Before me:
_Estevan de Marquina_
_Brief memorial by the ambassadors of the king of Canvoja_
We, Captain Diego Beloso and Captain Gregorio de Vargas, declare
that for the better understanding of this petition of the king of
Canvoja for aid, there must be considered the matters which the said
king told me, Diego Beloso, for the governor of Manilla, and which
are now given in writing. And we beg that they be examined with the
rest in connection with this solicitation.
1. In the first place that the king's verbal instructions to Diego
Beloso be examined, as they contain the substance of the embassy.
2. In the second place the aid is sought to carry on offensive
operations against no neighboring country, but only through this means
to become Christian, and to defend himself, and keep the people in
subjection; for, if the king were baptized without having Spaniards
in the country, it would cause rebellion and desertion to Sian. If
he has Spaniards his own subjects will be obliged to join the faith,
and neighboring kingdoms will abandon Mahoma.
3. In the third place it must be considered that the said king is
powerful and independent; and when he sent for this aid he was in
all prosperity, and did not greatly fear the king of Sian, for he
had beaten him before. But he was merely sending for the Christians
to declare his faith, and the contents of the letter of embassy were
meant to satisfy his nobles. He will be content with his kingdom alone,
and will leave the Spaniards all that they may conquer, offering them
his power in the future.
4. [_Summarized_: Likewise should be considered the great faith which
he has so long maintained, having supported religious of two orders,
the Dominicans and Franciscans, in his country for thirty years with
necessaries and servants, and sending occasionally to Malaca and
Macan for Spanish messengers. He has always helped all the Spaniards
and other Christians who were in his country, and given the fathers
license to preach over all the land. He has exempted all converts
from tribute, and bidden them give recognition to the fathers. He
has always listened to the wishes of the fathers and has sought to
gather a number of Christians--ordering all vessels which leave his
country to try to bring Spaniards and other Christians back; and,
if they found them captives, to ransom them at any price. In this
way he got several together in his country, and favored them more
than his own subjects. The larger part of his guard of arquebusiers
were Christians, although not Spaniards; and he paid them well, and
favored them so much that they dared to kill his other subjects. He
gave money to the Spaniards and treated them much better than his
own nobles, who were accordingly aggrieved. In the year 93, I,
Gregorio de Vargas, and Blas Rruiz, my companion, arrived there,
as we had heard of him in Macan. We determined at the risk of our
lives and the cost of our goods to procure him a communication with
this city and make him an ally. We told him of ourselves, and as he
believed us, he sent this embassy, seeking aid. And this we seek that
such an important country be not lost for the lack of so little aid;
and because it is for the service of God our Lord, and of his Majesty,
and will add to the Spanish renown, and the faith of Jesus will be
established on the continent, where it may extend through all those
great and powerful heathen countries to His honor and glory.]
This is the truth of what we know and think in this matter, according
to our best knowledge, through God and on our conscience; and we
swear it by God and upon the cross, and sign it with our names.
_Gregorio de Vargas_
_Diego Velosso_
I, Captain Diego de Veloso, ambassador of the king of Canvoja, declare
that in a petition which I gave in the name of the said king, your
Lordship, decreeing thereon, ordered me to give a memorial concerning
the articles necessary for the help which I seek; and in compliance
with the command of your Lordship I would say that for the said aid
to be effective, and in order that the said king shall be able to
defend his kingdom therewith, and win back that of the tyrant, from
which it is to be taken, the following things are necessary:
In the first place, the largest possible number of Spaniards that
your Lordship can send with the said aid, including arquebusiers and
musketeers, being veteran and well armed and disciplined soldiers--of
whom there should be no less than three hundred.
_Item._ As many as possible of native Indians who have gone on
expeditions with the said Spaniards, and are well drilled, so that
being mixed with the said Spaniards, and as far as possible being
arquebusiers, they will be effective on the field.
_Item._ A galley without slaves, with full sail, oars, and artillery.
_Item._ The vessel "Nuestra Señora del Rosario," and the little vessel
which went to China, called "Santiago," and the necessary fragatas
for the troops, with all the artillery which can be spared.
_Item._ Eight caracoas and virreys, without crews.
All of which, as I have said to your Lordship, is the least which
can be sent for the said help, whereby the said king would receive
a gracious favor.
_Diego Veloso_
At Manilla, on the third of the month of August in the year one
thousand five hundred and ninety-five, before the governor and
captain-general of these islands, Don Luis Perez das Marinas, was
presented this petition, and having examined it he spoke. Having
examined it, his Lordship commanded that it be placed with the other
papers, and that Diego Veloso appear before his Lordship, to come
to an agreement over the conditions which are to be agreed upon and
concluded by the king of Canvoja and the undersigned, in case the
aid which he seeks should be granted.
_Luis Perez Dasmarinas_