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diff --git a/old/16133.txt b/old/16133.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e79a894 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/16133.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8448 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume +XX, 1621-1624, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624 + Explorations By Early Navigators, Descriptions Of The + Islands And Their Peoples, Their History And Records Of + The Catholic Missions, As Related In Contemporaneous Books + And Manuscripts, Showing The Political, Economic, Commercial + And Religious Conditions Of Those Islands From Their + Earliest Relations With European Nations To The Close Of + The Nineteenth Century + +Author: Various + +Editor: Emma Helen Blair + +Release Date: June 25, 2005 [EBook #16133] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS *** + + + + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the PG Distributed Proofreaders Team + + + + + + + The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 + + Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and + their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, + as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the + political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those + islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the + close of the nineteenth century, + + Volume XX, 1621-1624 + + + + Edited and annotated by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson + with historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord + Bourne. + + + + + + + + + +CONTENTS OF VOLUME XX + + + + Preface + Documents of 1621 + + News from the province of Filipinas. Alonso + Roman; Manila, [July?]. + Death of Dona Catalina Zambrano. [Unsigned]; + Manila, July. + Letter to the king. Alonso Fajardo de Tenca; + Manila, July 21. + Letter from the archbishop of Manila to the + king. Miguel Garcia Serrano, O.S.A.; Manila, + July 30. + Letter to the king. Geronimo de Silva; Manila, + August 1. + Affairs in the Franciscan province. Pedro + de Sant Pablo, O.S.F., and others; Manila, + 1620-21. + Letter to the king. Alonso Fajardo de Tenca; + Manila, December 10. + + Documents of 1622 + + Letters to the king. Alvaro Messa y Lugo; + Manila, 1621 and July 30, 1622. + Letters from the archbishop of Manila to + the king. Miguel Garcia Serrano; Manila, + 1621-22. + Royal decrees regarding the religious. Felipe + IV; Madrid, December 31. + + Documents of 1623-1624 + + Letter to Fajardo. Felipe IV; Madrid, October + 9, 1623. + Royal permission for the Dominican college + in Manila. Felipe IV; Madrid, November + 27, 1623. + Expedition to the mines of the + Igorrotes. Alonso Martin Quirante; Alingayen, + June 5, 1624. + + Bibliographical Data. + + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + Autograph signatures of Valerio de Ledesma and Alonso Roman; + photographic facsimiles from tracings in the Ventura del + Arco MS. + Weapons of the Igorrotes; photograph of weapons in the Colegio + de Agustinos Filipinos, Valladolid. + Weapons of the natives of North Luzon; photograph of weapons + in the Museo-Biblioteca de Ultramar, Madrid. + + + + + + +PREFACE + + +The years 1621-24, although not marked by great battles, conquests, +or calamities, contain much that is of interest in the internal +development of the Philippine colony; and these documents vividly +illustrate the ceaseless play and interaction of human interests +and passions--especially in the romantic but tragic love-affair +of Fajardo's wife, in which is material for a brilliant novel. The +usual conflicts occur between the civil authorities and the friars, +and between the governor and the Audiencia; but the records of these +controversies furnish an unusual revelation of human nature and its +complicated phenomena. The alliance between the Dutch and the English +menaces this far Oriental Spanish colony with even more dangers than +it has already experienced; and its feeble defenses and insufficient +equipment of arms and men keep its people in constant dread and +anxiety. For defense against the expected attacks of the heretics +against Manila more ships and fortifications are constructed; but this +imposes additional burdens on the poor Indians, which the governor +tries to mitigate by endeavors to protect them from the oppression +that they endure from the Spaniards. Controversies arise between the +various orders, and within that of St Francis, which are settled by the +intervention of the bishop and governor. Reports made by the orders +show that over half a million of the natives are receiving religious +instruction; but the bishop deprecates the favorite missionary policy +of gathering the converts into "reductions," and advises that all the +missions should be placed under the supervision of the bishops. The +foreign population of Manila still increases beyond the safety-line, +and spasmodic efforts are made to restrict it; but corrupt and lax +officials render these of little use. The difficulties involved in +the Chinese trade and its economic effects on the Spanish colonies +are still discussed, but without any satisfactory solution to the +problem. The gold mines in northern Luzon are explored and tested, +but with meager results. + +A Jesuit at Manila, Alonso Roman, gives the "news from Filipinas" +for 1621. He recounts the persecution of Christians that is still +continuing in Japan, with many martyrdoms. Various encounters between +the Dutch and English occur until, an alliance being concluded between +Holland and England, their ships unite to prey on the commerce of +China, Portuguese India, and the Philippines. The writer relates +several naval encounters, and captures of trading ships. In one of +these the Chinese, pouring melted sugar on the enemy, "sent fourteen +of the Dutch in a conserve to hell." Roman concludes his letter with +an account of the tragedy in which Governor Fajardo slays his wife and +her lover (May 11, 1621)--the latter being a renegade Jesuit, named +Joan de Messa. Another account of this affair adds some minor details. + +Fajardo sends his annual despatches to the king (July 21, 1621). He +describes his measures for the prompter despatch of the trading-fleet +to Nueva Espana, and the recent hostile demonstration made by the Dutch +and English at Manila Bay. He takes all precautions for defense against +them, but is unable to attack them, owing to his lack of troops--a +deficiency which he proceeds to explain. Thus far, the enemy have done +little harm, especially as Fajardo promptly warned the Chinese, and +other trading countries near by, of their arrival. He learns of other +hostile fleets that are preparing to attack the islands, and takes +all possible precautions for their defense. He asks that, until the +affairs of the islands are in better condition, the Audiencia of Manila +may be discontinued, as the auditors embarrass and hinder his efforts, +and are not competent to fulfil their duties. The religious also make +the governor's duties a burden; and their exactions from the Indians +prevent the latter from serving the crown. The Dutch know betters +how to deal with the natives; they exempt the latter from tributes, +personal services, and religious instruction. Little has been done in +opening the Igorrote mines--a task which Fajardo is warned to push +forward. He has sent troops and supplies safely to Ternate. He is +having much trouble in regard to the residencia of his predecessor, +the late Juan de Silva; and complains of the shelter and countenance +given to Auditor Messa by the Dominicans. Fajardo recounts various +matters of government and his procedure therein; also the annoyances +and hindrances which he experiences from the friars. He commends, +however, the Jesuits and their work, suggesting that more of them +should be sent to the islands. He is perplexed and hindered by the +lack of soldiers, but is doing his best with his small forces. The +Council orders the viceroy of Nueva Espana to send every year to +Filipinas all the reenforcements in his power. + +The archbishop of Manila sends to the king (July 30, 1621) an +account of ecclesiastical and some other affairs in his diocese. He +asks permission to hold an ecclesiastical council, and to hold the +feast of Corpus Christi at some other and more convenient date than +it has on the calendar. He complains of the poverty of the Manila +cathedral, and asks for aid; also of the governor's failure to consult +him regarding appointments to prebends, and of the incapacity for +canonical offices of certain royal appointees. Serrano commends the +members of his chapter, some of them individually and by name. The +two colleges in Manila are training so many students that they +cannot find positions in the church, and the archbishop is greatly +pained by their consequent poverty and humiliation. He asks for more +competent bishops to be sent to the islands; and for authority to be +given to religious ministers there to grant absolution for certain +impediments to marriage which render divorces among the natives too +easy. The friars who have charge of instructing the natives ought to +be subject to inspection by the bishops, and thus various abuses would +be corrected. Affairs in Japan are in great confusion, on account of +the persecution of the Christians; and Serrano recommends that Fray +Sotelo be not allowed to go thither as bishop of Japan. He details a +controversy that has arisen between the Jesuits and the Dominicans in +Manila over the refusal of confession to the dying Juan de Messa; the +archbishop is obliged to call an ecclesiastical council to settle the +matter, and they decide in favor of the Jesuits. Trouble arises in the +Franciscan order over the appointment of a visitor, which is quelled +by similar action on Serrano's part, and the governor's interference +in the matter. More laborers are needed for the Jesuit missions, +as well as for those conducted by the friars. Serrano urges that +the hospital order of St. John of God be established in the islands, +as the hospitals there need better care than they are receiving from +the Franciscans. He complains that the officials of the orders give +letters of recommendation too easily; that the Audiencia are lax in +their attendance at church feasts; that the ships are sent too late +to Nueva Espana, and also return too late to the Philippines: that +workmen in government employ in the islands are defrauded of their +pay; that the city of Manila is overrun with Chinese and Japanese, +far beyond the numbers allowed by royal edicts or regard for the safety +of the Spanish citizens there; and that private persons, by collusion +with the officials, illegally secure for themselves the best of the +Philippine trade with Malacca and other adjacent regions. At the end +of Serrano's letter is the papal bull changing the date on which the +feast of Corpus Christi may be celebrated in Oriental regions. + +A letter from Geronimo de Silva to the king (August 1, 1621) states +that one of the ships to Nueva Espana has been forced back to Manila +by adverse weather, which has caused great distress in the islands. The +annual relief for Ternate has been sent; attacks on Luzon by the Dutch +and English are expected, but result in the enemy capturing only +a few Chinese vessels. Silva mentions the pitiably small forces of +the colony for defense, and urges that reenforcements and other aid +be sent for this purpose. Undesirable inhabitants of the country are +being sent away, especially the Japanese, who are more dangerous than +the Chinese. Silva refers to the difficulties between the governor +and auditors, and asserts that these are due to the existence of the +Audiencia there, which is a costly and useless burden on the colony, +and a hindrance to the administration of justice and to the fulfilment +of the governor's duties. + +Affairs in the Franciscan province of the Philippines are in +unsatisfactory condition; an account of them is sent to the king +(July 31, 1620) by the provincial of that order, Pedro de San Pablo, +in behalf of the province. He states that a visitor has been sent +to it from Nueva Espana who is not one of the discalced, and is +therefore _persona non grata_ to these (of whom are the Franciscans +of Filipinas); also that other friars "of the cloth" have slipped in +among the discalced, simply to gain admission to the regions of the +East. Hence arise factions, dissensions, and loss to their religious +interests and work; and these intruders seek to rule the others. San +Pablo asks the king to issue such decrees that only one branch +or the other of the order may send religious to the islands; thus +"there will be peace." The intruding Observantines have attempted to +deprive the discalced of the Japan missions and of the convent of San +Francisco del Monte, near Manila; and the royal authority is invoked +to restrain their encroachments. This letter is accompanied by another +(July 20, 1621) signed by San Pablo and other officials of his order, +further entreating relief and redress for their province; and by still +another letter of similar tenor (dated only 1621), complaining of +Auditors Messa and Rodriguez for their unjust and arbitrary action +in the case of the unwelcome visitor sent to the Franciscans, and +urging the king to furnish redress therein and rebuke the auditors. + +A letter from Fajardo to the king (December 10, 1621) concerns various +matters of administration and business. He explains the late departure +of the ships for Nueva Espana, and the consequent mortality reported +on one of them. He discusses the question of diminishing the drain of +silver from Nueva Espana to the Orient, and recommends that the export +of silks and other fabrics to that country from the Philippines be +prohibited; but he remonstrates against the proposed abandonment of +Macao, which would surrender the Chinese trade at once to the Dutch +and English, and thus ruin the Philippine colony. Fajardo suggests +that only vessels of moderate size be allowed on the Nueva Espana line, +and that more definite measures be postponed until the subject of this +trade can be more thoroughly investigated. He denies the assertions +that he is interested in the shipments of goods to that country, +and places upon the auditors the fault of certain matters in which +he, as governor, has incurred blame. He also accuses the Dominican +friars of aiding and sheltering his enemies. A royal decree of 1610 +has placed most of the appointments of subordinates in the hands of +the auditors and fiscals, rather than (as formerly) those of viceroys +and governors; and preference is given therein to the descendants +of conquistadors and settlers. Fajardo remonstrates against this, +adducing various arguments to show how this decree hampers the efforts +and authority of the governor, creates difficulties between him and +the auditors, disturbs the course of administration in the islands, +and injuries the public service. Fajardo seconds the demand of the +citizens of Manila that the Audiencia be suppressed, alleging that it +does more harm than good. He has sent the usual supplies to Ternate, +and has despatched a small troop of Spaniards to Celebes to fortify +a post there, with some Franciscan missionaries to minister to the +natives. He has secured the release of certain Spanish prisoners, and +is building two ships. Some of the natives have revolted, and troops +have been sent to chastise them; Fajardo tries to keep the Indians in +due subjection, yet to treat them with justice and kindness, and he +complains that his efforts to do so are hindered by the oppressive and +harsh conduct of the friars (especially of the Dominicans) toward the +natives, and by their ambition to rule in all matters. The governor +is exerting every effort to maintain the fortifications at Cavite +and Oton, and to repair and equip the few vessels at his disposal; +he has news that Dutch and English fleets are coming to harass the +Spaniards and their Chinese trade. + +Fajardo's chief enemy in the Audiencia, Alvaro Messa y Lugo, writes +to the king (apparently in 1621), complaining of the governor's +official conduct as ruining the country. Messa accuses him of reckless +expenditures of public funds; of using these to invest for his own +profit in the Mexican trade; of allowing Indian claims for wages to +be sold at a third of their value, and cashed in full; of issuing too +many licenses to Chinese residents, and using these fees for himself; +and of neglecting to audit the accounts of the government. According +to Messa, Fajardo intimidates the Audiencia, interrupts the course of +justice, recklessly liberates criminals, persecutes citizens who differ +from him, neglects to observe the royal decrees, threatens even the +clergy and friars, and tyrannizes over the entire community. It may be +noted that Messa bases most of these accusations on report and hearsay, +without citing any definite authority for his statements. Messa accuses +the governor of neglecting his duties, and failing to provide for the +defense of the country, while spending the royal revenues lavishly; +and even assails Fajardo's personal character. He relates, in tedious +detail, various difficulties between himself and the governor, and +arbitrary acts of Fajardo against him; and recounts his deliverance +from prison through a miracle wrought for him at the intercession of +the Virgin Mary. Messa has taken refuge in the Dominican convent, and +entreats the king to redress his wrongs and punish the governor and his +abettors. He recounts at much length the reasons for which he supposes +the governor arrested him. In this connection Messa relates his version +of Fajardo's killing his unfaithful wife, adding much gossip of the +town that is uncomplimentary to the governor. He also states that the +Audiencia is virtually non-existent, and so there is no high court +in which justice may be sought. Messa urges the king to send a new +governor, and gives his advice as to the character of him who should be +sent. He intimates that Fajardo has illegally obtained wealth to the +value of perhaps almost a million pesos, and that even this sum will +not repay the claims held against him. Messa gives account of certain +residencias entrusted to him, and claims that all his efforts to do +this work have been blocked by the governor, especially in the case +of Juan de Silva. He complains that the authority of the governor and +that of the Audiencia conflict, especially in time of war; and that the +former has too wide a jurisdiction in that he may try cases brought +against the auditors. Messa recommends that aid for the Philippine +colony be sent in the form of men and money, and that the necessary +ships and artillery be constructed in the islands. He complains that +the Chinese traders are illegally compelled to pay assessments, +from which the fiscal, who is nominally their protector, receives +additional pay. Messa asks for honors and promotion for himself, +by way of atonement for the ill-treatment that he has received from +the governor; and closes with the request that Fajardo's property in +Mexico be sequestered. + +With this letter is another by the same writer, dated July 30, +1622--a postscript to a duplicate of the preceding letter. He relates +how Fajardo has summoned him to resume his duties as auditor; but he +has no confidence in the governor's sincerity. He accuses the latter +of various illegal and crafty acts, among them sending contraband +gold and jewels to Mexico. Messa recounts the proceedings in the +Santa Potenciana scandal, blaming the governor's course therein. At +the end is a letter from the Audiencia advising the king to refuse +an increase of salary to the archbishop of Manila, with a note by +Fajardo recommending such increase. + +The archbishop of Manila, Miguel Garcia Serrano, writes (1621) a report +for the first year of his term of office--which, however, he does +not send until 1622. He has been occupied in official visitations, +mainly in the city of Manila. Among the clergy therein he finds no +offenses, save that a few have gambled in public; these are promptly +disciplined. The cathedral is the only Spanish parochial church; +it cares for two thousand four hundred souls. Another curate is in +charge of the Indians and slaves of Manila, who number one thousand +six hundred and forty and one thousand nine hundred and seventy +respectively; but many of these confess at the convents of the various +orders. The Indians should have a suitable church of their own, +and Serrano recommends that the king provide one for them. At the +port of Cavite is a parochial church, which ministers to over three +thousand souls. The Indians in the archdiocese of Manila are mainly +in charge of the religious orders, as follows: Of the Augustinians, +ninety thousand souls; Franciscans, forty-eight thousand four hundred; +Dominicans, twenty-eight thousand; Jesuits, ten thousand six hundred; +Recollects, eight thousand. Besides these, twenty thousand Indians +are under the care of secular priests--making a total of two hundred +and five thousand. Serrano describes the method of government and +administration that is followed in the missions; the natives could +be more easily reached and instructed in a few large villages, but +the effort to collect them in these "reductions" has proved to be +neither satisfactory nor profitable, in the Philippines as well as in +Nueva Espana. Chinese converts residing in the outskirts of Manila +number one thousand five hundred souls, in charge of the Dominicans +and Franciscans. Among the Japanese who are in the islands there are +more than one thousand five hundred Christians. In the bishopric of +Cebu are two hundred Spaniards; the Indians and other people under +instruction amount to one hundred and nineteen thousand six hundred +and fifty. Of these about sixteen thousand are in the care of secular +priests; nearly fifty thousand, of the Augustinians; and fifty-four +thousand, of the Jesuits. In the bishopric of Cagayan (in northern +Luzon), there are but seventy Spaniards; the Augustinians instruct +fifty-eight thousand, and the Dominicans seventy thousand, Indian +natives. The bishopric of Camarines (in eastern Luzon) has only some +fifty Spaniards; eight thousand six hundred natives are cared for +by secular priests, forty-five thousand by Franciscans, and three +thousand two hundred by Jesuits. The total number of souls of natives +under religious instruction in the islands amounts to over half a +million--apparently not counting therein the children. But the great +number of Indians still unconverted demands many more missionaries, +whom the king is urged to send. The archbishop gives some account +of the hospitals and their management; he recommends that they be +placed in care of the hospital order of St. John of God. He also +enumerates the various religious and benevolent confraternities +in Manila, with their purposes and revenues; of these the chief is +that of La Misericordia. Serrano describes the character and present +condition of the two colleges in Manila, San Jose and Santo Tomas, +and of the seminary for girls, Santa Potenciana; for the former he +requests faculty for granting decrees to their students, and for +the latter substantial pecuniary aid. He states that, in general, +the Indians are well treated by their religious teachers; but he +recommends that more power over these ministers be given to the +Philippine bishops. The constant menace of the islands by the Dutch +enemy, however, lays cruel burdens upon the Indians, in ship-building +and in other preparations for war which they are compelled to make +by the royal officials. Serrano closes by answering certain questions +about prebends, curacies, etc. + +A royal decree (December 31, 1622) orders the Dominicans in the +Philippines not to meddle in affairs of government. Another of the +same date confirms and enforces a previous decree (1603) of Felipe II, +ordering that all religious who are missionaries to the Indians be +examined as to their competency for such work, especially in their +knowledge of the native language, by the archbishop or some person +appointed by him. A letter from the king (October 9, 1623) directs +Fajardo to push the exploration of the Igorrote mining region, and +to send nutmeg from the islands to Nueva Espana. Various matters +mentioned by the governor receive perfunctory and formal answers. On +November 27 following, Felipe IV confirms the permission given by the +governor and archbishop to the Dominicans to found a college at Manila. + +At the close of the year 1623, an expedition is sent to explore and +pacify the province of the Igorrotes (in northern Luzon), already +famous for its rich gold mines. The report of this enterprise, +furnished (June 5, 1624) by its leader, Alonso Martin Quirante, +narrates its progress from day to day, the plan of the campaign, the +encounters between the Spaniards and the Igorrotes, and the success of +the former in repulsing the attacks of the natives and obtaining ore +from the mines. Martin describes the country through which he passes; +the native tribes, their customs, and their methods of obtaining gold; +the mines, and the ore secured from them. He considers the general +idea of the richness of these mines incorrect and exaggerated; he +examines them, however, carefully, and obtains specimens of the ore +from each. Then follows a report of the various tests and assays made +thereon, from which the results are not very satisfactory; a table +showing the values of the metal obtained in each of the assays; and +the action of the Audiencia of Manila thereon--they deciding to abandon +further attempts to explore or work the Igorrote mines, and to send to +Nueva Espana for further test the ores brought by Martin to Manila; +moreover, the men now at the mines are to be sent to Nueva Segovia, +to subdue the revolted Indians there. + + +_The Editors_ +September, 1904. + + + + + + +DOCUMENTS OF 1621 + + + + News from the province of Filipinas. Alonso Roman; [July?]. + Death of Dona Catalina Zambrano. [Unsigned]; July. + Letter to the king. Alonso Fajardo de Tenca; July 21. + Letter from the archbishop of Manila to the king. Miguel + Garcia Serrano, O.S.A., July 30. + Letter to the king. Geronimo de Silva; August 1. + Affairs in the Franciscan province. Pedro de Sant Pablo, + O.S.F., and others; 1620-21. + Letter to the king. Alonso Fajardo de Tenca; December 10. + + + +_Sources_: The first of these documents is obtained from a MS. in +the Real Academia de Historia, Madrid; the second, from the Ventura +del Arco MSS. (Ayer Library), i, pp. 509-514; the remainder, from +MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla. + +_Translations_: The first of these documents is translated by Arthur +B. Myrick, of Harvard University; the second, fourth, fifth, and +sixth, by James A. Robertson--except the Latin bull in the fourth, +translated by Rev. T.C. Middleton, O.S.A.; the third and seventh, +by Robert W. Haight. + + + + + +News from the Province of Filipinas, This Year, 1621 + + +By letters which we have received from Japon this January, 1621, +we heard how bitterly the persecution of God's religion is carried +on in Boxu, the country of Masamune, [1] who has been accustomed +to send embassies to Spain in past years. The spread of the holy +gospel and uninterrupted preaching went on until the return of the +ambassador. Hitherto Masamune had dissimulated for reasons of state, +hoping that he would be allowed to send one ship from his kingdoms to +Nueva Espana, where he had large interests. Seeing that this would +not be conceded, he commenced to persecute Christians openly and +secretly. On the twentieth of September, 1620, he ordered prohibitions +and edicts to be issued in various places, in which it was ordered +that no one should receive the religion of God; and that all those +who had adopted it should abandon it, under penalty of being deprived +of the property and incomes which the chiefs of equal rank hold from +the tono [_i.e._, daimio], while in the case of the common people, +the plebeians, they should be put to death. He also commanded that +any person having any knowledge of any Christian should denounce +him; and that all preachers of the holy gospel should leave his +kingdom and state. In case that they would not abandon the religion +which they preached, the officials of Masamune commenced to execute +their orders. Many were therefore banished and dispossessed of their +property, others abandoned the faith, and to six fell the best lot +of all in giving up their lives, being beheaded for this reason. + +In the city of Nangasaqui, as all its people are Christians, the +persecution is directed not so much against the Christians, for that +would utterly destroy the place, as against those who conceal the +religious who are under penalty of death. + +On the seventeenth of December, they arrested two religious of +St. Francis, one a priest named Fray Pedro de Avila, [2] and another +a layman, Fray Vicente. On the twelfth of February they beheaded two +leading natives for their faith. On the thirteenth of the same month +they bound to the stake, in order to burn alive, a man who had two +religious in his house. On account of his anxiety to escape the fire, +he confessed; and leaping from it (they say) he begged them not to +kill him, saying that [_illegible in MS_.]. They cut him to pieces, +however, without mercy, and he was sent to the Lord. + +At this same time they seized in Nangasaqui a servant of the father +provincial, Matheo Couros, who was washing his clothes. When he was +thus recognized, they inflicted sharp torments upon him, to make +him disclose what he knew; but he, although mangled, bravely gave up +his life in the torture rather than betray the father. There are at +present in Japanese prisons [_MS. torn_] of religious and Christians: +of the Order of St Francis there are five; of that of St. Dominic, +three or four; of the Jesuits one, Father Carlos de Espinola. There +were three, but one was burned alive for his faith; and the other, +who was a Portuguese brother, [died] [3] with the hardships of the +prison, and it is thought to be certain that [his death was hastened] +by poison. + +The Dutch and English seized, on board a Japanese ship which sailed +from Manila for Japan, two religious--one a Dominican, and the +other an Augustinian--who were identified by letters and papers +that they had with them. [4] The letters [_MS. torn_] nevertheless, +presented at court, for it was not considered wrong for them to have +[_MS. torn_] a ship of Japanese, who extended them a kindly welcome +to their kingdom. They jointly presented a petition, stating to the +emperor that until [_MS. torn_] destroy Manila and Macan, there would +be no lack of religious in his [empire]; and that they should deliver +over to them in orderly manner two or three thousand Japanese, who +[_MS. torn_] will destroy these two cities. This petition was not +granted them; instead, decrees were issued in which the emperor +ordered the governor of [Nan]gasaqui to notify the tonos of Firando +and other places that under pain of [_MS. torn_] they should allow no +Japanese to embark with the Dutch and English. [_MS. torn_] It was +observed and carried out even against the wishes of the heretics, +who wished to assist [_MS. torn_] of them against us. + +On the twenty-sixth of July there arrived at the port of Firando, two +Dutch [vessels] with some of their men wounded and their masts pierced +by shots; [_MS. torn_] they had fought in the Philipinas with the +ships that had come from Nueva Espana, and had sunk one of them. The +truth of the affair was afterward found out, that [_MS. torn_] fought +with ours, and it is presumed that one was sunk. [_MS. torn_] Not more +than two arrived at Firando, to the great pleasure of the Christians +of Japan when they heard the truth and the evil deed of the enemy. + +A Dutch ship and patache sailed from Japan in February, 1620, with +the intention of lying in wait for the Chinese ships that were going +from Manila, laden with the silver which they had received for the +goods which they had sold, but during a heavy storm the vessel with +all its cargo was wrecked on Hermosa Island. Six of the Dutch were +drowned. Those who escaped seized two boats that they found on the +shore, and robbed three Chinese ships of more than three hundred +thousand pesos. The patache was never seen again, and there is not +much doubt that it was lost with all hands on board. They sent another +large ship to Bantan, where they have a factory. This vessel, loaded +with supplies, went ashore and was lost; and one hundred and twenty +Japanese and three Dutchmen were drowned. + +The English and Dutch being on the point of settling their quarrel by +fighting a pitched battle off Bantan near China in which both parties +must have been destroyed, chance would have it that two despatch-boats +arrived, one from Ynglaterra and the other from Olanda, bringing +the news of the confederation which had been formed between those +two states, [5] so that their quarrel was converted to rejoicing and +merriment. Then they sent off sixteen English vessels and ten Dutch +ships. One English ship was lost on the coast of China, as a result +of trying to capture a Portuguese vessel which was on its way from +India to Macan. Nothing was ever heard of three of the Dutch ships; +but the others came to lie in wait for the Portuguese galliots loaded +with silks which the Portuguese import into Japan. They followed +these as far as Nangasaqui without being able to chase one of them, +because they were too light, whereupon the enemy took shelter in their +port of Firando. The agreement of the confederation was as follows: +In order to avoid dissensions on both sides, they were all to come +into the English Company, and they should render accounts of what +either side had lost in the wars that they had waged; and whatever was +over and above, the other side was to pay. _Item_, that both parties +could alike enter the regions conquered by them, with ships, men, +and supplies; and that anything that they should acquire by conquest +should remain in the form in which the said States [of Holland] and +the English Company had there agreed. _Item_, that the spice trade +should be equally divided, each loading as many ships as the other, +and that they should go shares in their seizures; finally, that an +English captain was to be commander of the whole fleet this first +year, and the next a Dutchman, and so on alternately in succeeding +years. This is their plan, which meanwhile is to redound to our injury, +since they intend to make themselves masters of the Philipinas, the +Malucas Islands, India, and the whole of this archipelago. There is +cause for alarm when they bring one hundred and ten ships into these +seas without any means of resistance on our part. + +These pirates were fitting out an armada in great haste in Japan. The +report was current that they were going to attack Macan, while +others said that they were coming to the Philipinas, of which we +had information. The people at Macan were also warned that trip +English and Dutch allies were coming to attack them, whereupon +they set about providing supplies, and dug some trenches, which the +Chinese quickly dismantled, fearing lest that fortification was made +against themselves; for they have never consented to wall the city, +cast artillery, or make other preparations for war. The Portuguese, +seeing themselves ill-prepared for defense, decided to send out a +ship with Father Geronimo Rodriguez of the Society of Jesus, who had +been rector in the college at Macan, to ask our lord governor for some +heavy guns for their defense. He arrived at Manila toward the end of +December. He explained his errand, and the lord governor gave him six +pieces of artillery--one thirty-pounder, three twenty-five pounders, +and two eighteen-pounders--together with a good ship to convey them +there. It was sent away on the last of January. When they sailed out +of the bay they caught sight of the enemy's fleet, which was headed +for these islands. One of the enemy's ships followed it, but seeing +that they could not overtake it they retired; and our ship continued +its voyage, and in a short time arrived at Macan. + +The assistance which went this year to Maluco, arrived within sight +of our forts, where three Dutch ships were waiting to seize it or +cut off their passage; but the captain of one of the largest of +our ships approached the enemy to keep him busy fighting, while the +reenforcements entered under the fire of our artillery. He fought +for three hours, at the end of which time, having seen our ships in +safety, he squared away and left the enemy tricked, because he had +a very fast vessel. + +We had some trouble with the Tidorans, who have been our friends and +the enemies of the Dutch; whereupon they poisoned a well where the men +came to drink. The crime was immediately discovered, and so no harm was +done. We have made friends with them again, and we continue as before. + +With six galleons the Dutch came to the Solor Islands, which are +near the Malucas, where the Portuguese have a fort. They landed more +than six hundred of their men and more than one thousand Moros of the +country, who also came in their ships. The Portuguese, who numbered +perhaps thirty soldiers, defended themselves so well that they killed +over seventy Dutch and many Moros, while many were wounded. + +Another Portuguese captain, who went out to sea with some vessels, +captured some of the little galliots of the Moros and some Dutch +lanchas. They retired at this loss, the Portuguese remaining +victorious. + +A Dutch ship went aground on a shoal on the island of Jolos, near +these Philipinas Islands. Being seen by the Indians and natives of +that land, the latter attacked them, and put them all to the sword, +leaving only the captain alive for the ransom that they can get for +him. For two years there have been such droughts in the Malucas Islands +that many clove-trees have been destroyed, causing a great famine. + +In the beginning of February of this year, 621, nine hostile ships +arrived in the bay of Manila, five Dutch and four English, who seized +the passage by which enter the ships of all these islands from Japan, +China, Macan, Maluco, and India. The commander of this fleet was an +Englishman, according to the agreement between them. They sighted our +forts and saw how few ships we had to oppose to them; thereupon they +sailed in as if on their own seas and in a safe port. The greatest +resistance which could be made against this enemy was to take care +that they did not seize any of the China ships aboard of which much of +our wealth comes to these islands. So two ships were despatched with +all haste to the coast of China, in order to inform them of the enemy, +and warn them not to sail at such a time that they would fall into the +hands of the enemy. They did not arrive in time, so that some of the +vessels had sailed, three of which were captured by the enemy. These +were of little value, but two of some importance were taken. One +of them was sighted by a small patache belonging to the Dutch, who +were under difficulties in attacking it, because the Chinese after +their manner of fighting--with caldrons of melted sugar, and stones, +and clubs--defended themselves so well that with their boiling sugar +they sent fourteen of the Dutch in a conserve to hell. Finally it was +surrendered, after the death of one hundred and twenty Chinese. The +English commander ordered the other ship, which was the fifth, to be +set afire, because of quarrels between the Dutch and English over the +capture and division, so that their booty was diminished. The enemy, +as I have said, being masters of the sea, and the inward passage, +God chose to allow an entrance to our fathers (who were coming to a +meeting of the congregation), by permitting them to come. Scarcely +had they entered when the enemy returned to occupy his position. The +same thing happened after the meeting, and the return of the fathers, +a remarkable providence of the lord. + +A few days after, three galliots arrived from Macan, laden with +a rich cargo of silks and other merchandise. They entered without +finding any obstruction, because the enemy had gone out to sea; and +the four hours of their absence were enough to enable the galliots +to enter. They had news of it, and returned at dawn the next day +to see if it was true; and were furious at seeing them anchored in +our harbors. At this same time the king's ship arrived which had +carried to Macan artillery for the defense of that city, and it +brought back a cargo of silks. Being informed that the enemy were +lying off the entrance to the port of Manila, they rowed over to an +island near here, and collected a quantity of green boughs and trees, +putting bunches of palm-leaves on the tops of the trees, so that they +seemed to be cocoa-palms, of which there is a great abundance on that +island. The stratagem worked, because the ships went about from one +tack to the other without being seen by the Dutch. In the same way, +another Portuguese galliot, also of Macan, escaped, although it cut +down its masts. The Dutch, having seen that they were likely to get +little booty on this coast, made sail for that of Macan, to lie in +wait, as we understood, for ships from India. + +Last year two ships sailed from these islands for Nueva Espana. The +almiranta, while sailing out of a strait where these islands come +to an end, encountered seven hurricanes, so furious that it seemed +as if the sea would swallow it up; and those who were aboard gave +themselves up a thousand times for lost. They tried to make port in +Japon, but it was impossible; and they finally arrived at Manila, +rounding Cabo del Bojeador. The men arrived in very bad condition, +and many of them blinded with the salt water which had dashed into +their eyes. Three days before these tempests commenced they sighted +the capitana, but never saw her again. We do not know here what became +of her, whether she was lost or arrived safely in Nueva Espana. + +At nine o'clock in the evening on the eleventh of May, there was an +occurrence in this city as pitiable as it was unfortunate, the cause +of it being a man who had been expelled from our Society. After having +been a member of it for seven years, he left the Society, and was +married three times, although he was not yet thirty years old. Our +Lord often brought him back, warned by bitter experience of troubles +and remorse of conscience; so that for a long time he did not dare +to go to sleep without first confessing himself--especially on the +long trip from Nueva Espana to these islands, where he was wrecked on +a ship which was on its way with silver and other wealth belonging +to these islands. The vessel escaped miraculously, with sails torn +by shots from three Dutch vessels, which they took for one of their +own. They ran aground, but all the silver was saved. Among others Joan +de Messa (the name of the outcast of whom I have just spoken) removed +all the silver and goods, to the value of thirty thousand pesos or +more, belonging to people in Mexico. It had been entrusted to him, +and he kept it, as was done by all, in a house and church of one of +our residences, situated where the ship happened to halt. While he +was there he proceeded as if he were a religious, both in example +and in frequenting the sacrament, until he came to this city of +Manila--where, with certain curious articles, he obtained entrance +to and communication with the wife of the governor of these islands, +Dona Catalina Sambrano, who had little care for what her position +and her dignity demanded. Their sin began on Holy Thursday, with so +little secrecy and so bad an example, that the affair was beginning to +leak out. So badly did it appear that certain persons came to one of +our fathers, advising him to warn Joan de Messa that they would kill +him. The father did, but Messa took no notice of it. The governor, +meanwhile, was informed of his wife's evil conduct; and, wishing to +detect them, he pretended to go down to the harbor and fort of Cavite, +situated two leguas from here. He had been wont to do this on other +occasions, because the enemy with nine ships was within sight of the +fort. He retraced his steps, leaving his entire retinue about a legua +from here. He entered the city with the intention of accomplishing +the deed (which he did later) in his own house; but before entering +it he was informed by a page that his wife had gone, disguised as a +man, to the house of Joan de Messa, where she had often gone in the +same dress. After receiving this information, he sought his retinue, +taking counsel with his servant and three captains, whom he placed +in four streets in order to let no one pass. The governor alone +arrived at the house at the very moment that his wife entered, +and was going upstairs with Joan de Messa, and behind them a very +noted pilot, on account of whom the ship that I mentioned above was +celebrated. The governor attacked him and pierced him with a mortal +thrust. With that he rushed out of the house, calling for confession; +but, those who guarded the street, not giving him time for that, +put him to death. Immediately Messa went up the stairs, and safely +reached a large room where two candles were burning on a buffet. If +these had been extinguished, he might have escaped. He drew his sword +and defended himself for some time. As the governor perceived that he +was clad in armor, he aimed at Messa's face and pierced him through +the neck, so that he fell down stairs, where he who guarded the door +tried to finish him; but as Messa was well-armed he could not do so +readily until he wounded him in the face. During all this time Messa +was not heard to ask confession or even say "Jesus," or any other +words, except: "Whoever you are, do not kill me; consider the honor +of your lady." While this was going on in the street, the governor +found his wife in hiding. After wounding her three times, she asked +confession; and he, as a knight and a Christian, went out to look for +a confessor, and brought one. He resigned her to the priest, urging +her to confess herself well and truly, which she did for some time, +until the confessor absolved her. With three or four more wounds, and +the words with which he aided her to die, he finished with her. The +three dead bodies remained there until seven or eight o'clock in +the morning before anyone dared to remove them. The master-of-camp, +Don Geronimo de Sylva, who had been governor of Maluco, and was +a knight of St. John, had the body of the governor's wife removed +to her house, to wrap it in a shroud; and that night she received +solemn burial by the Recollects of St. Augustine. The two bodies of +Joan de Messa and the pilot remained in the street all day, while +a multitude of people, of the various nations who are in this city, +collected to gaze at them, manifesting awe at seeing a spectacle so +new to them, and one never seen before in these regions. At night, +some members of La Misericordia carried them away, without clergy, +lights, or funeral ceremony. They carried the two bodies together on +some litters, and buried them both in the same grave. This was the +disastrous end of a poor young fellow, upon whom our Lord lavished many +and most gracious gifts--although he knew not how to profit by them, +but offended Him who had granted them. Those who will feel it most +are the owners of the property [confided to him]; for God knows when +they will collect it, because it is sequestrated. Will your Reverence +communicate this to Brother Juan de Alcazar. + +_Alonso Roman_ + + + + +Death of Dona Catalina Zambrano + + +May 12, 1621, occurred the unfortunate death of the governor's wife, +which I intend to relate here, as it is a peculiar case. The governor +of these Filipinas Islands, Don Alonso Fajardo de Tenza, suspected +that his wife, called Dona Catalina Zambrano, was not living as +was fitting for such a personage. One afternoon, that of May 12, he +pretended that he was going to the port of Cavite, where he generally +went because the Dutch enemy were in this bay with their fleet. The +governor went, but, leaving all the men who accompanied him, returned +alone. Entering the city secretly, he concealed himself in a house, +where a captain in his confidence brought him a young page who was +in the service of his wife--the one who carried the messages, and +knew everything that went on. The governor placed a dagger to his +breast in order to get him to tell what he knew of his wife. The page +openly confessed that she was maintaining a sinful alliance with a +clerk, an ordinary person, called Juan de Messa Suero, who had been +a member of the Society of Jesus for some years at Coimbra; and that +his wife was dressing in the garb of a man, in order to go outside of +the palace, as she had done at other times. Juan de Messa came with a +very eminent pilot. The governor's wife left the palace clad as a man, +with her cloak and sword and all went together to the square. Thence +they began to walk toward a house of Juan de Messa. The governor, +with three other men who accompanied him, went on ahead of them, and +awaited them near the door of the said house, hidden in a recess. The +governor's wife entered first, then Juan de Messa. Then the pilot +stopped to shut the door. Thereupon the governor attacked him alone, +and giving a violent push on the door, opened it. He entered, and +found himself with the pilot alone, for the other man, Juan de Messa, +with the governor's wife, on hearing the noise, fled up the stairs. It +appears that the governor stabbed the pilot in the breast. The latter +left the portal of the house, whereupon those who accompanied the +governor and had remained to guard the door, attacked and killed +him there. The governor went upstairs and found Juan de Messa in the +hall. He chased the latter around a table that held two lights. The +governor made a strong thrust at him, which almost knocked him down; +but showed that he was clad in armor. By the force that the governor +exerted in the thrust, he felt that he himself was wounded in the +hand. Apparently the pilot had given him that wound, and he had not +felt it before that. The governor's sword began to grow weak, and he +said: "Ha, traitor, thou hast wounded me." Juan de Messa lost his +head, and ran down stairs, thinking that his safety lay there. The +governor attacked him, and on the way down stabbed him in the neck, +with such force that he tripped and fell down. Below, the governor +and the guard finished killing him. The governor would have been in +great peril, both with the pilot and upstairs with Juan de Massa, had +not the miserable man lost his head. Had he at least extinguished the +candles, and stationed himself on the stairway, which was narrow, he +could have prevented the governor from ascending, and could even have +killed him. The latter went immediately to look for his wife, and found +her hidden in an attic, hanging to a beam. He stabbed her from beneath, +and passed half of his sword through her body, and at that the poor +lady fell. She requested confession. The governor restrained himself, +and said that it was a timely request. Leaving the three men whom +he brought with him as a guard, he in person going to the Franciscan +convent, which was near by, to summon a confessor, met a secular priest +on the way, who had left his house at the disturbance. He took the +latter with him and told him to confess "that person." He confessed +her very slowly, delaying more than half an hour. The governor, in +the meanwhile, was walking up and down. When the father had finished, +he stabbed his wife, telling her to repent of her sins and to confess +to God who would pardon her. This happened at nine o'clock at night. A +large crowd gathered immediately, and the alcaldes made investigation +of what was passing. The dead bodies of the two men were guarded until +next day, for justice to do its duty. That of the governor's wife +remained there until eight in the morning, when the master-of-camp, +Don Geronimo de Silva, of the habit of St. John, ordered it to be +taken up and carried to his house, in order to have it buried from +there, according to the rank of her person, and not according to the so +disgraceful event and death that had happened. They buried her body in +the Recollect convent, with the greatest pomp possible. Then the two +bodies of the men were buried, carrying them together from the street +to the grave. The royal Audiencia took charge of the matter. They +found almost two hundred notes from the governor's wife in Juan de +Messa's possession, and in hers a great number from him. A report +was made of all and sent to his Majesty. It was the first instance +in which a so common person had an alliance with so powerful a lady, +who was here as is the queen in Espana. [6] + +Manila, July, 1621. + + + + +Letter from Fajardo to the King + + +Sire: + +Although at present, up to the nineteenth of June, the ship "Sant +Andres," the capitana, has not arrived from Nueva Espana, even at +this late date, which is the one that I despatched last year to +that province, and I have no letters from your Majesty to answer, +I am making a beginning of this one in order to gain time in the +despatching of those ships, so that it may be somewhat earlier than +usual in past years--although at present, having the war on our hands +which we have, and as the ships are later from China than is usual, +and there are very few that come for fear of the war, there will +be more difficulty and labor in the despatch. [_In the margin_: +"Council; examined."] + +According to the despatch which the said ship carried, measures were +to be taken to secure its preparation and departure from Acapulco +for this country without waiting into the month of April, or without +delaying more than two or three days in that month; and it was not to +depart later because of the danger of encountering contrary winds in +its voyage here, or being forced into the ports of Japon--and likewise +because this was the best, considering the course which it must steer +to make the port it was ordered to; for it was understood that the +enemy were coming back again, as they did last year, to Cape Spiritu +Santo, with a larger force of ships. This route was decided upon +with the advice of the pilots and other persons of most experience +on these seas, each one giving and signing his opinion separately, +without any one of them knowing that of the others, or any one of them +knowing which one I chose. This order I gave secretly and sealed, and +it was to be opened seventy leguas before arriving at the said port; +in which manner I have taken the precaution and preliminary steps in +so far as I have been able for its reception and protection. Hitherto +this plan has not been made known here, which has been of no small +importance in order that the enemy should not be aware of it. [_In +the margin_: "This is well, and the course which he has marked out +for these vessels has appeared good; accordingly let him exercise +in the future the care which he has shown in this, in order to +keep informed of the design of the enemies; as for the departure of +the ships, have a letter written to the viceroy directing him not +to let it run into April, as he says." _In another hand_: "Have a +letter written to the viceroy of Nueva Espana to the effect that the +despatch of the ships for the Filipinas shall be accomplished in any +event by the end of March, so that it shall not run on into April, +on account of the great importance of their arriving thus early, +and not having them go with those despatched later--thus compelling +them to take refuge in other ports, or be wrecked."] + +In command of these ships is placed Don Fernando Centeno Maldonado, +who has served in the position of commander of the galleys both there +and here, and has served many years in these islands (most of the +time in the Maluco Islands); his services are of high repute, as are +his merits and good qualities. I am sure that your Majesty has been +informed of them, on account of the favors which he has received from +your royal hand; and in the same way I am certain that you know of +the good qualities of Captain Francisco de Salazar, who is filling +the office of admiral on the said ships. [_In the margin_: "Examined."] + +Besides what I wrote your Majesty last year by way of Nueva Espana, +with the duplicate which I send by way of India, I have added what +occurred to me in the despatch which I sent with Captain Gregorio de +Vidana, regidor of this city, having decided to do so on account of +the accounts and news which I receive, and which your Majesty will +already have learned--of all which I now send another copy with +this. [_In the margin_: "Examined."] + +The news of the confederation of the Dutch and the English proved +to be correct; and on the second of February they arrived on these +coasts, with nine ships of war--seven large and two of moderate +size, five of them being Dutch and four English--with the number of +a thousand to twelve hundred men of both nations, exclusive of the +servants and Japanese; they carried between forty and forty-four +pieces of artillery, in each of the large ships, and the others +each according to its capacity. It has been learned that this is +true from the depositions of two prisoners, and from Chinese who +were in their ships; from Japanese who, while coming from their land +with provisions and supplies for this country, passed by the enemy, +saw them, and entered their vessels; and likewise from the advices +which I have received from Japon. + +This matter found me well advanced in the preparation, because I had +so anticipated the news that, although they entered the bay and port +at Cavite with their fleet, they did not dare--as I had caused to be +made several trenches with stockades, and bastions with batteries of +artillery, which appeared to me sufficient; and had placed sufficient +artillery in the two vessels which were fit to receive it--to resolve +to do anything against either the ships or the land; and when they +found out that these defenses were there, and had seen them, they +went out of the bay with all their boats. Having come back to it a +few days later, and seen that the preparation of the capitana and +almiranta galleons was in good condition; and that we had also a +moderate-sized ship, another smaller, two galleys, and another on +which the work was more backward (which are the vessels that can +be made ready), they went out again--going now along the coast, +and now in the mouth of this bay, without separating or dividing the +fleet so as to be out of sight of one another. If they had done this +without guarding against encounters, I would have engaged him with +the capitana and almiranta galleons, which are the ships that could +be manned, although with difficulty on account of the few men whom I +have here; for I had to leave the maimed and sick, and some as guard +for the gates of the city, which takes as many as are necessary for +all the vessels. Even if they were not divided, I should have tried +my fortune with him, but having made all preparations and efforts, +and issued proclamations to assemble the Spaniards who could be found +for this purpose, those who gathered in Cavite, aside from the paid +soldiers, would not number seventy; nor were there more than four +hundred soldiers outside of the maimed and sick, and one company and +a detachment from another--amounting to about a hundred men, more +or less, who remained in this city, prepared also to embark. These +had been brought as detachments of the companies from Nueva Segovia, +Cibu, and Oton--all of which will appear by the depositions of paid +officers and the secretary of the governor, which accompany this, with +the papers referring to the above mentioned matter. [_In the margin_: +"The matters contained in this clause are the concern of the Junta, +and have been examined there." "Examined; the Junta is taking care to +send reenforcements; and let him be careful to maintain what he has +there in so good condition as may serve for whatever occasion may +arise there, as is expected from him. Have a letter written to the +viceroy of Nueva Espana, telling him to send all the best part of +the troops which he can, considering that the governor writes that +in past years so few troops have gone there that he is now almost +without any in the service; and accordingly he should decree that it +be such which he sends. Advise Don Alonso of what is written to the +viceroy of Nueva Espana."] + +The reason for there being so few troops is, that after the year one +thousand six hundred and sixteen, when a ship called the "Angel de la +Guarda" came, in the following year, sixteen hundred and seventeen, +there came no reenforcements of infantry, but only a patache called +the "Sant Geronimo," with the archbishop Don Fray Miguel Garcia, +and a number of friars; and in that year there died in the engagement +which Don Juan Ronquillo had with the enemy, and were drowned in the +six galleons, more Spaniards than I brought in the year one thousand +six hundred and eighteen. Since my arrival I have sent almost four +hundred soldiers to Terrenate, and this number has not come in the two +reenforcements from Nueva Espana which arrived in the past years of +nineteen and twenty. Then besides these--and a number who have left +with good cause and permission (although these are few), and others +who have managed to flee without permission, and others who have turned +friars--there are so many who have died in the hospital and outside of +it, that it may be said that all the soldiers in the country are found +in this jurisdiction [of Manila.]. I have wished to give your Majesty +an account of this so that it might be fully understood, and that you +may learn the truth of it; and that you may know how great is the lack +of men here, as I say. That of vessels is not so great as some people +here say, who know nothing of this matter, or who desire to build them, +on account of the money which they usually obtain from this work, or +which is paid to them--without considering the loss to the natives, +or whether the work is necessary or not. [_In the margin_: "Examined."] + +The enemy having seen that the equipment of the vessels which he +saw in Cavite was making progress, and not having separated his +vessels, or despatched them to get booty--on account, moreover, +of the warnings that I gave in various parts of this archipelago +whence vessels came to this place, and particularly at Macan and +several ports of China--thus far, thanks be to God, he has taken +nothing more than five Sangley ships from that country. One of these +disappeared with the guard which he had placed on it, and they have +not been able to find it again, and another of them was burned, so +that he has not taken more than three, and two of them of almost no +value, and the other not very valuable; for the rich ones remain in +China, and those that made bold to come kept to the course which I +marked out for them, and have arrived safely, making ports in this +island. Even if they arrived here, which is possible, this will be +of importance, in order to make merchandise cheaper; nevertheless, +even if no goods arrive on the ships which have come from Macan, +there is more cloth than money in the country to buy it; and, besides +them, we are expecting others from Camboja and Sian, and from Yndia, +which, if God bring them in safety, will also be of importance. [_In +the margin_: "Examined. It is hoped in God that this and other worse +things will have happened to the enemy; and let him take the greatest +care to advise the Chinese and other merchant ships which go there, +marking out the course which appears safest for them, according to +the information which they have, so that in regard to them the enemy +may fare as they have been doing, according to this statement."] + +The fleet of the enemy left the place where they last halted, and came +in sight day before yesterday in the morning. Some vessels were sent +in pursuit, in order to bring me word of the course which they steer, +and whether they are together or separate, [_In the margin_: "This is +well, and let him take good care until the news from them be known."] + +I have received a letter from Malaca, which Antonio Pinto de Fonseca +says that he received from your Majesty, with notice and order to +give it to me, to the effect that there and in these regions the +confederated Dutch and English were about to come with fifty-one +ships--sixteen of which had already left, and thirty-five were in +two squadrons which were being equipped. Of these the sixteen which +had left Holland have already arrived at their factories in Sunda, +whence, likewise, it was learned that they say they are expecting this +year the remainder. Fadrique Lopez de Soysa, commandant of that city +[_i.e._, Malaca], gave me almost the same information. Conformably +to this, and to several advices which I have had from Japon, and to +others which I have been able to secure through my own investigations, +it appears that these enemies are considering carrying on this war +in earnest and with energy; for with these ships which have arrived, +those which are expected, and more than sixty which I wrote to your +Majesty in the last despatch that I understood they had, those of +both nations amount to more than a hundred, without counting those +which the French have. If I had the eighth part of that number, and +sufficient men to man them, and to keep this city and the important +posts and forts of this island garrisoned, it would not trouble me +much to see them involved in the cost and expense of such a fleet; +for if I had the means with which to withstand their first attack, +or to inflict upon them some severe blow; or if they did not know my +position, and I could cause them anxiety or divert them from their +object--there is no doubt that their fleet itself would be disarmed and +destroyed. But since I lack such resources, and the time is passing +in which I expected the aid which your Majesty has offered to these +islands--having sent the pilots to Malaca to guide and bring them +here from there--I shall be obliged to make the best of the little +which I have, and to take the best precautions that I can. I am +raising and fortifying a few stretches of wall which are necessary, +expelling the Japanese, and lessening the number of the Sangleys--who, +although there appear to be a great many of them, will certainly, +by the proper management of the licenses, and care in obliging the +Sangleys to secure them, be much fewer than I found here, and than +have been here for many years, on account of those who have died and +left the country and the few who have come in my time. In every way I +shall do my best to drive out as many as I well can so that the country +may be less burdened with suspicious people; and shall likewise take +other necessary precautions which may be in my power. In these efforts +I feel sadly the lack of money; but in times of such need I have been +obliged to try to obtain it in the most guarded and cautious ways. I +am not a little glad to have with me at such a time Master-of-camp +Don Hieronimo de Silva, both on account of his good counsel and aid, +and likewise because if I should fail in this country there would +be someone to defend it; and your Majesty may be certain that he +will do this with the favor of God, and that with this everything +will turn out well. I beseech your Majesty that, confident of this, +you will continue sending the said reenforcement, and will hasten its +coming by way of Nueva Espana to Panama--sending infantry and money, +the things which cannot be supplied here. [_In the margin_: "This is +well; and let thanks be given him for the excellent courage which he +shows. As for the information that he gives, he has learned the reason +for the fleet not leaving, and the accident which happened to it; +accordingly, let him exercise all care to take what precautionary +measures are there necessary, as he is expected to do. As for the +Japanese and other nations that are there, let him decree what shall +seem most expedient to him for the service of God and his Majesty, and +the good of the commonwealth, as well as its guard and preservation."] + +As we have to carry on the war in this way, so that the expense and +labor may bring the best results, I beg your Majesty that while it +shall last you may be pleased to discontinue the Audiencia here, as +it is this that most hinders and opposes the administration and the +government, as will appear by several depositions which accompany +this. This is the enemy which most afflicts this commonwealth, and +most causes dissensions, parties, factions, and hatreds between the +citizens--each auditor persecuting those citizens who are not wholly of +his own faction, especially those who extend aid and good-will toward +the governor, against whom, as it seems, they show themselves always +in league. They always make declarations of grievances [against him], +because they are not each one given, as used to be and is the custom +here, whatever they may ask for their sons, relatives, and servants; +and they habitually discredit the governor by launching through secret +channels false and malicious reports, and afterward securing witnesses +of their publicity. They even, as I have written to your Majesty, +manage to have religious and preachers publish these reports--to which +end, and for his own security, each one of the auditors has formed an +alliance with the religious order which receives him best. As I have +given your Majesty an account of this matter and of the actions of +the said auditors--which in God and my conscience I know to be true, +and which will be evident by the depositions and papers which I have +sent and am today sending with a letter and relation giving particulars +regarding this matter--I shall not go more into detail thereon in this +letter; I refer you for its substantiation to the said documents, and +to the fact that I consider this government much more difficult, with +the auditors of this Audiencia, than it is or would be even if there +were more war, for that war which they cause within its boundaries +appears beyond remedy, on account of their abilities and rank. If your +Majesty be not pleased to withdraw them from here I beg you, as I owe +it to your royal service, that you will take measures so that in no +way and at no time shall they be able to succeed to the government +of this land; for I hold it beyond a doubt that they will bring it +to ruin, and destroy it in a very short time, even though there came +to it no more enemies than that of their own tendencies. If I wrote +to your Majesty, in the first days after my arrival here, that the +auditors were not necessary except for the Audiencia sessions, I beg +now that more be added. It appeared to me that for the citizens and +for the affairs of these islands, those who were here were sufficient; +at present I am of the opinion that if the presence of this tribunal +must be continued, more members are necessary, in order to avoid +the difficulty which has been found to result from the alliance of +Doctors Don Alvaro de Mesa, and Don Antonio Rodriguez, for neither more +nor less justice can be secured than they choose, and they are even +disturbing the government and good order which ought to prevail. Even +if I should not attain and enjoy the benefit of this improvement, I +beseech your Majesty that, if more auditors are to be sent, they may +be persons of tried experience in Audiencia duties--to whom it would +be well to give senior rank therein, for those who are in it now are +totally ignorant of its procedure, never having had any experience +in so responsible positions, so that they could know how to act. If +they had only been able to learn from the licentiate Alcaraz, who +was experienced and very prudent! but they were estranged from him, +or rather they estranged themselves with their singular behavior--so +that, a long time before he died, he took an oath not to return to +the Audiencia, and kept it. And I myself, if I could, would do the +same, for the reasons I have given and for many others, which make me +desire to merit that your Majesty would be pleased to use me in some +other way, away from this country. To such a point has it gone, that +if this country were not involved in the perils of war as it has been, +and as they are still threatening it, I should beseech your Majesty to +place it in charge of some other person, who would be more interested +in documents. But may God not choose that I should be relieved from +the service of your Majesty, in which from the age of fifteen years I +have been engaged; and I offer this so heartily that if your Majesty +were pleased to send another governor who should labor somewhat, +and I might aid and assist him some little time, I would do so with +the greatest good-will. It would be no little pleasure to me to be +employed in naval and military affairs, and other things in which, +with my counsel and my personal aid, I might be able to help; and to +know that the matter of auditors and their demands, their rivalries, +and their faultfinding, should concern another, and that he would have +to oppose and resist those things, which would be not a little. Nor +would there be overmuch time to satisfy, quiet, and render content the +many religious--which is another labor and servitude, with which there +is no way to deal; for it is without remedy, since each one wishes +to be the sole distributer of goods and favors, the moderator and +judge of punishments, and the governor of the governor, or else his +persecutor. [_In the margin_: "Not to be read in the Junta. Join with +it the letters which the auditors write against Don Alonzo Faxardo."] + +In so far as concerns the Indians, no more help can be drawn from +them for the service of your Majesty, on account of what the fathers +demand. Nor can they be exempted from labors and penalties if the +latter need their services, or wish to punish them; and may God will +that this bring not loss some day. For one of the ways with which +the enemy best succeeds in winning over the natives is that, besides +exempting them from tributes and personal services, they will not have +to support religious instruction or ministers. Although there are many +good Christians, not all are so forward in this matter. In the same +manner in which I have already stated this, I can declare, and assure +your Majesty, that there are in all these religious orders men of most +holy and exemplary life, who have gathered a great harvest of souls, +[_In the margin_: "If there are several papers on this matter, let +them be joined together and brought in."] + +In the prosecution of the work of pacifying, reducing, and subduing +the Indians who are called Ygolotes, and gaining thorough knowledge of +the mines of gold that are in those countries, the riches and profit +that might be obtained from there could not be secured this year, +after the death of Captain Garcia de Aldana, who understood these +matters and had them in charge. This is due both to the loss of his +personal supervision, and to the lack of troops at this time, when the +enemy's fleet were so near; but, if it be possible, nothing shall be +lost. [_In the margin_: "He was written to concerning this last year, +as far as the matter was examined; at present let him again be charged +to continue all the care which he has been taking in the working of +these mines, and, since he sees the importance which lies in this, +let him do all in his power to find persons in every way satisfactory +to go there. Let him inform us every year of what he may be doing; +for he knows in what great straits the royal estate is, and how much is +being spent in those regions, without there being any results from it, +while so much profit lies in those mines, as we have been informed, +and as has been written to him. And let him again be charged to take +the care which is expected of him that this may have the result; let +it be known what he has done in cultivating and improving a matter +of so much importance."] + +On account of word that I had of the distress in which the city of +Macan was, with the news that had been received there that the Dutch +and English were about to sack the place, and as they sent from there +to ask me to help them with six large pieces of artillery, I sent it, +and the aid reached them. The people of that city have shown themselves +grateful for this, and send in return the value of the said pieces, +invested in useful and necessary articles for the service of your +Majesty, which have already been received. Immediately upon sending +the guns I had six other larger ones cast, for from twenty-five to +thirty-pound balls, and incomparably better. For we are continually +becoming more skillful in foundry-work and in working the metals; +so that, of almost forty pieces which have been cast in my time, with +the assistance and care of Don Hieronimo de Silva, commander of the +artillery, only one has been a failure. [_In the margin_: "Let him +be thanked for what he mentions here, and let him continue to act +thus when occasion may arise. As for what he says of the artillery, +it has seemed very satisfactory; and let him continue to cast pieces +as he may have need of them, as he says he is doing."] + +The reenforcements which this year went to Terrenate arrived there +safely, thanks be to God; and a small ship which routed the enemy with +two or three large ships of war, which he keeps there at the entrance +to those forts, came back thence with Captain Antonio Gomez, who had +the responsibility of conveying the succor, and collected and made +it ready very well with one galley. [_In the margin_: "This is well, +and let him always try to send to these places as much as he can, both +of troops and other things which are ordinarily sent; for he knows how +important a thing it is to keep the forts there in proper condition."] + +With this was sent the ordinary quantity of rice and provisions, and +even considerably more; and likewise arms, munitions, clothes, cloth, +and money, and more than a hundred and twenty Spanish soldiers, who +are to remain there. This year I shall try to send more and better +relief than I was able to this time--and earlier than ordinary, +for then it will run less danger from the enemy. + +The master-of-camp, Don Luis de Bracamonte, writes me from those parts +that he has news of many vessels of the enemy, and that he has put +those places into the best state of defense that he could--although +there was not much that he could do, because they were in good +condition before, and never so well supplied with troops, money, +and other necessary things as they have been at this time. [_In the +margin_: "Examined."] + +He told me of nothing else of any importance except that he gave the +present or gratuity which is usually given in your Majesty's name to +the king of Tidore and his son, and that they are quite peaceful and +well disposed. [_In the margin_: "Examined."] + +He also tells me that he has negotiated and agreed with the Dutch for +the ransom of Martin de Sosa de San Pago, governor and commandant of +Fernanbuco, and Dona Angela Benegas, his wife, and their children; +of Captain Sequera y Miranda, and a father of the Augustinian order; +and of other prisoners, soldiers, and sailors, in exchange for some +of theirs, whom we had in our power. [_In the margin_: "Examined."] + +The purchase of cloves which was ordered was made in those +islands--which, according to the hopes that have been held out to me, +must have amounted to even more than two hundred and fifty baras +of six hundred and forty libras each. I am told that it could not +be secured in so great a quantity as I wished to send your Majesty, +on account of a crop failure, and small harvest; and the little which +was bought was used for the needs of those forts, and to have means to +satisfy and confer favors on the Portuguese--who, with their galliots, +aid our people with rice and other things. [_In the margin_: "What he +says here is well; and as he has already been told at various times +how important it is that this [_i.e._, the cloves] should be brought +here, let him again be charged to continue the endeavors that he has +exercised, in such manner that he may bring this about, since it is +so important a matter; and let him charge the governor of Terrenate +to maintain this [trade], so that it will not there be applied as he +says it is. Let him use all possible care in this, and advise us of +what he does."] + +I shall take care that the accounts of Governor Lucas de Vergara +Gaviria shall be ready; and no more has been possible on account of +the many things which I wrote in regard to this matter, as will appear +to your Majesty by the copy which is brought by Captain Don Jacinto de +Quesada Figueroa. [_In the margin_: "This is well; let him advise us +of what he is doing, and tell him that those papers have not arrived."] + +Of the residencias which are entrusted by your Majesty's orders to +the auditor, Don Alvaro de Mesa, he has just finished despatching that +of the fiscal, Don Juan de Alvarado Bracamonte. Unreasonable demands +have been made upon the latter, and he has suffered more than I can +tell--for as it were, behind enmities and oppositions Don Alvaro has +taken him under his jurisdiction, and has given him very good cause +for merits. [_In the margin_: "It is well."] + +As for the residencia of Governor Don Juan de Silva, my predecessor, +I have not wished [Don Alvaro] to undertake or begin it, because that +business would prevent him from going out to inspect this country; and, +as this is very necessary, I had assigned that duty to him, in order +that he might accomplish it. For this reason, and for others arising +from his fearful and obstinate temper, his behavior became so furious +that one session day, the last before Palm Sunday, he drove me to such +an extremity that, losing somewhat my self-control and moderation, +we might both have ruined ourselves. But God held me in His hand, +and I am satisfied, in so far as that matter concerned me, with the +remonstrance and sufficient correction which was necessary for his +presumption, leaving it for a later time to write of it, and begin a +process in the matter, conjointly with the alcaldes-in-ordinary, as +your Majesty commands. This is being done, although in his absence +and with his opposition; for he broke from his imprisonment in +the buildings of the cabildo of the city, in which he resided, and +retired to the convent of St. Dominic, where he has been joined by a +certain Pedro de Lussarra and another named Pedro Alvarez, who was +in that of St. Francis--who were also absent, as I have written to +your Majesty in other letters. All three are there sowing discord, +stirring up feeling, and trying to make people envious of me, and +write down their envious complaints; and for this end they employ +means which ought not even to be written. They also avail themselves +of the religious of St. Dominic, and likewise in order to make and +forward such papers and despatches from the shelter and covert of +the tribunal of the Holy Office, the commissary of which here belongs +to this religious order. It is not hard to accomplish it in this way +because they have always done so, and lately with Don Joan de Silva, +my predecessor--against whom, among other despatches, they made one +with full and authenticated documents, which a friar of their order, +named Fray Francisco de Sant Joseph--who was carrying the papers, +and whom they considered a holy man--being at the point of death, and +having scruples of conscience, ordered to be thrown into the sea. As +I am making, in another letter, a longer report to your Majesty in +the matter above mentioned, referring to the auditor Don Alvaro, +I shall add nothing more in this, except to say that his case must +be dropped, and the Audiencia will be obliged to do so, through its +need of judges. The auditor Don Antonio Rodriguez has not been present +at it for a long time, although I have warned and commanded him to do +so. He gives as his excuse that he is in ill health; but it is certain +that that does not fail him for being present almost regularly for +the documents and councils made by the said doctor Don Alvaro, and +with the same intention and wish, influenced by their alliance--which +is known certainly by an investigation which I have made for your +Majesty's information, and send with this, concerning his trading and +trafficking in merchandise, with so much greediness and meanness of +spirit that that and other things which are told about him, and are +said to be well authenticated, would appear to besmirch the honor that +the robe and insignia of his office carry with them, which makes him +unworthy of it. But, as you wish me to tell what is true, I promise +myself honors and favors from your Majesty, and punishment to him who +dares to write or to say what is not true. This does not give me so +much trouble as the preparation and disposal of military affairs, and +other obligations of my office, which I could not fulfil if I had to go +about conjecturing what ill-affected persons do and write against me, +as in this case; and in verifying the facts time would be lost. I do +not know whether he will leave, even if nothing else should be done, +[_In the margin_: "Have the letters and documents in regard to this +matter joined together."] + +As there is a lack of money in the royal treasury, and great need +thereof for the maintenance of all the paid sailors and troops, +measures to supply this need were decided upon in the session of +the Audiencia, for this and other objects for the service of your +Majesty--to the effect that thirty thousand pesos could be drawn +from the treasury of estates of deceased persons, lent for this +purpose. Although the orders and documents proper and sufficient +for this were despatched, the auditor Don Alvaro, judge for the +said estates, would not transact the business which pertained +to his office, and what he is under obligation to do for this +purpose. Accordingly it was necessary that the lock (of which he +held the key) be broken open. Of the acts and measures taken in this +case a copy is sent in this despatch. It is understood and likewise +said that the opposition shown by the said doctor Don Alvaro in the +case referred to, was because he was indebted for some deficiency, +to be placed in the said funds, of what should have been therein, +or had been taken from it--a thing which I do not assert, and which +indeed I do not believe (although appearances indicate it), until I +am more certainly informed. [_In the margin_: "See whether there are +documents in regard to this, and have them brought."] + +The documents that are drawn up commanding that, for the present, +the license fees of Sangleys who are baptized without cutting their +hair should be paid, I send with this, as I offered to do in the last +letter to your Majesty, that you may be pleased to command that what is +the most just action in this matter shall be decided upon. I likewise +send a sworn statement of the money which various people have imported, +and that all of it has been carefully placed in the royal treasury, +[_In the margin_: "Have these papers joined and brought."] + +On account of my continual occupations at various times, and other +delays due to the obstacles made by the auditors to whom this duty +belongs, whom I appointed for the council on accounts, some time has +passed since I have been able to audit the accounts. Together with +the work done thereon by the accountant and inspector of them, they +were despatched in the last session of the council up to the accounts +for the year past, nineteen. They are sent sealed with this despatch +to Nueva Espana. [_In the margin_: "It is well; and let him continue +this diligence, always sending the accounts to Mexico, as usual."] + +The office of clerk of the court is about to be sold, having been +placed at fifteen hundred pesos. He who served in it during the last +eleven years, since the death of the proprietary incumbent, had been +treasurer and chief official of the said office since the time the +Audiencia was founded, and was the most competent and best fitted +person for it who is known in these islands, as well as a settler of +thirty years' standing here. After months of bidding, during which +there was no one who would pay the price set on it, a man obtained it +who was incapable, and lacking in talent and knowledge of the law; +wherefore he has been indicted and accused, as will be seen by the +documents of the case, which I shall try to send with this. At one +stroke the price was raised to eight thousand pesos, with the aid and +encouragement of the auditors, wherein each one of them personally +aided him, in order to hold the new clerk on his side, and to drive +out from the Audiencia a man of integrity and faithfulness. Although +the trouble which will result to them from transacting their business +with such a man as is he whom they are trying to place there will be +enough punishment for such guilt, yet looking more to the service +of your Majesty and the prompt despatch of the administration of +his royal justice, I did not interfere in the matter; but rather I +think that, if there is no other more competent person, it should be +given by purchase to him who was serving in it, even though it were +not at so high a price, because his competency and knowledge of the +law for the service of your Majesty will be very much greater. With +this object in view, he has been continually paid his salary from +the judicial expenses. [_In the margin_: "Let this clause be taken +to the fiscal. This has been done."] + +The income which your Majesty orders me to give to Don Miguel de +Legaspi, grandson of the former Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, I have now +given him, assigning him an encomienda with what appeared to be a +sufficient number of Indians. [_In the margin_: "It is well."] + +For some time past I have withheld the appointment to several +encomiendas which have been vacated, not only for the aid which +resulted from their tributes to the expenses of the royal treasury, +but particularly because their number was not sufficient to satisfy +and render content so many claimants as there are here--some of them +deserving, and others with a backing of auditors, ecclesiastics, and +religious. These latter are the ones whose demands are most pressing, +and who make the most outcry with their claims and complaints--going +so far as to murmur and consider it unjust that such rewards are given +to those who have not been here so long--although the services of the +latter were rendered in Terrenate, under such hardships and during +war--desiring that their longer residence in this city should be +preferred to the services of the others. [_In the margin_: "Let him +deal out justice as seems most fitting to him."] + +The bishop of Camarines, Don Fray Diego de Guevara, died in his +bishopric. He had ardently desired, as he explained and told me +many times, to leave it and go to Espana to beseech your Majesty to +approve his departure from this country--for it appeared to him that +no bishop was necessary in that region [of Camarines], nor so many +in so small a country as are these islands--if it were not that the +disagreements and difficulties which he had with the friars of that +province obliged him to remain. There was lost in his person one of +the most zealous for the service of your Majesty that were here; and +one who labored for it with most affection, good sense, and integrity, +without aiming at private ends or his own aggrandizement. [_In the +margin_: "There is already a person appointed in his place."] + +The bishop of Cebu, Don Fray Pedro de Arce, is likewise little or not +at all desirous of greater honors. On the contrary, according to his +own words, he desires the quiet of a cell, with scant alms from your +Majesty, for the repose of his old age; and we all believe this, for +we regard him, as he is generally reputed, as a holy man, as humble +as the latest novice of his order. [_In the margin_: "It is well."] + +The archbishop of this city, Don Fray Miguel Garcia Serrano, showing +his zeal for the service of your Majesty and for procuring the +assistance and welfare of these islands, planned and offered himself +to go to that court [of Espana], laying aside his own repose for +the hardships of so long a voyage. In this matter, I think that the +officials of his church did not divert him from the exercise of his +office--this being my opinion, and that of many others--in order to +leave themselves freed from so much domination and authority as this +office entails, and with more free will, as they were wont to be before +[he came]; and for this reason I will not say that they were making +illegal use of that office--although they have discussed my affairs +in an unfriendly way, at the instance of someone who induced them +to do so; but, on the other hand, they have acted with great virtue +and as very good ecclesiastics. When I had consulted the Audiencia, +in their session, about the purpose of this voyage, it appeared that +it was not quite necessary, and that your Majesty therefore might not +approve of it; accordingly, this opinion was stated to the archbishop, +with many thanks for his zeal and his kind offer. According to what +I have heard, he was hurt by it; so it appears that he would have +liked better that his desires should be realized. [_In the margin_: +"Examined."] + +I wrote to your Majesty concerning the auditor, Hieronimo de Legaspi, +immediately upon arriving here and making his acquaintance, what +I heard and saw of his proceedings; I will therefore dispense with +repeating that, since I am fulfilling my obligation by what I have +already written concerning him to your Majesty, and what I am doing +here, on my own part, and shall do, to curb him in his way of life +and his lawless acts. And I do not repeat what might be added, +as it is almost all of the same sort as those of which I have +written--being the effects of a depraved character, as is evident, +for his will is governed by unfitting motives. He has, moreover, +a son who is accustomed to argue with him, increasing his covetous +disposition, although there is no need for that. [_In the margin_: +"Let the papers in regard to this matter be examined."] + +[In accordance with] what your Majesty has commanded that the +archbishop and I should do, calling together the provincials of the +orders resident in these islands, notice has been given them concerning +the things which your Majesty mentions concerning their methods of +procedure, and the incidental exactions and excessive fees which some +of them levy upon the Indians--for masses, burials, and suffrages; +[7] for the building of vessels, and of churches and their houses; +and for repartimientos and new impositions with which they were +loading down and harassing the natives; and charging them with the +reformation of this. It did not seem necessary to the archbishop, +but for my part I shall nevertheless carry it out, informing each one +of the provincials separately, and trying to further the royal will of +your Majesty, without allowing scandal to result by making this public, +and difficulties from such things becoming known. I would already +have done so if I were not waiting for an opportune occasion when I +should be free from the occupations that I have had--encounters with +enemies, the equipment of vessels, procuring supplies, and the many +other things for the service of your Majesty. These can be attended +to only with great difficulty, lacking the favor of the religious +orders, [which much be considered] in order not to annoy them; for +most of them are very easily irritated, especially those of the Order +of St. Dominic. For, even when they have no cause for displeasure, +there is no one who can bring them to reason, since it appears that +they regard it as their vocation to be opposed to the government +and to the governors, as they have done since their establishment +in these islands, without a single exception--unless only it be Don +Luis Perez Dasmarinas, whom, with the asperity on which they pride +themselves, and their tyrannical ways they subjected in such manner +that they ruled him. In order that those who succeed me may continue +attending to the service of your Majesty without the difficulties +and quarrels which we, the former governors and I, have experienced, +it will be expedient that your Majesty order them not to interfere so +much in the government, and that they must restrain their audacious +and insolent mode [of speech]. For this is so uncurbed and terrible +that any honorable man would fear it on account of what the friars +cast at him, to the prejudice of anyone who acts contrary to their +wishes; and this they do not only through the pulpits, but by various +other means, as I have said they did with the past governors--and +particularly with Don Juan de Silva, my predecessor--and which I +also have sufficiently experienced and suffered. [_In the margin_: +"Let him exercise care to do what is ordered in this matter, and have +it done at the first opportunity." _In another hand_: "Write a letter +to the provincial of St. Dominic, telling him that the insolence +which his friars display is known, and what Don Alonso says here, +and accordingly the provincial must convene and reprimand them, +obliging them to look after the affairs of their order alone, and the +conversion of souls, as is their duty (which is the principal reason +why they went there); and let them not mix in government affairs, +or any others not concerning their order; and have him advise us of +what he shall do." _In another hand_: "Write to Don Alonso that such +a letter has been sent to the provincial of St. Dominic, that he may +be aware of it."] + +None of these things of which I have informed your Majesty and have +just written about are meant to comprehend, nor can they concern, the +fathers of the Society of Jesus; for they are judicious, prudent, and +moderate men, and, without in the least failing in their obligation to +the service of your Majesty, they attend to those of their vocation, +and to the protection of their Indians, so that each of them is +suitably occupied. To spare what I might write concerning their +well-ordered procedure, I will say that these fathers who are here +are of the same [character] as those who are under the inspection of +your Majesty and that of the supreme pontiff. They are religious who +reap a great harvest among souls in this newly-christianized land. It +would be expedient for your Majesty to order their general to send +[more of] his men here, increasing the number of them; for they are +greatly needed for the mission villages that these fathers have in +their charge, and the work which they accomplish therein, and the +other duties of their office. Nor is there anyone of that order who +talks of going back to those kingdoms without the most urgent reason +making it necessary. [_In the margin_: "Examined."] + +I have understood that several auditors of this Audiencia, meeting +outside of the sessions and by themselves, have written to your +Majesty, and have caused various persons to write by different methods +and routes, things against me, [accusing me of acts] unworthy of my +office, and even incredible of my character. Perhaps [they do this] +on account of what I have written to your Majesty concerning their +actions, and to satisfy their unjust resentment, uniting [against me] +for this reason and to justify themselves. As it would not be just +that, relying upon the great distance and the long time which is +necessary to clear up the truth, and on the changes and innovations +which in the course of time usually occur, any one should dare +to write letters not true of persons like myself, and especially +to your Majesty, I beseech you humbly to be pleased to entrust my +residencia and those of the said auditors to a person who would take +it from all of us, with authority to prove the facts and inflict such +punishment as shall be necessary. Copies of what has been written +against me, and of what I have written, should be produced, so that +whoever shall not prove his statements may be punished as the crime +deserves, for informing your Majesty maliciously against other people's +reputation. On account of the importance of this, whoever is to take +the residencias should be a person not belonging to this country, +and who will not have to remain here, living with these auditors, +or the auditors with him. Whether he shall find me with much or with +little property, I pledge whatever I have; whatever may be lacking +for it will oblige me to pay the cost of an inspection, and the +condemnation of the guilty. But I have no more than what I inherit, +tied up with so many debts from this voyage that I have not been +able to pay them, nor even to acquit myself of the two-thirds of my +[first year's] salary which I owe to your Majesty, as I was forced to +make use of it for my living. Although all will not be pleased at the +inspection, I assure you that, if it could be general for all classes, +there would be found plenty of things to be regulated, and much more in +the man who thinks that he is the one most secure therefrom. With this +I will end this letter, leaving it in this state until it is time to +seal it, in case anything should occur to be added. [_In the margin_: +"Have this clause taken to the fiscal." "It has been done."] + +When I had written this, and the despatch of these vessels was so far +along that they would, with the help of God, pursue their way when +moon and weather should favor the voyage, His Divine Majesty (to whom +be thanks!) was pleased to rejoice and encourage this land by bringing +safely to a port of this country, near the point of Balinao, in this +neighborhood, the capitana "San Andres" which was expected from Nueva +Espana. Although thus far we do not know how much money comes in her on +your Majesty's account for the maintenance of affairs here, with it in +this country, however little it may be, things will go much better than +without it, and with the anxiety over its delay. [_In the margin_: "It +is well, and we thank our Lord for this news, and hope in His Divine +Majesty that we shall have other and better news from those islands."] + +The reenforcement of soldiers is so scant that, even if all went to +Terrenate, there would not be many; for the enlistments of those who +came in two companies do not amount to a hundred and ten, besides +seventy convicts [_forcados_] who come for service, and I know not +how many galley-slaves. The number of those who die here ordinarily +is very great, as I have already explained, whereby the lack of +troops--which is what we most suffer from here, and can least be +supplied--becomes every day greater; and in the same degree my labor +and anxiety increase, adding to this and my obligations the fulfilment +of so many duties as this government entails, with so little means +to carry them out, and with so much as must be done to carry on +war with so many enemies as there are in these regions. With this, +and the knowledge of the misfortune and loss of the fleet which +was coming to help us, we have already ceased to consider what we +may have to bear. But nevertheless, with the help of God, I hope +that the enemy, when they come here as they have hitherto done, may +lose more than they gain. In the meantime we will exercise skill, +care, and vigilance in this matter, until the reenforcements which +I am expecting are added to our forces here, to punish the enemy, +and better results are obtained than in the past. I will nor repeat +again the many things which are necessary, as I have already done so +sufficiently; nor again state the better facilities for sending aid +regularly by way of Panama, which is the most important thing. This +must have been already examined and considered, if the letters in which +I discussed it at length have not been lost. I beseech your Majesty +to be pleased to have executed immediately what is most expedient for +the royal service in this matter. [_In the margin_: "Write to the +viceroy of Nueva Espana, sending a copy of this clause, so that he +may see how few troops are being sent to the governor; accordingly, +let him be charged to reenforce him with all the soldiers that he can, +since he can see how important it is that that country be fortified +and have troops; and entrust it to his care and zeal that this year +there shall be sent sufficient help, as has been written to him, +and let him continue this every year."] + +The letters of your Majesty have not arrived, but we are waiting for +them and hope that in time they will come, and that these ships will +not lose the favorable weather necessary for their voyage, on account +of the great importance of securing it. If they should come with the +promptness with which I charged the person whom I sent for them, I +shall answer them in the most important matters. If not, I shall do so +as soon as possible, as befits the importance of what is contained in +them, and the service of your Majesty. [_In the margin_: "Examined."] + +I have ordered in the session, several times, that careful abstracts +should be made of the enactments made therein of which it is desirable +that an account should be given your Majesty. Thus far it has not +been possible to carry this out, in which matter I did not choose, +merely in order to avoid trouble with them, to employ any repressive +measure, which might increase their ill-humor; and likewise because +I do not know that anything more has happened than what I write to +your Majesty. The reason for the auditors neglecting this matter +is well known to be that the definite account which we must make +to your Majesty from this Audiencia may not clash with that which +the auditors who met together separately have made to your Majesty +and your ministers. This leads me, every time when I speak of it, to +repeat my supplication to your Majesty, as I now humbly do, that this +may not go on without the inquiry of residencia which I have requested, +and the punishment due each one. May God protect the Catholic person +of your Majesty in accordance with the needs of Christendom. Manila, +July 21, 1621. + +_Don Alonso Fajardo de Tenca_ + +[_In the margin_: "Examined."] + +[_Endorsed_: "Examined and decreed within on the margin, that which +concerns both the Council and the Junta. On September 22, 622."] + + + + + +Letter from Archbishop Miguel Garcia Serrano to the King + + +_Condition of the archbishopric of Manila in regard to the affairs +of ecclesiastical and secular government._ + +Sire: + +Although I am writing to your Majesty at length informing you of +the condition of these islands regarding the enemies who come to +infest them, I cannot refrain from writing this letter apart, +in which I inform your Majesty of matters that, in my opinion, +your Majesty needs and ought to know. For, although I have written +concerning many of them these three years past, I must--inasmuch as +I have had no answer from your Majesty, not even of their receipt in +the Council--repeat what I have written, again and again, until I am +certain that my letters have reached that royal Council. Knowing that, +my mind will be at rest, and I shall be content with what your Majesty +shall be pleased to order to be done in all things. + +From the time of the establishment of the faith in these islands, +no ecclesiastical council [8] has been held in them; [but this is] a +matter that is urgently recommended by the holy general councils, for +the correction of abuses and the reform of morals. It is most necessary +in this archbishopric, in order to establish the administration of +the sacraments with uniformity of ceremonies, the celebration of +holy days, and for unusual and peculiar cases that occur in this +new world. Therefore, I petition your Majesty to be pleased to +send me permission so that I, with my three suffragans, may hold +a council as soon as they reach these islands. [_Marginal note_: +"That a letter has already been sent to him regarding this matter; +and he is to follow its directions."] + +The devotion, sire, to the most holy sacrament had greatly fallen +into disuse in this city, just as if we who are its residents had not +come from the Christian country of Espana. Consequently, as soon as +I entered upon the government of this church, I endeavored to promote +this observance, and exerted all my effort and strength--so that, by +the goodness of God, this devotion is being introduced in good earnest, +being aided by the indulgences that our most holy father [_i.e._, +probably Pope Paul V] conceded at the instance of your Majesty; +and there are few persons who do not have those indulgences in their +houses, through an edition that I caused to be printed in order that +all might receive the benefit of them. [_Marginal note_: "That it +is well, and that thanks are given him for his care in this matter; +and that he continue thus, since it is a matter that is so important."] + +The principal feast [_i.e._, Corpus Christi] of this revered and +admirable sacrament cannot be held at its season, as the universal +Church has ordained, because then the rainy or winter season begins +in these regions. Consequently, but seldom has the weather given +opportunity to hold the procession in the streets, nor can the +streets be draped or adorned. It would be a very great consolation, +if your Majesty would be pleased to obtain a brief from his Holiness, +in which he concedes us authority in these islands to anticipate the +feast of the most holy sacrament, [celebrating it] on the Thursday +after the octave of Easter; or otherwise, that this feast may come +later--as his Holiness conceded for all of Yndia, in order to hold it +at the most convenient season, since its own time came during the rainy +season; in both regions the same reasons and obstacles occur so that +the feast cannot be celebrated with due and proper observance. I am +enclosing to your Majesty a copy of the brief cited. [_Marginal note_: +"Have a letter sent to the ambassador at Roma, giving him an account +of this section, and sending him a copy of the brief here cited, in +order that he may petition it from his Holiness; for it is a matter +that should be solemnized with so great propriety. Send a letter to +the archbishop, telling him that a request to this effect has already +been made, and that he will be advised of the answer."] + +The poverty of this cathedral is so great that it has had no revenue +with which to furnish not only a reredos, or the necessary ornaments +as regards the colors of the seasons, but also a veil to cover the +altar during Lent. On Palm Sunday the two prebendaries who accompanied +me as assistants, when I performed the pontifical office on that day, +wore cloaks of different color from what they should have worn, as we +did not have the right ones in the church. For as the church has not +a single real of income, nor has had hitherto any other aid than the +alms that the inhabitants have given it, it suffers the need of which +I speak. The royal Audiencia has investigated this matter, on petition +of the cabildo, in order to refer it to that royal council. I humbly +petition your Majesty to be pleased to consider that this city is a +general place of concourse for all the nations of the world; that it +seems a necessary obligation that--since it is impossible to celebrate +the divine offices in the other churches of Manila with due propriety, +because of their great poverty--at least these peoples may see that +it will be done in the cathedral, the metropolitan of all the others; +since we do not act as we ought toward so great a Lord, yet as we can, +and with more propriety than in other regions. [_Marginal note_: +"Have a copy of this section sent to the governor and Audiencia, +and let them assist in a matter so necessary. They shall plan how +this may be done with due propriety, and shall advise us of their +action. Have a letter sent to the archbishop, enclosing a copy of +what is written to them, so that he may understand it."] + +The cabildo of this holy church at present, through the goodness of +God and your Majesty's care in filling the prebends with such persons, +consists of excellent persons. If the reason advanced to your Majesty, +by means of which a special brief was obtained from his Holiness +for the senior bishop to govern this church--[which has been done] +through three vacancies in the see--had any justification at that time, +surely, Sire, that justification has now ceased, as the cabildo is now +filled by entirely satisfactory men. Hence your Majesty can certainly +be served by not having this government leave the cabildo in the two +vacancies that will follow hereafter; for, in truth, during the few +days while they governed in the last vacant see, before the arrival +of the senior bishop from his bishopric, they so disposed affairs +that the said bishop simply retained what they had decided, and did +not change anything that he found established. [_Marginal note_: +"Observe the custom."] + +Great annoyances result because the governor does not communicate with +the archbishop as to the persons whom he presents for the dignidades +and prebends of this church, who are appointed until your Majesty +shall fill the places. For if it proves that the person is incapable or +unworthy--either because of any secret reason known to the archbishop, +or for any suit that he has pending or for any other reason--the +remedy is more easy in its beginning, by first conferring together +about the case. Your Majesty seems to have so ordered, as appears from +the presentations made by Governors Don Pedro de Acuna and Don Juan de +Silba, which read as follows: "Having communicated with the archbishop, +and having observed the order and decree of his Majesty, I present +So-and-so," etc. There it appears that your Majesty has ordered in +this matter that consultation be held thereon. It would be well to +order this again; for the governor says that he has not seen such a +decree, nor do I find it in the book of decrees. [_Marginal note_: +"Have this decree found and brought. Let them observe the decrees +regarding this. Let the governor report on what the archbishop asks."] + +Two appointments from your Majesty came last year to this metropolitan +church of Manila. One was to the deanship, of Santiago de Castro, +a sick man who has not left his house for more than three years. He +is sick and old, and so deaf that he can hold no intercourse or +communication with men. Consequently, he is expecting death daily, +and he may therefore be numbered among the dead, as far as human +intercourse is concerned. This alone could hinder the execution of +his appointment, for in other things he has excellent qualifications +for the dignity. Since his condition renders him unfit for service, +and since the dean must necessarily take upon himself the management +and headship of the cabildo, much consideration should be given to +this appointment--especially as another appointment (as archdean) +came for Canon Thomas de Guimarano, an unlettered man, to whom some +years ago they did not dare to grant permission to hear confessions +on the galleys, where he was chaplain. Therefore, Archbishop Don +Fray Miguel de Benavides wrote these words to your Majesty in the +year 604, the copy of which is in my possession. "Don Pedro de Acuna +gave a chaplaincy in the seminary of Santa Potenciana to one of his +followers, who lives in his palace, one Thomas de Guimarano--a man +of so little capacity that the said archdean and commissary of the +Holy Office examined him at my order, in order that he might hear +confessions in the galley, whose chaplain he was, and did not find him +capable of doing it." Such are the words of the said archbishop as to +his ignorance. He has almost no capacity for management. If he were +seen in this dignity people would greatly blame him who should have +conferred it on him without having first notified your Majesty of his +unfitness. This is the reason why I have kept the two appointments of +the said Guimarano and Santiago de Castro sealed, as they came, and +guarded with all secrecy, until your Majesty could be advised. Your +royal will, I am sure, is that these appointments be not given to them, +thereby entailing so much loss of prestige to the Church, and scandal +to the city. On the other hand, there is no lack, the office of dean +being filled by Licentiate Don Francisco Gomez de Arellano, a man of +good conduct and of exemplary life, in approbation of whom letters +have been written to your Majesty at various times. [_Marginal note_: +"Provision has already been made herein."] + +Inasmuch as your Majesty's appointment, and the favor that you were +pleased to grant him in conferring on him the dignity of treasurer of +this holy church, came for Licentiate Don Miguel Garcetas (of whose +good qualities I have written during these last years); and inasmuch +as, by his taking possession of that office, that of precentor fell +vacant, which he was filling _ad interim_: the governor presented for +it Don Juan Cevicos, a priest of good education, very great austerity +and exemplary life, and zealous for the general welfare. In him are +also found many other very excellent qualities; and he is a very +suitable man for your Majesty to confer upon him the dignity that he +holds, or what should afterward become vacant in this church, and even +of anything of greater importance. He has not been graduated; for since +the permission that is expected for the foundation of a university +(which is the intention of the college of the Society of Jesus) +has not yet reached this city, he has not yet had the opportunity to +receive a degree. I have employed him in the capacity of my provisor +[9] and vicar-general where he is of great help, for he is a man of +considerable business capacity. [_Marginal note_: "Seen."] + +About seven months ago the governor presented Juan de Miranda for a +_racion_ that was vacant. He is a good ecclesiastic and necessary for +that ministry; for setting aside his virtue, example, and good life, +he is an excellent singer, and has been reared from childhood in this +church. Accordingly I gave him the office very willingly. I petition +your Majesty to be pleased to confirm it. [_Marginal note_: "Seen."] + +It often happens that certain individuals, depending on their favor at +court, try to obtain prebends and dignities from your Majesty which +they do not merit. They are of such a sort that I am told of persons +who even do not know Latin. They hope to be preferred to those who +have spent all their lives in study. It would be of great importance +for the prelate and cabildo of the district of the said ecclesiastics +to inform your Majesty for these appointments, so that, having that +information, the most advisable measures for the service of God and +that of your Majesty may be taken. [_Marginal note_: "Seen."] + +During the month of last December, an ecclesiastic named Don Patricio +Arcaya de Guevara, a native of Murcia, left this country for those +regions [of Europe] via India. The governor was accompanied by him +when he came here, and presented him for the treasurership of this +holy church; and in fact he served therein _ad interim_, although +the governor did not know then that he had been expelled from the +Order of St. Augustine in the province of Andalucia, and that he was +living in this country incontinently and with reproach, and with less +discretion than was fitting. I inform your Majesty, for, according to +his resolve, he was going to ask for a dignity in this or some other +church of the Yndias, for which he is not fit. [_Marginal note_: +"It is well. Attention will be given to this in the office, if the +papers regarding this man are sent."] + +The wretchedness and misery suffered by my poor ecclesiastics in +this my archbishopric is very great, because of their number having +increased rapidly in these latter years, on account of the college +and seminary of the Society of Jesus, and the care that has been +taken therein to maintain its studies--teaching in the classes Latin, +the arts, and theology; besides the students who are being reared +in the college of Santo Thomas, founded about two years ago by the +Order of St. Dominic. As I say, they suffer so great poverty that I +am assured that some cannot leave their houses because they have no +cassocks to wear--and that, too, in a country where cloth is generally +so cheap. This is a matter that is breaking my heart. I have nothing +with which to employ them, since the ministries are all managed by +the religious. The poor ecclesiastics have only eight benefices of +Indians to administer, besides two Spanish curacies--namely that of +this city, which is administered by two parish priests [_curas_]; +and that of Santiago, outside the walls--and one other which has in +charge the Indians and slaves of Manila. Within the last few days two +ecclesiastics, theologues, competed for a sacristy in the benefice of +Nuestra Senora de Guia, which has a salary of only ninety pesos. One +of them had taken four years of theology, and is an excellent student, +and not so fitting for other things. They competed for it only in order +to get a morsel of food, so they would not have to beg it from door +to door. Will your Majesty be pleased to have provided what is most +suitable for the service of God and your own. [_Marginal note_: "Since +he has the case in hand, let him take what measures are advisable."] + +News reached this city in the month of January last of this year, of +the death of the bishop of Nueva Caceres, Fray Diego de Guevara, of the +Order of St. Augustine; he died while visiting his bishopric. Inasmuch +as that church has no cabildo, the task of its government devolved +upon me, as does likewise that of Nueva Segovia. As the bishop of the +latter church, Don Juan de Renteria, has not arrived, I petition your +Majesty to be pleased to have notice taken that greater competency is +required for these bishoprics that are so distant from Manila--in which +counsel can [not] easily be taken on the troubles that confront the +ministry at every step, and the bishop, like him who holds the office +of magistrate, must alone determine these doubts of fuerza--than for +the very large bishoprics of Espana. Will your Majesty please take +the advisable measures. [_Marginal note_: "Seen and provided."] + +The facility of these natives in going to law about marriage is very +great. In fact, they achieve their purpose by alleging obstacles +arising from their own illicit intercourse, before the marriage, +with the relatives of their wives. Often they maliciously conceal +this obstacle and are silent until, the wives after experiencing with +the lapse of time, during their married life, not so good treatment +as they expected from their husbands, and the husbands having +less pleasure in the marriage than they had promised themselves, +they advance their obstacles, and petition for the annulment of the +marriage. With the ease with which they find witnesses for any purpose, +they succeed in carrying their desires into effect--with the liability, +if what they have alleged and proved is false, of living throughout +life in the sin that they have committed to the wrong of marriage; +and if true, as they say, of having been unscrupulous in not having +declared the obstacle. In order to avoid these troubles, it would be +of great importance for your Majesty to be pleased to obtain from his +Holiness power for the ministers in these islands to give absolution +for all the secret obstacles of these neophytes when they come to be +married, in order to contract the said marriage. In this way it will +be managed with less offense and with more ease to the conscience +than now. [_Marginal note_: "Have the ambassador at Roma notified to +propose this matter to his Holiness; and if it be not unadvisable, +to petition him to concede it. After doing this, advise and notify +the archbishop that the matter has been sent to Roma, and that he +will be notified of the result."] + +Your Majesty ordered by a decree, twice issued (the second dated +at San Lorenco, November, 603), that the bishops should inspect +the religious who give instruction, in regard to their duty of the +care of souls. It would be very advisable for so holy a decree to +be executed now, without more delay; for although the orders contain +many who attend most earnestly to the service of our Lord, there are +certain persons who allow themselves to be too easily led by their +inclinations, and who do not labor in their ministry with the devotion +and fidelity requisite. Besides the bad example thus furnished to +these natives, the latter are wronged, and without any remedy, because +there is no superior to whom they can go for vindication--for the +provincials, sometimes for private reasons, generally sustain such +subordinates. That would cease with the visit of the bishops, and +the provincials would find themselves obliged, or the bishops would +oblige them, always to station in the missions ministers of learning, +virtue, and exemplary life. That would bring a cessation of such +troubles. The friars then could not assert that they would leave the +ministries, as they did when there were no secular clergy, since that +is clearly impossible; for there are now so many seculars that they +are sufficient to administer what the orders would abandon. [_Marginal +note_: "Have the decree in regard to this sent to him, and have him +observe the order, as declared in the said decree. Despatch decrees +to the archbishop and his suffragans, in accordance with those already +despatched to the archbishop of Mexico and his suffragan bishops."] + +The kingdom of Xapon is in such an upheaval, and the persecution +against Christians so bloody, that it seems rash for religious to go +there. However, those who go there from the orders, guided by the +spirit of the Lord, go clad as merchants, and go about at Manila +in the same way, some days before their passage, in order to have +the Japanese get to know them and take them for men who are going to +their country to trade. Any other method would be rash, as I say, if +they went openly as religious. Further, as Fray Luis Sotelo, of the +Order of St. Francis, tried to go with the name of bishop of Xapon, +delegate of the pope, and commissary-general (a thing prohibited by +your Majesty), and as the bulls for it have been detained by your royal +Council; and as your Council has declared that its opinion is that, +if there were an open door, there would be many things to consider +as to whether Fray Luis Sotelo should go [to Xapon], because of the +many reasons that constrain them to prevent his passage; therefore, +it is expedient for your Majesty to order that quickly; and that they +recall the said Sotelo and take him from these islands, so that he +may not go to Xapon. [_Marginal note_: "Have what was ordered in this +matter brought."] + +Having to speak of the orders in particular, I feel obliged to inform +your Majesty of occurrences in this city between that of St. Dominic +and the Society. It was on an occasion of the death of a man in this +city by stabbing, who begged loudly for confession. It was not granted +to him, because a father of St. Dominic said that absolution ought +not to be given him, although the bystanders said that he had called +for confession. A father of the Society stating that absolution ought +to have been given him, there arose between the two orders a very +serious and violent controversy; for the Dominican fathers printed +certain conclusions, in which they declared that it was a rash idea, +and in practice a grave and sacrilegious offense to absolve one +who, only by the report of bystanders had begged for confession, +but was deprived of the power of speech. The fathers of the Society +of Jesus drew up other printed conclusions, in which they declared +that it was not a rash or sacrilegious idea but a very pious one to +absolve such a penitent. They persuaded the people and the orders +and so inflamed the controversy that I ordered them by a decree to +put an end to both contentions. Both orders agreeing to dispute in +my presence, I assigned judges from my cabildo, and from the orders +of St. Augustine and St. Francis, and learned persons of the city, +to be present at the disputation, and consider the arguments on each +side. This was done, and the result was that, having assembled the +other day, all the judges declared, _nemine discrepante_ [_i.e._, +"no one dissenting"], that the opinion of the Society was pious and +reasonable, and could be followed. The reverend Dominican fathers +greatly resented this decision, and tried to carry their point by +persuading the people to accept their conclusions. I thought it a +matter of scandal to condemn ministers, in an affair of the sacraments, +by asserting that they were committing sacrilege. I issued a censure, +and ordered that no one should agree to their conclusions, and that the +Dominicans should not hold them. Upon this second decree they elected +a judge-conservator who accepted the office, but did not continue +in it; so the cause was suspended, and the parties intended to have +recourse to Roma regarding the case. At this juncture the ritual of +our very holy father Paul V, with a bull of his Holiness, dated Roma, +June 17, 1614, came to my hands, in which they order absolution to +such a penitent, who asks for confession after losing his power of +speech, if he shall give signs, in person or through others, of his +desire. Upon seeing the said ritual, I ordered it to be published, +and it was done on the day of Sts. Peter and Paul, in our church of +Manila, this year of 621. A judicial record was made of all of this +matter, and authentic papers with the arguments of each party. That +alone is being sent to your Majesty as a report, in order to inform +you of everything, as is my duty. [_Marginal note_: "Seen."] + +The Order of St. Francis in these islands is discalced. There +is generally a visitor from the commissaries, who is sent by +the commissary-general of Nueva Espana, who must be of the same +discalced. This year one came, who was not received by the provincial +and his definitors because he did not come in the way required by the +rules and privileges of this their province. Although the Audiencia +tried to admit the one from Nueva Espana, matters came to such a pass +and so menacing a condition that by way of authority, and in order +to avoid scandals, Don Alonso Faxardo, governor of these islands, +determined to suspend the commission, after first having conferred +with me. What I did was to assemble the orders and learned persons of +my cabildo. I found: first, that the commissary was not discalced, +although he must be so by virtue of a bull and express privilege, +which he carries in order to visit this province, or to exercise +an act of jurisdiction. The authorization borne by him was very +extraordinary and had a great excess of the ordinary warrants. There +was added a very forcible argument of administration, which is that +twenty or more of the leading friars had been sworn witnesses in +the present contention, while the commissary had given testimony +contrary to theirs, so that no good administration was looked for, +but only numerous scandals and dissensions. Then affairs almost +reached the point where the province was in hostile array, one side +against another. Accordingly, all those of the council, without any +dissenting voice, resolved that it was inexpedient for the commissary +to enter on the administration. That resolution was followed, and +the provincial proceeded with his duties in peace. Therefore, those +in Nueva Espana will be informed from here to send hereafter only +persons of the discalced religious and of their profession, and they +will be peaceably received. For if they are of the cloth [_pano_], +[10] the discalced religious fear that they are trying to introduce +themselves into this province and into that of Xapon, and to drive +the discalced from here; this has been attempted, contrary to what +this city has requested your Majesty several times to order--namely, +that no friars of the cloth come to these islands, but only discalced, +with whom the province has always been established. [_Marginal note_: +"Seen."] + +The great service which the Society of Jesus is performing for God +and your Majesty in the conversion of souls is well known. But they +cannot continue to prosecute what has hitherto been done in this +province because of their lack of workers; for many have succumbed +to the hardships of their ministry, while others are crippled and +incapacitated from helping in the missions. Consequently there is +need of a goodly shipment of these servants of God to be sent, who +so edify and instruct by their good example and learning. For this +purpose, the order is sending Father Francisco Gutierrez as their +procurator-general. I humbly petition your Majesty to be pleased to +order that he be despatched here, so that this so urgent need may be +supplied. [_Marginal note:_ "Have us reminded of this at the time, +if the Society should request it."] + +The other orders, those of St. Augustine, St. Dominic, and St. Francis, +experience the same lack of religious. They have their procurators +at that court. Will your Majesty be pleased to have them given +a goodly number of religious, so that they may attend to their +ministries. [_Marginal note_: "Have us reminded in due season."] + +The hospitals--of which I am informing your Majesty in a separate +letter--need the efforts of the brethren of [St.] John of God, so that +the sick may be treated as is fitting, and which is the chief object +of those brethren. Hitherto the discalced Franciscan religious of this +province have had charge of their spiritual matters. As that is not +one of their vows, and they do not have charge of temporal matters, +the sick have suffered greatly. Accordingly, should your Majesty +be pleased to send some of those brethren from that country, and to +order them to take charge of the administration of these hospitals, +it would be a very great service to our Lord. [_Marginal note_: +"Observe what is decreed regarding this matter."] + +The official investigations that are made in the royal Audiencia +are made with so little secrecy that the parties interested know +the witnesses and their depositions. The same occurs in the letters +of recommendation that are obtained from the cabildos and from some +orders--which the interested party takes to them, made out as they +desire, and only asks for their signatures. These are obtained easily, +whence follow the sinister reports that they give your Majesty, to +the harm of the public welfare. [_Marginal note_: "It is well. Let +us be advised of this on the occasions that arise."] + +Although this royal Audiencia by right should attend the principal +feasts at the cathedral, they have not done so; nor have I seen them +attend in a body since I took up the government of this church--now +upwards of a year--except once only. That was on St. Andrew's day, +when a prayer was made for the coming of the ships from Mexico. I do +not know whether the reason has been the want of harmony between the +governor and the auditors, or because the governor's wife took a seat +beside her husband--a thing that has never been practiced in this city +in the time of the former governors. Will your Majesty decide what +should be done in this matter, as the governor's wife must be placated +in it; and whether the position to be occupied by her is to be before +or behind that of the Audiencia. [_Marginal note_: "Have the Audiencia +informed that they must not miss one of the prescribed days, and +are to report on the other matters. Write to the archbishop that the +Audiencia has already been notified to attend on the prescribed days."] + +Your Majesty has already provided by your royal decrees that the +ships should set sail for Nueva Espana from this port, under any +circumstances, during the month of June, because of their peril of +having to make some port in distress, or of being wrecked, if they sail +later. It would be expedient to apply a more constraining remedy, +in order that this be executed; for were your Majesty's decrees +observed in these islands, as I have many times said, there would +be no errors made in what pertains to the service of our Lord and +that of your Majesty, the welfare of these islands, and the profit +of their inhabitants. But, Sire, as they are not obeyed, and there +is no execution of them, there is general error in what could with +so great facility be done aright. [_Marginal note_: "Have a letter +written to the governor, telling him that we have heard that those +ships that sail to Nueva Espana sail very late, and that consequently +they suffer in the tempests and hardships that are known; and that +now and henceforth he shall see that they sail as was the custom +before and as is ordered."] + +When the city of Manila petitioned your Majesty to be pleased to have +the governors of these Filipinas make the appointments to the offices +of the ships which are despatched hence to Nueva Espana, from that +of commander to the least office, it was to obviate one disadvantage, +according to their opinion (and in truth not a slight one), by which +the said offices were given by the viceroys to their relatives and +retainers, thus depriving this country's inhabitants of them. That +disadvantage not only has not been corrected by this expedient--since +the governors, not heeding more than their own private interests, +give the said offices to their own followers--but has even given rise +to a greater disadvantage, respecting the return of the ships to these +islands. For, since the viceroys do not appoint to the said offices as +they did before, the result is usually a lack in the reenforcements +that are sent from there [_i.e._, Nueva Espana]; and there is less +care bestowed on the despatch of the said ships for the return than +is fitting. Consequently, they arrive so late that already the season +of the vendavals, the contrary winds of these islands, has set in; +and therefore the ships have been compelled to put in at Xapon, as +happened in the year 17, and last year. On that account they ran a +risk of being captured by the Dutch; for since the viceroys are not +interested, even in making those provisions, the ships sail later +than they would be permitted if the persons who have charge of the +ships were appointed by him, in whose good success would be also his +share of reputation, or the contrary. Will your Majesty be pleased +to order this to be noted, and take what measures may be most to your +royal pleasure. [_Marginal note_: "Obey the ordinances."] + +One could not believe the injury that is done to the soldiers and +sailors, and to all the wage-earners, by not paying the vouchers earned +by their labor and sweat; and on the other hand, by buying these for +much less than their face value. For, being rendered desperate, they +sell vouchers valued at one thousand pesos for one hundred, and the +lamentable thing is that, if they did not sell them, they would never +be paid. Scarcely have they sold the vouchers when they are immediately +paid, and the purchasers even take the poor wretches to the office of +accounts, so that they may be present at the payment, and that it may +appear justified, by their saying that they did it of their own accord, +for which they give a receipt. As it is the price of blood, and they +see that others take that price, it is a grief and sorrow that cries to +heaven for redress, and petitions your Majesty to be pleased to have +a very effective and rigorous correction applied. [_Marginal note_: +"Have a letter written to the governor that this has been learned; +and that he accordingly must correct it immediately, if there is need +therefor, and advise us of what shall be done."] + +There are at present more than sixteen thousand Chinese in this +city of Manila, who have received license to stay in the country. In +addition about one-third as many generally remain without having a +license, so that, on good computation, there are now more Chinese +in the country than there were sixteen and a half years ago, when +they revolted and made war on us--without reckoning a great number +of Japanese, whose number I have been unable to ascertain, although I +am told that it exceeds three thousand. Accordingly, in a council of +all the estates called by the governor about two months ago, in which +he asked whether it would be advisable or not to go out to fight the +enemy then in the mouths of this bay--who had seized them with nine +very strongly armed ships, while the governor had four ships (two of +them powerful galleons) and four galleys--the city forbade him to go +out under any circumstances. Among other reasons it was said that if +the governor went out, he would leave the city of Manila unprotected in +his absence, and exposed to the will of so great a number of enemies, +composed of Chinese and Japanese. That argument was not the one of +least weight in the council in determining that our fleet should +not sail against the enemy. I think that there has been neglect and +laxity in the matter of not driving out the Japanese. But, in the +case of the Chinese [it is] the greed for the eight pesos that each +one pays for the license to remain in the country, and the excessive +profits gained by the numerous agents of justice whom the governors +have introduced, unnecessarily and in violation of what your Majesty +has so piously ruled and ordained--namely, that only those remain who +cannot be spared for the service of the country, and it is certain that +we cannot live without them. If your Majesty's decrees were observed, +all would be well managed, and we would live more comfortably and in +less fear of them than we now have. I do not know, Sire, what expedient +can be adopted in this. I know only that it is advisable to execute +the orders of your Majesty's royal decrees, for that was the care +and anxiety of the former archbishops and of the entire community, +who always petitioned for this same thing. Hence I am surprised +that your Majesty has not ordered that what restraint you are able +to place should be imposed, so that your royal decrees be obeyed. I +do not know for what reason (since all or nearly all of them concern +the good government and advantage of these wretched inhabitants) they +are directed either against the governors, the Audiencia, or their +agents, tying their hands with their prohibitions. Since they are the +executors of the decrees, it results that nothing is done. Even the +city is very much interested in this matter of the Chinese remaining, +in order to get their profits and rents in their alcaicerias. Hence I +do not think that it would be worth while to petition for [limitation +of] the number of the Chinese, unless your Majesty assign that +number. Truly, with four or five thousand Chinese, the community +would be well served and the country free from danger. [_Marginal +note_: "Have a letter sent to the governor, telling him of this, +but not the writer; and that since he has charge of so important a +matter, he must see that the decrees and orders that have been issued +regarding this be obeyed. He shall advise us of what shall be done, +so that the Council may understand the matter."] + +There have been many complaints, in regard to the allotment of +encomiendas, from the old and worthy soldiers who have spent their +lives and blood in your Majesty's service. It has already been enacted +in this matter, by royal decrees, what must be done. The relief that +I find is for your Majesty to be pleased to order strictly that +the regulations made in regard to it be obeyed. [_Marginal note_: +"Have the governor notified to obey what is decreed regarding this."] + +For the last two years it has been customary in these islands for +private persons residing here who have money and protection to despatch +their own small ships both to Macan and to Malaca, Sian, Camboja, +and other parts of this archipelago. Since they have the authority, +they send the best sailors that we have here in those ships. Thus +it occurs that we can get no hands, nor even the best soldiers, when +it is necessary to prepare them and fleets for the occasion of your +Majesty's service; for fleeing from the annoyances and ill treatment +that they experience, many absent themselves on such occasions. Verily, +there is not a leech that sucks out the blood from the body more than +these little ships do this camp of men. It would be very expedient for +your Majesty to order what measure is most fitting for your service; +for if we weaken the body by our own hands, so that it will have but +little strength in time of need, and if this land is exhausted of men, +how can the enemy be resisted when they attack us? In truth, Sire, +I understand that the neighboring kingdoms of Macan, Japon, Malaca, +Sian, Camboja, and all the other lands, have so many Spaniards that +a great troop for your Majesty's service could be formed from them +alone. [_Marginal note_: "Have sent to the governor a relation of +this, and that he accordingly take upon himself the remedy for it, +since it is so important a matter that the soldiers that he shall +have do not leave there; and that he advise us of what shall be done."] + +Lastly, I petition your Majesty to be pleased to have an answer written +to me regarding the matters of this letter that require a reply. For +since some of them concern the common welfare of the ministry, others +the special welfare of this church, and others that of this city, +I shall necessarily be forced to repeat them on all occasions until +I am certain that they have come to the notice of that royal Council +of your Majesty--whose very Catholic person may our Lord preserve +for the welfare of your kingdoms with the increase of many others, +as we your humble chaplains desire. Manila, July 30, 1621. + + +_Fray Miguel Garcia Serrano_, +archbishop of Manila. + + +[_Endorsed_: "Seen and decreed within. In the Council, September +30, 622."] + +[The bull mentioned in the first part of the above letter follows:] + +_Copy well and faithfully drawn of the bull in which his Holiness +concedes that the feast of Corpus Christi in Eastern Yndia and the +regions subject to the crown of Portugal, be anticipated or transferred +to another and more suitable day, besides other favors and privileges._ + +Antonius, by the divine mercy cardinal priest of the holy _Quatuor +Coronati_, [11] to the illustrious the most serene king of Portugale +and Algarbes, health in the Lord. According to the pledge of loyalty +enjoined upon us by the apostolic see, we willingly charge ourselves +with those matters whereby divine worship may everywhere be advanced, +the devotion of the faithful of Christ increased, and fitting regard +paid to the safety of their souls in the Lord. + +In truth, the petition presented to us not long ago concerning your +interests stated that, since in the regions of the Indias, Ethiopia, +Arabia, and Persia (through favor of the divine clemency lately brought +under our rule), by reason of the difference of the seasons in those +countries, the day whereon the solemn feast of the sacrament of Corpus +Christi is celebrated, falls, according to ordinance of the universal +Church, in the winter time, wherefore it cannot be celebrated at that +season with due ceremonies and solemnity--[the faithful] are desirous +that the same feast be transferred to some other season outside of +winter, that it may be kept more fittingly and with greater honor. + +Moreover, since the said countries are very far away from your kingdom +of Portugal, the cities and towns and provinces therein being also +at great distances from one another, it is therefore difficult for +any Catholic prelate either to pass thither from your said kingdom +of Portugal, or, if resident there, to go from one region to another, +and therein bless whatever things be needed for divine worship, as well +as purify the churches themselves, with their burial-places, that may +have been defiled through the shedding of human blood or seed; again, +since the holy oils, which everywhere are to be consecrated each year, +cannot because of the difficulty of the voyage thither be carried from +your said kingdom of Portugal, wherefore you are unable to have them +renewed according to church ordinance; again, as in cases of apostasy +from the orthodox faith of persons who subsequently, through divine +inspiration, are moved to return, as well as in regard to the many +Turks and Mahometans, or followers of other misbeliefs whatsoever, +who are desirous to embrace the same faith, there is no recourse +possible to the apostolic see, or to others in your said kingdom of +Portugal who are especially delegated therefor: hence do you humbly +petition the same see mercifully to make due provision therein for +yourselves and the peoples of the said countries under your care, +to the effect that all and singular the rectors of churches in those +countries may be granted full and free power to bless newly erected +churches and burial-places, to purify them when defiled, as well as +to use holy oils brought from Portugal, or consecrated by any prelate +in those countries, even five years previous; that moreover the same +rectors of churches in those countries also be empowered to reconcile +apostates from the faith, absolve them, and restore them to their +former state in all things, and through all. + +Therefore, while commending in the Lord your praiseworthy desires +in this regard, being inclined also to favor you as in duty bound, +through the gracious authority of our lord the pope, whose charge +we fill as penitentiary, as well as through his special and express +command given us therein _viva voce_, we hereby do grant to all +and singular the venerable fathers in Christ, by the grace of God +bishops in those countries, as well as to you [and] your successors +respectively now and for the time being, or their vicars-general in +spirituals now and for the time being, the following powers, to wit: + +That with the council of their respective clergy and people they be +empowered to transfer the said feast of the most holy Body of Christ +to another season of the year, outside of winter, when it may be +celebrated with due solemnities and ceremonies. That whosoever shall +take part in the celebration of the feast thus transferred may gain, +all and singular, the indulgences and graces which they would otherwise +gain were they present on the day set by the universal Church. That in +their respective churches, all and singular, the rectors of churches +and districts for the time, being may bless vestments, crosses, +images, or other church ornaments whatsoever that are needed or proper +in divine worship--not, however, chalices and patens. Moreover, that +wherever there is not present a Catholic prelate who is a bishop, they +may purify and bless the churches themselves, with their chapels and +burial-places, should they be defiled through the shedding of human +blood or seed, or any other things that have been blessed by any +bishop, or, in the absence of a bishop, by any person constituted in +church dignity, or by a rector of any parish church actually holding +the care of souls, provided they duly employ the proper rites usually +observed in such matters. Again, that they may use the holy oil brought +from Portugal within the previous five years, and, if consecrated by +any Catholic prelate in those countries, when it is three years old. + +Besides, with regard to such persons as, having once received holy +baptism with the true faith of Christ, have fallen away therefrom, +but are now desirous to return, we grant full and free leave and +power to absolve the same from the heresy that they subsequently have +incurred, as often as in any manner they may have fallen therein, +as well as from whatsoever other faults and spots wherewith by reason +of human frailty they may be stained and marked; and to receive the +same back to the bosom of holy mother Church, and to restore them to +their former state in all things and through all, with the fulfilment, +however, of salutary penance for their fault--provided, however, that +these things are to be done by a bishop as often as one is present, +in the places where there is a bishop. + +[These things are granted] notwithstanding any apostolic, provincial or +synodal decrees, or customs, or constitutions and ordinances of general +or particular councils, or other things whatsoever, to the contrary. + +Given at Rome at St. Peter's under the seal of office of the +penitentiary, the XV Kalends of July in the third year of the +pontificate of our lord Paul III. + +I, Gabriel de Muxica Buitran, secretary of his Excellency, Don Fray +Miguel Garcia Serrano, archbishop of the Filipinas and member of his +Majesty's council, and notary-public of the ecclesiastical court of +this archbishopric, attest and witness truly that this copy was drawn +from another that appears to have been authorized by the bishop of +Malaca, Don Goncalo de Silva, signed with his signature and sealed +with a seal, which appears to be that of his arms. This is a certain +and true copy, and has been corrected, revised, and collated with +the said original copy from which it was drawn. For its validity, +Don Juan de Cevicos, precentor in the holy metropolitan church of +this city of Manila, and judge-provisor and vicar-general in it and +its archbishopric for the said his Excellency, affixed his signature, +interposing his judicial authority and decree. It is sealed with the +smaller seal of the aforesaid. As witnesses at its correction and +revision were Father Thomas Saravia, secular priest, and Luis Mendes +de Leon, gospel priest, citizens and residents of this said city, +on July last, one thousand six hundred and twenty-one. + + +_Don Juan Cevicos_ + +In witness of truth: +_Gabriel de Muxica Buitran_ + + + + + +Letter to the King from Geronimo de Silva + + +Sire: + +A detailed relation of the condition and affairs of these islands +having been sent to your Majesty in the vessels despatched to Nueva +Espana in August of last year, God was pleased that, after some +months of navigation, the almiranta should put back in distress on the +thirteenth of November, mastless and badly racked, because of the many +hurricanes and the bad weather that it met on the high seas. That was +a most severe loss for this city, since the chief sinew of its support +at present is nothing but the trade of those two ships; for as the +times go, there is now no other recourse. It is considered as certain +that the flagship made the voyage, although there is no more certainty +than trust that God has taken it to safety; for since it was already +so late, and the monsoon of the vendavals had set in, it has not as +yet returned from Nueva Espana, nor has any other advice come. That is +no little cause for anxiety to this wretched city, in addition to the +ravages of enemies and other disasters that ordinarily afflict it. May +God in His mercy ordain what is most advisable for His holy service. + +Governor Don Alonsso Fajardo, having despatched the vessels of +Castilla, began to undertake the aid for Terrenate; and attempted +to send it earlier than formerly, in order to guard against the +enemy, who continually await the ship at the entrance of those +forts. Notwithstanding the small amount of money and other supplies +that could be taken hence, because the misery here had become as +extreme as one can imagine, yet what was sent in men, food, and +war-supplies, was the most abundant that has entered those forts for a +considerable number of years--as the governor, being the one in charge +of all those matters, will fully inform your Majesty. With that relief +a present was also sent to the king of Macazar in your Majesty's +name, in recognition of the friendly reception and entertainment +found in his country by your Majesty's [_word illegible in MS._] +vassals, and for the great importance of preserving his friendship, +as I have stated in other letters. + +Governor Don Alonso Fajardo heard by way of Japon--through an entirely +trustworthy person, who is accustomed always to give information of +very important matters--that the Dutch enemy had allied themselves +with the English, and that both nations had made an alliance to come +to pillage these coasts, and that they had prepared and well equipped +for that purpose a squadron of twelve large ships belonging to both +nations. That news caused keen anxiety in this city, inasmuch as two +so powerful nations were seen to be allied for its destruction and +ruin. The most anxious was the governor, not so much because the remedy +depended upon him, as because he found himself with so few forces, +and it was impossible to be able to prevent so serious injury as was +expected. Before anything else he tried to inform your Majesty of that +alliance, sending a despatch for that purpose by way of Portuguese +India, so that it might reach your Majesty's royal hands with the +promptness that so important a matter demanded. + +Notwithstanding that there were not wanting some here who doubted +the truth of those despatches from Japon, yet the governor, being so +anxious for your Majesty's service, began to prepare and furnish all +that was necessary for the repair of the vessels stationed in the +port of Cavite, and many other things that had need of repair. At +that time, on the second of February, he heard that the enemy were +on the coast. In a very few days they entered by the mouth of this +bay with nine vessels, seven of them of great burden, and the other +two of medium size. As commander of that squadron came the Englishman +with four well-equipped vessels of his nation; and, as admiral, the +Dutchman with five vessels, no less adequately equipped and armed than +the English. They sighted the port of Cavite in order to reconnoiter +the strength of the fleet stationed there. Everything was placed in +the best state of defense that time allowed, so that any attack of the +enemy could be repulsed. But the enemy took a better resolve, namely, +to anchor in the mouths of this bay and await there the Chinese ships, +while they sent two vessels to run along the coast, in order that +those vessels that should anchor along it might not escape them. + +At this juncture a vessel arrived at this city with a special embassy +from Macan to beg the governor to aid them with some large pieces +of artillery; for, as they were advised from Japon, they were hourly +awaiting that same squadron--for, as the rumor ran, they were about +to attack that city. Notwithstanding that the necessity here was more +urgent, yet it was resolved, after having called a special council of +the treasury and war, to send six large pieces of the best casting +for the defense of that city--as the governor, to whom I refer, +will inform your Majesty more minutely. + +The depredations and prizes made by the enemy in all that time have +not been of great importance, since as yet it is not known that they +have captured more than five Chinese vessels, which according to the +report of the Sangleys in them were not those of the wealthy men (who +are here called Anayes). [12] Consequently, with the pillage of this +year, they will not be able to meet their obligations in Japon, for +which thanks are due our Lord. What I can affirm to your Majesty is +that all possible efforts were made, both in sending advices to China +and in carefully watching through outposts this entire coast, which +was partly the reason why the enemy failed to cause greater damage. + +The founding of the artillery made here hitherto cost so much labor, +and it resulted so unsatisfactorily, that we were all in the greatest +perplexity because we could not determine where the defect lay. But, +after many different experiments in alloying the metals, it has been +God's pleasure that we hit upon it. I can also assure your Majesty that +the artillery that is cast now is as good and safe as that of Piru, +and costs much less in metal and labor than the pieces formerly cast. + +One cannot help reflecting how great and distressing would be the +anxiety and uneasiness of the governor if the enemy should attack him +and he were without possibility of collecting the forces with which to +drive him from these islands. But for all that might happen, and in +case the enemy should divide his fleet, in order to be able to make +use of any good opportunity, the governor placed in order two good +galleons--a flagship and an almiranta--two other quite small ships, +and two galleys. That represents the total strength of your Majesty's +fleet in this port and all the islands. In order to equip them with +men, the governor withdrew as many men as possible from the presidios +of Oton, Cibu, and Nueva Segovia. He sent edicts to all the provinces +to assemble the wandering Indians therein. Although the greatest rigor +was employed for this purpose, those collected amounted to so few, +that their number did not reach seventy persons. It is a pitiful thing +to see how few men your Majesty has for service in these islands, as +I can certify, since the army is in my charge. For the paid infantry +does not exceed four hundred in actual service, outside of the crippled +and sick in the hospital, where they are continually dying. Many of +those who are not on pay escape to India and other regions, without +any possibility of avoiding it. Consequently, Sire, this matter remains +in the above condition, and demands very speedy betterment, which your +Majesty should furnish by sending a number of men and the other things +needed for the conservation of all this land. For by doing otherwise, +a well-known danger is invited, as your Majesty will learn more fully +from the relation that the governor will send, to which I refer. + +On the thirteenth of the month of last June, a ship from Malaca +anchored in this port, bearing news of the advices that your Majesty +ordered to be sent to Portuguese Yndia, in regard to the alliance +between the states of Olanda and Ynglaterra, and their purpose to +attack these regions with the huge fleet that was thought to have +come for that purpose. It also brought news that sixteen Dutch +ships had already arrived at La Sunda, and that the rest of the +fleet was on the way. May God, in His infinite goodness, bring their +evil plans to naught, since we here are so in need of human forces +to frustrate them. I can assure your Majesty that we will always +exercise the requisite care and vigilance here, if your Majesty +will send and provide the most important and necessary things; +this the governor has begun to do, especially in his cleansing the +country of so many people that occupy it, with whom there is very +little security. Especially is that true of the Japanese, who are +seditious and arrogant, with whom the enemy hold so intimate trade +and intercourse in their own country. For these reasons we keep +strict and careful watch over them, since the suspicions conceived +of them have been often verified. The number of Sangleys whom it is +advisable to allow to remain in this city is also being lessened, +and only those sufficient for its service are left. By that means, +I trust in our Lord that we can withstand our enemies' designs. Those +designs, as we have heard, are to besiege this city, or the forts of +Terrenate, or to establish themselves in Otton in your Majesty's fort +on the point of Ylo Ylo. I trust in His Divine Majesty that they will +not succeed in their attempt, for, although we have so few forces, +we will resist to the utmost until your Majesty shall furnish those +forces advisable for greater results in your royal service. + +All of these things, although so considerable, could be endured, if +the royal treasury had the sum requisite for affairs so difficult. But +I can assure your Majesty with entire truth that the need of your +treasury is so pressing now that it is incomparable. Not less so is +the barrenness of this country, which was formerly and usually the +last resource. Consequently there is so universal misery that no +words could exaggerate it to your Majesty. + +During the month of last April occurred a somewhat sharp encounter +between Governor Don Alonso Fajardo and Auditor Don Alvaro de Mesa y +Lugo, on going into the assembly hall--in which, according to report, +the auditor was somewhat lavish of words. For that reason the governor +had him arrested and imprisoned in the cabildo's halls, where he was +kept a few days, until he left his prison and retired into the convent +of St. Dominic of this city, where he still is--as your Majesty will +learn more fully by the judicial reports that were sent you in regard +to this matter, and to which I refer. + +All these exhibitions of temper and anger result from what I have +pointed out to your Majesty in many other letters. They will exist +as long as there is an Audiencia and auditors in this city. I base +this assertion on the arguments and reasons that my experience +during the time of my residence in these islands has shown me. Again +referring to several of those reasons, I shall mention here only +three to your Majesty: first, that the auditors have so few causes +to judge that there are no more than those of four Indians in regard +to their houseplots and lands--in which they finally spend more in +costs than the principal over which they are litigating; the second +because the auditors are stubbornly opposed to the governors, for +which reason the latter cannot attain success in many things, and +your Majesty's service suffers. The aim of the auditors is naught +else than to get all the posts for their relatives, intimates, and +comrades; but with these many retired captains can be recompensed, +who have served and serve your Majesty here whenever necessary, +without return or pay. When their requests are not granted, these men +withdraw to their homes, which causes the country to be divided into +factions and parties. The third reason is the number of pesos that +your Majesty would save from the salaries of the auditors and other +officials of the Audiencia. With that sum, twice as much infantry +could be maintained as that which your Majesty has here. That, in +the light of present conditions, is the most important thing for the +necessary maintenance and defense of these islands. I have dared to +relate this to your Majesty because of my zeal as a loyal vassal, +and as one who looks at things dispassionately. Will your Majesty +decide as is most advisable to your royal service. + +In all the letters that I have written to your Majesty in the past, +I have made a full report of the services that I have tried to +perform for your Majesty in more than forty consecutive years, not +only in these regions, but in the States of Flandes, and in Ytalia, +and in other lands, of which your Majesty already has information. At +present I only beg your Majesty to be pleased to consider that my age +is over sixty, and, although I might thereby be somewhat hindered, +still I will appreciate it more than I can express, to finish the +remainder of my life in the service of your Majesty, employed in the +post and grant that your Majesty may be pleased to confer upon me, +according to the capacity and talent found in me, as I hope from the +royal hand of your Majesty. + +When I was about to seal this packet, news reached this city of the +happy arrival at these islands of the ship "San Andres," which was +expected from Nueva Espana. That news has caused a quite universal +happiness to this wretched community. The ship has anchored in the +province of Ylocos, eighty leguas from here, as the weather does not +permit it to come to this port. Your Majesty's letters have not yet +reached this port, and, as the vessels which are being despatched are +on the point of sailing, it will not be possible to answer them, as +the governor will more fully inform your Majesty--whose Catholic and +royal person may our Lord preserve for many years, as is necessary +to Christendom, etc. Manila, August first, 1621. Your Majesty's +humble servant, + +_Don Hieronimo de Silva_ + + + + + +Affairs in the Franciscan Province + + +Sire: + +I, Fray Pedro de Sant Pablo, [13] preacher and minister provincial of +this province of Sant Gregorio of the Philipinas Islands of the order +of the discalced religious of our seraphic father St. Francis, and son +of the province of Sant Joseph of the same order, who minister in the +convent of La Purissima Concepcion [_i.e._, "the most pure conception"] +in the town of Barajas, and the least vassal of your Majesty, and +your humble and unworthy chaplain, give your Majesty in the present +an account of the unhappy condition of the province, in my own behalf +and in the name of all this province. I declare that for the last few +years the province has become restless, factional, and divided into +parties, which it is a pity to see. It is one thing to see it, and +another to bear it. On account of its condition, I have often resolved +to resign my office as its head, as I was unable to remedy these ills; +but I have refrained from doing so, as I think that I am doing some +service to God our Lord therein, from whom I await the remedy. The +cause of all these troubles is the coming to this province of your +Majesty--which was established in so great discalcedness, [14] strict +observance, and poverty--of religious not discalced, or reared on that +good milk, but belonging to the cloth in those [Spanish] kingdoms, +of religious reared (although under a rule) with different principles +and mode of life. So different are these that under no consideration +can there be the remedy that they will accommodate their way to ours, +or we conform to theirs. Some of us appeal to Paul and others to Zefas +[_i.e._, Cephas] [15]--a most lamentable and injurious condition of +affairs, and the destruction of this conversion, and of our own peace +within and without. In order not to weary your Majesty, I shall not +dwell longer upon this, or spend time setting forth our losses. But +although peace--the essential thing--has fled, it has been preserved +[here] in the reform, separation from the world, poverty, and strict +mode of life which are observed among the discalced religious of those +kingdoms of Espana; and I think that, in poverty, this province even +exceeds [the practice of] that virtue in those kingdoms. To Indians +that appears a miraculous thing, beyond what is either acquired or +natural. To God be the thanks! + +This province was established and has been preserved with holy +religious, sons of the provinces of the discalced in Espana; +and at present about two-thirds of these religious are from the +said provinces. But little by little, religious of the cloth have +come among them, clad as discalced religious only in order to gain +admission to these regions. So many of them have gathered here that +they are sufficient to form parties and divisions by themselves, aided +by some of our discalced religious who join their party. What most +encourages this is, that as our fathers-general, commissaries-general, +and other superiors are those who govern us, they try to favor those of +the provinces of the cloth with offices as superiors and commissaries, +and with other privileges, whereby they are advantaged and plant the +foot of superiority above others much more deserving and worthy than +they; consequently they plant their feet upon all in order to attain +their ends. In this way do they destroy the peace of one and all of +us, so that I am fain to be able to express my grief to your sacred +and royal Majesty. + +This would be checked provided our said father superiors would +observe and place in execution an order and royal command, which +it is said that your Majesty gave long ago, ordering that the said +fathers of the Observance should not come to these islands, but only +the professed religious of the discalced branch. But this they do, +thinking that they comply with your Majesty's said order by clothing +those said religious of the cloth in the shabby habit of the discalced +religious, in order to pass over here--whereby your Majesty's royal +will is defrauded and your royal officials at your ports deceived. + +Therefore I petition your Majesty, by the blood of Christ our Lord, +to provide the remedy. That consists in one of two alternatives: +namely, either that your Majesty order that, since there are so many +friars, no religious who has not made profession in the provinces +of the discalced religious of Espana shall take passage henceforth +for these islands and for Japon, and that religious who come to these +islands and provinces must go from those provinces [of the discalced], +and not from the provinces of the cloth, for the said fathers have +so many and so extensive conversions in which to employ themselves; +or that, on the contrary, no discalced religious may take passage, +but that all be of the cloth. For in this manner the one class will +decrease and the others will increase, and all will soon belong to +the one class; and, by the help of God our Lord, there will be peace. + +The condition of Japon is as follows. About two years ago (that is, +in 1618), brother [_sc._ father] Fray Luis Sotelo came here with +letters from our most reverend father Fray Juan de Vivanco, confirmed +by the nuncio of those kingdoms and by our father commissary-general +of Nueva Espana. Entrance was gained for us by him to Japon, but +he was taken away from us by fuerza; [16] and this year, 1620, our +father commissary-general of Nueva Espana, Fray Diego de Otalora, +sent another in his place, a son of the province of Santiago in +Espana, of the cloth. We also had a letter from our most reverend +father, Fray Juan de Venido, commissary of court, dated at that +court in the year 1619. According to one clause of it, the patent +of brother Fray Luis de Sotelo, and that of Fray Francisco Ximenez, +whom they but lately sent as commissary for the said Japon, were +revoked. This province, having taken depositions in regard to it, +with the aid of the said letter, adjudged Japon accordingly. Both +of them were notified, heard the act, and asked for copies. In this +condition the affair (which is all litigation) remains; for, although +the province remains thus, the pending suit still encumbers it. For +the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, I humbly petition your Majesty, +prostrate at your royal feet, to aid us in this, so that the matter may +be confirmed in favor of the said province; for Japon belongs to it, +and was founded and planted by it, and God has watered that land with +the blood of our sons. For it is impossible by any manner or method, +or by any way or expedient, that authority can be given to pass to +that province of Japon, or that it can be preserved, except by this; +for in these two years while its condition has been as described, +this province has furnished both religious and other supplies. Besides +this, they are depriving us of a house and shrine of this province, +called Sant Francisco del Monte, used for the training of novitiates; +and they have deprived us of it, together with the said province of +Japon. Besides, there are many other troubles that they have caused us +(of which the procurator of this province will inform your Majesty) +in order that the discalced branch should not proceed with the said +conversion, which has hitherto cost it so much. + +For that reason has arisen in this province the resentment that +is just, and it is commended to our Lord with many fastings and +disciplines. Will your Majesty examine this matter with those royal +eyes, so void of passion, and set it right, as I have here petitioned, +for thus will it be expedient for the royal service of His Divine +Majesty and that of your Majesty. May His Divine Majesty augment, keep, +and preserve you, as we, all these your faithful vassals, desire--who +(and I, the most wretched of them) prostrate ourselves before the +royal feet of your Majesty, which we kiss a thousand times. Given in +Sant Francisco in Manila, July 31, 1620, and by your royal Majesty's +most unworthy servant, + +_Fray Pedro de San Pablo_, minister provincial. + + + +We, the provincial and definitors of the province of Sant Gregorio +of the Philipinas Islands, of the order of the discalced religious +of our seraphic father St. Francis, the humble and loyal vassals +of your Majesty, declare that, inasmuch as our Lord God took to +Himself and allowed to die the first fathers and founders who had +come hither, with great virtue and sanctity, from the provinces of +the discalced religious of the kingdom of Castilla, those who were +in this province set about appointing some heads from the religious +reared in this country. Because of that, this holy province began +to be divided into great factions some few years ago; and it has +been so divided that it would break the heart of one who knew it +[as it was] before. The sole cause of fomenting these factions is +that the fathers of the Observance have passed to this province and +these islands, in violation of a royal decree of your Majesty, and +dwell among us wearing the habits of discalced religious, fomenting +these factions and divisions, to the great loss and ruin of all good +and reform. Those troubles are prevailing in this province because +the latter is directly governed by the father commissary-general +of Nueva Espana, who is of the same observance and not a discalced +religious. We are suffering great detriment at present, and many +scandals have arisen, to the great loss of our credit and the welfare +of these conversions. This is especially true of that of the kingdoms +of Xapon, which the said father commissary-general of Nueva Espana +has attempted to wrest from us with great violence, although that is +greatly to the disservice of His Divine Majesty, and that of your +Majesty. Such also would be the case if our holy order cannot be +established in that and other fields of conversion--discalced, poor, +and reformed, and with as great admiration as that with which it has +been hitherto established and preserved amid all these nations. + +The remedy for the avoidance of these evils lies in your Majesty again +ordering that not any of the said fathers of the Observance shall +come to these regions, as they are wont to come, feigning by their +habits to be discalced religious; and in your assigning us a resident +commissary-general, subject forever to a province of the discalced +branch of Castilla, so that the said reform may be preserved, and that +he may govern the province better, as having been reared in the said +discalced branch, of which this province has more experience. If this +be impossible, then we petition your Majesty to be pleased to order +that we may be freed from obligation to the father commissary-general +of Nueva Espana, and to allow this province to be immediately under +the government of one of our fathers-general, a commissary-general +of all the Yndias resident in your court, as thus it is advisable. + +This we humbly petition and supplicate from your Majesty. In case +that be impossible, then we petition your Majesty to hand these +conversions over to the said fathers of the Observance; for, being a +unit and being harmonious, they will attend better to the ministry +of souls. If the said fathers come to attend to these conversions, +will your Majesty be pleased to give permission and equipment to all +of us discalced religious who have come from Castilla to return to our +province. Confiding in the accustomed largess and kindness of your +Majesty, we shall say no more. May His Divine Majesty preserve and +augment your Majesty, as we, these unworthy chaplains of your Majesty, +petition and desire in our prayers and sacrifices, etc. Given in this +convent of your Majesty of Nuestra Senora de los Angeles, of Manila, +July 20, 1621. + + +_Fray Pedro de San Pablo_, minister provincial. +_Fray Andres del Sacramento_, [17] definitor. +_Fray Agustin de Tordesilla_, [18] definitor. +_Fray Christoval de Santa Ana_, definitor. +_Fray Antonio de Nombela_, definitor. + + +[_Notes at beginning_: "The minister provincial and the definitors +of the province of San Gregorio in Manila, of the Order of St. Francis. + +"They mention the extortions committed on that province by some +auditors of the Audiencia, which compelled them to receive father +Fray Francisco Ximinez in your Majesty's name, although in violation +of a brief of his Holiness. It is petitioned that a remonstrance be +sent to them, so that they may not exercise similar violence on any +other occasion."] + +Sire: + +We, the provincial and definitors of the province of Sant Gregorio +of the Philipinas Islands of the order of the discalced religious +of our seraphic Father St. Francis, your Majesty's loyal vassals +and humble chaplains, declare that this province has been signally +injured and aggrieved, with great detriment to its general credit and +good name, and the opinion of all our order, and in particular that +of the said province, by Licentiate Hieronimo del Gaspi Chabarria, +Doctor Don Albaro de Mesa y Lugo, and Doctor Don Antonio Rodriguez +de Villegas, auditors of your royal Audiencia of these islands, +by reason of their having granted your royal aid to Fray Francisco +Ximenez, an Observantine religious. The latter came to this province +with a commission granted by the father commissary-general of our +order in Nueva Espana, ordering us to receive him--although he ought +not to be received, as it was in violation of the general rule of +government in our order; and in violation of a brief of his Holiness, +Gregory Thirteenth. Moreover, such action tends to the destruction +of the discalced religious, and of the reform and common welfare of +this province, and of the conversions in these new kingdoms of your +Majesty--especially when the said auditors compel this province to +receive him in your royal name, making an ill use of your name and +of the royal authority, and insulting it--and he does that, who, +under pretext of such name, practices injustices and extortions, +and who does not observe the terms of laws and ordinances; and much +more, when they are practiced against an order and province that your +Majesty has always esteemed and esteems so highly. Thus, nominally by +your royal authority, we have suffered great violence and scandals, +and it is certain that had this occurred nearer to your Majesty's pious +eyes, a most signal and exemplary chastisement would have followed. But +in these so remote regions, where redress arrives late, it is usual, +and almost necessary for us chaplains of your Majesty and the orders +to suffer these extortions; and if they did not result in detriment +to virtue and to the public welfare, by bearing them patiently we +would not lose, but rather gain much. + +Therefore we petition and supplicate your Majesty to examine this +cause with your own eyes, and provide redress for the injuries +received--annulling these acts of violence and rebuking your said +auditors, so that it may serve them as a correction, and others as +an example and warning; and so that the ministers of the gospel and +the orders in these islands may not be annoyed or injured by the +evil example furnished to the newly converted, whereby they would +esteem the ecclesiastical estate and divine worship less. For such +is not the will of your Majesty. In this respect, there is in these +regions a great deficiency in all your officials; consequently the +ecclesiastical class need to have your Majesty renew your decrees +that give injunctions to your agents. By so doing your Majesty will +render a great service to His Divine Majesty, favor to all of us, +and good to these new plants. May God our Lord preserve your Majesty +for years, as we desire, and augment your happy state, as we your +least and unworthy chaplains desire, etc. Given in this convent of +your Majesty, Nuestra Senora de los Angeles, Manila, in 1621. + + +_Fray Pedro de San Pablo_, minister provincial. +_Fray Agustin de Tordesillas_, [_MS. uncertain_] [19] and definitor. +_Fray Andres del Sacremento_, definitor. +_Fray Antonio de Nombela_, definitor. +_Fray Christoval de Santa Ana_, [20] definitor. + + + + + +Letter from Fajardo to the King + + +Sire: + +In the ships which left here this year for Nueva Spana I gave your +Majesty a long account of everything which, up to that time, could be +related, or which occurred to me, with duplicates of different letters, +therefore the most that I have to add today is the reception of your +Majesty's letter and your royal decrees. I have not done this before as +I had not sufficient leisure to examine them, or do so in the interval +allowed by the season. What I have to say at present concerning their +contents is, that I shall act in all respects, and carry out what your +Majesty orders therein, according to my ability, and as best I can, +and as is most expedient for your Majesty's service. In conformity +therewith and in due form, acts of obedience were rendered; and, in +some points which appear to me to demand more detailed explanation +than was given in that general answer, I will furnish it. + +As to what your Majesty wrote to the Marques de Guadalcaxar, [21] +former viceroy of Nueva Spana, in regard to [the statement] that on +the ship "San Nicolas" three hundred and thirty persons died on account +of its late departure from these islands, all that I can say is that, +since a person of his position and character undertook to write it, +he should certainly have first informed himself thoroughly in the +matter. Although I was present at the despatching of this ship and +went out with it well outside of Cavite, it did not appear to me that, +in regard to the people who were going, the ship was carrying half [of +its quota]; for at most there are accustomed to go with the officers +usually seventy seamen and gunners, more or less, according to the +tonnage of the ships, although the number mentioned is for a ship +of very large tonnage. With these there usually go as many more, +Indians from this country, as common seamen, and some slaves that +the said officers and the passengers are allowed to take with them +for their service, paying the duties which are usually paid to your +Majesty. The passengers are usually kept down to as small a number as +possible; and if so many died as is affirmed in the supposed relation, +they were not Spaniards, because of these not many died. They must +have been negroes and slaves, who were hidden after embarkation by +those who took them aboard, with an eye to the great gain which there +usually is in this, by saving the cost and the duties that they owe, +when the royal officials at Acapulco are friends of theirs, or those +who thus convey slaves are of the household of the viceroy. [22] + +In so far as concerns their departure, the regulation of that is +not at present in the power of the governor of these islands; for +the enemy are accustomed to come hither, as has been evident during +the little more than three years while I have been here; they have +come twice, and I am likewise expecting them now--and always with +at least twice the fleet and troops that we have. Every day they are +gaining more strength, as is seen by the presence of so many of them +on this coast. The ships from China do not come, and it is with their +merchandise that our ships must go to Nueva Spana. We are, moreover, +obliged to keep the small vessels which can be manned, ready for war, +in order to compel the enemy not to divide their forces and thus +inflict the damage which, without this check, they would accomplish; +and in order to fight with them, offering them an opportunity to do +so even though they might obtain from us some advantage, which might +be made up by the gain [of keeping them in check]. As we had to attend +to this and then direct our efforts to fitting up the ships for Nueva +Spana--shutting up the gun-ports, and changing the vessels so that they +are suitable for merchant ships, and even at times enlarging them and +increasing the conveniences within, and waiting until the amount of the +merchandise has been completed, so that they may carry it--we could not +get them off so quickly as was wished, nor upon an appointed day as +before, when there was no war, and when at Christmas we used to have +thirty or forty ships from China. The viceroy can inform you of this, +for he too can ascertain this through the relations, as well as I. + +As for the memorial which your Majesty orders me to send touching the +diminution of the quantity of silver which comes from Nueva Spana to +these islands, having looked into the matter it appears to me that +not only is this design a proper one, but that it is very necessary +to bring about this result; for I judge that only with the utmost +difficulty can the drain of so much silver every year from that +country and those mines be continued. They, too, are being exhausted +like those of other countries, and the natives are diminishing; so +that the silver is obtained in the most costly and scanty fashion, +to be carried hither and go away to lie in the treasure-house of the +king of China. I did not neglect to consider this when I proposed to +your Majesty that the trade of these islands with Nueva Spana should +be exclusive of silk and woven goods, except linen and other products +of this country, which are not of great importance; for although the +coming of silver from there would not thus be altogether stopped, +there is no doubt that it would be less, and we would avoid the +drain from Espana by the French, English, and Flemish, of what they +are accustomed to take away [in payment] for the linens which they +carry thither to sell, and this saving would pass to the Yndias, as +I have explained more at length in the letter which treats of this, +a copy of which accompanies the present. If this is done, there will +undoubtedly be more trade with Xapon, with the opportunity given by the +silk trade; and in this manner we might continue establishing a trade +so that the linen trade with Nueva Spana might also be restricted, +if linens for Indias could be more advantageously provided by some +other part of Espana. + +Although in the memorial there is a matter which demands so +much attention as the depopulation of a town like Macan, and the +difficulties are set forth arising from its occupation by the Dutch +or English, and their admission [to trade] by the Chinese--who, +with their greediness, would seek the profit which they formerly +gained from the Portuguese, thus destroying, at a single stroke, the +commerce of this country with Nueva Spana, which is the means whereby +all who reside here support themselves--to do so would appear a matter +of the most difficulty. It would seem necessary and requisite for the +[preservation of the] Japanese trade to transport some or the greater +part of those people [of Macao] to the province of Nueva Segovia, +or to the island of Hermosa, getting a foothold there whence we might +better continue and carry on the navigation from China to that place +and from there to Xapon, and not from here; for silks are already +as high in this city as in Nangasaqui, on account of the danger from +enemies which the Chinese risk in coming here. It has appeared best +to me not to make any hasty decision in this matter without informing +myself more thoroughly and considering it, so that I may be better +able to state my judgment to your Majesty by the first ships which +shall be despatched, by the favor of God. While my opinion is that, +in the meantime, no more definite plan or decision should be adopted, +there is no more effective remedy for limiting the drain from Nueva +Spana through this country than to regulate the capacity and cargoes of +the ships which go from here; because if they are large they are bound +to be filled, even though it be with clothing and useful articles for +households, and they must bring back the price of these things, cost +what they may. But if they are smaller vessels they cannot take on so +large cargoes, and accordingly what is bought to be carried in them, +as less has to be bought for this purpose, is cheaper, and, as not +so much is carried, it brings a higher price in Nueva Spana; in this +manner, therefore, the investment of ten is worth as much as that of +twenty going in large ships, and it is rather profit than loss for the +citizens here, and likewise for the service of your Majesty--although +the citizens of the city of Mexico who have correspondents and secret +factors here will be affected by it, because they will not obtain so +large a portion of the investment and the cheap cargo, as the people +here will need all that the ships can carry. This is all I can say +regarding this at present. + +As for what your Majesty writes me concerning the factor and inspector, +Diego de Castro Lisson, in the matter of this office of accounts, +in which relation your Majesty orders me to appoint to the office of +accountant thereof someone who is a fit person, I will say that you +may have information as to what the said Diego de Castro Lisson is, +as he was already in your service when I arrived here. I do not find +him, but in his place Luis de Vera Encalada, a person who for this +office or any other of this profession, or one of trust, ought not +to be preferred to Juan de Messa Suero, if the latter were not dead +(as I have explained to your Majesty in another letter). As for your +Majesty making the choice and appointment of this office, there will +be no other difficulty than that the salary must be larger--as the +authority will be, if the appointment is from the royal hand of your +Majesty--and the business is of so little importance and no profit; +for although he is called accountant of accounts, in my opinion +he is coming to be the director thereof, since the examination and +decision of difficulties or additions is made by us, the president, +two auditors, and a fiscal. + +The offices which, being vacant, are filled in the interim until your +Majesty shall grant the appointment and favor thereof have been in +my term merely for half the salary, without the person who served in +them in this way having received any allowance for expenses, in any +manner whatsoever; nor is there anything here with which to make such +allowance, and I have understood that this has always been the case. + +The memorial of the pilot Gaspar Conquero, which treats of the +exploring of the island of Oro, which is here called Rica de Oro, +has been examined; and as soon as he makes this port, or there is any +other person suitable for conducting this exploration, and to be given +the island as an encomienda, I shall do so as your Majesty orders. + +As for what your Majesty orders to the effect that I should inform +you of the wound which was given Captain Matheo des Villerias, all +I can say is that on the night when it was given I sent to tell the +auditor, Don Alvaro de Messa, that he should conduct the investigation, +and take the proper measures; but he did not do so, although there +was no reason which should hinder him; accordingly, not to lose any +time in this, the auditor Hieronimo de Legaspi undertook the work, +and before him the case was tried. No guilt was charged against any +one, although the wounded man said that he conjectured that it was +Captain Silvestre de Aybar. Afterward his suspicion was changed, and +he told me personally that he suspected Admiral Don Luis de Cordova; +and, although we could not be sure that it was he, the presumption was +stronger since it was learned that Captain Villerias had spoken very +ill of matters which concerned the viceroy Marques de Guadalcacar, +to whose party the said Don Luis de Cordova belongs. Villerias had +another quarrel of this sort with the latter, after which they were +quite friendly. This is not the first trouble which has happened to +Villerias on account of having talked and interfered too much, but he +has had other and more important ones. This would not be any too small +to be worth judicial consideration if the matter could be cleared +up, and if the occasion which, it is said, he gave for his wound by +speaking thus concerning the said marques, could be ascertained. + +I have not been able to learn in these islands that there are any +Jerominian, Benedictine, Carmelite, Trinitarian, or Victorian friars +here, although I have tried to exercise the care which your Majesty +directs in this regard. + +In accordance with the contents of another decree of August 25, of +the past year 620, it appears that your Majesty has been informed that +the reason why the ships left these islands for Nueva Spana later than +in past years was because the president and auditors were interested, +and principal shippers therein. The truth is, that their not leaving +earlier was due to the coming of the enemy with large fleets to these +coasts, and to the fact that the ships which bring the merchandise for +these shipments [to Nueva Spana] were late or did not come for fear +of the enemy (as I have already written to you more at length and in +detail), and likewise on account of negotiations and agreements between +the auditors and the present president. I will swear to it that the +report which has been made to your Majesty on this point is untrue, +because I was not brought up in the households or under the instruction +of merchants, but in the good way of military exercises, as were my +ancestors. It must be evident to your Majesty, as the property that +I possess could well attest, that it would be very well for me if it +were increased by the amounts that are lacking and pledged. + +As for the property of deceased persons, this treasury has a judge, +on which account I have less knowledge of its administration--although +whenever opportunity offers and it is expedient to take any action +regarding it, I do so according to my duty, and before your Majesty +orders it, as he does order in the decree which treats of this. I made +strenuous efforts not to have individual depositaries appointed for +this property; but not only in this but likewise in the court fines, +and other condemnations and various deposits which ought to enter into +the said treasury, and into the royal treasury and general depositary +in each case where it is concerned, there has been no way of forcing +the auditor Hieronimo de Legaspi to cease making the deposits with +various persons that they might have the profit thereof. For it is +plain and well known that as my occupation keeps me most of the time +encumbered with duties outside of the Audiencia, and often outside +of the city, in my absence these things are done, and others which +should not be. I attempt to correct them, although I do not hope for +amendment from the licentiate Legaspi in this matter of money and +other very unlawful things, ill-befitting his office and his age, +the illegal character of his acts eliciting many complaints which I +have received. I have received a memorial, a copy of which I send +with this, containing more than forty separate heads against him, +and offering proof of them--which, although they are not unknown +or secret things, it will be no little matter to prove against an +auditor while holding his office. Since I have given your Majesty at +other times an account of this person, although summarily, I shall not +say any more of him in this letter; yet more may be said concerning +both him and the auditor Alvaro de Messa. The latter is still in +[the convent of] Ssancto Domingo, stirring up trouble and revolution, +as is his nature, and making people jealous of me--sowing discord and +untrue and evil words to this end, and to destroy my reputation and +render null my services; and afterward to go back and gather them up +in sworn statements and depositions in documents, as a public matter, +without considering that this act of his is insubordination. With this, +and as he has gone so far as to seek false depositions against me--as +is evident from the true ones which I have sent your Majesty--I do +not think that anything further can be said concerning a professing +Christian. Nor can we live in safety and honor where such infernal +actions are committed, if they be not punished and corrected by your +Majesty's just and powerful hand--by ordering that with him shall also +be rebuked the friars of that convent, who not only keep the said +doctor in their house and aid him in his actions against my person +and office, but also give refuge with the same object to a certain +Pedro de Lussara and one Pedro Alvarez, his men, who are working in +his cause. I have given your Majesty other reports of this; but they +interfere so much in this government and in the desire to command, +that at times I have been in fear lest it was not the affairs of their +missions and the Sangleys for which they wish to do everything, and +lest some disturbance should arise that would demand punishment. If +they could be relieved from some of the excessive ardor that they have, +and the desire to go out into secular life with their own lawsuits +and quarrels, seeking to have every one fear them and esteem their +friendship, in other respects they would be the best friars which I +have seen in the Indias. + +As for the review of accounts which the said factor and inspector +Diego de Castro Lisson had in charge, I refer you to the report +which he will make or has made, as he has told me, giving the +reasons why he has not continued therein. In the second place, I +have learned that it is a matter of no little importance that this +should be done quite thoroughly and fully--if not for the property +that might be taken from him, yet to put into better condition the +documents and despatches of his department, by which a great amount +will be gained at once forever. It is also equally necessary that the +intelligence and energy of him who comes for this purpose should be +greater [than that of the said factor]; and the inspector-general, +Thomas de Yvio Calderon, is not a person of sufficient prominence, +nor is he discreet enough, for an affair of the greatest importance +to the service of your Majesty--although his standing is not a poor +one, and if a higher position were conferred on him, with the honors +and favors that your Majesty might give him, everything might be +well arranged. I dare say that I have information of no other person +who is more suitable, by his abilities and qualifications, which are +well known and have been shown in the service of your Majesty; and I +have such information concerning his conduct of affairs that I should +consider him very good for you to approve for this commission. If your +Majesty shall decide to send anyone to do this work, I warn you, in +order that he may fulfil his duties with exactness, as is due to the +service of your Majesty, that he should not come as subordinate to or +dependent upon the Audiencia or the governor, if it can be avoided; +but his only business should be to separate entanglements and untie +the knots. It will be no less unadvisable to have him remain here +with an office or allowance; for in such case he would not wish to +offend many persons, but would conciliate their good-will. If your +Majesty will accept mine, you will pardon me for being longer in the +answer than was the question. + +As for several points mentioned in the royal decree of your Majesty +of the twelfth of December, one thousand six hundred and ten--by +which persons who come with the viceroys, governors, presidents, +captains-general, auditors, and royal officials, are prohibited +and incapacitated from receiving the favors and rewards of offices, +encomiendas, and other things which are usually given to those who +serve and labor; and preference over other claimants is given to the +sons and descendants of conquistadors, and likewise of the settlers; +and it is directed that for the distribution of the said favors or +rewards the new order and form should be followed which your Majesty +ordains in the said decree, taking away the power from those who +before held it in this matter, and giving what was held by them to the +auditors and fiscals--it has seemed best to me to inform your Majesty +of what presents itself to me in this regard, so that concerning all +this you may provide and command what is most suitable for your royal +service, and for the divine service, in behalf of which the former +is conducted. + +This country is most distant from Espana of any which is known in +the world and it, with the persons who inhabit and maintain it, +are today the most borne down with troubles of all the Indias; for +here is the force of the war which is not felt there, and between +so many nations as are our neighbors, who can wage and maintain it; +it seems, therefore, as if no person who is free to do what he will, +and who aspires to honor and fortune, would come here to serve, +without expectation of those rewards, if he were able to do it +nearer the eye of your Majesty and of his fatherland. For if it is +true that hitherto there have been many of this kind who have come, +it has been in the hope that after three years they could leave, +entering the honored or profitable occupations which they might +have merited. The official persons with whom they came, or to whose +land they belonged, and who were friendly, or appreciative of their +abilities and qualifications, would help them, nor did it appear +that favor would be extended unjustly. All the more now, when on +every hand is barred any one of this class of persons who would +desire to come; only those come whom some misdeed or ill-fortune +drives into this land, and those who legally come to trade and live +as merchants, and those whom the royal Audiencia of Mexico sends by +way of condemnation, besides the people for our defense, and who are +levied in companies in the markets and fairs of that city. And with +these people there would come no noblemen of good parts and honored +character, or many accomplished soldiers with merits acquired in war, +such as the viceroys, governors, and other officers of this sort who +come to serve your Majesty are accustomed to bring with them--without +any suspicion that they ought not to do so, for the importance of +having such men is already known, and is all the greater on account +of the more occasions for war and other emergencies. I assure your +Majesty that it is a well-known and evident fact that there are in +this city honored knights and persons of excellent qualities, merits, +and abilities, worthy of esteem. I assure you that it is also true +that almost all of them came attached to the persons who filled +the said offices, and attracted by their promises and expectations, +whereby this country was greatly distinguished. This could not have +been said if such persons had not come here, but we would already be +very destitute of nobility without them, and would even have forgotten +the way to carry on and fulfil their duties. + +That the sons and descendants of conquistadors and original settlers +should be preferred to those who are more recent and have not rendered +greater services is a just and holy thing, especially in the peaceful +countries of the Indias. But if this preeminence in life and in the +favor of your Majesty is granted to them in consideration of the +services which their ancestors have rendered in their conquests and +pacifications, and on occasions of wars which were there carried on, +it also appears just that present services which are being rendered +in this land on occasions of war here and upon these seas, ought +not to take their position behind those of the ancestors. For it is +certain that the services of today are more important, on account +of the greater need which there is for them, and because the creole +sons and descendants of conquistadors or colonists claim the favors +entirely in consideration of this (although there are not many who +show their deserts by continuing their services), going so far as to +demand that those who served Terrenate should have no recognition in +granting the favors and encomiendas of this country, as if there were +anything to provide them with in those islands. I beseech your Majesty +to command that your royal will be declared in this matter--although, +for my part, I have understood that it is those whose services are +the greater, whether in the present or the past, who should have the +first or greater reward, considering the quality of those services, +the rank of the persons, and their abilities and character. + +In the distribution of the offices, encomiendas, and other rewards +and favors which are given in the name of your Majesty to those who +serve who deserve them, the auditors and fiscals hold the authority, +and the viceroys, governors, and captains-general lose what they +used to possess. There will surely be great difficulties from this, +and much greater in this country where there is so much war, and +in others where war shall arise, than in the other parts of the +Indias, which are tranquil and quiet and enjoy peace. For if in +them all the offices and occupations are of advantage and utility, +and for that reason sought through different methods, and on this +account there are many worthy persons to receive them, among whom +to choose, therefore this new order ought to be put into operation +[there]. In this country it is different, because most of them are +engaged in the exercise and labor of war, and there are by no means +too many men for the needs thereof; it thus necessarily results that, +as certain offices are demanded for them, those who appoint to these +are importuned; but here it has to be the governor who importunes, +and who is under obligation to the persons of ability and services, +who are charged with matters which are important. And if beside this, +and besides employing them in dangerous affairs and commissions (liable +to result in an unfortunate end and the loss of life and reputation +through the mutations of fortune which they encounter), if, when they +have carried these out well, the governor cannot be satisfied with +this for them, nor with good will, being under obligation to reward +them, if they do not hold from him the other said offices which +belong to the Audiencia (which is almost always ill-disposed toward +the governor), it will bring about great trouble, not only for those +who seek to toil and win merit, but likewise for the governors, who, +without the aid of such men, could not fulfil their obligations. And +as these services and merits are for the most part acquired in war, +almost always most of these men are counting on rewards, and upon +binding in this manner their captain-general, without having recourse +to submissions or other negotiations. It will be seldom that there +is not some ill-feeling in the Audiencia--now for having proceeded +in the said manner, and again for not having complied with the claims +of every leader and proprietor--but only to the governor. If, on the +one hand, there is this annoyance, and the familiar entrance into his +house in order to seek the offices and rewards; and, on the other, +the entrance into those of the auditors and other persons mentioned +in the said decree--it would necessarily be here, where there is not +much from which to choose, that we would have to give assistance to +those who, on account of their low condition or incapacity, are not +esteemed or well known. + +Besides the above arguments, I wish to furnish the latest example +of the difficulty which was experienced here is the previous year +of 617, as there were so many who had to decide the allotment of +offices. This was when Don Joan Ronquillo, with that great fleet, +went out and fought the one that the enemy maintained along these +coasts. As each one of them [_i.e._, the auditors and fiscal] sought +the best galleon and the most prominent post for his relative or +favorite, the galleons were divided among these, ignoring persons +who could manage them better than some of those who were chosen. No +admiral was appointed for the fleet, from which resulted no advantage, +but rather injury--and there might have been more if the commander +of the fleet had died, as might have happened, and each one would +have sought to take his place, as this was not specified. This +[same defect] was found in the ordinances which the Audiencia of +Mexico issued, with so many opinions, when the government was in its +charge, that your Majesty ordered them to be repealed and amended, +as they were so insufficient for such emergencies; and because it +was so evident and certain (as it likewise is to my knowledge) that +through the power which appoints those who serve, and punishes them +when they are in the wrong, they ought to be rewarded when they are +right. For otherwise the governor and captain-general would be the +man who persuades or compels them to serve and labor, and it would +be the auditors who must reward them; for it is in their power to say +who are competent and who not, without its remaining in the power of +the governor to do more than make a proposition in their favor--which +would be of no force if two auditors joined against his opinion, +as they almost always do. Such persons, therefore, would very seldom +succeed in obtaining the reward of their services; and this office +of governor and captain-general would become the most down-trodden, +wearisome, and undignified of all that your Majesty has in his pay +and service--and it should be well considered that the office today +is one of the most laborious and least profitable, when it is served +as it should be, considering its importance. Your Majesty will make +suitable provision, adding to these observations the fact that the +prestige of Espana has been greatly endangered by the lack of troops +and money in parts so distant from aid, and in a country which has so +many enemies--the worst in this respect being those who are nearest, +and who are able to make the most cruel thrusts at our honor, directed +and guided by the auditors, without their heeding truth or conscience, +and of which I have already often complained to your Majesty. If the +said auditors are to be given still greater authority, whether it be +for conferring benefits or taking them away, your Majesty will see how +they will treat his president and those who are helping him. Moreover, +if authority be taken away from him, in place of being given to him +for his greater honor and so that he may be able to carry on better +the labors and duties of this office [it may be doubted whether] +persons of the ability that is needed for that position will be +willing to risk inconveniences and losses so obvious--it being certain +that a man is necessary here of integrity and accomplishments and of +excellent abilities; he must also be proficient in various professions +and functions for which occasions continually arise here, so that +he must practice and exercise them. Then in regard to property the +greatest difficulty of all is touched--that is, to need it and not +to have it; for it is necessary to spend all the year and all one's +life in contriving. In regard to war it is the same thing, since +there are so many occasions for it here, and the forces and means to +enable him to carry out what he would undertake are lacking; nor can +he show who is at the head of the enterprise and has in charge what +means are available for his purposes. He must also be accomplished +with weapons, and experienced in the preparation and management of +marine affairs and artillery, for here the governor must be almost +always, and in most affairs of these islands, the head master; for +it is not the same as in Espana, where each office has its own man, +but in the affairs of government it is certain that this is the most +difficult office that is known. For the greater the obligation, and +the less the means for fulfilling it, so much greater is the labor and +so many more are the demands; and the less there is to give them, the +more captious and more numerous are the complaints and discontents, +which they both utter and write, that they have never seen a worse +governor. Nor are there lacking friars to help them, who preach the +same thing with great effect--all the more if by chance something +which the friars have asked for has been denied them. + +Other reasons beside those that I have given could be added to this +effect, which I do not set down, as the city are doing it on their +own part. I beg your Majesty to have all these matters examined +and considered, and to decree what is most fitting for your royal +service--in attention to which it has seemed to me just, fitting, +and proper to make this representation and supplication. + +I once more beg your Majesty to have examined and considered what +this city so often requested from you, for a long time before I +came here, in regard to releasing them from the Audiencia--although, +as I have said in other letters, I shall not enjoy this relief from +the burden which is resting upon and is, in every way, irksome to +all the people. I shall refrain from bringing forward this claim +again, but I assure your Majesty that the Audiencia does more harm +than good, as is manifest from the many arguments adduced in regard +to this matter; and there is justice there for no one, except when +it suits the pleasure or convenience of some auditor or auditors, +because the more care is exercised to make them administer justice, +the more they pervert it when they wish to, using the freedom to vote +which belongs to them. On the occasion of the unfortunate event which +happened to me on the night of the twelfth of May past [23]--and it +was so important and serious an affair, as your Majesty already knows, +or will learn by the judicial record and papers regarding the matter, +which I despatched by way of Nueva Spana and am now despatching via +India--they made (although I am their president) no more demonstration +against the agents, go-betweens, and apologists who were guilty in +this affair than if it had concerned the most wretched and degraded +of the Chinamen who go about here. As it was my own case, and as I +was satisfied in regard to the principal matter that concerned me +(thanks be to God), I did not wish to exercise my authority in the +case; but it may be seen to what lengths the blindness of their +desires and passions leads them. + +I have already despatched the supplies to Terrenate, and to the island +of Panay. The larger ships of this expedition will carry the cargo +that is to be brought thence, and the smaller vessels will go to +join the larger ones with the supplies from here inside of two days, +with the aid of God; may He convey in safety the relief for those +places. It is quite sufficient, and is sent earlier than in former +years--although there are not many soldiers for it, on account of +the number which I have sent in past years, and because we have here +a very small force. I have had good news from those forts that, for +the present, they have no enemies, according to what they write from +there, thanks to His Divine Majesty. + +In the principal island of the Celeves, otherwise known as that of +Matheo, and by still others as that of Macazar, [24] as the chief man +of that island is lord of that region, there is, at a certain point +of it, a strait which makes an islet. This waterway was recently +discovered, and by it there is a better route to Terrenate than +was formerly followed. According to the information given me a post +can be occupied there, whereby this passage (which is very narrow) +can be guarded, and the enemy be prevented from using it. Likewise +your Majesty will have shelter for his vessels, and a foothold +in that country, which abounds with meat and rice. This would be +very useful and convenient for sending supplies thence to Terrenate, +during the whole year. During most seasons of the year the voyage from +Macazar to the islands of Panay and the Pintados, or to this island, +can be made. As there have been some Spaniards and friars there, +and this was pleasing to those Indians and their master; and as they +are receiving the water of holy baptism in considerable numbers, and +have now shown signs that they are troubled at the lack of religious; +and as the Spaniards have retired by the order of Master-of-camp +Don Luis de Bracamonte--it has appeared best to me to send again +some men and a couple of religious of the Order of St. Francis, +together with Captain Francisco Melendez Marques, who has been very +well received and is much liked by the said Indians. I ordered him +that, through friendship, or in whatever way he could best do it, +he should strive to win their good-will, so that they might not +only consent to give us a place where fortifications might be built, +which would be a sufficient foundation for greater works, but that +they should also aid in that labor; and that he should use and take +possession of the site as soon as it should be conceded to him, or +as soon and as fully as possible. Or having examined and chosen the +spot, he should leave it until I should be able to send the troops +and what was necessary therefor. For the said purpose he took nearly +a thousand pesos in money, or in stuffs and other articles which are +most valued there. I take it that this is a thing more than expedient; +and, if I had been informed of it before, I would have tried to do +this earlier. I shall be glad if your Majesty is satisfied and pleased +with it, as in all I desire to win your approval. + +The chief captain of Ffernanbuc, [25] Martin Dessosa de San Pago, +and his wife and three children, who were prisoners in the hands of +the Dutch, I have had exchanged for prisoners whom I held here. He +and his household are going with their goods in the galliots which +are now leaving this city for Yndia. + +I also freed from the same captivity Captain Miguel de Sequeira +Sanudo, who also has already set out for Yndia, by the "Aura" [_i.e._, +"Breeze"], of Macan. As for the stuffs and merchandise which remained +to be got out of the ship called "Nuestra Senora de La Vida," which was +wrecked, a great deal more of its cargo has been unloaded than what I +informed your Majesty of in the last despatch which I sent by way of +Nueva Spana. All the artillery that was in it was likewise taken out; +and I have ordered it to be conveyed to a shipyard in this island, +where two ships are being built, which were already necessary to +supply the place of the old ones. There is no anxiety about raising +money for the future when the Indians are helping with a good will, +as they are doing now; and this work is being paid for, as well as +that on some galliots or little galleys, of seventeen benches each, +which also I am having built, as I save in that way half the crew, +and they are sufficient for this country and its coasts. There are no +other vessels belonging to the enemy that can secure any advantage +over them, for our vessels, to aid in fighting, can carry very +good artillery; and, as for going about where occasion arises to +punish or intimidate the Indians, they are excellent--although for +attacking the vessels with which those called Mindanaos, Xoloans, +and Camucones (who are bad neighbors of ours) usually sally out, we +need other boats like theirs. But if we had a fourth of their number, +and a couple of these galliots, they would not dare to await attack, +even though as many of their ships as could be found in their islands +were assembled, as has lately been seen; for some of these tribes +having recently been tardy [in their payment of tributes], when we +sent a galley with four or five smaller boats from here we could find +no more of them, although the sargento-mayor Don Fernando de Silva, +who went out for this purpose, is even now in search of them. + +In the last few days, news has come from the province of Nueva +Segovia that some Indians on four or six of the encomiendas there +had fled to the woods, driving away the religious and burning +the churches. Although it is not a thing to create much anxiety, +I thought best to despatch immediately, without losing an hour of +time, Admiral Joan Baptista de Molina, with a sufficient number of +soldiers--some Spaniards, and some from the province of Panpanga--for +their pacification and the punishment of the leaders and the guilty +ones, for it is well to quench the fire, however small it may be, +before it extends and increases. On the other hand the enemy's +greatest desire is to see these natives disaffected toward us, and +disposed to favor them, as they have intimated to some who were in +their power, and whom afterward they set free--[telling them] that +they levy no tributes from them, nor have they any friars to flog the +Indians, nor any religious teaching; on this they base their hopes +of limiting our power in this land, which without this means they +cannot expect. It is necessary on the one hand to punish severely the +presumption of these natives, and on the other not to afflict them or +make them desperate. It is very certain, thanks be to God, that for +my own part I have kept them all contented, favored, and well paid, +without consenting that, even for the service of your Majesty, they +should suffer any oppression; and they prove this by the contentment +in which they live and with which they aid [me] in every way, as is +well known. There must be in that court [of Espana] enough persons, +both religious and laymen, who have gone from here who can tell +you this. But all this is not enough, nor even holding in check +the alcaldes-mayor, encomenderos, and collectors, if the ministers +in the missions will not treat them well. For it is not sufficient +to protect them from the oppressions of the passing Spaniards, who +will be forgotten, if on the other hand they are liable--on account +of their service, or for some displeasure, or for gain, or because +they do not know as much theology as the others--to be flogged or +put in the stocks, and to suffer other hardships, which they feel, +even though they are Indians. These fathers of St. Dominic are not +their least oppressors, although I do not know whether they take +from them anything which is of importance; and they favor them much +and even at times in a manner not very honorable. The friars serve as +protectors to them and inspire them to boldness; and now by this path +of protection, and again by that of punishment, the Indians are all +being brought to recognize them as powerful lords, in both spiritual +and temporal matters. So far has this gone that, if the alcalde-mayor +orders anything, even though it be just and necessary and for the +service of your Majesty, if the friar orders something else, it must +be as the latter desires, at least for the time being, until a more +urgent order is issued. Your Majesty will be pleased to consider what +is best to decree in regard to this for the future, as I am applying +the most gentle and expedient means and correctives for the present. + +According to the distribution of licenses to Sangleys, it appears that +the care which I took to reduce the number of those here has had a +good effect, and that they have gone back to their own country. For, +as strict measures were taken to the effect that all those in this +country should not remain here without securing licenses, a much +smaller number of these have been issued this year than last. Likewise +a large part of the Japanese have been expelled, so that for a long +time there have not been so few of them here as now. I sent an order +and what was necessary for the fortification at Oton, and had that +port put in a state of defense. The same thing is being done with +the fort at Cavite, as I wrote to your Majesty. + +In the same way we are steadily engaged in repairing and equipping the +ships, not only the capitana and the almiranta, but the ship which +this year came from Nueva Spana, and another small ship and three +galleys. I do not know whether they can be manned, but everything +is being prepared for any emergency that may arise. What we cannot +make is money and Spaniards, the lack of the latter being the most +serious; and I have many times represented to your Majesty that the +aid from Nueva Spana has come in scanty measure, as if from one who +was not obliged to give an account of this matter. The infantry, of +whom a very small number have come, are in such a state that I would +be glad if most of them had remained there; and, in short, counting +them all--aside from those who are crippled, and those housed in the +forts here and at Cavite--they do not amount to seven hundred and +fifty in all these companies, as appears from the certified official +statements which I send with this. Deducting those who are usually left +in the ports, and the number who are ordinarily sick in the hospital, +there will be barely enough to defend the capitana and almiranta, +two galleys, and a patache (or another galley in its place), if they +are also accompanied by some respectable citizens and persons who are +anxious to serve and merit reward. There are not yet here, however, +the usual number of unpaid soldiers--who are here called "irregulars" +[_extravagantes_] because nearly all of them are so, and serve in these +companies; but now, when there are not many troops, they are thus +far well provided and paid, and are content, thanks be to God. With +their help, when occasion arises, I hope that the soldiers will do +their duty very well; and for such time I shall collect all that I can +of those whom I have mentioned who are off duty, and likewise those +who are to return to carry on their work in the mines of the Indians +who are called Igolotes, the neighbors of those in Pangasinan. With +the help which has been offered me by Doctor Don Juan de Rrenteria, +bishop of Nueva Segovia and of that region, who displays a zeal for +the service of your Majesty conformable to his obligations, my hopes +have increased for the good results which I desire in this. May God +our Lord, for whom it is done, grant us this and all other things, +and protect the Catholic person of your Majesty, according to the +needs of Christendom. Manila, December 10, 1621. + + + +With the arrival of a ship which has come from Xapon to the island of +Mariveles, at the mouth of this bay (whence I do not know where it +went), I received the letters which came for me. I learned by them +that nine armed ships were ready to sail from that country to join +on this coast two others which came out earlier to cruise along the +coast of China. It appears, however, that they certainly have left +Xapon, as this was made known and affirmed by a Dutch factor, who +fled from them in Malayo. His declaration accompanies this letter, +to the effect that this fleet is already equipped, and that it has +been detached merely to come to these coasts to rob the ships from +China, and to bring about an encounter with those from Nueva Spana, +keeping a place to retire to and fit up in some Japanese ports. I +am not surprised if this also is true, as it has been learned from +many besides this factor that the Flemish and English nations have +a hundred vessels and more in these parts, besides those that are +expected, and are said to be coming. But God is before and above +all. Your Majesty will arrange and decree what is most suitable; +meantime, while I live, and remain here, I shall do what I can, and, +with the divine favor, I expect no evil result. + +_Don Alonso Fajardo de Tenca_ + +[_Endorsed_: "See whether this letter is a duplicate, for it is old."] + + + + + +DOCUMENTS OF 1622 + + + Letter to the king. Alvaro Messa y Lugo; 1621 and July 30, + 1622. + Letters from the archbishop of Manila to the King. Miguel + Garcia Serrano, O.S.A.; 1621-22. + Royal decrees regarding the religious. Felipe IV; December 31. + + + +_Source_: These documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo +general de Indias, Sevilla. + +_Translations_: All these are made by James A. Robertson. + + + + + +Letters from Auditor Messa y Lugo to the King + + +Sire: + +Immediately upon my arrival in this country, I informed your Majesty, +at the first opportunity, of everything possible, both of the condition +in which I found affairs here, and of what I could conjecture in the +beginning made by the new governor, Don Alonso Fajardo--of whom I +immediately conceived suspicions and fears--and in the little that I +saw of the beginnings of his government, by which he would not satisfy +the need of the country for justice and [good] administration. Then in +my next despatch, [26] [I informed you how this idea was confirmed] +by the demonstrations which may be called want of prudence; then, at +intervals, I continued to add to my letters whatever occurred that was +more intimately connected with this particular. Thus have I been doing +on all the other occasions when ships have sailed from this country, +both for Mexico and via Yndia, in addition to what the Audiencia has +written to your Majesty. Although it has been impossible to inform +your Majesty so minutely of everything, because it must be done with +all possible caution and secrecy, in order to escape the violence and +force of the governor--who with extraordinary vigilance and solicitude +examines the mails, in order to seize the letters--and this obstacle +has been aided by the multitude of affairs, still less, Sire, can that +be attempted now when they have an exact number. But the extravagance +of the governor's actions seems to be in excess of human capacity, +and of such sort that, although it be morally impossible to point +them out, it is more impossible, even when inadequately described, to +believe them; for in my opinion it is incredible when spoken or heard, +and scarce will be believed when seen, at least to men who recognize +the loyalty that they owe to their God and their king. Accordingly, +and as it is so necessary, in order to fulfil the obligations of my +conscience, to inform my king, continuing the account that I have given +hitherto of the wretched condition to which the governor has reduced +the country (and this cannot be specific and particular, because of +the multitude of his reckless acts or excesses, as above stated), I +shall relate, as succinctly as possible, some little that will serve +as an indication of what I shall leave unsaid. Hence, Sire, I say +that, from what we see here, what the governor is doing is to expend +your Majesty's royal revenues on the one hand, uselessly, without the +careful consideration of facts which is necessary to obtain results +for the service of your Majesty, and with very indolent attention; and +on the other hand, contriving to secure with them his own advantage, +under color of service to your Majesty, by sending your Majesty's +ships to Yndia, Macan, and other regions for his own negotiations, +under pretext of sending them for military stores and other things +for the royal service. In this way he defrauds your Majesty of a +vast sum of ducados, a thing that could be given another name. In +still another direction [he acts unjustly], by giving warrants to +pay due-bills, and that not to the owners of those bills, but to +persons who buy them at one-third and less [of their face value]. To +such persons does he open the doors to pay them, while they are shut +on the wretched owners without recourse. [That is done] perhaps, in +order to make them sell their claims; for of the two-thirds or more +remaining from the face value of the due-bill for their service of +wealth, a great share of profit falls to the governor, as is openly +muttered. This is affirmed by many conjectures, and especially by +the fact that it all passes through the hands of his retainers and +partisans, and those of his household. All this is done to the neglect +of building ships and preparing the supplies necessary for the defense +and conservation of the country. + +The governor is also managing to make vast profits from consignments +of goods; and--as is hinted, and even affirmed, however secretly he +attempts to keep his affairs--a great part of the consignments are +supplied by the royal treasury of your Majesty, and the royal income +from the licenses given to the Chinese to remain in the country +aids him not a little. That sum amounts nearly every year to one +hundred and thirty thousand pesos, for many of the Chinese remain, +thus incurring the risk of another insurrection, notwithstanding the +so strict decrees in which your Majesty orders the very opposite, +and prohibits their remaining. That money was formerly collected +and placed in the treasury through the intervention of the royal +officials. The governor has ordered it to be collected by one of his +servants and paid whenever the latter chooses, so that vast sums are +always due to the treasury. I have been assured that forty thousand +pesos are still owing this year, which it is said that the governor is +using for his trading, as well as even the salary which is generally +given the collectors. For that reason, when the servant receives +the money that the Chinese pay for their licenses, it is weighed, +and if it is under weight, he demands two or three reals more; +but when he delivers that part of it which he chooses to pay into +the treasury, as I have said, he does not deliver it by weight, but +by count, and thus keeps the profit of the two or three reals. That +amounts to about four thousand pesos. It is sometimes even said that +what he delivers into the treasury on the principal account he pays +in warrants bought by the schemes and channels above mentioned. So +many of these things are attributed to his master, the governor, +that I am ashamed to relate them, for I do not believe them--or at +least I suspect that they are exaggerated. For it is even said that +that servant gives false licenses instead of the true ones, which +he distributes to the Chinese at the same price as the good ones, +and keeps the money for them. It is said that the governor has money +taken from the royal treasury secretly at night. Thus do they say, +and attribute things to the governor by so many and so diverse roads, +that one is scandalized on hearing them--both about the royal revenues +and about other particular things in the matter of profit. What I know +for certain is that the governor does not have the accounts audited +annually in January, as your Majesty orders, by the president and two +auditors. On the contrary, the accounts for years before he assumed +the government are so far behind that they have not yet come to +those of his government, although he has been here three years. In +those accounts preceding--although I am one of the two auditors +whom your Majesty orders to audit the accounts together with the +president; and although I say many things about his negligence--I +have not been sufficient, for he is the one who has to take action +therein. I believe that he has not attended to this matter, but rather +has utterly neglected it; for I am persuaded that, in reaching the +accounts of his own term, he has to keep things very private for the +above-mentioned reasons. I do not know whether he fears to have the +accounts made public; and besides that I should be the judge of them, +for he knows that many worlds could not, through God's mercy, move +me one jot from my strict observance of your Majesty's service. + +Also the governor tries to violate justice, and to prohibit the +punishment of evildoers, [at the same time] prosecuting and punishing +the good and innocent; for he protects the former and abhors the +latter, inasmuch as the one class do his will, while the others note +and hate the evil things that he does. To them he offers insults, +and to the others he gives offices and honors. In suits there must be +nothing done but his pleasure, even though the suits be pending in the +Audiencia, especially if they belong to persons devoted to him, or to +those whom he hates; and he acts therein with so great violence that, +when his desires are not carried out, he stops the course of the suits +and takes them to his own house, so that the Audiencia may not pass +any sentence contrary to his will. No one dares to demand justice +from him, or any clerk to notify him of the vote of the Audiencia, +while the parties to the suit call out to God in the streets. When +it suits his pleasure, he takes charge of the criminal causes, and +says that he does not wish a case to be prosecuted further, or that +such a person be punished. Consequently, the number of the evildoers +(and it is for them that he acts thus) increases so greatly that the +scandal arising from it is pitiful. Malefactors also are more numerous +because, when the whim takes him to forsake the other methods, the +governor orders the warden of the prison to let the prisoners go, +even when they are imprisoned for serious crimes; or he does this +secretly, so that no one should know it, and under pretext that +they are needed for war or your Majesty's service. But he does the +very opposite if it is a matter not to his taste, even though the +prisoners be guiltless. His actions are still more objectionable when +he goes to inspect the general prison, where he prevents the auditors +from having any vote, and they are allowed to do only what he wishes; +while he threatens them that he will dash out their brains with a club, +and other serious things. + +The governor also makes a practice of neglecting and not observing +the decrees and orders of your Majesty, interpreting them to his own +satisfaction, or pretending that he has not got them, when he does +not wish them to be known, even though he should be plainly told +of them; and even if he knows it, he regards everything according +to his own pleasure and preference. If any one murmurs or says a +word, he is prosecuted, and his innocence is punished with violent +imprisonment. The governor even takes away his natural defense so +that he cannot appeal or demand justice; and the governor searches +for contrivances to annoy those who do not approve his doings. + +The governor also makes a practice of being so absolute in everything, +that he does not only what is mentioned above so summarily and in +general terms--for, as I have stated to your Majesty in the beginning, +it appears difficult in each of these subjects to enumerate the things +that he does (even, in my judgment, only the weighty and more serious +ones)--but also in regard to various other matters does he act and +proceed in the same manner. Consequently, I believe that there is no +man who will not affirm that from the time that the governor entered +this country, he has done no good thing, but all in disservice of +your Majesty, at least in the regular procedure. For if he calls +treasury meetings, if he sometimes attends the Audiencia and sessions, +or does any other act by reason of his office, there is no one who +does not understand that the ends and objects of his acts are his +own conveniences, vengeance, and passions or the conduct of his own +affairs and those of all his following--as has been apparent to me +at many times, on occasions when I have been able to be present by +virtue of my office. Yet he neither wishes the auditors to counsel or +advise or influence him, nor that a word be said about his actions. On, +the contrary he manages to get all his affairs approved especially by +those persons holding office, such as regidors, royal officials, and +others, and not only laymen but ecclesiastical persons. Consequently +he seeks with most strenuous efforts the life of those laymen who do +not approve his acts, both in public and in private. He threatens to +proceed against them, either personally or through intermediaries, +for the most remote and trifling irregularity that can be imagined; +and he brings suits without hesitating, when he finds no witnesses, +to secure others, even though they be false. To them he furnishes +offices and other accommodations for that service, as many dare to +say; and there is no longer any redress or protection, or at least +that which is usually a safeguard destroys them. Consequently they +endeavor to please him, without considering what he asks or what they +do. Hence it results that neither the royal officials nor the regidors, +nor any other persons whatever whom he may need--either that they may +give him their approval, or that they may suit his pleasure--whether +in violation of ordinance or decree of your Majesty or for whatever he +might desire, exercise their offices with freedom. Thus outraged and +tyrannized over is all this community--so much so, that I have been +told secretly that the regidors have sent your Majesty a chart of a +certain victory which they pretend that the governor has gained from +the Dutch enemy who generally frequent these coasts, in which they +pretend that the governor burned and put to flight their ships by his +plans and arrangements. God knows the truth, and whether that is so; +but I can never persuade myself of so great corruption; for such a +thing never happened, and the governor has here a sufficiently wretched +reputation. In this matter, and regarding a matter of such gravity, +it was told me that when a regidor who privately told it was asked +how they had done such a thing, he had answered by asking what they +would have done if a traitor had come to govern them. Although that is +not public, but was told in private, your Majesty will learn it there +by its effects if that chart has reached you. But what is public is +that the governor says that your Majesty should have patience; and +since you sent him here he will conduct affairs according to his own +pleasure. He either threatens ecclesiastical persons, even though +they are friars, that if they do not act the same as the laymen, +he will take from them the stipends given them by your Majesty, or +he does not pay them; and he has oppressed them so that not even +do the preachers dare to utter truths in the pulpit, both by his +threats and because he dishonors them, and says that they are living +in concubinage, and that he will have them stabbed. However, the +chief reason why they have ceased to preach, as I have been told, is +because all conclude that it is a matter that has no remedy, and that, +since they attain no results, they do not care to ruin themselves; +and so they abandon it as a matter already adjudged. By these acts of +violence on the one hand, and with the flattery of some on the other, +he obtained a guaranty to your Majesty in order, as is understood, to +screen by it, or at least to moderate, the enormity of his acts. He +also avails himself, for this purpose, of threats to the notaries, +of nothing less than the galleys and their ruin; or they are given +to understand that they must not give official statements of anything +requested from them, especially to persons who he thinks will write to +your Majesty. He has under his influence one Pedro Munoz de Herrera, +who is clerk of court for the Audiencia, with whom he negotiates +those statements that he wishes; and there is even a very evil +rumor that the latter will give them even though they are not true, +and that he gives them from the official records as demanded, even +when these are defective--not only by what is known of the person of +each one, but because the governor has favored, protected, and placed +him by force in the Audiencia. [This has been done] both in a murder +that the governor committed on the person of his wife, and in many +other matters. Finally in violation of your Majesty's decrees which +order that the offices be sold, he has, after having granted some +gratuitously for his own objects, without selling them, refused to +adjudge the office of secretary held by Pedro Munoz to one Diego de +Rueda, who bid eight thousand pesos for it, in order that Pedro Munoz +might not be deprived of it; while he gave it to the latter for one +thousand five hundred pesos, which the said Munoz had bid for it, and +that sum was paid in purchased pay-warrants, in order to give it to +him gratis, as is well known. He manages the clergy in the same way; +and, as he suspected that the cabildo of the church wrote a letter +to your Majesty last year, they have, since he learned something +of this matter, endured a little tempest until they have been able, +by certain paths that they have learned, to watch him. This present +year I fear that they will not write, in view of the extraordinary +care with which they see that the governor seizes the letters that +are sent to your Majesty. The whole country is so fearful of such +interference that each one, I think, will seek an extraordinary way +in order to save his letters. Some are thinking of putting them in +boxes of merchandise, for which reason I fear that some will be left; +and, as I have said, it might be that these will be the letters of +the cabildo of the church--not only because of the aforesaid reason, +but because, although I see that the archbishop is annoyed at the acts +of the governor, and as I understand, those affairs cause him internal +anxiety through his desire of remedying them, there is among outsiders +considerable grumbling because he flatters the governor and humors +him in many ways (which leads people to think that the cause for it is +certain accommodations for his servants and relatives that the governor +gives him); and because of certain injuries which they think could at +least be abated with less compliance [on the archbishop's part]. But +I do not agree with that, notwithstanding that I might commend [more] +effort [by the archbishop]; for I know the governor's temper. + +The governor also makes a practice of neglecting and sleeping over +affairs of good government, a policy that is fitting [27] for the +conservation of the country in peace and in the service of God; and +he lives in a profound slumber, and neglects taking any precautions +whatever--although the enemy so frequently invades these coasts, +with new forces each day on the sea; while on the land are great +numbers of Chinese Sangleys and Japanese. This has long caused many +men of loyalty and high standing to be anxious with the memory of the +past insurrection of the Sangleys; and not less is the anxiety caused +by the Japanese, for they are numerous and are an extremely warlike +race. [28] And although the governor has orders and decrees from your +Majesty that only the number who would be necessary for the ordinary +service of the trades of the country shall remain here; and although +the facts are well known to him, besides that he has been often told +of this, both in and out of official meetings: yet he does not discuss +its remedy, but only talks of making outside demonstrations by which +he will accomplish much. But one would believe that he means that he +will do much evil. May God in His mercy keep that evil far away. The +governor does the same in what concerns the enemy on the sea; for +not only does he not discuss, nor has he discussed, the building +of ships in order to be prepared, as did Don Juan de Silva, to go +to meet the enemy, but on the contrary, when he reached this land, +although the galleons built by Don Juan de Silva had been wrecked, +and although the Audiencia which was then governing had ordered, +notwithstanding that the treasury did not contain a single real, +some ships to be built, so that they might be finished in place of +those which had been wrecked, yet the governor, on finding them on +the stocks at his arrival, ordered all work to cease, and only two +ships were finished. He ordered even those vessels to be reduced +in size, whereat there are not wanting those who grumbled that he +did it in order to have trading-ships instead of warships. [29] He +has not built any others during all these three years, although the +employees in the accountancy of the royal treasury assure me, and it is +without doubt so, that he has spent three millions [of pesos] of your +Majesty's royal incomes from these regions, and of the funds brought +from Nueva Espana, during three years. That is a very great pity here, +for it is to be presumed that he has spent a great portion of that sum +in paying due-bills bought at one-third and less [their face value], +as I have said above. The employees of the accountancy have assured +me that five hundred thousand pesos were paid in that way last year, +and that fact is very well known. It is also known that the due-bills +outstanding have been exhausted, so that now they are being sought +very anxiously in the same districts, but cannot be found. + +Although we generally have six or seven months' sure notice from +Xapon before the coming of the enemy, that they are going to come, the +governor makes no preparation, small or large, nor does he build any +vessels, but allows the time to pass as if he had no such warning. When +the enemy arrive at the coast, the governor, without any intention +of going to meet them--as is known publicly and generally, and is +known by the results, as he has already spent the money--lays hands +on the inhabitants and mainly by force gets a loan of one hundred +thousand pesos from them, or what he thinks best, and has the ships +in the port repaired. Those vessels often do not exceed three, and he +spends on them a vast sum of ducados, even loading them with food and +war-supplies of all that is needed. He troubles the soldiers in making +them go and come to and from Cavite, and even making them embark. He +says with show of great courage that he is going out, although he +is told that such a thing is impossible with the ships that he has, +for the enemy have many. Having spent all the money and exhausted the +miserable inhabitants whom he has thus burdened, he calls a council +at this juncture, and asks whether it is advisable to go out. Since +the enemy are so superior they cannot tell him to go out, and in +addition they see little gain in it; accordingly it is resolved that +it is not advisable to go out. Your Majesty's royal treasury thus +remains depleted, and the enemy are left to pillage the vessels that +they seize from those who come to this city, especially those from +China. It is even asserted, although I do not know whether it is true, +that he makes underhanded efforts in the midst of all these braveries, +by the hands of certain persons who are masters of his secrets, so that +the city may come out and disapprove of, and protest against, his going +[against the enemy], and may inform many of the council of the danger +if they should say that he should go out. And it is said that thus, in +the matters above related and in many things left unsaid, the governor +wastes his time--which he ought to spend in pleasing God our Lord, and +in imploring His mercy, so that He might aid us in the conservation +of the country, in succeeding in serving our king, and in preparing +matters for his royal service--in many feasts and games, parties, +weddings, christenings, and entertainments with women, even while the +enemy are along the coasts, and often even anchored inside the bay; +for I believe, and it is understood, that the Japanese inform the enemy +of the slight preparations of the country. As a result, the governor +has acquired a wretched reputation and character, even among the +Chinese Sangleys and the Japanese of the country (who are infidels), +not only for sensuality and lasciviousness, but for other and worse +doings. We have the country in the most wretched condition that can +be imagined. Never has it been so wretched, as is affirmed openly by +the oldest residents here, as well as by me. They bewail Don Juan de +Silva, for, although they say that he was covetous and revengeful, yet +he was moderate in these faults; besides, he was prudent, and watchful +of your Majesty's service, and of the preservation [of the country] +and credit in war, and of the honor of your Spanish nation. Many +of them fear, and I with them, some great chastisement from heaven, +because of the publicity and multitude of the sins of us who live here. + +In the particulars of the above matters [your Majesty's revenues] +have been and are being wasted during the time of this government, +and I fear greatly that it will continue in the same way until the +end of it; and I do not know that it can become worse. For I assure +your Majesty that I am talking with some caution, although I could +enlarge on this subject--because when I talk with my king, I am +talking with God, for the satisfaction and security of my conscience; +and because from my entrance into this Audiencia, I thought that I +would not be fulfilling my obligations unless I endeavored to do my +duty in what concerns me, and in the rest what I could, so that the +service of God our Lord and that of your Majesty might be furthered. I +thought that if evil beginnings be looked on with fear they could not +increase. I always endeavored to furnish a good example in the matter +of any actions and life, and at the same time to persuade and advise +the governor of what I deemed worthy of reform, so that reason and +not inclination might rule. I avoided conforming to his will in all +things that came to my hands by reason of my office which were not to +the service of your Majesty. By deed, example, and advice, or at least +by efficient warnings, I exerted myself, so that only your Majesty's +service should be striven for, and I am persevering in this course. I +desire and am endeavoring to be on my guard respecting matters which +concern his inclination and not his reason. For in fact, although +the governor has done what he wished in many things, because he does +not know how to conduct negotiations otherwise, at least he did not +so act with me; and because of me and the openness of my nature, he +ceased to attempt and to do other things--I persevering in my purpose, +and he in his; and, although disabusing his mind of the idea that I +would surrender myself to an evil thing, humoring him and giving him +pleasure in all that I could freely. Inasmuch as that was so little +and the matter of justice so great, because your Majesty's royal +treasury and other most important things enter into it, he readily +abandoned the path of perverting me. He said, with promises, that +he would esteem my compliance more highly than that of all others, +or than a great sum of money, besides other exaggerations (from which +I think that he did not ill judge me), and changed the course that +he had pursued by means of insults and injuries. [As an instance of +the latter], after talking to me with his usual harshness while in +his house--that which your Majesty assigns and gives to the president +[of the Audiencia] by an order that you have given to the effect that +there be houses for the president and auditors--one of the houses of +one of the auditors having become vacant because Licentiate Alcaraz +left it, the governor (although it pertained to me by my seniority, +because Licentiate Legaspi already had a house) took it from me, moved +into it, and left his own under pretext that he wished to demolish it, +because it was falling down. He has lived in both houses (for one is +near the other) for two years, although there have been most furious +winds and storms, which makes his object evident. Besides, since your +Majesty assigns a house to the president and auditors, if mine should +collapse, I would rent a house which he could not seize afterward; +and since by the mercy of God, I trust in His Divine Majesty, that all +the world could not divorce me from the service of my king, I endured +and concealed the annoyance of his having deprived me of my house. I +think that the scope of his pretensions must have increased, and that, +when I censured him more, he tried to drive me from the Audiencia by +different methods that he attempted. One was to send me to inspect the +country (where one goes mostly by sea, because of the multitude of the +islands, the great distance, and the fact that the roads pass through +the territory of the insurgent Indians) while the enemy was along the +coast; yet an order was given to all the Spaniards who were living +on their encomiendas, and others who are the chiefs--against whom, +and not the poor common Indians, the inspection is aimed--to come to +reside in this city because of the presence of the enemy. Besides, +that inspection did not pertain to me, since I was neither the oldest +nor the most recent auditor. Notwithstanding that the Audiencia +resisted, saying that it was not advisable to make that visit then, +he tried to have it done by his appointment alone, and without the +concurrence of the Audiencia, having attempted to do that last year +as well as at the present time. In order to constrain and annoy me +more, he ordered me to go out in Holy Week, notwithstanding that I +replied to him that I would go (although it did not pertain to me) +if the Audiencia concurred in it, but that without that concurrence I +could not go. In consequence, it appears that the governor desisted +for the time, but did not abandon his project; on the contrary, he +was more set on it. When the Christmas season came, the time for the +distribution of offices, in accordance with your Majesty's ordinances, +that of probate judge fell to me in my turn. But this so annoyed him +that he tried to avoid giving it, withholding the commission signed +by the entire Audiencia, for more than two months, I believe, with a +certain scandal to the city; for litigants did not know to what judge +they could have recourse, as my predecessor's time had expired. After +he had delivered me the commission, when I commenced to exercise the +office--with no greater pleasure than that of serving your Majesty, +although others solicit those offices--the death of Licentiate Andres +de Alcaraz happened, without his leaving a will. As judge, I set about +collecting his property with much diligence, involving considerable +hardship. That caused me certain fevers, for as he died in the country +outside this city in a garden his property was in great peril. Of this +I gave your Majesty an account after the property was collected and +placed in order, with the precautions that I had taken--by which, +notwithstanding the suits that had succeeded, I would continue +to retain and reserve the property in case that your Majesty were +pleased to send [some one to take] the said auditor's inspection or +residencia. In conformity with that I had sent documents both to the +probate court of Mexico and to the House of Trade at Sevilla, so that +the property that the said auditor possessed there might be collected, +and that your Majesty might be advised. Finally, I continuing in my +office and the governor in his purpose--which was stimulated by his +inability to reduce me to what I can morally believe, besides the +public rumor and report--and he being most desirous of taking from +me my office of probate judge, especially after the property had +been entered in the accounts of the probate court; and I had begun +the administration of the property of Licentiate Andres de Alcaraz: +for certain purposes, which I do not dare to state, although they are +reported, for I do not dare believe them, still by this and by many +other reasons, and more because he had seized certain of the letters +that I have written to inform your Majesty (for which, as persons in +his confidence assure me, with whom he has communicated the matter, +he has felt, and still feels, special anger and fury against me), +he resolved to remove me, even though it should be by arbitrary act, +from the Audiencia. Of that I am morally persuaded, and it is well +known. Seeking occasion for this, but not finding it, and wearied +perhaps in waiting for it, it happened one session that, while +Licentiate Legaspi and Don Juan de Valderrama, auditor and fiscal, +were at the door of the hall of his house, a message came in which Don +Antonio Rodriguez de Villegas excused himself on the grounds of ill +health. As the governor never attends the sessions of the Audiencia +except for his private ends, under pretext of your Majesty's service, +he was very angry that Don Antonio should excuse himself that day; for +he was trying to secure the passage of a resolution [by the Audiencia] +that I should go out to make the inspection--always persisting, as +I have said, in his purpose; and also because it was understood that +he had on his part managed to get the consent of Licentiate Legaspi +to it. On hearing the message, he said very angrily that Don Antonio +Rodriguez and I were always excusing ourselves from your Majesty's +service by feigning to be sick. [That he said] in the presence of many +people who were there, besides other quite unreasonable language. For +that reason I was forced to ask him why, if your Majesty gave credit to +an auditor when he excused himself, did not he have to do the same, all +this with the intention to calm and satisfy him. He abandoned himself +to a flow of words, somewhat disconnected, to which I replied, saying +that your Majesty did not order a president to treat the auditors so; +and that I served your Majesty punctually, and did not excuse myself +when I was well. If I remember correctly, I think that I made witnesses +of all; for he also came to me after all that, and told me that I lied, +and I think that he said "villain." However, I do not believe that any +besides Licentiate Legaspi and the fiscal heard that, And inasmuch as +he told me to keep still and not reply, threatening me with execrations +and oaths, I said to him with the greatest calmness, as is my custom: +"If your Lordship tells us what is not so, are we not to remonstrate +and answer you?" Thereupon he went to the meeting, where he told me +that I was the worst Christian in the world, and that I took communion +like Judas, besides other insults of like import, before Licentiate +Legaspi and the fiscal. I was silent under everything, for I only told +him that in the matter of sins I could confess many omissions; but I +warned him that witnesses heard that, just as they had also heard at +his house the other things that he said. Although he went ahead he may +perhaps have thought that I persisted in silence, and did not answer +him, in order that he might be led on to commit some imprudent act; +thereupon he must have thought that there was now much to fear, and +that he was not to find a justifiable opportunity, [for] he caught +at that word, and said that I had intended to give him the lie, as +if transgressions in thought were to be fought over--the more so, +Sire, as I did not speak another word to him; for if I had spoken +another word, I am not the man who would deny that to your Majesty +or any one else. On account of that, the governor determined to make +me the object of a lawsuit, and received his witnesses. To them he +did not fail to tell what had happened, but not the words that I had +spoken. When some wished to tell more, it is said that he insulted and +threatened them. However, he did not do that with Licentiate Legaspi +and Don Juan de Valderrama, the auditor and fiscal, whom he also +received as witnesses, and whom I warned beforehand to give witness +of everything that had passed; still, they said no more than what +the governor wished, by which I am insulted, ashamed, and surprised +beyond manner. Notwithstanding their great friendship with him, and +that they know how to gratify him and be gratified by him (of which +would to God there were not so much to murmur at in the community, +because of the great aid they render him in ruining it), still I am +consoled, and I praise God for everything. With this and, as has been +declared publicly, with the advice of an advocate, to whom he gave an +appointment so that he might be made judge of vagabonds--and who was, +as is said, urged and even persuaded for it, that such action was not +to arrest me, but only to intimidate me--the governor issued a warrant +for arrest, and seized me. This was done while all the Audiencia was +in a body, near the chapel where mass was being said, and about to +go on general prison inspection, on Palm Saturday--although he had no +sufficient reasons, as I told him so that he should not do it, as well +as to the rest of the Audiencia so that they might discuss it. He sent +me to the cabildo quarters, which are in the public prison, where he +set over me seven soldiers of the guard and a corporal, with orders +not to let me talk with any layman, especially any scrivener, and +not to let me have paper and ink to write. Besides that guard, he set +other soldiers in the street, so that I might not escape through the +windows, as I believe. I am also told that the corporal had orders to +kill me if I tried to escape, although I do not know what truth there +is in that statement. But none of the orders given were more than oral, +for the governor did not want them set on the records. Imprisoned in +the above manner--on Palm Saturday, when [even] highwaymen are set +free--he kept me prisoner during all of Holy Week and Easter, and +two whole months--with the greatest scandal that, as I have heard, +this community has ever had--until many religious, servants of God, +and the archbishop, went to him to persuade him, and to undeceive him +as to the gravity of the act that he had committed. But they obtained +no beneficial result from it; on the contrary, considering as well +founded the fears that they inspired in him, and thinking to justify +his crime, he began to take a residencia of all my life. That lasted +almost two months, and he summoned witnesses, and many of them, who +told all that they knew about me. In order to persuade them to go +into details, perhaps, as to what he desired, he proclaimed that I +was not to be set free or to be an auditor any longer in the country; +but that, on the contrary, he was going to place me aboard ship. By +those efforts, and others--not only by demands on the one hand, but +by fears that he inculcated through third parties, as has been told +me, on the other--he obtained a great number of witnesses. However, +he discharged many of these, in anger at them because they told +him, with forcible arguments, that they were Christians, and +that he should not involve them in matters with which they were +unacquainted. Others of them, who tried to say, as was thought, +many things that appeared to be in my favor, were not allowed to say +these. All that took place under the efficient management of Pedro +Munoz, court scrivener of the Audiencia, with whom the governor was +hand in glove, as I have said. For, in order to do it, I am told that +he suppressed the heading of the process which he had before made on +account of only that word, and substituted another in its place which +comprehended in it scope all the discourses in the life of a man--so +that it might not be understood, as I believe, that he had made so +great a mistake at the beginning, and for other objects that the +governor will know. Notwithstanding that, and his cruelty, violence, +and force, and the fears of the witnesses, I trust in our Lord that +He will not have permitted them to give false testimonies against +me, although the outrageous manner in which the governor proceeds, +and the so mortal fear that all have of him, makes that much to +be dreaded. Finally, at the end of the two months of so serious +and scandalous an imprisonment, our Lord was pleased to perform a +miracle for me, through the intercession of the Virgin, our Lady, +to whom I attribute it (and that miracle is not the first that she +has performed for men as unworthy as I). It occurred thus: One day +I dressed myself in my usual manner for going to the Audiencia; and +at ten I went out among all the soldiers who were posted there, and +went down the steps at my usual gait. In the same way, while in the +prison, many people were round about, and in the public place where +one goes out of the prison were many more; but I passed through the +midst of them all to the college of Sancto Thomas. Next day I went +thence to [the convent of] St. Dominic, which is on the other side +of the wall, where I remain a refugee. [30] The convent is quite +far from the prison, and no man spoke to me at all; on the contrary, +those in the square accompanied me. Afterward the soldiers and guard +(whom God was pleased to stop, I know not how) must have returned to +their senses; and they came after me, when I was already near the +church. Ascertaining what had happened, some went to the church, +and the governor arrested others. He, as I have been told, ordered +all the camp of soldiers called to arms, as if it were for the Dutch, +with the intention, it is said, of taking me out by force, even if +he should destroy the college. However, he restrained himself to +sending two companies. It is even said, further, that all that day +and night they surrounded the college, under orders not to allow +entrance or exit to friar or anyone else, or the entrance of food, +until the archbishop, at the instance of the friars, persuaded the +governor to withdraw the soldiers. I consider as a miracle also what +happened with him. Since I have been in [the convent of] St. Dominic, +I have heard from several persons that the governor was quietly trying +to have me killed by a certain agreement, which would have been very +easy for him had not God prevented it. However, although that is +not very well known, nor do I believe it all, yet it could be feared +from him, and from his great desire to be free from my witnessing his +acts on occasions of defending the justice and service of my king, +since he could not reduce me to take a path contrary thereto. For that +reason, I have tried with peculiar care to have God's zealous servants +commend him to God, and petition Him for the governor's reformation +and prudent action, so that he may not fall into the deeper abyss of +miseries. Then the governor ordered my property to be sequestered, +and they went to my house and took an inventory of all my books and +the other treasures that I possessed, even to the very clothes of my +wife, and my salaries--just as if I were a private citizen and not next +[in authority] to your Majesty and the royal council, as I am; as if +I had committed some crime, and he had authority to proceed against +and punish me, he saying that he is the aggrieved and proper party; +and as if, besides, he could be judge with so great violence. He +had me summoned by edicts and proclaimed through the public streets, +an action that has scandalized this community. But, notwithstanding +his hostile demonstrations, he cannot satisfy himself, for all of +which I have tried to give many thanks to God, considering that I +am suffering thus for [the sake of] justice, and for defending the +service of God and of my king. In regard to that it must be considered +that, although all those lawless acts, insults, and violences to the +private person of Don Alvaro de Messa I consider as referred to God, +nevertheless it is a serious and intolerable matter to persecute a +minister for being loyal to his king. For the sake of the respect +and royal authority of your Majesty which is so offended by those +qualities in your minister, on account of the public scandal, and +for the conservation of justice and the security of the country, +and in order to avoid disservice to God and your Majesty--all which +is attained by the punishment of the guilty, by which the good would +be encouraged and those who are not good would fear--an exemplary +punishment seems very necessary for the governor, and for me a +reward and honor for the affronts and hardships that I have suffered, +especially in this country, where, because of the absolute procedure +of the governor, no attention is paid to your Majesty's royal orders, +and one trembles to displease the governor, without more reason than +that the latter desires such and such a thing. And because for many +years this has continued to increase, very justly may one fear that, +if it be not punished, it may reach such a point that the remedy +will be difficult and ever miraculous. To moderate the enormity of +the circumstances of my imprisonment and the grave scandal existing +hitherto throughout the community (and I think that it will exist +until satisfaction can be made for it), his guardian angels--one +of whom is Don Juan de Alvarado, who has been fiscal and whom your +Majesty ordered to be banished hence; and who was irritated because I +had not cloaked his residencia, about which I am writing your Majesty +in a separate letter--and others who are of the same sort, advised +the governor to make use of an ordinance which is one of those of +this Audiencia, never used and not even remembered for a long time, +and which is as follows: + +"_Item_: I order that my president of the said Audiencia +try the criminal causes of its auditors, together with the +alcaldes-in-ordinary, notwithstanding the ordinance that rules +the contrary." [31] He availed himself of this to summon the +alcaldes-in-ordinary and to cause them to sign all that he decreed, +for they were present at nothing else than the signing of what he +was violating--both with witnesses and without them, when they were +not persons who were mere creatures of his; for, when persons are +elected into the cabildo, nothing but what the governor wishes is +voted. Further than this, if they were persons of greater obligations, +and more exemplary in life and conscience, I think that they would do +the same, although it might even be in a matter of greater weight; +for, as I have told your Majesty, the more than violence and force +that the governor holds over their minds and wills is incredible, +although evident. Not all dare to resist at the peril of their security +and life, and of being imprisoned, as I was, for the service of your +Majesty. They, hastily judging, differentiate between the future hurt, +which may not come to them, and the punishment which they regard as +a present hurt, namely, to suffer for God and their king. Besides, +as they also are in the deal, they have their advantages, by which +they are all blinded. For to whoever can see, and to him who desires +the light of heaven that he may succeed, not only is the ordinance +not obscure, as they say, but quite clear, since it does not give +authority or contain words for arrest or process; nor does it in +any way alter the law. Therefore, those nearest [to your Majesty], +as are the auditors, cannot be imprisoned or proceeded against except +by your Majesty or the royal Council, or by your order. Nevertheless, +the president, in virtue of his superintendency over the Audiencia, +may ordain to the auditors what may be just and reasonable in matters +that pertain to the government and its conservation; and even, in +the heated arguments that are wont to arise between the auditors, +has authority, in case the nature of the affair might require it, to +retire each auditor to his own house, until they make up the quarrel; +and, should he deem it advisable, he may inform your Majesty. For the +ordinance does not say that the president and alcaldes shall proceed, +arrest, sentence, and execute justice in criminal causes affecting +the auditors. All that, in my opinion, was meant to amend the express +privilege of law as contained substantially in the _corpus juris_ +[_civilis_]; [32] and even then serious causes would have to be +understood by criminal causes; _ultra multa cum tiberº farsnaci e +regni col. 9, ttº 4, pº. 3._ [33] But it says only that the governor +shall try criminal causes, which means that, in crimes that are +not such by reason of the office, but personal and serious crimes +of the auditors, he shall investigate, together with the alcaldes, +and advise your Majesty; and the word "try," instead of meaning to +arrest and execute justice and other equivalent things, only denotes +simple jurisdiction which belongs to civil cases, and not authority, +either pure or mixed. [34] Otherwise your Majesty could avoid the +visits and residencia which you send to the Audiencia. Accordingly, +to try criminal cases means that they be treated civilly without +allowing them to be [cases for either] pure or mixed authority, +by arresting or proceeding; but only to investigate and advise your +Majesty, except in capital causes that have the capital penalty. In +such cases it would be advisable for the Audiencia, and even for the +president alone, to secure the criminals, if they should be auditors +and nearest [to the king], but not by virtue of the ordinance, +but by virtue of the ordinary authority of law, and the privileges +of public protection--citing [the paragraph] _ne delicta_, etc., +in case that it was unable, because of the crime and the person, +to be secure in any other way than by imprisonment which befits the +crime, and in accordance with the teaching of the law _divi fratres +f fin ff de poen._ [35] Therefore the Audiencia ought to arrest the +governor for four murders that he has lately committed (and which will +be told later), solely to assure and advise your Majesty, with judicial +consideration, so that you might decree your pleasure in respect to his +person. But [they ought] to punish his accomplices, who were numerous, +and who are not near [to the king], but most of them men who, without +that crime, deserve to be severely punished for others; but they are +all passed by, in virtue of peace and harmony, by Licentiate Hieronimo +de Legaspi and Don Juan de Valderrama, the auditor and fiscal, who are +on good terms with the governor. [Indeed, these men] now constitute +the Audiencia, because Don Antonio Rodriguez has retired to his house, +and is sick because of the insults cast upon him by the governor at +a meeting (which I shall relate later); while I was arrested when it +happened, and am now in refuge in the sanctuary. In order that all that +may be done well, the governor arrests me and insults me--although, +I am, by the mercy of God, guiltless of any crime, capital, moderate, +or the least, and even without the slightest dispute in the Audiencia; +but only because my character and the obligations of my conscience do +not allow me to lack one jot in my service to my king--under pretext +that by not consenting to the things that the governor imputed to me, +I told him that what he was saying to me was not so. Had I shown any +want of prudence in my defense--which I could have done, and which I +think another would have done, who would not have endured it as did +I--I would have been excused, and he would have been guilty in making +himself the judge of his own cause--the more, as there was no fault +or injury; or, even if there were any, it was not to the tribunal +or to his dignity. I do not know, Sire, [of a case] even with full +authority from your Majesty in regard to visit and residencia, when +one has ever seen an auditor arrested and proclaimed, even though he +had committed many serious crimes; and when, as has been told me, +they shuddered with horror at the men who did it. However, I would +better leave this matter now, and put a stop to this particular, rather +reproaching myself at having digressed to discuss these private details +(although with so great limitation), since I am talking with so exalted +a tribunal, and to so many grandees and to so gifted men. For that +reason, I do not dare allege rights or continue, but only to petition +your Majesty to be pleased to have your royal provision issued with +the gravest penalties (nevertheless, I fear that those penalties will +not be sufficient, from what I know and what the community knows of +the governor), so that the governor may release me; and ordering him +not to molest me with any processes or causes whatsoever, so that I +may attend to the affairs of my office as auditor, freely, as well as +to those which your Majesty has assigned to me. [I also ask] that the +royal officials pay me all my salaries, [36] for the time while the +governor has prevented and kept me by force from exercising my office; +that the governor restore to me my property that he has sequestered; +that, if it be sold, I be paid for it; that the governor leave my +house that he has occupied for two years, pay me the rent for it, +and go to his own house, since your Majesty has assigned it to me +and the other to him; and that, if the governor should have drawn +up any acts, they be sent to the Council immediately. For I have not +been able to get them from him, nor is there any one who can get any +testimonial from him of anything. On the contrary the governor has, +since I have been in [the convent of] St. Dominic, seized certain +petitions presented in the Audiencia before Licentiate Legaspi, who +is there alone, a thing which before could not have been possible; +and has refused to return them under any circumstances, in accordance +with his usual custom in such things. I trust, God helping, that if the +governor sends the testimonies by themselves alone; without considering +his own inability to do it, his violence, and the judicial substance, +your Majesty, if so pleased, will find in them a disposition to punish +him severely, and to condemn him and the alcaldes; and to order me +to be paid many damages and costs which have been imposed on me, +rewarding me and granting me great favors and honor. For without any +other investigation or information from me, or from others, I think +that you will see very clearly the reasons and objects that, as I +have said, have moved the governor to commit so atrocious an act as +he did in my imprisonment. However, it is also well known that the +following reasons have influenced him. + +First, the governor, as above stated, was angered because, when I was +judge of the probate court, it should happen that I should collect +that property of Licentiate Andres de Alcazar, because of the latter's +death. Licentiate Legaspi was angered for the same reason. For both of +them, as is very well known in this community, would have liked that +to have happened when Licentiate Legaspi should be judge, and they +know why. I dare only judge what is said, and what I see and hear +outside, although there is so much grumbling at their objects, and +at the wealth that they have retained for this, that it scandalizes +me. However, I do not dare to believe it, in order to say whether +it be true that the reputation and envy of each one of those two +men that exists in this community, obliges everyone to form his own +opinion of it. Desiring that the care of the fund and the office pass +to better hands than mine, they thought that it would be done well if +I were arrested. Accordingly, the governor took this as his guide for +action, so that, while I was a prisoner, the care of the fund might +be transferred to Licentiate Legaspi. The governor alone appointed +the latter as probate judge, although I still had one year to serve, +and at the fulfilment of that time it pertained in turn to Don Antonio +Rodriguez; and then all the Audiencia exercises it and not he solely, +by virtue of express orders and commands of your Majesty. Thereupon, +the governor, in one way or another, together with Licentiate Legaspi, +although no layman spoke to me in prison, permitted me to be notified +to deliver the keys and the property. But I, fearing, as a man, what +others feared, said that I had to give an account of that property, +and that since I was a prisoner, I could not do so; and that he should +free me, so that I could attend to my office and fulfil the commissions +with which your Majesty had charged me--namely, the residencias of +Don Juan de Silva and Don Juan de Alvarado--since I had committed no +crime for which I should be arrested; and adduced other reasons why +I could not deliver the key because of the risk that that property +would be running should the key pass through other hands. As he thought +that that was insufficient to obtain his will, they immediately added +another reason according to which it was advisable to borrow from that +fund thirty thousand pesos for your Majesty's service, under pretext +that it was to be used for the despatch of the fleet then preparing +to sail. [But this was done] in violation of a decree of your Majesty +ordering that the president and governor shall take no money, in small +or large quantity, from the fund of the probate court, for any cause +whatever. By the report of that fund your Majesty has been informed +that they are wont to draw that money for their trading and personal +advantage, as is murmured openly. That occurred in this instance, +for with the above-said and with other formalities, the governor +[broke] the lock of the chest, ordering thirty thousand pesos to +be extracted from it and the rest delivered to Licentiate Legaspi, +probate judge, whom the governor had appointed. They went to my house +to do it. They left a guard of six or seven soldiers under a corporal, +day and night, to guard the rest of the property, namely, a great +quantity of gold and jewels. Consequently, my wife was compelled to +leave her house that night, and went to the house of the widow of +Doctor Juan Manuel de la Bega, until she found a house and moved into +it, leaving the house to the governor. I think that the latter's +insults and discourtesy even produced considerable anger in the +negroes. Even yet, a period of four months, the soldiers are guarding +the chest, and will not allow me to do my duty, and do not deliver it +to Licentiate Legaspi; for as is well known, they are keeping it for +a better opportunity. This affair has much surprised this community, +and the litigants in the court are calling out, although they are +assured that it is not without foundation; for they cannot wish +to have news taken in these ships that the chest was handed over, +and that they did with it what is suspected, which will be seen +later. The thirty thousand pesos were not intended for the fleet, +for the fleet did not sail, nor is it expected that it will ever sail +during the governor's life. Neither was it used as a means of help +for the infantry, who go complaining through the streets. Indeed +I cannot tell whether any one can say with certainty what has been +done with that sum; although it is said that another very large sum, +which the governor obtained from the citizens almost by a forced loan, +was spent in the preparation of the ships in the port--but which did +not sail, as has been said. However, some assert that the governor +divided them, he himself taking thirteen or fourteen thousand pesos +on the account of future salary; and that in like manner he shared it +with Licentiate Legaspi and the fiscal. God showed me especially great +favor in my being able to keep the account-book of the fund in my own +hands through the efforts of a good Christian, the defender of probated +property, for my security of what had been placed in and what had been +disbursed from the fund. For nothing is placed in or spent from it, +except by notary's authority, and the presence as witnesses of those +who guard the fund. If they were to seize the book from me, I doubt +not, Sire, that they would do me signal harm, and because, as I have +said above to your Majesty, the governor can do whatever he wishes. + +Another reason alleged for my arrest is because it is affirmed that, +the governor planning as he did to kill his wife, my presence in the +Audiencia would be a decidedly great inconvenience. For it is known, +notwithstanding the few successes and works [that I have accomplished], +through certain good desires that will have been recognized in me, +that since I have been in the Audiencia, I endeavor as much as possible +to see that affairs are managed with due regard for law; and that, +had I been present in that so serious matter, I would have done my +utmost; and what I ought to do, as would be fitting for the service +of God and of your Majesty. That incident--which, I think, I cannot +avoid relating, as one having accurate information--was as follows: + +Having arrested me with the haste above mentioned, it happened that +the governor--having planned, so says common rumor, the death of his +wife--circulated the report one afternoon that he was going out of +town to a place called Cavite. Departing that afternoon, he returned +at night. Having notified the guards and soldiers to that effect, +he climbed over the wall by means of a ladder, and went to the house +of one of the companions who went with him (for many of his adherents +went with him, and some who were hired). Going with them from this +house, he stationed men at the place where he had planned that his +wife would come with a young boy whom she sheltered at her house, and +in whom she had confidence. This boy persuaded her to go out dressed +as a gallant (a very wrong act, although she had been persuaded by +the certainty that her husband had gone to Cavite), to the house of a +man named Juan de Messa, who had been brought as chief clerk by the +factor, Dionisio de Castro Licon, and whom the governor suspected +of adultery with his wife. Arrived at the place above mentioned, +the governor saw her coming with two men, one of whom is said to +have been Juan de Messa, and the other his friend. Advised by the +young lad that it was she, for he accompanied her in the street for +some time, where he left her with her companion and went to give +account of it to the governor, the latter went behind her with the +retinue above mentioned. Arrived at Juan de Messa's door, which is +quite distant from that of the governor, he let them enter, but went +in behind them before they shut the door. Mounting the stairs with +some of his men behind Juan de Messa and his wife, who had ascended, +and leaving the others below with the other friend who had come as +companion to Juan de Messa, the death of his wife followed, as did +that of Juan de Messa and of the latter's escort, a pilot who had +come from Castilla last year. They were killed up stairs and down, +as I have said, and because the governor had taken possession of the +streets, and stationed soldiers there with orders to allow no one to +pass. The soldiers killed a young lad who tried to pass, or wounded +him so severely that it is said that he died. Notwithstanding the +unseemly hour, the people came running out at the outcry and clamor +especially those from the nearest houses. They saw and noted everything +with fairness, and consequently it has been published that the chief +murderers were those whom the governor took with him, both those of +his wife and of the others. That has seemed in this community to be +a very lamentable occurrence. Then the governor went to his house +after the event and the matter was immediately known throughout +the city. Thereupon Licentiate Legaspi and Don Antonio Rodriguez +proceeded to make investigations. What they began to do was, it is +said, to furnish proofs of adultery. They have managed to do this +by great efforts, and that with the criminals free, and with the +power of the governor. And I am told that the governor ordained what +had to be done, namely, to make no investigations against the dead +woman. What is understood is, that many fine things have been done +in the records, for they say that they have expunged, erased, and +copied things according to their pleasure, the notary in the cause +being the governor's most devoted follower, Pedro Munoz, secretary +of the Audiencia court, as above stated. In everything has always +been done what the governor has ordered and commanded--especially +by Licentiate Legaspi, for Don Antonio withdrew then and refused +to do anything further, at seeing how the governor flinched from +everything. All the criminals go about and take their pleasure, thus +occasioning much reproach. Will your Majesty consider what you shall +be pleased to order done in this matter; for there is much talk of +the hatred and great and long-standing enmity of the governor to his +wife, and of the evil life that he led her. It is said that he had +already given her poison three or four times, from which she escaped +by antidotes that she took; and that one of her women, to whom she +gave the remainder of a little chocolate [37] in which the poisons +were administered to her, died within two days or so, because she did +not take the antidote, while his wife escaped because she had done so. + +Another reason alleged for my arrest is, that there might be no +occasion or opportunity of [my] giving information to your Majesty, +and that that accounts for the hastiness of the imprisonment; and that +they would not allow me to touch pen to paper, having been warned of +the letters that I wrote to your Majesty--which, as above stated, were +seized from me. These have incited him to cruelty, and increased in me +the suspicion that was told me after my arrival at [the convent of] +St. Dominic, namely, that he tried to plan my murder there. That is +the fear with which I have written, and in which are all those who +give information to your Majesty, because of the vigilant measures +taken to seize the letters. + +Another reason alleged is, that I might not push forward the residencia +of the fiscal, and send it to your Majesty; for, as considered by +them, it must have been expedient for them that I should not send +it to your Majesty; and because I had not taken that of Don Juan de +Silva to his taste, awaiting an occasion for it when he should not +be present and when he should have left this city sometime, for if +he were present it would be impossible to take it. + +Another reason is because, as he has seen your Majesty has been +pleased to show me the favor to commit that residencia to me, and +his conscience accuses him, he fears (as is reported) that it or +the visit is near; and fearing that your Majesty would show me the +favor to commit it to me, and fearing justice, because I am not a +person who could overlook matters against your Majesty's service, +it has seemed to him, on the one hand, that if I were arrested and +not in the Audiencia, it would be easy by active efforts to get hold +of the letters and seize and conceal the decrees. On the other hand, +he thought by means of the acts of violence and insult that he has +used to disqualify me for such a responsibility with your Majesty, +for which effect it is understood that he has also designedly made +and procured my arrest. With what has been stated above (in which I +could go into further details without charging my conscience), the +case can be duly estimated by mentioning the particulars of one point, +concerning which I have to say the following. + +This country is at present in the most wretched condition +imaginable. Moreover the governor has recently obtained his desires, +namely, to be without an Audiencia, for Licentiate Legaspi is the +only one in it. For, besides having driven me from it, it seems that +he has also removed Don Antonio Rodriguez by treating him very ill +and by grossly insulting him, because the latter petitioned that the +acts by which the governor had arrested an auditor in the manner +in which he had arrested me, be placed before the Audiencia. But +the governor refused to give them; on the contrary, he has taken +away every one of several petitions presented in the Audiencia, +not wishing them to be seen publicly, for which arbitrary act +redress was demanded. The governor recognizes neither justice nor +king, but only his own absolute will and pleasure. For that reason, +shortly after my imprisonment until now, Don Antonio has been and is +quite unwell, and has less hope of going to the Audiencia for a long +time. Don Antonio does not deserve that, for in many matters and on +many occasions have I recognized in him very good desires and works +for the service of your Majesty. Consequently, even if Licentiate +Legaspi remains, that means to have no Audiencia, when one considers +the close relations that exist between these two strong arguments, +the disposition of the governor, and the way in which he treats the +service of your Majesty. For the people generally say of him that +it would be a miracle if another worse than he could be found. It +is said of Licentiate Legaspi that he is the worst official that +your Majesty has. The same has been said of Don Juan de Alvarado, +ex-fiscal, and that is known throughout the country as a public +matter. All three are so great friends that some call them "the union +of the saints," so that, of a truth, as the people understand, not +one tittle more than the governor wishes ever happens. Consequently, +a number of litigants are holding back their suits until there shall +be an Audiencia. There is much outcry at there being no one from whom +to demand justice for the insults cast on them by the governor, for, +finally, if there were men to defend the service of your Majesty, +the governor would not do whatever he wished, although they would +suffer and endure many insults for it. The fact is that if all men +had a desire and resolution to suffer hardships and even to die for +justice and the service of their king, the community would suffer less +hurt today, for the governor would not be so daring. And he would not +in that case have dared to arrest me, had not he had the consent of +Licentiate Legaspi in his grasp; and whenever he needs it he is quite +sure of it, in exchange for the advantages that, as everyone knows, the +governor has given to him and his sons and retainers--from which I have +tried many times to divert him, constraining him by the fidelity due +to his king, so that he take strength and write your Majesty. Although +I have brought him over on some occasions, my effect has lasted less +time than it would last if I had the opportunity and occasion that +such things have when one goes straight to God. On the contrary, I +think he gets along better without me in the Audiencia, both he and +Don Juan de Valderrama--to whom I said what I could say to a brother +as soon as he arrived here, because I saw the state of affairs and +thought to better them somewhat. But I have indeed done little. + +My conscience has made me write at such length, and although there is +much to make me continue, I think that I shall have performed my duty +with the above, so that all may be considered, provided your Majesty +be pleased to send us redress with the haste that so serious matters +as these require, by sending us a leader who is a good Christian +and one very zealous for God's service, and who will only strive to +obtain that and to serve his king, and not the contrary. For with +that the Audiencia will have its due place, and the auditors will +attend strictly to their duties, and will conduct it for the peace +and conservation of the country, and for your Majesty's service. It +is also important that your Majesty send an inspector here, inasmuch +as the country is so full of schemes, tricks, and contrivances to +destroy it and finish its ruin; and since your Majesty, as so holy a +king, cannot abandon it, after having planted therein the holy gospel, +and consequently, having sent the so great fruit of so many souls to +heaven. Besides this, if it has peace and is free from enemies, and +religiously governed, it will give the greatest wealth and grandeur to +your Majesty that can be imagined. It is advisable that such a one be +a picked man, and that he be such a person as is necessary, as I have +written your Majesty at other times: that he be entirely disinterested, +and a good lawyer, with clean hands; that he have great authority in +regard to war and peace, and over high officials in both, and power +to suspend, in case he deem it advisable, the most serious penalties +for your service for long periods, in order to investigate the truth, +so that he may understand and learn the tricks, crimes, and criminals, +and that he may know the persons in whom he can trust--not only as +his agents, but also so that he can ascertain how your Majesty can +best provide suitable measures [for reform]. For in no other way can +the holy desires of your Majesty, which are those of God, who rewards +the good and punishes the evil, be obtained. If he be not such, he +will be confused during his inspection by schemes, impositions, and +covetousness, but if he be such, he will be the consolation of this +country, as I trust in God, and your Majesty will hold it securely in +order and justice, in peace and true obedience, and with renown. Your +Majesty will then know the evil and the good men, and the excesses +of many, and mine. You will obtain great possessions for the royal +exchequer and render great service for God our Lord. But otherwise, +if he be not such a person, he will serve as a help to the ruin of the +country, and as an encouragement to future officials, especially the +governors, so that they may act worse. And since thin country has gone +from bad to worse because of the officials that it has had, especially +the governors, until its present condition has been reached, if your +Majesty does not visit an exemplary punishment on those officials, +in accordance with each one's guilt, it is quite clear that those who +shall govern in the future will complete its ruin. For the security of +that, I think it will aid much for your Majesty to send a stringent +order to Mexico and to Sevilla, so that the property sent by the +governor, and what he has sent by third persons under various heads, +be investigated, which can be ascertained with reasonable efforts; +and that it be secured by levying an attachment on it, or at least +by placing it in a depositary; or as your Majesty may deem best to +order it, for it is understood that such property is in very great +quantity. Although I do not dare to affirm this, there are some who +with the information and even more that they have of the coming and +going of these things relating to the governor are persuaded that +the sum [thus sent away] will amount to little less than one million +[pesos], and at least to a great sum. I think that all that sum will be +necessary, if his inspection or residencia be well made, and that much +more will not suffice for the pecuniary part. To do it your Majesty +will have sufficient grounds by reason of the advices, letters, and +report that have already reached and will reach you concerning his +affairs. Will your Majesty decree what is most to your royal service. + +I began to take the residencia of Don Juan de Alvarado, as soon as I +received your Majesty's decree, and I give account of it in a separate +letter that I am sending to your Majesty with it. + +Of that of Don Juan de Silva, which your Majesty also ordered me to +take, I have informed your Majesty in other letters, that that order +reached me jointly with that of the fiscal, and that for certain +reasons of convenience I deemed it best to take that of the fiscal, +and afterward to enter upon that of Don Juan de Silva. The country has +been so scandalized by what occurred in that of the fiscal, Don Juan de +Alvarado, because of the violent demonstrations made by the governor in +favor of the fiscal, that many witnesses of those who swore, came to me +to ask me not to take Don Juan de Silva's residencia, because there was +not one man who would tell anything that he knew when summoned. Some of +the witnesses they tried to kill at night, and others fled the city, +having been threatened, it is said, by order of the governor, after +the charges against the fiscal were published, until which time he and +the governor thought that there could be no witness who would dare [say +anything]. On that account the demonstrations that arose were greater, +and I was requested, considering the condition of the affairs of the +country and the many objects of the governor, to do the same in the +residencia of Don Juan de Silva. [This was desired] on account not +only of the many connections that it must necessarily have with many +cases related to it, with which he has had connection during the time +while he has been here; but of other private persons, his friends, +who are involved in the residencia, especially one Josephe de Naveda +Alvarado, a relative of the fiscal, who was secretary to Don Juan de +Silva, and also served him in other offices of great danger. It is +well known that this man, for Don Juan's sake, has committed the most +dangerous and insolent acts that one can imagine, during that time +and at present. He is also secretary to this governor, whose especial +favor he enjoys. Whence I am persuaded beyond all doubt that nothing +good will be done, for what the governor would not do through Josephe +de Naveda and the others is much more than what he would do through +the fiscal. It is not many months since, because of a royal decree +that your Majesty sent to the Audiencia ordering the investigation +of the property of Don Juan de Silva and its sequestration, I found, +on attending to it, a process where it appeared that this Naveda owed +Don Juan de Silva eight thousand pesos. On taking it to the Audiencia +to have justice done there and to have it paid, notwithstanding +your Majesty's decree, the governor seized the process and kept it, +forbidding us, with frightful demonstrations [of anger], to discuss +it longer. Consequently, I thought it best to postpone taking the +residencia until I could see whether matters would mend, which God +is wont to bring about by methods unthought of--notwithstanding +that the governor, under pretext of service to your Majesty, told me +often to take the residencia, for, in the presence of the greatest +and most serious offenses, both he and his associates would come out +as if they were angels. This was the motive of the pressure that he +brought to bear; and, even though he should have more crimes than the +sea has sands, yet because of him nothing would be said against the +others. That would mean not to take the residencia, and for me not +to obey your Majesty's will, with the loss of great sums, and much +detriment, to the royal exchequer; for it is certain, Sire, that those +who would come out as if angels--and some of them, especially Naveda, +according to the report and outcry of the country--would not pay what +they owe with many lives and with many hangings. For such are the +devices that the governors have used here for the destruction both of +the royal treasury of your Majesty and of this country. However, with +the lapse of time and hoping for opportunity, I made investigations +as secretly as possible with most of the notaries in this city, +inasmuch as two or three others that remain are of the governor's +household--to the end, as I have told your Majesty, that they may +serve his purposes. They (and if there were others, it would all +be miraculous) [38] and given with the greatest fear in the world; +with which your Majesty will see that not even in secret and under +oath do men dare to speak. Then continuing, the time came in which the +governor arrested me, without considering what I had in charge at your +Majesty's command. Consequently everything is at a standstill, until +God shall remedy it. Hence, Sire, as I have said, the obligation of +conscience makes me give account to your Majesty; and I think, for a +conclusion of this matter, that I am not excused from some particulars. + +The first is the news that has reached this city, by way of India, that +the enemy is sending reenforcements of fifty-five warships. Because +the governor's disposition during this time is so worthy of resentment, +as above related, it is stated publicly that, on receiving this news, +the archbishop told the governor to try to prepare some warships, to +whom he responded that he would gladly sell the few that he had. Hence +it is feared that the enemy will have been informed of that as soon +as they reached this country; and that with this opportunity, they +would write, and they thought it good to come if it is true. + +Secondly, that the government of this country has more need of a man +who is a servant of God, of mature age and prudence, rather than simply +a soldier; if there should not be readily found, a man thoroughly +qualified for the warfare of this country, the least influential +citizens here understand it. There are some men of great courage, +and thus when the Audiencia was governing, it has had excellent +successes. Consequently, such a man would cost your Majesty two-thirds +less than the governor costs you. It is certain, and I consider it +assured, that all the mishaps that the affairs of this country have +experienced--both in this land, and in the fleets and succors that +your Majesty has tried to send to it from those regions--have happened +because of the multitude of offenses to God that have been committed +here in other times and are even now being committed; and that all +are derived from the disorderly lives of the governors. + +Thirdly, that great damages result because of the division of +jurisdiction between the Audiencia and captain-general. For the +Audiencia tries civil cases of the soldiers and the general the +criminal; but with authority as captain-general, as he is governor +and president, he extends that jurisdiction as far as he pleases. He +interprets the decrees that your Majesty has issued for this purpose, +[to apply] even to the citizens of Manila; and when the infantry +leave this city and the citizens are stationed as guards, they are +made to assume the condition of the other soldiers. The Audiencia is +left without any jurisdiction, while the captain-general gets it all, +notwithstanding the many offenses to God which are committed--for many +wicked men are protected by the war at this time, and in a few days go +out to commit greater crimes. Since the Audiencia tries civil causes +of the soldiers with the plenary jurisdiction that it enjoys over +the citizens (and the soldiers are citizens), on the other hand it +appears most fitting that it try cases of the soldiers like those of +the citizens; and that, as appeal is made from the ordinary judges, +appeal be made to the Audiencia by the soldiers in cases civil and +criminal--at least while the soldiers are not actually fighting, +or in pursuit of the enemy. For, besides the service to God and to +your Majesty that will result from such a course, the Audiencia, +when there is one, will be respected; and the soldiers will not be so +disregardful of what their captain-general says to them in times of +peace, even though the latter be one who razes a convent to the ground. + +Fourthly, that among the ordinances of this Audiencia is one (to +which I referred above) ordering the president to try the criminal +causes of the auditors With that the governor has endeavored to make +a pretext for my imprisonment. As I do not see the original signed +by your Majesty, I doubt the truth of that decree, as occasion for +it was given by people who pay little heed to conscience. With that +decree, if the governor wished to destroy [39] the country, and if +the auditor did not agree with him, he could move a question in regard +to its being cloudy and there being no sun. If an auditor should say +that he thought the sun was shining, the governor would say that the +auditor meant to call him a liar, as he said to me. By that means, +and by similar methods used toward the others, he would, destroy them, +and would keep them imprisoned three or four years, until relief came +from your Majesty; and sometimes it would be impossible to send that +relief for the damages that this country thus receives. Consequently, +Sire, it is very necessary for your Majesty to revoke that decree, +and to give the Audiencia the authority and the superiority that it +has enjoyed in other times; for by doing otherwise the Audiencia can +be very well dispensed with, as it amounts to no Audiencia. This is +truer, since it is six thousand leguas' distance to your Majesty, +and since it might happen that relief may not arrive in three +years--especially since, in strictness of law, your Majesty does +not give them the authority that they arrogate to themselves; and, +to him who cherishes malice, a slight occasion is sufficient. + +Fifthly, that although it is true that it was decided to be advisable +for your Majesty to send aid to this country, as I understand that it +has been petitioned in the manner and form of reenforcement, I greatly +doubt whether it is more suitable for your Majesty to send ships by +way of the cape of Buena Esperanza; for the artillery founded here is +the best in the world, as are the ships built here, as I have been +well informed. Besides, the artillery and ships of the quality and +size necessary here cannot be sent from that country, for it has been +found that war is made more securely here and the enemy frightened more +by the very large galleons (much larger than those sent from there), +which will withstand heavy artillery, such as those built by Don Juan +de Silva. Further, the woods [used here] resist the balls better; +and the ships are built with special strength and by the best master +in the world, as I have been told. With money and care, the rapidity +with which those ships can be built is remarkable. Consequently, +I think that if what is spent on the fleet be sent in money, and +soldiers, and sailors, by way of Nueva Espana in trading fleets, +and by way of India in the ships that sail from Lisboa, it would be +more expedient--notwithstanding that it is said that the infantry +that come by way of Nueva Espana desert at their arrival there; for +with good judgment and care that difficulty would be remedied. Will +your Majesty decide what is most advisable. + +Sixthly, that the fiscal of this Audiencia fills the office of +protector of the Indian natives, and of the Chinese Sangleys who +come from China to this country, for their advantage and trade, +by virtue of a decree issued by your Majesty. Your Majesty assigns +him no salary, for it seems to be your intention to have him attend +to that duty with his salary as fiscal. The governors here, in order +to control the fiscals, so that the latter may not oppose the things +that the former wish when these are in violation of your Majesty's +service, assign them an annual salary of eight hundred pesos at the +cost of the Chinese Sangleys. For that purpose a communal fund has +been established, and each Chinese is obliged to deposit, I believe, +two reals apiece annually in that fund, and from that fund is assigned +the salary of the fiscal as protector. As the Chinese are so numerous, +the sum amounts to considerable, although it it not all paid to the +fiscal. In the collection and method used, considerable annoyances +are experienced. Besides, there is no authority to levy that money, +for your Majesty has not assigned it, nor is the governor able to do +it, although he give your Majesty a pretext for it. The worst thing +is that that sum has never served, nor does it serve, other purpose +than to flay the Sangleys, for besides that it seems incompatible for +one to be a protector on the one hand, and one who seeks to act as +prosecutor on the other, it seems that the true protector is the good +judge, the Audiencia [or] the good governor. But as with the protector +they never escape from spending their money, but rather, I think, spend +more, and the most who have suits, waste their poor resources on the +procurators and lawyers, it seems to be a matter worthy of reform, +and that the Sangleys either should have no protector who is not a +protection to them, but a trouble (or at least for most of them), +or that your Majesty order that he perform the duties of the office +with his salary as fiscal; for I certify that many offenses to God +will cease. And since they claim that it is not an office of honor, +there is a mystery therein, especially since I, having charged against +Don Juan de Alvarado that he was taking that salary without orders +from your Majesty, the succeeding fiscal knowing that, and Don Juan +de Silva having revoked that communal tax, the preceding fiscal has +agreed with the present governor that the communal tax on the Chinese +be again established, and that the salary be assigned from it. That +is a very flimsy pretext, so that the fiscals may not perform their +duties faithfully against the governor. Will your Majesty order what +shall be most suitable for this particular, and for whatever else is +mentioned herein. + +Lastly, I have made known by other letters to your Majesty that from +my arrival in this country, although I keep about, I have ever been +ill and a sufferer from sickness, besides which I have had several +dangerous illnesses in bed, so that I cannot serve your Majesty +here as I desire. I trust, God willing, that I shall have better and +better occasions to serve your Majesty in another place, for which +reason I petition your Majesty to be pleased not to consider my slight +services, but only my good desires by promoting me to the occupation +of greater favors and honors, and especially to satisfy me for the +insults that the governor has cast on me in your Majesty's service, +and for the many dangers through which I have passed in my endeavors +to have your Majesty served and obeyed loyally and as is fitting. + +As to what pertains to the seizure above mentioned of the great +quantity of property that the governor is said to possess in +Mexico, I must warn you that, in addition to what was said, the +report originated publicly, in the beginning, in this city that the +governor was to go in a ship that he was intending to despatch by way +of the cape of Buena Esperanza, with a quantity of cloves which he was +expecting from Terrenate. That was founded on what they say about his +knowledge of how serious are the things that he has done, and that, +fearful of punishment from your Majesty, he did not intend to await +it; and also because this year he has sent whatever he could to Nueva +Espana in the ships that sailed, lessening even his number of horses, +as is said; and [it was rumored] that he was about to go by way of +the cape of Buena Esperanza with the cloves that he was awaiting +from Terrenate. But inasmuch as the cloves from Terrenate did not +come, it is now said that he is not sending the ship, and that he +must have taken new counsel. Consequently although the flagship of +the two ships that were going to Nueva Espana was wrecked, still in +the advice-ship that he despatched later the governor sent a huge +quantity of goods. He sent in the almiranta which got away safely +and took the lead, a person to look after and care for everything, +namely, Don Fernando Falcon, whom he made captain of infantry, and +to whom he gave great profits for that purpose. It is said that he +had orders to look after everything, and to ship as much as possible +to Castilla; as also, because he must fear that it will be possible, +on account of his great offenses, for your Majesty to be informed +of the great wealth that he has sent and his conscience will accuse +him. Will your Majesty order those goods to be sequestered--as is said +here, all that [he has], without taking account of the one hundred +and thirty or so boxes, which, as is notorious in this city, he lost +in the flagship. This is added new to the letter that I sent in the +ships of Nueva Espana, of which this letter is a copy, and which I +am sending by way of Yndia. Will your Majesty provide, etc. + +_Licentiate Don Alvaro Messa y Lugo_ + +Sire: + +The letters that will accompany this letter are duplicates of last +year, both of what I wrote via Mexico and via Yndia; and although at +that time I wrote as I did in them many more and better things can be +said now. For besides the fact that lawless acts are so prevalent, +they are increasing with the presence of their master, who, to be +explicit, is the governor. It is advisable for the honor and respect of +your Majesty, to put a stop to as much as possible. For that reason, +I shall merely touch upon the following particulars of what is new, +with all possible brevity; for in order to satisfy your Majesty some +things are requisite. Hence, Sire: + +1. First, after fifteen months of imprisonment and retreat, while I was +very heedless, and distrustful that the governor would take such action +(although very confident in the mercy of God), the governor sent an +order to me at St. Dominic to come out and assume my duties. Although +I hesitated considerably about going out on account of the great peril +in which I was placing myself, the force of your Majesty's service drew +me out, a fortnight or thereabout before the arrival of the ships from +Acapulco. I was encouraged considerably by the religious who assured +me that the whole town was clamoring for me to go out, except certain +persons who hate justice. Consequently I persuaded myself that I would +be doing your Majesty a service, and for that I did not think that +I was doing much in endangering myself, since I shall do my duty in +losing my life. It seems miraculous, and there are few who understand +how the governor came to do this, for, although it is true that he fell +out with Licentiate Legaspi, on finding that the latter while enjoying +so great friendship with him, had written against him; and because of +the great friendship between Licentiate Legaspi and Licentiate Juan +de Baiderrama the governor's displeasure was also extended toward the +said Licentiate Baiderrama: still they maintained friendly relations, +although the governor ceased to extend to him the accommodations and +profits of former times. Although it is reported that the governor +made numerous investigations, I have not heard from one who knew the +whole truth that he did it with violence, but with great mildness, +giving the witness liberty to make his deposition. On the contrary I +have always understood, Sire, that he made no further investigations, +nor has he wished to do so; and I even believe that it was done for +reasons of state, in order not to irritate Licentiate Legaspi too +much, in case that the latter should take part in his residencia, +for the governor must consider him as a revengeful and hot-headed +person. But Licentiate Legaspi, fearing that the governor intended to +arrest him, withdrew into the [convent of] the Society of Jesus. It +is said that on that account he allowed me to come out. All persons +of good judgment are not sorry for it, especially since they know the +inclination of the governor, who, it is feared, would not lose much +pleasure if all the world were destroyed--although in his falling out +with Licentiate Legaspi, a matter that began some four or five months +ago, it is understood that that has aided considerably in his having +repented of my imprisonment and the affronts that he put upon me; for +it is understood that his chief counselor and instigator was the said +Licentiate Legaspi under pretext of desiring, and advising him of, +his welfare, as to an associate in the matter of his duty. For that +reason he did not wish me to be present, as I would be a considerable +hindrance, as I write your Majesty in the duplicates. The same is said +of Don Juan de Balderrama, although it is also understood that he did +it with moderation; for all does not seem sufficient for the governor's +relenting toward me. Consequently I consider it more correct to ascribe +everything to the great goodness of the Lord, who well knows how to +plan all things. What I can say, Sire, is that notwithstanding all the +above, I do not believe the governor's intention a sincere one, because +of what is known concerning him. I have never seen him do anything, +although a good act, that did not have a private aim. Consequently I +think that if he took me from prison it was for his own end. The same +is true of the investigations concerning, and his falling out with, +Licentiate Legaspi, notwithstanding that he says he is zealous for +your Majesty's service in it, and although it is true that the deeds +of Licentiate Legaspi are many and very serious. + +2. Secondly, that although the governor, while I was in the Audiencia, +tried to deprive the Audiencia of all authority, and the auditors gave +him considerable opportunity for it (with the exception of me only, and +as such he expelled me), however, during the time of my absence, he has +gained such foothold and influence over everything, that scarcely has +one liberty to live in the Audiencia. This is especially so in regard +to myself; for although I desire and try to secure your Majesty's +service, I cannot feign or dissimulate in the things in which I am +unable to secure your service, although I try to flee any occasion +of dispute with him, with extraordinary endeavor. Consequently, for +my part, Sire, I declare that in many offenses that concern him, +the punishment is deferred, with great regret, until your Majesty +send a remedy; besides, there are many other criminals whom he has +sent from here, so that they should not harm him. + +3. The third, which is of the manner of the above, namely, that it +is said that one Gregorio de Vidana, whom the governor despatched +to Yndia during that time on his private business at the expense of +your Majesty's authority--for, in violation of your royal will and +your royal decrees that prohibit the sale of offices, the governor +gave Vidana an appointment as regidor gratuitously, in order that the +cabildo might appoint him as procurator (for which he schemed) and +that they give him a considerable number of ducados--obtained or stole +in Yndia certain letters written to your Majesty by the Audiencia +and despatched via Yndia in the time of Don Antonio Rodriguez, +which were the duplicates of others written via Nueva Espana. He +directed them to this city, together with other letters written by +the inhabitants and religious. The governor opened and read them, +with so little fear and respect that one of his adherents went about +the streets publicly reading to private persons the letters that the +Audiencia wrote to your Majesty. Consequently he has taken occasion +to write to your Majesty with tricks and cunning, as is said. + +4. The fourth is that, in consequence of this and other things, +occasion was given for it to be said very openly, this year, that he +opened the packets from your Majesty, which were handed to him first, +and extracted whatever he wanted, if they contained anything that +answered his purpose; and then resealed them and ordered the person +who bore them (and whom he sent for them) to return very secretly as +he had entered, and to enter a second time publicly with the packets +damp, so that it could not be seen that they had been opened. In this +too was involved your Majesty's new seal which they said would be +found in one of the packets, but it does not appear. Therefore they +charge the governor with concealing it; and all that is without the +aid of authority to make investigation. + +5. The fifth is that your Majesty orders by a decree that came to the +Audiencia this year that the vessels that sail hence to Acapulco be +not despatched late. The fact of the matter in this is, Sire, that the +Audiencia is powerless to remedy that, beyond the repeated telling of +it to the governor. If they should do more, besides not being obeyed +by a single man, at the least little thing, the governor would seize +the auditor who said it and clap him into prison; and, as he is the +sole and absolute ruler, he is, notwithstanding what has been said to +him this year, despatching the vessels when he wishes, and answers +that he is attending to it very well and is doing his duty. It is +said that, this year as in others, he has made a great cargo by the +schemes and methods mentioned in the duplicates. Others say that he +has done it, because it is common talk that news came to him that in +Acapulco a small casket of gold in bars, and jewels and pearls, had +been confiscated from him as contraband goods, although the officials +did not know the owner of it; and that one Don Fernando Falcon, +who took under his charge a considerable amount of the governor's +property last year, went to Piru from Acapulco with most of it, and +the governor is obliged to claim compensation. Because of awaiting +ships from Macan to make chests, the ships are not yet despatched, +and it is the thirtieth of July; nor does anyone imagine that they +will leave the islands even by the fifteenth of August. That, the +governor says, is because of the enemy. Thus and with other schemes, +although certain new pretenses are alleged, and with absolute power, +does the governor act just as he pleases. It is impossible to remedy +matters unless the governor be a man who fears God and your Majesty; +for if he wishes to send depositions that the sun gives no light, +as one might say, [he can do it]. What occurs to me, Sire, is that, +since it is sufficient for the good sailing of the ships that they +sail by the middle of July, if unable to sail before, your Majesty +should set a time-limit by ordering that they sail between the +middle of June and the middle of July, if they cannot sail before; +and that they shall not sail after that. In that way, since it will +be known that they have to sail, all those interested in the cargo, +even though it be the most influential persons, the governors, will +have their despatches ready. But they will not do it in any other +way, for although your Majesty says that they shall not sail late, +the governors do what they wish in this matter. Will your Majesty be +pleased to order your pleasure. + +6. The sixth is that your Majesty orders the Audiencia to send a +relation of what occurred in certain crimes at Santa Potenciana. Since +the Audiencia writes it through its president, namely, the governor, +scarcely could he refrain from telling the truth in order not +to lie. Consequently I think it advisable to answer that in this +letter. What passes, Sire, and it is the truth, is that the seminary +called Santa Potenciana is a house of retreat, not for religion but +for single or married women, and almost without retirement, as it has +relaxed considerably. For that reason it is a cause for wonder that +there are men who some years are willing to leave their wives there +during their absence. Consequently, the majority of women there are +mestizas. It happened perchance that Lucas de Vergara Gaviria left his +wife there when he went to Terrenate as governor, as did another who +went later, namely, Sargento-mayor Antonio Carreno de Baldes. It was +said (and not covertly, but quite openly) that the governor solicited +the wife of Lucas de Bergara, but that he was angered at her purity +and virtue. Also it was said that the same thing occurred with the +wife of Carreno de Baldes, although she is not considered a person of +so great virtue as the other woman. And this being so, they say that +Licentiate Hieronimo de Legaspi, while I was on that occasion in bed +indisposed, proceeded against one Juan de Mohedano, because it was said +that he had entered Santa Potenciana to hold carnal communication with +a married woman. Upon my recovery, and when I went to the Audiencia, I +found that Juan de Mohedano was presenting a petition challenging their +jurisdiction by saying that he was a soldier. When I learned the cause, +I wondered, for the woman was married and one of the chief women here, +namely, the wife of the said Antonio Carreno de Baldes, who was in +Terrenate. I resolved to investigate the matter, as it was only verbal, +so that it might not become public. The Audiencia had made a judicial +writ and secret information and merits, by a secret and outside method, +without arresting Mohedano in order to exile and punish him, so that it +might not be known; for by any other way it would have been contrary +to law, and would have meant the irreparable loss and deprivation +of the honor of an influential woman and to the blamelessness of +her husband if perchance she has secretly committed certain acts +of imprudence, or written papers, or made pretensions, and I do not +know whether such were more than indications. At that juncture the +governor took up the matter, by whom it is said Mohedano was persuaded +to challenge the jurisdiction [of the Audiencia], by promises to free +him; he did it, as was seen, thus deceiving him in order to avenge +himself, as it is said, as soon as he had the woman with him. Thus +the governor came to the session, and, with his usual heat, caused +the case to be remitted to him without greater justification, as he +was the captain-general. Licentiate Legaspi and Licentiate Alcazar +did it through compulsion, but I, Sire, for the reason above stated, +did not agree to it, and so voted in the meeting. Being then, Sire, +the leader in the cause against Mohedano and that wretched woman, +he proceeded therein, as well as in another that he began against +one Don Fernando Becerra for the same thing. This he did with an +alcalde-in-ordinary, or with Don Hieronimo de Silva, or with both, +going and coming to and from Santa Potenciana with soldiers and the +torture-rack, besides indulging in other demonstrations, as they +affirm, that scandalized the city--where, as this city is but small, +everything was instantly divulged. And as evil men are not wanting, +there was one who gave notice of a certain slander against General Don +Juan de la Vega, son of Doctor Juan Manuel de la Vega, ex-auditor of +this Audiencia. There was a certain report of meetings with the wife +of Lucas de Vergara, auditor of Terrenate. Since the governor was +also angered by her said purity and virtue, which truly are great, +it is said that he considered it a good opportunity for vengeance. He +himself, seeing the door opened by Licentiate Legaspi in the case of +the other woman, conducted the cause. In the case of Mohedano and Don +Fernando Bezerra, there was dispute; while that of Don Juan de la Vega +came on appeal to the Audiencia. Since this is so small a place, and +was so scandalized, and these households were ruined (for the matter +was all immediately made known publicly), the Audiencia thought, +since only the husband can take action in an adultery suit, and since +all that had been done was illegal, because the women were immediately +published, together with the investigations and intent [_yntencion_], +that also in consequence of that, and the lack of proof, and because +of other considerations, it would be advisable, besides doing justice +in what came to their hand, to repair the honor of those influential +men and women. Consequently the Audiencia acquitted Juan de la Vega, +whereat the whole city rejoiced, for all were persuaded that such +accusations were lies. However, as this matter is so serious, when the +husbands learned of it upon their arrival, they refused to live with +their wives or to enter an adultery suit, for the adultery could not +be proved. Consequently, even with such an effort by the Audiencia, +those families are ruined; although it is quite true that, if the +governor had executed the sentence, it is regarded as certain that +they would have killed their wives. This is the truth, Sire, and it +could not be written in the Audiencia's letter. If other things have +been written to your Majesty by the governor, they must be a part of +his schemes to bleed himself safely, under pretext of your Majesty's +service, as all see that he is doing. + +The residencia of Licentiate Don Juan de Saavedra for the period of +his fiscalship, which your Majesty orders me to take, has come to my +hands. I am resolved to take it on the departure of the ships, for this +residencia does not have the troubles of that of Don Juan de Silva and +of Don Hieronimo de Silva, as these duplicates of the letters of the +past year which I wrote your Majesty and which will be in these letters +that I am writing [will relate]. In those residencias I shall make, as +I say in the duplicates, efforts to take them, proceeding throughout as +in duty bound, looking to the greater service of God and that of your +Majesty. Thefts committed by the soldiers because they are not paid, +and many other calamities of the country, I shall not relate because +of what I have promised, and as that would be impossible. And also +because that aids in putting an end to sorrow and just resentment, +will your Majesty give what orders you please in everything. + +I petition your Majesty for God's sake to please give me satisfaction +for the insults and injuries that I have received from the governor +for your Majesty's service, and also to withdraw me from this country, +honoring me and showing me favor, for I have no strength to serve +your Majesty here. May God preserve the Catholic person of your +Majesty. Manila, July 30, 1622. + +_Licentiate Don Alvaro Messa y Lugo_ + + +Sire: + +The archbishop of these islands presented a petition in this royal +Audiencia, in which he requested that depositions be accepted +for him, by order and officially, in which he claims that your +Majesty conceded to him an increase of his salary of three thousand +Castilian ducados per year, in order that he may be able to support +himself for the reasons that he alleges. Having officially received +the depositions, what seems to have resulted from it, in brief, is +that if the archbishop would regulate himself in the ostentation and +authority that he exercises in imitation of others, his predecessors, +he could live on his salary of three thousand ducados. Nevertheless +they [_i.e._, those making depositions] consider the said ostentation +and authority as suitable to what is due the archiepiscopal dignity; +and that, in order to sustain that dignity that he exercises and +enjoys, an increase of his salary will be necessary, because the +prices of articles for the sustenance of human life have increased, +as appears by the said deposition, which, if your Majesty please, +you will order to be examined. + +On considering the above and other reasons of your Majesty's service, +this Audiencia believes that, if your Majesty wish, you may avoid the +increase of the said salary. May God preserve the Catholic person of +your Majesty. August 14, 622. + + +_Licentiate Don Alvaro Messa y Lugo_ +_Licentiate Don Juan de Saavedra Valderrama_ + + +[_Endorsed_: "The Audiencia of Manila in regard to the pretensions +of the archbishop of that island."] + + + +For the same reasons that move the Audiencia to present information +that it will be just to increase the salary of the prebendaries of +this church, the governor thinks it proper to increase that of the +archbishop to the sum that your Majesty may be pleased; and not in +the last place, since his obligations are in the first place. + +_Don Alonso Fajardo de Tenca_ + + + + + +Letters from the Archbishop of Manila to the King + + +Sire: + +In compliance with what your Majesty ordered in your royal decree +of May eighteen, 619, countersigned by your secretary, Juan Ruiz +de Contreras, I shall inform your Majesty in this letter [40] +of the matters pertaining to the ecclesiastical government of this +archbishopric, that are mentioned in the said royal decree, and I shall +answer and satisfy each section in the same order as set forth therein. + +_Possession of the archbishopric and residence therein_. [41] I took +possession, Sire, of this archbishopric, July 23, 620, and I have +always resided therein without having absented myself therefrom. + +_Visitation of the ecclesiastical cabildo, clergy of Manila, +and province of Pampanga_. From the said day on which I took +possession of this archbishopric, I have busied myself in this city +of Manila, its metropolis, visiting my cabildo, clergy, hospitals, +and confraternities, and bestowing confirmation and attending to other +duties in my charge, until April 20, 621, when I set out to visit +the province of Pampanga. In that and in administering the sacrament +of confirmation, I was busied somewhat more than one month. Then I +returned to Manila, where I have resided until now, without having +gone to visit the rest of my diocese, because of nine Dutch vessels +that were in the mouth of the bay, and because of other events which +have hindered me. I shall do so, God willing, as soon as the vessels +about to go to Nueva Espana have set sail. + +Thanks to God, the inspection of my cabildo resulted in not finding any +offense for which charges ought to be brought against any prebend; nor +against the other clergy of this city was anything proved that merited +punishment, except that three or four had gambled with some publicity, +for which they were punished. Some cases of open concubinage of lay +persons have caused and are causing remark in this city; and as this +city is so small, they cannot be very well hidden. In order that such +might be avoided, I have made and am making all the efforts possible. + +_Parochial church of Manila and number of souls under its +direction_. Inside the walls of Manila there is only one Spanish +parochial church, namely, the cathedral. Hitherto it has had but +one curate; and inasmuch as I found the curacy vacant, and thought +it advisable for the better administration of the parishioners, I +discussed with the governor the matter of having two. He agreed to it, +and consequently a proclamation was published and the appointments +given by competition to two virtuous and learned clerics, who today +serve in the said curacy. In that parochial church are directed in +confession two thousand four hundred Spaniards, both men and women, +among whom are to be counted a few mestizos. One thousand are male +inhabitants and transients, eight hundred and sixteen regular soldiers, +and five hundred and eighty-four women. In the above number neither +the religious, priests, nor children, are included. + +_Curacy of Indians and slaves inside Manila_. There is also one curate +who has charge of the Indian natives of this city and the slaves and +freedmen living within the city. He ministers to about one thousand six +hundred and forty Indians who make confession; and one thousand nine +hundred and seventy slaves, among whom are some few freedmen. Although +that seems considerable for only one curate, he can comfortably take +care of them, for the majority of them confess in the convents of +St. Augustine, St. Francis, St. Dominic, the Augustinian Recollects, +and the college of the Society of Jesus of this city. The said Indians +are ministered to, although with much inconvenience, in a chapel of +the royal Spanish hospital, and are buried in the church or cemetery +of the cathedral. If your Majesty so wish, they can have a church of +their own, and the expenses therefor can be secured from the royal +treasury, as is done in the villages outside Manila, where tribute +is collected, since they and the freedmen pay it to your Majesty. + +_Parochial church of Santiago, a suburb of Manila, and the souls cared +for therein_. In the village of Bagumbaya, which is a suburb of this +city, is the parochial church of Santiago, in charge of a beneficed +secular priest. There one hundred and fifty Spaniards (one hundred and +twenty of whom are men), besides another hundred and fifty mestizos +and freedmen, and four hundred Indians and slaves are ministered to. + +_Parochial church of the port of Cavite and the souls directed +therein_. In the port of Cavite, three leguas from Manila, there is +a parochial church in charge of a beneficed secular priest. In it +four hundred and thirty Spaniards are cared for; fifty of these are +soldiers of the fort, fifty women, and all the others sailors, some +of whom are mestizos. The said beneficed priest also ministers to two +thousand four hundred Indians and some slaves and people of various +nations, who number about four hundred. The religious of St. Francis, +St. Dominic, the Society of Jesus, and the Augustinian Recollects, +who own convents in the said port, assist him. + +_Benefices, and mission villages of Indian natives in the diocese of +the archbishopric of Manila both in charge of the secular priests and +of religious; and the number of souls cared for in the archbishopric_. + +The missions of the Indian natives of all this archbishopric are +in charge of secular priests and of religious of St. Augustine, +St. Francis, St. Dominic, the Society of Jesus, and Augustinian +Recollects. + +Those of the secular priests are divided into twelve benefices, +among which are the three above-mentioned, namely, Manila, Bagumbaya, +and Cavite. Altogether, twenty thousand souls of the said natives +are ministered to. + +_Order of St. Augustine_. The Order of St. Augustine has thirty-two +convents, all of which contain together fifty-six priests, who minister +to ninety thousand souls. + +_Order of St. Francis_. The Order of St. Francis has thirty-eight +convents of _guardianias_ [42] and presidencies, in which are +forty-seven priests, who all together minister to forty-eight thousand +four hundred souls. + +[_Order of St. Dominic_.] The Order of St. Dominic has three +convents. They minister to three thousand souls and have five +religious. The rest of their religious are stationed in the bishopric +of Nueva Segovia. In the province of Pangasinan, the Order of +St. Dominic has ten convents, with sixteen priests, who minister to +twenty-five thousand souls. [43] + +_The Society of Jesus_. The Society of Jesus has three residences, +with eight priests, who minister to ten thousand six hundred souls. + +_Augustinian Recollects_. The religious of the Augustinian Recollects +have three convents with six priests, who minister to eight thousand +souls. + +Consequently the number of souls of the natives alone, who are cared +for in the territory of this archbishopric of Manila, amounts to two +hundred and one thousand six hundred. [44] + +_Method of administration and direction of the villages and +missions_. The benefices of secular priests, and the convents and +residences of religious, above mentioned, are directed and instructed +as follows. Some have only one village; while for others--the most +common--besides the capital or principal village, there are two, +three, four, or five small villages, and in some even more, all of +which attend the church of the capital, when they are near it and +in a place suitable for that--which is generally the case, as the +distance is short, and can be traversed by waterways of lakes and +rivers. But when the distance is great, in the said villages (or in +some of them) there are churches where the priests go to celebrate +mass, on holy days and other days, from the capitals when there are +two or more priests; and they teach and administer the sacraments. But +when there is only one priest, as in the benefices of the seculars +and some of the orders, he says one mass in his capital, and another +in another village or visita of his district where all or almost all +of the people of it are gathered. In some districts, inasmuch as the +distance is considerable, the minister lives two or three months in +one village of his district and two or three in another, and in this +way goes the round of his benefice. + +The orders have their distinct districts assigned in provinces, +and thus by their contiguity those of each order are a mutual aid +among themselves. + +Although it is impossible to deny that the natives would be better +instructed and would live in more orderly ways if the small villages +were to be reduced to the capital, making one or two settlements of +each benefice, they consider it such an affliction to leave their +little houses where they were born and have been reared, their fields, +and their other comforts of life, that it could only be attained with +difficulty, and little fruit would result therefrom. Thus has the +experience of assembling the people into communities in Nueva Espana +proved, and so has what little of it has been attempted here. However, +in the visit that I shall make in this archbishopric, I shall try to +reduce them to as few settlements as possible. + +Inasmuch as I deem it greater prolixity than is advisable for what +your Majesty desires to know about the missions of the Indians, if I +set down the name and number of their settlements, I have refrained +from doing so. + +_Sangley missions of the diocese of the archbishopric of Manila, and +the number of souls directed in them_. Besides the said missions to the +natives, the Order of St. Dominic has in the town of Binondo, which +is near Manila on the other side of the river, Christian Sangleys, +most of whom are married to Indian women of this island, while others +are married with women of other nations. At present they number five +hundred Sangley mestizo inhabitants, who are cared for in their own +language in the convent of the above-mentioned order in the said town. + +Besides the said Sangleys of Binondo--who cannot return to their own +country, because they are married, and have no cues, and have become +residents here--some have been baptized these last four years who +have retained their long cues, without binding them not to return +to their own country. Some of these are ministered to in a church +in charge of the Order of St. Dominic, near the Parian; and others +in two other churches almost in the suburbs of Manila, and in one +other somewhat farther away--all three of which are in charge of +the Order of St. Francis, and number about one thousand Sangleys, +who are directed in their own language. + +_Japanese missions, and the number of souls ministered to therein_. In +the parochial church of Santiago, and in the villages of Dilao and +San Miguel, which are suburbs of Manila, and in the part of Cavite, +most of the Japanese in these islands are instructed. Some of them +are married, and although, because they are a people who go to and +fro to their own country, they have no fixed number, at present there +are more than fifteen hundred Christians. + +And now, Sire, I have given your Majesty a report of the souls +ministered to in the territory of this archbishopric, as exactly, +accurately, and clearly as I have been able. Inasmuch as your Majesty +will be pleased to have me report likewise on the three bishoprics +of these islands that are suffragan to this archbishopric of Manila, +although that report be summary, a brief relation of it is here +appended, which has been abstracted from the reports given to me by +the provincials of the orders and other persons. + +_Benefices and missions of the bishopric of Zibu, and the number of +souls ministered to_. + +In the bishopric of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus in the city of Zebu--the +residence of the bishop--there is one Spanish parochial church, namely, +the cathedral, whose benefice is served by one secular priest. He +ministers to one hundred Spaniards (fifty of whom are soldiers, and +twenty are women), and to two hundred and fifty Malucans, Ambuenos, +and those of other nations. + +In the same city of Zebu is one other benefice, also served by a +secular priest, where one thousand six hundred souls, counting Indian +inhabitants, wandering Indians, and Sangleys, are directed. They +are attended to by the convent of St. Augustine, and the residence +[_colegio_] of the Society of Jesus in that city. + +In the city of Arebalo, which is situated in the province of Oton, +and which belongs to the same bishopric, is a parochial church for +Spaniards, who, counting the women, number about one hundred. In the +island of Caraga are fifty Spanish soldiers, to whom, together with +four hundred Indian natives, one secular priest ministers. + +Besides the said benefices of Zebu, Villa de Arebalo, and the island +of Caraga, that bishopric has twelve secular benefices which minister +to fifteen thousand four hundred souls. The Order of St. Augustine +minister to forty-eight thousand souls of the Indian natives in +the fifteen convents with their visitas that they maintain in that +bishopric. The Society of Jesus minister to fifty-four thousand souls +in their residences. They give the name of residence to the college +or chief place to which the fathers of that district, who have other +houses and churches of their own where they live, are subject. + +Thus the souls of the Indian natives ministered to in the bishopric of +Zebu total one hundred and nineteen thousand six hundred and fifty, +including the few Malucans, Ambuenos, and those of other nations, +as above stated. + +_Missions of the bishopric of Cagayan, and the number of souls cared +for therein_. + +The bishopric of Cagayan, whose capital is the city of Nueva Segovia, +has twenty Spanish inhabitants and fifty soldiers in the said city. + +There is not a single secular benefice in all that bishopric, and it +is administered by the orders of St. Augustine and St. Dominic. + +The Order of St. Augustine has fifteen convents, in which fifty-eight +thousand souls of Indian natives are cared for. + +The souls of the natives ministered to in the said bishopric of +Cagayan amount to one hundred and twenty-eight thousand. + +_Benefices and missions of the bishopric of Camarines, and the number +of souls instructed therein_. + +In the bishopric of Camarines, whose seat is in the city of Caceres, +there are at present only twelve or fifteen Spanish inhabitants, +the alcalde-mayor, some few soldiers whom he takes with him, and the +collectors of tribute for that province, all of whom do not number +fifty men. They are ministered to in the cathedral by one secular +priest, who has in charge two small villages near by, where live two +hundred souls of the natives. + +That bishopric has five secular benefices, where eight thousand four +hundred souls of natives are ministered to. + +The Order of St. Francis owns twenty-four convents with guardianias +and presidencies, and ministers to forty-five thousand souls. + +The Society of Jesus has one residence, where they minister to three +thousand two hundred souls. Hence the souls of the natives cared +for in the said bishopric of Camarines amount to fifty-six thousand +eight hundred. + +_The number of souls of Indian natives ministered to in the Filipinas +Islands_. According to the evidence of this relation, the souls +of Indian natives ministered to in this archbishopric and in its +suffragans, the three above-mentioned bishoprics, amount to five +hundred and six thousand. [45] + +_The need of ministers, which explains why many souls of Indian +natives remain to be converted to our holy religion_. The number +would be far greater, Sire, were there more ministers. Through lack +of them a considerable number of those already pacified and who pay +tribute remain to be converted. There are some of these even among +the Indians who are Christians, especially in the bishoprics of Zibu +and Cagayan; while even in the bishopric of Camarines there are some +pagans, but not so many, and those of this archbishopric of Manila +are still fewer. Consequently it will be very advisable that religious +of the said orders come to these islands, so that they may attend to +this instruction and conversion, for all the islands are in pressing +need of them. + +_The arduous work of the ministers in the conversion of the +Indians_. One would not believe how arduously the ministers to the +Indians in these islands work, and how they should be esteemed; for +not only do they attend to their baptisms, confessions, communions, +marriages, and burials, but also--and this is of far greater labor, +work, and occupation--to the daily instruction of all in the church +(even though they be the children and grandchildren of Christians) +in the prayers and whatever is necessary so that they may know and +understand our holy faith, in order that the holy sacraments may be +administered to them. + + +_Hospitals_ + +_Royal hospital of Manila, where Spaniards are treated_. There is, +Sire, within the city of Manila, the royal Spanish hospital, where +all the ailments of only the Spanish men are treated. It is maintained +from your Majesty's royal treasury, the medicines, delicacies, wine, +and some other things being brought from Nueva Espana, while the rest +are bought here. There are generally from seventy to one hundred sick +men, most of them soldiers of this camp. As the needs of the royal +treasury have been so great these years, the sick have so little +comfort that for lack of it many of them die. The hospital is in +charge of a steward appointed by the governor, and has its physician, +surgeon, apothecary, barber, and other paid helpers. The Order of +St. Francis administer the sacraments to the sick. One or two priests +of that order live in the hospital, and two others, lay brethren, +act as nurses. It would seem advisable that that hospital and the +others be placed under the charge of the brothers of St. John of God +(who have the care of hospitals as an object of their profession), +if a sufficient number of them came from Espana. + +_Hospital of La Misericordia, where slaves and Spanish women are +treated_. In another hospital, called that of La Misericordia, +[46] also inside the walls of Manila, sick slaves are treated for +all ailments--both men and women, in separate quarters. There are +generally from eighty to one hundred sick persons in it. It has one +separate room where poor Spanish women are treated, which generally +has from twelve to twenty women. That hospital is in charge of the +Confraternity of La Misericordia ["mercy"], which bears all the +expenses and keeps the hospital very well supplied with medicine and +delicacies. It is administered by religious of St. Francis. + +_Hospital of the natives_. Five hundred paces from the wall of Manila +stands the hospital of the native Indians, where only Indian men +and women are treated (in distinct rooms), for all ailments. It has +generally from about one hundred to one hundred and fifty sick. Five +hundred ducados are given to it annually from the royal treasury by +the order of your Majesty, besides one thousand five hundred fanegas +of uncleaned rice, one thousand five hundred fowls, and two hundred +blankets [_mantas_] from Ylocos, while the medicines brought from +Nueva Espana are shared with them. With the above and four toneladas +of the cargo which are given in the ships that ply to and from Nueva +Espana (which are sold), some income that it possesses from the rent +of certain lands, and a farm for large stock, there is enough for the +treatment and care of the sick. However, at present the hospital is +short, because the toneladas of the cargo have been worthless during +these last years; and because of the needs of the royal treasury the +five hundred ducados have been owing for more than three consecutive +years. The hospital is in charge of a steward appointed by the +governor, and is administered by the Order of St. Francis. + +_Hospital of the Sangleys_. In the town of Binondo, which lies near +Manila on the other side of the river, is the hospital of San Gabriel, +where the Sangleys, both Christian and pagan, are treated. Although the +sick who go thither are very few when compared with the so great number +of that nation in these islands, since the sick generally do not exceed +thirty in number--and perhaps quite naturally, for since they have no +hospitals in their country, they shun and despise them--yet very great +results are obtained there; for very few or none at all die without +the water of baptism, while of those cured the most become converts, +thanks to the preparation of the usual and familiar conversation +and intercourse that they hold with the religious of the Order of +St. Dominic, who minister to the said hospital, and endeavor most +earnestly to convert them. That hospital is sufficiently maintained +by the money collected from the tolls of the Sangleys themselves, +who pass from one district to the other opposite the Parian, [47] +and with some income that it possesses. Although the said tolls +are collected from the Indian natives of these islands, it would be +just to allow the latter to pass freely, as do the Spanish, slaves, +freedmen, and those of other nations; for the natives ought not to +be, in this matter, placed on a worse footing [than the others], +especially since the money so obtained from them is only converted +to the benefit of the Sangleys who are treated in the said hospital. + +_Hospital of Los Vanos_ [_i.e._, "the baths"]. On the shore of the +Laguna de Bay, twelve miles up stream from Manila, stands a hospital +called Los Vanos. It was established there a few years ago, as it +was found by trial that the hot water that bubbles up from certain +springs was good for those having humors, buboes, and colds. Hence +many Spaniards, natives, and those of other nations, both men and +women (who have separate quarters), are treated in that hospital, +for the said ailments. Most of what is expended there is derived from +the royal treasury and royal magazines, but because of the scarcity +of funds in these times it is not as well looked after now as it +was some years ago. Consequently, it is in debt and suffers great +need. The steward who has charge of it is appointed by the governor, +and religious of the Order of St. Francis conduct it. + + +_Confraternities of Manila_ + +The confraternities, Sire, in this city of Manila are as follows: + +_Of the most Holy Sacrament_ [_Santisimo Sacramento_]. The +Confraternity of the Most Holy Sacrament, in the cathedral; with only +thirty pesos income, which, with the alms procured by the brethren +and others, is spent for wax. + +_Of the Souls_ [_Las Animas_]. That of the Souls in Purgatory, in the +same cathedral. It has an income of one hundred and ten pesos. With +this and the alms that are collected, they furnish the solemn mass +and its responses Monday of each week, and perform other suffrages +and anniversary masses. + +_Of the most Holy Name of Jesus_ [_Santisimo Nombre de Jesus_]; _the +Nazarenes_ [_Los Nazarinos_]; _and the Solitude_ [_La Soledad_]. The +confraternities of the most Holy Name of Jesus, of the Nazarenes, +and of the Solitude of our Lady, are established in the convents of +St. Augustine, the Recollects, and St. Dominic. They have no incomes, +except alms that the brethren gather. That is spent in wax and +ornaments by the said convents, each convent buying one day every week +during Lent the wax for the sermons that are preached, and the floats +of the passion that are carried in the processions of the discipline +during Holy Week, in which the brethren and others take part. + +_Of the Rosary_ [_El Rosario_]. The Confraternity of the Rosary of +our Lady, which was founded in the convent of St. Dominic, has some +income bequeathed it by pious persons, from which, together with the +alms gathered by the brethren, four or six orphan girls are married +yearly, to each of whom three hundred pesos are given as a dowry. + +_Brotherhood of the Confraternity of La Misericordia_ ["mercy"]. In +the year five hundred and ninety-three, the Confraternity of La +Misericordia was started in this city. It has continued to increase +daily to greater estate, until now it is of the utmost importance in +the city, because of the many needs that it succors and relieves, and +the charitable works that it undertakes. It was founded with the same +rules and for the same end as that of the city of Lisboa, and others +that were begun in imitation of the latter in Portuguese India--whence +it must have been introduced here on account of its nearness to, +and communication with, these islands. It has two hundred brethren, +and every year twelve of these are chosen, who are called "brethren of +the bureau of accounts." They, together with one brother, who is their +chief, have charge of the government of the said confraternity. They +beg alms two days of every week and collect whatever they get from +this source and from the bequests left by most of the dying. They +spend annually on the average more than twelve thousand pesos, which +includes three thousand six hundred of income that they now possess, +that was bequeathed them by certain persons. That sum they use for the +general support and relief of self-respecting poor men and women who +live uprightly; on the poor of the prison, whose suits they urge; +on helping many of the girls sheltered in the seminary of Santa +Potenciana; on the support of certain collegiates who study in the +convent of Santo Thomas of the Order of St. Dominic, and in that of +San Joseph of the Society of Jesus; in marrying girls and orphans; on +the support of the hospital built by them where slaves are treated, +and which I mentioned above; on the alms for masses, and for other +similar purposes. Many of the dying appoint the brethren of the bureau +of accounts as their executors, and they carry out the terms of the +wills with great strictness. They attend to the burial of the poor, +and of the bones of those who are hanged, which duty they see to once +each year. + + +_Colleges of Students_ + +_College of the Society of Jesus, called San Joseph_. There are two +colleges for students. One was founded by Captain Estevan Rodriguez +de Figueroa, and is named San Joseph. It is in charge of the Society +of Jesus, and the collegiates go to attend lectures at the residence +[_colegio_] of the same Society (which is close by) in grammar, +philosophy, and ecclesiastical and moral theology. At present it has +twenty collegiates who wear the _beca_. [48] Some of them pay their +tuition, but others are aided by the Confraternity of La Misericordia; +for the income of the founder falls somewhat short now of sustaining +the college, because of expenses in erecting the buildings of the +said college. + +_College of Santo Thomas, which is in charge of the Order of +St. Dominic._ The college is called Santo Thomas de Aquino. It +is in charge of the Order of St. Dominic, and is very near their +convent. For two years it has had collegiates. It was founded by the +alms of deceased persons and by other contributions from the living, +which the fathers have procured and collected. It has some income and +is continuing to increase. At present it also has twenty collegiates +who wear the beca, some of whom also pay their tuition, and others +are supported by the Confraternity of La Misericordia and certain +persons. They take lectures in grammar, philosophy, and theology in +the same college, where they have a rector and masters belonging to +the Order of St. Dominic. + +These two colleges aggrandize the city greatly and the sons of the +inhabitants of these islands are being reared in them in culture, +virtue, and learning. It will be of the utmost importance to the +city's progress for your Majesty to honor them by granting them +authority to give degrees in the branches that they teach. + +_Seminary of Santa Potenciana._ Many years ago the seminary of Santa +Potenciana was founded in this city at your Majesty's command, in +order to maintain in it poor girls, both Spaniards and mestizas, +who being reared there in a safe retreat and under good teaching +might leave it virtuous, and as such be sought as wives. It has +been supported hitherto by an income of one thousand pesos that it +possesses, and with eight hundred pesos which is about the value of +an encomienda granted it by your Majesty, besides three toneladas +of the cargo given it annually by allotment in the ships despatched +hence to Nueva Espana, and certain alms bequeathed to it by certain +dying persons. For some few years past the seminary has been greatly +in debt, both because of increasing the number of their girls, +and because the toneladas of the cargo have had no value, and on +account of the greatly increased cost of living; and it is suffering +so great need that it has not enough for the ordinary maintenance +of the fifty girls who are there at present, some of whom are aided +by the Confraternity of La Misericordia. It will be advisable, since +the work is so consecrated to the service of God and so suitable to +that of your Majesty, whose royal person is patron of that seminary, +for you to order the governor to aid it from the royal treasury, +or--and this would be more secure--apportion to it more Indians, so +that a work so holy and necessary in this community may continue to +advance, since it is served by slave women and has never been served +by Spanish women. It is certain that if this retreat, from which the +girls go out married, were to fail, they would perish and be lost. + +_How the Indians are treated by the curates and ministers._ The +Indians, Sire, of this archbishopric are generally treated with +mildness, love, and zeal for their salvation, by the priests and +ministers who instruct them. Whenever the contrary is heard from +anyone, he is corrected, admonished, and punished--by myself if he is a +secular. If he is a religious, his superior does it, when he deems it +best; for I (even though the case be one of the ministry and care of +souls) alone have power to warn and ask his superior to remedy it. In +regard to that, it would be greatly advisable that the bishops of the +Philipinas have more power over the ministers of souls in their charge, +and that the latter be obliged to give account. But, however this may +be, it is not a matter from which results any considerable annoyance +or harm to the Indians, except that of the bad example which they +might derive from it, if they saw their priest and teacher do the +contrary of what he teaches them and censures them for by word of +mouth. The most powerful cause, then, that destroys and consumes the +Indians of Philipinas is the same one that has destroyed and consumed +the Spaniards. All have been ruined by the continual and large fleets +with which the Dutch enemy persecute us, and because our forces are +so few to oppose them, as I have represented in other letters that +I am writing to your Majesty. It is impossible to prevent us all +from suffering, and even perishing very speedily, if your Majesty's +most powerful hand does not help and defend us. Consequently, Sire, +I consider as inexcusable the vexations that have come and are coming +upon the Indians in the building of ships and the making of other +preparations to defend us; for these would be very much less if the +Indians were paid for their work as your Majesty orders, if they +were placed in charge of disinterested persons, and if compassion +were shown them. + +_Preachers for the Indian natives._ There are as many preachers for +the Indians as there are priests who minister to them; for although +the chief and most important instruction which can be preached to them +is to make the Indians understand the ministers of our holy religion, +and for the minister that he know the language thoroughly, there is +no difficulty in preaching to them, if one does it (and thus it is +advisable) simply and plainly. + +_Preachers for Spaniards._ There is not any lack of preachers for the +Spaniards either, for generally each of the convents of St Augustine, +St. Francis, St. Dominic, the Society of Jesus, and the Augustinian +Recollects of this city have two preachers, who are erudite fathers +and of exemplary life. Besides, there are certain others, who by +reason of living in the convents and surrounding missions attend to +the preaching of several sermons during the year. These with holy +zeal reprehend vices with thorough modesty and prudence, and tell +us what is suitable for our salvation. But your Majesty is assured +that the chief preacher and teaching for the inhabitants of Manila, +and the best method of banishing public sins from it, is the good +example and life of the governors. With that, and with the affability +and love that they would exercise toward the virtuous, and with the +displeasure and asperity with which they would treat the vicious, +there would result, at least in the exterior court, the good or +evil conduct of the inhabitants of this community. Inasmuch as the +community is small, and all its inhabitants need the governor and +are watching him, they will try to imitate him. + +_In regard to sending a relation of the persons worthy and +capable of being appointed prelates._ Your Majesty ordered me in +the said royal decree to send a separate and very secret relation +of those persons most worthy and capable in this archbishopric of +being appointed to prelacies--recounting their virtue, morals, and +example, character, prudence, age, and modesty; and of the intellect, +learning, degrees, and governing ability of such persons, besides +other circumstances. Obeying the commands of your Majesty, I report +all that in a separate letter, and I shall continue to do so in the +form and manner in which your Majesty may advise me. + +_Whether there are vacant prebends or benefices._ At present, Sire, +there is no vacant prebend in the cathedral of this city, although +some are being filled by appointments by the governor until your +Majesty shall confirm them or shall appoint to these posts persons +who are pleasing to you. In regard to that, I refer to what I +am writing to your Majesty in a separate letter. The benefices +are appointed by competition as soon as they become vacant, in +the manner prescribed by the holy council of Trent, in accordance +with the royal patronage and last royal decree of your Majesty that +treats of this matter. Consequently, throughout this diocese there +is no vacant prebend or benefice. As soon as any become vacant, +I shall take care to provide for them as speedily as possible, as +your Majesty so piously orders me. + +_Regarding the number of curacies and missions, and of the persons +who administer them._ In regard to the relation and report that your +Majesty orders me to make of the curacies and missions of this diocese +(both of Spaniards and of Indians); of the persons who serve them, and +the manner of their presentation, whether of seculars or of friars, +and of what orders; the age of each, and his length of service in +those curacies and missions; and whether he serves with the good-will, +humility, unworldliness, and good example to which he is bound; +as well as of other things contained in the section that treats of +this. I refer to what I have said in my letter, without going into +particulars regarding the names and ages of the ministers; for that +appears to be less necessary, since the benefices at present held by +seculars in these islands are so limited in stipends and obventions +that nearly all of them are compelled to beg for these, in order not to +desert their benefices. In the missions in charge of the religious, the +same persons do not live continuously, for their provincials remove and +change them from one to another, according as they deem most advisable. + +_That this relation shall be continued on all occasions._ I shall +have the care that your Majesty orders, in sending duplicates of +this relation until I am advised that your Majesty has received it, +and I shall add to it whatever occurs later. When I learn that your +Majesty has received it, I shall observe the order given me, to refer +to what I shall have written in what may not be new matter, increased +and corrected by the past relations as far as may be advisable. I +shall continue to do that without awaiting any new order for it from +your Majesty, whose very Catholic person may our Lord preserve for +the increase of new kingdoms and the prosperity of those which you +possess, as is necessary to Christendom, and as we your Majesty's +humble chaplains desire. Manila, August, 1621. + +This, Sire, is the relation of that I wrote to your Majesty in the past +year of 1621. I found nothing to correct except the section treating +of the number of the convents in charge of the Order of St. Dominic, +which is amended in its place in the margin. Manila, July last, 1622. + + +_Fray Miguel Garcia Serrano_, +archbishop of Manila. + + + + + +Royal Decrees Regarding the Religious + + + +Ordering the Dominicans Not To Meddle in Government Affairs + + +The King. Venerable and devout father provincial of the Order of +St. Dominic of the Philipinas Islands: I have been informed that +the religious of your order are living with great lack of restraint, +and are meddling in the government of those islands, from which have +resulted and are resulting very great difficulties. Moreover, the +honor and procedure of those who have been men of those islands have +suffered; for, both in the pulpit and in other ways, the religious +are trying to sully the reputation of those persons when they are not +acceptable to them. Now inasmuch as that is unworthy of any person +whatever, and more so of religious who have to furnish an example to +all by their retirement from the world and their method of procedure; +and inasmuch as it is very advisable to reform that efficaciously: +therefore after examination of the matter by my Council of the +Indias, it has been deemed best to charge and order you, as I do, +to summon immediately all the religious of your order. By the best +method that you shall deem advisable you shall censure them for their +irregularities, and represent these to them; and warn them to engage +only in their devotions and the conversion of souls according to their +obligations--which is the main purpose for which they went there--and +that they shall not meddle in government matters, or in any other +matter that does not concern their order. You shall advise me of what +you shall do in this matter. Given at Madrid, December thirty-one, +one thousand six hundred and twenty-two. [49] + + +_I The King_ + +By order of the king, our sovereign: +_Juan Ruiz de Contreras_ +Signed by the Council. + + +[_Endorsed_: "To the provincial of the Order of St. Dominic of +the Philipinias Islands, ordering him to summon the religious of +his order, and censure them for their irregularities, warning them +to engage only in their devotions and conversion of souls, without +meddling in government matters or in any other matter that does not +concern their order."] + + + +Ordering the Archbishop of Manila To Examine Religious + + +The King. Very reverend father in Christ, the archbishop of the +metropolitan church of the city of Manila of the Philipinas Islands, +and member of my Council: The king, my sovereign and father--may +he rest in peace--by his decree dated November fourteen of the past +year, six hundred and three, charged the archbishop then governing +that church [_i.e._, Benavides], that in accordance with the rules +and ordinances he should not permit or allow any religious in the +missions in charge of the orders to enter upon or exercise the duties +of a priest [_cura_] unless he had first been examined and approved +by the said archbishop or by the person appointed for that purpose, +so that such religious should have the necessary competency, and know +the language of the Indians whom he should have to instruct--as is +contained more minutely in the said cedula, which is of the following +tenor. + +"The King. Very reverend in Christ, the father archbishop of the +metropolitan church of the city of Manila of the Philippinas Islands +and member of my Council: Although it has been stringently ordered that +the ministers appointed to the missions of the Indians, both seculars +and friars, must know the language of the Indians whom they are to +instruct and teach; that they be possessed of the qualities required +for the office of priest [_cura_] which they are to exercise; and +that the teachers among the religious, in so far as they are priests +[_curas_] be visited by the secular prelates: I have been informed that +those orders have not been observed as is needful; that you prelates +do not exercise the fitting care in examining the said religious +teachers in order to be assured of their competency and thorough +knowledge of the language of those whom they are going to instruct; +and that in the visitations many of their omissions and irregular acts +in the administration of the sacraments and in the exercise of their +duties as priest are not remedied. That is a matter of considerable +annoyance. And because the Indians suffer greatly, in the spiritual +and temporal, from those appointed by their superiors, both in this +and in the choice of persons less careful than they should be; and +because it is advisable for the service of God our Lord, and for our +service, and for the welfare of the Indians, that the ministers of +instruction be such as are required for that ministry, and that they +know the language of the Indians: therefore I charge you straitly, +in accordance with the rules and ordinances, not to permit or allow +any religious to enter upon or exercise the duties of the office of +priest in the missions in charge of the religious in the district of +that archbishopric, unless he first be examined and approved by you +or the person whom you shall appoint therefor, in order to satisfy +yourself that he has the necessary competency, and that he knows the +language of the Indians whom he is to instruct. In the visitations +that you shall make you shall remove those whom you shall find to +be incompetent, or lacking in the ability and good morals that are +requisite, and those who do not know sufficiently the language of +the Indians whom they instruct; and you shall advise their superiors +of it, so that they may appoint others who shall have the requisite +qualifications, in which they are also to be examined. You shall +advise me of whatever is done in the matter. Given in San Lorenzo, +November fourteen, one thousand six hundred and three. + + +_I The King_ + +By order of the king, our sovereign: +_Juan de Ybarra_." + + +And inasmuch as my intention and will is that the orders and +commands on the said subject be obeyed and executed exactly, I +request and charge you to examine the said decree, above inserted, +and to observe and obey it _in toto_, exactly as is contained and +declared therein. Such is my will, notwithstanding that, in the course +of time and with the claims of the prelates, any other custom may +have been tolerated or introduced. That shall not be allowed, under +any consideration whatever. In order that the above order may have +more complete effect, I am having the Audiencia there ordered, by +another decree of the same date with this, to give you the necessary +protection and aid for it. You shall advise me of all that is done +in this matter. Given at Madrid, December thirty-one, one thousand +six hundred and twenty-two. + + +_I The King_ + +By order of the king, our sovereign: +_Juan Ruiz de Contreras_ +Signed by the Council. + + +[_Endorsed_: "To the archbishop of Manila, that he observe the decree +above inserted, so that the religious of the missions shall be examined +in the language of the Indians."] + +[_Endorsed_: "_Id._ To the bishop of Nueva Segovia in +Philipinas." "_Id._ To the bishop of Nueva Caceres." "_Id._ To the +bishop of the city of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus."] + + + + + +DOCUMENTS OF 1623-1624 + + + Letter to Fajardo. Felipe IV; October 9, 1623. + Royal permission for the Dominican college in Manila. Felipe + IV; November 27, 1623. + Expedition to the mines of the Igorrotes. Alonso Martin + Quirante; June 5, 1624. + + + +_Sources_: The first of these documents is obtained from the "Cedulario +Indico" in the Archivo Historico Nacional, Madrid; the second, from +_Algunos documentos relat. Univ. de Manila_, p. 21, and Pastells's +edition of Colin's _Labor evangelica_, iii, p. 565; the third, from +a MS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla. + +_Translations_: All these are made by James A. Robertson. + + + + + +Letter from Felipe IV to Fajardo + + +The King. Don Alonso de Tenza, knight of the Order of Alcantara, my +governor and captain-general of the Philipinas Islands, and president +of my royal Audiencia thereof: The letter which you wrote me on August +20, 1622, containing information regarding the state of those islands, +has been received; and in my royal Council of the Indias the points +that belong to their province have been considered, and you will be +furnished with the resolutions adopted thereon. + +You mention the revolt and retreat to the hills of certain natives +of the provinces of Pintados, Nueva Segovia, and Cambales, and the +reason which you think they had for it. I appreciate the care which +you have exercised in that matter, since on other occasions when +you have been directed to see that the Indians be treated as well +as possible, you have endeavored to have my orders carried out, for +in this way they will be preserved as we desire. Again I charge you +that you inform the superiors of the convents, and religious who are +busied in the conversion and teaching of the Indians, how important +it is to treat them well. + +Since you were unable to attend to the mines of the province of +Pangasinan, in the mountains and the lands of the Ygolotes, on account +of the press of business which you have had, you will now carry on +their exploration, since you see that it is desirable to accomplish +this enterprise. [50] As for the efforts that you have made to discover +certain fruits of the land, and your assertion that a considerable +quantity of nutmeg [51] has been discovered similar to that from +the Malucas Islands, you will make the necessary investigations +to ascertain this accurately. I also charge you to continue what +you have begun, and to send a quantity of the said nutmeg to the +officers of my royal exchequer in the City of Mexico in Nueva Espana, +so that they may send it to these kingdoms; and there also shall the +investigation be made, according to the orders sent in my decree. + +As regards your remarks concerning the Licentiate Geronimo de Legaspi, +auditor of that Audiencia, you will execute your orders in the matter, +and I shall await the result. What you write in response to my decree, +which was sent you on June 8, 1621, that you should investigate the +mode of life of the wives of the auditors and other officials therein +mentioned, is noted; and all this is placed in your charge and on your +conscience. You are to correct the abuses which you find existing, +no matter whom they concern, and shall read this section in the +Audiencia, so that they may know my will. + +I am advised of what you say, and have often represented, as to the +necessity that the persons who are appointed to that Audiencia shall +be well-known and approved. I am also advised as to what you say of +the person of Don Geronimo de Silva, and the assistance which you have +had from him. The embassy for Japan--with a gift, which shall not seem +an acknowledgment--you say, could not be sent off last year, which +is well. In the future, you will execute your orders in this matter. + +All the other sections which your letter contains have been considered, +and now nothing remains but to make suitable provisions regarding +them. [Madrid, October 9, 1623.] + + +_I The King_ + +By order of the king, our lord: +_Juan Ruiz de Contreras_ + + + + + +Royal Permission for the Dominican College in Manila + + +By license of the ordinary and the governor of the Filipinas Islands, +and the consent of our royal Audiencia therein, the religious of +the Order of St. Dominic in the city of Manila founded a college, +where grammar, the arts, and theology, are taught. In it they +established two religious for each subject, and they have twenty +secular collegiates. From this has resulted and now is resulting a +great advantage to the youth, to the preaching of the holy gospel, +and to the instruction of the sons of the inhabitants. We order that +now, and until we order otherwise, the said religious make use of the +said license given them by the governor to found the college, and to +study the said branches. This is and shall be understood to be without +derogation or prejudice to any decrees concerning like foundations, in +order that they may not be established and begun without our express +permission, which must be observed throughout our Indias, without +any exception. [Given in Madrid, November 27, 1623, by Felipe IV.] + + + +The King. Inasmuch as Fray Matheo de la Villa, procurator-general +of the Order of St. Dominic in the Philipinas Islands, has reported +to me that a college was founded in certain houses that they held as +theirs in that city, by the license of the ordinary and of Don Alonso +Faxardo de Tenca, my governor and captain-general of those islands, +where grammar, the arts, and theology are taught; and that there are +two religious of each department in it for that purpose, and twenty +secular collegiates; and that from it has resulted, and is resulting, +great advantage to the youth, the preaching of the holy gospel, +and the instruction of the sons of the citizens: and petitioning me, +in consideration of the above, and of the fact that the license which +was conceded to them was on condition that they obtain my confirmation +of it, if I should be pleased to give it; and the matter having been +considered in my royal Council of the Yndias, I have considered it +advisable to give the present. By it I order that for the present, +and until I order otherwise, the said religious of the Order of +St. Dominic enjoy the license that the said my governor gave them to +found the said college and to teach in it the said branches; and such +is my will. Given in Madrid, November twenty-seven, one thousand six +hundred and twenty-three. + + +_I The King_ + +Countersigned by Juan Ruiz de Contreras, and signed by the members +of the Council. + + + + + + +Expedition to the Mines of the Igorrotes + + +_Relation of the discovery of the mines and of the pacification of +the Ygolotes in the province of Pangasinan_ + +Relation of the voyage and entrance that I, Captain and Sargento-mayor +Alonso Martin Quirante, made by order of the governor and +captain-general, Don Alonso Faxardo de Tenca, during this present +year, one thousand six hundred and twenty-four, to the province and +mines of the Ygolotes; and the tests or assays made of the metals +there by various miners; the nature of the country, and what I was +able to learn of its inhabitants. + +First, I left the city of Manila by order of the said governor and +captain-general, to attain the said entrance, on December twenty-two, +one thousand six hundred and twenty-three, and went overland to the +province of Pangasinan. I reached that province on January first, +six hundred and twenty-four, and took over the offices of justice and +war from Captain and Sargento-mayor Antonio Carreno de Valdes. As he +notified me of the royal decree ordering his residencia to be taken, +in fulfilment thereof I took it, and sent him to the said city on +the fifth of the following February. + +On the eleventh of the said month of January, the champan which was +despatched at my departure from the said city, laden with the infantry, +ammunition, and other war-stores necessary for the said entrance, +reached the port and storehouses of Arrimguey. + +From the said day, January first, until the eleventh of the following +February, when I reached the said town and storehouses of Arriguey +[_sic_] I collected and gathered provisions and everything else +important for the success of the said expedition. Likewise, together +with the preparation that I made of food in the said time, in the said +month of February, I caused to be collected, in addition to the seventy +Spanish soldiers and officers of my company, fourteen adventurers +[_extravagantes_] or substitutes [_sobresalientes_], besides two +sailors (one of them a miner), two Japanese miners, and one armorer; +a clerk [_tenedor_] and notary; eleven of his Majesty's negro slaves, +and nine Indians imprisoned for crimes; forty-seven Sangley carpenters, +smiths, and sawyers; and one thousand seven hundred and forty-eight +other Indians--eight hundred and ninety-three from the province of +Ylocos, formed into twelve companies; and eight hundred and fifty-five +from the province of Pangasinan, formed into ten other companies--who +in all totaled one thousand nine hundred and three rations. Father +Fray Raymundo Beger [52] of the Order of Preachers, and Licentiate +Augustin Tabuyo Baldecanas, who was supplied by the bishop of Nueva +Segovia, also went with us as our curas and vicars for the success +of the said expedition. + +On the fourteenth of the said month, I made a muster and enrolment +of the said men. The next day rations were given to all of them for +a fortnight, and I began to despatch them by troops in the manner +and order following. On the sixteenth of the said month of February, +I despatched Adjutant Andres Tamayo with twenty soldiers and two +hundred Pangasinan Indians, a chosen and light troop, in order that +being unencumbered or discommoded by their rations, arms, and tools +they might open and clear the road, arranging camping-places along it +during the assigned marches. They were given orders to stop in those +quarters only over night, so that afterward and without joining them +the second troop who were to follow could occupy the same. On the +next day, the seventeenth, after having formed three divisions from +the other men, with eighteen soldiers in charge of my sargento and of +a corporal, I despatched five hundred and sixteen of the Indians of +each province--all except their officers with their packs--with orders +to follow the first divisions. They were to make the same marches, +but were not to unite with the first troop, nor with the following +one. This was in order to avoid the confusion and obstacles that +might arise from both troops, since they were men of so little reason, +both in camp and in marching; since they had to go by only one path, +where because of its narrowness and poor condition they had to go in +single file. + +I despatched the third troop consisting of a like number of natives +with seventeen Spanish soldiers, on the eighteenth of February, in +charge of another corporal, ordering them to follow the other two +preceding divisions, in the same order and marches. + +The next day, February nineteen, having assigned eight soldiers under +a half-pay alferez, and twenty-five Pangasinan Indians under their +captain, as a guard to the said storehouses--and having despatched +the master-of-camp of the province of Ylocos for more men, in order +to exchange them after a month with those who had gone out before, +who, I feared, were already beginning to desert in part--I started +with the rest of the men that were left. I went to pass the night at +the place called San Juan, two leguas along the road, where, at the +foot of a cross set up there, I found a letter from the troop ahead, +announcing that they had found the quarters burned to the ground, +and that they did not know who had set the fire, but suspected it +was the Ygolotes. + +I left the above place on the twentieth, and went to pass the night +with the said last division at the site of Duplas, located about four +leguas along the road. I also found the camp and the country round +about burning, the said Ygolotes having set it afire only a short +time before. + +Next day, Wednesday, the twenty-first of the said month, after +the conclusion of sprinkling ashes on all the soldiers, I left the +said place and went to pass the night at another place called San +Francisco. On that day not more than one and one-half leguas could +be made, because of the many rivers. + +On Thursday, the twenty-second, at noon, after another one and one-half +leguas made as above, my said division and I reached Buena Vista, +where I found all three divisions had halted because the Ygolote +Indians had occupied the road; and they were building forts at a +narrow passage on it, with a stockade, where, when the said adjutant +tried to pass ahead, they wounded him and some of the other Spaniards, +and some Indians who accompanied him. + +Next day, the twenty-third, I went out with thirty soldiers and about +one hundred and fifty Indians to the said pass that the Ygolotes were +defending; and although they resisted for some time, and killed some +soldiers and natives, I gained the pass and destroyed the fort, so +that the enemy could not remain in it longer or make any other sortie, +as it was all unsheltered. + +Saturday, the twenty-fourth, I left the said place of Buena Vista, +and went with all my troops united to pass the night at Los Pinos, +a march of three leguas. That distance was made with some difficulty +as the roads in some parts are very closely grown with reed-grass; +and in the bad passes are fallen trees which form the best defense +that the Ygolotes can have, so that if we were perceived they could +attack us in safety or could shelter themselves. + +Sunday, the twenty-fifth, I went to pass the night, on account of +the convenient supply of water, at Rio Frio [_i.e._, "Cold River"] +with my said men, marching through the extremely hot sun for one +and one-half leguas. Next day, Monday, February twenty-six, about +one o'clock, I reached the new mines called Galan by their natives, +located about three leguas from Rio Frio. As the Ygolotes had learned +of our approach, or had seen us about to set fire to some houses--about +two hundred which they had located in various places about the said +mines and hill--they sought shelter without leaving anything except +some small heaps of metal which they were digging in order to work. + +Next day, the twenty-seventh, having reconnoitered the said place, +and having seen that it was suitable and secure, and that within +a stone's throw on the same elevation were the mines and veins of +most importance that are yet known to exist among the said Ygolotes, +according to the information given by men who already had experience +of them before, I determined to establish a camp and fortify myself +in them. That I did, locating in a place where in no direction could +we fail to succor and overlook all the paths and ravines where any +danger could be feared, or any difficulty of getting food and water +close at hand and in the quantity desired. In the course of the said +march, I saw and noted that from the time of my departure from the said +village of Arringuey, we were always going from one peak to another, +until we reached that of Los Pinos, from which other higher ones +were discovered; while some small streams were passed on the way, +not of great volume, but to some extent shut in with mountains and +lands full of reed-grass. + +Up on the said peak the mountains were almost everywhere destitute +of forests; for except in the very damp ravines, reed-grass does not +grow, or any tree except pines. For that reason, wherever one looks +from the height, very many mountains are to be seen, so jagged, steep, +and near together that it seems impossible for men or any other living +thing to exist on them. + +The climate of those mountains is cold rather than temperate, and +less healthful than sickly. The winds that usually prevail are north +and south, and the south winds generally bring rain, accompanied +by extremely violent thunder-storms. Dense fogs always prevail, +and generally make the country very damp. + +Certain streamlets of water issue from the springs of those mountains, +from which people drink; and these waters are so cold and thin that, if +one does not eat sufficient, they do him much harm. For that reason it +must be that birds do not breed there; for, since the first is lacking +to them, those that can escape do not await their destruction. Only +certain little birds like linnets are seen, and at times some crows, +which must be foreign to them. + +None of the most common useful and fruit trees, which abound in all +the neighboring provinces, are found there; and less any of new or +old Espana; nor any other that yields either known or wild fruits: so +that the mountains are covered only with a great quantity of pines, +whose roots do not penetrate the ground more than half a vara. The +ground to that depth is black, but below that red and so hard [53] +that the roots, not being able to penetrate it, are very easily torn up +at any violent wind. All the said peaks are so cleared and despoiled +of trees that they do not hinder one from noticing and seeing, for +a great distance below the pines, whatever preparations are being made. + +The houses in which those Ygolotes protect themselves from the +inclemencies of the weather--which is intolerable, both because of +the sun when it shines, and from the rains and cold--are very small, +built of straw and short wood. They have no walls, for the roofs serve +as everything, extending from above even to the ground. They sleep +high up, on some boards or planks roughly put together. The doors of +their houses, which are very small, are so low that one must get down +on hands and knees in order to enter them. + +Their settlements are established on the peaks of the mountains, and +on the roughest of them, whence afar off they can see all the paths, +so that no one can approach them without being seen by their sentinels, +who always guard their posts day and night. If there is any danger, +they can easily retire without being seen, leaving behind nothing +more than their miserable huts; and, not fearing whether any go to +seek them, they defend themselves as they may by hurling down huge +rocks which they have suitably placed, sharp-pointed reeds, [54] and +stones; and especially do they seek the sure and convenient site. In +the rainy season they fear firearms but little, for they know that +they are of less effect than none at all. + +The usual dress and clothing of that people is a loose shock of +disheveled hair that reaches below the ears, and certain bands +about one _jeme_ [55] wide made from the bark of trees. Having wound +these about the waist, they twist them so that they cover the privy +parts. They call these _bahaques_, and they are worn by all classes of +people, men and women. Besides the said bahaque, the chiefs wear Ilocan +blankets, which they have inherited from their ancestors; this garment +is crossed from the shoulder to the waist, where they knot it. Thus +do they go, without any other clothes or shoes. [56] The chiefs of +those natives are not differentiated from the rest of the people in +other things than in the possession of more bones of animals that they +have killed in their feasts, more clothes, and greater age. There are +more chiefs than in other nations, for there is one in every ten or +twelve houses, who is head of his kinsfolk. They inherit from father +to children, or by blood, and do not recognize one as greater than +the other. Those chiefs generally insert gold in the teeth, which is +so well fitted that it does not hinder their talking or eating at all. + +The Ygolotes are in general a very active people, bold, well +built, and feared by the other nations surrounding them. As they +have discovered that, and that others, even when numerous, always +run from them, the Ygolotes attack with but few men. Whenever they +kill anyone, scarcely has he fallen before his head is cut off. On +that account they make many feasts, and at night light many fires +on many peaks. They make cups of the skulls, from which they drink +in their feasts and revelries; and leave them as household effects +to their heirs. If any of them are killed, and they can conceal it, +they endeavor to do so; for they grieve greatly and consider it as +a very great insult if the bodies of their dead are not carried away. + +The arms used by them consist of a pointed lance one-third of a vara +long, which they generally carry, well polished, and set in a handle +of strong wood more than one braza long. They have others with which +they usually fight, made from heavy green poles, larger than the +above. At the head they insert a bamboo knot, with its point well +sharpened into two edges. They cover themselves with their shields, +which consist of certain short and very light boards, about four or +five palmos long and two or more wide. They use many sharp-pointed +stakes with which they sow the ground, particularly about their haunts, +and wherever harm might come to them. [57] + +The Ygolotes are an idolatrous race. They say that their god is +the sky, whom they call Cabunian; and they offer and sacrifice to +him, in their banquets and feasts, swine and carabaos, but under no +consideration cows or bulls. The method of sacrifice practiced by them +is [as follows]. Having tied all the animals not prohibited about the +house of the sacrificer, after the ceremony an old man or old woman, +having placed on the ground a painted cloth that resembles a surplice, +and which they call _salili_, they continue to kill the animals, and +make a great feast. They keep that up for two or three days until they +have finished eating what they have, when their feast or _magunito_ +also finishes. He who keeps up such entertainment longest and kills +most of the said animals is most respected. + +Their sages or philosophers are the oldest men and women, whom they +respect and obey in an extraordinary manner, and most when they are +occupied in the said feasts; for they say that then and even ordinarily +those persons are wont to talk with the devil, who keeps them blinded. + +That race lacks all good natural reasoning power. They cannot read, +nor do they know what day, month, or year, or the increase and decline +of the moon, signify. They govern themselves by one star that rises in +the west, which they call _gaganayan_, while they call the natives of +their neighborhood by the same name. On seeing that star they attend to +the planting of their waste and wretched fields in order to sow them +with yams and camotes, which form their usual and natural food. They +do not have to plow or dig, or perform any other cultivation than +that of clearing the land where they are to plant. + +When any one of those barbarians dies, they do not bury him for many +days, for, as they say, they pass one month, during which period they +amass quantities of food about the deceased, to whom they give his +share as well as the others. Then they continue to prick the body, +and, as they say, they draw off or suck out the humors until the body +is left dry. When that time comes they wrap it in their blankets, and +fasten buyos and other things about the waist for the journey. Some are +buried in a sitting posture and placed with their backs against their +shields, in caves under the rocks, the mouths of which are stopped +with stones. Others they set in the trees, and they carry food for +so many days after having left them in either one of those places. + +It is not very easy to ascertain the number of those people, who are +scattered, for they are so intractable, and do not let themselves +be seen, moving from one place to another on slight pretext, without +any hindrance; for their houses, to provide which would be the chief +cause of anxiety, they easily build anywhere, with a bundle of hay, +while they move their fields of yams or camotes (on which they live +well) from one place to another without much effort, pulling them +up by the roots--for, because of the dampness of the country, these +take root wherever they are placed. In the same manner, they carry +their ornaments or bones; [58] and since their arms and clothes are +but little or nothing, they are not embarrassed, because they always +carry these with them. Yet it is known that, if those called Ygolotes +reach one thousand men, that is a great number. They can scarcely +gather in one body or live on friendly terms with one another. For +those of Banaco and those of Atindao, villages of the same mountains, +have little or no communication with them, as neither do those of Aytuy +and Panaquy, villages on the other side of the said mountain-range--to +whom it is said that they pay tribute or a sort of recognition; but +both are hostile to those of Alrade, Vigan, and Oyrraya, so that, all +those Ygolotes being so separated, cautious, malicious and treacherous, +no message or despatch can at all be sent them. For if it be done +with few Indians, they secure and kill them; and if there are many, +they fight them, and will not listen to or believe them. If Spaniards +go with an interpreter to talk to them, as I have sometimes attempted +to do, they anticipate them on seeing them and no one remains in his +house, but they flee from the Spaniards. Then, if perchance they hear +some arguments that are shouted out to them, they laugh, and answer +that we are deceiving them, and that they will not trust us; that +they know us for people of bad faith; and that we must lay aside our +firearms if we wish them to approach. And if we did that, they would +employ their usual treachery and evil methods, as they generally do. + +In the rainy season, that wretched race, most of whom are miners, +unite with their wives and children to wash the sand of the streamlets +that flow from the mountains, where with less work than in their mines, +by avoiding the digging and crushing of the metal, they get some gold, +although very little. [59] With what all of them get in one way or +another, they go down peacefully to the villages nearest to them, +to trade for certain animals or cattle. They do not trade the gold +by weight, but by sight. Those cattle are the ones that they eat, +with the solemnity above described, in a general assembly; for they +do not breed any kind of cattle or any other living thing for their +feast or sustenance, except certain small and very wretched dogs +which we have often had a chance to see. + +It is not easy for us or even for them to ascertain the strata, +veins, or ores whence that product is yielded, since it is well +known that it does not originate or form in the sand, which does not +contain nurseries for it, since so many streamlets descend from so +many ravines and slopes. For it is not yet known that, moving about +ordinarily and having signs of that product, without ascertaining +or knowing any other in all the country, the natives have discovered +more than five elevations or hills within a distance of five or six +leguas, which they have worked during the dry season, in order to +support themselves so wretchedly as is known. Besides, those Ygolotes +are indebted to the natives of the villages who are our friends, +and are unable to pay those who give them credit; the wealth and wit +of both peoples being so small and restricted that, although those +people have no other kind of expenses, or other thing to attend to, +than the product of their mines, they are very generally in debt--a +sure proof of the mistake made in believing that the gain is much, +or the said mines of much importance, as has been and is demonstrated +by experience. + +On one of the five elevations which I have said that the Ygolotes +worked, namely, the said new one called Galan (it being the chief +one, as I have said), I camped, and built the fort of Santiago, +under whose advocacy [_i.e._, of Santiago or St. James] they say +it was before. Retaining with myself about two hundred natives from +both provinces [_i.e._, Pampanga and Ilocos], with the Sangleys and +prisoners whom I took with me, I sent back all the others with thirty +soldiers on the twenty-eighth of the month of February, to get more +provisions, ammunition, and other necessary things, at the village +and storehouses of Arrimguey, although afterward some Ylocos Indians +deserted in the one month and six days while I occupied that place, +the natives having returned by a third path. In all three months, +their provisions amounted to two thousand and eighty-seven baskets +of rice, each of fifteen gantas; and for the rations of all the men +from January sixteen (when food began to be issued at my account) +until March twenty-four following, were consumed two thousand and +ninety-four baskets. These rations were given to all the said natives, +and to seven hundred and sixty others besides, who were brought +from Ylocos by the said master-of-camp in order to exchange with +the first, as has been said. On the said day, March twenty-four, +I mustered all the men, and paid and despatched them, except about +one hundred and twenty from both provinces, thirty-one Sangleys, +and about five adventurers [_estravagantes_] and substitutes who +remained with me to aid and accompany us. + +Having despatched the said men, I ordered the lieutenant of the +province of Pagasinam not to advise me of anything unless it were a +matter of great importance until the fifteenth of May, when he should +send me four hundred other natives [from Pangasinan] and one hundred +from the said province of Ylocos, all laden with beans and other things +necessary for the sustenance of the men of the said presidio. That was +done in order that I might more freely attend to the investigation of +the mines of the said Ygolotes and what substance they contained. For +that purpose I immediately ordered Martin de Vergara, my alferez, +Rodrigo Lopez Orduna, Juan de Mugaburu, Graviel Molinero, and Diego +de Tovar, soldiers of my company and all miners, and other persons +who understood something [of mines] to investigate and reconnoiter +the said new mines where the said Ygolotes were working. The mouths +of those mines are in the northern part [of the ridge], about a +stone's throw from the said fort, and the mine discovered extends +from above downward in the manner of a horizontal vein or shell for +the distance of a musket-shot from northwest to southeast, and then +twists about for another equal distance to the direction that looks +toward the northwest and west, until it disappears into the depths +of a ravine or watercourse where there is but little sun. That is +not the case with the one that extends northwest and southeast, +for it is flooded with sunlight most of the day. When I reached that +place the Ygolotes were working the said mines through many mouths or +passages that they had opened, following the metal of one large vein, +from which they were taking out the ore that was softest and easiest +to dig, although it contained blue iron pyrites that contain antimony. + +Having investigated and examined the above-mentioned, I judged it best +to open a trial place or mouth high up, and in the middle of all the +mine works that the said Ygolotes were carrying on, in order to get all +the body of the metal from the top which is more than one braza wide, +and from the crust of the earth. On the fifth of March following, +we began to open it, and, following the opening for ten estados, we +encountered the said mines that the Ygolotes were working, by which +our field of work was enlarged much more on the level, at the sides, +and vertically; and we continued to get metal for assaying. + +The second hill or mine is that called Arisey and Bugayona, which is +but little more than three leguas from the new one above. It issues +from the same ridge or elevation, where the old fort Del Rosario +[_i.e._, "of the rosary"] was established, which was destroyed +by fire in November of the past year one thousand six hundred and +twenty-three. It is on the slope facing west, and the sun floods it +from nine until four. It has a descent of one-half legua that is very +troublesome as it is very steep, with two divisions and ravines at the +side, and precipices along both slopes and also in front; for it is +very steep, with a hollow in the middle, in which a spring of water is +enclosed, that rises near the place where the said fort stood. [There +is] a slope which is at the foot of the work where the natives washed +[gold], and gathered certain small stones known to them, which they +crushed for their profit; for in no other way is there any known or +constant source from which to obtain the metal--but only loose dirt +with certain ores, and those of the said red metal, which traverse the +soil--without digging down to the bottom. Nor can this dirt be worked +without danger of caving in, as was the case in all the veins and works +that were on that elevation. Nothing more of these remained than only +the indications of having been opened and worked from the vertical +within the elevation; for they do not follow the level and center +as that has been found to be of no benefit. From that one is led to +believe that the mines were abandoned long ago. Yet from the mouths +of those sunken mines, inasmuch as no other place was found whence +one might get ore, about fifteen small baskets of ore were obtained +by the said miners, Alferez Martin de Bergara, Rodrigo Lopez Orduna, +Juan de Mugaburu, and Diego de Tovar, from that which appeared best +for assaying and examining its nature or the benefit that could be +derived from it. + +The third elevation and mine is that called Baranaban, which is about +one legua from the said fort and mine of Arisey, on a barren hill +that faces south, which is flooded by the sun all day long. Through +it runs a vein about one vara wide, extending east and west for +some distance. There are some works and openings there, narrow, +and distinct one from the other. Thence were taken fifteen baskets +of gravel and dirt, which has the color of coal, in order to assay +it. One can get a quantity of it from the said vein, although with +little security from the earth caving in unless the works be propped +up; for all of them are of shifting dirt, which is easily undermined, +for which reason the said works have caved in, and bear the aspect +rather of neglect than of having been worked. + +The fourth hill or mine is that of Antamog, which is perhaps more than +two leguas from the said old fort and mine of Arisey, and five and +one-half from our fort of Santiago, which faces south from a large +hill whose peak extends east and west, the said elevation having +been undermined by one of its springs, and traversed by very narrow +small threads of white and yellow metal; while all the elevation is +traversed by and filled with passages, which are found intermixed, +opened sidewise from the vertical and inward, and dipping downward +scarcely at all, as the threads of the metal are not deep. In order +that these may not cave in, they are propped up with stakes and boards; +for otherwise, inasmuch as the dirt is so loose, they would not remain +at all secure, as has happened to those unpropped, since we saw some +that were blocked up and caved in. The said works are very narrow, +and all were examined without finding metal, because of the high level, +or sides, or any kind of vein, except at the entrance of the openings +whence they were drawn. + +From the said threads they obtained a kind of brass-colored and less +dirty earth, in order to wash it in another large placer, that they +had at one side of the said elevation, with a small stream that rises +on top of the elevation, where they had a small settlement. They +could, to all appearances, obtain but little profit, and with great +difficulty, even with the community so near by. According to the signs, +it was a long time since those workings and mines had been worked, +and they were more neglected than the others; yet they produced the +best (or the best-appearing) ore that could be found. Twenty baskets +of it were obtained by the said miners to assay and investigate its +nature, and determine what it might be. + +The fifth and last elevation, hill, or mine is that called Conog, +which is about one-half legua from the preceding and located in the +same chain. It is flooded by the sun all day long, as is the other. The +said elevation, turning, extends toward the north. In it are to be +seen five or six openings or passages, that differ but little from +those of Antamog. No considerable or fundamental vein was found, +but only brass-colored earth that contained some small bits of blue +metal containing iron pyrites, all of them very soft. In one passage +that was lower was found on the level a small stream of clear water +which empties through another opening lower down than it, both of those +openings having been made for one excavation. To all appearances those +mines were abandoned long ago; and although they were not being worked, +and were seen to be so neglected, they contained the best-appearing +metal that was seen. The said miners got about ten small baskets of +it to assay. + +The tools with which those Ygolotes worked, or work, their mines are +certain stakes of heavy wood fashioned like pickaxes, with the knot +of the said stake larger at the end of it, where, having pierced +it, they fit into it a small narrow bit of iron about one palmo +long. Then seated in the passages or works, as the veins prove, +they pick out and remove the ore, which having been crushed by a +stout rock in certain large receptacles fixed firmly in the ground, +and with other smaller stones by hand, and having reduced the ore to +powder, they carry it to the washing-places. For that purpose they +have some small streamlets near at hand, with two or three hollows +in their beds. There passing the said ore from one to the other +until they clean away the mud from it, by means of the sunlight, +which floods everything, they discover and collect some dust or +grains of gold. Then they again crush the large grains of ore, and +wash and rewash it, until, having passed through the said basins, +what remains at last is entirely useless. To judge by the tools that +have been seen and which the said Ygolotes have, as above said, the +most usual and only working that they give their ores is the above, +and nothing further. With their little ability for discovering these, +if nature and poverty--which reduces them to subjection without any +expense--did not compel them, they would vainly spend their time, +in one way or another, in searching for something to eat, which they +do not possess or produce. + +All the hills and elevations, mines, passages, veins, and works above +mentioned have been examined and entered by the said miners. They have +obtained and assayed metals with the greatest care possible. Each +assay is set down separately so that it will stand as a testimony +and token of service, with the day, month, and year, just as they +have been made, in the following manner. + +_Refinement_ [_of metals_]. 1. First, on Palm Saturday, on the night +of the thirtieth of March, one thousand six hundred and twenty-four, +a refining fire was made by the said Alferez Martin de Vergara and +the other miners. Upon it and seventeen libras of lead was fed the +dust and sediment of one-half quintal of ore that was obtained from +the hole which I have said was opened in the veins and new mines of +Galan, at a depth of ten estados. A grain of the appearance of silver, +and weighing as much as one real, was obtained. + +_Quicksilver_. 2. On the said day, April six, of the said year, three +quintals of ore from the same hole and veins were incorporated with +three libras of quicksilver and compounded with salt. On the tenth of +the said month it was washed, and a small grain of gold was obtained +that weighed one-half real. In the said assay ten onzas of quicksilver +were lost. + +_Quicksilver_. 3. On the said day, April six, three libras of +quicksilver were incorporated with three quintals of ore from the +said hole and vein, which was obtained at a depth of ten estados; +and the mixture was compounded with salt. It was washed on the tenth +of the said month, and a small grain of gold of the weight of one-half +real was obtained. Eleven onzas of quicksilver were lost. + +_Quicksilver_. 4. On Sunday, April seven, two quintals of the same +ore from the said hole and vein were incorporated with two libras +of quicksilver, having roasted the ore while in the form of stone, +before crushing it. On the eleventh it was washed, and a small grain +of gold of the weight of one-half real was obtained. Six onzas of +quicksilver were lost. + +[5.] That day, the eleventh of the said month, in a second refinement, +the dust and sediment that remained from a quintal of the same ore +was put on the fire. On being fused with twenty-three libras of lead, +nothing was obtained from the said assay. + +_Quicksilver_. 6. Saturday, the thirteenth of the said month of April, +one libra of quicksilver was incorporated with two and one-half +arrobas of ore obtained from certain excavations found below the +earth inside a little hut, near our fort and the said mine, which was +burned by the Igolotes. On the eighteenth of the month it was washed, +and a grain of gold weighing one real was obtained; and three onzas +of quicksilver were lost. + +_Quicksilver_. 7. Tuesday, the sixteenth, four libras of quicksilver +were incorporated with four quintals of ore obtained at a depth of +ten or eleven estados in the said mine and hole. Having made that +assay in a stove, on the twenty-second of the said month of April +they washed the said four quintals of ore, and obtained a grain of +gold of the weight of one real. Two onzas of quicksilver were lost. + +_Quicksilver_. 8. Wednesday, the seventeenth, one libra of quicksilver +was incorporated with one quintal of the said ore, obtained at a depth +of eleven estados. Having been treated in a reverberating furnace, on +the twenty-second of the said month it was washed and a small grain +of gold of barely the weight of half a real was obtained. Three and +one-half onzas of quicksilver were lost. + +_Quicksilver_. 9. Thursday, April eighteen, they recrushed and washed +the sweepings and residue of the first three quintals of ore which +had been compounded with quicksilver. With the one quintal that +resulted therefrom, they incorporated on the said day one libra of +quicksilver. On the twenty-second it was washed, and for the second +time a small grain of gold was obtained of the weight of one-quarter +real. Two and one-half onzas of quicksilver were lost. + +_Quicksilver_. 10. Wednesday, the twenty-fourth of the said month of +April, four libras of quicksilver were incorporated with four quintals +of ore, obtained from a passage or opening carefully concealed in +the bed of the streamlet, almost at the end of the said vein, and at +the end of the other openings in it on the northwest side, where it +obtains but very little sun and considerable dampness. It is an ore +that contains a quantity of antimony, and one can obtain much of it, +to judge from the works that the Ygolotes had, and those that we were +making, as it seemed an ore of fairly good appearance. Compounding +the assay of the said four quintals with salt and magistral, [60] the +compound was washed on the second of May following, and a grain of gold +of one-half real weight obtained. Two onzas of quicksilver were lost. + +_Quicksilver_. 11. On the twenty-ninth of April, three libras of +quicksilver were incorporated with three quintals of ore obtained +from a washing-place made by the Ygolotes below the openings, and near +the preceding place. The compound was washed on the fifth of May, and +a grain of gold weighing one and one-half reals was obtained. Eight +onzas of quicksilver were lost. + +_Quicksilver_. 12. On the third of the said month of May, one libra +of quicksilver was incorporated with one quintal of ore obtained from +the said hole and vein as the four preceding assays. Having been +crushed and burned in the openings before being incorporated with +the said quicksilver, it was washed on the sixth; a small grain of +gold, weighing less than one-half real, was obtained from that assay, +while three onzas of quicksilver were lost. + +_Quicksilver_. 13. April twenty-nine, one libra of quicksilver was +incorporated with one quintal of ore obtained from the old mines, +of which I have made mention, called Baranaban. On May sixteen it +was washed, and a small grain of gold obtained of one-quarter real +weight. Three onzas of quicksilver were lost. + +_Arisus. Quicksilver._ 14. Tuesday, April thirty, one libra of +quicksilver was incorporated with another quintal of ore obtained +from the said old mines called Arisey and Bugayona. On May seven +following it was washed, and a small grain of gold, weighing less +than one-quarter real, obtained. Two and one-half onzas of quicksilver +were lost. + +_Quicksilver_. 15. The first of the said month of May, one libra of +quicksilver was incorporated with one quintal of ore obtained from +the said old mines and from those called Antamo. On the eighth of the +said month it was washed, and a small grain of gold about as large +as the head of a pin, which could not be weighed, obtained. Six onzas +of quicksilver were lost. + +_Quicksilver_. 16. The said day, May first, one libra of quicksilver +was incorporated with one quintal of ore obtained from the said old +mines--from the one called Conog. On the eighth of the said month it +was washed, and another small grain of gold obtained, of the same +size as the preceding. Four onzas of quicksilver were lost in the +said assay. + +_Quicksilver_. 17. May two, one-half libra of quicksilver was +incorporated with two arrobas of ore obtained from the vein and works +of the streamlet at the new mine mentioned above as being near our fort +of Santiago. Compounding that assay and calcination with magistral, +nothing was obtained. Three onzas of quicksilver were lost. + +_Quicksilver_. 18. The said day, May two, another one-half libra of +quicksilver was incorporated with another half libra, I mean one-half +quintal, of ore obtained from the preceding opening and vein. It +was washed on the sixth of the said month, as also was the preceding +assay. Only a small grain of gold weighing one-fourth real was obtained +from that [mass] which was only compounded with quicksilver. Two and +one-half onzas of quicksilver were lost. + +_Quicksilver_. 19. On the fifth of the same month of May three libras +of quicksilver were incorporated with three quintals of ore from the +first hole and mouth opened near our fort, as above stated. On the +twelfth of the said month it was washed, and a grain of gold weighing +scarcely one real obtained. Two onzas of quicksilver were lost. + +_Quicksilver_. 20. Saturday, May eleven, one-half libra of quicksilver +was incorporated with two arrobas of ore obtained from an enclosure +found at one-half legua's distance from our fort and the new mine, on +the edge of a river. It was washed on the sixteenth of the said month, +but nothing was found in it. One and one-half onzas of quicksilver +were lost. + +_Quicksilver_. 21. On the fourteenth of the said month one libra of +quicksilver was incorporated with one quintal of ore obtained from a +passage which was discovered to have been worked by the Ygolotes in the +same vein and new mine, in its western part of which mention has been +made. The said vein extends to the southwest. The mixture was washed on +the eighteenth of the said month, and a small grain of gold, weighing +one-half real, was obtained. One-half onza of quicksilver was lost. + +_Quicksilver_. 22. On Thursday, May nine, three libras of quicksilver +were incorporated with three quintals of ore obtained from the first +hole and vein of the new mine, of which mention has been made. May +nineteen it was washed, and a small grain of gold, of one-third real +weight, obtained. Twelve onzas of quicksilver were lost. + +_Smelting_. 23. Monday, the twentieth of the said month, another +assay was made by fusing one quintal of litharge [61] and two of ore +obtained from the said hole and vein preceding. From the said mixture, +although they tried it several times, it was impossible to fuse or melt +the said ore. On the contrary, there was a loss of the lead consumed +with the said litharge, and the mixture continued to be consumed; +so that having been exhausted and the oven having become clogged, +it was necessary to stop without succeeding with the said assay. They +attributed that to the said ore being unfit for smelting. + +_Quicksilver_. 24. Thursday, May twenty, two libras of quicksilver +were incorporated with one and one-half quintals of ore obtained from +a depth of fourteen estados in the said vein and hole which was opened +as above stated. On the twenty-fifth of the said month it was washed, +and a small grain of gold, weighing one-half real, was obtained. Two +onzas of quicksilver were lost. + +_Smelting_. 25. Sunday, May twenty-six, a second assay by smelting +was made with three quintals of litharge and one of _tesmiquitate_, +[62] refined; both were fluxed with three quintals of ore obtained from +the second hole or passage above mentioned as being near the level of +the streamlet in the said vein and new mine. That was a second and +different compound and was made by smelting and with the said flux; +but they were unable to fuse the ore, although many efforts were +exerted. It was useless because of the poor quality that the miners +ascribed to the said ore. Finding that there was considerable loss +and waste of the lead, they had to desist. + +_Smelting_. 26. Monday, May twenty-six, a third assay was made by +refining or smelting, by feeding the dust that was left from one +quintal of ore, obtained at a depth of fourteen or more estados from +the first vein and hole which, I have said, was opened in the said +new mine. Having consumed twenty-five libras of lead, upon which the +metal melted, a grain resulted that resembles silver, and weighs one +and one-half reals. [63] + +The said tests or assays having been made and finished, the lay +of the land, and its natives and mines, having been examined, and +having obtained a quantity of ore from all the mines, I left the +said presidio and fort of Santiago well fortified with a garrison of +fifty-six Spaniards and fifty Indians--twenty-five from the province of +Pangasinan and twenty-five from that of Ylocos--eleven galley negroes, +and one armorer, with food and all other things necessary for more +than fifteen months. Then, with the said last division of the said +five hundred Indians, who, as I have made mention, were to be sent me +by a lieutenant by the twenty-fourth of May, I set about my descent, +carrying with me, by the end of the said month, one hundred quintals of +the said ore; this I am sending to the city of Manila in four hundred +small rice-baskets, each numbered with the mine whence it was taken, +so that proof may be made there of the efforts mentioned above; +since it is the self-same ore, the governor and captain-general, +the royal Audiencia, and the royal officials can confirm it anew and +make the tests again, so that, understanding the said mines fully, +they may report to his Majesty, and resolve upon the measures that +they deem fitting in regard to the holding of the said presidio in +a land of so little or no profit as is that land. + +_Alonzo Martin Quirante_ + + + +_Act_. In the camp of new mines and the fort of Santiago of the +Ygolotes, on the twenty-ninth day of the month of March, one thousand +six hundred and twenty-four, Captain and Sargento-mayor Alonso Martin +Quirante, chief magistrate of the province of Pangasinan and military +commandant of that province and of that of Ylocos, in whose charge is +the conquest or pacification of the Ygolote Indians, and the discovery, +working, and opening of their mines, declared that inasmuch as he was +ordered by Governor and Captain-general Don Alonso Fajardo de Tenca, +he has come for the said purpose of the said conquest, pacification, +and discovery of the said mines. And inasmuch as he had been informed +by experienced men that the productive mines, to which the said natives +are giving most attention at the present time, are the new ones among +them called Galan, he has located and planted upon them the said camp +and fort of Santiago, so that, having made a fort among them and +placed in safety his men, food supply, and other military stores, +he might make expeditions and explore the other mines of which he +has or may have information that the said Ygolotes have profitably +worked, or can work, throughout all this region. He declared that it +should be ascertained what ore could be obtained from those mines, +and the amount of metal that should result from them, and the loss of +materials that should be allotted for their treatment. He ordered me, +the present scribe, to make and prepare a blank book in which to set +down as evidence, with the day, month, and year, the assays of the +said ores obtained from such mines, and the materials used in their +treatment; and that this act be placed at the head of such evidence, +which should therefore be given, in the said manner, so that it might +be seen for all time. Thus did he decree and order, and he affixed +his signature. I, the said scribe of this said camp of mines and +forces of Santiago, attest it. + +_Alonso Martin Quirante_ + +Before me: + +_Alonso Callexas_ + +_Attestation_. 1. I, Alonso Callexas, scribe of these new mines of +Santiago of the Ygolotes, in fulfilment of the order given me by the +said act above declared, having made this blank book, do hereby attest +faithfully and truly, that today, Saturday, at ten o'clock at night, +or thereabout, the thirtieth of this current month of March, one +thousand six hundred and twenty-four, the first assay was finished +by Alferez Martin de Vergara, of the company of the said captain +and sargento-mayor Alonso Martin Quirante, in the presence of Juan +de Mugaburu, Rodrigo Lopez Orduna, Grabiel Molinero, and Diego de +Tovar, all miners. The assay was for one-half quintal of ore which +was obtained from a hole made in these new mines from the crust of +the earth to the openings and veins whence the said Ygolote Indians +evidently had been and were obtaining it, and when we had dug down +about ten estados. The said assay was made by refining, by feeding +[the dust of the ore] upon sixteen libras of lead. From it was +obtained a grain that resembled silver, which, having been weighed +by me, weighed a trifle more than one real. In order that that may +be evident, I gave the present at the petition of the said captain +and sargento-mayor, who, together with the said alferez, affixed +his signature. Witnesses were Licentiate Augustin Tabuyo Baldicanas, +cura and vicar in this said camp and fort, Adjutant Andres Tamayo, +Alferez Don Joseph de Renteria, and many others who were present at +this royal camp and fort of Santiago, where this is dated on the said +Saturday, March thirty, one-thousand six hundred and twenty-four. + +_Alonso Martin Quirante_ + +_Martin de Vergara_ + +Before me: _Alonso Callejas_, scribe. + +[Twenty-five other attestations, one for every following assay after +the first, all similar to the above, follow. The document continues:] + +_Attestation_. 27. I, Alonso Callejas, scribe of these said new mines +and fort of Santiago among the Ygolotes, attest and witness truly +that the twenty-six assays contained in these six leaves and in this +form, are of the mines and ores declared therein; and that from the +said mines, in my presence, of which I give attestation, one hundred +quintals of ore, besides that used in the said assays, were taken by +order of Captain and Sargento-mayor Alonso Martin Quirante, in order +to send them to the city of Manila, by Alferez Martin de Vergara, +Juanes de Mugaburu, Graviel Molinero, Rodrigo Lopez Orduna, and Diego +de Tovar, all miners. Accordingly that ore, having been weighed by +me, is being carried in four hundred small rice-baskets of an arroba +apiece--so that, since they are from the same ores as those from which +the said assays have been made, the governor and captain-general, Don +Alonso Faxardo de Tenca, and the royal officials may have the assays +made again in the said city; and so that, with verification of the +efforts that have been made in these mines, they may understand and +see the truth concerning and the possibilities of the mines of the +Ygolotes of which we have as yet had notice, and that have been worked +or may be worked all about this said camp and for some leguas about +it. And so that it may be evident, I gave the present at the petition +of Captain and Sargento-mayor Alonso Martin Quirante, who affixed +his signature together with the above mentioned miners. Witnesses +were Licentiate Agustin Tabuyo Baldecanas, Captain Joan de Salinas, +and Adjutant Andres Tamayo, while in this camp of new mines and the +fort of Santiago, where this is dated on the twenty-seventh day of +the month of May, one thousand six hundred and twenty-four. + +_Alonso Martin Quirante_ +_Martin de Vergara_ +_Juanes de Mugaburu_ +_Rodrigo Lopez Orduna_ +_Diego de Tovar_ +_Graviel Molinero_ + + +Before me: + +_Alonso Callejas_, scribe. + +By order of the captain and sargento-mayor, Alonso Martin Quirante, +chief justice of this province of Pangasinan and military commandant +of it and of the province of Ylocos, I, the present scribe, ordered +to be drawn and drew this copy of the original attestations and +investigations which were made for the said purpose. It is a true +and faithful copy, and has been collated and revised with the said +originals which were sent to the said governor and captain-general +of these islands, Don Alonso Fajardo de Tenga. In the copy, for its +greater validity, the said captain and sargento-mayor interposed his +authority and judicial decree in due form, and so that it might be +credited in and out of court. And he affixed his signature, witnesses +being Alferez Alonso Tellez de Prado, Sargento Domingo Ruiz, and +Captain Joan de Salinas, who were present in this village of Alingayen, +where this is given on the fifth day of the month of June, one thousand +six hundred and twenty-four. + + +_Alonso Martin Quirante_ + +I sealed it in testimony of truth: + +_Gaspar de Los Reyes_, notary-public. + + +_Quicksilver that was lost_ + +No. 1. It is silver. + +10. No. 2. It weighed scarce one maes, or nine diezmos, of the fineness +of eighteen or nineteen carats, alloyed with silver. It is worth on +this occasion four reals. [64] + +11. No. 3. It weighs two and one-half diezmos. Ten diezmos make one +maes of the same gold of the above standard. It is worth one and +one-half reals. + +6. No. 4. It weighs one and one-half diezmos of the same fineness as +the first. It is worth twenty-four maravedis. + +3. No. 6. It weighs one maes and one diezmo of gold of twenty carats +fine. It is worth five and one-half reals. + +12. No. 7. The gold weighs one maes two diezmos of eighteen or nineteen +carats fine. It is worth five and one-half reals. + +3. No. 8. The gold weighs five and one-half diezmos of eighteen carats +fine. It is worth two reals and twenty-four maravedis. + +2. No. 9. + +32. No. 10. The gold weighs six and one-half diezmos of sixteen carats +fine. It is worth three reals. + +8. No. 11. The gold weighs two maes four diezmos of twenty-two carats +fine. It is worth thirteen reals twenty-four maravedis. + +3. No. 12. It weighs two diezmos of sixteen carats fine. It is worth +one real. + +3. No. 13. It weighs two large diezmos of eighteen carats fine. It +is worth one real. + +2 1/2. No. 14. It weighs one large diezmo of eighteen or nineteen +carats fine. It is worth twenty-four maravedis. + +6. No. 15. It weighs a scant one-half diezmo of eighteen carats +fine. It is worth six maravedis. + +4. No. 16. It weighs a scant one-half diezmo of eighteen carats +fine. It is worth six maravedis. + +3. No. 17. + +2 1/2. No. 18. It weighs one diezmo of eighteen carats fine. It is +worth one-half real. + +2. No. 19. It weighs nine and one-half diezmos of sixteen carats +fine. It is worth three reals twenty-four maravedis. + +1. No. 21. It weighs four diezmos of eighteen or nineteen carats +fine. It is worth two reals. + +1/2. No. 22. It weighs three diezmos of fourteen carats fine. It is +worth one real. + +2. No. 24. It weighs six and one-half diezmos of metal [but of a] +very base alloy; to judge by its points, there is no standard with +which to compare it. All the rest is copper. + +No. 26. It is silver. Pelayo Hernandez. All of it is worth 5 pesos +6 tomins. + +In the city of Manila, on the thirteenth of July, one thousand six +hundred and twenty-four, while Doctor Don Alvaro de Mesa y Lugo of +his Majesty's council and his auditor in the said royal Audiencia, +who exercises the office of its president; and Don Geronimo de Silva, +captain-general on sea and land and of the artillery of these islands; +Licentiate Juan de Saavedra Balderramas, Licentiate Don Matthias +Flores, and Licentiate Zapata de Galvez, auditors and fiscals of +the said royal Audiencia; and the judicial officials of the royal +revenues, Diego de Castro Lizon, factor and overseer, and Martin Ruiz +de Salazar, accountant--were in the hall of the Audiencia; and while +they were thus assembled: the said president declared that inasmuch as +a quantity of ores had been brought from the mines of the Ygolotes, +so that the tests might be made here, in order to ascertain whether +they conformed to those made there, of which Sargento-mayor Alonso +Martin Quirante, chief magistrate and commandant of the province +of Pangasinan, sent a relation and attestation, it was advisable to +discuss it and determine whether it would be advisable to send the +ore brought thence to Nueva Espana in the ships which are next to be +sent thither. Inasmuch as there are many persons skilled in mines and +assay of ore in that kingdom, they might perhaps be able to furnish +the accurate tests there that had not been arrived at here. If they +did not succeed in ascertaining its quality there, that would be a +greater proof of the disillusion that is talked of here. He trusted +that what might be done in this matter be most expedient for the +service of the king our sovereign. The assembly having discussed +and conferred upon the question put by the said president, all were +unanimously and harmoniously of one accord and opinion. They declared +and voted that for the present the expenses and costs that are being +incurred in the working of the mines of the Ygolotes be curtailed; +that the officials and workmen there be withdrawn and disbanded; that +the one hundred _chiculetes_ [_sc._ quintals] of ore and dirt which +are in this city, together with the gold obtained, from the assays +and tests which were made there, be sent in those vessels next to be +despatched to Nueva Espana, to the royal officials of the City of +Mexico; and that the matter be entrusted to the royal officials of +this city--not only to attend to it, but to send a relation of all +that has taken place and of the efforts expended in the working of +those mines, and the results thereof. Thus they may there prove it, +and attempt to make new efforts to know whether the greatest profit +has been obtained from what was got here--for it is understood that +there are persons there of greater experience in that art--so that +advice of it may be given to the royal Council of the Indias, and +may also be sent to the said royal officials of this city. + +The president also declared that the infantry stationed in the city +of Nueva Segovia are very needy and destitute, as it is many days +since any aid has been sent to them from this city; and, as the +greater part of that province has revolted, his Majesty does not +possess in it any royal revenues with which to be able to sustain +the soldiers. [Accordingly, it should be considered] whether it +would be advisable that the infantry established in the presidio at +the mines be assigned to the province of Nueva Segovia, so that, +with greater forces, our purpose to subdue the natives who have +revolted there might be attained, since the said mines are in the +middle of the path. He also declared that, above all, the said men +present at the meeting should give their opinion, so that whatever +might be voted be carried out as might be most advisable for his +Majesty's service. The said men in the assembly having discussed +and conferred concerning the proposition of the said president, all +were unanimously and uniformly of one mind and opinion. They declared +that four installments of pay be sent to the infantry established in +the presido at the city of Nueva Segovia; and that the royal judges +and officials send directions for the order that must be observed in +relieving them. In what pertains to the infantry established in the +presidio of the mines being taken to the city of Nueva Segovia, they +declared that that be referred to the captain-general, so that he may +take what measures are most expedient for his Majesty's service. They +gave their opinion in writing, and affixed their signatures. + + +_Doctor Don Alvaro de Mesa y Lugo_ +_Don Geronimo de Silva_ +_Licentiate Don Juan de Saavedra Balderrama_ +_Licentiate Don Mathias Delgado Flores_ +_Licentiate Marcos Zapota de Galvez_ +_Diego de Castro Lizon_ +_Martin Ruiz de Salazar_ + +Before me: _Pedro Alvarez_ + +Collated with the original minute: _Pedro Alvarez_ + +Between lines are: "me;" "in;" "they find;" "that was brought from +the old mines called;" "corrected;" "me;" "who;" "should be worth;" +"erased;" "Ygolotes;" "in-[_des_];" "ten;" "it is not worth." + +Revised with a copy of the originals that is in this royal accountancy, +to which we refer. Manila, August eleven, one thousand six hundred +and twenty-four. + + +_Diego de Castro Lison_ +_Joan Perez Descalona_ +_Martin Ruiz de Salazar_ + + + + + + +BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA + + +The following documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo general +de Indias, Sevilla, the pressmark of each being thus indicated: + +1. _Letter by Fajardo_ (July 21).--"Simancas--Secular; Audiencia de +Filipinas; cartas y expedientes del gobernador de Filipinas vistos +en el Consejo; anos 1600 a 1628; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 7." + +2. _Letter by Serrano_ (1621).--"Simancas--Eclesiastico; Audiencia +de Filipinas; cartas y expedientes del arzobispo de Manila vistos en +el Consejo; anos 1579 a 1679; est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 32." + +3. _Affairs in Franciscan province_.--"Simancas--Eclesiastico; +Audiencia de Filipinas; cartas y expedientes de religiosos misioneros +de Filipinas vistos en el Consejo; anos 1617 a 1642; est. 68, caj. 1, +leg. 38." + +4. _Letter by Silva_.--"Simancas--Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; +cartas y expedientes del presidente y oydores de dicha Audiencia +vistos en el Consejo; anos 1607 a 1626; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 20." + +5. _Letter by Fajardo_ (December 10).--The same as No. 1. + +6. _Letters by Messa y Lugo_--The same as No. 4. + +7. _Letters by Serrano_ (1622).--The same as No. 2. + +8. _Decrees regarding religious_.--"Audiencia de Filipinas; registro +de oficio; reales ordenes dirigidos a las autoridades del distrito +de la Audiencia; anos 1597 a 1634; est. 105, caj. 2, leg. 1." + +9. _Expedition to Igorrotes mines_.--"Simancas--Secular; Audiencia +de Filipinas; cartas y expedientes de los oficiales reales de Manila +vistos en el Consejo; anos 1623 a 1641; est. 67, caj. 16, leg. 30." + +The following is from a MS. in the collection "Papeles de los +Jesuitas," in the Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid: + +10. _News from province of Filipinas_.--"Tomo 87, n_o_ 48." + +The following is taken from the "Cedulario Indico" of the Archivo +Historico Nacional, Madrid: + +11. _Letter by Felipe IV_.--"Tomo 40, fol. 7, verso, n_o_ 15." + +The following is found in the Ventura del Arco MSS. (Ayer library): + +12. _Death of Dona Catalina_.--In vol. i, pp. 509-514. + +The following document includes two, as thus indicated: + +13. _Royal permission for Dominican college_.--From _Algunos documentos +relat. Univ. de Manila_ (Madrid, 1892), p. 21; and Pastells's edition +of Colin's _Labor evangelica_, iii, p. 565. + + + + + + + +NOTES + +[1] According to the _Diary_ of Richard Cocks, this prince was the +father-in-law of Calsa Sama, the youngest son of the shogun Hidetada. + +[2] Pedro de Avila joined the Franciscan missions in the Philippines +in 1616, and immediately requested from his superiors permission to +go to Japan. This was finally granted; he went there in 1619, but was +imprisoned for preaching the faith, in 1620, and, after nearly two +years of most painful and wretched imprisonment, was burned at the +stake at Nangasaqui, on September 10, 1622, at the age of thirty years. + +[3] The original MS. of this document is badly worn, in places; +and the words enclosed in brackets, in the two following paragraphs, +indicate the conjectures of the transcriber. + +[4] These priests were Pedro de Zuniga, an Augustinian, and Luis +Flores, a Dominican. In 1622, they, with the Japanese captain of +the vessel, were burned to death by a slow fire, and the crew were +beheaded. The Japanese shogun appropriated the cargo of the ship, +leaving only the empty hull for the Dutch and English. (See Cocks's +_Diary_, i, pp. xxxvi and xxxvii.) + +[5] As a result of this alliance, the English and the Dutch East India +Companies were united; "a combined fleet of English and Dutch ships, +sailing under the modest name of the Fleet of Defence, was equipped +for the purpose of endamaging the common enemy and diverting the +trade of China from the Philippine Islands to the Dutch and English +settlements; in other words, to blockade the Spanish and Portuguese +ports and seize as many of the Chinese trading junks as possible. In +the two expeditions to the Philippines undertaken by the fleet before +the English and Dutch again separated, they captured many prizes." (See +E.M. Thompson's preface to Cocks's _Diary_, i, pp. xxxi-xxxvi.) + +[6] La Concepcion (v, pp. 106, 107), in reporting this incident says +that the amour of the governor's wife was with a "distinguished subject +of this community," that is, Manila, and that the latter was not killed +but escaped across seas. Montero y Vidal (_Historia_, i, pp. 177, 179), +who had evidently not seen the documents of the text, and partially +following La Conception's error and improving on it, lays the time of +Fajardo's vengeance in 1624, and says that the paramour was unknown +and escaped by jumping from a window, later probably finding means to +get to America. Montero y Vidal is usually more careful of his dates. + +[7] _i.e._, for prayers or works for the benefit of the souls in +purgatory. + +[8] Serrano apparently overlooks the diocesan council convened in 1600 +by Bishop Agurto at Cibu (see _Vol_. XIII, pp. 133-135). Addis and +Arnold's _Catholic Dictionary_ says (p. 46): "Provincial councils, +owing to the difficulties of the times, have been less frequent in +recent times than formerly; but, by the Council of Trent, metropolitans +are bound to convene them, every three years." + +[9] The ecclesiastical judge to whom the bishop delegates his authority +and jurisdiction for the determination of the suits and causes +pertaining to his jurisdiction; and hence a synonym for vicar-general. + +Rev. T.C. Middleton, in a recent communication, says that the term +"provisor" was apparently used only by the Spanish and Spanish +colonies. It is not to be found in Ferrario, Moroni, or Soglia, +and has no legal equivalent in English. It generally appears linked +with another term as "provisor y vicario capitular" or "provisor y +vicario general." An archbishop or bishop usually had his "provisor" +whose powers were apparently the same as a vicar-general's or a +vicar-capitular's. The nomination, or creation, of a vicar-general is +in the hands of an archbishop or bishop; whereas a vicar-capitular +is chosen only when a see becomes vacant, the cathedral chapter +naming the person, who is to rule (during the said vacancy) with +title of "vicar-capitular." In the United States, since there are +no cathedral chapters, there are in consequence no vicars-capitular, +their place, etc., being taken by an administrator, who is chosen by +the metropolitan, unless already named by the former occupant of the +vacant see. + +[10] The discalced Franciscans were founded by St. Francis of +Assisi, under the name Friars Minor, and the rule was very binding +and strict. Under the immediate successor of St. Francis, Elias of +Cortona, sprang up a branch of the order, made up of former members +who wished a less strict rule, and those who wished to preserve the +strict rule were persecuted. The members of the relaxed branch became +known as "Conventuals" or "Minors Conventual" in contradistinction to +the Friars Minor (or Minorites), who are known also as "Observants" +or "Observantines." Three great branches sprang later from the +Friars Minor: Reformed Minors, founded in 1419, by St. Bernardino of +Siena; the Recollects, founded in 1500, by John of Guadalupe; and +the Alcantarines, founded in 1555, by St. Peter of Alcantara--but +all under one head or chief superior, termed minister-general. The +Alcantarines wore a white habit, the others brown, except in England +and Spanish countries, where they wear gray. In 1897, Pope Leo XIII, +by his Bull _Felicitate quadam_ ordered the Observants, Reformed, +Discalced, or Alcantarines, and the Recollects, to unite under the +same general superior, to use the same constitutions, to wear the same +habit, and to bear the same name, viz., "Friars Minor." The Conventuals +and Capuchins were to remain distinct orders as heretofore. The term +_pano_ in the text refers to the Conventuals, the less strict branch +of the Franciscans, who were wont to dress in what one might call +"fine raiment"--habits of cloth, as distinguished from the coarse +serge-like stuff of the others. Cf. Addis and Arnold's _Catholic +Dictionary_.--_Rev. T.C. Middleton_. + +[11] Referring to the church and convent of Santi Quattro Incoronati +(one of the titular churches of Rome), which was founded by Honorius I +(A.D. 622), on the site of a temple of Diana, in honor of four painters +and five sculptors who all were martyred for refusing to paint and +carve idols for Diocletian. See historical and descriptive account +of it in A.J.C. Hare's _Walks in Rome_, pp. 230-232. + +[12] Argensola (_Conquista_), p. 317, mentions the Anhayes merchants, +and speaks of them as coming from Chincheo. See _Vol_. XII of this +series, pp. 155, 277; the word is there spelled _avay_ and auhay, +because thus written in the Spanish transcription from the original. + +[13] Pedro de San Pablo made his profession in the Franciscan +province of San Jose, and in 1606 went to the Philippines, where +he was appointed conventual preacher of Naga. In 1609 he went to +Manila as preacher, and at the same time had charge of Santa Ana de +Sepa. October 29, 1611, he was elected definitor, and in 1616 minister +of Santa Ana de Sepa once more. He became provincial August 3, 1619, +and held that office until March 15, 1622, when he embarked for Mexico, +but died at sea. See Huerta's _Estado_. + +[14] Spanish, _descalces_; literally, "barefootedness;" a term +applied to monastic organizations whose members are not permitted to +wear shoes. + +[15] A reference to I Cor. i, 12, and possibly to iii, 22. + +[16] Huerta says of Sotelo (p. 393): "As the preparations for his +journey to Japan were not made so promptly as he desired, he retired +to our convent of San Francisco del Monte, where he occupied himself +in the practice of all kinds of virtues until the year 1622, when +he succeeded in reaching Japan." Fuerza here apparently refers to +ecclesiastical interference with Sotelo's plans, to which reference +has been several times made in preceding volumes. + +[17] Andres del Sacramento was a native of a small village in the +valley of Sayago. He made profession in the province of San Pablo, +and reached the Philippines in 1611. In October of that year he was +assigned to the village of Ligmauan, whence he went to Tacboan. At the +chapter held August 3, 1619, he was elected definitor. He afterward +ministered at Manila, Minalabag, Polangui, and again at Minalabag. He +became provincial November 18, 1628, and held that office until January +17, 1632. In that time he projected and partly executed the opening of +a navigable canal from Nueva Caceres to the port of Pasacao. After 1632 +he ministered in several villages, and was elected provincial for the +second time September 16, 1639, holding the office until January 17, +1643. He died in the convent at Manila in 1644. See Huerta's _Estado_. + +[18] Agustin de Tordesillas was born in Tordesillas in 1528, and +in his childhood served as acolyte in the parochial church, where +he learned to play the organ. In 1558 he took the Franciscan habit +as a lay brother, and made profession in the Observantine province +of La Concepcion in 1559. He was finally ordained a priest, and +became a confessor. He afterward joined the province of San Jose, +and arrived with the first Franciscans at Manila in 1577, and was +appointed first president of the convent there. On May 20, 1579, he +went to China, returning thence at the beginning of 1580. That year +he was appointed first master of novitiates, first chaplain of the +royal hospital of Manila, and vicar-general of all the archipelago, +which last office he held until the arrival of Bishop Salazar in +1581. In 1582 he went to China again, whence he went to Siam in +1583, via Macao. Returning to Macao he was appointed guardian of the +convent there, but returned to Manila in 1586. There he labored in the +hospital until he was elected definitor at the chapter of September +15, 1594, after that being guardian one or more times of the convents +at Manila, San Francisco del Monte, and Cavite, besides having charge +of Sampaloc. He lived to the age of one hundred and one years, dying +in the Manila convent, having been the last one of the first mission +to die. He wrote a relation of the expedition of the Franciscans to +China. See _ut supra_, and _Vol_. VI, p. 131. note 31. + +[19] In the MS. at this point the text apparently reads _pol_ desta +pos; but it is uncertain what these words refer to, especially as +Tordesillas was not at the time provincial of the Franciscan province, +but was probably minister at Sampaloc, near Manila (Huerta, p. 504). + +[20] Huerta's lists contain no one of this name; but he gives a sketch +of Alonso de Santa Ana, missionary in the Philippines from 1594 until +his death in 1630. This priest, however, was absent in Mexico and +Europe from 1617 until 1621, when he returned to Manila. + +[21] Diego Fernandez de Cordoba, marques de Guadalcazar, was viceroy +from 1612 to 1620. The Audiencia of Mexico then assumed rule, which +lasted until the arrival (August, 1621) of the new viceroy, Diego +Carrillo de Mendoza y Pimentel, marques de Gelves. He was a just, +stern, and efficient ruler, who reformed many abuses and protected +the poor and the Indians; but he thus incurred the enmity of corrupt +men in high position, and even that of the archbishop, Juan Perez +de la Serna. In consequence, Gelves was excommunicated by Serna +(January, 1624), and soon afterward deposed by popular clamor and +riots; the Audiencia then governed until the following October, when +a new viceroy came, the marques de Cerralvo. By his efforts, Gelves +was vindicated in every respect, and honorably returned to Spain. + +[22] Bancroft (_History of Mexico_, iii, pp. 28, 38) characterizes +the viceroy Guadalcazar as a weak and somewhat indolent ruler, in +whose term corruption flourished; but of Gelves he says: "He broke +up effectually the trade in contraband goods between Acapulco and +Peru.... He removed the royal officials having charge of the supplies +for the Philippines, putting clean-handed men in their places; and +in consequence the amount of supplies sent to that colony was greater +than ever before.... [_Note_:] In 1622 the value of these supplies was +nine hundred thousand dollars, and in the following year two-thirds +of that amount." + +[23] Alluding to the death, by Fajardo's own hand, of his unfaithful +wife and her lover; see the first two documents of the present volume. + +[24] Celebes was long almost unknown to Europeans, and its deep +indentations by gulfs led to the notion, long entertained, that it +was a group of islands, rather than one. It has an estimated area +of some 57,000 square miles, but its soil is generally poor, and its +population thin and scanty. The two leading and more civilized people +of Celebes are the Macassars and Bugis, who inhabit its southwestern +peninsula. The Macassar nation (in their own language, Mangkasara) +conquered the Bugis in the sixteenth century, and became converts +to Mahometanism early in the seventeenth. They were conquered by the +Dutch in 1669, and the latter nation has since then been nominal ruler +of Celebes Island. By the name Macassar is commonly meant the Dutch +fortified town of Rotterdam, on the western shore of the peninsula +above mentioned; the Dutch made it a free port in 1847. See the full +descriptive and historical account of Celebes by Valentyn, _Oud en +Nieuw Oost-Indien_, part iii, book ii, pp. 128-235. + +[25] Pernambuco, one of the most important of the Portuguese colonies +in Brazil, was founded early in the sixteenth century. It was captured +and plundered in 1593 by the English, under Sir James Lancaster, +and again seized by the Dutch in 1630; but the Portuguese drove out +the Dutch in 1654, after which time Brazil remained in possession +of Portugal, until the peaceful revolution of that colony, and the +formation of the present republic. + +[26] In the original, the order of these two letters is the reverse of +that given here. Although the letter presented here first is undated, +sufficient internal evidence attests that its date is earlier than +the other letter, and that it is the duplicate of a letter sent by +the ships of an earlier year. + +[27] So in original; evidently an ironical comment. + +[28] Our transcript reads "_gente Religiosissima_," "a most religious +race," which is evidently intended for "_gente Belicosissima_." + +[29] Colin, _Labor evangelica_, p. 159, in discussing the events of +Fajardo's government of the islands says: "And inasmuch as there were +many complaints of the annoyances imposed upon the Indians during Don +Juan de Silva's term, because of the construction of so many and so +great galleons, he was charged to moderate that, and to endeavor to +give relief to the natives; in consequence of which, as soon as he had +entered by the strait of San Bernardino, he ordered two galleons which +he found on the stocks there to be reduced in size. During his entire +government he was very favorable to the Indians, and relieved as many +of their burdens as possible. Therefore they loved him as a father. He +also favored particularly the progress of the Spanish community, +endeavoring to get worthy soldiers to become citizens there--to whom, +for that purpose, he granted encomiendas and offices. By that means +the soldiers were reformed, and many daughters of Spaniards who were +without protection were married." + +[30] _Retraido_: one who has taken refuge in a sacred place. + +[31] See this and other regulations concerning suits that affect +auditors, in "Foundation of the Audiencia," _Vol_. V of this series. + +[32] The reading of this and following legal quotations of this +document are due to the kindly cooperation of Dr. Munroe Smith, of +the School of Political Science of Columbia University; Mr. Joseph +FitzGerald, of Mamaroneck, New York; and Rev. Jose Algue, S.J., +of the Manila Observatory. The passages allow for the most part, +of only conjecture, while some portions are unintelligible. + +[33] Mr. FitzGerald conjectures that _ultra multa cum tiber farsnaci_ +is equivalent to "many [passages, texts, authorities?] besides in +Tiberius Farsnaci." + +_Regni col[lectio]._ Possibly the citation is from the _Nueva +Recopilacion_ of 1567. In some contemporary Latin commentaries +the _Nueva Recopilacion_ is described as _Regiae Constitutiones_; +in others as _Collectio legum Hispania_. Book 9, title 4 of the +_Nueva Recopilacion_ deals with "_los officiales de la Contaduria +mayor_." _Regni collectio_ would naturally refer to the Castilian +law. Possibly, however, the reference is to some collection of +laws for the colonies. The _Recopilacion de las leyes de Indias_ +was not published till 1680; but, according to Antequera (_Hist. de +la Legislacion_, p. 564), a previous collection of the colonial laws, +down to 1596, was made "_en cuatro tomos impresos_;" also, early in the +seventeenth century, "_Se publico como provisional el libro titulado +'Sumarios de la Recopilacion' general de leyes_."--_Munroe Smith_. + +[34] _No ymperio, ni mero, ni misto. Imperio mero_ [_i.e.,_ pure +authority], the authority that resides in the sovereign, and by +his appointment in certain magistrates, to impose penalties on the +guilty, with the trying of the cause; _imperio mixto_ [_i.e._, mixed +authority], the authority that belongs to judges to decide civil cases, +and to carry their sentences into effect. See _Novisimo Diccionario +de la Lengua Cast_. (Paris, 1897). + +[35] ff = Digest (ff was a Lombard form of D), and the reference is to +Justinian's _Digest_, book 48, tit. 19 (_de poenis_) fragment 27, which +begins "_Divi fratres_." The last paragraph of this fragment empowers +the Roman governor (_praeses_) to arrest and imprison any of the leading +citizens (_principales_) who have committed felonies. It is cited as +a precedent in favor of the Spanish president.--_Munroe Smith_. + +[36] At this point the following citation occurs in the margin: _ultra +plures cum Cobb lib. 3, variar, c. 13, nº 6. Bartol alias ex conducto +et item cumquidam ff locat e inl c et divus ff de uauj e ex trah i +egruti p. totum maxime n deg. 15 luias De penia in l i c de principal +lib. 12_. Much of this is unintelligible and there have evidently +been many errors in transcription due to the illegibility of the +original MS. The following conjectures and information, however, +clear up certain portions of the passage. + +Mr. FitzGerald conjectures _ultra plures_ to be "several [authors] +besides." _Cobb._ is read _Codieibus_ by Father Jose Algue, S.J. + +_Ex conducto et item cumquidam ff locat_. The reference is to +Justinian's Digest, book 19, tit. 2 (_locati conducti_), fr. 15, which +begins "_ex conducto_" and especially to the passage in the middle of +fr. 15 (Sec. 3 of modern editions) which begins "_cum quidam_." It reads: +"When a certain person alleged a conflagration on the (leased) land +and desired a remission (of the rent), the following rescript is sent +to him: 'If you have tilled the soil, relief may not undeservedly be +given you on account of the accident of a sudden conflagration.'" The +transcription of the following reference to the Digest: _Divus +ff_: is too hopelessly muddled to identify. Before these is a +reference to Bartolus, and at the end a reference possibly to Cujas +(Cujacius). Bartolus was the leading civilian of the fourteenth +century; Cujacius of the sixteenth.--_Munroe Smith_. + +_In l_ is for _in loco_, and _l i c_ for _loco ibi citato_.--_Jose +Algue_, S.J. + +[37] Chocolate was at that time supplied to the Philippines from Nueva +Espana; but the cultivation of the cacao-tree (_Theobroma cacao_), +of which chocolate is a product, was introduced into the islands +about 1665 by the governor Diego Salcedo, at the instance of the +Jesuit Juan de Avila, according to Delgado (_Hist. de Filipinas_, +p. 535). Blanco says (_Flora,_ p. 420), citing Gaspar de San Agustin, +that this honor belongs to a pilot named Pedro Brabo de Lagunas, +who brought cacao plants to Manila in 1670. + +[38] There is evidently a slip of some sort here, due either to +mistranscription or to a slip between Messa's hand and brain. The +sense seems to require some such phrase as "depositions were given +with great fear." + +[39] There is a probable play on words here, the original reading +_asolar_, literally, "destroy;" but the writer may have used it in the +sense of "to deprive the earth of the sun," in view of the succeeding +remark, _sol_ being the word for "sun." + +[40] This letter is published, in an abridged form, by Rev. Pablo +Pastells, in his edition of Colin's _Labor evangelica_, ii, pp. 688, +689; but he there dates the letter July 25, while the Sevilla MS. (here +followed) makes it August, in 1621. + +[41] The italic side heads and center heads throughout this letter +appear in the margin of the original, and were made either by the +archbishop himself or by a government clerk. + +[42] _i.e._, guardianship: the district allowed to each convent in +which to beg. + +[43] This last sentence is evidently the correction in the margin +noted by the archbishop in the last clause of the present letter. + +[44] The numbers given in the text (all written out in words, not +figures) amount to 205,000. + +[45] The numbers given in the text, for the various bishoprics, +amount to 509,450. + +[46] Conducted by the confraternity of that name; see letter of +Audiencia regarding the objects and work of this association, in +_Vol_. XIV, pp. 208-313. See also Dasmarinas's account of the royal +hospital, in _Vol_. X, pp. 28-40. + +[47] At that period the (new) Parian, as shown by a plan of 1641, +was opposite the city of Manila on the other side of the Pasig +River. Evidently, then, the Chinese and Indians were obliged to pay +tolls for crossing the river to the city. + +[48] See _Vol_. XIII, p. 185, note 33. _Beca_ is most suitably +translated "sleeves." + +[49] A decree of like tenor was sent to the Audiencia on the same +date. It is quite probable that similar decrees were sent to all +the orders. + +[50] Regarding this, Fajardo wrote thus to the king, on August 17, +1623 (a letter found in the Sevilla archives): "The expedition to +take possession of the gold mines of the Ygolotes, which border on +peaceful lands of this island, has been accomplished, although it +has entailed some expense, not a little labor, and some bloodshed; +for those barbarians are so indomitable, and occupy fortifications, +in which are Spaniards and Indians belonging to the peaceful vassals +of your Majesty. The indications of the mines, the disposition of +the ridges, and the quality of the earth where they were, promise +more richness than do the trials which have been made thus far by +washing and separating the gold. Until all the tests which are used +for this purpose have been made, it can not be certainly said what +their value, will be--although it appears to me that that cannot +be small, considering the large amount of gold which these natives +take from the mines and barter with the friendly Indians. Even if the +profit is not large enough to make it expedient to administer it on +your Majesty's account, in pacifying and reducing to obedience these +Ygolotes Indians there will be no little advantage, besides the taxes, +from reducing them to the vassalage of your Majesty, and to instruction +in our holy Catholic faith, which they have never received." + +[51] "The nutmeg [_Myristica fragrans_] grows naturally in Cebu and in +Laguna province, and will grow in all parts of the islands cultivated" +(_Report_ of U.S. Philippine Commission, 1900, iii, p. 271). + +Delgado states (_Historia_, p. 537) that in 1737 he found the nutmeg +growing wild in Leyte, a native of the Visayas Islands. He adds: +"It could be cultivated in these islands, if the natives would apply +themselves to this work--or at least if the alcaldes-mayor would +compel them to do so, as they do now in La Laguna of Manila, from +which results to the people of the islands no little benefit." + +[52] Probably the same as Ramon Beguer, who arrived in the islands +in 1615, and ministered in various missions in Pangasinan. Finally +he retired to the Dominican convent in Manila, where he died in 1661 +(_Resena biog. Sant. Rosario_, i, p. 348). + +[53] George F. Becker in his "Report on Geology of the Philippine +Islands"--in _Twenty-first Annual Report_ of U.S. Geological Survey +(Washington, 1901), part iii, pp. 487-625--cites (p. 622; cf. also +p. 517) the geologist R. von Drasche thus: "Layers of tuff [or tufa--a +volcanic rock formed of agglutinated volcanic earth or scoria] +are also exposed (_Fragmente zu einer Geologie der Insel Luzon_, +pp. 29-31) at many points between Aringay and Benguet, but these +tuffs toward the interior, even at Galiano, are 'no longer earthy, +but quite hard, crystalline, and sandstone like.'" This probably +explains Martin's description of the hard ground. + +Aringay is located on the northwestern coast of Luzon, at the mouth +of Aringay River, in the province, of Union. + +[54] Bacacayes; see description of these weapons in _Vol_. XVI, p. 55, +note 26. + +[55] The distance from the end of the thumb to the end of the +forefinger (both extended)--about equivalent to the English span. + +[56] For the dress of the Igorrotes, see Sawyer's _Inhabitants of the +Philippines_, pp. 254, 255, and the names of their various articles +of dress, p. 264. + +Concerning the Igorrotes, Bulletin No. I, of the _Census of +the Philippine Islands: 1903_, "Population of the Philippines" +(Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of the Census: 1904) +contains the following (p. 6): "Of the other wild tribes in the +Philippine Islands, one of the most important is the Igorot, which +inhabits the central Cordillera from the extreme north of Luzon +south to the plains of Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija. Under this general +name there are various subgroup designations, such as the Gaddans, +Dadayags, or Mayoyao. Another branch of the Igorot tribe is the +Kalinga, along the Cagayan river, near Ilagan, in the province of +Isabela. To the westward, in the sub-province of Bontoc, is another +branch of the Igorot people, who are said to be the most famous of +the head-hunters. Another branch is the Tinguian, inhabiting the +provinces of Nueva Ecija, Ilocos Sur, Lepanto-Bontoc, and Abra." + +[57] See Sawyer, _ut supra_, p. 263. The spear described is probably +the _say-aug_. The sharp-pointed stakes are of bamboo, and are called +_sayac_ or _dayac_. + +[58] That is, the bones of the animals that they had killed for +their feasts, and which they hung up in their houses as ornaments +and display. + +[59] See Becker's account of the gold-producing districts in Luzon, +their geological conditions, and the native methods of mining +(_Twenty-first Annual Report_ of U.S. Geological Survey, part iii, +pp. 576-580). He states that the Igorrotes have always refused, +even to the present day, to allow any outsiders, of any race, to +visit the quartz mines in their country. + +[60] "Roasted and powdered copper pyrites added to ores of silver when +reduced to the state of a magma [_i.e._, a thin paste], in order to +reduce the horn silver; formerly so called at the Spanish mines of +Mexico and South America" (Webster's _Dictionary_). + +"The _magistral_ is a mixture of pyritous copper and sulphuretted salt, +roasted for some hours in a reverberating oven, and slowly cooled" +(Humboldt's _New Spain_, Black's trans., iii, p. 260). + +[61] Spanish, _greta_, an old word used for _almartaga_; oxide of +lead in the form of small scales, and lustrous; commonly called +"litharge of silver," or "of gold," as it resembles those metals. + +[62] Also written _temesquitato_; a Mexican word, applied to the +dross from the surface of lead into which pulverized silver ore +is introduced. + +[63] See Humboldt's account of the mining methods and processes in +vogue in Nueva Espana, in his _New Spain_ (Black's trans.), iii, +pp. 231-280. + +Various laws and ordinances concerning the discovery and operation +of mines in the Spanish colonies may be found in _Recopilacion de +leyes_. mainly in lib. iv, tit. xix, xx, and lib. viii, tit. xi. + +[64] The first figure refers to the number of onzas loss of +quicksilver, and the second to the number of the assay. Thus ten +onzas of quicksilver were lost in the second assay. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, +Volume XX, 1621-1624, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS *** + +***** This file should be named 16133.txt or 16133.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/1/3/16133/ + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the PG Distributed Proofreaders Team + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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