diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/50151.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/50151.txt | 8668 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 8668 deletions
diff --git a/old/50151.txt b/old/50151.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 1ff5709..0000000 --- a/old/50151.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8668 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume -XLIV, 1700-1736, by Various - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XLIV, 1700-1736 - 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 - James Alexander Robertson - -Release Date: October 7, 2015 [EBook #50151] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, VOL XLIV *** - - - - -Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project -Gutenberg. - - - - - - - - - - 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 XLIV, 1700-1736 - - - - Edited and annotated by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson - with historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord - Bourne. - - - The Arthur H. Clark Company - Cleveland, Ohio - MCMVI - - - - - - - -CONTENTS OF VOLUME XLIV - - - Preface 11 - - Documents of 1700-1730 - - Jesuit missions in the seventeenth century. Pedro - Murillo Velarde; Manila, 1749 27 - Condition of the islands, 1701. Jose Vila, O.P., and - others; Manila, October 7, 1701 120 - Events of 1701-1715. [Summarized from Concepcion's - Historia de Philipinas.] 142 - The government and death of Bustamante. Diego de - Otazo, S.J., and others; Manila, 1719-20 148 - Letter by a Spanish officer. Manuel de Santistevan; - Manila, January 28, 1730 196 - - Commerce of the Philippines with Nueva Espana, 1640-1736 - (to be concluded). Antonio Alvarez de Abreu; Madrid, 1736. - [From Extracto historial.] 227 - - Bibliographical Data 313 - - - - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - - Photographic facsimile of frontispiece to Pedro Murillo - Velarde's Historia de la provincia de Philipinas (Manila, - 1749); from copy possessed by Edward E. Ayer, Chicago - Frontispiece - Map of Mindanao, showing Spanish settlements, and districts - occupied by the Jesuits and Recollects; photographic - facsimile from original MS. (dated 1683) in Archivo general - de Indias, Sevilla 51 - Plan of the palace, Audiencia hall, and exchequer of Manila; - photographic facsimile from original MS. in Archivo general - de Indias, Sevilla 153 - Plan of fortifications at Zamboanga, 1719; photographic - facsimile of original manuscript map in Archivo general de - Indias, Sevilla 163 - - - - - - - -PREFACE - - -The present volume covers the first third of the eighteenth century, -besides reviewing the Jesuit missions in Filipinas during that which -preceded it. The only occurrence of notable interest in the former -period is the murder of Governor Bustamante by a mob (1719), which is -even more remarkable for the utterly lawless manner in which the deed -was committed, and the successful efforts made to stifle its proper -investigation and punishment. The memorial of the religious orders -(1701) discloses vividly the tyranny and oppression suffered by the -Indians at the hands of their Spanish masters. Especially valuable -is Abreu's historical sketch of the commerce between the islands -and Nueva Espana up to 1736, and of the sharp controversy which this -aroused between the traders of Manila and those of Cadiz and Sevilla. - -An account of Jesuit labors in the islands during the seventeenth -century is furnished by Murillo Velarde, historian of that order, in -his Historia de Philipinas (Manila, 1749). In 1618 the advent of two -comets so terrifies the people that the Jesuits by their preaching -win many souls, not only in Manila (the most cosmopolitan city in -the Spanish empire), but in its environs. These fathers are eminently -successful, both as preachers and as confessors; their manifold duties, -and their methods of reaching all classes, are fully recounted. Some -of them conduct successful missions in Bondoc (Luzon) and the island -of Marinduque; in the latter, many relapsed Christians are reclaimed, -and wild Indians are induced to settle in villages. At the desire -of the archbishop of Manila, the Jesuits labor for some time in the -port of Cavite and at Old Cavite, where they encounter and reform a -fearfully corrupt state of morals; they also minister to the Chinese -residing near Manila. In 1628 a fatal epidemic causes many deaths in -and near that city: in this calamity the Jesuits minister untiringly -to the sick and dying, as also do some of the Indian converts. About -this time the Jesuit missions are established in Mindanao, and soon -afterward in Negros and Mindoro. In 1632 a considerable reenforcement -of laborers arrives at Manila: their zealous labors were begun as -soon as they embarked at Cadiz, ministering to the people on their -ship. The writer narrates the progress of their labors in Mindoro, -Maragondong, and Negros; and gives an historical sketch of the early -Jesuit labors in Mindanao, and of those carried on after 1642 at -Iligan and Sibuguey. After the conquest of Jolo, Jesuit missionaries -labor successfully in that island; their Joloan converts afterward, -when the missionaries are obliged to leave them, become exiles from -their own land and go to Zamboanga, in order to maintain themselves as -Christians. The missions in the Pintados Islands are very flourishing, -except for the sufferings of their people from the raids of the -southern Moros. All the Philippine missions are greatly hindered and -weakened, about 1640, by lack of laborers; but in 1643 large bands -of Jesuits and Dominicans arrive at Manila, and give new life to the -missions. In 1648-49 Spanish punitive expeditions are sent to Borneo, -which do much damage to those piratical natives, carry away many -captives, and ransom some Christians held there. These armadas are -accompanied by Jesuits as chaplains, who take this opportunity to -announce the gospel in Borneo, and baptize seven hundred islanders; -this gives them great hopes for a numerous and extensive Christian -church to be founded there, "but, lacking the protection of the -Spanish military forces, this so beautiful hope faded away almost at -its flowering." Our writer expatiates on the dangers and privations, -the loneliness and sickness, the difficulties and opposition, that -are bravely encountered and patiently endured by the missionaries; and -the variety of duties which they must perform, not only ministerial, -but those of teacher, umpire, architect, etc. Much is accomplished -in Basilan and Mindanao by a few faithful laborers. - -The moral and social conditions prevalent in the islands become -exceedingly corrupt, and the Spanish colony experiences many -calamities and misfortunes, regarded as the Divine chastisement for -their transgressions. The remedy sought for this comes as a papal brief -authorizing the archbishop of Manila to absolve all the inhabitants of -the islands from their transgressions, and from any excommunications -incurred by them, and granting plenary indulgence to all who should -"worthily prepare to receive it." This grant being duly published -(March 1, 1654), great good results from it--within Manila alone, more -than 40,000 persons confessing their sins, and a great reformation -being made in the morals of the people. Another wave of religious -enthusiasm occurs in the following year, under the direction of the -Jesuits. In 1654 the cornerstone of the new cathedral building is -laid. The spiritual interests of Ternate and Siao are placed in the -care of the Jesuits, who gain many souls in both these fields. In -1662 a new mission band arrives at Manila, and some of the Jesuits go -out into the ranches and mountain hamlets near Manila; among these, -the noted Father Sanvitores baptizes 24,000 heathens in seven days, -and prepares many others for baptism. The Pardo controversy leads -to so many difficulties between the ecclesiastical authorities and -the religious orders that they offer to the king their resignation -of the ministries held by them in the islands; but he refuses to -allow the Jesuits to do this, and even restores to them two parishes -of which they had been deprived. Our author relates in detail the -methods practiced by the Jesuits in administering their parishes, -and the devotions and pious exercises that are practiced by the -faithful. Finally, the history of the parish of San Matheo, and that -of the house of Indian "beatas" in Manila, are presented. - -A brief summary of events in the years 1701-15 is presented, condensed -from the diffuse account of Concepcion. Governor Zabalburu, the -successor of Cruzat, constructs various important public works. In -the Tournon affair (1704), the governor and archbishop show undue -laxity in allowing Tournon to interfere in their jurisdiction and -infringe on the royal prerogatives; for this and other causes they -are removed from their offices. In 1709 Conde de Lizarraga assumes the -office of governor; but little of interest occurs during his term. To -this is appended a memorial addressed to Zabalburu (October 7, 1701) -by the provincials of the religious orders in the islands, urging -him to reform various abuses--the neglect of the military posts and -of new conquests of infidels; the sufferings of the natives from the -building of galleons; the severity, oppression, and fraud practiced -on the Indians in the collection of tributes and in requisitions -for personal services; the greed and cruelty of Spanish officials; -the prevalence of gambling and vagabondism; laxity in enforcing the -laws that prohibit or restrict the immigration of infidels--Moors, -Chinese, and others; and neglect of religious affairs. From these -abuses result most deplorable effects: the depopulation of the islands, -the prevalence of vice, the ruin of many formerly prosperous Indian -villages, and the exhaustion and demoralization of the natives. The -governor is urged to reform these evils and protect the poor Indians. - -In summarized form is presented Concepcion's account of the government -(ad interim) of the auditor Torralba and (proprietary) of Bustamante, -from 1715 to 1719, in which year the latter is attacked and slain by a -mob, the people revolting against Bustamante's violent and arbitrary -acts. To this are added letters by the Jesuit Otazo and Archbishop -Cuesta, the latter of whom is a prominent figure in the history of that -time. The court of the Audiencia at Manila had been broken up by the -arrest of the auditors, for various charges of official malfeasance, -or as a result of hostilities with the governor; and Torralba -himself is imprisoned by Bustamante for misconduct. Afterward, -desiring the countenance of an audiencia for his proceedings, -Bustamante forms one with Torralba and some associates; but the -legality of this procedure is questioned by the archbishop and the -university professors of law. The governor, as soon as he entered -office, had undertaken to collect by force the large amounts due to -the treasury from its debtors; he succeeded therein, but of course -awakened hatred and resentment in many of the citizens. A controversy -arises with the archbishop over a question of ecclesiastical immunity; -he excommunicates Torralba, and is afterward arrested by the governor, -who also imprisons most of the prominent ecclesiastics. Then arises -a tumult among the people, and a conspiracy is formed against -Bustamante. The friars sally out from their convents and are joined -by the numerous persons who, in fear of the governor's tyrannical -acts, have taken refuge in the churches, and by a crowd of the common -people. All this throng go to the governor's palace, and attack him; -he is terribly wounded, and dies after a few hours, and his son also -is slain. At the urgent demand of all, Archbishop Cuesta accepts the -post of governor ad interim, and forms an audiencia with the released -auditors. Bustamante's children are sent to Mexico. Investigations -of the murder are attempted, in both Manila and Mexico, but are -practically fruitless. Otazo's letter (November 19, 1719) gives a -brief account of the murder and the circumstances connected with it, -especially of his own ministrations to the dying Bustamante; he then -enlarges on the latter's pious death, and for this reason urges his -correspondent to refute the slanders that will doubtless be spread -about the dead man. He urges that in the residencia of Bustamante's -government action should be taken only in cases which may involve -injury to other parties, and that all other matters (including the -riot) be "buried in oblivion," for the service of God and the king, the -good of souls, and the tranquillity of the colony. In order to prevent -the recurrence of such troubles, he advises--his letter being evidently -intended to influence those in power, apparently the confessors of -the king--that the governor of Filipinas be here-after kept in check -by a council composed of prominent ecclesiastics and religious; and -that all important appointments to offices in the islands be made by -the king instead of the governor. Otazo details this plan quite fully, -and calls for more careful selection of governors and other officials -for the islands. He closes by praising one of the auditors, Toribio, -as an upright official and God-fearing man. The letter of Archbishop -Cuesta (June 28, 1720) gives his version of the tragedy lately enacted, -and relates how he was forced by the popular will to act as governor -until that vacancy should be filled by the crown. - -A Spanish officer in Manila, Manuel de Santistevan, writes to a cousin -in Spain (January 28, 1730), giving the latter an account of his -friendly relations with the new governor of Filipinas, Fernando Valdes -Tamon; of various family affairs of his own; and of the troubles which -he has experienced at the hands of the members of the Audiencia, who -envy his intimacy with the governor and endeavor to undermine it. He -has a quarrel with his father-in-law, a passionate, scheming, and -selfish man; but it is patched up by the intervention of the governor -and archbishop, and they are nominally reconciled. At the same time, -Santistevan and his wife, who had had difficulties, are reunited. He -asks his correspondent to secure for him several favors from the -court: a certain amount of lading-space on the Acapulco galleon; -an appointment to a governorship in one of the Spanish colonies; -the command of the Acapulco galleon in which he hopes to leave the -Philippines; and reimbursement for some property belonging to his -wife which was seized by the viceroy of Mexico, on account of the -late Governor Bustamante's debts to the crown. - -At this point we resume the history of Philippine commerce with Nueva -Espana which is presented in the Extracto historial (Madrid, 1736), the -first two "periods" of which appeared in VOL. XXX of this series. On -account of its great length and the necessary limitations of the space -available to us, we are obliged to condense and abridge much of this -work; but "Periods" ii-vi are given in full (save for the text of some -long decrees). The third of these gives no information regarding that -commerce from 1640 to the end of that century, save that the viceroy of -Mexico made remonstrances during 1684-86 as to the difficulties which -embarrassed the Mexican government in collecting duties and preventing -frauds; and that in 1697 royal decrees command a stricter enforcement -in Mexico of the existing laws and regulations for that commerce. This -proceeding disturbs the merchants of Manila, who ask for more freedom -and the removal of certain restrictions. Along with this, the Spanish -government is beset by demands from its American colonies, who desire -to profit by the Philippine commerce, and by remonstrances from the -Spanish merchants who are being ruined by it. The government thereupon -makes new regulations (August 12, 1702) for the Philippine trade, -including some concessions to the Manila merchants--who nevertheless -raise objections to some of them, as is shown by the governor's -report; he makes some temporary concessions to them, which (with one -exception) are not sustained by the home government. By its orders, -the viceroy of Mexico makes an investigation (in 1712; "Period" iv) -of the alleged illegal conduct of the Philippine-Mexican commerce, -and finds very serious infractions of the law in many directions. A -letter from the viceroy (dated August 4, 1714) to the king shows how -these frauds are committed, and how difficult it is to prove them. He -does all in his power to check or punish them, but conditions are -such as to hamper his efforts and shield the guilty. Linares shows -how these things are injuring the commerce of Filipinas and the -interests of its native Spanish citizens, and places the whole matter -before the home government for action thereon. The fifth "Period" -is concerned with the injurious effects of that commerce on the -industries and trade of the mother country, and the attempts of the -government to remedy these. The merchants of Nueva Espana ask that -the trading-fleets sent thither annually from Spain be discontinued, -whereupon the royal Council ask for information on this subject from -the commercial houses of Sevilla. The latter remonstrate against -allowing the importation of Chinese goods into Nueva Espana, since -this is ruining the commerce of Spain in that country. The Sevillans -complain of the abuses in the Filipinas trade, and of the showy and -cheap imitations of Spanish goods which the Chinese send by this agency -to Acapulco, which have driven out the genuine articles and thus have -ruined both the traders and the manufacturers of Spain. Moreover, -the wealth of Nueva Espana is being drained into the heathen land -of China. Accordingly, the Sevillans urge that severe restrictions -be placed on the Manila-Acapulco trade, and that the Spanish trading -fleets be sent regularly and often. As a result of this protest and -of the proceedings in the Council, the king decrees (1718) that the -trade in Chinese silken goods be henceforth prohibited. In 1719, -Viceroy Valero remonstrates ("Period" vi) against this prohibition, -in behalf of not only Filipinas but his own subjects in Nueva Espana, -most of whom are too poor to purchase Spanish goods for their garments -and depend on the cheap goods from China; he also declares that the -Filipinas trade is necessary for enabling the Mexican treasury to -meet its obligations. This memorial being submitted to the fiscal at -Madrid, he advises that the prohibition of trade in Chinese goods be -removed. After much discussion and consultation, the matter is decided -thus, a royal decree (dated October 27, 1720) being issued accordingly: -the Filipinas commerce with Nueva Espana must be restricted to -300,000 pesos, and to certain products and manufactured articles, -from which are strictly excluded all silken fabrics; the amount of -money sent in return is limited to 600,000 pesos; citizens of Nueva -Espana are strictly forbidden to send their own money to Filipinas: -and various precautions, restrictions, and penalties are provided. - -This decree is received ("Period" vii) at Manila on August 2, 1722. The -municipal council address memorials to the governor protesting against -the restrictions imposed on the Filipinas trade, and showing that -the enforcement of these would ruin them; but the governor refuses to -suspend the decree, and the fiscal advises the merchants to appeal to -the Madrid court. The citizens send deputies thither, and persuade -the Audiencia to second their petitions for more liberal treatment, -and for the suspension of the decree of 1720. Letters to this effect -from that body inform the home government of the losses previously -sustained by the merchants of Filipinas, the dependence of the -islands on their commerce with Nueva Espana, the vital importance to -that commerce of the goods from China, and the danger that if these -goods are prohibited the conversion of the Chinese will be rendered -exceedingly difficult; the Audiencia therefore recommends that the -trade in silks be allowed, and the amount of the permission increased -to 250,000 pesos. This opinion is supported by one of similar tenor, -given by the royal fiscal at Manila; the points which he makes are -elaborated at length in a report sent by him to the king, dated -November 15, 1722. In the same vein are letters written to support -the demands of the citizens, by the royal officials, the archbishop -and other prominent ecclesiastics, and the superiors of the religious -orders; of these the most forcible is that written by the Jesuit -provincial. He urges that the natural resources of the Philippines -be more industriously cultivated, and suggests that the Spaniards -compel the other inhabitants of the islands (Indians, mestizos, and -others) "to weave the cloth goods which are manufactured in other -regions." Deputies go from Manila to Madrid, to present the claims of -Filipinas, and hand in a printed memorial containing their arguments -for the suspension of the decree of 1720. This and similar documents -brought forward by both sides show a curious mixture of religious, -political, and commercial motives, as well as the jealousy and ill-will -aroused in the minds of the Spanish merchants as soon as Manila diverts -from Cadiz any notable amount of trade; and interesting revelations -are made of the practical workings of the selfish policy pursued -by Spain toward her colonies, and the undue paternalism which would -keep them forever in leading-strings. It is shown that the strength -of Spain as a world-power is being undermined by the heretic nations -of Europe--England, France, and Holland--because they display superior -energy and ability in manufactures and commerce. From this time (1723) -until the year when the Extracto was compiled by order of the Spanish -government (1736), there appears a steady and increasingly bitter -controversy between the commercial interests of Manila and Cadiz, -the former evidently having powerful support in government circles, -and the latter becoming alarmed at the precarious condition of both -its American trade and the Spanish industry and commerce in silk -fabrics. Manila tries to show that its trade in Chinese silks is -necessary to the propagation of the Christian faith in China, and -to its maintenance in the Philippines; Cadiz laughs this claim to -scorn. Manila claims that the decadence of the silk industry in Spain -is due to other causes than the importation of Chinese goods into -Mexico; and a large part of the raw silk produced in Spain is bought -by the industrial nations of Europe and manufactured into fabrics, -which are brought back to Spain by these foreigners to supply not only -that country but her colonies, the goods being shipped to the Indias -in Spanish bottoms. The royal fiscal at Madrid supports the contention -of Manila, but would confine its trade strictly to the amount allowed -it by the government; and he thinks that the complaints by Cadiz arise -from the frauds and abuses in the Manila trade, rather than from the -mere fact of its including Chinese goods. Manila proposes for the -conduct of the commerce a plan which will obviate the difficulties -therein, but this is opposed by the fiscal and other officials. Direct -appeal being made to the king, he consents (October, 1726) to test -this plan for five years. The remainder of Abreu's work will appear -in VOL. XLV. - - - The Editors - September, 1906. - - - - - - - -DOCUMENTS OF 1700-1730 - - - Jesuit missions in the seventeenth century. Pedro Murillo - Velarde; 1749. - Condition of the islands, 1701. Jose Vila, O.P., and others; - October 7, 1701. - Events of 1701-15. [Summarized from Concepcion's Historia - de Philipinas.] - The government and death of Bustamante. Diego de Otazo, S.J., - and others; 1719-20. - Letter by a Spanish officer. Manuel de Santistevan; January - 28, 1730. - - -Sources: The first of these documents is compiled from Murillo -Velarde's Historia de Philipinas (Manila, 1749), using such parts as -directly relate to the missionary labors of the Jesuit order in the -islands; from a copy of the original in possession of Edward E. Ayer, -Chicago. The second is found in the Ventura del Arco MSS., (Ayer -library), v, pp. 201-230; and, in the fourth, Otazo's and Cuesta's -letters are found in iv, pp. 249-295. The third is summarized from -Concepcion's Historia de Philipinas, viii, pp. 299-391; part of the -fourth is from ix, pp. 183-424; and the rest is obtained as stated -above. The fifth is translated from a MS. probably the original, -in possession of Edward E. Ayer. - -Translations: These are all made by Emma Helen Blair. - - - - - - - -JESUIT MISSIONS IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY - - -[In 1618 two unusually brilliant comets were visible in the -Philippines; their effects on the minds of the people are thus -described (fol. 5):] [1] There was great variety and inaccuracy of -opinion about the comets; but through that general although confused -notion which the majority of people form, that comets presage -disastrous events, and that the anger of God threatens men by them, -they assisted greatly in awakening contrition in the people, and -inciting them to do penance. To this the preachers endeavored to -influence them with forcible utterances, for the Society had not -been behind [the other orders] in preparing the city for the entire -success of the jubilee; [2] for there was one occasion when eleven -Jesuits were counted, who, distributed at various stations, cried -out like Jonah, threatening destruction to impenitent and rebellious -souls. God giving power to their words, this preaching was like -the seed in the gospel story, scattered on good ground, which not -only brought forth its fruit correspondingly, but so promptly that -those who heard broke down in tears at hearing the eternal truths; -and, like thirsty deer, when the sermon was ended they followed the -preacher that he might hear their confessions, already dreading lest -some emergency might find them in danger of damnation. This harvest -was not confined within the walls of Manila, but extended to its -many suburbs, and to the adjacent villages, in which missions had -been conducted. Not only was there preaching to the Spaniards, but -to the Tagalogs, the Indian natives of the country--who, in token of -their fervor, gave from their own scanty supply food in abundance -to the jails and prisons, Ours aiding them to carry the food, to -the edification of the city. To the Japanese who were living in our -village of San Miguel--exiles from their native land, in order to -preserve their religion, who had taken refuge in Manila, driven out -from that kingdom by the tyrant Taycosama--our fathers preached, in -their own language. And it can be said that there was preaching to -all the nations, that which occurred to the apostles in Jerusalem on -the day of Pentecost being represented in Manila; for I believe that -there is no city in the world in which so many nationalities come -together as here. For besides the Spaniards (who are the citizens and -owners of the country) and the Tagalogs (who are the Indian natives -of the land), there are many other Indians from the islands, who -speak different tongues--such as the Pampangos, the Camarines [i.e., -the Bicols], the Bisayans, the Ilocans, the Pangasinans, and the -Cagayans. There are Creoles [Criollos], or Morenos, who are swarthy -blacks, natives of the country; [3] there are many Cafres, and other -negroes from Angola, Congo, and Africa. There are blacks from Asia, -Malabars, Coromandels, and Canarins. There are a great many Sangleys, -or Chinese--part of them Christians, but the majority heathens. There -are Ternatans, and Mardicas (who took refuge here from Ternate); there -are some Japanese; there are people from Borney and Timor, and from -Bengal; there are Mindanaos, Joloans, and Malays; there are Javanese, -Siaos, and Tidorans; there are people from Cambay and Mogol, and from -other islands and kingdoms of Asia. There are a considerable number -of Armenians, and some Persians; and Tartars, Macedonians, Turks, -and Greeks. There are people from all the nations of Europa--French, -Germans, and Dutch; Genoese and Venetians; Irish and Englishmen; -Poles and Swedes. There are people from all the kingdoms of Espana, -and from all America; so that he who spends an afternoon on the tuley -[4] or bridge of Manila will see all these nationalities pass by him, -behold their costumes, and hear their languages--something which -cannot be done in any other city in the entire Spanish monarchy, -and hardly in any other region in all the world. - -From this arises the fact that the confessional of Manila is, in my -opinion, the most difficult in all the world; for, as it is impossible -to confess all these people in their own tongues, it is necessary -to confess them in Spanish; and each nationality has made its own -vocabulary of the Spanish language, with which those people have -intercourse [with us], conduct their affairs, and make themselves -understood; and without it Ours can understand them only with great -difficulty, and almost by divination. A Sangley, an Armenian, and a -Malabar will be heard talking together in Spanish, and our people do -not understand them, as they so distort the word and the accent. The -Indians have another Spanish language of their own; and the Cafres -have one still more peculiar, to which must be added that they eat -half of the words. No one save he who has had this experience can -state the labors which it costs to confess them; and even when the -fault is understood in general, to seek for a specific account of -the circumstances is to enter a labyrinth without a clue. For they -do not understand our orderly mode of speech, and therefore when -they are questioned they say "yes" or "no" as it occurs to them, -without rightly understanding what is asked from them--so that in -a short time they will utter twenty contradictions. It is therefore -necessary to accommodate oneself to their language, and learn their -vocabulary. Another of the very serious difficulties is the little -capacity of these people to distinguish and explain numbers, incidents, -and circumstances; add to this the unbridled licentiousness of some, -in accordance with the freedom and opportunities [for vice] in this -land, the continual backsliding, and the few indications of fixed -purpose. In others, who are capable and explain their meaning well, -is found a complication of perplexities--with a thousand reflections, -and bargains, and frauds, and oaths all joined together; and faults -that are extraordinary and of new kinds, which keep even the most -learned man continually studying them. The heat of the country, -and the stench or foul odor of the Indians and the negroes, unite in -great part to make a hardship of the ministry, which in these islands -is the most difficult; and on this account I regard it as being very -meritorious. The annual confessions last from the beginning of Lent -until Corpus Christi. In our college of Manila the church is open from -daylight until eleven o'clock, and from two o'clock until nightfall; -and always some fathers are present to hear confessions--for this -is done not only by the active ministers, but by the instructors, -when their scholastic duties give them opportunity; and I have known -some fathers who remain to hear confessions during seven, eight, -or more hours a day. - -It makes them bear all these annoyances patiently, and even sweetens -these, to see how many souls are kept pure by the grace of God, in the -midst of so many temptations, like the bramble in the midst of the fire -without being burned. There are many who are striving for perfection, -who frequent the sacraments, who maintain prayer and spiritual reading, -and who give much in alms and perform other works of charity. And it -is cause for the greatest consolation to see, at the solemn festivals -of the Virgin and other important feasts, the confessional surrounded -by Indians, Cafres, and negroes, men and women, great and small, who -are awaiting their turns with incredible patience, kept there through -the grace of God, against every impulse of their natural dispositions -and their slothfulness. And at the season of Lent it is heart-breaking -to see the confessor, when he rises from his seat, surrounded by more -than a hundred persons of all colors, who go away disconsolate because -they have not obtained an opportunity to make their confessions; and -in this manner they go and come for eight or ten days, or a fortnight, -or even more, with unspeakable patience, but with such eagerness that -when the confessor rises they go following him throughout the house, -calling to him to hear their confessions. This is done even by boys -of seven to twelve years, and hardly with violence can they be made -to leave the father, and they continue to call after him; and some -remain in the passages, on their knees, asking for confession, so -great is the number of the penitents--to which that of the confessors -does not correspond by far, nor does their assiduity, even if there -were enough of them. The Society is not content with aiding those who -come to seek relief in our church, and attending the year round all -the sick, of various languages, who summon them to hear confession; -but its laborers go forth--as it were, gospel hunters--to search for -penitents. They assist almost all who are executed in the city; every -week they go to the jails and hospitals; in Lent they hear confessions -in all the prisons, and at the foundry, those of the galley-slaves. And -in the course of the year they hear confessions in the college of -Santa Ysabel--in which there are more than a hundred students, who -are receiving the most admirable education--and in the seminary of -Santa Potenciana, the students frequenting the sacraments often; and, -in fine, they go on a perpetual round in pursuit of the impious. - -The confessional is, as it were, the harvesting of the crop; -and the pulpit is the sowing, in which the seed of the gospel is -scattered in the hearts of men, where with the watering of grace it -bears fruit in due time, according to the cooeperation [of the Holy -Ghost?]. With great constancy and solicitude the Society contributes -to the cultivation of these fields of Christianity, with preaching. In -Manila the Society has, besides the sermons from the holy men of the -order, other endowed feasts, and the set sermons [5] in the cathedral -and the royal chapel. When necessity requires it, a mission is held, -and the attendance is very large, although hardly a fifth of those -who hear understand the Spanish language; this to a certain extent -discourages the missionaries, as does even much more the fact that -they do not encounter those external demonstrations of excitement -and tears that they arouse in other places. This originates from the -characteristic of a large part of the audience, that these attend with -due seriousness only to certain undertakings; and the distractions -of their disputes and business affairs, and their indolence and the -air of the country, dissipate their attention beyond measure. Their -imaginations, overborne with foolish trifles, and accustomed to our -voices, become so relaxed that even the most forcible and persuasive -discourses make little, if any, impression. Nevertheless, there are -many in whom the holy fear of God reigns, and the seed of the gospel -takes root--which they embrace with seriousness and simplicity, as the -importance of the subject demands. The marvel is, that many Indians -and a great many Indian women, only by the sound of [the preaching in] -the mission, and without understanding what they hear, are stricken -with contrition, confess themselves, and receive communion, in order -to gain the indulgences--to their own great advantage, and to the -unspeakable consolation of their confessors at seeing the wonderfully -loving providence of God for these souls. - -This fruit and this consolation are most evident in the Spiritual -Exercises of St. Ignatius, [6] which are explained through most of the -year in our college. The principal citizens make their retreat there, -and in the solitude of that retirement God speaks to them within their -hearts; and marvelous results have been seen in various persons, in -whom has been established a tenor of life so Christian that they may -be called the religious of the laymen--in their minds those eternal -truths, on which they meditate with seriousness, remaining firm, for -the orderly conduct of their lives. The students in the college of -San Joseph have their own society, which meets every Sunday, in which -they perform their exercises of devotion and have their exhortations, -during the course of the year. Every Sunday the Christian doctrine -is explained to the boys in the school, and some example [for their -imitation] is related to them; and they walk in procession through the -streets, chanting the doctrine. The Indian servants of the college -have their own assembly, conducted in a very decorous manner, with -continual instruction in the doctrine. Every Saturday an address in -Tagalog is given to the beatas who attend our church; they have their -own society, and exercise themselves in frequent devotions, furnishing -an excellent and useful example to the community. Every year they -perform the spiritual exercises; and the topics therein are given to -them in Tagalog, in our church, by one of Ours. Many devout Indian -and mestizo women resort hither on this occasion, to perform these -exercises, in various weeks, for which purpose they make retreat in the -beaterio during the week required for that; and even Spanish women, -including ladies of the most distinguished position, perform their -spiritual exercises, and the topics for meditation are assigned to -them in our church. This practice is very beneficial for their souls, -of great usefulness to the community, and remarkably edifying to all. - -The Society also busies itself in the conversion and reconciliation -of certain heretics, who are wont to come from the East (as has been -observed in recent years), and in catechising and baptizing the Moros -or the heathens who sometimes reach the islands--either driven from -their route, or called by God in other ways; and He draws them to -himself, so that they obtain holy baptism, as has been seen in late -years in some persons from the Palaos and Carolina islands, and from -Siao. Another of the means of which the Society avails itself for -the good of souls is, to print and distribute free many spiritual -books in various languages, which are most efficacious although mute -preachers. These, removing from men their erroneous ideas by clear -exposition [of the truth], and leaving them without the cloak of their -own fantastic notions, persuade them, without being wearisome, to -abandon vice or error; and then they embrace virtue and the Christian -mode of life. In Lent, as being an acceptable time and especially -opportune for the harvest, the dikes are opened, in order that the -waters of the word of God may flow more abundantly. On Tuesdays -there is preaching to the Spaniards, and these sermons usually have -the efficacy of a mission, although not given under that name. On -Thursdays there is explanation of the doctrine, and preaching, in -Tagalog, to the Indians; the attendance is very great, since many come, -not only from the numerous suburbs of Manila, but even from the more -distant villages. On Saturdays some good example of the Virgin is -related, with a moral exhortation; the Spaniards who are members of -fraternities attend these, and afterward visit the altars. On Sundays -there is preaching to the Cafres, blacks, creoles, and Malabars--who -through a sense of propriety are called Morenos, although they are -dark-skinned. The sermon is in Spanish, and the greatest difficulty -of the preacher is to adapt his language to the understanding of the -audience. Various poor Spaniards also attend these sermons, as well -as other people, of various shades of color, of both sexes. - -Every Sunday certain fathers are sent to preach at the fort or -castle, to the soldiers and the other men who live there. The -Christian doctrine is chanted through the streets, and in the -procession walk the boys of the school; it ends at the royal chapel, -where some part of the catechism is explained, and a moral sermon -is preached to the soldiers who live in their quarters in order to -mount guard. The doctrine is explained at the Puerta Real and at the -Puerta del Parian, and there is preaching in the guard-room--where -there is a large attendance, not only of soldiers, but of the many -people who, on entering or going out from the gates, stop to hear the -word of God. Another father goes to the royal foundry, in which the -galley-slaves live, where there is such a variety of people--mestizos, -Indians of various dialects, Cafres, negroes of different kinds, -and Sangleys or Chinese--that exceptional ability and patience are -necessary in order to make them understand. Other fathers go to the -college of Santa Isabel and the seminary of Santa Potenciana, where -they give addresses and exhortations to the students of the former, -and the women secluded in the latter. Others go to the prisons of -both the ecclesiastical and secular jurisdictions, in order that the -prisoners may obtain the spiritual food of the doctrine. On Mondays, -Wednesdays, and Fridays there is in our church a Miserere, with the -discipline [i.e., scourging]; a spiritual book is read to those who are -present, and at least once a week an exhortation is addressed to them. - -Such is, in general, the distribution of work for our college at -Manila in Lent, and therein are engaged nearly all the men in the -college, whether priests or students; and in times when there is a -scarcity of workers I have seen some helping at two or three posts, -and not only ministers and instructors thus occupied, but even the -superiors, and men of seventy years old, to the great edification -of the community. At Lent is seen in Manila that which occurred at -the destruction of Jericho, where, when the priests sounded around -the city the trumpets of the jubilee, the walls immediately gave -way and fell to the ground. Thus in Manila do the Jesuits surround -the walls, calling to every class of people with the trumpets of the -jubilee and offering pardon; and at the sound, through the grace and -mercy of the Highest, the lofty walls of lawlessness, vice, and crime, -fall in ruins. And even the presence of the ark is not lacking to this -marvelous success, for it is not to be doubted that the Blessed Virgin, -most merciful mother of sinners, aids us with her intercession. [Our -author here relates various instances of miraculous aid from heaven, -and other edifying cases.] - -[Fol. 13:] Father Juan de Torres, with another priest and a brother, -went from the college of Manila to conduct a mission at a place which -is called Cabeza de Bondoc, [7] about sixty leguas from Manila, in -the bishopric of Camarines--the bishop of Nueva Cazeres at that time -being his illustrious Lordship Don Fray Diego de Guevara, of the Order -of St. Augustine. As soon as that zealous prelate took possession of -his see, he began to ask for fathers of the Society, in order that, -commencing with the Indians who were already peaceable who reside -in Nueva Cazeres, they might establish missions and continue their -instructions in other villages which he intended to give them. But -the Society, who always have showed due consideration to the other -ministers in these islands, not attempting to dispossess them from -their ministries--although not always have we found them respond -in like spirit--thanked that illustrious prelate for his kindness, -without accepting those ministries; and in order that he might see -that [the cause of this action] was consideration for the ministers, -and not the desire to escape from the labor, Ours consented to conduct -a mission in Bondoc, the difficulty of which, and its results, are -explained by that prelate in a letter which he wrote to Father Torres, -in which he says: "I find that it is true, what was told to me in -Manila, when I gave that mission-field to the Society, and I mention -it with great consolation to myself; and that is, that it was the -Holy Ghost who inspired me to give it--for I see the fruits which -are steadily and evidently being gathered therein. For in so many -ages it has been impossible to unite those villages, and the Indians -in them were regarded as irreclaimable; and now in so short a time -those villages have been united, and the Indians, [who were like] -wild beasts, appear like gentle lambs. These are the works of God, -who operates through the ministers of the Society--who with so much -mildness, affection, and zeal are laboring for the welfare of those -people." Great hardships were suffered by those of the Society in these -missions, and for several years that ministry was cared for by Ours, -until it was entrusted to the secular priests. - -The mission of Bondoc gained such repute in the island of Marinduque, -distant more than forty leguas from Manila, that its minister, who -was a zealous cleric, wrote to the father rector at Manila asking -him very humbly and urgently to send there a mission, from which -he was expecting abundant fruit. So earnest were the entreaties of -this fervent minister that a mission was sent to the said island; -it had the results which were expected, and afterward the Society was -commissioned with its administration. In nearly all the ministries of -secular priests the Society was carrying on continual missions, at the -petition of the ministers or at the instance of the bishops.... The -Society was held in honor not only by the bishop of Camarines, but -equally by his illustrious Lordship Don Fray Miguel Garzia Serrano, a -son of the great Augustine and most worthy archbishop of Manila. That -most zealous father Lorenzo Masonio preached to the negroes who are -in this city and outside its walls, according to the custom of this -province, which distributes the bread of the gospel doctrine to all -classes of people and all nations. And that holy prelate deigned to -go to our church, and, taking a wand in his hand, as the Jesuits are -accustomed to do, he walked through the aisle of the church, asked -questions, and explained the Christian doctrine to the slaves and -negroes. The community experienced the greatest edification at seeing -their pastor so worthily occupied in instructing his sheep, not heeding -the outer color of their bodies, but looking only at their precious -souls--for in the presence of God there is no distinction of persons. - -[Fol. 22:] The island of Malindig--named thus on account of a high -mountain that is in it, and which the Spaniards call Marinduque--is -more than forty leguas from Manila, extends north and south, and -is in the course which is taken by the galleons on the Nueva Espana -trade-route. [8] There Ours carried on a mission with much gain, at -the instance of its zealous pastor, who was a cleric; and in the year -1622 this island was transferred to the Society by his illustrious -Lordship Don Fray Miguel Garzia Serrano, the archbishop of Manila, -who was satisfied by the care with which the Society administers -its charges, and desirous that his sheep should have the spiritual -nourishment that is necessary for their souls--for it was exceedingly -difficult for him always to find a secular priest to station there, on -account of the distance from Manila, the difficulty of administering -that charge, and the loneliness which one suffers there. The Society -gladly overcame these difficulties for the sake of the spiritual -fruit which could be gathered among those Indians; and our ministers, -applying themselves to the cultivation [of that field], went about -among those rugged mountains--from which they brought out some -heathens, and others who were Christians, but who were living like -heathen, without any spiritual direction. They baptized the heathens -and instructed the Christians; and, in order that the results might be -permanent, Ours gradually settled them in villages which they formed; -there are three of these, Bovac, Santa Cruz, and Gasan, and formerly -there was a visita in Mahanguin. The language spoken there is generally -the Tagalog, although in various places there is a mixture of Visayan, -and of some words peculiar to the island. God chose to prove those -people by a sort of epidemic, of which many died; and the fathers -not only gave them spiritual assistance, but provided the poor with -food, and treated the sick. This trouble obliged them to resort for -aid to the Empress of Heaven, to whom they offered a fiesta under the -title of the Immaculate Conception, during the week before Christmas, -with great devotion; and the Virgin responded to them by aiding them -in their troubles and necessities. - -[Fol. 27:] In Marinduque Ours labored very fervently to reduce the -Christians to a Christian and civilized mode of life; and among them -was abolished an abuse which was deeply rooted in that island--which -was, that creditors employed their debtors almost as if they were -slaves, without the debtor's service ever diminishing his debt. The -wild Indians were reduced to settlement; among them were some persons -who for thirty years had not received the sacraments of penance and -communion. In the Pintados Islands there was now much longing for -and attendance upon these holy sacraments, when their necessity and -advantage had been explained to the natives. - -[Fol. 29:] His illustrious Lordship Don Fray Miguel Garzia Serrano -had so much affection for the Society, and so high an opinion of the -zeal of its ministers, that he decided to entrust to it the parish of -the port of Cavite. This, one may say, is a parish of all the nations, -on account of the many peoples who resort to that port from the four -quarters of the world; it was especially so then, when its commerce -was more opulent, flourishing, and extensive [than now]. It did not -seem expedient to the Society to accept this parish; but, in order to -show their gratitude for the favor, and to cooeperate by their labors -with the zeal of that active prelate, they took upon themselves for -several months the administration of that port, in which they gathered -the fruit corresponding to the necessity--which, with so great a -concourse of different peoples there, and the freedom from restraint -which exists in this country, was very great. The metropolitan was -well satisfied, and very grateful; and he insisted until the Society -made itself responsible for the administration of one of the three -visitas which the said parish has. This was a village on the shore -of the river of Cavite, which on account of being older than the -settlement at the port is called Cavite el Viejo [i.e., Old Cavite]; -it afterward was located on the shore of the bay, about a legua from -the said port--which, in order to distinguish it from this village, -is called Cavite la Punta [i.e., Cavite on the Point], because it -is on the point of the hook formed by the land; from this is derived -the name Cavite, which means "a hook." The ministry [at Old Cavite] -was then small, but difficult to administer, on account of the people -being scattered, and far more because of the corruption of morals; -for, lacking the presence of the pastor, and the wolves of the nations -who come here from all parts for trade, being so near, it might better -be called a herd of goats than a flock of sheep--this village being, -as it were, the public brothel [lupanar] of that port; and there was -hardly a house where this sort of commerce was not established. This -was a matter which at the beginning gave the ministers much to -do, but with invincible firmness they continued to correct this -lawless licentiousness; and by explaining the doctrine, preaching, -and aiding the people with the sacraments, they made Christians in -morals those who before only seemed to be such in outward appearance -and name. Ours continued to reclaim these people to the Christian life, -and today this village is one of the most Christian and best instructed -communities in all the islands; it has a beautiful and very capacious -church of stone, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen, and a handsome house -[for the minister]. There are in this village, besides the Tagalogs -(who are the natives), some Sangleys and many mestizos, who live in -Binacayan, which is a sort of ward of the village. - -[Fol. 31 b:] Ardently did the apostle of the Indias desire to go over -to China for its conversion; but he died, like another Moses, in sight -of the land which his desires promised to him. Since then, without -looking for them, thousands of heathen Chinese have settled in these -islands. As soon as the Society came to these shores, Ours applied -themselves, in the best manner that they could, to the conversion -and instruction of those people--and even more in recent times, on -account of the Society possessing near Manila some agricultural lands, -which the Chinese (or Sangleys, as they are commonly called) began to -cultivate. Ours were unwilling to lose the opportunity of converting -them to our holy faith, so various persons were actually baptized; -and, to render this result more permanent, a minister was stationed -there, belonging to this field, who catechised them, preached in their -own language, baptized them, and administered the sacraments--with -permission from the vice-patron, Don Juan Nino de Tabora, and from -the archbishop, Don Fray Miguel Garzia Serrano--and it is called the -village of Santa Cruz. Their language is very difficult; the words -are all monosyllables, and the same word, according to its various -intonations, has many and various significations; on this account not -only patience and close study, but a correct ear, are required for -learning this language. Don Juan Nino de Tabora was the godfather of -the first Sangley who was baptized; the most distinguished persons -in the city attended the ceremony; and this very solemn pomp had -much influence on the Chinese (who are very material), so that, -having formed a high idea of the Catholic religion, many of them -embraced it. Some were baptized a little while before they died, -leaving behind many tokens of their eternal felicity, through the -concurrence of circumstances which were apparently directed by a very -special providence. - -In Marinduque Father Domingo de Penalver had just induced some hamlets -of wild Indians to settle down; he traveled through the bed of the -river, getting his clothing wet, stumbling frequently over the stones, -and often falling in the water. He went to take shelter in a hut, -where there were so many and so fierce mosquitoes, that he remained -awake all night, without being able to rid himself of the insects, -notwithstanding all his efforts. He reached a hill so inaccessible -that it was necessary that some Indians, going ahead and ascending -by grasping the roots [of trees], should draw them all up the ascent -with bejucos. There he set up a shed, where, preaching to them morning -and afternoon, he prepared them for confession, and persuaded them -to go down and settle in one place, as actually they did, to live as -Christians. For lack of laborers, the Society resigned the district -of Bondoc and several visitas, although Ours went there at various -times on missionary trips. The people of Hingoso called upon Father -Penalver to assist them, because many in their village were sick, and -the cura was at Manila; the father went there, gave the sacraments to -the sick, and preached to the rest twice a day in the church. Three -times a week they repaired to the church for the discipline, and he -offered for them the act of contrition, and almost all the people -in the village confessed. Afterward, at the urgent request of the -archbishop of Manila, Father Penalver went to Mindoro, to see if he -could reconcile those Indians and their cura, which the archbishop -had not been able to secure by various means; the said father went -there, and preached various sermons, with so much earnestness and -efficacy (on account of his proficiency in the Tagalog language) -that in a short time they were reconciled together, the causes of -the dispute bring entirely forgotten. This mission lasted two months; -he preached twice every day, and heard some two thousand five hundred -confessions; at this the illustrious prelate (who was Don Fray Miguel -Garzia Serrano) was greatly pleased, and thoroughly confirmed in the -extraordinary esteem which he deigned to show the Society.... One of -the greatest hardships and dangers experienced by the ministers of -Bisayas (or Pintados), in which are the greater part of our ministries, -is that they are journeying on the water all their lives; for, as the -villages are many and the ministers few, one father regularly takes -care of two villages, and sometimes of three or four; and as these are -in different islands, he is continually moving from one to another, -for their administration. I have known some fathers who formerly -had six or seven visitas, and spent nearly all the year traveling -from one to another. Nevertheless, so paternal and benignant is the -providence of God that it is not known that any minister in Bisayas -has been drowned--which, considering the many hurricanes, tempests, -storms, currents, and other dangers in which every year many perish -and are drowned, seems a continual miracle. To this it must be added -that at various times vessels have capsized in the midst of the sea, -and the fathers have fallen into the water; but God succored them by -means of the Indians, who are excellent swimmers, or by other special -methods of His paternal providence. - -[Fol. 38 b:] In this year [1628] Manila and the adjoining villages -were grievously afflicted with a sort of epidemic pest, from which -many people died--some suddenly, but even he who lingered longest died -within twelve hours. Some attributed this pest to the many blacks -who had been brought here from India to be sold, and who, sick from -ill-usage, communicated their disease to others; and some thought -that it arose from an infection in the fish, which is the usual food -of the poor. Various corpses were anatomized [se hizo anatomia], -and the origin of the disease could not be discovered, although it -was considered certain that it arose from a poisonous condition, -since the only remedy that was found was theriac. [9] In a city where -there are so few Spaniards, it is easy to understand the affliction -which was felt at seeing the suddenness with which they were dying, -since the colony was placed in so great danger of extinction, and the -islands of being ruined at one stroke--besides the grief of individual -persons at seeing themselves bereft, the wife without a husband, the -husband without a wife, the father without children, the children -deprived of their parents. All search was made for remedies. Our -priests did not cease, day or night, to hear confessions, and to aid -the sick and dying; and at the request of the cura they carried with -them the consecrated oils, to administer these in case of need. They -also carried theriac, after this was discovered to be a remedy, for the -relief of the sick; so they exercised their charity at the same time -on the souls and on the bodies of men, to the great edification of all. - -At San Miguel, one of those attacked by the pest told the father -who was hearing his dying confession that he had seen near him two -figures in the guise of ministers of justice, who seized people; -and that when he had received absolution they went away from him, -leaving behind a pestilential odor. The father published this -information throughout the village, commanding the people to prepare -themselves for confession on the following day, under the patronage -of the Blessed Mary and St. Michael. A novenary was offered, and -the litanies recited; and in the church the discipline was taken, -with other prayers and penances, by which the Lord was moved to -have especial mercy on this village--as God showed to a devout soul, -in the figure of a ship which sailed through the air, the pilot of -which was the common enemy; but he could not enter San Miguel, since -there were powers greater than he, who prevented him. Also there were -seen in the neighborhood of Manila malign spirits, in the appearance -of horrible phantoms, who struck with death those who only looked at -them. In the face of a danger so near, many amended their lives, and -were converted to God in earnest, making a good confession. Then was -seen the charity with which the poor Indians, despising the danger -to their own lives, assisted the sick. Among others were two pious -married persons, who devoted themselves entirely to aiding the sick, -never leaving their bedsides until they either died or recovered; -and God most mercifully chose to bring them out unscathed from so -continual dangers. With the same kindness He chose to reward Brother -Antonio de Miranda, who had charge of the infirmary in our college at -Manila, who, on account of his well-known charity and solicitude in -caring for the sick, had been commissioned by the father provincial, -Juan de Bueras, to devote himself to the care of the sick Indians. But -the poison of the pest infected him, so violent being the attack that -hardly had he time to receive the sacraments; and he died at Manila -on October 15, 1628.... He was a native of Ponferrada, and of a very -well known family; he was an exemplary religious, and had been ten -years in the Society. - -[Fol. 44 b:] In the years 1628 and 1629, at the request of the -bishops and of some Indians the Society was placed in charge of -various villages of converts. Don Juan Nino de Tabora gave us the -chaplaincy of the garrison of Spanish soldiers which is at Iloylo -in the island of Panay, and the instruction of the natives and the -people from other nations who are gathered there. Also were given to -us Ilog in the island of Negros, and Dapitan in Mindanao--of which -afterward more special mention will be made. - -[Fol. 50:] In this time [about 1630] the Christian faith made great -advances in Maragondong, Silang, and Antipolo, bringing many Cimarrons -(or wild Indians) from their lurking-places. A very fruitful mission -was carried on in Mindoro, and on the northern coast of Mindanao; -and Father Pedro Gutierrez went along those rivers, converting the -Subanos. In Ilog, in the island of Negros, the fathers labored much -in removing an inhuman practice of those barbarians, which was, to -abandon entirely the old people, as being useless and only a burden on -them; and these poor wretches were going about through the mountains, -without knowing where to go, since even their own children drove them -away. The fathers gave them shelter, fed them, and instructed them -in order to baptize them; and there they converted many heathens. - -[Fol. 52:] In the year 1631 the cura of Mindoro, who was a secular -priest, gave up that ministry to the Society, and Ours began to -minister in that island, making one resilience of this and one of the -island of Marinduque, and the superior lived at Nauhan in Mindoro; -and they began to preach, and to convert the Manguianes, the heathen -Indians of that island. - -In the year 1631 was begun the residence of Dapitan, in the great -island of Mindanao. The first Jesuit who preached in that island was -the apostle of the Indias, St. Francis Xavier, as appears from the bull -for his canonization. Ruy Lopez de Villalobos came to these islands -with his ships, sent by the viceroy of Nueva Espana, and gave them -the name of Philipinas in honor of Phelipe II; and, driven by storms, -he went to Amboyno, where the saint then was, in whose care Villalobos -died. At the news of these islands thus obtained by the holy apostle, -he came to them. The circumstance that this island was consecrated -by the labors of that great apostle has always and very rightly -commended it to the Society; and Ours have always and persistently -endeavored to occupy themselves in converting the Mindanaos; and -Father Valerio de Ledesma and others had begun to form missions -on the river of Butuan. In the year 1596 the cabildo of Manila, -in sede vacante--in whose charge was then the spiritual government -of all the islands, as there was no division into bishoprics--gave -possession of Mindanao to the Society in due form; and in 1597 this -was confirmed by the vice-patron, Don Francisco Tello, the governor of -these islands. Possession of it was taken by Father Juan del Campo, -who, going as chaplain of the army, accompanied the adelantado, -Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa, when he set out for the conquest of -that kingdom. - -The first who began to minister to the Subanos in the coasts of Dapitan -was Father Juan Lopez; afterward Father Fabricio Sarsali, and then -Father Francisco de Otazo, and various other fathers followed, who -made their incursions sometimes from Zebu, sometimes from Bohol. In -the year 1629 this ministry was entrusted to the Society by the -bishop of Zebu, Don Fray Pedro de Arze. The venerable Father Pedro -Gutierrez went through those coasts, carrying the gospel of Christ -to the rivers of Quipit, Mucas, Telinga, and others; and in the year -1631 a permanent residence was formed, its rector being Father Pedro -Gutierrez. The village of Dapitan is at the foot of a beautiful bay -with a good harbor (in which the first conquistadors anchored), on -the northern coast of Mindanao; it is south from the island of Zebu, -and to the northeast of Samboangan, which is on the opposite coast -[of Mindanao]. It lies at the foot of a hill, at the top of which -there is a sort of fortress, so inaccessible that it does not need -artillery for its defense. Above it has a parapet, and near the hill -is an underground reservoir for collecting water, besides a spring -of flowing water. Maize and vegetables can be planted there, in time -of siege; and the minister and all the people retire to this place in -time of invasions. I was there in the year 1737 [misprinted 1637], and -it seemed to me that it might be called the Aorno [10] of Philipinas. - -[Fol. 60:] In the year 1631 and in part of 1632 this province -experienced so great a scarcity of laborers that the father provincial -wrote to our father general that he would have been obliged to -abandon some of the ministries if the fervor of the few ministers -had not supplied the lack of the many, their charity making great -exertions. Our affliction was increased by the news that the Dutch -had seized Father Francisco Encinas, the procurator of this province, -who was going to Europa to bring a mission band here--for which purpose -they had sent Father Juan Lopez, who was appointed in the second place -[11] in the congregation of 1626. But soon God consoled this province, -the mission arriving at Cavite on May 26, 1632. On June 18, 1631, -they sailed from Cadiz, and on the last day of August arrived at Vera -Cruz; they left Acapulco on February 23, 1632, and on May 15 sighted -the first land of these islands. Every mission that goes to Indias -begins to gather abundant fruit as soon as it sails from Espana; I -will set down the allotment of work in which this band of missionaries -was engaged, since from this may be gathered what the others do, since -there is very little difference among them all. In the ship a mission -was proclaimed which lasted eleven days, closing with general communion -on the day of our father St. Ignatius; in this mission, through the -sermons, instructions given in addresses, and individual exhortations, -the fathers succeeded in obtaining many general confessions, besides -the special ones which the men on the ship made, in order to secure the -jubilee. Ours assisted the dying, consoled the sick and the afflicted, -and established peace between those who were enemies. In Nueva Espana -the priests were distributed in various colleges, in which they -continued the exercises of preaching and hearing confessions. They -went to Acapulco a month before embarking, by the special providence -of God; for there were many diseases at that port, so that they were -able to assist the dying. Thirty religious of St. Dominic were there, -waiting to come over to these islands; all of them were sick, and -five died; and, in order to prevent more deaths, they decided to -remove from their house in which they were, on account of its bad -condition. It was necessary, on account of their sick condition, -to carry them in sedan-chairs; and although many laymen charitably -offered their services for this act of piety, Ours did not permit them -to do it, but took upon themselves the care of conveying the sick, -their charity making this burden very light. In the ship "San Luys" -they continued their ministries, preaching, and hearing the confessions -of most of the people on the ship--in which the functions of Holy Week -were performed, as well as was possible there. Twenty-one Jesuits left -Cadiz, and all arrived at Manila except Father Matheo de Aguilar, who -died near these islands on May 12, 1632; he was thirty-three years old, -and had been in the Society sixteen years--most of which time he spent -in Carmona, in the province of Andalusia, where he was an instructor -in grammar, minister, and procurator in that college.... The rest who -are known to have come in that year with Father Francisco de Encinas, -procurator, and Brother Pedro Martinez are: The fathers Hernando Perez -(the superior), Rafael de Bonafe, Luys de Aguayo, Magino Sola, and -Francisco Perez; and the brothers Ignacio Alcina, Joseph Pimentel, -Miguel Ponze, Andres de Ledesma, Antonio de Abarca, Onofre Esbri, -Christoval de Lara, Amador Navarro, Bartholome Sanchez; also Brother -Juan Gazera, a coadjutor, and Diego Blanco and Pedro Garzia, candidates -[for the priesthood]. - -[Fol. 63 b:] In the islands of Pintados those first laborers made such -haste that by this time [1633] there remained no heathens to convert, -and they labored perseveringly in ministering to the Christians, -with abundant results and consolation.... In the island of Negros and -that of Mindanao, which but a short time before had been given up to -the Society, the fathers were occupied in catechising and baptizing -the heathens and especially in the island of Mindoro, where besides -the Christian convents, were the heathen Manguianes, who lived in the -mountains, and, according to estimate, numbered more than six thousand -souls. These people wandered through the mountains and woods there like -wild deer, and went about entirely naked, wearing only a breech-clout -[bahaque] for the sake of decency; they had no house, hearth, or fixed -habitation; and they slept where night overtook them, in a cave or -in the trunk of some tree. They gathered their food on the trees or -in the fields, since it was reduced to wild fruits and roots; and as -their greatest treat they ate rice boiled in water. Their furnishings -were some bows and arrows, or javelins for hunting, and a jar for -cooking rice; and he who secured a knife, or any iron instrument, -thought that he had a Potosi. They acknowledged no deity, and when -they had any good fortune the entire barangay (or family connection) -killed and ate a carabao, or buffalo; and what was left they sacrificed -to the souls of their ancestors. In order to convert these heathens, -a beginning was made by the reformation and instruction of the -Christians; and by frequent preaching they gradually established -the usage of confession with some frequency, and many received the -Eucharist--a matter in which there was more difficulty then than -now. Many came down from the mountains, and brought their children -to be instructed; various persons were baptized, and even some, who, -although they had the name of Christians, had never received the rite -of baptism. After the fathers preached to the Christians regarding -honesty in their confessions, the result was quickly seen in many -general confessions, which were made with such eagerness that the -crowds resorting to the church lasted more than two months. - -[Fol. 69:] In Maragondong various trips were made into the mountains -[by Ours], and although many were reclaimed to a Christian mode -of living, yet, as the mountains are so difficult of access and so -close by, those people returned to their lurking-places very easily, -and it was with difficulty that they were again brought into a -village--so that the number of Indians was greatly diminished, not -only in Maragondong, but in Looc, which was a visita of the former -place, and contained very rugged mountains. In order to encourage -the Indians thus settled to make raids on the Cimarrons and wild -Indians and punish them, Don Juan Cerezo de Salamanca, the governor -ad interim, granted that those wild Indians should for a certain time -remain the slaves of him who should bring them out of the hills; and -by this means they succeeded in bringing out many from their caverns -and hiding-places. Some of these were seventy or eighty years old, of -whom many died as soon as they were instructed and baptized. Once the -raiders came across an old woman about a hundred years old, near the -cave in which those people performed their abominable sacrifices; she -was alone, flung down on the ground, naked, and of so horrible aspect -that she made it evident, even in external appearance, that she was -a slave of the devil. Moved by Christian pity, those who were making -the raid carried her to the village, where it was with difficulty -that the father could catechise her, on account of her age and her -stupidity. He finally catechised and baptized her, and she soon died; -so that it seems as if it were a mercy of God that she thus waited -for baptism, in order that her soul might not be lost--and the same -with the other souls, their lives apparently being preserved in order -that they might be saved through the agency of baptism. Blessed be His -mercy forever! In Ilog, in the island of Negros, several heathens of -those mountains were converted to the faith. An Indian woman was there, -so obstinate in her blindness and so open in her hatred to holy baptism -that, in order to free herself from the importunities of the minister, -she feigned to be deaf and mute. Some of her relatives notified the -father to come to baptize her. The father went to her, and began to -catechise her, but she, keeping up the deceit, pretended that she did -not hear him, and he could not draw a word from her. The father cried -out to God for the conversion of that soul, and, at the same time, -he continued his efforts to catechise her, suspecting that perhaps -she was counterfeiting deafness. God heard his prayers, and, after -several days, the first word which that woman uttered was a request -for baptism--to the surprise of all who knew what horror of it she -had felt. The father catechised and baptized her, and this change was -recognized as caused by the right hand of the Highest; for she who -formerly was like a wild deer, living alone in the thickets, after -this could not go away from the church, and continued to exercise -many pious acts until she rested in the Lord. - -[Fol. 74 b:] In the year 1596 Father Juan del Campo and Brother Gaspar -Gomez went with the adelantado Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa, who set -out for the conquest of this island [Mindanao]. After the death of -Father Juan del Campo, Father Juan de San Lucar went to assist that -army, performing the functions of its chaplain, and also of vicar -for the ecclesiastical judge. Fathers Valerio de Ledesma and Manuel -Martinez preached to the Butuans, and afterward they were followed, -although with some interruptions, by others, who announced the -gospel to the Hadgaguanes--a people untamed and ferocious--to the -Manobos, and to other neighboring peoples. Afterward this ministry -was abandoned, on account of the lack of laborers for so great a -harvest as God was sending us. Secular priests held it for some -time, and finally it was given to the discalced Augustinian [i.e., -Recollect] religious, who are ministering in that coast, and in Caraga -as far as Linao--an inland region, where there is a small fort and a -garrison. When Father Francisco Vicente was ministering in Butuan the -cazique [meaning the headman] of Linao went to invite him to go to -his village; and even the blacks visited him, and gave him hopes for -their submission. Thus all those peoples desired the Society, as set -aside for the preaching in that island--which work was assigned to the -Society by the ecclesiastical judge in the year 1596, and confirmed to -them in 1597 by the governor Don Francisco Tello, as vice-patron. And -when some controversy afterward occurred over [the region of] Lake -Malanao, sentence was given in favor of the Society by Governors Don -Juan Nino de Tabora and Don Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera, as Father -Combes states in book iii of his History of Mindanao. These decisions -were finally confirmed by Don Fernando Valdes Tamon, in the year 1737. - -In the year 1607 Father Pasqual de Acuna, going thither with an armada -of the Spaniards, began to preach with great results to the heathens of -the hill of Dapitan, where he baptized more than two hundred. He also -administered the sacraments to some Christians who were there, who with -Pagbuaya, a chief of Bohol, had taken refuge in that place. Afterward, -Father Juan Lopez went to supply the Subanos of Dapitan with more -regular ministrations. He was succeeded by Father Fabricio Sarsali, -and he by Father Francisco Otazo and others, as a dependency of Zebu -or of Bohol--until, in the year 1629, his illustrious Lordship the -bishop of Zebu, Don Fray Pedro de Arze, governor of the archbishopric -of Manila, again assigned this mission to the Society; and in 1631 -the residence of Dapitan was founded, its first rector being the -venerable Father Pedro Gutierrez; and in those times the Christian -faith was already far advanced, and was extending through the region -adjoining that place, and making great progress. - -[Fol. 92:] The island of Basilan, or Taguima, is three or four -leguas south of Samboangan, east from Borney, and almost northeast -from Jolo. It is a fertile and abounding land, and on this account -they call it the storehouse or garden of Samboangan. Its people -are Moros and heathens, and almost always they follow the commands -received from Jolo. The Basilans, who inhabit the principal villages, -are of the Lutaya people; those who dwell in the mountains are -called Sameacas. Three chiefs had made themselves lords of the -island, Ondol, Boto, and Quindinga; and they formed the greatest -hindrance to the reduction of that people, who, as barbarians, -have for an inviolable law the will of their headmen, [which they -follow] heedlessly--that being most just, therefore, which has most -following. Nevertheless, the brave constancy of Father Francisco Angel -was not dismayed at such difficulties, or at the many perils of death -which continually threatened him; and his zeal enabled him to secure -the baptism of several persons, and to rescue from the captivity of -Mahoma more than three hundred Christians, whom he quickly sent to -Samboangan. Moreover, the fervor of the father being aided by the -blessing of God, he saw, with unspeakable consolation to his soul, -the three chiefs who were lords of the island baptized, with almost -all the inhabitants of the villages in it; and in the course of time -the Sameacas, or mountain-dwellers, were reduced--in this way mocking -the strong opposition which was made by the panditas, who are their -priests and doctors. [Here follows an account of the conquest of Jolo -in 1638, and of affairs there and in Mindanao, in which the Jesuits -(especially Alexandro Lopez) took a prominent part; these matters -have already been sufficiently recounted in VOLS. XXVIII and XXIX]. - -[Fol. 111:] [After the Spanish expeditions to Lake Lanao, in 1639-40, -the fort built there was abandoned, and soon afterward burned by the -natives. On May 7, 1642, the Moros of that region killed a Spanish -officer, Captain Andres de Rueda, with three men and a Jesuit, Father -Francisco de Mendoza, who accompanied him.] Much were the hopes of -the gospel ministers cast down at seeing our military forces abandon -that country, since they were expecting that with that protection the -Christian church would increase. Notwithstanding, his faith thereby -planted more firmly on God, Father Diego Patino began to catechise -the Iligan people--with so good effect that in a few months the larger -(and the best) part of the residents in that village were brought under -the yoke of Christ; this work was greatly aided by the kindness of the -commandant of the garrison, Pedro Duran de Monforte. At this good news -various persons of the Malanaos came down [from the mountains], and in -the shelter of the fort they formed several small villages or hamlets, -and heard the gospel with pleasure. The conversions increasing, it was -necessary to station there another minister; this was Father Antonio de -Abarca. They founded the village of Nagua, and others, which steadily -and continually increased with the people who came down from the lake -[i.e., Lanao], where the villages were being broken up. [12] This -angered a brother of Molobolo, and he tried to avert his own ruin by -the murder of the father; and for this purpose his treacherous mind -[led him to] pretend that he would come down to the new villages, -in order to become a Christian, intending to carry out then his -treason at his leisure. But the father, warned by another Malanao, -who was less impious, escaped death. The traitor did not desist from -his purpose, and, when Father Abarca was in one of those villages -toward Layavan, attacked the village; but he was discovered by the -blacks of the hill-country, and they rained so many arrows upon the -Moros that the latter abandoned their attempt. Another effort was -a failure--the preparation of three joangas which the traitor had -upon the sea, in order to capture and kill the father when he should -return to Iligan; but in all was displayed the special protection with -which God defends His ministers. However great the efforts made by the -zeal of the gospel laborers, the result did not correspond to their -desires, on account of the obstinacy of the Mahometans--although in -the heathens they encountered greater docility for the acceptance of -our religion. The life of the ministers was very toilsome, since to the -task of preaching must be added the vigils and weariness, the heat and -winds and rains, the dangers of [travel by] the sea, and the scarcity -of food. In a country so poor, and at that time so uncultivated, it was -considered a treat to find a few sardines or other fish, some beans, -and a little rice; and many times they hardly could get boiled rice, -and sometimes they must get along with sweet potatoes, gabes, [13] -or [other] roots. But God made amends for these privations and toils -with various inner pleasures; for they succeeded in obtaining some -conversions that they had not expected, and even among the blacks, -from whom they feared death, they found help and sustenance. [The -author here relates a vision which appeared to an Indian chief, of the -spirit of Father Marcelo Mastrilli as the director and patron of Father -Abarca; and the renunciation of a mission to Europe which was vowed -by Father Patino in order to regain his health--which accomplished, -he returns to his missionary labors at Iligan.] - -He returned to the ministry, where he encountered much cause for -suffering and tears; because the [military] officers [cabos] who then -were governing that jurisdiction, actuated by arrogance and greed of -gain, had committed such acts of violence that they had depopulated -those little villages, many fleeing to the hills, where among the Moros -they found treatment more endurable. The only ones who can oppose the -injustice of such men are the gospel ministers. These fathers undertook -to defend the Indians, and took it upon themselves to endure the anger -of those men--who, raised from a low condition to places of authority, -made their mean origin evident in their coarse natures and lawless -passions; and the license of some of them went to such extremes that -it was necessary for the soldiers to seize them as intolerable; and, -to revenge themselves for the outrageous conduct of the officials, -they accused the latter as traitors. Not even the Malanao chief -Molobolo, who always had been firm on the side of the Spaniards, -could endure their acts of violence, and, to avoid these, went back -to the lake. This tempest lasted for some time, but afterward some -peace was secured, when those officers were succeeded by others who -were more compliant. The venerable Father Pedro Gutierrez went to -Iligan, and with his amiable and gentle disposition induced a chief to -leave the lake, who, with many people, became a resident of Dapitan; -and another chief, still more powerful, was added to Iligan with -his people. These results were mainly seemed by the virtue of the -father, the high opinion which all had of his holy character, and the -helpful and forcible effects of his oratory. The land was scorched by -a drouth, which was general throughout the islands, from which ensued -great losses. The father offered the Indians rain, if they would put -a roof on the church; they accepted the proposal, and immediately God -fulfilled what His servant had promised--sending them a copious rain -on his saying the first mass of a novenary, which he offered to this -end. With this the Indians were somewhat awakened from their natural -sloth, and the church was finished, so that the fathers could exercise -in it their ministries. The drouth was followed by a plague of locusts, -which destroyed the grain-fields; the father exorcised them, and, to -the wonder of all, the locusts thrust their heads into the ground, -and the plague came to an end. This increased the esteem of the -natives for our religion, and many heathens and Moros were brought -into its bosom; and Father Combes says that when he ministered there -he found more than fifty old persons of eighty to a hundred years, -and baptized them all, with some three hundred boys this being now -one of the largest Christian communities in the islands. The village -is upon the shore, at the foot of the great Panguil, [14] between -Butuan and Dapitan, to the south of Bohol, and north from Malanao, at -the mouth of a river with a dangerous bar. The fort is of good stone, -dedicated to St. Francis Xavier, in the shape of a star; the wall is -two varas high, and half a vara thick, and it has a garrison, with -artillery and weapons. The Moros have several times surrounded it, -but they could not gain it by assault. - -[Fol. 116 b:] In Sibuguey Father Francisco Luzon was preaching, -a truly apostolic man, who spent his life coming and going in the -most arduous ministries of the islands. The Sibugueys are heathens, -of a gentler disposition and more docile to the reception of the -gospel than are the Mahometans; therefore this mission aroused great -hopes. One Ash Wednesday Father Luzon went to the fort, and he was -received by a Lutao of gigantic stature who gave him his hand. The -father shook hands with him, supposing that that was all for which -he stopped him; but the Lutao trickily let himself be carried on, -and with his weight dragged the father into the water, with the -assurance that he could not be in danger, on account of his dexterity -in swimming. The father went under, because he could not swim, and -the captain and the soldiers hastened from the fort to his aid--but -so late that there was quite enough time for him to be drowned, on -account of having sunk so deep in the water; they pulled him out, -half dead, and the first thing that he did was to secure pardon for -the Lutao. He gained a little strength and went to the fort; he gave -ashes to the Spaniards, and preached with as much fervor as if that -hardship had not befallen him. The principal of Sibuguey was Datan, -and, to make sure of him, the Spaniards had carried away as a hostage -his daughter Paloma; and love for her caused her parents to leave -Sibuguey and go to Samboangan to live, to have the company of their -daughter. Father Alexandro Lopez went to minister at Sibuguey, and -he saw that without the authority of Datan he could do almost nothing -among the Sibugueys; this obliged him to go to Samboangan to get him, -and he succeeded [in persuading them] to give him the girl. The father -went up toward the source of the river, and found several hamlets -of peaceable people, and a lake with five hundred people residing -about it; and their chief, Sumogog, received him as a friend, and -all listened readily to the things of God. He went so far that he -could see the mountains of Dapitan, which are so near that place -that a messenger went [to Dapitan] and returned in three days. These -fair hopes were frustrated by the absence of Datan, who went with all -his family to Mindanao; and on Ascension day in 1644 that new church -disappeared, no one being left save a boy named Marcelo. Afterward -the Moros put the fort in such danger, having killed some men, that -it was necessary to dismantle it and withdraw the garrison. - -[Fol. 121 (sc. 120):] The Joloans having been subjected by the -bravery of Don Pedro de Almonte, they began to listen to the gospel, -and they went to fix their abodes in the shelter of our fort. But, -[divine] grace accommodating itself to their nature, as the sect -of Mahoma have always been so obstinate, it was necessary that God -should display His power, in order that their eyes might be opened to -the light. The fervent father Alexandro Lopez was preaching in that -island, to whose labors efficacy was given by the hand of God with -many prodigies. The cures which the ministers made were frequent, -now with benedictions, now with St. Paul's earth, [15] in many cases -of bites from poisonous serpents, or of persons to whom poison was -administered. Among other cures, one was famous, that of a woman -already given up as beyond hope; having given her some of St. Paul's -earth, she came back from the gates of death to entire health. With -this they showed more readiness to accept the [Christian] doctrine, -which was increased by a singular triumph which the holy cross -obtained over hell in all these islands; for, having planted this -royal standard of our redemption in an island greatly infested by -demons, who were continually frightening the islanders with howls -and cries, it imposed upon them perpetual silence, and freed all -the other [neighboring] islands from an extraordinary tyranny. For -the demons were crossing from island to island, in the sea, in the -shape of serpents of enormous size, and did not allow vessels to pass -without first compelling their crews to render adoration to the demon -in iniquitous sacrifices; but this ceased, the demon taking flight at -sight of the cross. [Several incidents of miraculous events are here -related.] With these occurrences God opened their eyes, in order that -they might see the light and embrace baptism, and in those islands a -very notable Christian church was formed; and almost all was due to -the miraculous resurrection of Maria Ligo [which our author relates -at length]. Many believed, and thus began a flourishing Christian -community; and as ministers afterward could not be kept in Jolo on -account of the wars, [these converts] exiled themselves from their -native land, and went to live at Samboangan, in order that they might -be able to live as Christians. [This prosperous beginning is spoiled -by the lawless conduct of the commandant Gaspar de Morales, which -brings on hostilities with the natives, and finally his own death -in a fight with them.] Father Alexandro Lopez went to announce the -gospel at Pangutaran, (an island distant six leguas east from Jolo), -and as the people were a simple folk they received the law of Christ -with readiness ... The Moros of Tuptup captured a discalced religious -of St. Augustine, who, to escape from the pains of captivity, took -to flight with a negro. Father Juan Contreras (who was in Jolo) went -out with some Lutaos in boats to rescue him, calling to him in various -places from the shore; but the poor religious was so overcome with fear -that, although he heard the voices and was near the beach, he did not -dare to go out to our vessels, despite the encouragement of the negro; -and on the following day the Joloans, encountering him, carried him -back to his captivity, with blows. He wrote a letter from that place, -telling the misfortunes that he was suffering; all the soldiers, and -even the Lutaos, called upon the governor [of Jolo], to ransom that -religious at the cost of their wages, but without effect. Then Father -Contreras, moved by fervent charity, went to Patical, where the fair -[16] was held, and offered himself to remain as a captive among the -Moros, in order that they might set free the poor religious, who was -feeble and sick. Some Moros agreed to this; but the Orancaya Suil, -who was the head chief of the Guimbanos, said that no one should have -anything to do with that plan--at which the hopes of that afflicted -religious for ransom were cut off. Seeing that he must again endure -his hardships, from which death would soon result, he asked Father -Contreras to confess him; the latter undertook to set out by water -to furnish him that spiritual consolation, but the Lutaos would -not allow him to leave the boat, even using some violence, in order -not to endanger his person. All admired a charity so ardent, and, -having renewed his efforts, he so urgently persuaded the governor, -Juan Ruiz Maroto, to ransom him that the latter gave a thousand -pesos in order to rescue the religious from captivity. Twice Father -Contreras went to the fair, but the Moros did not carry the captive -there with them. Afterward he was ransomed for three hundred pesos -by Father Alexandro Lopez, the soldiers aiding with part of their -pay a work of so great charity. - -[Fol. 123:] [The Society of Jesus throughout the world celebrates the -centennial anniversary of its foundation; the official order for this -does not reach Manila in time, so the Jesuits there observe the proper -anniversary (September 27, 1640) with solemn religious functions, -besides spending a week in practicing the "spiritual exercises" and -various works of charity. "On one day of the octave all the members -of the Society went to the prisons, and carried to the prisoners an -abundant and delicious repast. The same was done in the hospitals, to -which they carried many sweetmeats to regale the sick; they made the -beds, swept the halls, and carried the chamber-vessels to the river -to clean them; and afterward they sprinkled the halls with scented -water. Throughout the octave abundance of food was furnished at the -porter's lodge to the beggars; and a free table was set for the poor -Spaniards, who were served with food in abundance and neatness. It -was a duty, and a very proper manner of celebrating the [virtues of -the] men who have rendered the Society illustrious, to imitate them -in humility, devotion, and charity."] - -[Fol. 123 b:] In the Pintados Islands and other ministries Ours -labored fervently in ministering to the Christians and converting the -infidels. Nor was the zeal of the Society content with laboring in its -own harvest-field; it had the courage to go to the ministers of the -secular priests to conduct missions. Two fathers went on a mission to -Mindoro and Luban, and when they were near the village their caracoa -was attacked by three joangas of Borneans and Camucones. The caracoa, -in order to escape from the enemies, ran ashore; and the fathers, -leaving there all that they possessed--books, missal, and the clothing -that they were carrying to distribute as alms to the poor Indians--took -to the woods, through which they made their way to Naujan. On the road -it frequently rained, and they had no change of clothing, nor any -food save some buds of the wild palm-tree; they suffered weariness, -hunger, and thirst, and to slake this last they drank the water which -they found in the pools there. After twenty days of this so toilsome -journeying they reached the chief town [of the island], their feet -covered with wounds, themselves faint and worn out with hunger, -and half dead from fatigue; but they were joyful and contented, -because God was giving them this opportunity to suffer for love -of Him. One of the fathers went back to Marinduque, where he found -other troubles, no less grievous than those which had gone before; -for the Camucones had robbed the church, ravaged the grain-fields, -captured some Indians, and caused the rest to flee to the hills. The -father felt deep compassion for them, and at the cost of much toil -he again assembled the Indians and brought them back to their villages. - -[Fol. 134:] In the fifth provincial congregation, which was held in -the year 1635, Father Diego de Bobadilla was chosen procurator to -Roma and Madrid. He embarked in the year 1637, and while he was in -Espana the disturbances in Portugal and Cataluna occurred. The news -of these events was very afflicting to this province, considering the -difficulty in its securing aid. Besides the usual fields of Tagalos and -Bisayas, the province occupied the new missions of Buhayen, Iligan, -Basilan, and Jolo; and there were several years when it found itself -with only forty priests, who with the utmost difficulty provided as -best they could for needs so great. Phelipe IV--whom we may call "the -Great," on account of his unconquerable, signal, and unusual patience, -which God chose to prove by great and repeated misfortunes--was so -zealous for the Catholic religion, its maintenance, and its progress -that even in times so hard he did not grudge the grant of forty-seven -missionaries for this province. He also gave orders that they should be -supplied at Sevilla with a thousand and forty ducados, and at Mexico -with thirteen thousand pesos--a contribution of the greatest value in -those circumstances, and which could only be dictated by a heart so -Catholic as that of this prince, who every day renewed the vow that -he had taken that he would not make friends with the infidels, to the -detriment of religion, even though it should cost him his crown and his -life. On Holy Tuesday, March 31, in 1643, forty-seven Jesuits embarked -at Acapulco; and on the second of April mass was sung, and communion -was celebrated--not only by the missionaries, but by almost all the -laymen who came in the almiranta, where was established a distribution -[of their labors] as well planned as in an Observant college. For -at daybreak [17] a bell was rung tor rising; there was a season of -prayer; mass was said, once on working-days and twice on feast-days; -the priests who did not say mass received communion every day, and -the lay-brothers, students, and coadjutors two or three times a week; -there was reading at meal-times; and at the approach of night the -litanies were recited and the Salve sung. Every night a father went -to the forecastle to explain the Christian doctrine, and ended with -some brief address. When night began, the father procurator rang a -little bell, in order that they might pray to God for the souls in -purgatory and for those who are in mortal sin, imitating the example -of St. Francis Xavier. Before the hour for retiring, the bell was -rung for the examination of conscience. Every Sunday, feast-day, -and Saturday, addresses were made to all the [people of the] ship. - -Soon after they had embarked, a sort of wind blew which made nearly all -those who were coming in the ship fall ill; and from this sickness -died five Jesuits, and thirty-three laymen; and in the flagship -six religious of St. Dominic and seventy [other] persons. These -sick persons gave sufficient occasion for the charity of Ours, -who assisted them by administering the sacraments and caring for -their souls; and they even busied themselves in relieving the sick, -so far as was possible, with delicacies and personal attentions. This -occupation was an excellent preparation in order that the sermons and -exhortations that the ministers uttered might produce the desired -result--that a great reform in morals and much attendance on the -sacraments might be secured. [After perils and hardships by sea, -and in the overland passage from Lampon to Manila, they reach that -city. "It was a very numerous mission band, who accomplished much work; -and there were some of them who spent fifty and even more than sixty -years in Philipinas, which is a very extraordinary thing." Five of -them had died on the voyage: fathers Francisco Casela, a native of -Naples, aged thirty years; Francois Boursin, a native of Arras, aged -thirty-four; Georg Kocart, from Neuburg, aged twenty-eight; Gonzalo -Cisneros, an Aragonese (?), aged twenty-eight; and Dominic Vaybel -(probably for Waibl), a native of Constance, of the same age.] In -the college of Zebu the Society labored with apostolic zeal; for, -although regularly there was no one in it besides the father rector -and another priest, they maintained preaching and confession, and -attended to the spiritual welfare of the Spaniards, Indians, mestizos, -and other people who gathered there; and God gave His blessing to our -pious desires and labors. Many Indians attended the sermons that were -preached in that church, even when the sermons were in Spanish. - -[Fol. 152 b:] Our military forces, being set free from the nearer -enemies, were employed against those more distant. Accordingly, -the commander of our armada, Pedro Duran de Monforte, directed his -course to the great island of Borney, where he burned many villages -on that coast, and carried away forty captives; and he succeeded in -making this voyage known [to navigators], and in observing the shoals, -monsoons, and other difficulties. With this experience he again set -out, on January 11, 1649, with fourteen vessels, his people being -partly Indian adventurers from Pintados, partly Lutaos; and Father -Francisco Lado accompanied him. He touched at Lacaylacay; went on to -Onsan, the limit of the former expedition; and went to the island of -Bangui. Everywhere he found abundance of rice, swine, and goats. He -plundered and destroyed several villages; burned more than three -hundred vessels, among them the armed fleet which they held ready -that year to infest these islands--which on account of this exploit -remained for the time free from their fury and barbarity. He brought -back more than two hundred captives, and ransomed some Christians. All -this was done in a short time and with ease, because these affairs -were undertaken with proper seriousness. As a result of this, when the -governor of Samboangan, Rafael Omen, died, Pedro Duran de Monforte was -appointed in his place; and the latter imitated his predecessor in his -zeal for religion, in his Christian mode of life, in disinterestedness, -and in an affable and mild bearing, for which he was beloved by all, -while his government was peaceful and prosperous. With the opportunity -afforded by these armadas, the Jesuits (who went as chaplains) began -to announce the gospel in the great island of Borney, than which there -is no larger island in the world. So prosperous were those beginnings -that they succeeded in having seven hundred islanders baptized. Two -chiefs of the neighboring islands offered vassalage to the king of -Spain, and asked for gospel ministers, as Father Colin testifies; -and this mission finally gave hopes that a numerous and extensive -Christian church would be founded which would compensate for the -losses in Japon and the Orient; but, lacking the protection of the -Spanish military forces, this so beautiful hope faded away almost -at its flowering. Deplorable and repeated experiences persuade us -that in these latter times the Christian missions are maintained and -increased only when in the shelter of Catholic arms; sad witnesses to -this are Japon, India, and now China. If in these islands and America -our kings did not protect religion, I believe that those regions would -now be as heathen as in their former times. Experience teaches this, -and the rest I regard as speculation--although the powerful arm of -the Highest easily overcomes the greatest impossibilities. - -[Fol. 155 b:] The testimony of the venerable Father Mastrili, -and the voluntary choice of so many distinguished Jesuits and -martyrs who embraced these missions with the greatest eagerness, -are sufficient recommendation for them. With just reason they can be -esteemed, as being among the most laborious and difficult which the -Society maintains anywhere in the world. This title is deserved by -the missions of Philipinas, and among them those to Mindanao and -the Subanos are some of the most difficult. No one accuses this -statement of being exaggerated, and still less of being arrogant, -before he has examined it minutely; and then he cannot find more -moderate terms [than the above] in order not to fall short of the -truth. Whatever dangers, inconveniences, and privations are experienced -on land are also experienced on the sea, with an [additional] sort -of circumstances which renders them more grievous, and besides this -there are the hardships natural and peculiar to that element; and -even that which on land is chosen for convenience and relief costs -on the sea inconvenience and trouble--as, for instance, sleeping, -eating, and taking exercise. Every boat is a prison without chains, -but more closely shut than the narrowest jail; it is a broad coffin, -in which the living suffer the discomforts of death. Whoever sets -foot in a boat resolutely confronts all the elements, which conspire -in arms to terrify and destroy him. The water upon which he journeys, -the air by which he sails, the fire by which he lives, the land which -he so anxiously seeks--all are declared enemies of the traveler. The -sea is, by antonomasia, the theater for [all] perils; and no one who -has not been tossed upon its foaming waves can speak with justice -of its dangers, just as the blind man cannot dispute about colors. A -heart of steel or of diamond, say the ancients, he must have had who -first boldly launched himself upon the [waters of the] gulfs, so many -perils did they conceive of an element which has as many treacheries -as waves. Therefore, as nearly all the missions of this province -are established along the seas, on which our missionaries go about, -continually on the move, these are the (or among the) most difficult, -arduous and perilous that exist on the whole round globe. To this -sacrifice charity gladly constrained us. Let to all this be added -the nature of the country, in which earthquakes, baguios, hurricanes, -storms of thunder and lightning, and tempests often occur. The winds -are violent and hurtful, the season hot; the rainy season gloomy, -dark and persistent; the wet soil producing many disgusting insects -that are troublesome and vexatious. The care for the temporal welfare -of the people--seeing that they pay their tributes to the king, -and that they plant their fields in time--is an employment that is -troublesome, tedious, and necessary. Nor is it a less task to take -care for the provisioning of the [missionary's] own house, without -having in this respect the aid which the apostles had; because the -minister must rather care for his own house and for that of others, -a charge which charity lays upon us. Charitas omnia sustinet [i.e., -"Charity endures all things"]. - -Each missionary in Bisayas (or Pintados) has the care of two to -five thousand souls, and even more. These commonly are divided among -two or three villages, quite far apart; and throughout the year the -minister is sailing from one to another, to preach to them and aid -them. Among the Subanos there are not so many people [in each mission], -but their little villages are more numerous. Formerly each minister had -ten or twelve villages of Subanos, [each] divided on as many rivers, -in the form of hamlets. There were houses round about the church or -pavilion [camarin], and the rest [of the people] lived scattered in the -hills, forests, and thickets. I have seen some native huts [buhios] -on the peaks of the mountains, [so far away] that they could hardly -be reached in half an hour from the river. Others I saw placed among -the branches of the trees, in the same manner as nests. Their houses -regularly are very high, with a bamboo for a ladder, which they remove -at night. All this they do in order to hide themselves and be free -from the frequent invasions of the Moros; and from the stratagems and -treacheries of their own countrymen, who are inclined to vengeance and -perfidy. Among these people we live. The rivers are full of ferocious -and blood-thirsty crocodiles, which kill many persons. When I was -in Dapitan there was one of these beasts in the river of Iraya, so -sanguinary and fierce that no one dared to pass that river by night, on -account of the ravages that it committed--leaping into the boats, and -taking people out of them. In the books of those villages, I read with -horror and pity: "On such a day was buried the head of N., which was -all that was found, because the crocodile had torn him to pieces." The -bars of the rivers are dangerous, and with the freshets and the waves -some channels are easily closed and others opened, to the great risk -of those who are sailing. The seas are rough, and so restless that -the continual lashing of the waves on the shores, rocks, and reefs -makes a sound which causes fear even in those who live inland. On -that coast are headlands so difficult to double that sometimes the -caracoas spend twenty or thirty days in voyages which in favorable -weather require half an hour. As a result, the ministers live in great -loneliness, without being able to communicate with one another--save -that, when the monsoons blow, in order to make one's confession a -voyage is necessary; and therefore this consolation is attained by -some but few times in the year. If a fatal accident occurs to one, -it is not possible to assist him with the holy sacraments--which is -the greatest affliction that can be endured in the hour of death; -and their only recourse is to place themselves in the hands of that -Lord for whom they expose themselves to these sufferings. Even greater -are the fatigues endured by the soul in the frequent occasions which -disturb its patience. The feeling of indifference which is native -to the country tends to undermine gradually the wall of poverty, -weaken the spirit of obedience, and cool the most fervent spiritual -ardor and strictness of observance. Even the blood which animates -us and gives us life is mutinous, and stirs up the passions against -their own master; and, aided by the noxious air of the country, the -extreme solitude, and the common enemy, wages a war that is cruel, -obstinate, bloody, and so pertinacious that it does not yield until -the last breath of life.... - -The soil is very poor, and the greater part of the provisions and -clothing must be carried from Manila; and consequently a thousand -miseries are suffered during the year without recourse. The feeling -of loneliness is very great; we are in this world, which, besides -being a vale of tears, for us is as it were, a limbo, [18] separated -by thousands of leguas from the rest of the world; it is exceedingly -seldom that the missionary meets any person through whom he can obtain -any alleviation of his troubles, or any assistance or consolation. Few -Spaniards traverse those regions, and those who do pass through are -usually of such character that merely the knowledge that they are -going about through the country causes grief, anxiety, and vigilance -to the minister. During the entire week the Indians are on the sea, -in the mountains, or in their grain-fields, and on Sundays they come -together in the village--but usually little to the comfort of the -missionary. Rather, they increase his annoyances, in [having to] settle -their lawsuits, quarrels, misunderstandings, and accounts; in defending -them from the alcaldes and petty officials, and from one another; -and in the minister's defending himself from all--for there are a -thousand entanglements, snares, and deceits. Hardly do they set foot -in the missionary's house, except when they go to ask for something; -they are like the cat, and only look the father in the face when they -are expecting some scrap of meat; and when this is seized, friendship, -homage, and gratitude are at an end. Would to God that these qualities -were left in the Indians! But it cannot be said that all are of this -sort, but that there are enough of them for exercising the patience of -the minister, although others serve for his comfort and consolation. If -the minister is sick, he has no physician or apothecary to resort to; -and his only resource is an Indian medicaster who applies some herbs, -and whose prescriptions are quickly exhausted. If the sickness be a -distressing one, it is necessary to go to Zebu, to which place [Ours] -make a voyage of thirty or forty leguas, with the risk of not finding -[there] a blood-letter. If radical treatment is needed, there is no -other remedy than to sail a hundred or two hundred leguas to Manila, -where there is not an over-supply of Galens. Fortunate is he who, -without failing in his obligations, can preserve his health unimpaired; -for in this land certain diseases quickly take root [in one's system] -which are a slow and most grievous martyrdom through life. And there -is, almost peculiar to these countries, a sort of profound melancholy, -which, like a corrupt root, renders all that he can do either insipid -or repulsive. Sometimes it disorders the mind, [19] and even life -itself becomes abhorrent. It persistently oppresses the mind, which -needs great courage, and aid from above, in order that one may not -faint in the ministry. All this is the effect of solitude, and of one's -nature becoming suffocated under the continual annoyances and troubles -which administration [of these missions] involves. Nor is it easy to -explain, without actual eyewitness, the various modes of suffering -which here present themselves, so unusual, extraordinary, and acute. In -these workshops patience is wrought, purified, and assayed until it -becomes heroic, with the heavy hammer of mortifications, troubles, -and petty details, which chance each day arranges and disarranges. - -To this must be added the continual dread of invasions by the Moros, -of whose barbarous and inhuman cruelty alone the missionaries are -assured, fleeing to the mountains amid thorns, woods, miry places, -and precipices. On the coast from Yligan to Samboangan, I saw with -great sorrow various churches and villages that had been burned. The -ministers saw themselves in the greatest danger of being captured or -slain, and in their flight they suffered unspeakable hardships. Nor -are dangers wanting among even the Indians themselves; they were very -near putting to death by treachery Father Joseph Lamberti at Hagna, -and Father Gaspar de Morales at Ynabangan, in the year 1746. For others -they have laid ambushes, others have been wounded, and even some have -been injured by witchcraft--so that in all directions there is danger. - -Finally, let him who wishes to survey the missions which the Society -has in these islands, open the map of Asia; and in the western part, -in the AEgean archipelago, he will see the Apostle of the Gentiles -journeying from Jerusalem to Tarsus, to Ephesus, to Jerusalem, -to Seleucia, to Cyprus, to Pergamos in Pamphylia, to Antioch in -Pisidia, to Iconium, to Macedonia, and to other cities, islands, -and provinces, in continual movement from one place to another. Let -him now look at the Eastern part of the same Asia, and he will see in -the Philippine archipelago the Jesuits, journeying [in like manner] -in Tagalos, in Bisayas, in Mindanao, in Jolo, in Marianas, in Palaos, -in Borney, in Ternate, in Siao, in Macazar, in Japon, in China, and in -other islands, kingdoms, and provinces of the Orient, preaching the -gospel to these nations. To these laborers it is a fitting command: -Euntes in mundum universum, praedicate Evangelium omni creaturae. [20] -I do not know whether in any other region there is a concourse of -so many peoples as in Philipinas, or where this mandate of Christ -to His apostles is so literally carried out. There is not in the -entire universe a journey more extensive or dangerous, by land or -by sea. There is preaching and ministration in the Spanish tongue -and in the Tagal; and in those of Samar and Bohol, and of Marianas; -of the Lutaos, of Mindanao, and of the Subanos; and in that of the -Sangleys or Chinese. The study of the language is difficult, dry, -and insipid, but it is necessary; it is a thorn causing many scruples, -a bitterness for many years, and a labor for one's whole life. - -In Tagalos there are not so many navigations or journeys, although -these are not wanting; but this advantage is strictly compensated by -other difficulties, for on the ministers falls the entire burden of -sermons, missions, Lenten services, novenaries, and other functions, -and usually the professorships [in the college] of Manila. In the -villages, the solitude and the lack of various conveniences are almost -the same [as in Bisayas]; and although the Indians are as simple as -the rest they are not so artless, but are cunning and deceitful. They -do not use lances or daggers against the ministers, but they employ -gossip, misrepresentations, and calumnies. In almost all the villages -there are some Indians who have been clerks to the Spaniards in Manila, -and accustomed to petitions and lawsuits, they influence the Indians -to innumerable quarrels; for through frequent communication with -the Spaniards stamped paper has become a favorite with them. And if -the father calls them to account [les va a los alcanzes], a crowd -of them get together, and draw up a writing against the minister, -which is quickly filled with signatures and crosses. Often that -happens which is told by the lord bishop of Montenegro: how a -visitor, considering as impossible a complaint that was presented -to him by some Indians against their cura, began to examine one of -those who had signed it; and, seeing that the Indian said "Amen" to -everything, without stopping for reflection, the visitor suspected -that the complaint was a calumny. He then said, very sagaciously: -"Man, in this petition it is stated that one Sunday, after prayers, -your cura killed King David." "Yes, sir," said the Indian, "I saw -that done;" and thus the prudent judge recognized the falsity of the -charges. When the Indians wish to accuse the minister, they resort -to the clerk, who has certain bundles and old papers, carefully -kept, of accusations and complaints; and according to the amount -they pay him the accusation amplifies--as when one prepares a good -purgative medicine, and augments the dose in order to secure its -operation. A number of the Indians affix their signatures, without -knowing what they are signing; for the heat of wine takes the place -of all these formalities of law. They carry this document, full of -sprawling signatures and cross-marks [letrones y cruzes], to those -who, as they know, have least good-will to the minister--and in this -[sort of knowledge] the Indians are eminent, nor is there a pilot who -follows more closely the winds by which he must navigate; and just -so these Indians know where their complaint will be received with -approval. If he to whom the accusation is presented be credulous, -innocence suffers much until the truth is made clear. Great strength -of mind is required to endure these calumnies, and it is one of the -kinds of martyrdom (and not the least cruel) in Indias. In the other -matters of administration there are hardships, on account of the great -number of people [for whom the father must care], and their scattered -mode of life, since they are distant from the church sometimes three -or four leguas. The roads are wretched, the heat of the sun burning, -and the rainstorms very heavy, with innumerable other inclemencies -and annoyances, which have disabled many, and killed others. The -variety of duties which the minister has to exercise is very great, -for he has to be preacher, teacher of the doctrine, and confessor; -adjuster and umpire of their petty quarrels; physician and apothecary, -to treat them in their sicknesses; schoolmaster, and teacher of -music; architect and builder, and competent for everything [un todo -para todo]; for if the minister does not take care of everything, -all will soon be lost. Enough of [this] parenthetical explanation; -[21] although it is long, a knowledge of it is very necessary for -the completeness of history, in order that it may be known what the -gospel ministers are doing and suffering, which is more than what -superficial persons suppose. - -[Fol. 183 b:] In the conversion of Basilan, fervent were the labors -of Father Francisco Angel and Father Nicolas Dene; and both suffered -great dangers to their lives and liberty. They were succeeded by -Father Francisco Lado, who by his persistence in enduring innumerable -fatigues subdued the entire island; went through all of it, on foot, -alone, and without escort; made his way through its thickets, forests, -mountains, and hamlets; and did this in such peace that he could build -a very neat church and substantial house--for he was much loved by -the Lutaos; and he had, with the aid of the governors of Samboangan, -cleared the island from all the panditas, and from mischievous and -suspicious persons, who might disturb the people with evil doctrines -or with immoral practices. Only one remained there, who by his -malice was disturbing even the peaceful natives; this was Tabaco, -who had incited to rebellion the Sameacas, who are the natives of the -island. [This man is finally slain by a daring young Spanish officer, -Alonso Tenorio; see our Vol. XXXVIII, pp. 134-136.] - -With similar success the religion of Jesus Christ was published -along the coast which extends toward the kingdom of Mindanao. Father -Pedro Tellez zealously traveled through those shores, where he formed -several villages, erected more than sixteen churches, and established -Christian living; and he made his abode in Tungavan. Notable aid -was given to this enterprise by Don Antonio Ampi, the lord of the -river, who always promoted the Christian religion with extraordinary -constancy--although he had in Jolo a brother named Libot, a renegade -and a cruel pirate--and he gave to the college at Samboangan some -fertile and productive lands. At the cost of toils and privations, -Father Tellez reduced the barbarous Subanos to rational and Christian -customs, drawing them out of their caves and huts, and from under -the cruel tyrannical yoke of the demon--who made apparent the great -resentment that was roused in him by the loss of those his long-time -slaves; for at various times the horrible howls that he uttered were -heard at Curuan. For ministration on the coast of La Caldera and -Siocon, which was left deserted by the death of Father Juan del Campo, -the father provincial Francisco de Roa assigned Father Francisco -Combes, who gladly went to instruct the Subanos. Most earnestly -he applied himself to bringing those wild and timid creatures into -closer social relations, and in doing this he was able to forward -their instruction in the mysteries of the faith; and gradually they -became accustomed to a more rational and Christian mode of life. On -the river of Sibuco there was an Indian named Ondol; this man and -his brother, worse than Moors, were married to several wives; and -Ondol was so cruel that he slew whomsoever he chose, without further -cause than his own whim. He tried to kill Father Adolfo de Pedrosa, -greatly applauded the killing of Father Juan del Campo, and threatened -that he would kill Father Combes; but the latter pretended to take -no notice of it, and was cautious, and concealed his intentions; -and Ondol went on confidently, so that, when he least thought of -such a thing, he found himself a prisoner, and was sent to Samboangan -where he was received by the Spaniards and by the fathers with great -pleasure at seeing removed from the midst [of the mission] so great -an obstacle to the Christian faith. His brothel continued to stir up -the people, and an armed fleet was sent against him, but without any -result; for the noise [of their coming] warned him so that he could -avoid the blow, among woods, hills, miry places, and thickets. The -escort of the father [i.e., Combes] continued to make arrests, with -cunning devices, until they seized fifteen of this man's relatives; -and the father sent them to Samboangan. Love for his kindred brought -that wild man to the church, to ask mercy from the father. He was -admitted to favor, and all the past forgotten, with one condition: -that he and all his people, since they were Lutaos, must live under -the artillery of the fort, and serve in the [Spanish] armada. With -this arrangement that coast remained peaceable, for the insurgents of -Siocon had also been seized by craft. Father Combes went to that place, -and encountered very heavy seas, not only at entering but on leaving -that village; and arguing [from this] that God was not allowing them -to go until they interred the bones of the companions of Father Campo, -they all lauded on the shore, and searched for the bodies among the -thorny thickets. Having interred all of them together, and said a -mass for them, the Spaniards placed a cross over the sepulcher; and -immediately the weather became calm, so that the caracoas were able -to set out. At that time Father Combes carried away a hermit, who, -clothed as a woman, strictly observed the law of nature, and professed -celibacy. He was called "the Labia of Malandi;" and he was converted -to the religion of Christ, in which he lived as a faithful servant. - -In La Caldera was introduced the devotion to the blessed souls in -purgatory, and suffrages for the deceased, which never had been -publicly performed among any Subanos. To render this service more -solemn, the musicians were carried thither from Samboangan; and -this, joined with the father's exhortations, introduced in their -hearts pious solicitude for their dead--so well begun that, in the -midst of their native poverty and the dulness of their minds, they -carried with them many candles, with rice and other offerings. From -that place this holy devotion was gradually communicated through all -those villages, following the example of La Caldera--which then was -the principal village, in which the minister resided; and to it were -annexed Bocot, Malandi, and Baldasan. Besides the above-mentioned -cases, others occurred with which the Lord consoled the ministers, -in recompense for the misery, hardships, and forlorn condition of -those arduous and remote missions. - -[Fol. 229 b:] About this time dissoluteness was reigning in these -islands, with as unrestrained and despotic dominion as if there -were no law superior to it, which could repress it. Fraud in trade -and commerce, hatred, falsehood, and malice prevailed everywhere, -and without restraint. Above all, sensuality was, so to speak, the -prince and master vice; and so general that, unrestricted in time, -sex, rank, or age, it kept these regions aflame with an infernal and -inextinguishable fire. These crimes were aggravated by the scandalous -publicity with which they were committed, almost without punishment; -and they had so filled the country with iniquity and abomination -that they had to a certain extent corrupted the land itself, filling -it with malediction, as Scripture tells us of the time of Noe: -Corrupta est autem terra coram Deo, & repleta est iniquitate. [22] -This provoked the wrath of God so much that in those times were -experienced such calamities, wars, misfortunes, earthquakes, deaths, -factions, shipwrecks, imprisonments, and so great disturbances, -that the citizens themselves, obliged to begin to reflect on these -things, believed that the sword of divine indignation was unsheathed -among them; and those who with prosperity seemed to be losing their -senses came to themselves, as did the prodigal son with his coming -to want. They had recourse to the holy Pope, the vicar of Christ on -earth; and at his feet, submitting themselves with humble repentances, -they explained to him the cause of their affliction. He who then -presided over the Church of God was his Holiness Innocent X, who as -a benign father despatched an apostolic brief to the archbishop of -Manila directing him to absolve all the inhabitants and citizens of -these islands from whatever crime or transgression they might have -committed, or excommunication that they might have incurred. He sent -them his apostolic benediction, and granted a plenary indulgence to -those who should worthily prepare to receive it. - -On the first day of March, 1654, the archbishop made publication of -these favors conferred by the pontiff; and all the people prepared with -great fervor to obtain them--so universally that the many confessors -of the clergy and the religious orders were hardly sufficient for -the numbers who resorted to them; and it was estimated that within -the city more than forty thousand persons made their confessions. The -result was very excellent, for many confessions were made anew that -had been for many years faultily made--either to conceal sins, or -for lack of sorrow for them--and of their own accord. Many general -confessions were made, and the grace of God was made apparent in -the excellent results which were experienced. Restitution was made -of honors and property, inveterate hatreds were uprooted, immoral -associations of many years' standing were broken up, and occasions for -continual stumbling were removed. On the twenty-second day a solemn -mass was sung in the cathedral, the blessed sacrament was exposed, -and the archbishop preached with the fervor that the case demanded. At -twelve o'clock the bells began to ring for prayers in all the churches, -the sound of the bells being a fresh awakener of consciences. In the -afternoon the archbishop went to the main plaza, where a stage had -been erected, of sufficient size, almost, for a court from above; -on it was an altar, with a crucifix for devotion, under a canopy. On -this stage sat the archbishop, with the ecclesiastical cabildo; and -the royal Audiencia were there with their president, the governor -and captain-general, also the regidors and the holy religious orders; -while there was an innumerable assembly from every sort of nation and -people, for whom there was not room in the plaza or in the streets, -or on the roofs. The archbishop put on his pontifical robes, and, -when the psalms were sung and the usual prayers offered, he publicly -uttered the blessing on the land and all its inhabitants in the name -of the supreme pontiff; and afterward the Te Deum was intoned, and -the chimes were rung by all the bells. - -[Our author here relates the beginning of the rebuilding of the -cathedral (which had been destroyed in the earthquakes of 1645), -and the solemn religious functions which accompany the laying of its -cornerstone in 1654; and the formal adoption of St. Francis Xavier -as the patron saint of the islands (1653), by action of the secular -cabildo of Manila, who bind themselves "to attend the vespers and the -feasts of that saint's day in a body, as the municipal council, and to -furnish the wax necessary for the feast." He is also chosen as patron -saint of all the voyages made to, from, or among the islands. This -action is followed by that of the ecclesiastical cabildo (1654) -and the archbishop. That saint is chosen because he had preached -in Ternate and Mindanao, which belonged to the jurisdiction of the -Philippines; in imitation of India, where also he was the patron -saint, and where his favor had been experienced by navigators; and -"because the glorious saint had shown himself, especially in recent -years in this region, very propitious to the voyages of our ships," -of which various examples are cited.] - -[Fol. 231 b:] The archbishop had seen in the publication of the jubilee -the persistence with which the Jesuits labored in the confessional; -and desiring to finish gathering in the harvest which the broad -field of these environs promised him, if the proper cultivation -were applied, in the year 1655 he asked Father Miguel Solana, the -provincial of this province, that the "jubilee of the missions" -might be published. This was done in the following Lenten season, -with so felicitous results that more than twenty thousand certificates -of confession were counted which had been issued in our college at -Manila. The zeal of the archbishop aided greatly [in this result], for -he took part in the procession in which the mission was published, and -preached one day in our church.... Extraordinary was the fruit which he -gathered that Lent; and confessions were made [for a period] of sixty -or eighty years. [Here are related various cases of conversion and -edification, in some of which demons appear to the faithful. Governor -Diego Faxardo sends workmen to Camboja to build a galleon there, and -asks for Jesuits to go with them as chaplains, and to labor for the -introduction of the Christian faith into that kingdom; two are sent, -one of whom is Father Francisco Mesina, who was then ministering -to the Chinese at Santa Cruz. These men build a fine galleon, but -it is lost in a storm on the way to Manila; moreover, the galleon -"Nuestra Senora del Rosario," in which they had sailed to Camboja, -"one of the strongest which had been built in these islands," was -wrecked on the shoals of the Me-Khong (or Cambodia) River, before the -Spaniards could establish themselves on its shores. These accidents -cause the idea of building ships in Camboja to be abandoned.] Although -the temporal government of Ternate belonged to the crown of Castilla, -and to this government of Philipinas, its spiritual affairs were cared -for by the bishop of Malaca; and when that city was conquered by the -Dutch, Ternate remained in the care of only one Jesuit and one secular -priest for many years. Don Sabiniano Manrique brought to Manila the -father and the Portuguese priest, and in their place two fathers from -this province were sent, whom the archbishop of Manila constituted -his provisors and vicars-general. These fathers preached with great -fervor and corresponding results; for many Christians improved their -mode of life, and some Moors and heretics of that country, giving up -their errors, embraced the true religion. Among all these the ones -who excelled in fervor were two young girls, about fourteen years old, -who, abandoning their parents (who professed the Moorish faith), came -to Ours to be made Christians--with so dauntless resolution that, -although their parents followed them in order to take them back to -their own village, they could not persuade them to return; and God -bestowed such efficacy upon the utterances of these girls that even -their parents, illumined by the light of the Highest, determined to -follow the same religious faith. Various results of the mercy of God -were seen in some persons who, a short time after receiving grace in -baptism, ascended to enjoy their reward in glory. - -In Siao the king was Don Bentura Pinto de Morales, who, grieving -that his island should lack gospel ministers, despatched an embassy -to Don Sabiniano Manrique, laying before him the extreme necessity -of that island and kingdom, and entreating that he would send thither -religious to preach the holy gospel; the zealous governor [accordingly] -asked the father provincial, Miguel de Solana, to send two fathers to -relieve that need. They were immediately sent, and began their work -on so good a footing that in a short time they commenced to gather -the fruit that they desired; and, not content to labor with the old -Christians, they added to the flock of Christ a great multitude of -souls, so that in a few months nearly all the islanders were asking -for baptism. The city of Macan had sent to Manila a nobleman named -Don Diego Furtado de Mendoza, to regulate the commerce [between -the two cities]; and Don Diego Faxardo, perhaps for [well-grounded] -suspicions, ordered that he be arrested. But afterward Don Sabiniano -sent this envoy back to Macan; and in November of the year 1653 he sent -a vessel, and in it Father Magino Sola with the title of ambassador, -to establish friendly relations between this and that city, and with -other commissions; and they arrived at Macan about March, 1654. - -In these times [of which we are writing] many Subanos had come down -to Dapitan from some neighboring mountains, and were brought into -the fold of Christ. Afterward a chief from Dicayo came down with his -people, and was followed by others, from other hamlets; the ministers -were greatly consoled at seeing the fruit that was gathered in that -district of heathens. At the same time some Moros from the lake of -Malanao settled at Yligan, in order to be instructed and to live as -Christians in that village; and God deigned to work some marvels, -so that they might properly appreciate the Catholic religion. [Some -of these are related; then follows a long account of the schemes and -perfidious acts of Corralat, and of the murder (December 13, 1655) -by his nephew Balatamay of the Jesuits Alexandro Lopez and Juan de -Montiel, and the Spanish officer Claudio de Ribera, who were going -to Corralat as envoys from Governor Manrique de Lara. All these -occurrences have received due attention in previous volumes.] - -[Fol. 277:] The archbishop of Manila, Don Miguel Poblete, a pastor -zealous for the good of souls, asked the father provincial of the -Society to employ some of his men, now that this succor had arrived, -[23] in a ministry so proper for our Institute as is that of the -missions; and some of them accordingly went out to look after -the ranches [estancias], where usually live many vagabonds, who, -as a result of their idleness and lack of any restraint, commit -innumerable sinful and evil acts, and are a people greatly in need -of religious instruction. In those places are found some Spaniards, -various [sorts of] mestizos, negroes, Cafres, and Indians from all the -islands. At the cost of many inconveniences, the ministers gathered -a large harvest in the numerous confessions that were made to them, -and in many licentious unions which were broken up; and, above all, -light was given to those people on what they ought to believe and -do in order to secure the eternal salvation of their souls. An old -man eighty years of age, whose confessions were almost sacrilegious, -was reached by the mission, and, wounded by his conscience, said: -"Oh, if Father San Vitores" (whom perhaps he knew by reputation) -"were one of the missionaries, how I could get out of this wretched -condition in which I am!" And afterward, learning that Father San -Vitores was going to that place, this old man cast himself at his -feet, and with more tears than words made a general confession, -and [thus] was set free from that abominable condition in which he -found himself. Afterward the archbishop entreated that the mission -should go to the mountain of Maralaya, near the lake of Bay, where -a colony of highwaymen and vagrants had been gathered by the desire -for freedom and the fear of punishment, secure in their lawless mode -of life in the ruggedness of the mountain. The missionaries reached -that place, and on the slope of the mountain established their camp, -where they remained in the inclemencies of weather until a pavilion -was built in which they could say mass, and a wretched hut for their -shelter. There, with affection, prayer, and exercises of penance, -they were able to persuade those people to come down to hear the word -of God; and so efficacious was this that many were induced to return -to their own villages, in order to live as Christians. Several women -whom those men kept there, who had been separated from their husbands, -were restored [to their families]; and among the rest the missionaries -employed instruction and teaching. One man had lived in that barbarous -community worse than if he were a heathen; and the only indication of -his Christian faith that remained to him in so demoralized a condition -was his constant devotion to the blessed Virgin--to whom he fasted -every Saturday, and whom he urgently entreated that he might not -die without the sacraments. That most merciful Lady heard him, for, -although he had been ten times in danger of death, she had always set -him free with special favor. Now he made his confession with many -tears, with the firm resolve to do whatever might be necessary for -his eternal salvation. - -A mission was conducted in the mountains of Santa Inez of Lanating, a -visita of Antipolo. One of the missionaries was the same Father Diego -Luis de San Vitores, and in seven days he gathered a very abundant -harvest; for in that short time twenty-four thousand heathens, Aetas -or Cimarrons, were baptized, and many others were prepared for the -rite, who received baptism afterward. [The author describes several -of these conversions; he also cites various entries of especial -interest from "the books of the old mission of Santa Ines, which I -have before me;" many of these are of baptisms made by Father San -Vitores. "This mission was cared for by a devout Indian named Don -Juan Estevan, who afterward was a donado, and in the absence of the -minister instructed and baptized them--as did the Canacopoles, whom -St. Xavier chose in India."] - -In the year 1669 there was a church and visita in Bosoboso; in -1672 there was a church in Paynaan; and in 1678 was established -the church of San Isidro. These two [latter] villages lasted until -recent years, when they were included in Bosoboso. Excursions were -made into the mountains, and many Aetas, Christian and heathen, were -brought out from their hamlets; and with charity and kindness efforts -were made to settle them in the said visitas, wherein, in due time, -a permanent minister was stationed. It appears from the books of the -said visitas and villages that many adults were baptized--of twenty, -thirty, forty, and fifty years, and even more; this was a task of -the utmost difficulty for the ministers, in drawing those people -out of their lairs, and even more in maintaining them in a social -and Christian mode of life, on account of their natural inclination -to go wandering through the woods and mountains. In the year 1699 -the zealous archbishop Don Diego Camacho came to this mission, -and baptized several of them--among others, four heathen adults--as -appears from the books of Paynaan. - -In the year 1665, on the nineteenth of July, there was a violent -earthquake in Manila, in which nine persons died; and it inflicted -considerable damage in the wing of our college. At this the zealous -archbishop arranged that a mission should be held in Manila and Cavite; -and through the preaching and example of those engaged therein great -results were obtained. In October of the same year, Father Diego Luis -de San Vitores and some companions went to the island of Mindoro, -then in charge of secular priests. On sea and on land they suffered -great fatigues and hunger, heat and storms, toils and dangers; -but all this they regarded as [time and strength] well spent, -when they saw how the liberal hand of God was rewarding them with -the consolation of beholding with their own eyes the fruit of their -labors--not only in the old Christians, who had reformed their morals; -but in the infidel Manguianes, many of whom were converted to [our] -religion. They experienced a thousand tokens of the providence and -kindness of God. Although there were several languages in the island, -they easily gained a knowledge of what was necessary for instructing -the natives, preaching to them, hearing their confessions, and settling -their affairs. Sometimes a contrary wind obliged them to put back, -directed by the hand of God, in order to relieve the necessity which -demanded their cooeperation in those hamlets. Sometimes the rivers -overflowed their banks, and they found it necessary to travel to -places in which they found sufficient occasion for the exercise of -their charity. Many conversions of special interest were obtained, -of both Christians and heathens; and remarkable among all of them was -that of a Manguian woman, a heathen, married to a Christian man. She -was baptized, and named Maria; and afterward they called her "the -Samaritan," on account of the many persons whom she brought to the -knowledge of Christ, the ministers availing themselves of her aid for -the conversion of many persons, not only heathens but Christians, -with most happy results. Her husband was a Christian by baptism, -but worse than a heathen in his life; he would not even accept the -rosary of the blessed Virgin, and it was necessary for his wife to -put it about his neck by force; and it had so much efficacy that from -that time he undertook to be a Christian in his acts, as he was one by -name. The fathers erected three churches for the converted Manguianes: -the church of our Lady, near Bongabon; that of San Ignacio, near Pola; -and that of San Xavier, on the coast of Naojan. Another was built, -named for the holy Christ of Burgos, for the old Christians who were -roaming about through the mountains. - -[The rest of Murillo Velarde's Historia is mainly occupied with the -history of the Spanish conquest of the Marianas Islands, and the -missions of the Jesuit order therein; also with the Pardo controversy -and various other matters which have been already treated in this -series, besides the lives of Jesuits in the Philippines--which here, -as throughout our series, we have presented only in very brief and -condensed form; but which in these religious histories are often -exceedingly detailed and prolix. We present a few more extracts -from our writer, showing the distinctive occupations, methods, and -achievements of the Jesuit missionaries there, and events affecting -those missions.] - -[Fol. 346 b:] These and other acts of violence [i.e., connected -with the Pardo controversy] which in that time were suffered by this -province of Philipinas are evident from the printed memorial which -was presented to the king by Father Antonio Xaramillo, procurator of -this province in Madrid, and a witness of most of the things which are -contained in the said memorial. He concludes this document by offering, -at the order of our general, the reverend Father Tyrso Gonzalez, -our resignation of all the ministries which the Society possesses -in these islands, in order thus to remove the cause of disturbances, -jealousies, and controversies. But so far was the king from accepting -this resignation that instead he issued his royal decrees that the -doctrinas of Cainta and Jesus de la Pena (or Mariquina), of which the -Society had been despoiled, should be restored to it. In the year -1696, not only did the very reverend Augustinian fathers surrender -these posts, with politeness and courtesy, but in token of mutual -affection and friendly relations an exchange was made of the ministry -of San Matheo (which is near Mariquina), the fathers of St. Augustine -ceding it to us for that of Binangonan (which is called "de los -Perros" [i.e., "of the dogs"]), on the lake of Bay, which belonged -to the Society; [this was done] by another exchange, made with the -religious of St. Francis, to whom we gave the ministry of Baras on -the same lake. The sentences of examination and review given by the -royal and supreme Council of the Indias; the royal executory decree, -which in consequence of these was issued in regard to Jesus de la -Pena, on March 31, 1694; and the decrees which on the same day were -despatched, as regards Cainta, to the governor and the archbishop -of these islands: all these are in the archives of our college at -Manila.... I have seen the original of a report made to the king about -that time, by a person of great ability, in which he endeavored, -with acrimonious expressions, to influence the royal mind against -the Society; but the exaggerative and fierce asperity of the report -was itself the most efficacious argument in favor of this province, -and was entirely rejected by the king and his Council, as prejudiced -(a just and deserved punishment). The king not only insisted that this -province should continue in its ministries without any change, but -restored to it the two of which it had been despoiled by animosity -allied with violence. Thus this apostolic province went its way, -following the apostle among thorns and roses, among persecutions and -favors, per infamiam, & bonam famam. [24] - -In order to justify the manner in which the Society administers -its functions in these islands, I will give a brief account of -the allotment [distribucion; i.e., of the minister's duties] which -is followed in the villages, in order that the impartial reader, -reflecting thereon prudently and carefully, may recognize the incessant -and laborious toil with which this field, entrusted to the Society by -the confidence of that prince, is cultivated. Every day the boys and -girls (with little difference [in number]) up to the age of fourteen -years hear mass; these call themselves "schools" and "companies of -the rosary." Then they sing all the prayers that belong to the mass, -and go to their school. At ten o'clock the signal is given by the -bell, and they go to the church to pray before the blessed sacrament, -and to the Virgin they recite the Salve and the Alabado hymn; and -they go out in procession, singing the prayers, as far as some cross -in the village. At two o'clock in the afternoon they return to the -school; and at four or five o'clock they go again to the church, -where they recite the rosary, and go out in procession singing the -prayers. On Saturdays, not only the children recite the prayers, but -the baguntaos and dalagas [25]--who are the older youths and girls, -who do not yet pay tribute--and also the acolytes, the treble singers, -and the barbatecas. In the afternoon the people recite the rosary, -and the singers and musicians sing the mysteries and the litany. On -Sundays, the boys go out with a banner around the village, singing the -prayers, to call together the people. The minister says mass, which the -musicians accompany with voices and instruments; and afterward all the -people together recite the prayers, and [answer] a brief questioning -on the principal mysteries of the Christian doctrine, and [listen to] -an instruction on the mode of baptism, which is called tocsohan. With -this there are many of them who are well instructed, so that they -can aid one to die well, and in case of necessity confer baptism, -like the Canacapoles of St. Xavier. The minister preaches a moral -sermon, and usually calls the roll [suele leer el padron], in order -to see whether the Indians fail to attend mass. In the afternoon all -come together--schools, companies of the rosary, acolytes, singing -children, barbatecas, and dalagas and baguntaos--and they offer -prayers. Afterward the father goes down to the church, and catechises, -explains the Christian doctrine, and confers baptism. On Thursdays -there is no school, that being a vacation day. Every Saturday there is -a mass sung in honor of the Virgin; and in the afternoon the minister -chants the Salve for the occasion, with the image uncovered, which -is then locked up. During the nine days preceding Christmas, mass is -sung very early in the morning, with great solemnity, before a large -assembly of people, and accompanied by an indulgence [granted] for -the preservation of the Christian religion in these islands; and these -are called "masses for Christmas" [misas de Aguinaldo]. [26] Always, -when the host is elevated at mass the signal is given with a bell, -so that all the people may adore it; and the Indiana, even the little -children who cannot speak, clasp their hands and raise them toward -heaven as a token of adoration, while in the church a motet is sung -for the same purpose, after the custom of the primitive Church--which -this body of Christians resembles in many ways; and St. John in his -Apocalypse even represents it to us in those mysterious creatures who -day and night were praising God, dicentia: Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, -Dominus Deus Omnipotens, qui erat, qui est, & qui venturus est. [27] -The Indians in general have the highest respect and esteem for the -priests. As soon as they see the fathers, they rise to their feet, -take off their hats, [28] kiss the father's hand, and often fall -on their knees to speak to him, especially if they are going to ask -forgiveness for some offense that they have committed; they patiently -endure the penances that the ministers appoint for them, and promptly -obey whatever the fathers command them. Even the little children -who cannot speak run when they see the father in the street, fall on -their knees, and kiss his hand; and then go back greatly pleased at -this. At every function which pertains to the church, all the people, -from the greatest to the least, work with gladness in building altars -and adorning the temples. The house-servants offer their prayers in the -morning; and they write, read, and perform their duties after they have -heard mass. At night they read a spiritual lesson, recite the rosary, -and before retiring pray before the blessed sacrament and sing the -Salve to the Virgin; and during the year they frequent the sacraments. - -In each of our villages there is a "Congregation of the Blessed -Virgin," which enjoys many indulgences and favors; its members display -great fervor, attend regularly, and perform many exercises of devotion -and charity, especially on Saturdays. The women of the congregation -sweep the church very early, adorn the images, place roses and other -flowers on the altars, and carry about pans of coals with perfumes. The -minister recites the litany before the image, and the members of the -congregation say the responses; and afterwards he makes an address -to them; or a book of devotion, or the rules, or the indulgences, -are read aloud; or the list of saints for the month is announced, -according to their proper place on the calendar. There are some -persons who frequent the sacraments during the year, confessing and -receiving communion on the most solemn days of the year, especially -on the feast-days of the Virgin, and before a marriage is solemnized; -and it is a custom often practiced among the Indians to confess and -receive communion on one's saint's day. In the afternoon those who have -received communion go to the church for a short season of prayer. When -the women approach the time of childbirth, they confess and receive -communion, and remain in the village. Thus an Indian hardly ever -dies without the sacraments, except by some sudden fatal accident; -for at the instance of the ministers the people are instructed to -summon the father as soon as any one becomes dangerously ill. Many -Indians hear mass every day; recite the rosary in concert in their -houses, on the streets, and while they are sailing; say the litanies, -and sing with most delightful harmony the Salve, the praises of God -and of His mother resounding in every direction. They offer to the -Church the first-fruits of their products; and carry the images, -the shrouds, and other things to bless the seed-sowing. After -childbirth, they offer the infants to the Virgin on Saturday, and -receive the benediction. They order masses to be said for the souls -in purgatory, and present candles and other offerings to the Virgin -and the saints. They furnish light at mass with lighted tapers, -give food to the poor on Holy Thursday, and make other contributions -according to their means. They make pilgrimages to the most notable -sanctuaries, and offer their vows there; they read spiritual books, -and practice other devotions. When they bring the little angels [i.e., -their infants] for burial, they dress and adorn the bodies neatly -with birds' wings, palm-leaves, wreaths, flowers, and lights, even -when the parents are very poor; for the rest of the people aid them, -so that they may bring the dead with the decency and solemnity which -the ritual requires. The burials of adults are attended by all the -people, all clothed in mourning from the headman to the constable; -and even though the dead person be from some other village, or some -wretched unknown creature who died there, the body is escorted by -the people of the village and the singers, in very charitable and -edifying fashion. Those who are most eminent in all this are the -members of the congregation, by whose zeal and pious customs the -Christian religion is preserved and promoted in these islands. They -are the select of the select, like the soldiers of Gideon; and may be -called the religious among the Indians. The functions of Holy Week, -the principal feast-days, and the processions are carried out with -great solemnity and pomp. In their houses the people erect little -altars, which they adorn with various prints and images; on their arms -they depict crosses, and almost all wear rosaries about their necks; -when the blessed sacrament is exposed, they escort it, and take their -turn in assisting in the church with many lights. In the processions of -Holy Week there are many bloody flagellations [disciplinas de sangre], -and other most severe penances. In Lent there are, on three days, -the Miserere and scourging; but this has fallen into disuse, and -in various places is little more than a ceremony. In every village -there is a musical choir, of both instruments and voices, by means -of which the festival and solemn days, and divine worship, are at -least decently celebrated; and in some places there are excellent -instruments and voices. Moreover, all these singers understand harmony -[solfa], a thing which has not its like in all Christendom. Every -Saturday and Sunday, prime is sung in the choir. The Lenten stations -and services, those for the dead, and others during the year, cause -devotion and tender feelings through the skill and good order with -which they are conducted. The Indians use holy water in their houses, -and show great devotion to the holy cross, which they set up in their -houses, on the roads, and in their grain-fields. The adornment of the -churches--reredos, images, furnishings of silver, lamps, ornaments--the -multitude of lights, and the magnificence of the edifices, are so -extraordinary that no one would believe that in this remote corner of -the world religion could exist with such splendor, or Christianity -be so well established, [29] or divine worship conducted with such -magnificence. The zeal of the ministers has secured these results, -by their activity, piety, and kind treatment of the natives; but no -little is accomplished by the sharp spur, [30] managed with discretion, -qui parcit virgae, odit filium. The harvest in this field is like that -which the parable represents; there is the greatest and the least, -just as it is throughout the universe. There is fertile ground and -sterile; there are untilled and stony tracts; some land is productive, -and some is full of bramble-patches. But what soil is free from darnel -and tares? [31] Where are lilies found without having nettles near -them? In what garden do the roses, magnificent and fragrant, surpass -[the other flowers], without the thorns that surround them? He who is -always declaiming, in either a gloomy or a careless spirit, against the -faith and Christian spirit of the Indians, shows great ignorance of -the world, if not levity or malice. If he would but reflect that not -many years ago this was a land overgrown with the thorns and brambles -of ignorance, unbelief, and barbarism, he would give a thousand thanks -to the Lord at the sight of so much fruit obtained for heaven; and -still more [thankful would he be] if he cast his glance on Japon, -India, and Africa, and on Grecia, Inglaterra, Dinamarca, and other -kingdoms where the Christian religion was [once] so flourishing, but -which today are an abyss of follies and errors--the cause, alas! being -their ignorance or their perverseness.... Whoever will read the -Instructions of St. Francis Xavier for the missionaries of India -and also this account of their allotted tasks [esta distribucion], -will plainly see that their labors are the punctual execution of -those instructions. What greater praise [than this] can be given -them? To this should be added the standing of the ministers. Those -who are ministering in the native villages are the men who have been -masters of theology, and famous preachers, and officials of the order, -and even provincials; and other members who, on account of their -abilities, have merited repeated applause. The same is true in the -other religious orders; as a result, there is not in all the Indias -a field of Christian labor that is better cultivated; and I may add -that there is no Christian church in the world that has ministers with -higher qualifications, or more who have received academic degrees. And -some of them there are who, rejecting the comforts of Europe, remain -contented in the poverty here. - -[Fol. 350 b:] In the year 1696 the very religious province of -St. Augustine surrendered the village of San Matheo to the Society, -in virtue of a certain exchange; we gladly accepted it, in order to -bring in the Aetas who are in the mountains of that region, to live -as a Christian community in the village; for, Christians and heathens -being mingled in those woods and little hamlets, there was little -difference between them in their customs. Here I will bring together -the facts pertaining to this ministry, since it is matter belonging -to this history for the connection of events. In the year 1699, -the convent of San Agustin in Manila made claim to a ranch in this -district, on the ground that Governor Santiago de Vera had granted to -the said convent two limekilns for the erection of its building. The -Indians, on account of the crude notions which they form of things, -began to call the limekilns "the ranch;" and this blunder was so -prevalent that in some grants which the governors made afterward in -that territory they say that the lands "border upon the ranch of San -Agustin." In the said year an investigation was made, and all that -could be drawn from the declarations of the Indians was this confused -notion of a "ranch," which they had heard from their elders, without -being able to specify boundaries, or locations, or landmarks. And as -there was no other title or grant than this very uncertain information, -the judge of land [claims], Don Juan de Ozaeta, auditor of the royal -Audiencia, rejecting their claim for lack of authentic documents, -was unable to grant to that convent the ranch which it demanded. - -In the year 1713 the minister of that village was Father Juan -Echazabal, whose scrupulous conscience, added to his natural -disposition, made him so inexorable a guardian of the injunction to -hear mass that in this point he very seldom excused [an offender] -from penance. So active was his zeal that he spared neither labor nor -diligence to secure the attendance of the Indians at the holy sacrifice -of the mass, at the sermons, and at the other church functions; and -he cheerfully endured the inconvenience of waiting for them a long -time, in order that their natural slothfulness might not have this -excuse. His persistence secured considerable results, notwithstanding -that wild grapevines were not lacking even in the midst of so much -cultivation. But what assiduity does not the obstinate perversity of -men frustrate? An insolent Indian, Captain Pambila, at various times -provoked the forbearance of the minister by his shameless conduct; for, -purposely staying away from mass, and glorying in this wrong-doing, -he boasted among his friends that the father would not dare to rebuke -him. The minister endeavored by various means to bring him to reason, -but all his efforts proved unsuccessful; and the audacity of this -Indian kept continually increasing, continually launching him into -new transgressions on top of the old ones--and scandal arising, -because some persons were following in his footsteps and others -were inclined to do so. In order to check the evil consequences -of this, Father Echazabal gave information of the whole matter -to the governor, Conde de Lizarraga, who sent thither Captain Don -Lorenzo de Yturriaga with twelve soldiers. But Pambila was by this -time so bold that when they went to arrest him he went out to meet -them with his cutlass, and dealt a blow at the captain; the latter -parried the blow, and firing a pistol, killed the bold man. At this -occurrence the malcontents were greatly disquieted, and had recourse -to the vice-patron, asking that he remove Father Echazabal from that -ministry; and they even made the further demand that it be restored -to the Augustinian fathers. In order to push their claim, they revived -the old [one of the] "ranch"--this time in clearer language, for they -indicated locations and boundaries. But, as all these were arbitrary, -the measures [of distance] did not correspond [to the facts]; for -while it was one site for a ranch that they claimed, there were -three or four such sites that were included in the places that they -had arbitrarily marked out. Nevertheless, this claim was promoted, so -that the convent of San Agustin obtained a favorable decision from the -royal Audiencia. But Father Echazabal opposed this, together with the -greater part of the people of the village, as did also Father Agustin -Soler, procurator of the college of San Ignacio at Manila, on account -of the damage that would ensue to them respectively. The Audiencia, -having examined their arguments, reversed its decision--although, -through shame at so speedy a reversal, the auditors set down in the -decree that possession should be given to the convent of San Pablo -[of that] in which there was no dispute. This sentence on review ended -the controversy, and matters remained as they were before. To pacify -the Indians, the superiors removed Father Echazabal from that place, -and everything was quiet for the time--although after many years -the old [question of the] "ranch" was revived, with greater energy, -as we shall see in due time. Let us proceed to more pleasing matters. - -In the year 1705, Father Juan Echazabal began to promote, in -the village of San Matheo, the devotion to our Lady of Aranzazu; -and the devotion to and adoration of that Lady steadily increased, -with the encouragement of the Vizcayans, and especially of Don Juan -Antonio Cortes. This incited the minister to undertake the building -of a stone church, in order to provide a more suitable abode for -the blessed sacrament and for the sovereign Queen. Through the -persistence and energy of the father and the contributions of -the faithful, a beautiful, substantial, and spacious church was -completed, with its transept and handsome gilded reredos. The new -church was dedicated in the year 1716, the minister being Father -Juan Pedro Confalonier. There was a very large concourse of people, -and the devotees of the blessed Virgin of Aranzazu made extraordinary -demonstrations of joy and devotion in celebrating her feast; and great -was the satisfaction of those who with their contributions had aided -[to provide] the costly building and adorn it with ornaments and rich -furnishings of silver--especially the illustrious benefactor of that -church and village, General Don Juan Antonio Cortes. And the Society, -with the pleasure of dedicating to God and to His blessed mother this -new temple, forgot the great sorrows that they suffered at that time -from various defamatory libels, in which malignity repeated what had so -many times been condemned, and was anew condemned, as calumny--their -author being, most deservedly but impiously, his own executioner, -at seeing that the arrows discharged by audacity against the Society -were changed into crowns of triumph. - -[Fol. 358 b:] [Our author relates the history of the beaterio connected -with the Jesuit college at Manila. It began in 1684, with the decision -of a mestiza woman of Binondoc to live the religious life; her name -was Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, and she began under the direction -of Father Paul Clain. Her fame for piety and devout penances grew -apace, and attracted to her many Indian girls and mestiza women, -until they numbered thirty-three. For some time they lived in the -utmost poverty, which, with their severe penances and lack of sleep, -"made almost all of the beatas fall ill." Soon, however, charitable -offerings were made to them, enough to support them when added to -what they earned with their needles. Their spiritual directors are -Jesuits, whose church they attend, and who form them into a religious -community ("commonly known as 'the beatas of the Society'"), with -rules and employment prescribed for their living. At the time of -Murillo Velarde's writing (1749), "there are, besides the beatas, -some Spanish girls who are being trained there as their wards, and -are learning sewing and other accomplishments, besides a Christian -manner of life and the habit of attending the sacraments. There are now -fifty regular beatas, thirteen novices, thirty women (who are Indians) -who are kept under restraint, twenty Spanish girls under training, -and four negro women. Every year some Spanish women, and many Indian -and mestiza women, go into retreat there, in order to perform the -'spiritual exercises' of St. Ignatius, from which result much profit -to themselves and much benefit to their respective villages. What -has always aroused my admiration is, that although these women are so -many in number, and all Indians or mestizas, and ruled by themselves, -yet in more than sixty years they have not given any occasion for -gossip in the city; rather, they have given it the utmost edification -by their devotion, humility, application to labor, and assiduity -in the spiritual exercises." Mother Ignacia dies on September 10, -1748; our author pays an admiring tribute to her ability, virtues, -and piety--among other things, praising her because "she conquered, -with most unusual perseverance, three kinds of sloth which are very -arduous and difficult [to overcome]: that natural to the country, -that inborn in her sex, and that which is congenital to this nation -in its inmost being."] [32] - - - - - - - -CONDITION OF THE ISLANDS, 1701 - - Remonstrance addressed to the governor and captain-general [33] - of the Filipinas Islands, on October 7, 1701, by the provincials - of the religious orders, in regard to the wrongs and abuses that - are committed in the said islands. - - -The Christian desire so proper to our obligation of attending to the -preservation of the holy faith, in all the places and persons in which -by the goodness of our Lord it is found already established, and to -its propagation and extension in the persons and places (which are -many) that have not been reached by the light of the holy gospel; and -the strict religious observance of our profession, which at least for -charity's sake constrains and obliges us to endeavor by all means that -injustice and oppression shall not be suffered by any of the Indian -natives of these islands--the spiritual administration and instruction -of whom has been placed in our guidance and care by both Majesties, -the divine and the human, entrusting, to the zeal that we are under -obligation to exercise, not only the steadfastness in the faith and -the good morals of all the natives who have been already conquered and -brought back to the bosom of the holy Church, but also the promotion -of new reductions and conversions: these are the motives, truly lofty -ones, which impel us to set forth plainly to your Lordship the causes -(of the utmost importance and gravity, and everywhere at work) which -are producing lamentable effects in impairing the Christian native -population, inflicting on them violence and injustice, and almost -closing the door on that most desirable expectation of new conversions, -and of the general relief for so many poor vassals [of the Spanish -crown] who, as if they were fugitives from these islands, are engaged -in foreign provinces with grief and almost ruin to their souls, among -the infidelity of the heretics and the barbarous nations--whither are -going, as from their own countries, their wives and their children, -leaving only the memory of and pity for them. - -The objects of this memorial are two: first, the honor and glory -of our Lord, and the exaltation and increase of His holy faith; -and second, the hope that the Christian zeal of your Lordship will, -by all the proper means that will present themselves to your great -intellect, furnish effective control of evils so serious and so -general, and cause them to cease--so that the Christian faith and -justice may again flourish, the people who formerly possessed these -islands renew their abundance of population, and the increase of our -faith continue its progress, with the reduction of the infidels. With -especial reason [may we expect this], when the remedy for all the -evils which are stated in this memorial is [already] provided by the -Catholic and pious laws contained in the "Recopilacion de las Yndias;" -and if perchance they omit the medicine for some of the said evils, -that is likewise anticipated and provided by the decisions of the -Councils for Mexico and Lima, confirmed by the holy Apostolic See, -and inviolably observed in these islands. - -It is taken for granted, Sir, as a maxim which experience has shown -to be infallible in all America, that the means for the preservation -and extension of the Catholic faith are the same as were employed -for its first introduction, which was most prosperous because the -ardent zeal of the gospel ministers was united with the power and -arms of his Majesty (whom may God preserve), by which the progress -of the faith was assured. [On this ground] it is very evident that in -these regions it is not possible to improve, or even to preserve, the -peoples who are already conquered and reduced, because no attention -has been paid to maintaining the military posts, or building any new -fortifications; on the other hand, in some places and provinces even -the little forts that they possessed have been entirely removed, and -in others the number of officers and soldiers designated for their -defense from any hostile invasion has been diminished. The effect of -this retrenchment, and of not reestablishing the old military posts -with the number of soldiers that is judged necessary, and with the -military and food supplies which necessity and natural law prescribed -for a suitable defense, is the reason why great destruction and losses -from infidels and apostates are suffered and lamented. This has been -experienced in the provinces of Cagayan and Zambales, as it appears, -for the lack of the arms and defenses which in former times were -sufficient for the defense of the faithful converts, and for attacking -the hostile infidels--and even for chastising sometimes their wicked -acts, as the rigor of justice demands. Today the converted Indians and -other vassals of your Majesty are exposed to the dangers of fire and -death and captivity which have been experienced in these past years, -nor have our people had any other way [of escape] than to contract -for the payment of a certain amount of tribute every year to the -hostile Indians--an agreement in every way unbecoming and injurious -to the reputation and credit of his Majesty's arms, so entrusted -[to our Spaniards] by his royal self. There is this same lack of -arms and supplies in the provinces and military posts of Yloilo, -Cebu, Caraga, Calamianes, Yligan, and other forts; and from this the -only benefit that can result is the very small one that his Majesty -will save the expenses of reestablishing posts and paying soldiers, -and put a stop to another evil (likewise a small one), which is -the losses occasioned to the poor by the idleness and license of -the soldiers--but if this had to be attended to, there would be an -end to all the military posts and garrisons which are maintained for -the general welfare, the protection of the vassals, and the warfare -(offensive and defensive) which natural law permits. Moreover, it is -an obligation [and] characteristic of princes that they do not seek -or desire the trifling evil mentioned, and as little the advantage -of avoiding some expense--which cannot be done without violating that -same royal obligation, especially when hitherto in all these islands -there have been military posts and the necessary forces, not only in -the interior of the country but also on its coasts. - -From this grievous neglect it results that it is impossible for -us to carry out our desire for the new conversions and reductions -so earnestly charged by his Majesty; for if at present even our own -preservation is difficult, how can any new conquest be easy? or how can -it be right for our zeal to consider the acquisition of new Christian -communities while leaving those that are now in our charge exposed -to every invasion by the enemy and to total ruin? One thing that has -contributed greatly to this wretched state of affairs is, that the -expeditions for converting infidels and conquering apostates have -ceased which in other days were made by the orders of your Lordship's -predecessors, in accordance with the royal laws, after having consulted -the royal court of justice--in whose decisions the hopes that were -entertained of the great usefulness of those expeditions were not -mocked. It seems as if that experience would incline [the government] -to renew the said expeditions, which for some time have been neglected; -and in this very island there is so great a number of infidels, who -are confirmed in their very infidelity and iniquity because they know -that there is never any effort to subdue and conquer them, just as -if his Majesty (whom may God preserve) had not the right to do so. - -From these deficiencies grievous results have followed, in depopulating -the islands, which at present lack their former abundance of the -peoples and sources of wealth that are native to them. Confirmation -and proof of the truth of this statement is especially furnished by the -five provinces near to this city. As for those which are more remote, -it is known and is evident that all the coast of Tayabas, which extends -from Sariaya to the headland of Bondoc, was formerly very populous -and rich, but now it has hardly a village that can be called such; -there are [only] some groups of huts jumbled together, inhabited by -some Indians who are kept there by their desire of obtaining some -petty commodities of the country, such as wax, skins, and pitch. All -are destitute of churches and ministers; for their churches have -been destroyed at various times by pirates and Mindanaos, and no -attention has ever been paid to reestablishing those places anew as -military posts, and with the means of defense that were necessary in -order that the great number of people that were in that region might -be able to maintain themselves as Christians. It is also a fact that -there have been [other] very weighty causes for the depopulation of the -islands: the building [of ships] within these five provinces; and the -excessive and rigorous exactions in the collection of the tributes, -and the excessive polos [34] and personal services [required]. The -sad thing is, that all those who leave the islands are ordinarily -apostates from the faith, and live and die among heretics, Mahometans, -and other barbarous people; and no reparation has ever been made for -this great evil, nor has any obstacle been placed in the way of men -passing freely [from these islands] to foreign kingdoms, even those -who are well known to be married. - -The [requisitions for] the cutting of timber for the construction of -the galleons constitute an evil that is necessary and unavoidable, -since on these depends the entire preservation of these islands; -but this necessity is equaled by the destruction and the injuries -which that work has caused in these provinces, in the diminution of -their population and products. For this so oppressive and heavy yoke -has almost always been imposed upon the said five provinces without -extending it to others--to which, without doubt, the silver that his -Majesty expends in the said woodcutting would be of public advantage; -and at the same time the said provinces that are now burdened would -take breath and become prosperous with such a rest, an end to which it -greatly contributes that the shipbuilding yards are not limited to the -village of Cavite alone. With this easy distribution [of labors] in the -shipbuilding, the damages arising from the said woodcutting would no -longer be repeated in the same provinces, which, having been thickly -populated and abounding in produce, are now ruined and barren--their -inhabitants forsaking them for remote provinces, and for lands of -infidels and heretics, and sometimes retiring to the districts within -the mountains. The reason for this is that, although the building -[of a galleon] costs his Majesty the amount of 40,000 pesos for the -wages of the Indians, besides the poor of these provinces, [they] -carry among themselves a burden of more than 100,000 pesos--or even -more, because those who are designated for the repartimiento of the -woodcutting search for others who can take the place of each one; -and the cost of these substitutes usually reaches five or six pesos, -and sometimes ten. For the payment of this, the former pledge, or -sell, or enslave themselves; and from this cause result very serious -evils--thefts, withdrawing to the mountains to roam as vagrants, -and other crimes. Other burdens which the natives miserably suffer, -and which ordinarily fall on the poorest and most wretched, arise from -the fact that the alcalde-mayor who makes the apportionment of men adds -to it a greater number than is necessary, and those who are thus added -redeem themselves from this oppression by money; and then the [list -of the] repartimiento goes to the gobernadorcillo, in order that the -heads [of barangay] may summon for the woodcutting six or eight men, -even though only four may be necessary. The gobernadorcillo collects -in money that amount in excess, as a redemption from an imaginary -woodcutting, a proceeding which does not impair the number of those -assigned. Still more, after all the men go to the woodcutting, if any -are lacking the [native] overseer pays the superintendent of the work -at the rate of two reals a day for the failure of each man. To this -is added that the superintendent himself is wont to grant exemptions -of his own accord, with unjust benefit to some, to the great injury -of the main work, [the burden of] which falls on those who remain; -moreover, he usually establishes shops, and thus the fund which his -Majesty provides to aid these poor people by the purchase of some of -their commodities remains therein. His Majesty orders that the men -be called out and paid for one month; but many poor creatures do not -get away from the woodcutting in a month and a half, during which time -they are so overtaxed and harassed that they hardly have time to eat, -and of sleep they will have some three hours, as a result of their -labors on the account of his Majesty and outside his account. Such -is the sorrowful course of the experiences and the unjust acts which -they encounter in the woodcutting, [a labor] so carefully guarded -from these by his Majesty--whose royal and innate piety adorns his -crown with his clemency toward the poor, and with the justice of -the many laws which he has promulgated in their favor. In presenting -thus in general these transgressions of the laws, these crimes, and -these oppressions of the poor to your Lordship, as to their judge and -father, it is not our intention to blame all the head overseers of -the woodcutting; for some have been known who with Christian zeal, -the utmost assiduity, and entire disinterestedness have begun and -ended their terms of woodcutting with treating those poor people with -compassion and justice. - -In these provinces near Manila there are a great number of Indians -whose mode of life may appropriately be compared to that of the gypsies -in Espana; for they go from one village to another accompanied by -some women, and, without labor, they travel, eat, and are clothed; -while they prove to be the authors of many murders, robberies, rapes, -and other iniquitous deeds. Of the same sort are a great many of the -slaves from Manila, who have fled from their masters and go about in -bands through various districts; they ravage and destroy fields and -farms; they lord it in the houses of the poor Indians; and there is -hardly an evil deed that their rash boldness will not perform. - -The tribute of the half-annats which his Majesty commands to be paid -by the public offices which enjoy honor and salaries is a burden -on many provinces (and especially on that of Leite, in which these -half-annats, recently raked up [suscitadas] are collected)--although -it is a fact that the [native] governors of those provinces do -not receive salaries or desire such honor; rather, they shun it on -account of their poverty. From [the attempt at] constraining them the -following results ensue: first, they flee to the mountains; second, -those who do not flee are compelled to remain slaves, or else bind -themselves for their whole lives, in order to find means for paying -this half-annat, so grievous a tax and so against their wills. - -His Majesty has given orders to fortify and repair the village -of Cavite, because on it depends, in truth, the preservation and -guardianship of this city, the safety of the castle of San Felipe, -and that of many intrenchments and various houses, and of the -royal storehouses, which his Majesty possesses there. [Moreover,] -a large Christian community has gathered in that place; and there -are four churches, and three houses of religious orders, with a -considerable number of citizens. All these things strongly enforce -the necessity of executing the said royal decree of his Majesty, for -the preservation, promotion, and protection of all those religious -orders and vassals--although our opinion inclines to suppose that -there must have been reasons more important than these for suspending -the royal mandate of his Majesty; and if these do not exist it surely -seems that this state of affairs calls to your Lordship for amendment. - -The most holy and awful sacrifice of the mass depends on the pious and -punctual provision which his Majesty has made in having wine brought -here for the celebration of mass; and this wine, as for the rest, -cannot be sure. It seems that in recent years it has been required -[from Mexico by the officials of Filipinas] in so small quantities -that often not even the amount ordered by his Majesty is delivered; -from this it results that, as this deficiency cannot be made good, -there is a failure in saying many masses. Even in the oil for the lamps -that burn before the blessed sacrament there is a great deficiency [in -the supply], for two reasons: either because it is not delivered, or -because it is delivered in places very far away. These two matters are, -without doubt, worthy of your Lordship's most careful attention--from -whose Christian veneration for the blessed sacrament and well-known -piety our solicitude desires and expects an entire and complete remedy. - -It seems as if in most things the principal object of the -alcaldes-mayor in the provinces, and that in which they proceed with -most assiduity--excepting many who conduct themselves with entire -integrity--reduces itself to a rigorous and excessive collection -of the tributes; and their other aim is the utmost attention to -their own personal advantage. These two aims are most injurious and -prejudicial to the public welfare and to the poor people of the said -provinces--because, when there is no produce [with which to pay the -tributes] the alcaldes-mayor either compel the headmen to search -for it, and even to bind themselves to do this, or regularly make -the headmen responsible for amounts which they not only will not but -cannot collect. Another reason is, that the said headmen, with cruel -injustice, compel Indians to pay tribute before the age which his -Majesty commands and fixes, and this they do under the compulsion of -the alcaldes-mayor; likewise, the said headmen exact more than the -amount of their obligations for the conveyance of the tributes. In -the other aim of the said alcaldes-mayor (that is, their own private -advantage) is seen a monstrous hydra with many heads of injustice -and iniquity. One of these is their compelling the Indians to labor -in construction and other works which do not belong to his Majesty's -service, although even for those [for the crown] the royal law spares -and exempts them [from service] during the times when they sow and -harvest their crops. The alcaldes also appoint certain Indians who are -intimate with them, and who have influence among the other natives, -to whom the latter deliver the commodities which they carry to the -provinces; and these Indian agents, fixing the prices of goods at -their own pleasure, compel the said Indian chiefs to supply them, -either by sale or in exchange for other wares. From this results a -most flagrant inequality in the prices and the exchanges of goods; -and the loss in all these dealings always falls on the mass of the -poor people, because the alcalde-mayor and the said petty chiefs or -influential Indians always conclude their bargains with profit, and -never with loss. Some alcaldes-mayor have gone to such an extreme of -violence that, in case the said petty chiefs are unable to dispose -of the goods which are thus committed to them, the alcalde compels -them to assume the obligation, and to bind themselves to take the -goods. Thus some of the Indians are constantly bringing upon others -irreparable consequences and losses that are worthy of redress--all -springing from the first injustice of compelling those to buy who -neither possess nor can take charge of such commodities. - -The assessment for each tribute is regulated at ten reals, and it -includes two tribute-payers, the husband and wife; nevertheless, -the Indians who have no fixed abode are burdened with the requirement -that each individual taxed shall pay an entire tribute of ten reals -each--although it is believed that this increase was imposed as a -penalty, and in order that certain people might be reduced to villages -and barangays; for it is evident, from the method of [planning] the -tribute, that the imposition or the increase of the tributes is one -of the peculiar and exclusive prerogatives of the supreme sovereignty -belonging to his Majesty. These injuries, Sir, and these oppressions -which extend through all the provinces, to the destruction of the -poor, are certainly worthy of action [on your part], and constitute -a legitimate obligation on your vigilance, and on the high office -which his Majesty entrusted to your Lordship. - -Probably it has contributed much to these pernicious results and this -neglect of sacred things that in these recent years the principal -aim and object of the supreme government of these islands, as well -as of the alcaldes-mayor, has been only the increase of the royal -revenue--actually reversing the royal orders, which decree that the -first attention must be paid to religion, and to the ecclesiastics -and their affairs and maintenance; and after that to the civil -government and justice. But, contrary to these orders, it appears -that in everything the first place has been attained by the [affairs -of] the royal treasury, which ought to engage the later solicitudes -[of the royal ministers]--and then without that excessive severity -[of administration] which has been experienced in recent years, -[and which has aroused our] pity and compassion. - -In most of the provinces of these islands the gobernadorcillos are -obliged, as are their [subordinate] officials, to accept, without -their own choice, appointments to office; and as the cause of their -shunning such appointments is the great expense of the year during -which they serve, they suffer on this account great injuries in the -provinces near Manila. It arouses pity in the hardest hearts to see -and know by experience that nearly all the headmen enter office under -compulsion from the alcalde-mayor, and, finding themselves perplexed -to the utmost by the difficulties in rendering their accounts -satisfactorily--either by the duplicate names on the registration -lists, or the absences (which usually are many), or by the deaths -[of those registered]--on account of the great poverty that is general -in the villages these deficiencies fall back on the headmen, who are -compelled to pay them or be imprisoned. This measure of imprisonment -is carried out with so great rigor that many headmen are in prison, -without any hope that they will be able to pay; and there are even -cases in which the headmen have been imprisoned for many years for -their indebtedness to the tributes in their charge, and, dying in -prison, their burial was delayed for several days in order that their -relatives might be able to find security for the dead man's tribute -and debt. From this your Lordship can infer the excessive severity with -which the officials proceed in the collections of the royal tributes; -but in this no kind of severity can be proper, nor can it be decreed -by the royal and liberal purpose of his Majesty. - -The works and preparations for the equipment [of ships] which are made -on his Majesty's account often make necessary various repartimientos -and bandalas for the supplies of oil and rice, and other products, -which the provinces furnish; and it is the continual and well-founded -complaint from all of them that the amount paid for the said -products is not according to their just price and value, but much -less, from which follow the most serious wrongs to the poor. Of this -precedent many of the alcaldes-mayor avail themselves for [their own] -advancement, to judge by their unrighteous profits, with lamentable -injury to the poor, which is general and well known in the provinces. - -The royal decree of his Majesty provides that, for just and -Christian reasons, Moors, Armenians, and other barbarous peoples -may not remain in these islands as inhabitants and citizens; but -for the last few years several ships from the Coast [i.e., India] -have spent the winter here, and in consequence many Moors, Armenians, -and other barbarians have settled without the walls of Manila, and -in various provinces. These people have enjoyed (as they still do) -free intercourse and trade with every class of people, and are causing -notable injury to the spiritual welfare of the Indians--lording it over -them, and setting a bad example in morals to all of them. Accordingly -our affection and obligation [to the service of God] desire the -exercise of your Lordship's justice and Christian procedure, that this -injury, so universal and so opposed to the Christian and praiseworthy -usages which they ought [to follow], and which our missionaries are -endeavoring to introduce among all the natives, may entirely cease. - -On account of the great facility (not experienced before) which there -has been in cashiering soldiers, these evil consequences for the -villages have resulted, with various unjust acts--according to what -idleness, poverty, and many temptations have offered to many poor men -who came here only to serve his Majesty in the employment of soldiers. - -From the introduction of the vice of gambling are following the -injurious results and the offenses against God which the holy -fathers [of the Church] decry, and which experience places before -our own eyes, in the shape of much cursing, poverty, abandonment -of the wives and children of the gamblers, and the sinful waste -of much time--in which occur quarrels, frauds, and other wicked -acts appropriate to gambling and connected with it. Besides this, -some of the alcaldes-mayor--who ought to be on the watch to prevent -these things, according to the orders which they have from the supreme -government of your Lordship--are the very ones who secretly give full -license and permission for gambling games, in consideration of the -money which they receive every month for the said license. As a result, -the villages and their grain-fields are inundated with gambling games -(of cards, dice, and cocks, and many other kinds), with the aforesaid -effects--all against the will of God our Lord and of his Majesty, -which is always impeded and seldom executed by the alcaldes-mayor. - -The experience of many years with the Chinese nation has made it very -evident that it was necessary to prohibit to the Sangleys, especially -the infidels, trade and intercourse with the villages and provinces -of Indians, and keep them out of Indian houses and grain-fields, and -thus it is provided and ordained; but unfortunately this prohibition -is neither obeyed nor respected. It is, however, a fact that only when -they are married, and compelled to make their abode in the chief town -[of the province], where the alcalde-mayor resides, or when they are -settled in a certain Parian, does his Majesty permit them to reside -among the Indians--who from communication with the Sangleys obtain -only superstitions, frauds, and the loss of the habits of morality -in which we are trying to instruct them. The administration of the -Christian Sangleys is in charge of the two holy religious orders of -St. Dominic and the Society of Jesus; and as these people are for the -most part the poorest [of the Sangleys], we do not consider it foreign -to our obligation to attend to them, in such manner as is possible -and right. It is only just to direct your Lordship's attention to -a custom introduced within the last few years, which is that the -tribute that they pay for licenses [to remain in the country] has -been increased--although it appears that the laws favor the Christian -Sangleys, providing that their tribute shall be only ten reals; but at -present they are paying the same amounts of tribute as do the infidel -and heathen Sangleys. Your Lordship, with your clear judgment and ready -comprehension, will be pleased to consider whether it is in accordance -with the lofty purposes which his Majesty has for propagating the -faith, and for lightening the burdens of those who are converted to -it--in which his Catholic piety has so earnestly striven--that the said -tributes should be extended and increased among the Christians; and -whether they do not deserve to be relieved from so grievous a burden. - -So great is the sorrow of our hearts at seeing and realizing how -easily and quickly the Indians who are apostates from our holy faith -retreat to the mountains, and the obstinacy which the infidels show -in not coming out of them, that we cannot neglect to remind your -Lordship a second time of the urgent necessity that expeditions into -the mountains [by our troops] be continued, like those that were -made in former times with success and useful results. We entreat -and charge your Lordship that to this remedy which has been already -tried on other occasions the piety of your Lordship will be pleased -to add [another,] that of prohibiting to the Indians who are already -Christians intercourse and trade with the infidels; for the regular -result of this is, that the said infidels withdraw more and more from -the mild authority of our holy religion. That religion is considered, -by the said Christians, as intolerable, although it is not such, -whether in itself, in its effects, or in the obligations which they -assume by becoming Christians--which, in the feeble light of their -understanding, is the same as being reduced only to subjection to -the ecclesiastical minister, the alcalde-mayor, and the burdens of -tributes and repartimientos. - -Finally, Sir, our lofty desire for the general welfare of so -many provinces, and the pleasure which we shall all feel in the -prosperity and success of your Lordship--which, as [that of] the -first and principal head [of this colony], must overflow in all -its parts and subjects--impel us to point out to your Lordship how -worthy of all assistance and effort in your Christian government is -the pitiable condition to which the Christian villages are reduced, -now one of poverty and barrenness, even of the native products. And -those villages to which, it would seem, their age (which now is more -than a century) must furnish greater abundance of produce and wealth -rightfully their own, are in the same condition and the same poverty -as are the villages that are more recent and less encouraged by the -ecclesiastical ministers and the civil officials of these islands; -and they can never enjoy any improvement, spiritual or temporal. The -remedy for this--which ought to be effective, prompt, and steadily -continued--in our humble opinion, is made up of various measures: -some for the amelioration and redress of all the evils and difficulties -already related to your Lordship, whose peremptory and executive orders -must render them effectual; and others which, it seems to us, ought -to be charged upon the alcaldes-mayor, and upon the proper ministers -who are closest to the Indians themselves (who are the ecclesiastics), -in order that they may by every means arouse and animate the slothful -natures of the Indians, by instructing them in industries that will be -useful to themselves, and in application to an [object of] desire that -is honorable and advantageous to the public or to individuals of all -the villages. This depends on and consists in not allowing that very -abundance and fertility which our Lord has given to these islands to -be destroyed with waste and negligence; for it is evident that the -enormous sum of silver which necessity, against the royal orders, -transfers to foreign kingdoms ruled by infidels and heretics, could -remain in the islands themselves, and be converted into property, -profit, and the acquisition of wealth for many poor persons. For -there are found in these islands, as is well known, abundance of -gold, amber, tortoise-shell, various cotton fabrics, wax, and many -other native products, even omitting those that concern the sowing -of the fields. If these were multiplied in both amount and kinds, -it cannot be doubted that they would contribute to the villages, -with considerable abundance, wealth and products; and that all the -beneficial effects which can be desired would result, in favor of his -Majesty and of the public welfare. The chief of these are: first, that -all the painful burdens, unavoidable and necessary, which the natives -have to bear, and which they lament, would become more easy and light -for them, and that they would live a more social and civilized life; -second, that their affection, loyalty, and obedience to his Majesty -and to your Lordship in his name, as the authors of their prosperity, -repose, and advantage, would be enormously increased. Third, all the -Christian Indians would be more steadfast and rooted in the holy faith, -and would become effective and most suitable instruments for [gaining] -new conversions of infidels [and] apostates, the infidels themselves -beholding the abundant wealth and profit, and other benefits, of the -Christian Indians; for it is the temporal welfare evident to their -senses which, as experience teaches us, strongly influences both -classes of Indians, to be converted or to maintain themselves in the -Christian faith. This same object will be greatly aided by inducing the -Indians to settle and form villages; for, in the mode of life in which -they now are found, in most of the provinces and villages in which the -minister who instructs them is stationed and resides a certain number -are destitute of houses, and all the rest of the people live so far -away and so scattered that many are obliged to travel three or four -leguas in order to be present on a festival day at the church--from -which remoteness it also follows that, without any fault of the said -ministers, many persons die without receiving the holy sacraments. - -Such, Sir, are the evils, and such are the remedies which our -consciences, our charity, and our zeal have dictated to us as being -most worthy of gaining the attention of your Lordship--at whose feet, -through the means of these lines, so many poor Indians approach to -prostrate themselves. Neophytes, and bereft of all human protection, -they have recourse to your Lordship, not only as to their governor and -judge, but also as to a kind father--in whose term of office they hope -that peace and justice will again flourish; and that the rights of the -poor, and redress for their oppressions, will often obtain a hearing -from your Lordship. This, it appears, has not been the case in other -times, certainly at the cost of many tears, which were little heeded -and never dried by the sovereignty and power that ought to do so. In -their name, and only for the objects pointed out at the beginning of -this memorial, and that by it we may unburden our own consciences, -we are under obligation, at least according to charity, to solicit -for them aid and justice. - -We humbly entreat that your Lordship will be pleased, in regard to -these points, to carry out what his Majesty ordains, and to take such -measures as your Lordship may deem most suitable for prompt execution, -most easy to be obeyed, and most conformable to the royal will; and we -expect that what your Lordship shall judge to be most expedient will be -in every way the best, since his Majesty has entrusted to your care, -zeal, generous nature, and nobility the supreme government of these -islands. Manila, October 7, in the year 1701. - - -Fray Jose Vila, provincial of the province of Santissimo Rosario. - -Fray Francisco de Santa Ynes, provincial of St. Francis. - -Fray Jose Lopez, provincial of the Augustinians. - -Luis de Morales, provincial of the Society of Jesus. - -Fray Bartolome de la Santissima Trinidad, provincial of the discalced -Recollects of St. Augustine. - - - - - - - -EVENTS OF 1701-1715 - - -[The following summary is made from Concepcion's Historia de -Philipinas, viii, pp. 299-391:] - -[Don Fausto Cruzat y Gongora is succeeded, after eleven years as -governor, by Don Domingo de Zabalburu y Echeverri, a knight of -the Order of Santiago; he was appointed in 1694, but does not take -possession until September 8, 1701. Finding considerable money in the -royal treasury, he employs it on important public works. He constructs -wharves at Cavite, completes the royal storehouses, and rebuilds the -powder-factory lower down from Malate, with suitable fortifications -for its defense; and he pays careful attention to the construction of -galleons for the Acapulco trade-route. A quarrel arising between the -petty kings of Mindanao and Jolo, the former (named Curay) is slain, -and his successor asks Governor Zabalburu for aid against the Joloans, -which the governor prudently declines to furnish. In the year 1705 -the Manila galleon "San Xavier" departs from Acapulco, and is never -heard from, being lost with all it contains, to the great sorrow and -loss of the citizens of Manila. One of the auditors goes (1702) as -official visitor to the province of Camarines, [35] and disturbs its -affairs with his "scandalous proceedings," especially his accusations -against the Franciscan friars who are in charge of the Indian villages -there. In consequence, they hasten to Manila to secure the aid of the -courts there, leaving their charges without spiritual ministrations; -the Franciscan provincial is therefore despatched to that province -with orders to station ministers therein. Those missions had previously -been for forty-five years in the hands of the Recollects.] - -[In September, 1704, arrives at Manila the papal legate Carlos -Thomas Tournon, on his way to China for the settlement of various -ecclesiastical difficulties there; he treats the governor and other -officials [36] with arrogance, refusing to exhibit his credentials, -and exercises ecclesiastical jurisdiction to such an extent that -he antagonizes the religious orders and infringes on the royal -prerogatives. These proceedings are tolerated by both governor -and archbishop, although manifestly improper and objectionable; -but when they are reported at Madrid the king is greatly displeased, -and decrees that the governor be removed from office, and disqualified -for holding it, and those of the auditors who assented to his acts be -punished. Archbishop Camacho also incurs the displeasure of the king, -which is increased by his having meddled with the affairs of the -royal seminary of San Phelipe, and used at his own pleasure certain -ecclesiastical revenues properly in charge of the secular government; -and the governor fails to check him, and even to notify the home -government of these unwarranted proceedings, which are reported at -Madrid by ecclesiastical channels. Camacho is accordingly removed -from his see, and transferred to the bishopric of Guadalaxara in -Mexico. [37] (He is regarded by Concepcion as a very zealous and -charitable prelate; he collected from various sources more than -40,000 pesos, which he spent in the adornment and improvement of the -cathedral church at Manila, and for this and other pious purposes he -incurred debts amounting to over 20,000 pesos more. He promoted the -missions of Paynaan and San Isidro, going in person to persuade the -Aetas (or Negritos) to be converted.) Zabalburu, having undergone -his residencia, leaves Manila in the year 1710, and, after having -suffered shipwreck in the Bahama Channel, reaches Spain, where he dies -after a few years. In 1707 the Acapulco galleon "Rosario" arrives, -"with so much silver that it made that fair [at Acapulco] famous;" -it also brings a new archbishop, Fray Francisco de la Cuesta, -"a professed religious in the distinguished monastic order of San -Geronimo," who wins golden opinions from all. [38] Before long, -however, the old question of the right of episcopal visitation of -the regular curas again arises; Cuesta tries to enforce this right, -but with little result. [39] A full account of this is given by -Concepcion, with the arguments adduced therein.] - -[In 1709 the new governor arrives, Conde de Lizarraga (appointed in -1704); he is equitable, upright, and of affable manners. He finds an -undesirable surplus of Chinamen in the islands, and sends back many -of them to their own country, although many others buy permission to -remain in Luzon. [40] During his term occurs the controversy between -some of the friar orders and the bishop of Nueva Segovia, Fray Diego -de Gorospe y Irala (himself a Dominican), over the claim of the latter -to include the regulars in his official visitations. The matter is -carried to the Audiencia, the decision of which is unfavorable to the -bishop; he dies soon afterward (early in 1714?), after having occupied -his see nine years. Little else appears to mark the official term of -Lizarraga, who dies in 1715.] - - - - - - - -THE GOVERNMENT AND DEATH OF BUSTAMANTE - - -[A brief summary of the events antecedent to and connected with the -government of Bustamante is here presented, obtained from the very -detailed and prolix account in Concepcion's Historia de Philipinas, -ix, pp. 183-424.] - -[The Conde de Lizarraga, who began to govern the islands in August, -1709, dies at Manila on February 4, 1715; and the vacancy in his -office is, as usual, temporarily filled by the Audiencia, Auditor Jose -Torralba assuming charge of military affairs. In the Tournon affair -of 1704, the senior auditor, Jose Antonio Pabon, had not resisted -Tournon's unwarranted assumption of authority, and had therefore -inclined the displeasure of the home government, being deprived -of his office and fined. He thereupon petitioned for a reversal of -this sentence, and restitution to his office and salary, which was -granted by a royal decree of April 15, 1713; this document arrives -at Manila during Torralba's rule, who declines, on various pretexts, -to reinstate Pabon, and even attempts to obtain evidence damaging to -his official character. Pabon therefore is obliged to take refuge -in the Augustinian convent at Manila, and remains there until the -arrival of Bustamante; the latter brings suit against Torralba to -compel him to obey the royal decree in favor of Pabon, and to pay all -moneys due to the auditor. Torralba had also instituted proceedings -against another auditor, Gregorio Manuel de Villa, and two officers, -Santos Perez Tagle and Luis Antonio de Tagle, on the charge of their -having aided and abetted the Castilian Recollect religious in their -revolt against their superiors in the order. (After the dissensions -between the religious orders and Archbishop Camacho, resulting from -his attempt to enforce episcopal visitation of the regular curas, -the despatch of missionaries to the islands is greatly diminished, -partly on account of those dissensions, partly because the "seas are -infested with English and Dutch squadrons." All the orders therefore -suffer from a scarcity of laborers; but the Recollects are fortunately -reenforced by a mission band, conducted by Fray Joseph de Santa -Gertrudis, of fifty-seven religious, "among them the flower of the -province of Castilla." Later, in the distribution of the ministries and -offices of the order in the islands, strife arises; the older members -of the province--mostly from Aragon, with some from Valencia and -Cataluna--secure all the best offices, as against the Castilians. When -the provincial chapter meets, the latter present their claims, but -are rebuffed; thereupon they convene a chapter of their own, in the -convent at Bagumbayan, and elect a provincial and other officers. This -throws all the business of the order into confusion, and Governor -Lizarraga persuades the two parties to refer the controversy to the -head of the order in Europe and to abide by his decision, which finally -recognizes as legal the chapter held at Manila. Various difficulties -arise in attempting to enforce this decision, but Lizarraga, who -favors the Castilians, induces the provincial to leave them with -their students at Bagumbayan. After the governor's death, Torralba -aids the provincial by sending troops and bombarding that convent, -to bring back the recalcitrants to Manila.) Torralba, having arrested -Villa and the Tagles, keeps them in rigorous confinement, and hinders -their appeal to the Council of the Indias; both sides send to Madrid -statements of their respective claims. By royal decrees of August 18, -1718, all of Torralba's proceedings against them, as well as against -Auditor Pabon, are declared null and void, and they are restored to -their respective offices. Bustamante assumes the governorship on August -9, 1717; his first proceeding is to investigate the condition of the -royal treasury, which he finds in bad condition, with large sums due -to it and unpaid by the citizens. He takes severe measures to compel -the payment of these debts to the government--among them, laying -an embargo on the cargo of the galleon which comes this year from -Acapulco, in which large amounts of goods and money have been brought -illegally, to avoid payment of duties. A complete investigation of the -ownership and registration of this wealth is ordered, the governor -placing it in the charge of Andres Fernandez de Arquiju and Esteban -Hizguino. As a consequence of the governor's energetic measures, -within the first six months of his government the sum of 220,671 -pesos is placed in the royal treasury, besides the situado for that -year, which amounts to 74,482 pesos; and the balance of accounts on -February 1, 1718, shows that the treasury actually contains 293,444 -pesos, besides jewels and other valuables deposited for debts to the -crown. Concepcion gives the principal items of revenue and expense -at that time. An embargo is also laid on the silver which comes in -the galleon of 1718, but little advantage therefrom results to the -treasury. This financial investigation also shows that Torralba, -during his government, and the royal officials had mismanaged the -royal revenues, shown great carelessness in the bookkeeping, accounts, -and allowed funds to disappear without any satisfactory accounting; -Bustamante therefore imprisons them all, and seizes their goods.] - -[At various times the Christian natives of the island of Paragua -ask the Manila government, through the Recollect missionaries in -whose care they are, for a Spanish fort and garrison in their island -to protect them from the Moro pirates; but no action is taken on -this until 1718, when Bustamante orders a fort to be built at Labo, -near the southern point of the island. [41] The Recollect province -contributes to this enterprise 500 pesos, which are due to it from -the royal treasury. About the same time the fortress at Zamboanga is -also rebuilt, Bustamante insisting upon this work, against the advice -of many of his counselors. He sends an embassy to Siam, to establish -with that king friendly and commercial relations; the Spaniards are -received with great pomp and lavish entertainment, and rich presents -are exchanged in behalf of the respective monarchs of Spain and Siam; -and land is granted to the Spaniards on the bank of the Chow Payah -(or Meinam) River, for the erection of a trading factory. "It is -the place that formerly was called Campo Japon, and is named Nuestra -Senora de el Soto ["Our Lady of the Grove"]; it is sixty-four brazas -square, on the east side of the river, and distant from it a hundred -brazas." It is also a convenient place at which to make arrangements -for the building of ships, and the Siamese will supply them with -lumber (including teak wood) and iron for this construction. The -Spaniards return to Manila in August, preceded by a Siamese embassy; -but Bustamante is so preoccupied with other matters that he pays no -attention to the strangers, and they are even badly treated. They -return to Siam angry and resentful, and desire no further dealings -with the Spaniards.] - -[In 1719 the royal Audiencia is broken up by the lack of auditors: -Torralba being imprisoned in Fort Santiago, two others--Julian de -Velasco and Francisco Fernandez Toribio--being held in confinement, and -Pabon being not yet reinstated in office. "Only Don Gregorio Manuel de -Villa was in possession [of the auditor's functions], through the death -of the fiscal, Don Antonio de Casas y Albarado; but as Senor Villa -did not agree with the harsh and violent opinions of the governor, -he retired to the convent of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, distant two -leguas from the city." At this time Bustamante is told that a general -conspiracy is being formed against him, "of all the citizens, and all -the religious orders, and the clergy, influential persons being pointed -out who were allying themselves with the Sangleys, who were to commit -the parricide." Thereupon, Torralba begins to hope for release, and -Bustamante talks over the situation with him, asking his advice. The -result is, that the governor transfers Torralba to the government -buildings, nominally as a prisoner, but rehabilitates him as auditor; -with Doctor Jose Correa as associate judge, and Agustin Guerrero as -fiscal; and they contrive various measures against their enemies. Many -persons are arrested by this quasi government, and many others through -fear take refuge in the churches. Among the latter is a notary-public, -Don Antonio de Osejo y Vazquez, who carries his official records to -the cathedral, and refuses to surrender them. A decree is therefore -issued by the temporary Audiencia requiring the archbishop to see -that the records are given up and returned to the proper place; he -promises to obey, but delays doing so; upon being ordered a second -time to attend to the matter, he answers by presenting the opinions -of the two universities, which the prelate has consulted in this -emergency, and which support him in declining to allow the right of -sanctuary to be infringed, and in regarding the so-called Audiencia as -illegally constituted. The governor issues a proclamation ordering all -able-bodied male citizens to present themselves, armed, in the palace -when a certain signal shall be given. The archbishop excommunicates -Torralba for his proceedings against the ecclesiastical immunity; he -sends notification of this punishment by Canon Don Manuel de Ossio -and Doctor Fuentes, who force their way into Torralba's apartment, -late in the evening of October 10, and force him to listen to the -reading of the censure; but he contrives to get hold of a sword, -and drives them out of the room. The next morning the governor -calls the citizens to arms, and causes the arrest (in virtue of -decrees made by his Audiencia in the night) of the archbishop, -his messengers to Torralba, the superiors of the religious orders, -and many other ecclesiastics. At this, a tumult arises among the -people; an interdict is laid on the city; and a conspiracy is formed -against the governor. "The religious of St. Francis, St. Dominic, and -St. Augustine (both calced and discalced) came out from their convents, -each as a body, carrying in their hands crucifixes and shouting, -'Long live [Viva] the Faith! long live the Church! long live our -king Don Phelipe V!' Perhaps also resounded such utterances as in -these cases are peculiar to the common people and to a tumultuous -populace. These religious were joined by those who had taken refuge -in the churches, and by a great number of people of all classes, and -they went in this array to [the church of] San Agustin. Those who had -taken refuge there, who were among the most distinguished citizens, -filled with fear lest they should be taken from their asylum and put -to death, joined the crowd, and promoted the sedition, all providing -themselves with arms. A page of the governor, hearing the confusion -and yells, entered his master's apartment, and in alarm gave him the -news that various religious were coming toward the palace, conducting -a mission. The governor, greatly disturbed, sprang up, and ordered the -guards to keep back the crowd; he went to a window, and heard that from -the corner of the cathedral tower thirty men were asked for to check -the people, who were marching through that street. He despatched an -order to the fort to discharge the artillery at the crowd; but he was -so little obeyed that, although they applied the match to two cannons, -these were aimed so low that the balls were buried in the middle of -the esplanade of the fort. Without opposition this multitude arrived -at the doors of the palace, the Jesuits following at a short distance, -with many of the common people and many boys, the entire crowd, with -deafening yells, repeating the vivas of the religious. As for the -soldiers of the guard, some retreated in fear, and others in terror -laid down their arms. The mob climbed up by ladders, and entered the -first hall, the halberdiers not firing the swivel-guns that had been -provided, although the governor commanded them to do so; he now went -forward to meet them, with a gun, its bayonet fixed, and gave confused -orders to his retainers to seize the weapons which by his order had -been taken from them. One of the religious presented himself to the -governor, and tried to set forth to him the misfortunes into which -he was rushing headlong; but at the first words that he uttered, the -governor, already furious, said to him, 'Go away, Father!' He attempted -to discharge his gun at a citizen standing near, and it missed fire; -then the governor drew his sabre and wounded the citizen; the latter, -and with him all the rest at once, attacked the governor. They broke -his right arm, and a blow on his head from a sabre caused him to fall -like one dead. His son the sargento-mayor, who was in command at the -fort, seeing the great throng of people who were entering the palace, -mounted his horse to go to his father's aid. Entering the guard-room, -sabre in hand, he wounded several persons; but as he was not sufficient -for so many, he was attacked by them and fell from his horse in a dying -condition, and they left him there. Some life still remained in the -governor, but he gave no sign of it; and, supposing that he was dead, -the people occupied themselves with imprisoning some and releasing -others." Concepcion mentions the ministrations of the Jesuit Otazo -(whose account of the affair follows this), to Bustamante, and states -that the dying man suffered many indignities at the hands of the -mob; they even dragged him along, in a hammock, to thrust him into -a dungeon, and while doing so a slave stabbed Bustamante twice near -the heart. Finally they leave him stretched on a couch in the chapel -of the royal prison, and without any medical care; the dean of the -cathedral (who has just been freed from Bustamante's prison) summons a -surgeon to attend the dying governor and his son, but he is destitute -of bandages and other appliances, and when he returns with these the -governor is dead. [42] Concepcion describes this episode indignantly, -as "an abominable crime," which was discredited by the upright and -honorable citizens, and relates the excesses committed by the mob, -who broke open the prisons, and set free the worst criminals. At the -beginning, they had liberated the imprisoned ecclesiastics; and now -they insist that the archbishop, Fray Francisco de la Cuesta, shall -act as governor ad interim. With great reluctance, and yielding only -to the clamors of the people, the need that some one who can quiet -them shall assume authority in this disturbed condition of affairs, -and the advice of the leading ecclesiastics in all the orders, Cuesta -accepts this charge, and takes the usual oath of office as governor -until the king shall make another appointment. He forms an audiencia -with the legal auditors still remaining--Velasco, Toribio, and Villa; -and they together organize the temporary government, Pabon also being -reinstated, later. A public funeral is given to the two Bustamantes, -for which a thousand pesos are taken from the goods of the deceased, -the other four thousand being allowed by the royal officials for -the maintenance and the passage to Mexico of the governor's six -remaining children (their mother having died soon after reaching the -islands--according to Torralba, through Bustamante's neglect of her -in a serious illness); the funeral is so ostentatious that in it are -consumed seven and a half quintals (or hundredweights) of wax.] - -[The archbishop [43] sets on foot an investigation into the riot and -the murder of the governor and his son; the substance of many of the -depositions made in this matter is related by our author, but little -information of value is obtained from them; no one will admit that -he knows who dealt the fatal blows. Torralba [44] testifies against -the governor, condemning his fierce disposition, tyrannical acts, -and "diabolical craftiness." According to this witness, Bustamante -was carried away by greed, and appropriated to himself the goods -of many persons whom he imprisoned; resentment at this was general -throughout the islands, [45] and caused a revolt in Cagayan, from -which resulted another in Pangasinan, in which the alcalde-mayor, -Antonio de el Valle, and other persons were killed. The auditors -propose to investigate also the persons who had taken refuge in the -convent of San Agustin, and afterward joined the mob; but they are -advised by Doctor Ossio that this proceeding will too greatly disturb -the community; that to proceed against these persons will be to cast -odium on and grieve nearly all the citizens, since the commotion -was so general; that all those who went out on that occasion did so -"in defense of the ecclesiastical immunity, the preservation of this -city, the self-defense of its inhabitants, and the reputation of the -[Spanish] nation;" and that to carry out this plan would be likely to -cause some disturbance of the public peace. The officials accordingly -suspend the execution of the decrees that they had issued, and send -to the Madrid government a report of all their proceedings in the -matter, with copies of all the documents. In Mexico, however, the -affair is viewed differently. The guardian of Bustamante's children, -Balthasar de Castaneda Vizente de Alhambra, brings criminal suit -before the viceroy, Marques de Valero, against four of the citizens -of Manila for the murder of the Bustamantes. Two of these men--Juan -Fausto Gaicoechea y Gainza, and Diego de Salazar--are consequently -arrested at Acapulco (March, 1721) and imprisoned, their goods being -seized. The inquiry at Acapulco is equally fruitless, but Castaneda -presses it before the viceroy, making definite accusations regarding -the murder, and claiming that the authorities at Manila have slurred -over the investigation of the murders, through undue influence of -interested parties, and have made only enough effort to find the -culprits to preserve their own reputation at Madrid; and he brings -forward various evidence in support of his claims. The viceroy -finally refers the case to the new governor of Filipinas, Marques -de Torre Campo, sending to him the accused persons, and Gregorio de -Bustamante, nephew of the late governor. In January, 1720, the fort -at Labo in the island of Paragua is abandoned, notwithstanding the -entreaties of the Recollect missionaries there that it be maintained -and reenforced--a measure for which Concepcion accounts by the hatred -felt toward Bustamante, who had established that post; and by the -readiness of the Manila government to keep up the fort of Zamboanga, -under the pressure exercised by the Jesuits, whose "astute policy" -secured votes for that action, desired by them for the protection -of their missions in Mindanao--an influence which the Recollects -lacked. As soon as Labo is abandoned, the Moro pirates begin their -raids on the northern islands, even going to the vicinity of Manila; -and they undertake to form a general conspiracy against the Spanish -power in the archipelago. The kings of Jolo and Mindanao, however, -profess to decline to enter this, finding their interest in an alliance -with the Spaniards. On December 8, 1720, an attack is made by Moros -against the fort at Zamboanga, but it is repulsed; those from Jolo -and Mindanao then come, professing friendship, but treacherously -turn against the Spaniards and attack the fort; after a two months' -siege, they are finally driven away, with considerable loss. [46] -The Moros afterward ravage the Calamianes and other islands, carrying -away many captives, and killing a Recollect missionary, Fray Manuel -de Jesus Maria.] - - - - -Letter from Diego de Otazo, S.J. - -I will not omit sending a relation to Madrid, on this occasion when -letters are sent from Manila to that court, of the tumultuous changes -[here], of which your Reverence probably knows--if perchance (even -though my influence be little and my authority less) my letter, when -communicated to the father confessors of his Majesty and Highness, -may contribute to the greater glory of God, and the welfare of these -islands and of the souls who are converted in them, and those who may -yet be converted when this community is established in tranquillity -and order; it is this alone which I regard as the only object for -which I can and ought to strive, since this alone has brought me to -these islands. - -Father Procurator: Don Fernando Bustillos y Bustamante (whom may -God have forgiven) began his government of these islands with so -much violence that, as he carried it to the extreme, this very thing -deprived him of life. Blinded by the two mighty passions, greed and -pride, and exercising the absolute power that the government of these -islands confers on him, and taking advantage of the great distance from -his sovereign master, [the result was that] all the citizens had to -follow him and comply with his purposes, which were directed to his -own interests, and measured only by his own desires. The dungeons -of the jails and castles came to be filled with those persons who -opposed or might oppose him; and the churches and convents were full -of those who had sought refuge there, dreading lest they too might -be imprisoned. The few Spaniards (and they were very few) who were -outside went about--let us say, by way of explanation--with one foot -on the street and the other in the church; and with the fear that if -they lay down at night in their homes they would awake in a dungeon. - -The archbishop, impelled by his conscience, undertook to employ -some means--advising the governor like a father, and with the utmost -possible circumspection, and after having consulted others--to see -if he could check what was already dreaded; but, when he gave the -governor his first paternal warning, the latter had become entirely -blind, and determined to expel from Manila his illustrious Lordship, -the superiors and professors in the religious orders, and the secular -priests in the cathedral who had high positions and learning. - -This fatal controversy began to find expression on the ninth or -tenth of October, his illustrious Lordship desiring the governor to -cease his intimacy with [quitarle de su lado] the auditor whom he -held a prisoner [i.e., Torralba]--with whom, while thus a prisoner, -he was drawing up, at his own pleasure, and without any possibility -of objection, the royal decrees which he judged necessary to his -purpose. The archbishop sent the doctoral canon of the church and -another prebend in order that, after the canonical warnings, they -might notify [the auditor] of the excommunication which he had incurred -by complying with so exceedingly illegal a proceeding. What occurred -there when the doctoral canon carried this message I am unable to say; -but the result was that they treated the canon and the other prebend -badly, confining them as prisoners, and this was the answer that the -archbishop received; the fact itself is known, but nothing else. - -At daybreak on the eleventh his illustrious Lordship, in much anxiety, -sent out to summon to his palace the superiors of the religious orders -and other learned ecclesiastical persons, in order to hold counsel -with them; but hardly had they assembled with him when they found -that the archiepiscopal palace was besieged by armed soldiers, who had -orders not to allow any one to depart, or any others to enter. One of -the officers, entering the apartments of his illustrious Lordship, -informed him that he must immediately go with him, by order of the -king, the royal assembly, etc.; and thus, surrounded by soldiers, -they carried the prelate to the fort on the plaza. In the same way -they proceeded with the rest, his lambs, and, separating them from -their shepherd and from one another, led them away and confined them -in different divisions of the prison and the house of the Audiencia. - -The interdict was published, and the bells began to toll, which -disquieted all the people--religious, ecclesiastics, and laymen. Those -who had taken refuge in the sacred buildings thought that they -were ruined, and those outside felt deprived of the asylum of the -church. This disturbance lasted from eight to twelve o'clock; at the -latter hour the turbulent crowd proceeded, without order or concert, -to the palace of the governor, and entered it without opposition -from either the outposts or the soldiers of the guard. Shouting, -"Long live the Faith and the Church!" they rushed upstairs, and at -that same hour fell upon the governor with weapons, until he fell on -the floor with wounds, and demanding confession, and they left him for -dead. Then his eldest son arriving--who had been going about the city -arresting the priests, and busy with other orders of that sort--the mob -killed him also, which occasioned the death of a poor Indian. All these -events occurred in about a quarter of an hour, so that by a quarter -past twelve even the boys were in the plaza, celebrating the event -[cantando la victoria]; the misfortunes [of the people] were at an end. - -At the news of the tumult the father minister [of the Jesuit residence] -sent several fathers from the house, that they might help to pacify -the minds of the people and be ready to hear confessions, according -to what necessity demanded; among those assigned to this duty I was -one. On the way I met several persons, who told me that the governor -was already lying dead; and as one who had gone out only to assist -those on whom misfortune might have fallen--which, it was thought, -would include many, as is usually the case in such tumults--I hastened -my steps to the palace. Finally I found him whom they had considered as -dead; he was lying in an apartment, the blood dripping from his wounds, -and surrounded with people; and at his side was a religious who had -attended him in order to give him absolution. I asked the latter what -[had occurred], and whether in his opinion that poor man was in full -possession of his senses; he answered that he did not know, but that -he had absolved him sub conditione [i.e., conditionally]. When the -religious asked me to try to find out in what state he was, I began -to say to the dying man what the Lord inspired in me, in order to -prepare him for being again absolved--which was done several times -by the religious, with full absolution, and without any condition; -for such were the tokens [of penitence] afforded by the expression -of his face, and his sobs and sighs, and even tears, and his pressing -to his lips the crucifix which I placed at his mouth, and so tightly -did he press my hand when I asked him to, that he spoke to me more -clearly thus than if he had answered with cries. - -It was my opinion that he could speak; and, availing myself of an -opportunity when I saw the people about him somewhat removed [from -his side], I made no little exertion to secure an utterance from -him. I spoke close to his ear, in a low voice; and he, recognizing my -intention, answered me, saying: "Alas! my father, all this is little -compared with what I deserve for my sins, which I confess are infinite; -and this which is happening to me is the kindness of God. I do not -complain of any one, and I will kiss the feet of every one. I only -ask your Grace that you will not leave me until I die, and that you -will be my companion until death; and that, if it be possible--so that -I may die far away from this noise, and be able to pass in quiet the -little time that may remain for me to live--they will carry me to the -hospital; that of St. John of God would be the best. But in any case, -do not leave me, your Grace, for the Virgin's sake; and care for my -soul, that it be not lost." This was what he said to me, in substance, -and even literally, the first time when he was able to speak. - -Hardly had he said this to me when the people again came around us, -in a clamorous crowd, and I turned to contend with them. I made every -possible effort to provide for him what comfort I could, but I could -only secure this, that they carried him, with me, to a room farther -within the house; and there, now trying to restrain the tumult, -and now assisting him, I found him always in the same excellent -frame of mind. Sometimes I began to hear his confession, in coherent -and detailed form; sometimes the confession would be interrupted -because the doors at times were opened--until I could, by the aid of -some persons whom I knew to be influenced by the fear of God, keep -the doors closed for a time. I spent the time thus until about six -o'clock, when he died. In that time extreme unction was given to him; -and Doctor Rayo, who held delegate authority from the archbishop, -absolved him etiam in foro externo [i.e., "also in the outer court"] -from the excommunication. I omitted no effort in order that he might -use well the time for the benefit of his salvation, regarding which I -can state two things. [Here follow long pious reflections, which may be -left to the reader's imagination.] Finally, God punished him there for -the violence which he had employed with others--not allowing them even -the comfort and consolation of communication with their confessors, -as some desired; and it was not permitted to them except only to -make them comply with the [requirements of the] Church; for when he -desired to prepare himself at leisure, and to pass quietly the time -which remained to him, with the confessor who was aiding him there, -there was no way of securing this. On this account it is my opinion -that God chose to punish him in this life in order to pardon him in the -other one. This is my opinion; oh, that it might agree with that which -God has! for then the salvation of this poor man would be certain. - -It has seemed best to me, Father Procurator, to relate this in order -that it may be known that this man, however much people undertake -to say against him (much of which will be false), met a Christian -and Catholic death. And I say further that, although his passions -hurried him on to do such outrageous and reckless things, they never -separated him from the [Christian] faith or the Catholic religion; -and therefore, whatever your Reverence can do to prevent those in -Madrid from believing what will be reported in this matter, do it, -for God's sake--in regard to the former [i.e., Bustamante's Christian -death], acquainting the father confessors with these facts. Moreover, -it is not right that such things [as are said against him] should -have influence, when the only result will be infamy for him and for -the six or seven children whom he has left behind. - -On the other hand, it would seem to me desirable that his Majesty -command that in the residencia which will be taken of this poor man's -government there be no discussion of his personal character, or of -his proceedings which have not been injurious to others; and that -those which are such be considered only in so far as is necessary to -satisfy, so far as is possible, the injured party--or even, putting -all this aside, that action be taken only in regard to the goods -which at the time of his death might be found to be in his name, -secretly and through the agency of others, like those which he has in -the ship and patache which this year went to Nueva Espana. These are -going in the name of other persons, but on his account, and amount to -a great deal--so much, that if in Mejico the just, prompt, and honest -measures were taken to have these goods sold at the ordinary fair, like -the rest, and if the proceeds were safely deposited, and his Majesty -and the judge of his residencia here were notified of the amount thus -realized, I believe that with this alone the king, the bondsmen, and -the private persons who should prove themselves to be his legitimate -creditors could satisfy their claims against him. [Add to this] the -goods that may be found in his house, and those which may be on his -account from the coastwise commerce, in order that, when these are -converted into money, their just value may be distributed equitably, -according to the plan which is prescribed in matters of restitution -when there are many creditors. - -This precaution will be very necessary in order to prevent many -difficulties which must follow from other charges [against him], -some being involved in others; and from these will result no greater -gain than disturbances in the community, mutual hatreds, the rise -of many falsehoods founded in malice, endless delay in ascertaining -the truth, relics of quarrels left for the future, the disappearance -and destruction of the aforesaid goods of the deceased which can be -obtained, and finally the destruction of the wealth of some persons -without any benefit to others. This is what I feel in Domino, having -considered matters coram ipso [i.e., "in His presence"], and near -at hand. Therefore, my fathers, there is nothing more expedient for -the service of the two Majesties and of souls than the measure of -burying in oblivion [hecharle tierra] all the rest concerning him, -especially the suits that he brought against others--since he cannot -have authority distinct from that which he must assume on account -of his office, as representing the king, and it was not for himself -that he demanded justice against the subjects whom he prosecuted, -for the good man proceeded against all who opposed him, as seditious -traitors--and this it is necessary to lay aside, for it is an intricate -affair and will become more so. - -Also [I recommend] the approval of what was done in the formation -of the government and Audiencia that were organized after the fatal -event; for it did not seem that anything else could be done, either as -a matter of policy or in conscience, or that would be more agreeable -to the wishes of the king, in such circumstances, to do what was -right and prudent, without being declared presumptuous. - -And who doubts, after reflecting on the event and its antecedent -circumstances (and, when one considers what human nature is, it seems -as if the event were the natural result of those circumstances)--or, -to speak more correctly, on the especial providence of God, and His -justice--that also it would be most expedient for the tranquillity of -this colony to bury in oblivion likewise the tumult and what occurred -in it; and that attention be paid only to taking such measures as -will be proper to prevent, so far as that shall be possible, the -occurrence of such troubles in the future--or at least not to leave -the future so exposed to peril from them? - -But what [a task] will that be? Oh, holy God! there is no doubt that -it is very difficult. For, as the principal root of these tumultuous -excesses and quarrels--inextricable entanglements, which it is -impossible to clear up from Filipinas--[is the enormous distance] -at which the islands are from the court of their sovereign (who is -the one who must supply suitable and timely measures), and this it -is impossible to get rid of; it consequently seems also impossible -that these regions can ever be protected from difficulties of this -sort. The only thing, then, that seems possible is, that these be -prevented by a method which will in some way supply the nearness of -the sovereign which is necessary for preventing check, in order that -they may not occur with such them in time; or that will establish -some sort of facility. - -But what can this be? I suppose that the politicians will plan the -matter much better; but I say in the Lord that I do not find any more -convenient way than to establish at this very time an ordinance which, -with the royal authority, shall serve to prevent in time the principal -difficulties, those which bring on the rest. - -Here, my father, the governor takes away and establishes, gives, -commands, unmakes and makes, more despotically than does the king -himself; and more, in himself he would join in one the royal and the -pontifical authority. Royal decrees are not sufficient; for either he -hides them, or he does not fulfil them as he ought. The Audiencia does -not serve [as a check] on him, for he suppresses and he establishes -it, when and how he pleases; nor do other bodies, whether chapters or -[religious] communities, whether military or civil; for he does the -same thing [with them]. And never do there lack pretexts for doing -thus, even though such bodies are appointed by the king; and with -the pretext that account of the matter has already been rendered -to Madrid, what he has begun remains permanently done, or else he -proceeds to change it, as seems good to him. - -Assuming this, [it would be best] to maintain here a council, -which would be stable and permanent, and to whom, as being supreme, -all the decrees and despatches of the king should come addressed, -the council distributing these as might be required. No failure -in the entire fulfilment of the despatches and decrees of the king -should be allowed, save with the agreement of this council; and the -governor should not be authorized to appoint or remove officials, -or hinder them in the performance of their duties, whether civil or -military; they should be appointed by the king, as now are the chief -and principal ones, the auditors and fiscal. For the citizens there -should be six or eight perpetual regidors, from whom should be elected, -according to custom, their alcaldes-in-ordinary. [The king should also -appoint] the royal officials who belong to the royal treasury; and, -of military officers, the two wardens of the castle in this city and -that at Cavite de la Punta, the master-of-camp of the Manila garrison, -the sargento-mayor of the plaza, and the lieutenant-general or the -general of the artillery. Even if the cause were, in the opinion of -the governor, so pressing and evident that he demanded the arrest -or suspension of any one of these whom I have mentioned, without -waiting for the decision from Madrid, he should not do so without -giving account to the said council, or without its consent; and if the -case were so urgent that it should be necessary to arrest any one of -those persons before giving account to the said council, such account -should be furnished immediately afterward--by the governor, or, if he -cannot do it, by the fiscal of his Majesty; and, if neither of them -do it, the president of the said council, when he learns of the facts -(in whatever manner he may obtain such knowledge), shall demand that -he be given the motive and cause for the decision reached with the -official who is imprisoned or banished, or deprived of the exercise -of his office, in order that his council, when informed of the case, -may take action. If the decision of the council is contrary to the -resolution made by the governor, the official shall continue in the -exercise of his functions until the final decision shall come from -Madrid. And if perchance the governor disobey this rule, and do not -render account of the motive and cause which has influenced him to -take that course with the officer whom he is treating as a criminal, -the president of the council, with its advice, is authorized to -replace, and shall do so, the said official in the exercise of his -office. In this particular, all the other officials of the king, -and his soldiers, must obey this president, and not the governor, -under such penalties as his Majesty shall see fit to impose upon them. - -Item: If any one of these persons appointed by the king fail to act, -by either death or any other accident, another person shall not be -appointed in his place by the governor alone, but he shall do so -jointly with the auditors and military officers above mentioned, -if the ad interim appointment is to a military post; and if it is -municipal, the electors shall be the governor, the auditors, and -the other regidors. If the appointment is that of a royal treasury -official, [he shall be chosen] by the remaining members of that body, -with the governor and the auditors--among whom I include, for all the -elections, the fiscal of his Majesty--and the person who receives the -most votes shall be chosen; and in case the votes are divided among -two or more, the lot shall decide. He who is thus elected shall remain -as a substitute in the vacant post until the king shall appoint a -proprietary incumbent, and shall possess the same privileges as the -others have, besides that of continuing under the protection of the -said royal council. - -As for those who might compose this council, I cannot find any who -would be better--in order that it might be durable, and most free -from prejudice; and that its proceedings might be most prudent and -reasonable, judicious and learned--than the following: for president, -the archbishop of Manila, and in his absence the dean of the holy -cathedral church of Manila; for its members, the dean, in case he is -not president--and, if he act in that post, in his place shall come in -the senior prebend, by vote of those in the council; and besides these, -the doctoral prebend of the same church, and the rectors and prefects -(or the regents) of the two universities, Santo Domingo and that of -the Society, or those who shall take the place of all these. Those who -occupy the chairs of Institutes [47] and laws in the university (which -have been recently established) shall not have place in this council, -for I do not know whether they will be permanent; and because, even if -they are so, these professors must be included in the number of those -who are under the protection of the said council, as being officials -appointed by the king and subjects of the government here. The decision -of the members of this council must go out in the name of the whole -body, and will be that which shall receive the most votes from the six -councilors; and in case of disagreement among them the decision will be -that to which their president shall agree, out of those proposed in the -council--each one of these councilors giving his opinion in writing, -which opinion must be a decisive vote, and not merely consultory. - -And because the chief mate [capitan maestre] of the galleon is the one -who has charge of the royal mails, it would seem desirable, in order -to make sure that this official conducts himself with entire fidelity -in surrendering them to the said council, that he who is chosen for -that post shall [not] be selected altogether by the governor, but -must be approved by the council, as protector of the royal decrees -and officials of Filipinas, which is the sole employment that the said -council will have. Thus that official, once he is chosen and approved, -must remain under the protection and jurisdiction of the said council -until he has fulfilled his commission. - -And because this council will remain entirely free from the possibility -of being disturbed by the governor, and because the most scandalous -controversies which have occurred in these islands have proceeded from -the abuse of the royal prerogatives, the governor with the Audiencia -seeking by force to deprive the archbishop and the ecclesiastical -judges of the secular revenues--for sometimes they overstep the -bounds in the essential part, and in other cases exceed the limits -immoderately in their mode of procedure--it would be expedient and -even necessary for his Majesty to forbid them to do so, and deprive -them of authority to enforce that. They should be allowed only to ask -for it, and, having given information of it to his Majesty, await his -royal decision in order that that may be accomplished, in reality and -in the mode of procedure, which always will be just and reasonable, -and carried out to the letter, as his Majesty shall ordain for the -service of God and for his own. - -In this manner my poor mind has planned, having considered these -matters in the Lord, in order that some means may be employed to -make up for the distance [from Madrid], and to place some check on -the despotic sway which, on account of the distance, the governors of -these islands possess; for, as I said above, not only do they act more -despotically than could the king and the pope if those rulers were -at the same time united in one being, but also they are the whole -[government] and all the offices, since every one must do and does -only what the governor desires, with reference to the offices which -the king entrusts to him. - -It is clear that, for the object that is desired, that which will -contribute most of all is the judicious choice of the governor and -the other officials, [who should be] worthy, upright, unprejudiced, -disinterested, having the fear of God, and zealous for His honor -and the service of the king--as well as for their own honor, which -is established by this very effort. But qui sunt hi, et laudavimus -eos? [48] I see it, forsooth. On this I will only say that the -governor in any case should be a soldier, honorable and experienced, -to whom the government is given on account of his merits; and not -one who may be a merchant or trader. Still less should he be one who -has secured the post of governor with money, and not with merits. [In -order to secure] for the other officials men worthy by their merits, -fitted for their positions, having the fear of Cod, and honorable, -an important means, without doubt, is care in their selection. - -I see that your Reverences will tell me that I am tiring myself -uselessly, and that nothing of this concerns me. This may all be true, -but I believe that in the presence of God this my labor will have, if -not reward, at least excuse, since I have undertaken it With an aim to -the welfare of the souls in these islands, and to the progress in them -of our holy faith, [objects] which are hindered by misgovernment here. - -In regard to the other matters [here], I know that every one is -sending in accounts of them, and I am sure that each one will -give such information as he feels is true; as for all those who -are doing this officially, who shall say that they will not report -according to what is right, and with weighty arguments? I, at least, -cannot persuade myself to think otherwise; for all the said persons I -regard as truthful and God-fearing men. The one with whom I am better -acquainted than with any of the others is Don Francisco Fernandez -Toribio, an auditor, and now fiscal, and a [university] professor of -the Institutes; and I can at once inform you that what he may say -can be believed, that it is his own opinion, and that in saying it -he will be governed more by reason than by prejudice. He is a man -indeed, since he is so good, upright, disinterested, God-fearing, -and truly honorable; and although he and others like him would be -good for these places, yet they are not good for men of this sort. God -preserve your Reverence for many years, as I desire. Manila, November -19, 1719. The humble servant of your Reverence, etc., - - -Diego de Otazo - -I.H.S. - - - -Letter from the archbishop of Manila - -I had given to your Paternity account [of affairs] last year, by -way of Mejico, of the wretched condition in which this commonwealth -and these islands were, and of the unspeakable grief with which I -was living at seeing the lawlessness, tyranny, misgovernment, and -insatiable greed of the new governor, Field-Marshal Don Fernando -Manuel de Bustillo Bustamante y Rueda; and afterward in the same -year, by the Eastern [India] route, I also sent to your Paternity an -account of the commotion [here] and the violent death of the said -gentleman, who perished on the eleventh day of October in the same -year. Nevertheless, as the latter route is so irregular, and it may -have happened that the said letter of mine has not reached your hands, -it has seemed to me prudent to repeat my last letter, and send it -by the galleon which is now sailing for Acapulco, in order that your -Paternity may be fully informed about that event (although summarily), -on account of what may yet occur. - -The said gentleman reached this city on the thirty-first of July in the -year 17; and from the outset it seemed, with his disposition--unquiet, -changeable, petulant, and with inordinately bad tendencies--that he -directed all his efforts to the ruin of these islands. He persecuted -the citizens, arresting some, exiling others with pretexts of -embassies, conquests, and new expeditions, and causing others to -seek refuge for themselves, fearful of his harsh treatment; and he -fattened on the wealth of all the people. - -To these evil beginnings corresponded like ends; and from so -mischievous causes were experienced the effects in the unlooked-for -and miserable death which he, with his eldest son, encountered on -the eleventh day of October in the past year. At that time the common -people rose in rebellion, and, going to his palace, deprived him of -life, without his having at his side any person who would defend him, -even among his own servants. This is a proof that he was hated by all; -and it is notorious confirmation of the truth of this statement that -the great precautions which he had taken since the tenth [of that -month] for his safety in his own palace availed him nothing; he had -provided soldiers, both infantry and cavalry, who, as they affirmed -to me, numbered more than three hundred. In the general opinion this -success [in killing the governor] was gained by especial permission -of His [Divine] Majesty, who by this act of providence, through His -lofty and venerable judgments, chose to furnish relief when it could -not be looked for so soon from human sources. - -This tumult was caused by the arbitrary nature of the governor's -proceedings; for, without conforming to laws, either human or divine, -it seems as if he had--according to my judgment before God, in whose -presence I speak--no other law than his own will, from which proceeded -his despotic decisions, directed to his own advantage and not to the -general and public welfare, which ought to have been his chief care. - -With this consideration [i.e., his own advantage], and in order to find -the goods of the master-of-camp Don Esteban de Higuino (whom he had -kept a prisoner since the beginning of August), he gave orders that -the chief notary of the municipal council of this city should demand, -at the end of September, the official records of a notary-public who -had taken refuge in my cathedral on the same day when the arrest of the -said master-of-camp occurred. The consultation which he held and the -petition which he presented to the ad interim fiscal of the Audiencia -were merely formal; the matter was referred to the royal Audiencia, -without stating whether it was by a consultory or a decisive vote; -and the papers were considered in the royal Audiencia, which was -composed of only one official, who had for associate judge the -counselor [asesor] of the government. This auditor was commanded to -despatch officially a royal decree for the surrender of those notarial -records; and I was notified of this on the twenty-sixth of September, -and the papers offered to me with a view of the decree of August 11, -in which the said auditor was qualified for [transacting] the business -of the Audiencia--a copy of which decree I send with this. There -were various difficulties in regard to the fulfilment and observance -of this decree [49] on account of the serious injuries which might -result to the administration of justice in the ecclesiastical estate, -and to the sheep of my flock. Obliged as I am in conscience to attend -to their relief, I conferred regarding these doubts with persons in -whom I had confidence, and with the [heads of the] two universities -of this city--in whose opinions I tried to find ground for the decree -which enabled this single auditor to have his abode in the royal hall -[of justice]; because for this he had exchanged the imprisonment -in which he had remained in the fort and castle of Santiago. Their -uniform reply to me was, that I ought not to consider the Audiencia -which was formed in this manner as a royal Audiencia, or the decree -which was issued [by it], with the royal name and the seal of his -Majesty, as a royal decree. I did not [at once] come to a decision -in a matter so important, and on which so many things depended; -and moreover, in order to show my profound veneration for the royal -prerogatives of his Majesty and my earnest desire for the public -tranquillity--to which I have given attention from my first entrance -into this archbishopric, as also to the amicable relations which I -have maintained with the royal officials of his Majesty (especially -with the governor of these islands), since this contributes much to -the service of God and of his Majesty--I presented my doubts, with a -copy of the replies given by the universities, to the said deceased -governor, at a conference which was held on the seventh of October. I -charged him as his friend that, considering these questions with the -careful reflection which is demanded by the strict account of our deeds -which we must render to God, he should do what was most safe for the -discharge of our consciences in the service of God and his Majesty. To -this advice he gave me no answer, either written or verbal; and when -I was waiting for one, in order to choose the safest [course] and -avoid consequences which always are injurious to the public welfare, -on October 8 (which was Sunday), a little before twelve o'clock, -I was annoyed by a second royal decree--in which, professing not -to understand the reasons which I had for doubts, he insisted on -the surrender of the said records. Having answered that in order to -make my decision I was waiting for his reply, I pressed him for it -[on the next day,] the ninth, with another [written] communication -of substantially the same tenor as the first one, exhorting him to -make the best decision, that is, the one which he would at the hour -of death wish to have made; but he declined to receive it for that -morning, on the pretext that he was ill--although it was plain to me -that he was well [enough] to hold conferences with the single auditor -of whom the Audiencia was composed. In the afternoon, he gave orders -to receive my communication, at the repeated insistence of the chief -notary of my archbishopric, who carried it; but he would not allow -the notary to enter the palace or to see him. - -From this stoppage of friendly relations and lack of civility which -I began to experience in regard to this matter, and on account of the -news that I had of the repeated deliberations that he held [with the -auditor], I could only expect very evil results in the banishment -of myself and of the ecclesiastics--which I mistrusted from the -twenty-seventh day of September, when I had sent my provisor with -the cura of Balayan, for them to certify to the said governor the -information which on this very point had been privately given to the -said cura by an alferez named Antonio de Torres, who had much familiar -intercourse with the said governor. This information was reduced to -the statement that a certain alferez had told how his Lordship had -resolved to banish me from this city by the middle of October, because -he had made ready to demand from me, about that time, that he might -remove to the most distant of these islands all the persons who had -taken refuge in these churches, both within and without this city; -and, taking for granted, at the start, that I would not permit it, -with that ground for action he would proceed to carry out the said -banishment. When I learned that the said alferez, when summoned -to the governor's presence, confirmed his statement, although he -exculpated himself with frivolous pretexts; and when I did not see any -punishment inflicted on him for this insolence, and knew, moreover, -that they only gave him orders that the matter should be kept secret -(as it was): I had sufficient grounds for the said suspicion. And -as it was quite consonant with prudence to prevent the dangers and -obviate the measures from which might result these evil consequences, -having assured myself of the only arguments [50] with which I could -prevent this act--to command the single minister in this Audiencia -and his associate, under penalty of major excommunication and [a fine] -of five hundred ducados in silver, to abstain and refrain from sitting -as judges and transacting the affairs of the Audiencia, the formation -of which, in my judgment, had been invalid--I acted accordingly, in -conformity with the opinions for which I had obtained confirmation -by the vote of my cabildo and the superiors of the holy religious -orders. Availing myself of this means for ending the controversy, -as conducive to the public tranquillity for which I was striving, -without intermeddling with the governor I issued two monitory decrees, -in which I gave orders as above, in order that at the very same time -they might be notified, to the said minister and his associate; -and I committed this business to the doctoral canon of my church, -in order that, as a discreet and capable person (since he is morning -professor of canon law for his Majesty), he might conduct it with -the judgment and the precautions which are desirable in a matter -so delicate. He went to execute this commission in the hall of the -Audiencia, in which building this single minister of that court has -his abode, abandoning the obligations of his rank, and trampling on -both human and divine laws. Hardly had he heard my name, when the -notification of this decree was begun, when he snatched it from the -hands of the doctoral canon and tore it to pieces; he demanded a sword -and buckler, and the protection of the king; and he uttered so many -cries, and left his room with so much noise, that he disturbed the -entire palace of the governor. He goaded on the governor so that, -without any warrants and without a session of this so-called royal -Audiencia, he seized the said canon and the prebend Doctor Don Juan -de la Fuente, who accompanied him, in the porch of the court prison; -and there they remained, surrounded by soldiers with pikes and naked -cutlasses, during all the night of October 10. At that time he gave -orders to surround his entire palace with a guard of infantry, and -would not allow that three ecclesiastics should go up to see him, whom -I sent with a courteous message, in order to obtain information as to -the motive of this singular proceeding. The governor gave orders to -detain them in the guard-house, where they remained among the rabble -of soldiers, exposed to the inclemency of the wind and of the rain -which fell that night, until the morning; and then they locked up the -ecclesiastics in a small room which was connected with the guardroom -of the halberdiers, without any food--at which the city began to be -disquieted. The doctoral canon and the prebend were conveyed by an -escort of soldiers with an officer to the castle and fort of Santiago, -where the castellan kept them confined under a guard of his soldiers, -and without any communication [with other persons]; and as soon as they -reached this place, at daybreak, the military watchword was changed, -[accompanied] with [the firing of] a cannon loaded with balls, and -[the beating of] war-drums; and the bells were rung as a summons -for the entire city. Disturbed at this signal--which, by an edict -published in the preceding year, was given for their attendance at -the royal palace--all the citizens gathered there; and when they were -assembled the late governor addressed to them a vigorous exhortation -that they should defend the royal jurisdiction, which he assumed -that I had injured and usurped. He censured the opinions of the two -universities, and berated the persons who signed them, saying that -they did not understand the laws, and that they were disturbing the -church just as one Molinos [51] and one Luther had disturbed it. - -After six on the morning of October 11, as it was evident to me that -the notification had been actually made--by the information which by -my order was received; and by a brief letter which they brought me -from the said doctoral canon and prebend, in which they assured me -of their imprisonment on account of the notification to the single -minister of the Audiencia of the monitory decree (which was made -ipso voce) warning him that his name would be placed on the list of -excommunicates [tablilla]--as also to the eldest son of the governor -(who was sargento-mayor of this army) and his adjutant, I gave orders -that they he posted as publicly excommunicated, about seven o'clock -in the morning. - -At that hour the superiors of the holy religious orders, with other -prominent religious who were under their direction, assembled at my -archiepiscopal palace in order to console me in the trouble that had -come upon me from such noisy preparations and violent demonstrations; -and while we were discussing these matters, and inferring from these -premises the evil consequences which openly were dreaded for the -ecclesiastical estate, through the doors of my archiepiscopal palace -(which were open) entered military officers, armed, with a great -number of soldiers; and, having filled the palace and surrounded it -with infantry, the officers came upstairs, with the adjutant who had -been publicly excommunicated, until they reached the room where I -was with the said superiors and religious. A captain named Don Pedro -de Velasco said that he came in behalf of his Majesty, and by order -of his governor and captain-general, in order that I might go with -him to the royal court; and he would not accept the reply which I -gave him in writing, assuring me that he was under penalty of death -if he acted differently. Although I did not consider the court to -which he summoned me as the royal court, since the single auditor who -composed it was execrable, I resolved to go (as I solemnly declared) -in consideration of the public tranquillity and the respect due -to the royal name of his Majesty. But as soon as I left my palace, -the military officers and soldiers surrounded me; and when we reached -the door of the governor's apartments, by which I had to enter, I saw -that it was locked. I recognized the deceit and malicious subterfuge -by which they had drawn me [from my house]; and I declared this, as -well as that I would not go of my own will to any other place than -the royal court. I tried to shelter myself in the royal seminary of -San Felipe, in order not to be wet by the heavy rain that was falling, -but the military officers would not allow me to do this; and therefore -I leaned against the lintel of a door that stood open in a private -house. The sargento-mayor, who was a son of the governor, apologized -for taking part with his father in this deceit, since it was required -from him. Don Benito Carrasco, an alcalde-in-ordinary, came to tell -me of the order of his Lordship that I must go wherever the military -officers and the soldiers carried me. They, seeing my unwillingness, -lifted the chair in which I was sitting, and by force carried me to -the public street, where my sedan-chair was--which I had to enter, -in order to avoid even more disgraceful, scandalous, and sacrilegious -acts; and I allowed myself to be carried--surrounded by armed soldiers, -as if I were a criminal who had committed atrocious offenses--through -the public streets to the fort and castle of Santiago. There they -delivered me as a prisoner to the castellan, Don Ygnacio Navamuel, -and he received me as such, and kept me in his dwelling-house; nor -would the sargento-mayor, who remained in command at my archiepiscopal -palace, permit them to bring me the bed and small chest of clothing -which the members of my household tried to send me for my personal -comfort and cleanliness. - -After seizing me, they proceeded to convey other prisoners with -a guard of soldiers: my secretary, who was confined in the same -castle; the commissary of the Crusade; the schoolmaster and a -prebend of the cathedral; the commissary and secretary of the Holy -Office of the Inquisition, with two other religious of St. Dominic; -the prior of the convent of San Agustin; the rector of the college -of the Society of Jesus, together with the master Father Avina; -and my provisor--placing them in the infantry barracks and the -quarters of the royal accountancy, with orders that no one should -speak to them. [52] They would have carried away, in the same manner, -all the persons who were in my palace, if the common people had not -opposed them; for it seems that the intention of the governor was, -as his corresponding secretary has deposed, to seize all the persons -who signed the opinions which the universities gave me. - -For this so execrable deed there was no cause on my part, since I -did not prosecute any determination of my own that was opposed to -the royal laws of his Majesty; nor was the monitory decree of that -character, which was notified to the single auditor of whom the -royal Audiencia was composed--for with that document I aimed, as a -prelate, to deprive the governor of the pernicious means which he -was employing in order that he might not have in his government any -other law than his own ambitious and depraved will. Nor for carrying -out my seizure, under the pretext of banishment, did he previously -take the steps which the royal laws provide; for the royal writs were -not issued which should have been, to know whether there had been -any failure of obedience on my part--a proceeding which is required -in order that the penalty of [loss of] the temporal revenues may be -applied to ecclesiastics--as the auditor himself and his associate -have testified. For it was resolved, in a session which they held -on October 9, that an official of the royal Audiencia should go to -confer with me over the difficulties about which I had consulted -the governor; but this formality was not carried out. On the other -hand, availing himself of his administrative [53] power--to which, -at the time, they likewise agreed--for use in case of any emergency, -when that arose of the outcry which this single auditor made at the -time when he was notified of the said monitory decree, the governor -compelled them [i.e., the auditor and his associate] to dictate an act, -assuming that it was one proceeding from the royal court (although -it was not such), on the night of October 10, in which they decided -that what had been agreed upon the day before should be carried out, -in regard to the use of the [governor's] administrative power against -my person and those of the other ecclesiastics. Although, in order to -excuse themselves for the many offenses that they committed in this -so discordant session [acuerdo], they undertake to avail themselves of -the fear and coercion in which they say the governor kept them, I know -not whether this evasion which they use as an excuse can assist them, -when as Christians they know that they ought to die rather than sin; -and when, since they could have availed themselves of the privilege -of sanctuary (as others did) to prevent injury to their souls, they -did not do so, through caring for the comfort of their bodies. - -After the unfortunate event which I have related had occurred, -all the people hastened to the castle where I was, and, without my -being able to resist their impetuosity, they liberated me from that -place, generally acclaiming me as their governor in the name of his -Majesty. This was the greatest blow that could happen to me, and I -protested against it before God [saying that], if my imprisonment and -its previous hardships could serve as a mortification to me, this -demonstration grieved me far more, without comparison, as being so -entirely contrary to my own judgment and disposition. But the people, -who still remained under arms, cried out that they would not lay down -their weapons, until I should accept, in the name of his Majesty, the -government over them. At this I made all possible protests, and efforts -to resist this, with the prominent and learned persons of the city, -not only ecclesiastics but laymen; but as they were unanimously agreed, -with the general feeling and opinion that I ought in conscience and -justice to accept this post, for the sake of quieting this community -which otherwise would run great risk, and the disturbances would -increase, and be the cause of greater misfortunes and more violent -deaths--I was obliged to accept [54] the said government, sacrificing -my own [mode of] life to the service of God our Lord and that of his -Majesty (whom may God preserve), and for the welfare of the people. - -It is impossible, even with the greatest care and attention, to relate -this affair with all its circumstances, so marvelous and mysterious -were many of them. Likewise, it is impossible to explain the ruined, -wasted, and unsettled condition in which everything remains; therefore, -I will only say to your Paternity that I ask you to have compassion -on me, and that you will earnestly commend me to God our Lord in your -prayers, that He may grant me light, and judgment, and strength for -the great task in which I am engaged. I remain, as I should, entirely -at your Paternity's orders, continually entreating that His [Divine] -Majesty may preserve you for happy years, as I desire. Manila, June -28, 1720. - - -[Francisco, archbishop of Manila]. - - - - - - - -LETTER BY A SPANISH OFFICER - - -Cousin, friend, and sir: - -At the coming of the galleon which arrived here from Nueva Espana at -the end of July in last year, 1729, I received two letters from your -Grace of the same tenor, dated April 19, 1728. While they gave me most -special pleasure, on account of the consolation which is afforded -me by all the letters from your Grace which I am so fortunate as to -see, I have not been and am not able to express my feelings at the -news contained in them of the grievous illness, the inflammation in -the chest, from which your Grace has suffered for so long a time; -and I am very anxious that you should continue to improve, so that -your Grace may be entirely free from it (as I hope you now are), -and restored to the excellent health which I earnestly hope you may -experience for many years. In the midst of so much vexation as has -surrounded me, God has been pleased to grant me the favor of good -health, so liberally that it seems as if He had cast me in bronze; -for He has preserved me in the midst of so much trouble without the -slightest headache, contrary to my usual condition, for which I give -thanks without number to His great goodness--remaining, as I always -shall, so devoted to your Grace as you must well know. - -The governor of these islands, Don Fernando Baldes Tamon, arrived -here safely in the above-mentioned galleon, and accordingly took -possession of this office, in which he continues to show the earnest -zeal which, with a desire for what is most conformable to right, -actuates him. From the place from which the mails which came in the -same galleon were despatched to this city he wrote to me--on account -of the news which they gave him there of my troubles--with very -cordial expressions of affection; and as soon as he arrived here -he began to confirm this impression, not only by his confidences -on various matters, and by having cared for the comfort of some of -my dependents--about whom unfortunately, doubtless on account of my -lack of means, I am nevertheless being undeceived, by experiencing -[from them], in return, that ingratitude which always more than -abounds here--but by manifesting to the public that he valued above -others [even] my uselessness. [He did so] in such a manner that, -recognizing this, envy and prejudice were aroused, especially that -of the licentiates and auditors, to see how they could deprive me -of this gentleman's protection. Not only to show my gratitude for -his kind intentions above mentioned, but in order to carry out the -prudent counsel which your Grace is pleased to give me, I endeavored -to follow from those beginnings the line of returning his kindness, -as is proper, manifesting my feeling of obligation as well as I was -able, and even in the midst of the many pecuniary losses that I have -experienced--which have been caused not by extravagance, since I have -tried to live as plainly as a religious, but by the unfortunate result -of fairs in which everything has been lost, besides the unlooked-for -destruction of property [55] when the galleon was wrecked in the -year 726. The day before he took possession of the government, I -waited on him with a baton [of office] made of gold, with a diamond -which I caused to be set in its tip, which was valued at more than -six hundred pesos. Don Fernando still continues in his kind regard -for me, although these knaves have not relaxed in their perverse -designs. Your Grace may rest assured that, on my part, not only will -not the slightest cause be given to him for growing cool toward me, -but I shall, on the other hand, endeavor to secure the opposite result, -in whatever concerns the behavior that is due him. Your Grace will -please say the same to all your honored friends, who, influenced by -the [same] affectionate loyalty [fina ley] which I acknowledge toward -your Grace, have always favored us, pledging themselves to advance -my interests with him--especially Senors Legarra and Maturana. [56] -The latter himself has told me that Don Fernando is under obligations -of great friendship to them, and that they will take especial pains -to talk with him in my behalf. While on my part I give them grateful -thanks, suited to the extraordinary obligation to them under which I -shall always remain, I am meantime fulfilling that obligation without -[unnecessary] delay, for the next galleon (since the [brief] time -does not give me leisure for this one), in attending to the affairs -of the above-mentioned gentlemen, Senors Legarra and Maturana--and -in regard to the others. In virtue of the knowledge that your Grace -can do me the pleasure of facilitating those which are, I trust that -you will be pleased to continue to me the much that I owe to you, -and for which I shall always remain under great obligation to you, -by asking them that on the first occasion, or in reply to this, they -will deign to confer on us the new favor of returning thanks to this -knight; for that will be a circumstance which will gratify him, and -will certainly be very apropos. And in case they consent to bestow on -us this new honor, I trust that your Grace will please arrange that the -letters come through my hand, in order that I may deliver them to him. - -By the letters which I wrote to your Grace, in the aforesaid last year, -you will be fully informed of the extraordinary quarrel in which I was -involved by the bad counsel and selfish designs of the father of my -wife Dona Maria Josepha, encouraged by the mischief-making partisans -that he has. On this topic I ought to add that, soon after the galleon -which carried the aforesaid letters had sailed from this place, the -said Dona Maria Josepha with great eagerness made known her desire -to return home with me, urgently entreating that I would enable her -to do so as soon as possible. Such being the relations between us, -and the lawsuit being then near its final limit [estar en terminos de -concluirse] (since all the evidence [necessary] for deciding it had -already been furnished), and since, to judge by what was coming out in -the suit, much annoyance could be occasioned by my side to her father, -in order that it might serve as a warning and correction to the malice -and evil design with which he undertook this quarrel, I resolved, -responding to the good-will of the said Dona Maria Josepha, to give -her the satisfaction of [granting] her petition. By way of correlative -[to this], I performed the feat of overlooking, in regard to that same -father of hers, the injury that in every way he has tried to do me; -so that, although I could, while awaiting the decision [of the lawsuit] -which, as the saying goes, was already in my hands--inflict on him most -grievous injury, notwithstanding all this, from that time I formed the -steadfast resolve that in case Dona Maria Josepha and I were reunited, -as we were expecting, not only would I do my share to secure that from -it not the slightest [harm] should result therefrom to him, but that -we should maintain such harmony that this matter should no longer be -remembered. In pursuance of this resolve, and because it seemed to -me that this was the best way in order to live in conformity to the -commands of God, I spoke upon this subject to the former governor, -and to the archbishop [57]--who, on account of their earnest desire, -as heads of the commonwealth, that this result might be secured, were -unspeakably delighted that Dona Maria Josepha and I should come to -so good a resolution. Immediately they held a conference in regard to -the measures that should be taken in order that this reunion might be -accomplished as soon as possible; and as it seemed best to them that -it should be done through a conference with her father, since she had -asked me that the matter might be thus arranged, they agreed to talk -with him about it; this business was attended to by the archbishop, -in his own name and in that of the governor. Although that gentleman -[i.e., Dona Maria's father] answered the archbishop with plausible -arguments, to the effect that our union did not depend upon himself, -but upon the aforesaid Dona Maria Josepha, but that he would, -nevertheless, speak to her with the aim of promoting it, he acted so -deceitfully that, in place of devoting himself to carrying out that -promise, what he did was to go, a short time after he had left the -presence of the archbishop, to the place where (as I told your Grace -in my previous letters) Dona Maria Josepha was staying. [There], like -a lion unchained--goaded by the idea of what the archbishop had given -him to understand, to the effect that Dona Maria Josepha and I would -certainly come together in a very short time, and by his own notion -that we had been communicating with each other with that object--he -began to threaten her in the most extravagant terms, in order not -only to break up her purpose of reconciliation, but to prevent her -from having the slightest communication with me. Not halting at this -alone, his preposterous behavior went so far that he visited the -provincial of St. Dominic; and the latter, being a good friend of his, -and a man of so excellent judgment as he has shown in this affair, -complied with his demand--which was, that the provincial should -carry into effect whatever orders he [i.e., my wife's father] should -give to the prioress of the house where Dona Maria Josepha was. [58] -The prioress obliged that lady to leave the rooms in which she was -living, which had a view of the street, and placed her in others -where I could not possibly speak to her on any side of them. They -placed such constraint upon her that she experienced inexpressible -affliction, through this and other most improper measures which they -took--even going so far that [they would not admit] the daughter whom I -had by Dona Rafaela (whom may God keep), when they learned that this -girl had on previous occasions gone to that house on account of the -request that the said Dona Maria Josepha had made to me, that I would -send my daughter to her; for they made arrangements to deprive her -of the pleasure of having the girl with her, availing themselves of -the same means which Herod used when he published the edict for the -slaughter of the Innocents, so that the death of Christ our blessing -might be included therein. For, not shooting openly at the window they -aimed at, in order to attain their object orders were given by the -provincial that in no case should any young girl be allowed to enter -the house--notwithstanding the fact that until then not the slightest -objection had been raised to the admission of any of the girls who -were of my daughter's age, and even when they had been going to that -house for a longer time than she. When I learned of all these and other -wrongful acts, I brought them to the notice of the archbishop, who was -amazed--modifying the idea that he had formed of my wife's father from -his previous actions, and being equally surprised at the provincial for -his actions in contributing to proceedings in which he ought [rather] -to feel so great scruples at following the lead of this man. The -archbishop administered to him an exceedingly severe rebuke, nor was -the provincial left without others, which to a person less carried away -by passions would have served for his entire correction. At last, when -the father of Dona Maria Josepha saw that these and other malicious -and unusual measures--of which he secretly availed himself in order -to attain the purpose which guided him to actions, in regard to the -lawsuit, which were improper and unjust--were continually failing him, -and that consequently the affair of our reconciliation was steadily -taking such shape that it would very soon be accomplished, he yielded -in outward appearance, through his fear that this would occur without -his having the least intervention in the matter. Through the agency -of that same provincial, the affair was discussed with the archbishop -and the governor; and thus the conclusion of it was arranged, so that, -a few days after the middle of July, Dona Maria Josepha and I were -reunited, the former governor having brought about a reconciliation, -two or three days before, between her father and myself. - -Auditor Martinez--who, as I informed your Grace, had charge of the -lawsuit, in virtue of the commission which the aforesaid former -governor, Marques de Torre Campo, gave him for that function--as -soon as the news reached this city that the present governor was -coming in the galleon, made on his part incredible efforts to have -this affair settled. He eagerly endeavored, with especial activity, -not only that this settlement should be effected, but that all the -official acts should be burned--a proceeding which every one here -[dis]approved; [59] for without doubt the purpose that more than any -other directed him was, that, knowing his own guilt in the mad acts -which in his passion he had committed, he desired to repair it, or -[rather] cover it up, by this means--fearing that if this business -were not completed before the governor arrived here, the latter would -do with it what was right; moreover, almost the same idea had been -entertained on account of what concerns the preceding governor, by -means of its having been known or found out in the same manner. The -auditor exerted remarkable activity in the settlement [of the lawsuit] -from the time when the said galleon usually met very little delay in -reaching these islands, and did so with far more briskness as soon as -he learned that the galleon, with the present governor, was already -within them; and in fact, if the latter had arrived in this city before -this affair had been settled, it is not to be doubted that he would -have given them much trouble, by means of it and the knowledge which -with great precision he obtained, from the time when he entered the -islands, of the outrages and wrongs which had been practiced against -me to judge by the great pain which he felt at these, and hinted to -me on the first occasion when I went to see him. This was immediately -after he arrived outside the walls of this city, where he was obliged -to remain until he took possession of the government, in consequence -of the custom which prevails here in this regard. - -The director whom my wife's father had for the [business of the] -lawsuit, or for drawing up his allegations in court [escriptos], -took refuge in one of the churches near the city, as soon as he knew -that the governor had arrived here. The latter, having understood the -many wicked acts which this man had committed, besides those that -he practiced in that affair [of mine], desired that--since for the -present he could not be punished in proportion to what he deserved, -on account of his being in that asylum--he be sent to some military -post, not only in order that this might serve as a correction to him, -but with the intention that this community be freed from a person -of so utterly perverse practices, and that he be not given the -opportunity to continue in them. He therefore held a consultation -in regard to this point with the archbishop, who, having the same -knowledge as the governor, in regard to the perversity of this man, -and the great expediency of sending him to a military post, and assured -that the sanctuary which he enjoyed would not be violated by another -punishment, very readily agreed to the plan, and caused that man to -be removed from that sanctuary in order to secure him (as he did) -in the prisons of the archbishop. [There he remained] until he was -carried thence, some two months ago, by command of the same governor, -to the military post that is most remote in this jurisdiction. The -efforts which this knave made to see whether he could escape being -sent away from here were many; and they were so singular, unusual, -and culpable that they seem incredible--as your Grace will recognize -from one of them. This is, that he feigned that he was sick, and so -skilfully that, the governor having sent two physicians to examine him, -they were persuaded at seeing him that really he must be very ill. At -that time he practiced the stratagem of having acted the part of a -dying man, so skilfully that they even tolled the passing bell for him; -but the fact is, that a little while after this had been done--when -the physicians had gone away, as also had a religious who had been -summoned and had hastened to him--it was learned that he ordered the -women to bring him some food, and that he performed his part as well -as a good gravedigger could. This trick caused much amusement here as -soon as it was discovered, as might be expected from its singularity. - -The father of Dona Maria Josepha frequently came to our house after we -were reconciled, and consequently I went to that in which he lived, -and on my part showed to him the same kindness as before--not only -because my good-will had forgiven him, but on account of the promises -that we had given each other on the occasion when the previous governor -made us friends, or rather reconciled us, that we would go on in the -future without the least change. Notwithstanding this, [he acted -strangely]--I know not whether it were because his perverted mind -was, as a result of the ill-success of his evil designs, permanently -impaired; or because he had formed the opinion that I had some share -in the removal of the above-mentioned director of his from the church, -in order to banish him to the military post. This [latter] idea was -contrary to the facts in the case; for it is certain that I had not -even the slightest shadow of complicity in that incident. It is he -[i.e., my wife's father] who (at the time when the said his director -was in the aforesaid archiepiscopal prison), coming on foot through a -street in which I was riding in a forlon [60] on the opposite side -[from him], began when I approached close to him to fling himself -about like a madman, and to utter such insulting terms that, -although I could not, on account of the noise made by the forlon, -distinguish what he meant by them, they compelled me, notwithstanding -that I was going forth on pressing business, to order that the forlon -halt, in order to ascertain what was the cause of that outcry, or -what was the matter with him. Immediately he advanced like a wild -beast to the side of the forlon, where he began, with the same wild -behavior as before, to break out in extravagant utterances, such as -"What knavery and wickedness is this?" with others that were equally -or even more disrespectful. When I saw this, although I could not -help growing hot within [at conduct] so unusual, discourteous, -and besides without cause, I maintained outwardly a countenance -without the least change; and in that attitude I expostulated with -him--saying that he should tell me what caused him to act thus, since -I was ignorant of the cause; and that he must endeavor to moderate his -behavior, and not apply such language to me, but must use such terms -as were proper. With these and other arguments, and the mild way in -which I stated them to him, it was to be expected that he would, -unless he were blind with passion, cease from his mad behavior; -but he was so contrary that he displayed even much more excitement, -and broke out into even wilder utterances. Notwithstanding that so -great provocation was enough to have made me alight without the least -delay from the forlon in order to obtain satisfaction from him, I was -so patient that I again expostulated with him aiming therein to avoid -all violence, and for my part to keep the promise which at the time -of the reconciliation we had each given to the governor and also to -the archbishop, in order that there should not be the least trouble -between us. The return that he made for this was, to tell me, still -more angrily, to alight from the forlon, and that down there I would -find out what I wanted to know. At this new and extreme provocation, -[given] in his evil and malicious manner, my patience was exhausted -and I sprang out of the forlon; but before I had set my feet on the -ground he came toward me with a naked short sword [espadin] which he -wore, with a blade of the size prescribed for a sword, as was afterward -found. At this I drew my own sword (which is one of the regular style); -but as it was necessary for me to make unusual exertions in using it, -as it was quite rusty, he wounded me at this time with his weapon, -in two fingers of the left hand. We made thrusts at each other several -times, during which--either through the blindness in which his furious -passion kept him, or for some other reason, I know not what--he several -times afforded me sufficient opportunity to have taken his life, if -I had chosen to do so. Notwithstanding this, as I had drawn my sword -with no other intention than to defend myself, and not to injure him -seriously, I behaved toward him accordingly; so I proceeded to disarm -him, and, throwing him to the ground, I drew my own short sword, in -order that he might more clearly recognize the kindness that I was -doing him. At this point different persons came up to separate us; -and the governor, when he heard of this occurrence and the excessive -provocation which I had had, gave orders to the sargento-mayor to -convey my antagonist to the castle of this city. As for me, on account -of the legal formalities [necessary] until the judicial investigation -of the affair was made, he sent me a message directing me to remain -under arrest or detention at home. Before the said sargento-mayor -could reach him [i.e., my wife's father] to conduct him to the castle, -the professor of laws who is an honorary auditor--a native of Leganes, -of whom I told your Grace in my previous letters, and who was a great -friend of his--carried my wife's father, half-covered with mud as -he was, to the presence of the governor; and he pleaded so urgently -that in place of sending him to the castle they should transfer his -prison to his own house, that the governor had to comply with his -request. [Santisteban's account of the settlement of this affair is -too prolix to be repeated here in full. The substance of it is, that -an investigation was made by Auditor Martinez, and by him referred -to the Audiencia, where it was decided that the difficulty should be -smoothed over, and the parties again reconciled to each other; the -governor is obliged to agree with this decision, but remains the firm -friend of Santisteban. The latter is willing to forgive his assailant, -but wishes to avoid the recurrence of such troubles; he confers thereon -with the archbishop, who promises to arrange matters with the governor, -but dies before he can attend to this matter. Later, Santisteban and -his father-in-law are nominally reconciled, but with the proviso that -they do not go to each other's houses; but Santisteban is obliged to -be on his guard against the secret machinations of the other.] - -A little while after the governor took possession of his dignity, -the necessity arose for making a change in one of the offices in the -regiment, for a reason which rendered such a change unavoidable. On -this occasion the governor directed that I should propose three -names of meritorious persons whom I should find to be suitable tor -that position, in order that from these he might select the one whom -he thought best--determining that in future this practice should be -observed in regard to all the military offices to which he had to make -appointments. Although this regulation is so eminently proper--not -only because it had been the usage here until, in the last few years, -the inexperience and despotism of some of the governors broke up this -method of procedure; but because it is in all countries the inviolable -usage that the masters-of-camp or the colonels (which is the same -thing) have always proposed [appointments for] the vacant posts -in their organizations--it caused much surprise (or, to speak more -correctly, envy) in the licentiates or auditors. For, as soon as they -heard of it, they went to see the governor, and with as much energy -and eagerness as if some great advantage could thus result to them, -addressed him, endeavoring to dissuade him from the observance of this -method--availing themselves, in order to incite him not to allow this -regulation to take effect, of the artful argument that it was opposed -to his own authority. But the governor, knowing their good intentions -and how very proper are those proposals of names (as above stated), -sent them away more offended than they were when they came into his -presence, on account of his answer to them that he could not permit the -appointments to be made as they wished, since it was the prerogative -of all masters-of-camp to propose them--saying that no one could have -a better knowledge than these officers have of the merits and fitness -of persons for their command, in order that those who were necessary -for military employments might be judiciously selected. From this your -Grace will understand how far the prejudice of these licentiates can -extend, and their exceeding ill-will, and that I shall find myself -badly off and can ill remain here with these and other knaves, who are -in more than abundant numbers in this goodly land, and of so evil, or -even worse, intentions; and the good intentions of those licentiates -not stopping at this only, I will relate to your Grace another case -in which they show no less their proved enmity. - -The former bishop of the province of Zebu in these islands, Don -Fray Sebastian de Foronda, had done me the favor of lending to -me six thousand pesos for the payment of a debt. That gentleman -having died, the licentiates began to make arrangements for the -collection of his expolios, [61] in this usurping the governor's -jurisdiction; for it appears that this business belongs to the control -of the superintendency of the royal treasury, which exercises [that -control]. They issued an edict directing that I, making acknowledgment -of the promissory note which they found, which I had made in favor of -the said bishop, must immediately make the payment of this amount. I -replied to this that the note was made by me, but that, as I had not -the funds, it was not possible for me to pay the note then, but I -would do so as soon as I could. At this, they issued another mandate -in which their ill-will in regard to this affair (which, in general, -has existed a long time) began to make itself fully visible--which -contained these expressions: "We command you, every official with -appointment as deputy of the alguazil-mayor of this court, that when -you see this present you proceed immediately and without any delay -to require General Don Manuel de Santistevan to deliver up the sum -of six thousand pesos, which he is owing to the goods of the expolio -of the very reverend master in Christ Don Fray Sebastian de Foronda, -deceased, late bishop of Calidonia, and apostolic ruler of Zebu; and -if he shall not pay the said sum, you shall proceed to levy on his -person and goods up to the quantity necessary to make up the said -six thousand pesos, the tenth, [62] and the costs of collection, -in the usual form. For this command is given by an edict issued by -us, on the past fifteenth of September in this year." Such are the -expressions in the decree. When the friend who on other occasions, -as I have informed your Grace, has directed me in all my lawsuits -(whom, before replying, I consulted on this affair) comprehended the -artful manner in which this mandate was worded--for while my office -was stated therein as "general" (which, although I was one, I was -not accustomed to style myself, as others do here), the document said -nothing of my office of master-of-camp; and, as it was more important -to misrepresent the former judicial point than to set aside the latter, -it was a consequence that whenever such [word illegible in MS.] should -come to be seen here, it would follow that the auditors could arrest -me with this title, and without recourse to the governor, who is the -one authorized to do so, when cause arises--this friend thought it -best to attack them with a counter-mine. This was to reply to them -(as was done) that the said decree or mandate could not concern me, -because not only on account of my noble rank I could not be imprisoned -for debts, but I was also excepted therefrom by being master-of-camp, -so that in no case could this seizure of my person be made without -the consent of the governor. It seems that they had, before his eyes, -issued another decree, saying that this measure should be duly carried -into execution--with the statement that it must be ascertained whether -in the office of the court notary of that same Audiencia my title was -registered, or there was evidence that I was such master-of-camp; -and that in the latter case the governor should be notified before -they proceeded to carry out the decree, in order that he might give -the orders which would prevent perplexity among the soldiers whom I -keep as my guard. The governor was sorry for these attacks on me, and -partly on this account, and because he desired that such a precedent -should not operate generally, and partly in order to avoid on that -occasion the disturbance that might arise from his defending his own -jurisdiction in the aforesaid matter of the expolios, which these -subordinate officials were usurping from him, and seeing that I had -not the means for paying this amount, he showed me the special favor -of furnishing to me five thousand four hundred pesos--part in the -salary which to that time was due me, and the rest in cash, which he -ordered his steward to give me. With this, and six hundred pesos more -which I obtained in other ways, the whole of that debt was paid into -the royal treasury; from which it resulted that, as the auditors had -not been able to secure the execution of this last decree, in so far -as concerned my person, on account of this deposit or payment, which -forestalled their attempt to compel me to have experience in the court -of justice, when they heard of it those fine snobs [buenas alajas] of -licentiates were left more than amazed; and the grievous vexation which -they experienced through the fact that their malicious cunning and -procedure had been frustrated was increased no little by their learning -that the greater part of the amount furnished had been given by the -governor, who will send to the king or to the Council of the Indias, -on this occasion, or when the galleon shall sail for Nueva Espana, -an admirable document--which has been prepared by the friend who, -as I have already stated, has directed me in my legal business--in -which, relating this action, he proves by forcible arguments that -those auditors acted illegally therein, and makes it very clear that -they could not and ought not to meddle in that business. - -I am fully informed of the reasons which made your Grace regard it -as not expedient to present in the Council the sworn statement which -I sent you, in the year 725, of what had been done up to that time in -regard to the affair of the jurisdiction of the small fort. Considering -that, although the governor has known and knows the injury that was -done me in that matter it will please him that the revocation of the -sentence which, ill-advised, his predecessor pronounced should come -from there [i.e., Madrid], I trust that your Grace, on receiving this -letter, will be pleased to arrange for presenting in the aforesaid -Council the sworn statement of the whole of this lawsuit which I sent -you in the year 727; and make all possible endeavor to secure that, -if the affair result as is just, the decree which I mentioned on that -occasion be sent here. Also such measures should be taken as will lead -to Auditor Martinez, who was the chief cause of so unjust a sentence, -being given the condign punishment that corresponds to his fault; -and that the same be done as concerns Alcalde Vermudez, on account -of his having thrust himself into usurping the jurisdiction of another. - -In regard to the subject of boletas, [63] it is also important to -continue [our] importunity, so that (as I hope) a decree may come, -assigning me definitely at least ten toneladas in each galleon, -which are eighty piezas or boletas. This is a number so moderate -as may be understood from the fact that it is hardly half of the -amount with which in the past it was usual for my predecessors to -compensate themselves out of what was allowed in the galleons by the -latest regulation of his Majesty to the entire body of citizens, [and] -was that which was commonly assigned to them on those occasions. This -arrangement will be very desirable, so that the prejudice arising from -differences in the persons who are associated in the distribution -of space [repartimiento] each year cannot, with what each one will -have, attempt to change the allotment of what should be given to -me; also because the governor, although he may desire to favor me -in this particular, cannot do so by himself alone, as he has only -one vote. Besides, if we consider former instances, it will not be -strange if the plebeians [64] with their arts induce him to do what -they wish. [A note on the margin, evidently added as an afterthought, -reads: "If this matter of boletas proves difficult to secure (although -it is so ordinary an affair that even to a half pay sargento-mayor -named Don Franzisco de Cardenas a decree came last year, which -decreed that they should provide for him here with fifty boletas), -and the favor of the government can finally bring it about (if on -the other hand it does not turn out as I hope), your Grace need not -trouble yourself over this question of boletas."] - -This gentleman, the governor, has told me that your Grace gave him -the duplicates (which he has brought here) of the reports which I -made and sent to you in regard to the absurd speeches which have been -habitually made here. I have been much pleased at this precaution -(which was a very proper one), not only that he might come here -with full knowledge and information about affairs, and because of -the benefit which he has derived from them (which he has personally -acknowledged to me), but because since his coming he has proved the -truth of all that is contained in them. - -I am very thankful to your Grace for the news which you send me in -regard to the condition in which affairs are there [i.e., in Espana]. I -cannot express my feelings at the death of the Count, not only because -I know the same things that you mention, but on account of the especial -circumstance of the personal favor and affection for which I owe him -the gratitude for which I shall always be under obligation; and I am -equally grieved that it happened thus, in the prime of [his] life, on -account of what concerns Don Pedro his nephew. For the present, then, -since for lack of time it is not possible for me to write, your Grace -will please present my condolences for both these casualties to the -lord Count Mozo, and to my lady Dona Ge[r]trudes, assuring them that -I sympathize with them very sincerely. Will your Grace please also -convey my kind remembrances to the other acquaintances and friends -who favor us, as also to all our relatives--and especially to our -Don Matheo, and to my lady Dona Antonia, telling them how sorry I am -for the impaired health that they have suffered, and that I shall be -exceedingly delighted if they regain their health. - -A little while ago, God took away the eldest child of Don Luis and Dona -Rosa, after a tedious and lingering illness with diarrhoea. They are -exceedingly grateful to your Grace for your expressions of kindness, -which they very cordially reciprocate; and Don Luis places at the -disposal of your Grace [whatever he can do for you in] the new office -which he holds, that of chief notary (in proprietary appointment) -of the cabildo of this city, with accompanying rights of privilege -therein. In order to secure this purchase (which he made here from the -crown), he was aided by a schedule of properties which he owns in this -same city, [amounting to] some twelve or fourteen thousand pesos, for -the post cost him that amount. Although it is certainly an excessive -price, it is compensated by the advantageous circumstances attending -it: he has authority to select a deputy who can exercise the office in -his name, as is the case at the present time--the latter to be paid, -according to what they say, 3,000 pesos each year--and it is a place -of much honor and esteem, just as it is in all the cities of these -kingdoms. These advantages he had borne in mind, for without them he -would not have undertaken this office, even if it had been worth much -more; [another consideration was], that whenever he may choose to quit -it he can do so, assured that he will find some one else here to whom -he can make it over, at very nearly the same amount which it cost him, -since that office is sought for by many persons. - -I render to your Grace the grateful thanks which I owe you for the -diligent efforts that you made in order that the post of governor here -might be conferred on me; and I now see how, on account of the reasons -which you state, you could not gain the result that was desired--for -which it is necessary to resign ourselves and be patient. By my -previous letters your Grace will have learned the object to which -my mind is directed, since learning that [my hope of securing] this -office has been disappointed, and the other motives that I stated -therein. Every day increases, if that be possible, my desire to -indemnify persons here; and moreover I am certain that, instead of -securing advancement [here], I can regard it as certain that I shall, -on the other hand, become more embarrassed at every step--considering -that I cannot hope in any direction for the least gain of [pecuniary] -profit; and that my salary is so limited that, as I have stated on -other occasions, it is not enough even for the absolutely necessary -expenses of my decent living, moderate [as that is]. For all these -reasons, I cannot help repeating at this time my urgent requests -to your Grace in regard to this subject, entreating with almost the -same energy which I could employ to escape from purgatory, if I found -myself there--that you will, as also friend Arce (to whom also I have -written at this critical time), continue your efforts until one of -the posts of governor which I have mentioned to your Grace can be -secured for me, either in the kingdom of Peru or in that of Nueva -Espana. I suppose that the [door to such a] purchase is now closed; -but if through a little good-fortune there is opportunity for one, -you can render assistance in securing one for me, from the money which -will remain from what I have sent, since all of it is now on the -road thither [i.e., to Espana], according to the information which -they have sent me from Nueva Espana. If this shall not be enough, I -trust, in the great loyalty and affection which I owe to your Grace, -that you will make up the remaining sum that shall be necessary, -in such way as you shall find most convenient--[what is needed] -not only for this purpose, but tor the rank of field-marshal; or, -that failing, for the rank of brigadier. I will repay the amount -that may be needed, with more than its proceeds amount to, as is -just--assuring your Grace that the favor of aiding me to secure (as I -hope) this relief will be so exceeding a kindness that 1 have no words -to express suitably my inmost appreciation of it, nor, consequently, -to show the gratitude for it which I shall always feel toward your -Grace--whose life I beseech our Lord to preserve for me for many years, -with all prosperity. Manila, January 28, 1730. - - - - -Cousin and Sir: - -I am very sorry that the articles which I sent by Fathers Buena Ventura -Plana and Joseph Bobadilla were lost, through an accident; for this -has deprived me of the pleasure which I would have felt if they--as -being things from this country, although of little value--had reached -the hands of your Grace and other gentlemen to whom my gratitude and -affectionate good-will had addressed them. - -I think that the aforesaid fathers are now in Nueva Espana, on their -return journey, and I do not doubt that in passing by way of the -court there [i.e., Madrid], on their return from Rome, they exerted -whatever good offices they could in my favor, on account of the special -affection which I owe them, and [which], your Grace is pleased to -declare, they displayed. And although I take into consideration the -fact that at present the other fathers who reside at that court cannot -accomplish much, for the reasons which you give me, I persuade myself -that it will do no harm if your Grace will please to preserve (if you -can do so without special trouble) communication with all those to -whom you caused the letters that went from here to be delivered; for -they will not fail to render aid in whatever may arise. Nevertheless, -even without their aid I have entire confidence that your Grace will -employ the other means which you have obtained through your great -ability, and such others as you may find convenient, if one alone do -not prove sufficient for the attainment of one of the governorships -which I have mentioned. Again I assure your Grace--to say nothing of -the fact that this hope itself affords me some pleasure--that it will -be a favor so praiseworthy, and so great a kindness, for me to be -able to escape as soon as possible from this chaos, this deep well, -that (as I have already said) I shall not have words with which to -express it, and therefore to manifest to your Grace sufficiently the -gratitude which I shall always feel toward you. I flatter myself -that at the same time there may come an order to the governor to -give me the command of the galleon in which I shall have to make -my voyage, for the reason which I have already explained to your -Grace on other occasions, in order that in this way I can perform -it with more convenience, and without so great expense. In case the -granting of such order be refused (although I imagine that there will -be no obstacle that can arise in the way of issuing it), it will be -desirable to obtain letters from the secretary (present or future) -in the general office of state who has charge of matters concerning -the Indias, recommending to this gentleman [i.e., the governor of -Filipinas] to be sure to grant me this favor; it would even be worth -while for Senors Legarra and Maturana, and likewise Sargento-mayor -Castro of the Guards, also to write to him on this subject. - -[At this point the writer indulges in various half-anxious reflections -on the uncertainty of his future, the delay in obtaining the benefits -of a governorship even if he secure the appointment to one, and -the possibility that all this delay may be time wasted; but he -endeavors to bear these things in patience. He states that he has -also written to one Patino [65] on these matters, and he hopes that -these representations will lead to measures by the home government -that will check the arrogance of the Manila auditors; and he urges -his cousin to push his claims to a better post than he now has.] - -I kiss your Grace's hands, as your cousin and sincere servant and -friend, who earnestly desires to see you again, - - - Manuel de Santistevan - - -[Addressed: "To my cousin Senor Don Lorenso de San Tistevan."] - -[On the margins of pp. 28 and 29 of the MS. appears the following, -evidently a postscript to the letter:] - -Cousin and Sir: - -When your Grace may write to the relatives [Spanish, Pa--, the rest -blotted; the context would indicate parientes], I trust that you -will grant me the favor of explaining that, for the reason which I -have already stated, lack of time, it is not possible for me to write -until another opportunity (which I will try to do); and will your Grace -please say the same to the mother of Dona Rafaela (whom may God keep), -and convey to all of them, in my behalf, my affectionate remembrances. - -This packet--of which I will send another copy by the galleon, -being uncertain whether this may be lost on the way--is going by -way of one of the colonies which in this part of Asia belong to the -foreign nations, such as Francia, Inglaterra, Olanda, and Portugal. By -this route letters usually go very expeditiously to that kingdom -[of Espana], as also those come here which are sent thence by these -routes, employing the method which I described in detail to your Grace -in the years 723 and 24--a fact which many persons here have learned -by experience, in the case of the letters which by these lines are -sent to them from the court there, by the correspondents whom they -have in it; for one, the governor obtained this satisfaction soon -after his arrival in these islands, in receiving various letters, -among which was the commission as warden of the castle of Santiago -in this city, for a nephew whom he had brought, who in Espana had -been an alferez of the Guards. - -From the maternal grandfather of Dona Maria Josepha the authorities -seized here 102,000 or 106,000 pesos--a sum which, as it had been sent -from these islands to Nueva Espana as an investment by Don Fernando -Bustillo Bustamante, the former governor of the islands, was therefore -by order of the viceroy of that kingdom [of Nueva Espana] placed in -the royal treasury of Mexico; as also another considerable amount, -which the aforesaid governor had sent, was obtained from various other -seizures which the viceroy had made. Although the executors of the said -grandfather of Dona Maria Josepha obtained a decree that they should -be repaid for the amount seized, there has not thus far been any way -in which that could be done--either because there was a lack of funds, -or because the person to whom this commission had been entrusted in -the aforesaid city of Mexico was inefficient. The greater part of -the amount thus seized belongs to the aforesaid Dona Maria Josepha; -in order to ascertain what is legitimately hers, some measures have -been taken in order to secure the division of all the goods; and if -(as I hope is the case), this effort shall have succeeded [in time] -for the despatch of the galleon, I will then send word to your Grace -of the result, in order that your Grace and friend Arze may be so kind -as to ask for a new decree in which the viceroy shall be commanded -to see that the most prompt satisfaction be given for the aforesaid -amount. With this and a strong letter of recommendation from the -secretary for the affairs of Indias in the general office of state, -addressed to the present or future viceroy, there will be no doubt -that the collection of this money will be facilitated, as is necessary -and desirable--and all the more if this order shall arrive at the time -when, as I trust, [an appointment to] a governorship being received, -I should go, as would be necessary, to that kingdom [of Nueva Espana], -even though it might be for [an office in] that of Peru. - - - - - - - -EXTRACTO HISTORIAL - - - Commerce of the Philippines with Nueva Espana, 1640-1736 - (to be concluded). By Antonio Alvarez de Abreu; Madrid, 1736. - - -Source: This document is translated, partly in full and partly in -synopsis, from the Extracto historial (Madrid, 1736), compiled by -Abreu; it includes "Periods" iii-x, but on account of its length will -be completed in VOL. XLV. - -Translation: It is synopsized and translated by Emma Helen Blair. - - - - - - - -COMMERCE OF THE PHILIPPINES WITH NUEVA ESPANA - - -PERIOD III - -Occurrences from the year 1640 until that of 1702, and from this year -until 1712. [66] - -17. Although there is no evidence in the Expediente [67] of what -resulted from the commissions given to Senor Palatox by the decrees -which may be seen at the end of the preceding "Period," one consequence -was that the Philipinas trade with Nueva Espana was continued, in the -form which we shall soon describe. For the viceroy of that kingdom, -Conde de Paredes, when he was in office made remonstrances at various -times from the year 1684 until 1686, in regard to the great confusion -which always had been experienced in the valuations of the cargoes -on the ships from Philipinas which arrived at the port of Acapulco; -and he declared that none of the measures which had been employed had -been sufficient, so that they could regulate the duties which the -merchants of those islands ought to contribute, nor for preventing -the illegal acts and frauds which were committed, to the injury of -the royal treasury. He had therefore found it expedient to make the -regulation (as he had done) that every ship of those which came -to the above port of Acapulco should compound its customs duties -[indultasse] in the amount of 74,000 pesos; and this had been the -practice until Conde de Galve had gone to fill that viceroyalty, -and he gave an account of this matter. - -18. On receiving this information, despatches were sent on June 5, -1697, to the viceroy and Audiencia of Mexico and to the governor and -Audiencia of Philipinas, informing them that the said arrangement -had been revoked and annulled, since it was contrary to what had -been commanded by laws, decrees, and royal orders, and for many -other serious and just reasons. Both of these governments were -commanded to cause the publication of the revocation and annulment -of the above arrangement, and were ordered to take especial care -in the administration and careful collection of the duties which -the merchandise in that traffic ought to contribute--most strictly -observing the regulation that no more goods should go from those -islands than amounted to 250,000 pesos, nor should more than 500,000 -be allowed to go back as proceeds. Moreover, this commerce must be -strictly confined to citizens born in Philipinas, and prohibited to -those of Nueva Espana; for any goods which should be found belonging -to the latter must be considered as confiscated, and those which -should come outside registration, if they belonged to those islanders, -must pay double duties. The declarations [manifestaciones] of these -goods must be made within the limit of six hours, or at most of -twelve, which was fixed as the utmost allowance of time. It was most -strictly commanded that for the future they should no longer allow -the declarations of [registered] merchandise which until then had -been permitted, that the ships in that commerce should not exceed a -burden of four hundred toneladas each, and that they must be the two -which sailed each year to the port of Acapulco. - -19. These orders having been received and published in Philipinas, -the city and the merchants of Manila set forth the difficulties -which were arising from the mode in which their trade was carried -on. They entreated: first, that there should be only one ship in -that trade, having a capacity of 1,200 toneladas, and not two, as -had been decided; second, that the amount of 250,000 pesos, stated -in the permission which had been granted them, should be increased; -third, that in return should be brought back the entire amount which -the merchandise should produce in Acapulco and the kingdom of Nueva -Espana, and that it should not remain limited to the 500,000 pesos to -which it had been restricted. They offered, for the regular voyage -of each year, to make a contribution to the treasury [servir con] -of 100,000 pesos, on account of the duties; and they asked that, -when it should appear that these dues had been paid, neither the -royal officials of Acapulco nor any other officials should meddle with -the registration of the goods that were landed at the arrival of the -ship, nor with the embarkation of the silver on its return voyage, -but that both these should go free. - -20. In order that the distribution of the lading-space which was made -in these islands should be equitable, the decision was confirmed -which in 1699 had been made by the governor of the islands at that -time, commanding, in regard to the statement that this distribution -was not made among the citizens, whose qualifications [for this] -belonged exclusively to that city, that the municipality alone, -without the intervention of any other official, must send the list of -the citizens to the committee which met for this purpose; and that -the said distribution should be made among the persons included in -the above list of citizens, without that government or the Audiencia -being allowed to have any discretionary power in this matter. - -21. In view of this remonstrance, and of the demands made by the -kingdom of Peru (in regard to opening to it the commerce by way of -Acapulco), by the provinces of Nueva Espana, and by the consulate [68] -of Andalucia--which set forth the weakened and diminished condition of -commerce in these and in those kingdoms, through the excessive amounts -of cloth and other commodities which were coming from Philipinas, -in the ships allowed to them, to the port of Acapulco--the Council -proposed to his Majesty in a report dated July 7, 1703, the measures -which it regarded as expedient for the regulation which must be made in -the commerce of Philipinas; these his Majesty was pleased to approve, -and their contents may be reduced to the following points: - -22. That in the Philipinas Islands two ships should be built, each of -500 toneladas burden, which should transport the goods permitted to -that trade; that the citizens should be authorized to convey in these -to Nueva Espana the amount of 300,000 pesos in their products and other -commodities, and on the return to Philipinas to carry 600,000 pesos in -silver, allowing 100 per cent gain minus the duties and expenses. Among -other things which they were commanded to watch over for the regulation -and observance of the said commerce are the following: - -23. That the city of Manila should itself make the distribution for -the lading of the two ships, without the intervention of any official. - -24. That the merchants and those interested in the trade should present -within a specified time-limit the commodities, invoices, and articles -which they were to send to Nueva Espana; that these should be placed in -the royal storehouses, and the estimate of their value be made. This -must be done by the agreement of two persons of experience, deputed -by the city and the trade, with royal officials and the fiscal of -the Audiencia of Manila, and the fiscal must superintend the entire -valuation. If any merchant should feel aggrieved in the enumeration -he should go before the committee [of distribution], in order that -his just rights might be guarded; and if the committee did not take -care of this, he should have right of appeal to the Audiencia. - -25. That he who had no goods to lade should not be allowed to give -up his right in favor of a third person, but it should accrue to the -rest, a new distribution of that part being made. - -26. That the registration be made by the royal officials, with the -assistance of the fiscal; that the goods shipped and their valuation -should be carefully ascertained; and that the decisions of the -officials, or a copy of them, be sent to Acapulco for the use of -officials there. - -27. That in Acapulco must be ascertained the quantity of silver which -should be shipped on the return voyage, and, if the goods sold should -perchance exceed the 600,000 pesos, they [i.e., the Manila owners] -should not be allowed to take away the excess in silver, but [must -take it] in goods. - -28. That if the sale of the goods shall not fill this amount of 600,000 -pesos of the permission, the merchants of Nueva Espana cannot under -any pretext, no matter how just, make up the deficiency, or place -in the ship the remaining amount of silver, for this was perpetually -prohibited by his Majesty from the time when these orders were issued; -and whatever might be done in contravention of these should be punished -with special severity. For it had been learned that under this pretext -those born in Nueva Espana or resident there were steadily introducing -their trade into Philipinas, thus causing most serious losses to the -royal treasury, and bringing that commerce to the state which was -acknowledged, with great detriment to the trade of Espana. In regard -to this matter the viceroy was charged to devote himself with the -utmost activity to the strictest fulfilment of this order, without -overlooking the slightest thing. - -29. That if it were found that any portion of silver belonged -to a native or resident of Nueva Espana it should be regarded -as confiscated, and applied in thirds; [69] and, besides, the -delinquent should pay to the royal treasury three times the amount -thus confiscated. If he repeated the offense, the penalty should be -imposed upon him of loss of goods, and exile from these provinces -for ten years. - -30. That thenceforth should likewise be prohibited the acceptance -of declarations of goods [manifestaciones], nor should they for -any reason be accepted, even if his Majesty should lose the double -duties that belong to them, since on no account would he allow them -to be tolerated. - -31. That in order to avoid confusion in the decree of the year 1697 -already cited (and leaving these points settled and in use, in such -form that they should be permanent), if the governor and merchants -of Philipinas in giving the 100,000 pesos, should come to offer it -by way of adjustment [regulacion] [70] of the duties in each voyage, -and not under the name of indult [indulto], as had been proposed, -they should be entirely released from payment of all the duties -which they must make good in Acapulco, not only on the outward but -on the return voyage. It was also declared that goods sold at that -port or shipped from it should not pay alcavala on the first sale; -for it was certain that the contribution of the 100,000 pesos from -the permission would cost seventeen per cent, leaving eighty-three per -cent gain to those who were interested in the trade. Moreover, as his -Majesty paid the expense of the building, cleaning, and equipment of -the ships, and supplying them with soldiers, provisions, supplies, -and ammunition, without receiving more than forty-four ducados for -each tonelada, it would not only be advantageous, but even necessary -to the royal treasury to furnish a considerable amount for preserving -their commerce and traffic to the natives of the island, which was -all the favor which his royal munificence could exercise. If, however, -an agreement should not be reached by the trade in the adjustment of -the 100,000 pesos, the royal duties must be exacted and collected in -full, without excepting anything. - -32. That in the enumeration of the traders should be included the -Spaniards born in the country, and the military men stationed in the -port of Cavite; and these might engage in that traffic--excluding, -however, ecclesiastical ministers, whether secular or regular, and -those who were foreigners to those Philipinas Islands. - -33. That the master of each ship must make a book containing the -freight list, and present it with the aforesaid documents at Acapulco -to the castellan who governs that port and the royal officials, for -the discharge of cargo. At the same time he must carry a duplicate of -all these documents, to be sent to the viceroy as soon as they arrived, -in order that he might examine them and communicate with the tribunal -of accounts, in which a copy of it must be made to send to the Council. - -34. As soon as the ships should anchor in Acapulco the castellan and -royal officials of that port should station the guards necessary to -avoid the concealment of goods or their clandestine introduction, -causing the ship to be lightened and its cargo landed with the utmost -promptness, and collecting the established duties or securing them -by the goods themselves, according to the usage up to that time. - -35. That when the goods had been landed and the amounts registered -had been ascertained, the ships should be inspected; and whatever else -was found therein should be regarded as confiscated, without allowing -therein any claim or remonstrance. Half of the goods confiscated -should be applied to the royal treasury, and the rest in two parts to -the judge and the informer--excepting in the case when the value of -confiscated goods should reach 50,000 pesos; for then the viceroy and -the royal court of Mexico must allot to the judge and the informer -such quantity as should be proper, leaving to the decision of the -judges other penalties in accordance with the guilt of the offenders. - -36. His Majesty having agreed to the proposals made by the Council, -they issued on August 12, 1702, despatches in accordance therewith, -to the governments of Nueva Espana and Philipinas, informing them of -the regulation herein explained, and commanding them both to observe -it strictly and inviolably. In consequence of this, the governor of -Philipinas, in letters of June 21, 1705, and May 24, 1708 (in which he -acknowledged the receipt of the despatch sent to him), reported that -he had carried the decree into execution, and had made it known to -the merchants in the city of Manila, who had offered to make good the -burdens of expense which would ensue if the two ships of 500 toneladas -each were immediately built according to this command--in view of the -fact that there were two galleons and one patache in the ports there; -of these one might serve eight years, and the other a little less, -and the patache four. For this reason the governor had commanded that -the building of the two ships should be suspended until those which -were then in use should be worn out. - -37. That also it had been regarded as impracticable that the valuation -of the cloth and wares which were to be traded should be made through -the actual examination of the bales and their other goods, and that -this should be carried out in the royal storehouses--considering that -the crowded condition of those buildings, and the risk of thefts, -fires, and other accidents, did not permit this method to be practiced, -as was commanded by the decree that has been cited. - -38. That to this was added that, as the Chinese do not gather at -the fair [at Manila] until the end of May in each year, and the -ships sail from those islands toward the end of the following June, -the royal officials were unable in so short a time as one month to -attend to the aforesaid examination, and to undertake the despatch -and registration of the ships, on account of the great amount of work -that they had to do in this. For these reasons it had been decided -that, in the invoices that were brought forward, an itemized account -should be given of the stuffs, their quantity, quality, numbers and -marks, and the names of the consignees; and that the consignors should -furnish samples of each article; and some bales here and there could be -opened to ascertain if there were any fraud and punish it. And that, -the aforesaid city and merchants having agreed to and accepted all -the rest that was contained in the above despatch, the galleons had -accordingly sailed for Nueva Espana in the years 1705 and 1706. - -39. The Council, being informed of this memorial, agreed that the -strictest orders should be repeated (as was done by decrees of December -12, 1712) for the exact observance and punctual fulfilment of those -given on August 12, 1702, excepting that which concerned the opening -of the bundles in the royal storehouses for the valuations. It was -permitted that these should be made by means of invoices, which -each one must present, swearing that the goods were his and that -the bales contained no more than was set down on the invoices. The -Council also decided that the traffic and commerce of those islands -should be continued by the two ships already in existence, until they -should become unseaworthy; in that case they must be laid aside, and -the building of the two ships of 500 toneladas burden each should be -undertaken, according to their former decision. - -40. Inasmuch as in the year 1706 the galleon named "Rosario" had -been despatched from Philipinas under the regulations made by the -cited decree of 1702, and modifications in this had been proposed -by the city and merchants of Manila, the viceroy Alburquerque [71] -had commanded (with the opinion of a junta which he formed for the -reception and unlading of the galleon) that this cargo should not -be admitted to the adjustment of the 100,000 pesos, which the above -regulation provided; and that consequently the declaration of goods -should be accepted, by the rules of valuation and of the payment -of duties which had been observed on other occasions. The Council, -after the statement of the fiscal and consultation with his Majesty, -severely censured the viceroy, and the officials of the junta who -had agreed with his opinion; and they returned thanks to those who -were of the opposite opinion, who thought that the adjustment of the -100,000 pesos should be paid, as that was the most exact and accurate -meaning of the royal orders issued in the year 1702. - - - -SECTION IV - -PERIOD IV - - Of the demonstration which was made in the year 1712, when the - Duke de Linares was viceroy, of the illegalities in the trade - permitted to Filipinas, and the difficulty of preventing them. - - -41. On May 27, 1710, a despatch was sent through the private -correspondence office [via reservada], addressed to the Duke -de Linares, viceroy of Mexico, directing him, on account of the -pressing necessities of war, to grant indult of the penalties for the -illegalities (specifying those which had been committed in notable -transgression of the law) with which the Filipinas commerce had -been and was still carried on--not only in the commodities which were -shipped, but in the silver which was sent back for them--neglecting the -rules and orders that had been given for that commerce. In consequence -of this, by order of the viceroy, an investigation was made in Mexico -by an auditor in the year 1712, of both the shipment and the returns; -and as a result of this was shown the great illegality with which the -stuffs from China had been traded. It appeared that the goods that -came without registration were allowed to enter on the declaration -of them; that, contrary to the permission, all or the greater part -of the merchandise in this commerce belonged to citizens of Mexico, -Puebla and other parts of that kingdom, and not to the native citizens -of the islands; that while the permission limited the returns to only -600,000 pesos, the amount thus permitted had been exceeded in some -years by two millions, and in every year by a considerable amount; -and that no investigation had been made of the chests carried by the -mariners of those ships, to see whether they contained more than 30 -pesos' worth of goods. - -42. Although with this investigation and the accompanying report of the -auditor who made it (which he sent to the viceroy), and the opinion -given by the fiscal of the Audiencia when he saw it, that court was -of the opinion that the indult should be granted to the traders of -Mexico who proved to be guilty, that body of traders refused such -benefit, supposing that against its individuals such guilt would not -be proved as to require compurgation [by the grace] of the indult; -and the viceroy Linares, in a letter of August 4, 1714, in giving -account of these investigations, made the following statement: - -43. "By the last trading-fleet [flota] I informed your Majesty of the -progress of the investigations which had been begun in regard to the -commerce of Philipinas, and of the measures which I had taken with the -merchants of this city in regard to the indult. They assured me that, -as they were included in the offense, and the access to his Majesty's -clemency was so open, they would avail themselves of this favor, in -order not to suffer another investigation or expose themselves to an -experience of the severity of the penalty, since it was easier to take -refuge in the sovereign asylum of your Majesty in the indult. But -as the opinions of men differ, and their fears are wont to range -themselves on the side of their advantage, the notorious nature of -the offense was not enough to convince them, or the prohibition of -the law to persuade them, on account of their persisting in the belief -that [this very] tolerance sufficed to keep them from incurring [the -penalties of] guilt; and that the fact that the ships came [to trade] -without conforming to the orders of your Majesty afforded to the -[Mexican] traders a certain indult for not making any change in the -custom [regarding it]--alleging that the tolerance [of the government] -was a matter of convenience, and insisting that they had not traded -directly in the islands. With this the merchants resolved in a special -conference, convened for this purpose by the consulate, that they would -not avail themselves of the indult, leaving in my hands the liberty to -proceed against all of them, hearing them in [the courts of] justice. - -"Having learned of this decision, and being certain that many of the -merchants were refusing the contribution as a body, and covering -the indults as individuals, in order to secure greater advantage -to themselves, I directed the auditor who had had charge of this -investigation to summon them--each so separately and independently -of the others that even the knowledge of this proceeding could not -be imparted to them; and beginning with those who were distinguished -by either wealth or position, whose opinion might be either a guide -or a check to the others, in order that, these having once accepted -the indult, their submission and connivance might facilitate the -acquiescence of the others. - -"I was influenced to this opinion by the difficulty of proceeding -against all of them; for, as they number almost five hundred, and -among them are the most prominent merchants, any procedure against -them would cause a great sensation in the community, even though the -cause should justify it, especially [if it occurred] at the despatch -of the trading-fleet. [Also I was influenced by other considerations,] -knowing by experience the losses that the merchants suffer through -the irregular condition of the trade and the failure of the mineral -products to make these good; their valuing more highly the actual -balance in their favor from some investments which give prompt -returns than their hopes from others which [various] causes might -naturally retard; [the desirability of] gaining the tranquillity of -the commonwealth by the voluntary contribution of its individuals; -and by this means rendering more worthy of their regard the royal -clemency of your Majesty, and pledging them to gratitude at receiving -as a kindness the indult which menaced them as a penalty. - -"Those who probably are included in this infraction of the law may -be reduced to three classes of persons: those whose wealth supplies -them with funds for trading, and who therefore risk these for heavy -investments, without fearing lest they be ruined or left without -funds for other purposes; others of the middle class [as merchants], -who under the protection of the preceding class expose to risk a part -of what they possess, and content themselves with moderate gains, -because their means do not allow them to make greater outlay; and -still others (and the most numerous), who are very poor and are unable -to hazard any money, but who go to the port of Acapulco and there -purchase what they can for the comfort of their families and their -own petty affairs--and these are the majority [of the transgressors], -among whom are many who are [now] absent, dead, or bankrupt. - -"In the books of the carriers [72] in which is set down the silver -which has been carried to the port [of Acapulco], and the merchandise -which has been transported to this kingdom [of Mexico]--all money is -included without any distinction, without specifying the coin which -goes destined for the fair at Acapulco and that which must be sent to -the islands; and this produces confusion, which it is very difficult -to clear up. For if they [i.e., the merchants] are charged with this -remittance of coin, they say that the money is for the fair, which -is lawful and allowed; if they are obliged to admit that they are -sending coin and are not receiving goods, they say that it is for -the balances [due] on commissions from the citizens of Manila. As -this traffic goes on under a confidence system [confianza], in which -there is neither written document which can certify the remittances, -nor register in which the real owners can be declared, nor bill of -lading by which the right of possession may be known--the result is, -that the citizens of Manila send as their own the bales which belong -to those of Mexico, and the latter send money as if it belonged to -the citizens of Manila, produced from those bales which were not their -own. And as this trade is carried on publicly with this dissimulation, -and it will not be easy for any one to ascertain the inside of it -and the agreements which are privately made, it follows from this -that there will always be difficulty in proving guilt, and that the -merchants will persist in trying to persuade the officials that the -money which they send is intended either for the fair at the port, -or for the payment of [debts to] its owners. - -"From this confusion--the depth of which cannot be ascertained, -because there is no kind of proof which will make it evident--there -results only the suspicion against them, a possibility which has -made this negotiation [73] more opportune to them, not only because -money makes it all easy, but because it is not supposed that very -large investments can be made with a small remnant of funds. [74] -But as this remains a matter of supposition (although public report -states otherwise), I must confine myself to judicial terms, in order -[either] to acquit or to condemn. The proportion of the indult must -always remain a difficult thing, because there has been no accurate -rule for deciding it, nor could it be imposed in a definite amount, -in order that the contribution might be calculated in accordance -with it. For this reason, we estimated the amounts, averaging their -judgment and my own, from which about 15,000 pesos have resulted; -and the persons who have furnished these sums are secure as to the -despatch of their affairs, in virtue of the powers which your Majesty -confers on me. For this I send also the record of proceedings, in -which appear [the names of] other individuals besides those included -in the memorandum [minuta]. I must tell your Majesty that most of -them are very poor, and that what they possess is not sufficient -to pay a contribution in any amount; and it, after investigation, -either then lack of means or their innocence rendered the exaction -of the penalty impossible, I considered it best not to engage the -[royal] authority in making extortions from the vassals. - -"Your Majesty has given notice, in your royal decree of May 27, 1710, -that frauds in the commerce consist in the excess of the shipments -[over the amount permitted], and in what relates to the money which -is transported by the ships of Philipinas to each of those countries, -and that this irregularity depends on the judges who at Acapulco -receive and despatch the ships. Although I must acquiesce in these -judgments, and, no matter how much care the viceroys take to confer -these powers on officials of zeal, intelligence, and energy, it is -possible for self-interest to corrupt them, I also grant that it -is difficult to ascertain their transgressions--because, as there -is but the one official before whom the declarations of the goods -and the registrations of the silver are made, it is very possible -that he may have an interest in one or the other of these--either -recording a smaller quantity of goods, in order that there may be -smaller duties; or not registering the silver, which he can allow -to be shipped outside the amount permitted. But as in both cases -there is no one to make objection besides the very parties who are -interested--and it suits these to be silent, because their profit -depends on that--nor is there a witness to state what occurs, nor -document to prove it, the transaction goes on, under a system of -confidence to which neither proof nor even suspicion can be opposed. - -"In some accounts, I have learned, certain sums have been credited to -your Majesty, under the title 'Amounts in excess of the permission,' -which is ten per cent of the excess over the 600,000 pesos which -your Majesty allows to be transported; but whether these items are -punctually credited or not, or whether under cover of these other and -larger sums were received which were profitable to the judge, it is -not easy to ascertain. I take abundant precautions to prevent these -things from being done, but if they are done, or are hidden, I cannot -prevent it; and I go on, sincerely believing that the minister [in -whose charge this matter is], of whose fidelity I have had experience -in other directions, will exercise that faithfulness in this also. - -"For the future, your Majesty commands that the merchants refrain -from transgressing in what is prohibited; but the very nature of the -subject leaves some openings that cannot be repaired, through which -the greed for gain thrusts itself, not only among the officials but -in the merchants; and thus the most sagacious understanding does -not perceive or suspect them, and thus does not correct them. I will -specify some cases to your Majesty which will make this point clear. - -"Your Majesty commands in law 12 on 'Navigation and commerce of -Philipinas,' in the compilation of laws of the Indias: 'That those -who desire to go to Philipinas must give bonds, for their residing -in the islands for at least eight years; and the viceroy shall allow -them to carry with them their wealth in money, besides the amount of -the general permission.' In virtue of this law, cunning has discovered -two safe and sure ways for perpetuating the commerce of this kingdom -with those islands: the first, in the permission [here given] for -carrying the money; the second, in [the assumption of] citizenship. For -experience has shown that, on pretext of [maintaining] confidence and -friendly relations, the merchants here send out one or more persons, -the profits of them all being contracted for with these persons; -the latter ask permission from the government, and display 50,000 to -70,000 pesos as their own, which actually are amounts entrusted to -them by many persons. Under this supposition, they go over to Manila -with the title of citizens, trade with that money, and regularly ship, -as their own, the goods consigned to the citizens here [in Mexico], to -whom belonged the money [carried by these agents]; and by remittances -of silver and shipments of goods they continue to perpetuate that -commerce--in such manner that, if efforts are made to learn who is -the shipper, it is [always ostensibly] a citizen of Manila, in whom -it is taken for granted that there is no fraud; and if the names of -the consignees are ascertained, answer is made that they are his -agents. But the latter are not agents, but owners, and the former -are not owners, but agents; and in this way the order of things is -reversed, by changing their names and the titles to property, and -the profits remaining in the hands of those who are under prohibition. - -"From this difficulty, authorized by the permission of the law, follow -others. For, granting that these agents, even though they have actual -residence in Manila, stay there not with the intention of becoming -permanent settlers, but of living there only during the agencies which -are patronized by the citizens of this kingdom, and that in virtue -of the royal orders of your Majesty they are reputed as citizens: it -[yet] follows that to them, as citizens, is assigned lading space in -the ships, in accordance with the law, and with the royal decree of the -year 1702; and thus they have the greatest facility for continuing in -their trading, because no hindrance is offered to their shipments. They -stand in the way of those who are really citizens and natives of those -islands, whose remonstrances occasioned your Majesty's prohibition; -but as this interference goes on under the shelter of so plausible -a reason, the latter have no way in which to oppose it, nor can they -avoid suffering from it; and what [the authorities] there decide to -belong to the parties interested is, strictly speaking, what has been -entrusted to them by the citizens of Mexico. - -"From this result two other and irreparable losses to the commerce of -Manila. The first is, that for the 300,000 pesos of the permission -there is a million of pesos to be invested [therein]; and [these -agents], in order to make the most of their remittances [from Mexico], -and to secure larger profits on their commissions, pay for goods -at excessive prices, and are preferred in the sales. This is what -cannot be done with their own money by the real citizens of those -islands, because they have not [sufficient] capital remaining to -permit adequate gains with high-priced stuffs and enormous costs [for -transportation]--especially when these [citizens] regularly sell [their -goods] at Acapulco (whither they go exposed to loss of their capital), -in order to have the relief of bringing back their wealth in the same -vessel with themselves; and the others [i.e., the agents of Mexicans] -ship to Mexico their goods, the owners of which store them away in -order that time may give them value, for they do not need to sell -these goods at once in order to continue the remittances of money -[to Filipinas]. Thus, the former must necessarily lose, or at least -not gain; and the latter must gain, or at least not lose. - -"The second [injury to commerce]: although no more than the -300,000 pesos of the permission, in goods valued in the islands, -can be shipped, experience has shown us that much larger amounts -come thence; and the reason is, because the register contains the -appraisements of the goods so exceedingly low that it is impossible, -unless fraud intervene, that they could be purchased at first hand -at those prices--but with the trick that all the reduction of price -thus made on the goods is squeezed besides into the [amount of the] -permission, and the real account comes separately to the owners. As a -result, the greater part of the space on the ship is occupied by those -agents, although with the pretense that they produce but small amounts; -and all this springs from that original root of allowing citizenship, -and the transportation of their silver, to persons who, without the -intention of becoming settlers, continue there so long as it brings -them profit. The fear of this abuse has led to an investigation at -Acapulco, to learn whether the valuation of the stuffs is the actual -value of them at Manila; and as the witnesses are necessarily from -that city they frankly say that it is so, and enormous quantities of -goods come thence under the pretext of the 300,000 pesos permitted. - -"These considerations and the fulfilment of my obligation constrain -me to inform your Majesty that although I have applied all my energy -and watchfulness in order that what was decided by your Majesty -should be put into practice, causing the royal decree of the year -1702 to be proclaimed in Mexico and Acapulco, and allowing two years -of liberty in order that the transaction of this commerce with those -islands may cease, the perversity and selfishness of the merchants is -able to pervert the rule which is seen therein--in public giving out -that they are conforming to the tenor of that decree, and in private -and secret hiding under [their system of] confidence the prohibited -transactions, which cause, besides the royal displeasure of your -Majesty, serious injury to the commercial interests of Spain. For -when there is abundance of the goods from Manila--which on account -of their cheapness are more suitable for the common people--the -value of those from Europe is impaired; and from this results the -stoppage of the trading-fleets, the lack of purchasers, and the -lowering of prices, because the people do not consider the European -goods necessary for their supply [of clothing]. I know very well that -in the islands a change is expected from regulating the commerce, -as has been experienced this year, when the [Manila] ship came in -ballast--the merchants perhaps fearing the threatened punishment of -the confiscation of their goods (as I set forth to your Majesty in -a separate report). From this will result the forced expenditure of -the royal situado and the inefficiency of the royal exchequer; but -as it is certain that those islands cannot maintain themselves with -the situado alone, and that they need the traffic in their goods in -order to obtain a balance of profits and to meet their obligations, -they will have to continue in their shipments, conforming themselves -to the [terms of the] permission, if they do not wish to experience -the penalty of law in punishment for their frauds. - -"This year of 1714 is the last one designated and determined by me -for closing and finishing the mutual relations of both commercial -bodies, taking into consideration, however, the capital belonging -to Nueva Espana in the islands, and that the penalty ought not to -be anticipated, considering the publicity of the prohibition; and, -as nothing is coming this year, it will be necessary to abrogate it -in the following one. All this I place before your Majesty, in order -that in regard to what is contained therein you may be pleased to -apply suitable measures." - -In view of this letter from Viceroy Linares, and of other documents, -whose contents do not concern this writing, it was agreed by the -Council (after having listened to the fiscal), by a decree of the -second of March, 1715, that this collection of papers [Expediente] -should be kept until the commissary of Philipinas (who, it was learned, -was coming to the court) should arrive; and that in the meanwhile all -the previous documents which the Council might possess in regard to -this commerce should be collected together. - - - - - -PERIOD V - - Of the information given by the commercial interests of Espana, - in regard to the injuries arising from the Philipinas trade; - and orders given by his Majesty in the year 1718 prohibiting the - [trade in] the silk fabrics from China. - - -45. As the result of the memorial sent to the king by the consulate -and commerce of Nueva Espana (which his Majesty was pleased to refer -to the Council), in which they described the backward condition in -which their trade was, and stated the arguments why the trading-fleets -annually sent to that kingdom [from Espana] should not be continued, -the Council agreed that the consulate and commerce of Sevilla should -give a report upon their opinion of this memorial, calling together for -this purpose in a general conference all the shippers and merchants -who were in that city; and that their discussions, proposals, and -joint opinions should be exactly copied, with the individual opinions -which were offered, and the whole sent to the Council. - -46. The body of traders having assembled in Sevilla on January 27, -1714, in order to comply with the order of the Council, and the -importance of this matter having been discussed at length in the -conference, it was unanimously agreed that the injury arising from -the notable, frequent, and large importation of foreign goods which -had been made throughout America had been very pernicious to the -commerce of Sevilla; and that it was impossible that that commerce -should return to its former condition if those importations were -not checked--which they had entreated his Majesty to do in repeated -remonstrances, which they now made again, trusting that the earnest -and truthful utterances of vassals so faithful as they could not be -displeasing to the royal ears. - -47. [They further declared] that the injury caused by the large amount -of freight which was earned into Nueva Espana by the ships from China, -rivaled, if it did not exceed, that from the other importations. For, -although the merchants of Mexico did not touch on this point in -their memorial, the silence in which they kept back this subject -(although it was a more odious source of damage) readily explained -what interests were concerned in tolerating and continuing those -ships, at the same time when the latter had so injured and driven out -the commerce of Espana that no words were sufficient to explain the -grief and resentment [of the Sevillans] over the great losses which -had been caused to it. For although the ships which were bringing in -the cloth and other goods (a matter to which the consulate of Mexico -attached much weight) were ruining the commerce of Espana, in those -important lines of linen goods, and others which they were bringing -in, [nevertheless] the knowledge, suspicion, or information of what -they were could perhaps make the [resultant] damage to the Spanish -commerce less serious, such knowledge causing the refusal to injure -that commerce; but that could not be guarded against in the ships -from China, for their cargo was composed of all the silks and other -goods generally which could be traded in by the merchants of Espana, -of those which are manufactured in these kingdoms; and, whatever might -be lost in that region on the part of the commerce of Espana by reason -of foreign importations, it lost everything through those from China. - -48. That, his Majesty having granted to the island of Luzon (in which -was located the city of Manila) and to the other islands around it -only this, that every year there should go to the port of Acapulco one -ship to obtain the situado for the maintenance of the fortified posts, -conveying only what pertained to white and colored cotton stuffs, -pepper, porcelain, raw silk, and other similar commodities which are -produced by the islands which obey [the king of Espana], and with the -prohibition of every kind of woven silk stuffs as contraband--for which -reason the latter have always been burned on account of the notion of -their being made in China and Japon (which are countries governed by -idolaters, Mahometans, and heretics, who are not under the dominion -of this crown)--the abuse of this permission had reached such a state -that the ship came with a lading of eleven or twelve thousand bales -from China and Japon, so dexterously packed by those infidels that -the largest bale which the commerce of Espana was shipping to the -Indias did not include the volume or the value that was enclosed in a -bale of those silks, which was less than a vara deep. Moreover, they -put therein imitations of all the satins, velvets, ribbons, mantles, -hose, and every kind of silks, which were manufactured in Espana; -[and these were] so showy and beautiful that, not only for this reason -but on account of the very moderate prices at which they were sold -throughout Nueva Espana, no other kind of silks were used than those -of China. The result of this was that all the silk factories in Espana -(which were paying so enormous duties to the royal treasury) had been -broken up and destroyed; and the fortunes of those who were trading in -the Indias were ruined by the great losses which they had encountered, -since the Spanish commerce was deprived of a line of goods so important -and rich as is that of the silk, in all its kinds of fabrics. - -49. That this loss had passed over to the woolen goods, such as -picotes, barracans, [75] and others which were shipped in the -trading-fleets; for those who had clothed themselves with these -throughout Nueva Espana were now despising them, observing that for -half of what a woolen garment cost them they could procure another of -China silk--being apparently as well clothed, although in the quality -of the goods they had been deceived. In this manner the Chinese -goods carried out of the country three or four millions of pesos in -each ship, which was but little less wealth than that carried by a -regular trading-fleet. - -50. That the damage which this illegal trade occasioned to the royal -treasury and to the Spanish trade enabled one to judge of the great -amount of property which those ships transported, of the treasures -which they carried, of the loss which they caused to the commerce of -Espana, and of the amount which they did not contribute [to the royal -revenues]--augmenting by this means the power and wealth of those -infidels, who are enemies to the Christian faith and to the crown. For -this reason, and because the consulate and commerce of Sevilla firmly -believed that this was the greatest loss and the greatest source and -cause of the ruin of the trading-fleets, and that which most urgently -called for relief with the most prompt and energetic measures: they -concluded by entreating his Majesty that he would deign to give orders -that the permission given to Philipinas be strictly observed, under the -most severe penalties, commanding that its limits be restricted within -the limits of its first concession, for this purpose despatching the -most rigorous orders; and that the trading-fleets should go punctually -and frequently, each year. On this point they expatiated at length, -and it is omitted because it does not belong to this subject. - -51. In view of this information and of the proceedings in the Council -(of which there is no account in the Expediente) it is found that by -decree of January 8, 1718, his Majesty stated to the Council that, -having been informed of the quantity of stuffs, silken fabrics, and -other merchandise which the ship from Philipinas brought, by which -the greater part of the silver of Nueva Espana was carried out of -that country, he had decided to prohibit absolutely the trade in the -aforesaid commodities. He declared that the only trade which could be -carried on was in linen goods, porcelain, wax, cinnamon, cloves, and -other products which are not carried from Espana, to such an amount -of these kinds of goods as the Marques de Valero should notify to -the governor of Philipinas, which must be transported by one of -the ships which for the last five years had arrived at Acapulco -[from the islands]. His Majesty furnished with this a copy of the -order to this purpose which he had given to the Marques de Valero, -the tenor of which is as follows: [Here follows a copy of the decree, -dated at Madrid on January 8, 1718.] - -53. By another decree of June 20, in the same year, 1718, his Majesty -sent to the Council, for its information and guidance in the matters -which belonged to it, a copy of another decree (which was issued to -the Council of Castilla), prohibiting the importation and use of the -fabrics from China and other parts of Assia, since this was to the -injury of the manufactures and commerce of Espana; its tenor is as -follows: [A copy of this decree is also given]. - - - - - -PERIOD VI - - Of what occurred from the year 1718, in which the commerce of - silken fabrics was prohibited, up to the year 1722, in which the - merchants of Philipinas protested. - - -55. The Marques de Valero, then viceroy of Mexico, in a letter of -March 12, 1719--accompanied by a duplicate of another letter dated -June 20, 1718, in which he acknowledged the receipt of the despatches -in the private correspondence, dated January 8 of that same year, -which prohibited all silks in the ship from Philipinas--considered -the inconveniences which would result from that commerce being -reduced to linen goods, porcelain, wax, pepper, cinnamon, and cloves, -excluding stuffs, and raw silk and [silken] fabrics. For, he said, -if this prohibition should be put in practice, the result would be -the decay of religion, and the risk that it would be neglected, and -its extension would be endangered and even exposed to ruin although -this matter had cost his Majesty so much solicitude in promoting and -assisting the missions for preaching the faith. [He declared] that -the Spanish families who were there would abandon the settlements, -for they could not maintain themselves in those islands without the -trade in the aforesaid commodities, since that in the merchandise -allowed to them had no profit, on account of its low price and the -little demand for it. That the natives of Nueva Espana were also -included in the prohibition, since their usual material for clothing -was the stuffs from China, on account of the moderate prices of these, -and because they could not use the cloth from Espana, since it was -more expensive--unless, if they are deprived of the former, it will -follow that they consume the latter; for if their need and poverty -would permit it they would use the Spanish cloth, since all value it -more on account of its greater durability and better quality. That -the arrival of the trading-fleets was welcomed by the rich merchants, -but that most of the people in the kingdom were much more eager -to see the ship from China; and, if its arrival were delayed, one -did not fail to notice many expressions of regret. That the royal -treasury was notoriously injured; for, with the duties which the -silk merchandise yielded, the situado was forwarded to Philipinas -and the Marianas Islands, and in default of those duties it would be -necessary to make the remittance from the funds in the treasury of -Mexico. That would cause arrears in paying the fixed charges which -the treasury had to carry, and could hardly meet with all its income, -and the royal treasury would also be injured by the loss of the ten -per cent which was paid by the silver sent in return for merchandise; -and, besides, the few commodities which were carried would not yield -enough to cover the cost of the navigation. - -56. The fiscal--to whom it was ordered to send these representations, -that he might examine them and compare them with the Expediente--made -his reply on January 10, in the year 1720, reaffirming the motives -which had prevailed, since the discovery and conquest of those islands, -in permitting to them the commerce with Nueva Espana, so far as it was -necessary to their preservation. [He also stated] the infractions of -law which had changed the amount permitted--250,000 pesos of principal, -and 500,000 for the returns (which "Period i" mentions)--and what was -ordained by the royal decree of August 12, 1702, for the regulation -of the management and continuance of this commerce; and declarations -made by his Majesty in regard to unsettled points which arose, in -the meeting of the Council in 1712, from which despatches were sent -on December 12, of that year (which are mentioned in "Period iii"); -and the fact that the abuses with which the merchants of Peru had -carried on commerce with Nueva Espana had made it necessary that in -the year 1631 that trade should be entirely prohibited. He was of the -following opinion: that the permission to trade ought to be continued -to the citizens of Philipinas, for the damages to the commerce of -Espana would be avoided if that of Philipinas did not exceed the -300,000 pesos which were allowed to it. - -57. That if this commerce should perish, trade and intercourse in -those distant provinces would cease; and if they were cut off from -communication with Nueva Espana they would remain exposed to seeking -for commerce with the adjoining nations, and in imminent danger of -trading away at the same time their own rights and customs, and of -going to perdition--the Catholic faith being extinguished entirely -or in part, the propagation and maintenance of which was and always -had been the chief care of his Majesty. - -58. That although in the royal decrees of January 8, 1718, there was -reserved to the islands the trade in sugar, porcelain, linens (called -"elephants"), [76] and spices, these commodities were not adequate -for maintaining a continued commerce, nor for producing the revenues -which those islands needed. - -59. That the government should not disregard the consideration brought -forward by Senor Valero, of the damage which ensued to the poor vassals -of Nueva Espana from depriving them of the privilege of supplying -themselves at less cost with the fabrics from Philipinas; for if they -cannot obtain these, and the poor are unable to meet the expenses of -the Spanish merchandise on account of its high price, they would be -exposed to the wretchedness of destitution. In conclusion, he said -that advice should be given to his Majesty that the remonstrance of -Senor Marques de Valero was just; and that deference should be paid -to it, by suspending the operation of the above-mentioned decrees -and warning all the officials in those regions that they must conform -without any variation to the orders given in the decree of the year -1702--with various provisions which he proposed, one of which was -the total prohibition of the commerce in case the conditions of that -decree were violated. - -60. Having considered this reply of the fiscal, it was agreed by an -act dated February 1, 1720, to advise his Majesty in accordance with -all the preceding recommendations; and the Council was of opinion -that it should reiterate the enforcement of [the commands in] the -despatches of August 12, 1702, and December 13, 1712, with a strict -stipulation that the ship could not be allowed to sail if the value -of the 300,000 pesos of the permission were invested in silks only. - -61. While this opinion was in the royal hands, an order from -his Majesty came down to the Council dated September 5, 1720, in -which--influenced by a memorial which had been presented by Don Manuel -Lopez Pintado in the name of the consulate and commerce of Cadiz; and -by a letter from Marques de Valero just then received, dated March -8, in the same year--his Majesty commanded that the Council should -inform him of their opinions in regard to the prohibition of stuffs -and silks from China in the Philipinas ship, after first listening -to the memorial from the commerce of Cadiz. - -62. The Marques de Valero in the letter here cited of March 8, -1720, urging what he had set forth in previous letters in regard -to the difficulty which he encountered in carrying out the decrees -which prohibited the commerce in silken fabrics, also spoke of the -new distress in which the islands were, on account of the plague -of locusts, failure in their harvest of rice, and the scandalous -proceedings of Governor Bustamante. The viceroy said that it seemed -to him better for the service of God, and that of his Majesty, to -delay the regulations which changed the method in which that commerce -had been conducted, until his Majesty should make such decision as -pleased him in regard to the viceroy's previous memorials; and he -said in conclusion that he had also found it desirable to make this -suspension of the decrees because the emperor of China had hindered his -vassals for the last two years from trading with the islands--which -had resulted in the galleon of that year carrying but few silk -goods. Consequently, the greatest scarcity of that merchandise had -been experienced, for, even before the arrival of the ship, a libra -of silk spun [beneficiada] and dyed was worth 26 to 28 pesos. - -63. In consequence of this order of his Majesty there were sent -to the consulate of Cadiz copies of the decrees of the year 1718 -and of the letters of the Marques de Valero which have been noted, -in order that the consulate might report in regard to its opinions, -fully and clearly stating the inconveniences, or the advantages, -which might follow the prohibition of the stuffs, silken fabrics, -and other merchandise from China. They answered this in a letter of -July 16, declaring that on this subject they had made on different -occasions the representations which were contained in two official -documents which accompanied, and that nothing occurred to them to be -added to these (which are the ones noted in nos. 46 and the following, -"Period v"). [77] Orders were given that the fiscal should examine the -whole matter anew; and he in his reply of September 11, in the same -year, 1720, taking into consideration what he had stated in another of -January 10 preceding (which is the reply that is indicated in no. 56), -added, that the consulate only complained in its memorial and in the -remonstrances of its merchants of the illegal manner in which the -commerce of Philipinas was carried on; and the fiscal asked that this -be restricted within the limits of the permitted amount. - -64. He stated that it was a mistake to assume that the permission was -only for the products belonging to the native citizens of Philipinas, -because the laws which permitted this commerce did not contain such -limitation, and continual usage had excluded it; for always the islands -had traded in silken fabrics without hindrance, for with the products -of the country it would be impossible to carry on an annual commerce -to the amount of 300,000 pesos. - -65. That the absolute prohibition of that commerce which the consulate -proposed in its memorial (it is not in the Expediente), following -the precedent of prohibiting the commerce of Peru with Nueva Espana, -ought not to be considered. For the latter prohibition left both those -kingdoms free to trade with Castilla, by which the lack of commerce -between them was made endurable; but this result could not occur with -Philipinas if the commerce of Nueva Espana were prohibited to them, -since there remained no other of which they could avail themselves. - -66. That, if the products of the natives of those islands were -sufficient to make up the annual [amount of] trade to the extent of -300,000 pesos, it would be just and reasonable that the commerce in -silken fabrics be prohibited to them; but as the aforesaid viceroy -positively stated that those products were not sufficient for that -purpose, it would not be right to deprive them of this privilege -without further knowledge of the subject. The conclusion of the -fiscal was, that orders should be given to observe the royal decree -of August 12, 1702; and that the viceroy and Audiencia of Mexico, -and the governor, Audiencia, archbishop, and royal officials of -Manila, should send in information very clear and detailed on the -question whether the products of the country could fill up the amount, -[of exports] assigned to that commerce. - -67. The Council, in view of all that is mentioned in this "Period -vi," and of a summary of the context of the letters of the Marques de -Valero, and of the replies of the fiscal, were of opinion, in their -session of September 23, 1720, that his Majesty should be pleased to -command a repetition of the orders given for the fulfilment of the -regulations issued on August 12, 1702, and September 13, 1712--with a -strict stipulation that the Philipinas ship should not sail with an -investment which should exceed 300,000 pesos, and that to be in the -commodities which were specified [therein], with exclusion of every -kind of silken fabrics; and with other measures and statements which -are contained in the despatches that were issued for the enforcement -of those decrees, dated October 27, following, of which mention will -be made. - -68. At this session it pleased his Majesty to make the following -decision: "I agree entirely with what the Council proposes; and -the corresponding orders shall be immediately given, with the most -punctual and strict charge to the officials whom this concerns (and -especially the viceroy of Nueva Espana) that all the above orders shall -be carried out promptly, without any objection or alteration--with the -warning that, if any neglect or delay in fulfilling this decision is -experienced, proceedings shall be brought against them as disobedient -to my orders. And in order that those officials, as also private -persons in Nueva Espana and Philipinas, may be fully informed of this -determination, a decree shall be drawn up with the utmost clearness -and precision, which shall include the whole of this business. This -decree shall serve as an ordinance, in which, without reference to -others, shall be expressly stated what every person must observe in -this commerce, and the penalties which transgressors will incur, -in accordance with what the Council proposes, to the end that, by -placing an authentic copy of it at the heads of the registers on -the ships from Philipinas and making it public, no one can allege -ignorance. The Council shall pay especial attention to the manner in -which proceedings shall be taken in this matter, not only in Nueva -Espana but in Philipinas, in order to secure the punishment of those -who disobey my orders, and of those who shall delay their execution." - -69. In consequence of this decision the royal ordinance which was -mentioned in it was drawn up, with date of October 27, 1720. It was -addressed to the viceroy Marques de Valero, and the Audiencia of -Mexico; the royal officials of Acapulco; the governor, Audiencia, -and fiscal of Philipinas; and the archbishop of Manila; and copies of -it were given to the consulates and merchants of Cadiz and Manila, -at their request, in order that they might print it. Its tenor is -as follows: - -70. [This decree is addressed to Marques de Valero, viceroy of Nueva -Espana. After rehearsing the arguments brought forward in previous -letters received from Valero, the decree ordains the following rules -for the commerce of Philipinas: Two ships shall go annually from the -islands to Nueva Espana, each of 500 toneladas. "The value of the -lading which the said ships are to carry from Philipinas to the port -of Acapulco may be up to the amount of 300,000 pesos, which must come -invested strictly and solely in the following kinds of merchandise: -gold, cinnamon, elephants, wax, porcelain, cloves, pepper, cambayas -and linens woven with colors [lienzos pintados], [78] chitas, chintzes, -gauzes, lampotes, Hilocos [79] blankets, silk floss and raw silk spun, -cordage, and other commodities which are not silks." These ships are -prohibited from carrying silken fabrics, "satins, pitiflores, velvets, -damasks, Pekin silks [Pequines], sayasayas, brocades, plain satins, -grograms, taffetas; silver and gold brocades; embroidered pieces of -silk stuff for [covers of] beds, the [hangings for] drawing-rooms -[estrados], and women's petticoats; silken gauzes flowered with gold -and silver; pattern pieces for petticoats, figured or embroidered; -dressing-gowns, chimones, or made-up garments; hose, ribbons, or -handkerchiefs; or any fabric which contains silk." The penalties for -transgression of this order are confiscation of such goods, payment -of three times their value (this amount to be shared between the -royal fiscal, the judge, and the informer), and perpetual exile from -the Indias; and the confiscated goods are to be burned. Declarations -of goods shipped are absolutely prohibited; those who are permitted -to trade must be chosen by the city of Manila, without the aid of -any official; the duties to be paid are fixed at 100,000 pesos -for each voyage, with the express stipulation that this payment -is to be called adjustment [regulation] of duties, and not indult; -no religious person and no stranger may be allowed to ship goods; -every shipper must present an itemized invoice of the goods sent; -the ships must not be overloaded; no right to lading space may be -transferred to another person. Provision is made for inspection, -valuation, and landing of goods, and for the disposition to be made -of such as shall be confiscated; and the limit of six months is fixed -for the disposal of all Chinese silk goods that may be on hand in -Nueva Espana when the decree is published, after which time all that -are found must be burned.] - - - - - -PERIOD VII - - Of what was done in Manila on receiving the decree of October 27, - 1720. Recourse to the Council by their deputies. Reply from the - commerce of Andalucia, and what was decided in regard to this - matter in the year 1724. - - -71. On August 2, 1722, the governor, Marques de Torre-Campo, -received at Manila the ordinance despatched on October 27, 1720, -of which the preceding "Period" speaks. Having caused this decree to -be published by a proclamation in that city, record of it was made -in the offices, and it was communicated to the municipal council in -open session. The cabildo protested against it, promising to obey, -but resolving to set forth to the governor in the first place, and -afterward to his Majesty, the damages and troubles which would result -from its execution to religion, to the royal treasury, and to the -greater welfare of those islands, from their not continuing to enjoy -the permission to trade in fabrics of silk, which they had possessed -for more than one hundred and forty years. They would therefore be -obliged to entreat that his Majesty give them permission to retire, -with their families, to the lands and domains of his Majesty which -they should consider most suitable. - -72. In a long memorial presented to the governor was set forth in -detail the motives on which they based this action; and when orders -had been given that the fiscal of that Audiencia should examine it, -although he recognized that their statements were correct, and that -the islands could not maintain themselves on the system of commerce -which had been laid down, he demanded that orders should be given to -fulfil the cited royal decree, and that the city and merchants should -appeal to his Majesty who, there was reason to expect, would take -care of his vassals there, and of the interests, both spiritual and -temporal, which were concerned in it--and the governor gave orders to -that effect. Although the city and the merchants by a second memorial -insisted upon a suspension of the above regulation, demanding that, -in case there was no room for it and for continuing their trade in -silks and stuffs as heretofore, at least he should declare that they -were not obliged to invest their funds in the commodities which were -prescribed to them, as it would occasion their total ruin (and they -demonstrated this): nevertheless, the governor, bearing in mind -that the damages to his Majesty would be no less, if the galleon -for that year should go empty, commanded that, in accordance with -the amount permitted by the cited regulation, they should make the -distribution of the [permits to ship] merchandise as his Majesty had -commanded. The city and the merchants, with the hope that his Majesty -would give attention to the urgent representations that would be made -by the commissaries whom it had been agreed to despatch to the court, -agreed to continue the commerce meanwhile conformably to the despatch -of 1720--sacrificing out of respect to his Majesty, and in order to -maintain the religion established in those islands, their own wealth, -which necessarily must be ruined and lost in a commerce so useless -and unfortunate as that to which they were reduced; since the bulky -commodities, on account of their abundance and poor manufacture, -would not allow them to gain ten per cent, since the risks extended -to fifty per cent. - -73. The city of Manila, in order to render commendable and frame in -more formal manner its appeal from the aforesaid decree of October 27, -1720, which it must bring before the royal person--not only for the -continuation of the traffic in the silken fabrics, but also for the -increase of its permission from the three hundred thousand pesos which -it was enjoying to five hundred thousand--came before the Audiencia -and presented before it the arguments and reasons in favor of both -these requests. After explaining the losses that would arise from the -desolation and depopulation to which the islands would come (which the -Audiencia took into consideration in its memorial, as will be noted) -the city added that when in Manila there were only 230 citizens (which -was in the years 1636-37) returns of 500,000 pesos were permitted to -them; but since in the year 1722 the city had 882 citizens, and there -was an increase in the charitable foundations, which placed 150,000 -pesos at risk on each galleon, the necessity was evident of increasing -the permission to 500,000 pesos--350,000 pesos for the citizens, -and 150,000 for the charitable foundations. This increase in the -number of citizens made necessary the expansion of the permission, -from the very fact that in the year 1702, in which there were only -400 citizens, his Majesty had permitted 300,000 pesos of investments, -and 600,000 pesos in returns. - -74. It was also expedient that permission be given to the seamen to -transport in their own chests goods up to the amount of 40,000 pesos -of investment, on account of the importance of interesting them in the -defense, [80] and in order to facilitate that in provinces so remote -there should be Spaniards who would serve as artillerists and seamen, -since their wages alone, in voyages so arduous and long, could not be -sufficient incentive. In order that that commerce might be regulated -and infractions regarding the lading be avoided, an arrangement was -proposed to his Majesty in which the annual investment was reduced to -3,200 piezas of the regular sizes--half-bundles, bags, sacks, [churlos, -balsas (for bolsas)] cakes of wax, and other like packages of bulky -commodities, and three hundred half-chests of goods from China, -in order to supplement the said 3,200 [81] piezas. Consequently, -at the despatch of the galleon there would be nothing else to do -except to distribute the said piezas and issue the permits for its -lading--collecting 10,000 pesos for the royal duties, at the rate of -two per cent, for this purpose rating the 3,200 piezas at 128 pesos -and 1 tomin, and the half-chests at 300 pesos and pay at Acapulco -thirteen per cent, regulating the 3,200 piezas at 256 pesos and 2 -tomins, and the 300 half-chests at 600 pesos each. This would result -in the royal duties at both ports amounting to 140,000 pesos, and in -return would be brought back, for the account of the permission, a -million pesos; and thus would be avoided sworn declarations, and other -dubious measures to which the previous regulations were subjected. - -75. The Audiencia of Manila in a letter of November 9, 1722, taking -into consideration another which they had written on August 6, 1713, -in which they set forth the losses which that commerce had suffered--in -[the wreck of] their galleons, the unsuccessful fairs of Acapulco, and -the excessive pecuniary extortions that they had suffered in Acapulco -on account of the royal duties and in other ways--to the end that new -measures might be taken by his Majesty for the rigorous reestablishment -of the commerce of those islands, describe (influenced by the urgent -representations made by the city and by previous information obtained -by each auditor) the affliction which has been caused by the new decree -of October 27, 1720. They declared that they judged necessary for the -maintenance of these islands and the propagation of the holy gospel, -not only the permission for the silk and the stuffs prohibited by -the cited despatch, but also the increase of the permission from -300,000 to 500,000 pesos. The Audiencia affirmed that the Spaniards -could not exist without this commerce, because the culture of the -fields was in the hands of the natives and the management of the -guilds [gremios] in those of the Sangleys and their mestizos; that -the salaries and pay with which the military officers, soldiers, -and civil officials were recompensed did not reach half the annual -expense of their families, in consideration of which it was commanded -to include then the distribution of the lading of the galleons; and -that, while the permitted amount was 300,000 pesos, and the number -of citizens so great, the investment of each one, even if all were -alike in wealth and services, did not amount to 400 pesos, the profit -on which was not enough for the proper support of a man who was not -actually poor, and on this account they could not increase their -wealth. When the Europeans see that it is useless to transport goods -to those regions where there is not, outside of commerce, any motive -which would induce them to remain, or which would bring other new -traders, those who consider the matter have reason to fear that in -a few years the capitals of those who live there will be consumed, -and that others will refuse to enter into the same experience; -then Philipinas will be left to the Indians and Sangleys, the gospel -ministers without the guards of Spaniards for their protection, the -military posts without garrisons, the natives without any control, -and everything on the blink of a deplorable ruin. - -76. That with the commodities which were allowed by the said royal -decree, the lading of the annual galleon could not reach the gross -amount of the 300,000 pesos of the commission. From this it resulted -that that amount was diminished and the traders exposed to evident loss -in Nueva Espana, on account of the abundance of those very articles -of merchandise; and that would result in cutting off the proceeds of -the many and large charitable funds, founded on the merchandise risked -in those galleons, for the support of clergymen, hospitals, convents, -divine worship, dowries to orphan girls, and many other alms--which, -even though they were no more than those which were administered by -the brotherhood of La Misericordia, and by the tertiary Order of -St. Francis, were of the greatest importance, and their failure a -most notable affliction to all the islands. - -77. That by the exclusion of the stuffs and silks, which were the -principal articles of commerce of the islands with China, all that -commerce [i.e., with Nueva Espana] would come to an end, since all -the rest was of so little value that it could not, without the -substantial aid of the silks, allow any profit. From this would -result another great difficulty in the propagation of the holy -gospel, that if the Chinese do not come to the trade they will lose -the opportunity for conversion which so many have attained, attracted -by familiar intercourse with the Spaniards, with the occasion of this -commerce, and there would be great difficulty in introducing the gospel -ministers into those dominions; and these are motives which have always -engaged the chief attention of his Majesty, to judge by the laws. The -Audiencia concluded by expressing the opinion that the prohibition -of the silks should be removed, and an increase be granted in the -permission to 500,000 pesos, with the number of piezas which the city -was proposing--this regulation being made in proportion to the number -of citizens, in order that the islands might maintain themselves, -and thus obviate the serious inconveniences that were experienced; -and, as for the duties which the city proposed, this question was -referred to the decision of the Council. - -78. The fiscal of that Audiencia, Don Pedro Bedoya, [82] in a letter of -November 15, in the same year, 1722, in consequence of the duplicate -copy which he received of the royal decree of October 27, 1720, -states on his part--after repeating his previous opinion regarding -its execution, as given to the city of Manila, the action taken by -the governor, the recourse by the city to the Audiencia, and the -report made by that body--what his opinion is, in fulfilment of his -obligation, in regard to the memorial of the city and the merchants; -it is brought under four heads, which are: - - - -I - -The necessary dependence which the maintenance of these islands has on -the commerce, in order that the Spaniards may maintain themselves in -them; and the benefit from the charitable funds, in which are annually -expended 75,000 pesos--which sum proceeds from the trading of the -150,000 pesos which are carried in the annual galleon on account of -the said charitable funds. - - - -II - -That if the prohibition of the stuffs and other commodities from China -remains, their former control of the trade therein will be disturbed, -and the royal decrees issued for this purpose (some of which are -compiled [83]) will be subverted--such as those which command that the -commodities which they convey shall be bought from the Sangleys; and -that if this [Chinese] commerce is prohibited that of Nueva Espana -becomes unprofitable, as the bulky commodities do not fill up the -amount of the permitted trade, and it will not be possible to pay -the cost of traffic in them without those from China. - - - -III - -That for the maintenance of these islands, the support of the -Spaniards, and the success of the charitable funds, it is necessary -that the amount permitted be increased to 500,000 pesos and a million -of returns, with the inclusion of the fabrics from China. - - - -IV - -The regulation of the lading, in order to avoid infractions of the law -[is necessary]; as also that the dubious and burdensome obligation -of making sworn declarations be laid aside, and that the quality -and number of the commodities which are transported must appear in -the registers. - -79. [These points made by the fiscal are discussed at length by him -in a report addressed to the king, dated November 15, 1722. Among -other things, he states that the merchants prefer one galleon of 800 -or 900 tons burden to two of 500 tons each, as being less expensive -(on account of requiring fewer officers and men), safer (as carrying -larger cannon) and less exposed to danger from either enemies or -storms, than the two smaller vessels; that the industry and love of -gain displayed by the Chinese who reside in the islands have secured -to them the control of all the crafts and useful arts, and of the -commerce of the islands save that with Nueva Espana, which is therefore -the only resource of the Spanish citizens; that the current rate of -income [84] is but five per cent in the islands, while that commerce -brings in fifty per cent; that most of the rural estates [haciendas] -are possessed by the religious orders; that houses constitute property -of little value, on account of the frequent fires and earthquakes; -and that consequently the charitable foundations [obras pias] have -been necessarily based on the Acapulco trade. It is also declared -that the annual situado from Mexico amounts to no more than 50,000 -or 60,000 pesos, while the annual budget of the government expenses -amounts to 500,000 pesos, which the royal treasury of the islands -must pay from the proceeds of the duties on merchandise. The request -of the Manila citizens for a permission to send 500,000 pesos' worth, -in 3,500 piezas, is very moderate; as the trade has been conducted, -the 300,000 pesos' worth has made 4,798 piezas, for the last five -years--which is evidence of the infractions of law which have been -committed in that commerce. Moreover, the proposition of the city -that the duties belonging to the crown be levied on the number of -the piezas, will be likely to prevent many of the frauds which are -now practiced in this direction. The fiscal opposes the request of -the city that the seamen be allowed an increase of the small amount -already allowed them, free from duties, for investment on their own -account, declaring that it will but increase the illegal trade already -prevalent, and that the proposition to allow them 40,000 pesos' worth -of trade (with twice that amount in returns for the merchandise) -would allow the seamen a greater investment than even the citizens, -since the former average only 115 men to each galleon. He advises -that the officers of the ships be permitted to have a share in the -lading of the ship, in place of their present wages; and that one -large galleon be occupied in the trade to Acapulco, rather than two -small ones. He reminds the king of the opening afforded by the trade -between Manila and China for the conversion of the Chinese and the -entrance of the gospel into that heathen empire.] - -80. [The treasury officials at Manila also write, seconding the -proposal to despatch one large galleon; and they add that the royal -exchequer of the islands will be ruined if the decree of 1720 is -enforced, "for the commerce would cease, and consequently the royal -duties which it was producing."] - -81. The archbishop of Manila, the dean and cabildo of that church, -and the provincial of the Society [of Jesus], in their letters of -November 6, 7, and 8 of the same year, support the entreaty of the -city; they deprecate the ruin (both spiritual and temporal) of the -islands, and express the same opinion as that of the Audiencia and -the fiscal, as will be seen by their letters, which follow below. - -82. The provincials of St. Dominic, St. Francis, and St. Augustine -(both calced and discalced), in their memorials of the same year -expatiate on the necessity and advantage of changing the aforesaid -decree of 1720, and granting likewise to the islands the increase of -the permitted trade which they solicit; and they reproduce in detail -what the other prelates and ministers say. - -83. [The letter of the archbishop (Fray Francisco de la Cuesta) states -that he has been urged to write it by the city and merchants of Manila, -and the bureau of the Misericordia; and he begins, very naturally, -by arguing that the religious interests of the Philippines and of -China depend upon the maintenance of the commerce of the islands. He -refers to the opposition made to it by the merchants of Andalusia, -which he thinks has no good foundation, since their trade with the -other European nations drains from Espana more money than does that -of Filipinas from Nueva Espana--this last being their ground of -complaint against the Manila trade; but even if the Sangleys and -other heathen carry away silver from Manila, "they have not harmed -the [Spanish] crown, and are friendly to the [Christian] religion; -while it is certain that the European nations, even if they are not -all opposed to religion, at least have been at various times hostile -to the crown, and that the amount annually transported by the said -nations to Great China and other heathen kingdoms exceeds four millions -[of pesos].... And although the argument [of the Andalusians]--that -the fabrics from China cause injury, at the expense of those which are -transported from Cadiz--would have some weight if all the fabrics in -which the Andalusians trade were manufactured in Espana, since they are -not made there the above argument has very little value." The Spaniards -in Filipinas regret that so grievous burdens and restrictions are laid -upon them through the influence of the Andalusians, and especially that -the result of these must be very detrimental to the charitable funds -which so greatly depend upon the Acapulco trade. Two-thirds of these, -or 100,000 pesos, belong to the Misericordia alone, whose educational, -religious, and charitable labors are so important to the public welfare -and the maintenance of the Spanish colony in Filipinas; the remaining -50,000 pesos belong to other institutions. The archbishop therefore -urges the king to accede to the requests of the Manila merchants.] - -84. [The dean and cabildo of the Manila cathedral also support the -merchants; they fear lest the income of the church will suffer from -the impaired condition to which the decree of 1720 threatens to bring -the Filipinas colony. They adduce similar arguments to those contained -in the preceding letters, all taking for granted that the prohibition -of Chinese silks means the ruin of the Acapulco trade. Incidentally -this letter states the following facts of interest: "The poverty of -the soldiers is such that they always go about as mendicants and in -need; for as they receive no more pay than that of two pesos and a -fanega of rice--which is given every month to the soldiers, but to -the convicts who serve [forzados] in the troops only the rations--if -they could not find refuge in the aid given by the citizens, the -alms from the charitable funds, and the broken food at the convent -doors, and in what the more industrious can earn by doing errands, -they would certainly perish." The prebends of the cathedral find -their salaries--which range from 500 to 200 pesos yearly, besides -the dean's 600--pitiably small and inadequate, and they must even -resort to the charitable funds and to the gifts of friends to eke -out their incomes. The same difficulties beset the parish ministers; -but worst of all is the condition of the poor clerics who receive no -pay, who have no income save occasional offerings for masses and the -alms of benevolent persons.] - -85. [The provincial of the Jesuits, Father Joseph Fernandez, seconds -the appeal of the merchants. [85] He states that since 1709 the -fortunes of the wealthy citizens are nearly all ruined--by calamities, -unsuccessful sales at Acapulco, the failure of the galleons to make the -voyage, poor crops in Filipinas, or the quarrels of the governors and -auditors--and those who formerly made contributions to the religious -orders now need and ask for help from them. "This city of Manila -(and in it all the islands) is reduced to eight or ten private persons -who are able with their own wealth alone to make up the 300,000 pesos -which your Majesty allows for their commerce; and the number of its -citizens who, as Spaniards, can call themselves such is very nearly -882--although it is true that there are millions of converted natives, -and those who are not converted are innumerable. All these citizens -depend for their preservation on the three or four piezas which -are yearly allotted to [each of] them, according to their merits, -in your Majesty's galleon; and as most of them have not the means of -their own to fill this space they have to give it up, or sell it to -those who are richer; or they must ask for money from the charitable -funds of the Misericordia, the tertiary Order [of St. Francis], or the -religious, in order to fill their space on the ship. As they cannot -ship therein anything except the coarse cloths and other goods which -your Majesty names in your new regulations, the product of which is -hardly enough to pay the expenses on them--duties, freight-charges, -and carriers' fees--the poorer citizens will see themselves forced to -seek some other way [to make a living]. That means the desertion of -these islands for India, and consequently a great diminution in the -number of your Majesty's vassals; and the islands will be exposed to -the invasions of the Dutch and other enemies of your royal crown and -of the natives. No few of these invasions have been experienced in -recent years, and at this time we are being raided by the Mindanaos, -the Joloans, and the Burneyans. And I can assure your Majesty that in -the space of less than twelve years I have seen this stage [86] of the -citizens of Manila changed five times. For, as it is composed of some -who come from Europe (and they count for many), and of others who come -from Nueva Espana, on account of the difference of the climate from -that in which they were born they do not remain long; both classes, -seeing the little comfort that they can find here, and how small -incentive there is from riches (which is that which most influences -those who do not possess enormous estates), either die in a short time, -worn out with the misery of this country; or they leave the islands, -to look for a more comfortable residence. Thus it comes to pass that -only we religious and other ecclesiastics remain, with some persons -who belong to the richer class (who are few), and these are Europeans, -whom affection for their native land is always drawing away. If this -[which I have mentioned above] happens (which may God not permit), -all these millions of Christian natives will be left abandoned, and -exposed to [the danger of] returning to their heathen condition; and -of being possessed by the Dutch, or the Chinese, or any other nation -that may find a profit in them." The argument that the prohibition -of the trade in Chinese silks will check the drain of silver from -Nueva Espana is refuted by the provincial; he says, "For we who -are near China, Batabia, the Coromandel Coast, and other ports of -India, know with certainty that the ships and pataches that come to -them from Europa to trade in them carry hardly any money for their -traffic except the silver, with the stamp and seal of your Majesty, -from Peru or from Mexico; and as those vessels have directed their -route from Europa by way of Cape Verde, Buena Esperanza [i.e., Good -Hope], Cape Comorin, and Sincapura, it must be supposed that they do -not obtain the said silver anywhere else than from the commerce in -Europa. Your Majesty could, in the course of several years, prevent -the silver that comes from Mexico to these islands from passing over -to China, to the Coast, or to Batabia, by commanding your governors -and other officials at Manila to make strenuous efforts that in the -islands the natives, mestizos, creoles, and various other castes who -live in them and are naturalized as subjects, be compelled to weave -the cloth goods which are manufactured in other regions; and these -people are no less skilful for the mechanical and even the liberal -arts than are those of other nations. As for the fabrics of cotton, -these people are able to weave them, for their own consumption, more -durable and of better quality than the cloths which come from China -and the Coast; and as for the silk goods, the hose which these natives -weave are those which bring the highest price at Acapulco. The colors -for dyeing the goods are furnished by the country itself; for there -will be shipped from here to the empire of China during this year more -than thirty champan-loads of sibucao, or campeche, a wood from which -the Chinese obtain carmine for their dyes; and the other colors they -obtain from trees and roots which also are found in these mountains -in abundance. As for the cinnamon, it grows very abundantly in the -island of Mindanao, where your Majesty has the fort and garrison of -Samboangan, with some missions that are administered by priests of my -order, and by other religious from the discalced of St. Augustine. It -would be of no little advantage to be able to cultivate the cinnamon, -as the Dutch do; for the silver which that nation would be obliged -to carry for that product would remain among the vassals of your -Majesty, and thus there would be an end to that difficulty (which the -merchants of Sevilla certainly exaggerate) of your Majesty forbidding -the shipment of the goods which your royal decree specifies, which -are those that have some value, in order to be able to pay the -cost on the more bulky goods. Who will have courage to weave them, -or hunt for them, when he knows that he must lose on them? In these -islands abundance of gold is collected in various placers, in which -work the slow and patient disposition of the natives is occupied; but -as their minds are so careless and ignorant they content themselves -with washing out only the exact amount of their tribute, which is -five reals for each person. But if your Majesty would give your royal -directions to your governors and ministers, in the course of time it -would be possible to secure the production of this gold in abundance; -and if it were sent to Nueva Espana, and exchanged for the silver -necessary for the maintenance of these your wretched vassals, the -result would be that the latter product would always remain in the -dominions of your Majesty. In these islands, also, some pearls are -secured by diving, and in these seas some amber is gathered. In the -mountains there is no lack of numerous civet-cats; and the civet, -if measures were taken for its production, might be no small source -of wealth to your vassals, and consequently furnish huge amounts -to your loyal treasury." Father Fernandez mentions that Felipe IV -"spent in twenty years 170,000 ducados solely in sending religious to -preach the gospel in Philipinas;" and that the monopoly on the buyo -industry had produced in one year 11,000 pesos to the royal treasury, -and that on wine 18,000 pesos; (but these amounts apparently refer -to the price paid for a three years' contract, rather than to the -annual income of the crown from these sources). [87]] - -86. All the papers and reports which have been mentioned in this -"Period vii" having been received in the Council, and the deputies -from Philipinas, Don Francisco Diaz Romero and Don Antonio de -Echandia--who deposited their credentials and letters in the office -of the secretary--having presented themselves in it, they set forth -their claims and stated, in a printed memorial (which they handed in -on June 14, 1723) the injuries which the islands were receiving from -the practice of the decree of October 27, 1720. They entreated that -its execution be suspended, and orders given that the commerce be -continued with the yearly galleon in the same manner, so far as the -lading was concerned, as was in use at the time when the aforesaid -despatch was received there [at Manila]. The memorial, in eight leaves, -is as follows: - -87. [This memorial by the city and merchants of Manila presents in -detail the amount of their annual commerce in the various kinds of -merchandise that are permitted in the decree. The gold exported from -Filipinas to Nueva Espana amounts to less than 12,000 pesos, and is -sent not as bullion or coin, but in the form of the slender chains -[bejuquillos] wrought by the Malay natives for personal adornment; -for in no other form could it compete with the abundance of gold mined -in Mexico. The Chinese porcelain is shipped in small quantity, being -mainly an article of luxury, like the gold ornaments; moreover, it -is bulky and fragile. As for spices, Manila complains that the market -for these in Nueva Espana is already appropriated by the merchants of -Espana who send spices in the trading-fleets to Vera Cruz; in the fleet -(of seventeen vessels) commanded by Don Fernando Chacon was carried the -enormous amount of 170,737 libras of cinnamon, and more than 70,986 of -pepper and cloves, besides various bags and chests of all these kinds -of spice the weight of which was not noted. The only products of the -islands which have commercial value in Nueva Espana are wax, lampotes, -Ilocos blankets, and cordage; and the value of all that is exported of -these, even counting with them the previously mentioned gold chains, -does not go beyond 30,000 pesos. The linen goods have hitherto been -shipped from Manila to Acapulco only to fill in empty spaces in -the allotments of lading, and have amounted to hardly 60,000 pesos, -on which very little profit was obtained. If the main part of the -galleon's cargo has to be composed of these linens, the Acapulco market -will be overstocked with them, and the prices there will be so low that -Manila cannot afford to send another cargo of this sort. Moreover, -as these goods are procured from the foreign factories at Batavia, -Madrasta, Patan, Punticheri, and Vengala, as soon as the traders at -those posts understand that the Manila galleons must carry most of -their lading in goods to be procured at those factories they will -advance their prices enormously, and the galleon will be compelled to -sail in ballast, and then only to procure the situado. The floss and -raw silk which is the only form of that product permitted to Manila is -so bulky a commodity, and the consumption of it in Nueva Espana is so -small, that it too has been shipped only to fill up space; moreover, -"for several years it has been increasing in cost, on account of the -great amount of it which the Dutch, English, and French obtain from -China for the fabrics which are manufactured in Europe." The deputies, -to substantiate their statements, refer to the official reports of -the viceroys of Nueva Espana, and offer to bring forward evidence -in their favor from various persons at Madrid who have resided in -Filipinas. They claim that the Manila trade in silken fabrics has not -harmed the merchants of Espana, since the silk which is produced in -that country is hardly sufficient to supply the home demand, and it is -necessary to bring to it foreign silks--exporting to Nueva Espana some -goods which have little demand in Espana; but even these do not occupy -one hundred and twenty-five toneladas of space. The greater part of -the silk goods woven in Espana are silks and velvets, and if the value -of these has fallen, it is not the importation of Chinese goods which -has caused this, but the change in the style of magistrates' robes, -[88] in which those goods are used, and the small amount of them that -is used in the military service. "Just as in these kingdoms [of Espana] -most of the persons of rank are clothed in no other fabrics than those -which come from foreign countries on account of either their better -quality or their luster--so the same thing occurs in Nueva Espana, -where they follow in everything the customs of Europa; and for this -reason most of the silken fabrics which are carried thither in the -trading-fleets are from the kingdoms of Inglaterra and Francia, and -the provinces of Holanda--as silver and gold tissues, brocades and -laces of the same sort; hose, and other stuffs, the sale of which does -not injure that of the Chinese silks, on account of the greater value -placed upon the former. Therefore, as the silken fabrics which the -aforesaid shippers carry [to Nueva Espana] are not all from the mills -of Espana, but these Spanish silks are in very small quantity and of -the sort which are rejected here, it is evident that the injury is -not to the commerce of Andalucia, but to the foreign nations. For, -since all the gold and silver which comes [to Espana] is carried -in trading-fleets and galleons--except what is obtained for wines, -brandies, oil, and other products--the slender profits which the -traders of Philipinas gain from the sale of the Chinese fabrics will -also be given up for their benefit by the foreigners on account of -the abundance of the products from their own mills which they will -ship to Cadiz, in order that these may be carried to the Indias." The -argument is repeated, that most of the profits in the Acapulco trade -must go to European foreigners, if it is restricted to the few and -unimportant products of the islands, and thus the enemies of Espana are -strengthened; while if the Chinese trade is allowed those profits fall -into the hands of people who cannot and will not injure the Spanish -power. The enforcement of the decree will injure not only the citizens -of Manila, but the revenues of the crown, which amount annually to an -average of 228,557 pesos, besides the duties produced by the Acapulco -trade, which amount to 250,000 pesos more. The treasury will have no -means to buy the rice of the Indians, their only valuable product; -the Sangleys will have no occasion to trade at Manila, which will -lose the amount of their licenses (more than 23,000 pesos), besides -the import duties and alcabalas which they pay there, which amount to -more than 37,000 pesos; and the situado sent to both the Philippines -and Marianas must be taken from the Mexican treasury directly, -which will be too heavy a burden for it. The king is reminded of -the poverty of the Philippines in all natural resources save rice, -and their dependence on the Acapulco traffic for money, clothing, -and all other needs save that of food. The recent building of two -small galleons has caused the treasury a great amount of expense, -quite disproportionate to that of the one large vessel which hitherto -had been used for the Acapulco trade--to say nothing of the extra -expense caused by the duplication of crews, officers, and soldiers -which is thus rendered necessary. The smaller ships are less able to -resist either storms or pirates, and the few experienced seamen in -the islands must be divided between them, when they should be massed -in one vessel. Again is mentioned the dependence of the missions, -and the conversion of the heathen, upon the Acapulco trade; the -Indian villages that are more or less christianized now number 457, -with 111,683 families, who are in danger of relapsing into heathenism, -or being converted to Mahometanism, if the missions cannot be kept up.] - -88. The Council, on June 14, 1723, agreed that this memorial should -go to the fiscal with all those that came before, with the letters -of the Audiencia, officials, and prelates which had been laid before -the Council on the twelfth of the same month. - -89. The consulate of Cadiz, by a memorial presented in the Council -on the twenty-first of the same month and year-being informed of -the petition from Manila requesting that changes be made in the -decree issued on October 27, 1720--asked the Council to order that -the argument recently brought forward by Manila in regard to this be -communicated to them; this having been referred to the fiscal, he was -of opinion that the aforesaid document should be communicated to the -consulate, as had been done in the year 1720 by order of his Majesty; -and the Council agreed to this by a decree of July 12, 1723. - -90-92. [On September 4 following, a conference was held by the -representatives of the commerce of Sevilla, to consider the question -of the Philippine commerce in Chinese silks and the royal decree -forbidding that trade; a copy of the memorial sent from Manila, and -other documents bearing thereon, were submitted to that body by the -consulate of Cadiz, who had already taken action thereon, and now -asked for the support and cooeperation of the Sevilla merchants. In a -formal resolution by the latter, they express their entire concurrence -with the views of Cadiz, and request the king to enforce the decree -of 1720. They make light of the statement regarding the great amount -of spices carried to Nueva Espana by Chacon's fleet, and intimate the -probability that the remonstrance by Manila is really instigated by -the traders of Nueva Espana, who, on account of the enormous profits -which they make by sending money to the Philippines for investment, -must be most affected by the proposed restrictions on the Manila -commerce. Sevilla answers the argument of Manila that only one hundred -and twenty-live toneladas of Spanish silks are sent to Nueva Espana, by -declaring that even that small amount will soon be reduced to nothing -unless the king strictly prohibit the introduction by the Filipinas -ships into Nueva Espana of fabrics woven of silk and gold or silver; -also that the silk-mills of Espana will be ruined and abandoned, -and consequently the cities of that country will be inundated with -poor people and criminals. On the day before this conference, a -similar one was held by the consulate of Cadiz and representatives -from the merchants of that city, who made a vigorous remonstrance -against the injuries caused to Spanish commerce and industry by -the Manila-Acapulco trade, and especially by the frauds and the -infractions of law therein, on which they expatiated in the above -conference. In the report drawn up by them they mention several -of these. For instance, the merchants of the City of Mexico sent -large sums of money to Acapulco for preparing the Manila galleon -for its voyage; "and in the three months during which the ship was -detained at that port it unloaded an enormous cargo, held its fair, -and returned laden with silver, without wintering in that kingdom, on -account of the easy and prompt disposal of all that it carried. This -cargo was usually 10,000 or 12,000 bales, half of silken fabrics and -half of linen goods, [lenceria], the proceeds from which reached four -millions of pesos; and all this in pesos, eight-real and four-real -pieces, since in exchange for the said goods they did not desire -or carry any produce, nor even doubloons, nor bars of silver, for -all must be new pesos and of Mexican coinage, these being the coins -which are current in Turquia, to which country they were going, since -the greater part of the said goods come thence." Reliable witnesses -have told of mule-trains entering Mexico laden with Chinese stuffs, -which must amount to almost the value of the goods carried by the -eighteen vessels in the trading-fleet which that year came from Spain -under Don Manuel de Velasco; and the market of the latter was ruined -by the former. "Although the silk fabrics which the ships bring from -Philipinas have not the quality or durability of those from Espana, -and the linen goods are all of cotton, and do not last half as long -as do those from France, yet as the former are sold cheap, and have -a good surface, and are showy, while they last the commerce of Espana -is checked and suspended." The merchants of Mexico send so much money -to Acapulco that not enough is left to send the trading-fleets back -to Spain, which are compelled to winter at Vera Cruz in order to -obtain the proceeds of their cargoes and equip the vessels for the -return voyage. "So sweeping and irreparable is the great injury which -these goods from China, or from the Turks (which is the more certain), -cause to the most important cities of Espana that when the said ship -was not allowed to carry those goods Sevilla had more than 12,000 -looms for the manufacture of silks of every kind; and with these, -even without other stuffs, so great a number of people were employed -on them, and so great was the opulence of that city and of all its -domain, as is made evident by the great services which on all occasions -Sevilla rendered to his Majesty, with sumptuous buildings--churches, -hospitals, government buildings, and private houses. But without -greater casualty than that of the importations in the ships from -China, that city found itself in a straitened and miserable condition, -not two hundred looms being left in it, on account of there being -no consumption for its fabrics; and the great mass of poor people, -who then supported themselves by their labor, are now miserably -perishing. No less proof is afforded by what is occurring in Granada; -for there more than 12,000 looms were employed only on taffetas (both -double and plain), satins, plushes, and all kinds of silk-weaving; -and more than 50,000 persons, men and women, were engaged in the -industry and labor of making silk goods. For this reason, the amount -of silk worked up each year was more than 180,000 libras, from which -proceeded considerable profits to the royal exchequer, for the duty on -each libra amounted to thirteen reals and three cuartillos; but, with -the one but sufficient reason of the importations of Chinese goods, -[that industry] has so fallen away that the amount of silk sold in -that city at each gathering of silk does not reach 40,000 libras, -and the number of looms operated, on coarse stuffs, is less than -2,000--a similar condition to those of Sevilla.... The same troubles -are suffered by Cordova, Jaen, Ezija, Priego, and Alcala la Real, -with many other places which in both the Andalucias were growing and -being maintained by the said manufactures. It is not less worthy of -attention that the silk-growers of the aforesaid kingdoms of Sevilla, -Granada, Cordova, and Murcia are, for lack of sale for the silk that -they produce, giving up the cultivation of the mulberry-trees, and -abandoning their farms and the places where they dwell." Cadiz cites -the action of Conde de Monclova, viceroy of Peru, who prohibited the -shipment of Chinese goods from Acapulco to South America, making them -contraband and confiscable, recognizing "their poor quality and lack -of durability, and the great detriment which this trade caused to -the merchants [of Peru], who go down to Portovelo to hold the fair -[at the arrival] of the galleons, which has been the greatest in the -world;" and urges the king to enforce strictly the decree of 1720. Such -action would greatly benefit the realms of Spain, and would not cause -injury to the Philippines, because none of the said Chinese stuffs -are made in the islands; "and the only ones who could grieve over it -are the Turk, and other princes of Assia, Mahometans, and enemies of -our holy Catholic faith." As for the complaint of Manila that the -propagation of that faith depends on the silk trade, Cadiz refuses -to believe this, and refers the king to a document in Manila which -refutes that notion. This is "a memorial or report made by a minister -of that Audiencia, N. Calderon, in which is inserted another, written -by Father Fray Victorio Ricci, [89] of the Order of Preachers, who -was for many years a missionary in the empire of China, and afterward -in the Philipinas Islands; it was sent by the Supreme Inquisition -to its commissary in the islands, in order that he might send to his -Majesty information on the points therein.... In these papers it will -be clearly evident that the progress and propagation of the faith -is not diminished by depriving the islands or the kingdoms adjacent -to them of the commerce prohibited to them, or by the restriction -which his Majesty has laid on it;" the above prohibition, therefore, -is not the cause of the ruin of the citizens of Filipinas.] - -93-94. [These replies by the merchants of Andalusia call forth -another memorial from the Manila deputies, which occupies fourteen -printed sheets. They repeat their former arguments, enforcing them -by reference to the despatches from the Audiencia of Manila, the -archbishop, and the various religious bodies there, and still more -to the letters previously addressed to the king by the viceroys of -Nueva Espana; and they adduce various instances from the history of -the Manila-Acapulco trade to the same effect. They also undertake -to refute the charges made by the merchants of Sevilla and Cadiz, -and claim that the latter have misrepresented certain facts. We note -here some points made by the Manila envoys, as giving new information -on the matter at issue. They say that the maintenance of Filipinas, -including the missions and military posts, costs the Spanish crown -annually 515,568 pesos, for which sum the royal treasury of Mexico -should be responsible, according to the laws of the Indias; but it -sends thither only 40,000 pesos in money and some 60,000 in goods, and -even this remittance comes from the duties which the Manila galleon -pays at Acapulco. But in 1637 and for some years later, the situado -sent to the islands amounted to more than 325,000 pesos in money, and -enough goods to make up the 500,000 pesos. This, however, was largely -the result of the failure of the Manila merchants to ship goods to -Mexico, a proceeding caused by the undue harshness and severity of -the royal visitor Pedro de Quiroga; [90] but it led to the abolition -(by royal decree of September 3, 1639) of the restriction on the -kinds of goods permitted to Manila, only limiting the amount of their -investments. It is strange that Manila has pursued this commerce for -one hundred and forty years without any protest from Andalusia until -now; the decadence of the latter is due rather to lack of economy -in the use of their wealth than to the competition of Filipinas; and -Andalusia has always encountered trouble, since the persons interested -in the greater part of the lading of the galleons and fleets have been -and are foreigners--French, English, and Dutch. Andalusia claims that -the galleon unlades at Acapulco more than 12,000 piezas, half of them -containing silk goods; but the certificates of the royal officials -show that in the ten years from 1710 to 1720 the total number of piezas -(in ten galleons) was 36,895, including therein the 4,299 half-chests -in which the silk goods were shipped--making the average lading of -each galleon only 3,660 piezas. The detention of Velasco's fleet was -not due to the arrival of the Manila galleon, but to other causes. The -fleet of 1698, in charge of General Mascarua, was sent lightly laden, -and in 1699 Velasco's fleet followed it, but encountered the other -at Vera Cruz; the presence of the two large fleets at one time, -and the ravages of yellow fever [bomito negro, i.e., "black vomit"] -at that port, rendered it impossible to sell the goods to advantage, -to transport them to Mexico, or to equip the vessels for the return -voyage. When Velasco could set out for Spain, he received news of the -death of Carlos II, and the danger of war between Spain and other -powers, which made the merchants unwilling to risk their property -on the seas at that time. Finally the Spanish fleet was escorted -to Spain by a French squadron of warships, but on reaching Vigo was -attacked by an English and Dutch fleet, which inflicted considerable -loss on the Spaniards. Moreover, the trading-fleets sent from Spain to -Nueva Espana are nearly twice as large in the last few years as they -used to be, which overstocks the colonial markets with goods. Manila -claims that the decadence of the silk industry in Andalusia is due -to the pest which ravaged that province (with especial mortality -in Sevilla) in the middle of the past century; and that part of the -remaining population had emigrated to Murcia and Valencia, where they -had cultivated mulberry-trees and built up the manufacture of silk -goods. Another reason assigned by some writers for the decrease of -prosperity in Andalusia was the imposition, at that time, of heavy -war-taxes. As early as 1666, the city and the merchants of Sevilla -had represented to the crown "their lamentable condition, and the -ruin of their looms, caused by the imposition of the millones [91] -and the concourse of foreigners to Cadiz to introduce their own -merchandise." This led to a resolution by the royal Council that -the decree of January 25, 1661, should be enforced, which provided -that the custom-house and collection of duties for the Indias should -be withdrawn from Cadiz, and that the galleons and fleets should -take on their lading in the river of Sevilla and the port of San -Lucar. As for the stuffs from foreign countries which, it is alleged, -are brought to Espana and crowd out the manufactures of that country, -these are only the fabrics which the more industrious French, English, -and Dutch make with the raw material, both wool and silk, which Espana -exports. In 1696 Sevilla complained to the king of the injury which it -was experiencing from the importation of foreign goods, but did not -mention the Chinese stuffs among these. "In Madrid and Valencia the -manufacturers are at present complaining that the price of silk has -risen very high, not because the crop [that is raised in Espana] is -not an abundant one, so much as on account of the so great export, not -only from that kingdom but from other regions, to foreign countries, -that which the French alone have bought this year amounting to more -than 300,000 doubloons; and if asked about this, any dealer in these -goods or any official will answer with entire candor, without blaming -the commerce of Manila." The foreigners bring back these silk goods -to Espana, in order to supply with them not only that country but -the Indias, through the fleets and galleons; "and this is what the -consulate [of Cadiz] is defending, in order that these goods may, -by not introducing into Mexico those from China, be sold [there] -with a higher reputation." The highest authorities all concur in the -statement that the Spanish silks sent to Nueva Espana do not amount to -one hundred and twenty-five toneladas. The statement that the Manila -galleon carries from that country 4,000,000 pesos is unwarranted; -the only possible ground for it is that in 1717 the viceroy allowed -the galleon to carry to Manila 2,000,000 pesos, because for three -years past no money had been sent to the islands--on account of poor -sales at Acapulco, a galleon forced back to the islands by storms, -etc.--on condition that the king's ten per cent be paid on that -amount. In other years the amount of money illegally shipped has been -very small. Cadiz has alleged that money has been scarce there for -some years; but Manila declares that from December, 1720 to July, 1723 -over 40,000,000 pesos worth of gold and silver, in coin and bullion, -has been landed at Cadiz, without including the value of the other -products of the Indias. Cadiz asserts that the money obtained from -Nueva Espana goes to the Turks, the enemies of the Catholic faith; -but the Spanish merchants are continually furnishing money to other -enemies of the faith, the English and Dutch. Moreover, the commodities -which the Manila galleon carries are not obtained from the Turks, -but (through the European factories) from Indostan, Tunquin, Lao, -China, Japon, and the Philippine Islands; while Manila is not even -permitted to trade with Arabia and Persia, whose products are carried -to the ports of the Levant, and at those fairs the traders from all -the European nations buy those goods, with money which has come from -the Indias. Manila declares that the trading-fleets carry to Vera -Cruz no Spanish products save wines, brandies, oil, raisins, and -almonds, and the previously-mentioned small amount of silk goods; -all else in their cargoes is of foreign make. The spices which the -decree of 1720 allows to the islands will not suffice to pay the -expenses of the voyage, especially when Manila must compete with the -trading-fleets from Spain in the shipment of these products. The -collection of royal duties on goods is regulated by "cubic palmos -in accordance with the measurement of the bales [frangotes] and -piezas which are shipped." As for the memorial by Calderon, Manila -asserts that it does not bear on the present question; that auditor, -in the time of Governor Curuzalaegui (in which occurred an uprising -of the Sangleys), sent a letter to the king remonstrating against the -liberty given to the Chinese, and advising that they be not allowed -to have intercourse with the Indian natives, or even to live in the -Parian. This tolerance had been extended to them for the sake of -attracting them to the Christian faith, but Calderon regarded it as -no longer necessary, since they had, even then, a number of Christian -missionaries in their own country. In his letter, he cited Father Ricci -in support of some of his statements. While the Spanish silks sent to -Nueva Espana amount to only one hundred and twenty-five toneladas, -those of foreign make sent thither from Spanish ports are more than -a thousand toneladas. The French, English, and Dutch trade at Canton, -where the main part of their commerce is in raw silk.] - -95-96. [The above memorial was referred by the Council to the fiscal, -on October 6, 1723; and on December 22 following, a printed answer -to both of those by Manila was placed before the Council by the -consulate and merchants of Cadiz. They remind the king that when -Filipinas was first discovered the ships brought back to Espana -abundance of gold, pearl, amber, civet, wax, and fabrics of Ilocos; -and for some time afterward these and many other valuable products -were exported from Manila, which became the emporium of both Eastern -and Western India. In those early times, when so much zeal and -energy for the conversion of the heathen was displayed, it was not -necessary to the missions to depend upon the trade in Chinese silks; -but, for the sake of benefiting the natives of the islands, and to -check the drain of silver to foreign nations, the Spanish government -(by decrees of 1589 and 1596) authorized the barter and exchange of -the products of Filipinas for those of China, under the system called -pancada. But Manila has distorted this into the assumption that -the Chinese trade was intended for the maintenance of the Spanish -colony in Filipinas, and that it was to be without restriction, -save in its amount--although, as a fact, the trade in silk fabrics -of China was not introduced until many years later. The system of -distributing the commerce among the citizens of Manila replaced the -earlier pancada, and led to such abuses that Felipe III attempted to -check them by a severe decree (1620); and later enactments placed -the Acapulco commerce on such footing that it flourished greatly, -to the mutual advantage of Filipinas and Nueva Espana, and to the -enrichment of Manila and its citizens. That commerce benefited the -poor citizen as well as the rich; but the trade in silks is only for -the benefit of the wealthy merchant and the rich consumer, as they -are articles of luxury. The earlier commerce of Manila also supported -and stimulated the consumption of Spanish silks in Nueva Espana and -Peru, and the silk industry flourished in the mother-country; but -the later introduction of Chinese silks into the American colonies, -and the frauds and excess connected with this trade, have ruined -the silk industry on both sides of the Atlantic, and even impaired -the prosperity of Manila. Cadiz claims that the merchants of Mexico -have committed many frauds, and transgressed the ordinances, and -prevented the execution of these, in regard to the Manila trade, and -do so with the collusion and aid of the officials: for instance, the -galleon "Nuestra Senora del Rosario" arrived at Acapulco on January -11, 1699, and the Manila citizens attempted to compound the duties -on the cargo for 100,000 pesos; but the royal fiscal opposed this, -showing that the ship had brought 6,754 piezas of lading, without -counting a considerable quantity of pepper and other goods outside of -the registration. It was also found that although the law restricted -the entire cargo to the value of 250,000 pesos, and its ownership to -the citizens of Manila, this vessel contained goods to the amount -of 233,966 pesos which belonged to the citizens of Puebla alone, -and it was estimated that it must contain at least a million pesos' -worth of goods belonging to merchants in the City of Mexico. The -Mexican government compelled the payment on these goods of duties -amounting to 50,000 pesos more, and would have investigated the whole -matter, to ascertain the exact amount of the illegal shipments; but -the commercial interests of Mexico exerted such influence against -this that the Audiencia desisted from the undertaking. Again Cadiz -accuses the importation of Chinese silks into Nueva Espana of having -ruined the silk industry in Espana; although those goods are so thin -and poor that they are worn out even before the Manila galleon leaves -Acapulco, they are so cheap and showy that they undersell the better -goods from Espana even competing with the latter in Vera Cruz, where -the Chinese goods are purchased by the traders of Habana, Puerto Rico, -Cartagena, and other Spanish colonies; and all this is overlooked -by the Spanish officials in high places, because they profit by -this illegal traffic. If the king will prohibit the importation of -silk woven with silver and gold, and "check the hand which Mexico -moves at the command of Manila," the silk industry will be revived -in Espana, its people will be kept from idleness and poverty, and -foreign countries will no longer drain its resources. Cadiz desires -Manila to content itself with the spice-trade, which is a staple -and profitable line of commerce, and which Manila can carry on more -cheaply and promptly than Spanish merchants can; the spices sent from -Espana on Chacon's fleet were needed to supply the scarcity of them -at that time, as the Manila trade had been interrupted temporarily; -but if the latter be regular, such shipment from Espana could not occur -again. From the year 1690, the indult ran from 50,000 to 74,000 pesos, -on the basis of the 250,000 pesos allowed to the Manila trade; but it -is evident that the duties ought now to amount to above 500,000 pesos, -on the enormous quantities of Chinese silks that the galleon of 1,000 -toneladas carries.] - -97-105. [This memorial, with like protests from the cities of Toledo, -Ezija, and Murcia, was sent to the fiscal, who on March 16, 1724, -handed in his opinion on the question at issue--that is, whether -the decree of 1720 should be changed or enforced. He lays down three -propositions: First, that the trade in Chinese stuffs should not be -prohibited to the citizens of Filipinas, since it is necessary to their -maintenance, those islands having no profitable mines or commercial -products; moreover, the introduction and propagation of the Catholic -faith therein is an obligation of justice as well as of religious -zeal, and was so recognized by Felipe II, when he refused to abandon -Filipinas; and to fulfil this obligation the Spanish colony there -should be sustained. For this purpose the trade with Nueva Espana -had been granted to Manila, to such extent as should be necessary -for its preservation, that is, to the amount of 250,000 pesos, and -500,000 in returns; and in the permission given to Manila to trade -with China there had been, and should be, no restriction as to the -woven silks of that country. Second, this trade ought, nevertheless, -to be strictly confined to the amount of their permission, and all -frauds to be prevented; for the complaints of Spanish producers and -merchants had been caused by the frauds and abuses in the Manila -trade, rather than by the mere fact of its including Chinese goods; -the fiscal even suggests that they have an official representative at -Acapulco to aid in the unlading and inspection of the Manila galleon, -and report thereon to the viceroy, which would aid in preventing -frauds and enable the Spanish merchants to discuss the question more -intelligently. Third, that in case the trade in Chinese silks be -prohibited to Manila, that in spices should be absolutely prohibited -to the Spanish merchants and given exclusively to those of Filipinas; -while the American trade in silks should be free to the Spaniards.] - -106-111. [The Council considered this question on April 6, and decided -that the decree of 1720 should be changed; they recommended that -the Filipinas trade be continued as before the decree, and employing -but one large galleon; that the decree of 1702 should be enforced, -save that the goods should be valued not by actual inspection of the -bales but by invoices presented by the shippers, with their sworn -statements that the goods were their own; nor should any indult, -payment of double duties, or other form of composition be tolerated; -and that the royal officials at Manila, Cavite, Acapulco, and Mexico -should be held responsible for the fulfilment of these regulations, -under severe penalties. This proceeding was approved by the king, -who issued despatches in accordance therewith (June 17, 1724) to -the viceroy of Nueva Espana and other officials concerned therein; -and on August 8 the merchants of Cadiz were invited to nominate a -deputy to watch the Acapulco commerce.] - - - - - -PERIOD VIII - - Relates the plan presented by the deputies of Philipinas for - regulating the commerce of that country, in the year 1724; and - its results, up to that of 1730. - - -112-113. [On September 28, 1724, the deputies from Philipinas -presented to the Council another printed memorial, in which they -proposed a plan for preventing the abuses of the Manila-Acapulco -trade. This document contains ninety-four paragraphs; it enumerates -the provisions of the decree of 1720, the objections made thereto -at Manila, the difficulties of navigation on the Pacific, and the -reasons why one large galleon is better for that commerce than two -small ones; describes the frauds and injustice practiced in the -lading of the galleon, for which the responsibility rests mainly on -the governors of the islands, who use their great power for their -own personal advantage, regardless of the rights of the citizens; -and opposes the requirements that each shipper must swear that the -goods he sends are his own, that no one to whom space is allotted may -sell or transfer it to another person, that the valuations of goods -must be made by samples, and some other restrictions which seriously -embarrass the citizens who have but little wealth to invest. It is -represented that the seamen are allowed to carry each 30 pesos' worth -of goods as a private investment, in order to encourage Spaniards to -enter the marine service; but this ought to be increased to 300 pesos -(the allowance made to the men on the fleets that go to the Indias), -for more Spaniards are needed on the Acapulco trade-route--hardly -one-third of the men on a galleon being of Spanish birth, the rest -being Indians and on the rivera of Cavite. The citizens of Manila -ought to be allowed to carry back all the produce of their shipments, -since but few of the products of Nueva Espana are adapted to their -needs in the altogether different climate and other conditions of the -islands. They also ask that they be allowed to compound the payment of -dues at 100,000 pesos each voyage, or less pro rata if the amount of -goods shipped fall below the 300,000 pesos allowed for the trade. The -transgressions of law connected with the Acapulco commerce have been -mainly committed by high officials, but have not been so great, -or so injurious to Spanish trade, as Sevilla and Cadiz represent; -the deputies assert that "these abuses cannot be checked, or most of -them even ascertained, so long as the terms of the concession are in -pesos," and that it ought to prescribe a definite number of piezas, of -specified measures and weight. They therefore propose a new ordinance -for regulating the traffic, which embodies the above suggestions and -requests, with some additional points. They ask for a permission of -4,000 piezas, of which 500 shall be half-chests filled with silks and -very fine cotton goods, "which do not admit the use of the press;" the -size and weight of the piezas is fully described. They ask permission -to ship pepper and storax besides the amount of the permission, -without restriction of quantity. The galleon for carrying these -goods should be of dimensions here specified--the keel sixty codos -[or cubits] long, the breadth of the vessel twenty codos, and the -inside depth of the hold ten codos--and its crew should contain 250 -men, besides the officers. The governor should not be allowed to act -on the committee for distributing the allotments of lading-space; in -his place is proposed the archbishop, the other members to represent -the Audiencia, the municipality, and the merchants. The amount of -merchandise which may be sent by the governor and all other royal -officials ought to be limited to one hundred piezas, and this should -go outside of the permitted amount. A share in the lading is asked -for the ecclesiastical cabildo of Manila, on account of their poverty -and their high dignity and character; also for the officers on the -galleons, and for the widows of merchants and military officers. An -allotment of space should be made transferable; and permission should -be given to send some packages of goods intended as gifts to friends, -affidavit being made that these are not intended for sale. The governor -and officials of the port of Acapulco should not be allowed to exercise -any authority or pressure over the Manila traders, beyond the proper -inspection of the vessels and lading and the collection of duties; -and the traders should be allowed to sell their goods as they please, -either in or out of the fair there, or transport them to Mexico, -if they prefer. They should not be expected to pay alcabala on the -first sale at Acapulco, or any extraordinary imposts. The memorial -specifies the provisions to be made for the lading and inspection of -goods at both Manila and Acapulco, the functions of certain officials, -the penalties for transgression of the regulations, and the customs -duties to be paid on each kind of goods; and offers certain payments -to be made by the Manila merchants, which will add much to the royal -revenues. It states the present number of "citizens and traders" -in Manila as 868.] - -114-121. [The above document was handed to the fiscal, who advised -the Council not to make the concessions therein asked, as they would -destroy the entire system on which that commerce had thus far been -conducted, and abrogate the provisions of the decree but recently -granted for the benefit of Manila, which gave that city sufficient -advantage. On January 12, 1725, the Council requested one of the -ministers, Don Antonio de la Pedrosa, to examine the scheme proposed -by Manila, and render an opinion thereon. He was willing to grant a -number of the concessions requested, but would insist that the total -of the permitted trade be restricted to 300,000 pesos, and the returns -to 600,000 pesos, as before; and he proposed even harsher penalties -for the transgression of the laws governing the trade. The Manila -deputies, on learning of the opinions of the aforesaid royal officials, -desisted from their efforts to obtain further concessions from the -Council, but appealed to the king, who sent to the Council a decree -(dated July 22, 1726) permitting the scheme of Manila to be tested -(although with some restrictions), for two years.] - -122-127. [The deputies of Manila were not satisfied that this -concession should be limited to a term of two years, and again -petitioned the king, asking that the trial be made for two or three -five-year terms, on account of the many difficulties which that -commerce must encounter. The king consented (October 21, 1726) -to extend the term to five years, and a despatch of September 15 -prescribes the conditions and regulations under which the trial of the -new plan should be made--for a term of two years, extended to five by -another decree of October 31. The annual galleon shall carry no more -than 4,000 piezas, 500 of these being half-chests [medios caxones] -containing the silken fabrics and the finer ones of cotton; the rest -shall be half-bales [medios fardillos] bags [churlas] of cinnamon, -cases of porcelain, and cakes of wax. The size or weight respectively -of these packages is prescribed: the half-chests and half-bales -shall be each 1 1/4 vara long, 2/3 vara wide, and 1/3 vara deep, [92] -an allowance of two dedos on each measure being made for the outside -cover or packing of the half-chest and for the compression used on the -half-bale. The bag of cinnamon shall weigh 150 libras gross (that is, -including all packing and covers), but at Acapulco it may be allowed -four or five libras more of weight, the difference between the weight -of Manila and that of Nueva Espana. The case [balsa] of porcelain -must be one vara high and 2 1/4 varas in circumference at the mouth, -no allowance being made. The cakes of wax must weigh twelve arrobas -at Manila, four or five libras being allowed at Acapulco for the -difference in standards of weight. Besides the 4,000 piezas, unlimited -pepper and storax may be shipped; and Chinese cabinets and screens -[biombos] may go in larger boxes than the regulation size, provided -that the capacity of these be figured in terms of piezas. Passengers -on the galleons are allowed each two chests containing their personal -property, without any articles of merchandise. The dimensions and -crew of the galleon shall be as stated by the Manila deputies. The -committee for allotting lading-space shall be as suggested by them, -save that the governor shall be included therein. Space is allowed to -the extent of 100 piezas to the governor and other royal officials -for their personal shipments, but these must come out of the 4,000 -piezas. A limited amount of space is allotted to the ecclesiastical -cabildo and to the officers on the galleons; also to the widows of -traders and military officers. Allotments of space may be transferred -to other persons who are approved by the committee. Due provision is -made for the valuation, registration, and lading of goods at Manila, -and the inspection and sale at Acapulco; for the allowance of small -quantities of merchandise to the Spanish seamen and artillerists; -for the shipment of the returns from the investments, whether in -money or goods; and for penalties against transgressors. The Manila -merchants are to pay alcabala on any sales outside of Acapulco; -25,000 pesos annually on each galleon which shall arrive at Acapulco -(afterward changed to 20,000 pesos a year during the five years' -term), as a contribution to the royal service; duties of five per -cent at Acapulco "for the embarkation of the entire product from -the aforesaid 4,000 piezas, and the pepper and storax, which is the -same that the traders of Espana pay at Cadiz;" and the following -specific duties: for each half-chest, 45 pesos; each half-bale, 30 -pesos; each bag of cinnamon, 25 pesos; each cake of wax, 18 pesos; -each case of porcelain, 12 pesos; each chest of cabinets or screens, -18 pesos for each of the piezas to which the chest is equivalent; -and each arroba of pepper or storax, 12 silver reals.] - - (To be concluded.) - - - - - - - -BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA - - -The documents contained in this volume are obtained from the following -sources: - -1. Jesuit missions.--From Murillo Velarde's Historia de Philipinas -(Manila, 1749); from a copy in possession of Edward E. Ayer. - -2. Condition of the islands, 1701.--From Ventura del Arco MSS. (Ayer -library), v, pp. 201-230. - -3. Events of 1701-15.--From Concepcion's Historia de Philipinas, -viii, pp. 299-391; from a copy in possession of the Editors. - -4. Government of Bustamante.--The first part is from Concepcion, -ut supra, ix, pp. 183-424; the letters of Otazo and Cuesta are from -Ventura del Arco MSS., iv, pp. 249-295. - -5. Letter from Santistevan.--From a MS., probably the original, -in possession of Edward E. Ayer. - -6. Commerce of the Philippines.--From the Extracto historial (Madrid, -1736) of Antonio Alvarez de Abreu; from a copy in possession of Edward -E. Ayer. - - - - - - - -NOTES - - -[1] From Murillo Velarde's account of his order in the Philippines we -extract such matter as describes their missions, their general labors -in Manila for both Spaniards and natives, their methods of work, -and some occurrences of special importance to them as an order. The -"edifying instances," and biographies of the Jesuit fathers, and other -devotional reading it is necessary to omit here, as our limited space -forbids its presentation. - -[2] The papal concession for this jubilee of fifteen days had come -that summer, and had been announced on November 18, just before the -appearance of the comets. - -[3] The word Moreno is used by the earlier writers rather confusedly, -and applied to more than one race, whether pure or mixed; but in later -times it apparently refers chiefly to the swarthy-complexioned people -from the Malabar coast and to their descendants. - -[4] The Tagalog word for "bridge." - -[5] Spanish, sermones de tabla. The tabla is the list kept in the -church sacristy which designates on what days certain functions -are to be held; it is the tabella of the Italian sacristies, the -church calendar of ours. Cathedrals and even lower grade churches -(as collegiates, nunneries, hospitals, etc.) had their sermons -(d'occasion, as the French say) on certain set days as marked in their -local calendars, or tablas; these were always very grand, and delivered -by renowned preachers and orators; many of these I have heard. - -The phrase "endowed feast" (fiesta dotada) is used also in Italian and -French. It was a custom, which I presume still holds, in all those -countries (as I often saw in Italy), that a municipality, society, -confraternity, or indeed any body of persons, had its feasts on -set days in the year--for instance, feasts of their patron saints, -or of thanksgiving, etc. Fairs also were endowed; that is, bequests -(perhaps centuries old) provided that on set days the people were to -have a fiesta, with music, fireworks, games, sermons, etc., with an -alms for the poor--all paid for, as also would be the premiums for the -fairs. These were occurrences always of great festivity and merriment; -and in Italy, at least in the part where I lived, the smallest towns -and hamlets had their fiestas dotadas.--Rev. T. C. Middleton, O.S.A. - -[6] The Exercitia spiritualia of Inigo de Loyola, founder of the -Jesuit order; it has long been a text-book therein, and a manual of -devotion for persons under direction of the Jesuits. See account of -the examination of conscience prescribed in it, in Jesuit Relations -(Cleveland reissue), lxviii, p. 326. - -"In Europe it is customary for persons at particular seasons to retire -for a time from the world, to give themselves up entirely to prayer -and meditation. Some part of the season of Lent is generally selected -for this purpose; and many, for the sake of more entire seclusion, -take up their residence during this time in some religious house. This -is called 'going into retreat.'"--Kip's Jesuits in America, p. 302. - -[7] That is, "headland of Bondoc" (or Bondog); a mountain 1,250 -feet high, at the southern end of the peninsula of Tayabas, -Luzon. (U. S. Gazetteer of Philippines, p. 397.) - -[8] Marinduque is an island off the coast of Tayabas province, Luzon; -it is round in shape, about twenty-three miles in diameter, and has -a population (Tagalog) of about 48,000. It has some good harbors; and -it produces abundance of rice, cocoanuts, and abaca. (U. S. Gazetteer -of Philippines, pp. 643-647.) - -[9] Theriacs were held in great estimation during the middle ages. They -were composed of opium flavored with nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon, -and mace--or merely with saffron and ambergris. - -[10] Aornis (or Aornos), a lofty rock in India, taken by Alexander -the Great; thus named, as being so high as to be inaccessible even -to birds. - -[11] That is, as alternate or substitute for Encinas, in case of the -latter's disability or death. - -[12] Interesting information about Lake Lanao is given in the following -letter from the Jesuit Juan Heras to his superior, dated at Tagoloan, -October 6, 1890; it is printed in Cartas de los PP. de la Compania -de Jesus, cuad. ix (Manila, 1891), pp. 254, 255. - -"Desiring to furnish to your Reverence as accurate information as -possible regarding the lake of Malanao, we sent again for some men who -lived there many years as slaves. They are an intelligent family. The -father is a Tagalog, captured when he was a mere youth; he was carried -to the Lake, and later married a girl, also a Tagalog who had been -enslaved. They had three children, and when one of these was ten years -old and another one somewhat older, they made their escape, in the -year 74. The father and mother lived at the Lake more than twenty -years; they settled in Jasaan, and lived there very happily after -their children had been baptised. The father has traveled entirely -around the lake by the highroad, and the second son had gone half-way -round, from the northeastern end to Ganasi. The information, then, -which they had given us--precisely the same both tunes, for they had -been questioned previously, last March--is as follows: - -"The length of the lake from north to south--or from the mouth of -the Agus River (which empties near Iligan), to Ganasi, the point -of departure for Lalabuan, which is on Illana Bay--is 24 hours of -straight sailing, with steady rowing and the wind astern. The breadth -from east to west is half the length. It has many promontories, which -form large curves [in the coast]; and the shore is steep and rocky at -Lugud and Tugua, at which points vessels cannot find anchor. The lake -contains four islets. A good highroad runs around the lake, which is -interrupted only near Taraca, by the extensive mud flats which form -the rice-lands (or basacanes). Taraca is the principal town, and the -sultan lives there. The places which are noted as villages [i.e., on -an accompanying map?] are not really such, but are the jurisdictions -of the dattos. The settlement is one continuous street, with houses -on both sides of the highroad almost all the way round the lake. - -"The population is a large one, as several married couples live in -the same house, and there are many dwellings. The people who have -the reputation of being the bravest are those of Unayan, Bundayan, -Ganasi, and Marantao. From Ganasi the highroad goes toward Lalabuan; -it has no steep ascents or descents, nor does it cross large rivers; -and by following this road Lalabuan is reached in one day. Half-way -on this journey is the village of Limudigan, the sultan of Poalas, -the richest of all those in the Lake region. Our informants state that -the cannon are kept in Ganasi, in a large shed, to a considerable -number. The places where the people have most guns are Maraui and -Marantao; the number of firearms cannot be exactly stated, although -these men say three are many of them. From Maraui one can go to -Ganasi in three days, by taking the road to the right, and in four -days by going to the left; it therefore takes seven days to make the -trip around the lake--but the circuit of the lake is probably somewhat -exaggerated. It is said that those people have many mosques. Maraui is -on the Agus River, quite near the lake; these men say that there are -many horses there. As to the exactness of these data, it is evident -that we cannot be altogether certain; but it is certain that each of -our informants has confirmed the other's statements." - -In the same volume of Cartas is a valuable appendix by Father Pablo -Pastells, in which he sets forth the importance of the plan formed -by General Valeriano Weyler (governor of the islands during 1889-91) -for completing the subjugation of Mindanao to the Spanish crown, -and presents a brief historical sketch of the Spanish conquests in -that island, and an account of conditions therein and of the natural -resources of the country. He argues that the forcible expulsion of -all its Mahometan tribes would be impossible, and that the proper -way to hispanicize Mindanao must be the slow one--but sure, if -the results of the labors of Jesuit missionaries among the Moros be -considered--of education, the introduction of civilized modes of life -(especially by the cultivation of the soil), a political organization -like that already in vogue among the Tagalogs and other christianized -peoples, the influence of the Christian religion in displacing their -superstitious and false beliefs, governmental protection to the -peaceable natives, and the promotion of migration of Filipinos from -the northern islands to Mindanao, thus gradually colonizing the latter -with industrious, civilized, and Christian inhabitants. Statistics -are added to Father Pastells's memorial, showing that the (Jesuit) -missions of Mindanao contain (in 1892) a total Christian population of -191,493 souls; this number he compares with the list given by Murillo -Velarde (1748; including all the missions of the Jesuits in Filipinas), -which foots up to 209,527 souls. At the end of the Cartas is a map -(dated March 19, 1892) of the "second and fifth districts"--i.e., -those of Cagayan de Misamis and Cottabato--on a scale of ten kilometers -to an inch; it contains the latest geographic data up to 1892, and is -especially full in the Lanao region and the course of the Pulangi River -or Rio Grande, the headwaters of that great river almost interlocking -with those of the Cagayan and another large stream which empties into -Macajalar Bay. The map also shows the native tribes that occupy the -region which it depicts. - -[13] Gabe or gabi is the native name (Tagal, Visayan, and Pampango) -for the roots of Caladium esculentum (also known as Colocasia -antiquorum), which are used considerably as food. This plant is -frequently cultivated in the United States for its foliage, and is -popularly called "elephant's ears," from the shape of the leaves. - -[14] A bay or inlet at the southwest angle of Iligan Bay, extending 12 -miles southwest, its inmost point lying but 13 miles from the northern -extremity of Illana Bay, which is on the south side of Mindanao. The -fort here mentioned must have been at the mouth of Lintogut River. - -[15] Spanish, tierra de S. Pablo; but no information is available -for its identification. - -[16] One of the very rare allusions to this mode of conducting -commerce, as used among the Moros, which--although common enough in -all parts of the world from very early times, and practiced by most -peoples who have risen beyond the savage condition--seems to have been -even to the present time undeveloped among the Moros, partly on account -of their fierce natures and the feuds among them, partly because of -their habits of piracy, plunder, and bloodshed. Of especial interest -in this connection is the account published in the New York Outlook, -December 23, 1905, of the "Moro Exchange" established at Zamboanga, -Mindanao (July, 1904), by Captain John P. Finley, governor of Zamboanga -district. Intended from the outset to replace slavery and piracy by -honest labor, it has gradually gained the respect and cooeperation -of the Moro chiefs; and by taking advantage of their talent for -trade is exerting a wide and strong influence in the development -of industry and peaceful relations among them. This exchange even -in its first year had a volume of business amounting to $128,000; -and now its daily transactions run from 500 to 800 pesos, while in -the Zamboanga district it has fourteen branches. - -[17] Spanish, al reir del alba, literally, "at the smile of the dawn." - -[18] Limbo (from Latin, limbus): in scholastic theology, a region -bordering on hell, where souls were detained for a time; hence, -applied to any place of restraint or confinement. - -[19] The lists of Augustinian friars in the Philippines record the -names of some thirty members of that order who became insane or -demented; and probably similar lists could be given by the other -orders. Perez's Catalogo (Manila, 1901), and Gaspar Cano's Catalogo -(Manila, 1864) present biographical information regarding all the -members of the order who labored in the islands from 1565 down to -their respective dates of publication; Perez enumerates 2,467 for -the term of 336 years from 1565 to 1901, and of these 1,992 belong -to Cano's period, ending in 1864. Cano names thirty friars (two of -them being lay brothers) who died in a demented condition; the first -of these was Fray Francisco de Canga Rodriguez (1616), who was 55 -years professed. Perez mentions but twenty-seven of Cano's list, but -adds four others for the years following Cano's record (1865-1901), -a total of thirty-one names. Both these compilers record the facts of -dementia among the friars in varied phrases; and Cano speaks (p. 20) -of "the many things which there are in Filipinas to cause the loss -of one's mind." Zuniga, in his Estadismo, refers to the liability -of the missionaries in the islands to suffer mental alienation from -homesickness, solitude, and lack of congenial companions, especially -in districts where the natives were of low intellectual calibre. When -I was a student in Rome, Pope Pius IX had a college (the Pio Latino) -opened for Spanish Americans (from Mexico and South America); this -was about 1860. The Italians said that the young students from those -countries seemed to be especially given to excessive homesickness -(nostalgia).--Rev. T. C. Middleton, O.S.A. - -[20] That is, "Go ye into the whole world, and preach the gospel to -every creature" (Mark xvi, v. 15). - -[21] Thus characterized, because this long account of the hardships -and dangers of missionary life is inserted in the midst of a sketch -of Father Francisco Paliola, martyred in Mindanao in 1648. - -[22] "And the earth was corrupted before God, and was filled with -iniquity" (Genesis 6, v. 11). - -[23] The Jesuit Diego Luis de San Vitores had just arrived (July, -1662) in Luzon with fourteen companions, in a patache, sent from -Acapulco by Conde de Banos, viceroy of Mexico. - -[24] "Through evil report and good report" (II Corinthians vi, v. 8). - -[25] Tagalog words, meaning young men and girls of marriageable -age. Barbateca does not appear in the standard lexicons. - -[26] See note on the masses, in VOL. XXXIX, p. 246, note 148. - -[27] "Saying: 'Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who wast, who art, -and who art to come.'" - -[28] After citing numerous examples from the customs of various -nations, Herbert Spencer concludes--Ceremonial Institutions (New -York, 1880), pp. 128-131: "It seems that removal of the hat among -European peoples, often reduced among ourselves to touching the hat, -is a remnant of that process of unclothing himself by which, in early -times, the captive expressed the yielding up of all that he had." - -[29] The provincial of the Society of Jesus in the Filipinas Islands, -in a report to the king dated June 20, 1731, declares that the Society -reckoned 173,938 souls in the 88 principal villages and some visitas -which they were administering. This number, compared with the estimate -for the preceding period of six years, showed an increase of 11,886 -Christians; by this may be seen the increase which the population -is steadily gaining--except that of the Marianas Islands, which has -decreased. (Ventura del Arco MSS., iv, p. 307.) - -[30] Spanish, azicate; "a long-necked Moorish spur with a rowel at the -end of it" (Appleton's Velazquez's Dictionary). The Latin quotation -means, "He who spares the rod hates his son." - -[31] Spanish, lolios y zizanas. Lolio is an old form of joyo; and -both joyo and zizana (modern, cizana) refer, according to Appleton's -Velazquez's Dictionary, to the common darnel, or Lolium temulentum. - -[32] Spanish, la inata del Pays, la conatural al sexo, y la congenita -entranada en la Nacion. - -[33] That is, to Zabalburu, just one month after his entrance into -office. - -[34] Polo: a personal service of forty days in the year. - -[35] This was Francisco Gueruela; see summary of his report on this -visitation, in VOL. XLII, p. 120. - -[36] "Except the master-of-camp Endaya, who charged him nothing for -the house in which he lived, and spent more than twenty thousand -pesos in maintaining him and all his retinue. Endaya made all these -demonstrations because he had taken refuge in a church, and the -patriarch [i.e., Tournon] condoned all his offences and enabled him -to leave his asylum--without any one saying anything to him; nor -did the judges dare to lay hands on a man whom the legate a latere -had pardoned." Other favors and honors were conferred on Endaya by -Tournon. (Zuniga, Hist. de Philipinas, pp. 412-413.) - -[37] Archbishop Camacho was appointed in 1703 bishop of Guadalajara; -and early in July, 1706, he went to take possession of that -see (which he retained until his death in 1712), abandoning his -diocese of Manila. He left as ruler of that see Don Francisco Rayo -(who was not a member of the cabildo), despite the protests of the -chapter-members. On August 19 the cabildo declared the see vacant, -and chose as its provisor the archdeacon Doctor Jose Altamirano y -Cervantes. At first his title was contested by Rayo; but the latter -was finally induced to give up his pretensions, and by August 28 "the -cabildo remained in peaceable possession of its government and vacant -see." (Ventura del Arco MSS., iv, pp. 247, 248. In the same volume, -pp. 135-206, is a detailed account of Camacho's controversy with the -orders and the papal delegate, with a royal decree on that subject, -dated May 20, 1700.) - -[38] "As soon as he took possession of his archbishopric, he began -to busy himself with the building of the seminary of San Phelipe; -and the first error that he committed was, to place the arms of the -cabildo on the front of the edifice together with the arms of the king, -which he placed on one of the stories. He also drew up the instructions -for this collegiate seminary; and when he came to the admission of -students he did not remember the [rights of the] royal patronage, and -arranged for their admission without mentioning the vice-patron. The -king's fiscal, who saw therein one of his Majesty's prerogatives -wounded, strongly opposed the exercise of the archbishop's claims, -and from this ensued some mortifications to his illustrious Lordship; -but the college was completed, and the seminarists were appointed, -as the king commanded." (Zuniga, Hist. de Philipinas, pp. 417, 418.) - -[39] "Because of the controversies which Senor Camacho had had with -the regulars about subjecting them to the visitation, the pope issued -a brief, in which that subjection was decreed; it came endorsed by the -[Spanish] Council, and it seemed as if, in virtue of a decision so -clear and explicit, no reply was left for the religious save that -of the submission which Senor Cuesta desired; but their ingenuity -found a mode of escape from this strait. They replied that this -brief was a declaration of the rights of the archbishop, which they -did not deny; and that their only proposition was, that it was not -expedient to execute this decree in these islands (in regard to -which his Holiness ought to have given a hearing to the religious -orders). They asserted that it was, so far as concerned the point at -issue, obtained surreptitiously; for it was staled therein that there -were entire orders who were willing to come to these islands in the -position of subordinates to the bishops--which was false, because -the only authentic thing about it was, that the vicar-general of the -Recollects had promised a hundred religious who should minister in -Philipinas as subject to the visitation and the [royal] patronage; -but when this was known to the general of the calced Augustinians, -he had censured this proposal and compelled its withdrawal. The -orders therefore petitioned that the execution of the papal brief be -suspended, until appeal could be taken to his Majesty. Senor Cuesta, -who was a very peaceable man, and averse to disputes, agreed to this, -and sent a report to the king. The representations of the regulars -were considered in the Council of the Indias, and it was decreed -that the regulars must submit; but his Majesty, being informed by -a member of his Council of the injurious results which might follow -from this visitation, approved the proceedings of Senor Cuesta, and -ordered him not to annoy the religious in this matter until further -orders." (Zuniga, Hist. de Philipinas, pp. 418, 419.) - -[40] "He sent away most of the Chinese, and retained only those whom -he deemed necessary for the mechanical offices and the service of -the public; in this matter his reputation suffered somewhat, for it -was reported that he had a share of the proceeds from the licenses of -those Chinamen who remained in the country. However that may be, his -decision was a very sagacious one, and advantageous to this country; -for the Sangleys who come to Manila are more slothful than the Indians -themselves. They remain here [pretending] to cultivate the land, and -on account of this pretext licenses are given to them; but there is -not one in each thousand of the Chinese who applies himself to this -labor. The rest of them are all devoted to trade, a mode of life well -suited to their idle dispositions and to the [social] system of their -nation--where it is a received idea that he who is most deceitful -is most clever. The Sangleys adulterate everything--coins, measures, -sugar, wax, and whatever they can thus handle without the fraud being -known. Every one of them is a monopolist; they all secrete their wares, -even those of prime necessity, and sell them at the price that they -choose to ask. The oddest thing is, that by dint of presents they are -able to gain protectors, who defend them; and even if sometimes a fine -is imposed on them, on that very day they plunder [people] in their -trading, in order to pay for their losses. In this way they become -rich in a short time, and send much money to their relatives in China, -or else go back with it to their own country, defrauding the Philipinas -Islands of this silver." (Zuniga, Hist. de Philipinas, pp. 422, 423.) - -[41] Zuniga says (Hist. de Philipinas, pp. 443-445) that the Moros -of Jolo and Mindanao, although their rulers were nominally at peace -with the Spaniards, had frequently ravaged the islands, the sultans -pretending that they could not restrain their subjects; Bustamante -accordingly decided to rebuild the fortress at Zamboanga, but when he -laid this plan before the junta of treasury officials they refused -it by a vote of ten against seven--on the ground that the fort -was of no service against the Moros, and would cause extraordinary -expense. "As a matter of fact, the entire situado of that military -post amounts, in supplies and money, to about 25,000 pesos, which -only serves to enrich the governor, who is sent from Manila every -three years. Against the majority of votes in the junta the governor -gave orders to reestablish the post, exasperating people's minds, and -giving occasion to the malcontents to exaggerate his despotism. The -Recollect fathers, who had returned to the province of Calamianes -because the secular priests--whom the bishop of Zebu had stationed -there when the Recollects abandoned it--could not maintain themselves -there on account of the Moros, erected with the money of their province -some little forts, hardly deserving that name, which did not shelter -many places in those islands from the pirates; and they requested -the governor to establish a post in the island of Paragua, at Labo, -hoping that thus they would be freed from those annoying enemies. The -governor consented to this, and established a post [there] at much -less cost than that of Zamboanga, but equally useless." - -[42] The Jesuit Delgado says of this (Hist. de Filipinas, p. 205): -"I was at that time in Manila, and saw the bodies of those unfortunate -men, dragged along, stripped of their garments, and covered with some -old rags; and I was obliged, in order that I might enter the anteroom -of the palace, to step over the body of the governor, which was lying -across the threshold of the door." The editor of Delgado reproduces -in a footnote Otazo's letter (q.v. in this volume, post), with the -following remark: "Don Jose Montero y Vidal, in his Historia de la -pirateria, t. 1, p. 254, asserts that Don Fernando de Bustamante was -assassinated in a tumult at the head of which the Jesuits placed -themselves. The following document will show that gentleman the -falsity of his assertion." - -[43] Archbishop Cuesta surrendered the government of the islands to -Bustamante's successor, the Marques de Torre Campo, who took possession -of it on August 6, 1721. The home government censured Cuesta for -too little strictness in investigating Bustamante's murder, and -transferred him to the bishopric of Mechoacan, Mexico. He arrived -at Acapulco January 11, 1724, took charge of his see on April 18, -and died on May 30 following. - -[44] "The long residencia of the persecuted auditor -Torralba--imprisoned sometimes in Cavite and sometimes in Manila, -and always loaded with taunts and annoyances--was settled by the -Council of Indias, who condemned him to pay a fine of 100,000 pesos, -besides the 20,000 previously imposed, with perpetual deprivation of -office and exile from Madrid, and Filipinas. He was reduced to such -want that he had to beg alms to support himself; and when he died, -in 1736, he was buried as a pauper in [the church of] San Juan de -Dios." (Montero y Vidal, Hist. de Filipinas, i, p. 436.) - -[45] According to Zuniga (Hist. de Philipinas, p. 443), the hatred of -the citizens arose from the fact that Bustamante's harsh collection -of the debts due to the royal treasury, many of those who owed the -king having died, or being in great poverty, obliged the bondsmen to -pay those debts; this was so resented by them that the citizens of -Manila began to hate the governor. - -[46] In the Ventura del Arco MSS. (Ayer library), iv, pp. 433-435, is -a letter, apparently by one of the Jesuits, describing this attack; it -differs from that of Concepcion in some points. The attack was made by -Malanaos, from La Sabanilla, under the chief Balasi; and warning of it -was sent to the governor, Sebastian de Amorena, five days beforehand, -by Prince Radiamura, brother of the sultan of Mindanao. The attack -was made by the "king" of Jolo and Buhayen, with 104 joangas, and a -force of 3,000 men by land and sea. In the fort were not more than -200 men--Pampangos, creoles (probably "Morenos," that is, Malabars, -etc.), and a few Spaniards; but they fought so bravely that the enemy -could accomplish nothing in a siege of three months. Finally Radiamura -sent a force of 1,090 men to aid the Spaniards, and at this the enemy -raised the siege and went back to their homes. The above document is -preceded by an account (pp. 409-432) of affairs at Zamboanga from its -rebuilding to 1721, also from a Jesuit hand. The writer says that 3,000 -men were sent for this enterprise, who built a town in a few months, -although under the greatest difficulties, the former buildings being -destroyed, and the site overgrown with shrubs and trees. By that -time Bustamante seemed to have forgotten the undertaking, and they -were neglected and left without aid. Of the soldiers, "some had but -small wages, and most of them none; and the workmen were almost all -obliged to serve at their own expense." Desertions ensued, so that -"at the end of six months, hardly 300 men remained; and of these -no small number died and many of them were sick, overcome by labor, -or hunger, or the unusual difficulty of working the hard soil." So -great were their miseries that they talked of abandoning the fort -and returning to Manila; but in the following February several -Jesuits arrived at Zamboanga and brought tidings that a new governor -(Amorena) was to come with reenforcements, and supplies of money and -food. This was accomplished in June, when 200 soldiers arrived from -Manila; while in May the Jesuit Jose de Zisa had brought from Cebu -supplies of money and food, with 200 Boholans--who, however, "are -very much afraid of the Moros." Governor Cuesta sent orders for the -old soldiers at Zamboanga to return to Manila, and for the Boholans -to go back to their own villages; thus the garrison was left in poor -condition to withstand an enemy, which probably emboldened the Moros -to attack the fort in the following December, as is told above. The -writer here mentioned states that the Jesuits had succeeded in making -a surprising number of conversions, almost 600 persons being baptized -in the Zamboanga district. - -[47] Spanish, Instituta, i.e., the compendium of Roman civil law -compiled by the emperor Justinian. The mention of "the university" -in this sentence is presumably of San Jose, the Jesuit institution. - -[48] Thus in Ventura del Arco; but the indicative form in the second -clause seems hardly satisfactory. One would rather expect a subjunctive -with ut, making it read, "Who are they, that we may praise them?" - -[49] Cuesta here alludes to the decree ordering the surrender of the -records, and to its encroachment on the ecclesiastical immunity. - -[50] In text, malos fundamentos; but malos seems improbable, as applied -to the archbishop's own measures. It may be regarded as probably a -copyist's error for solos. - -[51] Miguel Molinos was a Spanish theologian, born at Zaragoza in -1627. He was one of the mystical thinkers, and attracted a considerable -following, not only in Spain but in Rome, where finally he settled. He -there published a book entitled Guia de la piedad, in which was taught -the doctrine called "quietist;" this was condemned by Innocent XI, -who caused him to be placed in the dungeons of the Inquisition, -where he died (1696). An interesting account of him is given in the -historical romance by J. H. Shorthouse, John Inglesant. - -[52] When Archbishop Camacho attempted to enforce the episcopal -right of visitation of the regular curas, the superiors of the orders -replied to him "first verbally and afterward in a written statement, -which was composed by the Jesuit Father Avina, who had been an auditor -of the royal Audiencia of Manila." (Zuniga's Historia, p. 398.) - -[53] Spanish, economica potestad; but the word economica is here -applied in an unusual sense, which is not made apparent by the -definitions in the lexicons. It is possible that, as used here, it is -derived from economo, "he who is appointed to administer and collect -the incomes of ecclesiastical posts that are vacant, or are held in -trust" (Barcia)--the governor, as possessing this power, endeavoring -to force a vacancy in the offices of archbishop and others, that he -might use that power. Or, economica may mean "reserve," applied to -powers placed in the governor's hands in reserve, only to be used -in emergencies. - -[54] "Never has there been seen a tumult [of the people] in -which ambition was less dominant; all were content with their own -offices, and at seeing themselves free from unjust and violent -imprisonments. Only the archbishop, who had risen to the post of -governor, was disturbed and uneasy; but his mind was somewhat calmed -when he received a royal decree in which his Majesty commissioned -the archbishop to restore the royal Audiencia to the same footing -which it had before, and to set free Senor Velasco; and, in case he -should be hindered by the governor, to suspend the latter from his -office and himself assume the government in person--which was almost -the same as what had just been accomplished, so far as this uprising -concerned him." (Zuniga, Hist. de Philipinas, p. 463.) - -[55] Spanish, lo que se llevo la trampa; literally, "what the -trap carried away with it;" a variant of the phrase llevarselo el -demonio. It is translated above in accordance with the definition -in Caballero's Diccionario de modismos (2nd edition, Madrid, 1905), -p. 744. - -"Fairs" [ferias] here alludes to the annual sale or fair at Acapulco -which took place at the arrival of the galleon from Manila; in this -case the goods from Filipinas evidently were sold at a loss. - -[56] Apparently referring to Juan Ventura de Maturana, who was royal -secretary in the Council of the Indias in 1734-35. - -[57] This was Doctor Carlos Bermudez Gonzalez de Castro, a secular -priest, a native of Puebla, Mexico, and a prominent ecclesiastic -at Nueva Espana. He arrived at Manila on June 29, 1728; displayed -great zeal in his office, kindness to the Indians, and piety and -charity in his personal character; and died on November 13, 1729, -being nearly seventy-two years old. (Concepcion, Hist. de Philipinas, -x, pp. 167-170, 182-184.) - -[58] This house must have been, since it was under the control of this -provincial, the beaterio of Santa Catalina, founded under Dominican -auspices. Its first prioress was Sor Francisca del Espiritu Santo, -who died on August 24, 1711, at the age of sixty-three years. - -[59] In the text, a cuya accion tuvieron todos aqui; but evidently -some word is omitted after tuvieron--probably mal, as such a proposal -could not be generally approved. - -[60] A sort of coach, with four seats: it was closed with doors; -and the body was supported by heavy straps, and placed between two -wooden shafts (Dominguez). - -[61] Espolios: property left by a prelate at his death. - -[62] Spanish, decima; possibly meaning a tenth part due to the crown. - -[63] Boleta: referring to the assignments of lading-space in the -Acapulco galleon; each ticket giving its owner the right to ship one -pieza of goods. See VOL. I, p. 63. - -[64] Spanish, Paysanaje, literally "peasantry;" applied here -somewhat scornfully to the mass of citizens as distinguished from -the nobility and military class, and especially to the merchants of -Manila. Cf. French, bourgeoisie. - -[65] Probably referring to Don Joseph Patino, then one of the ministers -of the Spanish government, through whose hands much of the business -relating to the Philippines seems to have passed (as mentioned in -Extracto historial). - -[66] In this document we resume the history of the commerce between -the Philippines and Nueva Espana which is presented in the Extracto -historial (Madrid, 1736), the first two "periods" of which appeared -in VOL. XXX of this series (q.v., pp. 23-101). The great length of -this work compels us to condense and abridge most of it here; but -"Periods" ii-vi are presented in full (save for the text of some -long decrees), as being of earlier date, and covering a longer space -of time, while they are comparatively brief in statement. In thus -condensing this work, it has been our aim to retain all matter of -vital interest and real value, eliminating only "vain repetitions" -and matters of trifling importance. The first memorials presented by -Manila and Cadiz respectively set forth various facts connected with -the Manila-Acapulco trade, on which are based their main arguments, -each endeavoring to justify its own side of the controversy and -its demands from the Spanish government; the succeeding memorials -largely repeat these statements and arguments, in new combinations, -with wearisome iteration--kaleidoscopic effects produced by the -same old bits of glass--which it seems useless to reproduce in our -translation. But we have carefully preserved all new facts, dates, -and arguments adduced, and whatever will throw additional light on -that commerce, or on the social and economic conditions of Spain, the -mother-country, at that period, since these must naturally affect those -of her colonies. Wherever possible, we have used the exact wording of -the text, and have made full citations from it which are indicated by -quotation-marks; and the numbers of sections are everywhere retained, -thus facilitating easy reference to the original work. The Extracto, -thus made accessible to English and American readers, and all that -is really important in it presented in compact form and accurate -translation, is a valuable addition to the history of commerce, as -well as to that of colonial development and administration. Not are its -psychological aspects less interesting and valuable, although perhaps -not so obvious at first glance; it shows the demoralizing effects on -the Spanish people of their conquests in the New World and of the flood -of wealth poured into Spain in consequence of these, and the results -of too paternal a mode of government in her colonies--in both cases -destructive to ambition, industry, personal initiative, patriotism, -and even common honesty. (Cf. notes in our VOL. XXX, pp. 71, 77.) - -[67] Expediente: "the collection of all the papers belonging to a -subject in a transaction," here evidently referring to the documents -pertaining to the Manila trade, which as Abreu says (see VOL. XXX, -p. 24), were placed in his hands by the Council of the Indias (of -which he himself was a member) for use in compiling the Extracto. - -[68] Consulado: equivalent to the American phrase "board of trade." - -[69] See section 35, post. - -[70] The phrase regulacion de derechos apparently means, in reality, -a (special) rule for the payment of duties; that is, if the Manila -merchants would pay the 100,000 pesos which they had offered as an -"adjustment" according to the special rule for the collection of those -duties--a rule going above the duties as prescribed by law--they should -be permitted to do so, and should be excused for the penalties which -had accumulated, or at least for the back dues remaining unpaid during -the time when the "indult" bad been conceded to them of compounding -the duties at 74,000 pesos only. The stress seems to be laid upon the -fact that they must not be permitted to consider their payment as an -"indult," but us an arrangement, and one that was based on a somewhat -higher rate than had previously been granted to them. Even though it -may be considered as a sovereign favor to them, objection is made to -having it specifically stated as an "indult." - -The usage of the word indulto in this connection will become more -clear if it is remembered that it means a special favor in one form or -another, a grace of the sovereign, a special exemption from rule or -penalty. Barcia and others define indulto as an impost levied on the -cargoes of the galleons from the Indias; but it seems doubtful if this -be strictly correct, as no impost by that name can be found in Leyes -de Indias or Ordenanzas de Bilbao, even in connection with averias -and almojarifazgos. I take it to mean, rather, the exemption from the -duties on ships' cargoes which would, under other provisions of law, -be owed. There is one interesting instance of the use of indulto to -signify exemption, in Teatro de la legislacion universal de Espana -e Indias (Madrid, 1790-97; 28 vols.), ii, p. 341, under the head, -"Administration of averias," where it is provided by Carlos II that -"the proceeds of certain indultos for gold, silver, and merchandise -unregistered shall be applied to the fund from averias, in order that -it may result to the benefit of those who shall not have transgressed -the laws of registration; and notification shall first be given -to the Council." This seems to confirm my belief that the indulto -was not properly a tax, but the favor of an exemption, in cases, -from the tax; or of exemption (in this case, it would appear) from -the penalty to fall upon him who had evaded the tax by concealment; -it was, then, by derivation a composition of the tax. But the king -here provided that it should not be paid into his coffers, but be -applied to the fund from averias, thus swelling the fund from which -all shippers benefited, and to which they were supposed to contribute -to make the trade possible; see the chapter on "Averias," in Leyes -de Indias. The foregoing statements suggest a reason why the royal -authority was opposed, in this Manila trade controversy, to having the -composition of the duties, and of the penalties which the merchants -had incurred by past violations of the rules, regarded or considered -as an "indult," and not as a "regulation" or rule specifying a lump -sum to be paid as duties. This indult might (by this and other laws) -have had to go into other funds; though I know of no fund for averias -in the Manila trade, yet the Spanish mere desire for uniformity of -legislation and practice might explain this strenuous objection to -considering this regulation as an indult or grace of the sovereign -(in the special sense that had been established for this sort of favor) -in the galleon trade with the West Indies.--James A. LeRoy (now [1906] -U.S. consul at Durango, Mexico). - -[71] The Duke de Alburquerque took possession of his office as viceroy -of Nueva Espana on November 27, 1702; his term of office lasted a -little more than eight years. Little of importance occurred therein -except several raids by pirates (among whom was Captain William -Dampier) in Mexican waters. Alburquerque was succeeded (January 15, -1711) by Fernando de Alancastre, Duke de Linares, who was an able, -vigorous and benevolent ruler, and spent or bequeathed the greater -part of his fortune for the benefit of the poor--whose number and -sufferings were enormous at this time, through unusual calamities of -floods and earthquakes, famine and pestilence. Linares's term of office -expired on August 15, 1716, and he died in June of the next year; -he was succeeded by Baltasar de Zuniga, Marques de Valero. (Bancroft, -Hist. Mexico, iii, pp. 278-290.) - -[72] Spanish, harrieros, "muleteers;" for goods and silver were -transported across Mexico by pack-trains of mules. - -[73] That is, the present attempt by Linares to inquire into and -settle past irregularities; for it gives those who are suspected an -opportunity to compromise the affair. - -[74] That is, not only because money can (speaking generally) easily -open the way for a settlement in such case, but because, in this -specific matter, it is a fair supposition that large speculations -cannot be carried on with small capital--and indeed most of these -Mexican transgressors are too poor to pay the penalties incurred by -their past infractions, if these were strictly adjudged against them. - -[75] Barracan is a woolen fabric impenetrable to water, about half a -vara wide, of which rain-cloaks and other articles are made; picote -is a coarse, rough fabric made from goat's hair (Dominguez). - -[76] At fol. 40 verso of the Extracto, elefantes are defined as -"linen goods of that country [i.e., Filipinas], having no durability, -and but little valued in that kingdom [i.e., Mexico]." - -[77] It is apparently a lapsus calami by which the consulate of Cadiz -is mentioned in nos. 61-64, and that of Sevilla in nos. 45-50, here -cited in the text; but the commerce of both cities was included under -the former consulate. - -[78] Linens (Spanish, lienzos and lenceria) have always been one of the -chief products of China, especially around Canton; and the term "Canton -grass linen" is often used to define the particular kind of linen -most commonly produced there, which very closely resembles the linen -produced from flax. The European languages have always defined these -Chinese textiles as "linen." The term "elephant" must here refer to the -mark or brand of a certain kind of linen goods; the Chinese are greater -devotees of the "trademark" idea than perhaps any other people. The -mark of a kind of goods to which they are accustomed is known today -as the "chop," and it is exceedingly difficult to induce them to try -a new "chop" if the old one has established itself. "Cambayas" are -cotton cloths from Cambaya. "Chitas" (more generally spelled "chites") -mean India calicoes, and sometimes chintzes. The Filipinos knew how to -weave in colors, although not to figure goods (as they do not yet); -and the Spaniards would be apt to designate by the words lienzos and -lienzos pintados (perhaps also by elefantes) the Philippine fabrics -woven from hemp and banana fibers, which have somewhat that texture, -and which have stripes of red, blue, and other colors run through them -more often by far than they are left plain. Strictly speaking, these -are neither linens nor cottons; but they have the feeling of linen -rather than of cotton. The goods thus designated probably included -not only those of Philippine manufacture, but those made in India -and other Eastern countries and traded in at Manila. Sayasaya was the -Spanish name for a kind of Chinese silk; and I would conjecture that -pitiflores meant some kind of Chinese brocade.--James A. LeRoy. - -The term "Canton grass linen" mentioned above apparently means -the fabrics made from the so-called "China grass" (see VOL. XXII, -p. 278). Note the statement in sec. 92, post, that the lenceria sent -to Acapulco "are all of cotton," evidently being made in imitation -of the real linen goods; cf. the statement in Casa-Fuerte's letter, -in VOL. XLV, sec. 164. The name "chimones" in the text suggests, -especially in view of its context, the Japanese garment called -"kimono," so generally adopted in America for neglige wear.--Eds. - -[79] In the text, mantas de hilazos, evidently misprinted for -Hilocos. On fol. 61 a similar list has mantas de Ilocos. - -[80] i.e., of the vessel and carge, in case of attack by enemies--whom -the seamen would resist more valiantly if they also had property of -their own to defend. - -[81] In all, making 3,500 piezas, as in sec. 79, post; the same -explanation is given on fol. 110 verso of the Extracto. - -[82] A marginal note in the text adds to this name "y Ossorio." - -[83] Spanish recopiladas, apparently meaning that these decrees have -been included in the official Recopilacion de leyes de Indias. - -[84] "The censos yield only five per cent." Censo refers to annuities -in some form or other, and especially to "quit-rent;" it also sometimes -means "interest," which is a derivative and special meaning; in a -general sense, it may be rendered "income."--James A. LeRoy. - -Dominguez (Diccionario nacional) enumerates several different kinds -of censo (which he defines as "a contract by which one person sells -and another buys the right to receive a certain annual pension"); -the statements in our text relative to the status of houses and -lands in and near Manila would indicate the probability that the -censos there mentioned were what Dominguez calls consignativos, -"in which a certain amount is received for which must be given in -return an annual pension, giving security for the said sum or capital -with rent-producing property or real estate." He instances as a -censo reservativo the arrangement made by Joseph with the Egyptians -(Genesis, ch. xlvii), by which, after all the land in that country -had become the property of the crown, the people received back their -fields on condition of their paying to the king the fifth part of -their produce, which constituted an annual pension or quit-rent -(censo). The same word may also mean "census" and "tax-register;" -Dominguez states that when the Spaniards conquered America they found -the tax-register established in Mexico and Peru.--Eds. - -[85] A marginal note at the beginning of each of these letters states -its authorship; but that on the Jesuit provincial's letter adds, -"with very well-grounded arguments" (muy fundamentalmente). - -[86] Spanish, theatro; that is, the personnel of the Spanish body -of citizens. - -[87] Cf. the prices paid somewhat later for the wine monopoly, in -the first document of VOL. XLVI. - -[88] Spanish, trage de golilla. The golilla was "a certain ornament -made of pasteboard faced with taffeta or other black fabric, which -surrounded the neck, over which was placed a pleating of gauze or -other white stuff, which was starched. At present this decoration is -used only by the togated officials and others attached to the courts -of justice." (Dominguez.) - -[89] For notices of this missionary, see VOL. XXXVI, pp. 218, -219. Calderon's memorial is more fully described post, near the end -of sec. 94 of the Extracto. - -[90] See account of Quiroga's proceedings in VOL. XXX, pp. 50-52, -85-88, 91, 105. - -[91] Millones: "an excise or duty levied in Spain on wine, vinegar, -oil, meat, soap, and tallow candles, to defray the expenses of the -army" (Velazquez). - -[92] These dimensions are equivalent in English or U.S. measure to -41 3/4 inches long, 22 1/4 wide, and 11 1/8 deep; and the allowance -of two dedos, to 1 1/3 inch. - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, -Volume XLIV, 1700-1736, by Various - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, VOL XLIV *** - -***** This file should be named 50151.txt or 50151.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/1/5/50151/ - -Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project -Gutenberg. - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - |