_Manuel de Caceres_, notary
And after all the above events in the said port of Mohala, in the said
galley "Espíritu Santo," on the twenty-fifth day of the month of March,
one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious Captain
Don Juan Arce summoned to his presence Ensign Francisco Rodriguez,
Ensign Salvador de Sequera, Ensign Pedro de Salasar, and Sergeants
Bartolomé de Tapia, Cristoval de Arqueta, Antonio Canedo, Francisco
de Ribera, Melchior de Villanueva, Alonso Loçano, Juan de Chavarria,
Luis Briceño, Cristoval Xuares, Baltasar de Bustamente, Juan de la
Feria, Juan de Yepes, and Antonio Sanchez, for this purpose having
ordered the rally sounded by trumpet. When these had come and with
them the other persons and soldiers whom he wished to be present,
the said captain took the instructions for this expedition given
him by the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and
captain-general for his Majesty in these Western Islands, and auditor
of his royal Audiencia of Mexico, and ordered it to be read publicly
in the presence of the above-named persons. When it had been read
and heard publicly by all, the said captain told them his reason for
summoning them together to hear the said instructions--namely, that
they might know that King Soltan had broken his word given two or
three days previously. He said that he would come to treat with the
said captain; and he had not sent messengers to excuse his inability
to come, nor had he done anything else. Therefore it was proved that
he had entertained them with promises, in order that he might collect
and place in his fort the rest of his property. Especially was this
proved more conclusively, for on this said day no fishermen had come,
as was their usual custom, to the fleet to trade their fish. However
they had come near to get their nets and a sort of weir with which they
are wont to catch fish. And although the captain wished to enter the
city and river of Borney, he did not dare to do so, in order not to
violate the order of the said governor; for he had heard that they
would not neglect to station some scout-boats in Borney with some
culverins and artillery, and that they would fire at us, and then take
flight to the fort which was reported to have been built. Not being
able to pursue them or attack them, because of having no commission
for it, meant that he would suffer in estimation and lose reputation
among them. This did not appear desirable to him, so he resolved to
send some soldiers in a light vessel next day, with orders only to
see whether they had the said fort, or had commenced to build it,
in the islets of Polocelemin [32] and Pangaran, in order to advise
his Lordship concerning it. He resolved to wait several days, in order
to make other inquiries, as he should consider best. The captain told
all those present that they should examine this resolve to see whether
it was proper. If any other thing could be done or ought to be done,
more befitting his Majesty's service and that of the said governor in
his royal name, he requested them to tell him; for if their advice was
good he would accept and act upon it willingly. All of the above-named
answered--not excepting any point--that nothing better could be done;
that it was very well considered and ordained; that he should carry
out his plan for the examination of the said islets in order to
give his Lordship an account of them; and that, with this and the
inquiries made by his Grace, he would have done everything to which
his commission obliged him. And it was not at all fitting to give the
Moros any opportunity to say that we came back to make war upon them,
especially without the orders of his Lordship. I, the present notary,
attest all the above, which occurred as set down above, witnesses
being Father Baltasar de Miranda, Juan de Santiago, Pedro Granado,
the above-named. The said captain and the other witnesses signed the
same with their names.
_Don Juan de Arce_
_Pedro Granado de Aguero_
Witness,
_Baltasar de Miranda_
_Juan de Santiago_
Before me, and I attest the same:
_Manuel de Caceres_, notary
I, Manuel de Caceres, notary, appointed by the illustrious Captain
Juan de Arce Sadornil in this expedition made this present year to
the kingdom of Borney, hereby attest to all that see this present,
that from certain enclosures with nets, that are wont to be set near
this fleet, certain Moros with their boats were wont to come hither
to trade their fish. As we paid them and gave them good treatment,
they returned, and thus they were wont to do. On this day more boats
coming to the said enclosures, they drew up their nets, went away
and did not bring us any fish, nor did they appear, nor do we know
why they do not come. This argues the suspicion that their king or
some one else has summoned them. At the request of the said captain,
I give this present, so that what is done in the galley "Espiritu
Santo," in the said port of Mohala, on the twenty-fifth day of the
month of March, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, may
be evident. Witnesses of the above are Anton Sanchez, Baltasar de
Bustamente, Juan de Santiago, and other persons.