orders to his castellan of Cavite to go in a fragata to Palapa. In
fact the latter did so, and through a citizen, who was selected
by the merchant body, the order was given from the beginning for
the commander of the "Philipino" to bring the silver or deliver it;
so that, having reduced the amount which was lacking to complete the
millions, the remainder might be delivered to the Spaniards interested
and sent to its destination. Already it was more than probable by
this time that the silver of the said ship was placed in safety;
and the above-mentioned castellan, who went to Palapa, found that
it was so. He found the said ship without any crew or any cargo; and
notwithstanding some investigations which he made to get the silver,
he ordered the "Philipino" to be set afire and returned to Manila
without having obtained anything else than having made his efforts
in vain. [160] But he did not cease to make all efforts ashore and
by sea in small boats to get the silver, but the same result followed
of not obtaining any success.
67. Before these incidents, by others which intervened through the
withdrawal of some Spaniards and officers, notwithstanding their oath
and word of honor, the English caused to enter into the city those
who were suspected, among them being the two ministers who were the
only ones outside the walls, Don Francisco Viana and Don Francisco
Billacorta. The latter effected his entrance into the city on receipt
of the message; and the former his retirement to Pampanga at the
end of January. Auditor Villacorta entered and left the city freely,
but had the heedlessness [to write] certain letters to Auditor Anda,
and the misfortune to have them intercepted. It resulted therefrom
that he was seized and in a very short time he was considered by a
council of war, which sentenced him to the list punishment. [161]
68. Almost at the same time the rumor spread abroad of the offensive
and defensive alliance of the British government with the king of
Jolo. In consideration of the treaty which that sultan had a few months
previously celebrated in favor of his Majesty and the Spanish nation,
and of the irreparable injuries that would result to these islands
from the newly-contracted alliance, the archbishop had recourse by
a very strong and expressive letter to said government, laying upon
it all the responsibility in regard to said alliance. However, he
resisted strongly for the reason which he expresses in his reply. But
this alliance has reached such a point that the government has sent
Prince Ysrael, son of the said sultan, to Jolo; and then tried to
get the archbishop to give him a letter for the surrender of Zebù and
other islands, [162] but its petitions and exigencies to obtain said
letter were unsuccessful. The archbishop refused to give it for the
reasons which are expressed in his letters to the British government
on this matter. So far has the archbishop been from giving letters
for the surrender of the islands, that he refused and resisted what
was petitioned from him in instances and even by threats a long time
after the cession had passed.
69. The archbishop excused no effort in the so serious matter of the
cause of Auditor Villacorta, by message, visits, and letter, but all
he could obtain was the suspension of his execution. The British
conceded that on condition that the defendant himself, the father
provincial of the Society, and the archbishop write to Auditor Anda,
ordering him to suspend hostilities, and not to prevent the entrance
of food. I have no doubt that the two letters were couched in good
terms. That of the archbishop was dated March 21, [and was written]
with the care and attention that it expresses. These letters were
given to the British who sent them by the most reverend Father Sierra,
a Dominican, who brought back the answers and placed them in the hands
of said British government. The latter, after a few days, sent his
to the archbishop opened, after having made a copy of it, which was
translated into the English language. Consequently, it was necessary
for the archbishop to demand that the said copy be destroyed, as it
touched and blackened his honor. [163] But the British government
did not comply with this request, and only promised not to let it
out of its possession, except to its superiors. Already the contents
of said letter had been divulged among the Spaniards and English,
a fact that deeply penetrated the heart of the archbishop, for its
style and its contents, alone ought to be buried in profound silence.
70. This letter, of which a rare copy will be found in the histories,
is handed in to the royal hand and most just comprehension of his
Majesty under other covers. The same diligence is practiced in another
letter of the fiscal with his diary and manifesto, all written in the
same ink and formed almost with the same pen as the above-mentioned
letter of the other minister. Both of them have not been ashamed of
staining their pens with blood against the laws of decency, truth,
justice, and charity, to the offense of God, of their oath of obedience
to the laws of the Indias, and in contempt of the archiepiscopal
dignity, and of the archbishop's representation in these islands
of the royal person of his Majesty. By their example they fermented
the people, who have become scattered and corrupted with scandals,
murmurings, disgust, and spite against their own prelate, pastor
and father.
71. This impudence in the village, and almost universal among all
classes of persons and estates, with the exception of some few of
reason and judgment, is the fire that has deeply penetrated the feeling
and pierced the heart of the archbishop. He maintained himself and
still maintains himself firmly in the face of his enemies, in order
that he might attend to the conflicts and needs of the said village
and of our peoples, and not deprive the city and the many persons of
both sexes who have found it impossible to leave it, of shelter; to
attend, at the same time, to the protection of the churches as well
as possible; and to see that the holy religion and divine worship
are encouraged without commencing to grow weak in the capital. He
has succeeded in doing this in the greater part through the divine
Mercy; and to so great a degree have Church functions and all the
ecclesiastical ministers succeeded for the welfare of the faithful,
that edification and not a little wonder is caused by the fact that
the faith and worship of our Lord Jesus Christ are seen to shine
forth in the midst of so many hardships, conflicts, and necessities.
72. In this the royal favor and protection of the king, our sovereign,
has the greatest and best share. The ecclesiastical cabildo and its
ministers, the girls' school of Santa Potenciana, the troops which
were left, the invalid and sick officers in the hospital of San Juan
de Dios, the archbishop and his household, and many others who are
aided by the king's pay, have been able to be maintained through his
generous pity. With all this was concerned the provision which the
archbishop enacted with the British governor in regard to the supply
of the pay which he has administered without fail. In the regulation
of them, the distribution has been made according to the circumstances
of the persons and of the time, with the economy which has appeared
advisable. Of the amount of these salaries, he has given and will
give the orders against his Majesty's treasury, on whom depends
the subsistence of the above-mentioned vassals who have only lived
and been able to support themselves with these aids of his Majesty,
without having any other help so far as the human is concerned.
73. But in order that no thorn might be wanting to the archbishop to
pierce him in regard to this same so favorable and equitable provision,
since he assigned therein only half pay to the wearers of the toga
(in consideration of the fact that if they moderated themselves under
the present circumstances, it appeared sufficient, as they no longer
respected his Majesty, reserving for the latter's justification, the
payment of the other half for an opportune time), they were very angry,
and made an outcry against the archbishop in a most impudent letter,
in which they retorted but without foundation and with a vicious
comprehension, that the archbishop was applying to himself more than
half pay, although he took only the half which belongs to him as
governor, and nothing more, not even any stipend as archbishop. But
said ministers requested, and it was given them in its entirety or as
a reward until October five, without them having been willing in the
future to accept the half pay which was assigned to them under the
above-mentioned reasons; and although their right remained safe to
them at all times, it would have demonstrated that they would have
been insufficient had the archbishop changed his provision. But it
was shown that one-half the pay was quite sufficient for a minister
to maintain himself with moderation and economy, as was proved in
the case of Don Pedro Calderon, who arrived at this capital with the
captured ship "Trinidad," and who requested that he be furnished
with half pay under bond. It was conceded to him in this manner,
and he supported himself, daughter, and household with it.
74. Notwithstanding so many contradictions, conflicts, accidents,
and enemies, on all sides which have undermined the robust health
of the archbishop, placing him in the extremity of dying, he has
been experiencing the most special providence of the Most High. Not
without astonishment do they see him with life and that he has been
able to attend to the conflicts of all and to the continuous attacks
which pressed on him constantly from all sides. There has not been
any Spaniard or native, or people of these, or any religious, who
have been in prison, or experienced hardship, or necessity, whom he
has not helped or protected with the offices of charity, mediation,
and petition with the English, from whom he has many times obtained
either the protection or justice which has been fitting. Consequently,
he has encountered the enemy for all this class of people, even with
danger to the respect of his dignity and of his person. Individual
mention of the cases and persons would be infinite; and much appears
in his letters to the English on various matters. But the gratitude
that has been his due is that of a people made peevish by the wicked
leaven of the examples and inducements of persons, who by their rank
and post, special honor, and greater obligation, and because of being
singularly benefited by the archbishop, ought to be quite other, and,
at least, without the abandon of the fear of God and Christian charity.
75. The inevitable situation in which the archbishop finds himself,
because of being in front of the enemy and in their presence, in order
to attend to the various grievous casualties which frequently occur
would become more tolerable to him, if he did not experience from his
own people and from the one who commands them, and from those whom they
incite for the latter, that they have vomited forth their fury against
his person. It seems incredible, but it is a fact, that the wrath and
imprudent acts of the abovesaid who have soullessly trampled on his
dignity have cost him more pangs than the presence of the enemy, who
have respected him, although they have caused him great mortification.
76. From this fatal experience it comes, that the situado and wealth
of the "Philipino" having been assured as abovesaid; and adding that
in the same security, in which it is considered, it runs great danger
from the very ones who are guarding it, and from other evildoers:
the archbishop does not dare to ask for it for the help and pay of
those who are supported in the city at the expense of his Majesty,
but continues to ask and receive that help and pay from the British
government, by which the royal treasury is doubly burdened. This
treasure has as yet escaped the hand of the English, but it has fallen
into so many that it is difficult for it to come into the hands of
those interested; for besides its great danger, it is asserted that
the expenses of its conduction, which is not finished as yet as far
as Pampanga, exceed one hundred and twenty [pesos] to the thousand,
while the pay which is distributed with free hand and other expenses
are in excess of thirty thousand pesos per month, as the archbishop
has been assured.
77. It is true that there would be no little difficulty in conducting
these sums, which the archbishop asks, to the city, and that they would
run many dangers; but the difficulty from which Auditor Anda would
remove and free himself in its sending is greater and insuperable. This
person, quite filled with wrath against the archbishop, by his
apprehensions as mistaken as exorbitant, and by his scandalous
productions, and who appears to be only trying to make his conduct
and zeal for the royal service shine out by blackening that of the
archbishop, refused to send the despatches of his Majesty, and those
belonging to the archbishop himself, and which had been brought by the
"Philipino," although he was ordered to deliver those that belonged to
all the tribunals, [religious] communities, and private persons. This
refusal shows what would happen to any request for the silver. For
if since this retention is opposed to the sovereign respect of his
Majesty, by detaining the orders that he may direct to the archbishop
in his royal decrees, Anda is trampling also upon the public faith,
in what corresponds to the letters, business, commissions, pious
funds, and matters of conscience which may be concerned in them, it
being quite to the prejudice of the government of the archbishopric
and to the public scorn and disrespect of its pastor.
78. Anda's despatch also in regard to the royal seal made it necessary
for the archbishop to take extreme precaution so that this royal jewel
might not be endangered. This being in the power of the archbishop,
had been conserved in his possession with so great secrecy without the
least fear. But the said instance and procedure of said open despatch
to the vice-chancellor, who was in the house of the archbishop, in
his service, divulged the secret in Pampanga, and to not few persons
of this city. Consequently, not without manifest danger could it
be sent, or could it be preserved in the possession in which it
had been, and besides to deliver these royal arms to Anda was to
place them in a cruel hand for the abuse and atrocities which are
experienced, and without it being possible in present affairs to
have their authoritative use, for which they were destined by their
sovereign owner.
79. The many persons who are fed with the silver have gone to Pampanga,
among whom is a considerable number of military officers--some in order
to get what belongs to them, and others for the consideration of larger
pay, and all of them and all the other Spaniards incited and threatened
by said auditor have been made to incur the inobservance of their oath
and their word of honor. And from this irregularity and from others
of which the cowardice of the fiscal and his inducements for the same
purpose, furnished an example, have come other disorders and disasters
of the enemy who have been irritated by these proceedings. Never
did the archbishop dissuade or induce any to remain in the city
or to leave it, although he well knew that it was impossible to
divert some families and the religious communities, and much more
those of the feminine sex; but all the fatal consequences that have
been mentioned have aided to compress the spirit of the archbishop,
who by the singular blessing of God has been able to live and remedy
some of the fatalities.
80. He considered nothing more necessary than to petition for mail
posts and opportunity to give account of everything to his Majesty,
from whose Catholic zeal alone can one hope for the remedy, unless
the divine Providence miraculously clears the way just as is asked
from Him, without believing that it is to tempt God, through the
most extreme necessities in most important matters, and of His
divine service, which intervene and are contained in the present
conflicts. And the efforts dictated by the archbishop's prudence and
obligation, such as giving a report to his king by two posts, doubling
the despatches in the last, by which there comes to be a fourth post,
must not be omitted.
The first was in December, when the engineer, Don Miguel Gomez, was
sent, who was equipped as well as possible. The second was in March
of the present year, by equipping two officers, Don Christoval Ròs,
and Don Andres de la Torre; and at the same time in another English
fragata with sufficient safety and prudent security. He duplicated the
despatches in two English fragatas, addressed to his agent at Cadiz.
81. These are the most important occurrences during the time of the
siege, and the period following it. Both the other occurrences previous
to the siege, possess the truth that is noted; and these [succeeding
it] are proved by the papers and their instruments which have been
drawn up. Other verification and authentication was not ready at hand,
as it was sent by the letters in the posts above-mentioned which have
not gone so bare of certain necessary documents and are not of very
small bulk.
SYNOPSIS OF LETTER FROM ANDA TO CARLOS III
June 22, 1764, Don Simon Anda y Salazar sent a letter to the king,
in which he showed the measures adopted by him during or in the time
of the war with the English, in regard to economic matters of police
and public order. They were as follows.
In regard to the fact that prices for provisions, which had become
dear because of the English invasion, should be fixed at the prices
regulated by custom and tariff, as well as the freight duties of the
craft, day wages of stevedores, rent of beasts of burden, and wages
of rowers, it was ordered that a tariff be formed in the provinces
of Bulacan and Pampanga, as they had none. [164]
[The tariff was ordered] so that the coins of two and one-half tomins,
one and one-half tomins, diminished by waste, from the value of their
stamp, might be received at their intrinsic value; in order that
in a determined time, the Sangleys might present themselves under
penalty of two hundred lashes, and confiscation of their property,
as it was learned that many of the dwellers in the Parián of Manila
had entered Pampanga, and had united with those who resided in the
villages of the province, and were preparing arms. The object was to
disarm them and send them to the Parián. But many of them presented
themselves armed and offered to give bonds that they were peaceful
and that their arms were employed in the service of his Majesty.
He ascertained that the agreement that they had made with the English
was that one thousand Chinese should enter from the Parián of Manila,
and distribute themselves through the villages, so that they might
fire them at that hour of Christmas eve when the natives should be in
the temples, in order that by reason of the confusion, free entrance
into the province might be secured for the English. He proceeded
to imprison and punish many of them, and gave orders to maintain a
suitable guard at the entrances of the bars and villages from the
twenty-third to the twenty-fifth of December, 1762; and the religious
ministers of the doctrine were not to open their churches or celebrate
the divine offices, and to act with all manner of precaution.
Seeing that the Chinese aided the English in their expeditions,
and that the chief Sangleys were censuring such conduct as well as
that of others of those who plotted the insurrection in Pampanga,
he suddenly pardoned them on condition that they would not reside
in the provinces without license from the governing Audiencia, not
to reside [there] longer than the time he would set, pay a tribute,
and not carry food or aid the enemy.
Some submitted, but acted deceitfully, introducing false barrillas into
the villages, withdrawing the pesos, giving information to the enemy,
and going freely from the Parián of Manila to the provinces. [165]
Others aided the English and supplied them with food. Consequently,
it was ordered that the alcaldes-mayor should form a list of the
Sangleys, of their provinces, prohibiting their admission unless they
had permission from the Audiencia. No one of them was to go from the
provinces to Manila and Cavite, under penalty of the confiscation of
his property. That checked their insolence in large part, it is said.
He ordered the arms collected for the use of the soldiers.
He forbade more wine than was necessary to be taken from the province
of Laguna, because of the disorders produced by drunkenness. In
Bacolor the sale of nipa wine was by retail.
He ordered the soldiers who had dispersed when the capture of Manila
and Cavite by the English took place to present themselves. They
did so, as did also the officers, showing the arms that they
possessed. [166]
In the province of Pampanga, he permitted the free circulation of the
barrillas (money made of pinchbeck and tin which the ayuntamiento of
Manila coined for purchase at retail, and whose value was that of one
grano of a tomin), but since the Sangleys introduced many counterfeit
ones, he had to prohibit their circulation.
He ordered Don Francisco Javier Salgado to investigate the extortions
and losses caused in the villages of Tondo and Cavite by the militia
of Laguna and Tayabas who were assigned to oppose the English,
because the leaders of such militia could not make them observe
the due subordination. But no injured one presented himself, and
accordingly he says that there is no one against whom to proceed,
in spite of the fact that the order was published by edict.
He published an edict in regard to weights and measures, in order
that they might not be made less or clipped.
He forbade the seculars who had fled to the provinces to obey the
summons of the archbishop that they return to Manila.
He ordered the Indians not to go out of their villages without a
passport from the gobernadorcillo to villages within the province;
and from the governing Audiencia to Manila and its environs, so that
they might not carry provisions to Manila.
That order not being sufficient, he issued other edicts making the
prohibition more strict especially against the Spaniards.
Having seen that the four churches that were under the cannon of
the fort of Manila had been used by the English as fortifications,
who committed all manner of profanations, he ordered the necessary
arrangements to be made in the villages to burn them, if the enemy
attacked. [167] That order poorly understood, exposed the church of
Viñan [168] to being unnecessarily burned, but it was saved by order
of Anda. He also censured the first provision which he had to revoke.
He prosecuted and punished several spies sent by the English to
ascertain what Anda and the loyal troops were doing.
He permitted free trade among the provinces, so that they might have
food in abundance. He ordered that all the lands of Pampanga be
planted, so far as possible, with rice, sugarcane, etc., and that
land in the village of San Ysidro be given to the Tagálogs who had
fled from Manila.
He arranged that the food for the provision of the warehouses be
bought by the parish priests, and that they be paid in cash instead
of demanding them through apportionment.
He went out to defend the loyal troops who were maltreated and insulted
by the English generals who treated them like dogs. He offered ten
thousand pesos for the heads of Drak, Esmith, and Broche. [169]
He granted general exemption from tribute, polos, and personal
services, in view of the fact that the English said that they had
gone to the islands to free the people from them, which measure proved
very useful.
He ordered that in Bacolor and surrounding villages, the bell be rung
at nine o'clock at night for all people to retire, and not to be seen
on the streets, in order to avoid disorders.
He forbade the sending of skins to Manila in order that the English
and Chinese might not use them.