ANNO DOM. 1717.
The Administration of Don Fernando Bustamante, commonly called
the Marshal.
The Field-Marshal Don Fernando Bustamante Bustillo y Rueda, late
alcalde mayor of Tlascala, in New Spain, took possession of his
government on the 9th of August, 1717. He was a man who knew how
to make himself obeyed, and the more difficulties he encountered,
the more did his resolution impel him to meet them with effect. He
began by issuing some strong decrees, and others still more severe
were expected. These were principally directed to the recovery of
above two hundred thousand dollars, which he found were due to the
royal treasury by different people, both by those in office, and
generally by the public. These parties finding he was determined on the
measure, began to murmur at his proceedings. Without, however, allowing
himself to be influenced by any consideration of this nature, he laid
an embargo on all the silver that came in the galleon from Acapulco,
and required from the public functionaries correct statements of their
accounts with the royal treasury. By an examination of those names
which appeared as owners of the silver, he found it an easy matter
to cover all those debts, and by this dexterous management recovered
about three hundred thousand dollars to the treasury. Many of those,
however, then indebted to the government, having died, or being reduced
to poverty, their securities of course became responsible, and this
extended the consequences of his measures to so many in Manila, that
he became an object of general hatred, particularly as he went so
far as to punish delinquencies by confining individuals as prisoners
in their office, and by seizing their property. He ordered the late
secretary of Torralba to give an account of what had been received for
licences granted to the Chinese, and as this was not complied with,
he seized all his effects, and committed him to prison, practising
many other acts of severity too numerous to mention.
Although these islands had been many years at peace with the Kings of
Jolo and Mindanao, yet several pirates of those kingdoms continued to
infest our coasts, and yet no redress could be had from the respective
Sovereigns, who frankly acknowledged their inability to prevent such
irregularities. With a view to correct these abuses, the Governor
was desirous of re-establishing the station of Zamboanga, which,
in the time of Don Sabiniano Manrique de Lara, had been abandoned
through apprehension of the Chinese pirate Cogseng, who had at that
time threatened these islands.
This matter was brought before a select committee of the royal works,
who decided, by ten against seven, that the station should not be
re-established; among other reasons alleging, that it was of no
service against the Moors, and that it was supported at the heavy
annual expense of twenty-five thousand dollars, answering no other
purpose than that of enriching the Governor, whose appointment was
from Manila, and for a term of three years. In opposition to the
decision of this committee, however, the Governor ordered the works
to be re-constructed. This further exasperated the public against him.
The Franciscans having requested the Governor to place a garrison in
Labo, in the island of Paragua, to protect them from the Moors, he
consented to it, and accordingly erected a fort at much less expense
than that of Zamboanga, though as little tending to the public benefit.
Don Fernando Bustamante, not satisfied with urging the Spaniards to
cultivate commercial connections with the other kingdoms of Asia, was
desirous of establishing one with the kingdom of Siam in particular,
to whose King he sent a nephew of his own, bearing magnificent
presents. He arrived in safety, was received well, and entertained
splendidly. He delivered his credentials and presents to the King,
and concluded a treaty of friendship, by which the Spaniards were
allowed to establish a factory in that kingdom.
By virtue of this treaty, a ship from Siam arrived at Manila with
goods, but the Governor treated the Siamese so ill, that they returned
discontented, and by this conduct the whole cost of the embassy
was thrown away. The Spaniards severely censured this extraordinary
conduct of the Governor, some attributing it to the caprice of his
disposition, while others feeling less inclination to smother their
sentiments, asserted boldly that the public interests of the monarchy,
and of these islands, had no influence with him, unless they accorded
with his own individual views of interest, or with the gratification
of his passion for ostentation.
A charge was made by the King's fiscal against Senor Torralba,
for property which had disappeared during the time he held the chief
authority, the amount of which, according to his own account, was seven
hundred thousand dollars. It was understood that his son had effected
his escape with considerable property, and that his wife, with his
younger sons, had embarked in the ship for Acapulco, at the close of
his government. The royal fiscal requested that the property might
be attached which his wife had taken with her, and that the person of
Torralba might be secured. The Governor, in compliance with this, and
always very zealous for the royal revenue, imprisoned him in the fort
of Santiago. At this period the decision of the court arrived, by which
Senor Villa was acquitted, and Senor Torralba fined in twenty thousand
dollars, with orders to give security for twenty thousand more. His
inability to comply with the terms of his sentence, put it in the
Governor's power to indulge his antipathy against public delinquents,
by loading him with fetters, and treating him with the greatest rigour.
These proceedings of the Governor were sufficient to expose him to the
hatred of all. It is certain that a little before his death, a royal
order arrived, in which the Archbishop was charged to place the Royal
Audience on the same footing as before, and the chief Oidor had liberty
to suspend the Governor from his office, if it was found necessary.
Having despatched the ship for Acapulco, under the command of Don
Domingo Nebra, with letters in justification of his conduct, and
suspecting that private letters had been forwarded by the same vessel,
complaining of him to the government, he sent directions to stop the
vessel, but she sailed immediately on the arrival of the officers
despatched for that purpose, without paying any regard to the orders
for her detention.
The Governor, who was not of a disposition to permit himself to
be insulted with impunity, ordered three ships which were lying in
the port of Cavite to be prepared, and gave the command of them to
Don Fernando de Angulo, for the purpose of pursuing the galleon,
and bringing her back to Manila; and in case this force should not
be able to overtake her, he at the same time despatched a patache,
in which he sent his nephew, Don Alexandro Bustamente, to New Spain,
to give information of what had passed. This was unquestionably a
necessary measure on the part of the merchants, as the royal officers
had retired to St. Augustine, without having furnished a correct
register of the different goods on board, and they had reason to fear
that on their arrival at Acapulco they would be seized.
The Governor was given to understand that Angulo would not attack
the galleon even with his three ships, as he was one of those who had
entered into the conspiracy against him, when it was determined that
the Chinese should be murdered. All, in short, were become heartily
disgusted with his tyranny, and were ripe for rebellion, though few
had concerted any regular plan for the purpose. The Governor, whose
destiny led him to the edge of the precipice, instead of tranquillizing
the minds of the public by resorting to prudent measures, began to
commit still greater enormities. This alarmed the Senor Villa, who was
the only Oidor that remained, and who had been appointed Fiscal. It
appeared clear that the Governor's conduct would produce some dismal
catastrophe, and, unable to oppose it, fearing likewise that his own
life was insecure, he took shelter in the convent of the Augustines.
On the retirement of the Senor Villa, the Royal Audience was
annihilated, as Senor Torralba was in prison by order of the King,
and the Governor would not permit the Senor Pavon to return to his
office again; the former fiscal was dead, and the Senors Velasco and
Torribio, the honorary Oidors and law professors, had had all their
property confiscated, and had been imprisoned. The annihilation of the
Royal Audience was a misfortune both to the inhabitants of Manila, and
likewise to the Governor, as it was the means of giving validity, in
the name of the King, to his atrocities. He consulted Senor Torralba,
and agreed that he should be released from his dungeon, and confined in
the hall of the Royal Audience, where the functions of this respectable
tribunal were exercised by one individual, of notorious character,
who had been deservedly disgraced, and was a prisoner by order of his
Majesty. Under this authority the Governor began to imprison those
whom he chose to consider as obnoxious to him, none being exempt but
those who had taken refuge in the churches, which were by this means
filled with the first people of Manila and its neighbourhood. A notary
public, among others, had retired to the cathedral; his effects were
immediately seized, and, upon examination, his register of sales,
contracts, &c. was missing from his office. The ordinary Alcalde who
seized his effects consulted the Governor upon this circumstance,
and stated, that although he had taken refuge in a sanctuary, yet,
legally, he ought to be compelled to deliver up the register. The
Governor submitted it to the decision of the Royal Audience, which
being composed of Senor Torralba solely, he immediately despatched
an order, to which the royal seal was affixed, addressed to the
Archbishop, in which he was directed to enter the cathedral, and
deliver up to justice the notary public, who had taken refuge there.
Senor Cuesta, who did not wish to have an unavailing dispute, consulted
the two universities upon the point, and they unanimously gave it as
their opinion, that Senor Torralba could neither give due authority to
royal orders, nor could the archbishop direct the royal jurisdiction,
even if duly authenticated, to be exercised within the church. He
forwarded to the Governor these opinions, with a view to justify
himself in declining obedience to the order which had been issued by
Senor Torralba. This reply was forwarded by the Governor to the Royal
Audience, and it occasioned the issue of another order still more
severe, in which the archbishop was treated with little ceremony,
and threatened to be compelled, by force, to obey, and no longer
shelter himself behind a consultation with the two universities. The
archbishop, convinced that Senor Torralba was the principal instigator
of these unhappy disputes, with less prudence than the circumstances
of the times required, issued a process against this violator of
ecclesiastical sanctuary, and excommunicated him. This was the grand
error he committed, and from which melancholy consequences resulted;
for having sent two of the clergy to intimate to him the sentence of
excommunication, Torralba, on observing them approach, went to meet
them, and snatched from them the paper containing it. Immediately
afterwards appeared a publication from him, accusing the clergy of an
intention to take away his life, and suborned witnesses: having, on
examination, confirmed this charge, the Governor was induced to commit
to prison the Archbishop, and several of the clergy and religious
orders, with such other persons as had taken refuge in the churches.
Before, however, this order was put in force, a proclamation was
issued, requiring all the inhabitants in the vicinity to assemble in
the office of the royal auditor, in aid of the civil power; and that
on the signal of the discharge of a cannon, with ball, they should
all repair to the palace. When the time arrived to put the scheme in
execution, the artillery was levelled against the city, and the gates
leading into the square, and the fort of Santiago being secured, and
ammunition distributed to the guards appointed there, the signal gun
agreed on was fired, and all in the vicinity repairing to the palace,
they were detained there.
Having thus made his dispositions, the Governor ordered the Archbishop,
with all the ecclesiastical Cabildo, the Commissary of the Inquisition,
the heads of the religious orders, and various other clergy, to
be seized. By these arrests and preparations, consternation was
spread over the whole city; nothing was seen but knives at people's
throats, and it was said that it was the intention of the Governor
to decapitate all the Spaniards, and escape to the coast of Mexico
with their property. Even this extravagant charge was credited, as he
was known to be a man who respected no tribunal, and who had violated
the sanctuary of the churches, by dragging from thence those who had
taken refuge there, committing them to prison, not even excepting
the ecclesiastics. Despair alone produced a tumultuous assemblage of
the inhabitants, but without any premeditated plan, nor is it an easy
matter now to discover how the disturbances began.
The religious of the different orders were seen in procession along the
streets with crucifixes in their hands, accompanied by people of all
classes, particularly those who had taken refuge in the churches, and
who had not yet been seized, calling out, "Long live the true faith,
long live the church, and long live our King, Philip the Fifth!"--They
arrived in this manner at the church of St. Augustine, where the chief
people of Manila, who had taken refuge there, joined them, and being
provided with arms, they followed the procession to the palace. A page
intimated to the Governor that the friars were in procession along
the streets, and he immediately gave directions to put a stop to it,
though he was ignorant of its meaning, and only presumed there was
some tumult. On observing them from the window, however, and being
convinced of their mutinous intention, he despatched positive orders to
the fort to fire the artillery on the city; but although the Governor
of the fort was his son, his humanity, or his disobedience was such,
that he only fired two, and those so ill pointed, that the shot did
not take effect.
Meantime the immense concourse of inhabitants arrived at the palace
without opposition, when the guard, either overawed, or conniving at
the measure, permitted them to pass unmolested, and the crowd ascended
the staircase. The halberdiers, who were on guard in the anti-room,
made no resistance, nor did even one individual attempt to defend the
palace except the Governor, who rushing out alone, fired his fusee, and
with his drawn sword attacked the crowd. A friar endeavoured to accost
him, but he called out, "Leave me, father, unless you wish to murder
me," and making a cut with his sabre, he wounded a citizen. Upon this
a general attack was made on him, when his arm being broke, and his
head severely wounded, he fell apparently dead. His son, the Governor
of the fort, observing from thence that the tumult had reached the
palace with every alarming appearance, he mounted a horse in order to
assist his father, and entered the palace sword in hand, but he was
overpowered, and wounded so severely that he died the same evening. A
Jesuit friar approached the Governor, to ascertain if he still lived,
when the dying man said, in a faint voice, "Father, do not abandon me
until the last moment of my life, which I have well deserved to lose,
on account of my misconduct." He very devoutly confessed himself,
and some of the mutineers seeing that he was still likely to live,
carried him into an adjoining apartment, and put him in a hammock,
with a view to convey him to a dungeon in the court prison, when,
in his passage out, he was met by a slave of the chief auditor's,
Don Vincente Lucea, who gave him two mortal stabs with a knife. The
father and son were both placed in the chapel of the prison, and the
dean sent for surgical assistance, but in the mean time, between five
and six in the evening, they both died, having received their wounds
between twelve and one in the course of the day.
The mutineers proceeded to the prisons, set at liberty the inhabitants
of Manila confined there, and placed in their stead the Oidor
Torralba and Doctor Correa, who had officiated as fiscal during these
disturbances, and likewise as secretary to the Governor.
The Governor being dead, the ordinary alcalde assumed the reins of
government in the civil department, and Don Fernando Bustamente,
the son of the late Governor, who had that day lost his life in
assisting his father, notwithstanding this succeeded nominally to
the military department. The arrangement was every way invalid, as
his Majesty had determined, by repeated royal edicts, that on the
death of the Governor, the Royal Audience should be invested with
the reins of Government. This tribunal, however, had been of late
merely a shadow, as it had been composed of Senor Torralba solely,
who was a prisoner by his Majesty's order. The principal people
of the city not knowing on whom to bestow the chief magistracy,
went to the fort of Santiago, where the archbishop was confined,
and requested that he would assume the government. He, however,
declined it, on the plea that he was not authorized; but upon their
pressing his acceptance of it, he left the fort, and passing by the
palace of the Governor, the people attempted to force him to enter
and take possession of it, but he resisted, and proceeded on to the
archiepiscopal palace. He ordered two notaries public to examine the
body of the Governor, who reported that he was dead, and upon this
report the principal people in Manila again assembled, and resolved,
that under all the circumstances, it was incumbent on the archbishop
to assume the direction of public affairs. The archbishop was at last
prevailed on to assent, but before taking the customary oaths, he
thought it prudent to make the declaration, that what he did was not
from any wish to prejudice the right which any person might have to
the government through the appointment of his Majesty. The ceremony
ended with the citizens doing him the same homage as was usual on
the appointment of regular Governors.
The day following he summoned a council, at which, in conjunction
with those who had assisted him the day before, were present the
Oidor Villa, who had left Manila and had retired to Guadalupe, and the
honorary Oidors, Velasco and Torribio, whom the insurgents had released
from confinement. The Senor Villa was acknowledged in this assembly as
legitimate Oidor, and as such he renounced the right which the laws
gave him of holding the reins of government, and recognized, on the
day following, in the hall of the Royal Audience, the archbishop,
as his legitimate President and Governor, delivering up to him the
keys of the secret archives. The Royal Audience being thus formed,
it was agreed that in consequence of the want of regular Oidors,
the honorary members, Velasco and Torribio, should be added to their
number, as there were many suits pending which required immediate
adjudication. Velasco and Torribio were not desirous of taking this
situation without being duly authorized by the King; but finding that
it was the unanimous opinion of all who had attended at the meeting
held for the purpose, they at last agreed to it. Finally, Senor Pavon
was restored to his office of Oidor, agreeable to the order of the
King, and he likewise ceded his right to the Governor, though there was
afterwards a dispute between Senor Villa and him respecting precedency
as the oldest Oidor, and which dispute the archbishop decided.
There never appeared less confusion at an insurrection than on the
present occasion, every individual seeming satisfied with his lot in
being relieved from unjust oppression and violence. The archbishop,
who had assumed the reins of government, was the only person whose mind
was not at ease; but in a short time he was restored to tranquillity by
the arrival of a royal order, enjoining him to suspend the Governor
from his office, and imprison him; replace the Royal Audience on
the same footing as before; set at liberty the Senor Velasco, and
assume the reins of government himself, which was exactly what had
been effected by the late disturbance.
The archbishop had neither forgotten the dead bodies of the
Governor and his son, nor his orphan family; he buried the former
with all the pomp and solemnity which Governors were accustomed to
receive. Bustamente left six sons; the oldest was appointed guardian
to the others, and they were allowed one thousand dollars per annum
for their maintenance. They afterwards requested permission to proceed
to New Spain; but his excellency would not grant it, until the elder
brother paid into the royal treasury the expenses of the voyage,
and agreed to conduct all his brothers to Mexico, where they had
rich relations, who would receive them into their protection, and
educate them.
The death of the marshal took place on the 11th of October, 1719,
within a little more than two years after he assumed the government.
The public mind being at length tranquillized, the Oidor Velasco was
commissioned to enquire into the circumstances relating to the death of
the Governor and that of his son. He examined seventeen of the first
characters in the city, who had taken no part in this disturbance,
and their evidence tended to confirm what we have above related. He
afterwards took the depositions of those in the service of Bustamente,
who all declared against the conduct of their master. He even summoned
before the judge some scholars, whom he accused of having published
libels on the late Governor; but they justified themselves, and
were acquitted.
He likewise proceeded to examine Senor Torralba, Doctor Correa,
secretary to the government, and another counsellor, who served
as fiscal ad interim; who threw the whole blame on the Governor
Bustamente, representing him as a perfect devil, under whom they
were in constant apprehension of their lives, and urging in their
defence that the confusion was so great, they were ignorant of what
was passing, and knew not who were or were not imprisoned. Lastly,
the depositions of the Governor's body guard was taken, of whom,
however, no information could be procured, they declaring that they
were so confounded at the multitude of people assembled on the occasion
that they knew nothing of what passed. The utmost they heard was,
that those inhabitants of Manila who had taken refuge in the church
of St. Augustine had united with the friars, and were coming in a
body to the palace, but who committed the murders they were totally
ignorant of. The Oidor Velasco now gave orders, that all those who had
taken refuge in the convent of St. Augustine should be imprisoned in
their own houses: when, however, this was known throughout the city,
such consternation prevailed, that Velasco revoked his decree, and
delivered in his report with all diligence to the Royal Audience,
who, without proceeding any further with the examinations into this
business, ordered that a minute of it, as it then stood, should be
forwarded to his Majesty. This wise proceeding tranquillized the minds
of the inhabitants of Manila, who had felt exceedingly alarmed during
the progress of the enquiry.
The archbishop governed these islands for the space of two years with
much prudence, and gave great satisfaction to the public, preserving
in Manila the utmost harmony among all the different classes of
inhabitants, and making due preparations against the Moors, who shewed
a disposition to attack the garrisons which had been established to
keep them in check. That of Zamboanga was an object of much jealousy
to the Moors of Mindanao; and Dulasi, King of Butuy, sent a powerful
armament to attempt to get possession of it by assault; they were
repulsed by the Spaniards, but although severely handled, they did
not desist from the enterprize.
The Kings of Jolo and Mindanao sent out their fleets for the avowed
purpose of relieving the Spanish force in Zamboanga, but the Governor
of that fort, doubtful of their intentions, would not admit them into
the place, nor make use of them in any shape. Their design upon this
became evident, as they immediately joined Dulasi, and they lay with
their three squadrons for some time in view of the fort, watching
a fit opportunity to possess themselves of it. Finding, however,
that the Spaniards were constantly on the watch, and despairing of
compelling the fort to surrender, they dispersed their vessels through
the islands, committing great excesses, and making many prisoners in
every quarter. They, as usual, burnt many towns and villages, robbed
many churches, and in Calamianes murdered a Franciscan friar. The
archbishop called a council of war on this occasion, when it was
resolved that the fort of Zamboanga should be abandoned, as likewise
that of Labo, which the marshal had erected in the island of Parava,
and that their garrisons should be sent to augment that of Taytay,
which was deemed sufficient to protect the whole of Calamianes.