Sire:
Having written and sealed the folio which will go with this, on
Friday the eve of St. Francis' day of this year, and set thereto the
date of the following day, when some one was to depart and take it,
on that same Friday night there occurred the insurrection of the
Chinese which I shall recount in this.
In the letter of the third of July of this year, which went with the
ship which left here for Nueva Hespaña, I wrote to your Majesty that
three mandarins had come to this city from the kingdom of China,
under pretense that they were coming to investigate a lie which a
Sangley who had been here had told to their king--saying that in
Cavite there was a great quantity of gold; and that with that and
the silver which could be obtained from this kingdom every year
his vassals might be relieved from tribute. The care which was
exercised in this matter, and what occurred to me in regard to it,
I have written to your Majesty in the said letter. I told you how I
was preparing, being in uncertainty, what appeared to me necessary,
so that if anything should happen I should not be caught unprepared;
accordingly, as the houses of the Parian were very near to the wall,
I had several of them demolished so that this space might be free. I
wrote to the alcaldes-mayor and magistrates of this district, and
they sent me a memorial concerning the natives in the jurisdiction
of each one, what weapons they possessed, and in how far they might
be trusted. I had them visit the Sangleys, and see what arms and
provisions they had, particularly the stone-workers, lime-burners,
sawyers, fishermen, and gardeners, as they were people who reside
in the country, and for this reason it will be right to exercise
more caution in living with them; and likewise in order to have
them make arrows, bows, pikes, baqueruelos, and other articles for
the royal warehouses, as it is from these that all of the military
supplies are provided. I likewise ordered that they should collect,
bring together, and transport as many provisions as possible. I was
not careless in regard to the walls, but rather with much diligence
repaired what was necessary; and I continued the building of the fort
which I wrote your Majesty was being made on the point, as it was so
necessary a defense, and the supplies and other articles had to be
gathered and guarded there. To this end I had brought a great number
of Sangleys for the works, and had contracted with them to construct a
ditch in the part where their Parian and alcaycería stand, and along
the whole front from the river to the sea; and, as the plan shows,
this may be flooded with water at high tide, which enters through
the river. As all the Sangleys had knowledge of this, and there were
among them restless and vagabond people who had nothing to lose,
and who on account of their crimes, evil life, and debts could not
go back to China without being punished there for these things with
much severity, they took this as a pretext to win over the merchants
and quiet people, persuading them that the precautions and measures
which I was taking were in order to kill them; and, since the Sangleys
were so many and we so few, it would be well to be beforehand with
us and kill us, taking our lands. When this came to my knowledge I
had them assemble several times, and explained to them the mistake
under which they were laboring, and that the Spaniards were not a
people to harm anyone who did not deserve it. I told them to be calm,
and confide in me; and that I would do them no harm if they on their
part gave me no reason to do so. It appeared that they were quieted,
but the gamblers and worthless people--who were very numerous, and
had been the prime instigators--incited and persuaded them in such
manner that they made them believe that I and the friendly Spanish
merchants who were with them and conferred with them were deceiving
them. Accordingly many of those in the Parian withdrew from there,
and went over to the other side of the river, as if fleeing from
the Spaniards because they wished to kill them. Although this was
publicly known eight days before their uprising, and I was aware of
it all the time, it was supposed that they were fleeing out of fear,
and merely to place themselves in safety. They left in the Parian about
2,500 Sangleys who were considered peaceable, and among them five or
six hundred _Avays_ who are merchants and people of better conduct
than the others, for these gave information of what the others were
doing. Although the same effort was made to stir them up, they never
belonged to that party, or attempted to leave the Parian; for they
are a gentle and prosperous people, with a liking for trade. The rest
assembled at a place about a legua from Manila, close to the monastery
of San Francisco del Monte, whereupon followed what is contained in
the relation which will go with this, to which I refer you.
The Audiencia has proceeded against Christian Sangleys who are
implicated in this uprising; and in a few cases justice has been
executed, particularly on Juan Baptista de Vera. They have confiscated
his goods, which are understood to amount to 15,000 pesos, including
that part of them which went this year to Nueva Hespaña. From the
investigations which have been made in this connection, and what some
of those implicated have declared, it is understood that this uprising
was instigated from China; and that it was discussed with the mandarins
who were here, or with some one of them. However that may be, at any
rate it is considered quite certain that it was due to the restlessness
of worthless people, with a hankering for innovations, so that they
might enjoy the freedom which they usually have on such occasions,
having no other gods than their own vices. Undecided as to what to
do with the five hundred or more Sangleys who have been kept alive
for the galleys, I have continued the fortifications, with the work
of other natives. Likewise several bastions have been erected which
were still incomplete, and the wall is being made higher in those
parts where it is necessary. They are opening trenches and helping
at other very necessary works; and therefore I already have things
in good condition, and the fort on the point repaired, to put it in
a state of defense; and this work is being continued very diligently.
Likewise it has seemed best to me to send notice to China concerning
the event, lest by chance some ships of Sangleys may have fled thither,
and by gilding their crime and insubordination may have succeeded
in throwing the blame upon the Spaniards; for this, if there were
no advices there of the truth, might at least disturb traffic, and
make the merchants uncertain as to whether to come this year, which
would be an irreparable loss for this whole commonwealth. Thereby the
treasury of your Majesty would lose more than 52,000 pesos, which is
the usual value of the duties collected from merchandise that comes
from China--to say nothing of what is paid and the increase in value
at Acapulco, Mexico, and other parts where the cloth is taken. I have
accordingly despatched a ship with a person of ability and prudence,
carrying letters, some for the viceroys of Canton and Chincheo and
other mandarins, and others from the Sangley Avays who could be found
alive, written to their relatives and kinsmen, and the partners of
the dead men. All these give an account of the event, and tell how
the property of the Avays which they left in the hands of their
Spanish friends is deposited at good interest, to be added to it
for whomsoever is the owner; and that the debts which were owed by
Spaniards to Sangleys who were not implicated in the uprising would
also be paid. The Chinese were also informed that the merchants could
proceed with their commerce for the future, and that they would find
a hearty reception; but that they must go back in their ships the
same year. Although this is so pressing a reason for sending this
information, I was also led to do so in order that we might learn
whether in China they were getting together a fleet directed against
this country, as has been suspected since the coming of the mandarins,
and as we were led to believe by the letter which they wrote to me
before they disembarked, a duplicate copy of which I sent to your
Majesty. The whole city is very apprehensive of this, and chiefly the
archbishop and the orders, particularly the Dominicans. Although,
as I have said, I have left nothing undone in any way which could
provide for the defense and protection of this land, yet it would
be of much importance to obtain definite knowledge beforehand. This
despatch is directed to Malan [_sic; sc._ Macan] which is a settlement
of Portuguese in the land of China itself. I wrote to the commandant of
the place, and to the bishop and the fathers of the Society (which,
I am told, takes considerable part in the affairs of state), and
to the other orders and to private persons, recounting to them this
event. I sent to each of them a copy of the letter which I wrote to the
Chinese viceroy, so that, as they possess more extensive and intimate
knowledge of the Chinese customs, and of the conditions, and methods
of negotiating, they might advise the person who takes the despatch
what he should do in order the better to achieve his object and attain
success in his undertaking--representing to them the service which
they will render to your Majesty, and the obligation to them under
which these islands will be. Since, considering the great amount of
gunpowder and munitions which have been expended on this occasion,
these supplies may fail us, owing to what we fear from China, and
other troubles which every day arise, I wrote likewise to those persons
that they should buy for me and send as much gunpowder and saltpeter
as possible, on your Majesty's account; and that the royal officials
there should send it upon the credit of this treasury, so that it
could be paid for in this city--for only enough money was sent for
anchorage--money for the ships, and the expenses which are necessary
there. The Chinese will listen to no one if they are not paid first,
and it is a custom very strictly observed among them. If we are cut
off from China the many ordinary dangers cannot be overcome; and in
a country so surrounded by enemies and so far from reënforcements,
it is very necessary that these resources should remain, and not fail
us. May God grant that all come out according to our need; for if
the trade with China should fail, in no wise could this country be
maintained, nor could your Majesty sustain the great expenses here
without much difficulty. For the duties which the Chinese pay here,
and what the merchants who carry the cloth pay in Nueva Hespaña,
amount to much more than what is expended here, as we are always
waging war with some nation or other, besides the ordinary expenses;
and the Christian religion which is so recently established among
these natives would be in great danger.
As soon as I arrived in this city I went out to inspect the Parian
of the Chinese, which certainly needed inspection. Considering the
many who were there, and those whom I met on all the streets and
everywhere I went, it appeared to me that there were great numbers
there. Accordingly I desired to learn under what regulation they
were living and residing there. Learning that the Audiencia had it in
charge, I spoke with the auditors about it, and told them that it was
my affair--I being the governor and captain-general, in whose charge
was the defense of the country, and not in that of the Audiencia or
any auditor who was caring for it. They answered me that your Majesty
had entrusted it to them and put it in their charge by a royal decree,
and that each year an auditor was chosen for this commission; and
that, if I wished it, it would be assigned to me in turn, but that
they could not give it up without giving an account thereof to your
Majesty, although they saw that I was right. This troubled me much,
and therefore I advised your Majesty of it in my letter of the eleventh
of July in the past year, one thousand six hundred and two.
Before this uprising of the Sangleys, immediately upon the departure of
the mandarins from here, as some disturbance had resulted from their
coming, among other precautions which I took was that of ordering
the establishment of several infantry captaincies for the natives,
particularly in the provinces of Pampanga, Bulasan, La Laguna de Vay,
Tondo, Bombon, and Calilaya. These are more reasonable people, and
more prosperous and civilized than the other Indians, because they are
nearer the city of Manila, and show more affection for the Spaniards,
and likewise because they have more courage and spirit. I wrote to
the alcaldes-mayor and the fathers; they sent me a memorandum of
those who appeared to them most fit, saying that they had told them
that they should immediately get their people ready and well armed,
each one with rations for a month. While this was being agreed upon,
the uprising took place, and this precaution was of the greatest
importance; for they were able to come without delay, and be of so much
use that without them I know not what would have happened. They are
very proud of being soldiers and of serving your Majesty in military
affairs, and therefore they have proved to be excellent troops. I
have made much of them, given them presents, and thanked them for
what they have done, for which they are grateful, and contented with
whatever may come to them. In every way it has been of the greatest
importance that these natives have lost their fear for the Sangleys,
and have declared against them. There are among them a number of
arquebusiers and musketeers. They are all a people fitted for the work,
and if captained by Spaniards they would be of much use. I have been
continuing the permission which they before had from the previous
governors to carry, in some cases, arquebuses and other arms; and as
they have proved to be good and faithful, the object has been attained.
In the said letter of the eleventh of July, 1602, I informed your
Majesty that I had not found a single armed galley, or crew therefor;
and that I had only fitted up a galeota, and that I was arming it
with the few condemned criminals who were here, and with those whom
I brought from Mejico and others whom I had joined with them. This
vessel remains still in service, for although I had resolved to set it
aside in some other business, as it was old and poorly designed and
needed a great deal of repair, on this emergency of the Sangleys it
appeared to me best to maintain it--and likewise a new one of nineteen
benches which I built and had armed, and another small galeota which
I had here, which used to be in Çebu. Although the latter was not
designed for a galeota, I had it so fitted up, and it will serve for
the present. Another galeota, of twenty-two or twenty-three benches,
I am having finished to serve as flagship; it will be launched inside
of twenty days, and will, I believe, be very good, according to the
curves which it has. Accordingly I shall arm four vessels--the new one,
this one which is being finished, the old one which was here, and the
little galeota (which has no more than fifteen benches). I have much
confidence in them in case the Chinaman should come; because great
loss could be inflicted on his ships, before he could disembark and
get ashore; and in any event they will be of use, for, although they
must be manned with Sangleys, this will necessitate greater prudence,
and all will be well arranged.
It has been a great help to me that I brought with me from Cartagena
and Nueva Hespaña several skilful men experienced in regard to galleys,
who have been known to me from the time when I sailed with them from
Hespaña--especially Captain Francisco Romanico, captain of one of
the armed galleys of the fleet on the Yndia route. As I knew him well
and was certain that he was a man of long service and great activity,
with much experience--for I have seen this on many occasions, as the
adelantado of Castilla would tell you if he were alive, as he set much
store by him--and fearing that I should find affairs here ill-provided
for, I persuaded him to come with me and leave the galleon, as it
was all for the service of your Majesty. I begged General Marcos de
Aramburu to give him permission for this, as he did. Accordingly he
has been setting things to rights, which without his aid could not
have been done, for there are no boatswains, or officers, or persons
who understand the management or working of galleys; and accordingly
they are being built anew, with labor enough on his part and mine,
of which I have wished to give your Majesty an account.
I likewise wrote to your Majesty in the said letter of the third of
July of this year, that as I had had word in the month of April past
that they were taking up arms in Mindanao to go and harry the Pintados
(as they are accustomed to do each year), I had the old galeota
armed. I ordered General Don Juan Ronquillo to go with a company
of infantry to Oton, which is opposite Mindanao; so that with these
troops, and others which are there and in Cebu, he might oppose the
enemy, and do them what damage he could. Having met several caracoas on
the way, they fled from him, and he could not overtake them. He went
on to Oton, where he remained with a few armed caracoas, in readiness
for what might occur. For the time being, the enemy did not make any
attempt to come to the islands, and as I was informed that they were
arming for the monsoons of September (as that time and May are the only
seasons of the year in which they make their raids), I notified the
said Don Juan Ronquillo to be waiting attentively, and ready to help
wherever the enemy might attack. That he might the better do this,
I sent him the new galeota of nineteen benches with more infantry
troops, and with them went the said captain Romanico. Having received
news that the enemy were on the point of setting out from Mindanao,
or had already gone, Don Joan left Oton in search of them; and while
on the way he was informed of the uprising of the Sangleys, and my
order that he should not embark, as the Mindanao enemy were already
in the Pintados. He did not stop to look for them or to oppose them,
but with all the troops on the expedition he came back here, leaving
in Cebu thirty paid men and as many more in Oton, so that with them
the citizens and residents of those places might defend themselves,
which was decided upon in a council of war. Considering that the troops
which Don Juan Ronquillo had in his fleet amounted to two hundred men
and more, and that those named in the relation died on the way, it
appeared that the former might be of great importance here, and that
it was very necessary that they should come to the defense of this
city, even though they should be putting the Pintados in danger; for,
if this city were out of danger, it might repair the other losses. It
was likewise taken into consideration that even if their recall were
not necessary on this occasion of the uprising, it would be so if the
Chinese came with their fleet between now and the month of March, at
which time they are expected, and during this whole season. When this
opportunity is passed, the galeotas cannot come nor can the troops,
seeing that the weather is contrary and navigation is very difficult
and dangerous. In short, the galeotas arrived here, both of them with
the troops, and remained in this fort. I was very glad to see them
here, as affairs turned out.
Among the prisoners who were taken by the Mindanao people last year
was Captain Martin de Mendia, a worthy man and an old encomendero
in this land. The enemy gave him his freedom on account of his good
reputation, and trusted him for his ransom. As he had given his word
to other Spanish prisoners whom they were also taking into captivity
that he would return to negotiate for their freedom--being resolved
upon this, and to ransom native chiefs from these islands who had
been taken captive at that time, and likewise to learn whether the
said Mindanao was arming to come back here--having arrived at the said
island of Mindanao and spoken with the commander Umpi, who was the head
of the army of the year past, the latter was greatly pleased to see
him, and agreed with him in regard to everything which he desired. He
gave to Captain Mendia, without ransom, three or four Spaniards whom
he held captive, and besought him with much importunity to make him
a friend of the Spaniards. He gave him a letter for me, and likewise
sent with it a nephew of his. Another chief, named Silonga, [30] who
holds the most authority of all in affairs of war, did likewise. He
also gave up without ransom two other Spaniards, a few natives, and
a priest, and likewise sent one of his nephews. They are both here;
and within the few days since they have arrived it is understood that
fifty ships from Mindanao have gone against the islands of Leyte and
Camar, which are in the province of Cebu, and have wrought havoc there;
the commander was Buycan, another chief from Mindanao. Between these
three, Umpi, Silonga, and Buycan, and the present king, Rajaniora,
the whole country is divided, and the military power; likewise each
one has his own following and people, set apart and acknowledged. They
have usually dissensions and controversies among themselves, for he
who has the most people and wealth seeks to be more esteemed than
the others. But against the Spaniards and their other enemies they
confederate and unite, and ordinarily Silonga has the most power. His
nephew and others claim that he is not to blame for the expedition
of Buycan--saying that although he knew of it, and desired that he
should not go out upon the raid, and even asked him not to, and to
that end gave him a bonus of gold, he could not prevail upon him; nor
was this a matter for him to forcibly interfere in, because there is
no subjection of the one to the other. It is thus that matters stand,
and we needs must tolerate it for the present, since nothing else can
be done, considering the news which we are expecting from China. If
this had not intervened, we had resolved to seek them with the galeotas
and other oared vessels in their own country in this month of January,
and to harry and lay waste their coasts, obstructing their harbors
and rivers and burning their vessels. This, by not allowing them to
depart from their own coasts, would inflict great damage upon them;
but it is necessary, as I said, to employ some other means which
is now being examined into. I shall advise your Majesty as to what
resolution is taken, by way of Nueva España.
I likewise informed your Majesty of the straits in which your
royal treasury was because of the little money which had come from
Mejico this year--not only for the treasury, but for the citizens as
well; and because of the expenses which have been incurred in this
affair with the Sangleys, and others which are presenting themselves
every day. The treasury is so poor and needy that I find myself in a
thousand difficulties, having no place whence to draw money; and it is
necessary that it should not fail when occasion demands, or we shall
lose everything. Although all the people are encouraged to do all in
their power, and the natives help, yet as they are poor--because their
property is in the power of the Mejicans, who will not send it back,
saying they have not permission therefor, as I explained to you in
the last letter--it is little they can do in this matter. Indeed,
in order to send advices to China it was necessary for the citizens
to lend here a plate and there a pitcher, and other pieces of silver,
for money there is none; and the little silver which remained to me,
after the loan which I had made to the fund for aiding the soldiers,
I also gave on this occasion and with all ... this infantry, to pay
two instalments of their pay; and as they were not given rations
they endured much suffering, so that I was greatly troubled by the
difficulties and weakness that resulted--and at the time when it
was most reasonable to keep them content and paid. I beseech your
Majesty to be pleased to order that the viceroy of Nueva España be
notified to provide immediately a considerable quantity of money,
so that this embarrassment may at once cease; as it is a very great
difficulty that when anything is brought for the treasury we can make
no use of it except to pay past debts, and it is not even sufficient
for that. May our Lord preserve your Majesty in that prosperity which
is needful for Christendom. Manila, December 18, 1603.
_Don Pedro de Acuña_
[_Endorsed_ "Manila; to his Majesty; 1603. Don Pedro de Acuña;
December 18. Duplicate."]
Sire:
In a clause of a letter which I have just written to your Majesty, I
give a particular account of the uprising of the Sangleys who rebelled
against this city. I set forth the measures which I immediately took
upon my arrival here to have the Audiencia refer to me the licenses for
the Sangleys who were allowed to remain here, since I was charged with
the defense of the country against them and other nations who come
here to trade. I also desired this in order to remove and prevent
certain difficulties which arose by reason of this, in connection
with my proceedings, from those who have that matter in charge,
and from your ministers, whom I have informed on various occasions
to be careful in what they did. The whole city blames them, as it
appears that, although it was agreed that there should not be more
than four thousand Sangleys, yet there were found in the uprising
more than eighteen thousand. This is a matter which has much to do
with the condition of affairs here, and it requires an investigation,
because the people keenly feel their losses, and are complaining. I
give an account hereof to your Majesty, so that the matter may be
understood. May our Lord protect the Catholic person of your Majesty,
according to the needs of Christendom. Manila, December 23, 1603.
_Don Pedro de Acuña_
[_In the margin_: "This matter is already provided for as appeared
expedient; (_between the lines_: "In a letter of December 18,
603"); and as to the matter of the licenses, the inconveniences
mentioned should be well considered, as they result from giving so
many licenses."]
[_Endorsed:_ "July 21, 1606; examined and provided for within."]