Sire:
During the month of March of the past year, 1600, there passed
through the Strait of Magallanes into the South Sea a squadron of
armed ships from Holland, belonging to Count Mauricio, having as
commander Oliver de el Nort, and as admiral Lamberto Biezman, with
a patent and instructions in Flemish and Castilian to make war with
fire and sword upon the Castilians and Portuguese whom they might
meet in these parts. After they had made a few captures of little
importance on the coast of Piru, the commander's ship and admiral's
ship, together with their long-boats, came to these islands, where they
came out of the channel on the sixteenth of November of the said year.
Governor Don Francisco Tello found himself unprovided with any kind of
fleet to resist them by sea; for he had no galleys and no other kind
of ship with which to carry on offensive warfare, because a galizabra
which had been commenced the year before in the shipyard of Cavite had
been abandoned, and its build changed to that of a merchant ship. As
he feared that the enemy would come down to the said port, and burn
the few ships which were on the voyage from Nueva España, in order
to secure himself from the seaside at all points he commanded Don
Juan Ronquillo de Castillo (who was drawing his salary as commander
of galleys when there were none) immediately to go to the said port,
and put it in a state of defense, and build a fleet with which to go
out against the pirate. He went to the port, which is two leagues
from this city, and on the third day returned to the city without
having undertaken to do anything, or shown any disposition to do
so. He interposed difficulties, and asked for so many things which
he said were necessary, and which were not at hand, that he made the
thing out impossible; and not only was the governor disgusted with him
for it, but Don Juan allowed himself to say things which obliged the
governor to arrest him, as he did. The pirate continued his voyage in
the direction of the bay of this city, and the president and governor,
seeing himself hard pressed, communicated with the Audiencia and sought
its aid. The latter, desiring to make the greatest effort possible,
decided that I should go to Cavite and put the port in a state of
defense and likewise secure a fleet. I opposed no difficulties or
excuses to this, nor did I seek any rewards or aids for the expense,
nor any impossible things. On the contrary, that same day I went to
the port and fortified it so adequately that it was in a good state
of defense--so that, although the enemy came into the mouth of the
bay, they dared not enter or carry out their designs, on account
of the knowledge that they had of my preparation. At the same time
I finished the galizabra and launched it; and I fitted out another
vessel, belonging to private persons, which lay there. I armed both of
them and set sail in thirty days with a number of volunteer troops,
men of quality, who were resolved to accompany me on the service of
your Majesty on such an occasion (all at their own cost), as the enemy
was well established at the mouth of the bay, waiting for the ships
of the Chinese and the vessels from Nueva España with the silver,
in order to capture them. When the governor saw the state in which
I had put things, and at so little cost to your Majesty's exchequer,
and that the troops with which the expedition must be made would not
do so, or even go in the fleet if I did not go as its leader, and
realized the great importance of promptness, he ordered me in the name
of your Majesty to make the expedition immediately. He told me that in
no other wise on this occasion could I serve your Majesty. I obeyed,
and made ready to go where I was ordered, without seeking any pay of
profit. I spent more than four thousand pesos of my scanty property
to procure the necessaries for the expedition, some reenforcements, an
outfit of arms, and other things. I risked my person, honor, property,
and the support of ten children whom God has given me, and a good wife,
solely for the service of God and your Majesty; for it is certain that
no other interest or profit could take me from my house, where I was
in quiet and safety, since I never sought or asked for this thing.
This resolution was distasteful to the said Don Juan Ronquillo de el
Castillo and his retainers--chief of whom are the factor, Francisco
de las Missas [49] and the licentiate Tellez Almaçan, auditor of this
Audiencia. These men quite openly proposed to the governor to give
Don Juan the expedition, as he was the commander of the galleys;
and other things to this purpose, which satisfied the governor but
little. It seemed best to him not to change the design if I should
desire it, or at least should not be burdened by it.
I sailed with the two armed ships in quest of the pirate, from the port
of Cabite, on the twelfth of December. On Thursday, the fourteenth
of the same month, I came to close quarters with him, and the battle
resulted as your Majesty will learn more at length by the relation
which accompanies this.
I took as admiral, by the appointment of the governor, a certain
captain Juan de Alcega, a citizen of this city, and a partisan of
the said Don Juan Ronquillo; he is for this reason a great friend of
the said licentiate Tellez Almaçan, the auditor, and likewise because
at the time when he came to this city the latter was hospitable and
kind to him, and has always continued so. He is a man skilful in war
with the Indians, as it is practiced here; but is of an irritable
temperament, and desirous of having his own way on occasion, without
obeying his superiors, of which there has been proof enough. When
I had fully recognized the enemy and knew that he was carrying
all his force on the flagship, I ordered the admiral in writing on
the day before the battle, what particularly must be done--namely,
that with both our ships we must engage the said flagship of the
pirates. Accordingly as soon as I discovered the enemy the next day,
I kept the almiranta near me, and grappled with the enemy and moored
to him. When the admiral arrived and should have done the same,
he shoved the tiller aside and, without my order, contrary to the
command which I had given him, went after the almiranta of the pirate,
which was sailing away; thus he left me unprotected and alone, for
which reason my commander's ship fared as recounted in the relation.
For this disobedience, and others of which he was guilty and of great
importance, immediately upon our entrance into the city the governor
arrested the said captain Juan de Alcega, and is proceeding against
him. Through the favor of the said auditor and his party, and various
measures which they have taken--especially with the licentiate Salazar,
fiscal of this Audiencia, who is openly of the said party--they
have shielded him in this case in such manner as might be expected
of a person who is so near losing his office, and to whom it is so
important not to make more enemies for his residencia. Accordingly
thus far there has been nothing done in the case, and I have no hope
that anything will be accomplished by the present proceedings.
This Captain Joan de Alcega was freighter of the ship "Santo Thomas"
[50] in the year 99, which left here for Nueva España in company with
two other vessels from this city. In the loading of this ship, so
great was the dishonesty and deceit on his part that it is understood
that your Majesty's exchequer was defrauded of more than a hundred
thousand pesos. The governor, in order to wash his hands of this
wrongdoing, began suit against them and condemned them to heavy
fines and penalties, as he must have informed your Majesty. The case
came on appeal to this Audiencia. On account of the said friendship
and partiality, the fiscal hushed up this case, as he has others,
without discussion upon it, and with no reparation to your Majesty
or to this commonwealth.
In this manner Juan de Alcega not only remained unpunished but, aided
by the said persons with several letters, informations and documents,
which they had secretly made and composed, they are attempting to
underrate my good service and seek for him the reward. I have not
wished to set down in a boastful way anything more than the naked
truth, which your Majesty now has before your eyes. I most humbly
beseech your Majesty to be pleased to look upon my good intentions
and labors with the clemency and benevolence which they deserve,
extending to me the favor which is due, in such wise that they shall
not remain without the recompense which the servants of your Majesty
receive on similar occasions. And the chief of these should be to
order me withdrawn from this exile, to a place where I can spend the
rest of my life in greater peace in the service of your Majesty, and
start my children upon the same path. God protect the royal Catholic
person of your Majesty for many long years. Manila, June 30, 1601.
_Don Antonio de Morga_