In the island called by the natives "Luzon the greater," in a town
and river of the same called Manila, on the sixth of June in the year
one thousand five hundred and seventy, the honorable Martin de Goite,
his Majesty's master-of-camp in these Western Islands, declared before
me, Hernando Riquel, chief government notary, and in the presence
of the undersigned witnesses, that, inasmuch as--a thing well and
generally known--his Excellency being in this river of Manila, with
the men and ships accompanying him, and having made peace and drawn
his blood with two chiefs, styling themselves kings of this said town
(by name Soliman and Raxa respectively), and without giving them
cause or treating them in a manner that would make the said natives
change their attitude, the above said chiefs began war treacherously
and unexpectedly, without advising him beforehand; and wounded and
seized certain Indians accompanying us. After that they discharged
the artillery in their fort, two balls from which struck the ship "San
Miguel," on board of which was the said master-of-camp. He, in order
to guard himself from the injury which the said Moros were doing him in
starting the war, and to prevent their artillery from harming his men,
attacked the said fort of the Moros, and captured it by force of arms
and is now in possession of it. And inasmuch as the said fort and town
of Manila have been won in lawful and just war, and since, according
to the said natives, Manila is the capital of all the towns of this
said island: therefore in his Majesty's name, he was occupying and
did occupy, was taking and did take, royal ownership and possession,
actual and quasi, of this said island of Luzon and of all the other
ports, towns, and territories adjoining and belonging to this said
island. Moreover, as a sign of real occupation, he ordered his ensign
to raise the flag of his company on the fort built by the natives,
had the artillery found in the said fort taken for his Majesty, and
performed other acts and duties as a sign of real occupation. And
when he had thus taken the said possession in his Majesty's name,
he asked me, the aforesaid notary, to certify and attest it, and
to draw up a statement so that the proceeding might be clearly set
forth. In fulfilment of that demand, I, the said Hernando Riquel,
certify, as an actual witness, to whomsoever may see this present,
that the said master-of-camp took and seized in his Majesty's name
the said possession in the manner above specified. And in affirmation
of the above I draw up this statement, which the said master-of-camp
signed; witnesses to all the abovesaid being the sergeant-major Juan
de Morones, the high constable Graviel de Rrivera, the ensign-in-chief
Gaspar Ramirez, and many other soldiers in the said fort.
_Martin de Goite_
Drawn in my presence:
_Hernando Riquel_
Collated with the original, which is in my possession.
_Hernando Riquel_
[_Endorsed:_ "Possession taken of the island of Luçon in his Majesty's
name." "Possession of Luzon."]