[_Marginal note at beginning_: "_That the governor there, Don Alonso
Fajardo, attends with great assiduity to whatever concerns the service
of his Majesty; and he has gained experience by the construction of
the ships that he has built from the time of his arrival in those
islands, so that the enemy has not dared await him. If he were to be
aided with some fleet sent to him, very good results would follow_."]
Sire:
Don Alonso Fajardo, governor of these islands, will relate fully
to your Majesty the present condition of their temporal affairs. He
attends with peculiar care to whatever concerns the service of your
Majesty, as has been seen in the construction of the ships that he has
built since his arrival in these islands. Had he not been so assiduous
in that, the enemy who came to this bay and coast of Manila would have
committed very great depredations. But since the enemy saw that the
governor was getting ready very promptly, they thought it best to go
away and not wait. He is a gentleman very zealous for the service of
your Majesty, and one who serves your Majesty with special and very
disinterested love and affection. I think that, if your Majesty will
aid him with some fleet, he will, with that and what he has here,
accomplish great results in your Majesty's service. But the fleet here
is insufficient to root out the enemy. Will your Majesty be pleased to
send the aid which has for so many years been asked from your Majesty;
for the profit that will accrue to your Majesty is vast in both the
spiritual and the temporal.
[_In the margin_: "It is well."]
[_Marginal note_: "He asks that his resignation of that bishopric be
accepted, and that a certain income be granted him on which to live."]
Last year I wrote your Majesty requesting you to be pleased to accept
my resignation from my bishopric, and I send the same request in this
letter to your Majesty; for I am worn out, and it is advisable for
the security of my conscience--your Majesty granting me the favor to
give me the means for my support, so far as that may not be in your
royal treasury, because of the great difficulty of collecting from
it. [_In the margin_: "It is provided for."]
[_Marginal note_: "That Admiral Pedro de Eredia is coming to this
court to report on the condition of those islands; and, since he is
one who knows them thoroughly by experience, and is zealous in your
Majesty's service, credit can be given to what he says."]
Admiral Pedro de Heredia is going to that court of your Majesty
to report the affairs of these islands. He is a person on whose
word your Majesty can rely, as he is a man of great integrity and
greatly devoted to your Majesty's service. He is experienced by sea
and by land in these islands and in the Malucas, where he has served
your Majesty a long time. He was the one who captured General Pablo
Brancal [_i.e._, van Caerden], in those same Malucas Islands. He burned
another of the enemy's ships in Playa Honda, and defeated the enemy's
almiranta in the expedition made by Don Juan de Silba; while in Don
Juan Ronquillo's expedition he captured the almiranta, but let it go,
in order that his own ship might not be burnt. He is one to whom your
Majesty may entrust any undertaking of importance, because of his great
courage and his devotion to your Majesty's service. He is deserving
of whatever favor your Majesty may be pleased to bestow upon him.
[_In the margin_: "It is well."]
[_Marginal note_: "That by the death of Don Juan de Aguilar, who was
precentor of the church of Manila, the governor appointed Don Miguel
Garcetas to that prebend, who by his qualities deserves to have the
appointment confirmed."]
Because of the death of Don Juan de Aguilar, who was precentor of this
holy church of Manila, the governor appointed Licentiate Don Miguel
Garcetas to the same prebend. He came to these islands many years
ago, and has held appointments of honor in them. He was treasurer
of the holy church of Zebu, the chief church of that bishopric, and
canon of this church of Manila; and is a man of good qualities and
of good morals. He merits your Majesty's granting him as a favor the
appointment he now holds, and greater favors.
[_In the margin_: "It is well."]
[_Marginal note_: "In approbation of Christoval Ramires de Cartagena,
chaplain of the Audiencia."]
In this city of Manila lives a respectable ecclesiastic, one Christoval
Ramires de Cartagena, who of the many years since he came to these
regions has been several minister in the islands of Pintados. For many
years he has been chaplain of the royal Audiencia. While a layman
he served your Majesty in the army; and since becoming a priest he
has done the same. He merits honor from your Majesty, and favors in
remuneration for his many services,
[_In the margin_: "It is well."]
[_Marginal note_: "That the church of Cebu is in great need of
ornaments and of repairs. He asks that your Majesty grant it some
income, as has been requested at other times; and a cabildo with
income, or some chaplains to serve it, for the divine offices are
not suitably celebrated there."]
I have often petitioned your Majesty to have the goodness to grant
some income to the church of Zebu for ornaments and repairs, of which
it has daily need; and to give it a cabildo with income; and if there
should be no occasion for that, to supply it with some chaplains to
serve it, for it lacks everything. The divine offices are celebrated
very unsuitably, which the natives, both Christians and infidels,
cannot fail to observe. May your Majesty for the love of God remedy
this. [_In the margin_: "Have the governor, Audiencia, and royal
officials investigate."]
[_Marginal note_: "That it is advisable to show favor to this cabildo
of Manila, so that in case of the death of the prelate, it may govern;
as it contains competent persons; and because inconveniences result
from the senior bishop coming to do this, as has been represented on
other occasions."]
I have also advised your Majesty--perceiving it, and, knowing by
experience--that it is advisable to concede to this cabildo of Manila
that it shall govern in case the prelate die; because it has persons
of sufficient rank and ability for the said government. Besides,
many difficulties exist in the senior bishop coming to govern, as he
has no person to leave who is competent to direct his bishopric--as
I have experienced at this time, while I have been governing this
archbishopric of Manila, by brief of his Holiness and your Majesty's
decree.
[_In the margin_: "It is well, and what is advisable will be
provided."]
[_Marginal note_: "That it has been heard that the fathers of the
Society are urging that the orders in Japon shall depart thence;
but that it is not advisable that this be done, because of the great
harvest of souls that they have gathered, and are now obtaining,
through their instruction. [He also says] that it will be to our
Lord's service to have the consecration of father Fray Luis Otelo take
effect, since the bishop of the western part is already consecrated;
and since the king of Boso, although an infidel, is well affected to
the Christians, and the two bishops are widely separated."]
It has been heard here that the fathers of the Society are making
strenuous efforts to have the orders leave Japon. That is not at all
advisable, because of the very abundant harvest of souls that they have
gathered, and are gathering, through their instruction and example,
even giving their lives for the welfare of these souls. Accordingly,
I think it advisable for your Majesty to protect this cause, for
thereby will your Majesty perform the greatest service to our Lord. I
think it will also be to His service if the consecration of father
Fray Luis Sotelo take effect, since the other bishop, the one of
the western part, is now consecrated. I am moved to say this because
the king of Bozo, [80] although an infidel, is well affected to the
Christian religious, and has some in his kingdom. That kingdom is
very distant from those regions where the other bishop lives. It will
be advantageous to this community of Manila, for they will be able to
trade and traffic in those districts, and get food and other necessary
supplies from them for your Majesty's fleets. Nothing else occurs to
me of which to advise your Majesty, except that may our Lord preserve
for many long years the Catholic and royal person of your Majesty for
the defense and protection of His holy Church. Manila, July 30, 1619
[_sic._]
_Fray Pedro_, bishop of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus.
[_Endorsed on back_: "Seen and decreed within."]
[_In the margin_: "Have a copy of this clause sent to the governor,
as to what pertains to the religious leaving Japon, so that he
may investigate it. What is advisable in the other matters will
be provided."]
[Appended to this document is the following:]
_Testimony of the resolution by the royal officials Ordinance._
I, Gaspar Alvarez, scrivener-in-chief of the administrative and war
departments of these Philipinas Islands for the king our sovereign, do
certify truthfully to all who may see this present that, in a general
meeting held by the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia and
Chancillería of these islands for the government, together with the
fiscal of his Majesty and the judicial officials of the royal treasury
of the islands, on the fifth of this present month and year of the
date of this present, among certain matters and questions discussed
and determined in the said meeting, was the following.
In the city of Manila, on the fifth day of the month of August, one
thousand six hundred and sixteen, Licentiate Andres de Alcarez, senior
auditor of the royal Audiencia of these islands, who exercises the
duties of president and captain-general of them, while in the houses
where the Audiencia resides, called a treasury meeting to discuss
matters advisable for the service of his Majesty. Licentiate Manuel
de Madrid y Luna, Don Juan de Alvarado Bracamonte, auditor and fiscal
[respectively], in the royal Audiencia, and the royal officials of
the royal treasury--namely, Captain Pedro de Saldiernos Demariaca,
factor; Juan Saez de Hegoen, inspector; and Alonso de Espinosa Saravia,
accountant--having attended it, and being thus assembled before me,
the present scrivener of the administrative and war departments,
he proposed the following.
_Petition._ A petition was read from Don Fray Pedro de Arce, bishop
of the city of Zibu, and governor of this archbishopric, which was
of the following tenor. "Most potent Sire: I, Don Fray Pedro de Arce,
bishop of the city of Sanctisimo Nombre de Jesus, and governor of this
archbishopric by virtue of a brief of our very holy Father Paul Fifth,
and a decree of the royal person of your Highness, declare that,
in order to obey the said orders and fulfil my obligations in the
common welfare of this archbishopric, I have come to this capital,
and have left the comfort of a house that I had built, in the said
city of Zebu, and have established myself with greater obligations
for expenses in house and servants, in order to sustain some little
of the greatness due the honor of the archiepiscopal dignity. I
represent, as is well known to your Highness, that the expenses of
this capital are excessive, for the rent of a moderate-sized house
costs more than three hundred pesos and the ordinary food is very
dear. For these reasons and others, well known to your Highness,
and because the duties of the ministry are not lessened by the said
government, it is in accord with justice that, since I bear the weight
and obligations of archbishop, I be granted the salary assigned to his
person. Therefore, I beg and petition your Highness to have the said
grace conceded to me, in fulfilment of the said will of his Holiness
and the royal person of your Highness. I ask for justice.
_Fray Pedro_, bishop of Sanctisimo Nombre de Jesus."
_Resolution._ Having heard and examined the said proposition, and
discussed and conferred as to what should be done, all unanimously
and in accord, with one determination and sentiment, resolved, in
respect to what the said bishop Don Fray Pedro de Arce petitions, that,
inasmuch as he must reside in this city and archbishopric, if he fulfil
his obligations to govern it, and must have a house and servants, and
the other things required by his dignity; and inasmuch as he cannot
do this with the salary of five hundred thousand maravedis that he
receives in his bishopric: therefore the third part of the salary
received and enjoyed by the archbishop Don Diego Vazquez de Mercado
shall be assigned to him. He shall enjoy it from the day when he shall
show by authentic testimony that he took possession in this city of the
government of the said archbishopric. The official judges of the royal
treasury shall grant warrants for, and pay to him, the third of the
said salary, according to and as it was paid to the said archbishop,
during the full time of his governorship of this archbishopric. That
shall be received from them and placed on the accounts of the said
royal official judges. Licentiate Andres de Alcazar, Licentiate
Manuel de Madrid y Luna, Licentiate Don Juan de Alvarado Bracamonte,
Pedro de Caldiernos de Mariaca, Juan Saez de Hegoen, and Alonso de
Espinosa Saravia affixed their signatures. Before me:
_Gaspar Alvares_
According as is manifest by the abovesaid and as appears by the
said original meeting, which is in the book of minutes and meetings
of the treasury, which is in my office, and on leaves one hundred
and eighteen and one hundred and nineteen of it, to which I refer,
and by petition of his Lordship, the said bishop, I gave the present
in Manila, August eleven, one thousand six hundred and sixteen. As
witness at its drawing and revision were Christoval Martin Franco
and Joan Vazquez de Mercado, citizens of this said city.
_Gaspar Alvares_
As is manifest and appears from the original testimony, that remained
in the possession of the reverend Don Fray Pedro de Arce, with which
it was corrected and collated, and is issued actually and really
corrected and collated, and on petition of the said reverend person,
I gave the present in the city of Manila, on the twenty-fifth day of
the month of August, one thousand six hundred and sixteen, witnesses
being Christoval de Saavedra, Blas de Rrosales, and Andres Estevan,
citizens and residents of Manila.
Therefore I affixed my seal in testimony of right. Gratis.
_Pedro de Valdes_, notary-public.
We, the undersigned notaries, testify that Pedro de Valdes, by whom
this testimony seems to be sealed and signed, is a notary-public of the
number [81] of this city of Manila, and that entire credence has been,
and is, given, in and out of court, to the writs and acts that have
passed, and pass, before him. Given in Manila, August twenty-five,
one thousand six hundred and sixteen.
_Diego de Rueda_, notary.
_Juan de Cabrera_, royal notary.
_Sebastian Samer_, his Majesty's notary.
Sire:
Don Pedro de Arce, bishop of Cibu, declares that his predecessor,
Don Pedro de Agurto, first bishop of that province, appointed and
named canons and dignidades, although without any stipend, to serve
in his cathedral church, without your Majesty's order. By his death
the said canons and dignidades claimed the right to govern in the
vacant see of the said bishopric; while the archbishop of Manila also
claimed the right to place a government there himself. Since many
opposing ideas have been expressed among the theologians regarding
this matter, I supplicate your Majesty to have the goodness to order
what procedure must be observed in this, and whether such canons and
dignidades constitute and hold the force of a cabildo, or not, so
that, at any event, suits and dissensions may be avoided; and it will
receive favor. [_In the margin_: "Have all the documents that bear
upon this argument collected, and have the fiscal examine them all,
and let action be taken according to his declaration. May 4, 619."]
The fiscal declares that no other papers than this petition were
brought to him. So far as can be judged from this statement alone,
those who are referred to as canons and dignidades are not such, nor
can they be such. In order to determine what further measures it it
advisable to take, it is necessary that the governor and archbishop
of Manila investigate the matter. Madrid, May 28, 1619.
As the fiscal says, and until they investigate, let a decree be framed
ordering what the bishops must observe in appointing the canons,
when they are not appointed by his Majesty and a cabildo is not
formed. June first, 619.
Sire:
Don Fray Pedro de Arce, bishop of the city of Cibu, in the Filipinas
Islands, declares that, at your Majesty's order, and for the welfare
of his Lord, he came to govern the archbishopric of Manila because
of the death of the archbishop, Don Diego Vazquez de Mercado; and
inasmuch as the stipend given us by your Majesty is slight, and we
have to keep a house and servants in that city with suitable dignity
and propriety, he laid a petition before your royal Audiencia of those
islands, which was then governing, asking that he be given the stipend
given to the archbishop. Having called a meeting of the treasury, as
your Majesty commands by your royal decrees, they voted to give him,
as a gratification, the third part of the salary given the archbishop,
as appears by the testimony that he presents. He petitions your Majesty
to grant him the grace, because of his many expenses there, to confirm
that action, so that the royal officials who shall pay it shall not
be responsible for those expenses; and thereby he will receive favor.
[_Endorsed:_ "Have the fiscal examine it. May 4, 1619."]
The fiscal declares that, although the Audiencia and council of
the treasury could not do this, and although they petitioned it,
they ought to declare that it was to be understood if confirmed by
the Council. Their motive may be found just; and did it appear so to
the Council, then they might approve and confirm it. Madrid, May 28,
1619. [_In the margin_: "Let a decree be despatched in accordance
with the fiscal's declaration. June first, 1619."]