This is a good and faithful copy of several instruments drawn in
regard to the reception of the royal seal of the royal Audiencia
and chancillería, which the king our lord has lately commanded to
be reëstablished in the city of Manila of the Philipinas Islands;
they are set down in the book wherein is recorded the establishment
of the said royal Audiencia, and their tenor is as follows:
In the city of Manila of the Philipinas Islands, on the eighth
day of the month of June of the year one thousand five hundred and
ninety-eight, Don Francisco Tello, knight of the Order of Santiago,
governor and captain-general of these islands for the king our lord,
and president of the Audiencia and chancillería which was ordered
to be established there, said that immediately upon the arrival of
the last ships from Nueva España in this present year, on which
came the honorable auditors whom his Majesty was sending for the
said royal Audiencia, the licentiate Christoval Telles de Almazan,
one of the said honorable auditors, informed him that he had brought
and held in his possession the royal seal of the king our lord,
which was given to him by the viceroy of Nueva España for this royal
Audiencia; and the said auditor directed that an order should be
given for the formal reception of it, with the authority and reverence
which his Majesty directs and commands by his royal instruction and
decrees. Accordingly his Lordship immediately gave notice thereof
to the cabildo and regimiento of this city, and the other ministers
of justice here, that they might provide and make ready all matters
necessary for it. This day was appointed for the said reception, and,
as the governor has been advised on behalf of the city that all matters
are arranged and ready for the said reception to be immediately made,
he commanded and commands that it be put immediately in execution,
and that the royal seal of his Majesty be placed in the church of San
Augustin of this city, within a coffer covered with velvet and gold,
with the ceremony which is fitting, so that thereafter it may be taken
thence to the royal buildings, to whatever place may be appointed and
made ready for the said purpose. And for this end shall be called and
summoned to the city all the companies of infantry, both paid troops
and citizens.
Accordingly he has declared and ordered it, and signed it with
his name.
_Don Francisco Tello_
_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_, clerk of the court.
And promptly, without any delay, on the said day, month, and year,
the following persons met in the royal building where the said
governor and captain-general resides, to wit: Doctor Antonio de
Morga, lieutenant-general and auditor of the said royal Audiencia;
the licentiate Christoval Telles de Almaçan, and the licentiate
Alvaro Rodriguez Çambrano, auditors of the said royal Audiencia; the
licentiate Geronimo de Salazar Salzedo, fiscal of the Audiencia; and
the cabildo, court of justice, and regimiento of this distinguished
and ever loyal city of Manila. And these persons all came clothed
in silk, and over that their Flemish robes of bright red velvet,
lined with blue taffeta. And then came a number of the principal
persons of this city, encomenderos, and citizens thereof. In the
main plaza a squadron of Spanish infantry was drawn up by companies,
consisting of the citizens of the city. Thereafter the said governor
and captain-general, and the honorable auditors, and the officials
of the city, and other persons came out from the royal buildings and
went therefrom on horseback, with much music of clarions, flutes, and
other festive instruments. They went through the streets leading to the
said royal seal, which were hung and adorned with silks of all kinds,
until they arrived at the church of San Agustin; and having dismounted
they entered. Within the larger chapel was a seat of honor covered with
bright red velvet, and thereon a cushion of the same, embroidered with
gold; and on the cushion a coffer, adorned with red velvet and gold,
and locked. All knelt, and having heard a mass, which was said with
great solemnity and dignity, the said licentiate Christoval Telles
de Almazan said to the said lord governor and captain-general that
within the said coffer lay the royal seal, which had been delivered
to him by the viceroy of Nueva España to be brought to these islands,
as appeared by a testimonial thereof which he presented, together
with the key of the said coffer. Thereupon the said governor,
kneeling upon the ground, as were all the rest, took and opened the
said coffer, and drew from it the said royal seal. He commanded me,
the undersigned secretary, to read the royal decree and instruction
of his Majesty, wherein is ordered and directed the formality that
shall be observed in receiving the said royal seal. Having read this
in an intelligible voice, so that it was heard by all, the said lord
governor turned to the city officials, and other persons present; and,
with the royal seal in his hands, told them that that was the seal of
the arms of the king our lord, which represented, his royal person,
and which all must respect and obey with due reverence and veneration,
as they would their king and rightful lord. Having finished this,
the said lord governor put the said royal seal into the said coffer,
and locked it. He took in his hands the said coffer and carried it
out of the said church with all the people and the said cabildo,
carrying the said royal seal, which was covered with a pall of bright
red velvet with gilded bars; in the middle of it were embroidered the
royal arms. At the door of the said church stood a large gelding, well
housed with a cloth of embroidered red velvet. On either side was an
escutcheon with the royal arms, and upon the saddle rested a cushion;
the said governor placed the said coffer thereon, and immediately
covered it with a cloth of brocade, and the said horse was covered. The
reins were held by Captain Gomez de Machuca, who was appointed chief
alguacil of this court; he was covered with the said pall; and before
him went the said lord governor and the said honorable auditors, and
other principal people and citizens of this colony. Behind marched
six companies of paid infantry, and many other people. They went to
the cathedral church of this city, at the door of which stood the
archbishop of these islands, dressed in his pontifical robes, with the
whole chapter of the said church and other clergy thereof. When the
said royal seal was taken down from the horse the said lord governor
and captain-general held it in his hands and carried it, covered with
the pall. Thus they went in procession to the chief chapel, and above
the steps was placed a seat of honor; on this was set a cushion,
whereon the said coffer was placed. And when this was done and the
customary songs had been sung and ceremonies gone through, the said
archbishop chanted certain prayers. Again they left the church in the
same order, the said archbishop and the rest of the clergy accompanying
them to the door. The said lord governor again placed the said coffer,
wherein lay the royal seal, upon the said horse; and with the same
pomp and ceremony, solemnity and rejoicing, they went to a hall of
the royal building, where it was agreed that the royal seal should be
placed temporarily, until the royal buildings which are being erected
for this royal Audiencia are completed. Within the said hall were
placed various carpets, and it was hung and adorned. A great canopy
of red velvet was placed there with the royal arms, and within it
another after the same fashion. Under the canopy stood a table with
its cloth of velvet, and thereon a cushion of the same stuff, all
bedecked with gold. The said lord governor placed the said coffer,
wherein lay the royal seal, upon the said table, and covered it with
the said cloth; and, with the said honorable auditors drawn up at
one side, he presented a commission from his Majesty by which he was
appointed president of the royal Audiencia, and which commanded the
said honorable auditors to receive him in the said office; this was
read by me, the present clerk of the court. And after this was done,
the said honorable auditors kissed it, and made obeisance to it, and
placed it above their heads as the letter and decree of their king and
rightful lord. And they ordered that his Lordship, having placed his
hand upon his knight's habit, should take the oath which his Majesty
commands; which, having so placed his hand, he received, as follows:
_Oath of the lord president_. "Your Lordship swears by God our Lord
and upon the holy gospel, as you are a knight, that you will exercise
well and faithfully the office of president of this royal Audiencia and
chancillería, and observe and comply with, and cause to be observed
and complied with, the ordinances which his Majesty has commanded to
be issued, and which have been issued therefor, in all respects and in
all ways, without in any way violating them. Your Lordship also swears
that you will keep secret the votes and the books of judgment, and
other things which may arise, and will reveal them to no one without
the permission and express command of his Majesty; and that you will
strive for the fulfilment of justice to litigants, and for the welfare
and increase of the royal exchequer, and for the good of the natives;
and that you will do all other things which ought to be done in so
distinguished an office, and as your Lordship is bound to do." "I do
so swear." "If your Lordship shall do thus, may God our Lord aid you;
but if otherwise, may He require account from you." "Amen."
When this was done, they left the said hall and sat in the chambers
of court; and the governor ordered Señor Doctor Antonio de Morga to
appear. He presented himself with his commission, which was read by me,
the present clerk of court. When this was done, his Lordship kissed
it and placed it above his head; and he was ordered to take the oath
which his Majesty directs, which he took in the following manner:
_Oath of Doctor Antonio de Morga_. "Do you swear by God our Lord,
and upon the holy gospel, that as auditor and judge you will obey
the commands which publicly or privately the king our lord may give
you, and will observe his royal ordinances, both those which are
given by the royal Audiencia and chancillería, and those which may
be given in the future; and that you will maintain the sovereignty,
the territory, and the provinces of the king our lord in every way;
and that you will not reveal the secrets of the royal judgments,
or others which are to be kept; and that you will avoid in all ways
and by all means any losses which might occur to the king our lord;
and that likewise you will faithfully expedite and decide the pleas
which may come before you in this royal Audiencia and out of it,
conformably to the laws of these realms; and that you will not leave
the path of truth and right either for love, hatred, ill-feeling, fear,
gift, promise, or any other cause, nor receive favors or stipends from
any grand council or corporation, for any plea which may be brought
before you to determine?" He answered, "I do so swear." "If you act
thus, may God aid you; but if otherwise may He require account from
you." He answered, "Amen."
When this was done the above-mentioned lieutenant-governor arose,
and seated himself in the said halls of court.
In the said order the other honorable auditors and the fiscal of
his Majesty were called, received, and put under oath, and likewise
the other officials of the said royal Audiencia, each one taking the
oath conformably to each of the offices. And when this was finished,
in the form above stated, the said lord president gave a general
instruction in the presence of all, in which he charged the said
honorable auditors to strive for peace and harmony, and the increase of
the royal exchequer, and to take care to attend punctually to their
duties, and to keep the secrets of this royal Audiencia, whereby
his Majesty would be served. In his name he thanked them, as well
as the citizens and others present. He charged them with the respect
which is due to the said royal seal, and to the commands of the said
royal Audiencia; and asked me, the present clerk of court, to give a
testimonial thereof. Forthwith he commanded the articles establishing
the royal Audiencia to be read. As they were not new (for some of
them had been read), he ordered that this cease; whereupon the said
Audiencia rose from session for this day. To all which I bear witness.
_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_, clerk of the court.
[_Attestation_]
This copy is certain and truthful, having been corrected and compared
with the said book from which it was copied. In order that this may
appear, I have made the present copy at the request and command of
Don Francisco Tello, knight of the Order of Santiago, governor and
captain-general of these islands, and president of the royal Audiencia
here, in the city of Manila, on the twenty-eighth of June of the year
one thousand five hundred and ninety-eight, being witnesses
_Alonso de Saavedra_
_Pedro Muñoz de Herrera_
citizens of Manila, in witness of the truth whereof I have affixed
my seal.
_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_, clerk of the court.
[_Endorsed_: "Testimonial concerning the reception of the seal and
the establishment of the royal Audiencia."]