The King: To Gomez Perez Das Marinas, my governor and captain-general
of the Philippinas Islands. I have received the letters that you
wrote me by the last fleet from Nueba España. You have done well to
advise me so minutely of the condition in which you found affairs in
those islands, and how ill their government was being carried on. You
shall continue on all occasions to do this, acting in the islands
according to your obligation, and in conformity with the hope and
satisfaction that I have had, and have, in you. You have done very
well in having observed so punctually, as you say, what was ordered
you in the instructions that I had given you. You shall do likewise
with the other matters in your instructions.
I was very glad to hear how far advanced work was on the cathedral
church of that city. I was pleased to see the care and promptness with
which you have attended to what I ordered you in regard to this. I
consider this as a service from you, and charge you that, if there be
anything lacking to finish the work, you shall see that it is done
as quickly as possible. Although you have been sent in duplicate
the decrees that you carried, they are now being sent again, without
considering that fact, to the officials of Mexico, so that they may,
upon the first opportunity, provide you with the supplies mentioned.
You have done very well in applying the one thousand pesos of income
to the hospital for Spaniards, and the five hundred to that for the
Indians, as I ordered you in your instructions. I charge you that you
aid and protect them to the best of your ability, since the work is
so charitable.
Since you say that the blankets that I ordered sent from Mexico for
the said hospitals are not needed, as you have there all you want,
and at a cheaper price, and that the money spent on them might be
better spent on other indispensable necessities of the said hospitals,
you shall advise the viceroy, Don Luis de Velasco, so that he may
convert the money for them into what you consider most needful.
You advise me that you wished to audit the accounts of certain brothers
of the habit of St. Francis, who have charge of the hospital for the
Indians, but that they refused to show the accounts, and asserted
that I had nothing to do with it; and that, until I should endow that
house and satisfy its needs, I could have nothing to do with it,
nor in the other charitable works of that bishopric. You say that
the bishop had abetted that, and that he had sided with and aided
the brothers. And although you ought, notwithstanding his reply,
to continue your investigations, which have not yet been made, you
shall, as soon as you receive this letter, take possession of the said
hospital, and of any others in the said islands, in my name, as patron
of them--for such I am by right and by apostolic bull. Likewise you
shall call to account all who shall have had charge of the incomes,
alms, and other matters pertaining to them. I am writing to the bishop
not to hinder you in this; and that, if he desire, he may be present
at the said settlement of accounts.
Since the bishop has gone to excess in placing so many fiscals and
officials in that city and in the other towns of that island, and
in arresting and whipping Indians, to the very great prejudice of my
jurisdiction, he certainly must restrain himself. Now and henceforth
you shall see that the said bishop does not meddle or concern himself
with more than pertains to him by right, and that he observe the
regulations imposed by the laws of my kingdoms.
I have noted what you say in regard to the artifices and plans of
the bishop, so that my patronage might not be exercised; and that
he appoints the incumbents of benefices removable _ad nutum_,
and temporarily, not in actual ownership and by institution,
in order to be able to remove them and appoint others; and the
excommunications with which he annoys the officials of my royal estate,
and the encomenderos, if they do not furnish the salaries of those
ecclesiastics whom he appoints without notifying you. Inasmuch as
these things are prohibited with especial distinctness, and the said
patronage belongs to me throughout all the states of the Yndias, you
shall have it observed. The bishop shall not meddle with the matter
of the salaries, but you yourself shall pay to those who shall give
instruction what is due them according to the ordinance.
As I have understood the opposition offered by the religious, and the
difficulties that they placed in the way of executing the ordinance
which prohibited buying the Chinese merchandise--except through persons
assigned for it and at a moderate price set by them, who should buy
at wholesale, and afterward distribute the merchandise--I am writing
the enclosed letters to the provincials of the orders, ordering them
not to offer any opposition in such matters. You shall deliver them
to the provincials, and shall act according to your orders.
You have acted excellently in ordaining that no suits regarding actions
committed and past before the establishment of the Audiencia shall
be admitted, since, as you very truly observe, this meant opening
the door to many difficulties, and giving opportunity to the people
to become entangled in embarrassments and troubles. Therefore, you
shall continue with the execution of this plan, and shall endeavor
always to prevent suits and quarrels, which are so prejudicial and
harmful in lands so remote, as is easily understood.
In regard to what you say of the embassy and present that you think
should be sent to the king of China, in order to conciliate him to
my service, and to open the door, by this way, for the preaching of
the gospel in those districts, I am considering the matter, and shall
advise you of what is resolved upon.
All that you say concerning the need of religious is borne in
mind. Therefore as many as possible will always be sent. At the
present time, a number of them are going, in especial thirty descalced
religious of the order of St. Francis. Care and diligence will be
exercised, in the future, to provide those who, as you shall advise
us, are needed.
It is very advisable and necessary for the Indians to have a protector
and defender, as is the case in Piru and Nueba Spaña. And since,
as you say, the bishop, to whom I had entrusted it, is unable to
attend to the affairs, acts, and judicial procedures which require
personal attention, you, as governor, shall appoint the said defender
and protector, to whom you shall assign a suitable salary. This
salary shall be paid from the tributes of the Indians, distributed
proportionally among those assigned to my crown and those allotted
to private individuals, without at all infringing for this purpose
upon my moneys that proceed from other sources. Notwithstanding this,
you are to understand that the bishop is not to be deprived of the
general superintendence of the protection of the said Indians.
You report that, upon your arrival at those islands, you found that
the Indians of Sirean, Yllocos, and Cagayan were paying ten reals,
and had been doing so since the tribute was imposed, because, as they
were more wealthy, heavier tribute was imposed on them than on the
others. You say that you are in doubt, because your instructions state
that the tribute of eight reals is to be increased and raised to ten,
whether you are to understand that all the tributes are to be raised
two reals; for if so, then those who formerly paid ten must now pay
twelve, just as those who were paying eight now pay ten. Inasmuch as
the intention was that all the tributes should be raised two reals,
you shall order that those Indians who were paying ten reals shall
pay twelve, now and henceforth. You shall adjust this with the mildest
possible means.
Respecting the duties that are to be paid on the gold dug in those
islands--about which you say there has been a dispute, since the
former fiscal of the Audiencia there claimed that it should be the
fifth, while the city contradicted him, and petitioned that it be
but the tenth--you shall endeavor, conveniently and mildly, now
and henceforth to introduce the fifth, since it is the right that
pertains to me. If you shall encounter in this great difficulties
and annoyances, you shall leave the matter in its present shape. You
shall advise me of the condition of the country and the mines, and the
annual amount of the said fifth, based on the present value of the
tenth, so that after examination in my royal Council of the Yndias,
the most advisable measures may be enacted.
You say also that, inasmuch as you found Don Bernardino de Sande
very poor, you were unable to collect from him the proceeds of the
encomienda of Baratao, in accordance with the writ issued by my
royal Council of the Yndias. In consideration of this, and because
he had served well, you say that you left him in possession of the
encomienda, providing that he annually put one-third of the income
arising from it into my treasury. Also, that you have allotted the
other villages that he occupies in La Laguna of that city to Don Juan
Ronquillo and Don Gonzalo Ronquillo de Ballesteros in equal portions,
as a reward for their services; and that likewise you have appointed
Captain Gomez de Machuca (who is a very meritorious person) to the
post of treasurer, with a salary of five hundred pesos, until the
owner of the office should arrive. All of the above is well done.
Likewise you say that one section of your instructions orders that
while the soldiers draw pay they may not trade, as such a thing would
distract them from their military duty; and that although this is
right, you think that they might be permitted to invest two or three
hundred pesos, because of their great poverty and as an aid to its
alleviation. This would not embarrass them, and you would not allow
it to distract them. In consideration of this, I endorse what you
say. Therefore you may tolerate this in them to the above amount.
You wrote me from Mexico what you repeat in your latest letters--that,
in order to be able to ensure respectable soldiers going to those
islands, it would be advisable to permit the soldiers who go there to
return to Nueva Spaña, or wherever their wives or business interests
were, after several years' service, or if necessary business arose,
or if they were, as some are, married; for, as it is seen that they
are not permitted to leave those islands, none but mestizos and
people of little account go there. After discussing this matter,
it was determined to refer it to you, as I do now, in order that you
may act as you may consider most advisable; but so that there may be
no lack of the people necessary in that country.
The suit that you mention between the bishop and the encomenderos in
regard to the tithes, has not yet arrived here. As soon as it comes,
it will be examined, and necessary steps will be taken.
Inasmuch as you report that there are certain Sangley shops in the
Parian, whose rent is given to their governor; and that it is not
advisable that those Sangleys remain there, because they are not
Christians; but that some settlement outside the city should be
assigned them, and the rent for their shops applied to that city as
public property, while another kind of remuneration be given to the
said judge of the Sangleys: I refer to you everything pertaining to
this matter, so that, after consulting with the licentiate Rojas and
the municipal government of that city, you may provide for it in such
manner that the said Sangleys receive no injury or dissatisfaction.
Under the present cover I enclose to you a second decree, ordering that
my officials of those islands should pay their wages to the sailors,
carpenters, blacksmiths, and other workmen; and that, if my treasury
there should prove insufficient for this, they send to Nueba Spaña
for the deficit. Under other covers I am writing to the viceroy to
have this carefully obeyed.
Notwithstanding that the provision mentioned in your instructions,
ordering that none but inhabitants of those islands engage in trade,
was not delivered or afterward sent to you, you shall observe the
contents of that section of the said instructions which treats of this.
The effort which you report having made with the city, that a convent
of nuns be founded in the church of Sant Andres (the erection of
which has begun), which is discussed in section twenty-seven of your
instructions, is well, and you shall continue it.
You will know my wishes in regard to the sale of the offices from
the despatches that have been sent to you, and you shall observe them.
The bulls of crusades and composition, which you say might be applied
in those islands, were sent to you; and my royal Council of the
Crusade is writing in regard to it.
In remunerating and providing for the deserving, you shall continue
to observe the instructions and orders given you.
In regard to what you say about the entrances and new discoveries, and
their great necessity in order that the soldiers may be maintained,
and their extreme poverty alleviated, this is not the principal
end that must be observed, but that of the service of God, and the
welfare of the Indians. Inasmuch as you have the matter in hand, you
shall consider what will be most advisable, and you shall accordingly
ordain in it what you consider fitting, in accordance with the nature
and condition of the country, and the people that you shall have.
You have done very well in applying the proceeds of the merchant's
peso on the Chinese merchandise, and the monopoly of playing-cards,
to the wall of that city; and because you have made, for the same
purpose, a two per cent assessment and contribution on the citizens
and on the Peruvian and Mexican merchandise traded in that land. And
although you report that this two per cent assessment has been made
for only one time, you shall continue the collection of this duty,
and that on the playing-cards, and the merchant's peso, until the
said fortification is finished.
You shall be very careful to favor the cathedral and hospitals. You
shall advise me of what alms can be given, and to what amount, since
you report their, necessity as so great.
I note what you say in regard to the change of lieutenant-governor
that you advise, or my giving you permission to appoint another. In
the meantime, until what is deemed advisable is provided in regard to
this (which is now being discussed) you shall endeavor to maintain
pleasant relations; and shall proceed as is most desirable to the
service of God and to mine, and to the welfare of the land.
What pertains to the navigation from those islands will be determined
as soon as possible--namely, whether it shall be at my account,
or at that of private individuals, and you shall be advised of the
resolution taken. In either case, you shall send information, now and
henceforth, upon all occasions, to my royal Council of the Indias,
of all vessels leaving there, and of their registers, with itemized
cargo--as, so much in gold, and so much in merchandise, with the
declaration of the different kinds.
You say that you have experienced difficulties and opposition on the
part of the encomenderos in establishing the increase of two reals
on the tribute of each Indian; and that notwithstanding that they
afterward agreed to it, yet they petitioned that they be allowed
to collect their tributes in the usual way. As this does not seem
to you advisable, but you desire that they collect with mildness,
you shall ordain thus, and it will receive endorsement.
In undertaking the construction of the galleys, you shall advise me
of its progress, and of their cost, and for what purpose they can
best be used.
I am ordering Joan de Ledesma to send you, with this, signed copies
of the decrees prohibiting Peru and Guatemala from trading in those
islands and in China. In accordance with these decrees, you shall
regard as confiscated everything that may be traded in violation of
those orders.
It is not advisable to make any innovation in regard to the permission
which you request--namely, power to despatch vessels to Peru and
other points; but you should observe the decree.
The other points of your letters are being discussed, and an answer
will be sent to you upon the first occasion. Madrid, January 17,
one thousand five hundred and ninety-three.
_I The King_
By order of the king, our sovereign:
_Joan de Ybarra_.
Countersigned by the council.
[_In the margin, at the beginning of this document_: "Reply to Gomez
Perez das Marinas, governor and captain-general of the Philippinas
Islands."]