The King. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, my governor and captain-general of
the islands of the West: I have received your two letters dated June
fifteen and twenty-three of the past year one thousand five hundred and
sixty-seven, [44] and I have taken note of the detailed account which
you gave of the events of your expedition, and of what you have done in
it; and it is what has been expected from your loyalty and goodness. In
regard to what you say of the islands that have been discovered, and
which are being discovered daily, and your sensible policy in not
waging war, you have done very well, and we charge and order you to
continue the same, striving by all good means to attract the natives to
the service of God our Lord and mine, and to the love and friendship
which they ought to have with you and with the Spaniards who reside
with you. You shall so carry yourself that you may not come to blows
with them nor with any other persons unless you should be provoked, and
in your own defense.
In regard to your statement that some galleys are needed for the trade
and commerce of those islands, we have ordered the matter to be
discussed, but as yet no resolution has been taken by which we can
advise you concerning our will.
Your son, Melchor de Legazpi, and Juan de la Ysla have asked for
certain things necessary for the solid colonization of that land and
for your defense and safety. [45] You will see what we have supplied by
the memorial taken by Juan de la Ysla, and by what our officials in
Nueva España will send you. The balance of what is yet to be furnished
will be sent in the first fleet that leaves for Nueva España. You will
watch over everything in your charge as we expect from your person; and
you shall have especial care in furthering the conversion of the Indian
natives of that country to our holy Catholic faith, and their good
treatment; for that is most important to the service of God our Lord
and mine. Since it is so important you shall obtain it by all possible
good means.
You shall assign and allot the villages of those islands which may be
reduced to our service as you think best, according to the law of the
succession of the Indians; provided that you do not assign or allot the
capitals, seaports, or places settled by Spaniards, for these must be
left for our royal crown, and we order that they be so left. [46]
We have also been petitioned in your name that, in consideration of the
fact that there are islands inhabited by Moros in that land, and that
they come to trade and traffic, thus hindering the preaching of the
holy gospel, and disturbing you, we grant you permission to enslave
such Moros, and to seize their possessions. You must take note that if
such Moros are Moros by birth and nation and come for the purpose of
spreading their cursed Mahometan worship, or to make war on you or on
the Indians subject to us and to our royal service, then you can
enslave them. But you shall under no consideration whatever enslave
those who were Indians who may have adopted the worship of Mahomet; but
you shall endeavor to convert them and to persuade them to accept our
holy Catholic faith by good and legitimate means.
Report has been made me on behalf of the conquistadors of that country
that many slaves have been made there by the natives of those islands.
I have been entreated to grant permission to those conquistadors to
purchase them and hold them as slaves in the same manner as the said
natives hold them. Inasmuch as I desire to be informed of the custom in
this matter and of what it is advisable to do, I order you to submit a
report of the causes why slaves are made in that country—whether
slaves are made mutually among the natives themselves; whether the
Moros who wage war upon the said natives are made slaves; or whether
there are various sects among them, so that they wage and maintain
mutual warfare among themselves and make slaves mutually of one
another. You shall report on the other characteristics of that race in
so far as they touch this matter; and when the said report is ready you
shall send it to our Council of the Indias, so that, after they have
examined it, the most advisable measures may be taken in accordance
with justice. [47]
If there are any Portuguese or foreigners of these kingdoms who have
gone with you or who shall have gone afterward, or who should be in the
ships sailing from Nueva España to those islands, you shall order them
to return to these kingdoms, even if such Portuguese or foreigners be
those who are allowed to be in those districts in accordance with my
laws, ordinances, and decrees. You must attend to this matter with the
greatest possible haste, for you know how dangerous it will be to the
welfare, peace, and quiet of the land and to the service of our Lord
and mine. The Escorial, November sixteen, one thousand five hundred and
sixty-eight.