CHAPTER XLIII_The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 24 of 55 1630-34 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

_Continuation of the preceding_

The trade and commerce of the Japanese Islands has always been

considered of great importance in these islands; for, as the former

are rich in metals and foods, what is needed here can be brought

thence at moderate prices. Formerly the Manila traders made much

more profit by sending their goods to Japón than to España, for

they saw the returns from them more quickly and at less risk. The

governors have sought this trade very earnestly. Don Alfonso Fajardo

sent two ambassadors, namely, Don Juan de Arceo and Don Fernando

de Ayala, who were very influential men of Manila; they carried a

goodly present with them. But that barbarian refused to admit them,

whereupon they returned abashed, without effecting anything. All

this rancor has arisen through his expulsion of the orders [from

Japan], and his prohibition against preaching any new religion in his

country. Although the emperors have done this in their zeal for their

idolatries, the credence given to a falsehood told them by the Dutch

has aided greatly in it. The Dutch told the emperor, in short, that

he should beware of the European religious, for that by their means

the king of Castilla made himself sovereign of foreign kingdoms; for

after they had entered the country and reduced it to their religion,

the rest was easy. It is not necessary to prove the falsity of this,

so apparent is it. Disguised religious have not on that account

discontinued going to Japón, but continue that work, although the

severity of the persecution is ever increasing.

In the year 30, the governor sent out two large galleons, with five

hundred soldiers, besides the sailors; they were ordered to capture

and bring to Manila any Dutch vessel found on the coasts of Siam and

Camboja. Don Juan de Alcarazo was commander of the galleons, and Don

Pedro de Mendiola was admiral. They sailed the seas at signal risk,

as they were not extra large ships, and the city was very anxious. For

should those galleons be lost, then was lost the strength of the

islands. But, finally, the Lord brought them safely home, which

was not a little fortunate. In the course of their wanderings they

seized two ships or junks, one belonging to Siamese, the other to

Japanese. They sent the Siamese vessel to Manila, but sacked and even

burned the Japanese vessel. It is said they found great riches on

it. Who could know the truth? This was learned in Japón, whereupon

the hate and ill-will of that people toward us redoubled. They tried

to collect the value of the junk from the Portuguese, who trade with

Japón. They said that, since the Castilians and Portuguese had the

same king, it made no difference which one of them paid. They seized

the goods of the Portuguese from them, and then the latter found their

business quickly despatched. They sent their ambassadors to Manila,

and a most dignified father of the Society came to manage the affair,

namely, Father Moregón--a Castilian, but so changed into a Portuguese

by his long intercourse with them, that he did nothing without

them. Nothing was concluded upon this occasion. Later, in the year

1631, two junks came from Japón, one Portuguese, the other Japanese,

with an embassy. The governor granted them audience in very circumspect

fashion. On that occasion he assembled all the infantry in two columns,

and had them escort the Japanese who acted as ambassadors, to whom he

gave horses and trappings and a fine carriage. In short, they had come,

in behalf of the governor of Nangasaqui, to confer about the junk,

and the means by which trade could be opened. But it was straitly

stipulated that no religious should go, for the Japanese had no

liking for them. Two of our Japanese friars were the translators of

all the matter contained in the letters. The governor satisfied them

in everything, and treated them very well in Manila. The religious

took the greatest pleasure from the embassy, considering the power

of God. For when that gate was, in man's judgment, most tightly

locked, the Lord opened it. For naught is impossible to Him. _Non

erit impossibile apud Deum omne verbum._ [81] He who brought the

Magian kings to the feet of One newly-born, by following a star,

that same One brings the other nations to His bosom, when He wills,

and opens the door to them so that they may enter into the bosom of

His Church. The religious had the greatest hope of seeing the doors

of Japón opened widely, so that those harvests might be gathered. The

Lord, then, has been well pleased in those kingdoms with so much

blood as has been shed there by His faithful ones, in testimony of

His holy law. May He act as He shall see best in this matter.

It appears that in the year 1629 the orders were moved to send

religious to Japón at their own cost. These were the Dominican fathers,

the Franciscans, our Recollects, and those of our own order. They

furnished the expenses on shares, built a champan, hired sailors, and

paid a pilot. But that expedition could not have been for the best,

for the Lord proceeded to defeat it, by allowing their champan to be

wrecked. Afterward, although they bought another in China (or rather in

Ilocos), it had no better success. Ours spent more than five hundred

pesos. The father reader, Fray Pedro de Quesada, [82] and father Fray

Agustín de Chauru went. The sufferings of the religious from storms,

rains, roads, and famines would not be believed. It seems that they

can say with St. Paul: _Omnia superamus propter eum qui dilexit nos._

[83] They had to return because their superiors thus ordered, for

in any other way they would not have done it; as they know very well

how to suffer with Christ and for Christ, whose hardships were sweet

to them, as to another St. Paul: _Mihi autem absit gloriari nisi in

cruce Domini nostri Jesu Christi._ [84]

That same year certain splendid feasts were celebrated in Manila for

the holy martyrs of Japón who were canonized by his Holiness Pope Urban

VII. There were twenty-one of them. Three were dogicos of the Society;

the others belonged to the order of our father St. Francis. The

religious marched in glittering vestments, all at the cost of the

pious and religious inhabitants of Manila. The orders invited one

another. There was a general procession in which the altars were

excellent. As for that of our house, if it were not the best one,

none of the others were ahead of it. It is certain that the dances,

comedies, and the other things which made the festival magnificent,

could have been envied by the best cities of España, to the honor and

glory of its sons; for they have so pacified this earth that even at

the limits of the world may be seen so many grandeurs to the honor

and glory of the Author of all. Of this not a little redounds to

the Catholic sovereigns of España; for by their expenses of men and

money the banners of the Church have floated over the most remote and

unknown parts of the world. Our kings of España deserve much, no doubt,

since God has made use of them for so great affairs in His service.

Governor Don Juan Niño de Tabora sent Captain Juan Bautista,

who had married one of his servants, to the fort and presidio

of Caragán. He was a very energetic and courageous youth, as he

had proved on all opportunities that arose--both in that presidio,

where he made many successful expeditions, and in other places where

he had been sent. He had been badly wounded in Joló. When he beheld

himself head of that fort, he resolved to make an entrance among the

Tagabaloes. [85] He assembled many men from the friendly villages;

as is the custom--although I know not with what justice they have

taken to make forays on them, capturing them, carrying them away, and

selling them, for those Indians where they go are not Moros, nor even

have they done any harm to the Spaniards, but remaining quiet in their

own lands, they eke out a miserable existence. But this [custom] is

inherited from one [generation] to another. While about to make a foray

in this manner, Captain Bautista quarreled with a chief of Caragán,

the chief of all that district; and, not satisfied with treating him

badly with words, the captain attacked him, threw him to the ground,

and gave him many blows and kicks. Captain Bautista was unarmed,

as were also the Spaniards with him, who are very self-reliant in

all things. Then the chief returned to his own people and asked

them if they were not ashamed of what had happened. "Then," said he,

"how do you consent that the Castilians and captain treat me thus in

your presence, when you could easily kill them?" As they were few and

unarmed, the natives killed the captain and twelve soldiers, and Father

Jacinto Cor, a Recollect father, who was going with them. After this

first misfortune, resulting from the anger of an imprudent captain,

the natives went about warning and killing all the Spaniards whom they

found on their coasts, and tried to take the fort by strategy. But

already the matter was known, and on that account they did not take

the fort, which was the only means of recovering that post. They

killed four more religious, among whom was father Fray Juan de Santo

Tomás, prior in Tangda, who was near the same fort. He was a holy

man, as he showed at his death; for, seeing them resolved to kill

him, he asked permission to commend himself to God. He knelt down,

and while he was commending his soul to God, they thrust him through

with a lance. This religious was very learned and devout, and took

especial care of his soul. Therefore it is believed that by that

title of martyr our Lord chose to take him to His glory and crown

him there. They wounded brother Fray Francisco, a layman, severely,

as well as the father reader, Fray Lorenzo; but they did not die,

and were afterward ransomed. The other religious were very devoted

to God. How fortunate they, since they died so happily and in so

heroic a quest; for those idolators killed them for hatred of their

teachings. As much help was taken there as possible from Sugbú. The

chief commander in this was Captain Chaves, encomendero of Caragán,

who was living in Sugbú. He performed good services, repairing as

much as possible the evil and harm that had been begun. Afterward,

the commander-in-chief, Martin Larios, went with more soldiers to

punish those Indians.

It was reported as certain that those Indians, desirous of throwing

off the yoke from themselves, revolted because of the result

in Solog, aroused by what they saw in Joló, among a people less

resolute than themselves, as well as by the lack of bravery that

they had witnessed in the Spaniards. The natives gathered, and held

assemblies and tried to ally themselves with the Joloans, Mindanaos,

and all the other neighboring natives that could help them. Things

were not in the condition that they wished; so they were gathering,

and biding their time. The above opportunity was presented, and they

hurled themselves to their own greater loss, since they began what

they could not finish. It was permitted by God, so that the many

souls whom the fathers have baptized and hope to baptize there may

not apostatize; for thereabout are multitudes of heathen Indians,

among whom the worship of Mahomet has not yet entered, and with the

care of the fathers the harvest, without doubt, will be very plentiful.

The Recollect fathers returned to visit, or rather, to rebuild their

house burned in Sugbú. They built it better, and roofed it with tile,

whereby it will be safer than a roofing of nipa, which is so exposed

to fire and flames.

In August, 1629, the governor sent Captain Don Sebastián de Libite--a

very noble Navarrese knight, who had been a very good soldier in

Flandes--to the Pintados as commander-in-chief. He went with his wife

and household to the city of Santísimo Nombre de Jesús. The weather

was very stormy, and they were often menaced by death. This lady, Doña

Catalina de Aguilar, and her whole household were very devoted to the

most Holy Child, and called upon Him with great anxiety. Finally, in a

disastrous storm that struck them, where death was facing them, this

lady said to her husband: "Listen, Don Sebastián, promise something

to the Holy Child, so that He may help us, and may allow us to see

Him." He promised one hundred pesos. "What, no more than that?" replied

Doña Catalina; "If we are drowning, for what do we love Him?" Finally,

he promised five hundred pesos. The most Holy Child beheld their

devotion, and miraculously saved them from their danger and conveyed

them safe to Sugbú, where they fulfilled their vow. And it is a fact

that although they were persons of great wealth of spirit and nobility,

they are people who have less of the temporal. But what they possess is

greater, which, at the end, will be a pledge of their reaching heaven.

[Father Medina's editor, Father Coco, follows the narrative with

a list of the Augustinian provincials in the Philippines from

1632-1893--eighty-two in all.]

DOCUMENTS OF 1630-1633

Royal letters and decree. Felipe IV; December 4-31, 1630.

Letter to Felipe IV from the bishop of Cebú. Pedro de Arce;

July 31, 1631.

Royal orders, 1632-33. Felipe IV; January-March, 1632, and

March, 1633.

Letters to Felipe IV. Juan Niño de Tavora; July 8, 1632.

Events in Filipinas, 1630-32. [Unsigned]; July 2, 1632.

Letter from the ecclesiastical cabildo to Felipe IV. Miguel

Garcetas, and others; [undated, but 1632].

_Sources_: The first and third documents are obtained from MSS. in the

Archivo Histórico Nacional, Madrid; the second, fourth, and sixth,

from MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla; the fifth,

from a MS. in the Academia Real de la Historia, Madrid.

_Translations_: The fifth document, and the first letter each in the

first and the third, are translated by Robert W. Haight; the remainder,

by James A. Robertson.

ROYAL LETTERS AND DECREE

_Letter to Tavora_

The King. To Don Juan Niño de Tavora, my governor and captain-general

of the Filipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia which

sits there. Your letter of August 4, 628, which treats of matters

concerning the exchequer, has been received and examined in my royal

Council of the Yndias, and this will be your answer.

As to what you say that it is not expedient to continue the custom

introduced under the governorship of Don Juan de Silva, namely, that

the officials of my royal exchequer in those islands should not make

payments without your order--considering that they have not half the

money which is needed, and that it will be necessary to set limits

to the payments, so that they may be made only in the most necessary

cases--you will observe the order which you have for this matter,

taking care that the payments made be entirely justified.

I have looked into the difficulties which you mentioned as resulting

from the sale of offices of notaries in the provinces of the islands;

but as it seems that the considerations in favor of it are the

weightiest, you will order that they be immediately sold, or at least

one in the chief town of each province, and will advise me when this

is put into execution, and the amount for which each one is sold.

It will be well, as you say, that with the approval of another council

like that which was held in the time of Don Pedro Acuña, decisions

should be made whether it would be best to make a new valuation of the

produce in which the Indians are obliged to pay the tribute. Granting

the arguments which you bring forward, you will take care that they

pay some of their taxes in kind; because otherwise they would not

take the care that is desirable in stock-raising and farming.

You will see to it that the payment of salaries to the auditors of

that Audiencia be not postponed; but on the other hand you shall

prefer them to all others, whereby the complaint which they make of

you on that score will be avoided. [Madrid, December 4, 1630]

_I the King_ Countersigned by Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras.

_Royal decree to regulate shipbuilding_

The King. To Don Juan Niño de Tavora, my governor and captain-general

of the Philipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia therein,

or the person or persons in whose charge their government may be. It

has been learned by my royal Council of the Indias that the warships

which are built in those islands are so large that they can be used

only to fight in a stationary position in any battle; and that they

cannot avail for navigation, to make or leave port when desired, to

sail to windward, to pursue, or for any other purpose; and that there

are not sailors or soldiers or artillerymen in sufficient numbers with

whom to man them, as the smallest ship is of a thousand toneladas'

burden. In order to equip them many war supplies are needed, also

huge cables and heavy anchors, of which there is a great scarcity

in that country. We have been informed that, now and henceforth, it

would be advisable that no ships of greater burden than five or six

hundred toneladas be built which will be suitable for the commerce

and trade with Nueva España, and for the war fleet. And inasmuch as it

is advisable that the best plan be adopted in this matter, you shall

assemble the persons of that city most experienced in shipbuilding

and in navigation, and in accordance with their opinion you shall

proceed in building the ships. You shall endeavor to consider in their

construction what regards both strength and capacity, and the other

matters above mentioned. You shall advise me of what resolution you

shall adopt. Given in Madrid, December fourteen, one thousand six

hundred and thirty.

_I the King_

Countersigned by Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras, and signed by the

members of the Council.

[_Endorsed_: "To the governor of Philipinas, ordering him to

assemble the persons of that city most experienced in shipbuilding

and navigation, and in accordance with their opinion to regulate the

building of ships."]

_Letter to the Manila Audiencia_

The King. To the auditors of my royal Audiencia of the city of Manila

in the Filipinas Islands. Your letter of the first of _[month omitted_]

628 has been received and considered in my royal Council of the Indias,

and I hereby give you answer to it.

In regard to what you say touching the fact that the officials of my

royal treasury of those islands do not pay you your salaries promptly

when due, saying that the governor has ordered them not to pay it

without his decree, I am having the said governor ordered to endeavor

not to delay the payment of your salaries; but that, on the contrary,

you be preferred to all others in the payment of them.

You say that, in accordance with what was ordained by laws of the

kingdom and ordinances of the Audiencia there, appeals have been

admitted in it, from the decisions of the alcaldes-in-ordinary,

[and] edicts of the governor; [but] that he has imposed a standard

and measure, in matters of the political government, with certain

penalties, on the Sangleys regarding the manner in which they have to

make timber, tiling, and other like articles; and that the governor

has prevented these causes from being appealed to that Audiencia,

declaring his purpose to give me an account of it. As he has done this,

and has asked for a declaration of what he ought to do, I have ordered

him to observe, in the method of reporting these contentions to me,

and in the form on which they must be grounded, the order that is

given by various decrees; and in the meanwhile he shall observe the

custom in similar cases. And if there are no similar cases, then no

innovation shall be introduced in the trial of the said appeals.

The said governor also writes me in regard to what you say about

his prohibiting disputes from going to that Audiencia, or to any of

the auditors, as alcaldes of court, as he believes that the parties

can go to place the disputes before the ordinary judges; so that,

if there should be any act of injustice, the case may go on appeal

to that Audiencia. In that regard, he has been answered to observe

the existing laws on that matter.

What you say about ceasing to maintain a room, separate from the other

collegiates, in the college of San Josef (which is under charge of

the fathers of the Society), for the instruction of the Japanese in

our holy faith, is approved for the present, as communication with

that kingdom has ceased.

The other sections of the said letter were examined, but there is

nothing to answer to them at present. Madrid, December 31, 1630.

_I the King_

By order of the king our sovereign:

_Don Francisco Ruiz de Contreras_

LETTER TO FELIPE IV FROM THE BISHOP OF CEBU

Sire:

July 26, 1631, I received three decrees from your Majesty, in which

your Majesty granted me the favor to advise me of the birth of the

prince, [86] our sovereign, whom may God preserve. I feel especial joy

and satisfaction at the favor that our Lord has shown toward España,

in giving us a successor to your Majesty. In regard to the thanks

that your Majesty orders me to give to God, I shall take especial

pains to do as your Majesty orders.

In the second decree of your Majesty, your Majesty orders that the

natives of these islands be treated gently, and that they be relieved

as far as possible from injuries and too heavy burdens. I have always

done my utmost, so far as I am concerned, in regard to this; and now

and henceforth, I shall do it more carefully, since your Majesty has

ordered it.

In your third decree, your Majesty orders that the governor appoint

an ecclesiastical person to assist him in the examinations in what

concerns the royal patronage, because of the troubles that have

occurred in the vacant see. What I can tell your Majesty in perfect

truth is, that I have always tried to have benefices given to the most

praiseworthy, and to those most suitable to minister to the Indians;

but if your Majesty judges an agent advisable, I shall willingly obey

what your Majesty orders.

Your Majesty has appointed the archdean of the church of Cebu, Don

Alonso de Campos, to the dignity of schoolmaster in this church of

Manila. He has not been graduated in any science, and in this regard he

is not possessed of the qualities that the council of Trent demands,

nor those which the dignity of this church demands, for he is not

a bachelor of arts. He who now exercises that office _ad interim_

is Don Alonso Ramirez Bravo. He has been graduated in both kinds

of law, and is a man of good qualities, who is at present provisor

and vicar-general of this archbishopric. He has had in charge the

bishoprics of Çubu and Camarines. He is a most praiseworthy person,

in whom are found the necessary qualifications. Will your Majesty

grant him the favor of this dignity? for he merits it, and is serving

in it by appointment of the governor of these islands.

Your Majesty orders me by a decree of your Majesty, under date of

March twenty-seven of the year twenty-nine, directed to the archbishop

of this city of Manila--which I received, as I have in charge this

church in the said vacancy--to make investigation regarding the

claims of Doctor Don Juan de Quesada Hurtado de Mendoça, fiscal of

this royal Audiencia, that he has been given a royal decree to act

as protector of the Sangleys, as his predecessors have been. Your

Majesty orders me to ascertain whether a protector is necessary,

whether the Sangleys ask for one, and whether it be advisable that he

should be the fiscal. The relation made in the royal decree, Sire, by

the said Doctor Don Juan de Quesada, is the truth, without adding one

jot to it. What I can say to your Majesty is that the Sangleys need a

protector to defend them; and that they have no defense, as has been

experienced, except when they have had the fiscals as protectors. This

is the reason why they have always been appointed. Often many injuries

and annoyances inflicted on the Sangleys are remedied by the sole

authority of the fiscal, without commencing suit. The Sangleys,

Sire, ask a protector, and ask that he be the fiscal. I have seen

a petition which was presented to the governor of these islands,

Don Juan Niño de Tabora, signed by very many Sangleys, in which they

petition him to give them the said Don Juan de Quesada, the fiscal,

as protector. He has not determined to appoint the latter, because

of the decree that he has received from your Majesty. However, I am

fully persuaded of the great advantage to the Sangleys in having

the fiscal as protector. This is the reason why no other has been

appointed; for the governor says that, in conscience, he finds it very

desirable for the Sangleys that the fiscal be their protector. The

Sangleys have always petitioned for a protector. They are the ones

who pay him his salary, and not your Majesty; consequently I cannot

see that there should be any inconvenience in your Majesty giving

them the one whom they desire and whom they pay, especially when it

does not militate against your Majesty or your royal treasury. The

Sangleys are very unprotected since your Majesty ordered that the

fiscal should not be their protector. They are much better off, as

they have experienced (as we all experience) the Christian spirit

and honesty with which the fiscal, Don Juan de Quesada, has served

and serves your Majesty. Consequently, it seems to me advisable that

the present fiscal, and those who shall fill that office hereafter,

be the protectors of the Sangleys. The contrary, I believe, would

result in harm to the Sangleys. No protector can have less trading

and business relations with the Sangleys than the fiscal, to whom

your Majesty has prohibited trade and traffic; and he has forsworn

it. May our Lord preserve the Catholic person of your Majesty for

many years for the welfare of His kingdoms. Manila, July last, 1631.

_Fray Pedro_,

bishop of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus.

ROYAL ORDERS, 1632-33

_Letter to Tavora_

The King. To Don Juan Niño de Tavora of my Council of War, my governor

and captain-general of the Filipinas Islands, and president of my

royal Audiencia there. Your letter of June 20 of the past year 630,

concerning the exchequer, has been examined in my royal Council of

the Yndias, and an answer is given you in this concerning the matters

thereof in which decision has been made, and those which require reply.

I have considered what you say in regard to the inexpediency of

including these islands in the monopoly of playing-cards established

in Mexico; [87] also the act which you issued to the effect that the

[monopoly] contracted for with Don Francisco de la Torre, a citizen

of that city, should be put into execution. You will order this to be

observed and complied with, during the time that it shall last; for

it is already agreed to, with this stipulation, and I have confirmed

it. As for the future I wish to know the advantages or difficulties

which may result to my royal exchequer from doing away with this

income, and not including those islands in it, and whatever else in

this matter may occur to you, you will inform me in regard to it very

fully on the first occasion; and I likewise command, by a decree of

this day, that the said Audiencia do this.

You say that the office of secretary of the cabildo of that city was

sold for twelve thousand five hundred pesos in coin, with the condition

of having a voice and vote in the cabildo--which you conceded because

the greater part of the offices of regidor there of were vacant, as

there was no one to buy them; and that the price of the said office

should rise, as otherwise it would not pass six or eight thousand

pesos. You also stated that it was sold under condition that, if I

should find it inexpedient and for this reason should not confirm it,

nothing should be returned to the buyer; and as the said condition of

his having a voice and vote in the cabildo has appeared prejudicial

and illegal, you will correct this immediately--supposing, as you say,

that the contract need not be altered for this reason, or anything

given back to the person concerned.

For repairing of the losses which result from the fact that the royal

officials make the winning bids for the offices which are sold in

those islands, without notifying you of the amount and the person to

whom they are sold, I am sending a decree of this date to command

them to comply with and execute, on all occasions which may arise,

the act which you have issued to this effect, which I approve.

That the said royal officials may always be at peace with you and well

disposed, letters are being written to them as to how they should

conduct themselves; and you, on your part, will maintain friendly

relations with them.

The additional pay of a thousand pesos which you set aside for the

bishop of Cebú, during the time while he governs that archbishopric,

has been approved, since the reasons which oblige you to it are so

justifiable. [Madrid, January 27, 1632.]

_I the King_

By command of the king our lord:

_Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras_

_Decree forbidding secular priests from Eastern India in the

Philippines_

The King. To Don Juan Niño de Tavora, knight of the Order of Calatrava,

member of my Council of War, my governor and captain-general of the

Philipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia therein, or the

person or persons in whose charge their government may be. I have been

informed that the secular priests who go to those islands from Eastern

India with their trading-ships generally are those expelled and exiled;

that they remain there, and are often employed in vicariates, curacies,

and benefices, to the injury of the natives, and the patrimonial rights

of the country. After examination of the matter by my royal Council

of the Indias, I have considered it proper to issue the present,

by which I order you not to permit any of the secular priests from

those districts [of Eastern India] to enter those islands; nor shall

you admit them to any exercise of office, for this is my will. [Given

in Madrid, March twenty-six, one thousand six hundred and thirty-two.]

_I the King_

By order of the king our sovereign:

_Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras_

Signed by the Council.

[_Endorsed:_ "To the governor of Philipinas, ordering him not to

allow any of the secular priests who might go from Eastern India to

the islands to enter therein or admit them to any exercise of office."]

_Order to the city of Manila regarding the Mexican trade_

The King. To the council, justices, and magistracy of the city of

Manila, of the Philipinas Islands. In response to what Don Juan Niño

de Tavora, my governor and captain-general of those islands, wrote me,

in the former year of 1629, about your petition for the fulfilment of

the decree of 1593 which permits the inhabitants of that island to

go to sell their goods in Mexico, or to send them under charge of a

satisfactory person--and not to send or consign them, except it be in

the second place--in a section of a letter which I wrote on December 4

of the former year of 630 to the said my governor, I charged him that,

if the encomenderos living in that city who had sent persons with

their possessions to Mexico proceeded dishonestly, or formed trusts

[_ligas_], or monopolies among themselves, they should be punished

according to law; and that if, in addition to the inconveniences that

should arise in the observance of the said decree, others should be

discovered, he should advise me thereof, so that suitable measures

might be enacted. I also had my viceroy of Nueva España ordered

to watch carefully what the inhabitants of Mexico did, so that he

might apply the advisable remedy. Now, Don Juan Grau y Monfalcon,

your procurator, has informed me that the decree given in the said

year of 593, ordering that the inhabitants of those islands might send

persons to Nueva España to sell or take care of their merchandise; and

that no one might consign them, except to one of the persons appointed

for that purpose, who would reside in Mexico, was put into execution;

but that, in violation of it, many of the inhabitants secretly send

large quantities of merchandise to Mexico, entrusting those goods to

the passengers and sailors without registering them, although that

city has persons of credit and trust in Mexico. Thus result many

embarrassments and frauds to my royal duties. He petitioned me to be

pleased to have my royal decree issued, ordering that such unlawful

acts be not permitted. The matter having been examined in my royal

Council of the Indias, bearing in mind what my fiscal said there, I

have considered it fitting to advise you of the aforesaid, so that you

may understand it, and I order you, in so far as it pertains to you,

to keep, obey, and execute, and cause to be kept, obeyed, and executed,

what has been enacted in this respect. Madrid, March 25, 1633.

_I the King_

By order of the king our sovereign:

_Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras_

LETTERS FROM TAVORA TO FELIPE IV

_Government affairs_

Sire:

I sent a despatch by way of India in the month of November of the

past year 631, because the flagship which sailed for Nueva España

sank here in port, and the almiranta put back. A copy of the despatch

which they carried goes in the first mail, with this, and I refer to

it. Accordingly I shall now begin to give an account to your Majesty

of what has happened since then.

The ships which had remained in Nueva España last year, reached here

during the last part of May after a favorable trip. Therefore I trust

that they will depart earlier than in previous years, and that the

voyages may become regular. [_In the margin:_ "Seen."]

The ships brought as a subsidy two hundred and thirty-four thousand

pesos for the royal treasury. Two hundred thousand came last

year. The viceroy writes that he can do no more. The visitor here

will not, I believe, consider it little, since he does not have it

in his charge. Certain it is that the last six remittances which the

viceroy has made to these islands have all been smaller than those

made by the other viceroys. I confess that the times have become

hard; but one can but ill sustain a number of men, or take care of

the expenses of war, on less than what their pay and salaries amount

to. The accounts for the five years which were asked are enclosed,

and have been made out with all clearness. For the last three, it

will be seen how much smaller have been the receipts and expenses

than those of my predecessors. [_In the margin:_ "Seen."]

Neither have the men come who are needed; for the past year came

eighty-odd soldiers, and this year ninety. That is but a scant

number for the many men who die here, for our forces are steadily

diminishing. I can do no more, for money has not been coined here,

nor do the people multiply. I ask, Sire, for what is needed to fulfil

my obligations. The viceroy does not send the orders which are given

him from there; they can not be so illiberal. As this is a case of

need, I give notice of it, in order that blame may not be cast on me

at any time. [_In the margin:_ "Have letters to the viceroy written,

charging him with this." "The viceroy has been charged with this by

a decree which was despatched at the petition of the city."]

The visitor, Don Francisco de Rojas, is proceeding with his visit

with excellent judgment, and with his personal efforts and close

occupation. This community grieves over the results, for they are

many. I trust that he may administer justice so fully in all things

that only the liquidations and the balances should be those which are

collected. He has attempted (as he thinks that he bears authority for

it) to make the final decision of what may be spent by councils of

the treasury, and in fact has begun it with this royal Audiencia and

with me. That has appeared a strong course to us, for his commission

does not extend to that. Neither would it be right for only one judge

to declare as improper any expense which the governor, auditors,

and royal officials had approved by their opinions. The councils of

the treasury were established for expenses of government and war. If

there were no authority for those expenses, it would be an evil,

and nothing could be accomplished. That will be the case on the

day when we shall be subject to have one accountant proceed, in the

visitation, against those who gave their opinion as to the expenses

which may have been incurred. Who would dare give his opinion freely,

if he had to fear that it might be amplified or not? Your Majesty

already does not trust your governor alone for this responsibility,

and orders him to meet in council with the Audiencia and the royal

officials, and that the majority of votes shall rule. That has so

many inconveniences that the service of your Majesty comes to suffer

greatly from them. If the more important things are entrusted to your

governor, why not the lesser? When the archbishop died here, as your

Majesty was advised, the bishop of Zibu, who entered into his place,

petitioned that he be given some gratuity from the salary enjoyed

by the archbishop, because of the many expenses of living in this

city--taking a precedent from the vacant see of the other archbishop,

in which the treasury council assigned him one thousand two hundred

pesos. On this occasion it seemed necessary, so that the bishop

might be able to support himself, to assign him one thousand pesos

annually; and it was ordered that your Majesty be advised thereof,

as was done, so that you might consider it a proper expense. It was

necessary and unavoidable, for in any other way the bishop could not

live three years--the time during which we have to wait for a reply,

if we first had to advise your Majesty. The visitor, Don Francisco

de Rojas, has added this item, and formed an opinion unfavorable

to the auditors who gave their votes to it, and has ordered that

they make satisfaction for it. His commission does not announce this;

accordingly, as a matter inferred from good government, he has no right

to inspect this affair. He has also taken issue against the auditors

of the last Audiencia, who were the ones who assigned the one thousand

two hundred pesos during the other vacancy. Your Majesty, by decrees

received here this year, grants concession to the archbishop-elect

of a third part of the salary which the dead archbishop would have

received. Your Majesty orders that another third be given to the

cathedral. In accordance with this, there is much more justice and

reason in giving suitable maintenance to him who is serving the

cathedral. I petition your Majesty in all humility to be pleased to

confirm what was done with so great a desire of serving you well--acts

which were so thoroughly grounded on justice and right. I assure you

that we desire to economize your royal revenues, and that economy is

the very thing which is necessary. I have written to the visitor, Don

Francisco de Rojas, a document (a copy of which I enclose herewith)

in regard to the matter of the proceedings which he is attempting to

obtain from the treasury councils, after having first consulted with

the Audiencia in regard to it. He replies as will also be seen by the

same copy. I have thought best to inform your Majesty of everything,

so that you may be advised of the matter. What he appears to take as

his basis of action, and on which he places more stress, according

to what he has told me, is a section of a decree of your Majesty sent

to Don Alonso Fajardo, dated Madrid, December 10, 1618, in which your

Majesty uses the following language:

"We have also learned that, through the opportunity furnished by

fulfilling an order which my officials of my royal treasury of

those islands had--that, if a necessary and unavoidable case arose

in which some new expense would have to be incurred, the governor,

Audiencia, and the royal officials should assemble and discuss it,

and what should have the majority of votes should be executed,

giving me advice thereof--on this account many expenses, salaries,

and wages have been incurred and increased without any necessity,

for the private ends of each one. Consequently, I order you not to

make these expenses, except in sudden cases of invasion by enemies;

for by doing the contrary so much injury to my royal treasury results."

There are two chief points in this section which can be discussed. The

first is that your Majesty says that you have heard that the expenses

have been incurred for private ends, and not because they are

justified. He who told your Majesty that the wills of the governor,

auditors, and royal officials in Filipinas could be unanimous, even

for their private interests, has deceived you; for experience shows

the contrary. Neither should your Majesty believe that we are all so

vile that we would be making unlawful expenditures of your revenues

in order to pleasure one another. Well assured can you be of this by

the limitation and restriction that would have to be because of the

majority of votes; and because the governor, in whom your Majesty

trusts most fully, does not have the final decision. Scarcely any

authority is given him in this, and a great deal is taken away

from him.

In regard to the second point, what occurs to me to say is that, if we

are to understand that we must wait for sudden emergencies, and until

the enemy is at our gates, in order that we may make any expenses

in defense of it; I, Sire, as a soldier (which is my profession),

declare that in the Filipinas Islands there is a continual invasion

of enemies. Accordingly, since we are confronting so many, it is

necessary that we be always in a state of defense. Consequently,

we must not wait until they arrive before we make the expenses for

the necessary precautions--especially since Manila is surrounded by

Chinese and Japanese, and full of slaves, all of whom need no more

than to see us without preparation, in order to revolt. All these

are so cogent reasons, in my poor judgment, that I consider it beyond

doubt that it will be for your Majesty's service to have a new order

issued giving your governor and captain-general authority. In order

that he may fill those offices effectively in your Majesty's service,

it is necessary for him to have that authority in the royal treasury,

for extraordinary expenses which result from government and war--as

your captains-general have in Flandes, in Milan, in Napoles, and in

Sicilia, where there is war, and state affairs arise which render

that necessary. It is the same in the Filipinas, because of so many

enemies who are within its gates, and so many negroes roundabout,

with whom it is necessary to have intercourse and against whom it is

necessary to be on our guard. I do not say that there should not be

a council in the form ordered by your Majesty, but after the council

the governor should have the power to take such measures as he deems

best. I do not petition this for myself; for, when a reply to this

shall come, already the term of my government will be finished. Your

Majesty's service moved me, through my zeal for it. I shall exercise

the opposition to the visitor which seems advisable in this matter

of the treasury tribunal, your Majesty always retaining the right to

order what shall be your pleasure. [_In the margin:_ "Seen."]

In the letters which I am writing by way of Yndia, I discuss the

controversy which the royal officials had with the city, before the

visitor, in regard to the seats. That contention ceased after the

visitor had pronounced judgment against the city, to which I did

not assent, affairs having been adjusted in this regard until your

Majesty should order what should be most to your pleasure. After many

excommunications which had been issued, search was made for the decree

in which your Majesty mentions the form which must be observed in this,

and in which you order that they be seated in the places which they

occupied while regidors; finally, the decree appeared among the others

that the royal officials had in their office. The same Don Francisco

de Rojas found it by chance, while looking for other decrees in the

books which he had demanded from them for the inspection, and after

they had, under oath, denied having it. The excommunications which

intervened in the matter having been annulled (for in this way do

we live in the Yndias), the visitor was at last convinced of what I

always told him; and this point is settled, that the royal officials

are to use the seats which they had when regidors. [_In the margin:_

"File it with what has been petitioned in this matter."]

It might be that the said visitor will write to your Majesty in

regard to certain points of government and war, of which he has been

accustomed to advise me by notes, of which authentic copies are

taken. It seems to him that, as a minister so superior, this duty

can devolve on him. I have respected it, for what these acts may

indicate of friendship; but I cannot help mistrusting it, because of

the caution with which it is done. Consequently, I have the authentic

replies also, so that at any time what he wrote and what I replied may

be evident. I desire his friendship and am striving for it, since there

will always result a greater service for your Majesty--an intercourse

which I would swear that he ought not to remember in the visitation;

for soldiers (and more, soldiers of my rank) do not profess to be

witnesses, nor can we be. I do not believe that he will have appeared

careless, yet I take this precaution on general grounds, so that,

if perchance he may have written something, a hearing may be kept

for me, and that new decisions may not be sent from there in matters

pertaining to government and war, simply on his report; for he is a

lawyer, and new in the country, and the most that he will set forth

in this matter will be what was told him. [_In the margin:_ "Seen."]

The decrees which I received last year from your Majesty were obeyed

and carried out. The same will be done with those which come this

year. I humbly kiss your Majesty's hand for the honor and reward

which you have conferred upon me in having an answer written to me

with so great promptness to the despatches of the years 28 and 29. In

what you charge me, namely, that I preserve friendship with Japon, I

have had very great care; for after the events of the year 27, I have

managed to give that king to understand the irregularity of the case,

[88] and your Majesty's desire for friendship with his kingdoms. My

efforts have already succeeded so well that this matter is already

settled with the inhabitants of Macan, and the embargo has been removed

from their ships. Having invited the same Japanese to come to trade

with this city of Manila, two ships came last year, as I wrote in the

last despatches. The answers which we gave to their propositions and

letters seemed somewhat satisfactory to them; for this year they have

again sent two ships, with letters from the governor of Nagansaqui. In

these he tells me that the trade is open as before, and that ships may

go there from here, and that others will come here from there. That

nation is very cautious, and there is little confidence to be put in

them. If a person should come here whom they wished to go there to

trade, I would not dare for the present to permit it, until matters

are on a more firm basis; for it is certain that their hearts are

not quiet, nor will they easily become so. They take vengeance at

a fitting time. May they bring us bread and ammunition, as they are

doing. I gave them good treatment here, so that it is now procured

that the gains which they make on their merchandise and the lapse

of time will accommodate all things. Their king died, leaving his

son as heir. There are fears of war, that Christianity may not be so

persecuted. I do not think that it would be a bad thing to have a bit

of a revolution because of their contempt and selfishness. In these

ships were sent one hundred and thirty poor lepers exiled to these

islands, whom the heathen had tried to make renegades to the faith of

Christ (as many others have become); but their entreaties had no effect

on these people. I called a council of state to determine whether

those lepers should be received, and in what manner they should be

received. It was not because I hesitated to receive them; for, even

though they might fasten the disease on me, I would not dare to leave

an apparent Christian in the sight of so many opposed to the faith,

and in the face of the persecution which has been raging in that

kingdom. It was determined that they should be received immediately,

and taken straight to the church; and that they should be welcomed,

entertained, and supported with the alms which this community desired

to apportion. A beginning has been made in collecting alms, and a room

has been arranged in the hospital of the natives where they are to be

put. Your Majesty gives that hospital a yearly alms of five hundred

pesos and a quantity of fowls and rice, with which aid it has now so

increased the number of sick [who are cared for]. For a work so pious,

and so worthy that your Majesty accept it as your own, I do not doubt

that you will have its alms increased somewhat, in case that the fervor

that is now beginning in the charity of the inhabitants should become

somewhat cooled. [_In the margin_: "An order was sent to the governor

ordering him to give a certain alms for six years. Consult with his

Majesty. Let two hundred ducados more be given to him in the same way,

for a limited time and while it lasts."]

I am awaiting a ship from Camboja which has been built there at

your Majesty's account. I am informed that it is already about to

be launched in the sea. If it arrives before the sailing of this

despatch, I shall advise you. We have friendly relations with that

king, and he has maintained the same until now with the vassals of

your Majesty. If this matter of the shipbuilding be established, it

will be a negotiation of considerable importance. [_In the margin_:

"Seen."]

Trade with the kingdom of Cochinchina is of no importance to us;

for the products of the country are of little value here, while the

products taken there from Japon are brought to us here. Shipbuilding

cannot be effected in the said kingdom, as I wrote you in the year

of 30. May God have allowed you to have received the letters. [_In

the margin_: "Seen."]

There is little to hope from the kingdom of Sian, as those people are

very treacherous, and are hand in glove with the Dutch. No injury

will be inflicted upon them, but, if I had sufficient force, it is

certain that it would be to your Majesty's service that it be used in

restraining them; for the evil course which they have pursued toward

these islands, as well as the same so far as India is concerned,

deserves that. I thoroughly believe that if those of India are able,

they should make head against the Siamese from Malaca. In the year

30 they seized a patache that had been sent there on an embassy from

Macan, and aboard which was a messenger whom I sent to them. And

although they declared that it was because they did not like my

letter, the truth (as was written to me by the messenger) is, that

their act was induced by their coveting the goods aboard the patache,

which they thought to be considerable. [_In the margin_: "Seen."]

A ship has arrived from Macan, and several from China. With the

goods which they brought, those from the ship that put back, what

came late from Macan last year, and others which were recovered from

the ship that sank, this community has enough to make a shipment. It

has a good return from the merchandise sent to Nueva España in the

year of 30, with which I hope that the inhabitants will be somewhat

encouraged. May God look upon us favorably, so that these islands

may prosper for your Majesty, by my means; for as a faithful vassal

I surely desire that. [_In the margin_: "Seen."]

By a decree of December of the year 30, your Majesty orders me to

inform you whether it would be advisable to abolish the posts of

commander of the galleys, and of the lieutenant and accountant

for them: That of lieutenant is abolished. That of accountant,

was abolished from the past year. I wrote that I had cut off the

pay for it. Later, this year, the papers have been given into

the possession of the royal officials here. That is a very great

burden, in addition to the many that they have, as the visitor,

Don Francisco de Rojas, thought; and I assented to it. It is not

advisable that the post of commander of the galleys be abolished,

for there is no security here that they may not have to fight many

times with the galleys. Consequently, it is proper for them to have

a commander who may do it, and who knows how to do it. The saving

would be very little. The office is now held by Antonio Carreño de

Valdes, with whom your Majesty was saved six hundred pesos, which he

received as an allowance; and not more than two hundred are spent,

as the galleys have only eight hundred for wages. [_In the margin_:

"File it with those papers which led him to make this report."]

Your Majesty orders by another decree of the same date that I

inform you as to whether it will be advisable to abolish the post of

lieutenant-general of Pintados. In reply to that, I say that the pay

was cut off as soon as I reached this government, but the title is now

allowed; for it is advisable to have one who holds that authority in

those provinces, as they are very far from here. Hence it is given to

the alcalde-mayor and infantry captain who resides in Zibu, and who

does not enjoy more pay than that for the post captain. This is the

officer who goes out in the fleets against the Joloans, Camucones, and

Mindanaos. He orders in detail what is here decided upon in general. He

is on the watch in present emergencies, and if he did not have power

and authority to command the chief men of all those provinces, a

great part of the service of your Majesty would cease. Consequently,

it is not advisable that this office be abolished, and it is enough

to have cut off the pay of it. He who holds the office at present

is occupied in the pacification of the province of Caraga, of whose

revolt I informed you in my last despatch, and which I now communicate

in my letter treating of military affairs. He has twice entered that

province with a fleet; the first time, he inflicted a very severe

punishment, and from the second, which was made this month of May,

I hope that no less a result will ensue. [_In the margin_: "The same."]

The construction of galleys at Cavite has been changed; for one

unfavorable result changes the opinions of men which are of but

little stability. Certain workmen declared that the woods of which

the ship "Santa Maria Magdalena" was made (which was the one which

sank last year) were heavy; and that for that reason it had become

worthless--and not because its sides were defective. That was a lie,

for having drawn it ashore, as I wrote, laden (which was a heroic task,

and which could only have been done where there was so much apparatus

for it) the ship was then repaired with a lining of knees. It has

been tested in this bay, and it is very staunch, and carries all the

sail that can be spread. Hence it was a lie to cast the blame on the

lumber; but, as the common people and the friars (who desire that

there should be a shipyard near here) urged it earnestly on account

of this rumor, it was necessary to order that a shipyard be sought

in another place. Consequently, the master-workmen have been sent to

the Embocadero to build a ship for the coming year; for those ships

which came from Acapulco this year are not to return there. They have

well gained their cost. I sent the measures for a galleon, of the

burden that we need here, to Cochin, and I trust that some agreement

which will prove very advantageous to these islands will be made;

for scarcely is there anything that will be more important than to

suspend shipbuilding here for some time. [_In the margin_: "Seen."]

I am glad of the decree for Don Felipe Mascareñas, and that the Council

of Portugal has ordered that thanks be extended to him because he

assisted these islands with ammunition and the other things which

were asked from him.

The galleons have been repaired this year, and were completely

overhauled so that they will last another four years. That is the best

that can be done, because of the poor quality of the woods. [_In the

margin_: "Seen."]

In the year of 28, the ships left here without register. I have had

no answer from your Majesty to the causes which, as I wrote to you,

existed for that. I have heard that some reports have been made in

that royal Council against me, in regard to it, by persons who did

not understand or know the matter thoroughly. They used up much time

in writing treatises to your Majesty; and lest, perchance, I did not

give entire satisfaction by what I lately wrote, the acts and messages

which were despatched in regard to the matter are herewith enclosed,

in order that the reason which caused the ships to go without register

may be seen. The goods which the officers of the ships carried were in

their own boxes, and not in a collection of boxes or bales, for they

were not allowed to embark them in that way. If any official embarked

anything, it was secretly. The penalty which was impeded (which will

be seen by the records) could have been executed in Nueva España. The

viceroy knew that I made strenuous efforts so that everything might

be declared. He found but a little quantity [of contraband goods],

as I understand; and matters cannot be so well regulated, that

with their risk there should not be some who venture to disobey the

orders and edicts. What is certain, Sire, is that none of my goods

were found, as certain persons tried to intimate in regard to me,

for I do not engage in such pursuits. And that is plainly seen to

be so, for I have less property than when I came to Filipinas. The

viceroy of Nueva España wrote me in regard to the matter with some

haughtiness; I answered him that I thought that, if perchance he had

been informed about it to my disfavor, my precautions should be seen,

and my efforts ascertained--which he did, as he will have written

to you--and finally our purpose would have been recognized, which

was your Majesty's service and the welfare of this community. May God

preserve the Catholic and royal person of your Majesty, as Christendom

needs. Manila, July 8, 1632. Sire, your Majesty's humble vassal,

_Don Juan Niño de Tavora_

[_In the margin_: "This matter is reserved for the inspection or

residencia of the marquis of Cerralbo. The decree."]

[_Endorsed_: "Read and decreed September 15, 1633."]

_Military affairs_

Sire:

I am duly grateful that your Majesty ordered the letters which I

wrote from here in the years 28 and 29 to be examined in that your

Council of War of the Yndias. Your Majesty has answered them, and has

done me honor in accordance with your usual custom toward those who

serve you. And thus with new courage I pray God that He may give me

life and better health in order to serve you. I have for a year back

been in so poor health, by reason of great exhaustion and weakness,

that I greatly fear that I shall not be able to leave this place. If I

shall not do that, I shall have fulfilled my duty by giving my life

in the service of your Majesty. Your Majesty knows that I am not

fit for the burden of government since the death of Doña Magdalena,

who is in heaven. Everything has been hardship for me; and I have

become so exhausted that I can scarce rise from my bed, and I have

been very near my end twice or thrice. May God fulfil His will,

and may your Majesty be pleased to give orders that I be relieved,

if you wish affairs to be safe here; for surely the country will be

very quickly in the power of the auditors, if some person does not

come from there who will not let it be lost. If God give me life,

I shall be contented even with retiring to the post with which your

Majesty has favored me, as your commissary of war. Notwithstanding

that I assure your Majesty as your faithful vassal, and as a person

who would prefer to lose a thousand lives than to utter one falsehood

to his king, that the Filipinas have been worth nothing to me, during

the six years of my residence herein; but rather I have lost the twenty

thousand pesos which I have spent from the dowry that Doña Magdalena

brought me. And had not our Lord been pleased to give me a son (at

whose birth she died), she would not have had enough whereby to have

returned safely home to her parents. I confess that it must seem to

politicians that one does not come so far not to gain a bit of bread;

but it is certain that if one is to serve your Majesty to the letter,

and live as a Christian, it is difficult to acquire much property. I

arrived at these islands very deeply pledged, for the expenses of

the Indias are heavy. I brought many men, so that they might serve

your Majesty here. I have carried myself in accordance with the honor

which your Majesty bestowed upon me; and, consequently, I have not

been able to save enough from my salary to pay the expenses of the

return (if God grants me life). I am anxious; for it is not right to

spend the possessions of this child. If some accommodation, in some

of the ways that my agents will represent there, were to be allowed

me for this purpose, I would appreciate it; for that would enable me

to take from here something with which to serve your Majesty in Europa.

I wrote about affairs pertaining to Japon last year, by way of

India. In this despatch I enclose a copy of it in the first mail. May

God bear it in safety; for, judging by what the fleets of the Northern

Sea encounter, we are always in fear. This year those of Japon have

come with their ships; and the governor of Nangasaqui says in answer

to my letters that the trade may be considered as open, and that the

ships from both sides may go and come, and that they will be well

received. In regard to the passport [_chapa_] of the emperor, which

is the license that they usually give for trade with their kingdoms,

he says that he will arrange that. They send one hundred and thirty

lepers in these ships, who were exiled for the faith. We believe,

through the assurance that we have of the bad disposition of that

race, that this action has been a sort of vengeance or contempt;

but it is quite certain that, although they may have done it for that

purpose, it has resulted very well for us; for we have exercised an

act of charity, which I hope, God helping, will confound them. For we

received the lepers with great pomp and display of charity; and this

city, aided by the religious orders, is striving to collect liberal

alms for them. Those ships have brought a quantity of bronze for the

founding of artillery, besides an abundance of flour. Since they are

doing this, and we are not for the present going there securely,

the matter is to be considered as more evil-intentioned than they

may regard it. I shall endeavor, as heretofore, to promote peace and

cordial intercourse, and that they may obtain all satisfaction for

the affair in Sian. If they come to ask for it rightly, satisfaction

will be given them, and the guilt of the commander who had charge of

the galleons will be settled.

The viceroy of Nueva España asks me to cast him some artillery,

of the calibers ordered, and it will be sent him promptly.

I wrote your Majesty, in the year that Don Geronimo de Silva died

here, how superfluous was the post of general of artillery; for he

does not take the field, nor is there any artillery train [to be

transported], or more than a few artillerymen scattered through the

ordinary presidios. For as many as there are, it would be sufficient

to have one captain of artillery; for it requires nothing else than

to order a ship to be equipped, and that is done with the order

of the captain-general; and with greater ease and less red-tape,

orders can be given to the captain of artillery, who is the one who

has to execute it, than to a general of artillery, who has to order

another to do it. Juan Bautista de Molina has served your Majesty

many years, but the Filipinas do not need so many heads, nor so many

to draw pay from its treasury. I, Sire, shall not appoint anyone to

the post (although it is vacant), as your Majesty orders me, for I

do not desire to do a thing in which I believe that I would be doing

you a disservice; and since your Majesty orders me to abolish other

posts, I do not believe that it will be disservice to add this post

to them. In the meantime, will your Majesty please inform us whether

the master-of-camp of these islands or the general of artillery is to

govern at the death of the governor and captain-general, or during

his absence. Certain it is that he who has more authority and power

is the master-of-camp, and he ought to be second in command. For

there is not any general master-of-camp here, nor is it necessary;

nor is there more than one regiment that he governs. Juan Bautista

de Molina is exercising his charge in accordance with your Majesty's

letters-patent, which will be observed to the letter.

I wrote, with the ship that sailed to India, the good news that was

had from the island of Hermosa. We have not received later news. The

disobedient Indians have been punished, and affairs have been better

regulated. May God in His mercy bring them to a knowledge of His holy

faith. I am sending two ships there, so that more abundant relief

may be sent to our men. They will bring back the general, Don Juan de

Alcaraso, who is there. The sargento-mayor will remain in his place

until another person is sent, as he is a person of trust and worth.

The province of Cagayan is more quiet than before. A company there

was abolished, for the war has ceased; and hopes are daily entertained

that more peaceful Indians will come down [from the hills].

The inhabitants of Caraga revolted, as I stated in my last despatch,

after killing the captain and commander, with twenty soldiers, in

an expedition that he made. Thinking that they could gain the fort

with that force, they came to it, but it did not fall out as they

imagined. The greater part of the province rose, and killed four

discalced Recollect religious. A severe punishment was inflicted on

them in the month of September; and recently, in the month of May just

passed, another fleet went there to punish and to reduce them. I trust,

our Lord helping, that they will remain quiet, although they are not

Christians; for there is little confidence to be placed in them.

The four pataches which were sent to Terrenate arrived there safely;

and the enemy were unable to overtake them, although they came with

hopes of doing much more here than usual, and searched for the ships

from dawn until four o'clock in the afternoon. Pedro de Heredia is

somewhat disconsolate at seeing that your Majesty does not withdraw

him. He sent no news of importance, except that the enemy is not

so powerful as formerly. During the coming year I intend to send a

greater reënforcement than usual, in order to see whether we can

capture the enemy's ship which prowls thereabout. There will be

considerable opposition, and there are very few men for what is

necessary, but I shall do what is possible.

Nueva España aids me with very little money; for this year not more

than two hundred and thirty-four thousand pesos has come for the

expenses of the treasury, and during all the past years aid came in

almost the same way. The viceroy thinks that he is doing his duty in

not sending more. I would like him to have charge of affairs here,

to see whether he could maintain armed fleets, infantry, friars,

ministers of justice, the extraordinary expenses of presidios, and

many other expenses--which will be seen there from the reports which

your Majesty asked, and which are sent this year--with so little

cloth. He also sent me only ninety soldiers as a reënforcement, for

whom, I am assured, twenty warrants were given. The best of all is

that I am told very positively that the levy will begin very early,

just as if that had the tune that was to attract many men. If the

captains who raise the men were the ones who had to bring them, they

would make men. But as they are not the ones to bring them, and as

the matter is reduced to three companies who have to come here, and

the captains of these come to obtain the men on the wing--that is,

on the road or at the very port of Acapulco--they find that already

the men have deserted to the other captains. Many of them die here,

and there is but a low birth rate in this country. Thus the garrisons

at Terrenate and the other presidios lack men, although the visitor

thinks it all too much. I am not surprised at that, for his desire is

the same as mine, namely, to cut short your Majesty's expenses. But it

is certain that some economies come to be wasteful. He told me that

I should reduce the soldiery in these islands to the number that was

established by Gomez Perez Dasmariñas. As he does not know what it

means to have Dutch enemies about us, he thinks that we could get

along with fewer men [than we have here]. I find, Sire, that your

Majesty does not have another military establishment more important

in the Yndias than the Filipinas Islands. And, that it may be evident

whether I make a wrong assertion, consider what part of the Yndias the

enemy have made their own--except Xava, where they hold Xacatra, three

hundred leguas from here. There they have their principal fort, and

have their ammunition and magazines. Here, Sire, here, is where your

Majesty, joining Malaca and Macan to this government, must maintain

your forces and oppose them to those of the enemy. If that is not done,

there is but little to hope from these Yndias, which will be ruined in

a short time; or, at the least, will incur so many expenses that they

will be of no use. May God take me to that court, where I hope to make

the affairs of these regions understood as they are, and not as people

imagine there. Neither heavy expenses nor large fleets are necessary

for this. The continual plying of four galleons and two pataches, and

four galleons in the strait of Malaca, will keep the enemy so hemmed

in that they will make no captures or have any trade; and they would

have to go in company and armed, and thus incur expenses. Castilla

has no trading company for the expenses of war. Without prizes or

trade they would be able to inflict the first injury on the Dutch;

for the strait of Malaca, which is the place where the Dutch conduct

the greater part of their trade, would be secure with the galleys,

for there are no winds there, as a rule. The tide allows the ships

to enter and leave by three straits, the broadest of which is very

narrow, for only one ship can tack in it. That strait is not the one

generally used, but the other two. I am assured that in both the ends

of the yards of the galleons brush through the trees ashore. I wrote in

regard to this matter, in the year of 30, by Admiral Diego Lopez Lobo,

whom I was sending to that court to treat of that matter alone; but

God was pleased to let him drown in the flagship of the trading-fleet

which was lost in the past year of 31. I wish that at least one of the

three mails which I have always despatched since my arrival at these

islands had reached you. On my part I have not failed to advise you

of everything, nor shall I fail to desire and to propose what shall

seem best to me for the increase of the service of your Majesty.

It will not be difficult to unite these camps under one head, even

though they are of two crowns. If they do not unite of themselves, they

will have no strength. Portugal and Castilla belong to your Majesty,

and that is a reason why their arms should be united; for the forces

of Francia, Olanda, Ynglaterra, and Dinamarca [89] are united in

these districts. If those of your Majesty were combined, not only

would we defend what has been gained, but we would steadily extend

farther. Your Majesty sees them united against you, although they are

of so many different sovereigns, religions, and nationalities. Then why

do not Portugal and Castilla unite in this South Sea and the coasts

of Asia, where the enemy acquires so much wealth? I do not attempt

this so that I may remain here longer, nor so that everything may be

placed in my charge; for I have no health, nor is it just to exile

me so many years in regions so remote. I express my feelings, and I

desire to express them more in detail in that Council, as experience

has shown things to me.

I sent a galliot to Yndia in November of last year, 631, in order to

continue my negotiations with that viceroy in regard to this matter

of joining hands in order better to attack the enemy. Particularly

did I inform him of the order sent me by your Majesty about making

an expedition to the island of Hermosa, asking him for the aid which

I considered necessary. I wrote the same to Macan, so that it might

for its part make other necessary preparations. I am advised that the

said galliot, because it was well equipped, escaped from the enemy who

were stationed in the above-mentioned strait of Malaca awaiting the

galliots from China--which latter they captured, together with another

ship belonging to a merchant of this city. May God remedy this loss.

I am advised from Camboja that a galleon which I am having built there

at your Majesty's account has been already launched. No one thought

that this would be accomplished; but it has been God's will that the

difficulties should be conquered at last, and that this shipbuilding

should be established in a place where this ship has been built at

much less cost, and from more durable woods, than [it could have

been] in these islands. As this one has been built, so can many

others be constructed; and these provinces can be relieved from the

great burden of their shipyards. I also have under discussion another

negotiation with the city of Cochin in regard to this same matter;

and, if it succeeds, it will be of great service to your Majesty.

Some difficulties have arisen in military matters, which it is

necessary for your Majesty to have determined in your Council of the

Yndias. Since your Majesty has had armed forces in these islands, the

ships which enter this port and that of Cabite have been inspected

by the military department. The governor does not go in person,

both because of his many duties and also because every year he gives

commission, by his authority, to one of the persons in whom he trusts,

for that person to go in his name. This appointee goes in company

with a notary, and inspects the number of the people, and the arms,

ammunition, and the amount of property, to see if everything is in

accordance with the orders given from the time of Governor Don Juan

de Silva to the Chinese, so that they might not burden these islands

with useless ships and people (as will be seen by the copy of the

commission, which is sent to your Majesty in your royal Council of

the Indias). Several discontented regidors--thinking to annoy me,

and incited perhaps by some of this royal Audiencia who is but little

inclined to my course of action--presented a decree of your Majesty

(of which a copy is also enclosed to your said royal Council), under

date of the year 20, in which it is ordained that, in order to give

this commission, the governor must meet with the auditors, and that

all in assembly choose the person to whom it shall be given. This

detracts authority from the office of the captain-general, to maintain

which efforts should be made in that royal Council of the Yndias. I

am now with spurs on my heels, as they say, [ready] either for the

other world, or to finish this government. Consequently, I cannot

negotiate this matter with the intention of enjoying it; I am doing

this for the service of your Majesty and for the authority of the

office--considering that, although it would be very proper to have

this commission granted by the votes of four, never would those votes

conform, for each one would try to have it given to his friend. For

the commission entails but little work; and, if many ships come, it is

worth quite one thousand or one thousand five hundred pesos. The tariff

of fees is appraised by the Audiencia, of which I also send a copy to

that said royal Council. I petition your Majesty that it be examined

in that royal Council, so that the military department may have a

defense on its part, and so that its rights of preëminence may be kept.

There has also arisen a quarrel this year over criminal jurisdiction

between the master-of-camp of these islands and the castellan of the

fort of Santiago of Manila, in regard to the imprisonment of a soldier

of the fort whom the master-of-camp arrested for offenses committed

outside of the fort. The castellan demanded the soldier, saying that

the jurisdiction over the men of his fort belongs to him, wherever

they may commit their offenses. On the other hand, your Majesty makes

the master-of-camp of this camp judge in the first instance of all

the soldiers in the Filipinas Islands (Terrenate excepted). Therefore

the latter declares that he must be judge in the first instance of all

the causes which are prosecuted in the island of Hermosa, and in the

presidios of Caraga, Cagayan, Zibu, and Oton; and that the commandants

there can do no more than to conduct the cause to the point of giving

sentence therein, sending it to him so that he may do this. The same is

declared by the castellan of the fort of Santiago of this city; but,

although it seems that he cites warrant for it, his predecessors have

not been wont to exercise it. On the other hand, the castellan alleges

that his predecessors have always exercised separate jurisdiction. In

regard to the governor of the island of Hermosa and the commandants

in the remote provinces, it cannot fail to be a hindrance that they

cannot give sentence. Accordingly, I petition your Majesty to have

this made clear; and at the same time to decide who is to try in

the first instance the illegal acts that the castellan of the fort,

the master-of-camp himself, the general of the artillery, and the

commander of the galleys may commit. This is not clear, and there

may be cases in which such action may be necessary. May God preserve

the Catholic and royal person of your Majesty, as is necessary to

Christendom. Manila, July 8, 1632. Sire, your Majesty's humble vassal,

_Don Juan Niño de Tavora_

III

_Ecclesiastical affairs_

Sire:

It is three years since the death of the archbishop (who is in glory),

and during those years the land has enjoyed peace and harmony between

the two jurisdictions--ecclesiastical and secular; for the provisors

who have governed in this vacant see have been more learned and more

peaceable than was the archbishop. May it please God that it may

be the same in the time of Don Fray Hernando Guerrero, to whom your

Majesty has granted the favor of this archbishopric.

The latter presented before the cabildo of this cathedral a decree

from your Majesty, despatched in the ordinary form, so that the

government should be given to him while waiting for the bulls from his

Holiness. It is not the said cabildo who governs, but Don Fray Pedro

Arce, bishop of Zibu, by virtue of a brief of his Holiness and a decree

of your Majesty. They order that during the first three vacancies of

this archbishopric (which began to be reckoned from the date of the

brief), the cabildo should not govern, but the senior bishop of the

islands (who is at present the bishop of Zibu); for it was considered

unadvisable for the government to be entrusted to the cabildo for the

space of three years--the least time that a vacancy can last here. Upon

this occasion the cabildo responded that it could not give to the

archbishop-elect the government that it did not possess. The bishop of

Zibu says that he cannot leave the government without a special order

from your Majesty and from his Holiness, who are the persons who have

given it to him. After receiving this reply, the archbishop-elect

came on appeal from fuerza to the Audiencia. They, after having

thoroughly aired the matter, judged that there was no occasion [for

this plea], because the documents lacked some clauses requisite to

make them effective, and the cabildo had not committed fuerza. They

told the archbishop to prefer his claims before him who had the right

[to judge his case]. The good archbishop was desirous of governing,

and accordingly, took hold of the affair with too much energy, aided

by his natural disposition, which is not so moderate as his dignity

demands. He thinks that we are all to blame, and I in particular;

accordingly, he shows me little favor. I mention this so that in case

that he should write anything against me, your Majesty may be warned,

and give no credit to his relation until the proof of it be adduced.

The decree in which your Majesty lays down the order that must be

observed in the changing of missions and in the appointment of the

ministers thereof on account of the death of their predecessors, was

obeyed, and notice of it given to the bishops and to the superiors of

the orders. The latter oppose it stoutly, and say that in no event can

they be ruled by it without the order of their generals, and that they

will abandon their missions first. In the year of 29 I wrote to your

Majesty at length upon this matter, in regard to which no particular

answer was given to me besides the sending of this decree--which, as I

judge, is general for all the Yndias. The point is very serious, and

is one of peculiar difficulty in these islands. Although we here are

sufficiently ministers of your Majesty to be able to decide it in case

that the religious leave their missions, yet we desire to have some

clearer light on the matter from there, in order that we may better

succeed in your Majesty's service. [_In the margin_: "File it with,

the letter of the bishop of Zibu, who writes concerning this matter,

which is submitted to the fiscal."]

For many years the bishopric of Camarines has had no prelate; for,

although your Majesty has appointed many, no one comes here. That

must be because they hear how wretched a post it is. Your Majesty

could abolish that bishopric by adding the half of it to that of

Cebu, which is very conveniently located for this purpose, and the

other half to this archbishopric of Manila, which does not have too

great a district; and by that means would save that salary, and avoid

many animosities that he who shall arrive from España to occupy that

bishopric must surely encounter. [_In the margin_: "To be considered

by all the Council, together with what the viceroy wrote." "A bishop

has already gone to Camarines."]

The religious orders are at peace, and are attending to the welfare

of the natives and your Majesty's service. Three of them held

chapter-meetings this year, and all quietly. That of St. Francis,

and that of the Augustinian Recollects were exemplary, and they made

their elections immediately. The calced Augustinians also made their

elections--but not so quickly that we could avoid sending to them to

remind them not to allow the disturbances of other times to occur in

their chapter--by having made them beforehand through their devotion

to the outgoing provincial, who managed the succession for another

as worthy as he. [90] May God grant that the elections be canonical.

A procurator is sent to ask your Majesty for more religious. On

other occasions, your Majesty has been informed of the existing

need for exemplary religious who may assist in the reformation of

the province. As for him who is not so, it were better that he do

not come. I cannot hide these things, nor hesitate to tell the truth

about them when opportunity offers. For that reason I am not liked;

and I have heard that reports against me have gone to that court from

several of the orders. I am very sure that your Majesty will not give

them ear without reserving another ear for me. The religious in this

country wish to govern; and, if the governor does not allow them to do

so, they regard him as an evil-conditioned man, and easily lend ear

to the malcontents. May God preserve the Catholic and royal person

of your Majesty, as is necessary to Christendom. Manila, July 8,

1632. Sire, your Majesty's humble vassal,

_Don Juan Niño de Tavora_

EVENTS IN FILIPINAS, 1630-32

_Relation of what has occurred in the Filipinas Islands and other

regions adjacent, from July, 1630, to July, 1632._

Great has been the peace which we have enjoyed in these Philipinas

Islands for the last two years; for the forces of the Dutch have been

scanty, owing to the failure of reënforcements; from Holland, and hence

there has been peace in the Malucas Islands as well. Nevertheless,

there have not been wanting here some disturbances from domestic

enemies. The Indians of the province of Caraga, which is in one of

these Philipinas Islands, rebelled and killed the Spaniards and the

religious, their ministers (although not for any cause connected with

the faith); these are discalced Augustinian friars. This uprising gave

us anxiety enough, as it seemed to be the beginning of a universal

mutiny; and it was particularly disturbing to us, as all our missions

are in the neighborhood of the said province of Caraga, which is

gradually being subdued and the leaders of the mutiny punished.

In Japon they are still pricked with the thorn of the ship which some

years ago our galleons captured and burned on the bar of Sian. To

avenge this, notable councils have been held in Japon, in order to

come and wage war against this land; in order beforehand to have it

well explored, they sent last year in January two merchant ships,

under cloak of trade and traffic. Although in Manilla warning of this

double object had been received, this was not made known; and they were

received and regaled as ambassadors from the Tono of Arima and Bungo. A

ceremonious reception and very handsome present were given to them;

but the city was put in readiness for whatever might happen. This

year they have begun again to send ships to trade and traffic, and

asked that our ships should go to Japon. But we are holding back

here, because what they wish to do is to seize the property which

might be in the vessels, and put the Castilians to the sword. They

sent in these ships a hundred or more Christian lepers, who, whatever

they did with them, would not abandon the faith; and in order not to

stain their catans, as they said, with such people, they left them

alive and exiled them to the Philipinas. Here they were very kindly

received--as was required by Christian piety, and by the cause for

which they had been exiled--without considering the affront which the

Japanese thought to put upon us by sending the dregs of that kingdom.

The persecution there was very severe, as will be seen by a letter

which Father Christoval Ferreyra [91] writes from Nangasaqui to the

father provincial of this province--which, being translated from the

Portuguese into Castilian, reads as follows:

"By the last ship, I wrote to your Reverence the state of the

Christian church here. I shall now continue with what has happened

since then; and it may all be summed up as new persecutions, labors,

and hardships. I will commence with the five religious who, in the year

twenty-nine, were taken prisoners on account of the faith. These are

fathers Fray Bartolome Gutierrez, Fray Francisco de Jesus, Fray Vicente

de San Antonio, all three Augustinians; Father Antonio Yxida, of our

Society; and brother Fray Gabriel de Magdalena, a Franciscan. The

governor of Nangasaqui, named Uneme, attempted to make them deny the

faith, and in this way to discredit our holy faith and its ministers,

and to break the spirit of the Christians, so that with the example of

these they might more easily leave the faith, and thus he would gain

credit and honor before Xongun [_i.e._, the Shogun], emperor of Japon.

"With this diabolical intention--which, it appears, he had already

discussed in the court--he ordered them to be taken from the prison

of Omura and brought to Nangasaqui, on the twenty-fifth of November

last. As he did not say for what purpose, they were persuaded that it

was to burn them alive for the faith which they professed and taught;

therefore they all went very joyfully, as men who were sighing for such

a happy death. But contrary to what they expected, they were put in the

prison of that city, where they remained until the third of December,

without knowing in the meantime what the governor intended to do.

"Twice during this time the governor ordered our Father Antonio

Yxida to be brought to his house, and although he did not find him

the first time, he, with a servant of his named Saitogonnay (who was

considered an unusually learned man in the Juto [92] sect), asked him

very affectionately that at any rate he would abandon the faith of

Christ and adopt one of the religions of Japon; and if for any reason

he did not wish to abandon at present the one which he followed, at

least he should show himself neutral, neither abandoning nor following

it. And, in order that the father might deliberate over all this,

he would give him one more year of hope; and when this was passed,

he should make known to the governor his final decision. The father

answered him that his decision was, as it had been and always would be,

to follow and confess always the faith of God, and for this no time

was necessary to deliberate in this affair; for he would always find

in him the same resolution and the same response, howsoever much time

be should give him for respite. The father added that the governor

might immediately do that which he had determined to do at the end

of the said year; for the response which he would then have to give

was the same as what he gave at present, nor would he ever accept

the alternative proposed.

"This counsel being refused, the learned man set about convincing

him by argument, attempting to prove that the Tayquio was the same,

and that the Juto sect was based upon, and regarded as the beginning

of all things, the God which we Christians adore. Wherefore, as the

question was one of names, and not of substance, the two faiths were

in accord, and that he should conform to the words also of the Juto

sect. Easily and clearly the father showed him the difference between

the one sect and he other, and in what each consisted; and convinced

him in such wise that the ignorant learned man had no other refuge

but to fall back on his reason--saying that it was indeed as the

father declared, but that reason dictated that he should follow and

obey the mandate of the emperor, whose vassal he was, and abandon the

faith of God, at least outwardly, following in his heart whatever he

pleased. 'Neither the faith which I profess,' answered the father, 'nor

pure reason itself, will consent to these deceits and maskings. The

faith of God which I follow in my heart I shall follow and confess

outwardly still; nor can the mandate of the emperor have force or

strength against that of God, the universal Lord of all things.'

"This dispute and combat lasted a day and a night, during which time

the father maintained such resolution and firmness that when the

governor tried to be stern, in order to make him change his opinion

of that idolatry, the father told him, undeceiving him, that he was

striving in vain, for in no way could he win him over. On this account,

the next day he was sent back to the prison. But as the governor's

servants knew that he desired to succeed in his endeavor, one of

them asked that the father be called out again and delivered to him,

for he hoped to subdue him. Accordingly the father himself, as well

as the others, was persuaded that this second time he was called out

to be tortured, that he might deny his faith and reveal the other

religious and their households, for this had been the practice in the

city for some time past. With astonishing courage the father went out,

resolved to suffer any torment whatever before he would deny Christ

or reveal his brothers.

"When he arrived at the house of the governor there came out to meet

him the servant who had sought to see him, who had been present at

the late dispute, and at one which the father had formerly had with

the governor, when they arrested him. Although now the same means

of controversy were attempted, finding that, nevertheless, the more

they argued the more convinced he was, the principal means which they

used was to explain to the father how much the governor desired to

grant him life and to favor him, as he could have seen every time he

discussed this matter. He was promised in behalf of the same governor

great riches and position; and they strongly insisted that not only

on account of what he owed to the friendship which the governor

showed him, but for what concerned his own welfare and interest, he

ought to abandon the faith of God, outwardly only, and to follow it

in his heart, as any man of good judgment would do--saying that he

would show himself to be such by using this expedient, for he would

not abandon the faith which he followed, and would attain riches and

repose. The answer was that even if the governor should give him all

the riches that he possessed and all that there are in the world,

and should make him lord of all, by no means would he turn his back

to God or abandon His most holy faith--no, not even outwardly.

"The governor, finding then that he could not win the father over

by arguments, advice, or promises, ordered him to be taken back to

the prison, determined to use other more rigorous measures, with

which he considered it certain that he would overcome him and the

other religious who were in prison. This was by ordering them to be

tortured in a spring of exceedingly hot water, at the mountain Unjen;

[93] for although some told him that this also would not win over

either Father Antonio or the others, it appeared impossible that

they should not yield under this most extreme torture--as experience

had shown him in the year 1629, when he ordered the Christians of

Nangasaqui to be tortured in this way. Accordingly, he ordered the

aforesaid five religious to be conveyed to that mountain, there to be

tortured with hot water until they should deny the faith, but in such

wise that they should not die. By the same order he sent likewise

in their company Beatriz de Acosta, the wife of Antonio de Silva,

and Maria her daughter; for they would not deny their faith, although

they had long been labored with--and this notwithstanding the fact

that Beatriz de Acosta was Japanese only on the side of her mother,

and the daughter much less so, as her father was a Portuguese, and her

mother a half-Portuguese; and they do not proceed in this persecution

[except] against Japanese and ministers of the gospel.

"On the third of December they left Nangasaqui alone, and started

for Unjen. The two women rode in a litter, and the five religious on

horseback, each one in the habit of his order, accompanied by many

people as a guard; they were very joyful as they took leave of a

multitude of people who came out to see this spectacle, in spite of

the fact that the governor had rigorously prohibited it. When they

arrived at the point of Fimi, a league distant from there, their arms

were tied, fetters were put upon their feet, and each one was put

on board separately, being tied to the boat. On this same afternoon

they arrived at the point of Oharna, which is within the boundaries

of Tacacu, and at the foot of the mountain Unjen. The next day they

ascended the mountain, where they immediately erected a number of huts;

then they placed the seven prisoners therein, each in a separate one,

without allowing them to see each other again so long as they were

there, so that they might not encourage one another. They kept them day

and night with fetters on their feet, and manacles upon their hands,

watched by guards.

"Besides the men of the governor of Nangasaqui, the governors of

Tacacu sent theirs likewise to be present at this act, as well as to

aid whenever necessary. Beside these, there were a number of others

as sentinels on all the roads through which this mountain could be

approached, who let no person pass by without a written permission

from the officials who were assigned to this duty.

"On the next day, the fourth of the same month, the torture commenced

in the following manner: They took each one of the seven by himself

to the most furious pool there, and, showing him the boiling water,

tried to persuade him to leave the faith of Christ before undergoing

that most horrible torture, which certainly they would not be able

to endure. Father Antonio writes that, notwithstanding the severity

of the cold that then prevailed, the water in the ponds did [not]

cease boiling, with such fury that the sight of it alone would strike

dismay to any one who was not greatly comforted by the grace of God;

but they were comforted in such manner that all, with extraordinary

courage, answered without delay that they would be tortured, for in

no wise would they abandon the faith which they profess. When this

steadfast answer was heard, they were stripped naked and, tied hand

and foot with four cords, were borne each by four men. They took

some of the water which was boiling most furiously, in a wooden dish

which held about a half-arroba; this water they poured upon each one

from the dish thrice filled--not all at once, but little by little,

opening a minute hole in the bottom so that it would last longer. The

constancy, courage, and valor with which the confessors of Christ

suffered that most horrible torment was such that they never made

the slightest movement of their bodies, to the great fright of those

who saw and heard them. Maria alone, as she was young and delicate,

was dismayed by the severity of the torture, and fell to the ground

and the torturers, who only desired some pretext whereby they could

say that she had recanted, and misrepresenting this fall, cried out,

saying, 'She has yielded, she has yielded!' Thereupon they took her

back to her hut, and the next day to Nangasaqui--although she opposed

them violently and protested that she had not given up the faith,

and that they had no reason for torturing her, or for tormenting and

killing her mother and the rest.

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 24 of 55 1630-34 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 · 第 14 / 16 章