The present volume covers the seven years from 1609 to 1616,
the leading subjects in the documents therein being commerce and
navigation, missions, and ecclesiastical affairs. The commercial
and navigation laws covering a quarter of a century previous to
this period give incidentally much curious information on social and
economic conditions in the islands. The outflow of silver from Nueva
España to China via Manila still causes alarm; but it is evident
that the suppression of the trade between Acapulco and Manila is
not an infallible remedy for this difficulty. As it is, the islands
are suffering from the injuries to their trade that the Dutch have
inflicted, and from the ruinous expenses caused by their wars with
these persistent enemies. No less do the Indians suffer from the
exactions levied upon them for the public works and defense; but the
home government attempts to lessen these burdens, and protect the
natives from oppression. The missions of the Jesuits are reported
as making rapid progress; and statistics of the work conducted by
them and by the other religious orders give a view of the general
missionary field. The Dominicans begin their college of Santo Tomás
at Manila; and their officials urge upon the king the suppression of
the Audiencia. The relations between the various orders appear to be
not strictly harmonious. The power of the Spaniards in the Orient,
and the future of the Philippine colony, are seriously menaced by
the increasing gains of the Dutch in the Moluccas.
Various laws regarding the navigation and commerce of the Philippines
are presented, in chronological order, dated 1583-1609. The sale of
merchandise by _pancada_ is to be retained, and regulations are made
therefor. Trade between the American colonies with China or Filipinas
is prohibited; and the citizens of Filipinas are granted a monopoly of
the trade to Nueva España. But this is limited to a specified amount
and only two ships may be sent annually. The goods thus sent to Nueva
España must be consumed there. Copies of the merchandise registers of
these vessels must be sent to the Council of the Indias. Persons who
have been exiled to Filipinas must be compelled to reside there. No
slaves may be taken thence to Nueva España, except a small and
specified number allowed as servants of royal officials. The number of
officers and men allowed to each ship is limited and specified. The
soldiers sent must be effective and suitably equipped. The ships
must not be stripped of their defenses by Filipinas officials. Pilots
must undergo examination for this voyage. Information regarding the
money and goods carried on these vessels must be exchanged by the
officials at Manila and Acapulco. Ships must not be overladen. No
person may go from Nueva España to the islands unless he give bonds
for becoming a permanent resident of them, or is sent thither as a
soldier. Officials of the trading vessels may not engage in trade in
any form. The fares paid by passengers thereon shall be regulated,
and so adjusted that they shall pay their share toward the expenses
of carrying on this commerce. Due inspection of merchandise shall
be made at Acapulco and in Mexico. No Chinese goods may be traded
or conveyed, in any way, between Nueva España and Peru. The dues
collected at Acapulco on Filipinas merchandise shall be spent for the
needs of the islands. The amount of money which may be carried back
from Mexico is strictly limited to five hundred thousand pesos; and in
this amount must be included, to avoid frauds, all amounts of legacies,
and gifts for benevolent works, sent to Filipinas. No wrought silver
may be carried thither, except under close restrictions. The governor
of Filipinas and the viceroy of Nueva España shall exchange reports
of the business carried on by these ships. A trustworthy person must
be appointed at Manila to regulate the migration of Chinese and other
foreigners to the islands. Directions are given for the placing of
cargoes, marine stores, etc., on the ships; and their rigging must be
obtained at Manila instead of Acapulco. The ships and their crews must
be suitably armed for defense; and the men may not carry any baggage
save what they actually need for the voyage. No slave women shall be
allowed on the ships, nor any married woman who is not obliged to
make the voyage. The citizens of the islands may trade with Japan;
but the Japanese shall not be allowed to go to the Filipinas.
In _Annuæ litteræ_ for 1610 is a report of the Jesuit missions in
the Philippines. Beginning with some tabulated statistics, there are
presented separate accounts of the college at Manila and the various
mission stations. Two lay brethren in that college have died, whose
lives and virtues are briefly reviewed. Religious zeal is growing
among the people of Manila. The Jesuit church has been greatly adorned
and improved, and their Indian disciples have erected in a new church
several handsome statues. One of the Jesuit fathers devoted himself
to the care of the heretics captured in the battle with the Dutch,
and secured recantations from twenty of these. The new governor, Juan
de Silva, has given to the Jesuits not only favor but substantial
aid. In Antipolo and Taitai are many zealous and devout converts,
of whom various incidents are related. The church at Antipolo has
been often burned, but again rebuilt. Several miraculous cures are
related. At Zebu the Jesuits have done much to cultivate religion
among the Spanish residents, and to promote the peace and welfare of
the community. In Bohol many conversions have taken place, and the
headmen have become most helpful to the missionaries. Even some of the
priests of the heathen are zealous converts to the true faith. The
Indian converts are displaying true faith and charity, and support
a hospital. No longer consulting their idols, they now invoke the
Virgin Mary, an act which brings them great success in hunting. At
Dulac much success has been obtained--sometimes impeded, however, by
the plots of the Evil One. Palapag has suffered from scarcity of food,
but the Jesuits have from their own stores cared for the poor. A new
church has been erected there, and many conversions are reported. The
expedition to the Molucca Islands was accompanied by the Jesuits;
there are many Christians there, who are oppressed by the Dutch
heretics. Many of the reports in this document mention miraculous
cures, and deliverances from danger; and state that in many cases
the Indian converts practice scourging as a token of devotion.
A law dated May 26, 1609, regulates the services of the Indians. When
possible, the men needed for public works shall be hired from among
the Chinese and Japanese; and the Filipino natives shall be expected
to work voluntarily. If these measures shall not provide sufficient
laborers, the natives may be forced to work, but only under certain
conditions. Such work must be of absolute necessity; no one shall be
forced when there are enough voluntary laborers; the conscription must
be made as considerate and equitable as possible; the governor shall
assign their hours of labor, and their wages shall be paid fairly
and promptly. Such requisitions shall be made at seasons when they
do not interfere with the agricultural labors of the natives. The
vessels shall be provided with shelter for the rowers against rain and
storm. Any ill-treatment received by the Indians shall be vigorously
punished, especially when the offender is a royal official.
The Augustinian Recollects write to the king (June 30, 1610) asking to
be released from the restrictions imposed upon them by the visitor of
that order, claiming that otherwise their work will be ruined. They
also ask for royal bounty in its aid. The Dominicans at Manila, on
the same day, memorialize the home government for the suppression
of the Audiencia in the islands. They claim that the royal decrees
are not obeyed as they should be. The royal fiscal is accused of
illegal traffic, and the opportunities and means of profit are given
to relatives or friends of the auditors. The Dominicans suggest that
the archbishop and the religious orders be authorized to serve as a
check on the governors, the only real use of the Audiencia. They ask
the king to increase the income of the archbishop, and take occasion to
commend the honor and integrity of the royal officials at Manila. Their
letter is accompanied by a list of the reasons why the Audiencia
should be suppressed in the islands. The number of lawsuits is much
greater since the reestablishment of that court, and the prisons are
crowded; while many persons are neglected and languish in prison for
many years. Justice is not done in the Indian lawsuits, the Spanish
procedure being entirely unsuitable for these cases; and the innocent
suffer the penalties, while the guilty escape. Dignities and offices
are given to the unworthy and incompetent, and to relatives of the
auditors. Criminals connected with the auditors go unpunished. The
auditors engage openly in trade, by which they have gained enormous
wealth. The royal intention that they should advise the king regarding
the governor's conduct is frustrated, since they are in such relations
with the governor that they will not oppose him.
The Jesuit Gregorio Lopez relates (July 1, 1610) events in the islands
for the past year. Rumors of an invasion by the Dutch cause Silva to
fortify Cavite, hitherto unprotected. Several disasters befall the
Spaniards--among them the treacherous murder of a large number of
Spaniards by their Chinese and Japanese rowers; and the Chinese need
to be pacified. During the latter part of 1609 and the early months
of 1610 the Dutch squadron commanded by Francis de Wittert remains
near Manila, capturing the Chinese and other vessels that trade with
Luzon. Meanwhile, the Spaniards collect military supplies and make
all other preparations for defense. On April 24 the Spanish squadron
encounters that of the Dutch at Playa Honda, outside Manila Bay;
after a hot contest in which Wittert is killed, the Dutch flagship
surrenders, as does their almiranta; another ship is destroyed by
fire, and the rest take to flight. Many ceremonies, both religious and
secular, signalize the rejoicings in Manila over the victory of the
Spaniards, as well at their mourning for the slain. Then the spoils
of the conquered are distributed, amounting to nearly four hundred
thousand pesos. Many of the Dutch heretic captives are reconciled to
the Church through the ministrations of a Jesuit priest. Lopez relates
various incidents connected with this war, and gives a vivid account of
the perils and hardships of the ocean voyages, especially in relating
the shipwreck on the Japan coast of the galleon "San Francisco." A
boat carrying supplies to the Jesuit mission at Maluco is captured
by the Dutch and with it Father Masonio; but he escapes their hands,
after many dangers. His companion, Father Gabriel de la Cruz, dies
after a long sickness; and Antonio Pereira, sent to take his place,
dies on the voyage. The Dutch pay a heavy ransom for their captive
commander van Caerden.
Governor Silva advises the king (September 5, 1610) of affairs in the
islands, especially of those in the Moluccas. The Dutch have regained
everything there except the fort at Ternate; they have also secured
a foothold in Japan, and are striving to do the same in China. If
they obtain control of the trade from those countries, the Spanish
colonies in India and the Philippines will be ruined. Accordingly,
Silva is preparing to go, in conjunction with the Portuguese troops
from India, against the Dutch, to recover the Moluccas. He will
also take the captive Ternatan king back to his own country, as he
promises to become a vassal of Spain and to refuse intercourse with
the Dutch. Silva has, however, but little money for this expedition,
for the royal treasury is heavily in debt. The king writes to Silva
(December 7, 1610) ordering him to investigate the complaint of the
Indians of Quiapo against the Jesuits.
The establishment of the college of Santo Tomás at Manila is begun
in 1611 by the Dominicans, its foundation being a bequest left for
this purpose by the late Archbishop Benavides, and certain other
legacies. The articles of establishment and the endowment are
presented, showing the funds, location, management, and character
of the institution. It is provided, among other things, that if any
ecclesiastical or secular power should claim jurisdiction over the
conduct or property of the college, all the possessions of the college
shall become the absolute property of the Dominican order and province.
The bishop of Nueva Caceres asks the king (July 20, 1611) for aid for
the hospital there. In the same year, the king writes several letters
to Silva. He orders the governor (November 12) to restrain, but with
prudence, the arrogance of the religious; to check evasions of the
laws regarding commerce, and to make certain regulations regarding the
Mexican trade; to continue the prohibition of Japanese from residing in
the islands; and to cease the military training hitherto given to the
natives. On November 20 he sends an order to Silva to set at liberty
van Caerden and other Dutchmen held captive in Manila, provided they
shall not have given any cause for being recaptured. On December
19 he commands Silva to keep a squadron of ships on guard near the
Luzón coast, to prevent the Dutch from plundering the vessels that
go to the islands for trade. Letters from the king to the Dominican
provincial at Manila (December 31) warn him to correct the lawless
and disobedient proceedings of certain of his friars; to maintain
amicable relations with the governor; and not to allow his friars to
go to Japan without the governor's permission (commands of like import
with this last being sent also to the provincials of the other orders).
Interesting statistics of the houses and missions of the various
religious orders in the islands are furnished (_ca_. 1612), at
the royal command, by their superiors. The Augustinians enumerate
fifty-six houses with one hundred and fifty-five priests and thirteen
lay brethren. The Jesuits maintain two colleges (Manila and Cebú),
six residences and two missions; in these are forty-five priests,
twenty-eight lay brethren, eight novices, and eleven scholastics--in
all ninty-two religious. Each "residence" is a center of missionary
activity for all the Indian villages around it, in some of which are
churches, and to others visits are paid more or less frequently by the
fathers who live at the residence. The Franciscans have forty-eight
houses in their missions to the Indians, and four in the Spanish
towns; they also maintain six hospitals. They have one hundred and one
priests and thirty-eight lay brethren, besides twenty-one religious
in Japan. The Dominicans have eighteen houses, and one hospital, with
sixty-two friars; besides these, they have three houses in Japan, with
nine religious. The field occupied by the Augustinians is in Western
Luzón, Panay, and Cebú; and the villages in which they minister
number 58,800 tributes--which, at three persons to each tribute,
means a population of 176,400 souls. The Jesuits conduct missions in
Luzón, Panay, Leyte, Samar, Bohol, and adjacent islands; they have
sixty-eight churches, besides those in Manila and Cebú, and are in
charge of about 50,000 souls. The Franciscans have missions in Luzón,
with 80,000 souls; also some in Maluco and Japan. The Dominicans also
work in Luzón, ministering to somewhat more than 16,000 souls.
The viceroy of Peru writes to Felipe III (April 12, 1612) in regard
to the Philippine-Mexican trade, giving his report and opinion, at
the king's command, regarding the request of the Sevilla merchants
that the Philippine trade be taken from Mexico and transferred to
Spain and Portugal. This letter is an interesting exposition of
the theories regarding colonial administration then held by certain
Spanish statesmen--and, more or less, of the policy then pursued by
the Spanish government: for Montesclaros had already been a viceroy
of Spanish colonies in America for nine years, at the time of this
report, and was highly regarded by his home government. He describes
the progress of commerce since the colonization of the New World
began, and shows that the markets of the latter are overstocked with
European merchandise, and thus the profits of the trade are greatly
decreased. The viceroy carefully analyzes the proposal to transfer
the Philippine trade to Spain, and shows its probable results. The
Manila merchandise is almost entirely silk; this could be replaced in
Mexico with the cotton fabrics made by the Indians in that country,
and the silk industry might be introduced into Mexico and made a
success there. Nevertheless, the Philippines would be injured by
the suppression of their Mexican trade, and there would not even
be a corresponding benefit to Spain. He has not much confidence in
the disinterestedness of the Sevilla merchants, and refutes some
of their arguments. The Spanish goods sent to Manila via Acapulco
are mainly articles of luxury, and in small quantity; and the cloth
stuffs of Spain are not desired in Japan or Luzón. He disapproves any
course which would bring the Chinese silks into Spain, for thus the
silk industry of that country would be ruined; moreover, the Chinese
goods are poor and have little durability. Montesclaros emphatically
denies that the stoppage of Philippine trade will materially affect
the outflow of silver from Nueva España, or benefit Spain; and advises
the king not to favor the Seville merchants or the Portuguese of India
to the neglect of his Castilian subjects. He compares the advantages
of the two routes between Manila and Spain, and considers that by
the Pacific Ocean the better. The viceroy discusses the matter of
sending reenforcements to the Philippines, and suggests that it
might be advantageous to send troops to Acapulco via the Isthmus of
Panama. He points out various dangers from the proposed suppression
of he Philippine-Mexican trade.
The bishop of Nueva Segovia writes (August 15, 1613), apparently
to some high official at the Spanish court, asking that aid may be
furnished to the recently founded college of Santo Tomás. Soria
complains of the Jesuits and the governor, who are opposing the
Dominicans. More priests of that order (to which the writer belongs)
are needed in the islands. Soria makes various accusations against
the Augustinians and their leading officials, and recommends Aduarte
and his mission to his correspondent's favor.
Felipe III writes to Silva (December 2, 1613), directing him to send
to Mexico all the quicksilver that he can procure in China. The
king approves Silva's acts in regard to Chinese immigration, and
investigation of corrupt officials. He asks for further information
as to Japanese trade, the treatment of the Indians by the religious,
etc. One of the royal councils makes recommendations to the king--by
communications dated respectively June 28, 1613, and July 1, 1616--that
for the aged archbishop of Manila shall be appointed a coadjutor, who
shall receive one-third of the former's stipend, with certain fees. An
abstract of a letter from the Jesuit Ledesma to Felipe III (August 20,
1616) presents a gloomy view of the condition of the islands. Their
trade has greatly decreased; the expeditions against the Dutch have
nearly ruined the citizens; the Indians are exhausted by the burdens
and taxes levied upon them; and the islands are in constant peril
and are frequently harassed by their numerous enemies. The king is
asked to send aid for the colony without delay.
A prominent Jesuit in Manila, Juan de Ribera, writes (probably in 1616)
an account of an expedition sent from India in 1615 for the aid of
the Philippines. The Dutch are obtaining so firm a foothold in the
Orient that the Spanish commerce is not only much decreased, but is
in constant danger from the attacks of the "Dutch pirates." Silva
despatches Ribera to India, to ask from the viceroy aid for the
Philippines; he sends with the envoy four galleons, which, after
a voyage of many delays and hardships, reach Malacca. There they
encounter a large Malay fleet, which they defeat, with great loss
on both sides. A few weeks later a Dutch fleet arrives at Malacca,
intending to unite with these very Malays; a fierce battle ensues,
in which the Portuguese galleons are destroyed. In February 1616,
Silva arives at Malacca with his fleet; but soon afterward he is
attacked by a fever which causes his death (April 19). To this is
added another version of Ribera's letter, and a letter by Valerio de
Ledesma--both obtained from Colin's _Labor evangelica_. These cover
the same ground as the preceding letter, but contain some matter not
found therein, including an account of the battle at Playa Honda.
A biographical and chronological list of all the Spanish governors
of the Philippines, from 1565 to 1898, is here presented. It is
prepared by a careful collation, sifting, and verification of data
obtained from the best authorities extant; and will be found useful for
reference by general readers, as well as by students of history. This
is followed by a law of 1664, providing for the government of the
islands ad interim; and an extract from the _Historia_ of the Jesuit
Delgado (1751), "Some things worth knowing about the governors of
the Filipinas Islands." He says: "In no kingdom or province of the
Spanish crown do the viceroys or governors enjoy greater privileges,
superiority, and grandeur than in Filipinas." Delgado moralizes
on the qualifications necessary for such a post, illustrating
his remarks by historical examples. He outlines the intercourse
and relations of the Philippines with the peoples about them,
and the conquests made by the Spanish colonial governors. Next is
given a chapter from the _Estado de las Islas Filipinas en 1842_ of
Sinibaldo de Mas--a Spanish diplomat who visited the islands--on "the
administration of government and the captaincy-general" therein. He,
too, describes the great authority and privilege of the governor of
the Philippines; and outlines the plan of the general, provincial,
and local governments. The mestizos, when numerous in any community,
have their own separate government. As the cabezas de barangay and
some members of their families are exempted from paying tributes,
they form a privileged class which is a burden on the taxpayers--a
serious defect in the system of government. A special arrangement
is made for the Chinese residing in Manila, and they are enrolled
and classified for the payment of taxes. Finally, a chapter on "the
political and administrative organization of Filipinas" is presented,
from Montero y Vidal's _Archipiélago filipino_ (1886). He devotes
special attention to the subject of local government in the native
towns; and explains why the Filipino natives are so anxious to obtain
the post of gobernadorcillo. The writer describes the mode of dress and
the customs in vogue among these local dignitaries, as well as their
methods of administration. There are certain other petty officials,
whose functions are described; and he ends by stating the powers
and functions of the provincial rulers and those of the governor and
captain-general of the islands, and sharply criticising "the vicious,
anomalous, and unsuitable organization of the provinces of Filipinas."
_The Editors_
July, 1904.