Letters from Auditor Messa y Lugo to the King_The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 20 of 55 1621-1624 Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century.

Sire:

Immediately upon my arrival in this country, I informed your Majesty,

at the first opportunity, of everything possible, both of the condition

in which I found affairs here, and of what I could conjecture in the

beginning made by the new governor, Don Alonso Fajardo--of whom I

immediately conceived suspicions and fears--and in the little that I

saw of the beginnings of his government, by which he would not satisfy

the need of the country for justice and [good] administration. Then in

my next despatch, [26] [I informed you how this idea was confirmed]

by the demonstrations which may be called want of prudence; then, at

intervals, I continued to add to my letters whatever occurred that was

more intimately connected with this particular. Thus have I been doing

on all the other occasions when ships have sailed from this country,

both for Mexico and via Yndia, in addition to what the Audiencia has

written to your Majesty. Although it has been impossible to inform

your Majesty so minutely of everything, because it must be done with

all possible caution and secrecy, in order to escape the violence and

force of the governor--who with extraordinary vigilance and solicitude

examines the mails, in order to seize the letters--and this obstacle

has been aided by the multitude of affairs, still less, Sire, can that

be attempted now when they have an exact number. But the extravagance

of the governor's actions seems to be in excess of human capacity,

and of such sort that, although it be morally impossible to point

them out, it is more impossible, even when inadequately described, to

believe them; for in my opinion it is incredible when spoken or heard,

and scarce will be believed when seen, at least to men who recognize

the loyalty that they owe to their God and their king. Accordingly,

and as it is so necessary, in order to fulfil the obligations of my

conscience, to inform my king, continuing the account that I have given

hitherto of the wretched condition to which the governor has reduced

the country (and this cannot be specific and particular, because of

the multitude of his reckless acts or excesses, as above stated), I

shall relate, as succinctly as possible, some little that will serve

as an indication of what I shall leave unsaid. Hence, Sire, I say

that, from what we see here, what the governor is doing is to expend

your Majesty's royal revenues on the one hand, uselessly, without the

careful consideration of facts which is necessary to obtain results

for the service of your Majesty, and with very indolent attention; and

on the other hand, contriving to secure with them his own advantage,

under color of service to your Majesty, by sending your Majesty's

ships to Yndia, Macan, and other regions for his own negotiations,

under pretext of sending them for military stores and other things

for the royal service. In this way he defrauds your Majesty of a

vast sum of ducados, a thing that could be given another name. In

still another direction [he acts unjustly], by giving warrants to

pay due-bills, and that not to the owners of those bills, but to

persons who buy them at one-third and less [of their face value]. To

such persons does he open the doors to pay them, while they are shut

on the wretched owners without recourse. [That is done] perhaps, in

order to make them sell their claims; for of the two-thirds or more

remaining from the face value of the due-bill for their service of

wealth, a great share of profit falls to the governor, as is openly

muttered. This is affirmed by many conjectures, and especially by

the fact that it all passes through the hands of his retainers and

partisans, and those of his household. All this is done to the neglect

of building ships and preparing the supplies necessary for the defense

and conservation of the country.

The governor is also managing to make vast profits from consignments

of goods; and--as is hinted, and even affirmed, however secretly he

attempts to keep his affairs--a great part of the consignments are

supplied by the royal treasury of your Majesty, and the royal income

from the licenses given to the Chinese to remain in the country

aids him not a little. That sum amounts nearly every year to one

hundred and thirty thousand pesos, for many of the Chinese remain,

thus incurring the risk of another insurrection, notwithstanding the

so strict decrees in which your Majesty orders the very opposite,

and prohibits their remaining. That money was formerly collected

and placed in the treasury through the intervention of the royal

officials. The governor has ordered it to be collected by one of his

servants and paid whenever the latter chooses, so that vast sums are

always due to the treasury. I have been assured that forty thousand

pesos are still owing this year, which it is said that the governor is

using for his trading, as well as even the salary which is generally

given the collectors. For that reason, when the servant receives

the money that the Chinese pay for their licenses, it is weighed,

and if it is under weight, he demands two or three reals more;

but when he delivers that part of it which he chooses to pay into

the treasury, as I have said, he does not deliver it by weight, but

by count, and thus keeps the profit of the two or three reals. That

amounts to about four thousand pesos. It is sometimes even said that

what he delivers into the treasury on the principal account he pays

in warrants bought by the schemes and channels above mentioned. So

many of these things are attributed to his master, the governor,

that I am ashamed to relate them, for I do not believe them--or at

least I suspect that they are exaggerated. For it is even said that

that servant gives false licenses instead of the true ones, which

he distributes to the Chinese at the same price as the good ones,

and keeps the money for them. It is said that the governor has money

taken from the royal treasury secretly at night. Thus do they say,

and attribute things to the governor by so many and so diverse roads,

that one is scandalized on hearing them--both about the royal revenues

and about other particular things in the matter of profit. What I know

for certain is that the governor does not have the accounts audited

annually in January, as your Majesty orders, by the president and two

auditors. On the contrary, the accounts for years before he assumed

the government are so far behind that they have not yet come to

those of his government, although he has been here three years. In

those accounts preceding--although I am one of the two auditors

whom your Majesty orders to audit the accounts together with the

president; and although I say many things about his negligence--I

have not been sufficient, for he is the one who has to take action

therein. I believe that he has not attended to this matter, but rather

has utterly neglected it; for I am persuaded that, in reaching the

accounts of his own term, he has to keep things very private for the

above-mentioned reasons. I do not know whether he fears to have the

accounts made public; and besides that I should be the judge of them,

for he knows that many worlds could not, through God's mercy, move

me one jot from my strict observance of your Majesty's service.

Also the governor tries to violate justice, and to prohibit the

punishment of evildoers, [at the same time] prosecuting and punishing

the good and innocent; for he protects the former and abhors the

latter, inasmuch as the one class do his will, while the others note

and hate the evil things that he does. To them he offers insults,

and to the others he gives offices and honors. In suits there must be

nothing done but his pleasure, even though the suits be pending in the

Audiencia, especially if they belong to persons devoted to him, or to

those whom he hates; and he acts therein with so great violence that,

when his desires are not carried out, he stops the course of the suits

and takes them to his own house, so that the Audiencia may not pass

any sentence contrary to his will. No one dares to demand justice

from him, or any clerk to notify him of the vote of the Audiencia,

while the parties to the suit call out to God in the streets. When

it suits his pleasure, he takes charge of the criminal causes, and

says that he does not wish a case to be prosecuted further, or that

such a person be punished. Consequently, the number of the evildoers

(and it is for them that he acts thus) increases so greatly that the

scandal arising from it is pitiful. Malefactors also are more numerous

because, when the whim takes him to forsake the other methods, the

governor orders the warden of the prison to let the prisoners go,

even when they are imprisoned for serious crimes; or he does this

secretly, so that no one should know it, and under pretext that

they are needed for war or your Majesty's service. But he does the

very opposite if it is a matter not to his taste, even though the

prisoners be guiltless. His actions are still more objectionable when

he goes to inspect the general prison, where he prevents the auditors

from having any vote, and they are allowed to do only what he wishes;

while he threatens them that he will dash out their brains with a club,

and other serious things.

The governor also makes a practice of neglecting and not observing

the decrees and orders of your Majesty, interpreting them to his own

satisfaction, or pretending that he has not got them, when he does

not wish them to be known, even though he should be plainly told

of them; and even if he knows it, he regards everything according

to his own pleasure and preference. If any one murmurs or says a

word, he is prosecuted, and his innocence is punished with violent

imprisonment. The governor even takes away his natural defense so

that he cannot appeal or demand justice; and the governor searches

for contrivances to annoy those who do not approve his doings.

The governor also makes a practice of being so absolute in everything,

that he does not only what is mentioned above so summarily and in

general terms--for, as I have stated to your Majesty in the beginning,

it appears difficult in each of these subjects to enumerate the things

that he does (even, in my judgment, only the weighty and more serious

ones)--but also in regard to various other matters does he act and

proceed in the same manner. Consequently, I believe that there is no

man who will not affirm that from the time that the governor entered

this country, he has done no good thing, but all in disservice of

your Majesty, at least in the regular procedure. For if he calls

treasury meetings, if he sometimes attends the Audiencia and sessions,

or does any other act by reason of his office, there is no one who

does not understand that the ends and objects of his acts are his

own conveniences, vengeance, and passions or the conduct of his own

affairs and those of all his following--as has been apparent to me

at many times, on occasions when I have been able to be present by

virtue of my office. Yet he neither wishes the auditors to counsel or

advise or influence him, nor that a word be said about his actions. On,

the contrary he manages to get all his affairs approved especially by

those persons holding office, such as regidors, royal officials, and

others, and not only laymen but ecclesiastical persons. Consequently

he seeks with most strenuous efforts the life of those laymen who do

not approve his acts, both in public and in private. He threatens to

proceed against them, either personally or through intermediaries,

for the most remote and trifling irregularity that can be imagined;

and he brings suits without hesitating, when he finds no witnesses,

to secure others, even though they be false. To them he furnishes

offices and other accommodations for that service, as many dare to

say; and there is no longer any redress or protection, or at least

that which is usually a safeguard destroys them. Consequently they

endeavor to please him, without considering what he asks or what they

do. Hence it results that neither the royal officials nor the regidors,

nor any other persons whatever whom he may need--either that they may

give him their approval, or that they may suit his pleasure--whether

in violation of ordinance or decree of your Majesty or for whatever he

might desire, exercise their offices with freedom. Thus outraged and

tyrannized over is all this community--so much so, that I have been

told secretly that the regidors have sent your Majesty a chart of a

certain victory which they pretend that the governor has gained from

the Dutch enemy who generally frequent these coasts, in which they

pretend that the governor burned and put to flight their ships by his

plans and arrangements. God knows the truth, and whether that is so;

but I can never persuade myself of so great corruption; for such a

thing never happened, and the governor has here a sufficiently wretched

reputation. In this matter, and regarding a matter of such gravity,

it was told me that when a regidor who privately told it was asked

how they had done such a thing, he had answered by asking what they

would have done if a traitor had come to govern them. Although that is

not public, but was told in private, your Majesty will learn it there

by its effects if that chart has reached you. But what is public is

that the governor says that your Majesty should have patience; and

since you sent him here he will conduct affairs according to his own

pleasure. He either threatens ecclesiastical persons, even though

they are friars, that if they do not act the same as the laymen,

he will take from them the stipends given them by your Majesty, or

he does not pay them; and he has oppressed them so that not even

do the preachers dare to utter truths in the pulpit, both by his

threats and because he dishonors them, and says that they are living

in concubinage, and that he will have them stabbed. However, the

chief reason why they have ceased to preach, as I have been told, is

because all conclude that it is a matter that has no remedy, and that,

since they attain no results, they do not care to ruin themselves;

and so they abandon it as a matter already adjudged. By these acts of

violence on the one hand, and with the flattery of some on the other,

he obtained a guaranty to your Majesty in order, as is understood, to

screen by it, or at least to moderate, the enormity of his acts. He

also avails himself, for this purpose, of threats to the notaries,

of nothing less than the galleys and their ruin; or they are given

to understand that they must not give official statements of anything

requested from them, especially to persons who he thinks will write to

your Majesty. He has under his influence one Pedro Muñoz de Herrera,

who is clerk of court for the Audiencia, with whom he negotiates

those statements that he wishes; and there is even a very evil

rumor that the latter will give them even though they are not true,

and that he gives them from the official records as demanded, even

when these are defective--not only by what is known of the person of

each one, but because the governor has favored, protected, and placed

him by force in the Audiencia. [This has been done] both in a murder

that the governor committed on the person of his wife, and in many

other matters. Finally in violation of your Majesty's decrees which

order that the offices be sold, he has, after having granted some

gratuitously for his own objects, without selling them, refused to

adjudge the office of secretary held by Pedro Muñoz to one Diego de

Rueda, who bid eight thousand pesos for it, in order that Pedro Muñoz

might not be deprived of it; while he gave it to the latter for one

thousand five hundred pesos, which the said Muñoz had bid for it, and

that sum was paid in purchased pay-warrants, in order to give it to

him gratis, as is well known. He manages the clergy in the same way;

and, as he suspected that the cabildo of the church wrote a letter

to your Majesty last year, they have, since he learned something

of this matter, endured a little tempest until they have been able,

by certain paths that they have learned, to watch him. This present

year I fear that they will not write, in view of the extraordinary

care with which they see that the governor seizes the letters that

are sent to your Majesty. The whole country is so fearful of such

interference that each one, I think, will seek an extraordinary way

in order to save his letters. Some are thinking of putting them in

boxes of merchandise, for which reason I fear that some will be left;

and, as I have said, it might be that these will be the letters of

the cabildo of the church--not only because of the aforesaid reason,

but because, although I see that the archbishop is annoyed at the acts

of the governor, and as I understand, those affairs cause him internal

anxiety through his desire of remedying them, there is among outsiders

considerable grumbling because he flatters the governor and humors

him in many ways (which leads people to think that the cause for it is

certain accommodations for his servants and relatives that the governor

gives him); and because of certain injuries which they think could at

least be abated with less compliance [on the archbishop's part]. But

I do not agree with that, notwithstanding that I might commend [more]

effort [by the archbishop]; for I know the governor's temper.

The governor also makes a practice of neglecting and sleeping over

affairs of good government, a policy that is fitting [27] for the

conservation of the country in peace and in the service of God; and

he lives in a profound slumber, and neglects taking any precautions

whatever--although the enemy so frequently invades these coasts,

with new forces each day on the sea; while on the land are great

numbers of Chinese Sangleys and Japanese. This has long caused many

men of loyalty and high standing to be anxious with the memory of the

past insurrection of the Sangleys; and not less is the anxiety caused

by the Japanese, for they are numerous and are an extremely warlike

race. [28] And although the governor has orders and decrees from your

Majesty that only the number who would be necessary for the ordinary

service of the trades of the country shall remain here; and although

the facts are well known to him, besides that he has been often told

of this, both in and out of official meetings: yet he does not discuss

its remedy, but only talks of making outside demonstrations by which

he will accomplish much. But one would believe that he means that he

will do much evil. May God in His mercy keep that evil far away. The

governor does the same in what concerns the enemy on the sea; for

not only does he not discuss, nor has he discussed, the building

of ships in order to be prepared, as did Don Juan de Silva, to go

to meet the enemy, but on the contrary, when he reached this land,

although the galleons built by Don Juan de Silva had been wrecked,

and although the Audiencia which was then governing had ordered,

notwithstanding that the treasury did not contain a single real,

some ships to be built, so that they might be finished in place of

those which had been wrecked, yet the governor, on finding them on

the stocks at his arrival, ordered all work to cease, and only two

ships were finished. He ordered even those vessels to be reduced

in size, whereat there are not wanting those who grumbled that he

did it in order to have trading-ships instead of warships. [29] He

has not built any others during all these three years, although the

employees in the accountancy of the royal treasury assure me, and it is

without doubt so, that he has spent three millions [of pesos] of your

Majesty's royal incomes from these regions, and of the funds brought

from Nueva España, during three years. That is a very great pity here,

for it is to be presumed that he has spent a great portion of that sum

in paying due-bills bought at one-third and less [their face value],

as I have said above. The employees of the accountancy have assured

me that five hundred thousand pesos were paid in that way last year,

and that fact is very well known. It is also known that the due-bills

outstanding have been exhausted, so that now they are being sought

very anxiously in the same districts, but cannot be found.

Although we generally have six or seven months' sure notice from

Xapon before the coming of the enemy, that they are going to come, the

governor makes no preparation, small or large, nor does he build any

vessels, but allows the time to pass as if he had no such warning. When

the enemy arrive at the coast, the governor, without any intention

of going to meet them--as is known publicly and generally, and is

known by the results, as he has already spent the money--lays hands

on the inhabitants and mainly by force gets a loan of one hundred

thousand pesos from them, or what he thinks best, and has the ships

in the port repaired. Those vessels often do not exceed three, and he

spends on them a vast sum of ducados, even loading them with food and

war-supplies of all that is needed. He troubles the soldiers in making

them go and come to and from Cavite, and even making them embark. He

says with show of great courage that he is going out, although he

is told that such a thing is impossible with the ships that he has,

for the enemy have many. Having spent all the money and exhausted the

miserable inhabitants whom he has thus burdened, he calls a council

at this juncture, and asks whether it is advisable to go out. Since

the enemy are so superior they cannot tell him to go out, and in

addition they see little gain in it; accordingly it is resolved that

it is not advisable to go out. Your Majesty's royal treasury thus

remains depleted, and the enemy are left to pillage the vessels that

they seize from those who come to this city, especially those from

China. It is even asserted, although I do not know whether it is true,

that he makes underhanded efforts in the midst of all these braveries,

by the hands of certain persons who are masters of his secrets, so that

the city may come out and disapprove of, and protest against, his going

[against the enemy], and may inform many of the council of the danger

if they should say that he should go out. And it is said that thus, in

the matters above related and in many things left unsaid, the governor

wastes his time--which he ought to spend in pleasing God our Lord, and

in imploring His mercy, so that He might aid us in the conservation

of the country, in succeeding in serving our king, and in preparing

matters for his royal service--in many feasts and games, parties,

weddings, christenings, and entertainments with women, even while the

enemy are along the coasts, and often even anchored inside the bay;

for I believe, and it is understood, that the Japanese inform the enemy

of the slight preparations of the country. As a result, the governor

has acquired a wretched reputation and character, even among the

Chinese Sangleys and the Japanese of the country (who are infidels),

not only for sensuality and lasciviousness, but for other and worse

doings. We have the country in the most wretched condition that can

be imagined. Never has it been so wretched, as is affirmed openly by

the oldest residents here, as well as by me. They bewail Don Juan de

Silva, for, although they say that he was covetous and revengeful, yet

he was moderate in these faults; besides, he was prudent, and watchful

of your Majesty's service, and of the preservation [of the country]

and credit in war, and of the honor of your Spanish nation. Many

of them fear, and I with them, some great chastisement from heaven,

because of the publicity and multitude of the sins of us who live here.

In the particulars of the above matters [your Majesty's revenues]

have been and are being wasted during the time of this government,

and I fear greatly that it will continue in the same way until the

end of it; and I do not know that it can become worse. For I assure

your Majesty that I am talking with some caution, although I could

enlarge on this subject--because when I talk with my king, I am

talking with God, for the satisfaction and security of my conscience;

and because from my entrance into this Audiencia, I thought that I

would not be fulfilling my obligations unless I endeavored to do my

duty in what concerns me, and in the rest what I could, so that the

service of God our Lord and that of your Majesty might be furthered. I

thought that if evil beginnings be looked on with fear they could not

increase. I always endeavored to furnish a good example in the matter

of any actions and life, and at the same time to persuade and advise

the governor of what I deemed worthy of reform, so that reason and

not inclination might rule. I avoided conforming to his will in all

things that came to my hands by reason of my office which were not to

the service of your Majesty. By deed, example, and advice, or at least

by efficient warnings, I exerted myself, so that only your Majesty's

service should be striven for, and I am persevering in this course. I

desire and am endeavoring to be on my guard respecting matters which

concern his inclination and not his reason. For in fact, although

the governor has done what he wished in many things, because he does

not know how to conduct negotiations otherwise, at least he did not

so act with me; and because of me and the openness of my nature, he

ceased to attempt and to do other things--I persevering in my purpose,

and he in his; and, although disabusing his mind of the idea that I

would surrender myself to an evil thing, humoring him and giving him

pleasure in all that I could freely. Inasmuch as that was so little

and the matter of justice so great, because your Majesty's royal

treasury and other most important things enter into it, he readily

abandoned the path of perverting me. He said, with promises, that

he would esteem my compliance more highly than that of all others,

or than a great sum of money, besides other exaggerations (from which

I think that he did not ill judge me), and changed the course that

he had pursued by means of insults and injuries. [As an instance of

the latter], after talking to me with his usual harshness while in

his house--that which your Majesty assigns and gives to the president

[of the Audiencia] by an order that you have given to the effect that

there be houses for the president and auditors--one of the houses of

one of the auditors having become vacant because Licentiate Alcaraz

left it, the governor (although it pertained to me by my seniority,

because Licentiate Legaspi already had a house) took it from me, moved

into it, and left his own under pretext that he wished to demolish it,

because it was falling down. He has lived in both houses (for one is

near the other) for two years, although there have been most furious

winds and storms, which makes his object evident. Besides, since your

Majesty assigns a house to the president and auditors, if mine should

collapse, I would rent a house which he could not seize afterward;

and since by the mercy of God, I trust in His Divine Majesty, that all

the world could not divorce me from the service of my king, I endured

and concealed the annoyance of his having deprived me of my house. I

think that the scope of his pretensions must have increased, and that,

when I censured him more, he tried to drive me from the Audiencia by

different methods that he attempted. One was to send me to inspect the

country (where one goes mostly by sea, because of the multitude of the

islands, the great distance, and the fact that the roads pass through

the territory of the insurgent Indians) while the enemy was along the

coast; yet an order was given to all the Spaniards who were living

on their encomiendas, and others who are the chiefs--against whom,

and not the poor common Indians, the inspection is aimed--to come to

reside in this city because of the presence of the enemy. Besides,

that inspection did not pertain to me, since I was neither the oldest

nor the most recent auditor. Notwithstanding that the Audiencia

resisted, saying that it was not advisable to make that visit then,

he tried to have it done by his appointment alone, and without the

concurrence of the Audiencia, having attempted to do that last year

as well as at the present time. In order to constrain and annoy me

more, he ordered me to go out in Holy Week, notwithstanding that I

replied to him that I would go (although it did not pertain to me)

if the Audiencia concurred in it, but that without that concurrence I

could not go. In consequence, it appears that the governor desisted

for the time, but did not abandon his project; on the contrary, he

was more set on it. When the Christmas season came, the time for the

distribution of offices, in accordance with your Majesty's ordinances,

that of probate judge fell to me in my turn. But this so annoyed him

that he tried to avoid giving it, withholding the commission signed

by the entire Audiencia, for more than two months, I believe, with a

certain scandal to the city; for litigants did not know to what judge

they could have recourse, as my predecessor's time had expired. After

he had delivered me the commission, when I commenced to exercise the

office--with no greater pleasure than that of serving your Majesty,

although others solicit those offices--the death of Licentiate Andres

de Alcaraz happened, without his leaving a will. As judge, I set about

collecting his property with much diligence, involving considerable

hardship. That caused me certain fevers, for as he died in the country

outside this city in a garden his property was in great peril. Of this

I gave your Majesty an account after the property was collected and

placed in order, with the precautions that I had taken--by which,

notwithstanding the suits that had succeeded, I would continue

to retain and reserve the property in case that your Majesty were

pleased to send [some one to take] the said auditor's inspection or

residencia. In conformity with that I had sent documents both to the

probate court of Mexico and to the House of Trade at Sevilla, so that

the property that the said auditor possessed there might be collected,

and that your Majesty might be advised. Finally, I continuing in my

office and the governor in his purpose--which was stimulated by his

inability to reduce me to what I can morally believe, besides the

public rumor and report--and he being most desirous of taking from

me my office of probate judge, especially after the property had

been entered in the accounts of the probate court; and I had begun

the administration of the property of Licentiate Andres de Alcaraz:

for certain purposes, which I do not dare to state, although they are

reported, for I do not dare believe them, still by this and by many

other reasons, and more because he had seized certain of the letters

that I have written to inform your Majesty (for which, as persons in

his confidence assure me, with whom he has communicated the matter,

he has felt, and still feels, special anger and fury against me),

he resolved to remove me, even though it should be by arbitrary act,

from the Audiencia. Of that I am morally persuaded, and it is well

known. Seeking occasion for this, but not finding it, and wearied

perhaps in waiting for it, it happened one session that, while

Licentiate Legaspi and Don Juan de Valderrama, auditor and fiscal,

were at the door of the hall of his house, a message came in which Don

Antonio Rodriguez de Villegas excused himself on the grounds of ill

health. As the governor never attends the sessions of the Audiencia

except for his private ends, under pretext of your Majesty's service,

he was very angry that Don Antonio should excuse himself that day; for

he was trying to secure the passage of a resolution [by the Audiencia]

that I should go out to make the inspection--always persisting, as

I have said, in his purpose; and also because it was understood that

he had on his part managed to get the consent of Licentiate Legaspi

to it. On hearing the message, he said very angrily that Don Antonio

Rodriguez and I were always excusing ourselves from your Majesty's

service by feigning to be sick. [That he said] in the presence of many

people who were there, besides other quite unreasonable language. For

that reason I was forced to ask him why, if your Majesty gave credit to

an auditor when he excused himself, did not he have to do the same, all

this with the intention to calm and satisfy him. He abandoned himself

to a flow of words, somewhat disconnected, to which I replied, saying

that your Majesty did not order a president to treat the auditors so;

and that I served your Majesty punctually, and did not excuse myself

when I was well. If I remember correctly, I think that I made witnesses

of all; for he also came to me after all that, and told me that I lied,

and I think that he said "villain." However, I do not believe that any

besides Licentiate Legaspi and the fiscal heard that, And inasmuch as

he told me to keep still and not reply, threatening me with execrations

and oaths, I said to him with the greatest calmness, as is my custom:

"If your Lordship tells us what is not so, are we not to remonstrate

and answer you?" Thereupon he went to the meeting, where he told me

that I was the worst Christian in the world, and that I took communion

like Judas, besides other insults of like import, before Licentiate

Legaspi and the fiscal. I was silent under everything, for I only told

him that in the matter of sins I could confess many omissions; but I

warned him that witnesses heard that, just as they had also heard at

his house the other things that he said. Although he went ahead he may

perhaps have thought that I persisted in silence, and did not answer

him, in order that he might be led on to commit some imprudent act;

thereupon he must have thought that there was now much to fear, and

that he was not to find a justifiable opportunity, [for] he caught

at that word, and said that I had intended to give him the lie, as

if transgressions in thought were to be fought over--the more so,

Sire, as I did not speak another word to him; for if I had spoken

another word, I am not the man who would deny that to your Majesty

or any one else. On account of that, the governor determined to make

me the object of a lawsuit, and received his witnesses. To them he

did not fail to tell what had happened, but not the words that I had

spoken. When some wished to tell more, it is said that he insulted and

threatened them. However, he did not do that with Licentiate Legaspi

and Don Juan de Valderrama, the auditor and fiscal, whom he also

received as witnesses, and whom I warned beforehand to give witness

of everything that had passed; still, they said no more than what

the governor wished, by which I am insulted, ashamed, and surprised

beyond manner. Notwithstanding their great friendship with him, and

that they know how to gratify him and be gratified by him (of which

would to God there were not so much to murmur at in the community,

because of the great aid they render him in ruining it), still I am

consoled, and I praise God for everything. With this and, as has been

declared publicly, with the advice of an advocate, to whom he gave an

appointment so that he might be made judge of vagabonds--and who was,

as is said, urged and even persuaded for it, that such action was not

to arrest me, but only to intimidate me--the governor issued a warrant

for arrest, and seized me. This was done while all the Audiencia was

in a body, near the chapel where mass was being said, and about to

go on general prison inspection, on Palm Saturday--although he had no

sufficient reasons, as I told him so that he should not do it, as well

as to the rest of the Audiencia so that they might discuss it. He sent

me to the cabildo quarters, which are in the public prison, where he

set over me seven soldiers of the guard and a corporal, with orders

not to let me talk with any layman, especially any scrivener, and

not to let me have paper and ink to write. Besides that guard, he set

other soldiers in the street, so that I might not escape through the

windows, as I believe. I am also told that the corporal had orders to

kill me if I tried to escape, although I do not know what truth there

is in that statement. But none of the orders given were more than oral,

for the governor did not want them set on the records. Imprisoned in

the above manner--on Palm Saturday, when [even] highwaymen are set

free--he kept me prisoner during all of Holy Week and Easter, and

two whole months--with the greatest scandal that, as I have heard,

this community has ever had--until many religious, servants of God,

and the archbishop, went to him to persuade him, and to undeceive him

as to the gravity of the act that he had committed. But they obtained

no beneficial result from it; on the contrary, considering as well

founded the fears that they inspired in him, and thinking to justify

his crime, he began to take a residencia of all my life. That lasted

almost two months, and he summoned witnesses, and many of them, who

told all that they knew about me. In order to persuade them to go

into details, perhaps, as to what he desired, he proclaimed that I

was not to be set free or to be an auditor any longer in the country;

but that, on the contrary, he was going to place me aboard ship. By

those efforts, and others--not only by demands on the one hand, but

by fears that he inculcated through third parties, as has been told

me, on the other--he obtained a great number of witnesses. However,

he discharged many of these, in anger at them because they told

him, with forcible arguments, that they were Christians, and

that he should not involve them in matters with which they were

unacquainted. Others of them, who tried to say, as was thought,

many things that appeared to be in my favor, were not allowed to say

these. All that took place under the efficient management of Pedro

Muñoz, court scrivener of the Audiencia, with whom the governor was

hand in glove, as I have said. For, in order to do it, I am told that

he suppressed the heading of the process which he had before made on

account of only that word, and substituted another in its place which

comprehended in it scope all the discourses in the life of a man--so

that it might not be understood, as I believe, that he had made so

great a mistake at the beginning, and for other objects that the

governor will know. Notwithstanding that, and his cruelty, violence,

and force, and the fears of the witnesses, I trust in our Lord that

He will not have permitted them to give false testimonies against

me, although the outrageous manner in which the governor proceeds,

and the so mortal fear that all have of him, makes that much to

be dreaded. Finally, at the end of the two months of so serious

and scandalous an imprisonment, our Lord was pleased to perform a

miracle for me, through the intercession of the Virgin, our Lady,

to whom I attribute it (and that miracle is not the first that she

has performed for men as unworthy as I). It occurred thus: One day

I dressed myself in my usual manner for going to the Audiencia; and

at ten I went out among all the soldiers who were posted there, and

went down the steps at my usual gait. In the same way, while in the

prison, many people were round about, and in the public place where

one goes out of the prison were many more; but I passed through the

midst of them all to the college of Sancto Thomas. Next day I went

thence to [the convent of] St. Dominic, which is on the other side

of the wall, where I remain a refugee. [30] The convent is quite

far from the prison, and no man spoke to me at all; on the contrary,

those in the square accompanied me. Afterward the soldiers and guard

(whom God was pleased to stop, I know not how) must have returned to

their senses; and they came after me, when I was already near the

church. Ascertaining what had happened, some went to the church,

and the governor arrested others. He, as I have been told, ordered

all the camp of soldiers called to arms, as if it were for the Dutch,

with the intention, it is said, of taking me out by force, even if

he should destroy the college. However, he restrained himself to

sending two companies. It is even said, further, that all that day

and night they surrounded the college, under orders not to allow

entrance or exit to friar or anyone else, or the entrance of food,

until the archbishop, at the instance of the friars, persuaded the

governor to withdraw the soldiers. I consider as a miracle also what

happened with him. Since I have been in [the convent of] St. Dominic,

I have heard from several persons that the governor was quietly trying

to have me killed by a certain agreement, which would have been very

easy for him had not God prevented it. However, although that is

not very well known, nor do I believe it all, yet it could be feared

from him, and from his great desire to be free from my witnessing his

acts on occasions of defending the justice and service of my king,

since he could not reduce me to take a path contrary thereto. For that

reason, I have tried with peculiar care to have God's zealous servants

commend him to God, and petition Him for the governor's reformation

and prudent action, so that he may not fall into the deeper abyss of

miseries. Then the governor ordered my property to be sequestered,

and they went to my house and took an inventory of all my books and

the other treasures that I possessed, even to the very clothes of my

wife, and my salaries--just as if I were a private citizen and not next

[in authority] to your Majesty and the royal council, as I am; as if

I had committed some crime, and he had authority to proceed against

and punish me, he saying that he is the aggrieved and proper party;

and as if, besides, he could be judge with so great violence. He

had me summoned by edicts and proclaimed through the public streets,

an action that has scandalized this community. But, notwithstanding

his hostile demonstrations, he cannot satisfy himself, for all of

which I have tried to give many thanks to God, considering that I

am suffering thus for [the sake of] justice, and for defending the

service of God and of my king. In regard to that it must be considered

that, although all those lawless acts, insults, and violences to the

private person of Don Alvaro de Messa I consider as referred to God,

nevertheless it is a serious and intolerable matter to persecute a

minister for being loyal to his king. For the sake of the respect

and royal authority of your Majesty which is so offended by those

qualities in your minister, on account of the public scandal, and

for the conservation of justice and the security of the country,

and in order to avoid disservice to God and your Majesty--all which

is attained by the punishment of the guilty, by which the good would

be encouraged and those who are not good would fear--an exemplary

punishment seems very necessary for the governor, and for me a

reward and honor for the affronts and hardships that I have suffered,

especially in this country, where, because of the absolute procedure

of the governor, no attention is paid to your Majesty's royal orders,

and one trembles to displease the governor, without more reason than

that the latter desires such and such a thing. And because for many

years this has continued to increase, very justly may one fear that,

if it be not punished, it may reach such a point that the remedy

will be difficult and ever miraculous. To moderate the enormity of

the circumstances of my imprisonment and the grave scandal existing

hitherto throughout the community (and I think that it will exist

until satisfaction can be made for it), his guardian angels--one

of whom is Don Juan de Alvarado, who has been fiscal and whom your

Majesty ordered to be banished hence; and who was irritated because I

had not cloaked his residencia, about which I am writing your Majesty

in a separate letter--and others who are of the same sort, advised

the governor to make use of an ordinance which is one of those of

this Audiencia, never used and not even remembered for a long time,

and which is as follows:

"_Item_: I order that my president of the said Audiencia

try the criminal causes of its auditors, together with the

alcaldes-in-ordinary, notwithstanding the ordinance that rules

the contrary." [31] He availed himself of this to summon the

alcaldes-in-ordinary and to cause them to sign all that he decreed,

for they were present at nothing else than the signing of what he

was violating--both with witnesses and without them, when they were

not persons who were mere creatures of his; for, when persons are

elected into the cabildo, nothing but what the governor wishes is

voted. Further than this, if they were persons of greater obligations,

and more exemplary in life and conscience, I think that they would do

the same, although it might even be in a matter of greater weight;

for, as I have told your Majesty, the more than violence and force

that the governor holds over their minds and wills is incredible,

although evident. Not all dare to resist at the peril of their security

and life, and of being imprisoned, as I was, for the service of your

Majesty. They, hastily judging, differentiate between the future hurt,

which may not come to them, and the punishment which they regard as

a present hurt, namely, to suffer for God and their king. Besides,

as they also are in the deal, they have their advantages, by which

they are all blinded. For to whoever can see, and to him who desires

the light of heaven that he may succeed, not only is the ordinance

not obscure, as they say, but quite clear, since it does not give

authority or contain words for arrest or process; nor does it in

any way alter the law. Therefore, those nearest [to your Majesty],

as are the auditors, cannot be imprisoned or proceeded against except

by your Majesty or the royal Council, or by your order. Nevertheless,

the president, in virtue of his superintendency over the Audiencia,

may ordain to the auditors what may be just and reasonable in matters

that pertain to the government and its conservation; and even, in

the heated arguments that are wont to arise between the auditors,

has authority, in case the nature of the affair might require it, to

retire each auditor to his own house, until they make up the quarrel;

and, should he deem it advisable, he may inform your Majesty. For the

ordinance does not say that the president and alcaldes shall proceed,

arrest, sentence, and execute justice in criminal causes affecting

the auditors. All that, in my opinion, was meant to amend the express

privilege of law as contained substantially in the _corpus juris_

[_civilis_]; [32] and even then serious causes would have to be

understood by criminal causes; _ultra multa cum tiberº farsnaci e

regni col. 9, ttº 4, pº. 3._ [33] But it says only that the governor

shall try criminal causes, which means that, in crimes that are

not such by reason of the office, but personal and serious crimes

of the auditors, he shall investigate, together with the alcaldes,

and advise your Majesty; and the word "try," instead of meaning to

arrest and execute justice and other equivalent things, only denotes

simple jurisdiction which belongs to civil cases, and not authority,

either pure or mixed. [34] Otherwise your Majesty could avoid the

visits and residencia which you send to the Audiencia. Accordingly,

to try criminal cases means that they be treated civilly without

allowing them to be [cases for either] pure or mixed authority,

by arresting or proceeding; but only to investigate and advise your

Majesty, except in capital causes that have the capital penalty. In

such cases it would be advisable for the Audiencia, and even for the

president alone, to secure the criminals, if they should be auditors

and nearest [to the king], but not by virtue of the ordinance,

but by virtue of the ordinary authority of law, and the privileges

of public protection--citing [the paragraph] _ne delicta_, etc.,

in case that it was unable, because of the crime and the person,

to be secure in any other way than by imprisonment which befits the

crime, and in accordance with the teaching of the law _divi fratres

f fin ff de poen._ [35] Therefore the Audiencia ought to arrest the

governor for four murders that he has lately committed (and which will

be told later), solely to assure and advise your Majesty, with judicial

consideration, so that you might decree your pleasure in respect to his

person. But [they ought] to punish his accomplices, who were numerous,

and who are not near [to the king], but most of them men who, without

that crime, deserve to be severely punished for others; but they are

all passed by, in virtue of peace and harmony, by Licentiate Hieronimo

de Legaspi and Don Juan de Valderrama, the auditor and fiscal, who are

on good terms with the governor. [Indeed, these men] now constitute

the Audiencia, because Don Antonio Rodriguez has retired to his house,

and is sick because of the insults cast upon him by the governor at

a meeting (which I shall relate later); while I was arrested when it

happened, and am now in refuge in the sanctuary. In order that all that

may be done well, the governor arrests me and insults me--although,

I am, by the mercy of God, guiltless of any crime, capital, moderate,

or the least, and even without the slightest dispute in the Audiencia;

but only because my character and the obligations of my conscience do

not allow me to lack one jot in my service to my king--under pretext

that by not consenting to the things that the governor imputed to me,

I told him that what he was saying to me was not so. Had I shown any

want of prudence in my defense--which I could have done, and which I

think another would have done, who would not have endured it as did

I--I would have been excused, and he would have been guilty in making

himself the judge of his own cause--the more, as there was no fault

or injury; or, even if there were any, it was not to the tribunal

or to his dignity. I do not know, Sire, [of a case] even with full

authority from your Majesty in regard to visit and residencia, when

one has ever seen an auditor arrested and proclaimed, even though he

had committed many serious crimes; and when, as has been told me,

they shuddered with horror at the men who did it. However, I would

better leave this matter now, and put a stop to this particular, rather

reproaching myself at having digressed to discuss these private details

(although with so great limitation), since I am talking with so exalted

a tribunal, and to so many grandees and to so gifted men. For that

reason, I do not dare allege rights or continue, but only to petition

your Majesty to be pleased to have your royal provision issued with

the gravest penalties (nevertheless, I fear that those penalties will

not be sufficient, from what I know and what the community knows of

the governor), so that the governor may release me; and ordering him

not to molest me with any processes or causes whatsoever, so that I

may attend to the affairs of my office as auditor, freely, as well as

to those which your Majesty has assigned to me. [I also ask] that the

royal officials pay me all my salaries, [36] for the time while the

governor has prevented and kept me by force from exercising my office;

that the governor restore to me my property that he has sequestered;

that, if it be sold, I be paid for it; that the governor leave my

house that he has occupied for two years, pay me the rent for it,

and go to his own house, since your Majesty has assigned it to me

and the other to him; and that, if the governor should have drawn

up any acts, they be sent to the Council immediately. For I have not

been able to get them from him, nor is there any one who can get any

testimonial from him of anything. On the contrary the governor has,

since I have been in [the convent of] St. Dominic, seized certain

petitions presented in the Audiencia before Licentiate Legaspi, who

is there alone, a thing which before could not have been possible;

and has refused to return them under any circumstances, in accordance

with his usual custom in such things. I trust, God helping, that if the

governor sends the testimonies by themselves alone; without considering

his own inability to do it, his violence, and the judicial substance,

your Majesty, if so pleased, will find in them a disposition to punish

him severely, and to condemn him and the alcaldes; and to order me

to be paid many damages and costs which have been imposed on me,

rewarding me and granting me great favors and honor. For without any

other investigation or information from me, or from others, I think

that you will see very clearly the reasons and objects that, as I

have said, have moved the governor to commit so atrocious an act as

he did in my imprisonment. However, it is also well known that the

following reasons have influenced him.

First, the governor, as above stated, was angered because, when I was

judge of the probate court, it should happen that I should collect

that property of Licentiate Andres de Alcazar, because of the latter's

death. Licentiate Legaspi was angered for the same reason. For both of

them, as is very well known in this community, would have liked that

to have happened when Licentiate Legaspi should be judge, and they

know why. I dare only judge what is said, and what I see and hear

outside, although there is so much grumbling at their objects, and

at the wealth that they have retained for this, that it scandalizes

me. However, I do not dare to believe it, in order to say whether

it be true that the reputation and envy of each one of those two

men that exists in this community, obliges everyone to form his own

opinion of it. Desiring that the care of the fund and the office pass

to better hands than mine, they thought that it would be done well if

I were arrested. Accordingly, the governor took this as his guide for

action, so that, while I was a prisoner, the care of the fund might

be transferred to Licentiate Legaspi. The governor alone appointed

the latter as probate judge, although I still had one year to serve,

and at the fulfilment of that time it pertained in turn to Don Antonio

Rodriguez; and then all the Audiencia exercises it and not he solely,

by virtue of express orders and commands of your Majesty. Thereupon,

the governor, in one way or another, together with Licentiate Legaspi,

although no layman spoke to me in prison, permitted me to be notified

to deliver the keys and the property. But I, fearing, as a man, what

others feared, said that I had to give an account of that property,

and that since I was a prisoner, I could not do so; and that he should

free me, so that I could attend to my office and fulfil the commissions

with which your Majesty had charged me--namely, the residencias of

Don Juan de Silva and Don Juan de Alvarado--since I had committed no

crime for which I should be arrested; and adduced other reasons why

I could not deliver the key because of the risk that that property

would be running should the key pass through other hands. As he thought

that that was insufficient to obtain his will, they immediately added

another reason according to which it was advisable to borrow from that

fund thirty thousand pesos for your Majesty's service, under pretext

that it was to be used for the despatch of the fleet then preparing

to sail. [But this was done] in violation of a decree of your Majesty

ordering that the president and governor shall take no money, in small

or large quantity, from the fund of the probate court, for any cause

whatever. By the report of that fund your Majesty has been informed

that they are wont to draw that money for their trading and personal

advantage, as is murmured openly. That occurred in this instance,

for with the above-said and with other formalities, the governor

[broke] the lock of the chest, ordering thirty thousand pesos to

be extracted from it and the rest delivered to Licentiate Legaspi,

probate judge, whom the governor had appointed. They went to my house

to do it. They left a guard of six or seven soldiers under a corporal,

day and night, to guard the rest of the property, namely, a great

quantity of gold and jewels. Consequently, my wife was compelled to

leave her house that night, and went to the house of the widow of

Doctor Juan Manuel de la Bega, until she found a house and moved into

it, leaving the house to the governor. I think that the latter's

insults and discourtesy even produced considerable anger in the

negroes. Even yet, a period of four months, the soldiers are guarding

the chest, and will not allow me to do my duty, and do not deliver it

to Licentiate Legaspi; for as is well known, they are keeping it for

a better opportunity. This affair has much surprised this community,

and the litigants in the court are calling out, although they are

assured that it is not without foundation; for they cannot wish

to have news taken in these ships that the chest was handed over,

and that they did with it what is suspected, which will be seen

later. The thirty thousand pesos were not intended for the fleet,

for the fleet did not sail, nor is it expected that it will ever sail

during the governor's life. Neither was it used as a means of help

for the infantry, who go complaining through the streets. Indeed

I cannot tell whether any one can say with certainty what has been

done with that sum; although it is said that another very large sum,

which the governor obtained from the citizens almost by a forced loan,

was spent in the preparation of the ships in the port--but which did

not sail, as has been said. However, some assert that the governor

divided them, he himself taking thirteen or fourteen thousand pesos

on the account of future salary; and that in like manner he shared it

with Licentiate Legaspi and the fiscal. God showed me especially great

favor in my being able to keep the account-book of the fund in my own

hands through the efforts of a good Christian, the defender of probated

property, for my security of what had been placed in and what had been

disbursed from the fund. For nothing is placed in or spent from it,

except by notary's authority, and the presence as witnesses of those

who guard the fund. If they were to seize the book from me, I doubt

not, Sire, that they would do me signal harm, and because, as I have

said above to your Majesty, the governor can do whatever he wishes.

Another reason alleged for my arrest is because it is affirmed that,

the governor planning as he did to kill his wife, my presence in the

Audiencia would be a decidedly great inconvenience. For it is known,

notwithstanding the few successes and works [that I have accomplished],

through certain good desires that will have been recognized in me,

that since I have been in the Audiencia, I endeavor as much as possible

to see that affairs are managed with due regard for law; and that,

had I been present in that so serious matter, I would have done my

utmost; and what I ought to do, as would be fitting for the service

of God and of your Majesty. That incident--which, I think, I cannot

avoid relating, as one having accurate information--was as follows:

Having arrested me with the haste above mentioned, it happened that

the governor--having planned, so says common rumor, the death of his

wife--circulated the report one afternoon that he was going out of

town to a place called Cavite. Departing that afternoon, he returned

at night. Having notified the guards and soldiers to that effect,

he climbed over the wall by means of a ladder, and went to the house

of one of the companions who went with him (for many of his adherents

went with him, and some who were hired). Going with them from this

house, he stationed men at the place where he had planned that his

wife would come with a young boy whom she sheltered at her house, and

in whom she had confidence. This boy persuaded her to go out dressed

as a gallant (a very wrong act, although she had been persuaded by

the certainty that her husband had gone to Cavite), to the house of a

man named Juan de Messa, who had been brought as chief clerk by the

factor, Dionisio de Castro Licon, and whom the governor suspected

of adultery with his wife. Arrived at the place above mentioned,

the governor saw her coming with two men, one of whom is said to

have been Juan de Messa, and the other his friend. Advised by the

young lad that it was she, for he accompanied her in the street for

some time, where he left her with her companion and went to give

account of it to the governor, the latter went behind her with the

retinue above mentioned. Arrived at Juan de Messa's door, which is

quite distant from that of the governor, he let them enter, but went

in behind them before they shut the door. Mounting the stairs with

some of his men behind Juan de Messa and his wife, who had ascended,

and leaving the others below with the other friend who had come as

companion to Juan de Messa, the death of his wife followed, as did

that of Juan de Messa and of the latter's escort, a pilot who had

come from Castilla last year. They were killed up stairs and down,

as I have said, and because the governor had taken possession of the

streets, and stationed soldiers there with orders to allow no one to

pass. The soldiers killed a young lad who tried to pass, or wounded

him so severely that it is said that he died. Notwithstanding the

unseemly hour, the people came running out at the outcry and clamor

especially those from the nearest houses. They saw and noted everything

with fairness, and consequently it has been published that the chief

murderers were those whom the governor took with him, both those of

his wife and of the others. That has seemed in this community to be

a very lamentable occurrence. Then the governor went to his house

after the event and the matter was immediately known throughout

the city. Thereupon Licentiate Legaspi and Don Antonio Rodriguez

proceeded to make investigations. What they began to do was, it is

said, to furnish proofs of adultery. They have managed to do this

by great efforts, and that with the criminals free, and with the

power of the governor. And I am told that the governor ordained what

had to be done, namely, to make no investigations against the dead

woman. What is understood is, that many fine things have been done

in the records, for they say that they have expunged, erased, and

copied things according to their pleasure, the notary in the cause

being the governor's most devoted follower, Pedro Muñoz, secretary

of the Audiencia court, as above stated. In everything has always

been done what the governor has ordered and commanded--especially

by Licentiate Legaspi, for Don Antonio withdrew then and refused

to do anything further, at seeing how the governor flinched from

everything. All the criminals go about and take their pleasure, thus

occasioning much reproach. Will your Majesty consider what you shall

be pleased to order done in this matter; for there is much talk of

the hatred and great and long-standing enmity of the governor to his

wife, and of the evil life that he led her. It is said that he had

already given her poison three or four times, from which she escaped

by antidotes that she took; and that one of her women, to whom she

gave the remainder of a little chocolate [37] in which the poisons

were administered to her, died within two days or so, because she did

not take the antidote, while his wife escaped because she had done so.

Another reason alleged for my arrest is, that there might be no

occasion or opportunity of [my] giving information to your Majesty,

and that that accounts for the hastiness of the imprisonment; and that

they would not allow me to touch pen to paper, having been warned of

the letters that I wrote to your Majesty--which, as above stated, were

seized from me. These have incited him to cruelty, and increased in me

the suspicion that was told me after my arrival at [the convent of]

St. Dominic, namely, that he tried to plan my murder there. That is

the fear with which I have written, and in which are all those who

give information to your Majesty, because of the vigilant measures

taken to seize the letters.

Another reason alleged is, that I might not push forward the residencia

of the fiscal, and send it to your Majesty; for, as considered by

them, it must have been expedient for them that I should not send

it to your Majesty; and because I had not taken that of Don Juan de

Silva to his taste, awaiting an occasion for it when he should not

be present and when he should have left this city sometime, for if

he were present it would be impossible to take it.

Another reason is because, as he has seen your Majesty has been

pleased to show me the favor to commit that residencia to me, and

his conscience accuses him, he fears (as is reported) that it or

the visit is near; and fearing that your Majesty would show me the

favor to commit it to me, and fearing justice, because I am not a

person who could overlook matters against your Majesty's service,

it has seemed to him, on the one hand, that if I were arrested and

not in the Audiencia, it would be easy by active efforts to get hold

of the letters and seize and conceal the decrees. On the other hand,

he thought by means of the acts of violence and insult that he has

used to disqualify me for such a responsibility with your Majesty,

for which effect it is understood that he has also designedly made

and procured my arrest. With what has been stated above (in which I

could go into further details without charging my conscience), the

case can be duly estimated by mentioning the particulars of one point,

concerning which I have to say the following.

This country is at present in the most wretched condition

imaginable. Moreover the governor has recently obtained his desires,

namely, to be without an Audiencia, for Licentiate Legaspi is the

only one in it. For, besides having driven me from it, it seems that

he has also removed Don Antonio Rodriguez by treating him very ill

and by grossly insulting him, because the latter petitioned that the

acts by which the governor had arrested an auditor in the manner

in which he had arrested me, be placed before the Audiencia. But

the governor refused to give them; on the contrary, he has taken

away every one of several petitions presented in the Audiencia,

not wishing them to be seen publicly, for which arbitrary act

redress was demanded. The governor recognizes neither justice nor

king, but only his own absolute will and pleasure. For that reason,

shortly after my imprisonment until now, Don Antonio has been and is

quite unwell, and has less hope of going to the Audiencia for a long

time. Don Antonio does not deserve that, for in many matters and on

many occasions have I recognized in him very good desires and works

for the service of your Majesty. Consequently, even if Licentiate

Legaspi remains, that means to have no Audiencia, when one considers

the close relations that exist between these two strong arguments,

the disposition of the governor, and the way in which he treats the

service of your Majesty. For the people generally say of him that

it would be a miracle if another worse than he could be found. It

is said of Licentiate Legaspi that he is the worst official that

your Majesty has. The same has been said of Don Juan de Alvarado,

ex-fiscal, and that is known throughout the country as a public

matter. All three are so great friends that some call them "the union

of the saints," so that, of a truth, as the people understand, not

one tittle more than the governor wishes ever happens. Consequently,

a number of litigants are holding back their suits until there shall

be an Audiencia. There is much outcry at there being no one from whom

to demand justice for the insults cast on them by the governor, for,

finally, if there were men to defend the service of your Majesty,

the governor would not do whatever he wished, although they would

suffer and endure many insults for it. The fact is that if all men

had a desire and resolution to suffer hardships and even to die for

justice and the service of their king, the community would suffer less

hurt today, for the governor would not be so daring. And he would not

in that case have dared to arrest me, had not he had the consent of

Licentiate Legaspi in his grasp; and whenever he needs it he is quite

sure of it, in exchange for the advantages that, as everyone knows, the

governor has given to him and his sons and retainers--from which I have

tried many times to divert him, constraining him by the fidelity due

to his king, so that he take strength and write your Majesty. Although

I have brought him over on some occasions, my effect has lasted less

time than it would last if I had the opportunity and occasion that

such things have when one goes straight to God. On the contrary, I

think he gets along better without me in the Audiencia, both he and

Don Juan de Valderrama--to whom I said what I could say to a brother

as soon as he arrived here, because I saw the state of affairs and

thought to better them somewhat. But I have indeed done little.

My conscience has made me write at such length, and although there is

much to make me continue, I think that I shall have performed my duty

with the above, so that all may be considered, provided your Majesty

be pleased to send us redress with the haste that so serious matters

as these require, by sending us a leader who is a good Christian

and one very zealous for God's service, and who will only strive to

obtain that and to serve his king, and not the contrary. For with

that the Audiencia will have its due place, and the auditors will

attend strictly to their duties, and will conduct it for the peace

and conservation of the country, and for your Majesty's service. It

is also important that your Majesty send an inspector here, inasmuch

as the country is so full of schemes, tricks, and contrivances to

destroy it and finish its ruin; and since your Majesty, as so holy a

king, cannot abandon it, after having planted therein the holy gospel,

and consequently, having sent the so great fruit of so many souls to

heaven. Besides this, if it has peace and is free from enemies, and

religiously governed, it will give the greatest wealth and grandeur to

your Majesty that can be imagined. It is advisable that such a one be

a picked man, and that he be such a person as is necessary, as I have

written your Majesty at other times: that he be entirely disinterested,

and a good lawyer, with clean hands; that he have great authority in

regard to war and peace, and over high officials in both, and power

to suspend, in case he deem it advisable, the most serious penalties

for your service for long periods, in order to investigate the truth,

so that he may understand and learn the tricks, crimes, and criminals,

and that he may know the persons in whom he can trust--not only as

his agents, but also so that he can ascertain how your Majesty can

best provide suitable measures [for reform]. For in no other way can

the holy desires of your Majesty, which are those of God, who rewards

the good and punishes the evil, be obtained. If he be not such, he

will be confused during his inspection by schemes, impositions, and

covetousness, but if he be such, he will be the consolation of this

country, as I trust in God, and your Majesty will hold it securely in

order and justice, in peace and true obedience, and with renown. Your

Majesty will then know the evil and the good men, and the excesses

of many, and mine. You will obtain great possessions for the royal

exchequer and render great service for God our Lord. But otherwise,

if he be not such a person, he will serve as a help to the ruin of the

country, and as an encouragement to future officials, especially the

governors, so that they may act worse. And since thin country has gone

from bad to worse because of the officials that it has had, especially

the governors, until its present condition has been reached, if your

Majesty does not visit an exemplary punishment on those officials,

in accordance with each one's guilt, it is quite clear that those who

shall govern in the future will complete its ruin. For the security of

that, I think it will aid much for your Majesty to send a stringent

order to Mexico and to Sevilla, so that the property sent by the

governor, and what he has sent by third persons under various heads,

be investigated, which can be ascertained with reasonable efforts;

and that it be secured by levying an attachment on it, or at least

by placing it in a depositary; or as your Majesty may deem best to

order it, for it is understood that such property is in very great

quantity. Although I do not dare to affirm this, there are some who

with the information and even more that they have of the coming and

going of these things relating to the governor are persuaded that

the sum [thus sent away] will amount to little less than one million

[pesos], and at least to a great sum. I think that all that sum will be

necessary, if his inspection or residencia be well made, and that much

more will not suffice for the pecuniary part. To do it your Majesty

will have sufficient grounds by reason of the advices, letters, and

report that have already reached and will reach you concerning his

affairs. Will your Majesty decree what is most to your royal service.

I began to take the residencia of Don Juan de Alvarado, as soon as I

received your Majesty's decree, and I give account of it in a separate

letter that I am sending to your Majesty with it.

Of that of Don Juan de Silva, which your Majesty also ordered me to

take, I have informed your Majesty in other letters, that that order

reached me jointly with that of the fiscal, and that for certain

reasons of convenience I deemed it best to take that of the fiscal,

and afterward to enter upon that of Don Juan de Silva. The country has

been so scandalized by what occurred in that of the fiscal, Don Juan de

Alvarado, because of the violent demonstrations made by the governor in

favor of the fiscal, that many witnesses of those who swore, came to me

to ask me not to take Don Juan de Silva's residencia, because there was

not one man who would tell anything that he knew when summoned. Some of

the witnesses they tried to kill at night, and others fled the city,

having been threatened, it is said, by order of the governor, after

the charges against the fiscal were published, until which time he and

the governor thought that there could be no witness who would dare [say

anything]. On that account the demonstrations that arose were greater,

and I was requested, considering the condition of the affairs of the

country and the many objects of the governor, to do the same in the

residencia of Don Juan de Silva. [This was desired] on account not

only of the many connections that it must necessarily have with many

cases related to it, with which he has had connection during the time

while he has been here; but of other private persons, his friends,

who are involved in the residencia, especially one Josephe de Naveda

Alvarado, a relative of the fiscal, who was secretary to Don Juan de

Silva, and also served him in other offices of great danger. It is

well known that this man, for Don Juan's sake, has committed the most

dangerous and insolent acts that one can imagine, during that time

and at present. He is also secretary to this governor, whose especial

favor he enjoys. Whence I am persuaded beyond all doubt that nothing

good will be done, for what the governor would not do through Josephe

de Naveda and the others is much more than what he would do through

the fiscal. It is not many months since, because of a royal decree

that your Majesty sent to the Audiencia ordering the investigation

of the property of Don Juan de Silva and its sequestration, I found,

on attending to it, a process where it appeared that this Naveda owed

Don Juan de Silva eight thousand pesos. On taking it to the Audiencia

to have justice done there and to have it paid, notwithstanding

your Majesty's decree, the governor seized the process and kept it,

forbidding us, with frightful demonstrations [of anger], to discuss

it longer. Consequently, I thought it best to postpone taking the

residencia until I could see whether matters would mend, which God

is wont to bring about by methods unthought of--notwithstanding

that the governor, under pretext of service to your Majesty, told me

often to take the residencia, for, in the presence of the greatest

and most serious offenses, both he and his associates would come out

as if they were angels. This was the motive of the pressure that he

brought to bear; and, even though he should have more crimes than the

sea has sands, yet because of him nothing would be said against the

others. That would mean not to take the residencia, and for me not

to obey your Majesty's will, with the loss of great sums, and much

detriment, to the royal exchequer; for it is certain, Sire, that those

who would come out as if angels--and some of them, especially Naveda,

according to the report and outcry of the country--would not pay what

they owe with many lives and with many hangings. For such are the

devices that the governors have used here for the destruction both of

the royal treasury of your Majesty and of this country. However, with

the lapse of time and hoping for opportunity, I made investigations

as secretly as possible with most of the notaries in this city,

inasmuch as two or three others that remain are of the governor's

household--to the end, as I have told your Majesty, that they may

serve his purposes. They (and if there were others, it would all

be miraculous) [38] and given with the greatest fear in the world;

with which your Majesty will see that not even in secret and under

oath do men dare to speak. Then continuing, the time came in which the

governor arrested me, without considering what I had in charge at your

Majesty's command. Consequently everything is at a standstill, until

God shall remedy it. Hence, Sire, as I have said, the obligation of

conscience makes me give account to your Majesty; and I think, for a

conclusion of this matter, that I am not excused from some particulars.

The first is the news that has reached this city, by way of India, that

the enemy is sending reenforcements of fifty-five warships. Because

the governor's disposition during this time is so worthy of resentment,

as above related, it is stated publicly that, on receiving this news,

the archbishop told the governor to try to prepare some warships, to

whom he responded that he would gladly sell the few that he had. Hence

it is feared that the enemy will have been informed of that as soon

as they reached this country; and that with this opportunity, they

would write, and they thought it good to come if it is true.

Secondly, that the government of this country has more need of a man

who is a servant of God, of mature age and prudence, rather than simply

a soldier; if there should not be readily found, a man thoroughly

qualified for the warfare of this country, the least influential

citizens here understand it. There are some men of great courage,

and thus when the Audiencia was governing, it has had excellent

successes. Consequently, such a man would cost your Majesty two-thirds

less than the governor costs you. It is certain, and I consider it

assured, that all the mishaps that the affairs of this country have

experienced--both in this land, and in the fleets and succors that

your Majesty has tried to send to it from those regions--have happened

because of the multitude of offenses to God that have been committed

here in other times and are even now being committed; and that all

are derived from the disorderly lives of the governors.

Thirdly, that great damages result because of the division of

jurisdiction between the Audiencia and captain-general. For the

Audiencia tries civil cases of the soldiers and the general the

criminal; but with authority as captain-general, as he is governor

and president, he extends that jurisdiction as far as he pleases. He

interprets the decrees that your Majesty has issued for this purpose,

[to apply] even to the citizens of Manila; and when the infantry

leave this city and the citizens are stationed as guards, they are

made to assume the condition of the other soldiers. The Audiencia is

left without any jurisdiction, while the captain-general gets it all,

notwithstanding the many offenses to God which are committed--for many

wicked men are protected by the war at this time, and in a few days go

out to commit greater crimes. Since the Audiencia tries civil causes

of the soldiers with the plenary jurisdiction that it enjoys over

the citizens (and the soldiers are citizens), on the other hand it

appears most fitting that it try cases of the soldiers like those of

the citizens; and that, as appeal is made from the ordinary judges,

appeal be made to the Audiencia by the soldiers in cases civil and

criminal--at least while the soldiers are not actually fighting,

or in pursuit of the enemy. For, besides the service to God and to

your Majesty that will result from such a course, the Audiencia,

when there is one, will be respected; and the soldiers will not be so

disregardful of what their captain-general says to them in times of

peace, even though the latter be one who razes a convent to the ground.

Fourthly, that among the ordinances of this Audiencia is one (to

which I referred above) ordering the president to try the criminal

causes of the auditors With that the governor has endeavored to make

a pretext for my imprisonment. As I do not see the original signed

by your Majesty, I doubt the truth of that decree, as occasion for

it was given by people who pay little heed to conscience. With that

decree, if the governor wished to destroy [39] the country, and if

the auditor did not agree with him, he could move a question in regard

to its being cloudy and there being no sun. If an auditor should say

that he thought the sun was shining, the governor would say that the

auditor meant to call him a liar, as he said to me. By that means,

and by similar methods used toward the others, he would, destroy them,

and would keep them imprisoned three or four years, until relief came

from your Majesty; and sometimes it would be impossible to send that

relief for the damages that this country thus receives. Consequently,

Sire, it is very necessary for your Majesty to revoke that decree,

and to give the Audiencia the authority and the superiority that it

has enjoyed in other times; for by doing otherwise the Audiencia can

be very well dispensed with, as it amounts to no Audiencia. This is

truer, since it is six thousand leguas' distance to your Majesty,

and since it might happen that relief may not arrive in three

years--especially since, in strictness of law, your Majesty does

not give them the authority that they arrogate to themselves; and,

to him who cherishes malice, a slight occasion is sufficient.

Fifthly, that although it is true that it was decided to be advisable

for your Majesty to send aid to this country, as I understand that it

has been petitioned in the manner and form of reenforcement, I greatly

doubt whether it is more suitable for your Majesty to send ships by

way of the cape of Buena Esperanza; for the artillery founded here is

the best in the world, as are the ships built here, as I have been

well informed. Besides, the artillery and ships of the quality and

size necessary here cannot be sent from that country, for it has been

found that war is made more securely here and the enemy frightened more

by the very large galleons (much larger than those sent from there),

which will withstand heavy artillery, such as those built by Don Juan

de Silva. Further, the woods [used here] resist the balls better;

and the ships are built with special strength and by the best master

in the world, as I have been told. With money and care, the rapidity

with which those ships can be built is remarkable. Consequently,

I think that if what is spent on the fleet be sent in money, and

soldiers, and sailors, by way of Nueva España in trading fleets,

and by way of India in the ships that sail from Lisboa, it would be

more expedient--notwithstanding that it is said that the infantry

that come by way of Nueva España desert at their arrival there; for

with good judgment and care that difficulty would be remedied. Will

your Majesty decide what is most advisable.

Sixthly, that the fiscal of this Audiencia fills the office of

protector of the Indian natives, and of the Chinese Sangleys who

come from China to this country, for their advantage and trade,

by virtue of a decree issued by your Majesty. Your Majesty assigns

him no salary, for it seems to be your intention to have him attend

to that duty with his salary as fiscal. The governors here, in order

to control the fiscals, so that the latter may not oppose the things

that the former wish when these are in violation of your Majesty's

service, assign them an annual salary of eight hundred pesos at the

cost of the Chinese Sangleys. For that purpose a communal fund has

been established, and each Chinese is obliged to deposit, I believe,

two reals apiece annually in that fund, and from that fund is assigned

the salary of the fiscal as protector. As the Chinese are so numerous,

the sum amounts to considerable, although it it not all paid to the

fiscal. In the collection and method used, considerable annoyances

are experienced. Besides, there is no authority to levy that money,

for your Majesty has not assigned it, nor is the governor able to do

it, although he give your Majesty a pretext for it. The worst thing

is that that sum has never served, nor does it serve, other purpose

than to flay the Sangleys, for besides that it seems incompatible for

one to be a protector on the one hand, and one who seeks to act as

prosecutor on the other, it seems that the true protector is the good

judge, the Audiencia [or] the good governor. But as with the protector

they never escape from spending their money, but rather, I think, spend

more, and the most who have suits, waste their poor resources on the

procurators and lawyers, it seems to be a matter worthy of reform,

and that the Sangleys either should have no protector who is not a

protection to them, but a trouble (or at least for most of them),

or that your Majesty order that he perform the duties of the office

with his salary as fiscal; for I certify that many offenses to God

will cease. And since they claim that it is not an office of honor,

there is a mystery therein, especially since I, having charged against

Don Juan de Alvarado that he was taking that salary without orders

from your Majesty, the succeeding fiscal knowing that, and Don Juan

de Silva having revoked that communal tax, the preceding fiscal has

agreed with the present governor that the communal tax on the Chinese

be again established, and that the salary be assigned from it. That

is a very flimsy pretext, so that the fiscals may not perform their

duties faithfully against the governor. Will your Majesty order what

shall be most suitable for this particular, and for whatever else is

mentioned herein.

Lastly, I have made known by other letters to your Majesty that from

my arrival in this country, although I keep about, I have ever been

ill and a sufferer from sickness, besides which I have had several

dangerous illnesses in bed, so that I cannot serve your Majesty

here as I desire. I trust, God willing, that I shall have better and

better occasions to serve your Majesty in another place, for which

reason I petition your Majesty to be pleased not to consider my slight

services, but only my good desires by promoting me to the occupation

of greater favors and honors, and especially to satisfy me for the

insults that the governor has cast on me in your Majesty's service,

and for the many dangers through which I have passed in my endeavors

to have your Majesty served and obeyed loyally and as is fitting.

As to what pertains to the seizure above mentioned of the great

quantity of property that the governor is said to possess in

Mexico, I must warn you that, in addition to what was said, the

report originated publicly, in the beginning, in this city that the

governor was to go in a ship that he was intending to despatch by way

of the cape of Buena Esperanza, with a quantity of cloves which he was

expecting from Terrenate. That was founded on what they say about his

knowledge of how serious are the things that he has done, and that,

fearful of punishment from your Majesty, he did not intend to await

it; and also because this year he has sent whatever he could to Nueva

España in the ships that sailed, lessening even his number of horses,

as is said; and [it was rumored] that he was about to go by way of

the cape of Buena Esperanza with the cloves that he was awaiting

from Terrenate. But inasmuch as the cloves from Terrenate did not

come, it is now said that he is not sending the ship, and that he

must have taken new counsel. Consequently although the flagship of

the two ships that were going to Nueva España was wrecked, still in

the advice-ship that he despatched later the governor sent a huge

quantity of goods. He sent in the almiranta which got away safely

and took the lead, a person to look after and care for everything,

namely, Don Fernando Falcon, whom he made captain of infantry, and

to whom he gave great profits for that purpose. It is said that he

had orders to look after everything, and to ship as much as possible

to Castilla; as also, because he must fear that it will be possible,

on account of his great offenses, for your Majesty to be informed

of the great wealth that he has sent and his conscience will accuse

him. Will your Majesty order those goods to be sequestered--as is said

here, all that [he has], without taking account of the one hundred

and thirty or so boxes, which, as is notorious in this city, he lost

in the flagship. This is added new to the letter that I sent in the

ships of Nueva España, of which this letter is a copy, and which I

am sending by way of Yndia. Will your Majesty provide, etc.

_Licentiate Don Alvaro Messa y Lugo_

Sire:

The letters that will accompany this letter are duplicates of last

year, both of what I wrote via Mexico and via Yndia; and although at

that time I wrote as I did in them many more and better things can be

said now. For besides the fact that lawless acts are so prevalent,

they are increasing with the presence of their master, who, to be

explicit, is the governor. It is advisable for the honor and respect of

your Majesty, to put a stop to as much as possible. For that reason,

I shall merely touch upon the following particulars of what is new,

with all possible brevity; for in order to satisfy your Majesty some

things are requisite. Hence, Sire:

1. First, after fifteen months of imprisonment and retreat, while I was

very heedless, and distrustful that the governor would take such action

(although very confident in the mercy of God), the governor sent an

order to me at St. Dominic to come out and assume my duties. Although

I hesitated considerably about going out on account of the great peril

in which I was placing myself, the force of your Majesty's service drew

me out, a fortnight or thereabout before the arrival of the ships from

Acapulco. I was encouraged considerably by the religious who assured

me that the whole town was clamoring for me to go out, except certain

persons who hate justice. Consequently I persuaded myself that I would

be doing your Majesty a service, and for that I did not think that

I was doing much in endangering myself, since I shall do my duty in

losing my life. It seems miraculous, and there are few who understand

how the governor came to do this, for, although it is true that he fell

out with Licentiate Legaspi, on finding that the latter while enjoying

so great friendship with him, had written against him; and because of

the great friendship between Licentiate Legaspi and Licentiate Juan

de Baiderrama the governor's displeasure was also extended toward the

said Licentiate Baiderrama: still they maintained friendly relations,

although the governor ceased to extend to him the accommodations and

profits of former times. Although it is reported that the governor

made numerous investigations, I have not heard from one who knew the

whole truth that he did it with violence, but with great mildness,

giving the witness liberty to make his deposition. On the contrary I

have always understood, Sire, that he made no further investigations,

nor has he wished to do so; and I even believe that it was done for

reasons of state, in order not to irritate Licentiate Legaspi too

much, in case that the latter should take part in his residencia,

for the governor must consider him as a revengeful and hot-headed

person. But Licentiate Legaspi, fearing that the governor intended to

arrest him, withdrew into the [convent of] the Society of Jesus. It

is said that on that account he allowed me to come out. All persons

of good judgment are not sorry for it, especially since they know the

inclination of the governor, who, it is feared, would not lose much

pleasure if all the world were destroyed--although in his falling out

with Licentiate Legaspi, a matter that began some four or five months

ago, it is understood that that has aided considerably in his having

repented of my imprisonment and the affronts that he put upon me; for

it is understood that his chief counselor and instigator was the said

Licentiate Legaspi under pretext of desiring, and advising him of,

his welfare, as to an associate in the matter of his duty. For that

reason he did not wish me to be present, as I would be a considerable

hindrance, as I write your Majesty in the duplicates. The same is said

of Don Juan de Balderrama, although it is also understood that he did

it with moderation; for all does not seem sufficient for the governor's

relenting toward me. Consequently I consider it more correct to ascribe

everything to the great goodness of the Lord, who well knows how to

plan all things. What I can say, Sire, is that notwithstanding all the

above, I do not believe the governor's intention a sincere one, because

of what is known concerning him. I have never seen him do anything,

although a good act, that did not have a private aim. Consequently I

think that if he took me from prison it was for his own end. The same

is true of the investigations concerning, and his falling out with,

Licentiate Legaspi, notwithstanding that he says he is zealous for

your Majesty's service in it, and although it is true that the deeds

of Licentiate Legaspi are many and very serious.

2. Secondly, that although the governor, while I was in the Audiencia,

tried to deprive the Audiencia of all authority, and the auditors gave

him considerable opportunity for it (with the exception of me only, and

as such he expelled me), however, during the time of my absence, he has

gained such foothold and influence over everything, that scarcely has

one liberty to live in the Audiencia. This is especially so in regard

to myself; for although I desire and try to secure your Majesty's

service, I cannot feign or dissimulate in the things in which I am

unable to secure your service, although I try to flee any occasion

of dispute with him, with extraordinary endeavor. Consequently, for

my part, Sire, I declare that in many offenses that concern him,

the punishment is deferred, with great regret, until your Majesty

send a remedy; besides, there are many other criminals whom he has

sent from here, so that they should not harm him.

3. The third, which is of the manner of the above, namely, that it

is said that one Gregorio de Vidaña, whom the governor despatched

to Yndia during that time on his private business at the expense of

your Majesty's authority--for, in violation of your royal will and

your royal decrees that prohibit the sale of offices, the governor

gave Vidaña an appointment as regidor gratuitously, in order that the

cabildo might appoint him as procurator (for which he schemed) and

that they give him a considerable number of ducados--obtained or stole

in Yndia certain letters written to your Majesty by the Audiencia

and despatched via Yndia in the time of Don Antonio Rodriguez,

which were the duplicates of others written via Nueva España. He

directed them to this city, together with other letters written by

the inhabitants and religious. The governor opened and read them,

with so little fear and respect that one of his adherents went about

the streets publicly reading to private persons the letters that the

Audiencia wrote to your Majesty. Consequently he has taken occasion

to write to your Majesty with tricks and cunning, as is said.

4. The fourth is that, in consequence of this and other things,

occasion was given for it to be said very openly, this year, that he

opened the packets from your Majesty, which were handed to him first,

and extracted whatever he wanted, if they contained anything that

answered his purpose; and then resealed them and ordered the person

who bore them (and whom he sent for them) to return very secretly as

he had entered, and to enter a second time publicly with the packets

damp, so that it could not be seen that they had been opened. In this

too was involved your Majesty's new seal which they said would be

found in one of the packets, but it does not appear. Therefore they

charge the governor with concealing it; and all that is without the

aid of authority to make investigation.

5. The fifth is that your Majesty orders by a decree that came to the

Audiencia this year that the vessels that sail hence to Acapulco be

not despatched late. The fact of the matter in this is, Sire, that the

Audiencia is powerless to remedy that, beyond the repeated telling of

it to the governor. If they should do more, besides not being obeyed

by a single man, at the least little thing, the governor would seize

the auditor who said it and clap him into prison; and, as he is the

sole and absolute ruler, he is, notwithstanding what has been said to

him this year, despatching the vessels when he wishes, and answers

that he is attending to it very well and is doing his duty. It is

said that, this year as in others, he has made a great cargo by the

schemes and methods mentioned in the duplicates. Others say that he

has done it, because it is common talk that news came to him that in

Acapulco a small casket of gold in bars, and jewels and pearls, had

been confiscated from him as contraband goods, although the officials

did not know the owner of it; and that one Don Fernando Falcon,

who took under his charge a considerable amount of the governor's

property last year, went to Piru from Acapulco with most of it, and

the governor is obliged to claim compensation. Because of awaiting

ships from Macan to make chests, the ships are not yet despatched,

and it is the thirtieth of July; nor does anyone imagine that they

will leave the islands even by the fifteenth of August. That, the

governor says, is because of the enemy. Thus and with other schemes,

although certain new pretenses are alleged, and with absolute power,

does the governor act just as he pleases. It is impossible to remedy

matters unless the governor be a man who fears God and your Majesty;

for if he wishes to send depositions that the sun gives no light,

as one might say, [he can do it]. What occurs to me, Sire, is that,

since it is sufficient for the good sailing of the ships that they

sail by the middle of July, if unable to sail before, your Majesty

should set a time-limit by ordering that they sail between the

middle of June and the middle of July, if they cannot sail before;

and that they shall not sail after that. In that way, since it will

be known that they have to sail, all those interested in the cargo,

even though it be the most influential persons, the governors, will

have their despatches ready. But they will not do it in any other

way, for although your Majesty says that they shall not sail late,

the governors do what they wish in this matter. Will your Majesty be

pleased to order your pleasure.

6. The sixth is that your Majesty orders the Audiencia to send a

relation of what occurred in certain crimes at Santa Potenciana. Since

the Audiencia writes it through its president, namely, the governor,

scarcely could he refrain from telling the truth in order not

to lie. Consequently I think it advisable to answer that in this

letter. What passes, Sire, and it is the truth, is that the seminary

called Santa Potenciana is a house of retreat, not for religion but

for single or married women, and almost without retirement, as it has

relaxed considerably. For that reason it is a cause for wonder that

there are men who some years are willing to leave their wives there

during their absence. Consequently, the majority of women there are

mestizas. It happened perchance that Lucas de Vergara Gaviria left his

wife there when he went to Terrenate as governor, as did another who

went later, namely, Sargento-mayor Antonio Carreño de Baldes. It was

said (and not covertly, but quite openly) that the governor solicited

the wife of Lucas de Bergara, but that he was angered at her purity

and virtue. Also it was said that the same thing occurred with the

wife of Carreño de Baldes, although she is not considered a person of

so great virtue as the other woman. And this being so, they say that

Licentiate Hieronimo de Legaspi, while I was on that occasion in bed

indisposed, proceeded against one Juan de Mohedano, because it was said

that he had entered Santa Potenciana to hold carnal communication with

a married woman. Upon my recovery, and when I went to the Audiencia, I

found that Juan de Mohedano was presenting a petition challenging their

jurisdiction by saying that he was a soldier. When I learned the cause,

I wondered, for the woman was married and one of the chief women here,

namely, the wife of the said Antonio Carreño de Baldes, who was in

Terrenate. I resolved to investigate the matter, as it was only verbal,

so that it might not become public. The Audiencia had made a judicial

writ and secret information and merits, by a secret and outside method,

without arresting Mohedano in order to exile and punish him, so that it

might not be known; for by any other way it would have been contrary

to law, and would have meant the irreparable loss and deprivation

of the honor of an influential woman and to the blamelessness of

her husband if perchance she has secretly committed certain acts

of imprudence, or written papers, or made pretensions, and I do not

know whether such were more than indications. At that juncture the

governor took up the matter, by whom it is said Mohedano was persuaded

to challenge the jurisdiction [of the Audiencia], by promises to free

him; he did it, as was seen, thus deceiving him in order to avenge

himself, as it is said, as soon as he had the woman with him. Thus

the governor came to the session, and, with his usual heat, caused

the case to be remitted to him without greater justification, as he

was the captain-general. Licentiate Legaspi and Licentiate Alcazar

did it through compulsion, but I, Sire, for the reason above stated,

did not agree to it, and so voted in the meeting. Being then, Sire,

the leader in the cause against Mohedano and that wretched woman,

he proceeded therein, as well as in another that he began against

one Don Fernando Becerra for the same thing. This he did with an

alcalde-in-ordinary, or with Don Hieronimo de Silva, or with both,

going and coming to and from Santa Potenciana with soldiers and the

torture-rack, besides indulging in other demonstrations, as they

affirm, that scandalized the city--where, as this city is but small,

everything was instantly divulged. And as evil men are not wanting,

there was one who gave notice of a certain slander against General Don

Juan de la Vega, son of Doctor Juan Manuel de la Vega, ex-auditor of

this Audiencia. There was a certain report of meetings with the wife

of Lucas de Vergara, auditor of Terrenate. Since the governor was

also angered by her said purity and virtue, which truly are great,

it is said that he considered it a good opportunity for vengeance. He

himself, seeing the door opened by Licentiate Legaspi in the case of

the other woman, conducted the cause. In the case of Mohedano and Don

Fernando Bezerra, there was dispute; while that of Don Juan de la Vega

came on appeal to the Audiencia. Since this is so small a place, and

was so scandalized, and these households were ruined (for the matter

was all immediately made known publicly), the Audiencia thought,

since only the husband can take action in an adultery suit, and since

all that had been done was illegal, because the women were immediately

published, together with the investigations and intent [_yntencion_],

that also in consequence of that, and the lack of proof, and because

of other considerations, it would be advisable, besides doing justice

in what came to their hand, to repair the honor of those influential

men and women. Consequently the Audiencia acquitted Juan de la Vega,

whereat the whole city rejoiced, for all were persuaded that such

accusations were lies. However, as this matter is so serious, when the

husbands learned of it upon their arrival, they refused to live with

their wives or to enter an adultery suit, for the adultery could not

be proved. Consequently, even with such an effort by the Audiencia,

those families are ruined; although it is quite true that, if the

governor had executed the sentence, it is regarded as certain that

they would have killed their wives. This is the truth, Sire, and it

could not be written in the Audiencia's letter. If other things have

been written to your Majesty by the governor, they must be a part of

his schemes to bleed himself safely, under pretext of your Majesty's

service, as all see that he is doing.

The residencia of Licentiate Don Juan de Saavedra for the period of

his fiscalship, which your Majesty orders me to take, has come to my

hands. I am resolved to take it on the departure of the ships, for this

residencia does not have the troubles of that of Don Juan de Silva and

of Don Hieronimo de Silva, as these duplicates of the letters of the

past year which I wrote your Majesty and which will be in these letters

that I am writing [will relate]. In those residencias I shall make, as

I say in the duplicates, efforts to take them, proceeding throughout as

in duty bound, looking to the greater service of God and that of your

Majesty. Thefts committed by the soldiers because they are not paid,

and many other calamities of the country, I shall not relate because

of what I have promised, and as that would be impossible. And also

because that aids in putting an end to sorrow and just resentment,

will your Majesty give what orders you please in everything.

I petition your Majesty for God's sake to please give me satisfaction

for the insults and injuries that I have received from the governor

for your Majesty's service, and also to withdraw me from this country,

honoring me and showing me favor, for I have no strength to serve

your Majesty here. May God preserve the Catholic person of your

Majesty. Manila, July 30, 1622.

_Licentiate Don Alvaro Messa y Lugo_

Sire:

The archbishop of these islands presented a petition in this royal

Audiencia, in which he requested that depositions be accepted

for him, by order and officially, in which he claims that your

Majesty conceded to him an increase of his salary of three thousand

Castilian ducados per year, in order that he may be able to support

himself for the reasons that he alleges. Having officially received

the depositions, what seems to have resulted from it, in brief, is

that if the archbishop would regulate himself in the ostentation and

authority that he exercises in imitation of others, his predecessors,

he could live on his salary of three thousand ducados. Nevertheless

they [_i.e._, those making depositions] consider the said ostentation

and authority as suitable to what is due the archiepiscopal dignity;

and that, in order to sustain that dignity that he exercises and

enjoys, an increase of his salary will be necessary, because the

prices of articles for the sustenance of human life have increased,

as appears by the said deposition, which, if your Majesty please,

you will order to be examined.

On considering the above and other reasons of your Majesty's service,

this Audiencia believes that, if your Majesty wish, you may avoid the

increase of the said salary. May God preserve the Catholic person of

your Majesty. August 14, 622.

_Licentiate Don Alvaro Messa y Lugo_

_Licentiate Don Juan de Saavedra Valderrama_

[_Endorsed_: "The Audiencia of Manila in regard to the pretensions

of the archbishop of that island."]

For the same reasons that move the Audiencia to present information

that it will be just to increase the salary of the prebendaries of

this church, the governor thinks it proper to increase that of the

archbishop to the sum that your Majesty may be pleased; and not in

the last place, since his obligations are in the first place.

_Don Alonso Fajardo de Tença_

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 20 of 55 1621-1624 Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century. · 第 18 / 39 题