Sire:
In the past year of 87, I sent your Majesty an account of the
condition of this land, by the usual route, and also one by way of
India. As the voyage is so uncertain and dangerous, another duplicate
is sent herewith; and I beg your Majesty to have it examined, as it
is important for your service.
On the twenty-seventh of February of this year, I had news from the
Pintados Islands that, on the seventh of the said month, at one of
the islands about eighty leagues south of Luçon, an English ship had
been seen. With their small boat they had seized a Spanish sailor
who was coasting along carelessly in a small bark. He did not flee
from the enemy, as he took them to be Spaniards and friends; for it
is unusual for ships from England to come here. Next day the English
learned that a galleon of your Majesty was being built in the shipyard
of Caigoan on the island of Panay. An attempt was made to land troops
for the purpose, as is supposed, of burning it; but it was defended
by some carpenters and calkers who were working thereon. By this
it may be inferred that the enemy carried but a small force. After
this resistance, the enemy went to Mindanao, leaving on an islet in
their course the mariner whom they had taken prisoner. [10] From him
I ascertained the fresh destruction planned for this country. He
says that several Spaniards, who were his fellow-prisoners on the
English ship, told him that your Majesty's galleon "Santa Ana" had
been captured near California, a country on the mainland which is
continuous with Nueva España. The galleon left this port in June of
the past year, 87; and as no other ships but ours have ever been
sighted on this voyage, which is through so remote regions, they
have always sailed with little or no artillery, and with as little
fear from corsairs as if they were on the river of Sevilla. Thus
the English easily captured the galleon, plundered and burned it,
and hanged a canon of our church. The other persons were sent in a
small boat to land, where it is believed that some of them have died
of starvation and hardships. From this galleon there was plundered
a thousand marcos of registered gold, and there must have been as
large a sum unregistered; twenty-two and one-half arrobas of musk,
an abundance of civet, and many pearls, and the richest of silks and
brocades. At this capture, the enemy took with them [from the "Santa
Ana"] several skilful mariners and a pilot, to guide them to these
islands. The captive mariner knew these men, and in conversation with
them he learned what I have related. This ship left England with two
others, and plundered sixteen ships off the coast of Piru. One of the
three was lost; the remaining two captured the said galleon "Santa
Ana," and came to these islands. They were separated in a storm,
and only this one arrived. It brought about fifty men, most of them
pilots. This mariner noticed that this vessel carried twenty-five
pieces of bronze, and cast-iron artillery, and much ammunition. The
ship is small, of about one hundred and fifty toneladas, staunch
and well fitted. There is no doubt that they have plundered more
than a million [pesos'] worth of gold, pearls, musk, civet, and rich
merchandise, which all belonged in Nueva España. The Spaniards there
would have been diligent in pursuing this corsair; but, as I received
information so late, and the enemy only reconnoitered here, without
remaining at any place, to inform them would have done no good. I
sent word to Maluco, whither it seems the enemy directed his course,
to the captain-general and to the sea-captains who might be there
with their galleons; also to the petty kings friendly to your Majesty,
and to the fort at Ambueno--where, it is understood, this corsair is
going to spend the winter and repair his ship. Captain Francisco is
at an island of that archipelago called Jula, near either Macasar or
Japara. I advised the sending of a message to him, and the exercise
of diligence, as they have greater facility for obtaining news there
on account of the many ships which are usually near at hand. And
I advised them to follow the Englishman and ascertain where he was
going to winter; for it was impossible to return immediately to his
own country, because the weather began to be contrary. It would be
necessary to pass out through Sunda and other straits, of which the
Portuguese are warned; and there it would be easy to await him and cut
off his passage, as they hold him so closely. This account was given
by a sailor--a native of this land--who was seized in the galleon,
and carried away by the Englishman. He escaped at the mouth of the
channel of these islands, and I have kept him here with me. His
declarations accompany this letter.
The first time when this galleon "Sancta Ana" sailed from here, I sent
by her some artillery removed from your Majesty's forts, in order to
provide greater security. In Nueva España the artillery was taken out,
and the ship returned without it. I thought that if I sent more on the
ships, and it were taken out over there, the forts here would be in
need, while the ships would gain nothing. Understanding that there was
no danger from corsairs on the voyage, I sent the ships, as usual,
without artillery. Now that I have seen the need for artillery,
and the risk that they run, if it is not carried, I am sending
two ships this year, each with four heavy pieces of artillery, two
falcon guns, and arquebuses and other arms carried by the sailors and
passengers. I am collecting what metal I can find and making thereof
some pieces of ordnance with which to fill the place of those sent
from the said forts. The merchants are paying your Majesty the value
of the artillery, arms, and ammunition carried by one of the ships,
and I have loaned the price of those of the other. They will pay
this also in the coming year, and the ships will sail armed at the
account and cost of the merchants. I beseech your Majesty to command
the viceroy of Nueva España to have the artillery and arms returned
by the same ships; and that the pieces carried by the "Sancta Ana"
be returned to these forts, which greatly need them.
In another letter I have written to your Majesty about the general
fire in this city. The powder and military supplies were burned and
the artillery destroyed. Although I have had the pieces recast, using
the metal which was left, there are only twenty-five heavy pieces and
several lighter ones. This is but little artillery for the needs of
this land, for defense and the expeditions that are made. Some copper
mines have been discovered but although at first they seemed to be
very rich, on commencing to work them, it was found that the labor
was expensive and there was but little metal. Everything necessary
could be brought from Macan, if your Majesty were pleased to have
money sent from your royal treasury of Mexico for this purpose.
I have already written to your Majesty of the necessity that, for the
preservation of this land, the viceroy of Nueva España send annual
reenforcements of troops, arms, and ammunition. As this has not been
done for three years, the majority of the troops have died, and there
are now so few here, that if reenforcements are not supplied according
to the requests of the governor and officers of the royal exchequer,
great risk will be run, and what your Majesty has gained and preserved
at cost of such labors and expenses will be irretrievably lost. I
especially beg your Majesty to order such provision to be made that
so propitious a beginning be not lost, and the door closed which
has been opened by your Majesty for the conversion of so large and
powerful kingdoms with untold riches and innumerable inhabitants.
According to your Majesty's commands I had some galleys made in
these islands, and I have three at this port. They are of little use,
because of the lack of men skilled in managing and sailing with lateen
sails, and the scarcity of rowers. I have tried to keep up its crew by
hiring men; but the natives are so despicable a people that they are of
little use for this purpose, nor do they have sufficient strength for
rowing. On hearing the report of an arquebus they throw themselves on
the ground, and do not rise even at the lash. I have selected three
hundred Chinese, who are stronger, and who, if allowed liberty to
quit the work, and exemption from tribute, will bind themselves to
serve on the galleys. But although earnest endeavors have been made
to teach them, they row very badly, and have as little energy as the
natives of these islands have. They row in their own country with
a sort of oar which they call _lios lios_. By means of these the
galley moves very slowly, and therefore they may be of some benefit
among these islands. Better results would be obtained, however, if
instead of these galleys there were small ships of from sixty to a
hundred toneladas with which it is easier to navigate here. I inform
your Majesty thereof in order that provision may be made according
to the royal pleasure. As I have advised your Majesty, I have, in
anticipation of future contingencies, commenced a good stone fort
in this city, which will be entirely completed within a year. I have
levied taxes therefor upon the citizens and encomenderos; the Indian
tributarios have each paid one real, while one per cent has been
collected for two years on the coin brought from Nueva España. I am
sending to your Majesty the sketch and model of this fort; it is the
strongest which has been built in the Yndias, although it is not of
modern style. It was necessary to build it according to the condition
of the country; it is round in shape, high, and covered over so as to
be more capacious. The climate is so hot, the sun so fierce and the
rains so heavy, that if the soldiers who must defend the place were
not under cover they would perish from the heat, as would likewise
those who should undertake to erect the fort. The stone for the most of
the rampart is so suitable in quality that, wherever a ball strikes,
the wall remains unhurt, nor is any other injury inflicted. There
is no fear that an attack by a battery can do as much damage as if
the stone were hard and resisting. The balls cannot be fired so as
to strike, without great difficulty, as the fort is on the shore and
the country is perfectly level. Within there is fresh running water
in abundance; and in addition to that, wherever one digs, excellent
drinking water is found. It is impossible to undermine the fort,
because there is water around it, at a distance of one or two varas,
or even less in some places. The city is surrounded by water--the sea
on one side; on another the moat, which extends to the river; and, on
still another side, the river itself. Thus the city is on an island;
and, with the other bulwarks and the wooden fort, which I have had
repaired, this city is well defended, provided we had sufficient
troops and ammunition.
I received your Majesty's letter on the twenty-second of May of this
year; and, by a royal decree of the first of December of the year 86,
your Majesty orders me to act in accordance with my best judgment,
as your Majesty had understood that the auditors of this Audiencia
according to the present regulations, cannot visit the country out
of their turn. I will fulfil your Majesty's commands and will render
an account of all transactions.
By another royal decree of the nineteenth of August of said year,
your Majesty orders that, if it should appear necessary to me,
certain offices of notaries and magistrates in these islands should
be sold, under the condition that the persons who should be the
highest bidders should obtain confirmation of their title within
three years. These offices are of very little profit, and of none
at all in some places, as the land has been settled so recently,
and there are few inhabitants and little business therein. As it is
continually becoming more populous and well established, it would
be more advantageous to postpone the sale of these offices for some
years, until they shall be worth more. I will make the necessary
investigations, as your Majesty commands me, and will advise your
Majesty of the prices offered. If I find that for any of them I
can obtain its value in the future I will have it auctioned. In the
meantime I will make endeavors to have them sold for a price that
can be profitable to your Majesty's royal exchequer.
By another decree of the twenty-seventh of August of said year,
your Majesty orders me to give my opinion of the arms that are in
the fort of the city of Manila, and those that are needed. In three
forts which your Majesty has here, there are twenty-four heavy pieces,
two small ones, and some culverins, as will be seen below.
In the stone fort there are three swivel-guns, located in the three
casemates, of about twenty quintals' weight. On the first floor over
the rampart, there are seven heavy pieces, extra thick and strong at
the breech. Two are of about forty quintals' weight, three varas in
length and carry a ball of cast iron weighing sixteen libras. Two
others are of wrought iron, of sixty quintals' weight, three and
two-thirds varas in length, and carry a ball of cast iron weighing
fifteen libras. One cannon is of fifty-five quintals' weight, four and
one-third varas in length, and carries a ball of cast iron weighing
fourteen libras; one culverin, five and one-half varas in length,
weighs one hundred and one quintals one arroba, and carries a cast
iron ball weighing seventeen libras; another piece of thirty-five
quintals' weight, three varas in length, carries a cast iron ball
weighing twelve libras.
The fort at the point has one cannon weighing twenty-five quintals;
three small cannon [_sacres_], weighing twenty-two; and a half-sacre
weighing thirteen--the last, with its apparatus, being four varas
in length.
The cavalier of the beach has a piece, extra thick and strong at
the breech, of forty quintals' weight which carries a ball weighing
fifteen libras; and one half-sacre, of thirteen quintals' weight.
At the river there is a large swivel-gun with cross-bars, weighing
thirty quintals; one cannon weighing twenty-six quintals, one sacre
weighing twenty-two quintals, four half-sacres weighing thirteen or
fourteen quintals, and two _esmeriles_ [a small piece of ordnance]
weighing four or five quintals.
For the stone fort to be provided with artillery according to its
plan and embrasures, it is necessary to have twenty-five pieces,
three of them heavy, and twelve sacres and half-sacres.
The cavalier of the beach needs five pieces, two of them heavy,
and three sacres.
That at the point of the sea and the river needs six pieces--some
sacres, and two swivel-guns.
For the service of the ships and galleys there are needed four
cannon, six swivel-guns, six sacres, six half-sacres, and some small
culverins. Thus sixty pieces in all are necessary to provide the
city well with artillery for defense, as well as for the galleys
and ships of the fleet, and for the succor and pacification of all
these islands. There are only twenty-four needed, for there are now
thirty-six. In the shipyard there are now four sacres of twenty-two
quintals' weight, two of which have been cast, and the other two are
about to be cast. This class of arms is the best and most important for
this land these and the swivel-guns. This artillery could be provided,
and much more be made, for other of your Majesty's strongholds in these
islands and the Yndias, should your Majesty be pleased to have six or
eight thousand pesos sent annually from Mexico so that the metal could
be bought at Macao in China, as it is very plentiful and cheap there.
According to the commission of your Majesty, I have proceeded
against the royal officials in regard to their traffic and trade
in merchandise. By the convictions of guilt which have resulted
from the investigations and process of law, I have condemned the
guilty to pay fines to the exchequer. There seems to have been no
traffic with funds in the royal exchequer; or, if there were any,
no damage or injury to it has resulted. I am sending the testimony
of the sentences and proceedings to your Majesty's royal Council,
where your Majesty will order their examination, if such is your
pleasure. May God guard the Catholic person of your Majesty. Manila,
June twenty-sixth, of the year 1588.