Sacred Catholic Royal Majesty:
When I came to these islands in company with the general Miguel
Lopez de Legazpi, I gave your Majesty an account of the events of
the expedition. Since then I have not done so, understanding that
the governor sent word by every ship, as was proper, how affairs were
going here. Now was our Lord pleased to take him from this life, and I,
being treasurer of the royal exchequer, succeeded him in the office
by a royal provision, emanating from the royal _Audiencia_ of Nueva
España. To make myself better understood, your Majesty perhaps knows
that in the year forty-two, I came to these regions as accountant,
with General Villalobos, who sailed from Nueva España, sent out by
the viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoça. I was in the Maluco Islands,
and went thence to Yndia and from there to España and Nueva España,
to inform your viceroy of the success of the expedition. I brought
with me from Yndia the ginger root, which has grown so well in Nueva
España. Don Antonio de Mendoca sent me to España to inform your Majesty
of the proceedings that should be taken in this discovery. After that
mission, I returned with your Majesty's despatch to Nueva España,
where they were commencing to build the ships and fleet in which
General Miguel Lopez de Legazpi came for the discovery of these
islands. In his company, I passed thither, for the second time, in
the year sixty-four--serving your Majesty as treasurer of your royal
exchequer until, as I have said, Miguel Lopez died, on the twentieth
of August in last year, seventy-two.
In a chest was found the royal decree, by which, in your
Majesty's name, he enjoyed and exercised his office as governor and
captain-general. Before his death, the said Miguel Lopez had founded,
on the island of Cubu, where we first resided, a city called El
Santisimo Nombre de Jesús ["the most holy name of Jesus,"] because of
an image of the child Jesus that we found there. Here in this island
of Luçon, he founded the city of Manilla, where from that time until
his death he resided, with all his people. He had commenced to levy
taxes, and was assigning _repartimientos_ in the islands and towns
that were being pacified; and I am now doing the same. This island of
Lucon is large and well populated. The greater part of it has been
explored and reduced to your Majesty's service. On account of the
lack of men, and the little time that we have spent here, we have
not been able to investigate everything. The land contains many rich
gold mines. The natives in general acquire, possess, and trade great
quantities of gold. The country abounds in provisions--rice, wine,
fish, hogs, Castilian fowls, and wild buffaloes; in short, it is so
well provided that it can maintain many Spanish settlements, which will
produce good fruit, both spiritual and temporal. Ships from China come
to trade at many ports of this island. It is understood as certain
that the mainland is very near us, less than two hundred leagues;
so that, if we are reënforced, I hope in our Lord that much fruit
and service will result to God and your Majesty. For reënforcements
have come to this island so slowly that, in eight years, only seven
hundred soldiers have arrived; and, moreover, when some arrive others
are dead as a result of the hardships and distress that have been
encountered. Nevertheless, our Lord indeed be praised for having
given us, now and in the future, greater repose in a larger land.
Of the natives of this island, some are Moros and Mahometans,
especially those living near the coast. Those in the interior are
pagans. Their arms are numerous and good, namely: culverins, large
and small; lances, daggers, and arrows poisoned with herbs. They
wear corselets of buffalo-hide and of twisted and knotted rope, and
carry shields or bucklers. They are accustomed to fortify themselves
in strong positions, where they mount their artillery and archery,
surrounding them outside with ditches full of water, so that they seem
very strong. But our Lord (who assists us, because his holy faith is
at stake) has always given us the victory, to his and your Majesty's
honor and glory.
The Chinese have come here on trading expeditions, since our arrival,
for we have always tried to treat them well. Therefore during the two
years that we have spent on this island, they have come in greater
numbers each year, and with more ships; and they come earlier than
they used to, so that their trade is assured to us. Those that come
here are, like the people of this land, almost naked, on account of
the hot climate. They do not bring to sell the silks and beautiful
things that they take to Malaca. They say that, if there were any one
to buy them, they would bring all we wanted; and so, since trading with
the Spaniards, they bring each year better and much richer wares. If
merchants would come from Nueva España, they might enrich themselves,
and increase the royal customs in these parts--both through trade and
through the mines, the richness and number of which are well-known
to us.
Your Majesty knows how antagonistic the Portuguese are in everything
here. When they can do us no harm in their own persons, they try to
do so through others. Last year Chinese vessels came to this city
to trade and told us how the Portuguese haa asked them not to trade
with us, because we were robbers and came to steal and commit other
depredations, so that these people wonder not a little if this be
true. As the treatment accorded to the Chinese neutralizes these
reports, more vessels came this year than last, and each year more
will come. I advise your Majesty of this, because it is better to have
certain peace or open war with the Portuguese, and not to be uncertain,
and not to have them trying to harm us at a distance. Every year we
are disturbed by fears of their coming. This year I had news from
Moro merchants, who came from the island of Borney, that last year
their king had collected a large fleet to descend upon us. After
having embarked, he gave up for the time the voyage because of
the severe storms; but gave out that he would return this year and
bring the Portuguese with him. I exerted myself to get together the
Spaniards, who were pacifying these islands and had the island of
Borney reconnoitred in two parts, by oared vessels of the sort that
the natives use. I instructed them that if they could get any of
the Moros from Borney, they should bring them, in order to get at
the truth; and so they did. The people whom I sent for this purpose
arrived near Borney, and because they did not dare bring small boats
near the island itself, they halted about eight leagues from it,
and captured six Moros. By these I was informed that the coming of
the king of Borney was uncertain, and that he lives in great privacy
and prudence, keeping himself informed about us. With the people that
I sent for this purpose was a pilot, who had mapped the islands and
lands that he saw on the way. He said that it was about two hundred
leagues to the west from here to Borney. With this relation I send your
Majesty the map of this island, and of those near Borney and China.
Last year, seventy-two, the governor Miguel Lopez despatched two ships
to Nueva España a few days before his death; but, as it was late when
they started, and the weather bad, they could not that year make the
voyage. They came back, therefore, much disabled and disordered. After
the death of the governor, who had made liberal provision for their
repair and [the MS. is torn here] rigging and pitch, which it has
been no little trouble to find. This year, therefore, God willing,
three ships will go, so that they may not for lack of vessels neglect
to send reënforcements.
Since the death of the governor, Miguel Lopez, I have had made from
the gold that has been brought and given by the natives as tribute
and service, some jewels, which I send to your royal Majesty and to
the Queen our mistress, with some specimens of the articles brought
by the Chinese. These two ships now carry one hundred and thirty-six
marcos [51] of gold, just as it was obtained from the natives who
gave it as tribute. I hope in our Lord, that henceforth your Majesty
will be better served with the first fruits of this land. I am also
sending to Nueva España three hundred and seventy-two _quintals_
of cinnamon, which I had brought from the island of Vindanao, where
there is a great quantity of it. There is no longer any necessity
for the Portuguese to export hereafter any more cinnamon into your
Majesty's kingdoms and seigniories; because a greater quantity can be
brought from these districts than can be sold in Europe, if ships are
supplied. I am sending also to Nueva España shoots of the cinnamon
and pepper trees, so that they may be planted there and benefit
your Majesty. I have also sent previously a tamarind tree, and have
been informed that it is already bearing fruit in Nueva España. I
have tried to have some rigging for the ships made on this island,
because what is brought from Nueva España is completely rotten and
useless, and for want of rigging the vessels have many times been
unable to sail. God has been pleased that we should succeed in our
endeavors--a thing that will be of great service in the despatching
of the fleets that your Majesty will cause to be constructed here. I
have also procured pitch for the same purpose; and, although there is
not much of it, what has been discovered will be of great assistance.
The baptism of the natives steadily continues, and they are being
received into our holy faith and religion. I hope in our Lord that
the spiritual and temporal good will continue to increase day by day,
to the glory of our Lord and to your Majesty's honor. It will conduce
much to the conversion of these natives to have some religious of
the society of Jesus, and friars of the order of St. Francis, come
to these districts; because it has a most edifying influence upon the
covetous disposition of these barbarians, to see that those fathers do
not receive or have anything to do with money--which will be a good
example for them. May your Majesty provide in this regard according
to your pleasure, for it would certainly greatly rejoice everyone to
see those holy people here.
As the labors that have been endured and are being endured in this
expedition are prolonged and heavy, it has happened that many of
the _encomenderos_ [52] to whom _repartimientos_ were given have
died. Understanding that it will be for the good of your Majesty's
service, I have reapportioned and am reapportioning the Indians,
as is done in Gautemala and other parts of the Indies. I beg your
Majesty to favor this and send confirmation of it, because in no
other way can this island be maintained for the present.
I send to beg your Majesty to grant me favor regarding certain
petitions made in my own name. I am confident of receiving this as from
a lord and prince so magnanimous that he will take into account that I
have busied myself almost all my life in your royal service. So also
those who have served your Majesty in these regions send, severally
and jointly, to beg your Majesty to reward them, having recourse to
your Majesty as to a fountain of all liberality, all being confident
of receiving what they ask, as they are continually receiving favors.
Martin de Goiti has served and serves your Majesty in this country
in the capacity of master-of-camp. With great faith and diligence has
he served, and serves, notwithstanding his age or sufferings. On the
contrary, he is just as ready today to undergo hardship as he was the
first day. So on account of his qualities and his experience in warlike
matters and the Christian spirit which he shows in all dealings with
the natives, and the fidelity and truth that has always been found
in him, I recommend him in general terms to the most important office
in your Majesty's service. I most humbly beg you that all favors may
be granted him, because he is worthy and deserving of them.
Juan de Salcedo, grandson of the governor Miguel Lopez, has served
and serves your Majesty in these districts in the capacity of captain
of infantry. He is one who has exerted and does exert himself in
whatever he has been commanded--not only in the conquests, discoveries,
and pacification of these islands, but in everything else that has
occurred and occurs from day to day in your Majesty's service. In all
of these, and in expeditions of great importance entrusted to him in
this land, he has given a very good account of himself. He merits,
and it is fitting that your Majesty should resolve to grant him,
some favor. In paying his grandfather's debts and for the repose of
his soul, he has spent all his possessions. What the governor left
was but little, and did not suffice for this, because he had spent
his income in helping some poor soldiers, and in other matters of
your Majesty's service, and was therefore poor and needy.
The governor, Miguel Lopez, in this city of Manila appointed in
your Majesty's royal name certain _regidores_ to serve as long as
it should be your Majesty's pleasure. I did the same in the town
of Santísimo Nombre de Jesus. [53] The said governor changed the
_cabildo_ of the said town at the end of the year, and I believe
would have done the like in this city, had he lived; because I
assure your Majesty that it is a thing of great inconvenience and
disturbance to have perpetual _regidores_. The _regidores_ in this
city from its foundation discharged their duties little more than a
year, during which time there were among them parties and factions;
as a result of this, the governor, seeing certain of them maltreat or
affront one of the _alcaldes_-in-ordinary in the town-hall, sent two
of the said _regidores_ with the record of their trial, referred to
your royal _Audiencia_ in Nueva España. I removed the said _cabildo_,
and appointed new _regidores_, as in the first town. And so I think
it a matter very important to your Majesty's service that, for the
present, there should be no perpetual _regidores_ in these parts,
but those who are elected annually; because in this way they will do
their duties well, understanding that the office is to last but a short
time. On the contrary, they will, if elected in perpetuity, become
careless, as experience shows. I advise your Majesty of this so that
if perpetuity of these offices is demanded, you may do what seems best.
After the departure of these ships if it be our Lord's will, I shall
continue the _repartimiento_ of this land, in those places discovered
by Captain Juan de Salcedo and the master-of-camp in this island of
Luzon, on the coast of Yloco; for it would be impossible for this
fleet to sustain itself in any other way, on account of the great
privation and poverty endured in the past and present by the soldiers,
especially since they are not now permitted to make raids. These were
wont to be made formerly, in order to support themselves; but they
proved of great harm and prejudice to the natives; and by them God
our Lord, and your Majesty were not served. With this remedy these
evils cease. Everything will be done which is thought most suitable
for the service of your Majesty, and the support of this your camp
and fleet. May our Lord for many and fortunate years guard and prosper
your Majesty's state with increase of greater kingdoms and seigniories,
as we, your Majesty's faithful vassals, desire. Manila, June 29, 1573.
Your Sacred Royal Catholic Majesty's faithful vassal and most humble
servant, who kisses your royal feet. [54]
_Guido de Lavezaris_