During the three years or more covered in this volume (1599-1602),
the most notable occurrence is the coming to the archipelago (in 1600)
of the fleet commanded by the Dutch adventurer Oliver van Noordt,
bent on plunder and the damage of the Spanish settlements there:
but he is defeated and driven away, although with heavy loss to the
Spaniards. This event, with the quarrels which it arouses in Manila,
and fears of like danger in the future, disturb the colony for several
years. The people, both Spaniards and Indians, are also in constant
dread of the Moro pirates, who ravage the coasts of the Pintados
(Visayas) Islands, encouraged to commit these depredations by the late
withdrawal of Spanish troops from Mindanao. In the face of all these
difficulties, the government is also embarrassed by the poverty of
the local treasury; its funds are wasted by unnecessary expenses and
salaries, and lessened by frauds in the customs duties, and by other
violations of the laws regarding trade. There are too many officials,
both secular and religious; and the former are often incompetent or
corrupt. The Indians are demoralized by having learned the use of
the white men's money; their native industries are neglected, which
causes scarcity and high prices of goods and supplies. New impulse
and wider scope are given to the missions conducted by the Jesuits,
who begin the task of gathering the scattered Indian converts into
mission villages, thus more easily to civilize and christianize the
natives. A new governor for the islands is appointed, Pedro de Acuña.
In this volume is completed the document begun in _Vol_. X, "Ordinances
of the Audiencia enacted in 1598-99;" here are presented those for the
first half of the year 1599. The alcaldes-mayor must, in collecting the
taxes, observe the royal tariffs. To remedy the exorbitant charges for
fees in the inferior courts, all suits appealed to the Audiencia must
be accompanied by a sworn statement of the fees thus paid. The bonds
accepted in law-suits must be more reliable. Auditors are given special
powers in expediting the cases of persons imprisoned. Interpreters
are not allowed to trade with the natives, except in the presence of
a magistrate. The accounts of guardians of minors shall be examined
by the probate judge. Attorneys are restricted in bringing new suits
between Indians. Goods sold at auction for the benefit of the royal
treasury must be knocked down to the highest bidder, and for cash
only. Lawyers are ordered to follow the customs of the natives,
where these are involved in lawsuits. Collection of tributes shall
not be made by the alcaldes-mayor; and appointments for the post of
collector must be approved by the Audiencia. Various acts prescribe
the duties of officials of the Audiencia, and its procedures in
certain cases; also limits of action by attorneys. The officials
of the Audiencia shall give bonds each year. Cases involving twenty
pesos or less shall not be brought to trial. Directions are given for
the trial of suits between Indians. The alguazils-mayor must make
the rounds of the city at night. All accounts due to or from the
royal treasury shall be closed up and balanced within the next four
months. Officials of the Audiencia shall not go outside of the city
without permission. Certain punishments are prescribed for the Chinese
inhabitants--for vicious practices, for making or clipping coin,
and for buying stolen goods from Indians. All natives residing in
Manila who have not some employment are ordered to leave the city at
three days' notice. The duties of the late Alvaro Çambrano, deceased,
are to be assumed by others of the auditors. Provision is made for due
inspection, appraisal, and sale of merchandise brought from China. All
Indians belonging to the royal encomiendas must pay their tributes,
even when they reside in Manila. The sum of three hundred pesos is
appropriated to furnish and adorn the chapel of the Audiencia. The
Chinese are forbidden to have godchildren, a practice which has led to
many evils; and the Christians are ordered to follow the occupations
which they had exercised before their conversion. Officials whose
terms of office expire must furnish residencia before receiving any
further appointment.
On July 3, 1599, one of the Franciscans in charge of the hospital for
the Indians at Manila writes to the king, asking further grants of
aid for its work. The governor and bishop are directed by the king
to advise him as to the needs of the hospital. A letter from the
royal fiscal to the king (July 21) displays the needs of the royal
exchequer in the islands, and suggests means for supplying these. He
complains of the burden imposed on the colony by the support of an
archbishop and three bishops. Much is wasted in salaries, for useless
or nominal services. Salazar y Salzedo advises that the offices and
their salaries be both reduced. Especial loss and injury to the royal
income arises from the frauds and violations of law which are practiced
in the Mexican trade. The payment of tributes by the Indians in money
is demoralizing them; they no longer pursue their former usual labors,
and their products are now scarce and high-priced. They ought to be
compelled to work, at agriculture, stock-raising, and mining. The
treasury needs more money, and more Indians should be assigned to the
crown. Encomiendas are fraudulently assigned by the governors. The
erection of wooden churches in the encomiendas is another source
of useless expense; these should be built of stone or brick. Certain
offices should be taken from their present incumbents, and conferred on
men of character and standing. The fiscal complains of lax management
of the treasury by its officials, and calls for an investigation;
and the same with the cabildo of Manila. Other charges where public
moneys are involved should be inspected by the crown, and the waste
of those funds should be checked. Even all these reforms will not
provide all the funds for necessary expenses; the fiscal therefore
proposes that the crown monopolize the trade in spices and raw silk,
which would bring immense profits to the royal treasury. Another letter
from the fiscal to the king, of the same date, makes recommendations
as to certain affairs of government. He urges that the auditors
should make regular official inspection of the administration of
justice throughout the islands. He complains that the profits of
trade are absorbed by the officials and their dependents, leaving
the citizens poor. Offices and other sources of profit must not be
bestowed on those dependents, but on the citizens; and the officers
of the ships that carry goods to Nueva España should not be appointed
there, but in the islands. The ships should be more strictly inspected.
The ruler of Borneo sends (June. 1599) to Governor Tello a gift,
accompanied by a letter in which he expresses firm friendship for the
Spaniards. In a letter dated July 14, Tello complains that Morga is
hostile to him, and even writes anonymous letters against the governor;
the latter defends himself against these attacks. On August 7 he
reports to the king the arrival of English ships at Maluco, and his
intention of sending reenforcements to the Spanish fort there, and
to that in Cebu. He is asking aid from the viceroy of Nueva España,
and is trying to manufacture more artillery at Manila. Two letters
from Felipe III to Tello are dated August 16, 1599. The king commends
his proceedings in certain matters, and orders the viceroy of Nueva
España to send hereafter only useful colonists to the Philippines. He
also desires Tello to advise him whether the duties on Chinese goods
can be increased.
A brief account of the pacification of Mindanao (1600?) furnishes
some additional information as to events there, up to 1600. The
troops have been withdrawn from this island, owing to an alarm
of danger from English pirates; but these prove to be peaceable
Dutch merchants. In October of that year, certain foreign vessels
(thought to be English) enter the bay of Albay, and Antonio de Morga
is ordered by the Audiencia to fortify the port of Cavite and pursue
the enemy. Instructions for this latter proceeding are furnished to
him by the governor (December 10). He in turn gives instructions
to his admiral, Joan de Alcega. Then follows an account not only
of the battle between the Spanish and the Dutch fleets, but also
of Van Noordt's entire voyage to the Philippines. The battle ends,
on the whole, disastrously for Van Noordt. Among the plunder found
on the Dutch ships is a commission granted to Esaias de Lende as a
privateer against the Spaniards in the Indias. Suit being brought
against the admiral Alcega for deserting the flagship in the battle
with Van Noordt, Morga presents therein his version of the affair
(January 5, 1601)--throwing the blame for the loss of the flagship
on Alcega's disobedience to the orders previously given him by Morga.
Francisco Vaez reports (June 10, 1601) to the general of the Jesuit
order the status of Jesuit missions in the islands. He relates
the deaths of certain priests and brethren while engaged in the
performance of their duties, and proceeds to a detailed report of
each mission station. The Jesuit church at Manila has been ruined by
earthquakes. The fathers of the college there are accomplishing much
good by their labors, especially among those in prison, the soldiers,
and the children. Several instances of the devotion and piety of
converts are related. The losses and calamities which have befallen
the people have made them more inclined to religion. The sodalities
introduced among the natives arouse their devotion and enthusiasm. At
Antipolo a hospital has been begun, as well as a school for boys. At
Cebú also a school has been opened; and the labors of the Jesuits are
highly acceptable to the people, and commended by the bishop. Many
Indians are being converted by them. Connected with the residence
at Cebú is that of Bohol. Here Father Valerio Ledesma has persuaded
the savages to leave the mountains and settle near the river, under
the care of the missionaries; they have built a church, and are fast
becoming converted. Other missionaries in Bohol report many hundreds
of baptisms. Various miraculous cures of illness are related. Good
news comes from Samar also; nearly four thousand have been baptized,
nearly all adults. In Dulac a boys' school has been established, and
many conversions have occurred. At Alangala there are three Indian
chapels. Vaez asks for more missionaries in this so promising field. A
few days later (July 8) the official visitor of the Jesuit missions,
Diego Garcia, writes to Felipe III. He recommends that seminaries
for the instruction of heathen boys be stablished as a means for
hastening the conversion of the natives; and that the Indians be
gathered into settlements. Garcia asks that the Jesuit college at
Manila be authorized to graduate students from its classes; and closes
by recommending to the king's favor Morga and other officials.
The fiscal, Salazar y Salcedo, declares (July 16, 1601) that Tello
is shielding Morga, and despatches to the king a full report of the
investigation which he has made of the conflict with the Dutch. A
memorial to the king is sent (July 20, 1601) by the cabildo of
Manila, making various complaints in regard to the conduct of Doctor
de Morga. The order given by him and Tello for the abandonment of
Mindanao has caused the natives of that region to commit piracies in
the islands under Spanish rule. Morga has obtained official positions
for his relatives and friends, contrary to the royal ordinances. One
of these men, being utterly incompetent, has failed to drive back the
Mindanao pirates, who have consequently inflicted much damage. Through
various machinations, Morga succeeded in depriving Ronquillo of
the command of the fleet, in the battle with Van Noordt; but in the
conflict he showed himself incompetent to command the troops, and a
coward at the approach of danger; and, in consequence, his flagship
was wrecked, with the loss of many Spaniards and of valuable military
supplies. Moreover, the enemy being allowed to escape, the islands are
more exposed to future attacks from them. The writers of this letter
are sending documents to prove their charges; they also accuse Morga of
writing anonymous letters. A letter from Morga to the king (July 30)
relates his services in the naval battle, and the unfaithfulness of
Joan de Alcega to his trust in that and other instances. Morga asks
to be relieved from his post in the Philippines, and sent to some
other country. On December 11, 1601, the Jesuit school at Cebu is
aided by a royal grant for the erection of buildings.
Governor Tello is superseded by Pedro de Acuña, and the latter is
provided with instructions (February 16, 1602) by the king. He must
consult with the viceroy of Nueva España regarding the measures
to be taken for the settlement of the islands; and the viceroy has
been ordered to aid the governor therein. Acuña is directed to look
after the defense of the coasts, and the maintenance of a garrison
in Mindanao. He must do what he can to dispense with offices and
salaries which are superfluous, for which the king makes various
recommendations. The frauds which have been committed in the shipment
of goods to Nueva España, and in the payment of duties thereon, must
be stopped. Irregularities and frauds in the assignment of encomiendas
must also cease. These and various other matters are discussed by the
king, in pursuance of the recommendations made by the royal fiscal
in July, 1599. Official inspection of affairs in the islands must
be made by the auditors; and the royal officials must put a stop to
the importation from America of money for investment in the China
trade. The cathedral at Manila must be completed, and the hospitals
aided; and nuns will be sent for Santa Potenciana. The Jesuit seminary
for Indian boys should be cared for; and Acuña is to ascertain its
condition and needs. He must investigate the question of abolishing
the Parian, and see that religious teachers are provided for the
natives of the Ladrones Islands. Agriculture must be encouraged in
the Philippines. Two royal decrees (dated February 16) command the
viceroy of Nueva España to send to the Philippines more colonists,
who shall be persons of good character; and two nuns, to take charge
of the seminary of Santa Potenciana at Manila. Captain Gallinato
sends to the governor at Manila (June 4, 1602) warning of a large
plundering expedition which is about to sail from Mindanao to ravage
the Pintados Islands. The Joloans are also hostile, and ready to attack
the Spaniards; and the natives of Terrenate are aiding the Mindanaos.
Luis de Dasmariñas writes to Felipe III (June 8, 1602), urging that the
Spaniards reconquer the fortress of Maluco, to protect the Philippines
from attack by "those demons of English and Dutch heretics." Doctor
de Morga again informs the king (June 30) of his services in the
conflict with Van Noordt, and in still another letter (July 8) of
the attacks which his enemies are making upon him in regard to that
affair. The Augustinian officials at Manila notify the king (July 4)
of the election of Pedro Arce as provincial of their order in the
islands; and explain their refusal to receive a visitor recently sent
to the islands from Nueva España. A letter from the fiscal details
(July 10) the measures taken to compel payment by Governor Tello of
the debts owed by him in Sevilla; he has property in Nueva España,
but none in the islands.
_The Editors_
December, 1903.