with +many powerful and triumphant enemies, our forces weakened, and our +people in dread of other large fleets. May the Lord remedy all this, +and assist with His divine favor, in the preservation of the faith +in these lands. Manila, July 18, 1629. + +[A document of this same collection ("Papeles de los Jesuitas"), with +pressmark "Tomo 169 numero 2," is identical with the above relation, +except for slight verbal differences which do not change the sense +in any way. But at the end occurs the following additional letter:] + +_Letter of Father Sebastian de Morais_ + +Since the letters carried by the little ship from India are lost, the +following was learned from another letter. On the octave of Espiritu +Santo, a sudden attack was made from Fayal Island to Tercera Island, +as a little ship from India, called "San Felipe," was making port +there. That ship left Cochin December 22, 1629, and reached Fayal +seven days after Pentecost. There it was met by an English ship +which mounted twenty-four pieces, many carrying balls of sixteen +libras. It had sixty musketeers, while our ship had only thirty +white men and twenty Indians, and mounted fourteen small pieces of +artillery. However we cut down the yard of the pirate's foremast with +the first volley. They fought one day and night. They killed our +master and two sailors, and our men killed the enemy's captain and +many of their men, while the ship was so hardly used that it would +have sunk but for the calking. Our ship bore down upon it; but another +pirate, of heavier burden, appeared within range. Consequently, our +ship retired to Fayal, where some ships from the island of Terceras +went to get it. They cast anchor at that point with great rejoicing, +our ship being quite like a sieve because of the balls that remained +sticking in its sides and upper works. Even that image of our patron +saint, St. Philip, had in it eighteen balls. The ship carries three +thousand five hundred quintals of pepper for the king, and a quantity +of merchandise. The ships of General Roque Senteno were going for it +[as convoy]. + +A fleet of forty sail had gone to Socotra against the enemy, with +volunteer forces, who were encouraged by the sight of a crucifix +which the enemy had insulted on a certain occasion. We had a glorious +victory over many galleys of the [king] of Achen, although our craft +were very inferior. + + + + + + + + +BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA + + +Most of the documents in this volume are obtained from MSS. in the +Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla; their pressmarks are indicated +thus: + +1. _Report of Spanish Council_.--"Simancas--Secular; Audiencia de +Filipinas; consultas originales correspondientes a dicha Audiencia; +anos 1586 a 1636; est 67, caj. 6, leg. 1." + +2. _Letter from Serrano_, 1625.--"Simancas--Eclesiastico; Audiencia +de Filipinas; cartas y expedientes dei arzobispo de Manila vistos en +el Consejo; anos 1579 a 1679; est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 32." + +3. _Letter from Fernando de Silva_, 1625.--"Simancas-Secular; Audiencia +de Filipinas; cartas y espedientes del gobernador de Filipinas vistos +en el Consejo; anos 1600 a 1628; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 7." + +4. _Letter from Serrano_, 1626.--The same as No. 2. + +5. _Letter from Fernando de Silva_, 1626.--The same as No. 3. + +6. _Letter from sisters of St.Clare_.--"Simancas--Eclesiastico; +Audiencia de Filipinas; cartas y expedientes de personas eclesiasticas +de Filipinas; anos 1609 a 1644; est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 43." + +7. _Petition for aid to seminary_.--"Simancas--Secular; Audiencia de +Filipinas; cartas y espedientes de personas seculares vistos en el +Consejo; anos de 1628 a 16[34?]; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 40." + +8. _Royal decrees_, 1626.--(a) The first of these is in "Audiencia +de Filipinas; registro de oficio, reales ordenes dirigidas a las +autoridades del distrito de la Audiencia; anos 1597 a 1634; est. 105, +caj. 2, leg. 1." (b) The other two are taken from the Archivo Historico +Nacional, as noted below. + +9. _Importance of Philippines_.--The same title as No. 7, but "anos +de 1565 a 1594; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 34." (Evidently misplaced.) + +10. _Decrees regarding religious_.--(a) The same as No. 8 (a). (b) +Also in the Sevilla archives; but we have followed Pastells's text +in his edition of Colin (t. iii, pp. 760, 761). (c) The same as No. 1. + +11. _Inadvisability of occupying Formosa_.--Simancas--Secular; +Audiencia de Filipinas; cartas y espedientes del presidente y oidores +de dicha Audiencia vistos en el Consejo; anos 1607 a 1626; est. 67, +caj. 6, leg. 20." + +12. _Report of appointments_.--The same as No. 3. + +13. _Letters from Tavora_, 1628.--The same as No. 3. + +14. _Reasons for suppressing silk trade_.--The same as No. 7. + +The following documents are obtained from the "Cedulario Indico" +of the Archivo Historico Nacional, Madrid: + +8 (see No. 8, _ante_).--(b) "Tomo 39, fol. 185," and "Tomo 32, +fol. 16," respectively. + +15. _Letter from king to Tavora_.--"Tomo 40, fol. 56 verso, no. 69." + +16. _Decrees regarding Chinese_, 1627.--"Tomo 39, fol. 87, and fol. 186 +verso," respectively. + +17. _Decrees regarding Chinese_, 1628-29.--"Tomo 39, fol. 188 verso, +fol. 189 verso, and 190 verso," respectively. + +The following document is obtained from MSS. in the collection +"Papeles de las Jesuitas," in the Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid: + +18. _Relations of 1628-29_--"Tomo 169, no. 3," and "Tomo 84, +no. 13." + +The following document is taken from a MS. in the British Museum: + +19. _Military affairs of the islands_.--In a collection of papers +entitled "Tratados Historicos, 1594-1639;" pressmark, +"(693. h. 17) / 65." + +The following document is taken from Pastells's edition of Colin's +_Labor evangelica_: + +20. _Royal decree aiding Jesuits_, 1625.--In vol. iii, pp. 754, 755, +(See also No. 10, _ante_.) + +The following documents are taken from the Ventura del Arco MSS. (Ayer +library): + +21. _Relation of 1626_.--In vol i, pp. 523-545. + +22. _Relation of 1627-28._--In vol. i, pp. 551-615. + +The following document is taken from _Recopilacion de leyes de las +Indias_. + +23. _Laws regarding the Sangleys_.--In lib. vi, tit. xviii. + +The following document is found in a pamphlet entitled _Toros y canas_ +(Barcelona, 1903), in which is printed a hitherto unpublished original +MS. in possession of the Compania General de Tabacos de Filipinas. + +24. _Royal festivities at Manila_--pp. 9-25. + + + + + + +NOTES + +[1] Our transcript reads "reals," but both in this and in other +instances in the present document, this is evidently an error of +transcription for "ducados." It would be very easy for the error to +arise from the extremely bad handwriting of many Spanish documents, +in which the Spanish abbreviations for the two above terms might +bear a close similarity. "Ducados" is used later in the document, +when speaking of similar instances. + +[2] These expeditions against the Mediterranean Moors were undertaken +because of their continual depredations on Spanish commerce and near +Spanish coasts. In 1602 Spain and Persia united against Turkey, and in +1603 the marquis of Santa Cruz, with the Neapolitan galleys, attacked, +and plundered Crete and other Turkish islands. Many operations were +conducted against the Moorish states of north Africa, but no effective +check was applied to their piratical expeditions. See Hume's _Spain_, +p. 210. + +[3] Spain has never recovered from the expulsion of the thrifty +Moriscos, who were the descendants of the old Moors. The edict of +expulsion against the Valencian Moriscos was issued on September 22, +1609, by the viceroy Caracena. Its political excuse was negotiations +between the Moriscos and English to effect a rising against Felipe +III. "With the exception of six of the 'oldest and most Christian' +Moriscos in each village of a hundred souls, who were to remain and +teach their successors their modes of cultivation, every man and +woman of them were to be shipped within three days for Barbary on +pain of death, carrying with them only such portable property as +they themselves could bear." In six months one hundred and fifty +thousand Moriscos were driven from Spain. In the winter of 1609-10 +the Moriscos were also expelled from Aragon, Murcia, Andalucia, +and Cataluna, and other places. See Hume's _Spain_, pp. 210-213. + +[4] Referring to the claim of Isabella, eldest daughter of Felipe II, +to the province of Bretagne (or Brittany), in France, as an inheritance +in right of her mother, since the Salic law was inoperative in that +province. + +[5] Francisco Crespo, S.J., was born at Ubeda, and entered the Jesuit +order in 1598, at the age of fifteen. He preached for ten years +and resided for some years at the court of Spain, in the capacity of +procurator of the missions of the Indias. He died at Madrid, September +25, 1665. He was the author of two relations and the memorial mentioned +in the decree. See Sommervogel's _Bibliotheque Comp. de Jesus_. + +[6] This was Rodrigo Pacheco y Osorio, marques de Cerralvo, +the successor of Gelves (_Vol_. XX, p. 127). He reached Mexico in +October, 1624, vindicated his predecessor in the public estimation, +and quieted the disturbances in the country. He fortified Vera Cruz +and Acapulco, to protect them against the Dutch, whose ships cruised +in both oceans. Cerralvo was an energetic and able ruler, who did +much for the welfare of his people. He held the viceroyalty until +September, 1635, when he returned to Spain, and was given a place in +the Council of the Indias. + +[7] These festivities celebrated the accession to the throne of +Felipe IV. Although they occurred in 1623, this account is placed +here because written August 1, 1625. + +[8] A reference to the celebrated university of Salamanca, and used +synonymously with learning or skill. + +[9] _El Gran Capitan_: an epithet applied to Gonsalvo de Cordova, +commander-in-chief of the Spanish forces under Ferdinand of Castile, +in recognition of his services in 1495-96 against the French armies in +Calabria, Italy--defeating them there and elsewhere, and compelling +them to withdraw from Italy. A treaty of peace between France +and Spain was the result; it was signed at Marcoussis in August, +1498. The Neapolitan kingdom was divided between France and Spain +in November, 1500; but quarrels soon arose between them, and their +armies fought for its possession. Under the leadership of Cordova, +Naples was conquered for Spain (1502-04). Cordova was born in 1453, +and died in December, 1515. + +[10] Evidently an allusion to the procession made at Manila, on +certain occasions, in which the banner of the city was carried before +the cabildo--to which allusions have been already made in various +documents of this series. + +[11] A kind of lance or spear, used by bull-fighters. + +[12] The game of canas was an equestrian sport engaged in by the +nobility on the occasion of any special celebration. They formed +various figures, which engaged in various contests. One side charged +against the other, hurling their spears, from which their opponents +guarded themselves with their shields. + +[13] In olden times, empirical healers or physicians cured with this +stone the pain or sickness called colic--_hijada_, as it was then +written, now _ijada_.--_Rev. Eduardo Navarro_, O.S.A. + +_Piedra de mal de hijada_: from the description, apparently made of +some brilliant crystalline substance. + +[14] In the Jesuit relation of 1619-20 (see _Vol_. XIX, p. 61), +mention is made of a bull-fight in terms that would indicate that they +had already become established in the islands. This fight of 1619 +is evidently the one to which W. E. Retana refers in his _Fiestas +de toros en Filipinas_ (Madrid, 1896). Huerta (_Estado_, p. 17), +incorrectly states that the first bull-fight in the islands was on +February 4, 1630. But Chirino mentions these spectacles (_Vol_. XII +of this series, p. 182) as customary in both Manila and Cebu at least +as early as 1602, which was the year in which he left the islands. + +[15] A letter from the king to Governor Tavora, dated November 21, +1625, refers to the latter the question of further attempts to work +the Igorrote gold-mines. Reference is made therein to the report of +Alonso Martin Quirante on these mines; and the cost or his expedition +thither is stated as forty thousand pesos. + +[16] Ley xxix, lib. viii, tit. xxi, of _Recopilacion de leyes_, +relating to the sale of offices in the Philippines, is as follows: + +"We order that all offices be sold in the Filipinas Islands, which +are regulated and ordained in accordance with the laws of this titulo, +as in the other parts of the Indias, observing the laws in regard to +sales, and the condition of securing a confirmation--provided that, +if any persons shall hold any of those offices comprehended in those +islands, as a concession which shall have been made to them for life +by us, or by the governors of those islands in our name, these must +be sold, and shall be sold, as if they were rendered vacant by the +death [of the incumbents]. They cannot resign them, for it is our will +that they shall not enjoy that privilege, as they could have done had +they bought those offices." [Felipe III, Madrid, November 29, 1616; +December 19, 1618.] + +[17] The same instruction is given after nearly all the following +statistics, namely "idem," _i.e._, that they be entered in the +book. Consequently, we omit all following instances. + +[18] This Dutch fort was on the southwestern coast of the island of +Formosa. See Valentyn's descriptive and historical account (with map) +of Tayouan (or Formosa), in his _Oud en Nieuw Oost-Indien_, at end +of part iv. Boulger says (_China_, p. 132): The Dutch "had acquired +their place in Formosa by the retirement of the Japanese from Taiwan +in 1624, when the Dutch, driven away by the Portuguese from Macao, +sought a fresh site for their proposed settlement in the Pescadore +group, and eventually established themselves at Fort Zealand." + +[19] Interesting accounts of Formosa and its inhabitants are given +by George Candidius (a Dutch Protestant minister who began a mission +among the natives in 1626), in Churchill's collection of _Voyages_ +(London, 1704), i, pp. 526-533; and J.B. Steere, who traveled through +the western part of the island, in _Journal_ of American Geographical +Society, 1874, pp. 303-334. The latter states that the chief city of +Formosa, Taiwanfu, is built on the site of the old Dutch colony near +Fort Zelandia; and furnishes several vocabularies of native languages. + +[20] La Concepcion describes the Spanish expedition to Formosa +(_Historia de Philipinas_, v, pp. 114-122) and the labors of Dominican +missionaries there; he says that the Spanish fort was erected on +an islet which they named San Salvador, near which was an excellent +harbor called Santissima Trinidad. Apparently these localities were +on the northeastern coast of the island. + +[21] This officer was a relative of Governor Juan de Silva. A full +account of this unfortunate expedition and his death in Siam is given +in the "Relation of 1626," _post_. + +[22] This order of nuns, commonly known as "Poor Clares," is the +second order of St. Francis. It was founded by St. Clare, who was +born at Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis, and she was received +by him into the monastic life in 1212; she died in 1253. The order +soon spread into France and Spain; and a written rule was given +to these nuns by St. Francis in 1224, which was approved by the +pope in 1246. Some modifications of this rule--which was exceedingly +austere--crept into various convents; and a rule, approved by Urban IV, +was drawn up in 1264, similar to that of St. Francis, but somewhat +mitigated. It was adopted by most of the convents in the order, +this branch being known as Urbanists; the minority, who followed the +stricter rule, were called Clarisses. The government and direction of +the order were at first divided between a cardinal protector and the +superiors of the Franciscans; but, early in the sixteenth century, +Julius II placed the Poor Clares entirely under the jurisdiction of +the general and provincials of the Friars Minors. (Addis and Arnold's +_Catholic Dictionary_.) + +[23] Geronima de la Asuncion, daughter of Pedro Garcia Yanez, was +born in Toledo in 1555, and entered the Order of St. Clare in August, +1570. With seven nuns of her order, she embarked from Cadiz on July +5, 1620, and arrived at Manila August 5, 1621, where she founded the +convent of La Concepcion. Within two months, she received twenty girls +into the novitiate, notwithstanding the rigorous and austere rules of +this order. The provincial of the Franciscans strove to modify this +strictness, for the sake of the nuns' health in so trying a climate, +but Mother Geronima refused to yield, and finally triumphed, in the +appeal made to the head of the order--although after this victory +she permitted some relaxations of the rule. Opposition arose to the +seclusion of so many young women of Manila in the monastic life; and +even the diocesan authorities endeavored to restrain their zeal--even +excommunicating Mother Geronima for a time--but with little result. She +died on October 22, 1630. See La Concepcion's account of her and the +entrance of this order, in _Hist. de Philipinas_, v, pp. 1-17. + +[24] This man undertook, as a work of charity, to rear and educate +orphaned or poor Spanish boys, for which purpose he collected aims; +and later he secured from the crown the aid for which these letters +ask. Having spent his life in this work, Guerrero at his death (being +then a Dominican friar) placed this school in charge of the Dominicans, +who accepted it--on June 18, 1640, organizing it as the college of +San Juan de Letran; it became a department of their university of +Santo Tomas. + +[25] Evidently referring to the city of Cebu, of which Christoval +de Lugo was then alcalde-mayor; this officer conducted an expedition +against the Joloans in 1627, in which the Spaniards inflicted heavy +losses on these pirates. + +[26] Apparently meaning that he came with Governor Fajardo in 1618; +for the present narrative must have been written as early as 1624. + +[27] That is, "the spirit of the Lord came rushing." + +[28] The only Jeronimo Rodrigues, and who was probably the one in +our text, mentioned by Sommervogel was the Portuguese born at Villa +de Monforte. He went to the Indias in 1566, and became visitor of the +provinces of China and Japan. He died while rector of Macan. He left +several letters and treatises, some of which have been printed. See +Sommervogel's _Bibliotheque_. + +[29] The old capital of Siam was Ayuthia (also written, in early +documents, Yuthia and Odia). It was founded in the year 1350, and +was built on an island in the river Meinam--the proper name of which, +according to M.L. Cort's _Siam_ (New York, 1886), p. 20, is Chow Payah, +the name Meinam (meaning "mother of waters") being applied to many +rivers--seventy-eight miles from the sea. Ayuthia was captured and +ruined by the Burmese in 1766, and later the capital was removed to +Bangkok (founded in 1769), which lies on the same river, twenty-four +miles from the sea. Crawfurd, writing in the middle of the nineteenth +century, gives the estimated population of Ayuthia at 40,000, and +that of Bangkok at 404,000--the latter probably much too large. See +his _Dict. Indian Islands_, article, "Siam." + +[30] Pedro de Morejon was born in 1562, at Medina del Campo. He +entered his novitiate in 1577, and set out for the Indias in 1586, +and spent more than fifty years in the missions of the Indias and +Japan. His associates were Jacques Chisai and Juan de Goto, who were +martyred. In 1620 he was sent to Rome as procurator of Japan, became +rector of the college of Meaco in 1633, and died shortly after. San +Antonio (_Chronicas_, iii, pp. 534, 535) gives a letter written by +him to the Franciscan religious martyred in Japan in 1596 while on +the road to execution; and he was the author of several relations +concerning Christianity in Japan. See Sommervogel's _Bibliotheque_. + +[31] Antonio Francisco Cardim was born at Viana d'Alentejo, near Evora, +in 1596, and entered his novitiate February 24, 1611. He went to the +Indias in 1618, where he visited Japan, China, the kingdom of Siam, +Cochinchina, and Tonquin. He died at Macao, April 30, 1659. He left +a number of writings concerning his order and their work in the +Orient. See Sommervogel's _Bibliotheque_. + +[32] The name Manados (now Menado) was applied to a province +(now called Minahasa) in the northernmost peninsula of Celebes; +see Colin's description of it in his _Labor evangelica_ (ed. 1663), +pp. 109, 110. Jesuit missions were early established there (Colin, +_ut supra_, p. 820), from the island of Siao. + +[33] There is apparently some defect in the text at this place, as +if the royal comment or decision on Tavora's request had been omitted. + +[34] This officer had been appointed to the post of warden, without +any salary, by Fernando de Silva (see the latter's report of July 30, +1626); but Tavora soon replaced him by another. + +[35] This law, dated Ventosilla, April 15, is as follows: +"Notwithstanding the claims of the alcaldes-in-ordinary of Manila, +as to trying jointly the suits and causes of the Parian, on the +ground that it is within the five leguas of their jurisdiction, +it is our will that the governor of the Parian alone try in the +first instance it suits and causes, with appeals to the Audiencia; +while in respect to the government of the Parian, ley iv, titulo xv, +libro ii, shall be observed." + +This latter law, dated November 4, 1606, is as follows: "Inasmuch +as the auditors of the royal Audiencia of Manila, under pretext of a +decree from us dated December eighteen, one thousand six hundred and +three, meddle in affairs touching the Parian or the Sangley Chinese, +and in giving orders and licenses so that they may reside in the +Filipinas Islands; and inasmuch as the cognizance and ruling in these +matters should concern our governor and captain-general, in whom +the defense of that land is vested: therefore we order that matters +concerning the Parian of the Sangleys be alone in the charge and care +of our governors and captains-general, and that our royal Audiencia +abstain from discussing or taking cognizance of anything touching +this matter, unless it be that the governor and captain-general commit +something that concerns him to them. And in order that the advisable +good relations should be held among all of them, and the Parian be +governed with more unanimity and satisfaction, the governors and +captains-general shall be very careful always to communicate to the +royal Audiencia what shall be deemed advisable for them [to know]." + +Law v of the book and titulo, from which the above laws of the +regular text are taken, and which was promulgated by Carlos II and +the queen mother, provides that "in the government of the Parian, and +the jurisdiction, communication, and all the other things contained +in ley lv, titulo xy, libro ii, what was enacted shall be observed." + +[36] See this law, _ante_, note 34. + +[37] This same law, with slightly different wording, is found in +libro viii, titulo xxix, ley xi, under the same date as the first +one above. The only material difference is in the additional words at +the end: "concealment of any quantity; and very exact account shall +be taken of everything, and the balances struck." + +[38] This is but one clause in the royal decree of November 19, 1627 +(which see, _post_); and it would seem that the date here given, +June 14, must be an error for that just cited. This and the following +matter from the _Recopilacion_ show clearly the slipshod manner in +which that work was compiled. + +[39] See this decree in full, pp. 164-166, _post_; it contains +important matter which is here omitted. + +[40] Referring to William Adams, an Englishman who landed in Japan in +April, 1600, and soon became a favorite with the ruler Iyeyasu. He +was in the employ of the East India Company from November, 1613, +to December, 1616; and at other times rendered various services to +Iyeyasu, traded on his own account, or acted as interpreter to the +English and the Dutch in Japan. He remained in that country until +his death, May 16, 1620. See Cocks's _Diary_ (Hakluyt Society's +publications), i, pp. iii-xxxiv. + +[41] i.e., the Chinese, not understanding scientific navigation, +are not able to direct their course across the sea to points on the +Philippine coast where they could be safe and escape the Dutch who +were lying in wait for them; but they cross from island to island, +by devious routes, making their way as their partial knowledge of +sailing enables them, and thus cannot avoid die enemy. + +[42] La Concepcion states (_Hist. de Philipinas_, v, p. 131) that +Tavora desired, through martial ardor, to undertake some important +expedition (for which he had made all possible preparations during +the winter and spring); and that in a council of war three such were +proposed--"to dislodge the Dutch from the port of Taiban [i.e., Taiwan, +in Formosa]; to Maluco, from [the fort of] Malayo, to punish their +insolent acts; or to obtain satisfaction from Siam for the death of +Don Fernando de Silva"--of which the first was chosen. But, through +various delays, Tavora's voyage was begun too late, and defeated by +the stormy weather that ensued. + +[43] The following note is a part of the original document: + +"_Note_. While writing this relation, these forty Spaniards arrived +in a ship, less four sailors who wished to remain in the kingdom of +Camboja, whither went all those who remained in the lanchas after the +galleons left them. That king of Camboja protected them; and, although +he suspected that they were spies, they were welcomed cordially and +sent to Manila, where they arrived July first." + +[44] This cruise by the Spanish galleons is of much the same piratical +character which the Spaniards themselves ascribed to the Dutch and +English adventurers of that time; nor did they hesitate to attack +peaceful trading ships, even those of nations against whom they had +no grievance. + +[45] In 1627 the emperor Tienki (a grandson of Wanleh) died, and +was succeeded by his younger brother, Tsongching, who was the last +of the actual Ming rulers. In the latter part of his reign he was +almost constantly at war with the Manchus, who were ruled by Taitsong, +fourth son of Noorhachu. In 1640 a revolt occurred in China, headed +by Li Tseching, who four years later captured Peking. Tsongching, +seeing that his cause was lost, committed suicide. Taitsong, who had +died in 1643, was succeeded by his son Chuntche; the latter, after +the fall of the rebel Li Tseching, became the first emperor of the +Manchu dynasty in China, and established his capital in Peking. + +[46] This noted relic was dug up in the Chinese city of Singanfu, in +1625. It is a stone slab, containing various inscriptions in Chinese +and Syriac; it was erected in the year 781, and is a monument of the +early existence of the Nestorian church in China. See Yule's account +of it in his _Cathay_, i, pp. xci-xcvi, clxxxi-clxxxiii. + +[47] Evidently referring to the Manchu chief Noorhachu, who from 1591 +had harassed the northern frontiers of China; he died at Mukden in +September, 1626. + +[48] Nicholas Longobardi was born in 1566 at Caltagarone, Sicily, +and admitted into the Society in 1580 (Sotwell says that he entered +his novitiate in 1582, at the age of seventeen). He became a teacher +in humanities and rhetoric. In 1596 he went to China, and settled in +the province of Kiang-si, where he was appointed general superior of +the mission from 1610 to 1622. He died at Peking, December 11, 1655, +according to Sotwell. Father de Machault says that he died September 1, +1654, according to a letter written May 7, 1655, by Father Francois +Clement; but the inscription on his tomb gives the first date. He +had written a number of treatises, some of them apparently in the +Chinese language. See Sommervogel's _Bibliotheque_. + +[49] The Dominican provincial at this time was Bartolome Martinez, +who made his profession in 1602, and arrived in the Philippines +in 1611. In the following year he made an unsuccessful attempt to +found a mission at Macao; but on his return to Manila was assigned +to the Chinese village of Binondo, where he became proficient in +their language, and afterward was vicar of the Parian at Manila. In +1618 he was shipwrecked on the coast of Formosa, which he considered +to be a gateway to the Chinese empire. In 1626 he founded a mission +there, and when his provincialate was ended he returned to Formosa, +where he died by accidental drowning, August 1, 1629. See sketch of +his life in _Resena biog. Sant. Rosario_, i, pp. 335-337. + +[50] Cf. the account by Paul Clain (Manila, June 10, 1697) of a +similar occurrence, natives of the Caroline Islands being blown by +storms to the coast of Samar. See _Lettres edifiantes_, i (Paris, +1717), pp. 112-136. + +[51] "In 1610, the Dutch had built [in Java] a fort, which they named +Batavia. This was besieged by the Sunda princes of Bantam and Jacatra +in 1619, and it was on their defeat in that year that it was resolved +to build a town on the ruins of the native one of Jacatra, and this +took the name of the fort. Batavia has been the capital of all the +Dutch possessions in India since its foundation in 1619." (Crawfurd's +_Dict. Indian Islands_, p. 44.) + +[52] A native town in the northern part of Gilolo (or Almahera) +Island; it was captured by Juan de Silva. + +[53] Probably referring to the plant called "China grass" (_Boehmeria +nivea_), a shrub indigenous in India, and probably in China and other +countries of eastern Asia; also introduced by cultivation into Europe +and America. The Chinese name for it is _tchou-ma_. The well known +"ramie" is but a variety (_tenacissima_) of _Boehmeria nivea_. The +fiber of China grass is considered as a textile substance of the +first rank. For description of this plant and its culture and use, +see C.R. Dodge's _Useful Fiber Plants of the World_ (U.S. Department +of Agriculture, Washington, 1897), pp. 85-91. + +[54] This was the revolt of the Moors in Granada in the reign of +Felipe II, which occurred in 1568-71, under the leadership of Aben +Humeya. It was due to an edict restricting the liberties of the Moors, +and depriving them of the exercise of most of their distinctive +customs. It was quelled under the leadership of the famous Don Juan, +and the Moon were expelled from their homes to other parts of Spain. + +[55] This document, like so many existing in Spanish archives, +was printed, evidently for the greater convenience of the members +of the Council. The signature is in writing, as also the above two +endorsements, which are in different hands. + +[56] Fabricio Serzale was born at Naples, April 2, 1568. He was +admitted into the Society, December 10, 1586, became a teacher of +grammar, and went to the Philippines in June, 1600. He was superior +of Carigara; and his death occurred at Manila June 30, 1644. See +Sommervogel's _Bibliotheque_. + +[57] This paragraph is written in the margin of the original document +that we follow. The church here mentioned was that of the Dominicans. + +[58] Father Fernando de Estrada, a native of Ecija, died at Manila in +the year 1646, at the age of forty-five. He was a missionary in Naujan +of Mindoro, in Ternate, and among the Bisayans and Tagals. (Murillo +Velarde's _Hist. de Philipinas_, fol. 194.) + +[59] This was Juan de Bueras, born in 1588; he arrived at Manila in +1622, and for four years was rector of the college there. He was +provincial from 1626 until 1636; and in 1644 he went to Mexico as +visitor of that province. See sketch of his life in Murillo Velarde's +_Hist, de Philipinas_, fol. 71, verso. + +[60] Juan Lopez was born at Moratalla, in the diocese of Murcia, +December 27, 1584. Admitted into the Society October 11, 1600, +he went six years later to the Philippines, where he was rector of +Carigara, Manila, and Cavite, associate of the provincial, commissary +of the Inquisition, and missionary among the Indians; he also went +to Rome as procurator of his province. He died at Manila, September +3, 1659. A probable error in name makes Francisco Lopez rector of +Cavite in 1637, for Juan was rector of the residence there at that +time. See Sommervogel's _Bibliotheque_; and Murillo Velarde's _Hist. de +Philipinas_, fol. 269, verso. + +[61] Geronimo Perez de Nueros was born at Zaragoza, in 1595. He +entered the Society in 1616 and became a teacher of philosophy, and +also taught theology for nine years. He went to the Philippines, +whence he went later to Mexico. He died at Puebla, September 27, +1675. He wrote a number of relations, one on the life and martyrdom of +Father Marcelo Francisco Mastrilo; while a piece of his composition +was acted in the church of the college of Manila, July 5, 1637. See +Sommervogel's _Bibliotheque_. + +[62] In the margin occurs the following at this point: "It is called +_nonog_ in the language of Manila." Blanco _(Flora,_ p. 106), after +enumerating a number of native names given to this tree, says that it +is called _nono_ at Otaiti in the South Sea. The chief uses of the +_nino_ (_Morinda ligulata, Morinda de cintillas_--Blanco; _Morinda +citrifolia_--Linn.; _Morinda tinctoria_--Roxb.) are the making of +red ink and dye, while the leaves, were used in making plasters for +the relief of pain. The tree attains a height of ten or twelve feet, +and has wide-spreading branches, and the leaves are eight or more +inches in length. See Blanco _ut supra_, pp. 105-109; and Delgado's +_Historia_, p. 449. + +[63] Pastells publishes in his edition of Colin's _Labor evangelica_ +(iii, p. 755) the following letter from the Manila Audiencia: + +"Sire: + +The fathers of the Society of Jesus of this city have been suffering +signal discomfort and need, because of the falling of their church, +and because the house in which they live is threatened with the same +ruin, as it is dilapidated in many places; and, as it is propped up +in many places, the religious are living in great danger. This city +has grieved much over this loss, as the Society is so frequented by +all its inhabitants and is of so great benefit as it is in all the +world. Although they have commenced to build their new church, and +a dwelling-house, they will not be able to finish these very soon, +because of lack of funds; and their present need demands a more speedy +relief. Consequently, this Audiencia is obliged to represent the case +to your Majesty, so that, with your accustomed liberality, you may be +pleased to give an alms to the fathers for these works. Since they were +commenced with what your Majesty was pleased to give them five years +ago, it will be right that they be finished with another equivalent +sum. The fathers deserve this aid, as they were the first to engage +in the matters of the royal service in the building of galleons with +the Indians of their districts; while, in the fleets which are offered +to them, they embark personally. And, in this respect, they are very +attentive in all other things that concern year Majesty's service and +the public welfare. With the protection which they promise themselves +from the piety of your Majesty, they will continue successfully +in this care. May our Lord preserve your Majesty many years, as is +necessary to Christendom. Manila, July twenty-nine, one thousand six +hundred and thirty. + + +_Don Juan Nino de Tavora_ +Licentiate _Geronimo de Legaspi_ +Licentiate _Don Mathias Flores_ +Licentiate _Marcos Zapata de Galvez_" + +[64] La Concepcion relates this occurrence _(Hist. de Philipinas,_ +v, pp. 139-145), and its effect on the archbishop, Serrano; he was +so horrified and grieved that he fell into a profound melancholy, +which ended his life on June 14, 1629. The disposal of the stolen +articles was finally made known in the confessional by one of the +accomplices in the theft. + +[65] The Portuguese commander Albuquerque had in 1508 seized the +more important ports on the eastern coast of 'Oman, which were +then tributary to the ruler of Hormuz--a petty principality on the +southern coast of Persia, afterward removed (about 1300 A.D.) to +the island now called Hormuz (or Ormuz). The Portuguese exacted +tribute from these towns, and from the ruler of Hormuz; and later +cooeperated with him in enforcing his authority over his tributaries, +and defending him from foreign foes. They were expelled from 'Oman by +its imam, Nasir-bin-Murshid (who reigned from 1624 to 1649)--except +from Maskat and el-Matrah, which was accomplished by his successor, +Sultan-bin-Seif, by 1652. See George P. Badger's _Imams and Seyyids of +'Oman_ (Hakluyt Society's publications, London, 1871), pp. xxii, 4, +46, 66-69, 74, 78-90. + +[66] i.e., "We have passed through fire and water, and thou hast +brought us out into a refreshment." (Psalm lxv, v. 12, Douay Bible; +lxvi in Protestant versions.) + +[67] Many of these exiles went to Formosa and other neighboring +islands. + +[68] Thus in original (_la mucha Plata qe_ tomaron a los dichos +Religiosos, q_e_ dicen serian dos mil sacos de hazienda); but one +would hardly expert that so large an amount of silver could have been +borrowed, as the context would indicate, from the merchants of Manila +(apparently for an investment in Japanese goods, from the proceeds of +which the friars in charge of it might aid their persecuted brethren +in Japan) for conveyance by two friars on so dangerous and uncertain +a voyage--doubly so, since the Japanese authorities had strictly +forbidden all trade between their ports and Manila. + +[69] i.e., on the bar at the mouth of the river of Siam (the Chow +Payah, commonly called Meinam). For account of the capture of the +Japanese vessel, see "Relation of 1627-28," _ante_. + +In a letter of August 4, 1630, the governor says, regarding the +question that arose on account of the capture of the Japanese junk: +"For the preservation of the commerce of the Japanese with Macan, +which is interrupted by the capture of one of their junks by our +galleons in the port of Sian in May of 628, the investigations +which I have written during the last two years have been made by my +efforts. The Japanese have become somewhat more softened, because +they have understood that it was not the intention of this government +to damage them. What I wrote last year to the king of Japon was of +considerable aid in that understanding, and that king made it known +in Japon. The city of Macan lately begged me to write new letters +to Japon, and I have done it very willingly, with the advice of the +Audiencia and other experienced persons. Our Lord grant that it will +have a good result." See Pastells's _Colin_, i, p. 242. The original +of this letter rests in the Sevilla archives; its pressmark, "est. 67, +caj. 6, leg. 8." + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898: +Volume XXII, 1625-29, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS *** + +***** This file should be named 16297.txt or 16297.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/2/9/16297/ + +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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