Sire:
The seminary for girls of Sancta Potenciana which was commenced by
my father in pursuance of your Majesty's orders is now finished,
thanks be to God. It is one of the most splendid buildings of this
city, and for some days the cloister has been occupied by the mother
superior and by some good women of this town, who with holy zeal and
in the desire of serving God in retreat and solitude, have entered
there. Their sincerity and integrity of life was proved before their
entering the convent, which is thereby greatly benefited. By the good
example of these women, and the influence of their virtue, retirement,
and modesty, I have no doubt that the girls who are now there, and
those who shall enter hereafter, will be greatly benefited and improved
in the service of God. The advantage of such good surroundings must aid
in their improvement and help them in marriage, thus accomplishing the
end for which the holy zeal of your Majesty was striving in founding
this work so pleasing to God. In this connection it should be said,
that since this establishment is so meritorious and necessary in
this commonwealth, which is young and poor, and greatly in need of
a general fund for the public honor and welfare, its maintenance and
perpetuity should be assured. The establishment entails little expense,
and the work has been carried on according to your Majesty's orders,
without burdening the royal exchequer; and hence the gain has been
great. The opportunity is no less favorable which is now offered your
Majesty to employ your liberal and royal hand in favoring and aiding
this seminary with an income. Thus by its increase will God our Lord,
be glorified, by the exercise of charity. Daily prayers are held
there for your Majesty, that God may grant you many happy years of
this life, and life everlasting. There are now about thirty persons
in the seminary, and others are entering every day.
Another holy work has, by the favor of the Lord, been established
in this town in these days; and I hope that His Divine Majesty is no
less pleased by it, than by that which I have just described. It is
very similar to that and is a confraternity of mercy in which there
have entered as brethren the most illustrious and prominent persons
of this city. The object thereof, in conformity with its appellation
of mercy, is to exercise the latter in all the works and occasions
which may arise, of which there is no lack, as this land of yours is
so poor. As I say, this confraternity is occupied in feeding all the
worthy poor, of whom there are many; and in arranging marriages for
orphan girls, the daughters of the conquistadors and of persons who
have served your Majesty and died in the royal service, leaving their
children without inheritance, in poverty and bereavement. These are
persons to whom your Majesty owes a recompense; and any favor to this
confraternity is granted to them and to all this community. It also
persuades people to come willingly to settle here from other parts,
as they see that they may find here a refuge and relief for their
needs. The land has hitherto been discredited for the little comfort
which poor men, both married and single, find here in a country
new, unknown, and of scanty resources. Even these resources are
under obligation to be given to others who have settled the place
and served your Majesty; and for them alone there is not enough,
much less for those newly arrived. For their relief there should be
a lodging-house, so that poor married men may be sheltered there and
given what is necessary, until they find it convenient to go out and
support themselves. In addition to all the aforesaid institutions,
another no less important one must be mentioned. A hospital should
be established for the treatment of all the servants and slaves
of the Spaniards. This is a very necessary undertaking and a work
of exceeding charity; for there are many of these servants who die,
as they have nowhere to go for treatment. Even their souls suffer, as
there is some neglect in administering the sacrament to them. Although
there are two hospitals--the royal, and that for the natives--the
servants are received in neither, on account of the poverty of the
hospitals, and the many sick who are usually there, and the lack
of conveniences for so many. As I have written in a former letter,
your Majesty should also favor these hospitals, and in particular
this holy confraternity of mercy. Thus I beg your Majesty to do so,
in the name of our good God and Lord. His Divine Majesty will reward,
as is His wont, all that is done for His love and service. In the name
of this state, and the poor, and for my own sake, I humbly beg this of
your Majesty; and if there be anything of sufficient worth in me to be
presented before the royal presence of your Majesty as deserving reward
and recompense; I should but ask for favor for these two hospitals,
which are so needy, and particularly for this holy confraternity of
mercy. There should also be provided means according to the income,
to provide dowries for a certain number of the girls who are sheltered
every year in the Seminary of Sancta Potenciana. Thus it is evident
that the state will be totally healed of its evils; and these works
of charity will, I believe, be glorious in the eyes of God, especially
if your Majesty will look upon them with your royal and compassionate
eyes, and encourage them with your royal aid. May our Lord preserve
your Majesty for many long years, as Christendom has need. At Manila,
June 15, 1594.
_Luis Perez Dasmariñas_
Sire:
In the papers I send your Majesty by these vessels, I give an account
of Japanese affairs and suspicions. In this letter I shall content
myself with saying that when my father made answer to the second
Japanese embassy, he sent with father Fray Pedro Baptista, to accompany
and take care of the fathers, and with further orders to treat with
that king, one Pedro Gonçalez, a man who, by trade and commerce, had
acquired some knowledge of that land, and acquaintance with some of its
inhabitants. He went and performed his mission well. The Japanese king,
either because he is a man of unusual good-will, or because he harbors
designs, tells me in his original letter that he wishes to have your
Majesty see it, and to have the same Pedro Gonçalez, who brought it,
take it with him to España, together with an account of what he saw
in that kingdom. He indicates with some insistence that he wishes
this, and I am advised by letters from there that, if it be not sent,
as he knows everything that is done here, he will be vexed and take
it as a pretext for making an earlier declaration of war. Therefore
in my opinion his wishes ought to be observed since no harm will be
done. Pedro Gonçalez carries the original letter and its translation,
together with the reply which was sent from here. Although, as I say,
the bearer goes ostensibly only to comply with the wishes of the king
of Japon (for I have already written to your Majesty respecting this
matter), yet your Majesty may, if such be his pleasure, hear from
Pedro Gonçalez certain peculiarities of that kingdom which he has
observed. So, because he is an honorable man, prudent, straightforward,
of good reputation and abilities, and because he labored and incurred
heavy expenses on these voyages, kindly grant him some favor; for
he has deserved it, on account of the affection, good-will, and care
that he has displayed in everything which he has been ordered to do
in your Majesty's service. May our Lord preserve your Majesty for
many prosperous years. Manila, June 22, 1594.
_Luis Perez Dasmariñas_
Sire:
After despatching a letter to your Majesty in the vessel "Sant
Phelippe," which it was thought best to send first, as it was in
Çibu, I had other letters from Japon from father Fray Pedro Baptista,
the originals of which I send herewith. From these letters, and from
one from the emperor of Japon, a copy of which is enclosed, we can
easily infer how little security is assured us by his friendship and
promises, and be sure that any slight occasion would induce him to
break them. But I am continuing to treat with him, in order to gain
time to complete the fortifications of this city. I am showing kindness
to the Japanese ships that put in here. And, although I am sending
the emperor, as answer to his letter, the one which I transmitted
to your Majesty in the vessel "Sant Phelippe" (a duplicate of which
I enclose herewith), I am thinking of sending him a present because
of the treaty of amity he has made with us. In this way, as I say,
I shall dissimulate and keep him in good humor. For this purpose I am
striving to spread the rumor here that the peace is firm; but I am not
slackening work on the fortifications. On the contrary, I am speeding
them forward with added watchfulness. God be praised, the wall is now
completed, and the forts are in fair condition for defense. I hope,
God willing, that the enemy will find this quite different from what
they must be congratulating themselves that they will find. It is
decidedly important to have a large contingent of troops sent from
Mexico. This is the most pressing need, and the viceroy of Nueva
España should be urgently ordered to attend to it. For if the Japanese
come, they may be able, in case help does not arrive, to gain the
land after a long siege and with a large force, and thus put us to
great straits. But to whatever extremities we come, we here will not,
at least, be found to lack the necessary energy and determination,
and we will give your Majesty a good account of your land and our
obligations. We trust matters to the omnipotent hand of our God and
Lord. May He ordain what is most befitting His service and the glory
of His sacred name. May He preserve your Majesty for many long years,
as Christendom has need. Manila, June 23, 1594.
_Luis Perez Dasmariñas_
[_Addressed_: "To the king, our sovereign. In his royal Council of
the Yndias."]
[_Endorsed_: "Philippinas. To his Majesty. Luis Perez Dasmariñas,
1594, June 23."]