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diff --git a/old/13120.txt b/old/13120.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bd7ff87 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13120.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8902 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, by Emma Helen Blair + +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 VI, 1583-1588 + +Author: Emma Helen Blair + +Release Date: August 6, 2004 [EBook #13120] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, 1493-1898 *** + + + + + + +Prepared by Jeroen Hellingman and the 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 VI, 1583-1588 + + + +Edited and annotated by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson +with historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord +Bourne. + + + + + + +Editorial Announcement + + +The Editors desire to announce to their readers an important +modification in the scope and contents of this work. As originally +planned and hitherto announced, the series was intended to furnish +the original sources, printed and documentary, for the history +of the Philippine Islands only to the beginning of the nineteenth +century. To most of our readers, the reasons for this are obvious: +the fact that the classic period of Philippine history is thus bounded; +the comparative rarity and inaccessibility of most material therein to +the general public; the vast extent of the field covered by Philippine +history, and the necessary limitations of space imposed upon the +selection of material for this work; the closing of foreign archives +to all investigators after an early date in the nineteenth century; +and the greater difficulty, in that later period, of securing a proper +historical perspective. But so many and urgent requests have come to +us, from subscribers and reviewers, for such extension of this series +as shall cover the entire period of Spanish domination, that we have +decided to modify the former plan in the manner here briefly indicated. + +It is our purpose not to exceed the number of volumes already +announced, fifty-five. We are able to do this because in our original +plan, to avoid a subsequent increase in the number of volumes, +a certain amount of space was purposely left for possible future +changes as a result of later investigations to be made in foreign +archives, or on account of the necessary excision of extraneous or +irrelevant matter from the printed works which are to be presented +in this series. The new title will be "The Philippine Islands: +1493-1898." The early and especially important history of the +islands will be covered as fully as before. For the history of +the nineteenth century, we will present various important decrees, +reports, and other official documents; and provide a clear, careful, +and impartial synopsis of some of the best historical matter extant, +down to the close of the Spanish regime. Throughout the series will +be used, as has been done from the beginning, all the best material +available--historical, descriptive, and statistical--for reference +and annotation. With the copious and carefully-prepared bibliography +of Philippine historical literature, and the full analytical index, +which will close the series; the broad and representative character of +the material selected throughout; and the impartial and non-sectarian +attitude maintained, the Editors trust that this change will still +further enable scholars, historical writers, and general readers +alike to study, with reliable and satisfactory material, the history +of the Philippine Islands from their first discovery by Europeans to +the close of the Spanish regime, and incidentally the history of the +entire Orient. + + + +Contents of Volume VI + + + Preface ... 13 + + Documents of 1583-85 + + Foundation of the Audiencia of Manila + (concluded). Felipe II; Aranjuez, May 5, 1583 ... 35 + + Two decrees regarding the religious. Felipe II; + San Lorenzo, June 21, 1583, and Aranjuez, April 24, + 1584 ... 45 + + Annual income of the royal exchequer in the + Philippines. Andres Cauchela, and others; Manila, + June 15-30, 1584 ... 47 + + Letter to Felipe II. Melchor Davalos; Manila, July 3, + 1584 ... 54 + + Letter to the archbishop of Mexico. Santiago de Vera; + Manila, June 20, 1585 ... 66 + + Two letters to Felipe II. Fray Geronimo de Guzman + [Madrid? 1585]; and Fray Jhoan de Vascones [1585?] ... + 76 + + History of the great kingdom of China (extracts relating to the + Philippines). Juan Gonzalez de Mendoza; Madrid, 1586 ... 81 + + Documents of 1586 + + Memorial to the Council by citizens of the Filipinas + Islands. Santiago de Vera, and others; Manila, + [July 26] ... 157 + + Letter to Felipe II. Alfonso de Chaves, and others; + Manila, June 24 ... 234 + + Letter from the Manila cabildo to Felipe II. Andres + de Villanueva, and others; Manila, June 25 ... 242 + + Letter to Felipe II. Antonio Sedeno; Manila, June 25 + ... 247 + + Letter to Felipe II. Domingo de Salazar; Manila, + June 26 ... 251 + + Letter from the Audiencia to Felipe II. Santiago de + Vera, and others; Manila, June 26 ... 254 + + Letter to Felipe II. Pedro de Rojas; Manila, June 30 + ... 265 + + Letter to Felipe II. Juan de Moron; Manila, June 30 + ... 275 + + Measures regarding trade with China. Felipe II, and + others; Madrid and Manila; June 17-November 15 ... 279 + + Brief erecting Franciscan province of the + Philippines. Sixtus V; Rome, November 15 ... 290 + + Documents of 1587-88 + + Letter to Felipe II. Alvaro, Marques de [Villa] + Manriquez; Mexico, February 8, 1587 ... 295 + + Letter to Felipe II. Santiago de Vera; Manila, June + 26, 1587 ... 297 + + Letter from the Audiencia to Felipe II. Santiago de + Vera, and others; Manila, June 25, 1588 ... 311 + + Bibliographical Data ... 323 + + + + +Illustrations + + + Title-page of _Historia del gran reyno de China_, by Juan + Goncalez de Mendoca (Madrid, M.D.LXXXVI); from copy (Madrigal + edition) in Library of Congress ... 83 + + Title-page of "Itinerario" at end of Goncalez's _Historia_, + from copy in Library of Congress ... 135 + + Signature of Alonso Sanchez, S.J., from MS. in Archivo general + de Indias, Sevilla ... 228 + + + + +Preface + + +The present volume covers the period of 1583 to 1588 inclusive. At +the close of two decades of Spanish occupation in the Philippines, +the native population is decimated, and the Spanish colonists are poor, +heavily burdened with taxation, and largely non-producing. The islands +are but nominally defended by a small, irregular, demoralized force of +unpaid soldiers, whose lawlessness and arrogance render them dangerous +to their own countrymen, and tyrants over the helpless natives. The +Audiencia is a costly institution, a burden of which all the people +complain. They have other grievances and many needs, which finally +impel them to send a special envoy to Spain, to procure relief and aid +from the home government. The documents in this volume contain much +valuable information regarding the economic condition of the colony, +and its commercial relations with China and Mexico respectively. As +the Spanish settlers in the Philippines find that they are largely +dependent upon China for their food, those who are wise see the +necessity of encouraging and extending agriculture in the islands; +but others are fired with the lust for wealth and conquest, and urge +upon Felipe II a scheme for subduing China by force of arms, thus to +give Spain the control of the great Oriental world, and incidentally +to enrich a host of needy Spanish subjects. + +In Volume V was presented the greater part of the royal decree +establishing the Audiencia of the Filipinas; the document is +here concluded. The duties of certain subordinate officials of +that tribunal--commissioners of examination, jail-wardens, and +interpreters--are carefully prescribed. Such commissioners are +forbidden to play games of chance, except for articles of food ready +to be eaten. Prisoners in jail shall not be allowed to gamble, except +for food. The document closes with a general provision for a tariff +of official fees, and for the care of the Audiencia's archives. + +Felipe II decrees (June 21, 1583) that the Audiencia aid the +Franciscan missionaries in the islands; and (April 24, 1584) that the +religious orders there continue to receive from the royal treasury +the gratuities originally bestowed upon them by Legazpi. The officials +of the treasury furnish a statement of their accounts, which shows a +yearly deficit in current expenses; and extraordinary expenses besides, +which nearly equal the total revenue for the year. Alarmed at this +condition of affairs, the Audiencia institutes an inquiry (June 15, +1584) into the commercial and industrial status of the colony; the +witnesses all testify that great scarcity of supplies, and poverty +among the people, are prevalent; that a considerable portion of the +native population has perished; and that the non-productive elements +of the population are much too large. + +One of the auditors, Melchor Davalos, writes (July 3, 1584) to the king +a letter which, withal containing some valuable information regarding +matters in the islands, is a curious mixture of pedantry, bigotry, +egotism, and vanity. He mentions the arrival and establishment of the +Audiencia at Manila, complains that he cannot obtain the salary due +him, and relates the services which, he thinks, entitle him to better +treatment. He asks for instructions as to what shall be done with the +Mahometans, and cites the permission formerly given to Legazpi by the +king to enslave the Moros in certain cases, also the example set by +the sovereigns of Spain and Portugal in expelling or crushing the Moors +who inhabited their dominions. Davalos also desires the king to settle +the question of slaveholding by the Spaniards, which he is inclined +to justify; and to take such action as will prevent the Chinese from +obtaining all the money which comes to the Philippines. The utmost +poverty prevails among the Spanish soldiery, who are unpaid; and +Davalos advises that they be sent to make fresh conquests, by which +they can support themselves. The Spanish post in the Moluccas is +menaced by the native king of Ternate, and a large force of troops +is to be sent to its aid. A controversy arises among the Spanish +officers over the appointment of a commander for this expedition, +which Davalos proposes to settle by himself going as commander--thus +satisfying all the discontented captains, as he informs his royal +correspondent. He desires the king to grant him authority to punish +the Chinese for vicious practices, and thinks that the friars should +convert and baptize these heathen more rapidly than they are doing. + +The new governor, Santiago de Vera, writes (June 20, 1585) to the +archbishop of Mexico. He encounters many difficulties--coolness on +the part of the bishop, lack of support from his associates in the +Audiencia, and but little acquaintance with the needs of the islands +in the royal Council of the Indias. His duties are onerous and his +responsibilities too great; he asks the archbishop to aid him in an +appeal to the king for relief from these burdens and vexations. Vera +cannot yet procure the quicksilver which he has been asked to send to +Mexico, but will try to obtain it from the Chinese traders. The king +of Ternate has revolted, and affairs there are in bad condition; +more troops are needed, but cannot be spared from Manila. Vera +discusses various matters concerning some of his officers, and +affairs both military and civil. He sends to Spain, under arrest, +two prisoners--one of them Diego Ronquillo, a kinsman of the late +governor Gonzalo Ronquillo de Penalosa, charged with defalcation in +the trust of the latter's estate. + +A Franciscan official in Spain, Geronimo de Guzman, sends to the +king (1585) certain recommendations regarding the government of the +Franciscan friars in the Philippines. An Augustinian friar, Jhoan de +Vascones, who has evidently gone from the islands to Spain, writes +in behalf of his brethren there (1585?) to ask the king that more +religious be sent to the Philippines and to other Oriental lands; +that these friars be sent from Spain by way of India instead of Nueva +Espana; that the authorities of India, secular and ecclesiastical, +be commanded to aid the friars in their missionary journeys; that +the latter be permitted to build monasteries as they may choose, "in +remote and infidel lands," without awaiting government permission; +and that the authorities at Manila be not allowed to send, at their +own pleasure, the friars to other lands. + +From the _Historia del gran Reyno de China_ (Madrid, 1586) of the +Augustinian Juan Gonzalez de Mendoza, we have translated such matter +as relates to the Philippine Islands--portions of part ii, and of +the "Itinerary" appended to Mendoza's work. He narrates (book i, +part ii) the efforts of the Augustinian friars to carry the gospel +to the Chinese. These are unavailing until, after the defeat of the +Chinese pirate Limahon (whose exploits are narrated in some detail) +by the Spanish forces, a Chinese officer named Omoncon, who has come +to Manila in search of the pirate, forms a friendly acquaintance with +the Spaniards, and, in return for favors at their hands, promises to +convey to China some Spanish friars. For this mission are selected +Fray Martin de Herrada (or Rada) and Fray Geronimo Marin, with two +soldiers as an escort--one of whom is Miguel de Loarca, author of the +curious "Relation" which appears in Volume V of this series. They are +well treated by the Chinese, but are unable to establish a mission +in that land, and finally are sent back to the Philippines. In the +second book is related the voyage made by the Franciscans to China +in 1579. At first they ask permission to go thither, which Sande is +not willing to grant; but the conversion of a Chinese priest through +their efforts makes them still more desirous of opening a mission in +that country, and, Sande still refusing to allow this, they decide +to go without informing him of their departure. To this account +is appended an "Itinerary" of the journey made by another party of +Franciscan friars from Spain to China and return. The writer relates +various particulars concerning the Ladrones and Philippine Islands +and their people, both historical and descriptive; the custom of +slavery among them, and their religious beliefs; and the progress of +Christianity in the archipelago--stating that the conversions therein +now number 400,000. A supernatural appearance of a dead man's spirit, +who describes the delights of the Christian heaven, is related in +detail; this leads to many conversions among the natives, but some +declare that "because there were Castilian soldiers in glory, they +did not care to go thither, because they did not wish the soldiers' +company." The products of the islands, and the articles imported from +China, are enumerated, with mention of some current prices for produce. + +A general junta, or assembly, of the estates of Manila--the church, the +religious orders, the army, the royal service, and the citizens--is +held on April 20, 1586; and a statement of their grievances and +needs (signed on July 26) is sent to the home government by the +hands of Father Alonso Sanchez, a Jesuit. They complain that the +cathedral church has no suitable building, equipment, or provision +for its services; and there is no means of support for the bishop +and the clergy. They ask that tithes shall be paid, or else that the +prebends be replaced by a few curates, who shall care for the souls +of the Spaniards and their Indian servants. The royal hospital and +that for the Indians are both in great destitution, and should be +aided by royal bounty. More religious instructors are needed; and, +in order to support them, more tribute should be required from the +Indians, and the encomenderos should be compelled to pay tithes. The +city of Manila demands some public property, with which to meet its +necessary expenses; and the abolition of the duties hitherto imposed +on commerce. They ask that the commutation of the royal fifth to +one-tenth be made perpetual; and that offices and encomiendas be +bestowed only on actual residents, who have rendered services in the +islands. Workmen and mechanics in Manila should be paid there, and +not in Mexico; a special official should be placed in charge of the +ships; and there should be no commissary of the Inquisition in the +islands. Complaint is made that too much money is sent thither from +Mexico, apparently by speculators interested in the Chinese trade; +and request is made that the export trade of the islands with Mexico +be confined entirely to citizens of the former. It is asked that +all future cargoes of goods from China be purchased at wholesale, by +Spanish officers appointed for that purpose, and "afterward apportioned +to the Spanish citizens, the Chinese, and the Indians, by a just and +fair distribution," at cost price; that Chinese hucksters in Manila +be suppressed; and that no Chinese be allowed even to remain outside +of that city, save the Christian converts and those who are farmers +or artisans, or who trade in food supplies. The Audiencia has become +a burden; and it should be abolished, or its expenses be paid by +the Mexican treasury. As the country has no agricultural industries, +the king is asked to send farmers, with their families, as colonists; +to exempt these from taxes, for a time, and from military or other +personal service; and to forbid them to change their occupation. The +Indians should be taught European methods of agriculture; cattle and +horses should be imported into the islands and the native buffalo be +domesticated and bred. The cultivation of lands granted to encomenderos +should be enforced. Women should be brought from Spain, and provided +with dowries, in order to become the wives of soldiers and workmen; +and dowries should be provided for some native women, that they may +marry poor Spaniards. Offices should not be sold; and encomiendas +should be made large enough to pay their necessary taxes and other +expenses. The Indians should not be obliged to pay the royal share +of their gold; and their lawsuits should be despatched in the courts +with simplicity and promptness. Tribute should not be collected from +them by force, and without giving them religious instruction; and +the boundaries of some encomiendas should be changed. A "protector +of the Indians" should be appointed, who should not be also the royal +fiscal; he should, besides, have charge of the Chinese. The soldiers +are compelled to serve, yet are allowed no pay, from which many evils +ensue; the troops have become demoralized; and the very existence of +the colony is thus endangered. A regular paid force, of about three +hundred and fifty men, should therefore be maintained; they should +not engage in trade, or serve the officials; the officers should be +clothed with suitable authority; and those sent from Nueva Espana +should be soldiers, not boys and pages. Urgent request is made that +the city of Manila be strongly fortified; this will inspire respect +among their neighbors, and keep in awe the natives and the Chinese, +who are liable at any time to revolt. Luzon is menaced with invasion +by the Japanese, Malays, and English; and forts should be erected at +various points for its defense. The coasts should be protected against +pirates by a small fleet of light, swift vessels. It must be understood +that no confidence can be placed in the natives, who kill Spaniards at +every opportunity. The conquests hitherto made by the Spaniards should +be further extended; and the districts and islands in which the natives +are disaffected should be subdued and pacified. These will employ and +reward the poor Spanish soldiers, and will afford protection to the +converted natives, who are continually harassed and raided by their +heathen neighbors. The regions that should be subdued range from +the Liu-Kiu Islands to Borneo. The governor should be authorized +to make such conquests, and even "to entrust them, by contract, +to other Spaniards." The king is called upon "to aid in atoning for +the wrongs inflicted on the Indians by the first conquerors," for +which the latter are held responsible by the church, which refuses to +absolve them from sins until payment for these wrongs be made to the +Indians. This the conquerors are unable to do, and request for it aid +from the royal treasury. The king is asked to compel the encomenderos +to give religious instruction to their Indians. The abuses that prevail +in the collection of tributes from the Indians are enumerated; in some +places the natives are revolting, because treated so unjustly. Some +Spaniards still hold Indians as slaves, in defiance of royal edicts; +moreover, the natives themselves hold many slaves; and the priests +are unwilling to grant absolution to either unless they release these +slaves. Request is made for regulation of the system of slavery among +the Indians. Complaint is made that the friars go from the islands +wherever and whenever they please; thus they neglect their duties, +arouse ill-feeling among the Chinese and other foreigners, and in many +other ways do harm. This evil should be corrected by forbidding all +Spaniards to leave the islands, or to give assistance to the friars +in doing so, except by special permission from the authorities. + +Then follows a curious scheme for invading and conquering China; +this would bring much wealth to the crown of Spain, and be the +means of converting innumerable souls to the Christian faith; the +king is urged to undertake this enterprise at once. The arguments in +justification of this conquest are left for Father Sanchez to explain +to his Majesty. The forces, equipment, and supplies necessary are +enumerated in detail, as also what part of these can be furnished in +the Philippines themselves, where preparations for the expedition have +already begun. The fleet which is expected to come from Spain with +men and supplies should land in Cagayan, Luzon; the routes which may +be taken by those vessels are described, and that by the Strait of +Magellan is recommended as the shortest and safest. It is desirable +to induce the Portuguese to take part in the proposed conquest; and an +auxiliary force will probably come from Japan. The Jesuit missionaries +who are in China are expected to act as guides and interpreters for +the expedition. The troops should be so numerous and well equipped that +they can at once awe the Chinese into submission; but they should not +be allowed to ravage the country, nor should the native government be +destroyed, as has so often been done in other Spanish conquests. It +must be understood that the proposed expedition is not to deal with +the Chinese as if they were Moors or Turks; it will be sent only +to escort the preachers of the faith, and to see that any converts +that they may gain shall be unmolested by the Chinese authorities; +it should therefore be commanded and officered by honorable, humane, +and Christian men. The gains which would result from the conquest +of China are enumerated--at first, mainly religious; these include +the foundation of many schools, churches, and monasteries for the +Chinese, wherein they will speedily become Europeanized. The writer +praises the natural abilities and excellent qualities of the people, +and especially the virtue of their women. As for worldly advantages, +these are many and great. Every year China can furnish to the Spanish +treasury galleons loaded with gold, silks, and other treasures; much +silver from its mines; and large amounts in rents, taxes, etc. All +China can be divided into encomiendas; and there will be many offices +and dignities to be enjoyed by the king's faithful vassals--indeed, +"a great part of the Spanish people could come to reside there, and be +ennobled." On account of the great virtue, modesty, submissiveness, +and beauty of the Chinese women, they would prove to be excellent +wives for the Spaniards; thus the two peoples would mingle, and +"all would be united, fraternal, and Christian." It is for lack of +such amalgamation that European experiments in Oriental colonization +have hitherto failed; but the proposed scheme will ensure to Spain +success in such expansion. They have thus far failed therein in the +Philippines, scorning the natives as inferior beings, who are fit only +to be their slaves. The Spaniards care only for their own enrichment, +and treat the natives cruelly; consequently the latter are steadily +diminishing, and the condition of the islands is deteriorating. But in +China all will be different, in both temporal and spiritual matters; +and both Spaniards and Chinese will be greatly benefited, enriched, +and increased. Certain minor advantages to arise from the conquest of +China are enumerated--the establishment of numerous episcopal sees; the +foundation of new military orders, and the extension of the old ones; +the creation of many titled lords, and appointment of viceroys for the +conquered provinces. China, thus subdued, will be a vantage-ground from +which Spain can control all Asia and a land-route to Europe. Chinese +colonists can be imported into the Philippines, "and thus enrich +themselves and this land." And, finally, the immediate occupation of +China will forestall any advance into the far Orient by the French, +or the English, or any other heretical nation. This scheme--which as +it proceeds acquires, like a soap-bubble, great size and brilliant +coloring, and proves equally unsubstantial and transient--is signed +by the governor, bishop, superiors of the religious houses, and a +long array of other notables in the islands. + +By the mail which carries the "Memorial" are sent various letters +supplementing the information contained in that document, or commending +the envoy, Father Sanchez. The military officials write to the king +(June 24), reminding him that the foothold gained in the islands by +the Christian faith can be maintained only by the presence of troops +there. The soldiers (whose courage and loyalty in the past are praised) +are discouraged, because they have not received the rewards which +they expected; they are lawless and demoralized, and their officers +cannot control them. The defense of Manila is thus imperiled, and +the natives are led to despise the Spaniards. The officers who write +this letter complain because they have been unjustly treated in their +efforts to improve this condition of affairs; they ask for redress, +and for the abolition of the royal Audiencia. A letter from the cabildo +(municipal council) of Manila commends Sanchez as their envoy to the +king. They complain that the Audiencia "cannot be maintained here +without the total destruction of the state," which cannot bear the +burden of this expense; and ask that it be abolished. They ask for a +garrison of three hundred paid troops, and the grant of an encomienda +to the city of Manila. They complain of the losses inflicted not only +upon the merchants of that city, but upon the colonial government, by +the trade which Mexican merchants carry on through the port of Manila +with the Chinese; and demand that this traffic be restricted to the +citizens of the islands. They ask the king to see that more friars +be sent out, both Augustinians and Franciscans. The cabildo recommend +that the archdeacon Juan de Bivero receive from the king some reward +for his hitherto unrecompensed services in the Philippines. On the +same day Antonio Sedeno, rector of the Jesuits at Manila, writes a +letter commending Sanchez for this present embassy, and recounting +his past services to the Philippine colony. On June 26 Bishop Salazar +writes a short letter, regarding some points outside of Sanchez's +commission. One of these concerns the respective precedence of +the bishop and the Audiencia on public occasions. The bishop also +describes the quarrels between the president and auditors of the +Audiencia, and his success in reconciling these differences. He has +delivered, although against his better judgment, certain prisoners +to the Inquisition, in obedience to a royal decree. A letter from the +Audiencia of the Philippines to the king (dated June 26), recommends +an increase in the rate of tribute paid by the Indians; the money +thus obtained could be used to pay the soldiers, which would greatly +improve the standard of military service in the islands. The colonial +treasury is greatly embarrassed by heavy expenses, and the salaries of +the Audiencia would better be paid from Mexico; then the encomiendas of +Indians now taxed for that expense could be assigned to the soldiers +who have so long been serving in the Philippines without pay. The +king is asked to make an annual appropriation for the military and +marine expenses of the islands. Father Sanchez is recommended by +the Audiencia also, as their envoy to the home government. Their +dissensions are now all settled, and some matters which caused these +disagreements are referred to the king for his decision. They notify +him of certain changes which they have made in the customs tariff of +the islands, especially on the Chinese trade; it appears therefrom +that the economic dependence of the Philippines on China is very +close, especially in the matter of supplying food and cattle. Certain +extension of authority which had been granted to the bishop is asked by +the Audiencia for him. The participation of the Spaniards in the rich +Chinese trade has aroused the jealousy of the Portuguese in India, +who are endeavoring to shut out the Castilians from that country; +the king is asked to take such measures as he deems best in this +matter. Complaint is made that a certain Mexican officer has gone, +in disobedience to his orders, to China, apparently to trade. + +Pedro de Rojas, a member of the Audiencia, also writes (June 30) in +commendation of Sanchez. He relates the dissensions in the Audiencia +over the appointments to offices, and asks for royal action which +shall settle this difficulty. He seconds the request made in other +letters for the removal of the Audiencia, provided a capable and +honest man be selected for governor, and gives advice regarding +the conduct of colonial affairs. He complains of the injury to the +interests of the colony which results from the Chinese trade in silks +and other luxuries, and advises that it be stopped; then the Chinese +will bring cattle, food, and other supplies, to the advantage of +the Spaniards. The latter have devoted themselves to commerce; and, +as most of them are soldiers, they neglect their military duties, +lose their courage, and have become vicious and demoralized. Rojas +urges that they be restrained from engaging in traffic, leaving the +islands, or transferring their encomiendas to the crown. A seminary +for girls should be established at Manila, and young women from +Spain should be encouraged and aided to come to the islands. The +gold obtained in the Philippines should be sent to Mexico, and a +specified sum of money, in coin, should be sent thence to the islands +each year. Rojas recommends that Bishop Salazar be made governor, +and praises his qualifications for that office; next to the bishop, +the auditor Ayala would be most suitable. + +Juan Moron, a military officer, sends (June 30) a report of his +expedition to Maluco with troops to succor the Spanish fort there. He +urges that a stone fort be erected for the defense of Manila, and +that some encomiendas of Indians be granted for the support of the +municipal government; and commends the envoy Sanchez. + +A group of documents which contain "measures regarding trade with +China" (1586-90) throws much light on economic conditions in the +Spanish colonies at that time. The first of these (dated June 17, +1586), although unsigned, is apparently written by a member of the +royal Council of the Indias. He cites letters from several Spanish +officials of high standing, to show that the Philippine-Chinese trade +is injuring that of the mother-country and of Mexico; and the complaint +is again made that Spanish money is continually flowing into China, +thus depleting the wealth of the colonies. The writer recommends that +the latter be forbidden to import Chinese goods; and that the viceroy +of Nueva Espana be directed to take measures to accomplish this. Two +days later, a decree to this effect is signed by the king. Extracts +from a letter written (November 15) by the viceroy, after referring to +the success of the efforts made to sustain the Spanish colony in the +Philippines, and to propagate the Christian faith among the natives +there, indicate the desirability of continuing the trade begun with +China. Through this agency, his Majesty's subjects in the colonies +are benefited, and (a still more important consideration) an open +door for the entrance of the Christian faith into that heathen land +is secured. If the Chinese trade be cut off, the Spanish population +of the Philippines cannot be maintained, and the natives will rebel +against their conquerors. The encomenderos depend upon the Chinese +for clothing and food, and for the opportunity to dispose of the +goods received from the Indians as tributes. In view of all these +considerations, the viceroy has abrogated the royal decree for the +present, and has, besides, ordered the collection of a heavy duty on +all cloth imported from Spain to Mexico. + +A brief of Sixtus V (November 15, 1586) erects into a province the +former custodia of the Franciscan friars in the Philippines. + +The viceroy of Mexico advises the home government (February 8, +1587) to encourage the merchants who carry on the Philippine trade, +especially by selling to them ships made in the royal shipyards. + +Santiago de Vera, governor of the Philippines, writes to the king +(June 26, 1587). He entreats that more soldiers be sent, and that +they be supplied with food and other necessaries; for, as those +hitherto sent have received no food or pay, most of them have died +from their privations, or from the unhealthful climate. In view of the +recent destruction of the city of Manila by fire, Vera has forbidden +the people to build any more houses of wood, obliging them to use +stone for that purpose. Finding the city practically defenseless, +Vera has begun to build near it a fort and other means of defense; +and he asks for a small number of paid soldiers as a garrison for +the city. He has assessed on the encomenderos and other citizens +and on the Indians the expenses of these works. Another fort is +needed at Cavite. The king is asked to grant money and workmen +for completing these fortifications. Copper has been discovered in +adjoining islands, also sulphur. The trade with China is important +and flourishing; and the products of that country are offered at +Manila at very low prices. The Chinese ask that the Spaniards will +establish a trading-post in their country. Friendly intercourse with +Japan is commencing, and the Jesuit missionaries there are freely +allowed to preach the Christian faith. Vera has remitted the duties +on goods brought to Manila from Japan and Macao. A controversy has +arisen between him and the bishop, the latter having ordered that +the Chinese converts to the Christian faith should cut off their long +hair, which causes many to avoid baptism: the king is asked to settle +this question. Vera has sent to Macao for the recalcitrant Mexican +officer who was mentioned in a previous document. A Japanese prince, +a Christian, offers to aid the Spanish with troops in any warlike +enterprise that they wish to undertake. + +A letter from the Audiencia to Felipe (June 25, 1588) reports the +capture of the treasure-ship "Santa Ana" off the California coast, +by the English adventurer Thomas Candish, which has caused much loss +and hardship to the Spaniards in the Philippines. Complaint is made +of vexatious imposts levied on the Philippine trade by the viceroy of +Mexico; the Audiencia ask that he be ordered to cease these measures, +also that he shall not meddle with letters sent from Spain to the +islands, or with the personal affairs of officials there. The existence +of the Philippine colony is endangered by the trade which is beginning +between Mexico and China; and, having lost its best ships, colonists +are no longer sent to augment its population. Gratuities from the royal +treasury have been bestowed upon the various religious communities. The +Audiencia commends the labors of the Jesuits, but advises that a +college be not established for them, as they request, since "there +are in all this country no students to attend their teachings." The +hospitals should receive more aid from the crown. The difficulties +between the bishop and the Audiencia are explained; but they are now +adjusted, and peace prevails. It will be well to send many religious +to the islands, provided they belong to the orders already there. + + +The Editors + +August, 1903. + + + + + +Documents of 1583-85 + + + Foundation of the Audiencia of Manila (concluded). Felipe II; + Aranjuez, May 5, 1583. + Two decrees regarding the religious. Felipe II; San Lorenzo, + June 21, 1583, and Aranjuez, April 24, 1584. + Annual income of the royal exchequer in the Philippines. Andres + Cauchela, and others; Manila, June 15-30, 1584. + Letter to Felipe II. Melchor Davalos; Manila, July 3, 1584. + Letter to the archbishop of Mexico. Santiago de Vera; Manila, + June 20, 1585. + Two letters to Felipe II. Fray Geronimo de Guzman + [Madrid? 1585]; and Fray Jhoan de Vascones [1585?] + + +Sources: These documents are obtained from the original MSS. in the +Archivo de Indias, Sevilla--excepting the royal decrees, which are +found in the _Cronica_ of Santa Ines and in the "Cedulario Indico" +of the Archivo Historico Nacional, Madrid, respectively. + +Translations: The first document is translated by Henry B. Lathrop, +of the University of Wisconsin; the second and fourth, by Alfonso +de Salvio, of Harvard University; the third, by Arthur B. Myrick, +of Harvard University; the fifth, by Jose and Clara M. Asensio; +the sixth, by Herbert E. Bolton, of the University of Texas. + + + +Foundation of the Audiencia of Manila (_concluded_) + + +Commissioners + +251. [Examinations not to be repeated.] + +252. _Item_: We command that the said commissioners of examination +[_receptores_], and special clerks who go on inquiries, shall not +play games of chance, except for articles of food ready to be eaten, +on pain of removal from office. + +253-259. [Form of entry of witness's oath; fees charged must be +endorsed; cases must be accepted promptly, in due order; absence and +accounting for writs; fees received must be recorded; commissions may +not be begged for; reports of investigations made out in public form +must be given to the parties.] + +260-264. [Taxing of charges; discharge of commissioners on completion +of commission; commissioners may not be employed if they are relatives +of clerks, attorneys, or advocates, or if they have boarded or lodged +with them within a year; procedure on second trial.] + +265-272. [Procedure in the assignment of commissions; cases accepted +must not be thrown up; requests of parties for summoning of witnesses +are not to be entered on the record; testimony is to be taken before +local magistrates, if so desired; rights of commissioners-in-ordinary +and of supernumerary commissioners to assignments.] + +273. _Item_: A commissioner of inquiry may be appointed as soon as +there shall be two court clerks appointed, or even one, that possible +frauds may be avoided. + +274-277. [Procedure in the event of challenge of commissioner; +procedure for appointment of commissioners within and without the +five leagues; oath of commissioner for outside cases; commissioners +and clerks to take down testimony themselves, with no other person +present.] + +278. _Item_: No supernumerary commissioner shall be appointed +without being examined, and giving bonds for the administration +of his office. No dependent or member of a household of our said +president and auditors may be appointed to such commissionership, +under penalty that the clerk appointed contrary to this ordinance +shall lose all fees and salary for the time during which he shall +occupy himself with the commissionership. + +279-280. [The number of lines on a page in a record of inquiry; the +number of words in a line; the excellence of handwriting required; +the dating of reports of examinations.] + + +Bailiffs + +281-284. [The bailiff's [_portero_] duties; his fees those of the +bailiffs of the royal council; a lodging to be given him in the +building of the Audiencia; tardiness fined one peso; excessive fees +to be repaid sevenfold to the exchequer; presents for good news +not to be accepted--penalty, fourfold repayment to the exchequer; +the bailiff to enforce rules of precedence.] + + +Jail Wardens + +285-286. [The warden [_carcelero_] shall accept no gifts from +prisoners or others for them; shall not oppress them, or relax their +imprisonment, or dismiss or arrest them without warrant; his oath.] + +287. [His fees are those assigned to alguazils in the official table +of fees.] + +288. [A separate ward must be provided for women.] + +289. [Nightly inspection is required. If prisoners escape through +the warden's fault or negligence, he must suffer their penalty, +or pay their debt] + +290. [A full record of the prisoner's name and the circumstances of +his imprisonment must be kept] + +291. _Item:_ He shall not entrust the keys of the prison to any Indian +or black, on pain of being compelled to pay in his own person and +estate the damage and injury which shall follow from his having so +entrusted the keys. + +292. [Warden and jailers are to have no business dealings or +familiarity with the prisoners, or eat or gamble with them.] + +293. [The jailers must live in the prisons.] + +294. _Item:_ There shall be a chaplain in the prison, to say mass +before the prisoners daily; and the ornaments and other things +necessary therefor shall be provided and paid for from the exchequer +fines. The jailer shall take care that the chapel or place where mass +is said shall be clean. + +295. _Item:_ He shall cause the prison and the cells thereof to be +swept twice a week; and to be provided with clean water, so that +the prisoners may drink without paying any fee. No jail-fee shall +be charged to boys arrested for gambling, or to officials of our +Audiencia arrested by order of our president and auditors--under a +penalty of a fine of four times the amount, paid to our exchequer. + +296. _Item:_ No permission or opportunity for gambling shall be given +in the jail, for money or other things except food. Wine shall not +be sold to the poor; or, if sold, shall be sold at the price it is +worth, and no more. No jail-fees shall be received from the poor +under penalty of a fourfold fine for our exchequer. + + +Interpreters of the Audiencia + +297. _Item:_ We ordain and command that there shall be a body of +interpreters for our said Audiencia; and that before they are admitted +to exercise that office they shall swear in due form to perform their +duties well and faithfully, in declaring and interpreting the case +or matter committed to them, clearly and openly, without concealment +or addition--declaring simply the fact of the crime, business, or +testimony under examination. They shall likewise swear not to be +partial to either side, or to favor one more than the other, and not +to accept any reward for their service beyond the fee assessed and +fixed for them, under the penalty decreed for forswearers, and the +damages and interests of the parties, and a sevenfold return of the +amount received, and removal from office. + +298. _Item:_ They shall receive no gifts or promises from Spaniards, +or from the Indians, or from other persons who shall have or shall +expect to have businesses or suits with them. They shall not accept +such gifts or promises, of great or small amount, even for articles of +food or drink; and even if these are voluntarily offered, without any +request for them being made by the said interpreters or by others. In +case of violation of this ordinance, they shall pay sevenfold what +they have taken, for our exchequer; and charges thereof shall follow +the procedure prescribed for charges against the judges and officials +of our Audiencia. + +299. _Item:_ We ordain that the said interpreters shall not listen, +in their own houses or out of them, to Indians who shall come to plead +or do business in our Audiencia; but shall take them, without listening +to them, to the said Audiencia, that there the case may be heard and +determined in conformity with justice. In case of violation of this +ordinance, they shall suffer for the first offense a penalty of three +pesos for the court-room; for the second, double the penalty applied as +aforesaid; and for the third, in addition to the said double penalty, +they shall be dismissed from office. + +300. _Item:_ They shall not arrange the pleadings of Indians, nor be +attorneys or solicitors in their cases and affairs, under the penalty +prescribed in the preceding ordinance, applied as aforesaid. + +301. _Item:_ They shall be present at the meetings of court, at +hearings, and at inspections of prisons, on every day that is not +a holiday. At least in the afternoons they shall be present in the +house of the president and auditors. All the above-mentioned duties, +and each and every part and matter thereof, they shall take care +to distribute among themselves in such a way that there shall not, +by the default of them or of any of them, be any failure or delay in +determining cases or other matters--under a penalty of two pesos for +the poor for each day when the interpreters, men or women, or any of +them, shall fail to do their duty in any of the aforesaid matters; +and that, in addition, they shall pay the damages, interests, and +costs to the party or parties detained for this cause. + +302. _Item_: They shall not absent themselves without license from +our president, under penalty of losing salary for the time while +they were absent, and a fine of twelve pesos for the said court-room, +for every instance of violation of this ordinance. + +303. _Item_: We command that when they shall be occupied with suits +or matters outside of the place where our said Audiencia shall sit, +they shall accept nothing from the parties, directly or indirectly, +beyond the fee assigned them. They shall make no bargains or agreements +with the Indians, or partnerships, in any manner--under penalty +of repaying sevenfold that which they thus accept and bargain for, +and of perpetual discharge from office. + +304. _Item_: For each day when any one of the said interpreters shall +go out on commission and by order of our said Audiencia, from the +place where it shall sit, they shall take as fee in addition to their +salary two pesos, and no more; and shall accept no food or anything +else from the parties, directly or indirectly, under the penalty of +being obliged to repay it sevenfold to our exchequer. + +305. _Item_: For each witness examined, if the interrogatory is of +more than twelve questions, they shall receive two tomins; if the +interrogatory is of less than twelve questions, one tomin, and no +more, under penalty of paying fourfold to our exchequer. But if the +interrogatory shall be long and the case laborious, the auditor before +whom the examination is conducted may assess, in addition to the other +fees, a moderate sum proportionate to the labor and time consumed. + +306. _Item_: We command that the interpreters, each in turn, shall +be in attendance at nine in the morning on every day when cases are +heard, in the offices of the court clerks, to receive the memorandum +which will be given him by the fiscal for summoning witnesses whom +it shall be desirable to examine for the dues of the treasury--under +a penalty of half a peso, for the poor of the prison, for every day +of failure to be present. + +307. And since, in regard to the fees to be taken by the officials +of the said Audiencia, an official tariff [_arancel_] has been made, +we command that what is contained therein shall be observed and +fulfilled until other provisions are made and decreed by us. + +308. _Item_: We ordain and command that, in the rest of the cases and +matters, coming before the said Audiencia not here determined upon, +shall be followed the ordinances made by us, and to be made by our +said president and auditors. + + +Tariff of fees + +309. [A list on which shall be entered the official tariff of fees +must be posted in the court-room, and copies must be kept in the +clerks' offices.] + +310. _Item_: We ordain and command that our said president and auditors +shall make a tariff of fees, in accordance with which our chief clerk +of mines and the other officials who have no official tariff shall +take their fees; and that they shall do the same in all the governments +of their district, paying consideration to the nature of the offices, +the region where they are situated, the expenses there, and the lack +of supplies that may exist therein. These tariffs of fees are to be +sent when made, with the signatures of the president and auditors, +to our said council, to be examined and confirmed; and in the interim +the tariffs which shall be made shall be observed. + + +Archives + +311. _Item_: We command that in the house of our Audiencia there +shall be a room in which there shall be a cabinet wherein shall be +deposited the records of cases determined by the said Audiencia, after +the decrees of execution [_executorias_] have been transcribed, the +records of each single year being placed one above another. The court +clerk shall place on each record of a case a strip of parchment stating +the persons and the subject of the case. This shall be done within +five days after the decree of execution has been transcribed. And +in another part of the said room another cabinet shall be placed, in +which shall be deposited the grants, decrees, and documents pertaining +to the state, preeminence, and jurisdiction of the said Audiencia and +provincial court [_provincia_] of its district. All shall be locked +and the key be kept by the chancellor [_chanciller_]. All records +shall be covered with parchment. + +312. _Item_: We ordain and command that whenever an event occurs +for which no provision or decree is made in these ordinances, and in +the other decrees, provisions, and ordinances enacted for the said +provinces, and in the laws of Madrid made in the year [one thousand] +five hundred and two, and the provisions therein, [1] and command +that our president and auditors, clerks and advocates, and other +officials of our said Audiencia shall each, within thirty days, +take the copy of this ordinance. + +313. _Item_: We command that in the said Audiencia there shall be a +record in which shall be entered all royal orders [_cedulas_] which +we shall send or shall have sent to them; and they shall take care +to observe and obey the same. And since it is our will that the said +articles and ordinances above written shall be observed, and since +it is likewise fitting for our service and the administration of our +justice, we give commandment to our said president and auditors of +the said Audiencia, which is accordingly to be established in the +said city of Manila of the said island of Lucon, and to our fiscal, +alguazil-mayor, and the officials and servants thereof whom the content +of the said ordinances affects--both to those whom we now send and +to those who shall be appointed henceforth--to each and every one of +them, that they shall regard, observe, and perform them, and cause +them to be observed and performed, in everything and for everything, +as is contained and decreed in the said ordinances; and that they +shall not proceed or act, or permit any to proceed to act, in any +manner contrary to the tenor and form of these and of their contents. + +Given at Aranjuez, May fifth, one thousand five hundred and +eighty-three. + + +I The King + + +I, Antonio de Erasso, secretary to his Catholic Majesty, caused this +to be written at his command. + +The licentiate _Diego Gasca de Salazar_ +The licentiate _Alonso Martynez Espadero_ +The licentiate _Don Gonsalvo de Cuniga_ + _Don Lope de Vaillo_ +The licentiate _Emojosa_ +The licentiate _Francisco de Villafane_ + + +Ordinances to be observed by the Audiencia established by your +Majesty's command in the city of Manila, of the island of Luzon, +of the Philipinas. + +[_Endorsed:_ "Establishment of the Audiencia of Manila, and the +ordinances which must be observed. In the year 1583."] + + + +Two Royal Decrees Regarding the Religious + + +The Audiencia to Aid the Franciscans + + +The King: To the president and auditors of our royal Audiencia, +established at our order in the island of Luzon in the Filipinas +islands. To those islands have gone recently descalced religious of +the order of St. Francis to preach the holy gospel, and to engage +in the instruction and conversion of the natives therein; and more +will go thither regularly, both from these kingdoms and from Nueva +Espana. Now because we hope that, by means of their instruction and +example, much fruit will be gathered among those natives, therefore +we desire--a thing befitting the service of God, our Lord--that they +be aided, and held in all estimation, so that with more energy and +fervor they may continue their good purpose; and we order you that, as +far as you are concerned, you aid them to the utmost of your ability, +and extend to them all possible protection, whenever occasion offers, +as their exemplary life merits. San Lorenzo, June twenty-one, one +thousand five hundred and eighty-three. + + +I The King + +Countersigned by Antonio de Eraso, and approved by the members of +the council. + + + +Legazpi's Aid to the Religious Approved + + +The King: To Doctor Santiago de Vera, president of our royal Audiencia +established in the city of Manila, in the Filipinas islands; or, +in his absence, to the person or persons to whom the government of +the islands has been entrusted. Father Andres de Aguirre, [2] of +the order of St. Augustine, has reported that the adelantado Miguel +Lopez de Legaspe gave orders in my name to pay, as a gratuity for the +support of each of the religious who were engaged in the conversion +and instruction of the natives of those islands, one hundred pesos of +Tepusque and one hundred fanegas of rice. Thus the religious have been +aided, although in later years the judges and officials of my royal +exchequer have paid this gratuity with some reluctance, alleging that +for such payments my orders must be produced. The matter having been +examined by my Council of the Indias, it was agreed that I should +issue this my decree, by which I command you to provide for giving +the aforesaid gratuity to the said religious, as above stated. This +decree is to be executed without fail. + + +I, The King + +By order of his Majesty: + +Antonio de Eraso + +Aranjuez, April 24, 1584. + + + +Annual Income of the Royal Exchequer in the Philippines + + +Report of the annual income from tributes and other sources of +profit appertaining to his Majesty in these islands of the West, +and the ordinary expenses therein. + + +The tributes from the villages belonging +to the royal crown amount in one year to +twenty-two thousand pesos of eight reals +each XXII U. [3] pesos + +Dues from tithes and assays of gold, four +thousand pesos IIII U. pesos + +From import duties on merchandise which +comes from Nueva Espana and China, six +thousand pesos VI U. pesos + +Fines accruing to the exchequer, one +thousand pesos I U. pesos + + ------------- + + XXXIII U. pesos + + +Salaries and ordinary expenses + + +The yearly salaries of the president, +auditors, and fiscal of the royal +Audiencia amount to sixteen thousand +five hundred and forty-four pesos of +the said gold XVI U. DXL[IIII] pesos + +The salaries of two royal proprietary +officials, and of another who serves to +fill a vacancy, four thousand six +hundred and eighty-seven pesos and four +tomins IV U. DCLXXXV[II] pesos + +Gratuities to the religious orders, +three thousand pesos III U. pesos + +Collection of tributes, one thousand +five hundred pesos I U. D pesos + +Ordinarily there are a hundred seamen, +shipwrights, and forge-men, whose wages +are paid from the royal treasury in +Nueva Espana; and some assistance, +charged to that treasury, is given to +them in this island, as aid for their +support, besides their ration of rice-- +which amounts in one year to two +thousand pesos II U. pesos + +Item: Fifty-five Indians who are +carpenters, and a like number of iron- +workers, for work on the ships; and a +hundred other Indians for services in +casting artillery, building houses for +the royal service, work on the +fortifications, manning the oars on +three fragatas, and ordinary service-- +who earn two thousand pesos II U. pesos + +Item: Twenty thousand fanegas of rice +for the sustenance of the seamen, +shipwrights, and iron-workers, and the +Indians for the above works and services; +at the rate of two tomins a fanega, this +costs five thousand pesos V U. pesos + +Five hundred quintals of iron, at one +peso a quintal U. D pesos + +Also five hundred quintals of cordage, +net weight, at one peso a quintal U. D pesos + +Also five hundred quintals of pitch, +at one peso a quintal U. D pesos + +Five hundred pesos' worth of charcoal, +for the forges U. D pesos + +One thousand pesos' worth of timber, +logs, and planks, for the dockyards +and work on the ships I U. pesos + +For the repairing of magazines, royal +buildings, and fortifications, and for +timber for the same, one thousand +pesos more I U. pesos + +The said expenses amount to forty-one +thousand eight hundred and thirty-one +pesos XLI U. DCCC. XXXI pesos + +Accordingly, in one year the exchequer +incurs a debt of eight thousand eight +hundred and thirty-one pesos; usual +debt of the treasury each year VIII U. DCCC. XXXI pesos + + +The said account does not include extraordinary expenses that arise, +such as the pacification of the natives throughout these islands, and +certain other expeditions, and material for their defense--expenses +that occur each year (especially for the past three years), in this +region. With the aid sent to Maluco, repairs on his Majesty's galleon +which came from that place, the rebuilding of the fort and magazines, +and the buildings which have been erected for the royal Audiencia +and its president and auditors, the said works have cost his Majesty +in all more than thirty thousand pesos in the said three years for +extraordinary expenses, for which sum the royal exchequer is indebted. + + +Extraordinary expenses for three years, XXX U. pesos + + +Andres Cauchela +Juan Baptista Roman +Domingo Nerdules + +In the city of Manila, in the Philipinas Islands, on the fifteenth +day of June, one thousand five hundred and eighty-four, the honorable +president and auditors of the royal Audiencia established in this said +city stated that, in order that his Majesty might be informed of the +value of provisions and other articles sold in this island, as well +as of the harvests therein and of the supplies that are brought from +Nueva Espana and the realms of Castilla, they gave orders to make, +and they did make, before me the following investigation. + +Luis Velez Cherino + + +And, for the said investigation, the honorable licentiate Rojas, +auditor of the royal Audiencia, took and received an oath before God +and the blessed Mary, and on the sign of the cross and on words of +the holy gospels, from Don Antonio Gofre Carrillo, treasurer of his +Majesty's royal exchequer in this city and the Philipinas islands-under +which obligation he promised to tell the truth. Being asked regarding +the tenor of the title of this inquiry, he said that this witness knows +that every year one or more ships come from Nueva Espana to these +islands for traffic, which bring, as merchandise, velvets, satins, +damasks, taffetas, ribbed cloths in colors, velvet caps, shoes and +stockings, linens from Holland and Rouen, wine, vinegar, oil, olives, +capers, preserves, hams and fat bacon, flour, soap, hats, netted hose, +Cordovan leather, raisins, almonds, and many other articles from the +produce of Espana and Nueva Espana. All these things are in this land +usually worth double their value and cost in Nueva Espana. Many times +we have experienced lack of wine for saying mass and for the sick; +sometimes a jar holding an arroba of wine has been worth at least one +hundred gold pesos, and even much more. These things which are brought +from Nueva Espana are so necessary that the people, especially those +of gentle birth, could not do without them. For instance, they cannot +clothe themselves with stuffs that are made in this land, or with +those that are brought from the mainland; for these are thin silks +of such quality that garments made of them are worthless, for lack +of durability and fineness. Consequently, they would not be worn if +the people were not very poor. The supplies that we have at present +in this country are pork and buffalo meat, fowls, rice, wax candles, +and lard; and the Sangleys' flour, which is very poor and cannot be +eaten. It is now held at so high a price that what was bought four +years ago for a toston cannot now be bought for three pesos. Where they +used to give six fanegas of rice for one toston, they now ask three +pesos, at one toston a fanega. They used to sell twelve to sixteen +fowls for four reals; at present, when there are no large fowls, +they cost two or three reals apiece, instead of a toston. A hog that +used to cost alive four to six reals now costs six or seven pesos, +and no one is found to buy. This witness thinks that the cause for +the high prices in this country is that so many Spaniards have come +hither, that so many of the natives of these islands have perished, +and that so few people cultivate the soil or breed fowls or swine. [4] +The witness knows this because, during the four years that he has +spent in this land, he has seen that the conditions and events are as +he has described them. He asserts this to be the truth, on the oath +that he has taken. He declares that he is twenty-seven years of age, +rather more than less; that he has no personal interest in this affair; +and is fully competent to be a witness. He signed this with his name, + +The licentiate Pedro de Rojas +Don Antonio Gofre Carrillo + +Before me: + +Luis Velez Cherino + + +[Then follow the depositions of Juan Arze de Sadornel, Andres +Cauchela, the captain Juan Pacheco Maldonado, Pedro Carballo, +the ensign Christobal de Axcueta, Don Juan de Bivero (treasurer +of the Manila cathedral, and a priest), and Don Juan de Armendares +(canon of the cathedral, and a priest). They are couched in almost +the same words as the foregoing. The testimony of all shows the high +cost of living in the islands, and ascribes the cause to the great +number of Spaniards, the deaths by disease and war of many natives, +and the coming of great numbers of Chinese for purposes of trade, +they as well as the Spaniards being non-producers. Of the natives +many have engaged in trade and but few till the soil, thus increasing +the dearth of provisions and forcing prices still higher. The two +priests do not take the oath in the same form as the laymen, but by +"placing the hand upon the breast, and swearing by their priestly +word." After all of these depositions, each of them attested in due +form by the notary, the document continues:] + +All the above, according to what passed before me, the said clerk of +the court, I have given and delivered, signed with my name and signet +[i.e., flourish] to the honorable president and auditors, written on +ten sheets together with this present, accompanied with my signet. In +the city of Manila, in the Filipinas islands, on June thirtieth, +in the year one thousand five hundred and eighty-four--the witnesses +being Rodrigo de Leon and Alvaro Mendez de Herrera. + + +Luis Velez Cherino. + + +The words are crossed out where is read _poner, a, y, queste de_; and +corrected where is read _hacienda, tostones_, and _come_; and _de_ +has been inserted between the lines. I, Luis Velez Cherino, court +clerk of the royal Audiencia established in this city of Manila, +have written this and caused it to be written; and here I affix my +signet to such document, in witness of the truth. + + +Luis Velez Cherino. + + + +Letter from Melchior Davalos to Felipe II + + +Royal Catholic Majesty: + +It was through divine inspiration, we may believe, that your Majesty +appointed a president and auditors for this extremity or beginning of +the world; for at the very time when Governor Don Gonzalo Ronquillo had +just died or was about to die, in this city of Manila, the Council, +more than four thousand leagues from here, resolved upon and decreed +the foundation of the royal Audiencia in Manila, and we came hither--as +president and governor, Doctor Santiago de Vera; I, who was living +quite neglected in Mexico, as first auditor; the licentiate Rojas +as second auditor, and the licentiate Ayala as fiscal. It is said +that another auditor, the licentiate Bravo, remained in Castilla; +all of us excepting him came here. We set sail from the port of +Acapulco on the ninth of March, according to the new computation of +time which your Majesty, by order of the supreme pontiff, commanded +us to observe. I mention this point because we who came enjoyed an +experience never known before--namely, that while at sea we kept +Ascension day, Whitsunday, Trinity Sunday, and Corpus Christi day; +when we landed we kept and celebrated the same feast-days in Manila, +because the new reckoning was not yet in force there, and does not come +into effect until the fifth of October of the present year. It is a +memorable event that according to the said new reckoning we arrived +here on the twenty-sixth of May, and according to the old on the +sixteenth of the same month. [5] The Audiencia was established with +all the authority and pomp possible. We found the city burned down, +and no habitable houses except those of straw, rushes, and boards, +which could easily burn down again any day. Concerning this and other +matters, a report will be sent by the president. The officials of +the royal exchequer not only refused to lend me money, but did not +even pay me more than half of the three months' salary due me from +the time when I left Acapulco. The others have drawn their salaries +from the time when they left Castilla, the president since he left +Mexico, and I only from the day when we set sail. I am not unworthy of +favors, most potent sire; for I have spent forty years in continual +study, thirty of which have given me much experience in matters of +justice and legal pleading, and this is well known in Mexico. If +the records of the past be examined in the Council, it will be seen +that in the ten or twelve months while I was fiscal of that royal +Audiencia I accomplished more than did my predecessors for twenty +years. Besides all this, I am a man of good repute. I was an advocate +for the Inquisition during more than eleven years, namely, from the +time when your Majesty established it in Mexico. My uncles and the +relatives of Dona Maria de Sandoval, my wife, won Nueva Espana, as can +be seen by the records of the royal Council of the Yndias; and no one +is more worthy to receive the remuneration for his services than are +my wife and I. By virtue of a decree ordering me to remove my entire +family and household, the royal exchequer of Mexico lent me for the +space of two years two thousand pesos to aid me on my voyage. This +assistance was not sufficient, and, not being able to sell my estates, +I was obliged to leave them deserted, because I had already sold my +negroes. I shall be entirely ruined unless your Majesty release me +from the payment of those two thousand pesos, or at least give me +a continuance of ten years. I entreat your Majesty for this, since +in order to foster decency among the women I brought here three sons +and a nephew, whose exceedingly honorable and virtuous reputation is +known throughout Nueva Espana, where I brought them up. + +With the help of God, who in His infinite mercy made me pleasing +and well liked, I shall endeavor to live, administer justice, and +deal with others irreproachably. Since this is so, and I dwell in +a land where there is so little stability and truth, I beseech your +Majesty not to judge me without first hearing me. I greatly honor the +president, and the authority which even a duke would maintain if he +were here as your Majesty's lieutenant; for in distant regions this +befits the service of your Majesty. Nevertheless, in what concerns +the administration of justice, I strive to lose no opportunity. The +president is in poor health at present, and I do not know whether in +his letters he has touched upon the matters which I shall mention here. + +I wrote from Mexico beseeching your Majesty, for the peace of the +royal conscience and of the consciences of us who serve here, that +a consultation be held to decide upon what shall be done with the +Mahometans, of whom these islands are full. I sent a report, and +said that, keeping the matter in mind, I would send a more detailed +account from here; but I could not find time for study, on account of +my continual occupation in the sessions of the Audiencia and rendering +opinions. This year I am probate judge, and for the first four months +of the year provincial alcalde; and since people find that matters are +readily settled I am beset by the natives with their petty lawsuits. I +wish that I might have had more time to collect what can be put +together, and to write on law. However I shall not neglect perchance +to make some slight report. The following is a clause from a letter of +your Majesty which I found, addressed to the adelantado Miguel Lopez +de Legaspi, the first discoverer of these islands, in effect this: + +"We have also been petitioned in your behalf concerning the Moro +islands in that land, and how those men come to trade and carry on +commerce, hindering the preaching of the holy gospel and disturbing +you. We give you permission to make such Moros slaves, and to seize +their property. You are warned that you can make them slaves only +if the said Moros are such by birth and choice, and if they come to +preach their Mahometan doctrine, or to make war against you or against +the Indians, who are our subjects and in our royal service. But in +no way or manner shall you enslave the Indians who have embraced the +doctrine of Mahoma; on the contrary, you shall endeavor to persuade and +convert them to our holy Catholic faith by kind and lawful methods." + +To make universal arrangements is to pass infallible rules, and in +law we can hardly find such a rule; therefore we must distinguish +in both times and occasions. With due respect, it seems to me that +all Mahometans are enemies of the Church; and all the Ismaelites, +their allies, confederates, and descendants must have the words of +the Scriptures (as found in the 16th chapter of Genesis) written in +their hearts: _Hic erit ferus homo, manus ejus contra omnes et manus +omnium contra eum_. [6] Wonderful events occurred (and it would be +well for your Majesty to have them examined and investigated) in the +histories of Portugal, in the _Decadas_ of Barros and in the books +of Osorio, the good bishop of Algarve, [7]--who, by command of his +Majesty the king, Cardinal Don Enrrique, wrote in Latin the history +of the life, deeds, and virtues of the most renowned king Don Manuel, +your Majesty's grandfather. All these books abound in accounts of +field and naval battles, which the viceroys and captains-general of +Malaca, Goa, Calicud, Ormus, and many other places, fought against +well-known Moros of that region and those from Samatra, Java, and +Bornei, who were aided by Turks, Mamelukes, Moors from Tunez [Tunis], +and Moors who were driven away from Granada at the time of the +Catholic kings. In a battle against Alfonso de Albuquerque [8] were +seven hundred Mamelukes, three hundred Turks, and a thousand Moors +from Tunez and Granada--sent there by the Sultan of Egipto [Egypt] +before the Turks had defeated him. They peopled and filled these +islands. Every year Turks come to Samatra and likewise to Borney; in +Maluco and in Ternate these Turks are gathered against your Majesty, +and have caused a great number of Christians who were instructed in +the Catholic faith to apostatize. Moreover the king of that place +is allied with the English heretics, and the Moros have inflicted +terrible martyrdoms upon the Christians of these regions. The care +with which the Turks have always offered help, both past and present, +and that showed by the sultan at the time of Pope Julius the Second, +is well known, and can be verified in the history by the said bishop of +Algarve, book 4, folio 122. The sultan wrote to the pope, complaining +of the said kings Don Manuel and the Catholic Don Fernando--saying that +the Moors whom the latter had driven away from Granada and Castilla +had gone to Egipto to complain; and that King Don Manuel was pursuing +the Moors through the Red Sea and neighboring regions. He added that +if this were not remedied, by ordering the said princes to desist +from persecuting the Mahometans, he would destroy the holy house at +Jerusalem and the sepulcher of the Redeemer. As can be verified, the +letter contains many profane remarks against Christianity. It was sent +by a Franciscan friar who lived in a monastery on the mount called +Sion, and who was guardian there at Jerusalem. The said pontiff, as +soon as he saw the letter, sent a copy of it to Castilla and Portugal +through the same friar. King Don Manuel, your Majesty's grandfather, +sent the celebrated answer to the pontiff, saying that he gave advice +neither to the Apostolic See nor to the sacred council of cardinals; +but what he answered (and he would do it with all his might) was to +persecute Mahometans forever. He added that the Holy Father was much +to blame for the sultan's pride, since he did not gather and unite +in peaceful alliance the Christian princes, who were divided by wars +in their own interests, and were neglecting so common an interest +as that of undoing the power of Moors and Turks. He also answered +that he understood his father and father-in-law, the Catholic king +Don Fernando, to give the same answer. As I have said before, the +histories of Portugal are full of these old enmities. It seems as if +this evil sect had increased and multiplied in the West as well as +in the islands and countries of the East. Indeed the various causes +for this are to be found in the condition of these regions and in +the measures, decrees, or instructions like those issued for Peru, +Nueva Espana, and the other Yndias. + +Concerning slavery, the main thing to be noticed is that we have +here many kinds of slaves: some are slaves because their fathers +and grandfathers were such; others sold themselves _ad pretium +participandum_, either to make use of the money or to pay their debts; +others were captured in war; others became slaves because, being +orphans, they were held in that condition for food and expenses; others +were sold in times of famine by their fathers, mothers, or brothers; +others bear that name because of loans, for interest multiplies +rapidly among the Indians and the Moros, and thus a poor man becomes +a slave. There are men who become slaves on account of crimes, and +failure to pay fines and penalties; and others for not having paid +the tribute or tributes of their lords. Each of these reasons is an +argument for justifying slavery. I chose to mention these details +because it is proper to notify your Majesty and your Council of them. + +Your Majesty has passed laws forbidding any one to take money out +of your realms, or to buy or sell to pirates. But every year the +Chinese take away all the money there is. There are many ships here, +twenty-five or thirty in number, with four thousand men who have +come here to trade. We fear no extortion on their part, because of +the great importance to them of our commerce; but, as we have no +merchandise to give them, having nothing except reals, it will be +advisable for your Majesty to send orders as to what we should do, +and how we are to decide the question of slaves, since there are so +many classes of them, as I have shown above. + +The poverty of the soldiers who come here is extreme, for they draw +no pay, and the country cannot support them. It would be advisable +to send orders to employ them in conquests, and to send over many +soldiers. Also orders should be given to build some galleys which +should not lie idle and become ruined, as did those left by Doctor +Sande. Although the Indians and Moros here have taken to the oars with +reluctance, we are greatly aided by having here, usually, Chinese who +are willing to be hired at a low price. In all this may your Majesty +take such measures as are most advantageous to your service. + +About twelve days ago we received letters from Maluco, in which the +captain commanding at that place says that the king of Ternate is now +powerful, and has seized the most important stronghold. A reenforcement +of eighty or a hundred men, with supplies, had been sent to him before +the arrival of the Audiencia; and he says that he can hold out until +the end of October or November. Speaking of the war which is to be +carried on, the president was and is about to send four hundred men +and a thousand friendly Indians. He is perplexed about the election +of the captain-general, for each of the captains who seek that post +desires to be sole commander, while the rest show displeasure that +one of their equals should be appointed. Moreover, no one of them is +pleased that Captain Bartolome Vaez Landero may be the commander. He is +a Portuguese, who came here from Macan through the agency of Governor +Diego Ronquillo, and remained here to protect this land with two ships, +well equipped with artillery, in the service of your Majesty. On seeing +this controversy, I proposed to the president on St. John's day that +I and my sons, with our weapons, would go with the soldiers to serve +in this expedition. The captains who are candidates are satisfied to +have me for their general, and the Portuguese captain and his men are +even more pleased. The president says that we shall deliberate upon +what should be done, and still he has not come to any decision with +me. He will wrong me if he withholds from me the leadership in this +affair. In all that pertains to justice, I shall always be ready, +with the help of God, who will favor me, to recover your Majesty's +territories and to punish your enemies. + +It is also important for the service of God that, by order of your +Majesty, some decision be made as to the punishment that we shall +inflict upon the Chinese or Sangleyes for the infamous crime which, +as people here tell me, they practice on board their ships. [9] +I am studying the question in order to inform this Audiencia; but, +since the punishment may hinder commerce, it will be necessary to +observe moderation, until your Majesty shall inform us what should +be done in this matter. I have reproached and admonished the friars, +telling them that they ought to exhort these wretched people. Some of +them tell me that they are unwilling to baptize the Chinese, because +they feel sure that they will apostatize as soon as they return to +their own country. I tell them that they should do what it is in +them to do; and that, if God does not choose to call these people, +at least it should not be left undone by the friars. I shall always +insist upon this. + +When I spoke of Ternate, I forgot to mention a very important matter, +which perhaps is already forgotten. There was a king in Ternate +called Cachil Boleyfe, aged and very prudent, regarded by the Moros +as a prophet. He was taken to Malaca because of a certain crime; +and, having been acquitted, he received baptism and died there as a +Catholic. He said that, having no legitimate successor, he constituted +King Don Juan the Third of Portugal his heir to the kingdom and islands +subject to Ternate. This will was brought to Ternate, and all the +chiefs of the kingdom swore allegiance to the new king, with great +feasting and solemnity. Possession of the kingdom was taken, with +all the ceremonies required by law. This is what the historians say, +especially Juan de Barros--in the third _Decada_, book five, chapter +six. At the end of the seventh chapter, he says that the fortress now +held by the tyrant was built by Captain Antonio de Brito, who began +the work with his own hands on St. John's day, in 1522. He did this +with the consent of all the Moros, and therefore called the fort San +Juan. It is well that your Majesty should know the very foundation of +your rights, and should at least understand that my endeavor is to give +information and service. May God permit your Majesty to live, without +setting a bound to your life; for the human race and the Church of +God have need of this. From the city of Manila, July 3, in the year 84 +(according to the old reckoning, as I have said). Most powerful Lord, +your most humble servant kisses the feet of your Majesty. + +The licentiate _Melchior Davalos_ + +[_Endorsed:_ "To the sacred royal Catholic Majesty of the +king, Don Phelipe, our sovereign lord. In his Council of the +Indies." "Philipinas. To his Majesty, 1584. From the licentiate Melchor +de Abalos, July 3." "Examined; there is nothing to be answered."] + + + +Letter from Santiago de Vera to the Archbishop of Mexico + + +Most Illustrious Senor: + +I was more content to learn of the health of your illustrious Lordship +[10] than to know that you governed that land--since the first is +of so great importance, and the other is merited by your Lordship. I +hope that our Lord will bestow on you the see of St. Peter, that all +may be as we your servants desire. + +After having written another letter which accompanies this, I received +that of your illustrious Lordship which came in the ship "San Juan." As +in the other I have referred to some things that may be omitted here, +and as I do not wish to weary your Lordship with a long account of +business attendant on your charge, I write this only to assure your +Lordship that you may command me. + +Great satisfaction was felt in this country that the ship "Mora" +arrived so miraculously at port. The death of the crew, I assure +your Lordship, was not for lack of supplying themselves here with the +necessaries for the voyage; for although but little time was spent in +despatching the ship, I exercised much diligence in seeing that more +men and provisions were shipped than is customary. There are things +which our Lord permits; since it was His will that they should die, +it was an instance of His great clemency. + +I have always tried to fulfil your Lordship's commands in regard to the +lord bishop, and he may command me and I will obey; but I know of no +means in the world whereby I can preserve his love and make it lasting. + +I kiss the hands of your illustrious Lordship for the kindness that +you do me in encouraging me to the work of this office; but as I am +old and worn, the extra duties are very heavy for me, especially +since I receive so little aid from my associates, and since the +Council [of the Indias] so poorly seconds my efforts. As they are +so far away and do not know affairs here in detail, they make some +regulations so far from what is proper that, if they were complied +with, it would be the undoing of this land, and his Majesty's service +would suffer greatly. In order that your illustrious Lordship may +understand how affairs stand, I declare that everything concerning +the government and war in these islands depends on the president. He +must attend to everything punctually; and, in order to comply with +his Majesty's commands, he must pay over and spend from the royal +treasury what is necessary for the affairs of government and of war. No +account can be given thereof, and in delay there would result great +inconveniences. The despatch of the ships would cease, as well as +the work in the shipyards, the defense of these islands, and the +supply of aid to other islands, in accordance with his Majesty's +commands. Knowing all this, which is evident, I received the decree +of which a copy goes with this. This gave an opportunity for the +officials to excuse themselves from honoring my orders for money, +and soon the Audiencia commanded that they be not observed. For +the revocation of this decree it is necessary to wait three years, +and although in my commission his Majesty has given me full power for +everything, I am prevented for the most trivial reasons from exercising +my authority. I am writing to his Majesty, but it will be of more +effect to give an account thereof to your illustrious Lordship; for, +if nothing is done, it is of no use whatever for his Majesty to have +a governor or captain-general, nor is there any reason for his Majesty +to go to such expense from the royal exchequer only to have it lost. + +I have tried to make arrangements with the Sangleys here for them to +bring me a quantity of quicksilver, [11] according to your Lordship's +orders; but for some time past they have been carrying it to the +Japanese; in that country there are many silver mines, where they +receive a good price for it. On this account the quicksilver has +increased in value, and they are so shrewd merchants that they will +not believe that this kind of traffic is desired. I shall proceed with +them gradually, until it can be seen whether they will give it at the +price which your Lordship has fixed. I shall advise your illustrious +Lordship of the result thereof. + +I appreciate greatly the favor which your illustrious Lordship has +done me, by the favorable and prompt despatch of these ships. I kiss +your Lordship's hands a thousand times and everyone here does the +same, as I have informed them of the difficulty of the task which your +Lordship has so easily accomplished. Although I have tried to despatch +the ships here with all haste, I am informed by sailors who understand +the matter that it is not safe to send them out until the twentieth or +twenty-fifth of June. The weather is not settled until then, and they +usually put into a harbor during bad weather. Nevertheless, henceforth +I will have them sail from here in the middle of June, in order that +there shall not be the inconveniences to which your Lordship refers. + +Although much merchandise has come from China this year, little has +been sold for lack of reals, and the Indians hid and kept the goods +until now. At the news of the arrival of the ships, and the knowledge +that they bring considerable money, they have taken courage and have +rejoiced exceedingly. In order that these Indians may increase their +trade to any extent, it is necessary that money be sent in sufficient +amount and at regular intervals. + +Your illustrious Lordship commands me to observe the orders given to +Francisco Gali about the discovery of the route from these ports toward +Nueva Espana. I will keep your Lordship's commands to the letter, +and will try to advise you soon, although the ship "San Juan" is of no +use, as it is worm-eaten and old. I shall have carpenters examine it, +and if it will not serve, I shall have them inspect the ships which +I have here, to see if any are fit, and to avoid the expense and delay. + +Your Lordship commands that the mining of gold be done with the aid +of quicksilver, as is done in Talpaxagua. In another letter I gave +an account to your Lordship of what has been done in mining here. + +We have seen the royal decrees concerning the harmony which his +Majesty commands us to maintain with the viceroy and captains of +India and Maluco, whom we must aid. On one occasion they sent an +urgent request from Maluco, the captains assuring me that with two +or three hundred men the whole matter could be settled, and the fort +and islands be restored to his Majesty. They had been usurped by +the petty king of Terrenate, as will appear in a copy of the letter +accompanying this. As these men could be spared from here without +risk, I sent about four hundred arquebusiers and a large number +of natives with artillery, powder, and ammunition. There were also +twenty-seven small boats and fragatas and one galley, sufficiently +provided for one year. Although they became separated on the way, +and because of the weather six boats were lost on the coast of Panay, +I had others provided, and they continued their voyage--all except +one boat with two pieces of artillery and fifteen or twenty men, +and some powder and ammunition. Moreover a galleon sent as succor +from India with two hundred Portuguese did not arrive; and the +Moros had fortified themselves, together with many Jabos [Javanese], +Turks, and those of other nationalities. There was also negligence +on the part of Diego de Acambuja, the commander of that fort, [12] +by whose order this aid was sent, in accordance with the commands of +his Majesty. Some suspicions were entertained of this commander and +there were indications that he did not wish the war to end, because +the bartering in cloves and the trade thereabout would also come to +an end, as your illustrious Lordship will see by the accompanying +relation. Although in our camp there was great eagerness to attack +the Moro, nothing was accomplished--a result partly due to the +controversies between Captain Pereyra, whom his Majesty had commanded +to take charge of the place, and Diego de Acambuja, who held it, over +the latter's surrender of the fort. I have been assured by persons who +have witnessed the affair, and I have so understood, that, should his +Grace desire not to abandon that holding and to keep the government of +Maluco in the power of Castilians, there will be great difficulty in +winning it. No more aid can be sent from here unless his Grace supply +aid to this country, with an allowance for the former object--as is +done in Florida, which is of less importance. Provision should be +made for sending troops and arms, since his Grace has not enough in +the royal treasury for our needs here, and there are no more troops +than are needed for defense. I beseech your illustrious Lordship thus +to explain the affair to his Majesty. + +In regard to Don Diego de Alcaraso, I have no merit in favoring and +advancing him, since he deserves it, and is extremely judicious and a +thorough gentleman. He is supported without any trouble or annoyance +whatever. He is the governor in the fort at Mindoro, and is at present +in this city. Don Pedro de Angulo has not arrived from Maluco, and, +as to affairs there, I am particularly anxious in his behalf. For +some months I have had Bustamante employed at a salary which he still +enjoys, and now that I know that your Lordship is pleased with this +I shall put him in a better place. Captain Machuca has been guilty +of great stupidity, for as he was about to depart to take charge of +the governorship of a fort, provided and appointed according to his +deserts, he got married, and not as well as I could have wished. I +shall give a present to Father Pina, as your Lordship orders. + +Your illustrious Lordship grants me grace so often that I can only +show my gratitude by beseeching our Lord to keep your Lordship for +the many years necessary, and during which I would have you live. I +well realize the favor done my daughter, and it is enough that your +Lordship has shown her kindness, to have all the nuns do the same. + +Although there are facilities in this country for making ships of all +kinds, and the best yet built has not exceeded in cost six thousand +pesos--and many private individuals would after this engage in it +for the sake of gain if they could maintain the industry--yet the +expenses incurred with the necessary force of sailors and workmen, +can be sustained only by the king. The greatest difficulty is in the +bringing of the anchors and rigging from Vera Cruz. Your illustrious +Lordship knows from experience what it costs his Majesty to transport +sailors to Mexico, from there to these islands, and from here to the +port of Acapulco; and the expense of overhauling the ship, and of +keeping it there a winter. Therefore although I wish to aid Captain +Esteban Rodriguez in the despatch of the ship that he has built, +I do not know if it can depart hence for lack of men. It is hard to +find them; for, although a large number of sailors usually come here +from Nueva Espana to bring the ships here, they are all needed on the +return. They bring here the fragatas and vessels which convey hither +aid and means of defense for this land, and take back the provisions +and other supplies needed in the king's service. Nevertheless, +I shall do everything possible for the said captain. + +I believe that Baltasar de Aldana, nephew of the schoolmaster Don +Santiago Sanchez, will embark in this ship, which he is permitted to +do through your illustrious Lordship's orders. + +I understand thoroughly that I am importunate, but the requirements of +health and the discontent of Dona Ysabel oblige me again to beseech +your Lordship to favor me and try to influence his Majesty to grant +me grace in Espana--in the meantime permitting me to act as auditor in +Mexico, with permission to serve his Majesty there, as I have fulfilled +my commissions here, and am of little use, being now old and worn. It +is just that I be established in a place where I can leave my wife +and children. I hope, by the grace of God and that of your illustrious +Lordship, that I may shortly be delivered from this captivity. + +The artillery which I brought returned in the ships "Mora" and "San +Martin;" and because the ship "Santa Ana" is of such importance, +I ordered three excellent pieces of bronze artillery to be placed +on board besides powder and ammunition. In order that we may not +suffer from the lack of artillery in giving this, I beseech your +illustrious Lordship to have the artillery returned in the same ship, +"Santa Ana," as the Japanese have commenced to show signs of hostility, +and it is not desirable that they or other pirates should make light +of our power. + +By two conveyances I am sending plans of the site and city of +Terrenate to his Majesty; one goes through the Council and the other +directly to the royal person, both being transmitted by the hand of +your illustrious Lordship--whom I beg to send them with the letter +packets, so that the one for the royal person is delivered through +Antonio de Heraso, and the other directly to the Council. + +There is one Juanes Viscayno, whom we wish to hold in the criminal +court, as he was a false witness in a serious case against one Artiaga +Panadero, a resident of that city [Mexico]. He is sent as a prisoner; +may your Lordship be pleased to command that he be delivered to +the alcaldes. + +I ordered Diego Ronquillo, the former governor of these islands, to +present himself at the royal criminal court at Madrid, to account +to his Majesty for the large sum of money that had been delivered +to him as the executor and trustee of Don Goncalo Ronquillo. [13] +He is escorted by an alguazil to the royal prison of that Audiencia, +so that, in case sufficient bonds are not given at his presentation +in the criminal court of his Majesty, he may be held a prisoner, in +accordance with the said residencia, which I am sending. I beg your +illustrious Lordship to command that these arrangements be carried out. + +Juan Martin Coyfino will, I believe, escort these prisoners; and, +as he is a very zealous man, I have recommended that he take with +him the Sangley religious. [14] I entreat your illustrious Lordship +to see that his companion is rewarded, also to order the payment +of their expenses. May our Lord watch over the illustrious person +of your Lordship and may the prosperity of your house increase as +we your servants desire. Manila, June 20, 1585. Illustrious Lord, +your servant and client kisses the hands of your illustrious Lordship. + + +Doctor Santiago de Vera [15] + + + +Two Letters to Felipe II + + +With regard to the letters of Fray Joan de Plasencia, custodian +of the descalced friars of the custodia of San Gregorio de las +Philippinas--communicated to me by the secretary, Joan de Ledesma, +in pursuance of an order by the council--I declare that the truth +is that Fray Joan [16] de Talabera, commissary of the same descalced +friars, who went from here, took a commission from the nuncio (quite +contrary to the custom among religious orders), from which no benefit +has resulted. Accordingly, although the said commission is clearly an +affair of no value in law, the office of the grantor having expired, +yet since those religious are very scrupulous, and have but little +knowledge of this matter, it might be well that the present nuncio +revoke the commission, and that the said custodia be governed by the +authority of the order, as are all the other provinces of our order. + +Hitherto the province of San Josepe [in Mexico], of the descalced +friars from Castilla, has had charge of that custodia, by apostolic +brief; and it was not subject to me, nor might I send friars thither or +remove them. But when the said province considered how inadequately it +could govern the custodia, the brief was renounced in the session of +the chapter which was held in this year 85 at the town of Cadahalso, +and that custodia has been assigned to me; and henceforth whatever +may be necessary can be supplied for the said province, [17] by order +of the council. + +As for sending friars to the said custodia, I have information that a +religious of the same descalced order, who comes from that country to +discuss this matter, went direct to Monzon without going to Madrid +to report the needs of his custodia to his Majesty. Therefore it +appears to me that the sending of religious, and other matters, +might be suspended until his arrival. + + +Fray Geronimo de Guzman + + +That which the order of our glorious father St. Augustine, resident +in the Philipinas and the lands of China, humbly asks from his Majesty +and from his royal Council of the Indias is the following: + +First, that his Majesty cause to be sent to those realms the greatest +number of religious who can possibly go, in response to the very +pressing need (which is felt now more than ever) for preachers +of the gospel of God. They ask this not only for the lands held +by his Majesty which are now at peace (where there is much need), +but also for the great kingdom of Cochin China, for that of Sian, +and for other foreign lands--to which those who lack so great a +blessing, since they have no one to show them the way, beseech and +call us. Herein the religious of that province beg of his Majesty +that he reward the hardships which they have suffered, and are now +suffering, in his service and that of God. + +Item: that the said religious shall not go [from Spain], as +heretofore, by way of Nueva Espana, inasmuch as the majority remain +there, and not a third part of those who have departed for those +regions, at the expense of his Majesty, have ever arrived there. Nor +even of those who have come from there [the Philippines] has a single +religious returned; because all have remained in Espana, or in the +province of Mexico. This has occasioned no little trouble to those +of us who reside there. From this it follows that the intention +of his Majesty is defeated, and the result which is attempted is +not attained. On this account our order there begs his Majesty to +command that the said religious shall make the voyage by way of India +to Malaca, and from Malaca to Macan, [18] where friars of our order +have gone to settle. The vicar-general has my instructions as to what +the religious should do if they go thither, as I hope they will. + +There are better opportunities for the friars to distribute themselves +from Macan, for the preaching of the gospel, than from any other +place--especially too, as the said journey is no less short and +safe by this route than by Nueba Espana; for it is quite certain +that the religious may not remain in any place where they are not +greatly needed, or where they may not produce much fruit among +infidel heathen. Herein there is need of a decree to the effect +that neither the viceroy nor the archbishop of India, nor any other +authorities whatsoever, ecclesiastical or secular, shall hinder the +said religious from making any journey or from asking alms; but that +they shall give the said religious every aid and protection, in order +that they may go from India to Malaca, and from Malaca to Macan, +and from Macan to whatever place their superiors may order. Still +another decree is needed, that the said religious or any others of +our order may, provided that they have instructions to that effect +from their superiors, freely build monasteries in remote and infidel +lands--without awaiting mandate, order, or permission from the viceroy +or archbishop of India, or from other authorities. This requirement is +very inconvenient and a hindrance, inasmuch as in many of those places +it is not possible to go for and return with the said permission within +the space of a year--during which time it may well happen that the +opportunity would be lost, and with it the fruit which it might bear. + +Another decree is also needful in order that the governor and the +Audiencia of Manila, the bishop or any other person, may not cause +hindrance or opposition to the provincial of our order by sending +religious at will to countries of China or other infidel lands, +as seems best to him for the service of God; for the instruction +in the faith, which the religious have established in the islands, +is sustained at their charge. + +This our community begs and entreats from his Majesty, at this time; +and for this purpose they have sent to these lands of Espana a native +religious, named Fray Jhoan de Vascones, interpreter and minister of +these districts. + + +Fray Jhoan de Vascones [19] + +[Endorsed: "The Augustinians of the Filipinas. Council General of +the Indias."] + + + +History of the Great Kingdom of China + +Compiled by Father Juan Gonzalez de Mendoza. Madrid: Printed by Pedro +Madrigal, in the year 1586. + +Source: A copy of the Madrigal edition of Mendoza's _Historia_, +in the Library of Congress. + +Translation: The translation is made (of such parts as relate to +the Philippine Islands) by James A. Robertson. + + + +History of the Great Kingdom of China + + +[Juan Gonzalez de Mendoza's [20] _Historia_ is divided into two +parts--the first part containing three books; the second two books, +and an "Itinerary" of certain Franciscan priests, who made the +circumnavigation of the globe. Much of the matter for the _Historia_ +was gathered from Chinese books carried to Manila from China by Martin +de Rada and his companions, the first Augustinians to go to China, and +translated by them. In addition, much information was obtained from the +Augustinians and their lay companions, and from the Franciscans--in +especial from Father Martin Ignacio, one of those who composed the +"Itinerary." The Philippine Islands are treated in portions of the +second part, and in a portion of the "Itinerary;" this matter we +reproduce in translation. + +The first book of Part I consists of ten chapters, wherein is given a +rapid survey of the country of China and its people and government; +of certain social and economic conditions, and of its products. The +second book, consisting also of ten chapters, treats of the religion +and superstitions of the Chinese (wherein some peculiar parallels with +the Christian religion are drawn), their mortuary and marriage customs, +and treatment of the poor and infirm. The third book has twenty-four +chapters, wherein are treated, in some detail, many different matters +relating to China. These include an historical account of the kings of +that empire; a description of the royal city; the fifteen provinces +of the empire, their government, garrisons, and means of defense; +laws of warfare; the royal council and its method of procedure; the +judiciary and the execution of justice; scholarship and education; [21] +ceremonies at banquets and on other occasions; their ships and certain +of their occupations; and their morals. Our author finds interesting +the use of artillery and the knowledge of the art of printing in China, +prior to their invention in Europe. This part concludes with an account +of Chinese courtesy to foreign ambassadors; and of the embassy to that +country, entrusted to Gonzalez de Mendoza and other religious in 1580, +by the Spanish king, but not carried into effect.] + + + +Second Part of the History of the Great Kingdom of China + + +This second part is divided into two books and an itinerary, and +discusses the following topics. + +The first book contains in sequence the things witnessed and heard in +that kingdom by Fathers Martin de Herrada, provincial of the order +of St. Augustine in the Felipinas Islands, and his associate Fray +Geronymo Marin, [22] and some soldiers who accompanied them. + +The second, the miraculous voyage to this same kingdom by Father +Fray Pedro de Alfaro, custodian of the order of St. Francis in the +Felipinas, and his associates. + +An itinerary of the father custodian of the same order, Fray Martin +Ignacio, who went from Espana to China, and thence back to Espana, +by way of East India, thus circumnavigating the world; the very +remarkable things that he saw and heard during the voyage. + + + +Book First + + +The departure of the Spaniards from Mexico to the Felipinas +Islands, and the information obtained there of the great Kingdom of +China. Chapter I. + + +While Don Luis de Velasco, viceroy and lieutenant for the Catholic +king, Don Felipe, our lord, was in charge of the government of the +kingdom of Mexico, his Majesty ordered him to fit out a large fleet in +the Southern Sea, to levy the soldiers necessary for it, and to send +it on a voyage of discovery to the islands of the West. The renowned +captain Magallanes (when he circumnavigated the globe in the ship +"Victoria") had already given information about these islands. The +viceroy obeyed most carefully and assiduously his Majesty's orders. He +fitted out the fleet at great cost, and despatched it from Puerto de +la Navidad in the year sixty-four. As general of it, and governor +of the land to be discovered, he appointed the honorable Miguel +Lopez de Legaspi, who died afterward in the same islands with the +title of adelantado, one year previous to the entrance into China of +Fathers Fray Martin de Herrada, Fray Geronymo Marin, [23] and their +associates. The Spaniards explored the said islands, and colonized +some of them for his Majesty, especially that of Manila. This island +has a circumference of five hundred leagues. The city of Lucon (also +called Manila) was settled there. It is, as it were, the metropolis +of the island. In this city the governors who have gone to the +Felipinas since their discovery have, as a rule, resided. There +also a cathedral church has been founded, and a bishopric erected, +his Majesty appointing to this office the very reverend Don Fray +Domingo de Salazar of the order of Preachers, in whom are found the +qualities of holiness, upright conduct, and learning requisite in that +province. He was consecrated in Madrid in the year one thousand five +hundred and seventy-nine. There are also, at present, three monasteries +of religious--one of Augustinians, who were the first to enter these +islands in obedience to his Majesty's orders, and have preached +the evangelical law to the great gain of souls, and with no little +suffering, many of them having lost their lives in this occupation; +the second, of descalced friars of the order of St. Francis, of the +province of San Joseph, who have approved themselves by their good +example, and have been very useful in those regions; and the third, +of Dominicans or Predicants, who have been of no less service. All +of these have passed a certain time in these islands. Afterward the +Jesuit fathers came to these regions; they have been of great help +to the above-mentioned religious. + +On their arrival at these islands, the Spaniards at once heard +many things concerning the great kingdom of China, both through +the relations of the islanders, who told of that country's wonders; +and through what they themselves saw and heard, after a few days, +from the crews of certain vessels entering that port with merchandise +and very curious articles from that kingdom. These latter told them +in detail of the greatness and wealth of that country, and the many +things related in the first three books of this history. As soon as +the Augustinian religious (then the only religious in those islands), +and especially their provincial, Fray Martin de Herrada--a man of +great worth, and most erudite in all branches of learning--were +aware of the greater advantages possessed by the Chinese, who come +to trade among those islands, in comparison with these islanders, +and especially in the matters of civilization and ability, they +immediately conceived a great desire to go to preach the gospel +to those people, so capable of receiving it. With this object in +view, they began most carefully and studiously to learn the Chinese +language, which the above-mentioned provincial mastered in a short +time, making also of the same a grammar and dictionary. Besides this, +they gave many gifts and presents to the Chinese merchants, in order +to be conveyed to their country. They did many other things, which +are illustrative of their holy zeal--even to offering themselves as +slaves to the merchants, in order that, in this manner, they might +enter the country for the purpose of preaching. But all these efforts +were of no avail, until the divine will showed another and better +method, which will be related in the following chapter. + + + +The sea-power of the pirate Limahon from the Kingdom of China, and +his defeat of Vintoquiam, a pirate from the same Kingdom. Chapter II. + + +The Spaniards were enjoying in peace and quiet their new settlement of +Manila, without apprehension of any accident that might disturb their +peace, and ignorant of any hostile treachery that might harm them; for +the islands were quite pacified, and submissive to the Catholic King +Felipe, our lord, and the trade with the Chinese was continuing. This +last seemed sufficient guarantee to ensure their present quiet; and +likewise, because they knew of the law among these people (as has been +related in the history) that prohibited them from warring with anyone +outside of their own kingdom. [24] They were enjoying this peace when +Limahon, a pirate from the kingdom of China--of pirates there is, as a +rule, no lack along this coast, both because of the dense population of +the kingdom, so that necessarily, vagabonds are by no means uncommon; +and (the principal reason) because of the tyranny exercised by the +rulers toward their subjects--came to these islands with an immense +fleet, as will be related hereafter, with the intention of working them +harm. This pirate was born in the city of Trucheo in the province of +Cuytan, called by the Portuguese Catim. He was the son of parents in +moderate circumstances, who, while he was a child, reared him in the +midst of vice and license. On this account, and by his own nature, +he was quarrelsome and evilly disposed. He would learn no trade, +except to commit robberies along the highway, in which he became so +proficient, that very soon he had a large following--more than two +thousand--of whom he was the acknowledged chief, and came to be feared +throughout the whole province where he committed his depredations. + +When the king and his council learned of this, the former ordered +the viceroy of the province where the pirate was, to assemble all the +garrisons of his frontiers, and to try to capture him, and carry or +send him alive to the city of Taybin, or if that were impossible, to +secure his head. The viceroy ordered the necessary forces to assemble +for this pursuit, with all haste. When the pirate Limahon was aware +of this this--seeing that he was not sufficiently strong with the men +at his command to defend himself against the forces coming against +him, and that he was in great danger if he waited--he collected his +companions, and led them to a seaport a few leagues from that place, +going thither with so great rapidity and so secretly, that before the +inhabitants of this place, accustomed to live quite without fear of +such assaults, were aware of it, he was master of the port and all its +vessels. In these vessels he and all his men embarked immediately, +weighed anchor, and made for the open sea, thinking (and with good +reason) themselves safer there than on land. + +Perceiving now that he was master of that whole sea, he began to +plunder as many vessels as he could, both foreign and native, so that, +within a short time, he was well provided with seamen and the other +necessities demanded in his new calling. He pillaged and despoiled +all the coast towns, and committed many other atrocities. He became +powerful, having collected a fleet of forty vessels, composed of +both those that he had seized in the first port, and those that he +had appropriated at sea, and a large following of shameless men, +quite satiated with their robberies and murders. He bethought +himself of undertaking things of greater import, and set about it, +having the boldness to attack large towns, and committing numberless +atrocities--so that throughout that entire coast where he was known he +was greatly feared; and even in coasts very far from there the report +of his cruelties was spread abroad. While engaged in these practices he +happened to meet with another pirate like himself, named Vintoquiam, +also a native of China, who was resting at anchor in the port, not +apprehending any danger. Here, gaining the advantage through his +great daring, he fought with the latter's fleet, and conquered him, +although Vintoquiam had sixty vessels, large and small, and a strong +force of men, capturing fifty-five of his vessels; Vintoquiam escaped +with the other five. Limahon, now finding himself with a fleet of +ninety-five vessels, manned by a numerous and bold following (all of +whom knew that execution awaited them if taken), grew bolder and lost +every atom of fear, devising new atrocities; and he not only attacked +and plundered large cities, but seized and destroyed them. + + + +A fleet is prepared in China against the pirate Limahon, and +he retires to Tonzuacaotican, where he hears of affairs in the +Felipinas. Chapter III. + + +Each day saw an increase of the complaints made to the king and his +council by the Chinese who suffered at the hands of Limahon. For this +reason, the king once more ordered the viceroy of that province in +which the pirate was committing his depredations, to hasten to have +this man intercepted. Within a short time, the viceroy prepared one +hundred and thirty large vessels, manned by forty thousand men, all +under command of a gentleman named Omoncon. This man was ordered to +seek and pursue the pirate, being expressly commanded to capture or +kill him, even if he should endanger his ships and men while doing +it. Limahon was at once informed of all this, through certain secret +friends. As he saw that the plan to pursue him was being pushed forward +in all earnestness, and that he was inferior to his enemy in point of +ships and men, he determined not to await the latter, but to withdraw +from that coast. In his flight he betook himself to a remote island, +Tonzuacaotican by name, forty leagues from the mainland, and lying +in the pathway to the Felipinas. Limahon remained in this retired +island with his fleet for some days, without daring to return to the +mainland, for he knew that the king's fleet was guarding the coast; +and although he despatched a few vessels on marauding expeditions, +they did nothing of importance--returning, on the contrary, pursued +by the king's powerful fleet. He made some sallies with part of his +vessels from this island, robbing all the vessels that he encountered, +which, with their cargoes of merchandise and other articles, were +sailing between the different islands, or between the islands and the +mainland. Among them he happened to meet two Chinese merchant vessels +plying from Manila to China. Immediately he had the holds of these +vessels searched, finding the rich cargoes that they carried, which +consisted of articles of gold and Spanish reals of four to the peso, +given to them in exchange for the merchandise carried by them to the +islands. Limahon informed himself thoroughly of the characteristics +and wealth of the land, and especially of the Spaniards in the +city of Manila--who in all did not exceed seventy, because the +others had left Luzon for the exploration and colonization of new +islands. Then--ascertaining that these few were living without any +fear of enemies, and therefore had no fort; and that their artillery, +although good, was not in position, either for defense or offense--he +determined to go thither with his entire fleet and following, in order +to kill them; and to make himself master of the island of Manila and +its environs, where he thought to be safe from the power of the king, +who was trying to capture him. In accordance with this idea, he set +about this enterprise with the utmost possible despatch. + + + +Departure of the pirate Limahon for the Felipinas, and arrival at +the city of Manila. Chapter IIII. + + +The pirate resolved to go to capture the Felipinas Islands, and to make +himself master and king of them all, first killing the Spaniards--a +thing that seemed easy of accomplishment, because of their small +number. He was convinced that he could live here quite free from +anxiety, and without his present fear of the great power of the king, +because these islands were so far from the mainland. Leaving those +islands where he had sought shelter, he set sail toward those of +the Felipinas, passing those islands called Illocos, [25] near to a +town called Fernandina, founded recently by Captain Juan de Salzedo, +who at that time was lieutenant-governor there. Four leagues from +this place, Limahon met a small galley sent out by the said Juan +de Salzedo after provisions, with but twenty-five soldiers aboard, +not counting the rowers--both soldiers and rowers being in very +small numbers, for they felt quite secure in this region, and had +no suspicion of meeting enemies. When the pirate Limahon's fleet +discovered the galley, they came down upon it, invested it, and +taking it easily, burned it, and killed its crew, without excepting +a single person. After this capture, Limahon continued his voyage, +according to his plan, and passed by the town of Fernandina, but +not so secretly that he escaped being seen by its inhabitants. The +latter informed the above-named lieutenant-governor of it, expressing +their astonishment at seeing so large an assemblage of vessels, +a sight never before witnessed in those islands. To him also, this +was a cause for wonder, and he was not a little troubled at what it +might mean. Seeing that these vessels were directed toward the city +of Manila, and thinking that so great a fleet, coming from such a +direction, could portend no good to the inhabitants of the city (who +were living in security and were but few in number, as we have said +above), he resolved to set out immediately with the greatest despatch +possible, and with the greatest number of men he could muster--about +fifty-four Spaniards--to endeavor, although at the risk of much +labor, to get the start of them, and warn the people of Manila, +and help them place the artillery in position, and do other things +needful for the defense of the city. The captain set out to carry this +determination into effect with all haste, from which it resulted that +the city and all its inhabitants were not completely pillaged and +destroyed. However, it was not possible to avoid all damage; for, +as their vessels were small, and the rowers few in number and not +picked men (since their hasty departure did not allow a choice), and +as they were going from one region to another to get food--all these +things combined prevented them from arriving as soon as they wished, +or as was desirable. Limahon, being well provided with provisions and +all other necessities, and favored with good winds, kept the lead +of them, arriving at the bay of the city of Manila on St. Andrew's +eve in the year one thousand five hundred and seventy-four. Here he +cast anchor that night with his fleet. As he knew that the success of +his undertaking lay in his quickness, and in action before he should +be seen by the inhabitants of the city, or perceived by those in its +neighborhood, he embarked--being aided in this by the darkness of the +night--four hundred picked soldiers, of whose courage he was thoroughly +assured and satisfied, in small boats, commanding their captains to +exercise all diligence in arriving at the city before daybreak. He +despatched this detachment with orders to fire the city first of all, +and not to leave a single man living in it. He promised to join them +at the first light, in order to help them should it prove necessary, +as was the case. But, since nothing is done contrary to God's will or +permission, it was not possible for the pirate Limahon to attain his +end with the four hundred soldiers, as he thought to do; for all that +night the land-breeze blew, becoming ever stronger as night deepened, +and proving contrary to their desires. Consequently they were unable to +disembark that night, although they tried to do so, striving with all +their strength and cunning to sail against and overcome the wind. Had +it not been for this, without any doubt they would have attained their +evil purpose quite easily, and the city and its inhabitants would +have been destroyed; for Limahon's plan and desire, as was manifest +in the order given to his captains, was to raze and destroy the city. + + + +Limahon sends four hundred soldiers as a vanguard to burn the city +of Manila, who are resisted by our men. Chapter V. + + +Notwithstanding all the trouble caused them by the wind, the four +hundred Chinese succeeded in reaching land a league away from the +city at eight o'clock on the morning of St. Andrew's day. Leaving +their boats at this point, they disembarked and immediately began +their march in battle-array with the utmost rapidity, placing in the +fore part two hundred arquebusiers, and immediately behind these the +other two hundred, who were pikemen. But being espied by some of the +inhabitants--as could not be otherwise, because of the level and open +nature of the ground, and the great number of soldiers--these hastened +to give immediate notice of the invasion. Coming into the city, they +cried: "To arms! to arms! the enemy is upon us!" But their warning +availed little, for no one believed it. On the contrary, they imagined +it a rumor that had arisen among the natives themselves, or some jest +that they were trying to practice. At last the enemy had reached the +house of the master-of-camp, Martin de Goyti--his house being the +first in the city in the direction taken by the enemy--before the +Spaniards and soldiers within the city caught sight of them, and even +before they would put any confidence in the noise and rumor. The enemy +immediately fired the house of the said master-of-camp, killing him and +all the inmates, so that no one escaped except the wife, and her they +left grievously wounded and stark naked, believing her to be dead, +although she was afterward cured of her wounds. During this time of +this their first act of cruelty, the citizens were assured of the +truth; and although none of them had ever imagined so unlooked-for +an event, finally they sounded the call to arms and began to try to +save their lives. Some soldiers made an immediate sally to the shore, +in the lack of order usual in events of this nature. In consequence, +the Chinese killed them all, not even one of them escaping. Therefore +the rest of the Spaniards formed into one organized body, and showed +some resistance to the enemy, now entering the city and firing it, +the while uttering their shouts of victory. This resistance was +characteristic of Spaniards upon finding themselves in such dangers; +and it was so stubborn and courageous that it sufficed to restrain +the fury of those who hitherto had been victors, and even to make +them retire, notwithstanding the very great disproportion between +the two forces. In retiring, the Chinese lost some soldiers without +inflicting any serious loss on the Spaniards, who performed many +remarkable deeds in this defense. Thereupon the Chinese, inasmuch as +they had left their boats at some distance, because they had no time +to bring them nearer, resolved to abandon the assault begun by them, +in its present condition; and to seek shelter and refresh themselves +from their past toil, in order that they might return later with their +captain-general Limahon (whom they were awaiting), to bring their plan +to completion, a thing that they considered to be, by this means, +very easy of accomplishment. When they reached their boats, as they +feared some danger, they began a return to the fleet, steering directly +toward the place where they had left it; they caught sight of it not +long afterward, past a point in sight of the city of Manila. Taking +their course toward the fleet, they came to the flagship, in which was +the pirate Limahon. They related to him the affair in all its details, +and how, on account of the contrary winds, they had been unable to +reach land in the time set by him, and which they wished. Therefore +they had not completed the undertaking and had deferred it, because +of his absence, until a better opportunity. He consoled them, and +thanked them for what they had done until then. He promised them to +make a very speedy end to his damnable purpose, and at once commanded +that the bow of his flagship be directed toward a port called Cabite, +situated two leagues from the city of Manila. From this latter place +the said fleet could be easily seen passing on its way. + + + +The governor of Manila fortifies himself in order to await the +onslaught of the Chinese, and drives them back. Limahon having returned +occupies the land along the Pangasinan River. Chapter VI. + + +The governor, Guido de Labacares, who, by the order of his Majesty, +had succeeded to the governorship at the death of Miguel Lopez de +Legaspi, was then in those islands, and in that of Manila. He, taking +into consideration the pirate's great fleet and large following, +and the few defenses and means of resistance in the city, assembled +the captains and citizens with the utmost despatch, and with their +unanimous approbation set about making some defenses, while the +enemy was in the port aforesaid, that the Spaniards might defend +themselves to the best of their ability. For the Spaniards could not +abandon the city, while life remained, without loss of their credit; +for in only this one of all the islands thereabout could they feel +secure. This determination was speedily put into execution, the work +lasting during the two days and nights while the pirate delayed; and no +opportunity was neglected, nor was any person excused from the work, +notwithstanding his rank, for the courageous soldiers well knew that, +if they remained alive, the fatigue and weariness would soon pass +away. With this incessant work, they were enabled to make a fort out of +planks, and casks filled with sand, with such other means of defense +as these few hours permitted. They brought out four pieces of very +excellent artillery that were in the city. These were placed in good +position, and all the people were gathered in the little fort thus +made. This occurred, as we believe, through the providence of God, +our Lord, who did not choose that the many souls baptized in those +islands, and sealed with the light of the knowledge of His most holy +faith, should return into the power of the devil, from whose grasp He +had drawn them by His infinite mercy. Neither did He wish that the +convenient proximity of those islands to the great kingdom of China +be lost, by which means, perhaps, his divine Majesty has ordained +the salvation and rescue of all that country. The night before the +assault, Captain Juan de Salcedo, lieutenant-governor of the town of +Fernandina, arrived--who, as we said, was coming for the purpose of +aiding the Spaniards of Manila. His coming and that of his companions +was clearly the chief remedy for both the city and its inhabitants; +for, besides being few, the work of the late resistance and that of +preparing the defenses for the coming assault, together with the fear +left in their hearts by the danger in which they beheld themselves, +had rendered them feeble and in great need of help such as this; and +he seemed to all of them to have been sent miraculously by God. With +this arrival, all recovered courage and the assured hope of making a +courageous resistance. They prepared themselves for this immediately, +because the pirate, before dawn of the morning following--two days +after the assault, as above related, by the four hundred soldiers at +his orders--appeared with his entire fleet in front of the port. He +disembarked about six hundred soldiers, who without delay fell upon +the city, which they were able to sack and burn at will, as indeed +they did; for the inhabitants had abandoned it, as above stated, +at the order and command of the governor, gathering at the fort for +greater security. + +Having set fire to the city, they attacked the fort, flushed with +their past murders, and fully persuaded that the inmates would offer +little resistance. But the outcome was not so certain as they thought, +because of the great valor and courage of those inside, through which +all the pirates who had the daring to enter the fort paid for their +boldness with their lives. Upon seeing this, the Chinese withdrew, +after fighting almost all that day, and losing two hundred men (who +were killed in the assault), besides many wounded. Of the Spaniards +but two were killed, namely, the ensign Sancho Ortiz, and the alcalde +of the same city, Francisco de Leon. + +The pirate Limahon, who was a man of astuteness and ability, in +consequence of all this--and as it seemed to him that to persist +further in his design against the steadfastness of the Spaniards, +which was different from what he had experienced hitherto, was to lose +time and people--resolved to embark and sail to the port of Cabite, +whence he had come. First he collected very carefully his dead, whom he +buried afterward in the above-named island, remaining there for this +purpose two days. Then leaving this place, he returned by the same +route that he had followed in his assault upon the city of Manila, +until he arrived at a large river forty leagues away, Pangasinan by +name. Thinking this to be a rich country, and that he could remain +there safe from those who, by the king's orders, were looking for +him, he resolved to stay there, and to make himself master of that +place. This he did with very little trouble, and by means of a fort +which he built, one league up the river; he remained there for some +time, collecting tribute from the natives, as their true lord. He sent +out his vessels to rob all who should be found along those coasts; +and the report spread abroad that he had seized the Felipinas Islands, +and that all the Spaniards there had been killed or had fled. Thereupon +great terror and fright filled all the neighboring villages settled +upon this great river Pangasinan; and all of them, with no exception, +received Limahon as lord, and as such obeyed him and paid him tribute. + + + +The master-of-camp, Salzedo, attacks Limahon, burns his fleet, and +besieges him for three months in a fort; whence the pirate escapes +by dint of great effort. Chapter VII. + + +When the governor of the islands and the citizens of Manila heard +that the pirate Limahon was asserting, wherever he went, that he had +killed and defeated the Spaniards; considering that if this were not +checked speedily, great harm might result from it, which could not +be remedied so easily afterward as it could at the present time; +and that their allies and vassals throughout all those islands, +placing credence in the pirate's assertion, might rise against them, +and kill them with ease, because of the great number of the natives +and the fewness of the Spaniards, who until the present had sustained +themselves solely by the report of their invincibility--they took +counsel together, and determined that as large a force as possible +should be raised, and sent in military array in pursuit of the +pirate. They knew that he must, of necessity, have stationed himself +near Manila; and that he would not dare return to China, because he +was afraid. They thought that, by the use of the same artifice and +strategy employed by Limahon, they might come upon him unawares, +as he had caught them. They believed that, although they could not +destroy him totally, they could, at the very least, take vengeance +for the damage wrought by him, so that the lie would be given to +the report spread abroad by the said pirate. Thus the Spaniards' old +security would remain, and they would be held in greater estimation +by the natives near them, who knew them; and would even attain the +friendship of the king of China, against whom Limahon was a traitor, +and whom he had offended. This resolve they set about executing +immediately, as such an undertaking required. Meanwhile they heard, +as certain, that the pirate was stationed on the Pangasinan River, +where he had made a strong settlement. Upon obtaining this news--which +was most agreeable to the Spaniards--the governor summoned all the +people dwelling thereabout, ordering them to come to the city where +he resided. At this same time, he sent word to all the encomenderos +or seigniors of the villages of those islands called Pintados, +ordering them to assemble at the same place with as many ships and +men as possible, both Spaniards and natives. All this was done and +completed quickly and gladly; and the natives, especially those of +the said Pintados Islands, came willingly. All these, together with +the other people who lived in the city, set out under command of +Captain Juan de Salzedo, whom the governor, in his Majesty's name, +had appointed to the office of master-of-camp (rendered vacant, +as has been related above, by the death of Martin de Goyti at the +first assault of the city of Manila). The governor remained behind +with only a force sufficient to guard the city and the fort, which +had been built again, and the well. The master-of-camp took in his +detachment two hundred and fifty soldiers and five hundred friendly +Indians, all unanimous in their intention to avenge the mischief that +they had suffered, or to die in the attempt. + +This entire force embarked in small boats, and in two fragatas brought +from nearby islands, as no time had been given, in the haste necessary +for this expedition, to wait until larger ships could be found. And, +even had they waited, they would have found but a poor supply of +vessels; for the inhabitants of this region, as soon as they saw the +city attacked by the pirate, had risen against the Spaniards--believing +that the latter could not escape so great a force, although from the +Spaniards' first entrance into the said islands, they had been very +submissive--and burned a small galley anchored at Manila, together +with two other large vessels. + +The master-of-camp, with the force above mentioned, left Manila on +the twenty-third of March, in the year one thousand five hundred +and seventy-five, and arrived at the mouth of the Pangasinan River +at dawn on Holy Wednesday following, without being espied by anyone; +for, as was important, they observed great care. The master-of-camp +disembarked his entire force immediately, together with four pieces +of artillery, leaving the mouth of the river blockaded with all his +vessels, some of which he had ordered to extend themselves so that no +one might enter or go out, or warn the pirate of their arrival. He +ordered others of the vessels to reconnoiter the enemy's fleet and +his fortifications. He charged them especially to endeavor not to be +seen, for this was essential to the success of the undertaking. The +captains did as they were ordered, finding the pirate as free from +anxiety of any danger there, as the city of Manila had been at his +attack. This security resulted from his having heard that, although +they were discussing in China the question of attacking him, this +could not be done soon, for they could not know or be perfectly sure +of his whereabouts; and from his certain knowledge that the Spaniards +of the Felipinas had no vessels, for, as we have said above, they had +been burned, and they had received so much damage that they would +endeavor rather to recover from their past ill-treatment, than to +avenge injuries. The master-of-camp having ascertained thoroughly this +great lack of care, and the most retired path to the pirate's fort, +ordered Captain Gabriel de Ribera and his men to march immediately by +land, and as suddenly as possible to assault the enemy, making as much +noise and confusion as he could. The captains, Pedro de Chaves and +Lorenco Chacon, with forty soldiers apiece, he ordered to ascend the +river in the swiftest vessels. The time was to be appointed so that +both the land and sea forces would arrive at the fort at the same +instant, and make the assault at the same time, so that they might +the better succeed in their purpose. He himself remained behind with +all the rest of the forces to await the opportunity and to furnish +aid in any emergency. This plan succeeded very well, and each party +gave the best account of itself--the water force firing the enemy's +fleet, while the land force, aided by those who had set the fire, +entered the palisade constructed by Limahon for his defense, and as +a protection for his men. They entered the fort also and killed more +than one hundred Chinese, besides capturing more than seventy women, +whom they found within the palisade. + +When Limahon heard the noise, he hastened to the fort, +which--notwithstanding that it had been made as a defense, in case +the fleet of the Chinese king, which he knew had been prepared to go +in search of him, should chance upon him there--served to save his +life on this occasion. He ordered some soldiers to skirmish with the +Spaniards, now quite worn out by that day's work and the oppression +caused by the intolerable heat of the burning vessels and the houses +within the palisade, all of which were ablaze at the same time. The +captains, on perceiving this, and the lack of order among their men, +which they might not remedy, because they themselves were almost worn +out (although the aid sent them very opportunely by the master-of-camp +had given them a moment's respite and added new courage), gave the +signal for retreat, with the loss of five Spaniards and more than +thirty of their Indian allies, whom the pirate's soldiers killed, +besides some others that had been wounded. Upon the following day, +the master-of-camp arrayed all his forces in line of battle, and set +out for the fort with the intention of giving battle if he could find +an opportunity. Arriving there, he established his camp at a distance +of less than two hundred paces from it, but he found that during that +night the pirate had fortified himself strongly, and in such wise +that it was considered dangerous to attack the fort; in it had been +mounted three large pieces of artillery, and many small culverins, +besides other contrivances for discharging fire. Upon observing this, +the master-of-camp--recognizing that his artillery consisted only of +small pieces and was insufficient for assaulting the fort; and that +the supply of ammunition was inadequate, because it had been spent +in defending themselves against the assaults made by the pirate on +Manila--in accordance with the advice of his captains, determined that +(since the enemy had no vessels, by which he might escape by water, +nor any resources or material with which to build them, and very little +food, because the latter had been burned with the vessels) it would be +better and conduce more to his own safety to besiege the fort and to +settle down there until hunger should wear out the enemy, in order +that they might thus be forced to surrender, or capitulate under +certain conditions. Notwithstanding the nature of these conditions, +the enemy would consider them better than death by hunger. This +resolve seemed good to all of them, although quite the contrary of +their expectation happened; for during the blockade by land and water, +which lasted for three months, the pirate was so clever, and planned +so well, that he made some boats inside the fort, trimming them in +the best manner possible. In these he and his men escaped one night, +as will be told--a thing that seemed impossible and caused great +surprise to the Spaniards, a surprise which was heightened on finding +that he had gone with so great cunning, without either the land or sea +force hearing it. I shall not relate the events of these three months, +although some were most notable, for my purpose is to show the events +that gave occasion for the entrance of the Augustinian religious and +their companions into the Chinese kingdom, and to tell those things +which, they declared, were seen there by them. For this reason I have +given the coming of Limahon, and all the rest of the above relation. + + + +Omoncon, captain of the Chinese king, coming in search of the pirate +Limahon, encounters our Spaniards. Chapter VIII. + + +During the period of the siege, as related in the preceding +chapter, certain boats were going to and coming from the city of +Manila--distant, as I have said, but forty leagues from the mouth +of the Pangasinan River--for the purpose of bringing provisions and +other necessities for the support of the army. + +It happened one day that a vessel under command of Miguel de Loarcha, +[26] having on board father Fray Martin de Herrada, provincial of the +Augustinians (who had come to Pangasinan to see the master-of-camp, +and was returning to Manila to hold a meeting of his order), met in the +island and port of Buliano, seven leagues from the Pagasinan River, +as they were going out of the port, a Sangley ship, which was about +to enter the port. Thinking it to be a hostile vessel, they bore down +upon it, together with another ship in their company. Those aboard +the ship were only the said father provincial and five other Spaniards +and the sailors. The Sangley ship, seeing them bearing down upon it, +tried to take flight; but, the contrary wind not permitting this, +as a consequence, the Spanish ships, by means of sail and oar, came +within cannon range, and even nearer, in a few moments. On one of +the Spanish ships was a Chinese named Sinsay, who had been in Manila +many times with merchants, and was very friendly and well known to the +Spaniards, and understood their language. When this man saw that the +ship was Chinese, and that, from its appearance, it was not a pirate, +he requested our men not to fire or do any damage until it was known +clearly who its occupants were. He went to the bow of the vessel and +hailed them, thus ascertaining that theirs was one of the ships of the +fleet sent by their king in search of the pirate Limahon. They had left +the fleet behind and put out to sea in order to explore those islands, +to ascertain whether the pirate were in any of them. In order to gain +this information, they were about to put in to the port of Buliano, +whence the Spaniards were coming out with two ships, and from whom +they tried to flee, fearful lest they should prove to belong to the +pirate. Thus assured on each side, the two parties joined together +in all peace and friendship. The Spaniards immediately entered a +small boat, and went over to the Chinese ship, taking with them the +said Synsay as interpreter, in order that he might talk with the +Chinese. In the ship of the latter was a man of much influence named +Homoncon, who bore a decree from his king, which he showed to the +Spaniards and to the father provincial, in which the king and his +council pardoned all of Limahon's soldiers, on condition that they +immediately left the latter and enrolled themselves under the royal +banners; and it bestowed great reward upon whomsoever should capture +or kill the said pirate. Thereupon Sinsay told him of the coming of +the pirate to the island, and all the story of the siege, as related +above; and that the pirates were shut up on the Pangasinan River, +whence escape was impossible. The captain Omoncon was overjoyed at +hearing this news, and gave expression to a thousand demonstrations +of his joy. He embraced the Spaniards many times, and by other signs +indicated his great pleasure. Then he wished to return to the fleet, +but to have more certain information, as he was assured that the death +or capture of the pirate was expected daily, he resolved to go to +Pangasinan, since it was so near, to converse with the master-of-camp, +together with Sinsay--a man well known on both sides--through whose +medium they could discuss the best methods for the confirmation +of peace and friendship between the Chinese and Spaniards, and for +the capture or death of the pirate. With this resolution, they set +out--the Chinese for Pangasinan, where they arrived that same day; +and the Spaniards for Manila, whither they were going for provisions. + + + +Omoncon is cordially received by the master-of-camp, and entertained +in Manila by the governor, with whom it is agreed that the Augustinian +fathers shall go to China. Chapter IX. + + +When the master-of-camp heard of the purpose of Omoncon, he +received him cordially and courteously. And having recounted to +him the extremity to which he had brought the pirate (for it seemed +impossible for the latter to escape from it, except by taking wings, +like a bird), he advised Omoncon that, until the consummation of their +hopes, which could not be long, he should go to Manila, which was +quite near, and pass the time with the governor and the other Spaniards +there--because he [the master-of-camp] himself was quite sufficient to +accomplish his purpose, and it was unnecessary that the king's fleet +should come thither, or sail out of the safe port where it had cast +anchor. For this purpose he offered to give Omoncon a vessel with +oars (one of those that he used to bring provisions), under command +of Pedro de Chaves, who was about to go to Manila--assuring him that +he would deliver the pirate to him, dead or alive, within the few +days that all thought sufficient to end the undertaking. Omoncon, +considering this suggestion reasonable, acted upon it at once, and +embarked with the above-named captain, sending through the high seas +the ship in which he had come thither, because of its great size and +draught. This ship returned to anchor at the river whence they had +set out, because of the strong winds that prevailed; these proved +but little hindrance to the oared vessel, because it went along the +land, sheltered thereby from the winds. In a few days they arrived +at the port of the city of Manila, where they were well received and +feasted by the governor. Omoncon remained there several days, after +which, seeing that the siege was continuing, and that his delay there +might cause some suspicion of his death--and knowing, too, that the +fleet was waiting for him, and was quite ready to proceed to attack +the pirate, who he was assured would not escape from the Spaniards +who were besieging him; and that the Spaniards would, without any +doubt, send Limahon, either dead or alive, to the king, as they +had promised--he resolved to return to China, with this good news, +purposing to come hither again, in order to get the pirate after he +should be captured. Having resolved upon this, at the end of several +days he went to the governor, to whom he communicated all his plans, +so that the latter should permit him to put them into execution. The +governor approved his determination, and made the same promise as the +master-of-camp--namely, that as soon as the pirate was captured or +dead, he should be taken to the king without delay; or that he should +be put in safe keeping, and word despatched that he should be sent for, +or that Omoncon himself should come. Moreover, the governor promised +to provide the latter immediately with everything necessary for the +voyage without any lack whatever. Omoncon was very grateful for this +offer, and in payment therefor promised the governor that he would +take with him to China the fathers that his Excellency should send, +and a few soldiers, if the latter wished to accompany them. He was +confident in the good news he carried, by virtue of which he hoped +that he would run no risk by doing this, and that the viceroy of +Aucheo would not take it ill; for he had learned and heard from +the Augustinian fathers, that his Excellency, and the governor's +predecessor in office, Adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, had desired +many times to send some religious to the Chinese kingdom, to engage +in the preaching of the gospel, and to study the affairs of that +kingdom. They had, however, never been able to attain their desire, +because of the unwillingness of the Chinese merchants trading at that +port to take anyone--although whatever sum they should ask would have +been given them--as they feared the punishment that would be inflicted +upon them, according to the law of the kingdom. For security that no +ill-treatment would be showed to these men, he offered to leave pledges +to their satisfaction. The governor was very glad at this offer, +for this was what he and all the inhabitants of the islands had been +eagerly desiring for a long time. Therefore he accepted it immediately, +telling Omoncon that he absolved him from his promise and pledges, for +he was quite well satisfied as to his worthiness, and that he would +commit no act unbecoming his person or office. The governor, very +joyful over this news, at once summoned the Augustinian provincial, +Fray Alonso de Alvarado, [27] who had been elected to this office +but a few days previously. The latter was a man of very holy life, +and one of those despatched by the emperor, our master, in search of +Nueva Guinea. The governor informed him of the offer of the captain +Omocon, whereat he greatly rejoiced, exclaiming that, notwithstanding +his age, he himself would go. To this the governor wonld not consent, +because of his age, and for other personal reasons. They consulted +together as to who should go and who was most suitable for the +matter in hand--namely, as we have said, to effect the entrance of +our holy Catholic faith into that kingdom. They resolved to send +only two religious, for there were but few of them in the islands, +together with two soldiers. The two religious selected were father +Fray Martin de Herrada, a native of Pamplona, who had but lately +been provincial, and was moreover a most erudite and holy man, who, +with this very desire, had learned the language of the said kingdom, +and who, to attain his desires, had offered himself many times as a +slave to the Chinese merchants, in order to be taken to China; and +as his companion father Fray Geronymo Marin, likewise a very erudite +religious, and a native of the City of Mexico. The soldiers selected +to accompany them were named Pedro Sarmiento, chief constable of the +city of Manila, a native of Vilorado, and Miguel de Loarcha, [28] +both of as high rank and of as good Christian life as were requisite +for this matter. These latter the religious intended to take so that, +if they themselves should stay with the king in order to preach the +gospel to him, they might return with news of their success, and of +what had been seen, in order to inform the governor thereof, and, if +necessary, the king, our master. The offer of the captain Omoncon, +and the choice of the governor and the said provincial immediately +spread through the city, and, amid great rejoicings, was approved +by all; because those appointed were, as has been said, of so high +station. All were assured that these men would fail in no point in what +was charged to them, and would lose no opportunity. Much more envy +than pity was expressed, as this was a matter that everyone desired, +especially for the service and honor of God--and secondarily for the +advantage that would accrue to all of them, through the great trade +that would ensue, and the despatch of so good news to the king. Then +the governor summoned those who had been appointed, to the presence +of the captain Omoncon, and told them what had been resolved upon, +whereat they accepted their commission with much joy and expressed +their thanks. As a mark of gratitude, the governor, in the presence +of all, gave to Omoncon himself a gold chain of excellent quality, +and a most magnificent and well-made garment of scarlet cloth [_grana +colorada_], which the latter held in high estimation, and which +is esteemed much more in China, as they do not possess it in that +country. In addition to this, he gave a suitable present to send to +the governor of Chincheo, who, at the king's command, had despatched +Omoncon in pursuit of the pirate; and another present for the viceroy +of the province of Ochia, who resided in the city of Aucheo. And in +order that Sinsay (who, as I said above, was a well-known merchant) +should not take it ill or feel aggrieved, and that he might not be the +cause of the undertaking receiving any injury, the governor presented +to him another gold chain; for he had, moreover, well merited this, +as he had ever been a faithful friend to the Spaniards. Then, at the +command and order of the governor, all the Chinese slaves whom Limahon +had in his possession and who were captured in the fort of Pangasinan +as aforesaid, were collected. These the governor gave to Omoncon, +allowing him to take them freely. Likewise the governor ordered that +the master-of-camp, and the soldiers and captains who were engaged +at the siege, should deliver all those who remained there, binding +himself to pay to the soldiers to whom such belonged, the appraised +value of the captives. This done, he ordered everything necessary for +the voyage to be fully prepared, which was done within a very few days. + + + +Omoncon sets out with news of the pirate Limahon's extremity, taking +with him to China the Augustinian fathers. Chapter X. + + +On Sunday morning, June twelfth, in the year of our Lord one +thousand five hundred and seventy-five, the aforesaid governor +and all the citizens assembled to go in a body to the monastery of +St. Augustine. Here a most solemn mass of the Holy Spirit was said. At +its conclusion and after all had entreated God to direct that voyage +for the honor and glory of his divine Majesty, and for the salvation of +the souls of that great kingdom, which Lucifer had so long possessed, +Omoncon and Sinsay took leave of the governor, and of the others, +thanking them for the kind treatment and the presents that they had +received. In return for this, Omoncon promised to remain their loyal +friend for all time, as they would see by his deeds, and to take with +him those whom he had of his own volition requested, and accepted with +the security of himself; and said that he would suffer death rather +than that any harm should come upon those in his charge. The governor +and the others returned thanks for this new offer, giving Omoncon to +understand that they had the utmost confidence in his promises. With +this they took leave of him, and at the same time of the religious +and their two soldier companions, at which parting tears were not +lacking on either side. + +They all embarked immediately on a ship belonging to the islands, +one which had been prepared for this purpose; and left the port, +accompanied by another Chinese merchantman, which was at Manila. In +this ship Sinsay embarked with all the ship supplies, in order to take +them to the port of Buliano, where Omoncon's large ship was stationed, +and in which the voyage was to be made. This vessel, as we have said +above, had put into port because of the stormy weather. They arrived +at the said port on the following Sunday, for the weather had proved +exceedingly contrary, and they lost sight of the said vessel that +was in their company and carried the provisions. They found this +ship anchored at the port, for, because of its deeper draught, +it had sailed better and faster. They found in it, likewise, two +Spanish soldiers, whom the master-of-camp had sent from Pangasinan +(for he had seen, from that place, the aforesaid ship enter the port), +with the order that the fathers should proceed thither. This order +made the religious and soldiers fearful least the master-of-camp +should try to detain them until the end of the siege of the fort +should be seen (which was expected daily), in order that they might +carry the pirate Limahon with them, dead or alive. Consequently, +it was almost unanimously decided not to obey the order, and not +to discontinue the prosecution of their voyage, so much desired by +all, when each hour seemed a year; and as they feared lest something +might prove an obstacle or hindrance to their purpose. But coming to +a better conclusion, inasmuch as they were mindful of the excellent +disposition and Christian spirit of the master-of-camp--whom father +Fray Martin had considered as a son; for he was the grandson of the +adelantado Legaspi, the first governor, colonizer, and discoverer +of the Filipinas, whom the father had accompanied from Mexico, +and had brought with him the said master-of-camp when he was still +a child--they resolved to obey the order and go to take leave of +him and their other friends in the army. For this purpose they +left the port and directed their course to Pangasinan, a distance +of but seven leagues from the said port. And after they had sailed +three leagues, so violent and contrary a wind struck them that they +were unable to proceed, and were forced to return to the port of +departure. They sent their unanimous decision with Pedro Sarmiento, +by means of the vessel in which the above-mentioned two soldiers +had come thither--inasmuch as, being small and furnished with oars, +it could, without so great danger, and sheltered by the land, reach +Pangasinan more easily--in order that he might, in the name of all, +give their compliments to the master-of-camp and take leave of him, +and of their other friends. He was commissioned to request these not +to forget in their prayers to commend them to God, and to ask that He +would protect and aid them, that they might attain the consummation +so greatly desired by all. He was enjoined to bring back with him the +interpreter whom they were to take with them, namely, a Chinese lad, +baptized in Manila and named Hernando, who was thoroughly acquainted +with the Spanish language. Pedro Sarmiento arrived at Pangasinan and +carried out his orders to the letter. But the master-of-camp was +dissatisfied with this, as well as the captains and soldiers with +him, by whom the fathers and soldiers were greatly and deservedly +loved. These determined to send a summons to the fathers, asking +the latter to come to see them, since they were so near. When the +fathers heard this message, they were not without the suspicion above +mentioned. But inasmuch as they could not refuse to obey his order +and civil request, they left Buliano under a favoring wind--for the +storm had abated by this time, leaving the sea somewhat rough--and +arrived on the same day at Pangasinan, where they were received with +the utmost rejoicing by the master-of-camp and the others. Their +suspicion proved to be quite contrary to the others' thought; for the +master-of-camp not only did not detain them, but sent them on their +way with all haste, delivering to them immediately, according to +the governor's order, all the slaves--whom the soldiers to whom they +belonged surrendered willingly, when they understood the purport of +the order. He also gave them the interpreter for whom they asked, and +everything else necessary for the voyage. The master-of-camp begged +Omoncon by letter, for the latter had remained at Buliano, to care +for and protect them as was expected from him, and promised him the +same thing as the governor in respect to sending the pirate, dead or +alive, as soon as either end should be attained. He also petitioned +father Fray Martin de Herrada to take with him Nicolas de Cuenca, +a soldier of his company, so that the latter might purchase for him +certain articles in China. The father accepted this man willingly, +promising to treat him as one of his own men, and to regard him as +such. Thereupon they set sail for the port of Buliano, whence they +had come hither, taking leave of the master-of-camp and the rest of +the army, not without the shedding of tears, no less than by those at +Manila. The master-of-camp sent with them, to accompany the fathers +and their companions, as far as the said port, the sargento-mayor, +[29] who bore the letter to Omoncon and a present to the same of +provisions and other articles. Furthermore, he sent by him two letters, +one for the governor of Chincheo, and the other for the viceroy of +the province of Ochian. In these letters he related the burning of +Limahon's fleet and the killing of many of his followers; and said that +he held the pirate so closely besieged that escape was impossible, and +that before long he must surrender; and that after taking him, either +dead or alive, he would send him, as the governor of Manila had written +and promised them. Two presents accompanied these two letters, namely, +a silver vessel and certain garments made of Castilian cloth--which the +Chinese value highly--besides other rare articles which the Chinese do +not possess. He made most courteous apologies for not sending more, +because of being in his present situation, and all his belongings +at Manila. That same day they arrived, under a favoring wind, at the +port of Buliano, where they found Captain Omoncon awaiting them. The +latter received the message delivered to him by the sargento-mayor in +the name of the master-of-camp, for which he returned hearty thanks, +and renewed the promises that he had made to the governor. + +[Chapters XI-XXIX inclusive treat of the departure of Omoncon and +the Spanish priests and soldiers from Buliano for China, and the +experiences of the latter in that country. Landing at the port of +Tansuso, in the province of Chincheo, they receive a hospitable +reception. From this port they journey to Chincheo, the residence +of the governor, by whom they are well entertained, and to whom they +deliver the letters sent by the governor of the Philippines. Their next +destination is Aucheo, where the viceroy of the province resides. Here +also a cordial reception is accorded them, but they are regarded +somewhat in the light of prisoners, the viceroy forbidding them to +leave their lodgings, being fearful lest they discover some things +in the city that might occasion future injury to the Chinese. The +present sent to the viceroy by the Spanish governor is despatched +to the king, because of a Chinese law that "prohibits those holding +a government office from accepting any present without the king's +permission, or that of his council." The delays in obtaining a +satisfactory audience with the viceroy become permanent upon rumors +that circulate regarding new piratical depredations from one who +is suspected to be Limahon. The viceroy, suspecting that Omoncon, +Sinsay, and the Spaniards have lied to him regarding the pirate, +determines, after closely questioning the fathers, to send them and +the soldiers back to Manila. Accordingly these set out for Tansuso, +with a promise of better results after exact news of the capture or +death of Limahon. These chapters abound in interesting observations +of Chinese life, descriptions of cities, ceremonies, etc., and show +the great liberality of the Chinese in their gifts. Several Chinese +plays are witnessed, one of which is described. All things interest +these first Spaniards in China, even the Chinese compass "divided +into twelve parts, and their navigation without sea-charts." They +observe carefully, "delighting their vision with new things, that +had never been seen before." Chapter XXX relates their departure from +Tansuso and their journey toward Manila, stopping at various islands +on the way. At the island of Plon, definite news of Limahon's escape +from Pangasinan is obtained. Chapter XXXI deals with the escape of +Limahon. This resourceful man constructs a few clumsy boats out of +the half-burnt remnants of his fleet, which his men had brought into +the fort at night, without being detected by the Spaniards. With these +he escapes to the island of Tocaotican. "This news greatly distressed +them all, especially Omoncon and Sinsay. These turned against our men, +alleging that that occurrence and the pirate's flight smelt of mystery, +and must have happened with the Spaniards' consent, or because the +pirate had given gifts to the master-of-camp, so that the latter would +allow him to depart; and that it was impossible for him to escape +from such a plight in any other manner, even had the Spaniards been +asleep." These suspicions are dissipated on their arrival at Manila, +forty-five days after the departure from Tansuso, a run that should +have been made in ten days. In chapter XXXII is told the return of the +Chinese to their own land. While in Manila, certain of the Chinese +inquire into the tenets of Christianity. They advise correspondence +between the Spanish governor and the Chinese king with the object of +allowing an entrance for the gospel into China. The chief officer of +the convoy fleet is prevented from becoming a Christian only through +fear of exile and the confiscation of his property; for there is a +"law in his kingdom which is adhered to strictly, and which forbids +any one from embracing a religion at all contrary to that of the +country, without the consent of the king and his council, under +penalty of death." This law has caused certain Chinese merchants to +settle in Manila. Limahon ends his career on a distant island where +he had sought refuge, dying of melancholy because of his reverses. A +relation of the expedition to China was despatched to Felipe II.] + + + +Second Book of the Second Part of the History of the Great Kingdom +of China + + +In which is contained the voyage made to this great kingdom in +the year one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine by father Fray +Pedro de Alfaro, custodian in the Filipinas Islands of the order of +the blessed St. Francis, of the province of San Joseph; and three +other religious of the same order. The miraculous entrance into that +kingdom, and all that happened to them during their seven months' +residence there, and all they discovered and saw--all of which are +most notable and interesting. + + +The Franciscan fathers arrive at the Filipinas Islands, and try to +gain entrance to the mainland of the kingdom of China, with great +desire to preach the holy gospel. Chapter I. + +On the day of the Visitation of our Lady, in the year one thousand +five hundred and seventy-eight, there arrived from Espana at the city +of Manila, in the Filipinas Islands, father Fray Pedro de Alfaro, [30] +appointed custodian of that province, with fourteen religious of the +same order. They were sent by his Catholic Majesty, King Don Felipe, +our sovereign, and his royal Council of the Indies, as helpers to +the Augustinian fathers--who, until then, had been occupied alone in +the islands in the conversion of the natives, and had been the first +preachers of the gospel therein, which they had preached with much zeal +and to the great good of the natives. The said fathers had baptized, +when the Franciscans arrived, more than one hundred thousand of the +natives, besides preparing and catechizing the others for baptism; +and, in addition, preparing themselves so that at the first opportunity +they might enter the kingdom of China to preach the holy gospel. After +the Franciscans had lived in the islands for the space of one year, +busying themselves in helping the Augustinians, and in the conversion +and instruction of the natives, learning during this time through +the reports of the Augustinian fathers themselves, and from many +Chinese merchants who were constantly coming to the islands with +merchandise, of the many wonderful things of that great kingdom and +the countless number of souls, whom the devil held in his service, +deceived with false idolatry--they were filled with great zeal and +longing for the salvation of these people, and with the desire to +go thither to preach the holy gospel, although it should be at the +risk and peril of their lives. They made known this desire several +times to the governor then in those islands for his Majesty, namely, +Doctor Francisco de Sande, entreating his favor and permission to go +to the said China, with certain Chinese merchants then at that port +with their vessels; and offered, of their own accord, to gain the +consent of the latter, even at the price of becoming their slaves, +or in any other manner possible. But as often as they discussed +the matter with the governor, it was evident that he looked upon +the idea coldly, and put them off with hopes. Mindful of the fact +that their chief purpose in coming from Espana had been, to attempt +to effect an entrance into that kingdom to preach the gospel, and +having their desires heightened by their intercourse with the Chinese +themselves, since they were a nation of ability and discretion, +and of excellent understanding--which quickened their desire, and +persuaded them that it would be easy to make them understand the +things pertaining to God--they determined to employ other methods, +since that which they were trying to attain with the good will of +the governor was so uncertain. It happened that, after several days, +when they had discussed the matter, and had petitioned God with great +urgency to guide and direct it as should be most to His service, and +for the gain of those souls, a Chinese came to the Filipinas, who was, +as they heard, one of the priests and religious of that kingdom, of +whom a great number exist in all the towns of China. This man went to +the monastery of the said fathers several times, and discussed with +them the creation of the world, and other things which opened the +way for the latter to declare to him matters pertaining to God, which +he was much pleased to hear. After having told them in great detail +of the magnificence and secret things of the great kingdom of China, +for whose conversion the fathers had so great a desire; and after he +had asked many careful and keen questions about the Christian faith, +he begged them urgently, at the end of several days, to baptize him, +as he wished to become a Christian. Inasmuch as he had instruction +in the tenets of our Catholic faith, they granted his pious desire, +to the incredible joy of all the inhabitants of the city, and to his +own joy also. After becoming a Christian, he became an inmate of the +monastery, and would never eat anything but uncooked herbs; and when +he discovered that all the religious arose at midnight for matins, +and that they disciplined themselves, and spent much of the night +in prayer before the holy sacrament, he failed no whit in imitating +them, and in doing all he saw them do, and with proofs of very great +devotion. All this aroused in the father custodian and all of his +associates the longing to attain what they so greatly desired, as +stated above. Therefore they had recourse once more to the governor, +and once more was explained, in most urgent terms, what had been +already asked him so often; namely, in regard to his effecting some +arrangement whereby the religious might go to the kingdom of China to +preach the law of God, the father custodian offering himself as one +of these. They stated that, if leave were not given them, they would +go without it, on the first occasion that offered, relying on that +given them by their superiors and by God to work for the salvation +of their neighbors. Neither all this argument, nor the example of the +excellent spirit of the recently-christianized Chinese, was sufficient +to persuade the governor; on the contrary he clung obstinately to his +former opinion, answering them that it was still too early, because +our friendship with the Chinese was but slight; and that already the +Augustinians had tried to effect an entrance to China many times, +but had been unable to attain their desire--on the contrary, the +Chinese who took the latter with them had left them deceitfully on +some islands--until the opportunity afforded by the pirate Limahon and +the coming of the captain Omoncon. Then the latter had conveyed them, +with the good news of the straits to which the pirate was come; and +notwithstanding this they were ordered to return from Aucheo without +being allowed to remain in the country to preach the holy gospel. And +now to make this attempt would give the Chinese opportunity to make +daily jests of the Spaniards. Therefore they should wait until God +should open the door for this entrance, at such time as His holy +will should determine, which could not be much delayed. The father +custodian having received the governor's reply, and seeing that he +persevered in his obstinacy in not seeking means whereby they could +effect their desired entrance upon the mainland, commenced secret +negotiations, with the object of procuring, by all available means, +some way of making the journey--even without the said governor's order, +if no other way were possible. They set about this at once, for the +father custodian and father Fray Estevan Ortiz Ortiz--religious, who +with this intention had learned the Chinese language, and could now +speak it reasonably well--communicated their desires to a soldier, +very devout in his worship, and especially well inclined toward them, +namely, Juan Diaz Pardo. This man had several times manifested and +declared to them his great desire to perform some service for God, +even at the risk of his life. He approved their desire, promising +to accompany them until death. Being thus agreed, they all went to +discuss the matter with a Chinese captain, then at the port with +a vessel, who had come to their convent many times to question +them about God and heaven, and who showed signs of an excellent +understanding, seemingly consenting to everything with expressions +of great pleasure and delight. They imparted their desire to him, +beseeching him to lend his aid for its successful issue. He offered his +aid, and promised to take them to China, on condition that they would +give him some presents for his sailors. The soldier, Juan Diaz Pardo, +promised him everything that he wanted, giving him a few reals then +and there as a token of good earnest. In order that this might be done +without the governor or anyone else perceiving it, it was agreed that +the captain should take his departure hastily, going to the port of +Bindoro, twenty leagues distant from Manila, and there he should await +them. He was to take with him the above-mentioned baptized Chinese. The +captain used all haste, and left for the port agreed upon. Within a +few days he was followed by the father custodian and his associate, +and their friend the soldier. But, at their arrival, they found the +Chinese captain had reached a new determination, and neither gifts +nor petitions could persuade him to fulfil his promises in Manila. On +the contrary, he returned them the earnest-money that he had received, +and absolutely refused to take them; for he knew that, if he did, he +would lose his life and property. Seeing this, the recently-baptized +Chinese religious wept bitterly in his indignation and sorrow, because +the devil had changed that captain's heart, so that the holy gospel +might not be preached in that kingdom. The father custodian consoled +him, and resolved to return to Manila and to await another occasion, +which they did. After they had spent several days there, it happened +that the governor summoned the father custodian one day, and asked +him for a friar to send to the Cagayan River, whither he had but a few +days before sent certain Spaniards to form a colony. The custodian said +that he would give him a friar, and that he himself would accompany the +latter as far as the province of Illocos whither he was going to visit +the missions; thence he would despatch him to the Cagayan River, as +his Excellency ordered. The father custodian asked as companions, for a +guard during the journey, Sergeant Francisco de Duenas and the soldier +Juan Diaz Pardo (their friend, as above said), intending to go from +there to China, as was done, and as will be told in the following. The +governor, wishing to please him, granted this request, and the father +custodian set out in haste, taking with him the above-named soldiers +and one religious as associate, by name Fray Augustin de Tordesillas +[31]--he who afterward related from memory what had happened to them +in China, whence has been taken this little relation. + +They arrived at Illocos, where father Fray Juan Baptista [32] +and father Fray Sebastian de San Fracisco, of their own order, were +busied in instructing the natives. This was on the fourth of June. The +next day they held a council, at which it was unanimously resolved +that all there should venture themselves to go to China to convert +those pagans, or else die in the attempt. Therefore it was decided +to approach another soldier likewise of their company, named Pedro +de Villaroel. They told him--without declaring their own intention, +so that he might not disclose it--that, if he wished to accompany them +and the two other soldiers, who were about to go together upon a matter +of great service to God, and the gain of many souls, he should say so, +and without asking whither, or to what end, because this could not be +told until due time. He answered immediately that he would accompany +them willingly, and would not abandon them until death. Thereupon they +all, with peculiar gladness, betook themselves to the vessel in which +the father custodian and his associate, and the two other soldiers, +had come thither from Manila. This was a fairly good fragata, although +supplied with but few and indifferent sailors. After all had embarked +and had stowed away what could be collected in the short time at their +disposal, for sustenance while on the way, they set sail on that +very day, the twelfth of the same month of June, after saying mass +and beseeching God to direct their voyage for His holy service. They +set sail Friday morning, and, although they attempted to leave the +port, this was impossible, for the sea was running high and pounding +so furiously upon the shoals, that they, persisting in the effort to +offset it, were in danger of being wrecked. Therefore they returned, +very sad at heart, to the harbor, and there they remained that day. + +[The remainder of the second book (chaps. ii-xv) treats of the voyage +of the Franciscans to China, their stay in that country, and their +return to Manila. They are forced to return to the harbor for the +second time on account of contrary weather, which so affects one of the +priests, Estevan Ortiz, "that no entreaties availed to persuade him +to finish the voyage they had undertaken. On the contrary he answers +that he will tempt God no further, since these signs that they have +seen are sufficient to prove that it is His holy will that they shall +not make the journey at that time." On the fifteenth of June, however, +the little band of three priests, three soldiers, and a Chinese lad +(as interpreter) taken in the siege of Limahon, set sail from llocos, +fearful of pursuit by the governor. Reaching the Chinese coast, they +go ashore near Canton, kneel down, and "with great devotion, chanted +the _Te Deum laudamus_, giving thanks to God who had brought them so +miraculously to the kingdom of China." They receive the freedom of the +city after various investigations, the Chinese officials believing the +false stories of shipwreck that the interpreters tell for their own +benefit. The Portuguese at Macao fail in their attempt to turn the +Chinese against the Spaniards. Hunger forces them to beg their food +in the streets of Canton; but the officials, on hearing this, order +that provision be made for them from the royal revenues. By order +of the viceroy, they journey to Aucheo, but are speedily ordered to +return to Canton, to await a Portuguese vessel, that they may be sent +from the kingdom. On leaving China the little party separate into +two divisions, the father custodian and one other going to Macao, +that they may there learn the Chinese language thoroughly, while the +other two return to Manila, which is reached February 2, 1580 "where +they were received by the governor and the rest with great joy, and +their fault in having departed without leave was pardoned." The father +custodian reports from Macao a rich harvest field in Cochin China.] + +[The first ten chapters of the "Itinerary" [33] treat of the departure +from Spain of the Franciscans (among whom was Father Martin Ignacio), +in 1580, their arrival in New Spain, and matters relating to the +New World. The voyage is by way of the Canaries, of which a brief +description is given; thence to San Domingo or Espanola, passing on +the way the island Desseada, or "land desired," and its neighboring +islands--among the latter La Dominica, inhabited by the cannibal +Caribs--and later Puerto Rico. The island of Espanola is described, +according to the knowledge of that day; and it is stated that therein +"were, on the landing of the [first] Spaniards, three millions of +native Indians, of whom only two hundred remain; and most of these +are the half-breed children of Spaniards and Indian women, or of +negroes and Indian women." The journey continues by way of the +intervening islands to Cuba, and thence to Mexico. This wonderful +country is described briefly, with allusions to its history, social +and economic conditions, etc. A digression is made to relate the +discovery and first exploration of the province called New Mexico, +one of the fifteen new provinces discovered from Mexico. The account +of the voyage to the Philippines follows.] + + + +Departure from the city of Mexico, and journey to the port of Acapulco +on the Southern Sea, whence they embark for the Filipinas Islands. The +island of the Ladrones is passed, and the condition and rites of the +people there are noted. Chapter XI. + +From the City of Mexico they set out to embark at the port of Acapulco, +a place located on the Southern Sea, in nineteen degrees of elevation +of the pole, and lying ninety leagues from the City of Mexico, +this entire distance being settled with many villages of Indians and +Spaniards. At this port they embarked, taking a southeast course until +they reached an altitude of twelve and one-half degrees. They did this +in order to find the favorable winds (which in truth they found there), +those called by sailors _brizas_--which are so favorable and steady, +that, even in the months of November, December, and January, there +is seldom any necessity for touching their sails. From this arises +the so easy navigation through this sea. From this fact, and from +the few storms here, this sea has been called the _Mar de Damas_ +["Sea of Ladies"]. A westerly course is taken, following the sun +always, upon setting out from our hemisphere. Journeying through this +Southern Sea for forty days more or less, without seeing land, at the +end of that time, the islands of Velas ["Sails"], otherwise called the +Ladrones, are sighted, which, seven or eight in number, extend north +and south. They are inhabited by many people, as we shall now relate. + +_Islands of Velas, or Ladrones._ These islands lie in twelve degrees +of latitude. Opinions differ as to the distance in leagues between +them and the port of Acapulco, for up to the present no one has been +enabled to ascertain it with certainty, by navigation from east to +west, and no one has been able to measure the degrees. Some assert +the distance of this voyage to be one thousand seven hundred leagues, +others one thousand eight hundred. The opinion of the former is held +to be more nearly correct. All of these islands are inhabited by +light-complexioned people, of pleasing and regular features, like +those of Europe; although in their bodies they do not resemble the +latter--for they are as large as giants, and of so great strength, +that it has actually happened that one of them, while standing on the +ground, has laid hold of two Spaniards of good stature, seizing each of +them by one foot with his hands, and lifting them thus as easily as if +they were two children. Both men and women are naked from head to foot, +although some of the women wear bits of deerskin of about one-half a +vara in length, tied about the waist, for decency's sake; but those +who wear them are very few compared with those who do not. The weapons +used by them consist of slings, and darts hardened by fire, both of +which they throw very deftly. They live on fish, which they catch +alongshore, and on wild beasts, which they kill in the mountains, +pursuing them afoot. There is in these islands the strangest custom +ever seen or heard of anywhere. A time-limit is imposed for the youth +to marry, in accordance with their custom; and during all this period +they are allowed to enter freely into the houses of the married, and +to remain with the women, without receiving any punishment therefor, +even if the very husbands of the women should see it. These youths +carry a club in the hand, and when one enters the house of married +people, he leaves this club at the door, in such a position that +those arriving may easily see it. This is a sign that no one may enter +until the club is taken away, although it be the husband himself. They +observe this custom with so great strictness, that if any one should +violate it, all the others would immediately put him to death. None +of these islands has a king, or recognized ruler, to whom the rest +are subject; therefore each person lives to suit himself. Between the +inhabitants of certain of the islands a state of hostility prevails, +whenever occasion offers, as happened while Spaniards were in the port +of the said island. At the point where the Spaniards anchored, as many +as two hundred small boats filled with natives came to the ships to +sell fowls, cocoa-nuts, potatoes, and other products of those islands, +and to buy in exchange things carried by our men--especially iron, +of which they were particularly fond, and glass articles, and other +trifles. There was a great contest to see which of the canoes would +reach the ship first, and their occupants came to blows, wounding each +other as savagely as wild beasts, so that many died in the presence +of our men. The matter was not settled until, for the sake of peace, +an agreement was made among them, with many outcries that those from +one island should do their buying on the port side of the vessel, +and those from another island, on the starboard side. Thereupon +they subsided, and bought and sold to their hearts' content. Then in +payment for this good treatment, when they took their departure from +us, they hurled their darts at the ship, wounding a number of men who +were on deck. But they did not boast of this, for our men instantly +repaid their daring with some shots from their arquebuses. + +These people esteem iron more highly than silver or gold. They +give in exchange for it, fruits, yams, sweet potatoes, fish, rice, +ginger, fowls, and many fine and well-woven mats, and all for almost +nothing. These islands are extremely healthful and fertile, and will +be very easy to win over to the faith of Christ, if, on the passage +of the vessels to Manila a few religious, together with some soldiers +for protection, should be left there until the next year. [34] This +would cost but a moderate sum. + +Their rites and ceremonies are not known yet, because no one +understands their speech; and it has not been possible to learn +it, since no one has been in these islands longer than while +passing. According to all appearances, their language is easy +to understand, for it is pronounced very distinctly. Their word +for ginger is _asno_; and for "Take away that arquebus," they say, +_arrepeque_. They have no nasal or guttural words. It is understood, +from some signs that we saw them make, that they are all pagans; +and that they worship idols and the devil, to whom they sacrifice the +booty obtained from their neighbors in war. It is believed that they +originated from the Tartars, from certain peculiarities found among +them which correspond to those found in that people. + +These islands extend north and south with the land of Labrador, +which lies near Terra-nova [Newfoundland], and are not a great +distance from Japon. [35] It is quite safe to say that they have +intercourse with the Tartars, and that they buy iron to sell it to +the latter. The Spaniards who passed these islands called them the +islands of Ladrones ["Thieves"]; for in sober truth all these people +are thieves, and very bold ones, very deft in stealing; and in this +science they might instruct the Gitanos [gypsies], who wander through +Europe. In verification of this, I will recount an occurrence witnessed +by many Spaniards, one which caused much wonder. While a sailor was +stationed, by the order of the captain, on the port side of the ship, +with orders to allow none to come aboard, and while he, sword in hand, +was absent-mindedly looking at some of the canoes of the islanders--a +sort of little boat all made of one piece, in which they sail--one +of the natives plunged under the water and swam to where he was, +quite unconscious of anything of the sort, and without his seeing it, +snatched the sword from his hand and swam back with it. At the cry of +the sailor, proclaiming the trick practiced on him by the islander, +several soldiers with their arquebuses were stationed to shoot the +native when he should emerge from the water. The islander on seeing +this emerged from the water, holding up his hands, and making signs +that he had nothing in them. For this reason those who were on the +point of shooting him refrained. After a few moments of rest, the +native dived once more, and swam under water, until out of range of the +arquebuses--where, assured of safety, he took the sword from between +his legs where he had hidden it, and commenced to make passes with +it, jeering the while at our men whom he had deceived so easily. This +theft, as well as many very adroit ones that they committed, has given +these people the name of Ladrones, and is the reason for calling all +the islands inhabited by them by the same name. This appellation is +easily pardoned as long as they find opportunity to exercise their +evil inclinations. + + + +Departure from the Ladrones Islands and arrival at those of Luzon, +or, as they are called also, Filipinas; and the relation of some +peculiarities of those islands. Chapter XII. + + +_Island of Luzon, and city of Manila._ Navigating almost two hundred +leagues west of the Ladrones Islands, to the channel called Espiritu +Santo, one enters the archipelago, which consists of innumerable +islands, [36] almost all inhabited by natives, and many of them +conquered by the Spaniards, through either war or friendship. After +sailing for eighty leagues, one reaches the city of Manila, located +on the island of Luzon. Here the governor of all the said islands, +and his Majesty's officials, reside generally; and here is the bishop +and the cathedral church. This city lies in fourteen and one-fourth +degrees. About it lie many islands, which no one has yet succeeded +in numbering. They all extend northwest and southwest [sic] and +north and south, so that in one direction they reach to the strait +of Sincapura [Singapore], twenty-five leagues' distance from Malaca, +and at the other almost to the Malucos and other islands, where a +fabulous amount of cloves, pepper, and ginger is gathered, for there +are whole mountains of these spices. The first to discover these +islands were Spaniards, who went thither with the famous Magallanes, +but did not conquer them, for they were more experienced in navigation +than in conquest. Therefore after passing the strait (which to this +day bears his [Magallanes's] surname), they arrived at the island +of Zubu, where they baptized a number of the natives. Afterward +at a banquet, those same islanders killed Magallanes and forty of +his companions. On account of this Sebastian de Guetaria [Elcano], +a native of Vizcaya, in order to escape with his life, embarked in +one of the vessels remaining from the voyage--afterward known as the +"Vitoria"--and with it and a very few of the crew who aided him, +arrived, with God's help, at Sevilla. Thus they circumnavigated the +world, from east to west, an event which caused universal wonder, +and especially to the Emperor Carlos the Fifth, our sovereign. After +the latter had bestowed great favors upon Sebastian de Guetaria, +he ordered a new fleet to be prepared, to seek those islands anew, +and to explore that new world. As soon as this fleet was in readiness +to sail, which was very soon, a certain Villalobos was appointed +as general of the entire fleet, and was ordered to sail by way of +Nueva Espana. This Villalobos reached the Malucos Islands, those of +Terrenate, and others near by, which had been sold by the above-named +emperor to the crown of Portugal. + +In these islands they had many wars, because of the Portuguese; +and seeing their feeble means of resistance, and how ill-prepared +they were to prosecute the conquest, they gave it up. Most of them +accompanied the above-mentioned Portuguese to Portuguese India, +whence they were sent, half prisoners, to the king of Portugal +himself, as men who had committed crimes, and had entered his islands +without his permission. He not only did them no harm, but gave them +excellent treatment, sending them to their native country, Castilla, +besides providing them fully with the things necessary for their +journey. Some years after that, King Don Felipe, our sovereign, +with the desire to prosecute this discovery, attempted so earnestly +by the emperor his father, sent an order to Don Luys de Velasco, +his viceroy in Nueva Espana, to prepare a fleet and crew for the +rediscovery of the above-named islands. He was ordered to despatch +in this fleet, as governor of everything discovered, Miguel Lopez de +Legaspi. All was carried out in obedience to his Majesty's orders, +and the discovery was made in the manner recounted at length in the +first relation of the entrance of the Augustinian fathers into China. + +These islands were formerly subject to the king of China, until he +relinquished them all voluntarily, for the reasons expressed above in +the first part of this history. The Spaniards, therefore, at their +arrival found them without ruler or seignior to whom they might +render obedience. In each one of the islands, he who had most power +and followers acted as ruler. And because there were many equally +powerful, there was occasion for continual civil wars, without any +heed to nature, or to kindred, or to any other obligation, just as +if they were unreasoning animals--destroying, killing, and capturing +one another. This aided and favored our Spaniards to conquer the land +so easily for his Majesty. + +_The reason for calling the islands Western Filipinas._ The name +Filipinas Islands was given them in honor of his name. The natives +were wont to make captives and slaves with great readiness in illegal +warfare, and for very slight causes. This God remedied with the +coming of our Spaniards. It was usual for a man, with forty or fifty +associates, or servants, to attack a village of poor people suddenly, +when totally unprepared for such an assault, and, capturing them all, +to make them slaves, without other cause or right; these they would +keep as slaves for life, or sell them in other islands. And should +one loan one or two baskets of rice to another, of the value of +one real, stipulating that it should be returned within ten days, +should the debtor fail to pay it on the day set, on the next day he +had to pay double, and the debt continued to double from day to day, +until it grew so large that the debtor was forced to become a slave +in order to pay it. The Catholic Majesty, the king our sovereign, +has ordered all those enslaved by this and similar means to be freed; +but this just order has not been obeyed entirely, for those who should +execute it have some interest therein. + +All these islands were pagan and idolatrous. They now contain many +thousands of baptized persons, upon whom our Lord has had great mercy, +sending them the remedy for their souls in so good season; for, had +the Spaniards delayed a few years more, all the natives would now +be Moors, for already some of that sect in the island of Burneo had +gone to these islands to preach their faith, and already many were not +far from the worship of the false prophet Mahoma. But his perfidious +memory was extirpated easily by the holy gospel of Christ. In all these +islands they worshiped the sun, moon, and other secondary causes, +certain images of men and women called in their tongue _Maganitos_, +feasts to whom--very sumptuous and abounding in great ceremonies and +superstitions--were called _Magaduras_. Among all of these idols they +held one, by name _Batala_, in most veneration. This reverence they +held as a tradition; but they knew not why he was greater than the +others, or why he merited more esteem. In certain adjacent islands, +called the Illocos, they worshiped the devil, offering him many +sacrifices in payment and gratitude for the quantities of gold that he +gave them. Now, by the goodness of God, and by the great industry of +the Augustinian fathers--the first to go to those districts, and who +have toiled and lived in a praiseworthy manner--and by the Franciscan +fathers, who went thither ten years after, all these islands, or the +majority of them, have received baptism, and are enrolled under the +banner of Jesus Christ. Those yet outside the faith are so rather for +lack of religious instruction and preachers, than by any repugnance of +their own. Last year the Jesuit fathers went thither, and they helped +in the work with their wonted labor and zeal. Now many more religious +are going, very learned and apostolic men, of the Dominican order, +who will work in that vineyard of the Lord with as great earnestness +as they display wherever they go. + + + +Account of certain remarkable things seen in these Filipinas +Islands. Chapter XIII. + + +The inhabitants of these islands were accustomed to celebrate their +feasts above mentioned, and to sacrifice to their idols, at the +order of certain witches, called in their own speech _Holgoi_. These +witches were held in as great esteem among them as are priests among +Christians. They talked quite commonly with the devil, and many +times publicly; and they worked many devilish witcheries, by word +and deed. The devil himself, beyond any doubt, took possession of +them, and then they answered to all questions, although often they +lied, or told things capable of many interpretations and different +meanings. Likewise they were wont to cast lots, as has been related +in the first part of this history. They were so superstitious that +if they commenced any voyage, and at its beginning happened to see a +crocodile, lizard, or any other reptile, which they recognized as an +ill omen, they discontinued their journey, whatever its importance, +and returned home, saying that the sky was not propitious to that +journey. The evangelical law, as above stated, has driven away all +these falsities, to which the devil had persuaded them. Now there +are many monasteries of religious established in their midst, of the +orders of St. Augustine, St. Francis, and the Society of Jesus. Current +report declares that the number of souls converted and baptized in +these islands exceeds four hundred thousand--which, although a great +number, is but little in comparison with those still remaining. The +rest fail to become Christians, as I have declared, through lack of +religious workers; for although his Majesty continues to send them, +taking no account of the great expense incurred therein, the islands +are so many (and more are being discovered daily) and so distant that +it has been impossible to send the necessary aid to all of them. The +natives who are baptized receive the faith with avidity and are +excellent Christians; and they will be even better, if aided with +good examples, as is incumbent upon those who have been Christians +for so long. But the actions of some of them make them so hated by +the natives that the latter do not wish even to see their pictures. + +_A remarkable thing._ For proof of this assertion, and in order +to induce those in authority to remedy this condition of affairs, +I will relate here a strange but well authenticated occurrence in +these islands, and a thing thoroughly well known in them all. In this +particular island one of the chief inhabitants died a few days after +his baptism. At his death he was very contrite for the sins that he +had committed against God before and after his baptism. Afterward he +appeared, by divine permission, to many persons of that island, whom +he persuaded by forcible reasoning to receive baptism immediately, +declaring to them, as one who had experienced it, the reward of +celestial bliss, which, without any doubt, would be granted through +baptism, and by living thereafter in conformity to the commandments +of Christ. For this purpose he declared and asserted to them that, +as soon as he had died, angels had carried him to glory, where only +delight and happiness reigned, which arose solely from the sight of +God. No one entered, or could enter that place, unless he were baptized +according to the preaching of the Castilians. Of these latter, and of +others like them, there was an infinite number there. Therefore, if +they wished to share in the enjoyment of those blessings and delights, +they must be baptized first, and afterward observe the commandments +preached by the fathers among the Castilians. Thereupon he vanished +instantly, and they began to discuss what they had heard. On account +of it, some were baptized immediately, but others delayed, saying that +because there were Castilian soldiers in glory, they did not care to +go there, for they did not wish their company. All this injury can +arise from one impious man, who presents one bad example. Such a man, +wheresoever he might be, and especially in those islands, should be +reprimanded and punished severely by good people. + +When first discovered, these islands were reported as unhealthful, +but later experience has shown the contrary. The land is exceedingly +fertile, producing rice and grain in abundance, and goats, fowls, +deer, buffaloes, and cows, with many swine, whose flesh is as good +and savory as is the mutton of Espana. There are many civet-cats. An +infinite number of fruits are found, all very good and well flavored; +and honey and fish in abundance. Everything is sold so cheaply, +that it is all but given away. The islands yield much cinnamon; and +although there is no olive oil but that brought from Nueva Espana, +much oil is made from ajonjoli [_Sesamum orientale_] and flaxseed +which is commonly used in that country, so that the olive oil is not +missed. Saffron, cloves, pepper, nutmegs, and many drugs are produced, +besides abundance of cotton and silk of all colors, great quantities +of which are carried thither annually by Chinese merchants. More than +twenty ships arrive in those ports, laden with the above-mentioned +cloths of various colors; with earthenware, powder, saltpeter, iron, +steel, quantities of quicksilver, bronze, and copper; wheat-flour, +nuts, chestnuts, biscuits, and dates; linen cloth; escritoires worked +in many colors, head-dresses, and thin cloths for veils [_buratos, +espumillas_]; water-jugs, made of tin; lace edging, silk fringe, +and gold thread, drawn in a manner never seen in Christendom; and +many other rare articles--and all, as I have said, very cheap. The +products of the islands themselves are sold also quite cheaply; +for four arrobas of palm wine--which, in the absence of grape wine, +is found to be of excellent quality--can be obtained for four reals; +twelve fanegas of rice for eight reals; three hens for one; one whole +hog for eight; one buffalo for four; one deer for two, but it must be +very fat and large; four arrobas of sugar for six; one jar of ajonjoli +oil for three; two baskets of saffron for two; six libras of pepper or +of cloves for one; two hundred nutmegs for one; one arroba of cinnamon +for six; one quintal of iron or steel for ten; thirty fine porcelain +dishes for four; and everything else may be bought at like prices. + +_A remarkable and exceedingly useful tree._ Among the remarkable +things seen by our people in those islands, and in the kingdom of +China, and in other districts where Spaniards have gone--one that has +most caused wonder and fixed itself in the memory--is a tree called +commonly the cocoa-palm. It is different from the date-palm, and +with great reason, for it is a plant so useful and mysterious, that +for instance, a ship has come to these islands, and not only the ship +but everything in it--the merchandise, and the ropes, cordage, sails, +masts, and nails--was made of this wood; its merchandise consisted +of cloth, made from the bark with great dexterity and cunning. Even +the food for the crew of thirty men, and their water, came from this +tree. The merchants in the ship testified that throughout the entire +island of Maldivia, whence they had come, no other food was gathered, +nor is there any other food there, except that furnished by this +tree. Houses with their roofs are made also from it. The fruit yields +a very palatable and wholesome kernel, whose taste resembles green +hazelnuts. By cutting the branch where the cocoa-nut grows--this nut is +the principal fruit, and each one contains, as a rule, one cuartillo of +the sweetest and most delicious water--all that substance flows down +into the trunk of the tree. This is tapped with an auger, and all the +liquid is collected from the hole. A great quantity is obtained, which, +mixed with other ingredients, makes an excellent wine. This wine is +drunk throughout the islands, and in the kingdom of China. From the +water alone, vinegar is made, and from the kernel, as I have said, +a very healing oil, and a milk resembling that of almonds, and very +palatable honey and sugar. The palm possesses the above qualities, +together with many other virtues. I have told them in part, because +it is so remarkable a thing, and a cause of wonder to all who go to +those districts. I leave the rest unsaid, not to be prolix. + +Near the city of Manila, on the other side of the river, is a town +of baptized Chinese who have taken up residence there to enjoy the +liberty of the gospel. There are many mechanics among them, such as +cobblers, tailors, silversmiths, blacksmiths, and other artisans, +besides a number of merchants. + + + +[The remaining chapters (XIV-XXVII) of the "Itinerary" treat of the +departure from Cavite for China of seven descalced Franciscans, +three other Spaniards and six natives, on June 21, 1582; their +reception in China; their journeys in that land; their imprisonment, +the passing of the death sentence upon them, and their deliverance +through the agency of a Portuguese. A further description of China +follows, including observations on "the famous wall of the kingdom of +China, which is five hundred leagues long," counting in the mountain +between China proper and Tartary. "The sea-coast of this kingdom is the +longest and best in the world." Its fauna, land products, and means of +defense and offense receive attention. Certain rites and ceremonies, +social and economic conditions, and characteristics of the people, +are mentioned briefly. The islands of Japan are also described, +and the origin of the Japanese touched upon: as well as portions of +the history of the people, their religion, and missionary efforts +among them. Mention is made of an island of Amazons, the existence +of which Mendoza doubts. En route to Lisbon, Father Ignacio and his +companions pass from Macao to Malaca, the famous trading port of the +East Indies. Slight descriptions of the various kingdoms of the East +India district are given, including Cochinchina, Cambodia, and Siam, +"the mother of idolatry." Thence the return is made via the Cape of +Good Hope, the distance comprehended in the circumnavigation being +reckoned by Father Ignacio at nine thousand and forty leagues.] + + + +Documents of 1586 + + +Memorial to the Council, by citizens of the Filipinas Islands. Santiago +de Vera, and others; [July 26]. + +Letter to Felipe II. Alfonso de Chaves, and others; June 24. + +Letter from the Manila cabildo to Felipe II. Andres de Villanueva, +and others; June 25. + +Letter to Felipe II. Antonio Sedeno; June 25. + +Letter to Felipe II. Domingo de Salazar; June 26. + +Letter from the Audiencia to Felipe II. Santiago de Vera, and others; +June 26. + +Letter to Felipe II. Pedro de Rojas; June 30. + +Letter to Felipe II. Juan de Moron; June 30. + +Measures regarding trade with China. Felipe II, and others; June +17-November 15. + +Brief erecting Franciscan province of the Philippines. Sixtus V; +November 15. + + +Sources: All these documents, except in two cases, are obtained from +the original MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias at Sevilla. The +first document is taken in part from another copy which is preserved +in the Real Academia de Historia, Madrid; and the papal brief is +translated from the text given in Hernaez's _Coleccion de Bulas_. + +Translations: The first document is translated by James A. Robertson, +Emma Helen Blair, and Robert W. Haight (of the University of +Wisconsin); the second, sixth and ninth, by Arthur B. Myrick, of +Harvard University; the seventh, by Robert W. Haight; the papal brief, +by Rev. T.C. Middleton, O.S.A., of Villanova College; the remainder, +by James A. Robertson. + + + +Memorial to the Council + +Memorandum of the Various Points Presented by the General Junta of +Manila to the Council, So That in Regard to Each the Most Advisable +Reform May Be Instituted + + +(In the first general junta ["assembly"], held in the royal buildings, +three conclusions were reached: First, the requirements of the +country and the necessity for this journey; second, the person who +should make the journey; third, the necessity for convening other +assemblies in order to treat more clearly and more specifically +the matters which needed attention in detail. As the president and +auditors could not be absent from their regular occupations, it was +decided that thereafter should assemble for this purpose the bishop +of the islands with one or two prebends to represent the cabildo of +the church; one of the officials of the royal exchequer; the mariscal +of Bonbon; the master-of-camp, with two other captains, in behalf of +the military; two regidors with two other citizens, representing the +cabildo and city, and some procuradors from other towns of the island; +the three superiors of the religious communities; and other religious +men therefrom, who are learned, seniors in their houses, and men of +experience in the affairs of the country. The president, auditors, +and fiscal should be present at those times and hours when, as often +happened, they were free from official duties. With the persons thus +chosen, these assemblies and conferences were held for many days, and +the proceedings were conducted with great care and deliberation. The +following brief summaries of their conclusions were made, furnishing +a more clear and intelligible review of these to the father [Alonso +Sanchez] already mentioned and appointed, that he might carry these +notes with him and thus give further information to his Majesty.) [37] + + + +Chapter first. Of what concerns the spiritual affairs of Manila and +the Filipinas + + +1. _That the cathedral of Manila is constructed of wood and straw, +and has nothing for other buildings or for ornaments._ [38] First: +It was declared and resolved that his Majesty should be informed +that the cathedral of these islands has no buildings, ornaments, +or suitable equipment for divine worship; nor has it any income or +contributions for these purposes, or for sacristan, verger, or other +necessary assistants. And being built of wood and straw, as it is, +and so poor, weatherbeaten, and deprived of necessities, it is a +reproach and a cause of loss to our faith and Christian religion, +and to our state and the men who rule the state, and even to the +majesty and greatness of its king and sovereign--since we are in the +gaze of so many pagans (both natives and foreigners), who come here +from many regions, especially China, and who see and take note of this. + +2. _That nothing is paid to the bishop and prebendaries from the +royal treasury, or from tithes._ Second: Inasmuch as, on the one hand, +the tithes are not paid, nor, on the other, has the royal treasury at +Manila the wherewithal to pay the bishop or prebendaries, or provide +for curates or the said helpers, they cannot exist and live as their +station demands; and neither in their houses and persons, nor in the +service of the church and the methodical arrangements of the hours, +[39] do they or can they observe, nor do they feel obliged to observe, +the decorum due in all these matters--from which results the said +diminution and loss of souls. The person who goes for this purpose will +relate what he knows of this matter, besides what is here set down. + +3. _That the prebendaries be supplied with the necessaries of life, +or be exchanged for curates._ Third: It was resolved that, if the +tithes were not paid, whether his Majesty ordered it or not, this +evil should be remedied--as can be done, and is necessary--by another +method. His Majesty should order that the prebendaries be removed, +or that no more be appointed; for they cannot live decently, or meet +their obligations. If this shall be done, they can be exchanged for +one curate and two or three beneficed priests, all with obligation +to look after the souls of the Spaniards and soldiers of this city, +as well as of the many Indian servants, workmen, and laborers who +serve them, as now very little attention is paid to all these. + +4. _The Spanish hospital is very poor, and there are many sick._ +Fourth: His Majesty should be informed that the hospital, established +here in his name, has no money with which to help the many soldiers, +sailors, and other poor persons who, engaged in service and labors +for the king and those usual in this country, fall sick, and die +in sadness and affliction. His Majesty should provide money for a +building, beds, food, medicine, attendants, and other necessities, +bringing from Nueva Espana medicines and clothing; and in the +islands be granted, for its income and expenses, another additional +encomienda of one thousand Indians--which, with the one it has now, +will be worth six hundred pesos of eight reals each. + +5. _That some income be granted to the hospital for the Indians._ +Fifth: His Majesty is to be informed that there is another hospital +for the Indians, which is in the same or greater poverty, and that +there is no less necessity and obligation for aiding it--both because +the Indians are the ones who sustain it entirely by their products, +toils, and tributes; and because many or all of those who go to the +hospital fall sick from the hardships that they undergo in the service +of the royal affairs, and for the establishment and conservation of +these islands. + +6. _That there is great need of religious; and that no new religious +order come._ Sixth: This declares to his Majesty the great need for +instruction, and that his royal conscience is not lightened, for our +lack of ministers, and on account of the many people who are dying +without baptism, and the many without conversion, and the many islands +and provinces that cannot be pacified because of this lack. We ask +that his Majesty give imperative orders that religious be sent who +belong to the three orders now here, and that no other new orders +come here; and that they should come appointed for these islands, +and for no other district. + +7. _That, in order that instruction may be furnished, something +be added to the tributes._ Seventh: In order that instruction may +be provided--not only where there is none, but also where there is +some, but not sufficient--his Majesty should cause something to be +added to the tributes, and the rates of taxation to be cleared up; +for now they are very much confused, and give rise to many quite +serious scruples. And the tributes should be assigned in terms of +Castilian reals, for hitherto they have generally been collected by +the standard of eight reals, and they could be raised to ten reals, +provided that it be not permitted to compel the Indians to pay in any +assigned article; but that they be allowed to pay in money, if they +have it, or if they wish to give it, or in any other sort of their +products or means of gain, or as these shall have value. + +8. _That tithes be paid, as is the custom in Mejico._ Eighth: +In order that this increase of tributes may be more justifiable, +it should be announced that the encomenderos shall pay the tithes; +and therefore they desire, and request his Majesty to have these paid +according to the custom and manner of Mexico--for, as until now there +have been no bishop, curates, or system in government, and no church, +these have not been paid. And now, although to many it appears just, +and they would do it, many more refuse to do it; and thus, between +them both, nothing is done. + + + +Chapter second. Of matters pertaining to the city of Manila + + +1. _That public property be given to the city of Manila._ First: It +should be suggested to his Majesty that he cause some public property +to be granted to this city, for all its affairs, of peace and of war, +of government, conservation, and defense, and for suits that may arise +in defense of it and its increase; and that, for this purpose, he +cause that some Indians be given to it, or something from the duties, +or the warehouses or shops, which, on account of the Chinese and other +traders, could be applied to the public property of the said city. + +2. _That the three per cent duty imposed by Don Rronquillo, be not +paid._ Second: His Majesty should order that the three per cent duty, +imposed by Don Goncalo Ronquillo, be not paid in this city, because +of the extreme newness and poverty of this country; and because +the citizens assist in many other matters that its newness demands, +and these duties cannot assist at all in increasing and enriching +the settlement and country. + +3. _That no duties, especially on food and supplies, be paid at any +port in these islands._ Third: We ask that none of those coming +from outside to the port or ports of these islands--as Chinese, +Portuguese, Japanese, Siamese, Burneans, or any others--shall pay +any duties, especially on food, supplies, and materials therefor, +so that the country may be advantaged and enriched; and because on +account of these duties, the Chinese experience many annoyances, and +the frequency of their coming is hindered; and since thus result the +inconveniences which, as his Majesty orders by a decree, should not +be allowed to occur. Of everything else connected with this matter, +the person who is going on this business will give information in +detail, and as is required. + +4. _That the inhabitants of the Filipinas pay no duty in Acapulco or +anywhere else; and that no freight duty be paid._ Fourth: His Majesty +should order that, just as, on all the goods sent to Mexico from that +city (Sevilla--_Madrid MS._), no duty is paid on the first sale, so +on goods sent to Acapulco or other places from these islands, none +be paid; for there are more reasons and causes for such exemption in +this country than there. We ask that, likewise, the freight duty of +twelve pesos per tonelada, imposed by Don Goncalo Ronquillo on the +goods of citizens of these islands, be not collected at Acapulco. + +5. _That the concession of paying the tenth only, instead of the fifth, +on gold, be continued._ Fifth: The tenth now paid by Spaniards on +gold instead of the fifth, conceded to them by his Majesty, should be +perpetual, or continued as long as possible, for the same reason--the +increase and augmentation of the country and the Christian religion. + +6. _That the offices and encomiendas assigned be to the old citizens +and soldiers._ Sixth: The offices assigned by the governor of these +islands should be given to the old citizens of these islands who +merit it, who shall have been resident therein at least three years +and are citizens of them. The same should be understood in regard to +the encomiendas that his Majesty orders to be given to the soldiers, +and they should have resided here in actual military service and +duty--for they suffer great hardships in gaining and pacifying +the land, and afterward support it in its greater necessities and +advancement; and always the encomiendas should be given to those +among them who have most deserved these grants, paying attention +to their length of service, along with the other considerations of +greater or less services or benefits to the country. Nor should they +be given to the servants, brothers, relatives, followers, or persons +recommended, whom the governors bring hither with them of late--who +have not rendered any service to the country, and do no more than to +enjoy the sweat of the natives--but to the old Spanish inhabitants, +who have suffered the toil, and now should reap the reward. We urge +that his Majesty rigorously enforce this upon the governors; for it +is this which has most afflicted and ruined this country--because, as +(those who have done nothing for it enjoy the reward--_Madrid MS._) +those who have served it are dissatisfied and desperate, neither they +nor any one else who could do much will exert themselves, because +they are without hope. + +7. _That commissions and means of advancement be assigned to those +have worked in this country._ Seventh: The same course should be +observed in all the commissions and means of gain on land and sea, +and especially in the appointments of masters and officers of vessels, +and in everything else--since, besides preserving equity and avoiding +wrongs, this recompenses those who have toiled, gives hope to those +present, allures the absent, and peoples, conserves, and betters the +country. They [the Council] should endeavor to be thus generous and +conciliatory in this matter, as it is the thing in which there is +most injustice, which is most keenly felt, and which causes most harm. + +8. _That workmen and mechanics in Manila be paid their wages here and +not in Mexico._ Eighth: His Majesty should order that all workmen +and mechanics who serve for pay or wages in this country--such +as sailors, carpenters, blacksmiths, and any others (who remain +and are needed here--_Madrid MS._)--be paid their wages here, [40] +according to contract; that the money for this be provided from the +royal treasury of Mexico, since the treasury here has but little; +that what is to be given them there be paid here, as it will be of +much more value to them, and will be the occasion of increasing the +population of this country by those who will have trades, and will +remain with hope, and do more and better work in every way. + +9. _That there should be a ship-purveyor in Manila._ Ninth: That in +place of the other third royal official of former days, his Majesty +appoint a ship-purveyor (who should not be a royal official), because +the two officials of the royal exchequer cannot at present attend +to this matter, which entails much work, along with the other things +to which they generally attend. With this appointment the ships will +be despatched better, and more punctually, and at less expense; for +they can be kept in better equipment, and their condition known with +exactness--and not as now, when this is not known, nor are they able +to attend to all things. + +10. _That there should be no commissary of the Inquisition._ Tenth: +We ask that at present there be no commissary of the Inquisition +in this city or these islands, as they are so new, and have so few +inhabitants, and are so far from Mexico. For a commissary so far +away, and in a matter of so great import and weight for the honor, +property, and lives of men might cause so many wrongs; and many times +it might happen in cases that, after all this expense, they will be +set free in Mexico. The person who is going [for us to Spain] should +give information on all these points. We recommend that this matter +be left with the bishop for the present; or, at least, that one of +the dignitaries with the bishop act as inquisitor, and that there be +no commissary. + + + +Chapter third. Of the traffic of these islands, on which likewise +depends their increase and conservation + +1. _That no consignments of money be sent to the Filipinas from +Mexico._ First: It should be related to his Majesty that one of the +things that has ruined this country is the great consignments of money +that wealthy persons resident in Mexico send here. These give rise to +two wrongs: the first, that they advance the price on all Chinese +merchandise, so that the poor and common people of the islands +cannot buy those goods, or only at very high prices; the second, +that, since the shipments of goods [to Mexico] are many and large, +and the vessels few--at times (nearly always, in fact) not more than +one--and, because of the great amount of ship stores required for +so long a course, and the difficulty of the voyage, these vessels +go but lightly laden, the citizens and common people cannot export +any goods. We ask that his Majesty ordain and confirm what has been +ordained here by his royal Audiencia--namely, that neither shall such +consignments be sent from Mexico, nor shall Mexican factors or trading +companies come hither from that country; but that only the citizens of +these islands be allowed to buy and export to Mexico the products of +this land and foreign products. If any other person wish to do this, +he should be obliged to become a citizen and reside here at least +for three years; and he should trade with none but his own property, +under severe penalties. These should include the confiscation of both +such goods and his personal property, in addition to which he should +not be allowed to carry any wealth to Mexico; nor from there shall +the money be brought which now the Chinese take, so that their goods +may be bought more cheaply, and with the products of this land. + +2. _That purchases be not made from the Chinese, at retail, but by +wholesale._ Second: We desire that, now and henceforth, neither the +Chinese nor other foreign vessels shall sell at retail, as is the +custom at present, nor shall the inhabitants of this city be allowed +to purchase in public or in secret, under severe penalties. We ask +that, for the purchase of these goods at wholesale, there be appointed +and chosen persons, so many and such as the affair requires, so that +they alone may buy at wholesale all the goods brought by the Chinese +vessels, and afterward apportion them to the Spanish citizens, the +Chinese, and the Indians, by a just and fair distribution, at the +rate of the prices paid for them, plus the other incidental expenses +required. If his Majesty order and confirm this, the prices shall +be determined and established by the governor and persons whom his +Lordship shall appoint. + +3. _That there be no Chinese hucksters in Manila._ Third: From the +above follows another very important matter--namely, that all the +Chinese merchants and hucksters should not remain here to hoard and +retail the goods, as well as for the many other losses, and the lack of +supplies that they cause in the city and land, and the secret sins and +witchcrafts that they teach, of which the father will give a detailed +account. Moreover, the shops which they had and which are necessary +for retail articles should, in the course of the year, be taken by the +Spaniards, so that the advantage may remain on our side, and so that +there maybe opportunity for Spanish citizenship and settlement. This +cannot increase without such action, since there are so many Chinese +here; and it is desirable for many other advantages which will be +attained here. Outside the city there should remain, of the Chinese, +only the Christians and certain other old inhabitants, who do not +come and go, and are not wholly hucksters, but workmen--mechanics, +carpenters, gardeners, and farmers--and others who trade in food +supplies, who, collecting the food in the villages of the Indians, +bring it to this city. + +4. _That the Portuguese shall not trade with Mexico or Peru._ Fourth: +The Portuguese should be forbidden, for the present, to make a voyage +to or traffic with Peru or Nueba Espana; for this country will be +ruined, while that city (Sevilla--_Madrid MS._) will lose the duties +on the voyages and goods, and the Portuguese will take the silver to +China, East India (Cion, and Sunda--_Madrid MS._) and other foreign +kingdoms. + +5. _That the inhabitants of the islands may trade with Piru or any +other country._ Fifth: We ask that the inhabitants of these islands +may make voyages to Japon, Macan, and all other kingdoms and posts, +whether Portuguese or pagan, that admit our trade. + +6. _That the Audiencia be abolished, or paid from Mexico._ Sixth: +The citizens of this city and of these islands are very few and poor +to carry so great a burden as the royal Audiencia, and the numerous +expenses caused and incurred by its officials; accordingly if there +are any reasons why the Audiencia should remain, his Majesty should +allow their salaries to be paid from the treasury of Mexico. The +father will inform his Majesty of the arguments on both sides, +according to the detailed memoranda and the discussions and opinions +expressed here. His Majesty will take what action he deems suitable. + + + +Chapter fourth. Of other matters on which depend the establishment +and increase of this state and kingdom + + +1. _That farming and stock raising be encouraged._ First: It should +be brought to his Majesty's attention that, up to this time, this +country has had no adequate means of support--whether in estates, +farming, stock-raising, or anything else that sustains and enriches +countries; but that its first settlers came only to conquer and subdue +what little there is, and that afterward all thought and care were +transferred to traffic and gain. On this account all the country +has remained uncultivated and unsettled; and it is necessary that +an earnest effort be made to maintain what we now hold. To this end +his Majesty should undertake to send every year from Castilla, Nueba +Espana, or elsewhere, eight or ten married farmers with daughters; his +Majesty should pay the expenses of their voyage and settlement here, +and provide here their houses and farm implements, and grant them +other favors; and for this should issue very particular commands. He +should be told that there are so extensive and so fertile lands, +with abundance of wood and iron; and that there are many workmen and +much game, and everything else needed by farmers. + +2. _That the farmers and settlers be exempt from all taxes for a +certain period._ Second: All coming to settle and cultivate the +soil should be exempt for the present from tithes, pecho, [41] and +any other tax--with assurance and agreement that for the future, +for such period as his Majesty may consider advisable, they shall +incur no molestation from the collector of tithes; and that each be +furnished the assurance of exemption which shall be necessary with +the church and other persons. + +3. _That the Spaniards and Indians of the farms be exempt from war +and other personal labor._ Third: They, and all the Indians who aid +them or accompany them to their farms, should be exempt from war or +other personal labor in boats or on buildings, or anything else that +might hinder or fatigue them. + +4. _That those coming as farmers be not allowed to change their +occupation._ Fourth: His Majesty should order that those coming for +this purpose shall not change or be transferred to any other pursuit +or means of gain; but that they be compelled to do the work for which +the above-mentioned, and what else shall appear necessary, is given, +so that they may be forced to it with good reason. Therefore, those +who shall be sent should be of humble and low estate, and only fit +for and accustomed to this work. + +5. _That the Indians accompany our farmers and learn farming_. Fifth: +The Indian chiefs and timaguas should be ordered to associate +themselves with our farmers by just contracts and division, so that +they may grow to like and learn our method of farming, and that the +Spaniards may have someone to furnish them with people and other +necessary aids--since these Indians are sagacious and know how to +look out for themselves with the farmers, especially if the latter +be simple people, as above stated. + +6. _That many cattle and horses be brought from China and Japon, +and that buffaloes be domesticated._ Sixth: His Majesty should give +imperative orders that an effort be made to have many horses and cattle +brought from China and Japon; and that these farmers and the Indian +chiefs and villages, be ordered to domesticate and breed buffaloes. By +these means they may have the animals which are necessary to cultivate +the land, for their other work, and for food. + +7. _That the encomiendas be granted with the obligation to cultivate +them._ Seventh: His Majesty should order that, now and henceforth, +the encomiendas be granted under this obligation and charge, namely, +that the encomendero shall cultivate a portion of the land, and cause +it to be cultivated, and shall induce the said Indians and Spaniards +to do the same; that the governors attend to this with vigilance, and +that they require from the encomenderos a certain number of animals, +or so much cultivated land, or produce--either by themselves, or in +company with the said chiefs and farmers. + +8. _That dowries be established here, so that some women may be married +every year._ Eighth: For a larger and better settlement and increase, +his Majesty should provide for this land dowries and alms--amounting +to four hundred or five hundred pesos, or thereabout, as may seem +advisable to his Majesty--so that every year ten, fifteen, or twenty +women, brought from Espana, may be married to the common people of +these islands, such as soldiers and others, that thus the country +may secure an increase of population--which it has not at present, +for lack of women and marriages. + +9. _That there be dowries so that Indian women may be married to poor +Spaniards._ Ninth: His Majesty should assign other and lesser dowries, +so that the Indian women may be married to poor Spaniards (soldiers +and sailors) of the lower rank. In both these ways the country may +be increased, in these regions so remote and so lacking in people. + +10. _That offices be not sold._ Tenth: His Majesty should know that +it has been proposed and intended here to have all the offices sold; +and, if his Majesty desire this increase, it is all the more important +not only that he should order that no more be sold, but that even, +if possible, those offices which were sold should be bought back. All +the offices should be given to those who come here, and remain in +lands so remote and of so few advantages. The offices include those of +secretaries, notaries, alguazils, clerks of records, assayer, and any +others whatever. No persons should come with appointments from Espana, +but appointments should be made here, as stated in chapter second, +sections 6 and 7. + +11. _That the encomiendas be of such extent that they may provide +the taxes for tithes, instruction, and other expenses._ Eleventh: +We ask that, so far as the disposal of the land and the settlement +of the Indians allow, no encomiendas of less than eight hundred +or one thousand Indians be allotted, in order that there may be +sufficient for the instruction, tithes, and other expenses--which +cannot be covered in encomiendas of five hundred tributes, but which +are necessary. His Majesty should grant permission that those who +possess but few Indians may, if they so desire, dispose of and sell +them to another and neighboring encomendero, in order that a larger +encomienda may be formed; at present, this cannot be done. + + + +Chapter fifth. Of some matters pertaining to the Indians + + +1. _That the Indians should not pay the tenth on gold, either new +or old._ First: His Majesty should grant this grace and exemption +to the Indians--namely, that for certain years they shall not pay +the tenth of their gold; for with this concession they would better +conform to the law, and would have gold in greater abundance, and +openly and above-board; for now they dig but little of it, and hide +most of that, in order to sell it to other nations. Although it has +been ordained that the old gold be not taxed the tenth, yet, on the +pretext of its being new, they tax it all, without the knowledge of +the governor. This evil cannot be remedied among the alcaldes-mayor +or other Spaniards who are concerned in the matter; nor do even the +governors care greatly about it, or remedy it. + +2. _That, in the suits of the Indians, the process be summary._ Second: +In their law-suits, proceedings should not be conducted with such +preparation, and so great expenses and long terms, as are usual among +the Spaniards in a European chancilleria; but they should be summary, +and only sufficient records be kept to give evidence, so that, in the +future, no new suit can be instituted on the same ground. In regard +to this the father will relate our difficulties, past and present and +to come; and what the officers of justice do with the Indians--and the +same as regards the ecclesiastics. The Indians should not be condemned +to pay money fines, either for municipal purposes, or for charitable +institutions; but other penalties in use among the Indians should be +imposed, such as lashes, service in the hospitals, and other labors. + +3. _That the collection of tributes by force, and without any +instruction being given to the Indians, excites and disturbs the +country._ Third: His Majesty should be informed of what has occurred +in the collection of tributes from the disaffected or never-pacified +encomiendas, and of how little heed is paid to his ordinances; +and he should order them to be executed. Such Indians should not +be compelled to submit; nor should all the tribute be collected +from them, but only something as recognition, since they receive no +benefit, nor know why it is demanded. Thus they regard it as a theft, +and us as robbers. Severe penalties should be imposed on those who +by only collecting the tribute each year and returning to this city, +or by sending soldiers to do it as above stated (disturb the country +and--_Madrid MS_.) render it impossible that the country can ever +be pacified. For this reason many districts of these islands are +disaffected, and must be subdued, as Burney, Maluco, Mindanao, and +others near them. The same should be understood also in regard to the +encomiendas allotted to the royal crown. This matter needs serious +attention and correction. + +4. _The difficulty of furnishing instruction in some of the pacified +islands_. Fourth: His Majesty should be informed how little instruction +is given in these islands, the difficulty of many [encomenderos] in +furnishing it, and the much greater difficulty which arises from the +topography of the country--because it is all islands, and several, or +many, of them are so small that they do not allow an entire encomienda, +since three hundred, four hundred, or five hundred tributes are not +sufficient for the expenses of an encomienda; and many of these have +only one hundred or two hundred tributes. To this difficulty is added +the burden and danger of the voyage, the heat and rains, and the +poor roads of the country. In regard to this matter should be stated +whatever remains to be told; also the remedy that may be applied by +adding to the tributes, and by making some islands dependent upon +others, as his Majesty may deem best. + +5. _That a protector of the Indians, with a salary, be appointed, +who shall not be the royal fiscal._ Fifth: A protector of the Indians +should be appointed, a Christian man, and with authority to defend +them, and prosecute their suits. In order to avoid the losses and +expenses generally caused to the Indians by protectors, because of +their being common men, he should have a good salary; and the royal +fiscal should not be the protector, because in his duties more cases +against the Indians than in their defense necessarily arise, and he +cannot neglect to prosecute them. Therefore it is advisable that the +two offices be not merged in one person; and that the said protector +be authorized to prosecute, even to the deprivation of encomiendas or +other penalties, pecuniary or personal; that he have a voice and vote +in the cabildo, both actively and passively; that he take precedence +of the regidors and alguazil-mayor, and sit with the advocates and +not with the prosecutors; that he be not an encomendero, and that the +alcaiceria [i.e., silk-market], and the care of the Chinese residing +in Manila, be annexed to his office. + + + + +Chapter sixth. Of matters pertaining to the soldiers + + +1. _The serious troubles and annoyances which result from the soldiers +not being paid._ First: His Majesty should be informed that the +country is not settled or pacified, because it is poorly governed +and has so small a military force. There is lack of men, and even +the few that we have serve with no pay or means of gain, but with +many hardships and dangers, and in extreme poverty and desolation, +and worse than captivity, since they are forced to service without any +pay or support. From this ensue many evils. The first is, that they do +nothing, and they cannot and even will not do anything voluntarily; and +in this alone they are lacking in natural loyalty and fidelity to their +king. Second: They go--poor, despised, disgraced, sick, and needy--to +serve masters who are often mean, and persons who, although just to +others, sometimes give these men no compensation. With such hardships, +sorrows, and famine, and but few delicacies or provisions for their +illnesses, many of them die, and that in great wretchedness. Third: +They try to escape, as often as they can--now to Macan or to Malaca, +sometimes to Maluco, but most commonly to Nueva Espana--under a +thousand pretexts and excuses of being married, or sick, or bound to +religion, and others. Fourth: On this account, the country has so bad a +reputation in Mexico and in the other countries whence they might come, +that no one of worth comes, but only very mean and worthless beggars, +and destitute, shiftless, and useless fellows; and it would matter +very little, and would even be better, if they did not come. Fifth: +It is a pitiable thing to see men of rank and quality, and gentlemen, +who have come for private opportunities and objects, poor, ill-clad, +without shelter, service, or food, and needy, enduring great hunger +and shame for the sake of supplying these needs--in the same day +dining at one house and supping at another. Sixth: On this account, +the captains and commanders neither dare nor can order anything +freely, nor are the soldiers willing to obey; and therefore, not only +is nothing accomplished, but there remains neither military order, +nor respect for superiors, nor organization. Seventh: They have no +weapons, or, if they have them, they are compelled to pawn or sell +them for clothing and food. Eighth: On this account, many of them +are almost forced to inflict injuries on the natives of the country +in order to get food, and others to live with native women for the +same reason. From all of these follows the ninth and greatest evil +of all--namely, that the little that has been conquered has been so +weakened that it is not growing, and shows no sign of future growth; +and nearly all the rest is so disaffected, and without our having +any opportunity or power to hold it, that not only will it remain +as now, but it is even feared that the little already conquered will +be ruined--especially as, besides the foe at home, there are so many +surrounding enemies, those of Japon, China, Cian, Patan, Jabas, Burney, +and Maluco, and other innumerable peoples. All this is in the utmost +need of remedy, so that this Spanish state may not be destroyed, and +so many souls of the natives lost, and the glory of their Creator and +the knowledge of Jesus Christ effaced and forgotten. Nor should the +enlargement of so great lands and kingdoms, for so much gain, honor, +and renown of our Catholic sovereigns and of their faithful vassals, +the Spanish nation, be neglected. + +2. _The great importance of paying the soldiers._ Second: All this +will be remedied, provided that his Majesty order that, inasmuch as +there is an evident and imperative need here for troops, and for their +participation, as now, in the exercise and labors of war--conquering, +pacifying, conserving, controlling, and anticipating dangers; carrying +the responsibilities of presidios [i.e., fortified towns], garrisons, +and sentries; and enduring other duties and hardships, greater in this +country than in any other--they be granted what is just and necessary, +either from the treasury of Mexico or of some other country, or +in such manner and method as his Majesty may consider better; and +that the pay be the ordinary rate that is paid in the Yndias--or, +if he chooses, even less. This will not only put an end to the said +evils and annoyances, but will give rise to so great blessings; since +the country will be quiet and settled, and there will be continual +necessity for subduing and converting more lands, and conquering all +of the neighboring islands and kingdoms. These will have the fear and +respect that they ought to have for the power and might of his Majesty, +and for the Spanish people--of which much has been lost and little +gained of late years, because we have been so shut in and abandoned. + +3. _That three hundred and fifty soldiers with six captains, six +standard-bearers, sergeants, and corporals are sufficient for that +country._ Third: For the above object, it will be sufficient that +his Majesty maintain here three hundred or three hundred and fifty +soldiers, with six captains, six standard-bearers, six sergeants, +and twelve corporals, well drilled and equipped. This can be done +in the Yndias at the price of fifteen pesos [to each soldier], and +to the captains fifty, to the standard-bearer twenty-five, and one +thousand pesos of additional pay, to be distributed annually at the +will of the general. + +4. _That the soldiers should have no other duty or occupation_. Fourth: +We recommend that any one of the soldiers, on receiving an encomienda +or other appointment, shall draw no more pay; and that while he +draws pay, he shall not be allowed to trade or traffic, under severe +penalties--for this lure and anxiety is the destruction of soldiers; +it lessens and intimidates their resolution, and occupies them and +distracts them from their proper aim, which is so necessary for the +safety and increase of this land and of Christendom. + +5. _That the soldiers shall not be servants of the governors or +others._ Fifth: We recommend that no servants of the governors, +captains royal officials or others, may be provided from any garrison +of soldiers; but that all the latter be soldiers only, with the +occupation and exercise of arms, or of what pertains thereto. + +6. _That the exemptions of soldiers be observed._ Sixth: The exemptions +from arrest for debts incurred while a soldier, or from executions on +weapons, horse, or anything else necessary and proper to the soldier, +should be maintained. + +7. _That the captains and commanders enjoy their privileges._ Seventh: +The captains and commanders should be protected in their privileges, +by which they have ordinary power and authority to govern and punish +the soldiers, and in all matters pertaining to the soldiery; and +these powers should be granted to and exercised by them. + +8. _That the governor and captain-general have a guard of twenty-four +halberdiers._ Eighth: Twenty-four halberdiers should be given to the +governor and captain-general, to guard his person and maintain his +authority, as do those of the captain of Malaca; for it is only by such +display that due respect is inspired in the natives and foreigners, +and their minds kept from planning revolts and treasons. It also +confers authority upon the person of him who represents the person +of our king, and increases the honor and reverence paid to him. To +these guards should be given each month, from the royal exchequer, +eight pesos and three fanegas of rice; and to the captain of the guard, +twenty-five pesos. + +9. _That those coming from Mexico be soldiers, and not boys, or pages +of the captains._ Ninth: His Majesty should order great caution to be +employed as to who come from Nueba Espana, assigned and at his cost, +that they be soldiers and bear arms: for those who generally come now +are only young lads, mestizos, and even some full-blooded Indians, +and these without weapons; and many others are pages and servants of +the captains and other persons, who--they and their masters--under +the name of soldiers draw the pay. + + + +Chapter seven. Of the forts and presidios needed in this country + + +1. _That Manila should be walled, and the ease with which this can +be accomplished._ First: His Majesty should be informed of the ease +and cheapness with which stone buildings are made and can be made. He +should urgently and imperatively order that this city of Manila be +enclosed with stone, on the side where that is needed, and on the other +sides with water; that the fort be built where it shall be determined +by the advice of all; and that a tower be erected on the point at the +junction of the river and sea. The part where a wall is necessary is +very little, extending from the beach to a marsh of the river--about +sixty brazas; but it will never be done, unless his Majesty so order. + +2. _That until forts are built, the country will not be settled._ +Second: Having this and the garrison for the fort, not only will the +city be secure from the perils that have hitherto menaced it, and its +present dangers from revolts; but the natives (like the Chinese and +foreigners--_Madrid MS._) and the Chinese, the foreigners, and all +others, will cease to devour it, and will despair of our having to +depart or perish, as they may desire, and of their hopes and designs +(which they continually cherish--_Madrid MS._) of expelling or putting +an end to us. With this stronghold, the whole country will be greatly +quieted, and the neighboring peoples will be afraid and have less +inclination to resist, or resolution to attack the city. Occasion will +not then be given for either natives or foreigners to regard us as so +barbarous and not able to govern--which they impute to the weakness +and negligence of our king, when they see, as now, everything here so +unprotected, with but one small wooden fort, dilapidated and liable +to be burned easily in one hour, and, in another part of the city, +part of a small tower begun with small stones (and, although belonging +to an estate of the country, it remains unfinished--_Madrid MS._), +and that the city is, at the very least, in a ruinous state. + +3. _Five dangers that are feared from revolt, and their remedy._ Third: +There are five dangers to be feared from revolts or invasions. The +first is from the natives, who are numerous, heavily oppressed, and +but thinly settled; the second, from the Chinese, of whom four or five +thousand reside here, and have ingress and egress. The third is from +the Japanese, who make a descent almost every year, and, it is said, +with the intent of colonizing Lucon; the fourth from the inhabitants +of Maluco and Burney, who are infuriated and irritated, and have +quite lost their fear of us, having driven us twice from their lands; +and it is feared lest they unite, as they have threatened, in order +to drive us from our own. The fifth is from the English, who were in +Maluco and noted our weakness (who, when in Maluco, had information +of the weakness of Manila--_Madrid MS._). A fort is needed in Ylocos +or Cagayan, as a defense against the Japanese and Chinese robbers; +another in Cebu, against Burney and the Malucos; another in Panpanga, +against the Canvales, or rebels. These with the fort of Manila will +give security, and at a very slight cost to his Majesty, more than +to order it, for materials are abundant, and almost all the natives +are workmen. + +4. _That there should be ships to ensure the safety of the islands._ +Fourth: Besides these presidios, there should be some coasting galleys +or fragatas, to make the coasts secure, and ward off the invasions +of the Japanese. They (are accustomed to come every year, chiefly +to the region of Cagayan and Ylocos, to--_Madrid MS._) rob and kill +many natives, and seize the Chinese vessels that bring us food and +goods, so that much is lost, and commerce and plenty hindered. They +also cause the Chinese, returning from Manila to their country, not +to take the usual route; and they harm our Indians by sea and land, +as they do even now. The fragatas can also protect us against other +Chinese and Bornean pirates; and against any other emergencies and +dangers, from foreigners or from the natives. + +5. _That no confidence can be placed in the natives._ Fifth: In order +that the necessity for these forts and presidios above mentioned may +be understood, notification should be given that, with the arrival of +Englishmen or any other enemy, it would be necessary for the Spaniards, +for lack of these forts, especially in Manila, to seek refuge and be +dispersed inland. There, beyond, any doubt, they would all be killed, +or run great risk of it, because the Indians of the Philippinas are +knaves (very warlike; and the Spaniards and soldiers have so harassed +them, on account of having no pay or food, that--_Madrid MS._); +and as they receive so many wrongs and such ill treatment from the +soldiers (who can almost be excused for doing it, by their poverty), +if they had such an opportunity, they would kill as many as possible, +since even now, without having such occasion for it, they never lose +any opportunity, and daily kill Spaniards. + + +Chapter eighth. Of the expeditions and pacifications necessary + + +1. _That much can be gained, and many Christians made, at but little +cost._ First: To his Majesty should be declared the new mode and new +circumstances in which we can justly make (and they have been made +for several years) expeditions and pacifications in this land. He +should know that this may be done with few troops, and at slight cost, +and with great facility, and the advantage that will be gained if the +troops are paid and under military rule; for the land is so divided +into many islands, and between many petty rulers--who quarrel easily +among themselves, and ally themselves with us, and maintain themselves +with but little of our assistance. In all this, his Majesty has a +very extensive equipment for performing great service to our Lord +(and doing good to so many souls--_Madrid MS._), and in extending +the Christian religion and the church, and his royal name, in lands +so strange, and broad, and thickly populated. + +2. _How little establishment has been made in the country._ Second: +Inasmuch as this pacification can be made justifiably, there is the +utmost need for it (even in the very region where the Spaniards reside +and travel--_Madrid MS._), both for the Spaniards and some Christians, +since it is all so disaffected and unsubdued for lack of troops, as +above stated, and because they have not the necessary pay. Thus even +in the island of Lucon are provinces that have never been conquered, +or which, although once subdued, have revolted again--as those called +Cagayan, Pangasinan, Playa Onda, Zanbales, Balete, Cataduanes, and +others, surrounding and near Manila. These are mixed up with the +pacified provinces, and thus it is neither all done nor to be done, +for the want of a little system and provision. + +3. _The obligation to protect those already converted._ Third: Not +only is it necessary to establish the said equipment and system, +but it even appears that his Majesty has an obligation thereto, +because of the so great service that he has rendered to God by the +conversion of so many souls, who are under his royal protection, who +exceed two hundred and fifty thousand in number. By not being able +to protect these, they are suffering at present great hardships and +wrongs from the disaffected and unpacified natives, who daily attack +and kill them, and burn their houses, crops, and palm-trees. On this +account, and because they kill also many Spaniards, not only are +our present conquests not extended, but they are daily diminished; +and there is grave danger, as above stated, of losing them altogether +(of the Christian population being exterminated--_Madrid MS._). + +4. _The many peoples that can be pacified now--a thing which it will +be impossible to do later._ Fourth: Besides the said provinces, which +in many places are in revolt, between ourselves and those already +converted, are others, which, although not so near in distance or in +the disposition of the people, still cannot be called new discoveries, +because they are already known and studied. Daily they are becoming +more deteriorated and perverted; and it will be necessary for their +good and our safety to pacify and rule them--which later will be +very difficult or impossible to do. These provinces are Ba[bu]yanes, +the island of Hermosa [Formosa], the island of Cavallos, Lequios, +the island of Aynao [Hainan], Jabas, Burney, Paraguan, Calamianes, +Mindanao, Siao, Maluco, and many others. + +5. _That the governor be empowered to make expeditions._ Fifth: +His Majesty is informed that, on account of these conditions in the +country, it is here unanimously considered necessary that the governor +of Manila should have authority and power to make these expeditions +and this pacification at the cost of the royal exchequer, in the +most important cases that arise (and are continually arising), if +he consult as to the law with the ecclesiastics and lawyers, and, +as to the execution of his plans, with captains and with men of +experience and conscience. He should also seek counsel in regard to +the other important details, in order that the expenses be only those +necessary, and such as shall produce results. For lack of this power, +in lands so remote, and since he must wait so long for the proceedings +of the Council, and a reply from Espana, when the reply comes most +important opportunities will have passed, and great difficulties +will have resulted; and no matter how important these things may be +considered here, seldom is there anyone who pays any attention to +anything except his own individual concerns. (As for this country, +every one looks after his own interests and enrichment, and there is +no longer anyone who will spend a maravedi, even if the country is +endangered--_Madrid MS._). + +6. _That the governor may be empowered to entrust expeditions by +contract to other Spaniards._ Sixth: In order that this may be done +more easily, and at less cost, the governor should be permitted to make +agreements and contracts with captains, encomenderos, and other persons +who wish to cooeperate with the king, to undertake these expeditions +at their own expense, or partly so, as may seem most advisable--for +there are and will be many persons who, although not able to make +them at their own expense, can make them with this aid. And in such +contracts the governor should have power to concede and grant, on the +part of his Majesty, appointments and titles of governor, adelantado, +mariscal, and other honors which are and have been conceded, in the +Yndias, to such men. + + +Chapter ninth. Of other matters common to Indians and Spaniards + + +1. _That his Majesty should aid in atoning for the wrongs inflicted +by the first conquerors._ First: His Majesty should be informed +that, as this country has been recently conquered, the majority of +the first conquerors are still alive, who inflicted great injuries +in their expeditions; and that as either the Indians on whom they +inflicted them, or their heirs, are likewise living, or at least the +villages and provinces remain, the confessors refuse to absolve these +conquerors unless they pay, each one the whole amount _in solidum_, +or all together unite to pay it. This they can never do, as it is +a vast sum, and because many are dead, or gone, or poor, so that +those remaining are but few; and an exceeding great sum is assigned +to them, which they refuse, or are unable to pay, except with great +injury to themselves, and many of them being left poor and in their +former condition. They beg that, since these wrongs were inflicted in +gaining the country for his Majesty, and as they remain but little +or no richer thereby, and because these are damages inflicted in +the act of conquest, his Majesty will aid them with a certain sum of +money--in order that with what the conquerors are prepared to give, +the Indians may be recompensed, and they themselves may be confessed +and at peace with themselves and the ecclesiastics; or, at least, +that his Majesty write to the pope to grant a bull for the adjustment +of this matter. This he may concede, so that each one may comply by +paying what wrong he thinks he has done, and not the whole; and they +request that what they have restored hitherto at the advice of their +confessors for pious works be taken into account (of the total sum of +which they are uncertain), especially when an Indian, or his heirs, +of those aggrieved is not alive. + +2. _That many encomenderos do not furnish ministers of instruction._ +Second: His Majesty should be informed that although certain of +the encomenderos, fearful of their consciences, strive to furnish +the necessary instruction in their encomiendas, there are others +who furnish none (many others who will not furnish any--_Madrid +MS._), or not the amount necessary, notwithstanding that there are +enough ministers (who reside in the encomienda--_Madrid MS._). Thus +they do not lighten the burdens on the conscience of his Majesty, +to whom belongs the country, and to whom it pertains to furnish +instruction, and thus to justify the chief argument for collecting +the tributes. This requires rigor on the part of his Majesty, in order +that the Indians, since all can be and are so assiduously compelled by +their encomenderos to pay tribute, may and shall be also instructed; +for up to this time there are encomiendas which have been peaceably +paying their tributes for fifteen, twenty (twenty-five--_Madrid MS._) +or more years, without ever having seen a minister or hearing one +word about God; and who cannot imagine why they are paying tribute, +unless it be by sheer violence. And, in the same way, there are many +others, who are disaffected and pay by sheer force of soldiers and +arquebuses, and by compulsion, etc. The principal reason for their +disaffection is that they have not ministers; for there is nothing +that settles and calms the Indians better than the treatment of all +alike, and mildness, and an upright life, or at least to see that +one has not an evil intention. The ministers also serve as a check +on the encomenderos, collectors, and other Spaniards, who go among +the Indians, and cause the usual altercations and scandals. And +since there is no means besides force, even for the temporal, +that his Majesty can use, and so that the pacified may not become +disaffected, and that the disaffected may be held in check, severe +and forcible measures should be taken to see that this instruction +is given them. His Majesty should decide whether the encomenderos +(who, in order not to spend money, do not furnish instruction) can +collect the entire amount of their tributes, or he should inflict +upon them what penalty he deems advisable; and he should decide--if, +in order that they may furnish the instruction, it is necessary to +increase the tributes somewhat--whether it can be done, as stated. + +3. _The injuries inflicted in the collection of tributes._ Third: +His Majesty should be informed of the great lack of system and +the confusion existing in the collection of tributes, and the many +injuries inflicted on the Indians by the Spaniards and their great +opportunity for inflicting them; for, as he who made the assessments +in die beginning was not a lawyer (as the first governors were not +lawyers--_Madrid MS._), nor acquainted with the mischief that could +happen later in the collections, he rendered them very confused and +vexatious. Although, in its general understanding, and in the usage +of the first years, it is seen that the tribute amounted to the value +of eight reals, paid in what the Indian possessed and desired to pay, +still in certain words and clauses regarding the assessments and the +articles which they fix as payment for the tributes--such as cotton +cloth, rice, and other products of the country, or three mayces of gold +and one fowl--opportunity is given for the lack of system now existing, +each one collecting as he pleases, with great offense to the Indians, +and harm to the country. For when gold is plentiful, and reals scarce, +they ask for reals; when the latter are plentiful, and there is a +scarcity of gold, they ask for gold, even when the Indians have to buy +it; and when crops are plentiful, they ask for money, but when these +are lacking, they ask for produce--such as rice, etc.--even all that +the Indians have, and they are compelled to travel great distances +to try to buy it at high rates. Thus, where the tribute is eight +reals, some collect fifteen, and others twenty, twenty-five, thirty, +and more, on account of the value of the articles that they demand, +which they compel the Indians to search for and bring from other +districts. Through this the Indians endure so great oppression and +distress, that, on this account, several provinces have revolted, and +others will not pay, except by force and with much disturbance. All, +including the encomenderos themselves, desire that this matter be +cleared up; but the royal Audiencia did not care to meddle with it, +as it is a matter of tributes, and pertains solely to his Majesty. It +is necessary that the tributes be in the standard of Castilian reals, +paid in money, or in the produce of the soil, as the Indian has them, +and as he chooses, provided that their value remains. + +4. _That his Majesty order the Spaniards to release their Indian +slaves._ Fourth: Although many of the Spaniards (all the Spaniards +who have tender consciences--_Madrid MS._), have, in obedience to his +Majesty's decrees, given up the Indians whom they held as slaves, many +others still retain them--forbidding them to have house or property +of their own, or to live in their own villages and doctrinas. [42] +A new decree is necessary, so that an end may be put to all this pest, +as was done in Nueba Espana and Piru. + +5. _That the enslavement of Indians by other Indians be regulated._ +Fifth: His Majesty is informed that all the chief and wealthy Indians, +and even many of the common people among them, have and continually +make, many slaves among themselves, and sell them to heathen and +foreigners, although the slave may be a Christian. It is ascertained +that of the twenty and more different methods of enslavement not one +is justifiable. Although in regard to those who are recently enslaved, +and are known, reform is easy, still regarding the many held from +former times, the bishop and all his assistants are in great doubt +and perplexity, because, on the one hand, they see that the Indians +possess and inherit the slaves from their parents and grandparents, +while on the other, the ecclesiastics are certain that none, or almost +none, of the slaves were made so justly. Therefore, hardly any learned +and conscientious religious is willing, not only to absolve, but +even to baptize or marry the Indian, unless he gives up his slaves; +for these generally are, or were, stolen from other countries, +or taken in unjustifiable petty warfare, or made slaves for very +small debts--of which the majority admit no other payment than their +enslavement--others by usury and barter according to their custom, +and by other methods, even more unjust than these. It is necessary +for his Majesty to ordain some method so that, now and henceforth, at +least those who are under our control, may make no more slaves; that +children born to those who are now slaves, or appear to be slaves, +should be born free; that those that wish to redeem themselves may +do so at a price adjudged reasonable by arbitrators; and that those +held at present may not be sold to pagans, or to Indians not subject +to his Majesty. + +6. _The annoyances to the Indians from lawsuits and the +preparation therefor._ Sixth: His Majesty should prevent the +annoyances and troubles suffered by the Indians from the ministers +of justice--alcaldes-mayor, deputies, notaries, and alguazils--by +the many suits that they stir up among them, not only about events +occurring since the advent of the Spaniards and a government, +but also about events of former days, occurring in their heathen +condition, and regarding their ancestors; these may be either civil +or criminal. And these are not summary cases, but are conducted with +all the preparation made in a chancilleria of Espana; and as the +ministers of justice and their assistants are so many (and as there +are so many alguazils, attorneys, secretaries, reporters, summoners, +notaries, clerks, and servants of all these--_Madrid MS._), and the +Indians are so poor, ignorant, and cowardly, the latter spend their +entire substance (all they have is quickly consumed--_Madrid MS._), +and they are left without any property or any conclusion to the suit, +which keeps them frightened and uneasy. The encomenderos and ministers +of instruction, who see the spiritual and temporal scandal occasioned +to the Indians, desire that his Majesty remedy this; and the same +is desired by the president and auditors--although one says that, +without an order from his Majesty, no summary process can be conducted, +but that justice must take its ordinary course. + + +Chapter tenth. Of the advice necessary to the religious who come to +Manila and go to other countries + + +1. _That the religious leave the islands for other countries without +orders from the governor or bishop._ First: His Majesty should +be informed of the disorder in these islands which arises from the +religious being allowed to leave them whenever they wish, and for any +place where they choose to go, and that they have gone four times, +without permission of governor, bishop, or any other authority in +the islands--saying that, by the full power given them by the pope, +whosoever shall hinder them will be excommunicated. By these departures +they have caused and are causing many losses, and are gathering no +harvest of souls. + +2. _The injuries caused by the departures of the religious._ Second: +The injuries on the part of the islands are, that the religious, whom +his Majesty sends from Espana at so much cost to himself, declare, +as soon as they have arrived here, that they do not come for the +islands, but for China; and therefore they do not give themselves to +the language of the Indians, or intercourse with them--but rather, +to give color to their own acts in traveling farther to satisfy their +curiosity and see new lands, they speak evil of the natives and of +the country, thus giving it a bad name, in speech and by letter. They +prevent religious, soldiers, and settlers from coming from Espana and +Mexico, while in the islands they disquiet the other religious with +desires to travel farther, or to return; and they rouse and excite +the seculars and soldiers, so that, moved and deceived by the same +curiosity; they should furnish them with fragatas and equipment, and +go with them. Therefore, religious, soldiers, and vessels leave the +islands--all of which has cost his Majesty so much money and causes +great want. + +3. _The wrongs committed in the countries where the religious and +the seculars go without orders._ Third: The injuries on the part +of the countries whither they go are not less, because those people +are all disturbed and offended, and consider the religious as spies +and explorers. Therefore they are continually preparing defenses and +building fortifications, as those in China have done, who have added +many war vessels and garrisons, because of their suspicions of these +departures. And, as these religious go without order or provision, they +cause our affairs--of both religion and war--to be held in contempt +and ridicule; and the foreigners arrest the religious and soldiers, +to whom they offer many insults, while they keep the fragatas and +their cargoes--as they have done five or six times. + +4. _The difficulty caused by thinking that China and other kingdoms +can be converted, since it is not so._ Fourth: Likewise one may reckon +as a harm and a serious difficulty the settled opinion formed in Nueba +Espana, Castilla, and Roma, through letters, that China or Cochinchina, +Canboja, Sian, and other districts, will be converted. Therefore, +it is necessary that his Majesty be undeceived and that people in +Europe [Nueba Espana, etc.] should be informed that, after all these +departures, an embassy was sent by order of the governor, the bishop, +and the community, who traversed all those kingdoms, even Malaca, yet +now they are all more tightly closed than ever; while the religious, +who have gone without orders, have accomplished nothing more than to +be insulted and maltreated, and to leave the pagans more haughty and +more on their guard. + +5. _That no secular person may leave the islands, nor give the +religious aid to leave them._ Fifth: It is very needful, for a reform +of the said disorders, that his Majesty order the governor of Manila, +under severe penalties, that no secular Spaniard may leave the islands +for any place or for any business, or furnish a fragata, supplies, +or any other aid to any religious in order that the latter may leave +the islands, without showing a special order from his Majesty, from +the governor, bishop, or any one else whom (or, in Manila--_Madrid +MS._) his Majesty may consider a suitable person. + +6. _That the religious come from Espana and Mejico for the islands, +and for no other place._ Sixth: His Majesty should order that, now and +henceforth--since all the mainland is so closed, and there is, on the +other hand, in the islands a very wide open gate for the increase of +Christianity and of his kingdoms--the religious coming from Espana and +Mexico shall come assigned for the Philippinas Islands, where there +is the greatest abundance of souls. Many who are already baptized, +are yet without instruction or ministers; many others pacified, +and yet to be baptized, are daily asking for baptism; and there are +an infinite number of others to be pacified, who have no knowledge +of God--all for lack of ministers; and it is a most serious error +that, while this land is so ready, all thought is centered on China, +which is wholly averse to the faith; and its doors are closed against +it. This is the, art of Satan, so that neither the one nor the other +may be effected. [43] + + +The Proposed Entry Into China, In Detail + +First: The person who is sent as an eye-witness will give his Majesty +a brief relation of the vastness of China, of the abundance of its +fruits and provisions, of the richness of its merchandise, and the +great quantity of gold and silver, quicksilver, copper, iron, and +other metals; of the immensity and certainty of the treasures, and +the infinite amount and variety of the products of the handicrafts +and of human industry; and, above all, the endless things that may +be said about the people and their life, health, peace, and plenty; +and how, with and by all this, there is offered to his Majesty the +greatest occasion and the grandest beginning that ever in the world +was offered to a monarch. Here lies before him all that the human mind +can desire or comprehend of riches and eternal fame, and likewise all +that a Christian heart, desirous of the honor of God and his faith, +can wish for, in the salvation and restoration of myriad souls, +created for Him, and redeemed by His blood, and now deluded and +possessed by the devil, and by his blindness and wickedness. + +Second: If we, who are here, and see and hear these things, should +neglect for any consideration whatsoever--either to escape the labor, +anxiety, danger, and cost, or for any other reason--to advise his +Majesty of this and to persuade him to undertake so grand a work, we +would fulfil neither our duty to heaven, which we owe to God and to +the souls of our kinsmen; nor the faith and loyalty, which in such a +juncture we owe to our king, our religion, and our fatherland. Surely, +we should all be known as vile-spirited cowards, and men of little +valor, since, standing on the threshold that bounds so much good, +we are content with the little we now possess; and by dint of idling +and amusing ourselves with the little that we have here, we fail to +look or reach for an object so important for the world, for God, for +our king, for ourselves, and above all for the people of this country. + +Third: Let his Majesty come to a decision in this matter, for we who +dwell here know that either this matter must be left, and entirely +given over, and lost forever, or it must be taken up now, because +the chance is slipping by, never to return. Thus, a few years ago, +it might have been accomplished with no labor, cost, or loss of life; +today it cannot be done without some loss, and in a short time it +will be impossible to do it at any cost. For the Chinese are each day +becoming more wary, and more on their guard. They are even laying +in munitions of war, fortifying themselves, and training men--all +which they have learned, and are still learning, from the Portuguese +and our people. Seeing the Portuguese in that country, and us here, +they are fearful, and especially so from the accounts the Portuguese +give them of us, telling how we go about subjecting foreign lands, +overthrowing native kings and setting up our own, and that this has so +far been our sole object in coming, and other things that the father +has heard from the mouths of the mandarins themselves, and which he +will recount. Besides, there is the passage of the fragatas, which they +have seen on their way from here to Macan, having met nearly all of +them in their ports or with their fleets; and, most of all, the course +of affairs in these islands, which, if it were presently made known, +would be understood in such wise as to destroy all hope of success. + +Fourth: Further, if, for their sins and ours, the doctrine of Mahoma +comes into their country--and it has already spread over nearly the +whole of Yndia as far as Malaca, Samatra, Javas, Burney, Maluco, Lucon, +and almost all other lands--if it should get a foothold there, and some +have already entered there, it would be an insurmountable obstacle, +not only to cleansing the soul from such an obstinate error, but to +winning the land; because they will enter straightway and teach the +use of arms, munitions, and the science of war. + + +Of the right and ground for this entry + + +First: As for the right and justification which we have for entering +and subduing this land, the father who is going to Espana will discuss +and explain this to his Majesty, as he has considered it long and often +with the Castilians here, as well as elsewhere with the Portuguese of +Yndia, China, and of Japon, with all persons of scrupulous conscience +and broad experience; and he knows what all of them think of this +project. His Majesty may think it necessary to learn what the father +has heard and known and felt respecting the fight and ground which +exists, or may exist, both for the preaching of the gospel, and because +of the injury that we from day to day sustain, and for the sake of +these islands, but much more on account of Macan and the Portuguese. + + +Of the necessary means for this entry; and, first, of the personnel +and troops + + +First: Considering the condition and climate of the land of China, +and its populace, it will be necessary and sufficient for ten or +twelve thousand men to come from Espana, either Spaniards, Italians, +or other own subjects of his Majesty; but try to have them, as far as +possible, Biscayans. If possible, the expedition will set out with an +addition here of five or six thousand Japanese, and as many Visayans, +who are subjects of his Majesty in our islands, and are a spirited +and sturdy people. + +Second: Although there are persons here of great valor and experience, +yet for so great an undertaking they are few; and some captains and +persons of tried capabilities must come from Espana, as so great an +affair demands--since it can only be carried out if picked noblemen +are brought over, who are prouder of the glories of war and honorable +deeds for their God and their king and the world, and of the fame of +them, and who have little lust for other gain or sordid lucre. + +Third: The governor of these islands should also be the commander of +the expedition; and he should be some great person, superior in rank +to all the rest, of whatever nation they may be, with whom he may have +to deal in this expedition, or anything pertaining to it in these +parts, whether they be Portuguese or Castilian. In the allotment of +the offices and positions, the veteran captains and soldiers should +be preferred, and especially the Castilian and Portuguese citizens +of these islands, who have merited it by their loyalty, labors, and +services, both because they have won and kept this land and because +they have had much experience with the country and the people. Besides +they are already acclimated and used to the country, its climate, +heat, and rain; wherefore their help and counsel should be highly +valued, and they deserve recompense and preference in every way. + +Fourth: The troops sent should be infantry with arquebuses, corselets, +and pikes; and, besides, a few musketeers. + +Fifth: Crews for four galleys should be sent, with skilled boatswains +and foremen for them. + +Sixth: There should be sent, as soon as his Majesty comes to a +decision, three or four artillery founders. + +Seventh: His Majesty should then order the viceroy of Yndia to send +here, or give to whomsoever may go there for them, five hundred slaves, +because they are so plentiful and cheap there. + +Eighth: There should be sent from Espana one or two machinists for +engines of war, and fire-throwing machines, and a few artisans to make +pitch (with some already prepared), as there are materials here for it. + +Ninth: There should be some master shipwrights for building galleys +and fragatas with high sides, which are the best kind of craft for +this purpose. In the island of Cuba lives Francisco de Gutierrez, +a neat workman, who built Pero Melendez's boats, that proved the +terror of the French. + +Tenth: A captain should be sent ahead with orders from his Majesty, +and with a mandate from the general of the Society of Jesus for +his religious in Japon, that they may receive him and further his +mission. He should bring sufficient money to pay the troops that are to +be brought from that country and take them to an appointed place. They +should be paid a ducat or twelve reals a month, or even less. + + + +Arms and supplies needed + + +First: Besides the regular arms to be brought by the soldiers from +Espana, there should be, for emergency, a number of coats of mail, +and arquebuses; and, above all, five hundred muskets and three or +four thousand pikes, a thousand corselets, and a thousand Burgundian +morions from Nueva Espana. + +Second: Good flints and locks for the arquebuses can be had here +cheaply; but the barrels must be brought from Espana, and should be +all of one bore, so that the same bullets may be furnished for them. + +Third: From China we can procure very cheaply copper, saltpeter, and +bullets; and in this island are ample mines of copper and sulphur, +[44] and all the requisites can be bought cheaply at various places. It +is said that the necessary tin and saltpeter can be obtained cheaply +and in abundance. + +Fourth: There must be brought from Yndia two thousand quintals of +cordage, which will cost two thousand pesos or as many ducats. This +will make a saving of considerable money, and at the same time the +cordage will not arrive frayed and worn out by the hard journey +from Vera Cruz to Mexico and thence to Acapulco, over mountains, +valleys, and rivers. The anchors and necessary grappling tackle +should be brought from the same country, together with the slaves +already mentioned. + +Fifth: From Nueva Espana should be brought cloth (gray and other +colors, and mixed) for the protection of the troops in seasons of rain +and storm, for the country is rather cold and very wet. _Item:_ there +should be blankets and garments for the sick, and other necessaries. + +Sixth: Have his Majesty send two hundred thousand pesos to cover +and provide for these and many other things, and pay the Japanese, +and other incidental expenses. + +Seventh: Have the commander of the expedition bring a number of +presents to win over some of the mandarins and other persons of +importance; and for this have brought from Espana velvets, scarlet +cloths, mirrors, articles of glass, coral, plumes, oil paintings, +feather-work, globes, and other curiosities, and some red and white +wine for the same purpose. + + + +What can be and is provided for here in the islands + + +That his Majesty may understand that his subjects truly wish to +serve him in this country in so important an undertaking, and that +he may grasp more clearly what is being done and provided for here, +it is described in the following. + +First: At the meeting of the junta here, consisting of the president, +auditors and fiscal, with the bishop and other persons before +mentioned, when this project was discussed, all decided that so serious +a matter, and one of such possibilities, should not be put off with no +more action than sending immediately to discuss it with his Majesty; +the necessary preparations were commenced here at once, and it was +universally resolved with considerable enthusiasm and serious purpose, +that, on account of the lack of money in the royal treasury, and the +country being so impoverished by the previous fires and the loss of +the ship, they would draw from the money of intestates held for heirs +[_caxa de difuntos_], of which there was about ten or twelve thousand +pesos, and thus begin the work. They contracted with the Chinese to +bring copper, saltpeter, and other materials. The casting of artillery +is commencing now, and the securing of powder and ammunition; for if +his Majesty should not choose to take up this enterprise, nothing will +be lost by this, and it will suffice the Chinese that the duties were +put at three per cent on whatever materials they bring for implements +and munitions of war, and supplies needed here. + +Second: A ship will be sent to Malaca to bring the tin and saltpeter +needed in addition to that procured in China and powder, and a number +of slaves to aid in the foundry work and other labors. + +Third: The five thousand Visayan Indians of these islands will be +brought together, and some good troops with the necessary arms. + +Fourth: In whatever port of the islands the fleet is to enter, there +will be ample accommodations, and full supplies for their reception; +and, if they come to Cagayan, there are several advantages. First: +they will come directly from Espana, without danger from islands, +shoals, or the like. Second: the river has a good bar and four bracas +of water and more, at low tide. Third: it is on the China side, a two +days' sail distant. Fourth: it is nearest Xapon, Hermosa Island, and +Lequios. Fifth: between there and China there are so many islands that +the trip can be made in boats, and a close and quick communication +can be kept up, and it is easy to repair any accident. Sixth: +there are thereabout several islands, called the Babuyanes, where +there are swine, goats, and fowl in abundance, and considerable +rice. Seventh: there is in the land great store of swine and fowl, +and excellent hunting of buffalo and deer, which are so common that +two thousand large casks [_pipas_] of meat can be brought down in a +few days. Eighth: warehouses can and will be built there sufficient +to hold a hundred thousand fanegas of rice, which is the staple food +of this country. Ninth: there is great abundance of fish, as healthful +as meat. Tenth: the wine needed will be brought there in great plenty, +being palm wine, and very good. And from China can be brought what is +called _manderin_, which is very good and cheap, and is much drunk in +the islands. Eleventh: there will be a supply of jars of biscuit and +flour. Twelfth: kidney beans, even better than Spanish lentils, are +common in the islands. Thirteenth: there will be made here a supply +of sandals of _anabo_, which is an herb like hemp, of which rigging +is made for ships. There is also a great deal of cotton. Fourteenth: +linen cloth for shirts, doublets, breeches, hose, and other things +wrought of linen, is very common and cheap here, both of domestic +and Chinese make. Fifteenth: in Cagayan there is abundance of wood +for all kinds of vessels that may be built; this is true as well of +all the other islands; and nearly all, or at any rate the greater +part of the Indians, are carpenters and smiths. Sixteenth: iron for +nails, which is brought from China, is plenty, and so cheap that five +arrobas (a Chinese quintal) are worth eight or ten reals. Seventeenth: +cast-iron cannon-balls for large and medium-sized guns are furnished +by the Chinese, who sell them at two or three reals apiece, while +the manufacture alone costs eight or ten reals here. Eighteenth: the +Indians of these islands are already very skilful in making ships and +fragatas with the assistance and labor of a few Spanish carpenters, +who furnish them with plans and a model; they make them so quickly and +cheaply that a vessel of five or six hundred toneladas can be built for +three or four thousand pesos, as some have already been. Nineteenth: +above all, if his Majesty wishes to take up this enterprise seriously, +the encomenderos of these islands will provide him with fragatas, men, +and money, as they have always done for the expeditions when occasion +offered; and this they have done and will do, so gladly and loyally, +that his Majesty is bound to make this expedition, since the readiness +and desire for it are as great as the result in spiritual and temporal +good which is hoped for, both for his Majesty and for the rest. + + +The route to be taken by the fleet + + +It should be known that there are four routes which may be +followed. First: from Sevilla to Nueva Espana, passing via Mexico +to the port of Acapulco. Second: coming from Sevilla to Nombre de +Dios and Panama. Third: coming by way of the Cape of Good Hope, +to Malaca, and thence by Macan to Cagayan. Fourth: by the Strait of +Magellan. This last, by the strait, is the best and shortest of all, +no unusual danger or obstacle being found on this passage. Have this +matter considered and conferred upon, with our sentiment in regard +to it, and what is thought over there, and settle on the safest and +best The reasons why we who are here think that this is the best +route will be explained by the person who accompanies this. + + +It were best that the Portuguese help in the affair + + +First: It is important that his Majesty give the Portuguese a part in +this conquest, because they could greatly aid by the experience that +they have of the seas, lands, and people of these regions. Their army +should not come together with the Castilians, nor should the assault +be made from one side alone; but they should go by Canton, and the +Castilians should go by way of Chinchio, as nearly as possible at +the same time. + +Second: His Majesty should appoint as commander of the Portuguese fleet +a person of such rank as to be above the viceroy of Yndia, or at least, +in no wise dependent upon him; for it is the universal complaint of +the Portuguese that the viceroys always hinder these great projects, +or turn them to their own profit by bringing into them their kinsmen +and dependents, or by other private interests such as are usual among +various persons, and are never lacking. + +Third: This person should have his Majesty's definite and explicit +command, empowering him to take from Yndia, and from any fortress or +city in Yndia, so much as may be needed, not only of troops but also +of money, munitions, ships, and all other necessaries. + +Fourth: This person should have an understanding with the commander +of the Castilian expedition both as to the time of the attack, and +whether they should meet later during the conquest, and for whatever +other question might arise between them during the progress of the +affair, which should need settlement. This should be very clear, +leaving no room for dissensions. + +Fifth: If the Japanese who are to be taken on the expedition do not +wish to join the Castilians, and prefer to go in with the Portuguese, +since they already know them, and likewise because they get along +better, and the Portuguese treat them more as equals than is permitted +here [they may do so]. But if they wish to go with the Castilians, +let them come to Cagayan, and this will be arranged with them and with +the fathers of the Society of Jesus, who are to act as guides. [45] + +Sixth: His Majesty should procure and bring about that the general +of the Society of Jesus should command and ordain to the fathers in +Japon, not to hinder the bringing of this reenforcement of Japanese, +and whatever may be needed therefor; and to this end he should send +a father sufficiently commissioned, who should be an Italian. + +Seventh: At the proper time and juncture, which will be before the +news of the expedition has come to the knowledge of the Chinese, the +fathers of the Society who are within the borders of China, in the +city of Joaquin, should be withdrawn, that they may give information to +the armies about what they know of the country, its strength, and its +military forces and supplies; and whatever other dangers or reasons +for caution they have in mind. They will also serve as interpreters, +and persuade the Chinese to allow the Spaniards to enter in peace, +and to hear and receive the preachers, and accept the religion sent +them by God. They will tell the Chinese of the protection which his +Majesty desires to offer them, so that they may receive the Spaniards +without fear; and how great a favor he is doing them in freeing them +from the tyrannies of their mandarins, and relieving them from the +yoke of slavery that they at present bear, leaving them in freedom +of body and soul, and exacting nothing but an acknowledgment for +this gracious act. To this end the fathers should write many chapas, +and scatter them over the whole of China, and be of use in any other +way that their years of life in the country may make possible. These +should be the instructions of the general of the Society of Jesus to +his commissioner. + +Eighth: Let it be known in Espana that as the voyages of the Portuguese +to the east and the Castilians to the west should and must be made and +end at the same time, the movement of the winds is favorable to them; +for the Portuguese can come to Macan at the end of May, and during +the whole of June, when the first junks usually come from Maca, +and the Castilians will arrive at Cagayan at the same time. + +Ninth: Those arriving first should send a dispatch-boat to the Point, +to meet the other fleet. This can be done by two or three routes, +for at that season very small and light boats can be navigated; +and the distance is not great, about one hundred and fifty leagues +on each side. + + +Of dangers, and risks of great misfortunes to be known and guarded +against by his Majesty on this expedition + + +First: If the number of troops in both armies were small even +though well armed and equipped, since the Chinese are so numerous, +they will be deluded and offer resistance; and as the Spaniards are +brave fighters, the havoc and slaughter will be infinite, to the great +damage of the country. Therefore an effort should be made to have the +troops so numerous, well equipped, trained, and strategically handled, +that there will be no chance for resistance; and their mere presence +and a demonstration will suffice to cause the Chinese to submit, +with no great bloodshed. In this way there will be no danger that +the Spaniards, finding themselves surrounded and pressed by such +a multitude, incited and urged on by the mandarins, should cause +appalling havoc and cut them down, thus harming agriculture and +lessening the population of the country. + +Second: Do not let them come so few in numbers, or ill armed and +supplied, undisciplined or insubordinate, as to cause any danger of +confusion, discouragement, or desertion, in parts so remote as these, +as this would be the ruin of the expedition; or they would go about +it in such a way as to preclude success, and leave the Chinese our +declared enemies, meanwhile losing our reputation and the bright +hopes we now have of getting the port of Macan and a passage to +Japon. There would then be no hope of the christianization which +depends on intercourse with them, and we should lose the riches which +are secured from Canton, and spread throughout all Yndia and Portugal, +together with the returns of the public granaries, and a great many +other advantages. + +Third: Let his Majesty take great care and consider well whom he sends +with this expedition, both the captains, leaders, and commanders of +it; for it is very probable--nay, almost certain--that if this be +not done, things will fare just as they did in the island of Cuba, +and in other countries that were once thickly peopled and are now +deserted. If the Spaniards go into China in their usual fashion, +they will desolate and ravage the most populous and richest country +that ever was seen; and if the people of China be once driven away, +it will be as poor as all the other depopulated Yndias--for its riches +are only those that are produced by a numerous and industrious people, +and without them it would not be rich. + +Fourth: His Majesty should know that the government of that people +is so wonderful, both for restraining and keeping in order so great a +multitude; and because, although lacking the further light and aid of +the faith, it is maintained with such peace and quiet, so much wealth, +happiness, and plenty, that never since its foundation, so far as is +known, has it suffered war, pestilence, or famine, in the main body +of the realm, although there are wars on the Tartar frontiers. If +that government were destroyed, they must suffer all these evils, +wherefore they should be kept under that or a similar government. To +appreciate the importance of this, one need only observe how, in the +rest of the Yndias, the laws and institutions of the natives have +been trampled down, and even our own have not been preserved. In +this way the peoples have been ruined and the country depopulated, +to say nothing of the injury to souls, bodies, and fortunes, and the +propagation of the faith, respectively. This is a grievous ill, the +worst that his Majesty or those perpetrating it could suffer; for he +is left without dominions, or with deserted ones, and they without +recompense or profit, save that which is no sooner won than exhausted. + +Fifth: Let it be known and understood that what has heretofore been +said and decreed respecting preprations for war is not meant to convey +the impression that we should or could act as if we were dealing with +Turks, Moors, and other races who are unfriendly, and the declared +enemies of our belief and our king. For these people neither know nor +understand it, and are not ill-inclined. The forces are to be sent +merely to escort and protect the preachers of the faith and subjects +of the king who sends them, and to see that they are allowed to enter +the land, and may preach where they choose and consider it needful, +and so that those who hold the government shall not hinder the others +from hearing and receiving the doctrine. They will see to it also that +conversion shall go on without intimidation, and without danger that +through threats of punishment any of those already converted should +relapse or apostatize. + +Sixth: We realize here with what caution and moderation the entry +must be made, as the king has provided fully, clearly, and in a +Christianlike manner in his ordinances which relate to incursions +and discoveries. But this is never complied with in the conquests, +because they are always conducted by poor persons, not carefully +chosen, and whose Christianity has not been put to the test. The +cure for this and all the evils, dangers, and injuries that we have +described, and many another most grievous one, is that the commander of +the expedition be a man of approved Christian zeal and clemency; free +from all covetousness, and eager for the honor of the service of God +and his king; by nature humane and full of zeal for the common good, +and for the salvation of souls. The same things should be looked for in +so far as possible in the other leaders, counselors, and commanders; +and they should be men who would be bowed with shame and dishonor at +being guilty of deeds unworthy a Christian and a noble man. + +Seventh: If this be not looked after thoroughly, and effective measures +taken for its remedy--both with respect to the personnel, as has been +said, and the heavy punishment that should be ordained and decreed, +and in due time executed--his Majesty will have, after heavy losses +and labors, nothing for his pains but the loss of his honor, wealth, +people, vessels, and arms, which are taken from his realm, where they +are so badly needed, and yet are sent away to ruin a land and desolate +a people--the richest and most opulent in temporal goods that could +be owned, and in spiritual possibilities, of all those that have been +discovered. The result would be that, either by the judgment of God, +to avert so many evils and the ruin of so many people and of so good a +government, the army and the expedition would be destroyed; or else, +if the land be won, the conquest would entail the destruction and +ruin of all that might have been gained, and naught would be left +but the seeds of perpetual sorrow. + + +Of the gains from this conquest, if it be rightly done + + +The first of the many and enormous benefits of this conquest, if it +be rightly ordered and carried out, is that the knowledge of God and +of Jesus Christ His Son, our Lord--which has commenced in these lands +so remote and distant from the church and the support of the Catholic +kings; and which is at present so narrowly constrained and little +disseminated in these islands, and is in danger each day of coming to +an end, if thus neglected--will not only be spread over great realms, +but by this means will be so well founded, and so widely extended, +that it shall never be ruined or extinguished; but it shall remain +and persevere in this new world with the glory and fame, before God +and man, of that king, who, by his zeal, diligence, and liberality, +has accomplished what no other monarch of the world has done. + +The second: No one, if he has not seen it, can imagine or comprehend +the infinite multitude of souls that will thus come to the knowledge +and adoration of their Creator. Today they are in the utmost darkness +and neglect of Him, and in the greatest subjection and servitude to +the devil that exists upon the earth--through their great idolatry, +wickedness, and bestiality, which arises entirely from the great +abundance and the bounty of the land. + +The third: Much less can one realize without seeing it, how--apart +from the corruption of sin, depravity, wickedness, and inveterate +customs--how kind, honorable, content, gentle, pleasant, tractable, +and easily governed these people are by nature; and how all China, +with but one stock, is so great and populous, and so much intercourse +is carried on in the greatest peace, regularity, quietness, justice, +and order, that has ever been known or discovered in the new world or +the old--and this with no aid from the divine light, or any fear of +punishment or reward, but by the mere strength, or rather gentleness, +of a good native government. + +The fourth: In this way our customs will, or at least may, be +introduced, together with the articles of our faith, with the utmost +ease, both because of their gentleness, and because of their great +intelligence, and mental capacities, wherein they have a clear and +marked advantage over us. + +The fifth: It will be necessary to establish immediately a large +number of schools, where our writing, language, and literature may be +easily and quickly learned, having them abandon their own, which are +extremely difficult, so much so that even they cannot understand them +while still children. These are a diabolic invention to keep them busy +all their lives with their whole minds, so that they can neither go on +to other sciences, nor can others teach them, without first ridding +them of this hindrance. Once rid of it, not only the children, but +even the grown persons of all ages will learn our letters, language, +and literature--as well on account of the ease of our writing, and +the relief from the burden of the other, as because of their natural +aptitude, the gentleness of their dispositions, and their natural +adaptability to guidance, when there is a hand to guide. + +The sixth: From the beginning a large number of churches and +monasteries will be founded, not only for the purpose above mentioned, +but especially to instruct in our faith, doctrine, and mode of life. + +The seventh: There will be no difficulty in pacifying and converting +the peasants, countrymen, and villagers, who are so numerous that +nearly all the land is covered with villages; for they are quite simple +and unsophisticated, and suffer great oppression and tyranny. With +the women, who are very numerous, there will be even less difficulty +in introducing the faith, because of their virtue and great reserve, +which is remarked by all who know of them--to such a degree that they +lack only Christianity to be much beyond us in all matters of morality. + +The eighth: It will result in time in preventing the entry of the +cursed doctrine of Mahoma, which has already infected almost all the +other realms, and its establishment there, which would be an easy +thing, as the Chinese are so sensual and full of vices; and if it +once enter that country, the conversion of souls will be extremely +difficult, and the conquest of the land almost impossible, for this +wicked belief renders men obstinate in its retention, and ferocious +in its defense. + +The ninth: And it makes us sad here to think that if this opportunity +be let slip, all hope will be lost of the greatest conversion of souls +and acquirement of riches that ever lay within the power of man, +just as we have lost so many great realms in Yndia, which have so +strengthened and fortified themselves that little or nothing remains +of them. [46] And these benefits, in particular, will be lost. + + +Of other especial advantages + + +First: Not only is that country sufficient for its own maintenance, +but his Majesty can also, with what he will obtain from it, check +and menace all our old enemies. For he can easily exact every year, +without injury to any one, five galleons--built and rigged, equipped +with artillery and munitions, and even loaded with materials and +military supplies. Further, if the Chinese are well treated and paid, +from them will go the men necessary to work the ships; they are no +less industrious and capable than our seamen, as we consider them +very expert in the Portuguese ships. + +Second: Those vessels, or as many others, can be loaded every year with +gold, raw silk, and all sorts of silken fabrics--taffetas, satins, +damasks, etc.; with musk, chests inlaid with ivory, boxes, wrought +and gilded curtains, and whatever kinds of furniture, appliances, +ornaments, and jewels are used by man; and many a web of linen cloth, +of every sort and kind. Thus there would be no necessity for bringing +to Espana, as is now done, these goods from foreign lands; and our +money and wealth would be retained in Espana, as it now is not. + +Third: Many persons who have seen them know that the towers of the +treasure-house are of gold and silver, and of great size. They tell us +what abundance of silver goes into general use because no other money +is current, and how so much comes in continually from other countries +and never goes out; and that is besides the many and exceedingly rich +mines of the country. They say, too, that the king will not allow +the mines to be worked, in order that trade and the culture of the +soil may not cease. For that reason silver is continually carried +into the country, and that contained in it is not carried away--on +which account, they say, that metal remains there as a treasure. + +Fourth: The amount of the rents and taxes, and profits which his +Majesty can enjoy, from the first, from general sources, is very +great--and that without injury to the civil and local government +of the country. He will gain this through the mere respect for his +universal sovereignty; and the protection and introduction of the +faith, accomplished at his own cost, care, and diligence; and through +the obligation to maintain and defend not only the faith, but good +and firm government, in order to preserve it. + +Fifth: The number of encomiendas that can be divided and distributed +among our people will be great; and so rich are they that each person +on whom one is conferred can maintain, worthily and liberally, the +others who remain there. And his district would be so extensive that, +if he chose to apportion it to each of his followers, he would have +enough to provide for all, without any person being neglected. + +Sixth: There will be many and very different offices and dignities +of administration and justice which his Majesty must establish, +to bestow upon his vassals. + +Seventh: There will also be many captaincies and subordinate places, +and military offices, and employments for the soldiers; and with +these three kinds of opportunity a great part of the Spanish people +could come to reside there, and be ennobled, and the country could +be placed on a very substantial and safe footing. + +Eighth: Since the people are so clever and intelligent, with agreeably +fair complexions and well-formed bodies, and are so respectable and +wealthy, and have nothing of the Indian in their nature, they have +the advantage of us in everything except salvation by the faith, +and courage. And since the women are exceedingly virtuous, modest, +and reserved, and are very faithful wives, very humble and submissive +to their husbands; and as they are even more graceful, beautiful, +and discreet than are the women of Spain; and as they are wealthy and +of good standing--it will be a very simple and ordinary proceeding, +and very creditable and honorable, for them to marry (as some are +already doing in Macan) the Spanish captains, merchants, and men of +all classes. These will become noble with their wives, and will be +settled and established in China. Thus the two peoples will mingle, +and they will propagate and multiply the race; and all will be, in +short, united and fraternal, and Christian. This is something which +has never occurred or been accomplished in any part of the Yndias +which has been discovered and settled, since those people were so +barbarous and brutal, so ugly, vile, and poor, that [Europeans] +have seldom formed unions in the bonds of marriage. In the few cases +of such marriages, they have been considered ignominious, and the +parties, with their children and descendants, have incurred a sort +of infamy and disgrace. On this account, there has been among these +nations neither friendship, unity, nor safety; on the side of the +natives, neither confidence, nor increase of numbers, nor development, +nor sincerity; and, for the Spaniards, neither fixed residence nor +industry. Accordingly there has been neither settlement nor government; +and everywhere there has been a barbarous mode of life, and ruin and +depravity, in both spiritual and temporal matters. In the laws and +government, and in regard to estates, villages, and individuals, +everything has steadily gone from bad to worse, and is in a very +feeble condition. Nothing of this sort will occur in China, nor will +there be room for these disorders, on account of the opportunity +which such marriages will furnish for friendship, and for familiar +intercourse as between equals. We shall thus maintain ourselves, and +become established in that land, on account of the said traits of the +people--their virtue and beauty, dignity, wealth, and prudence--and +many other advantages of that country. + +Ninth: Not only for this reason, but because that country is very +healthful and well supplied, and prolific in all generation and +progagation, there will soon be born a great multitude of boys and +youths among the Spaniards and Chinese. Then will be needed not +only schools to teach reading and writing, as has been said, but the +sciences; and universities--in which will be taught, besides Latin and +other languages, philosophy, theology, and other forms of learning. For +these studies, the Chinese possess excellent memories and understanding +and very keen faculties. They have gentle dispositions, and well-shaped +figures. They are very neat, and polite and serious in behavior, and +lead temperate lives. They have the qualifications and the possessions +for any office or dignity, and they occupy and represent these with +much more authority and severity than do our people. On the other +hand, they display much gentleness and suavity--all the more since +there are no severe or outrageous punishments in those realms, which +are so settled and peaceable, and ruled with such justice that it +compels admiration. + +Tenth: From what has been said, it follows that there will be among +those natives--whether pure-blooded, or partly of Spanish blood, +as has been said--after the two peoples have become united and +connected, persons suited to become priests and religious; and to +assume the government and official posts of the state, and military +offices; and to undertake all the other services and enterprises +of the country. With these, it will be evident how well established, +peaceful, and united the country will be, since those persons will look +after it as their own; and on account of the bond and union which will +exist between its parts, and of the many ties of kindred--of wives, +and children, and relatives--and of estates, which will constrain +them to aid one another, and take care of the country. + +Eleventh: In the other Yndias all this has been lacking, and +continually have been supplied from Espana, or from the pure Spaniards, +all the priests and religious; the governors, and judges both superior +and inferior; with all the other positions and commands, both in peace +and war--and even the mechanics, and the assistants and subordinates +of the above-mentioned persons. Besides, the Spaniards have always +managed the state for themselves, and separately from the natives of +the land--disdaining to give them a share in any matter of honor or +profit, but remaining always foreigners and aliens, and even objects of +dread, to the natives. For when some of the Spaniards die, or return +to Spain, others come anew, who are always strangers to the people +of the country and regard the natives as barbarians. From this have +resulted two serious evils, and the beginnings of many others. First: +The Spaniards are always few in number, and have but little experience +or knowledge of the country; they have little affection for it, and +few ties or interests therein. It is always their intention to return +to the mother-country, and to procure their own enrichment--whether +it be by fair means or foul, or even by destroying and consuming, in +their eagerness to attain that end--not troubling themselves whether +the country be ruled rightly or wrongly, whether it be ruined or +improved. The second evil is that, to the Spaniards, the commonalty +of the Indians is something new and strange, and the latter are always +regarded as menials and slaves, and objects for the insolence of those +who come into possession of them. Accordingly, they are always scorned, +despised, overworked, exhausted, and even dying--as is actually seen +to be the case. With all this, it is impossible that their numbers +should increase or their condition or their lands improve; rather, +they are continually deteriorating and dying--as in many districts +they are already ruined; and everywhere there is a tendency to this, in +the opinion and judgment of all who see and understand their condition. + +Twelfth: All this has arisen from two sources. The first is, as has +been already said, that the people are so low, barbarous, poor, +ill-favored, rude, ignorant, and unworthy of being mingled with +Spanish nobility and valor. The second is, that the country is so +poor, and what wealth it has is so unsubstantial; it has no roots, +or anything in which it could take root and become established. For +almost the only wealth of these people has been in the mines and +metals, and in their personal belongings, which are not permanent +or fixed. There are no hereditaments or cultivated farms, or crops, +or regular supplies; no products of the industry of workmen, and no +machinery; no general provision for ordinary use. But all is a desert, +and destitute, and at a standstill, and unsettled--as they say, +belonging to the east wind. And therefore the Spaniards also have +been and are as unsettled as if they were stopping at an inn. Such +are the lands that they have won. + +Thirteenth: In China, conditions are altogether different, since its +people are, as has been said, qualified for marriage, friendship, and +union and equality; and they are fitted for offices and dignities and +authority, both spiritual and temporal. And, further, the richness +of the country is so great and of such sort--being realty, crops, +and necessaries of life; provisions of rice, wheat, and barley; +all manner of fruits, and many varieties of wine; domestic fowl, +ducks, and many other kinds of poultry; many cattle, horses, cows, +goats, sheep, and buffaloes; abundant hides, endless store of silk, +and considerable cotton; musk, honey and wax; numerous varieties of +valuable woods, many kinds of perfume, and other things produced by +the soil; besides an abundance of mines and metals, as has already +been stated. To all this is added the results of the industry of +so many people, so apt, thrifty, industrious, and well governed. It +is incredible how great is the number and abundance of the crafts, +arts, inventions, industries, and manufactures of everything that +could be asked for human use--of necessaries, ornaments, dainties, +jewels--and all the shops and articles of merchandise, both for the +use of the country and for the trade with foreigners. All this, +together with what has already been said of the people, should, +God willing, be cause enough to give us an entry into those realms, +so that, in short, they may become pacified, intermixed and united, +hispanized and christianized. So that one cannot mention all the great +benefits arising from this, both spiritual and temporal--a new light +of the faith, good modes of life, salvation for the Chinese and many +souls, and glory to God; wealth, honor, and eternal fame for our king; +great renown, prosperity, and multiplication for the Spanish nation, +and through it, for all Christianity. Besides, there will be all +these that follow. + + +Other benefits besides those already mentioned + + +In the first place, there could be established straightway +archbishoprics and bishoprics (as many as in all the former Christian +world, over there), with a patriarch. + +Second: There might be founded new military orders with larger +revenues than those of the old country; or the old ones of Santiago, +Calatrava, Alcantara, and San Juan may be extended, and it will even +be a great advantage if these and other new ones should be used during +the conquest. + +Third: A number of titled lords can be created, such as counts, dukes, +and marquesses, just as, at present, encomenderos are appointed--for +the encomiendas must be much larger there; and with such prospects +the entry will be much more certain, and the land much more secure +afterward, since there are so many lords. + +Fourth: His Majesty may appoint four or six viceroys, as there are +now fifteen in the fifteen provinces, who have as much power and +state as kings have elsewhere. + +Fifth: After all these things have been seen to, and the land is in +a settled condition, his Majesty may levy from it a great income and +much merchandise for his realms, as has already been said. + +Sixth: Peace can be made and an understanding reached with the Tartar +and other tribes that lie in the region from China to the land of the +Turk; and we can better know his condition and strength, and find a +way to harass him from here in the East. + +Seventh: Couriers and relay postmen can be sent to Spain by land; +for, although some have already come by land, they are all the time +finding shorter and better routes. + +Eighth: The former peace and amity with the Sofi and the Armenians, +[47] and any other people that may be discovered or treated with, +or become known, in all Asia, will be greatly strengthened. + +Ninth: When his Majesty is lord of China, he immediately becomes lord +of all the neighboring states of this coast, including Cochinchina, +Canboxa, Sian, Patan, and even as far as Malaca; and it would be very +easy to subject the islands of Samatra, Javas, Burney, Maluco, &c. + +Tenth: Therewith can be secured the states of Yndia, and the returns +from the merchandise coming from China--without whose commerce +they could not be maintained; and which is now not secure, but very +doubtful, unless it be conquered. + +Eleventh: The reason for establishing these possessions in some +kingdoms, and alliances and commerce in others, will be cogent--the +opportunity for the conversion of souls; by this means the knowledge +of the name of Christ may be brought into all these regions, and in +all of them souls may continually be converted. + +Twelfth: The Chinese will navigate the seas to the Yndias of Peru +and Nueva Espana; and their relations with us will be more settled +and confirmed. + +Thirteenth: The population of that country is so great and so dense +that many of the Chinese can be brought to these islands as colonists, +and thus enrich themselves and this land. + +Fourteenth: The immediate occupation of China will forestall the danger +that the French and English, and other heretics and northern nations, +will discover and navigate that strait which certainly lies opposite +those regions--that of Labrador, [48] as those peoples say. + +These are, in brief, the many evils which should be averted, and some +(not to speak of many others) of the numerous benefits--which it would +take long to enumerate in writing, and cannot even be imagined--which +would result if his Majesty should choose to put his hand to so great +an undertaking; and may God our Lord grant him the grace and favor +to proceed with it. + + +Doctor Santiago de Vera +The Bishop of the Filipinas +The licentiate Melchor Davalos +The licentiate Pedro de Rojas +The licentiate Ayala +The Archdeacon of Manila +Antonio Sedeno, rector +Alonso Sanchez +Fray Diego Alvarez, provincial +Hernan Suarez +Fray Juan de Plasencia, custodian of the order of St. Francis +Fray Vicente Valero, guardian +Fray Alonso de Castro +Raymundo +Fray Pedro de Memdieta +Fray Juan de Quinones +The canon Don Juan de Armendariz +The canon Luis de Barruelo +The mariscal Graviel de Ribera +The accountant Andres Cauchela +Juan Baptista Roman +Don Francisco de Poca y Guevara +Pedro de Chaves +Diego de Castillo +Juan de Argumedo +Don Juan Ronquillo del Castillo +Juan de Moron +Ballesteros de Saavedra +Don Antonio Jufre Carrillo +Andres de Villanueva +Luis de Bivanco +Agustin de Arceo +Hernando Munoz de Poyatos +Bernardo de Vergara +Gaspar de Acebo +Juan Pacheco Maldonado +Gomez de Machuca +Francisco Mercado de Andrada +Francisco Rodriguez +Gaspar Osorio de Moya +Don Bartolome de Sotomayor +Diego de Camudio +Bernardino de Avila +Luis Velez Cherino +Pedro Martin +Francisco Garcia +Melchor de Torres +Christoval Munoz +Diego Fernandez Vitoria +Alonso Beltran, Secretary + +[On the back of the Sevilla copy are written, in the same hand as +are the marginal notes, various memoranda, apparently as references +for the use of the council. On the left-hand side appear the following: + +"1: There was an assembly of all the estates, who resolved to send a +person to his Majesty; and all appointed Father Alonso Sanchez; August +[sic; but should be April] 19, in the year 86. 2: On the fifth of May, +86, the royal Audiencia of Manila appointed Father Alonso Sanchez as +envoy. 3: On the twentieth of June, 86, the bishop and cathedral of the +city of Manila appointed the same. 4: On the sixteenth of April, 86, +the bishop and the superiors of the religious appointed the same. 5: On +the 25th of June, 86, the judiciary, magistracy, and cabildo of Manila +appointed the same. 6: On the twenty-eighth of May, the master-of-camp +and the captains of the Filipinas Islands appointed the same." + +Then follows a list of letters and other documents accompanying the +"Memorial," several of which are presented in our text. On the right +hand is written: "Filipinas Islands, city of Manila, assembly of +April 19, 1586. Royal Audiencia, judiciary, and magistracy. Bishop +and clergy. Orders, and religious and ecclesiastical estate. The +master-of-camp, captains, and soldiers, and the secular estate. The +person who should come: Father Sanchez." Other memoranda refer to +various letters from Philippine officials, dated during the years +1583-86, which seem to have been consulted in reference to the +"Memorial."] + +[In the library of Edward E. Ayer, Chicago, is a collection of MSS., +transcripts from documents in Spanish archives, which were made +during the years 1859-65 by a Spanish official at Madrid, who had +been in the Philippine Islands, named Ventura del Arco: it has been +kindly loaned to us by Mr. Ayer for use in the present work. This +series, in five volumes, large octavo size, contains some 3,000 +pages of matter regarding these islands, from the original MSS. in +the archives; some is copied in full, but often a synopsis only is +given. To many of the documents are added tracings of the original +autograph signatures. Although spelling, punctuation, and capitals +are considerably modernized, the work of transcription appears to have +been otherwise done carefully, intelligently, and _con amore_; and the +collection contains much valuable material in Philippine history. It +covers the period of 1586-1709, and begins with the proceedings of the +junta of 1586, which are found in vol. i, pp. 1-101. The "Memorial" +is given in a full resume; and at the end is cited (pp. 48-49) the +following paragraph, which is not contained in our Sevilla copy, +or in that of the Madrid MS. which we have followed:] + +In the city of Manila, on July 26 of the year 1586, the following +persons met in the royal building: The honorable president and auditors +of the royal Audiencia of these islands, and his Majesty's fiscal of +the Audiencia; Don Fray Domingo de Salazar, bishop of the Filipinas; +and the religious, the captains, the magistrates, and the municipal +officers of this city--who hereunder signed their names. They met +to discuss fully the matters contained in this document, about which +Father Alonso Sanchez as procurator-general of this country, and acting +in its name, is to confer with his Majesty, and solicit aid from him, +that the prosperity and colonization of these islands may continue +to increase, and that God and his Majesty may be served. The above +articles having been read, as they are here recorded, _de verbo ad +verbum_, all the above persons declared, unanimously and with one +consent and opinion, that this memorial was properly drawn up; and +that Father Alonso Sanchez should communicate all its contents to +his Majesty, and other matters as seemed to him necessary. The above +honorable persons made the required attestations to the document, +and signed it with their names, as did other persons. I, the clerk +of the court [of the Audiencia], attest this. + + +Alonso Beltran + + +[Then follow thirty signatures, all tracings of the original +autographs.] + + + +Letter to Felipe II, From Various Officials + + +Sacred Royal Catholic Majesty: + +To fulfil the obligations resting on us, we the master-of-camp and +the captains who are serving your Majesty in these Filipinas Islands, +give your Majesty, whenever we have an opportunity, a report of matters +concerning this camp, and what things are desirable in it. That your +Majesty may be better served, we are sending this report by the ships +that are now sailing, notwithstanding that our captain-general, the +president of the royal Audiencia here, is writing a more detailed +relation (as being the person who has given the most attention to +this), of all that he thinks necessary to improve matters in these +islands, so that their increase may be constant. + +The care that your Majesty has always had and continues to have for +the preservation of these islands, and the great expense that your +Majesty has incurred therein, since they began to be pacified (a +work which still continues) without your Majesty's royal exchequer +having any profit, cause your Majesty's very Christian zeal to be +well understood, and that what you principally aspire to is the great +service which is rendered to our Lord, in spreading His holy evangel +in lands so remote, and among people so far removed from the true +knowledge, by which, through His goodness and mercy, so many thousands +of souls have been converted, and are being converted every day, +to His holy faith, to say nothing of many who in this time have been +born in and enjoyed holy baptism. The latter are extremely numerous, +which has resulted from the employment of soldiers stationed here, +for with their protection the religious who aid in conversions and +preaching can do so in security. Without such protection this would be +impossible, unless by the special grace of God, because these natives +are a people untamed, rebellious, and exceedingly cruel. If they are +obedient, it is plainly evident that they are so on account of this +check; and that if they were not thus restrained, not only would +the work not go forward, but the gains would be turned to losses, +through inability to retain them. What your Majesty has so happily +commenced here would come to an end, although these districts and +the neighborhood promise so excellent beginnings, of the very best, +in those places so near this country--which are, as your Majesty +well knows, China, Japan, Borney, Sian, and Patan, and many other +very rich and prosperous provinces. Furthermore, a manifest and great +service would be rendered to our Lord, when their peoples should come +to know Him. Your Majesty's royal crown would be extended by wider +boundaries, as your Majesty's greatness and Christian zeal worthily +merit. Therefore what has been thus far gained is of very great +consequence, and your Majesty should order that it be preserved with +the care hitherto manifested, since it is of so great importance. This +can in no wise be accomplished without the assistance of soldiery. + +That this should be more efficiently done, it is quite necessary +that your Majesty should order that the usual force here consist of +three or four companies, which contain in all about four hundred +soldiers. These with their captains and officers, should be paid +by the month, as is the custom in the rest of your Majesty's camps +and frontiers; for thus they will all serve with great assiduity, +and support themselves honorably, having good weapons and munitions +and everything else necessary for military operations. They shall +understand that, when pay is given them, they must take care to render +obedience to orders and commands, with great readiness--being subject +to their commanders, which is the principal thing required; and the +captains must punish those who may exceed their orders, as is done +in all districts where garrisons are established, and as it was done +here before your Majesty ordered the royal Audiencia to come to these +islands. For, notwithstanding the fact that until then the soldiery +here had never been paid, they have not on that account failed to be +usually very willing and obedient to orders given them. They are well +supplied with weapons and munitions of war, and are as experienced +therein as those who, more than they, follow the art of war in all +regions. This they have clearly demonstrated on certain occasions +that have taken place in these islands, and by the reputation which +they have everywhere gained for maintaining themselves among so +many enemies, always attacking these with great personal bravery, +without having had forts or defenses for their protection. Their +alertness, good will, and discipline has all been due to the fact +that the governors and captains-general who have come here on your +Majesty's service, provide everything that, in the opinion of your +master-of-camp and the captains, may appear to be requisite for +your Majesty's service, without its being necessary for anyone to +lend a hand in it. On account of this regularity in affairs, both +captains and soldiers have performed their duties freely, lending +their assistance with much care in whatever was necessary, and doing +whatever they were ordered without any shirking--for, besides fearing +the punishment which would be meted out to them for doing anything +improper, they expected a reward for their services. They saw that +those who merited it were constantly being rewarded with encomiendas +and other means of support; consequently everyone exerted himself in +the service with much more willingness and courage, without shirking +any labor or peril, however great it was, and without stopping to +make any demands that they should be given their usual pay--as now +they claim in regard to your Majesty's royal decree respecting the +towns that shall be vacated and placed under the royal crown. For +this has so disheartened the soldiers of this royal Audiencia who +have come so far in the hope of being rewarded for their services, +that there is not a soldier who does not refuse to obey the orders he +receives. Since the royal Audiencia has come here, there have been so +great dissensions that very few or none take any pride in military +service or carrying arms as before, except it be ourselves, the +master-of-camp and the captains. To remedy such a state of affairs, +it is not enough to make rules which point out their duty; but in +rewarding each man who goes the rounds, does sentry duty, or the +like, support is given to the royal Audiencia, whose orders lately +fail of execution; for when we or they order anything to be done, +the soldiers go away and do as they please. As a result the latter +have grown so arrogant, that many times when they have been summoned +by their sergeants to do certain things which are their usual duty, +and indispensable for the defense of this city, they have refused +to obey them. On the contrary, officers have been publicly insulted +and stabbed; and this has occurred not once but many times. This +boldness has increased to such an extent that it is displayed on the +slightest occasion. On this account we cannot maintain sentinel duty, +or the necessary precautions, because we, the master-of-camp and the +captains, cannot punish them as formerly. The soldiers no longer have +for us the fear and respect that they once had, which has caused in +these islands the complete loss of that military discipline which was +formerly so strict. This has been shown repeatedly, so that the natives +indulge in all sorts of daring, holding us in very slight estimation, +as they did last year in Panpanga, five leagues from this city. They +placed at their head two chiefs, who in two days' time had a large +following, well armed and supplied, who could disturb the whole land +with the insolence and the effrontery that they displayed. Because they +said that they were coming to destroy this city, it was necessary for +myself and some captains, and all the good soldiers to be found here, +to go out to prepare for them. This was done and the president sent +your Majesty a detailed account thereof on the ship which sailed from +here at that time. + +Feeling that this was right, and due to your Majesty's service, I held +a council of the captains; and I set before them these difficulties, +and others that might result from the complete ruin of the military +service. Unanimously we all petitioned "that this royal Audiencia +here shall be freely allowed to have charge of war affairs in general +because in this way we could act as a unit, as we did before. We +should strive to reduce the evil condition which obtains at present to +that good order which we are wont to have, because what has taken so +many years to acquire should not be lost in one hour." The result was +that a suit was instituted against us on the ground that the petition +which we presented was disrespectful, and that we were rebellious. We +were imprisoned for a long time and condemned to an excessive fine, +where we had expected to be rewarded for our ardent zeal and desire to +please your Majesty, which we have always had. We send your Majesty +a copy of the proceedings, notwithstanding that it is to terminate +in the court of appeals, so that your Majesty may see how, without +any fault of ours, we who have served your Majesty here during so +many years, and with so great fidelity, are personally ill-treated, +and our property despoiled. We humbly entreat your Majesty to order +that our grievances be considered and remedied, as injuries have +been done us; for in that way our many and zealous services shall +not be forgotten. By this, and other things that we have referred to, +your Majesty may see how troublesome it is and will continue to be, +for the preservation and development of the islands, that the royal +Audiencia remain here. For, as is obvious, it is not of so much +importance as are the soldiery in a land of so many enemies, where, +except for the neighboring districts by which we are surrounded, +the natives are all hostile, and nothing can be done or undertaken, +except it be with weapons in hand. To maintain justice for the +Spanish who reside among them, it would seem to be sufficient to have +a governor, as there always has been, since there are not more than +one hundred encomenderos and seven hundred soldiers here. In Spain, +however small a city or town may be, it has a larger population and +more litigation; yet, with only one corregidor or alcalde-mayor, +its affairs are justly administered. Besides, the salaries of the +Audiencia will be of assistance in many important matters concerning +your Majesty's service which are continually arising. These often fail +of execution on account of the lack of funds in the royal exchequer, +as a result of the expense of keeping this door open. By placing in +charge of soldiers who merit it, the encomiendas which become vacant, +a reform will be effected in this camp--which is necessary in order +to execute any plans which may be difficult. We advise your Majesty +as loyal vassals, regarding what seems to be most necessary for your +Majesty's better service and the increase of your Majesty's royal +dominion and renown. May our Lord watch over your Majesty's sacred +royal Catholic person for many fortunate years, with the addition +of greater realms and seigniories, as we, your Majesty's vassals, +and all Christendom desire. Manila, June 24, 1586. Sacred Catholic +Royal Majesty. We, your Majesty's vassals and servants kiss your +Majesty's royal feet. + + +Alfonso de Chaves +Don Juan Ronquillo +Juan Maldonado de Castro +Bernardo de Vergara +Agustin de Arciol +Juan de Moron +Rodrigo Albarez + +[Endorsed: "To the sacred royal Catholic Majesty, king don Philipe +our lord." "Written by Juan de Ledesma, for the master-of-camp, and the +captains in the Filipinas." "Philipinas.--To the king our sovereign, +Philipe. From the master-of-camp and captains. June 24."] + + + +Letter from the Manila Cabildo to Felipe II + + +Sacred Royal Catholic Majesty: + +Section I. Last year, eighty-five, this city of Manila wrote to your +Majesty, sending a relation of affairs in these islands. Because of our +extreme and continually increasing necessities, and the magnificent +opportunities for your Majesty's service that are lost daily, and on +account of our having no one at court to look after our affairs, or +anyone to inform your Majesty, as is requisite, of matters pertaining +to this realm, we resolved to request Father Alonso Sanchez, a master +of sacred theology and a religious of the Society of Jesus, to go +to confer with your Majesty about all these things, as a man who is +experienced in all these matters, and one who will discuss them with +all sincerity and certainty. Therefore he agreed to undertake this task +for the service of God and of your Majesty, and indeed of this state, +having therefor the permission and order of his superior. In order +to decide what must be laid before your Majesty, and what petitions +made, many assemblies were held, composed of the president, auditors, +fiscal, bishop, superiors of the orders, cities, royal officials, +captains, and other men who were intelligent, and zealous for the +service of your Majesty. The said father is authorized by those men +and by this entire country; and we humbly entreat that your Majesty +be pleased to give him entire faith and credit, to listen to him, and +to show us the mercy and favor that we hope from the munificence of +your Majesty. Although we have charged him to petition your Majesty +for everything needful, yet we shall give a brief relation of the +most necessary, in which, if such be your Majesty's pleasure, you +may favor and protect this your city and these your vassals. + +Section 2. It has been proved by experience that the royal Audiencia +cannot be maintained here without the total destruction of this state; +for in this city there are scarcely seventy citizens, and in all the +other settlements together not as many more. The military power, +which maintains this frontier, is totally disorganized, because +its usages are so at variance with the procedures and exactness +rendered necessary by the rigor of the laws forcibly enacted by the +Audiencia. Furthermore, our Portuguese neighbors imagine that this +tribunal has been instituted here to overpower and govern them, since +they cannot believe that it was established for one hundred and thirty +households and so few soldiers. Accordingly, they have shut the door +to the commerce, friendship, and intercourse, which was commencing +between them and us. In addition to this your Majesty possesses no +income here with which to pay the salaries of president, auditors, +fiscal, and other officials of the Audiencia. These salaries, added +to what is wasted in this country, would establish it, and put it in +a better state of defense; while now it is subject to any piratical +invasion whatever. For all these reasons, and others that Father +Alonso Sanchez will tell you in greater detail, we beg that your +Majesty be pleased to reduce this government to only one governor who +has experience in the affairs of this country, and in the wars and +pacifications that can and should be made. This we shall consider as +the greatest favor and kindness, and the only remedy for our hardships. + +Section 3. In other letters we implored your Majesty to be pleased +to have set aside in Nueva Hespana pay for three hundred soldiers, +who should serve here as a garrison, with whom this government and +the dominions of your Majesty could be increased by other kingdoms +of great wealth. We entreat this once more; and Father Sanchez will +inform your Majesty of the blessings that may result to your royal +service therefrom. + +Section 4. Because of its lack of public property this city cannot +maintain many things needed for the public good; therefore, we wrote +to your Majesty, entreating that you have a repartimiento of Indians +granted this city. Answer was received that the governor should +take cognizance of this matter; and therefore having recourse to the +governor and president, Santiago de Vera, we learn that he is informing +your Majesty of this necessity in his letters. Father Alonso Sanchez +also will do the same by word of mouth. We entreat your Majesty--since +this matter is so just, and appertains so much to your royal service +and the common good--to have this city granted an encomienda of +three or four thousand Indians, and the alcaizeria of the Chinese, +or any like favor, whereby all the above expenses may be met. + +Section 5. We are being totally ruined here through the arrival in +this city of merchants, and consignments from Mexico, and innumerable +troubles are arising therefrom, of which the same religious will +inform you in our name. The customs duties of Sevilla and of Vera +Cruz are being decreased and lost, to the great detriment of the +merchants. Four or five thousand pesos, more or less, are brought to +this city from Nueva Hespana, whence they are taken to the foreign +kingdom of China. Finally, the royal incomes and customs duties +are being decreased, the merchants of Castilla are suffering loss, +the silver is taken to a country of infidels, and these islands will +be ruined entirely, if your Majesty do not correct these evils by +ordering that no merchants come hither from Nueva Hespana, or send +money for investment here, but that the citizens of these islands +alone have the right to trade and traffic. This will only be done +in small amounts, and will result in fewer troubles; while those who +are engaged in pacifying and maintaining this country will have some +reward for their toils, instead of all the profits being reaped by +those who go to Mexico, after trading here with so much resultant +loss to this state and to the seigniories of your Majesty, as Father +Alonso Sanchez will inform you in greater detail. + +Section 6. Father Fray Rufino, of the Franciscan order, is sailing +to those kingdoms for the sole purpose of soliciting religious of +his order for these islands, where they are greatly needed for the +preaching of the gospel. We beseech your Majesty to order his superiors +to send them with all haste, and the same to the Augustinian order. + +Section 7. Since Father Alonso Sanchez will, on account of his +thorough knowledge of affairs in this country, China, and the +states of Eastern India, discuss with your Majesty these and many +other things--all touching the service of God and your Majesty--and +petition you concerning them, we humbly beg that your Majesty will +please to grant him free audience; for in all, and by all, we ratify +everything that he may relate and declare to your Majesty. May God, +our Lord, preserve and exalt your Majesty's sacred royal Catholic +person, with the increase of kingdoms and seigniories that we, your +subjects and vassals, desire. Manila, June 25, 1586. + +Don Juan de Bivero, archdeacon of this holy cathedral church, has +served in it for twenty years, and has taken part in all the work of +pacification in these islands, in administering the holy sacraments to +the soldiers and citizens--in all, serving God and your Majesty very +religiously. At present he is in dire need, for he has been given +no recompense for his services, and this country has no benefices +or other ecclesiastical incomes from which he might be supported. We +beseech that your Majesty be pleased to order some recompense to be +given him, since he so well deserves it. This will be a very signal +favor and kindness to this city. Sacred royal Catholic Majesty, +your Majesty's servants and vassals. + + +Andres de Villanueva +Don Antonio Sufre Carrillo +Andres Cabchela +Don Francisco de Poca y Guevara +Juan de Moron +Juan Maldonado del Castillo +Juan Baptista Roman +Rodriguez Albarez +Francisco RroS +Hernando Nunez de Pyatos +Luis de Bivanco +Hernando Vergara + + + + +Letter from Antonio Sedeno to Felipe II + +I.H.S. + + +Sacred Royal Catholic Majesty: + +It is five or six years since the Society, at your Majesty's orders, +sent me to these Philippinas Islands, together with some fathers and +brethren. In these islands we have endeavored, during all this time, to +attend to the needs and welfare of the country, in the service of God, +and, with especial care and effect, in that of your Majesty. Besides +ordinary occasions, two noteworthy cases have arisen in the course +of these years, beyond, these islands and in China, in which we +have lent our aid by order of your Majesty's governors, the bishop, +and the chief personages of these islands, by sending Father Alonso +Sanchez-of whom your Majesty has notice already--the first time to +reduce to your obedience the Portuguese of those regions. This he +accomplished with the success and skill of which your Majesty will have +heard, and with many hardships--both in China, and Macan, and in his +voyaging--as your Majesty will have learned by his relations. On the +second occasion he was sent, by the same order, to reduce a vessel, +which had mutinied in China, which he accomplished also so well, +that the factor, who was going with the warrants, confesses that +without him he could have done nothing, because of the mettle of +the Portuguese, and the daring with which those of the vessel had +closed with them. In this case there would surely have been many +disorders and deaths, if the said father, by his care and prudence, +and the authority that he enjoys among all, had not appeased them, +and reduced both of them. In this, and in a year of contrary weather +on strange seas and land, he suffered the hardships and dangers of +which, likewise, your Majesty has been informed. + +Since his return, in this last year of his stay here, your president +and auditors, and the entire city and camp, have been forced to examine +and deliberate upon the danger of these lands, the condition of which +is daily becoming worse. Both in private talks and in assemblies called +for that purpose, the remedy for these troubles has been discussed; +and all, with one voice and unanimously, agreed that there was nothing +else to do but to send the said father to discuss these matters with +your Majesty. For they have this confidence in him through their long +experience, not only in the two so grave affairs above mentioned, +but in all the more common matters which have been generally attended +to by the said father, since his arrival at these islands; and since +all of them are satisfied as to his proved virtue and religion, +the impartial manner in which he attends to matters, his energy and +executive ability, and his learning, whenever these qualifications are +needed. Especially they recognize the love that he has ever manifested +toward these lands, and the special eagerness with which he exerts +himself in your Majesty's affairs, and in establishing and increasing +your titles and rights to new conquests and pacifications--his reasons +therefor being the great service that will accrue to God in this way, +and your Majesty's obligation to make the conquests for the welfare +and remedy of so many souls. For these and other reasons and motives +which they know, all, unanimously--secular, clergy, religious, +municipal government, and Audiencia--have requested most urgently +that the said father go upon this mission to your Majesty. After much +hesitation--because of the vacancy that his absence will cause in +our religious community, and for the sake of the common welfare of +all this country; and because of the dislike that I have ever found +in him to meddle in such distractions and labors, so contrary to his +inclination (which has ever been that of one desirous of retreat)--I +was willing to excuse him from such a duty, thinking that he would +serve God, your Majesty, and these your lands, no less here. But, in +addition to the general demand of the whole community, I was ordered +by a decree of your Audiencia, which I could not or ought not resist; +and therefore he is going. I beseech your Majesty to receive this +little service from this religious order of yours, and from this +house; and from my poor will and that which the father takes, to +succeed in everything in serving your Majesty, knowing how great is +the service done to God, if success is secured therein. I shall not +request your Majesty to give him audience, for all the community begs +that; and of the kindness with which you will receive his humble and +good intentions, proof is experienced here, and your Majesty will +appreciate them. And as he has no other thought, intent, or designs +than the common welfare, and the service of God and your Majesty, +both he and I have great fortitude and tranquillity. May God grant +your Majesty, in this life, what we all desire for you; and, in the +other and eternal life, what we all beg for your Majesty, and are all +assured is kept for you as a reward for the so many labors and cares +with which your Majesty has maintained, and maintains, the universal +Church. Manila, June 25, 1586. Your sacred royal Catholic Majesty's +most humble servant in our Lord. + +Antonio Sedeno + +[Addressed: "+ To the sacred royal Catholic Majesty of the King +Felippe, our sovereign."] + +[Endorsed: "+ To his Majesty, no. 16. 1586. Manila, June 25. Antonio +Sedeno, rector of the Society of Jesus. In recommendation of Father +Alonso Sanchez."] + + + +Letter of Domingo de Salazar to Felipe II + + +Royal Catholic Majesty: + +As Father Alonso Sanchez, of the Society of Jesus, is going, in the +name of this community, to inform your Majesty of the condition of +these kingdoms, and of their need for reforms, I shall not dwell upon +that matter at all, but will refer you to what the said father will +relate in detail. But, inasmuch as there are certain special matters +that perhaps he will not mention, I thought that I should inform your +Majesty of them in the present letter. + +Immediately upon the arrival of the royal Audiencia in these islands, +mass was commenced to be said in the royal chapel. According to the +usual procedure in other audiencias, the chaplains who said it ended +the prayer of the mass with that clause which reads, _et famulos +tuos_, etc.--in which, after the name of his Majesty, follow those of +the bishop and the president, and the others contained in the said +prayer. According to what is said in this principal church of this +city, the president and auditors erased the name of the bishop, and +substituted those of the auditors, under the name of senators. When +I heard of this, I ordered my name to be inserted, and those of the +auditors to be erased. This gave rise to animosity, and certain acts +were passed, which the dean declares were sent to the royal Council +[of the Indias] a year ago. + +Because I sat down one day on the gospel side of the principal altar +during mass, the president and auditors took umbrage, and refused to +enter the principal church again until I made them return to it. I +have not sat there since, in order to give no grounds for contention, +although I know that it is my proper place, and that the Audiencia +have deprived me of it against all right. What was done in this +matter was sent also to the royal Council last year. I entreat that +your Majesty will be so good as to have the Audiencia and myself +informed as to what must be observed in regard to these two points; +for it is neither right that they should take umbrage at me, nor for +me to do what I should not. + +After their arrival in this city, there was but little harmony between +the president and auditors. Their discord was so public, that it +caused great scandal here. I tried to restore peace between them, +and for that purpose came to this city, leaving the visitation that +I was making. After they had been harmonized once, they began to +quarrel again, and with much more scandal than before. I tried for +the second time to pacify them; and when I saw that talking to each +one in private could result in nothing, one day, in full meeting, +I set before them the great scandal that they were causing in this +city, and the bad example that they were setting to it; and declared +to them the great displeasure of your Majesty, if you should know it, +and of God too. The hand of the Lord was interposed, and their lack +of harmony ended from that time; and they have been on friendly terms +ever since. In public as in secret, God works His will. + +In a decree sent to me by the Inquisition of Mexico your Majesty +orders me to deliver the records of proceedings and the prisoners to +the commissary of the Inquisition there; this I did immediately, as +I was only awaiting a message sufficient to enable me to do so, but +which had not come until then. I know that many troubles will surely +arise from this in the future; but, in doing what is ordered me, +I obey. May our Lord preserve your Majesty's royal Catholic person +for many years, for the good of His church and the protection of us +who have so little power. Manila, June 26, 1586. + +Royal Catholic Majesty, your most humble friar chaplain kisses your +royal hands. + + +The Bishop of the Filipinas + + +[Addressed: "To his royal Catholic Majesty, King Don Phelippe, +our sovereign. In his royal Council of the Indies."] + +[Endorsed: "Philippinas. + To his Majesty, 587; from the bishop, +June 26." _In a different hand:_ "Seen. Have its points abstracted."] + + + +Letter from the Audiencia of Manila to Felipe II + + +Sacred Royal Catholic Majesty: + +In the past year of eighty-five, we gave your Majesty a report on +the condition of this land, and some other matters concerning your +service, which are contained in the duplicate accompanying this present +letter. If it has not been examined, we beg your Majesty to have this +done, and to make suitable provision for these matters. + +_That the tributes shall be increased by one real for married men, +and a half-real for single men, in order to pay the soldiers._ [49] +Section 1. By your Majesty's order, the soldiers usually come from +Nueva Spana with one hundred and fifteen pesos as pay, out of which +they clothe themselves and purchase their weapons. They continue to +spend their money until they embark at Acapulco, so that, when they +arrive at these islands, they have nothing more to spend and find no +one to give them food. Unable to find a way to earn their sustenance, +they are forced to seek it among the natives, whom they annoy and +maltreat. They live in extreme distress, and so fall sick. The +greater number even die soon, without the possibility of assistance +from their neighbors, because they also are poor. The royal exchequer +is also always in difficulties, and embarrassed by many debts. Your +governor has been unable to give them any assistance from the royal +treasury. Considering that the natives of this land commonly have +treasure and means of gain, and furnish less in tribute than do the +natives of Nueva Spana (who are in fact poorer), and that without +oppression they might pay more, it has seemed right to us, if it be +your Majesty's pleasure, that the rate of tribute shall in general +be increased by one real for married men, one-half real for single +men, and for young men who possess means of gain, but who do not pay +tribute, the sum of one real. It will be easy for them all to pay this +every year. By this increase twenty-five thousand pesos, or even more, +would be realized, with which many of the soldiers living here could be +paid; meanwhile, as the others enter paid employment, they would be on +like footing with those just mentioned, and could support themselves; +and they would willingly do their duty in war, to which they must at +present be forced. Soldiers would willingly come here to serve your +Majesty, if they could know that they would be supported and paid; +and thus your royal conscience would be relieved. It certainly seems +cruelty to compel these men to serve without pay, and to die of +hunger. We beseech your Majesty that, if this remedy be expedient, +you will have the kindness to order its application, and will have +money sent from the royal exchequer of Mexico, so that these wretched +people can at least be fed and clothed. + +_Expenses which have been incurred in war_. Section 2. By your +Majesty's decree, the offices of clerk of the exchequer and of the +governor's office were sold, for some five thousand odd pesos; and, +although this sum was to have been sent on a separate account to the +officials in Nueva Espana, and thence to the House of Trade at Sevilla, +it was absolutely necessary to spend it on a fleet to operate against +the Japanese pirates, who are in the habit of plundering the coasts +of these islands; and also on a ship, which is being built for this +navigation [between New Spain and the Philippines], in order that +traffic should not be stopped; for the despatch of your Majesty's +fleet to Nueva Spana; and for various other matters. This could not +be avoided, because there is no more money in the royal exchequer +with which to relieve these distresses, as your Majesty will see by +the accounts which the royal officials are sending. + +_Concerning the twenty-two thousand pesos in salaries for the +Audiencia_. Section 3. Your Majesty has ordered that from the +repartimientos of Indians that are now or shall become vacant, twelve +thousand pesos de minas shall be assigned to the royal crown, to pay +the salaries of the Audiencia. We have informed your Majesty, in our +letters, of the great difficulties that would arise from the execution +of this order. For the soldiers, expecting to receive encomiendas, +and that some day good fortune would come to them, have for many +years served your Majesty, and are now serving, in war at their +own cost. Now the fruit of their labors is taken away from the men +who have conquered and maintained this land, while they are without +the hope that they may be rewarded in any other manner; and, seeing +themselves thus deprived, they become disheartened, desert service, +and abandon the land, thus depopulating it beyond all remedy. It seems +to us that, if such should be your Majesty's pleasure, it would be +best that you command money to be sent from Mexico for the salaries of +the Audiencia; and to assign the Indians who are or shall be without +owners as repartimientos and encomiendas to those who have served, +and have merited such reward, as has been the custom hitherto. Since +the conservation and increase of this land is so important for your +Majesty's service, may you be pleased to order for its succor, and +for the aid of the ecclesiastical and secular estates, the sum of +twenty-five thousand or thirty thousand pesos, to be provided annually +from the royal exchequer in Mexico. This sum is quite necessary for +the expenses incurred in armed expeditions, in aid for this land and +its defense, and in what is done almost every year for Maluco. + +Section 4. As affairs in this island are constantly falling into so +great neglect and danger of loss; and so many occasions that might +be advantageous to your Majesty, for the reduction of this new world +to your service, slip by; and since all the many thousands of souls, +oppressed and deceived by the devil, in great China and other kingdoms +in the neighborhood of these islands, may be saved through the door +which your Majesty has commenced to open--understanding that your +Majesty has not been suitably informed since these neighbors were +discovered, nor has had any clear account of their affairs, we have +agreed to send your Majesty a person who can do this and give your +Majesty a true relation of everything. Considering that Father Alonso +Sanchez, of the Society of Jesus (a man of the highest prudence and +learning, and most excellent in Christian faith and practice), has +a wide knowledge and great experience in this land and the realms of +China, Yndia, Xapon, and other surrounding nations (acquired by having +seen most of them several times and having visited and closely observed +them), and inasmuch as there is no one else able to do it--considering +also his detachment from outside considerations and interests, which, +intermingling, distort all one's views: therefore this Audiencia, the +city, the orders, the military captains, and all the other citizens, +unanimously elected him for this purpose. As he made excuses for +not going, and his superior declined to give him permission, we +ordered the latter to give the father leave and to order him, by +his obligation to obedience, to make this voyage, and the father to +accept the charge. Accordingly, the said father is going to inform +your Majesty and supplicate your favor for these islands, asking for +redress of their grievances and improvement of their condition, and +to discuss with your Majesty other matters of greater importance, of +which he will inform you. We beg your Majesty to grant him audience, +and to place entire confidence in a man who acts here with prudence, +circumspection, religious principle, and wise methods--as your Majesty +will understand when you see him in person; we refer your Majesty to +the relation he will give you. + +Section 5. Your Majesty did a great favor to this Audiencia and to +the citizens of these islands, by appointing the licentiate Don +Antonio Rivera y Maldonado, who arrived in good health, and has +assumed his office. + +Section 6. In this Audiencia, as is usual among all those that are +newly founded, a certain rivalry as to jurisdiction has existed between +the president and auditors, and some differences and discords have +arisen over it; therefore we decided among ourselves to lay the matter +before your Majesty, in order that you may declare and enforce your +pleasure; meanwhile the Audiencia will exercise the duties contested +between them. The trouble is ended, and there is quiet and agreement +among us. We beseech your Majesty to examine the record of proceedings +and acts in this matter, and to declare whether the conferring of +the said offices belongs to the Audiencia, or to the president alone, +in order that our concord may be permanent, and that there shall be +no further occasion for disturbing it; for this condition of peace +is so important for your Majesty's service and the good of the land. + +Section 7. As we have before related to your Majesty, ships resort to +these islands from China with merchandise and many supplies, with which +this land is but ill furnished. The fear of customs duties on such +things as provisions and supplies, which are of great bulk, the great +expense in lading, and their small profits here, induce those merchants +to discontinue bringing the above-named articles, substituting others +in their place. Thus there has been a great scarcity of supplies, +and considerable distress in the land. We have seen your Majesty's +decree in which you order us to make a report of the duties imposed +upon the merchants by Don Gonzalo Ronquillo, governor of these islands; +and whether it is expedient to impose heavier duties, or to drop them +altogether. In the meantime, we shall take such measures here as we +consider most necessary for your service. We are ordering that the +collection of one and one-half per cent imposed on money coming to +this land be discontinued; and, in order that the Chinese might bring +us an abundance of supplies, with horses and cattle, as they had begun +to do, it is decreed that no duties be imposed on the grain, biscuit, +flour, and all other provisions brought by them, in order to encourage +them to provide this land abundantly with these supplies. Moreover, +besides the above reason, the amount collected from this source for +your Majesty is very small. Your Majesty will order what you shall +be pleased to have done in this matter. + +Section 9. [50] By virtue of a royal decree of your Majesty, the bishop +added another parish priest to the benefice of this cathedral church, +so that there are now two priests and a sacristan. Orders have been +given that their salaries shall be paid from the royal exchequer, +in conformity with another royal decree lessening the amount to be +secured from the tithes. + +Section 10. Your Majesty ordered a royal decree to be issued, +commanding us to send a report on the recommendation made by the bishop +of these islands, that it is expedient that a brief be procured from +his Holiness, in order that the authority which he granted to the +bishop in the _foro interior_ for twelve years be also granted to +him in the _foro esterior_. [51] Since this concession has been made +by other pontiffs to the religious of the mendicant orders, the claim +made by the bishop has seemed to us both fitting and necessary--as also +that the grant be made for several years more, because eight of the +twelve years have elapsed. Since the orders possess this authority, +it is just that the bishop shall not remain without it, because cases +arise in the _foro esterior_, which, although they should go to the +apostolic see, fail to go, on account of the great difficulty and +length of the journey between here and Rome; and thus penitents might +not secure absolution, or would be unable to fulfil the obligations +that they owe to their consciences. And, if your Majesty be pleased +to order that this brief be obtained, it is our opinion that the same +authority be conferred, _tan in absolvendo quam in dispensando_. + +Section 11. Your Majesty commanded your royal decree to be issued, +ordering that the hundred pesos and hundred fanegas of rice which +are given annually as alms to the religious, besides the wine for +the saying of mass, and flour for the host, be given them. This +ordinance has been observed, and the supplies given them conformably +to the decree. + +Section 12. Certain slaves are brought to these islands from Yndia and +the settlement at Macan; as your Majesty has given no orders as to +the collection of duty on them from those who bring them hither--as +is paid on those from Santo Domingo and other places to Nueva Espana +and Piru--your royal officials have not collected on them, or on +those slaves who are carried from these islands to Nueva Espana. We +ask your Majesty to order as suits your pleasure in the regulation +of this matter. + +Section 13. Your viceroy in Yndia has, by severe restrictions and heavy +penalties, closed the door to the intercourse and commerce maintained +with these islands by the Portuguese; he has ordered that we should +not resort to Yndia, nor should the Portuguese come hither. As the +route to Macan and the coast of China has been opened, he says that +the natives of that country are offended, and might destroy Macan +through fear. Nevertheless, we understand that this course has been +pursued on account of the little love that the Portuguese feel for us; +and because they think that the Castilians will injure their commerce +and trade and raise the price of commodities in that land. We judge +from our own observation that, since so many ships come from the entire +coast of China to this land, and great concessions and kind treatment +have been afforded to them here, and as they supply their country +with gold and silver received in exchange for what they sell us, they +ought not to feel irritated at our presence there. On the contrary, +they always say that they desire this, and would be pleased to have +our trade. Although some inconvenience might result from Castilians +going there, it could not result from the Portuguese coming hither +with their wealth and merchandise. They, who are Christians, would +then enjoy the wealth and money now carried away by the Chinese; +and thus all of it would remain among your Majesty's vassals, which +would seem to be important to your service. Since we all are vassals of +your Majesty, we may have intercourse together, which will facilitate +the plans of your Majesty. Your Majesty will take such action as is +expedient for your service. + +The archbishop of Mexico, [52] while acting as governor of Nueva +Espana, sent Captain Francisco Galli to Nueva Espana and the ports, +and ordered him to transact other affairs necessary in your Majesty's +service, taking particular care to give him secret orders not to go to +Macan or the coast of China, because they ought not to waste time in +buying merchandise, and on account of other reasonable considerations +which influenced him. Your governor, the president of this Audiencia, +hearing that Pedro de Unamuno--who, on account of Captain Galli's +death, succeeded to his office, together with a large sum of money +which the latter and the officers of the fleet had brought over to +invest--was about to go to Macan, hastened to give them orders, under +penalty of death, to observe the secret instructions given by the said +archbishop, not to go to Macan. The fiscal appealed from this order, +asking that he should not be commanded to make a voyage to Nueva +Espana and abandon the discovery. Notwithstanding the confirmation of +the governor's order by this Audiencia, we have learned that he has +gone toward that coast of China and the settlement of Macan. We give +your Majesty particulars of this matter, in anticipation of future +contingencies. May our Lord preserve the imperial royal Catholic +person of your Majesty, and grant you the addition of greater realms +and seigniories, as we your Majesty's vassals desire and need. Manila, +June 26, 1586. Sacred Royal Catholic Majesty, your Majesty's servants +kiss your royal feet + + +L. de Santiago de Vera +The licentiate Melchor de Avalo +The licentiate Pedro de Rojas +The licentiate Don Antonio de Ribera Maldonado + + +[Addressed: "To his sacred royal Catholic Majesty King Don [Felipe] +our lord, in his royal Council of the Indias."] + +[Endorsed: "To his Majesty; no. 8; 1586. Letter from the Audiencia +of the Filipinas; June 26, 86." "On various matters regarding the +islands, of which it gives a detailed account, in order that his +Majesty may have it and take suitable action regarding all."] + + + +Letter of Pedro de Rojas to Felipe II + + +The great need in this country of giving your Majesty an account of the +many matters here that demand reform (and without it are on their way +to evident ruin), and further of the affairs of the realm of China, +seems at this juncture to make it indispensable that the people of +this country should send to your Majesty Father Alonso Sanchez, of +the Society, a person of very holy life, much learning, prudence, +and excellent judgment, and such a one as is well fitted to go to +discuss with your Majesty the affairs which have been placed in his +charge. Many of them, if the father did not go, would compel me to +write to your Majesty for their amendment; but, as he is being sent, +I shall let them go, referring you to all that the said father may +relate. I only beg that at this time, when the opportunity is so good, +and within the lifetime of your Majesty, an entrance may be made +into these Chinese realms, and they and the neighboring countries +be brought to the knowledge of the holy Catholic faith, and to the +service and dominion of your Majesty. + +The affairs of this Audiencia are, through the goodness of God, in +order and peace at present--although in times past it has not been so, +for there was some contention between your president and auditors, +over filling certain offices of the Audiencia. The appointments +to them belonged, it seems, according to your royal laws, to the +Audiencia. There was a question as to whether the president was to +confirm the appointments made by him as governor, in your royal name, +by Don Phelipe, and with your royal seal. It seems that this is quite +to the disadvantage of the Audiencia. For, if the office of governor +resided in another than the president, the offices of the Audiencia +would not be provided for therein, except the president and auditors; +nor would they be confirmed by Don Phelipe or with your royal seal, +since this belongs to the Audiencia alone. As soon as it was seen +that this was being done, there was hard feeling; but nevertheless, +to avoid wrangling, a compromise was settled upon--which, if it be +your Majesty's pleasure, you may order to be examined, as it is sent +with the documents relating to the foregoing controversy. By these +your Majesty will see how much your president was at fault, and the +chance the Audiencia gave for your Majesty's interests to suffer, if +there were any disturbance. Everything was done very circumspectly, +to avoid the injury that might result, from some other source, to +this commonwealth and realm. Accordingly we drew up, by agreement, +an act which your fiscal sent with the other papers; and since then +we have had no difficulties, but on the contrary, cordial relations +have been maintained in so far as the public is concerned. It appears, +however, that this is not so in secret; for I was yesterday informed +that your president was sending depositions and information against +your auditors, reviewing our entire lives, to your Majesty. I beseech +you to have these documents examined, both ours and his; and, if it +shall follow that we are at fault, we will expiate it with no less +than our lives, for it is not just that those who are disloyal to +your Majesty's service in countries so remote should incur a lighter +punishment. Will your Majesty make certain of the intention of your +president, and whether he can find guilt in your auditors too grave +for pardon. Likewise your Majesty must understand that I do not +consider that I am serving you by detailing the shortcomings of my +colleagues; for there is no lack of writers better able to write and +tell them than I am. The one thing that gives me consolation is, that +when your Majesty sends some one to ascertain how we have served you, +then in truth, you will be able to see who has done and who has aided +in doing his duty. [53] + +Although the father above mentioned is instructed to discuss the +matters pertaining to this country, it has seemed best to me not to +neglect writing your Majesty about the following matters. + +It seems expedient for your royal service, as this country is so +ill-provided and poor, that the Audiencia should be suppressed, and +that in its place one man be sent who is fitted for the position. If he +be not such, the Audiencia should remain, in order to hear disputants +with justice, relieve the oppressed, remedy wrongs and grievances, +and prevent many wrong acts which, without it, an evil-minded governor +would commit; this would also do away with the appeals to Mexico, +by which the citizens suffer much loss. But if the governor were a +fit one, there would be no need for the Audiencia and for many other +institutions, for the reasons which the father will explain to you. + +Such a governor should have authority and permission from your Majesty +so that, after having discussed and consulted (with such persons as +you may direct) on the affairs that seem to him most important for +your Majesty's service, he shall take such measures as appear to him +expedient, without other formality or consultation with your Majesty; +for in many cases the delay would entail losses, and in this way many +important opportunities are lost to your Majesty's service. + +Such a governor should not give permission, without a special license +from your Majesty, for any person to go out of this country; for by +the lack of this, great losses in population have been suffered here; +in some years more Spaniards go hence than arrive. Besides, everyone +is confident that permission to go will be granted to him, and many +therefore neglect to make themselves a home; whereas, if they did so, +it would cause them to multiply, have children, and become citizens +of the country. + +Such a governor should not be allowed, either in his own name or +through a third person, to carry on trade or commerce. And the better +to hold him to this, the decision as to whether he trades or carries +on commerce should be in the hands of the magistracy, the municipal +government, and the judiciary; so that, if such charge be proved on +investigation, all the said governor's goods may be sequestered and +he be sent prisoner to your Majesty, so that you may do with him +and his as you see fit. If this be done, it is the surest means to +keep the governors in the path of rectitude, and make them perform +their duties as they should. Nothing else has wrought such ruin in +the country as the trading and trafficking of those who govern it. + +And in order that this land should meet the high hopes which your +Majesty has for it, it would seem of the utmost importance to restrain +not only the governors from trading, but the soldiers as well. From +their trading have resulted losses to your Majesty, which I shall +point out. + +Every year there goes out of this country to China three hundred +thousand pesos of silver, and this year more than five hundred +thousand. The Chinese obtain here much gold, which they take away, +and none of it ever comes back to this country; and what they bring +for it is the dregs of their own country, while what they take is +the fat and richness of your Majesty's realm. + +Through the opportunities furnished by commerce, a great many Chinese +come hither, which is no small injury for so weak and poor a land; for +every Chinaman eats more than do five Moros and always of the best, +even though the cost is high, and in this way provisions are made +dearer. With the interest in inordinate gain, they cease to perform +their duties, because these are of less profit than trade. If this were +stopped, some of them would, for their own interest, seeing that there +is nothing else of which they are capable, stay in these islands as +farmers, others as stock-raisers; and still others would work at the +mechanical trades, and especially at building, which is so important a +trade in this country. In this way they would receive their profits, +and the Spaniards would have all the service they wanted, and that +very cheaply. If they no longer bring silk and brocades, they can +bring cows, horses, mares, provisions, military supplies, copper, +and all kinds of metal and gunpowder, each in great abundance, and at +a low cost--a thing much to the profit of this land, as may readily be +seen. Articles sent from Espana to Nueva Espana would keep their value; +and the gold and silver paid for them would remain in your own realm. + +If there were no trade with China, the citizens of these islands would +be richer; for the natives, if they had not so many tostons, would +pay their tributes in the articles which they produce, and which are +current--that is, cloths, _lampotes_, cotton, and gold, all of which +have great value in Nueva Espana. These they cease to produce because +of the abundance of silver; and what is worse, and entails more loss +upon your Majesty, is that they do not, as formerly, work the mines +and take out gold. If they did so, it would be of great importance +to your Majesty and the whole country; and if this alone formed the +merchandise sent to Nueva Espana from these islands, the gold and +silver would remain here, and in the hands of the Spaniards themselves. + +Carrying on commerce as they do, all the Spaniards are absorbed in +it, to such a degree that there are not even enough to aid in the +expeditions and military operations. Thus they will not remember +that they are soldiers, and living among so many enemies, and do +not realize that they are carrying arms; nor do they work for what +your Majesty claims of them, the conversion and pacification of the +natives. The Spaniards have become effeminate in spirit by their +trading, and on various occasions have greatly lost their repute, +for they are not as they used to be--having given themselves over +to vices, luxuries, fine clothes, eating, and drinking; consequently +they have not had their wonted success on several of the expeditions, +and have come back without accomplishing what they set out to do, +and the friendly Indians are making war, and going out to fight. + +If your Majesty would prohibit trading, except perhaps in the products +of the islands, three hundred men would be of as much use here as a +thousand are today; for they would realize that they must gain their +livelihood by their arms, and not by traffic. Otherwise they only +await a chance to go hence as soon as possible, and so take no heed +of the affairs of this country, and do not engage in stock-raising +and agriculture, or in building, for each one does as suits him best; +and therefore this country is not growing, but rather falling into +appalling decay and weakness. + +What with the hopes they all have of returning to Espana, they will +not do otherwise than send their wealth back thither; and they have no +mind for spending it in the country where they earned it, in building +churches, monasteries, and chapels, and performing other pious works +whereby this city would be improved--which they would do if they knew +that permission could not be given them to go back to Espana. + +It would seem best for the present that your Majesty should not make +exchanges or transfers of Indians with the encomenderos; for, if this +is done, your Majesty must pay for it in other parts of the royal +estate. At the least he will lose a soldier, an important thing in this +land, when it has cost your Majesty so much to bring him here. On the +other hand, they will always settle down, in order to have some one to +succeed them in their encomiendas, and will marry; and their children +will do the same, and become more and more naturalized in this land, +which is so important for its welfare. + +Likewise it seems expedient, for the same object, that your Catholic +Majesty should found in this city a seminary and place of shelter for +girls, where they may be supplied with all necessaries while they +remain there, until they are married. If this were done, many poor +girls from Mexico and the whole of Nueva Espana would enter the said +seminary, knowing that there they would find support until they were +settled. In order that they may be more eager to come, it would be +of great advantage for your Majesty to direct that in Mexico should +be given them everything necessary for traveling expenses and those +of the voyage. + +It would be of no little benefit to your Majesty's royal estate, +if there were sent from your royal treasury of Mexico to this one, +each year, twenty thousand pesos in coin; and if there were sent from +here to Mexico all the gold that is collected in tributes from the +Indians assigned to the royal crown, and what is paid for the tithes +and the assay fee--as it is in this country an article of trade, +which rises or falls according to the abundance of tostons. If this +gold were taken to Mexico, it would, in a few years, amount to double +the money given for it here; and if the attempt were made to issue +it from this treasury for its value, no one would take it, except at +a considerable loss, for the reason given. + +If your Majesty be pleased to discontinue the Audiencia, the temporal +governor of these islands should be the same person who rules spiritual +affairs. For the present, it seems that this would be very desirable; +for with such a person the suspicion of trading and trafficking does +not exist, and there is more certainty that the offices and encomiendas +will be given to those who deserve them, rather than to his servants +and relatives. And, above all, it would be well if this dignity were +given to the bishop, who is now so zealous in the service of your +Majesty, and desirous that all its affairs shall go well. He is also +so thorough a Christian, and possessed of so much virtue, learning, +and wisdom, that by his holy zeal he would aid in what your Majesty +desires--that is, the conversion and good treatment of the natives +of these islands, and the propagation of the holy faith. With that +will cease the struggles for jurisdiction, which are not right during +this time when spiritual affairs are getting a foothold; but, after +they have become established, they can easily be put in their proper +place. Furthermore, the said bishop, as he is a spiritual father, +will be so in all things, and will proceed in the suits and cases +rather with fatherly mediation than with judicial rigor. + +If it be not the bishop, there is the licentiate Ayala, fiscal of +this Audiencia, who performs his duties here as a good lawyer and a +Christian, and is such a man as would give your Majesty satisfaction, +whatever you may order him to do. + +If the government could be given to one of the persons residing here, +there would result many advantages, the greatest being that he would be +acquainted with insular affairs, by the experience that he would have +had with them. He would know who was deserving of honor and reward; +and as all of us who have lately come have come in need, burdened with +the care of servants and relatives, all being poor, we seek to supply +our own needs and those of the persons whom we bring at our expense, +and those who deserve aid go hungry; for before the governors can feel +the pulse of affairs in the islands, and know what things need remedy, +they depart or are removed. + +I write this to your Catholic Majesty, knowing that you will regard it +as for your service that I, as one present on the scene, should write +of each subject what I think in regard to it, so that your Majesty +may act as you see fit, considering the reasons advanced on either +side. These will be more fully explained in each case by Father Alonso +Sanchez, to whom your Majesty should give entire credit, on account of +his sanctity, and the earnest zeal that he has always shown for the +bettering of affairs in this realm; and because he is a person who, +through the broad experience he has had with them, and the many times +he has pondered over their remedy, will be able to give a satisfactory +account of them all. I therefore beg your Majesty, in all the affairs +which are reported from here, to listen to the opinion of the said +father, that your Majesty may be the better informed. May our Lord +preserve your Catholic and royal person for many long years of life, +adding to your kingdoms and seigniories, as we the loyal vassals +and most humble servants of your Majesty desire. Manila, June 30, +86. Royal Catholic Majesty, your Catholic Majesty's most humble vassal, +and insignificant servant. + +The licentiate _Pedro de Rojas_ + + + +Letter of Juan Moron to Felipe II + + +Royal Catholic Majesty: + +Upon the arrival in these islands of Doctor Sanctiago de Vera, +your president, governor, and captain-general, he was informed of +the condition of affairs in Maluco, and of the unwillingness of the +petty king of Ternate to render obedience to your Majesty. Therefore, +with the advice of all the captains, he determined to send an officer +with reenforcements of three hundred soldiers, giving them orders +and instructions to remain subordinate to the commandant, Diego de +Acambujar, then your Majesty's lieutenant at that fortress. Seeing +how important this expedition was to the service of your Majesty, +I--being then in this city, occupying the post of your sargento-mayor +and captain of infantry--offered to undertake it at my own expense, +and to fit out the entire fleet. Your president, learning this, and +having been informed that, on many other occasions that have arisen, +I have ever aided in the service of your Majesty with the ardent +zeal that is mine, risking my person and property in your royal +service; and that this was of no less importance, as being one of +your Majesty's most especial affairs in these regions, gave me the +troops that I have mentioned with title as your general, which was +confirmed by the royal Audiencia here. + +I set out upon my expedition, and, upon arriving at Maluco, conferred +immediately with the commandant, Diego Dacambujar. But, in discussing +with him what was expedient for your Majesty's service, in accordance +with my instructions, he was quite lukewarm in a matter requiring +so great haste, and thus detained me several days with questions and +answers. Finally, seeing the great need of haste that I represented +to him, he left his post, and we marched with our men until we were +within cannon-shot of the fort, where with all haste we entrenched +ourselves. The enemy was well supplied with much artillery, both great +and small, and began at once to fire on me. Nevertheless, I made every +effort to reach the walls and to enter the fort by open assault; +but having no cannon with which to demolish it--the most necessary +thing--and seeing the great resistance that the enemy offered, I was +forced to retire, with several soldiers wounded, and returned to my +trenches. I remained there several days, defending myself from the +heavy shower of balls rained down upon our camp. During all this time, +Diego Dacambujar did not attempt to give any orders, and finally said +that, if we remained there any longer, not one of us would be left +alive. Thereupon I answered him that I came for that very purpose, or +else to capture that fort and leave it your Majesty's. In everything he +displayed his usual lukewarmness, and upon calling a council of war, +it was agreed to strike camp and retire to his fort. As afterward +appeared, he was not anxious--for his own private interest and his +trade in cloves with the petty king--that anything should be effected, +as your Majesty will see in greater detail by the accompanying copy +of the inquiry made concerning this matter. + +Thereupon I returned to this city of Manila, heavy at heart at not +having attained the object which I had desired for the service of your +Majesty, and resolved to pledge my person and property to obtain the +men and supplies to spend in your royal service, although I should +pledge myself to the further sum of six or seven thousand pesos--the +amount spent on this expedition. However, it did not please God that +this should come to pass, on account of the few men and supplies +remaining from the late fire. + +As I was one of the very first to come here to serve your Majesty in +these islands, the hardships and wretchedness suffered here grieve +me so sorely, and especially those of this city, that I feel obliged +to inform your Majesty of several of them. + +First, it is very necessary that your Majesty order a fortress of stone +built in this city, for the one here now would be exceedingly easy to +take, as it is nothing more than a palisade, with but little rampart; +and, as your Majesty will have been informed, we are surrounded by +so many enemies. + +All of this could be remedied, did your Majesty feel the needs of +this city so strongly that you would be pleased to grant us some +public property. Although I, as a regidor and attorney of this city, +have endeavored, in your Majesty's name, to have certain villages +of Indians granted to the city as its property, your governors have +always answered me with fair words, and have done nothing. Our only +hope now is that, when your Majesty understands that this is all +to be employed in your royal service, you will take compassion on +us and grant us, as city property, some Indians. With this grant, +all these difficulties can be remedied. + +With this ship sails Father Alonso Sanchez, of the Society of Jesus, +a very learned man, having much experience in the affairs of these +islands, as well as of China and other countries. Since he is thus +qualified, this city resolved to send him as agent for this kingdom, +in order to give your Majesty a detailed account of affairs here. May +our Lord preserve your sacred royal Catholic person, with increase +of greater kingdoms and seigniories, as we, your Majesty's servants, +desire. Manila, June 30, 1586. + +Royal Catholic Majesty, your Majesty's humblest servant kisses your +royal feet and hands.+ + + +Juan de Moron + + +[Addressed: "To his + sacred royal Catholic Majesty, King Don +Ffelipe, our sovereign. To be given into his royal hands."] + +[Endorsed: "1586. Legajo 1; letters from Manila. + Number 17. To his +Majesty." "Manila, Joan de Moron, June 30. The expedition to the land +of Maluco, and the lukewarmness encountered in the commandant, Diego +de Cambujar, as will appear from the accompanying investigation. Need +in that city of a fortress. In favor of Father Alonso Sanchez."] + + + +Measures Regarding Trade with China + + +Letter to Felipe II + +Sacred Royal Catholic Majesty: + +In order to discuss your Majesty's commands regarding the commerce +between the Philipinas Islands and Nueva Espana, Don Cristobal Mora +and I met yesterday and examined a long report which Ledesma had drawn +up from many papers which have been sent from both sides, together +with a certain clause of a letter to your Majesty by the viceroy, Don +Martin Enriquez, written on the twentieth of March of the past year, +eighty [-five]. [54] In this letter he says that the merchants of that +country are greatly disappointed that trade with the Philipinas Islands +should be taken away from them; for, although the satins, damasks, and +other silken goods, even the finest of them, contain very little silk, +and others are woven with grass (all of which is quite worthless), +the people mainly resort to this cheap market, and the prices of silks +brought from Spain are lowered. Of these latter, taffetas had come +to be worth no more than eight reals, while satins and damasks had +become very cheap. He feared that, if this went further, it would not +be needful to import silks from Espana. He says, moreover, that all +goods carried from the said islands are mere trifles, from which the +land derives no profit--such as porcelains, escritoires, caskets, fans, +and parasols, all flimsy and very unprofitable. We can trade with the +Chinese only with gold and silver, since they have more than enough of +everything else. The letter written to your Majesty by the commander +of the fleet which is in Nueva Espana was also examined. He states +therein that the trade in thin fabrics imported from these kingdoms +to that land is steadily decreasing, on account of the trade which +is carried on there with the Philipinas Islands. This letter was the +occasion for issuing a decree, to which your Majesty was pleased to +set your royal hand, calling for a report from the viceroy of Nueva +Espana. This is an affair which requires a much more expeditious +remedy. We have investigated the state of affairs in those regions, +of which a detailed report was made to us. Besides the little value of +those wares, a large amount of silver and coin is carried thither in +exchange for them. Although a portion of this money remains in those +islands, all the rest is carried away by the Chinese who go thither +from the mainland to sell these wares. + +In this way the commerce of these kingdoms is falling away, and +the bringing of money hither is impeded; both these are matters of +consequence and importance. This is not the way to maintain our trade, +since the settlement of the land must be through its richness and +fertility, and the prospect of other discoveries that are being made +daily, and not through trade. Those who are engaged in this trade are +merely transients, and those islands are merely a place of lading for +this commerce; for all, or the greater part, of the merchandise comes +from China. The Spaniards derive two, three, or four thousand ducats +from anchorage alone; this is the fee for the privilege of anchoring +the ship. The lure of the cheapness of the merchandise overcomes +all other considerations. This hinders the prosperity of the people, +and furnishes them no aid in the most important thing, namely, the +settlement of the islands, and the discovery and operation of the gold +mines there. We came to the conclusion that the trade and commerce +of the said islands, as far as the said merchandise is concerned, +should be abolished, and that these wares should not be carried to +Nueva Espana or other parts of the Indias, in order that the trade of +these kingdoms--a most important matter--may continue. A communication +to this effect should be addressed to the viceroy of Nueva Espana, +recounting to him the aforesaid disadvantages; and advising him that, +unless he shall encounter other obstacles so great as to prevent +him from taking such action, he should prohibit the traffic in the +above-mentioned merchandise from China, and order the cessation of +such commerce with that country. If he find too great difficulties +in the way, then he should give advice thereof, together with his +opinion. In the meantime, he should make such provision as he shall +find most expedient. To save time, the decree in accordance with +this recommendation accompanies the present communication; and it +shall be sent by this fleet, if your Majesty will have the goodness +to sign it. Madrid, June 17, 1586. + +[_Marginal note_: "This recommendation is excellent, and I have +therefore signed the decree. I shall also endorse all that you shall +say in regard to it in the Council, and what the members thereof +shall approve:"] + + +Decree Regarding Chinese Trade + +The King: To the Marques de Villamanrrique, my kinsman, and viceroy, +governor, and captain-general of Nueva Espana. [55] Having understood +that the silks brought from China and the Philipinas Islands to your +realms are quite worthless, but that nevertheless, because of the +low price set upon them, they are sold and distributed; and because, +if that trade continues, the trade in cloth exported from these realms +would cease or be greatly decreased; and also that these silks, like +other articles brought thence (all of which are of trifling value, +and of no profit to the country), are bartered only for gold, silver, +or coin, for there is abundance of everything else there--a matter, +too, of considerable importance, both on account of the large amount +that is withdrawn and would be withdrawn for the benefit of a foreign +kingdom, and because these kingdoms [Spain and Portugal] lose that +whole amount, their trade being more profitable for the common good, +on account of the excellence of its wares, which in their lasting +qualities more than make up for the difference in price; neither +is this the best means for the settlement of the said islands, +since they serve only as a lading-station for this trade, and it +proves a hindrance to the settlers by being of no assistance in +whatever concerns their permanence and fixed residence: therefore, +having carefully considered this as well as other inconveniences +set forth, it has seemed best to discontinue this trade with the +Philipinas Islands and China, since, even besides the aforesaid, it +has evidently caused delay in despatching the fleets, as must be the +case if this sort of cargo continues to diminish. Since the present +is a fitting occasion to furnish a remedy, as so important a matter +demands, I order you--after considering the aforesaid points and others +of which you may be advised (since the matter is a current one), and +difficulties that might arise, if you find, to the contrary, no others +so important as to overbalance them--to give orders that there be no +further trade or importation of the said merchandise and Chinese wares +to that land for the purpose of sale. You will have the merchants +engaged in this commerce advised and notified of this decree. You +will provide for its public proclamation, indicating the penalty to +be incurred by those who bring in contraband goods. If you find in +the execution thereof such special difficulties, as above-mentioned, +as oblige you to desist, you will inform me of what occurs, together +with your opinion, taking in the meantime such measures as shall seem +to you most advisable. Given at Sant Lorenco, on the nineteenth of +June in the year one thousand five hundred and eighty-six. + + +I, The King + +Countersigned, Matheo Vargas +Approved by the Council. + + +[_A separate sheet reads as follows_: "His Majesty has ordered me +to send your Lordship the enclosed copy of deliberations of the +Council of the Indias, and the papers accompanying it, concerning +the trade and commerce between the Filipinas Islands and China, +so that, together with any that your Lordship may have concerning +this matter, everything enacted may be examined personally. Your +Lordship will advise his Majesty of your opinion. May God preserve +your Lordship. Sant Lorenco, July 31, 1590."] + + +Letter from Marques de Villamanrique to Felipe II + + +_Year 86. Copy of two sections of a letter written by the Marques de +Villa Manrrique, viceroy of Nueva Espana, to the king, our lord, on the +fifteenth of November, 86, describing the importance of maintaining +trade and commerce, and the great inconveniences which result [from +its discontinuance]._ + +[After citing the royal decree of June 19, 1586 (q.v. _ante_), in +regard to trade between the Philippines and China, in words similar +to the decree, the viceroy continues:] + +Regarding the whole matter I have procured detailed information from +people who are familiar with it and have an extensive knowledge of the +affairs of those regions from the beginning of their settlement, and +from the correspondence that they maintain therein. It appears that, +since the time when Don Luis de Velasco was viceroy and governor +for your Majesty in this kingdom, your Majesty has spent in the +pacification of those islands more than three millions [of pesos?] for +soldiers, ships, and other supplies--all in order that the natives of +those parts might recognize and profess the Catholic faith, and the +sovereignty of your Majesty. As a result, there are already among +them six Spanish settlements, and more than forty monasteries of +friars of various orders in many native villages, whose inhabitants +are converted and baptized. By this, God our Lord is well served, +and your Majesty's glory and renown augmented. With the assiduity +exercised by all these ministers, the Christian church appears to be +increasing in those places, in such wise that in a short time it is +hoped that the sect of Mahoma and the idolatries of which they were +full, will be eradicated from them. Not only has this been done and +continued among the people of the said islands, but also among many +natives of China who have come, and continue to come, to live in the +islands. They are baptized and have become Christians, which seems a +good beginning; this will be an excellent way of pursuing the pious +work and the objects which, as your Majesty has always made plain, +you have had in the pacification and settlement of those places, +and of acquiring greater favor and grandeur than is now possessed in +all these kingdoms. + +Although the ships and soldiery that have ordinarily been here have +been also of great effect in placing affairs in their present state, +it seems that the traffic and commerce which has been encouraged with +the natives of the Filipinas and those of China and other nations, +and the friendship and good treatment which has been accorded them, +have been of considerably greater importance, since they are a +well-armed and numerous people. It seems very difficult to subject +them or negotiate with them against their will; and as they live for +the most part by commerce, it will be seen, that, by the advantage +accruing to them therefrom, they will not only become Christians, +but, with the lapse of time, they will be profitable to your Majesty +and instruments for whatever your Majesty would like to undertake +among those nations. And if this should come to an end, it is well +known also that this people, because of our recent knowledge of them, +and because of their covetousness, would drop Christianity, return +to their idolatries and old customs, and close the door which they +are now opening for their gain and self-interest. That might be of +greater importance than the annoyance of enduring and supporting them +with some loss, especially as the trade and commerce that comes from +those parts to this kingdom [of Mexico] usually amounts to one ship and +sometimes two, aboard which arrive the returns from the encomenderos +of the said islands--silk, both raw and woven, cotton cloth, iron, +copper, earthenware, and other things of no great worth, carried to +those islands from the said land of China. As these are in no greater +quantities than heretofore, the success achieved in this trade, and the +benefit that might result from it, seem to be held in greater account +than the damage which occurs, as I have said. Although the figured +silks are most usually not so fine as those that come from Espana, +some are good; and those that are not, are of such a price that, +considering the price of those that come from Espana, there is no +comparison--because, as a rule, the damask is better than the taffeta +from Espana, and costs hardly half as much. The same holds with regard +to all other cloth. The raw silk is very good and profitable in this +city. As it is made, it is better than the native product; and from it +are made good fabrics. In the first, second, and further sales of it +that are made, your Majesty's customs also receive greater increase, +rather than diminution, from that which used to come from Espana, +and now does not come for this reason. + +Also with this trade and profit many merchants and other people from +Espana and this land are going to live in those islands, and continue +to settle there. Thus the country is made safe, because, when any +necessity arises, they take arms and incur the dangers of war, so +that the natives of the said islands and of those surrounding are +peaceable, and fear the Spaniards. If these and the trade that they now +maintain should fail, and if your Majesty should not supply as many +more men at his own cost, it is well-known that with the instability +and suspicious nature of those peoples, they would rebel, and recover +the liberty that they have lost. Worse than that, they would return to +the heresy or the heathenisms which they professed a little while ago. + +Moreover, by this means the encomenderos and settlers of those islands +get a profit out of the customs, trade, and commerce, because from +their tributes and profits they derive a good income. Before they had +it, they were in need. From the said China they provide themselves +with biscuit, flour, meat, fruits, clothes, gunpowder, iron, and many +other things which they greatly need, and which the said islands +lack. If they had to bring those articles from this kingdom, they +might not have them on account of their dearness, and since they, +without their trade, are so poor. Accordingly, it not only does not +embarrass or hinder the settlement of the said islands; but rather +they find it very difficult to support themselves and achieve success +without the said trade and commerce. It will surely result in greater +cost to your Majesty, if the trade can[not] be conducted as heretofore; +and if provision must be made as on the frontiers of Oran, Tanger, or +Melilla. Even those who avoid sending their money to those districts, +send it to the islands. It is not in such a way as understood hitherto, +that the prompt despatch of the fleets is hindered; because, although +they do not send their money thither now, they will be able to send +it--namely, to Piru and Guatemala--and to employ it in other ways in +this land, without obliging them necessarily to send it to Espana, if +the gains that they attain are not so certain as they would have them. + +Likewise it appears that, if the said trade should cease, the annual +departure of ships and people, as it is at present, would cease; and +that would be a greater incentive to the natives who are peaceful, and +those who until now have had no desire for peace, to rise and rebel, +seeing that the gain which they derive from trade is taken away from +them, and ships and Spaniards go thither no longer--through fear +of whom they dare not rise from the subjection and obedience which +they now observe. The said trade being in the present condition, it +might be so regulated, that the expense to your Majesty in ships, men, +and supplies for their navigation should end by having them furnished +from the merchant service, as on the routes by the Northern Sea. This +I have written your Majesty in the eighteenth section of my letter of +May 10 of this year, in which I said that greater economy and profit +will result than loss be incurred in continuing the trade of the said +islands. This I shall try to secure by every possible means. + +And because these difficulties seem serious and the harm that might +result does not come to pass, I have seen fit to disregard your +Majesty's orders, until you direct me further. In the meantime, +I shall see that the affairs of those parts remain in their present +state, so that the vessels leaving this kingdom for the said islands, +shall take half the money that they could carry according to their +tonnage. The shipment shall consist in such part of gold as will +supply the present want of silver and coin--which are withdrawn as I +have written your Majesty in the same section of the said letter. Your +Majesty will give directions therein at your pleasure. + +And in order that this navigation may be accomplished by the medium +of merchants, which is a matter truly important for your Majesty's +royal service, and in order to avoid the increased expense of the +port of Acapulco, I have today ordered that every tonelada of cloth +brought in your Majesty's ships shall pay a duty in conformity with +those paid on the Northern Sea. This is done to oblige the merchants, +by incurring this duty, to turn their attention to buying ships, in +order to economize and enjoy greater profits; also in order that in +the interim, while this is being established, it may prove of some +help for the great expense incurred by the ships. For hitherto--as +I have written to your Majesty in section 9 of my letter of February +23, 86--they had not paid and were not paying more than nine ducats +per tonelada; now they will pay from thirty-two to thirty-four. Your +Majesty will order all according to your will. + +[Endorsed. "Sections from the letter of Marques de Villa Manrrique, +viceroy of Nueva Espana, to his Majesty."] + + + +Brief of Sixtus V + + +Erection of the custodia of the Discalced Franciscans in the +Philippines into a province + + +Sixtus V, Pope: + +In perpetual remembrance of the affair. + +While with our mental vision we regard the fruitful results, which, +with the aid of God, religious persons--especially the Friars Minor +of Observance [56] known as "Discalced" ["barefoot"], of the custodia +of St. Gregory in the Philippine Islands of the Western Indias--are +zealously gathering by their own toil, as so many workmen in the field +of the Lord, busy for the glory of God and the spiritual health of +peoples dwelling in those very remote regions so far away from us, +we think it right--nay, even their due--that we should graciously +impart the favor of our apostolic love for their comfort and increase. + +In truth, our very dear son in Christ, Philip, Catholic king of +the Spains--in his own name, as well as in that of our beloved sons +the guardian and the other brethren of the custodia of St. Gregory +in the aforesaid islands--has represented to us, that the brethren +of the province of St. Joseph of the same order, established in the +kingdoms of the Spains, whereon the aforesaid custodia of St. Gregory +was dependent, in chapter held lately in the town of Cadahalso, +in the diocese of Toledo, prudently being of opinion that they no +longer could maintain the said custodia otherwise than with notable +loss ... unless the aforesaid custodia were erected into a province, +resolved that they should humbly petition us to deign of our apostolic +bounty to confer the title of province on the aforesaid custodia, +and provide whatever else might be needed in the premises. + +Accordingly, as we have learned also through information from our +beloved son, Francis Gonzaga, minister-general of the whole Order of +Observance, that no prejudice will be occasioned to anyone by reason +of this erection of the said custodia; nor will the fathers thereof +under due regular observance, to their own great advantage, cease to +render grateful service to the Lord--wishing to decorate them with +worthy favors ... nor indisposed to hearken to their plea, by our +apostolic authority, and in virtue of these presents, we do erect +and establish the aforesaid custodia of St. Gregory, hereafter to be +called "the Province of the Discalced Friars of St. Gregory," in the +Philippine Islands, to be ruled and governed henceforth by a minister +provincial. He shall be chosen by the brethren of the province--under +obedience, however, to the minister-general of the whole order of +the aforesaid Brethren of Observance, and to the commissary-general +of the Indias, resident for the time being at the royal court. + +Given at Rome at St. Peter's, under the seal of the Fisherman, +November 15, 1586, in the second year of our pontificate. + + + +Documents of 1587-88 + + + Letter to Felipe II. Alvaro, Marques de [Villa] Manriquez; + Mexico, February 8, 1587. + + Letter to Felipe II. Santiago de Vera; Manila, June 26, 1587. + + Letter from the Audiencia to Felipe II. Santiago de Vera, + and others; Manila, June 25, 1588. + + +Source: All these documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo +general de Indias, Sevilla. + +Translations: The first document is translated by Arthur B. Myrick, +of Harvard University; the second, by James A. Robertson; the third, +by Consuelo A. Davidson. + + + +Letter from Marques Don Manriquez to Felipe II + + +Sacred Royal Catholic Majesty: + +On the twenty-fourth of January I wrote to your Majesty a letter, which +I send with this, in clause 6 of which I stated how very important it +is for your Majesty's service that trading in the Philipinas should +be carried on through the hands of the merchants; that they should +maintain ships, in order to relieve your Majesty from so great and +heavy expense as you are under at the port of Acapulco; and that it +was on this account that the galleon "Sant Martin Visto" had been +sold at auction. To show of what importance this is--to begin with, +it was sold for sixteen thousand pesos, which was the highest sum +offered, and, in addition, what the repairs would cost which would +be made at Acapulco after the arrival of the vessel, which came to +two thousand pesos more. If no one had been willing to give so much, +I myself would have done so; for I am quite certain that this is to +be the first step in setting this business on the sound basis which +is desired. As they continue to sell the other galleons and to build +more, we must have merchants who are interested in buying them and in +sending them away on voyages; thus conditions will finally come to +be like those in the Northern Sea, and the great expense which your +Majesty incurs in those islands will cease; and ships will be built +in the Philipinas, which will cost but little. It may be a means of +profit to your Majesty's royal exchequer to continue selling ships to +the merchants. This has been demonstrated by experience; for the man +who bought the galleon "Sant Martin" has offered to keep it on this +route as long as it will hold together--as also another vessel, of two +hundred toneladas. This offer is accompanied with certain conditions, +as your Majesty will see from the petition which he presented to me, +which accompanies this letter. Since he demands various things of +importance, and some others which concern his own profit, they should +be carefully considered. Certain conditions should also be imposed +upon him, which would benefit your Majesty and, when fulfilled, would +stop the expense at Acapulco. I have referred it to your Majesty's +fiscal and the royal officials, that they may give their opinion +on all points. All of us will examine this matter with the utmost +attention, and I shall send a report to your Majesty of what action +shall be taken. May our Lord guard your sacred royal Catholic person +during many years, with increase of greater kingdoms and seigniories, +as the Christian world needs and your Majesty's servants and vassals +desire. From Mexico, February 8, M.D.LXXVIJ. Sacred Royal Catholic +Majesty, I kiss your Majesty's royal feet and hands. Your faithful +vassal and servant, + + +Alvaro, Marques Don Manrrique. + + +[Endorsed: "+ Philipinas; February 8, 1587. To his sacred royal +Catholic Majesty, the king, our lord, in his royal Council of the +Indias. Let a duplicate be made of what is here related. Duplicated."] + + + +Letter from Santiago de Vera to Felipe II + + +Sire: + +Last year, 86, I informed your Majesty of the condition of these +islands, and the need of certain things for their betterment and +conservation. Because of the great distance and remoteness of these +islands, and the dangers that the letters must encounter until they +reach your Majesty's hands, I enclose a duplicate of the last letter +with this. For the same reason, I beseech that your Majesty will please +to answer that letter, and order that what is most fitting for your +service be provided--since the decision is delayed three years, at the +very least, and, if left for other vessels, six; and this delay might +cause great harm to this land, and bring about irreparable injuries. + +In these Philipinas your Majesty has some Spanish settlements; and in +this city of Manila, the capital, and in the others, are usually about +seven hundred men, and sometimes as many as eight hundred. Although +your Majesty has ordained that reenforcements should be sent annually +from Nueva Spana, that has not been done; and, even when soldiers are +sent, there are but few. And as, after their arrival here, they have +no pay or any means of gain, they suffer great hunger and privation, +and cannot endure more than the dry season. As this country is so +unhealthful, and the climate so trying, most of them die, while others +desert; and it is not in our power to remedy the evil. I beseech +your Majesty to be so good, if this kingdom--as being a gateway, +so important for the gospel and the Christian religion, to so great +and powerful kingdoms--is to be extended and increased, to order the +viceroy of Nueva Spana to send every year, conformably to his orders, +the troops, supplies, and arms requested by the governor of these +islands. Will your Majesty also command that food and sustenance be +provided for the soldiers, for their sufferings are most pitiful. + +In another letter, I have informed your Majesty of the deep affliction +and pressing need in which I found this city, because all the houses +and property had been destroyed by fire, not even the fortifications +escaping. On account of the constant danger from fire, because +the buildings were being constructed of wood and bamboo, thatched +with straw, and because many quarries and much limestone had been +discovered, which is brought down the river, I forbade that any +houses should be built of other material than stone, since this could +be done at a very slight expense. I ordered roof-tiles and bricks +to be made; and now many substantial and handsome houses are being +constructed of stone. The natives have assisted no little in this, +for most of them have been set to work in the quarries. According to +the promptness exercised by the citizens, I trust, God helping, that, +in ten years, the city will be built entirely of stone, for from two +stone houses here the number has increased to twenty large houses, +besides a monastery; and a considerable number of buildings, very +substantial and well planned, are at present in course of construction. + +This city is located on a narrow piece of land, between the sea +on one side and a river of considerable size, which flows through +part of the city, on the other; while on another side is a swamp or +morass. On the side fronting the sea is a handsome beach, extending +two leagues to the port of Cavite, where lie the vessels of the Nueva +Spana line. Where the river enters the sea, the land forms a point, +upon which is built a very small and dilapidated wooden fort. Neither +on the seacoast nor in any other part was there any defense. On this +account, in view of our danger, I resolved to set about fortifying +the city, although the poverty of the city and of your royal treasury +could not assist me. I have constructed a stone tower on the said +beach, near the city; and lower down, where it seemed more necessary, +I am constructing a very strong and handsome fort, the plan of which +accompanies this letter. [57] In the three months while we have worked +on it, I have the first story, where the heaviest artillery is to be +placed, ready for flooring. God helping, I shall, I believe, finish +it in little more than one year from now. From this fort and beach +near the sea I have dug a deep ditch, thirty-four feet wide, which +fills with the incoming tide, and even at low tide has sufficient +water to float several vessels, which are used in carrying materials +by this ditch to the said work, and for other important things. This +ditch extends from the sea to the river, and at that side around the +entire city, in such wise that the latter is an island formed by sea, +river, and ditch. In place of the wooden fortress, I am going to +build a bulwark to defend the entrance to the river and the beach, +which can correspond to the tower already built; and the new fortress +will defend both sides, the ditch and the sea. Along the river-bank +I have ordered stone breastworks to be built, extending from the old +wooden fortress on one side, where the stone bulwark is to be built, +to the ditch on the other side. With this, I think that this city +will be well fortified; and it would be more so, if your Majesty were +pleased to have us provided with a garrison of two hundred soldiers, +already paid--as could be done, by the plan about which I have written +to your Majesty, without spending anything from your royal estate, +and without harm to the natives. + +To build the fortress, as I have recounted, the bulwark, and the other +defenses, as I saw that your Majesty has no income in this country, +with which to enable me to do it, and that the city has no public +property, I made a single assessment on the encomenderos, proportioned +to their Indians and incomes, and on the inhabitants who could stand +it, of three thousand odd pesos. I also assessed on each married +Indian, one real, and on each single Indian, one-half real--which +both classes are paying without any oppression or harrying--so that +the entire sum will amount to eight or nine thousand pesos. With this +sum, I think it possible to construct the principal fortress, because +the materials are cheap. The stone is so suitable that, when wet, it +can be worked like wood, and when dry it is very strong and durable; +and it is better than brick for the artillery. Should your Majesty be +pleased to look favorably upon these works, and have them aided from +your royal estate with an equal sum, everything would be finished; +and another fort could be built as well, to guard the port of Cavite +and your Majesty's ships for the regular line. Since it is two leagues +distant from the city, it is not made safe by the above-mentioned +fortifications; and the ships cannot anchor at any nearer place, +without ordinarily being in danger from the weather. In the general +fire in this city four years ago, the powder and ammunition were +burned, and the artillery was destroyed. Although I have had the +pieces refounded, and have used up the metal remaining, still there +are only twenty-six large and twenty small pieces; and this supply +is very small, considering the need of artillery in this country for +its defense, as well as for the expeditions that have been made and +for which occasion arises. Near these islands, in one called Lumban, +twenty leagues from this city, and in others near by, I have discovered +a quantity of copper, which on being tested by smelting it, gives one +arroba of metal to the quintal of ore. I have not found anyone who +understands the smelting of it; for those who tested it are Indians, +who do not smelt it in bulk. [58] I beseech your Majesty to please +have some founders and workmen sent to make artillery, for what we +have here is of iron, and quite old and useless. + +In the city of Macan, China, where the Portuguese have settled, and in +the city of Sian, there is an abundance of saltpeter. If your Majesty +were pleased to have it brought from there--for it is quite near by, +and an easy voyage thither--the great expenses annually incurred by +your Majesty by having it brought from Mexico would be contracted; +for there is sulphur in this country, [59] and the Chinese bring it +to sell, while excellent charcoal is made here. Your Majesty will +order such provision to be made as suits the royal pleasure. + +Many vessels have come to these islands from China this year, and +especially to this city--more than thirty of considerable burden, +laden with a quantity of merchandise, horses, cows, and more than three +thousand men. I have treated them hospitably and given them a kind +reception. They are very anxious for our trade on this account, and +because of the large gains that they make--although, in our opinion, +they sell so cheaply that we can but think that either products are +raised in their country without any labor, or that they find them +without money. They bring many rare articles, and every product of +Spana, so that there is usually but little lack of those supplies +here, both in clothing and food; while they bring many things not +found in that country. It is a land of great abundance, and has +an infinite number of people, all workers, and each one master +of many trades. Two vessels have also come to this city from the +Portuguese of the city of Macan, laden with curious merchandise, +whence they have drawn great gain. The Chinese, on this account, +have been very envious, and jealous, and fearful lest the Portuguese +should work them an injury. Certain captains and leading men among +them asked me why, since the Portuguese had settled in Macan, near +the province of Canton, China, and held their trade there, we do not +do the same likewise in the province of Chincheo, whence they bring +so much wealth to this land. They say that, if there were Spaniards +there, they could send their goods to this land. These with what they +themselves bring, would render it quite unnecessary for the Portuguese +to come here. I thanked them heartily for the suggestion, and in reply, +said that, next year, they should bring a _chapa_, or passport from +their viceroy of Chincheo, so that Castilians could go there; and +that, as the people of Canton had lent the island of Macao, that the +Portuguese might settle there, so they should lend us another island, +very near Chincheo, on which we could settle and construct a fortress. + +At present, I could say [no] more than this, but I told them that +your Majesty wished to favor them, and had given me orders to that +effect; and that, if they would keep their promises, your Majesty +would send Spaniards to protect and aid them in their wars, and to +defend them from their enemies. They were exceedingly glad at hearing +this, and agreed to bring the chapa; for the viceroy is very anxious +to increase the incomes there [at Chincheo] by the duties that the +Spanish vessels would pay. I am continuing to inspire them with love +and affection for your Majesty's service, and they are already very +favorably inclined toward our nation. And beyond even the mandarins +and viceroys, I understand that all the people wish to see us in their +country. I beseech your Majesty, in case these men keep their word, +to order me to execute what is most advisable for your service as +quickly as possible, for it would be of very great importance not to +lose such an opportunity. + +The trade continues to increase, so that, were vessels not lacking, +a great quantity of goods would be sent to Nueva Spana. The Chinese +are so careful merchants, that they bring goods in proportion to +the vessels that come to the port. Although I have built one very +fine galley of five hundred toneladas--at so slight a cost that the +sum does not amount to eight thousand pesos--and your Majesty has +four other useful vessels, still two more would be necessary for the +trading fleet. If your Majesty so pleases, they can be constructed +very easily, and at but little expense; and if there were any money +in your royal chest, I would have had them built already. I entreat +your Majesty to have some concession granted us from Mexico, and +advise me of your pleasure. + +In a former letter, I informed your Majesty of the arrival of a +Japanese vessel laden with flour and horses (which they were bringing +to this city), at the city of Segovia, in the province of Cagayan, +in these islands. They had been driven upon the coast there, and some +of the crew and horses escaped death. As soon as I learned of this, +I sent a vessel for them, and, upon their arrival, showed them great +hospitality; for this they were so grateful that they published in +their country great praises of this land, and of the kind treatment +accorded them. Certain of them, together with others--both Christians +and pagans, up to about forty--returned with letters from the king +of Firando, and from Don Gaspar, his brother, the originals of which +are enclosed here. They brought some merchandise and weapons to +sell. They say that war is being waged in those kingdoms, and that +of Miaco, [60] to which sixty-three kingdoms are subject, has given +a passport to the fathers of the Society who reside there, so that +they may preach the gospel freely throughout Japon, and permission, +to all who wish, to become Christians. This is certified by one of +the fathers to the members of the Society who reside here, as your +Majesty may cause to be seen by the copy of his letter. This so good +news has gladdened these islands. May God direct this, and grant that +this new world may be saved by your direction and order. The many +kingdoms, the infinite number of people, and the wealth of those +realms, is incredible. The Japanese are an energetic race, skilled +in the use of our weapons. All the other nations lack that spirit, +and are cowardly, dastardly, and abject. + +As above remarked, two vessels came this year from the islands of +Macan, whence the Portuguese brought provisions, a quantity of raw +silk, taffetas, damasks, and other merchandise. I showed them much +hospitality and friendship, for which they were very grateful; and +they desired to come here again, because they had derived much profit, +and the voyage, in fair weather, can be accomplished in two weeks. I +did not allow any duties to be collected on what they brought, or on +the merchandise of the Japanese, not only as it was very premature +to impose these, but to inspire them with desire for our commerce +and trade; also because your Majesty ordered us to have friendly +intercourse and communication with them, but chiefly because of +having no order from your Majesty for such collection. Besides, as +this land is so new, and must be treated like a sprout, I thought it +advisable, in order that it may increase daily, to try not to burden +it, but to maintain it--especially by means of the Portuguese, so +that they may lose the ill-will that they bear toward us; and so that +other foreigners may desire our trade and the Christian religion. I +beseech your Majesty to give orders regarding what should be done +for the future. + +I have informed your Majesty that some of the Chinese Sangleys, +upon coming to this city, become citizens and Christians. The bishop +thereupon orders their hair to be cut, in accordance with our custom; +but they, following their own custom, wear it very long, and braided +and tied in a certain manner. They so dislike this, that, in order +not to be compelled to cut their hair, many of them are not baptized; +for, in their country, it is a great insult to them, and is regarded +as a great crime to cut off their hair, and without it, they do not +dare to return in order to bring their property, and their wives and +children, to settle here. I have told the bishop that, inasmuch as +that is not a religious rite, but a custom, just as it is a custom of +ours to wear short hair, he should not have it cut. But he refuses to +observe this, saying that he fears lest they go back to their country +and return to their idolatries. Will your Majesty please have this +matter examined and provided for. Because of its extreme importance, +I reiterate this supplication here. + +In my letter of last year, of which I enclose a duplicate herein, +I informed your Majesty of the disputes of the auditors and fiscal +with myself in regard to preeminence in office, they wishing to enact +certain measures of government and war outside of their jurisdiction; +and that because of this lack of harmony greater hindrances were +resulting to the service of God and of your Majesty, in a land so +new and so distant from your royal person. I resolved to allow them +to do as they wished, and to let go my right and the preeminences of +my office, until your Majesty should order this remedied and provided +for--believing that, in so acting, I serve you better. Affairs here +are in this condition, and I shall make no innovation until receiving +your Majesty's orders. Through my overlooking and tolerating this, +and through the arrival of the licentiate Don Antonio de Rivera, +auditor of this Audiencia, those differences have ceased, and we are +all in accord. Justice is being administered with the authority, +custom, and system of the audiencias of Castilla, and those well +regulated in the Yndias. + +Captain Francisco Gali, who was sent by the archbishop and governor to +discover the route for the return to Nueva Spana from these islands, +as well as the islands and ports lying in the course, died as soon as +he reached this country. Pedro de Unamuno succeeded to his command, +with instructions not to go to China, or to its coast, because of +the great difficulties that would result. Because the said governor +charged me urgently to make him fulfil his instructions, and because I +was informed that, beyond all doubt, he was intending to go to Macan +to invest great sums of money brought by himself and the officials +of the ship, I ordered him, under severe penalties, to observe his +instructions, and not to touch at or sight the country of China. But +he, notwithstanding this edict, deviated from his straight course +and went to Macan. Contrary to the will of the commandant and the +Portuguese, and the orders of the viceroy of Yndia, he entered the +port, where they arrested him and hid his cargo. He has remained +there one year, and the expedition has been broken up. Because the +Portuguese believed that he would not return to Nueva Spana, and +because he had a crew made up of different nationalities (among them +one Frenchman and one Englishman)--all excellent sailors, and all +in rivalry--fearing lest they would become pirates, and commit some +great damage, the commandant, the cities, and the chief men wrote +to me to send for those vessels, men, and property of your Majesty, +so that no act of insolence displeasing to God and your royal crown +might be committed. Therefore I despatched a man and vessel for them, +and am expecting them now. I shall inform your Majesty of the result. + +The captain from Japon, the servant of the king of Firando--a man of +worth and intelligence, and one of the chief men of that country--with +whom I discussed certain matters, told me that, although his voyage +hither had been for the purpose of becoming acquainted with us, and +opening a road from his country to these islands, his chief purpose +was to offer the king of Firando and the people of his kingdom to +the service of your Majesty; and that whenever your Majesty, or the +governor of these islands, should advise the said king of Firando +and another Christian king--his friend, by name Don Augustin--of any +need of troops for your service, they would send as many people and +soldiers as should be requested. All these would come well armed and +at little expense, whether for Burney, Sian, Maluco, or Great China +(to which country they are hostile), without asking anything in return, +for they only wish to serve your Majesty and to gain honor. This man +has under him five hundred excellent soldiers, whose captain he is, +who would come here willingly. These are his formal words. As a prudent +man and experienced in war, he gave me certain advice, and a plan for +bringing easily from those provinces six thousand men, and the method +which could be followed therein, which appeared to have no little +fitness. I thanked him heartily in your Majesty's name, for his offer, +saying that your Majesty is not now thinking of the conquest of China +or other kingdoms; and that your Majesty's object has been, and is, +to convert the natives; to preach the holy gospel to them, and to +bring them to the knowledge of our Lord, so that all might be saved; +and that for this your Majesty is spending so vast sums and sending +annually so many soldiers, weapons, and ammunition, as a protection +and rampart for the preachers of the gospel. I told him that when +it should be advisable to place this in execution by force of arms, +and if any necessity should arise, I would advise those kingdoms, +so that they could effect their good desire, and your Majesty would +be served thereby. I also said that, as so powerful a sovereign, your +Majesty would reward them as is your custom with other friendly kings; +and told him of the great advantage that would accrue to the seigniors +of those islands in recognizing and serving your Majesty. He was well +satisfied at this, and I more so, at seeing a people, so important +for the service of your Majesty, imbued with so great desire to serve +you--so that should your Majesty order an expedition to be made to +China, or to any other part of this new world, you could make use of +them. This is a warlike race, feared among all the natives, and most +by the Chinese, who tremble at their very name, because of the many +damages they have inflicted, and the experience that the latter have +of their courage and valor. I have kept this conference secret, and +ordered it kept so, in order that the Chinese might not hear of it, +as they are a very suspicious and timorous race. I have made much of +these Japanese, and am treating them with especial hospitality. I am +writing to the king of Firando in your Majesty's name, in generous +terms, thanking him for his offer. The devotion and Christian zeal +of this race is remarkable, and puts us to confusion. May God direct +it all, so that a great gateway may be opened to your Majesty for +whatever you may be pleased to do. + +Your Majesty had Jaime Joan, a cosmographer, sent to this country. He +had scarcely entered upon his duties, when he died of the fever, before +he was able to complete any of the matters ordered by your Majesty. + +On the twenty-third of last March, at half-past six in the afternoon, +a total eclipse of the moon was seen, which lasted until a quarter +past nine at night. Nothing else has happened this year, of which +to inform your Majesty. May God preserve your Majesty's Catholic +person. Manila, June 26, 1587. + +The licentiate _Santiago de Vera_ + + + +Letter from the Manila Audiencia to Felipe II + + +Sire: + +The two letters enclosed herewith are duplicates of those sent +last year (87) by this royal Audiencia--one on June 24, carried by +the vessel "Sancta Ana," which left these islands for Nueva Spana; +and the other dated November first, sent via Malaca, in Portuguese +Yndia. It being understood that the letter carried by the "Sancta +Ana" was lost, we beg your Majesty to give orders that this letter, +together with the enclosed copies, be attended to, taking such steps +as may be required for the good service of your Majesty here. + +Your Majesty will have received the news of the capture of the "Sancta +Ana" last year, which occurred while on its way from these islands +to Nueva Spana, by an English pirate, who entered the Southern Sea +with two vessels; after having plundered the ship, he burned it, +with all the goods which still remained on board. [61] This was one +of the greatest misfortunes that could happen to this land; because +it is estimated from the investments made, and the treasure and gold +carried, that the cargo of the said vessel would have been worth in +Mexico two millions [of pesos]. The loss has caused great poverty and +distress in this city, and among its inhabitants and soldiers. To cap +the climax, they have learned anew how much harder the viceroy of Nueva +Spana makes things for this country, for he has levied certain imposts, +ordering that every tonelada of cloth shipped from here to Nueva Spana +shall pay forty-four pesos, the duty having been only twelve pesos +heretofore--an increase which is keenly felt. As the people here are +serving your Majesty without receiving any salary or pay, it seems +expedient and just that they be favored by ordering the viceroy not +to alter the regulations hitherto made, and also to allow all those +people who desire, to come freely to these lands. From what has been +ascertained, it appears that they find it exceedingly difficult and +expensive to obtain a license to come; and even the personal effects +that they bring must be declared and permission obtained for each +article. All this causes a great loss, and prevents the development +of these islands; and it is necessary, should your Majesty be pleased +to do so, that this state of affairs be remedied. + +By a royal decree of May 10, eighty-three, brought here by Doctor +Santiago de Vera, president of this royal Audiencia, when he came to +establish it, your Majesty ordered that the said Audiencia look into +the matter of the three per cent customs duty imposed on goods, both +imports and exports, by Don Gonzalo Ronquillo, when he was governor of +these islands; and, in case this duty be not expedient, to remove it, +or to take such measures as they deemed best. Considering the poverty +of the royal treasury of these islands, and the many current expenses +here, the Audiencia ordered that the three per cent duty continue in +force; but in order to make its payment easier, and not to harass by +this tax the inhabitants of this city and other people serving in these +regions, it was decided that the citizens and soldiers and traders +should not be obliged to declare in detail the number of pieces of +silk carried, or their length in varas--it being sufficient to state +the quality of the silk and what it had cost, so that the goods might +be appraised according to their value for the payment of the three +per cent duty. The same order obtains in regard to all the rest of the +cargo--goods in bundles, robes, and other articles--this measure being +taken for the sake of avoiding the annoyances caused at the port of +Acapulco were the officials sent from Mexico for this purpose, since +they would open the boxes and undo the packages, thus occasioning a +great deal of damage and loss to the inhabitants of these islands, +both soldiers and merchants. Now we have learned that the viceroy +has given orders that the goods of those who have not declared the +number of pieces of each article carried, and the number of varas +they measure, and a like account and calculation for everything else, +be seized and confiscated--for which purpose he has begun to send to +the port a judge, who proceeds with great rigor. We beg your Majesty +that, since this royal Audiencia was ordered by the said royal decree +to take such measures as it deemed best, and it has declared that +the inhabitants and soldiers should be relieved and favored, and has +had therein so just a reason to prevent the oppression that might be +inflicted on them, your Majesty will order the viceroy of Mexico not +to interfere in this or other measures which may be taken here, since +from such measures result so much benefit to the poor citizens and +soldiers, and to all other people who dwell in and maintain this land. + +Since this royal Audiencia was established in the year 83, it has not +received any answers to the letters written, except a few decrees +which have reached it; and we are informed that all letters sent +from here are opened in Mexico and held there, so that we cannot feel +at liberty to write anything which is not examined and known there, +from which great difficulties may result. Even were it not certain +that the letters from this Audiencia are held there, we beg that your +Majesty will be pleased to give orders for their safe conveyance, +and that nothing be lacking which may be important for the service +of your Majesty. We also ask that suitable action be taken in regard +to the letters sent by individuals, because both Nueva Spana and this +country resent very deeply this interference. + +Through letters received here it has also been learned that, without +any cause therefor, the viceroy orders investigations to be made +in regard to the president and auditors of this Audiencia, by every +vessel which goes to Nueva Spana from other islands, from which great +harm results to the authority of the royal Audiencia. We beg that your +Majesty will be pleased to command what shall be done in this matter, +and not permit the good name of those who are serving your Majesty +here to be tampered with in that fashion. + +This Audiencia wrote to your Majesty, in the letter above referred +to as sent via Malaca, concerning the great injury done to this +country by the sale of the vessel "San Martin," sold by the viceroy +of Nueva Spana--an injury not only through the need of ships in these +islands but because it was sold with permission to make its first +voyage to Macan, and thence to return to Mexico without touching +at this city. And now it has been learned by letters from private +persons that the ship "Santa Ana," burned by the English privateer, +has been sold at public auction in the plaza of the City of Mexico, +also with the condition that permission would be given so that it +could make another voyage to Macan. If this be so, it means the total +ruin of this country; because it cannot be supported if commerce be +carried on between Macan and Mexico, and if the vessels which carry on +that trade be taken away from us. Your Majesty, if he be so pleased, +will look into the matter, and furnish a prompt remedy, as the affair +does not admit of any delay, and the welfare and development of this +country depend wholly upon such a remedy. + +This year we expected to receive help in the way of people and +supplies, of which we suffer great lack, and without which this land +is in the utmost danger of ruin; but as the "Sancta Ana" and the "San +Martin" which were the best ships that we had afloat, are not coming +any more, there were no vessels that the viceroy of Nueva Spana could +send for this purpose; accordingly, he sent a vessel so small that +it could not carry any people. The necessity of this country and its +extremity are such that no carelessness may be allowed in providing +help. May it please your Majesty to command that aid be provided, +with great care. + +From the Portuguese at Macan came a large vessel loaded with a quantity +of merchandise. Notwithstanding that the goods were excellent and +valuable, they were not better than those brought by the Sangleys--who, +having made so large profits during the last few years, bring now +everything of the best that their country produces. Over thirty vessels +have come here from that land, bringing so many people that, together +with those who were living here, there are over ten thousand Sangleys +now in this city. We have always received them very kindly, as ordered +by your Majesty; and they are so friendly to the Spaniards that the +"San Martin," which sailed from Nueva Spana for Macan, on arriving at +the province of Chincheo, which is in the country of those Sangleys, +was very warmly received, and they expressed much pleasure at seeing +the Spaniards in their country. The Sangleys offered to load the +vessel with anything that the Spaniards wanted; but the latter, +thinking that they would do a larger business at Macan, where the +Portuguese are in the habit of trading, did not accept the offer; +they were supplied with all the provisions that they desired, with +much show of friendship and kindness, after which they sailed for +Macan. Near that place, the vessel was lost during a heavy gale which +it encountered--not, however, until all the people and money were +saved. Nothing was lost, as your Majesty will have been notified at +greater length through some other source. + +The friars of the order of St. Dominic, whom your Majesty was kind +enough to send to this country last year, have begun to gather much +fruit here, in certain houses that they maintain outside of this city, +in which they minister to the natives. They have also established +another house in the city, where they are striving earnestly for the +conversion of the Sangleys, and have even begun to preach to them +in the Chinese language. It is understood that the Sangleys are very +docile and well-meaning people; and it is expected that the preaching +will attain to great results among them. May our Lord bring them to +a knowledge of the truth, and may He allow us to see your Majesty +master of everything. + +The religious came to these regions firmly resolved to live in poverty, +as do the discalced Franciscan fathers, and to live by charity; but +finding that alms were scarce, and that there was extreme poverty +in the convents which are established here, they have asked that a +gratuity be given them from the royal treasury. Since it was evident +to this royal Audiencia, as being a well-known fact, that without +such alms the religious could not be supported, or assist in religious +instruction, we gave orders, with the consent of the fiscal, that an +amount equal to that given to the friars of the order of St. Augustine +be granted them, provided that a greater amount be not given to +each Dominican convent than is given to the Augustinian friars, +although the latter have more religious in their convents. They are +very content and pleased with this order. Alms have been granted to +four religious of the convent in this city, with pledges that they +would secure the approval of the royal Council. This is a kindness +which your Majesty can do them, if you so please; it is just, and +they cannot live without it. + +Your Majesty orders this Audiencia, by a decree dated January 11, +87, which has been received here, to investigate the _modus operandi_ +of the fathers of the Society [of Jesus] who reside in these islands: +whether they look after the welfare of the souls of the people, and in +what districts, and what result they have accomplished, what benefit +would accrue by endowing for them a college in this city, and how the +income for it could be provided, and for what amount. In regard to +these questions it may be said that since the time of the arrival of +these fathers in the islands until now, they have not been in charge +of the souls of the natives, nor have they instructed them. Throughout +the islands they have maintained one convent, which is in this city, +where there have been generally from four to six religious. They have +rendered very good service to the Spaniards, and have always attended +very carefully to preaching and confessions, obtaining the same good +results which they are wont to secure wherever they may be. They would +do the same for the natives were there enough fathers, and if they had +charge of the Indians. Although there are so few of these fathers, +there have been and are some of great prudence, and learning, and +highly esteemed, who could do excellent work in the college which +they are attempting to open, if there were any inclination for it, +in this city. But it would be useless, at present, to open a college, +because there are in all this country no students to attend their +teaching. For this reason, the Dominican fathers ceased to give +instruction in grammar soon after their arrival here, although they +attempted it with great earnestness. The case being as above stated, +there is no necessity for a college, or the assigning of an income to +them, unless your Majesty is willing to give them something for their +subsistence. However, because of the poverty that they were enduring, +this Audiencia has already ordered that the same amount of alms be +given them as to the Augustinian religious--namely, one hundred pesos +and one hundred fanegas of rice annually to each priest, to be given +from the royal treasury. This kindness can be accorded them if your +Majesty consents, and will be of great benefit to them. + +In another royal decree of the same year, dated January 11, your +Majesty orders that this Audiencia look after, and help in every +possible way, the two hospitals established in this city, and +report as to the best manner in which to provide for and remedy +their necessities. This order will be observed very carefully, as +your Majesty commands; and as in this country there is nothing with +which an income could be furnished to them sufficient for the care of +the many Spaniards who are treated there, your Majesty might order, +if you so please, that enough Indians be allotted to them to pay +to each hospital one thousand pesos, one thousand fanegas of rice, +and one thousand fowls, this amount to include what is already given +them. Although this grant may be only for a period limited to certain +years, it will be an effective remedy for the distress which they +now endure. All that the hospital for the Spaniards now has is the +income from one village, assigned to it by Doctor Francisco de Sande +when he was governor of these islands, which is worth one hundred +and twenty gold taes (equivalent to 500 pesos) a year, more or less, +and will continue for three years. This time seeming very short to +the president of this Audiencia, Doctor Santiago de Vera, he ordered +that the hospital receive this aid for six years, adding to it the +income from another village, which amounts to seventy taes, or two +hundred and fifty pesos, or a trifle more. Besides this, he also +ordered that this hospital be given one thousand fanegas of rice and +one thousand fowls; whereas for the hospital for the natives he only +ordered one thousand fanegas of rice and one thousand fowls [which +is not sufficient], and therefore great privations and hardships are +suffered by those who are being treated there. + +In another royal decree of the above-mentioned month and year, +your Majesty orders that this Audiencia endeavor to maintain great +peace and harmony with the bishop of these islands, and manifests +your displeasure at some differences between us and him concerning +precedence in seats, and in regard to the mode of settling Indian +lawsuits. The whole trouble was this: the bishop claimed a seat on +the same side of the church where the Audiencia sits; and, the latter +being six or seven steps below the main altar, the bishop would have +been higher than and directly in front of the Audiencia, with his +back toward them. This being something unusual in other countries, +it was suggested to the bishop that, until your Majesty could be +consulted, he should not overstep the usual practice hitherto in +vogue throughout the Yndias, and which had until then been observed +with this Audiencia; and that he should not meddle with the decision +of the Indian suits, in matters under the jurisdiction of the royal +crown, as he had done. Since that time, as this seat was yielded to +the bishop, there has been, and is, between him and the Audiencia, +the agreement and peace and good understanding which should always +exist, and affairs are managed in great friendliness and harmony, so +that the people have always understood how much the Audiencia esteems, +honors, respects, and reverences the bishop. We beg that your Majesty +will appreciate the spirit in which this matter was settled. The aim +of this Audiencia was to maintain its own preeminence, in the desire +that your Majesty be thus better served, since it is through this +that the Audiencia keeps up the authority and respect which are its +due, especially in so new a country as this, where respect for these +offices is of so great importance. + +In the letter that we wrote to your Majesty via Malaca, notice was +given of the arrival in these islands of the Dominican fathers, +informing you that it was not expedient to send any more religious +orders to this country. Of those orders already here--namely, the +Franciscans, the Augustinians, the Dominicans, and the Society--it is +very desirable that your Majesty send many religious, because there is +a great lack of instruction; and unless many of each order are sent, +the natives cannot be instructed as befits the duties imposed upon your +Majesty's and the bishop's consciences, under whose charge they are, +as the bishop will inform you in the letter that he is writing to your +Majesty. We beg your Majesty to see to this matter and provide for +it. May God preserve the Catholic person of your Majesty. At Manila, +on June 25 of the year 88. + +The licentiate Santiago de Vera +The licentiate Melchor Davila +The licentiate Pedro de Rojas +Don Antonio Rivera Maldonado + + + + + +Bibliographical Data + + +_Foundation of Audiencia_.--See _Vol_. V, p. 320. + +_Royal decrees of 1584_.--The first is found in Santa Ines's _Cronica_, +ii, p. 606; the original MS. is in the Archivo de San Francisco at +Manila--pressmark, "caj. nº. 2 (dra.), leg. 1º." The second is in +the "Cedulario Indico" of the Archivo Historico Nacional, Madrid; +its pressmark is "Tomo 31, fol. 161b, nº. 157." + +_Mendoza's History of China_.--Such part of this work as relates +to the Philippines is here presented; it is obtained from a copy of +the Madrigal edition (Madrid, 1586), in the Library of Congress. Full +details regarding this work will be given in the final bibliographical +volume of this series. + +_Brief of Sixtus V_ (1586).--The text of this document is printed in +Hernaez's _Coleccion de bulas_, i, p. 530; it is also given in Santa +Ines's _Cronica_, i, pp. 524-527. + +The remaining documents presented in this volume--which are translated +from either the originals or transcripts thereof--are obtained from +the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla; the pressmark of each is +indicated as follows: + +1. _Income of royal estate_.--"Simancas--Filipinas; descubrimientos, +descripciones y poblaciones y gobierno de Filipinas; anos 1582 a 1606; +est. 1, caj. i, leg. 3|25, ramo 16." + +2. _Letter by Davalos._--"Simancas--Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; +cartas y espedientes del presidente y oidores de dicha Audiencia +vistos en el Consejo; anos 1583 a 1599; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 18." + +3. _Letter by Vera_ (1585).--"Simancas--Secular; Audiencia de +Filipinas; cartas y espedientes del gobernador de Filipinas vistos +en el Consejo; anos 1567 a 1599; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 6." + +4. _Letters by Guzman and Vascones._--"Simancas--Filipinas; +descubrimientos, descripciones y poblaciones de las Yslas Filipinas; +anos 1582 a 1606; est. 1, caj. 1, leg. 3|25;" this title varies +slightly, as will be seen, from that of No. 1. + +5. _Memorial of 1586._--"Simancas--Eclesiastico; Audiencia de +Filipinas; cartas y expedientes del cavildo ecclesiastico de Filipinas +vistos en el Consejo ano de 1586 a 1670; est. 68, caj. 7, leg. 35." The +latter part is obtained from a MS. in the Real Academia de la Historia; +its pressmark, "Papeles de las Jesuitas, tomo 8, fol. 330-339." + +6. _Letter by Chaves._--The same as No. 1, except that no ramo is +indicated. + +7. _Letter by the cabildo._--"Simancas--Secular; Audiencia de +Filipinas; cartas y espedientes del cavildo secular de Manila vistos +en el Consejo; anos 1570 a 1640; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 27." + +8. _Letter by Sedeno._--"Simancas--Eclesiastico; Audiencia de +Filipinas; cartas y expedientes de personas eclesiasticos; ano de +1570 a 1608; est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 42." + +9. _Letter by Salazar._--"Simancas--Eclesiastico; Audiencia de +Filipinas; cartas y expedientes del Arzobispo de Filipinas vistos en +el Consejo; anos 1579 a 1679; est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 32." + +10. _Letter by the Audiencia_.--The same as No. 2. + +11. _Letter by Rojas_.--The same as No. 9. + +12. _Letter by Moron_. "Simancas--Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; +cartas y expedientes de personas seculares de Filipinas vistos en el +Consejo; ano de 1565 a 1594; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 34." + +13. _Measures regarding trade with China_.--The same as No. 10 (which +is one of the papers grouped in this document). + +14. _Letter by Villamanriquez_.--Same as No. 6. + +15. _Letter by Vera_ (1587).--The same as No. 12. + +16. _Letter by the Audiencia_ (1588).--The same as No. 2. + + + + +NOTES + +[1] Something is apparently omitted here, perhaps a statement that +the Audiencia shall make the necessary ordinance, to have provisional +force (cf. section 310); but a careful examination of the original +document fails to explain the difficulty. + +[2] Andres de Aguirre was one of the Augustinians who came with +Rada and Herrera to the Philippines with Legazpi's expedition. He +was a native of Vizcaya, Spain, and made his religious profession at +Salamanca in 1532. He was a missionary among the natives of Mexico from +1536 to 1564; the rest of his life was spent in connection with the +Philippine missions, largely as an envoy for their affairs to the court +of Spain. He died at Manila (where he was then prior of his order) +in September, 1593. See sketch of his life and list of his writings +in Perez's _Catalogo religiosos agustinos_ (Manila, 1901), pp. 6-7. + +[3] The symbol U was used, in accounts, to designate thousands, in +the same way as the comma, or the comma with ciphers, is now used in +numerical notation. + +[4] The deposition of Juan Arze de Sadornel, which is very similar to +this, contains some further items of information, summarized thus: +"Prices are especially high when ships from Nueva Espana fail to +arrive, or when a great number of people come on them. At such +times, a jar of olives may cost eleven or twelve pesos, and a quire +of Castilian paper four or five pesos. The so-called linen cloth is +really of cotton, and is very warm and quite worthless. The Sangleys do +not bring flour made of pure wheat. Three or four years ago, the pork, +fowls, rice, and other produce of the country were sold very cheaply; +now there is great scarcity (and has been for two years) of rice +in the market, and its price has advanced from four tomins for six +fanegas to a toston for one fanega. Consequently the poor inhabitants +are suffering great distress, and cannot support themselves. Formerly a +soldier could live on 15 or 20 pesos a year; now that sum will maintain +him only one month. Many of the natives have died in the expeditions +made to Maluco, Borneo, and elsewhere; and a plague of locusts has +added to the distress in the islands. Sadornel is thirty-one years +of age, and has spent thirteen years in this country." + +[5] The "old style" calendar authorized by the Council of Nice +(A.D. 325) was based on erroneous conclusions, and consequently +contained an error which, steadily increasing, amounted to ten days at +the time of its correction. This was done by Gregory XIII, in a brief +issued in March, 1582; he reformed the calendar, directing that the +fifth day of October in that year be reckoned as the fifteenth. The +vernal equinox, which in the old calendar had receded to March 11, was +thus restored to its true place, March 21. The "new style" calendar is +also known as the Gregorian, from its founder; the system adopted by +Gregory was calculated by Luigi Lilio Ghiraldi, a learned astronomer +of Naples. + +[6] "And he shall be a wild man; his hand will be against all men, +and all men's hands against him." + +[7] Joao de Barros, an official in the India House at Lisbon, wrote a +history of Portuguese achievements in the Orient, entitled _Dos feitos +que os Portugueses fixerao no descobrimento e conquista dos mares e +terras do Oriente_ (Lisbon, 1552), _decadas i-iv_ (incomplete). The +other historian here mentioned is Jeronimo Osorio da Fonseca, bishop +of Silves in Algarve; the book referred to is _De rebus Emmanuelis +regis Lusitaniae_ (Olysippone, 1571). + +[8] Afonso de Albuquerque (born in 1453, died in 1515) was perhaps the +most celebrated among the Portuguese conquerors of India; he was the +second viceroy of the Portuguese possessions there, and founded its +capital, Goa. From his letters and reports to King Manoel of Portugal a +book was compiled by his son Afonso, entitled _Commentarios do Grande +Afonso Dalbuquerque_ (Lisboa, 1557); see also W.D. Birch's English +translation, _Commentaries of the Great Afonso Dalboquerque_ (Hakluyt +Society, London, nos. 53, 55, 62, 69, of first series). Therein may +be found a history of the events mentioned in our text. + +[9] Apparently referring to the practice of sodomy; cf. a similar +statement in _Vol_. IV, p. 51. + +[10] The archbishop of Mexico at this time was Pedro de Moya y +Contreras, who had come to Mexico in 1571 as chief inquisitor of +the Holy Office. On October 20, 1573, he assumed the duties of +archbishop; and in 1583 was appointed visitador (_i.e._, inspector) +of the courts, in which office he was engaged during three years. In +1584 he was appointed viceroy of Nueva Espana, surrendering this post, +a year later, to Villamanrique. All these offices were held by him at +one time. In June, 1586, he returned to Spain, where he died at the +close of the year 1591. In January of that year he had been appointed +president of the Council of the Indias. + +[11] "The rumors of the occurrence of this metal in Panay and Leyte +have failed of verification. Accidental losses of the metal by +prospectors or surveyors sometimes lead to reports of the discovery +of deposits." (_U.S. Philippine Gazetteer_, p. 84.) + +[12] The reference in the text is obscure as to the location of this +fort; but Morga says (_Sucesos_, ch. iii) that Azambuja commanded at +Tidore, and requested aid from Penalosa to conquer Ternate. "This +fleet, after reaching Maluco, did not succeed in its object. From +this time forward, succor of men and provisions continued to be sent +from the Philippines to the fortress of Tidore." + +[13] Gonzalo Ronquillo de Penalosa, who came to the islands as governor +in 1580, died in 1583, before he had completed the third year of his +service in that capacity. During his funeral, which was held at the +Augustinian convent in Manila, sparks from a lighted taper accidentally +set fire to the building, which quickly spread to others near by; and +soon all the public buildings and the greater part of the city were +destroyed in the flames. Before Penalosa's death, he had appointed +his kinsman, Diego Ronquillo, his successor _ad interim_ in the +government. See La Concepcion's _Hist. Philipinas_, ii, pp. 86-89. + +[14] Apparently a reference to Fray de Vascones, whose letter to the +king follows this. This friar mentions himself as a "native religious" +(_indigeno religioso_), in which connection may appropriately +be cited Crawfurd's remark (_Dict. Ind. Islands_, p. 96): "The +[Chinese] settlers, whenever it is in their power, form connections +with the native women of the country; and hence has arisen a mixed +race, numerous in the older settlements, known to the Malays under +name of Paranakan China, literally, 'Chinese of the womb,' that is, +Chinese of native mothers; and called in the Philippines, Sangley, +a word of which the origin is unknown." + +[15] Santiago de Vera had served in the audiencias of Espanola (Hayti) +and Mexico; in May, 1584 he came to the Philippines as president of +their Audiencia and governor of the islands. In that post he remained +six years, until he was replaced (May, 1590) by Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, +the Audiencia being then suppressed. All its members except Pedro de +Rojas at once returned to Mexico. + +[16] Apparently a _lapsus calami_ for Miguel de Talavera, the name +given by Santa Ines (_Cronica_, i, p. 219) who states that his +commission was given by Monsenor Sega, apostolic nuncio; he went +to Mexico in 1580, whence he directed the affairs of the Philippine +mission during several years (pp. 226-229). + +[17] The term "province" is here used by anticipation, as the +Franciscan custodia of San Gregorio was not actually erected into a +province until the following year (see brief to this effect by Sixtus +V. _post_). A custodia is a group of religious houses not large enough +to form a province. + +[18] So in the text, and often elsewhere; sometimes (apparently with +more correctness) Macau. The discrepancy may arise from an error made +by transcribers, even those of contemporaneous date. + +[19] This is evidently the Sangley friar mentioned by Santiago de Vera +in his letter of 1585 (see p. 75, _ante_). Perez says (_Catalogo_, +p. 21) that Juan de Vascones (Bascones) was minister in the following +villages: Calumpit in 1580, Bulacan in 1583, and Hagonoy in 1585; +and that he died at the last-named place in 1586. + +[20] This friar was originally a soldier, but abandoned military life +to enter the Augustinian order. In 1576, he was appointed by Felipe + II, with two other friars, to go as an envoy to the emperor of China; +but various obstacles prevented them from going thither until 1584, +and the effort proved to be a failure. Mendoza thereupon collected +various narratives written by Spanish and Portuguese missionaries who +had visited China, and therefrom compiled (especially from that of +Martin de Rada) the _Historia_ here described. In 1607 Mendoza (then +bishop of Lipari) went to Nueva Espana, and was there made bishop of +Chiapa, and afterward bishop of Popayan. He died about the year 1620. + +The title page reads: "History of the most notable things, the rites, +and customs of the great kingdom of China; gathered not only from +books of the Chinese themselves, but likewise from the relation of the +religious and other persons who have been in the said country. Made +and compiled by the very reverend father Maestro Fray Juan Goncalez +de Mendoca, of the order of St. Augustine, apostolic preacher, +and penitentiary of his Holiness; whom his Catholic Majesty sent, +with his royal missive and other things for the king of that country, +in the year M.D.LXXII. Now recently enlarged by the same author. To +the illustrious Lord, Fernando de Vega y Fonseca, of the Council of +his Majesty, and president of his royal Council of the Indias. With an +itinerary of the New World. With license. Madrid, at the shop of Pedro +Madrigal. M.D.LXXXVI. At the expense of Blas de Robles, bookseller." + +[21] In this connection three Chinese characters are given, the first +to be printed in any European book. + +[22] Jeronimo Marin was a native of Mexico, where he became an +Augustinian friar in 1556. Coming to the Philippine Islands in 1571, +he acquired the Bisayan, Tagal, and Chinese languages, and spent many +years in missionary labors among those peoples. Afterward he went to +Spain, where for a time he had charge of the Philippine missions of +his order; and finally returned to Mexico, where he died in 1606. + +[23] In the text, Martin--evidently a misprint; accordingly, we have +corrected it to the proper spelling, Marin. + +[24] Reference is here made to part i, book ii, chapter vii of +Mendoza's _Historia_. + +[25] Either a reference to the few small islands which lie near the +coast of the province of Ilocos (Luzon), or an erroneous mention of +that province as an island. + +[26] The author of the "Relation of the Filipinas Islands" which +appears in _Vol_. V. + +[27] Alonso de Alvarado was one of the Augustinian friars who +accompanied (1542) the expedition of Villalobos; in 1549 he returned +to Spain. Again coming to the Philippines in 1571, he labored as a +missionary among the natives of Luzon. Appointed provincial of his +order there in 1575, he died at Manila in May, 1576. See Retana's +_Zuniga_, ii, p. 563*, and Perez's _Catalogo_, p. 11; the latter states +that Alvarado was the first Spaniard in the Philippines to learn the +mandarin dialect of the Chinese language, and that he ministered to +the Chinese converts there. + +[28] As a result of this journey, Loarca wrote a memoir entitled +_Verdadera relacion de la grandeca del reyno de China_, etc. A +MS. which is evidently a copy from the original of this document +is preserved in the Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid; its press-mark is +"J.--16, 89," and "MSS. 2902." It is possible that Mendoza, in writing +his _Historia_, had access to Loarca's work. + +[29] An officer, superior to the captains, charged with the discipline +and instruction of the regiment; he exercised the functions of fiscal, +and had the right of intervention in the commissary department and +in all expenditures. (_Nov. dicc. lengua castellana_.) + +[30] Pedro de Alfaro was at the head of the first band of Franciscan +missionaries who came to the Philippine Islands, and was the first +custodian and superior of that order in the ecclesiastical province +of the Philippines. In the autumn of 1579 he went to China, where he +founded a mission at Macao. While on a voyage to India, in June of +the following year, the ship was wrecked, and Alfaro perished. See +account of his life and labors in Santa Ines's _Cronica_, i, pp. 113, +120, 130-140, 160-178. As that writer distinctly states (p. 124), the +Franciscans reached Manila in June, 1577--not in 1578, as in our text. + +[31] Agustin de Tordesillas was one of the Franciscans who first came +to the Philippines. At the time when he went to China with Alfaro, +Tordesillas was at the head of his convent in Manila. See account of +this mission in Santa Ines's _Cronica_, i, cap. vi-ix. + +[32] Named by Santa Ines (_Cronica_, p. 108), Juan Bautista Pisaro +(_alias_ "the Italian"), and Sebastian de Baeza, this last the name +of a town in Andalusia. They left Manila on this voyage at the end +of May, 1579. + +[33] The title-page of this "Itinerary," as well as some portions +of the text (notably the first chapter), are widely different in +the first edition of Mendoza's _Historia_ (1585) from the Madrigal +edition of 1586 (which we follow). See the Hakluyt Society's reprint +(London, 1853) of Parke's translation of Mendoza, vol. ii, pp. 207-209, +232. The Franciscan here mentioned was Fray Martin Ignacio de Loyola, +a relative of the Loyola who founded the Jesuit order. + +The title-page reads: "Itinerary and epitome of all the notable things +that lie on the way from Espana to the kingdom of China, and from China +to Espana, returning by way of Eastern India, after having made almost +the entire circuit of the world: Wherein are recounted the rites, +ceremonies, and customs of the people of all those parts, and the +richness, fertility and strength of many realms, with a description +of them all. Compiled by the author himself, both from what he has +seen, and from the account given him by the descalced religious of +the order of St. Francis." + +[34] Documents relating missionary efforts in these islands will be +published later in this series. + +[35] An expression of the opinion, then current in Europe, that +the New World was either an extension of the Asiatic continent, +or separated from it only by a narrow sea. + +[36] "The Philippine archipelago comprises 12 principal islands +and 3 groups, adjacent to which are 1,583 dependent islands" +(_U.S. Philippine Gazetteer_, pp. 4, 69). + +[37] This paragraph, here enclosed in parentheses, is found at the +beginning of the Madrid copy of this document (see Bibliographical +Data). Other additional matter found therein will be similarly +indicated throughout. + +In the Ventura del Arco MSS. (Ayer Library), a paragraph at the +beginning of the "Memorial" states that the general junta was held +on April 20, 1586, in accordance with an edict issued (on the day +preceding that date) by the Audiencia. The assembly decided that +Sanchez should be sent to Madrid, bearing a suitable memorial to +the home government stating the needs and wishes of the colonists; +and that other conferences should be held by the various estates and +interests represented, to decide upon its contents. On May 5, the +Audiencia insisted that Sanchez should accept the office of envoy, +which he did on the same day. + +[38] Here, as elsewhere in this document, we have represented by italic +side-heads the marginal notes on the original MS. They are written in +a different hand, and were probably made by some clerk of the Council. + +[39] The stated times of devotion of the Catholic church. + +[40] A note on the margin of the Madrid MS. at this place reads, +"or at least in Acapulco." + +[41] A tax formerly paid to the government by those not belonging to +the nobility. + +[42] A word used in America to signify an Indian village newly +consecrated to the Christian religion, and evidently transferred from +there to the Philippines. + +[43] At this point the Sevilla MS. ends, and it lacks any signature; +there is reason to fear that the latter half of this copy--apparently, +from the marginal notes, the one sent to the Council of the Indias, +and used in their deliberations--is lost. The remainder of the +document is translated from the Madrid copy, which is fully signed +by the notables of the islands. + +[44] For mention of the localities where these minerals are found in +the Philippines, see _U.S. Philippine Gazetteer_, pp. 83-85. + +[45] Jesuit missionaries had already found their way into the +Chinese ports. Cretineau-Joly states--_Hist. Comp. de Jesus_ (third +edition, Paris, 1859), i, p. 402--that in 1556 Melchior Nunez visited +Macao and Canton, where he became acquainted with the mandarins; +but the repressive Chinese laws prevented him from preaching the +Christian faith. In 1563, three Jesuits visited Pekin; and in 1581-83 +three missionaries of that order became established at Macao and +Canton--Michel Ruggieri, Mateo Ricci, and ---- Pazio. During 1600-10, +Ricci was a missionary at Peking, where he was greatly esteemed by the +emperor and other leading Chinese, on account of his scientific and +linguistic attainments; he is said to have been the first European to +compose works in Chinese. See sketch of his life in Yule's _Cathay_, +ii, p. 536. + +[46] A somewhat blind allusion to the decline of the Portuguese power +in India, which began in the first decade of the sixteenth century, +with the conquests of Albuquerque and others (see note 8 _ante_). The +arbitrary and tyrannical rule of the Portuguese exasperated the +natives, many of whom revolted. It will be remembered that in 1580 +Portugal was subjected to the dominion of Spain--including, of course, +its Oriental colonial possessions. The statement in the text evidently +means that, of the Indian states subdued by the Portuguese, many +have acquired so much strength that they have been able successfully +to resist their conquerors, and little therefore remains for the +Spaniards, who are now in possession of the Portuguese domains. + +[47] The Sofi are a peculiar sect of Mahometans, organized about +820 A.D. For account of early relations and intercourse between +the Chinese, Persians, and Armenians, see Yule's _Cathay_, i, +pp. lxxxii-lxxxviii. + +[48] A reference to the St. Lawrence River, then little known, but +by which, it was conjectured, might be gained a route to the Sea of +China, which was generally supposed to lie not far west of the North +American coast. + +[49] This document forms part of the group "Measures regarding +trade with China;" but its subject-matter renders its location at +this point more appropriate; consequently it has been transferred +hither. The works printed in italics at the beginning of certain +paragraphs in this document are, on the original MS., written as +marginal notes--probably by a clerk of the Council of the Indias. + +[50] In the original MS., section 8 does not appear--probably a +mistake in numbering the divisions of the letter. + +[51] The phrase _foro_ (an old form of _fuero_) _interior_ is but +another expression for the ecclesiastical _forum conscientiae_, +or _forum poenitentiae_. The reference is to cases of conscience, +which should in this case be left entirely to the bishop's decision. + +[52] This was Pedro de Moya y Contreras: see note 10, _ante_. + +[53] A reference to the residencia, or judicial investigation, to +which each royal official was liable (vol. IV, p. 71, note 7). + +[54] In the original, _ochenta_ only--_y cinco_ evidently omitted +by some oversight, as the date is written "1586" at the end of the +document. + +[55] Alvaro Manrique do Zuniga, Marques de Villa Manrique, was viceroy +of Nueva Espana from October 17, 1585, to February, 1590. + +[56] The reformed Franciscans were commonly called Observantines, +from their stricter observance of the rules of their order. + +[57] According to La Concepcion (_Hist. Philipinas_, ii, p. 92), +the plans for this fort were made by the Jesuit Sedeno; and it was +named Nuestra Senora de Guia ("Our Lady of Guidance"). He adds that +the artillery was cast (at Baluarte) under the direction of a Pampanga +Indian--whose name, Morga says, was Pandapira. + +[58] Considerable copper ore is found in the Philippines, in many +localities; but these deposits are little known, and have not been +worked--except in northern Luzon, where "copper ore has been smelted by +the natives from time immemorial. The process ... consists in alternate +partial roasting and reduction to 'matte,' and eventually to black +copper. It is generally believed that this process must have been +introduced from China or Japan. It is practiced only by one peculiar +tribe of natives, the Igorrotes ... Mean assays are said to show over +16 per cent of copper." See U.S. Philippine Commission's _Report_, +1900, iii, p. 235. + +[59] Sulphur deposits abound about the numerous active and extinct +volcanoes in the Philippines ... The finest deposits in the archipelago +are said to be on the little island of Biliran, which lies to the +N.W. of Leyte. See _U.S. Philippine Gazetteer_, p. 85. + +[60] The ancient name of the city of Kioto, which was formerly the +capital of Japan; it lies 250 miles S.W. of Tokio. + +[61] This exploit was performed by Thomas Candish, on Nov. 4, 1587, +off Cape San Lucas, the southern point of Lower California. After some +six hours' fight the "Santa Ana" surrendered; her crew and passengers, +numbering 190 persons, men and women, were set ashore, with supplies +and provisions; the rich cargo--consisting of silks, damasks, perfumes, +food, and wine, with 122,000 pesos' worth of gold--was plundered; +and the ship (a galleon carrying 500 tons of goods) was burned, with +all that the victors could not carry away. Candish then set sail for +the Philippines, which he sighted on Jan. 14, 1588; but his small +force of ships and men did not permit him to do more than cruise +through the archipelago during a fortnight, when he departed toward +Java. See Candish's account in Hakluyt's _Voyages_ (Goldsmid ed.), +xvi, pp. 30, 35-45. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 +by Emma Helen Blair + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, 1493-1898 *** + +***** This file should be named 13120.txt or 13120.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/1/2/13120/ + +Prepared by Jeroen Hellingman and the 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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