[An account of this is presented by Montero y Vidal in his Hist. de
Filipinas, tomo ii; he relates the causes of this measure, and the
execution of it in España and the colonies in general (pp. 141-179),
and the expulsion from Filipinas (pp. 181-228), which latter account
is here given:]
The Conde de Aranda, who was especially entrusted by Carlos III with
all that related to the banishment of the Jesuits and the seizure of
their property, addressed to the governor-general of Filipinas the
following letter, dated March 1, 1767:
"Inside the annexed letter from Señor Marqués de Grimaldi, secretary
of the affairs of state, you will receive another from the king
our sovereign, in which his Majesty deigns to confer authority on
me for the purpose of which this despatch treats--which, in short,
is the banishment of the order of the Society of Jesus from all the
royal dominions, in the manner and form provided in the royal decree,
of which I enclose a printed copy. The very fact of the special honor
which the king confers on you of [a letter with] his own signature
[puño, "fist"] will convince you of the importance of the matter and
of secrecy, and of the king's resolute determination for the most
punctual fulfilment [of the decree].
"As for its execution, you will be guided by the instructions
framed for España and by the additional ones that apply to the
Indias, availing yourself of both, to the end of selecting from
each that which is best adapted to your purpose. As I have taken
into consideration the distance of those countries from this one,
and the difference in their mode of government, I have decided to
entrust to you all discretionary power [necessary] to change or add
details of circumstance, so that the [desired] result may be attained
with that completeness which so important a matter requires. I think
that your clear-sightedness and prudence will peaceably bring about
obedience to the royal decision--without, however, neglecting guards
and the use of moderate force, in order not to risk the failure of
the enterprise; but in any event if, contrary to what is usual, you
should encounter resistance from the religious concerned in this, or
find among their adherents any inclination or resolution to oppose
you, you will employ the authority and force of military power,
as you would in case of rebellion.
"It will be important that in the villages where there is a college
or house of the Society measures be taken (as soon as the royal
decree has been made known to them) to inform the other religious
orders and the secular clergy of those places that the decree of his
Majesty is limited to the Jesuit religious; for it is very proper that
all the other ecclesiastics, both seculars and regulars, contribute
with their persuasions, so that the people generally shall reverence
the decrees of his Majesty, since they must be considered as always
based on important and just grounds. The king our sovereign has the
greatest confidence in your fidelity and ability, and consequently
I have the same. I only desire, therefore, your complete fulfilment
[of this commission], and that you write to me in order to keep me
informed of the results, without making any inquiries on doubtful
points; for if these should arise you must decide them for yourself,
being governed by the sense and idea which the royal decree and
instructions themselves, as a whole, produce. May God preserve you
many years. Madrid, March 1, 1767."
Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the "Additional instructions regarding the
banishment of the Jesuits from the dominions of his Majesty, for
what belongs to the Indias and the Filipinas Islands," to which
the preceding document refers, say: "(1) In order that the viceroys,
presidents, and governors of my domains in the Indias and the Filipinas
Islands may know that they have, in virtue of the royal decision,
for this purpose, the same powers that reside in me, I entrust to them
those which are mentioned in the instructions for España, so that they
may issue the orders designating the depositaries [for papers, goods,
etc., belonging to the persons expelled], and the ports [of departure
for them], and promptly make ready the necessary vessels for the
transportation of the Jesuits to Europa and the port of Santa María,
where they will be received and equipped for their destination. (2)
As the authority of those officials will be ample, they will remain
responsible for the execution of the decree--for which they may select
a suitable time, and will fix the day on which it may be carried out
in all parts of their territory, issuing the proper orders with the
utmost promptness, in order that no information may reach any of the
[Jesuit] colleges of what is being done at others in this regard."
The preceding documents were accompanied by a list of the colleges,
houses, and residences of the Jesuits, certainly not a very accurate
one. The colleges, residences, and curacies which at that time they
possessed in Filipinas were as follows: In Manila (jurisdiction)--the
colleges of San Ignacio and San José, and that of San Ildefonso at
Santa Cruz; also the following curacies. In the province of Tondo
(Manila), which includes the present district of Morong--San Miguel,
San Pedro Macati (college and novitiate), Cainta, Taytay, Antipolo,
Bosoboso, San Mateo, and Mariquina. In the province of Cavite--Cavite
(where they had a college), Cavite Viejo, Silan, Indan, Maragondon,
Naic. In the corregidor's district of Mindoro--Boac, Santa Cruz de
Napó, Marinduque Island, Gapan. In the province of Cebú--Cebú, with a
college, and the curacies of Mandaue and Liloan. In Bohol--Inabangan
and Talibón (where was situated the residence of Bohol), with
the villages and ministries of Loboc; Baclayon, Dauis, Malabohoc,
Tagbilaran, Santísima Trinidad, and (on the coast farthest from
Luzón) the curacy of Hagna. In the island of Negros--Ilog, Cabancalan
(with the mission of Buyonan, Himamaylan, Cavayan and the mission of
Sipalay). In the province of Otón (Iloilo)--Iloilo (with a college),
Molo, Arévalo. In the island of Sámar--Catbalogan, Paranas, Humavas,
Calviga, Boac, Bangajon, Tinagog, Calvayog; in the island of Capul,
the ministry of Abac. In the province of Ibabao, or coast of Sámar
farthest from Luzón--Palápag, Lavan, Catubig, Catarman, Bobón, Sulat,
Túbig and Borongan. On the southern coast of the same island--Guiguan,
Balanguigan, Basey and Lalaviton. In the island of Leyte--Carigara,
Barugo, Jaro, Alangalang and Leyte. On the farther coast of
the same island--the residence of Ilongos, and the ministries of
Palompón, Poro, Ogmug, Baybay, Maasin, Sogor, Liloan, Cavalian and
Hinondayan. In the northern part of the same island--the residence
of Banigo, Palo, Tanavan, Dulac and Abuyog, and (in the interior)
Dagami and Burabuen. In the island of Mindanao--the presidio of
Zamboanga, with a college and ministry; Bagonbayan, Dumalon, Siocon,
Catabangan, Caldera, Polombato and Siraguay. In the northern part
of the same island--Dapitan, Iligan, Lavayan, Langaran, Lubungan,
Disacan; Talingan, and various visitas and missions along the same
coasts and the bay of Pangue. In the Marianas islands--Agaña, with
a college and Indian seminary; Agat, Merizo, Pago, Guajan, Yuarajan,
Umata, Rota and Saipan.
The first communication addressed to Raón by Conde de Aranda in
reference to the manner of effecting the expulsion of the Jesuits was
sent to him through the viceroy of Méjico, in order that the latter
might despatch the letter from Acapulco. Lest this should go astray
or be delayed, a second copy was sent to him by way of Cádiz and the
French ships of their Company of the Eastern Indias, its bearer being
an official appointed for this purpose, under the pretext that he was
going there to discipline the troops. In this latter communication (on
the same date of March 1), Conde de Aranda added these words to Raón:
"I think that when this reaches you the very reverend archbishop will
have already arrived in Manila, as he sailed from Cádiz a month ago
in a Swedish ship. If that is the case, your Lordship can inform him
confidentially of this despatch; and you can count on his illustrious
Lordship in whatever your Lordship may deem necessary, in his opinion
or his aid. For his Majesty esteems him, and I know him intimately;
and I am certain that he will coöperate with whatever measures may
conduce to the success of this enterprise, and to the greater service
of the king." In another and third despatch was repeated what had
been previously explained to Raón, informing him that the bearer of
the second despatch was his Majesty's courier Pedro Santillac--who was
to embark in Holanda, in order to go to Batavia, and thence to Manila,
chartering a vessel, if there was none available, for this object.
Raón, who was an extraordinarily avaricious and venal man, [144]
and not conscientious in the performance of his duties, saw in this
matter a business out of which he could obtain profit; and he utilized
it for his own advantage, revealing to the Jesuits, for a large sum of
money, the secret of their expulsion. Thanks to this perfidy, they were
able to place in safety a large part of their wealth, at least what
they possessed in gold and silver, and in valuables that were easy to
hide; and they caused the disappearance of documents and papers which
compromised them, or, if these were seized, would be proof of their
plans and pernicious intrigues in certain matters. Notwithstanding
this despicable proceeding, Raón sent the following answer to the
letter of Carlos III:
"Sire: As soon as I read, pressed to my lips, and placed on my head
the respected royal letter of your Majesty giving orders relative to
the expulsion of the Jesuits who were settled in all these domains
of your Majesty, and the seizure of their goods, I employed the
means that occurred to my loyalty and zeal for the accomplishment
and fulfilment of this important business. In consequence, there
are sailing as passengers on the ship named "San Carlos Borromeo"
sixty-four individuals, including the principal Jesuits of this
mainland [of Luzón] and the island of Marinduque; and for the
removal of a like number of missionaries from the Bisayas Islands
four vessels are employed. Meantime I have the aid of the other holy
religious orders in occupying temporarily the ministries there--as
I fully informed your Majesty in greater detail through Conde de
Aranda. May our Lord preserve the royal Catholic person of your
Majesty, as these remote regions need. Manila, July 23, 1768. Sire,
[I kiss] your Majesty's royal feet.