they did not hesitate in taking from the altars the silver for the
redemption and relief, which was the least danger to the faithful
Catholics. By this arrangement, the payment of his Majesty was reduced,
from whose royal magnificence has originated the rich adornment
of the churches. But the sacred vases which belong immediately to
divine worship were always reserved, as were also the chalices, cups,
and monstrances. In these circumstances, the archbishop voluntarily
delivered all his valuables and vases without reserving his pectoral
or anything else, in order to aid so far as he was concerned in the
ransom of the city, and in order that he might serve as an example,
so that his [MS. worn] might not excuse himself from contributing
voluntarily whatever was possible. And as it was not proper that, in
these public calamities, and of the despoliation of his own spouse,
the cathedral church, he should remain with adornment and should not
be deprived of everything; and although his said possessions were
not of any considerable importance, he had the consolation of not
reserving anything and of giving them up with good will. Of money in
cash he gave none, for he had none, nor, since he has been in these
islands, has he had any left from his pay and stipends, for he has
spent them all in the support of his household, on the poor, and
for the relief of many necessities, always grieving at not helping
them all, because excessive sums would have been required (as those
necessities were many and grave). For this same reason, by order of
the [English] commissary of artillery, the bells were taken down (as
spoils that belonged to them) from the churches of the city and its
environs. The archbishop, grieving over the loss of his charge, set
his mind on ransoming the bells of the cathedral and royal chapel,
but since he had not come to these islands with wealth to execute
it, he gave an order against his agent in Cadiz, ordering him to
pay the sum of five thousand pesos for which they were redeemed,
notwithstanding that a very small sum remained in the possession of
the said agent to comply with the order. But the great confidence
which assists him in the above-mentioned animated the archbishop.
31. Advised of the scattering of the Spaniards since the day of the
assault, and that they were going to the villages and mountain, where
they were in danger from the barbarians and the revolted natives
(as was experienced in many disasters, thefts, and murders), and
their families in other directions not any more secure, and others in
the city and its precincts, an order was issued for all to assemble
and come to live in the city with those who were there. That order
had little effect, for each one followed his own opinion and will,
and began to lose his obedience to his superior. This was aided not a
little by the example of those who by their employ and dignity ought
to have given a better example.
32. Better fruit was obtained in ecclesiastical matters (although
that not sufficient and advisable), for the prebendaries and some of
the secular clergy continued to assemble at the cathedral, and in the
convents of the regulars some religious remained. They were requested
and charged not to abandon their churches, and to endeavor to have
a suitable number of subjects for the continuance of divine worship,
and to be the relief and consolation of the faithful, and that they
might be able to attend to their necessities in the administration
of the sacraments.
33. Thus was it done for the most part, but it was not that which
was advisable and sufficient to meet other casualties, which the
superiors of the Society satisfied. He was the only provincial prelate
who remained living [in the city], together with that of St. John
of God, whose superiors and subjects complied perfectly with their
respective ministries. On account of this defect, or non-existence of
the superior, it appears that the persecution by the English of the
Augustinian fathers or their opposition to them had no reparation;
and although their provincial was indeed near Manila, his passage
to the city was prevented. [141] The other superiors, although not
provincials, met respectively what arose in their orders, but their
powers did not reach to the subjects outside [the city] nor did they
gain the respect of the English within. And the English qualifying
as having committed excesses those Augustinian religious and others,
who appeared before them, who were commanding the natives outside,
proceeded to imprisonments, exiles, and confiscations of property,
especially in the above-mentioned, taking possession of their church,
money, valuables, and everything else that they had. [142] It is
enough to have touched this point, for it would be most tedious to
set forth all its particulars in detail; and it does not belong to the
archbishop to qualify the facts, since each superior must give account
of them to the king, our sovereign, with the religious sincerity which
he professes, and to show their complaints with the same truth. But he
cannot restrain his wonder as to how the father visitor and the father
of this province of San Juan de Dios, the reverend Father Puga, [143]
a priest, with his community attended and attends to his institute,
sheltering and assisting so great a number of sick and poor amid
so great calamity and so many necessities, and who not having the
slight regular alms, does not fail at all to his sick, the religious
aiding them. This is properly a miracle of charity. The persecution
which this superior and community has suffered, from the one who has
taken command of the government is as painful as their patience is
praiseworthy and exemplary.
34. The destruction which was experienced in the suburbs of Manila
and in other more distant places, from robbery, murders, and other
execrable atrocities, obliged the archbishop to endeavor to restrain
the evildoers and insurgents by means of Don Josef Busto, a person of
spirit and of great experience in the land, with a company of men to
his satisfaction. He was ready to do it, but asked a suitable salary
after he had formed his account. [144] Thereupon, the archbishop
ordered that one of the citizens, who had not suffered from the sack
and was wealthy, to make ready two thousand pesos which would be placed
to his account and apportioned to the sum which was to be demanded from
him for the contribution of the millions; and that the senior auditor,
who exercised the office of auditor of war, would give the instructions
and powers necessary to said Busto for the above-mentioned end. But
both persons excused themselves most strongly, the above-mentioned
citizen with the frivolous remark that he had nothing which he could
supply, the auditor by saying that he was a prisoner of war, and a
mere assessor in these matters. The first was a bit of frivolity,
and the second a pretext, for when the governor is an ecclesiastic,
the auditor expedites and determines by himself criminal causes which
arise; and thus did it happen with the archbishop during the time
of the siege and before in like causes with the same auditor. But
since the reins of obedience and respect had already been broken,
and there were no forces to reduce them to their duty, like other
matters, this remained thus without the due remedy, and the disasters
continued through insolence and libertinage.
35. During this time also, Auditor Anda had declared himself
governor, captain-general, and royal Audiencia, and had despatched
messages [cordilleras] ordering himself to be so recognized in the
provinces. And he had ordered and commenced to cut off the provisions
in the two districts of Bulacan and Laguna whence they come to the
city. In these raids, happened the murders of natives and English
in the suburbs, and the latter were mutilated and treated with other
contempts suitable for barbarians. Other events had preceded with the
religious of Bulacan where Anda was, and the English chiefs of whom
it was spoken variously. The archbishop cannot speak with exactness,
as he does not know of those events, only that on one occasion,
posterior to that time, in which the Augustinian [145] fathers were
discussed before many, the archbishop alleged publicly in their
favor (led rather by his inclination to piety than by the judgment
which he had formed then of their guilt or innocence), as well as in
favor of all the religious who were present in their convents; for he
held several divine offices, and protected them so far as he could,
although he was unable to prevent the English from embarking and
sending nine of them in the English fragatas which went to Madrasta.
36. It appears that, on account of the said causes, and (as is
known) from other apprehensions or imaginations, the British leaders
proscribed the above-named auditor, and it was added that they had
offered a reward for his person. The auditors learning this, went to
the archbishop with this notice, and great fright; and for the time
being there were no means by which to assure their lives. But within a
short time a hasty message from the general to the archbishop, ordering
him to cause that auditor to appear, together with the alcalde-mayor of
Bulacan and other nearby alcaldes in order that, on the twenty-fifth
day of October, they might, together with the city and the military
men, take the oath of allegiance to his Britannic Majesty, and give
their word of honor not to take arms against his nation during the
war, and until the kings should agree or decide the fate of these
islands. The archbishop replied to this message that he was unable to
cause the appearance of Auditor Anda, since they had proscribed him,
which was equivalent to handing him over to death; and that so long as
Anda was not secure of his life he could not make him appear. In regard
to the alcalde of Bulacan and the others, he could as little cause
them to come, because in the lack of any one to govern and restrain
the natives, their disturbance and revolt would increase all the more.
37. In order that he might inform the auditors of this event, the
archbishop had them summoned, and with them, namely, the fiscal and
the senior auditor, he began to discuss what they ought to do in regard
to Auditor Anda. While they were conferring thus, Auditor Galban came
with the marquis of Monte Castro, who were with General Draper at the
time when my above-mentioned reply or message was given to him. He
sent them so that they might discuss and talk over this point with
the archbishop. They told him that he could rest assured of the life
of Anda, and the general answered the same through his envoy. The
conference lasted for more than three hours, with various commotions,
without the auditors caring to express their opinion, giving as an
excuse that the said general had told those above-mentioned that they
were all prisoners of war, with the exception of the archbishop. On
the night of said day, said ministers presented to the archbishop
a writing, leaving in his hands and judgment as the one to whom the
matter pertained, the appearance of said Anda.
38. But in order to meet this matter better, he had some of the
foremost military officers invited, to whom he told all that had
passed. They were of the opinion that he should cause the said Anda
to retire, under security of his life, for he was incurring a great
danger, and exposing the lives of many with his disturbances; and
to shut off the provisions carries the same risk. [They were all of
this opinion] except one military man, who asserted that if Bulacan
was a separate province and had a fort or bastion, Anda ought not to
be summoned, for then he could defend himself. But said province is
very near Manila, being separated therefrom by only a distance of
three or four hours, and it never had a bastion or fortress except
that which very lately was constructed by order of the said Anda,
and which the English demolished as will be told later.
39. In accordance with this opinion, the archbishop asked the
general for assurance of the life of the abovesaid, in writing,
and it was sent to him in the English language. The archbishop had
it translated into our language, and kept in his possession the
original paper. The above-mentioned copy was enclosed to him, and at
the bottom of it the archbishop assured him that it was a faithful
copy, and that he had had it copied into our language in order that
Anda might understand it. He gave Anda strict orders to appear,
but the latter replied discourteously with several absurdities,
which the archbishop answered by noting his rudeness, and stating
that he should have been addressed with the title of governor, and
of Anda's disrespect in judging him [i.e., the archbishop] to be
the secretary of the British. The archbishop also showed Anda other
errors which he suffered, and sent him the original paper of safety,
so that he might make use of it in the way that he pleased, and said
that he would make a charge before God and the king of his excesses.
40. From that time until the present Anda continued his orders
to prevent any food from being taken down to the city. But he has
never been able to succeed in more than that the price of food has
risen. He has not considered that the greater part of the garrison were
prisoners in the city with the archbishop, with their officers, two
togated ministers, and the officials of the royal treasury (except the
treasurer), and the majority of the persons composing both cabildos,
ecclesiastical and secular, various religious of all the communities,
a convent of nuns, the beateríos and schools of both sexes, and most
of the citizens of all classes and estates. He has not reflected
that his obstinacy in this measure in any event and in any manner in
which it might have any desired effect, resulted, before any injury to
the English, in that of all these vassals of the king, afflicted and
opposed by both parts. He has taken no account of the lack of success
that could be hoped for from such a project, as has been shown, as
he has not sufficient arms or disciplined men with which to oppose a
nation which, besides having the city garrisoned and that of Cavite,
and in both a good provision in the storehouses, dominated also the
sea with their boats, with which in case of necessity, they could
furnish provisions in plenty. [146]
41. This temerity has been the origin of many evils, which have
increased the misfortune of these inhabitants, both secular and
religious. They have been reduced to prison on various occasions,
with sufficient contempt, occasioning that, together with injury
to the natives, notable disturbances, disasters, fires, murders,
robberies, and rapines have been experienced through the same agents
and other evildoers. They have even been propagated through diverse
places and estates with the destruction of their fields and herds;
and, on the other side, the English irritated, not only have committed
in the vicinity of Manila, many annoyances, burning of villages and
buildings, and taking by force of arms (without resistance), all kinds
of grain and animals, food, and a very great number of buffaloes,
which were destined for the plough and the cultivation of the land,
but they have also penetrated into some provinces with very few men,
taking therefrom whatever they have wished, as they did in the month
of November in the village of Pasig, where especially the food of all
the Lake of Bay was gathered, and where trenches had been made in the
church and convent. With all kinds of arms they had been occupied
by ten thousand Indians, who were defeated at their first arrival
by five hundred English. About one thousand five hundred of both
sexes and all ages were killed, part of them with gun and cannon,
and part precipitated into and drowned in the river Pasig. From that
time a detachment of English troops remained in said village. [147]
For that reason the English have penetrated about all the lake and
through the province of Taal and Balayan, and have always brought
vast supplies of food for their troops and for the storehouses. All
these inhabitants always furnish them (for their money) with flesh,
wheat, and palay. In any other way they would have suffered many more
miseries. In the month of February, they did the same in Bulacan,
which was the province where the above-mentioned Anda had established
his fort in the church and convent. They advanced and forced his
trenches, where some Spaniards and religious were killed, and four
hundred Indians were put to the sword. The only difference was that in
this place they did not carry back provisions or fortify themselves,
but retired after demolishing the fortifications in the convent. They
have also made many extortions in other villages which they would
not have done had they not been provoked. [148]
42. All these injuries and many others, which are the necessary sequel
of them, the archbishop thought over from that beginning, [which had
been] without any fruit or advantage to our side, but, indeed, had,
on the contrary, the pernicious effects that experience has proved,
and which had already commenced to show themselves. Consequently,
he found it necessary to write to Anda again, mitigating with the
greatest mildness the ardor of his preceding letter, in order that
Anda might consider these calamities, and change direction, increasing
and arranging the terms of his commission as visitor of the land and
lieutenant of the captain-general. But there was no other answer to
this letter except notice of its receipt written on its envelope.
43. A like effect was obtained by the order that he gave in his letter
to the treasurer, ordering him to transfer to the city the money in
his care, in order that it might escape the theft which many evil
natives had attempted. They would have succeeded in one of their
most vigorous attacks, had not this disturbance been calmed by the
alcalde of Pagsanjan, the marquises of Villamediana and Monte Castro
being present. The latter were abused by three Franciscan religious,
who, armed, captained the Indians in order to get possession of the
treasury. In order to avoid this danger and the loss of this money,
the archbishop had conferred with the generals, saying that he would
hand it over to them on condition that it be reckoned as a part of
the millions demanded, and that they supply him with the pay for the
ministers, officers, troops, and others whose support depended on his
Majesty. The relief of the community would also follow the exhibition
of this treasury, and would lessen the payment of his Majesty. Nothing
sufficed to make the treasurer Echauz obey. He went to Pampanga with
the treasury, which he placed at the disposition of Auditor Anda,
who began to use it recently for the expenses which he believed
advisable or necessary, according to his projects.
44. To the question of the British, which was urgently put to him,
in regard to the royal treasury and possessions, the archbishop
responded briefly and truly, showing them that the king, his master,
had no temporal interest in these islands, but only that strictly of
the souls of his vassals, and the causing them to live as civilized
beings and Christians, according to the Catholic law for their
salvation; and that in order to maintain them with his ecclesiastical
and secular ministers, he spent the tributes which were collected with
so great right, and the two departments only of buyo and wine. In this
regard he distributed very large sums annually from the treasury of
Mexico. In no other manner could these islands subsist.
45. The city, orders, and Spaniards having been summoned to the royal
palace, in order to express their loyalty and not to take arms against
his Britannic Majesty, before his generals, an act in which their
loyalty and love to his Catholic Majesty, their legitimate king, shone
forth brightly, through the unwillingness, sadness, and repugnance,
with which it was celebrated. Slightly before as well and separately
was given the word of honor not to take arms during the war or until
another arrangement was made by the sovereigns (in a certain Latin
form, and which necessarily contained nothing of vassalage to his
Britannic Majesty), by the archbishop, auditors, and royal officials
present. The polite representation of the archbishop to the generals
in the said house where they were lodging, namely, the archiepiscopal,
enabled them [i.e., the above officials] to gain exemption from mixing
with the others, or in their formula [of loyalty or allegiance to
the British sovereign].
46. Thence, at their instance, they [i.e., the cabildo, religious,
and Spaniards] were conducted to the royal palace, and in the presence
of so numerous a gathering, a paper was read, in which the archbishop
was reproved as one who robbed from the churches, the sum to which
their silver amounted, and that of the pious funds already delivered
and received; and that in regard to this, that silver would soon
complete a million. And now he was about to surrender the forces
and islands dependent on Manila. By that paper the heart of the
archbishop was wounded as if by a double-edged sword. On two points
he was unable to restrain his wrath, and he uttered in the presence
of the two generals the words that his zeal dictated to him, namely,
that the instance and threat of the victors had been necessary for
the withdrawal of the abovesaid silver, and there were no other
resources near at hand. He does not rob, who makes use, in extreme
need, of the most sacred thing, which is destined in such cases most
suitably to the living temples of God, namely, His faithful. But he
cannot clear himself from this sacrilegious crime, who causes it by
violence, and who willingly and eagerly receives its effects, and
whatever is left over and above them. In regard to the second point,
that meant to attempt another act of violence quite contrary to the
day and to the act which was being celebrated on it to the honor and
memory of the birthday of his Britannic Majesty, whose protection
he implored, so that such a matter might not be discussed on such
a day. And the archbishop insisted that he would sacrifice his life
for his faithfulness to his king, and for his honor, which would be
vindicated by his Catholic Majesty, his sovereign.
47. With this expression of anger, the archbishop retired to his room,
where the above-mentioned paper was sent him. In order to deliberate on
its contents, he had a general council summoned for next day, October
26, consisting of the ministers, the chief military men, and the city
and ecclesiastical [cabildos]. In a few words the archbishop explained
to the council the arguments pro and con regarding the cession of the
islands. Since he gave all his attention and time to this, he ordered
a council of those interested to discuss, with the assistance of the
fiscal, and under the presidency of the senior auditor, the matter
of the completion of the million. The result of that discussion will
be stated later.