that some person of sufficient and satisfactory qualities should be
sent to España, to the court of his Majesty, to give a thorough and
detailed account of the state of affairs in the Filipinas Islands,
and to request that some necessary measures might be taken concerning
them. The court was especially to be informed that, for the time being,
the Audiencia could be dispensed with, for it was a heavy burden to
all estates, because of the newness of the country. The person of
Father Alonso Sanches, of the Society of Jesus, a learned man, and one
well informed concerning the country, and very active in business, was
chosen for this purpose. Instructions were given him, and authority to
act for all estates, religious orders, and communities, as to what he
was to treat and request in España, and at the court of his Holiness
in Roma, where he was also to go. [38] This father reached Madrid,
and after having conferred with his Majesty several times respecting
those things of which he thought fit to treat and to make requests,
went to Roma, where he introduced himself as the ambassador of all
the estates of the Filipinas, and on their behalf he kissed the foot,
and visited the pontiffs who ruled during that time, after the death
of Sixtus the Fifth. Having received from them favors and indulgences
with many relics, bulls, and letters for the Filipinas, he returned to
España, where again he solicited a decision on the business which he
had left under discussion when he went to Roma. His Majesty listened
to the messages that he brought from the pontiffs, and lent him
a favorable ear concerning the affairs of the islands. In private
audiences the father made the king understand his requests, and decide
them to his own satisfaction. But as soon as the despatches reached
the Filipinas, much of their contents appeared outside the intention
and expectation of both bishop and Audiencia, and the city, citizens,
and encomenderos. They appeared even detrimental to the inhabitants
of the islands, and therefore they expressed their displeasure toward
Father Alonso Sanches, who was still in España. The father negotiated
for the suppression of the Audiencia of Manila, and the appointment
of a new governor; and in begging such an one, the same father,
because of his friendly relations with him, proposed one Gomez Perez
Dasmariñas, who had been corregidor of Leon and later of Murcia, and
who was at that time in the court, and corregidor-elect of Logroño
and Calahorra. His Majesty appointed him governor and captain-general
of the Filipinas, and increased the annual salary of his office to ten
thousand Castilian ducados. Moreover, he made him a knight of the Order
of Sanctiago, and gave him a large sum of money with which to meet the
expenses of the voyage. He was provided with the necessary despatches,
both for the exercise of his office, and for the suppression of the
Audiencia of Manila, and the establishment of a camp of four hundred
paid soldiers with their officers, at his Majesty's expense, for the
garrison and defense of the land. His Majesty ordered him to sail
immediately for Nueva España in the ships on which Viceroy Don Luis de
Velasco sailed in the year one thousand five hundred and eighty-nine,
who was going to govern that country.
Gomez Perez Dasmariñas left Mexico as soon as possible, and with what
ships, soldiers, and captains he needed, sailed for the Filipinas,
where he arrived in the month of May, in the year one thousand five
hundred and ninety.
¶ Of the administration of Gomez Perez Dasmariñas, and of Licentiate
Pedro de Rojas, who was elected by the city of Manila to act as
governor, on account of the former's death, until Don Luis Dasmariñas
was received as the successor of Gomez Perez, his father.
¶ CHAPTER FIFTH
As soon as Gomez Perez Dasmariñas reached the Filipinas, he was
received as governor with universal acclaim. He suppressed the
Audiencia, and the residencias of its president, auditors, fiscal,
and other officials were taken by Licentiate Herver del Coral, whom
Viceroy Don Luys de Velasco had sent for that purpose, by virtue of a
royal decree received to that effect. The new governor inaugurated his
rule by establishing the paid garrison, and by executing, with great
enthusiasm and zeal, many and various things, for which he possessed
royal orders and instructions, not shrinking from any kind of labor,
or taking any care of himself. His first labor was the walling of the
city, to which he attended so assiduously, that it was almost completed
before his death. [39] He also built a cavalier on the promontory of
Manila where the old wooden fort, which he called Sanctiago, formerly
stood, and fortified it with some artillery. He razed to the ground
the fort of Nuestra Señora de Guia, which his predecessor had built; he
built of stone the cathedral of Manila, and encouraged the inhabitants
of the city who had shortly before begun to build, to persevere in
building their houses of stone, a work which the bishop was the first
to begin in the building of his house. During his term he increased
trade with China, and regulated better the navigation of Nueva España,
and the despatch of vessels in that line. He built some galleys for
the defense of the coast, pacified the Zambales, who had revolted,
and ordered his son Don Luys Dasmariñas, of the habit of Alcantara,
to make an incursion with troops from Manila into the interior of the
island of Luzon, [40] by crossing the river Ytui and other provinces
not yet explored or seen by Spaniards, until he arrived at Cagayan. He
built also an artillery foundry in Manila, where, for want of expert
founders, but few large pieces were turned out.
In the first year of his administration, he sent the president and
auditors of the suppressed Audiencia to España. Licentiate Pedro de
Rojas, the senior auditor, remained with the governor by order of
his Majesty, as lieutenant-assessor in matters of justice, until some
years later appointed alcalde in Mexico.
During Gomez Perez's administration, the relations and peace existing
between the Japanese and the Spaniards of the Filipinas began to
become strained; for hitherto Japanese vessels had gone from the port
of Nangasaqui to Manila for some years, laden with their flour and
other goods, where they had been kindly received, and despatched. But
Taicosama, [41] lord of all Xapon, was incited through the efforts of
Farandaquiemon--a Japanese of low extraction, one of those who came to
Manila--to write in a barbarous and arrogant manner to the governor,
demanding submission and tribute, and threatening to come with a fleet
and troops to lay waste the country. But, between demands and replies,
several years were spent, until at last Taico died. [42]
While Xapon was causing the governor some anxiety, the king of Camboja
sent him an embassy by the Portuguese Diego Belloso, who brought
a present of two elephants and offers of friendship and trade with
his kingdom, and implored aid against Sian--which was threatening
Camboja. The governor answered the king, and sent him a horse, with
a few emeralds and other objects, but postponed until later what
related to aid, and thanked him for his friendship. This was the
origin of the events and the expeditions made later from Manila to
the kingdoms of Sian and Camboja, on the mainland of Asia.
From the moment that Gomez Perez received his charge in España, he had
cherished the desire to lead an expedition from Manila to conquer the
fort of Terrenate in Maluco, on account of the great importance of this
enterprise, and its outcome, in which no success had been attained on
other occasions. He was constantly making necessary arrangements for
undertaking this expedition, but so secretly that he declared it to no
one, until, in the year ninety-three, seeing that the preparations for
his intention appeared sufficient, he declared his purpose, and made
ready to set out in person, with more than nine hundred Spaniards and
two hundred sail, counting galleys, galliots, frigates, vireys, and
other craft. He left the war affairs of Manila and of the islands, with
a few troops--although insufficient for the city's defense--in charge
of Diego Ronquillo, his master-of-camp; and those of administration
and justice to Licentiate Pedro de Rojas. He also sent his son, Don
Luys Dasmariñas, forward with the rest of the fleet, as his lieutenant
in the office of captain-general, to the provinces of Pintados, whence
they were to sail; while he himself remained in Manila making his final
preparations and arming a galley of twenty-eight benches, in which he
was to sail. This galley he manned with good Chinese rowers, with pay,
[43] whom, in order to win their good will, he would not allow to be
chained, and even winked at their carrying certain weapons. About
forty Spaniards embarked on the galley, and the galley itself was
accompanied by a few frigates and smaller vessels, in which private
individuals embarked. The governor sailed from the port of Cabit,
in the month of October, one thousand five hundred and ninety-three,
for the provinces of Pintados, where they were to join the fleet which
was awaiting them there, and to proceed to Maluco. In the afternoon of
the second day of the voyage, they reached the island of Caça, [44]
twenty-four leguas from Manila, and close to the coast of the same
island of Luzon, at a place called Punta del Açufre [Sulphur Point],
where there is a strong head wind. The galley tried to round this
point by rowing, but being unable to make any headway until the wind
should drop, they anchored and spread an awning, and stayed there that
night. Some of the vessels sailing with the galley went in closer to
the shore in sight of the galley, and awaited it there.
The governor and those who accompanied him passed the night playing
on the poop, until the end of the first watch. After the governor had
gone into his cabin to rest, the other Spaniards went also to their
quarters [45] for the same purpose, leaving the usual guards in the
midship gangway, and at the bow and stern. The Chinese rowers, who
had three days before that conspired to seize the galley whenever a
favorable opportunity presented itself--in order to avoid the labor
of rowing on this expedition, and their covetousness of the money,
jewels, and other articles of value aboard the vessel--thought that
they should not lose their opportunity. Having provided candles, and
white shirts with which to clothe themselves, and appointed chiefs
for its execution, they carried out their plan that same night, in
the last watch before dawn, when they perceived that the Spaniards
were asleep. At a signal which one of them gave they all at the same
time put on their shirts, lit their candles, and catan [46] in hand,
attacked the guards and the men who slept in the quarters [ballesteras]
and in the wales, and wounding and killing them, they seized the
galley. A few of the Spaniards escaped, some by swimming ashore,
others by means of the galley's tender, which was at the stern. When
the governor heard the noise from his cabin, thinking that the galley
was dragging and that the crew were lowering the awning and taking to
the oars, he hurried carelessly out bareheaded through the hatchway of
the cabin. Several Chinese were awaiting him there and split his head
with a catan. Thus wounded he fell down the stairs into his cabin, and
the two servants whom he kept there, carried him to his bed, where he
immediately died. The servants met the same fate from the stabs given
them through the hatch. The only surviving Spaniards in the galley
were Juan de Cuellar, the governor's secretary, and Father Montilla of
the Franciscan order, who were sleeping in the cabin amidships, and
who remained there without coming out; nor did the Chinese, thinking
that there were more Spaniards, dare to go in until next day, when
they took the two men out and later put them ashore on the coast of
Ylocos, in the same island of Luzon, in order that the natives might
allow them to take water on shore, which they badly needed.
Although the Spaniards who were in the other vessels, close to the
land, perceived the lights and heard the noise made in the galley
from their ships, they thought that some work was being done; and when
shortly afterward, they learned what was happening from those who had
escaped by swimming, they could render no assistance and kept still,
as everything was lost, and they were few and not in sufficient force
therefor. They waited for the morning, and when it began to dawn,
they saw that the galley had already set its bastard, and was sailing,
wind astern toward China, and they were unable to pursue it.
The galley sailed with a favorable wind all along the coast of
the island until leaving it. It took some water at Ylocos, where
the secretary and the religious were abandoned. The Chinese tried
to make for China, but not being able to fetch it, they ported in
the kingdom of Cochinchina, where the king of Tunquin seized their
cargo and two large pieces of artillery which were intended for the
expedition of Maluco, the royal standard, and all the jewels, money,
and articles of value; the galley he left to drift ashore, and the
Chinese dispersed and fled to different provinces. Governor Gomez Perez
met this unfortunate death, whereupon the expedition and enterprise
to Maluco, which the governor had undertaken, ceased also. Thus ended
his administration, after he had ruled somewhat more than three years.
Among other despatches which Gomez Perez Dasmariñas brought from España
there was an order from his Majesty which authorized him to appoint
the person whom he thought best to succeed him in case of death,
until such time as his Majesty should appoint his successor. He
showed this order to several of the most important persons of the
island, giving each one to understand that he would be appointed,
especially to Captain Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa, an inhabitant
of Pintados, a rich man of merit, and one of the first conquerors
of the land. To him the governor showed an appointment drawn in his
favor. He made use of the captain on all occasions and had him go with
himself to Maluco. The news of the seizure of the galley was soon
known in Manila. The citizens and soldiers that had remained there,
assembled at the house of Licentiate Pedro de Rojas, to discuss
advisable measures. First of all they elected the latter governor
and captain-general. Then they sent Captain Don Juan Ronquillo del
Castillo and other captains with two frigates (for there were no other
vessels) in pursuit of the galley, a fruitless attempt, for the galley
was nowhere to be seen. The new governor also sent a message to Don
Luis Dasmariñas and to the army and fleet who were awaiting Gomez
Perez in Pintados, informing him of the latter's death and of what
had happened, as well as of his own recent election to affairs of
government. He also ordered them to return with all speed to Manila,
for the city was left almost deserted, and without the necessary
precautions for any emergency.
The news caused great grief in the fleet. Don Luys Dasmariñas and
Captain Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa, each in his own heart, was
certain that he was to become governor, taking it for granted that
the governor had nominated him for the office. With this hope, both
of them with the best ships and crews of the fleet, set sail together
for Manila with the utmost speed.
Licentiate Pedro de Rojas, anxious about this provision, which the
governor would leave among his papers and drawers deposited in the
monastery of St. Augustine in Manila, in the possession of Fray Diego
Muñoz, prior and commissary of the Holy Office, made the effort to
gain possession of them. Although he seized some of them, he did not
find the said provision, for the prior had anticipated him and set
aside one of the drawers, in which the provision was supposed to be
found, to await Don Luys Dasmariñas's arrival in the city. Juan de
Cuellar, who had escaped from the galley, arrived from the province
of Ylocos, and testified that an appointment for the succession to the
governorship had been made by Gomez Perez, but he did not state whom;
or among what papers the nomination could be found. Thereupon the
licentiate Pedro de Rojas and those devoted to him became more anxious.
Forty days passed in this manner, at the end of which Don Luis
appeared in the bay near the city, accompanied by Estevan Rodriguez
and many men; and there he anchored, not choosing to enter the city,
or to disembark. He caused a search to be made for the papers kept
in St. Augustine, and among them was found the royal order and the
nomination of Don Luys Dasmariñas to succeed to the governorship. One
of his partisans announced the fact to the city magistrates, who,
changing their ideas, and notwithstanding some opposition from the
partisans of Licentiate Rojas, summoned Don Luys Dasmariñas to the
municipal house and placed him in possession of the government. The
same was done by the soldiers whom Don Luys had with him, and by the
fleet. Each day brought a new disappointment to Licentiate Rojas,
who returned to his office of lieutenant-assessor, after a rule of
forty days.
If the death of Governor Gomez Perez Dasmariñas was an unfortunate
event, both for the loss of his person and for the loss of a so good
opportunity for the conquest of Terrenate, when all were certain of
success, the return of the fleet and the arrival of the troops in
the city was none the less a fortunate event, for, not many days
after--having anticipated their usual time for the voyage--there
arrived in Manila many Chinese ships which carried many men and
little merchandise, and seven mandarins bearing the insignia of
their office. This gave sufficient motive for suspecting that they
had heard of the departure of the fleet for Maluco and of the city's
lack of defense, and that they had therefore come on this occasion
to try to seize the country. But they desisted from the attempt
when they found the city with more troops than ever. They returned
to China without showing any other particular motive for coming,
and without either side showing that their motives were understood;
except that Governor Don Luys was watchful and on his guard. He
took the proper measures, especially those concerning the Chinese,
and their settlement and Parián.
No ships went to Nueva España from the Filipinas that year, because
Governor Gomez Perez, before starting on the expedition to Maluco, had
sent there the vessels "San Felipe" and "San Francisco," both of which,
on account of heavy storms, had to put back, the "San Felipe" to the
port of Sebu and the "San Francisco" to Manila, and they were unable
to resail until the following year. It was suspected in Nueva España
that there were troubles in the islands because of the non-arrival
of the ships, and persons were not wanting to affirm more than had
really happened; nor was it possible at the same time--in the town
of Mexico--to ascertain whence the news had emanated. This was very
shortly known in España, by way of India, letters having been sent
to Venecia [Venice], through Persia; and immediately they set about
appointing a new governor.
In the first year of the government of Gomez Perez Dasmariñas, the need
of an Audiencia began to be felt by many, upon their seeing all the
power vested in one man, and that there was no one to whom they could
apply for remedy for certain cases. [47] He who felt this most keenly
was Bishop Fray Domingo de Salazar, who had had certain differences
and disputes with the governor, which obliged him to start for España,
notwithstanding his advanced age. The governor readily gave him leave
for that year, and a vessel for the voyage, in order to rid himself of
him; but at the same time and with full power from himself, he sent
Fray Francisco de Ortega of the Augustinian order to court, to meet
whatever the bishop might allege and to defend his side. Both reached
España, and each spoke as his interests demanded. The chief thing
insisted upon by the bishop was a request for the reëstablishment
of the Audiencia, and the foundation of other bishoprics in the
Filipinas, besides that of Manila, as well as other things which he
thought beneficial to the spiritual and temporal welfare. In all this
he was opposed by Ortega. But the authority and piety of the bishop
were of such weight, that, although at first the cause that made him,
at his advanced age, leave his church, and travel five thousand leguas
to España, seemed trivial, afterward he was favorably received by his
Majesty and the Council and all his petitions and propositions were
considered and discussed at length, and many consultations were held
with his Majesty, in order to have a decision passed upon them.
In the same year of ninety-three in which Gomez Perez died in the
Filipinas, the Council after consulting with his Majesty, resolved
that the office of lieutenant-assessor in judicial matters, which had
been filled by Licentiate Pedro de Roxas since the suppression of the
Audiencia, should be made more important than formerly in order to
facilitate matters; that the title of the office should thereafter be
that of lieutenant-general; and that in judicial matters the holder
of it should have authority to hear cases of appeal not exceeding
the value of one thousand Castilian ducados. Thereupon Licentiate
Pedro de Rojas was promoted to the office of alcalde of Mexico,
and Doctor Antonio de Morga was appointed by his Majesty to take the
latter's residencia, and to the office of lieutenant-general of the
Filipinas. In the course of his journey the latter arrived at Nueva
España in the beginning of the year ninety-four, and found that the
ships which, as abovesaid, had failed to come from the Filipinas,
had not arrived. Moreover the death of Gomez Perez, and the other
events that had occurred, were unknown until the arrival of Don Juan
de Velasco, in the month of November of the same year, in the galleon
"Sanctiago," which had been sent to the islands the year before by
Viceroy Don Luys de Velasco, with the necessary supplies. He brought
news of the governor's death and of the succession to the office by
the latter's son, Don Luys Dasmariñas. Men and fresh supplies for the
islands were prepared immediately and together with many passengers and
religious from España, Doctor Antonio de Morga embarked in the port of
Acapulco, in the galleons "San Felipe" and "Santiago," with everything
under his charge. He set sail March twenty-two of ninety-five, and
arrived under fair weather in the port of Cabit, June eleven of the
same year. He entered upon his office of lieutenant-general, and began
to occupy himself with his duties and the other matters in his charge.
While Don Luys Dasmariñas was governing, the suspicions and fear
of Xapon continued, which, together with the Chinese trouble, kept
the people in continual anxiety. The governor sent his cousin, Don
Fernando de Castro, with letters and despatches to the viceroy of
Canton and to that of Chincheo, where many of the Chinese who had
seized the galley and killed Governor Gomez Perez, were thought to
be found. Supposing that they had gone there with the galley, the
governor requested the Chinese authorities to deliver the culprits
for punishment, and to restore the royal standard, artillery, and
other things which had been seized. This was not obtained, for as
the galley had gone to Cochinchina, and the Chinese had dispersed in
so many directions, it could not be effected. However, after several
days, some of the guilty Chinese were brought from Malaca to Manila,
having been captured there by the chief captain, Francisco de Silva
de Meneses. From these men more accurate information was derived
concerning what had happened in the seizure of the galley and of the
governor's death, and justice was dealt them.