The royal Council of the Indias has tried many methods to prevent
considerable amounts of silver being sent to the Philipinas from
Nueva Spaña; but those methods have been without result, as experience
has demonstrated. One has occurred to me, and I think, God helping,
that it will have good results. It is as follows:
The inhabitants of the said islands have no other means of support
than commerce, and in the shelter of their trade is sustained all
that church which now numbers so many faithful that it already has an
archbishop and three suffragan bishops for its government. Inasmuch
as that trade has hitherto consisted of Chinese merchandise with Nueva
España, it has been, and is, necessary to obtain from that country the
value of the merchandise in money, and to take the money there in order
to make the investment of the following year. Trade is there [_i.e._,
in the islands] like sowing in order to reap; and consequently, if the
door were to be partly closed to this trade, the said inconvenience
would cease. The door might be shut without any harm to the said
islands, if another door were to be opened to them, which would be
also as remunerative as the other, and would not be with his Majesty's
countries. In this way his money would not be taken away, for they
could engage in that trade with Japon. In this same manner as the
inhabitants of Manila lade the silks that they buy in that city from
the Chinese, and send them to Nueva España, they should lade them to
send to Japon, where there is a great consumption of these goods and
much excellent silver with which to buy them. This would be a very
good thing for the people of Manila; for, although the profits for
any year might be less than those of Nueva España, still they would
be more sure, because of the much greater frequency and shortness of
the voyage. Furthermore, they would enjoy the entire proceeds from
the returns for their goods. Of the returns from Nueva Spaña they
enjoy only to the sum of five hundred thousand pesos--the amount that
his Majesty allows to be sent annually to the Philipinas, and no more,
although the value of the goods in Mexico amounts to much more. Besides
that, this relationship with Japon would prove very beneficial to the
Philipinas for their security; because the Japanese are those who are
more feared in the islands than all the other neighboring nations,
for they are very courageous and arrogant. Consequently they would
prove excellent friends to oppose the Dutch, who are navigating
those seas. Also by means of this trade the church of that kingdom,
which is now so disturbed, would be made safe. By it would also be
reëstablished the trade of the Indias with Spaña, from which so many
profits would follow if that drain of money to the Philipinas were
stopped; and it would be without hurt to those islands.
This trade between Manila and Japon has already been usual for many
years, although in ships of small burden. It has been demonstrated
by experience that if all the trade to Japon were theirs, all that
country [_i.e._, the Philippines] could be very easily sustained
without needing anything further from Nueva Spaña and Spaña than
soldiers and the products of those countries. Consequently it would be
sufficient for two small vessels to sail in that route of the South
Sea. That would cost but little and that expense might even be met
from the royal treasury of Manila.
But the greatest bulk of this trade is from the Portuguese of Macan,
a town on the Chinese coast, which is about the same distance from
Japon as Manila. All its inhabitants, in number about three hundred,
support themselves by that trade; for, although they have other trade,
it is of slight importance.
Therefore, it is advisable, in order to attain the said trade, that
that town be abandoned, and that its inhabitants go to live in other
cities of India. They can do that without much injury to their goods,
since they carry them all by sea; and anywhere they have trade by
way of the sea. In order to dismantle that town, it is sufficient
for his Majesty to order that nothing be freighted thence to Japon,
but only from Manila. Thereupon all the inhabitants would immediately
pull up stakes [59] and leave that place.
Although such a thing appears harsh, and seems like falling out
with one saint to placate another, still it will seem an easy and
very advisable measure to those who have seen that town, or know
it close at hand--and there are several such persons here in this
court. And even if it were not evident that the good results above
mentioned would follow from it, this step should be taken as a policy
of good government, as such a course is advisable for the service of
God. For his name is blasphemed by the people of that kingdom of China
because of that town of Macao--such are the deeds of its inhabitants;
for they live as a people without any master, and are not under the
control of his Majesty, for the dwellers in that town are not his
vassals, but those of the king of China. They pay tribute to him,
and are subject to his mandarins, but not to others. Consequently
his Majesty does not derive one maravedi's profit from it, while he
incurs considerable expense; for he supports all its ecclesiastics
out of his royal treasury of Malaca, for the honor of the Portuguese
nation. For there they are so subject to those mandarins that, unless
they kneel on the ground with both knees, they cannot talk to them; nor
can they build one palmo of a wall, even in their own house, without
the mandarin's license, while [they practice,] besides, innumerable
infamies. [The transfer of] those people will be for the welfare of
the state of Yndia, because its fortresses are without soldiers, by
reason of the lack of dwellers in their ports. For the Portuguese,
being so eager for liberty, go to live in the lands where there is
most liberty, as in that land of China and that of Vengala. There
go most and the best of the soldiers of Yndia, who take service with
infidel kings and fight in their wars. Thence it follows that India
is lost, land and sea, while the Dutch have become masters of it;
and through their efforts much of the commerce between certain ports
has ceased. The consequence of that is that the public storehouses
[at Macao?] have become very poor, on account of the deficiency
in their usual supplies; and they do not possess the means to bear
the expenses, either in war or in peace, for the food of laymen or
ecclesiastics--nearly all of whom live on what is paid to them by
the king. Consequently, were that town of Macan dismantled, at least
that protection would cease; and they would settle in his Majesty's
lands, as is just, since the majority of them have gone to Yndia
at the cost of his royal treasury. That would also be a matter of
importance for the welfare of the kingdom of Portugal, since that
country gains so much in having a quantity of silver sent to Spaña
from the Indias, because of the large amount of it that oozes from
the latter country into Portugal; and just so much more would flow
thither as less is drawn off from Spain to other parts. Portugal
does not enjoy one single maravedi of the fruits of the trade of
that town, all of which are consumed in it and in China, where it is
situated. Besides for the maintenance of Portugal's state of Yndia,
the helpful proximity of the Philipinas is of much more importance to
it than one or two towns of that state, for it has been very evident,
for some years past, how important are the forces of the Philipinas
to cope with the common enemy of both states, namely, the Dutch. Those
forces have been sufficient to defeat the Dutch more than once. Since
money is what enables war to be carried on, it is advisable for both
states that Philipinas have considerable of it, at so little expense
to the state of Yndia as the possession of a town--at least, one of
the importance and advantage which we have mentioned--and also at
little expense to the treasury of his Majesty and of his kingdoms.
Only two objections can be opposed to this, but they are only apparent
objections. The first is that two ships are wont to ply between Goa
and China every year for cargoes of silk, which are afterward consumed
in India. That is the chief trade of the Portuguese in India. Those
vessels anchor at the city of Macan, and thus it seems as if [the
abandonment of] that city would cause the lack, [of a port] there
for this trade. But I answer that this is not so; for the Chinese
would not deny the port to the Portuguese, since they do not deny
it to many other nations who trade in their country without having a
town of their own there. On the other hand, the Chinese use that town
of Macan so harshly, that were it not for the large amounts that its
inhabitants owe them for the goods that the Chinese have supplied to
them on credit, the latter would already have driven the inhabitants
of Macan out of their country. But the Chinese act thus toward the
Portuguese, and treat them like negroes, so that they should go away
[of their own accord]. That town is rather a very great injury to the
Portuguese merchants who sail from Goa in the said ships--so much so,
that they avoid trading with its inhabitants, who generally sell the
goods that they have bought from the Chinese during the year, to the
Goa merchants at higher prices than the Chinese themselves ask. For
several years, the merchants in that region have been wont to go with
all their silver twenty leguas up stream in small boats to the city of
Canton, in order to trade with its natives, leaving their vessels in
the port of Macan--the inhabitants of which are mocked and disappointed
in the profit that they expected from the coming of the ships.
The second objection is that, were that town abandoned, all hopes
for the conversion of that great kingdom--which seems to have made a
beginning through Macao--would be crushed. But to that I answer, that
Macao is rather the great hindrance to the conversion; for the infidels
only see in that town evil examples. It is a great inconvenience
to have the Portuguese so prominently before the Chinese, for the
latter judge from them that all other Christians must be like those
whom they see there. Besides the ministers of the gospel, who would
have to conduct the conversion, cannot enter the interior of the
country unless in native costume--as is done there by some fathers
of the Society--and under protection of certain natives who conceal
them. That can also be managed from Manila, in the return voyage of
the Chinese ships, as well as from Macan.
Consequently, the suppression of that town by taking away its trade
involves no injury, but rather the said advantages. And, if there
were any difficulty, one should reflect which is the greater--to
abandon a church like that of the Philipinas, with so great a number
of the faithful, from which so much more may be expected, since there
is hope that from the Philipinas it could extend to all that world
(which is, beyond comparison, much more densely populated than this
world of our Europa); or, in order to preserve the church, to use the
lands of his Majesty so greatly to their injury; or to order three
hundred inhabitants to settle in another region, and to abandon that
location. May God give understanding to him who shall have to decide
this matter. I pass over any other better opinion. I am of the above
opinion, and affix thereto my signature. At Santo Thomas, etc.
_Fray Diego Auduarte_
[_Endorsed_: "Have this sent to Don Alonso Fajardo, so that after
examining the contents of this paper--which was furnished by a
competent person, who has spent considerable time in those islands--he
may use what portion of it seems most advisable, in accordance with
the present condition of affairs. The Council; May 26, 619."]
RELATION OF THE EVENTS IN THE FILIPINAS ISLANDS
AND IN NEIGHBORING PROVINCES AND REALMS, FROM JULY, 1618, TO THE
PRESENT DATE IN 1619
These Philipinas Islands are surrounded by so many and various
neighboring countries that they are like the center of a very beautiful
circumference composed of cities, kingdoms and provinces. The condition
of this district depends so much upon that of other places that it
will not be inappropriate to relate briefly what has occurred this
year in these other places, in order better to understand the present
state of affairs here. And if the description of any places should not
fulfil this purpose, it will at least serve to give an interesting
notice of countries so far away. All that is written here is taken
from relations and letters which our fathers have sent from various
places, and from what I have seen this year in this country.
_Of Eastern India_
To begin with, the most notable of the events that have occurred
in India is the destruction of the city of Baçani, a very beautiful
city, and important as containing many Portuguese hidalgos. It was
situated on the north coast, opposite the Mogors, with whom the
Portuguese carry on war. [60] It was very well built of stone, with
seven good monasteries of various orders; but its great strength
was not sufficient to defend it from the powerful hand of God, who
chose to raze it to the ground. To accomplish this, He employed all
four of the elements: the water, which fell in a great deluge from
the heavens; the air, which broke loose in the most horrible and
furious winds ever known; the earth, which trembled terribly; and
fire, which, wishing to serve its Creator in no uncertain manner,
shot out its tremendous bolts into the air and discharged them over
the miserable city. With such powerful enemies all the buildings
fell down--not one stone remaining upon another--except a chapel of
our Lady of Health [_Nuestra Señora de la Salud_], and part of the
convent of St. Francis, where some people took refuge. There were
lost, in the river more than sixty vessels loaded with provisions,
bound for Goa; and two others from Ormuz, one coming and the other
going. This destruction took place on the seventeenth of May, 1618. The
reason for it only God, with His unbounded wisdom, knows. All that we
here can understand is that the sins of the city provoked His wrath,
and that for two years past interdictions and censures upon it have
been continuous. Even the day before this disaster occurred, God took
from it (as He did another [?]) Father Rodrigo, of the Society, who
was one of His zealous servants, and transported him to another and
a better life. When news of this reached Goa, great demonstrations
were made there to appease the wrath of God, that He might not afflict
that city as He had afflicted Baçani.
_Of Great China_
In China, within recent years, a very severe persecution of Christians
broke out; and on account of the enmity of a mandarin, who was the
cause of this storm, four fathers were ejected from the residences
of Sanguin and Paquin [_i.e._, Pekin]. One of them was Father Diego
Pantoja, [61] a native of Toledo, a noted religious, one of the
most noted men who have been in China, and one who has learned most
of the Chinese letters, sciences, and language. Upon reaching Macan
from his exile, this father passed from this to a better life. There
still remained in China eight fathers of our Society. These, with
some others, are cultivating the vineyard of the Lord, maintaining
in the faith those already converted, and bringing into it others,
who, forsaking the false belief of idolatry, receive the water of
holy baptism. In short, these fathers are promulgating the holy
gospel. They write that they found, in one of the many provinces of
that extensive realm, a people who worship the holy cross, and who
are called Christians--although they are so only in name, for they
are in truth heathen. They also found a synagogue of more than twelve
thousand jews who live under the law of Moses. [62]
The Tartars, who usually are at war with the Chinese, this year invaded
China on the north side by way of the border province of Lona [_sc._
Liao?]. [63] They routed the Chinese armies, made a great slaughter
among them, took some cities, and destroyed many villages; and then,
because the winter is so cold, they retired to their own country
to remain till another year, when, they say, they will come with a
great force. And although they fear that they are not possessed of
everything necessary for this invasion, yet a short time before, [64]
a violent storm demolished for them that famous and strong wall, six
hundred leguas long, which separated China from Tartaria. The events
of this war and the state of the kingdom of China will be set forth
in a petition, or memorial, which the mandarins presented to their
king. Our fathers of Macan sent it to us, saying that the Christians
of Paquin had sent it to them. The fathers put it into Portuguese;
translated into Spanish, it reads as follows:
_Memorial which the mandarins of Paquin sent to the king of China in
the year 1618, when the Tartars invaded that kingdom._
This year, 1618, in the sixth moon, which is the month of August,
the president of the council of war presented to the king a memorial
for the defense [of the kingdom] against the Tartars, who entered
by the north walls. He humbly begs of you, my king, that you give
attention to this matter, and quickly open your treasuries in support
of this war to raise soldiers and to collect supplies. The facts
of the situation are, as I just now heard from the mandarins who
are in the province of the north walls, that the Tartars assembled
with the determination to seize this country of China. They say that
on the day selected for battle they entered through the walls and
captured some people, whom they sacrificed and burned at two in the
morning before the pitched battle; and, while they were burning the
sacrifice, great bombs and ingenious fireworks were discharged. They
raised flags on the hills and proclaimed their own king as king of
Paquin. Of soldiers who bear arms and other people there are thousands
of thousands--they are indeed, innumerable. Each soldier carries
several weapons. They entered by force of arms through the walls
called Humbre. The mandarins entrusted with the defense of this part
of the walls collected two armies [_companias_], ninety-six captains,
and three hundred thousand men, and came to blows eleven times. In
the first encounter our captain-general and thirty-seven captains
ordinary were killed. Our captain called Chun entered valiantly on
horseback into the ranks of the Tartars, killed five of them, and
was then himself killed and mutilated on the spot. Countless numbers
of our men died in these actions; some thousands were captured; and,
in retreating from the battle, amid the confusion and tumult, more
than a thousand more were killed. The victorious Tartar raised his
flag aloft and his men cried out, "Our king of Paquin comes to take
possession of Great China, which dared to resist him." The Tartars,
following up the victory, killed in various encounters more than six
hundred captains and soldiers of repute. The inhabitants of the cities
and towns deserted them and fled to the forests with their women and
children. On the same day the Tartars took three cities.
When I heard this news I met with the _Colao_ and the mandarins of
the court to take counsel as to what should be done. And truly it
seems that Heaven is assisting the Tartars, for how else could they
kill so many thousands of men and take three cities in one day? [65]
We all say that this is a punishment from Heaven, like so many other
calamities that are being suffered. For example, it did not rain during
the whole of last year in the province of Paquin, and so the people
went about almost dead. In the province of Xanto the hunger was so
great that they ate human flesh, for which there was a public market. A
great multitude of rats crossed the river. The fires of heaven burned
all the royal palaces. A gale blew down the five towers. There were,
also, in the heavens two suns, one swallowing the other--an occurrence,
certainly, of dire portent. Another very extraordinary thing beside
these occurred. We saw that man called Chanchain enter the palace to
kill the prince, in which event the mandarin [_illegible in MS._]
wishing to speak to you, my king, in a rather loud voice, in order
to show his fidelity. But you did not choose to listen to him, and,
instead, you ordered him to be put in the jail, and in fetters, and
sentenced to death, on the charge of having disturbed the soul of
your mother, who had recently died. We, the mandarins, wishing [to
aid?] him, beg you that you may be pleased to pardon him; because
it would certainly be a great pity to treat as a rebel a faithful
mandarin, who merely showed his love for you.
Moreover, the viceroys and the _Chaiery_ of each province several times
sent you memorials advising you of the calamities of the people, and
begging that you be pleased to diminish the customs and impositions,
a matter worthy of careful consideration. In the same way, all the
mandarins of the court have often implored you, by means of memorials,
that you should go out _incognito_ to hear complaints for the good
of the government of the kingdom, and to bring it into harmony with
the will of Heaven. If you had done this, we would now find ourselves
in a very peaceful condition, and our empire would last a thousand
centuries; but oh king, as you neither listened to nor examined into
what was proposed to you, it appears, rather, that you are sleeping at
your ease in your palace. You act as if you did not notice what you
clearly see with your eyes. Hence for a long time the mandarins have
been very much troubled. We have seen rivers running with blood. Are
not all these matters of evil portent? There are indeed, other
disasters than the falling of the walls on the Tartar frontier. We
often sent memorials asking you to order that they be rebuilt; and at
last you sent two mandarins with two hundred thousand men to repair
them. They went out last year in the ninth moon. While on the way, for
some unknown reason, a quarrel arose among the men at midnight; and
in less than two hours more than eighty boats and over seven hundred
men were burned, besides the many who were drowned. All this augured
evil. And thus we sent you a memorial asking that you should give
audience on matters concerning the good government of the kingdom,
according to the will of Heaven. You answered, "Now it is cold, now
hot; I am indisposed and unable to do it; I shall choose another day
to go out, or you may choose it." We the mandarins, together, chose
the seventh day of the same moon, which was convenient. You, however,
did not answer favorably, but instead threw the memorial into the fire.
Furthermore, we learned from the province of Xansinque, this third
moon, that a man suddenly appeared dressed in yellow, with a green cap
[_bonete_], and a little fan of feathers in his hand. He called out,
"Vanlle (which is the name of the king here) [66] is a king without
a government, although he has ruled a long time. He is always asleep
in his palace, wherefore the kingdom is about to be lost. The men
of the people must perish of hunger, and the great captains must die
by the sword and the lance." With this he disappeared. The viceroy,
Chaien, and the mandarins were greatly terrified, and made vigorous
efforts to find him and to learn who he was and where he lived,
but they never found further trace of him.
And now, when we learn of the calamities of all the provinces, when
from all of them we hear news of the great famine being experienced,
and when we see that many renowned mandarins, captains, and soldiers
have been killed in this war, we are well able to understand that this
man was an omen from Heaven, and the whole affair causes fear. If you,
our king, wish to go forth to encounter the Tartars you cannot do so
unless you have several millions of men, and thousands of thousands
of wagon-loads of supplies. We humbly beg that you undertake to
release the above mentioned mandarin, who is so unjustly detained in
prison. We also beg that you shall be pleased to open the treasuries
to raise an army. If you do so, much of the trouble will be removed.
_Of Cochinchina_
The new mission of Cochinchina, near China, where they formerly endured
great hardships, is now prosperous, and there are good prospects that
a splendid Christian community will grow up in that realm. [67] The
people there, induced by their false priests, had rebelled against our
fathers, saying superstitiously that it had failed to rain because of
the presence of preachers of the holy gospel. In this way they forced
the king, against his will, to order the fathers out of the country for
a time. But the fathers, in obedience to an order from their superior,
did not leave until they had almost completely christianized a Japanese
settlement which is there; and they so subdued these Japanese that,
although formerly they had been very rebellious and had given much
trouble to the king, they now became peaceable. The king was so pleased
with this that he recalled the fathers with the same benevolence that
he had formerly shown, and he gave them license to erect a church and
residence at his court. Heaven assisted at the same time in behalf of
the mission by sending abundant rain, thus leaving the superstition
of the heathens confounded and mendacious, and the king despicable
for this persecution. Two fathers of the mission and a lay brother
went to a port of the same kingdom, Cochinchina, called Pullocambi,
about fifty leagues from the court, at the request of the heathen
governor there. He offered to satisfy them, and treated them so well
that a beginning was made in that port of another residencia of the
Society. It may be possible to build up a large Christian community
in that place, since it is more quiet than Cochinchina, through its
being less cursed by traffic and by people of various nationalities
coming to trade. Thus there are six of the Society residing there,
teaching those whom they have converted, and with much diligence
learning the language of the land, without which they would not be
able to accomplish much.
_Of Japan_
In treating of the affairs in Japon one would wish to begin with
the coming of Fray Luis Sotelo, who, as soon as he arrived here,
began to attempt so many things that he succeeded with none. He
said to the bishop of Zebu (who is governor of this archbishopric)
that he had secured bulls from his Holiness authorizing him to be
bishop of half of Japon, [68] but as they remained in the Council
they were worthless. They even say (about which I am not certain)
that he attempted to consecrate himself here, but he did not succeed.
Then he planned to establish a seminary of Japanese, and had many
of them ordained, with what right or authority we do not know. Over
this matter there was much contention. He had a church built for this
seminary, and also took possession of various places, particularly in
a suburb of this city of Manila. One day he quietly took possession of
a house, placed a bell upon it, and said mass. Soon the governor and
the bishop came and asked him what he might be doing. He responded
that a smith puts his forge wherever he can in order to work at his
trade, and that he was doing likewise. They drove him away from there,
and now he is in one of his convents.
They are expecting in Malaca the bishop of Japon, Father Don Diego
Valente, [69] of our Society, native of Lisboa, and formerly head
of the professed house at Villaviciosa. They say that with him are
coming the procurators of Japon, Father Graviel de Martos and Father
Pedro de Morejon; the father procurate of China, Nicolas Trigaucio;
and a goodly number of members of the Society, who will have to wait
in some other place because the condition of affairs in Japon is such
that they cannot go there at present.
This year in Japon a great number of supernatural occurrences have been
noted, particularly in the city of Yendo, [70] which is the court of
the emperor. First, in the river at Yendo they saw some very beautiful
ships sailing against the current, a thing never seen there before,
for the river is small, and navigable only by very small boats. Second,
in the _patio_ [i.e., courtyard] of the palace, one day there was seen
an animal larger than an ox and smaller than an elephant, whose species
none could tell, as they had never seen such an animal before. They
tried to kill it with arquebuses and arrows, but it disappeared. Third,
in a hall of the same palace a large greyhound was found howling
pitifully. This the Japanese took for a bad sign. They asked who
had brought such a dog there, but no one could find out, because
the guards had been at the door all the time. They tried to catch
the animal and put it out, but it became invisible to them. Fourth,
in the quarter [_vario_, for _barrio_] of the Daimones, [71] who are
the nobles who serve at the court, there was heard a great clatter of
arms, just as if a very bloody civil war were going on. They called to
arms in the city, and every one responded. They went to the _vario_,
but found everything perfectly quiet. Fifth, on the top of a hill
near by the city they discovered some flags in the trees. They went
to see what they were, but found nothing. Finally, when the emperor
was about to go to Meaco, a comet like a handled catana [_i.e._,
sword], with a very beautiful cross in its head, appeared above his
fortress of Yendo. This caused him so much fear and consternation
that he gave up his journey entirely. Many of these things will not
be readily believed. Some of them I did not see, but credible persons
from where they occurred report them as well authenticated.
The persecution of Christians in Japon is more bloody than it has
ever been before, and has become as bad as could be imagined. It
will suffice to say that in the city of Nangacaqui thirty bars of
silver, each one containing about four ducados, are publicly offered
to whomsoever may discover a religious. But just as tender plants,
because of the cold of winter, take deeper root in the soil, these
religious, because of their difficulties, plant themselves more firmly
in the faith and bear more plentiful fruit. This has already been
demonstrated. Indeed, during the last year more than fifty Japanese
have nobly given their lives to the service of Jesus Christ; and
almost two thousand adults have for the first time received the water
of holy baptism, through the efforts of our fathers alone. These
fathers, like good pilots, have not been dismayed by this great
tempest On the contrary, there have been thirty-two members [of the
Society] distributed throughout Japon, holding fast to the helm of
this little craft, toiling lest the sea should swallow it up in so
furious and destructive a tempest. Not less valor has been shown in
this matter by the chief pilot, Father Francisco de Vera, whom our
father general sent as visitor of Japon from one of the provinces of
India. When he reached Macan and learned how cruel the persecution was,
he determined--in spite of being almost seventy years old and afflicted
by many infirmities--to go this year to Japon, to console and encourage
the Christians and our brethren who so commendably labored with them
there. His life has been a great source of edification and consolation
to all. In order that his presence there should do no harm, he went
very secretly and without company. He wears secular dress. The good
father goes from house to house, under a thousand inconveniences and
dangers, such as the other fathers also endure. What he has suffered
and is still suffering in this way is very pitiful.
Some religious (although only a few) from the orders of St. Dominic,
St. Francis, and St. Augustine, are also working laudably in the
vineyard of the Lord. Some went to Japon this year, but the majority of
them have not succeeded in this design, because most of the Japanese
boatmen, although Christians, have been afraid to carry them. For the
emperor issued a very stringent order that any boat which should carry
religious should be burned with all its goods, and that those going
in it should be put to death. Nevertheless, some Franciscan friars
have gone, very secretly. Some time ago, in the city of Fixoxuna,
Father Antonio and Brother Leonardo, both Japanese, were imprisoned
for the faith. For this also, on August 16, 1618, they beheaded in the
city of Meaco Fray Juan de Santa Marta, of the Order of St. Francis,
and a native of Cataluña. He had been imprisoned three years in the
public jail, where, in spite of the hard labor and bad treatment to
which he was subjected, he continued to preach our holy faith to the
heathen prisoners, some of whom received it and died in it. [72]
At midnight on December 13, 1618, they seized Father Carlos Espinola,
procurator of the province of Japon, and his companion, Brother
Ambrosio Fernandez. The same night they seized two other fathers,
Dominicans, two of four who went to Japon last year. The other two
returned to these islands. On the twenty-fifth of March, 1619, they
seized the provincial and the prior of the Dominicans, Fray Francisco
Morales and Fray Alonso de Mena. One of these Dominican fathers died
in the jail. Thereupon the rest of the religious concealed themselves
so effectively that the Portuguese traders in the country could not
find any one to whom they might make their Lenten confessions.
Last year I wrote how one of the ships which were despatched from
this city to aid Maluco resorted to treason, and took possession of
everything. Thenceforth, as is well known, it went from one country
to another and from one place to another. Finally it sailed, almost
shipwrecked, to an island of Japon. When the Portuguese commandant
learned of this, he sent to the ruler of the island to demand those
robbers who had mutinied on one of the king's ships. The ruler sent to
the commandant, proposing to hang them; but some religious forbade
it, whereupon he sent them prisoners to Macan, where, they say,
the mutineers were punished.
The two Dutch ships which last year were plundering in these islands
the ships that came from China, returned to Japon, after having
loaded up with many silks which they had seized. They took with them
three Chinese ships with rich cargoes, placing on each one a guard
of Hollanders. But in a storm the Chinese fled with their ships,
carrying with them the Hollanders that were on board, on whom they
retaliated by drowning them in the sea. Thus the spoil [of the Dutch]
was not so rich as was expected.
This year there went to Japon a patache which the Hollanders had
captured in Maluco from the English, and on which there remained some
English, badly wounded. They reported that the Hollanders had taken
two ships from the English, and had cut off the noses and ears of all
whom they had found alive. Upon hearing this, the English who were in
Japon were exceedingly angry; and, as they were in good standing at the
court, they went to complain to the emperor. The Japanese merchants
also complained that because of the robberies which the Hollanders
had committed during the last two years on the coast of Manila, they
had lost the profit which they had usually drawn from the trade with
Philipinas. They said that not only were the Hollanders of no advantage
to Japon, but that rather they were very injurious, since they took
from the kingdom large quantities of munitions and provisions for
their fleets, and thus made everything dearer. It may be hoped that
from these complaints will result the expulsion of the Hollanders
from Japon, which will be very injurious to them, but very good for us.
The Hollanders felt keenly the loss of one of their large pataches
which was coming from Olanda to Japon with thirty men, good artillery,
more than fifty thousand pesos in money, and very rich jewels intended
as presents to bribe the magnates of Japon. On the way, the patache
encountered four Portuguese galliots which were coming from Macan
loaded with goods. The Hollanders attacked the Portuguese, intending
to seize a galliot; but fortune changed, and in the fight their ship
was run down by one of the Portuguese vessels. When the Hollanders saw
that they were lost, they themselves set fire to the powder; and those
on board were hurled into the water, where they were despatched with
pikes. The Portuguese rescued only a Japanese who had been to Olanda,
and was on the ship coming back with the Hollanders. [73]
_Of Mindanao_
The island of Mindanao is one of these Philipinas; it is inhabited
by Mahometan and heathen people, who make fierce war upon us. They
sally out with their little fleets, repeatedly plunder the towns,
desolate the fields, capture many Indians, and even Spaniards, and
kill a great number of people. This year the Lord has been pleased
that they should not be able to sally forth as usual, as they have
been very much occupied in civil wars. And if the Hollanders were
not so constantly engaging our attention, and we were to go there,
they might be destroyed--as is asserted by a Franciscan friar who
has been a captive among them for a long time, and has recently come
from there. [74] But we leave it to God; for He, with His most lofty
providence, knows how to govern in His own way.
_Of the Malucas_
To begin with spiritual affairs, a wide door to the holy gospel has
opened in the island of Manados, which borders upon that of Macacar;
and it is hoped that through it will come a rich harvest. At present a
father of our Society, named Father Cosme Prieto, is there. The fathers
of Portugal, to whom the Malucas Islands belong, plan to send more
laborers there. The king has been converted, as well as nearly all the
princes of the kingdom; and only the queen persists in her heathenism.
The people of the island of Tidore, who long have been our friends,
and through whom we are able to maintain ourselves in the Malucas,
broke the treaties which they had made with the Terrenatans. They
are engaged in war, and every day there are deaths on one side or the
other. These circumstances are very advantageous for us, because the
Terrenatans are warm friends of the Dutch and enemies to us.
All the aid sent last year from this place reached Maluco, without
suffering any loss on the way, either from the sea or from the enemy,
as has usually been the case other years. To furnish this aid five
ships went laden with supplies, and with fifteen thousand pesos to
pay the infantry. Hence our forces there are, for the present, well
and even abundantly supplied, although there is some lack of men,
because many have died of _bebes_, which is a disease of the legs
very common in those islands. [75]
In 1619, ships went to Olanda loaded with cloves and drugs and
other things of various values; we fear, therefore, that the power
of these Hollanders will increase in these parts, because what they
carry enriches them and enables them to send large fleets here. The
enemy, the Hollander, built another fortress besides the ones that he
had in the islands of Ternate; and we also built another in Tidore,
and are building still another. We may thus be able to inflict much
injury upon our enemies.
In Nambrino it happened that in a drunken revel of the Hollanders the
powder took fire, and a large part of the fortification was blown up;
but they have already repaired it. They say that in this accident
nearly two hundred men were burned. The inhabitants of the island
of Vanda are much of the time at war with the Hollanders, of whom
they have killed many--notable among them the commander-in-chief--by
poisoning the water that they used. It is said that they do not like
the Hollanders, but prefer the Portuguese, with whom they have been
friendly for many years. A Portuguese just now arrived from Maluca,
fleeing from the Hollanders who had held him prisoner more than three
years, and with whom he had been in various places. People say that
at present the Hollanders are on very bad terms with the nations
where they have factories. It is also said that there have come to
them from Olanda six ships and a new governor.
With oil of cloves and drugs people go to the Malucas from almost
all over the world; it is therefore believed that in these seas there
must be for a long time to come some of the hardest battles ever seen,
and that many in attempting to trade in cloves will have to encounter
iron. [76]
The French have a factory there. [77] Three of their ships came and
fought with the Hollanders, who took away one; the other two were sent
to France with cargoes. Some galleons have also come from the English,
who, according to report, now have fourteen. It is said that they
have had a fight with the Hollanders, from whom they took away two
ships. These two nations are unfriendly because of the above-mentioned
injury which the English received from the Hollanders, and also because
they are rivals. It is said that the English have an order from their
king to the effect that if the Hollanders should be stronger than
themselves they must join with us and harass them on all sides.
The Hollanders have seen that in their battles with us they have
received much damage from our galleys; therefore they built two
vessels of this class to bring with their fleet to these islands. But
our Lord was pleased so to order it that, when coming from Amb[o]ino
to Ternate, one galley sank with all the people, and the other ran
aground, although the people were saved.
_Of the Philipinas Islands_
On the eleventh of November, 1618, at three o'clock in the morning,
a comet was seen from this city of Manila. It had a tail, was
silver-colored, with a slightly ashen tinge, and had an extraordinary
form. At first it was like a trumpet, and then like a catan (which is a
weapon peculiar to Japon, resembling the cutlass), with the edge toward
the southwest; and at the end it appeared palm-shaped. The declination
[78] of the southwestern end was twenty degrees south. At first its
length was equal to the whole of the sign of Libra, with which it
rose. Eight days afterward, the declination of the southwestern end
was twenty-four degrees and thirty minutes south. At this time the head
was thirty-one degrees south, and the lower point, or end of the tail,
eight degrees from the star called Spica Virginia. No star exhalation
[79] was seen, although some say that they saw a very small one. On
the twenty-fourth of November another tailed comet appeared, even
more beautiful and resplendent than the first. At its head [_al pie_]
was a burning star. It appeared in the east. It had a declination
of eight degrees, and it pointed southwestward to the sign of the
Scorpion, which is the sign of Manila. These two comets lasted some
three months. They write from Japon, Maluco, and India that they were
seen in those places.
The devotion of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Virgin has
been notable in this city. This year great eight-day fiestas, with
masks and illuminations, have been celebrated with much solemnity in
the cathedral church and in that of St. Francis. It is feared that
there will be much hunger in the islands during the present year,
because the locusts are so numerous that they cover the fields and
destroy the grain. May God help us!
In September, 1618, a ship was despatched from these islands for
Macan primarily to carry needed munitions, although it did not
neglect to take a quantity of money belonging to private persons,
to be invested in merchandise. A few days after setting sail it was
overtaken by a storm severe enough to drive it to the coast of this
island of Manila; but, although the hulk was lost, the people and cargo
were saved. Afterward another ship was sent on the same errand. It
is known to have reached Macan and to be trading successfully in
everything, particularly in the purchase of an excellent galleon that
the Portuguese have there, and that we need for the fleet which must
be prepared to oppose the enemy next year.
The Hollanders came to these islands with their fleet of five galleons
to plunder the Chinese ships, as they have done in former years. The
fleet entered the bay of Manila on the twelfth of October, 1618,
and afterward continued coming and going. It went back and forth
on these seas just as if it were at home. But its appearance caused
so little disturbance that everything remained as quiet as before,
which illustrates the force of habit; for being accustomed to seeing
the fleet every year has brought it to pass that its advent now causes
no uneasiness. Nevertheless, sentinels were placed on all the coasts,
and the country was very well prepared. Thus there was nothing to fear;
besides, the enemy does not wish to have us at too close range. On
our side, only three galleons and four galleys were ready for use
in the port of Cavique [_sic_], because not more than two years
ago two of our finest galleons went to the bottom in this sea in a
furious storm. What caused more anxiety was the shipyard where other
galleons were being built. It was feared lest the enemy should go
there to burn them. To prevent this, a little fort was constructed,
and a large force of good infantry and heavy artillery was placed
there to guard the construction. Therefore they said that there was
no need to fear anything, or to doubt that if the enemy should come
to the shipyard he would fail in his design to burn the ships. He did
not attempt it, perhaps because he knew of the thorough preparations
that had been made.
Early in November, when the enemy was in the mouth of the bay,
a Japanese ship came here. When it reached Ilocos, a port of the
island of Manila, it learned that the enemy was in the passage through
which it must go to reach, this city. But as it carried a _chapa_,
or license, from the Japanese emperor it feared nothing. For the
Hollanders respect the emperor's license in so far as it concerns
them, and they give free passage in every part of these seas to all
Japanese ships bearing it. So the ship continued on its way here till
it met the Hollander, with whom it remained two or three days. The
Hollander inquired if it carried munitions, which would be contrary
to his wish. Although in fact the ship had on board a large quantity
of munitions underneath a great number of sacks of flour, the question
was answered in the negative. Thereupon the general allowed it to pass,
and gave it an arrogant message for the governor. In this he said that
his Lordship might well be preparing his fleet little by little, which
he [the Dutch general] would await a long time; that he just now had
learned that galleons were being built in the shipyards, but that the
governor should not be disturbed; that, indeed, if it were necessary,
he would go with his men to aid in finishing and launching them,
just for the opportunity of fighting them; that this was what he most
desired, as he had strong hopes of victory, which would be glorious
in proportion to his Lordship's nobility; and that he therefore would
welcome the governor's coming. This message the Hollanders sent with
the Japanese ship. Later on, another Japanese ship came along; and,
as it carried a _chapa_, it was able to enter. Then a Spanish ship,
which likewise came from Japon, arrived; but, as it carried no license,
it came by a different route, to avoid falling into the enemy's hands,
and took shelter in another port of the islands before coming to the
city. A Portuguese ship coming from Macan did the same, and thus the
enemy captured nothing.
Four Ternatan slaves fled to the enemy, at which the latter were much
elated. When the slaves reached them the Hollanders were seen from
this city to discharge some pieces of artillery. One morning later on,
when the Hollanders wished to land upon a beach not far from Manila,
to take some recreation, they sent these slaves ahead that, like
house-thieves, they might spy out the land. Information had just come
that the enemy were accustomed to disembark in that neighborhood, so
two companies were sent to lie in ambush to deal them some blow. The
slaves landed, and our men seeing them, attacked them, killed two,
and captured the other two alive. From these we learned in detail the
forces which the enemy had. When the latter saw that his scouts did
not return with the information, he was afraid to disembark. If he
had landed, he might well have expected us to have won a very signal
victory. In the shipyard feverish efforts were made to finish at
least one vessel in time for service this year. Nearly three thousand
men--Spaniards, Indians, Chinese, and others--were employed in this
construction. From this may be gathered what our missions must have
suffered in the Pintados Islands, in the midst of which the ship was
being built, since almost all the Indians who worked there were from
our doctrinas. So large was the equipment, and so great was the zeal
shown in the work, that early in March a very beautiful galleon was
finished, which would mount forty pieces. Then the difficulty arose,
where they could enter to join the other galleons and galleys in the
port of Cabique, for the enemy remained stubbornly in the mouth of
the bay. But as soon as he drew aside a little, notice was quickly
given in order that they might bring in the galleon, and it entered
on the twenty-fifth of April, with four galleys which had gone out
to accompany it in.
On another occasion two other ships came to the enemy with provisions
from the kingdom of Japon. They also carried a goodly number of
Japanese, who left their country secretly. They say that if they [the
Japanese authorities?] had known it they would have killed these men,
because they came to attack us in company with the Hollanders. These
now found themselves with seven warships, or rather with six, since
they left one outside in order to plunder any ship that might come
along. They entered this bay with great ostentation and pomp on the
first of March, the second day of the Easter festival. The governor
ordered that the galleys and the three galleons which were there
(the fourth, the one from the shipyard, had not yet arrived) should
with many pennants and streamers draw a little apart from the fort of
Cabique. When the Hollander turned about to go out he noticed that our
fleet was at hand, with all this bravery. Then he also displayed many
pennants, and came again, signaling that he wished to fight, and then
slowly departed. He went toward the coast of Ilocos, the place to which
they come to attack the ships on their way from China. Now the galleon
from the shipyard entered the bay, and the preparation of the entire
fleet was completed. It consisted of four galleys very well manned,
and four very handsome galleons. The flagship mounted more than forty
pieces, the almiranta more than thirty, the third galleon an equal
number, and the fourth as many as twenty. In addition to these there
were two pataches, each with as many as a dozen small pieces.
While our armada, thus prepared, was daily in readiness to set sail,
the governor sent out in two directions to reconnoiter the enemy. The
news brought back by the spies was that the Hollanders had reached
a village of Indians on the coast of Ilocos. They entered the church
and committed a thousand sacrileges, particularly that of cutting off
the nose of a figure of Christ. They found a large quantity of wine,
delivered themselves up to it, and became veritable wine-sacks. They
say that if twenty soldiers had been there at the time, they might
have played grand havoc with the enemy. The Hollanders finally set
fire to the place and withdrew to their ships. Only one remained on
shore to sleep off his intoxication. When he awakened and saw that the
ships had already set sail, he cast himself into the water--of which
he had need, in order to water the great quantity of wine he had cast
into his stomach. He saw that the ships were far away, and in order
not to drown he was forced to return to land. Here the Indians caught
him and took him to Manila. The Dutch ships put to sea and never again
appeared. On news of this the excitement of the fleet ceased, although
there was no lack of opinion that it would be well to pursue the enemy,
because he was fleeing to China to plunder. Although all this was said
on good ground, others (and a majority) said that whether the enemy
were fleeing very opportunely or not, it was better for us to remain
quiet with such a fleet as we had; that our fleet would be increased
by the galleon expected from Macan, and by those which were being
built in these islands, all of which ships combined would be force
enough for next year; and besides this, the enemy had gained nothing,
but rather had lost, through the expenses which he had incurred in
maintaining a fleet so many months without recompense. This opinion
prevailed, whereupon the matter was dropped and the fleet became idle;
when, behold, mere goes forth a false report that the enemy is in
these islands plundering the ships that come from China. Everything
is again in commotion; the fleet again prepares itself, and goes out
in the morning; but the truth becomes known that there is no enemy,
and the fleet is quiet again. The basis of this false rumor was the
fact that the enemy went toward the coast of China to plunder, and
one day encountering a Chinese ship going to Japon, robbed it. The
Chinese vessel came to these islands to seek aid; and at once arises
the outcry that it must have been robbed in the Philipinas, and that
there must be enemies here. The truth is confirmed by the fact that
at this time a Portuguese ship came from Macan, but in all this coast
encountered not a single Hollander.
It may be considered as certain that the enemy lost a large vessel
with people and cargo in a severe storm. The foundation for this
opinion is the fact that some days ago a mass of wreckage, such as
maintop-sails, rigging, masts, etc., was found in the place where
the Hollanders have been.
A ship came from China and reported that one day, after having
left that country, it encountered four ships which pursued it; and
that early in the evening one of them was gaining on it. The Chinese
captain, who knew of some shoals near by, steered toward them, in order
to go around them. The Hollanders, thinking that the captain was trying
to escape to leeward, also steered in that direction, and at nightfall
ran aground on the shoals. The Chinese heard many guns fired; but,
without seeing or knowing more, came to Philipinas and gave the news.
Dated at Manila, July 12, 1619.