[1] The earliest compilation of laws regarding the Spanish colonies of
Nueva España was made, by royal command, by Vasco de Puga (an auditor
of the Audiencia of Mexico), and printed in 1563. Francisco de Toledo,
viceroy of Peru from 1569 to 1581, prepared a code of ordinances for
that country (see Markham's _Hist. Peru_, pp. 149, 156-159, 538). In
1570, Felipe II ordered that a revised compilation of the laws and
ordinances for the government of all the Indias be made. After many
efforts and delays, this was accomplished in 1628, but the work was
not printed until 1681. It is the fifth edition (_i.e._, reprint)
of this compilation from which we obtain the laws presented in this
document; it was printed in Madrid in 1841.
[2] See _Vol_. VIII, p. 253.
[3] "The present state of affairs in that which relates to this titulo
is that set forth by the decree of March 10, 1785, establishing the
Company of Filipinas. In regard to this law and those following in
this titulo, the reader should remember that a royal order of July 20,
1793, permitted the Company of Filipinas to trade directly between
those islands and the ports of South America in one or two voyages,
to the amount of five hundred thousand pesos apiece, on condition of
paying the foreign duty and the 9 1/2 per cent on the silver taken
back. This permit, which was limited during the war with France,
was, by a new royal order of September 24, 1796, made general for
all succeeding wars, if carried on with maritime powers." The above
note is translated from the _Recopilación_, where it follows law
1. Space permitting, the decree of March 10, 1785, mentioned above,
will be given in this series.
[4] This law and all those treating of the prohibition of commerce
between Perú and Méjico, Tierra-Firme, etc., were completely superseded
by a royal decree dated El Pardo, January 20, 1774. That decree was
ordered to be kept and observed by the superior government of Lima,
August 1, of the same year; and separate copies were ordered to be
drawn, so that all might know that his Majesty had repealed and revoked
the general prohibition of reciprocal commerce by the South Sea between
the four kingdoms of Perú, Nueva España, Nueva Reíno de Granada, and
Guatemala." We transfer this note from law ix, of this título of the
_Recopilación_, an editorial note to law lxviii referring to law ix.
[5] Such a citation as this shows the hand of the editors or compilers
of the _Recopilación_. Law lxvii bears as its earlier date March 3,
1617, and refers to the sending of contraband Chinese goods to the
House of Trade of the Indias in Sevilla.
[6] The governors of the Filipinas grant permission to those who go
to those islands under condemnation of crime to return. Inasmuch as
on that account many convicts hide away from the judges who exiled
them, we order the governors, under no circumstances, to permit
them to return to Nueva España or to go to Perú during the period of
their exile. And should they be condemned to the galleys or to other
services, they shall fulfil the condemnation,--[Felipe III--Aranjuez,
April 29, 1605. Felipe IV--Madrid, January 27, 1631. In _Recopilación
de leyes_, lib. vii, tit. viii, ley xxi.]
[7] The _Recopilación_ is not clear as to the date of this law and the
one immediately following. Law lix bears both dates (as also does law
lx), and is designated as clause 11. Laws lxix and lxx bear no date
(probably through error of the compiler or printer), but are designated
as clauses 16 and 17, and clause 18, of a decree by Felipe III. Hence
the above dates with queries have been assigned to these laws.
[8] Luis Geronimo de Cabrera, fourth Conde de Chinchon, became viceroy
of Peru in 1628, holding that office until 1639. During his term
there was made known the efficacy of a medicine--previously in use
among the Indians--the so-called "Jesuit's bark," or "Peruvian bark,"
obtained from a tree found only in Peru and adjoining countries, named
_Chinchona_ by Linnæus, in honor of the viceroy's wife (who, having
been cured by this medicine, introduced its use into Spain). From
this bark is obtained the drug known at quinine.
[9] Whenever any ships sail from the port of Acapulco and other
ports of Nueva España to make the voyage to Perú on the opportunities
permitted, it is our will and we order our officials of those ports
to visit and inspect those ships with complete faithfulness and
the advisable rigor. They shall endeavor to ascertain whether such
ships are carrying any Chinese silks or merchandise, or any from the
Filipinas Islands. They shall seize such, and declare those found
as smuggled goods. They shall divide them, and apply them as is
contained in the laws of this titulo. [Felipe IV--Madrid, April 9,
1641. In _Recopilación de leyes_, lib. viii, tit. xvii, ley xv.]
[10] See note to law lxviii, p. 33.
[11] See _Vol_. XIV, note 12, p. 99.
[12] Latin, _Bacchanalia_. In Latin countries, the three days before
Ash Wednesday are given up to boisterous outdoor merriment, which
frequently degenerates into coarse and licentious revelry. Hence,
the expression "Bacchanalia" Carnival. In order to counteract these
abuses, the Jesuits at Macerata in Italy, introduced, in 1556,
some special devotions during the three days. The Exposition of the
Blessed Sacrament was held in the church, this custom was adopted by
St. Charles Borromeo, in Milan; and it gradually extended to other
places, and was developed subsequently into "The Devotion of the
Forty Hours," which is not confined to the Carnival season. This is
the explanation of the term "Bacchanalia," in connection with that
church ceremony--_Rev. E.I. Devitt, S.J._
[13] Evidently referring to the capture of van Caerden's fleet by
Heredia (see note 26, _post_).
[14] Flagellation in the Philippines was a custom probably taken
from the early Spanish friars, but it has been so discouraged of late
years by the church that it is performed only in the smaller villages
of the interior and in the outlying _barrios_ of the larger towns,
more or less secretly, away from the sight of white men. Especially
is it prevalent during Holy Week. Although the Philippine flagellants
are called "_penitentes_" the flagellation is not done in penance,
but as the result of a vow or promise made to the diety in return
for the occurrence of some wished-for event, and the "_penitentes_"
are frequently from the most knavish class. The fulfillment of the
vow is a terrible ordeal, and begins back of the small chapel called
"_visita_" that exists in every village. The "_penitente_" wears only
a pair of loose thin white cotton trousers, and is beaten on the back
by another native first with hands and then with a piece of wood with
little metal points in it until the blood flows freely. Thus he walks
from _visita_ to _visita_, with covered face, beating himself with
a cord, into the end of which is braided a bunch of sticks about the
size of lead pencils. He prostrates himself in the dust and is beaten
on the back and soles of his feet with a flail. At every stream he
plunges into it, and grovels before every _visita_. From all the houses
as he passes comes the chant of the Passion. (Lieut. Charles Norton
Barney, who was an eye-witness of the flagellation--"Circumcision and
flagellation among the Filipinos," in the _Journal_ of the Association
of Military Surgeons, September, 1903.)
[15] See _Vol_. IX, note 13. Roberto Bellarmino, born in 1542, entered
the Jesuit order in 1560, becoming one of its most famous theological
writers. He was long connected with the college at Rome, and later
was successively provincial of Naples, a cardinal of the Roman church
(from 1599), and archbishop of Capua (1602-05); he died at Rome,
September 17, 1621, Perhaps the most widely known of his works is the
_Doctrina christiana_ (Rome, 1598); it passed through many editions,
abridgments, and translations, having been rendered into more than
fifty languages. See account of these in Sommervogel's _Bibliothèque
de la Compagnie dé Jésus_, art. "Bellarmino." "He was the first Jesuit
who had ever taken part in the election of a pope"--Cretineau-Joly's
_Hist. Comp. de Jésus_ (Paris, 1859), iii, p. 106. This refers to
the election of Paul V (1605).
[16] In the Ventura del Arco MSS. (Ayer library) i, pp. 341-381,
is a copy of a letter (dated June 11, 1611) from Father Armano to
his provincial, Gregorio Lopez, detailing the achievements of Silva's
expedition to the Moluccas in 1611--on which occasion Silva restored
to his throne Zayri, king of Ternate, who had been kept as a prisoner
at Manila for five years. Rizal says in his edition of Morga, p. 247,
note 1, that this king did not return to his island. He was probably
taken back to Manila shortly after this restoration.
[17] Pedro Solier was born about 1578; he entered the Augustinian order
in 1593 at Salamanca, where he remained five years, and then joined the
Philippine mission. In 1603 he went to Spain on business of his order,
returning to the islands in 1606. Elected provincial of his order in
1608, he held that office for two years; and in 1610, "on account of
the deposal of Father Lorenzo de León, journeyed to Spain to make a
report of that unpleasant incident" (Perez's _Catálogo_, p. 57).
[18] Baltasar Fort was a native of Moto in Valencia, though some
say of Horcajo in the diocese of Tortosa. He studied Latin grammar
at Villa de San Mateo. At Valencia he studied philosophy. He took
his vows at the Dominican convent of San Esteban at Salamanca,
May 2, 1586. After serving as prior and as master of novitiates in
Aragonese convents, he went to Manila in 1602. Mart of his ministry
there was passed in the province of Pangasinam. He served as prior of
the Manila convent, and then as provincial, after which he was sent
to Japan as vicar-provincial, whence he was exiled in 1614. He was
definitor several times and once rector of the college of Santo Tomás,
after which he was again prior of the Manila convent. He died in that
convent without the last sacraments, October 18, 1640, being over
seventy years of age.--See _Reseña biográfica_, part i, pp. 311, 312.
[19] Francisco Minayo was a native of Arévalo. After arriving at the
Philippines in 1598, he labored extensively in Cagayán, where his
ministry had good results. He was accused of the sin against nature,
but after arrest and trial was released. Later he was prior of the
Manila convent, and after his three years' term returned to Cagayán,
where he died at Lallo-c, August 25, 1613. See _Reseña biográfica_,
part i, pp. 302-303.
[20] The following law was passed at Lerma July 23, 1605; and at
Madrid December 19, 1618, and is found in _Recopilación de leyes_,
lib. iii, tit. x, ley xiv: "The governor and captain-general of the
Filipinas Islands shall take care to reward the soldiers who shall
have served us there, and their sons, with the posts and profits
that shall fall to his appointment, in accordance with the ordinance,
and with full justification, so that they may have some remuneration,
observing in everything the laws issued upon this matter."
[21] Father Gregorio Lopez was a native of the town of Alcocer, in
the bishopric of Cuenca. He studied theology at Alcalá de Henares,
but took the Jesuit habit in Mexico. He filled in Mexico the chairs
of the arts and of theology, and was master of the novitiates. After
sixteen years' residence in Mexico he went to the Philippines,
where he became a teacher of Christian doctrine, and rector of the
seminary at Manila. He was later vice-provincial and then provincial
of his order for eight years, being the first provincial. He died at
the age of fifty-three, on July 21, 1614. He spent fourteen years in
the Philippines.
[22] La Concepción says (_Hist. de Philipinas_, iv, p. 284) that the
Dutch unexpectedly encountered at Panay a Spanish force, on its way
to the Moluccas, who compelled the invaders to retreat.
[23] Francois de Wittert. See _Vol_. XV, pp. 323-328.
[24] "The bells of the churches were cast into heavy cannon" (La
Concepcion, _Hist. de Philipinas_, iv, p. 286).
[25] _Vino de Mandarin_; literally, "mandarin wine."
[26] Paul van Caerden (Pablo Blanchardo), who had made several voyages
to the East Indies, was captured by Sargento-mayor Pedro de Heredia
after a fierce fight near Terrenate, the seat of the new Dutch posts
in the Malucos. Juan de Esquivel, Spanish governor of the Malucos,
allowed him to pay a ransom of fifty thousand pesos; but was severely
rebuked by the Manila Audiencia then in power, for doing so without
first advising them. Esquivel took the censure so much to heart
that he fell into a melancholy, and died soon after. His successor,
Sargento-mayor Azcueta Menchaca, anxious to please the Audiencia,
pursued van Caerden and captured him a second time, although the Dutch
tried to burn their ship to escape such an ignominy. He was sent to
Manila, and his ransom promised on certain conditions. Twenty-two
Spanish prisoners at Ternate were given; but, the other conditions
not being met, the Dutch officer was kept prisoner at the expense of
the royal treasury until his death, in Manila. See La Concepción's
_Hist. de Philipinas_, iv, pp. 112-114.
[27] La Concepción and Montero y Vidal make this name Faxardo (or
Fajardo) instead of Pardos; and the latter gives the following name
as Luis Moreno Donoso.
[28] The original is _malos días_, literally, "a bad
'good-morning.'" It is used as the term _buenos días_, or "good
morning."
[29] The Trinitarian order was founded at Rome in 1198 by St. John
of Matha, a native of Provence, and Felix of Valois, an aged French
hermit, in order to redeem Christian captives from the infidels. The
order received sanction from Innocent III. Their rule was that of
St. Augustine, with particular statutes; and their diet was one of
great austerity. The habit in France was a soutane and scapular of
white serge, with a red and blue cross on the right breast. The first
monastery was established at Cerfroy, France, and continued to be
the mother-house, until the French Revolution. At one time the order
had two hundred and fifty houses, and by the seventeenth century
had rescued 30,720 Christian captives. At the dissolution they had
eleven houses in England, five in Scotland, and one in Ireland. The
religious were often called Red or Maturin friars in England, from
the color of the cross on their habit and because of their famous
house at Paris near the chapel of St. Maturin.
A reformation made by Father Juan Baptista was approved by the Holy
See in 1599, and resulted in the erection of the congregation of
discalced Trinitarians in Spain. Their houses, as well as those of
the unreformed portion of the order, were suppressed in Spain in the
reign of Isabella II.
See Addis and Arnold's _Catholic Dictionary_, p. 810.
[30] The Ventura del Arco copy reads _concera_, which may be a
mistranscription for _cascara_, hull.
[31] Pedro Montejo took his vows at the Toledo Augustinian
convent. After his arrival at Manila he was master of novitiates and
superior of the Manila convent of San Pablo until 1607. In that year
he was assigned to the Japan missions at his own request. He probably
did not go to that empire, however, for shortly afterward he was in
Manila again on business for the province, where he embarked. He was
captured by the Dutch and killed, as stated in the text, by a ball
from the Spanish fleet. See Peréz's _Catálogo_.
[32] For quite another estimate of these youthful commanders, see
_ante_, p. 97.
[33] This was Fray Juan Pinto de Fonseca.
[34] This difference in time when sailing east and west, was commented
on by many early writers. Acosta (_History of the Indies_, Hakluyt
Society's publications, London, 1880) says "seeing the two Crownes of
Portugall and Castille, have met by the East and West, ioyning their
discoveries together, which in truth is a matter to be observed, that
the one is come to China and Iappan by the East, and the other to the
Philippines, which are neighbours, and almost ioyning vnto China, by
the West; for from the Ilands of Lusson, which is the chiefe of the
Philippines, in the which is the city of Manilla, vnto Macao, which
is in the Ile of Canton, are but foure score or a hundred leagues,
and yet we finde it strange, that notwithstanding this small distance
from the one to the other, yet according to their accoumpt, there is
a daies difference betwixt them.... Those of Macao and of China have
one day advanced before the Philippines. It happened to father Alonso
Sanches, ... that parting from the Philippines, he arrived at Macao
the second daie of Maie, according to their computation, and going
to say the masse of S. Athanasius, he found they did celebrate the
feast of the invention of the holy Crosse, for that they did then
reckon the third of Maie." Acosta then gives the reason for this
difference. See _Vol_. I of this series, p. 22, note 2.
[35] A species of pelican (_Pelicanus sula_).
[36] The modern province of Bungo is located on the eastern side of
the island of Kyushu, on the Bungo Channel.
[37] It is prohibited by us that the Audiencia of Filipinas should
grant licenses [for anyone] to go to the provinces of Peru. We order
that all the audiencias of Nueva España keep and observe this law, and
that those of Peru do the same in regard to Nueva España." Ordinance
27, Toledo, May 25, 1596. (_Recopilación de leyes_, lib. ix, tit. xxvi,
ley lxi.)
"The governor of Filipinas shall not concede leave to any soldier
or any other person who shall have gone there at the cost of our
royal treasury, to leave or go out of those islands unless there be
very urgent causes; and in this he shall proceed with great caution
and moderation." Madrid, March 29, 1597. (_Recopilación de leyes_,
lib. ix, tit. xxvi, ley lxii.)
"It is advisable that the citizens of the Filipinas Islands shall
not leave them, and especially those who are rich and influential. In
consideration of this, we order the governors to proceed with great
moderation in giving passports to come to these kingdoms or those
of Nueva España, for thus it is important for the preservation of
the people of those islands. And in consideration of the fact that
the passengers and religious who come are numerous, and consume the
food provided for the crews of the vessels, we order the governors
that they avoid as far as possible the giving of passport to the said
passengers and religious, in order to avoid the inconveniences that
result and which ought to be considered." Segovia, July 25, 1609;
and San Lorenzo, August 19, 1609. (_Recopilación de leyes_, lib. ix,
tit. xxvi, ley lxiii.)
[38] On the death of Pedro de Acuña, Rodrigo de Vivero was appointed
governor ad interim of the Philippines, by viceroy Luis de Velasco
of Mexico. He landed at Manila, June 15, 1608, and governed until
April of the following year. He was a native of Laredo (Santander),
and was experienced in the political life of the Indies. He introduced
important reforms and laws among the alcaldes-mayor and corregidors. He
was given the title of Conde dela Valle, and made governor and
captain-general of Panama. See La Concepción's _Hist. de Philipinas_,
vi, pp. 114-116.
[39] The following description of Japan it taken from _Recuril des
Voyages_ (Amsterdam, 1725), ii, p. 84: "These islands look toward
New Spain on the east; Tartary on the north, besides other countries
unknown; China on the west, and unknown lands on the south; with
a large sea between them. They comprise 66 petty kingdoms, and are
divided into three chief parts. The most considerable, and the one
always named first, is Japan, which contains 53 seigniories, or petty
kingdoms, the most powerful of which are Méaco and Amagunce. The
king of Méaco has under him 24 or 26 kingdoms, and he of Amagunce 12
or 13. The second of these three parts is called Ximo, and contains
9 kingdoms, chief of which are Bungo and Figeu. The third part is
called Xicoum, and contains 4 kingdoms or seigniories." J.J. Rein
(_Japan_, London, 1884), gives four divisions in modern Japan,
namely, Japan proper, the Riukiu Islands, Chigima or the Kuriles,
and Ogasawara-shima or Munitô, commonly called Bonin Islands.
[40] A kind of silk grograin.
[41] Gabriel de la Cruz (in the Moluccas as early as 1605),
together with Lorenzo Masonio (Laurent Masoni) wrote a relation
entitled _Relacion de la toma de las islas de Ambueno y Tidore que
consigueiron los Holandes en este año de 1605_, which is published
by Colin in his _Labor Evangélica_, lib. iv, chap. ii. Masoni was
born at Campolleto (Naples), February 27, 1556. He entered the Jesuit
order when already a priest, in 1582. In 1586 he went to the Indies,
where he died at Amboina, July 19, 1631. He wrote also a letter from
that island, which is published in _Lettera annuæ di Giappone_ (Roma,
1605), pp. 113-121; also in _Hist. Univers. des Indes orientales_,
by Antoine Magín (Sommervogel).
[42] The author of the present relation precedes the portion here
presented, which appears to be complete, by a notice of the death of
Father Antonio Pereira. This notice appears to have been abridged
by Ventura del Arco, who copied the document from the archives. La
Concepción states (vol. iv of his history) that after Acuña had
recovered the Malucos, all but two of the Jesuit priests there were
ordered to Malaca. This included Pereira, who was stationed on the
island of Siao. The authorities at Malaca contended that the care
of these religious devolved upon the Philippines, hence they were
ordered to go there. Pereira left Malaca in July, 1608, for Manila
in a Portuguese vessel, but they were wrecked after twenty days'
voyage. The Portuguese and Father Pereira started for Borneo next
morning in the small boat, leaving 130 slaves who were in the vessel
to their fate. After four days the boat reached a desert island, with
its occupants famished. Father Pereira, having a knowledge of the
region, procured water from one of the hollow canes growing on the
island. There they were captured by Moro or Malay pirates and sold
by them to the Borneans. They were sent to Manila in a small boat
by the sultan; but, in a storm, Father Pereira died. He was a son of
Gonzalo Pereira, who had also lived at Siao. Father Pereira had aided
Chirino in various labors in Cebú, whence he later returned to Siao.
[43] This phrase, the usual epithet of the general of the Jesuit order,
would indicate that Lopez was addressing that official--who was then
Claudio Aquaviva; he died on January 31, 1615.
[44] A vessel built like a pink--that is, with a very narrow stern--and
sloop-rigged.
[45] By metaphor, the instrument is here used for the person; the
reference is to the advocacy of the Virgin as obtained through
the rosary, the instrument of the chief devotion to Mary. As
such, many churches and other institutions are dedicated to the
rosary.--_Rev. Patrick B. Knox_ (Madison, Wisconsin).
[46] Thomas Aquinas, born in 1227, belonged to a noble family,
descended from the kings of Aragón and Sicily. Entering
the ecclesiastical life, he soon became noted as a scholar and
divine. He was professor of divinity in several universities, and
author of numerous theological works. He died on March 7, 1274, and
was canonized in 1323. Various epithets have been bestowed upon him:
"the Angelic Doctor," "the Universal Doctor," "the Dumb Ox" (alluding
to his taciturnity), "The Angel of the School," and "the Eagle of
Theologians." "It was in defense of Thomas Aquinas that Henry VIII [of
England] composed the book which procured him from the pope the title
of Defender of the Faith" (Blake's _Biographical Dictionary_, p. 66).
[47] Argensola says mistakenly that this father was killed by the
Chinese in the insurrection of 1603.
For sketch of his life see _Vol_. XIII, note 43.
[48] Domingo de Nieva was a native of one of the three towns of
Villoria in Castilla, and professed in the Dominican convent of San
Pablo at Valladolid. On going to the Philippines he was sent first
to the mission of Bataan, where his labors were uninterrupted and
severe. He became fluent in the Tagil language, after Which he was
assigned to the Chinese mission near Manila; and he composed and
published several devotional treatises in both those languages. He
was elected prior of Manila, but before his three years in that office
were finished, he was sent as procurator to Madrid. He died at sea, at
the end of 1606 or the beginning of 1607, after having spent nineteen
years in the Philippines. See _Reseña biográfica_, part i, pp. 108-110.
[49] That is "by my priestly word."
[50] The see of Cebú was made vacant by the death of Bishop Agurto
(September 14, 1608), and that of Nueva Cáceres (in 1607) by the death
of its second bishop, Baltasar Corarrubias, O.S.A. The reference in
our text is to the appointment of new bishops for these sees--for Cebú,
Pedro Matías, O.S.F.; and for Nueva Cáceres, Pedro de Arce, O.S.A. But,
as Matías did not understand the Visayan language, these appointments
were finally exchanged; Matías was transferred to Nueva Cáceres, which
he administered for two years and until his death, and Arce to Cebú.
[51] Because of the difficulty that has been represented to us in going
or sending from very distant provinces, separated by the sea, to give
their accounts, we have determined and resolved that the accounts of
Chile and Filipinas shall be examined as hitherto, in accordance with
the ordinances of the Audiencias--notwithstanding what is ordained
by others--given to the accountants. The accounts shall have to be
brought and given in the tribunal of accounts. We order that those
thus examined in Chile be sent to the tribunal of accounts in Lima,
and those of the Filipinas to that of Méjico. Our royal officials
of those treasuries shall also send at the beginning of each year
the lists and muster-rolls of the soldiers to the said tribunals,
signed also by the governor and captain-general. The accountants
of the above-mentioned tribunals shall send a report of the said
accounts, with its lists, to our council of the Indias." Felipe III,
San Lorenzo, August 17, 1609, ordinance 24. (_Recopilación de leyes_,
lib. viii, tit. i, ley lxxix). A decree dated San Lorenzo, October 19,
1719, ordered this law to be observed, and ordered also inspection
of the treasuries every week. See note in _Recopilación de leyes_
to the above ordinance.
[52] Marcos de Lisboa was born of a noble family in Lisboa,
Portugal. At an early age he was sent to India to engage in its
commerce. Establishing himself at Malacca, he took the vows in 1582,
in the Franciscan convent established there in the preceding year
by Juan Bautista Pisaro. In 1586 he went to the Philippines, where
he projected and later helped to found (1594) the Confraternity of
La Misericordia at Manila. He later spent a number of years in the
province of Camarines, where he labored extensively. He was elected
three times as definitor (1602, 1608, and 1616), and once (January 16,
1609), as vicar-provincial. In 1618 he went to Mexico, whence (July 16,
1622), he went to Madrid, and then to Rome to take part in the general
chapter of his order. At the conclusion of the chapter he retired to
the convent of San Gil at Madrid, where he died in the beginning of
1628. Lisboa left a number of written works, among them four in the
Bicol language, which he was the first to write. See Huerta's _Estado_,
pp. 447, 448.
[53] The Marquis de Montesclaros (third marques of the title, see
_Vol_. XIII, p. 228) was born posthumously probably at Sevilla;
and was a knight of the Order of Santiago, and gentleman of the
bedchamber. Throughout his offices as viceroy of Nueva España and
of Peru, he showed ability and determination, and his policy was
approved. See Moreri's _Dictionnaire_, vi, p. 268; and Bancroft's
_History of Mexico_, iii, pp. 5, 6.
[54] The consulate (see _Vol_. XIII, p. 57) of Sevilla was formed
in accordance with a law dated August 23, 1543; it authorized the
exporting merchants of that city to meet annually for the election of
prior and consuls to administer, regulate, and guard the commercial
interests of those merchants. See the laws enacted regarding this
institution, in _Recopilación de leyes_, lib. ix, tit. vi.
[55] The Atlantic Ocean; the new trade-route opened by the Portuguese
a century before led to the Atlantic via the Cape of Good Hope.
[56] Spanish, _tan en las mantillas_, _i.e._, the long outer garments
in which an infant is dressed.
[57] Referring to the Cerro Gordo ("rich hill") of Potosi; see
_Vol_. XIV, p. 306.
[58] Perhaps the region known as Miztecapan, which has fertile valleys.
[59] A truce of eight months, to begin with May, 1607, was arranged
between Spain and the United Provinces, in which for the first
time Spain gave up its claims to control the latter. This paved
the way to the long truce of twelve years signed at the meeting of
the States-General at Bergen-op-Zoom, in April, 1609, in which the
independence of the United Provinces was recognized (see _Vol_. XI,
p. 166, note 27). But that independence was completely recognized
and assured only by the treaty of Westphalia or Münster (in October,
1648), which also opened to the Dutch the ports of the Eastern and
Western Indias.
[60] Thus in the text, according to the editor of _Docs. inéditos_;
apparently an error for Manila.
[61] That is, if the Philippine trade to Nueva España were suppressed
the commodities from Spain which are now shipped to Manila via
Acapulco, and are mainly articles of luxury, would not find any
greater sale in the Orient than before.
[62] In 1525 Esteban Gomez--who had been one of Magalhães's pilots
(_Vol_. 1, pp. 263, 319) was sent by Charles V "to find a route to
Cathay" north of Florida. He had but one caravel with which to make
this voyage, but he went to the Bacalaos (New-foundland coast),
and thence as far south as Florida. His discoveries were noted on
the map of the cosmographer Diego Ribero (1529). Gomez's voyage is
described by Peter Martyr.
[63] Referring to the treaty of Zaragoza (_Vol_. II, pp. 222-240).
[64] Montesclaros has forgotten the capture of the "Santa Ana" by
Candish. See _Vol_. VI, p. 311, and _Vol_. XV, appendix A.
[65] The fictitious strait of Anian (for which name see Bancroft's
_History of Northwest Coast_, i, pp. 53-56), was the supposed
western terminus of the northwest passage, whose eastern terminus
Cortereal was thought to have found in Hudson Strait. A kingdom
marked Anian is shown On Ortelius's map (_Theatrum orbis terrarum_,
Antwerp, 1574), with the strait just north of it, above 60°. Both the
kingdom and district are shown on a number of old maps. Du Val's map
(Paris, 1684) of North America, which shows California as an island,
portrays the strait of Anian directly north of it, between 45° and
50° of latitude. Vaugondy's map (that of 1750 corrected), Paris,
1783, shows the strait between 50° and 55°. Comparing the latter with
Russel's general map of North America, 1794, the Anian strait appears
to coincide with the strait between Queen Charlotte's Island and the
mainland, the modern Hecate Strait. Vizcaino had orders to look for
this strait on his voyage, and explore it.
[66] Puertobelo, now called Porto Bello, is situated on the isthmus
of Panama, almost directly north of Panama--in the old department of
Panama of the United States of Colombia; but now (as the other places
herein named) in the independent state of Panama--and but little west
of Aspinwall, the Atlantic terminus of the Panama Canal. Chagre is
the modern Chagres, and lies on the Atlantic side of the isthmus
southwest of Porto Bello; there empties the Chagres River, which
can be ascended to Cruces, which is twenty miles north of Panama,
the Pacific terminus of the canal, capital of the old department of
Panama, and of the present state of Panama.
[67] Diego de Soria entered the Dominican order at Ocaña. He came to
the Philippines in the first mission of that order (1587), end held
various dignities and official positions in the province; he also
did missionary work in Cagayán and other regions of Luzón. About
1597 he went to Spain and Rome on business of his order; and later
was appointed bishop of Nueva Segovia, taking possession of that
see in 1604. He died in 1613, at Fernandina (now Vigan). See _Reseña
biográfica_, i, pp. 69-77.
[68] The reduction of silver ore by amalgamation with mercury was
discovered (although mercury had been used long before for obtaining
gold) by a Spanish miner in Mexico, Bartholomé de Medina, in 1557. From
that time, enormous quantities of mercury have been continually
required for the mining operations in the silver-producing districts
of Spanish America. Efforts were occasionally made by the Mexican
viceroys to procure it in China; but "the Chinese mercury obtained
from Canton and Manilla was impure, and contained a great deal of
lead; and its price [1782] amounted to 80 piastres the quintal." See
Humboldt's account, descriptive and historical, of this use of mercury,
in his _New Spain_ (Black's trans.), iii, pp. 250-288.
In this connection, see the interesting statement by Santiago de Vera
(_Vol_. VI, p. 68) that as early as 1585 the Japanese (who then had but
little communication with the Spaniards) were using Chinese quicksilver
in the silver mines of Japan. Some of the Chinese mercury had been
brought to Manila in 1573 (_Vol_. III, p. 245), and Sande mentions
(_Vol_. IV. p. 54) the mines of silver and quicksilver in China.
[69] This document is simply an abridgment or summary made by Ventura
del Arco from the letter of Ledesma.
[70] Cf. this statement with the royal decree of May 26, 1609, which
is presented in this volume, p. 79, _ante_.
[71] Valerio de Ledesma was born at Alaejos. March 23, 1556, and
became a novitiate in the Jesuit order in 1571-1572. He was sent
to the Philippines, where he served as rector of Cebú, associate of
the provincial, rector of Manila, provincial, rector and master of
novitiates at San Pedro Macati, and again rector at Manila, where he
died, May 15, 1639. See Sommervogel, Barrantes (_Guerros piraticas_),
and Pardo de Tavera (_Biblioteca Filipina_, Washington, 1903) as
to his authorship. See also Murillo Velarde's _Historia_ (Manila,
1749), book ii, ch. vii, pp. 260-266, for a notice regarding him. In
the Ventura del Arco MSS., at the end of this summary of Ledesma's
letter appears a tracing of his autograph signature.
[72] According to Sommervogel, Juan de Ribera was born at Puebla
de los Angeles in 1565, and entered upon his novitiate at Rome in
1582. He was sent to the Philippines in 1595, and taught theology
and was rector at Manila, where he died June 5, 1622. Besides the
present letter, Father Ribera was the author of the _Lettera annua_
from the Philippines for 1602-1603, which was printed at Venice and
Paris, in Italian and French respectively, in 1605.
[73] In regard to the correction of Manila time, see _Vol_. I, p. 22,
note 2.
[74] That is, "the Great Mogul," meaning "the ruler of Mogor," a name
applied to Hindostan. The monarch here referred to is Jáhangír (or
Jehanghir), the tenth of the Mogul emperors, who in 1605 succeeded to
the throne by the death of his father, Akbar the Great. See account
of his power and wealth, by Pyrard de Laval (publications of Hakluyt
Society, London, 1888-90) ii, pp. 250-253; also _The Hawkins' Voyages_
and _Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe_ (published by the same society in 1878
and 1899, respectively). Roe and William Hawkins successively resided
at Jáhangír's court between 1610 and 1620. An interesting sketch of
Jáhangír's life is given by Valentyn in his _Oud en Nieuw Oost-Indiën_
(Dordrecht and Amsterdam, MDCCXXIV), part iv, sec. ii, pp. 218-230;
it is part of a series of the sketches, "Lives of the Great Moguls."
[75] According to Montero y Vidal (_Hist. Filipinas_, i, p. 161)
this expedition was under the orders of Alonso Váez Coutiño.
[76] A small piece of ordnance; or, a long musket or matchlock.
[77] The plan of Malaca in Bellin's _Atlas maritime_ (Paris, 1764),
iii, 46, indicates this church, stating that it was then a magazine
within the fort. Other public buildings are located--the Chinese
pagoda and bazar, the Mahometan mosque, etc. See Valentyn's account,
descriptive and historical, of "Malakka," in his _Oud en Nieuw
Oost-Indiën_, part v, book vi, pp. 308-360; it contains a large
engraving, a view of the city of Malaca.
[78] A small city in the province of Badajoz, Spain.
[79] Cf. La Concepción's account (_Hist. de Philipinas_,
iv. pp. 330-366) of the ravages committed by the Dutch; the despatch
of a fleet from India at Silva's request (made through the Jesuits
Gomez and Ribera), and its conflicts with Malays and Dutch at Malacca;
Silva's preparations for the joint expedition; his journey to Malacca,
and death there; and the return of his fleet to Manila, and failure of
all this costly enterprise. La Concepción mentions Ribera's account
(p. 344), and says (p. 337); "We have a complete diary, written by
the rector of Manila [Ribera], from the twenty-first of November,
when they hoisted sail at Cavite"--that is, when he went on the
embassy to India in 1614. Apparently his account, as here presented,
has been synopsized and abridged by Ventura del Arco, who has also
borrowed somewhat from Ledesma's letter (_post_).
[80] This part of the document is the version of Ribera's letter
which appears in Colin's _Labor evangelica_, pp. 802-806. It is here
presented as containing some matter not in the other copy, and as
showing the methods of the respective editors.
[81] _i.e._, Kocchi. As in all foreign words ending with a vowel,
the Portuguese have nasalised the "i." In 1505 it was written
"Coxi." See A.C. Burnell's note in _Voyage of Linschoten_ (Hakluyt
Society's publications, London, 1885), i, p. 68. This city lies some
thirty miles north of Cape Comorin.
[82] Pedro de Francisco, S.J., was born at Mala, in the Zaragoza
diocese, in 1607. He was admitted to the Society in 1626, and went to
the Indias, where he taught grammar, and for seven years theology. He
labored at Cochin, and became rector of the Macao seminary, whence
he was driven by the Dutch. He was at Macassar in 1652, but his
name does not appear in the catalogue for 1655. See Sommervogel's
_Bibliographie_.
[83] Alberto Laercio or Laerzio, S.J., was born at Orte in 1557,
admitted to the Society in 1576, and set out for the Indies, where
he made his profession at Goa, July 9, 1590. For twelve years he was
master of the novitiates, rector of Salsette, and associate-visitor,
for three years vice-provincial, and for six years provincial. He
died at Cochin in 1630. See Sommervogel's _Bibliographie_.
[84] Francisco Roz, S.J., was born at Gerona in 1557, became a
novitiate in 1575, and went to the Indies in 1584, where he labored
in the Malabar mission. In 1601 he was appointed bishop of Angamala,
and in 1605, archbishop of Cranganore. He died at Parur, February 16,
1624. He wrote a number of treatises and letters. See Sommervogel's
_Bibliographie_.
[85] The two Latin phrases read in English, respectively: "He who
desires an episcopate, desires a good work;" and "He gets a hard and
fast slavery."
[86] Sommervogel mentions only that this Jesuit was a Portuguese
missionary at Goa in 1608, in which year (December 18) he wrote a
letter from Goa.
[87] The Assumption of the Virgin is August 15.
[88] That is, "Because we have sinned against thee, O Lord," etc.
[89] This is a letter by Valerio de Ledesma, S.J., according to Colin
(from whose _Labor evangélica_, pp. 806-810, we obtain it). Compare
with the first version of Ribera's letter, _ante_, in which the
account of Silva's death is similar to that by Ledesma. Colin has
evidently edited both letters more or less, and it is difficult to
ascertain what the exact original text was.
[90] Garcia Garcès, S.J., was born in 1560 at Molina, in the diocese
of Segovia, and entered the Society October 23, 1574. Going to
the Indias in 1588, he labored for several years in the missions
of Japan. He was rector at Nagasaki, whence he was exiled with his
companions. He went to Manila and later to Macao, where he died in
1628. See Sommervogel's _Bibliographie_.
[91] Melchor de Vera, S.J., was born at Madrid in 1585, and after
being received into the Society in 1604, went to the Philippines
in 1606, where he labored in the missions of the Bisayas and in
Mindanao. He served as rector of Carigara, and superior at Bapitan
and Zamboanga. His death occurred at the residence at Cebú, April
13, 1646. He was a good civil and military architect, and planned
and directed the building of the fortifications at Zam boanga, and
constructed the church of his residence at Cebú. See Sommervogel's
_Bibliographie_ and Murillo Velarde's _Historia_, book ii, chap. xxi.
[92] An account of this expedition is given in the first chapter of
Murillo Velarde's _Historia_ (Manila, 1749), evidently taken in part
from the present account.
[93] Inasmuch as Bonifaz, although junior auditor, obtained the office
by trickery he was a true governor _ad interim_, and the Audiencia
did not have charge of political affairs.
[94] The following authorities were used in compiling the above list
of governors: Morga, _Sucesos de las Islas Filipinos_ (Mexico, 1609);
Argensola, _Conquistas de las Malucas_ (Madrid, 1609); Colin, _Labor
evangelica_ (Madrid, 1663)--who mentions as authorities the authors
Morga, Grijalva, and Chirino; San Antonio, _Chronicas_, parte primera
(Manila, 1738); Murillo Velarde, _Historia_, (Manila, 1749); Delgado,
_Historia general_ (Manila, 1892); La Concepcion, _Historia general_
(Sampaloc, 1788-1792); Zúñiga, _Historia de las islas Filipinos_
(Sampaloc, 1803), and _Estadismo_ (Retana's ed., Madrid, 1893);
Mas, _Informe de las Islas Filipinos_ (Madrid, 1843); Buzeta and
Bravo, _Diccionario_ (Madrid, 1851); Montero y Vidal, _Historia
general_ (Madrid, 1887), and _Historia de la pirateria_ (Madrid,
1888); Combés, _Historia de Mindanao y Jolo_ (Retana's ed., Madrid,
1897); _Católogo de la exposition general de las Islas Filipinos_
(Madrid, 1887); Algué, _Archipiélago Filipino_ (Washington, 1900);
Sawyer, _Inhabitants of the Philippines_ (New York, 1900); Calkins,
"Filipino Insurrection of 1896" in _Harper's Monthly_, vol. xcix,
pp. 469-483; and various documents already published in this series.
[95] Delgado's work was written during 1751-54.
[96] Referring to the dissensions and conflicts between the secular
and ecclesiastical authorities which culminated in the assassination
(October 11, 1719) of Governor Bustamente.
[97] See account of this expedition in Argensola's _Conquistas_
(_Vol_. XVI of this series), book x. The king seized by Acuña was Saíd
Berkatt, the twenty-sixth king of Ternate; he came to the throne in
1584 and reigned until made a captive by Acuña--who treated him well,
but later governors made Saíd the subject of shameful neglect and
even cruelty. He died at Manila in February or March, 1627. After
Saíd was carried away from Ternate, his son Modafar became king;
the ruler of Tidore at that time was Cachil (or Prince) Mole. See
Valentyn's history of the Moluccas, in his _Oud en Nieuw Oost-Indiën_,
in the annals of Saíd's reign and life are recorded in pp. 208-255
therein (a separate pagination, after the introductory sketch of the
Netherlands dominion). On pp. 3, 4 are listed the islands subject
to Temate; they include Mindanao, the Talaut or Tulour group, Ceram,
Amboina, Solor, the Moluccas proper, and many others.
[98] In regard to this, see Sande's own letters and reports in
_Vol_. IV of this series.
[99] See account of the expeditions made in that year against the
Moro pirates, under the governor, Francisco de Ovando, in Montero y
Vidal's _Hist. de piratería,_ pp. 290-299.
[100] Ali-Mudin, sultan of Joló, claimed that he was dethroned by his
brother Bantilan, in 1748; and, with the Jesuit missionaries who had
just before arrived in Joló, Ali-Mudin went to Manila. In 1750 he was
baptized in the Catholic faith, and was named Fernando I. A Spanish
expedition was sent to reinstate him on his throne; but it was found
that Ali-Mudin was an apostate and a traitor, and the Spanish governor
of Zamboanga seized him and all his family and retinue, sending them
to Manila, where they were held as prisoners. All except Ali-Mudin and
his heir Israel were sent home in 1755; but these remained captives
until 1763, when the English conquerors conveyed them back to Joló,
and Ali-Mudin abdicated his throne in favor of Israel.
See Montero y Vidal's _Hist. de piratería_, pp. 279-299, 307-309,
317-320, 322, 338.
[101] This writer was minister-plenipotentiary from Spain to Pekin;
and during that term of office made a voyage to Manila, of which this
book is a result.
[102] _i.e._, those who pay the tax called _polo_--a personal service
of forty days in the year; see Montero y Vidal's note, _post_.
[103] The services of these municipal officers, which--barring certain
abuses, to which their small remuneration and excessive official
obligations force them--are of undeniable worth in the Philippines,
and their functions, which carry importance and respectability,
demand much rather that there be substituted for the ridiculous
name of gobernadorcillo, by which they are officially designated,
another name more serious and more in harmony with their praiseworthy
ministry. This is now being done among themselves in the more
enlightened villages, where they are called _capitán_ ["captain"]
instead of gobernadorcillo.--_Montero y Vidal_.
Cf. Bourne's account of these officials, _Vol_. I, of this series,
pp. 55, 56.
[104] The Spanish is _paso doble_, a term used also as the name of
a dance, the equivalent of the "two-step."
[105] This tribute is the contribution that the Indians and mestizos
pay in order to aid in the maintenance of the burdens of the state. The
_polos_ means the obligation to work a certain number of days in
neighborhood works.--_Montero y Vidal_.
[106] The tobacco monopoly was arranged by Governor Basco y Vargas in
pursuance of a royal order of February 9, 1780. Although opposed by
certain classes, especially the friars, the monopoly was organized
by March 1, 1782, and approved by royal order May 15, 1784. Under
the monopoly, however, quantities of tobacco always escaped the
vigilance of the government, and could be bought at much cheaper
rates than the government tobacco. The monopoly was repealed in the
province of Unión October 25, 1852; and in all the archipelago, by
a royal order in 1881. The order was applied in the islands in 1882,
and the suppression of the monopoly was completed in 1884.
Tobacco was introduced into the islands by missionaries in the
last quarter of the sixteenth century. The best brands come from the
provinces of Isabela and Cagayán. Its cultivation and export has been,
and is, of great importance, immense quantities both of cigars and
leaf tobacco being shipped chiefly to China, Japan, the East Indies,
the United Kingdom, Spain, and Australasia. About thirty thousand
people were employed in making cigars and cigarettes in the province
of Manila, most of them women. See Montero y Vidal, ii, pp. 295,
296, iii, p. 165; Bowring, pp. 309, 310; Sawyer, pp. 131-133, 158;
_Report_ of Philippine Commission (1901), iii, pp. 267-269; and
_U. S. Philippine Gazetteer_, pp. 75, 76.
[107] The royal assembly was the council whom the governor-general
had to assist him in his decisions, and they shared with him, to a
certain point, the authority. They counterbalanced his powers, and,
during the vacancy, took his place in the command.--_Montero y Vidal_.