HONDURAS.
1550-1800.
PIRATICAL RAIDS ON TRUJILLO AND PUERTO DE CABALLOS—CONDITION
OF THE SETTLEMENTS—CHURCH MATTERS—MISSIONARY EXPEDITION
TO TEGUCIGALPA—MARTYRDOM OF THE MISSIONARIES—LABORS OF THE
FRANCISCANS IN HONDURAS—INTERFERENCE OF THE BISHOP—TRUJILLO
DESTROYED BY THE DUTCH—FORT SAN FERNANDO DE OMOA ERECTED—ITS
CAPTURE BY THE ENGLISH—AND RECOVERY BY PRESIDENT GALVEZ—ROATAN
SEVERAL TIMES OCCUPIED BY BUCCANEERS—THEIR FINAL EXPULSION.
In Honduras, and Higueras as the northern portion of this territory was
termed, there were, it will be remembered, but seven Spanish colonies
about the middle of the sixteenth century;[XXXIV‑1] and of these,
Trujillo, the largest, contained only fifty settlers. It is probable
that the entire number of Spaniards in the province at this time did
not exceed two hundred; and so slightly had the resources of the country
been developed that the few who lived there were by no means wealthy.
But poor as the colonists were, their condition did not shield them
from the depredations of freebooters, who during the latter portion of
the century made several raids on the coast of Honduras. In 1576 Andrew
Barker, a so-called merchant of Bristol, resolved to reimburse himself
for loss of property confiscated by the Spaniards during a trading
venture to the Canary Islands, and set forth on a piratical expedition.
Fitting out two vessels, he sailed from Plymouth in June. After touching
at various points and capturing a small amount of treasure, he arrived
at the mouth of the Chagre, where men were sent in search of friendly
cimarrones who might act as guides. As none could be found, the
expedition sailed for Honduras, captured on the way a ship containing
a little gold and a small quantity of arms, and anchored off the island
of San Francisco. Here, on account of a quarrel with his chief officer,
Barker was forcibly sent on shore, where, with thirty of his men, he was
surprised by a party of Spaniards, and nine of the English were slain,
himself among the number. A detachment from the ships was then sent in
a pinnace to capture the town of Trujillo, where but slight resistance
was encountered, and a good store of wine and oil was secured, but not
an ounce of treasure. A squadron of Spanish men-of-war now appeared in
sight, and the robbers were glad to regain their pinnace, leaving on
shore eight of their number, of whom no tidings were afterward heard.
On the homeward voyage one of the vessels was capsized in a squall,
and fourteen of the men lost with most of the treasure. The survivors
arrived in England without further adventure, and the proceeds of the
expedition yielded but thirty pesos as the share of a common soldier.
This was vengeance indeed!
In 1592, when Puerto de Caballos and Trujillo were attacked by pirates,
affairs seem to have been more prosperous, for considerable booty was
found at the former place. "Wee remained in the towne all night," says
one who took part in the expedition,[XXXIV‑2] "and the next day till
towards night: where we found 5 or 6 tuns of quick silver, 16 tuns of
old sacke, sheepe, young kids, great store of poultrie, some store of
money, & good linnen, silkes, cotton-cloth, and such like; we also
tooke three belles out of their church, and destroyed their images.
The towne is of 200 houses, and wealthy; and that yere there were foure
rich ships laden from thence: but we spared it, because wee found other
contentment."
In 1595 a raid was attempted on Puerto de Caballos by the French, but
on this occasion the corsairs were defeated, many of them being killed
or captured, and the remainder compelled to put to sea "blaspheming and
averring that neither they nor the English had met with similar disaster
in any part of the Indies."[XXXIV‑3] During the next year Trujillo and
Puerto de Caballos were again assailed by the English under Sherley
and Parker, and the latter town was once more sacked; but, says the
chronicler who described the expedition: "It was the most poore and
miserable place of all India."[XXXIV‑4]
Notwithstanding the depredations of freebooters, the colonies of
Honduras appear to have been fairly prosperous at the close of
the sixteenth century. The lands around Trujillo were then under
cultivation, producing large crops of maize and fruit; grapes,
oranges, and lemons being raised in abundance. On two sides of the
town were rivers abounding in fish. Pasture was abundant, and the
cattle introduced from Spain multiplied so rapidly that they were
of little value except for their hides. The walls of the houses were
of bushes interlaced, plastered within and without, and covered with
palmetto-leaves. The cathedral and the convent of San Francisco, the
latter being founded in 1589, were the most prominent buildings.
[Sidenote: REMARKS OF THOMAS GAGE.]
"This is a woody and mountainous Country," writes Thomas Gage, who
journeyed through the western part of Honduras, on his way from Trujillo
to Santiago in 1636; "very bad and inconvenient for Travellers, and
besides very poor; there the commodities are hides, Canna fistula, and
Zarzaparilla, and such want of bread, that about Truxillo they make
use of what they call Cassave, which is a dry root, that being eaten
dry doth choak, and therefore is soaked in broth, water, wine, or
Chocolatte, that so it may go down. Within the country, and especially
about the city of Comayagua (which is a Bishop's seat, though a small
place of some five hundred inhabitants at the most), there is more
store of Maiz by reason of some _Indians_, which are gathered to Towns,
few and small. I found this Country one of the poorest in all America.
The chief place in it for health and good living is the valley which
is called Gracias á Dios, there are some rich farms of Cattle and
Wheat; but because it lieth as near to the Country of Guatemala as to
Comayagua, and on this side the ways are better than on that, therefore
more of that Wheat is transported to Guatemala and to the Towns about
it, than to Comayagua or Truxillo. From Truxillo to Guatemala (Santiago)
there are between four score and a hundred leagues, which we travelled
by land, not wanting in a barren Country neither guides nor provision,
for the poor Indians thought neither their personal attendance, nor any
thing that they enjoyed too good for us."
Small as may have been Comayagua—or as it was now termed by the
Spaniards Nueva Valladolid—in comparison with other cities which Gage
visited during his travels in the New World, it was the most flourishing
settlement in the province, and continued to prosper until 1774, when
it was destroyed by earthquake. In 1557 it was declared a city, and in
1561 its church was raised to cathedral rank. The seat of the bishop's
diocese was soon afterward transferred there from Trujillo, the chapter
including a dean, archdeacon, rector, and doctor of common law.[XXXIV‑5]
In 1602 there were in Nueva Valladolid convents of the orders of La
Merced, San Francisco, and Juan de Dios, and an endowed college under
the patronage of the king.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS.]
The unseemly disputes which occurred among the ecclesiastics at an
earlier period in the history of Honduras[XXXIV‑6] were now at an end.
On the death of Bishop Pedraza, whose high-handed measures had rendered
him unpopular with the colonists, and driven nearly all the religious
from the province, Gerónimo de Corella, a Jeronimite, was appointed
to the see. To Corella succeeded Alonso de la Cerda in 1572,[XXXIV‑7]
and in January 1588 the mitre was bestowed on Gaspar de Andrade, a
Franciscan, who held office until his decease in 1612.[XXXIV‑8]
The income of the bishopric at this date was three thousand pesos
a year; there were five prebends; and within the diocese a hundred
and forty-five Indian towns, with nearly four thousand heads of
families.[XXXIV‑9] In 1610 the metropolitan of the diocese, the
archbishop of Santo Domingo, empowered the dean of the chapter in
Honduras, to hear and determine appeals in order that the expense and
delay incident to the journey to Santo Domingo might be avoided. In
October 1613 Alonso Galdo was consecrated bishop, and during this and
the following year visited all parts of the province, confirming more
than seven thousand persons, some of whom were over ninety years of
age. During his administration two synods were held, the last one in
April 1631. Three years before that date Luis de Cañizares was appointed
coadjutor in the diocese at the request of the prelate, who was now
aged and enfeebled by incessant toil. After the death of Galdo in
1645[XXXIV‑10] the see remained vacant until 1647, when Juan Merlo de
la Fuente accepted the bishopric of Honduras, after having refused that
of Nueva Segovia.
Between Honduras and Nicaragua lay the district of Tegucigalpa, of
which mention has before been made in connection with missionary
labors.[XXXIV‑11] In the principal Indian town, which was known by
the same name, was founded in 1589 a convent of the Franciscans, and
later one of the Merced order. Nevertheless the greater portion of this
territory had never yet been visited by the ecclesiastics. In 1622 the
missionaries Cristóbal Martinez de la Puerta and Juan Vaena, accompanied
by five native interpreters, sailed from Trujillo, and landing at
Cape Gracias á Dios journeyed toward this region. On their way they
several times came in sight of bands of natives, but all fled at their
approach. The interpreters could not obtain a hearing, and in vain the
missionaries held forth the cross and beckoned peaceful overtures to the
timid savages. Puerta and his colleague were becoming discouraged, when
one day they beheld a vast multitude of Indians approaching them, and
in their midst a venerable chieftain with long white hair, who advanced
to welcome the missionaries. He told them that their coming had been
eagerly anticipated, as it had been foretold in a vision by the most
beautiful child he had ever seen, with melting tenderness of glance and
speech, that he should not end his days before being a Christian, and
that men would come for the purpose of teaching him. The natives at once
erected a dwelling and church for the missionaries, and the baptism of
the aged leader and all his family speedily followed.
Vaena then proceeded to Guatemala, where his tidings caused great
excitement. Many volunteered their services, and from them Benito Lopez
was chosen, accompanying the former on his return in January 1623.
Meanwhile seven hundred adults had been baptized, and seven villages
founded by the different tribes of the country. The chief difficulty of
the missionaries was to overcome the nomadic instinct of the natives,
who would depart for the woods or the mountains when least expected and
without apparent cause.
During the year the three ecclesiastics visited the country of the
Guabas, where they met with remarkable success, baptizing some five
thousand persons. While the missionaries were thus gathering a rich
harvest of souls, they and their converts were attacked and overpowered
by a hostile tribe named the Albatumas, and the former were put to death
with cruel tortures. A large force was sent to punish the natives, and
the remains of the missionaries were recovered but their murderers had
fled to the mountain fastnesses. The bodies of the martyred men were
conveyed to Trujillo, where they remained until the city was captured by
pirates, when the guardian of the convent had them removed to Santiago,
and they were there interred with great ceremony in the church of San
Francisco.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: THE XICAQUES.]
About the year 1661 the Xicaques, whose territory bordered Tegucigalpa
on the north, made frequent raids on the Olancho Valley. One of the
principal sufferers by these forays, Captain Bartolomé de Escota,
resolved on their suppression, and capturing a large number gathered
them into settlements in Honduras. Accompanied by three Lencas he then
proceeded to Guatemala in search of a priest to instruct them. The
president urged the Franciscans to undertake the task, as they had
been the pioneers in the work, and now an abundant harvest seemed to
await the gathering. Fernando de Espino, at the time a member of the
convent of Almolonga, was a native of Nueva Segovia, a town bordering
on the lands of the Xicaques, and was familiar with the Lenca language
and people. He undertook the work and associated with himself Pedro de
Ovalle. They started from Guatemala in May 1667, and met with moderate
success. In 1668 Espino was recalled, and Ovalle, with additional
assistants, carried on the work despite multiplying difficulties,
through many years. In 1679 seven small villages contained upward
of a thousand christianized natives and the number was continually
increasing. Lopez paid a visit to this district in 1695, and became so
enthusiastic in the work that he spent the remainder of his life there,
dying in 1698 in the midst of work accomplished or projected for the
good of the people.
The Franciscans were greatly impeded in their labors by the opposition
of the bishop of Honduras,[XXXIV‑12] who caused a portion of their
buildings to be destroyed, and placed them and their converts under the
ban of excommunication. According to Vasquez these proceedings caused
him to be suspended from office.[XXXIV‑13] The prelate lived to repent
of his error, and during his last sickness was waited upon by members
of the order which he had sought to injure.
The few remaining records that have come down to us concerning the
history of Honduras until the close of the eighteenth century, apart
from the social, political, and industrial condition of the province,
which will be mentioned in a future volume, relate chiefly to the raids
of freebooters and hostilities with foreign powers.[XXXIV‑14]
In 1643 Trujillo was once more captured and pillaged, the town being
almost destroyed by the Dutch, although protected by a fort mounting
seventeen heavy guns and a number of smaller pieces. So disheartened
were the Spaniards by this disaster that the place was abandoned and
remained in ruins until 1789, when it was rebuilt and fortified by order
of the king. In 1797 it was again attacked by an English squadron; but
after a sharp fight the assailants were repulsed with loss.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: DEFEAT OF THE ENGLISH.]
In obedience to a royal cédula dated August 30, 1740, a fort named San
Fernando de Omoa was built on a harbor of the same name, near Puerto
de Caballos, as a further protection for the coast of Honduras, and
to serve as a calling-place for the guardas costas employed in those
parts. The works were begun in 1752 by Vazquez de Sotomayor, president
of Guatemala, and completed three years later. Although the site was
very unhealthy, a town was established there which soon contained a
considerable population, and became the outlet for the commerce of
eastern Guatemala. On the 25th of September 1779, Spain and Great
Britain being then at war, the fort was attacked by four English
men-of-war. It was gallantly defended by its commandant, Desnaux, with
five hundred men, and the British, not being in sufficient force, were
compelled to retire.[XXXIV‑15]
On the 16th of October, the English returned with twelve line-of-battle
ships, a large body of troops, and a horde of Mosquito Indians. As on
the previous occasion they at once opened fire; but the guns of the
fort replied so vigorously that one of the vessels was disabled; and
another having run aground, the attack was suspended. By this time, or
soon after, a body of auxiliaries from Puerto de Caballos had gained the
heights opposite the town, after setting fire to all rancherías which
interfered with siege operations. The besieged, being surrounded, and
attacked on all sides, were soon forced to surrender. A better fate
might have attended them had not some of the negro artillerymen and a
company of regulars, dismayed by the odds against them, turned recreant
and broken down with their axes the gates of the fortress.[XXXIV‑16]
Four hundred prisoners and an immense booty, said to have exceeded
three millions of pesos, were captured, besides several vessels ready
freighted for Europe.[XXXIV‑17] The conquerors destroyed the town; but
no sooner had they secured their plunder than a violent storm came on,
and the ship on which the treasure was placed foundered, the rest of
the fleet having a narrow escape.
At this time Don Matías de Galvez ruled in Guatemala, and no sooner did
he hear of the disaster than he despatched messengers to the governors
of Cuba and Yucatan, and to Viceroy Mayorga, of Mexico, calling for
contributions of men and material. The viceroy responded at once,
sending reënforcements by way of Oajaca.[XXXIV‑18]
Galvez soon organized the militia of the settlements, and collecting all
the regulars he could muster advanced on San Fernando de Omoa. By the
26th of November he had constructed six lines of intrenchments before
the castle. Fruitless negotiations were held, and on the last day of the
month a midnight attack was made on the English, who being partially
surprised slowly retreated from the fort after spiking the guns, and
succeeded in gaining their ships, carrying off the leading men among
their prisoners, together with considerable booty.
[Sidenote: RENDEZVOUS OF THE PIRATES.]
Of the numerous islands that studded the bay of Honduras, more or less
thickly peopled when discovered by Columbus at the beginning of the
sixteenth century, but three were to any extent inhabited a hundred
years later. These, Roatan, Guanaja, and Utila, remained quietly subject
to the Spanish rule until 1642, when they were taken without resistance
from the natives, and garrisoned by English pirates. The situation
became critical for Spanish interests, as the robbers could dart out
from the islands like hawks and pounce upon the commerce of the seas,
or make unexpected descents upon the main.
A few years later the governors of Guatemala, Habana, and Santo Domingo
united in an expedition for the recovery of these islands. Four ships
of war under the command of Francisco de Villava y Toledo sought to
surprise the English, and arrived at Roatan before daybreak. They were
discovered by the sentinels, and the assault successfully resisted.
The Spaniards, after expending all their ammunition, re-embarked and
sailed for Santo Tomás de Castilla to obtain a fresh supply and await
reënforcements.
In 1650 a second expedition consisting of 450 men was despatched for the
same purpose, and after a sharp resistance the English were compelled
to betake themselves to their ships. From that date Roatan was left
undisturbed by the British until 1742, when they again took possession
of the place and fortified it with materials obtained at Trujillo.
There they remained until 1780, when they were again driven out by the
governor of Guatemala. In 1796 the English once more gained possession
of the island and stationed there a guard of two thousand negroes;
but in the following year José Rossi y Rubia, being ordered by the
governor of Honduras to attempt its reconquest, induced the garrison to
capitulate without resistance.