Sire:
In the Council of War for the Indias there have been presented two
letters from Don Pedro de Acuña, governor and captain-general of the
Filipinas, written to your Majesty on the first and seventh of July
of the year 605 just past, copies of which are enclosed. In them your
Majesty, if so pleased, will see in what condition is the expedition
for the capture of Terrenate, and how the governor went in person
with it, with a great deal of confidence in a favorable outcome,
on account of the excellent reënforcement that had been sent to him
under the command of the master-of-camp, Juan Desquivel. Although they
were fewer in number than what he had asked for, nevertheless he was
pleased with the companies that he had seen, and he expected to join
with them some men from that garrison and some other available men,
and some Indians (Panpangas and others from that vicinity) among whom
are excellent arquebusiers and musketeers, who approve themselves
very well when in company with Spaniards. He says that he foresaw this
undertaking as soon as he began that government; and for that reason
he had built five galleys, as he considered them to be the vessels
most effective for the defense of that realm. He wrote that he would
take four of them, and five ships and seven brigantines; and besides
this five lorchas, which are very good vessels after the Chinese and
Japanese style, for both oars and sails, and are more capacious and
better suited for carrying food than any other kind of oared vessel. He
thought, then, that he would make that expedition, taking with him
all these galleys on your Majesty's account, and providing that for
the private persons and the encomenderos there should go seven or
eight other medium-sized vessels, with high freeboard, in which their
masters should take a quantity of biscuit, rice, wine, meat, and other
things--which would help greatly, because a large number of volunteers
were going. He had made every possible effort in urging these latter
to go, representing your Majesty's service to them; and he said that
they greatly needed this opportunity, on account of the losses and
troubles which they have suffered, and because they are poor and much
disheartened. With this force he thought that he would set out from
Manila, after St. Francis's day, for the town at the port of Oton,
in the island of Panay, where the infantry was stationed, in order
that the whole fleet might sail from there at the end of January or
the beginning of February of this year, which is the best time for
Maluco. He says that he has no doubt of encountering vessels from
Olanda and Zelanda, and more this year than in others--according to the
reports which he has that in the city of Nostra Dama, and in another
near to it, they were getting ready twelve or thirteen large vessels
with the intention of coming to the Indias to capture Ambueno and the
Malucas; and that they were bringing a large number of men, and also
lime and cut stone, as ballast, with which to fortify themselves. He
says that he fears greatly that this may be so because the king of
Tidore informed him that the king of Terrenate had sent to the Dutch,
offering to permit them to build a fortress and factory in his land,
in order to keep them satisfied so that they should help him against
the aforesaid king of Tidore and against the Portuguese and Castilians;
and that for this reason the forts there and at Ambueno were in great
danger. Don Pedro says that, if this is true, there will be a great
deal of difficulty in his undertaking. This report by the king of
Tidore seems to be confirmed and made more sure by another which he
sends with the aforesaid letter of the seventh of July, a copy of which
is enclosed. This was made by a Portuguese of Ambueno and a religious
of the Society of Jesus, both of whom were living there. It tells more
at length of the state of affairs in Maluco, and of the lawlessness
of the Hollanders, and their motive in going there with twelve large
ships well equipped with artillery, in the year 604 just past; and
how they came to Ambueno on the twenty-third of February of 605,
with eight ships and six pataches, and captured the fort which was
there, and took possession of the Portuguese town--because, those
within it, seeing the great number of men and pieces of artillery
which they carried, made no defense. Then, with the brick, lime, and
stone which they had brought they began to rebuild the fort which the
Portuguese had, and they left there about one hundred and thirty men
as a garrison. The same thing may be learned from the brother Gaspar
Gomes of the Society of Jesus, who has come from the Filipinas, sent
by the aforesaid Don Pedro de Acuña and bearing letters from him. He
says that the aforesaid Don Pedro had told him that, when the affair
of Maluco was accomplished and the land made safe, he intended to go
quickly to settle affairs in Ambueno, because he had heard that the
Hollanders who had obtained foothold there were expecting a son of
Don Antonio. [30] On this account he desired, as quickly as possible,
a special order from your Majesty; and he, the brother Gaspar Gomes,
comes to ask for it in the name of Don Pedro. This should be considered
with great care, and also what he says in that letter about the king
of Japon, in regard to keeping friendship with him--as your Majesty,
if you are so pleased, may examine in greater detail in the letter. It
is well to note also what he says about the delay that there might
be in his receiving succor because your Majesty is so far away, and
the great hindrance that it would be to him if they were not very
careful and prompt in sending him from Nueva España more men, arms,
gunpowder, and munitions in plenty, and also money; for, although
the men had been paid for a year, already more than half had passed,
and when he shall have started from Oton the year will be entirely
completed. It is also necessary that another goodly amount of money be
sent to the treasury of the Filipinas Islands, on a separate account,
because it is so empty and depleted. The garrison also is lacking
in men, and this should be provided for in part. All this having
been reviewed and examined with the attention which a matter of so
much importance requires, it appears that Don Pedro de Acuña has the
Terrenate undertaking well under way, and that he should be thanked
for it, as well as for going thither in person, on which account
it seems that that matter will have better support, and that better
results may be expected from it, on account of the good judgment and
experience which he is known to possess. The information which we have
of the care with which the rebels are fortifying themselves in those
regions and getting control of the trade with them is very important;
for from this results very great loss to your Majesty's exchequer,
and great benefit and increase to that of the enemy, which may be the
greatest support they have for the war which they are carrying on. If
God grants good success in the Terrenate undertaking, as is hoped,
and if Don Pedro can put that stronghold in a state of defense with
a sufficient garrison for safety, and if it appears to him that,
with the remainder of his men and what fleet may be left to him,
he can regain Ambueno and drive the Hollanders out from that island,
as he has given notice that he can do (relying on what the aforesaid
brother Gaspar Gomes has said), the aforesaid Don Pedro de Acuña
might be commanded to do so, and to place it in such a state of
defense and security as is necessary to that stronghold--which is
of the greatest importance for the preservation and security of the
trade of the crown of Portugal, and for obstructing and hindering
the designs of the enemy. Since that nation [_i.e._, the Dutch]
has more steadiness and courage in its military actions than the
Indians, and as it is quite a different thing to fight with them,
it is of great importance that Don Pedro should not lack sufficient
forces, and that he should be succored from Mexico immediately. For
this purpose the Marques de Montesclaros should be written to, and
a despatch-boat sent to him, ordering him that without loss of time
he should proceed to help Don Pedro with the men, arms, gunpowder,
munitions, and money which he requires for this Terrenate expedition,
and whatever may result from it, so that the expense which has been
already incurred in this may not, for any lack of these things, be
put to risk, and that the Holland rebels may not be allowed to get a
foothold and establish strongholds in that land; for the honor of the
state is imperiled, and very great loss to your Majesty's exchequer
is made possible through the hindrance of the trade in spices, if
they get it under their control. What should be still more thought of
and defended, since it is in greater danger, is the Catholic faith,
because the land is infested with heretics, and the Indians are a
very pliant and changeable people. Don Pedro should be informed of
what the marques has been commanded to do for his help, in order that
he may understand, and arrange and provide for everything as is best,
in order that the desired result may be obtained.
Dora Pedro writes also, in regard to the pay of the men who were sent
to him for that expedition, that it seems to him that what a soldier of
that military department gets--namely, six pesos a month--is little,
when the fact is considered that the country is incomparably more
dear than when the pay was fixed; and that the eight ducados which
the soldiers of the expedition earn are a great deal. He thinks,
therefore, that it would be well if both were paid at the rate of
eight pesos of eight reals a month, besides the customary thirty
ducados which are regularly given in addition to each company in Spain
and other regions; and that the captains should earn at the rate of
fifty pesos a month, and the sergeants ten, as they do now. As the
captains of that region get no more than thirty-five pesos, and those
of the expedition get sixty ducados, it seems best to him that these
salaries should be adjusted in the way that he states--giving to each
at the rate of eight pesos of eight reals a month, and the customary
thirty additional ducados a month which are usually given to each
company in Spain and elsewhere; and that the captains should receive
equally at the rate of fifty pesos a month, and the ensigns twenty,
and the sergeants ten, as he says they receive now. Thus all will
have pay that is equal and well adjusted, by taking away from some
and adding to others, in the way which Don Pedro has proposed. Your
Majesty will examine and consider all this, and will order what is
best for your service. In Madrid, August 5, 1606.
His Majesty orders that the enclosed report of the Council of War of
the Indias concerning the Terrenate undertaking be considered in the
Council of State, and that he be informed of what it shall decide. God
keep your Lordship. St. Lorenzo, August 15, 1606.
_The Duke_
The honorable secretary, _Andres de Prada_
Sire:
The Council, having seen that your Majesty sent for the enclosed report
and the papers of the Council of War of the Indias, voted as follows:
The Cardinal of Toledo--that if the injury which the rebels are
causing in India were seen here nearer at hand it would cause great
commotion; and that because it is far away it should not be regarded
as of little importance, but rather, in order to secure a remedy, we
should consider that it is very near. Accordingly, we should attend
to it with the greatest diligence, and agree to what has seemed best
to the Council of War of the Indias and to Don Pedro de Acuña--to
whom many thanks are due for the good courage with which he prepared
for the undertaking and the care with which he gave notice of the
things that were necessary for it, from which, with the favor of God,
we may expect good results. The completion of the undertaking is of
the greatest importance for the state and for its good repute. This
consists in helping Don Pedro with all that he needs, in order that
for lack of it he may not leave the work unfinished, and that what has
been gained may not be lost again; for the greater the foothold that
the rebels get in those regions, and the stronger they grow there,
the harder it will be to remedy the matter, and the greater will
be the harm which will come from them to your Majesty's realms and
to their honor. It is well to order the Marques de Montesclaros to
assist and help Don Pedro de Acuña in every way that he needs, and to
do it so promptly that he shall not fail to succeed in the undertaking
for lack of it. Besides, he thinks it well that your Majesty should
favor Don Pedro in matters which are so properly under his charge as
the matters of war are, so that the archbishop and the Audiencia may
know that in these things they are to respect him and allow him to
do what he thinks best; and that Don Pedro should be advised that in
matters which concern government and justice he should have a great
deal of respect for the archbishop and the Audiencia.
The Constable of Castile--that he has nothing to add to the report of
the Council of War of the Indias since the importance of the matter
shows how proper it is that the Marques de Montesclaros should give
prompt assistance to Don Pedro de Acuña, and that it should be ordered
exactly so. He thinks that it is very well that the archbishop and the
Audiencia should not be mixed up in matters of war, since they do not
understand them. In regard to what concerns Portugal, he supposes that
your Majesty probably has had notice sent to that Council; and if not,
that it would be well to do so.
The Conde de Olivares agreed to all that has been said; and he thinks
it well that the ship which the report mentions should be sent at
once to Nueva España, informing the Marques de Montesclaros of the
importance of the expedition, and ordering him to supply Don Pedro
de Çuniga _[sic]_ with all that he needs for the proper execution
of it, in such manner that he shall have no excuse for evading such
requisition. He also would command the archbishop and the Audiencia
not to meddle in matters of war, and to order Don Pedro to keep the
friendship and good understanding which he has with the king of Japon,
and to hang all the rebels that he shall capture. Your Majesty will
ordain, in all matters, what shall be most to your service.
Decree Establishing a Way-Station for Philippine Vessels on the
California Coast
The King: To Don Pedro de Acuña, knight of the Order of St. John, my
governor and captain-general of the Filipinas Islands, and president
of my royal Audiencia therein: You have already heard that Don Luis
de Velasco, former viceroy of Nueva España--in view of the long
navigation from the port of Acapulco to those islands, and the great
hardship and danger of navigation in that voyage because of having no
station wherein to repair the ships, and to supply them with water,
wood, masts, and other requisite and necessary things--determined
to explore and mark out the ports of the coasts from the said Nueva
España to those islands. He ordered that this effort should be made by
a vessel called "San Agustin;" but, as that vessel was lost, the said
exploration was not then effected. You know that afterward the Conde
de Monterrei, who succeeded him in that government, finding the same
inconveniences in the said navigation, and thinking it advantageous
to remedy them by making anew the exploration that Don Luis de Velasco
had attempted, wrote me in regard to it. He said that, in his opinion,
it could be made by small vessels sailing from the port of Acapulco;
and that the reconnoitering of the coasts and ports of the bay of
the Californias might be included in it, as well as the fisheries. In
reply I ordered, on the twenty-seventh of September of five hundred
and ninety-nine, that letters be written to him in my name that I
considered the demarcation and exploration of that coast and its
ports very desirable, and that he should accordingly set about it
immediately; but advising him not to undertake the exploration of
the Californias except in passing. In pursuance thereof, I appointed
Sebastian Vizcayno for that purpose as he was a man experienced in
maritime matters, and careful and skilled in those of that route,
and as he was one with whom I was thoroughly satisfied. Having given
him for the voyage two vessels, a lancha and a barcoluengo, [31] with
the sailors and soldiers, ammunition and provisions, necessary for a
year, and a cosmographer, skilful and versed in geometrical tables,
in order that he might very minutely and accurately place and set
down what should be discovered on a map and chart. After having
received his orders and instructions, he set sail on the fifth of
May, in the year 602, from the port of Acapulco to make the above
mentioned exploration; as I was advised by the said Conde de Monterrei
and Sebastian Vizcaino. [32] These afterward wrote me by several
letters (the most recent of which were dated on the last of April,
604) that Sebastian Vizcaino spent eleven months in that voyage; and
that he began, from the same port, to delineate and sound the coast,
ports, bays, and indentations up to the thirty-seventh degree, with
all the precision and exactness needful and required; and that from
the thirty-seventh degree to the forty-second he accomplished nothing
beyond sighting the land. He had been unable to take so particular care
there as he had done up to the thirty-seventh degree, because many
of the crew fell sick, and the weather there was very contrary. He
said that that whole coast, as far as the fortieth degree, extends
northwest and southeast; that the other two degrees remaining in
the forty-two degrees extend practically north and south; and that
from the mouth of the Californias up to the thirty-seventh degree,
he found three very excellent ports on the mainland--namely, San
Diego in thirty-three degrees, and the second, of less excellence,
near it. That of San Diego is very large and capable of holding
many vessels; and it has water and wood. The third is better and
more suitable for the Chinese vessels, and as a station for the
ships of the line from those islands. It is called Monterrei, and
lies in thirty-seven degrees. It has water and wood, better and in
greater quantity than the other port. It is excellently sheltered
from all winds, and abounds in pines along the coast, of whatever
size one may wish, for use us masts. That port is very suitable so
that the vessels on returning from those Filipinas Islands may go
there without there being any necessity of going to Japon by reason
of storms, as vessels have done several times, losing thereby a very
great amount of property. The vessels from China generally run along in
sight of this place, for which purpose it is also very suitable. For,
if that port be known, then vessels will not port until reaching it,
when necessity would otherwise compel them to go to Japon and to
those islands, since the work and trouble necessary to reach those
places would take them to the said port. Besides, they report that
the country is of a mild climate and very fertile (as is seen by its
numerous trees), and very thickly inhabited with people of very mild
and docile disposition, and whose reduction to the holy gospel and to
my royal crown will be very easy. It maintains itself, and the food is
of many different kinds of grain and of flesh of game, with which the
country is exceedingly well supplied. The dress of the Indians of the
coast is made of the skins of sea-wolves, which the Indians tan and
dress very well. They have abundance of thread made from Castilian
flax, hemp, and cotton. By these Indians and by many others whom the
said Sebastian Vizcaino discovered along the coast in the more than
eight hundred leguas of his voyage, he was everywhere informed that
there were great settlements inland, and silver and gold. This is
considered to be true, because veins of metals were discovered in
some parts of the mountains of the mainland. If the seasons of the
summer were known, one could enter the interior through this place
and locate those metals, for it promises great wealth. Also the rest
of the coast might be explored from that port, for it extends past the
forty-second degree where the said Sebastian Vizcayno went, and which
was named as his limit in his instructions. The coast extends even to
Japon and the Chinese coast. He said that he could not enter the mouth
of the [gulf of the] Californias, on his return and while passing,
as I had sent him orders, because many of his crew had fallen ill and
were dying rapidly, and because his provisions had suddenly become bad,
which obliged him to hasten his return. After examination of this in my
royal Council of the Indias, together with the surveys and relations
that were sent with the description of each port, singly, of those
discovered by the said Sebastian Vizcaino, and after having listened
to the cosmographer Andres Garcia de Cespedes, they advised me; and
after considering the great importance, for the safety and security
of the ships coming from those islands--a navigation of more than two
thousand leguas of open water--of their having a port on the voyage,
wherein to be repaired and to take in water, wood, and provisions, and
that the said port of Monterrei, lying on the thirty-seventh degree,
will be a half-way station, and that it has all the good qualities that
may be desired, I have deemed it advisable that all the vessels from
those islands, since they approach that coast, shall enter that port,
and there be repaired and reprovisioned. In order to initiate this
and establish it as a fixed and well-known practice, I have ordered
Marques de Montesclaros, [33] my present viceroy of the said provinces
of Nueva España, by another decree of the date of this present, to
have the said Sebastian Vizcaino, if now alive, sought with all care
and diligence, since he has made the said exploration, and has coasted
from Acapulco to Cape Mendocino; and, as soon as he shall have been
found, to order him to go to those islands. Sebastian Vizcaino is to
take with him his own chief pilot, or the chief pilot of the admiral;
and in order that his voyage may have the effect intended, and be
accomplished with all possible promptness, as is desirable, I have
ordered the said marques to despatch the ships that are to sail to
those islands in the coming year, 607. He shall despatch them in the
usual manner, and as has been done hitherto, as you probably can not
have any vessels constructed there of the two hundred tons capacity
which is necessary for the trade, in accordance with the new decree
that I had issued in this regard, because of the short time since
it was given. The marques is to appoint the said Sebastian Vizcayno
commander of the said fleet; and, as his admiral, the one whom he
had in the discovery of the said port [34]--if both are living. If
either of them is dead, then he shall send as commander the one of
them still living. As chief pilot, he shall send the said Sebastian
Vizcayno's pilot or that of his admiral, so that, having the vessels
in charge on the return voyage, they may ascertain in what manner the
said port of Monterrey can be colonized and made permanent; and can
show its bay, and the manner of making that navigation, [35] to the
pilots and crews of the said vessels, and especially to two men whom
I order you to send with the said commander Sebastian Vizcayno from
those islands. These men are to be possessed of all the good qualities,
knowledge, and experience necessary, so that they may reconnoiter the
said port, and may be given commands as commander and admiral of the
vessels that are to sail from Acapulco to those islands in the year
608, since the said Sebastian Vizcayno has to go to colonize the said
port. It is my will that these two men and the said Sebastian Vizcayno
and his admiral--and I shall consider myself as served if you favor and
honor them in every way possible--have and be paid the usual salary
that the other commanders and admirals of the said line have had;
and that it be paid to the former in the same form and manner as it
is paid to the latter. In order that all the above commands may have
the end and effect intended, as is necessary, I strictly charge you
that you assist on your part, in whatever pertains to you, with the
care and diligence that I expect from your prudence and great zeal;
and you shall advise me of what is done, so that I may have full
information thereof. Given in San Lorenzo el Real, August 19, 1606.
_I The King_
Countersigned by Juan de Sivicay; signed by the members of the Council.