Catholic Royal Majesty:
In the year of seventy, your Majesty's camp being in the island of
Panae, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, your governor, was informed that the
island of Luzon was very fertile and well populated, and afforded a
good opportunity for trade. Since the island of Panae was poor, and
the men there were in great extremity, he sent the master-of-camp,
Martin de Goiti, with a sufficient force to examine the island
of Luzon, and offer peace and friendship to its natives. The said
master-of-camp, having arrived at the said island of Luzon, at the
port and city of Manila, found that the natives had built a fort and
mounted six pieces of heavy artillery and a number of chambered guns,
and had collected a large force to defend the entrance. The said
master-of-camp, seeing that the people of the said town of Manila had
taken up arms, required them many times, by means of an interpreter
whom he brought, to receive them in peace; because the governor sent
them to win their friendship, and to see if there was any place
where they might come to settle, and not to do them any harm. The
natives of Manila would not admit these reasons, on the contrary
they began to discharge their artillery, trying to sink the vessels
that the said master-of-camp brought. The latter, seeing that they
made war on him, disembarked his men, took the fort without assault
and its artillery. The men fled inland, forsaking the town and fort,
where the said master-of-camp awaited them four days, to see if they
would make peace, to which effect he questioned them many times. When
he saw that they would not accept his terms, he took their artillery
and ammunition and returned with these to the island of Panae, where
was the aforesaid governor Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. When the latter
heard the true report and relation that was brought from that land,
he left, in the year following (of seventy-five) [102] the island of
Panae, where he had settled, for that of Luzon, because the latter
is well populated and has a considerable trade with the neighboring
islands and the mainland of China. He entered the harbor with his
fleet and by means of the interpreter whom he carried with him,
using on many different occasions, the necessary means, he urged and
notified the natives to receive him in peace, as vassals of your
Majesty. He told them that by your Majesty's order the Spaniards
had come to that land to protect the natives from their enemies,
to instruct them in civilization, and to preach to them the gospel
and the way of salvation--for such is the attitude that your Majesty
is pleased should be taken toward them--but the said natives would
not consider it. They put the governor off with long delays for four
days, during which the latter permitted nothing to be landed from the
fleet. Thus he made the natives certain of his intention. At the end
of the four days, the chiefs of the said town and vicinity came to
seek peace for themselves and their villages. The said governor, in
your Majesty's name, received the acknowledgment and vassalage which
they owed your Majesty. Peace and friendship being thus effected,
the governor disembarked with all his men, and in your Majesty's
royal name took possession of the whole island of Luzon. He founded
and settled the city of Manila, and called the said island _El nuevo
reino de Castilla_ ["the new kingdom of Castilla"]. Having done this,
he tried in every way to bring the most of the natives to actual
acknowledgment. Many did not do so, nor have they been willing to;
on the contrary, they induced others not to submit, saying that the
Castilians, as they call the Spaniards, could not remain in that
land, since they were so few; and that the people, by making war on
them, could make an end of them. So it was necessary to subdue those
rebels. This made trouble, because in the end they will be subjected
by the said governor and the troops whom he has brought with him. The
governor was diligent in reconnoitering the said island, which he found
to be very rich in many gold mines, which the natives improve and work,
especially in the province called Ylucos. The latter is very fertile,
abounding in provisions: rice, fowls, swine, goats, buffaloes, deer,
and many kinds of lake-birds, all in great abundance. In this island
there are many provinces, and in each one of them there are different
tongues and customs. The greater number of the people are Mahometan
Moros and Indians; besides other Indians who tattoo themselves in the
fashion of their ancestors, and invoke the demon. They have no native
king. Certain of the richest individual chiefs rule the country. They
wage war with one another, take prisoners in their wars, enslave them,
and sell them from province to province.
This island of Luzon is sixty leagues from the mainland of China. The
city and harbor of Manila is in thirteen degrees north latitude. This
island measures five hundred leagues in circumference. It has fine
harbors, bays, and rivers of good depth, better harbors being found
along the south side. This island is little more than one hundred
leagues east of the island of Burney. Likewise the islands of Maluco,
Filolo [Gilolo], Tidore, Ternate, and Ambon, called the Malucos,
are three hundred leagues south of this island of Luzon. So also
the rich country of Japan, whence is brought great quantities of
silver, is three hundred leagues, more or less, distant from die
island of Luzon. Every year Japanese ships come to these islands
laden with merchandise. Their principal trade is the exchange of gold
for silver, two to two and a half marcos [103] of silver for one of
gold. Two hundred leagues south of Luzon is the island of Mindanao,
whence is brought cinnamon. Likewise about one hundred leagues
north of Luzon, and very near the mainland of China, is an island
that they call Cauchi, which has a great abundance of pepper. The
king of China maintains trade with mis island, and so there are many
Chinese there. They have their own agency for the collection of the
pepper. Twelve or fifteen ships from the mainland of China come each
year to the city of Manila, laden with merchandise: figured silks of
all sorts; wheat, flour, and sugar; many kinds of fruit; iron, steel,
tin, brass, copper, lead, and other kinds of metals; and everything
in the same abundance as in España and the Indies, so that they lack
for nothing. The prices of everything are so moderate, that they are
to be had almost for nothing. They also bring a great deal of bronze
artillery, very well wrought, and all sorts of military supplies. This
island of Luzon is very suitable and convenient for trade with China;
men can reach the mainland from this island, because it is so near. On
this same island there is very good material for building ships and
galleys, if it should please your Majesty to send workmen for this
purpose. As has been pointed out above, the said island of Luzon
is very clearly shown to be fertile and abounding in provisions,
cloth, apparel, and whatever is most necessary for the preservation
of human life. Therefore this island ought to be settled and pacified,
and what there is in it sought out and discovered, because the island
is so large and powerful. For that reason, it is desirable that your
Majesty be pleased to provide what is necessary for that purpose,
and for his plans for the future, as follows:
The first thing necessary, in order to secure and settle the said
island of Luzon, to gain accurate information of what is yet unknown
about it, and to sustain the claims that we have advanced, is to send
Spanish people--that is, religious and soldiers.
The religious whom your Majesty might send for the present are forty
or fifty friars--learned theologians of mature age and good life and
habits. With these and the religious of the order of St. Augustine,
who have five monasteries in the neighboring islands--namely, one in
the island and town of Cubu, another in the island and town of Oton
[in Panay], another in the island and town of Mindoro, another in
the city of Manila, and another in Tondo (which is in Luzon)--great
results will be achieved; for the religious of these five monasteries
have labored much and assiduously in the conversion of the natives,
and our Lord has been well served. By the preaching of the gospel to
them, which has been done by these said religious, there have been
converted to our holy Catholic faith, receiving the water of baptism,
a great number of Indians, especially those from the island and town
of Cubu, who were pagans, [104] and easily converted. And likewise
in the island of Luzon, some native Chinese who were settled there,
being people of greater intelligence, have recognized the truth of
the divine law and are baptized and live as Christians. As the rest of
the people are Moros, it has not been possible to secure the desired
result, on account of their resistance. This may be attained, by the
favor of God, if your Majesty be pleased to send the said number of
forty to fifty religious, of the kind above described.
Second, your Majesty will be pleased to send also, with the said
religious, a prelate, creating bishop or archbishop of the said city
of Manila the reverend father Fray Diego de Herrera, of the order
of St. Augustine. The father is a man of learning and of good life,
who has labored much for the conversion of the Indians of those
islands. With him send as many of the secular clergy as your Majesty
pleases, who can act as prebends, canons, and chaplains; these likewise
should be persons of learning and good life, and should all be subject
to the above-mentioned prelate.
The third has to do with soldiers. May your Majesty please to send five
hundred soldiers here, who may be posted in the said island of Luzon,
so that by their help the said governor can subjugate and settle the
said island of Luzon, and discover other neighboring islands.
Fourth: These said five hundred men can come at less cost, provided
your Majesty be pleased to keep to the following order: that the said
troops should be collected in España under the pretext that it is done
for the convoy of the fleet which goes from these kingdoms to the said
Nueva España. Accordingly, of the two hundred men who ordinarily are
accustomed to go from Sevilla to Nueva España in convoy of the said
fleet, one hundred may be left behind, the number of these hundred
being supplied on the journey over from the number of the said five
hundred; on the return trip of the said fleet from Nueva España to
these kingdoms, the places of the said hundred soldiers may be taken
by a hundred passengers, from those who generally come. As a result,
at each trip and return one hundred soldiers will be spared, and thus
between seven and eight thousand ducats saved.
Fifth: When the said five hundred men have arrived in Nueva España,
on the very day when they disembark in the harbor of Vera Cruz, they
shall go directly to the harbor of Acapulco, which is one hundred
and twenty leagues, more or less, from the harbor of Vera Cruz. For
when the said troops arrive at the port of Acapulco, it will be more
than two months since the fleet from the said island of Luzon will
have arrived at the port of Acapulco. So the troops can be embarked
immediately on the said fleet, and make their way to the island
of Luzon and other islands. To try to raise the said five hundred
soldiers in Nueva España would be impossible, on account of the great
cost that would result; because each soldier would cost more than one
hundred and fifty pesos as a gratuity (the sum usually given), or even
a greater sum; and even if the said expense should be incurred, they
could not arrive under the banner of the hundred soldiers above--and
that with great trouble and vexation, as is well known.
Sixth: It is necessary, on the arrival of the said five hundred
soldiers, at the said islands, to effect immediately the purpose for
which they were brought--namely, to subjugate, settle, and explore both
the said island of Luzon, and those regions nearest China: the Japans,
the Lequios, and the island of Escauchu; this is a very important
matter. It is necessary that your Majesty should send us workmen,
masters to build ships and galleys, locksmiths, and blacksmiths to
the number of fifty. For all of these workmen your Majesty, if he
so please, could take the negro slaves whom your Majesty has on the
fortifications of Habana, considering that the fortifications are
finished now, and the men are no longer needed there.
Seventh: When the said fifty workmen have arrived, considering
in these islands the great plenty and abundance of wood, iron,
and other materials most necessary for building the said ships,
the said workmen should build three or four vessels each year, so
that the trip can be made from Nueva España to the said islands and
return, with two fleets. Likewise from the larger islands can be
made voyages of discovery, subjugation, and colonization, and thus
ascertain thoroughly the secret of the so great riches and trade
possessed by the said islands, in order that your Majesty may be best
served in everything. I beseech and supplicate this, and especially
that your Majesty be pleased to provide promptly everything thus
requested--seeing that delays might cause bad results, because of
the small number of the Spaniards, and the great work to be done at
present in this island of Luzon; and because those here deserve all
the reward and kind succor that your Majesty may extend to them.
_Juan Pacheco Maldonado_