of Suffolke." His fleet, consisting of three vessels, "The Desire,"
of 120 tons, "The Content," of 60 tons, and "Hugh Gallant," of 40 tons,
left Plymouth July 21, 1586, with one hundred and twenty-three men in
all, and provisions for two years. Steering a general southwest course
they reached the Strait of Magellan January 6, 1587. In the strait they
found the melancholy remains of a Spanish colony started three years
before--Twenty-three people out of the four hundred settlers, two of
whom were women. One named Hernando they took with them. This place
the Englishmen appropriately named Port Famine. Shortly after leaving
the strait they found at an Indian settlement, under the Spanish,
some "guinie wheat, which is called Maiz." The first capture was
May 1--a boat of three hundred tons from Guaianel laden with timber
and food. Prizes after that were thick and fast, and the vessels
were generally burned after being despoiled of valuables. On July 9,
near the coast of New Spain, a ship of one hundred and twenty tons was
taken, from one of the crew of which, Michael Sancius from Marseilles,
they first heard of "the great shippe called The Santa Anna, vvhich
vve aftervvard tooke comming from the Philippinas." After coasting
along New Spain and California committing various depredations,
among them the defacing of the Spanish churches, and various other
piratical deeds, they met on the fourth of November with the "Santa
Ana." They pursued it for three or four hours and finally overtaking
fought with and captured it. The fight is described as follows:
"In the afternoone we gat vp vnto them, giuing them the broad side
with our great ordnance, and a volee of small shot, and presently
laid the ship aboord, whereof the King of Spaine was owner, which was
Admirall of the South-sea, called the S. Anna, and thought to be seuen
hundred tvnnes in burthen. Now as we were readie on their ships side
to enter her, beeing not past fiftie or sixty men at the vttermost
in our ship, we perceived that the Captain of the said ship had made
fights fore and after, and laid their sailes close on their poope,
their mid-ship, with their fore-castle, and hauing not one man to
be seene, stood close vnder their fights, with Lances, Iauelings,
Rapiers and Targets, and an innumerable sort of great stones, which
they threw ouer boord vpon our heads, and into our ship so fast,
and beeing so many of them, that they put vs off the shippe againe,
with the losse of two of our men which were slaine, and with the
hurting of foure or fiue. But for all this we new trimmed our sailes,
and fitted euery man his furniture, and gaue them a fresh incounter
with our great Ordnance, and also with our small shot, raking them
thorough and thorough, to the killing and maiming of many of their
men. Their Captaine still like a valiant man with his companie, stood
very stoutly vnto his close fights, not yeelding as yet. Our General
incouraging his men afresh with the whole noyse of trumpets, gaue them
the third encounter with our great Ordnance, and all our small shot to
the great discomforting of our enemies, raking them through in diuerse
places, killing and spoyling many. They beeing thus discomforted,
and their shippe beeing in hazard of sinking by reason of the great
shot which were made, whereof some were vnder water, within fiue or
sixe houres fight, set out a flagge of truce, and parled for mercie,
desiring our Generall to saue their liues, and to take their goods,
and that they would presently yeeld. Our Generall promised them
mercy, and willed them to strike their sayles, and to hoyse out their
boat, & to come aboord: which newes they were full glad to heare,
and presently stroke their sailes, hoysed their boat out, and one of
their chiefe marchants came aboord vnto our Generall: and falling downe
vpon his knees, offered to haue kissed his feete, and craued mercie:
the Captaine and their Pilote, at their comming vsed the like duetie
and reuerence as the former did. The Generall promised their liues and
good vsage. They declared what goods they had within boord, to wit,
an hundreth and two and twenty thousand pezos of gold: and the rest
of the riches that the ship was laden with, was in Silkes, Sattens,
Damasks, with Muske and diuers other marchandize, and great store
of all manner of victualls, with the choice of many conserues of all
sorts for to eate, and of sundry sorts of very good wines. These things
beeing made knowne, they were commanded to stay aboord the Desire,
and on the sixt day of Nouember following, we went into an harbour,
which is called by the Spaniards, Aguada Segura, or Puerto Seguro."
During the division of the booty, a mutiny broke out, especially in
the ship "Content," but was quelled. The Spaniards, to the number
of one hundred and ninety men and women, were set ashore. Ammunition
and arms were left them, and the English departed: taking with them
however from the Spanish boat two clever young Japanese, three boys
born in Manila, a Portuguese, and one Thomas de Ersola, a pilot from
Acapulco. The "Santa Ana" was burned on the nineteenth of November,
and the English turned toward home. That same night the "Content"
vanished and was seen no more. January 3, 1588, the Ladrones were
reached. They had the experiences with the natives that are so often
described by the Spaniards, iron being the usual article bartered
by the English. The natives are described as "of a tawny colour, and
maruellous fat, and bigger ordinarily of stature then the most part of
our men in England, wearing their haire maruellous long: yet some of
them haue it made vp, and tyed with a knot on the Crowne and some with
two knots, much like vnto their Images which we faw carued in wood,
and standing in the head of their boats, like vnto the Images of the
deuill." January 14, they reached the Philippines at Cabo del Santo
Espiritu, "which is of very great bignesse and length .... and it is
short of the chiefest Island of the Philippinas called Manilla, about
sixtie leagues. Manilla is vvel planted and inhabited with Spaniards,
to the number of sixe or seuen hundred persons: vvhich dvvell in
a tovvne vnvvalled, which hath three or foure Blocke-houses, part
made of vvood, and part of stone, being indeed of no great strength:
they haue one or tvvo small Gallies belonging to the Tovvne. It is
a very rich place of Gold, and many other commodities; and they haue
yeerely traffique from Alcapulco in Nueva Espanna, and also twenty or
thirtie shippes from China, and from the Sanguelos, which bring them
many sorts of marchandize. They bring great store of gold vvith them,
vvhich they traffique and exchange for siluer, and give vveight for
vveight. These Sanguelos are men of maruellous capacity, in deuising
and making all manner of things, especially in all handiecrafts
and sciences: and euery one is so expert, perfect, and skilfull in
his facultie, as fevv or no Christians are able to go beyond them
in that vvhich they take in hand. For drawing and imbroidering vpon
Satten, Silke, or Lavvne, either beast, fovvle, fish, or vvorme, for
liuelinesse and perfectnesse, both in Silke, Siluer, Gold, and Pearle,
they excell. Also the fourteenth day at night we entred the Straits
between the Island of Luçon, and the Island of Camlaia." The natives
imagining them Spaniards willingly traded their food with them. At
an anchorage Thomas Ersola, the Spanish pilot, was hanged for trying
to inform the Spanish of the English. The following on the customs
of the inhabitants as seen at the island of Capul is interesting,
and accords, with slight differences, with the Spanish records:
"We roade for the space of nine dayes, about this Island of Capul,
where we had diuerse kinds of fresh victualls, with excellent fresh
water in euery bay, and great store of wood. The people of this
Island go almost all naked, and are tawny of colour. The men weare
onely a stroope about their wastes, of some kind of linnen of their
owne weauing, which is made of Plantan-leaues, and another stroope
comming from their backe vnder their twistes, Which couereth their
priuy parts, and is made fast to their girdles at their nauels;
which is this. Euery man and manchild among them, hath a nayle of
Tynne thrust quite through the head of his priuie part, being split
in the lower ende, and riuetted, and on the head of the nayle is as
it were a Crowne: which is driuen through their priuities when they
be yong, and the place groweth vp ag tine [sic], without any great
paine to the child: and they take this nayle out and in as occasion
serueth; and for the truth thereof, we our selues haue taken one of
these nayles from a Sonne of one of the Kings, which was of the age
of tenne yeeres, who did weare the same in his priuy member. This
custome was granted at the request of the women of the Country,
who finding their men to be giuen to the fovvle sinne of Sodomie,
desired fome remedie against that mischiefe, and obtained this before
named of the Magistrates. Moreouer all the males are circumcised,
hauing the fore skinne of their flesh cut avvay. These people vvholly
vvorshippe the Deuill, and oftentimes haue conference vvith him,
vvhich appeareth vnto them in moft vgly and monstrous shape."
In this island Candish, or Cavendish, announced their nationality
to the natives--whom he had made pay tribute in "Hogges, Hennes,
Potatoes, and Cocos"--and their hostility to the Spaniards. The
natives promised "both themselues and all the Islands thereabout,
to ayde him, whensoeuer hee should come againe to ouercome the
Spaniards." Their tribute money was returned to them in token of
the Englishmen's hostility to the Spaniards. January 24 the English
coasted along Luzón, and ran northwest between that island and Masbat.
"The eight and twentieth day, in the morning about seuen of the clocke,
riding at an anchor betwixt two Islands, wee espyed a Frigat vnder
her two Coarses, comming out betweene two other Islands, which (as wee
imagined) came from Manilla, sayling close aboord the shore, along the
maine Island of Panama. Here wee rode at anchor all that night, and
perceiued that certaine Spaniards (which came from Manilla to Ragaun,
to fetch a new shippe of the Kings, there builded) had disperfed their
Band into two or three parts, and kept great Watch in seuerall steedes,
with Fires, and shooting off their Pieces. This Island hath much plaine
Ground in it, in many places, and many faire and straight Trees doe
grow vpon it, fit for to make excellent good Masts for all sorts of
shippes. There are also Mynes of very fine Gold in it, which are in the
custodie of the Indians. And to the South-ward of this place, there
is another very great Island, which is not subdued by the Spaniards,
nor any other Nation. The people which inhabit it, are all Negros,
and the Island is called the Island of Negros; and is almost as bigge
as England, standing in nine degrees: The most part of it seemeth to
be very lowe Land, and by all likelyhood is very fruitfull.
"The nine and twentieth day of January, about six of the clocke in the
morning wee set sayle, sending our Boat before, vntill it was two of
the clocke in the afternoone, passing all this time as it were through
a Strait, betwixt the laid two Islands of Panama, and the Island of
Negros; and about sixteene Leagues off, wee espyed a faire opening,
trending South-west and by South: at which time our Boat came aboord,
and our Generall sent commendations to the Spanish Captaine, which
wee came from the Euening before, by a Spaniard which wee had taken,
and willed him to provide a good store of Gold; for hee meant for to
see him with his company at Manilla within few yeeres; and that hee
did but want a bigger Boat to haue landed his men; or else hee would
haue seene him then; and so caused him to be let on shore."
Thence the expedition passed through the Moluccas. At one of the
islands where they reprovisioned two Portuguese came to inquire of
"Don Antonio their King, then in England." These Portuguese declared
"that if their King Don Antonio, would come vnto them, they would
warrant him to haue all the Malucos at commandment, besides China,
Sangles, and the Isles of the Philippinas, and that he might be assured
to have all the Indians on his side that are in the countrey." The
sixteenth of May the Cape of Good Hope was sighted. August 23,
the Azores Islands hove in sight, and on September 9, they put into
Plymouth. A letter from the commander contains the following:
"The matter of most profit vnto me, was a great ship of the Kings
vvhich I tooke at California, vvhich ship came from the Philippinas,
beeing one of the richest of merchandize that euer passed those
Seas, as the Kings Register and marchants accounts did shew: for
it did amount in value to * in Mexico to be sold. Which goods (for
that my Ships vvere not able to containe the least part of them)
I vvas inforced to set on fire. From the Cape of California, being
the vthermost part of all Nueua Espanna, I nauigated to the Islands
of the Philippinas, hard vpon the Coast of China; of which Countrey
I haue brought such intelligence as hath not been heard of in these
parts. The statlinesse and riches of vvhich Countrey I feare to make
report of, least I should not be credited: for if I had not knovvn
sufficiently the incomparable vvealth of that Countrey, I should
haue beene as incredulous thereof, as others vvill be rhat [sic]
haue not had the like experience." [166]
APPENDIX B: EARLY YEARS OF THE DUTCH IN THE EAST INDIES
The voyages of the Dutch into the East Indies had important results for
both Spain and Portugal. While they concerned themselves principally
with Java and the islands of the Moluccas, they made incursions among
the Philippines, where they were a constant menace for many years. The
first two expeditions--that of Houtman, June 11, 1596-August 14,
1597; and that of van Neck and van Warwyck, May 1, 1598-May 30,
1600--did little but establish the custom and make beginnings in
the East India trade. The first was concerned mainly with Java, but
the second entered (with four of its eight vessels) the Moluccas,
and brought back a load of cloves. These two expeditions also marked
the beginning of troubles with the Portuguese and natives. They were
both by way of the Cape of Good Hope.
VOYAGE OF OLIVER VAN NOORDT
The first voyage of great importance was that of Oliver van
Noordt. In 1598 a commercial company contracted with him to conduct
five vessels through the Strait of Magellan for traffic on South
American coasts. This fleet sailed on September 13, 1598, going
first to Plymouth, England, where an English pilot, who had been with
Candish on his expedition, was engaged. After various fortunes along
the eastern South American coasts, during which about one hundred
men were lost, the fleet entered the Strait of Magellan November 5,
1599. Contentions between van Noordt and his vice-admiral resulted
in the latter's being marooned, and the elevation to his place of
Captain Pierre de Lint, while Lambert Biesman was made captain of
the "Concordia." The vice-admiral and his ship were lost on March 14,
1600, which with other losses, reduced the fleet to but two vessels. On
debouching from the strait the fleet cruised along the Chilean coast,
alternately trading and committing depredations, and seizing prizes,
and finally determined to go to the Philippines by way of the
Ladrones. On September 15, the latter islands were sighted. There
they met the same experience as the Spaniards from the thievishness
of the natives. "These people, both men and women, seem amphibious,
and to be able to live on water as well as on the land, so well do
they swim and dive. Five pieces of iron were thrown into the sea to
them for the pleasure of seeing them exercise themselves. One of them
was skilful enough to get all five of them, and in so short a time
that one can regard it as marvelous.... Their canoes are so well
made ... and are fifteen or twenty feet long. They are quite roomy
and good sailers. They do not turn about to tack, but place the helm
in what was the bow, and leave the sail, which is made of reed mats
and resembles a mizzen-sail, in its same position without changing
it." Thence the route to the Philippines was continued. "They are
called also the Manillas, from the name of the chief port, and the
city built by the Spaniards.
"Some call them the islands of Luçon, because their chief
island is so named. It is said to be quite one hundred leagues in
circumference. There is located the city of Manille or Manilhe, the
capital of all these islands. They were formerly part of the crown
of China, which abandoned them for some slight pretext. After that
their laws and civilization were so poorly observed that they seemed
deadened when the Spaniards landed there. In fact, the inhabitants
there lived like beasts. Each one enslaved his neighbor, if he could,
and their chief occupation was mutual oppression.
"Such a nature gave the Spaniards great facility in subduing them,
which was rendered greater, since these people were simple and very
stupid. As soon as one mentioned baptism to them, they ran to get it
in droves, and became Christians to the extent desired. However the
Ilocos and others, too, who are called Pintados did not cease to give
trouble to their new masters.
"All these islands are densely populated and produce abundance of rice
and wine made from nypa. Deer, buffaloes, bulls, cows, swine, goats,
and other live-stock are found, although formerly they had none. But
now the care exercised by the Spaniards has made them so abundant,
that they yield in no way to Nouvelle Espagne.
"There are also many civet-cats, and all sorts of fruit as in
China. They yield considerable quantities of honey and wax. They
even have gold, but although the islanders pay their tribute to the
Spaniards in gold, the latter have not as yet--that is in the year
1600--been able to ascertain where they get it, notwithstanding their
efforts. They are commencing to sow wheat there. Flour was formerly
brought from Japon. The islands also supplied quantities of ebony
and bamboo.
"The Chinese engage extensively in trade there. They take all kinds
of merchandise there from China, namely, silks, cottons, china-ware,
gunpowder, sulphur, iron, steel, quicksilver, copper, flour, walnuts,
chestnuts, biscuits, dates, all sorts of stuffs, writing-desks,
and other curiosities.
"The Spaniards load all this merchandise in Manila and export it
to Nouvelle Espagne, whence more than one and one-half millions of
silver in money and in bars is taken annually to the Philippines. This
silver is exchanged for gold, giving four livres of silver for one
of gold. But this traffic is not extensive, since there is enough
gold in Pérou and Chili. They prefer to traffic with the Chinese,
for their returns reach one thousand per cent.
"The city of Manille is located in fourteen degrees of north
latitude. There is situated the residence of the Spanish governor,
who rules all the islands. The archbishop also lives there. He has
supreme authority in the ecclesiastical affairs of all the same
islands, where there are also three bishops suffragan to himself."
On October 14, 1600, the Dutch sighted the cape of Espiritu
Santo, whence they steered toward Manila. On the sixteenth
their first encounter with the Spanish in the islands occurred,
but the Dutch reassured the latter by flying a Spanish pennant,
and declaring themselves to be French commissioned by the Spanish
monarch. Consequently they were allowed to buy provisions freely,
in return for which the natives demanded money.
"The majority of these Indians were naked. Some wore a cloth
garment, while some were even clad like Spaniards. The chiefs, who
belong to the former race of commanders of the country, and who yet
remember that fact, have their skin cut or pricked very skilfully
and singularly. These cuts or pricks have been made with iron and
never fade.
"Besides this is a wretched race, who have no weapons, so that the
Spaniards tyrannize over them at will. They make them pay a tribute
of three reals [sic], that is, a trifle less than three Dutch florins,
per head, all men or women above twenty years.
"There are very few Spaniards in each district. They have a priest,
whom the inhabitants of the place revere greatly, so much so that
only lack of priests prevents them from holding all these islands
in servitude; for even in places where there are neither priests nor
Spaniards they have made the people pay tribute."
The Spaniards at last became suspicious of the strangers and
demanded to see their commission, upon which the one given by the
prince of Orange was produced, whereat great consternation reigned,
and the Dutch were forbidden more provisions. The latter continuing
their course entered the Manila strait on October 24, anchoring near
Capul. On landing near here, one of the crew, Jean Caleway [i.e., John
Calleway], an Englishman, and a musician, was somehow left behind,
and it was conjectured that the natives had seized him. November 1,
the vessels left Capul for Manila, sailing among the various islands,
and committing some depredations on Spanish, native, and Chinese
vessels. From a Chinese pilot, van Noordt gained certain information
concerning Manila.
"The houses of the city of Manila are built close together. The city is
surrounded by a rampart supported by a wall. More than fifteen thousand
Chinese live outside its walls. They engage in their business together,
and are given to various industries. In addition more than four hundred
vessels go there annually from China, from the city and province of
Chincheo, laden with silks and all sorts of merchandise. They take back
silver money in return. They come at a certain fixed time, namely,
after the month of December or between Christmas and Easter. At the
beginning of this present month of November ... two Japanese vessels
also generally sail to Manila, laden with iron, flour, bacon, and
other food....
"The walls of the city of Manila and the houses are built of stone, in
the modern fashion. It is so large and extensive that the Spaniards
have had a second wall built inside the city of less size than
the first, within which to retire in case of need.... It was made
especially in consideration of the Japanese, of whom the Spaniards
are very suspicious.
"The governor of all the islands, who resembles a viceroy, lives in
Manille, as does also the archbishop. Besides the cathedral there are
several other beautiful churches. All the inhabitants of these islands
are either Christians or pagans. As for the Moros or Mahometans,
they have all been exterminated."
The Dutch continued their depredations, and sent a letter by an
Indian to the governor, notifying him that they were going to visit
him. Biesman was sent on a scouting expedition, from which he finally
returned, after having been considered lost by some of the Dutch.
"The island of Manille, called Luçon by its inhabitants, is larger
than England and Scotland together. [167] There are other various
islands about it, also very large."
From a Japanese vessel some provisions were obtained, and the vessel
was allowed to continue its course to Manila. The depredations of
the Dutch were called to a sudden halt by the two Spanish vessels
sent out under Dr. Morga on the fourteenth of December, 1600, when
ensued the fight described in Morga. [168] Van Noordt inspired his
men with new courage by threatening to blow up the vessel unless they
fought more bravely. The Dutch found "a little silver box containing
little tickets filled with prayers and devotions to various saints,
to obtain their protection in times of peril," on the dead body of a
Spaniard. "The two Spanish vessels had about five hundred men, both
Spaniards and Indians, and ten pieces of cannon." The Dutch flagship
finally returned to Holland by way of Borneo, and Cape of Good Hope,
reaching Rotterdam August 26, 1601. [169]
* * * * *