In the city of Manila, on the thirteenth day of November, one
thousand five hundred and ninety-five, Don Luis Perez Dasmarinas,
knight of the order of Alcantara, governor and captain-general of
these Filipinas Islands for our lord the king, declares that he
has considered the documents and official acts hitherto made and
issued in regard to the settlement and pacification of the island of
Mindanao by Captain Rodriguez de Figueroa, as stated in the report
and account sent by the alcalde-mayor of Oton concerning the present
invasion of the province of Pintados by hostile caracoas. The said
governor has also considered the pleas offered in the same matter
by Don Francisco de Poça y Guevara y Conçortes for himself and the
other encomenderos of the said island of Mindanao; and also the recent
discussion, consultation, and conference upon the said expedition and
the results thereof. I declare that I ought to direct, and do direct,
that Captain Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa shall be notified to make
the said expedition, pacification, and settlement of the said island
of Mindanao after the following manner.
First: He shall observe and comply with the commands of our lord the
king as laid down in two sections of a royal letter dated at Madrid
June 11, one thousand five hundred and ninety-four, the tenor of
which is as follows:
"I have considered the directions given by you to Captain Estevan
Rodriguez de Figueroa as to the pacification of Mindanao, and approve
thereof. I sanction the carrying of these provisions into effect,
provided that the third part which he is directed to set off by itself,
to be distributed in encomiendas, shall not in income exceed fifteen
thousand pesos of eight reals. It is understood that this is allowed
for the pacification of the entire island, and that a proportionate
allowance is made for a partial pacification. You are also empowered
to offer him that the title of mariscal of the said island will be
given him as soon as he shall report that the said island is pacified,
and that he has complied with the agreement, and has imposed laws;
and to bid him to observe the ordinances and instructions made for
the said pacification, without exceeding them.
"I take advantage of this opportunity to charge you anew that in this
exploration and in all the others that shall be made you shall see to
it that the aforesaid instructions and ordinances for new explorations,
entrances, and collections of tribute, and the other laws governing
these matters be observed, taking care that they are not transgressed
in any particular."
These two articles are to be held to be included in the regulations
laid down by the late governor and captain-general of these islands,
Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, for the government of the said Captain
Estevan Rodriguez, in the city of Manila, May 12, 1591, before Juan
de Cuellar, his notary; and by virtue of the said letter of the king
our lord I offered the said Captain Estevan Rodriguez to give and
transmit to him in his royal name the title of mariscal of the said
island of Mindanao as soon as he should report that he had pacified
it and complied with the stipulations agreed upon; and I also charged
and I charge him to fulfil the other matters contained in the said
articles, and I acquaint him with their contents, all with a view to
his observing and complying with the contents thereof.
Likewise in the interim before our lord the king is advised of that
which is done and happens on the said expedition and pacification, and
until he replies transmitting a statement as to what must be observed
and performed, in order that some inconveniences which may arise in
the said interim may be brought to an end, the said Captain Estevan
Rodriguez is required to promise and to offer his person and goods
as security that, in so far as concerns the persons whom he shall
judge proper to receive encomiendas in the said island of Mindanao,
and who may receive damage if the said encomiendas are taken from
them, or others assigned to them, they shall keep and maintain the
same status in such encomiendas. The encomiendas which are to be
assigned and those which have been assigned and allotted with the
bulk of Indians who are not pacified, and from whom no tribute has
been collected, shall be assigned by the said captain, conformably
to the provision. As for the encomiendas which have revolted after
tributes have been collected from them, whose encomenderos are on
the way or have been sent to that country (they having been women
and minors at the time of this pacification), when they have taken
citizenship and complied with the other commands of his Majesty,
the said Captain Estevan Rrodriguez shall give them over as soon
as pacified to the said encomenderos. When such encomiendas have
a certain number of Indians, that number must be furnished. But if
located in valleys, provinces, or rivers, without a settled number
of Indians, they must be allotted in an equitable number according
to the character and services of the encomenderos, so that there
may be enough for all. The encomiendas which are peaceful and where
tributes are collected, such as those of Butuan, and others similar,
shall remain entirely in the possession of those who hold them; and
they shall not be obliged to aid in the pacification or in any other
matter, and shall enjoy their possession. As for the actual number of
tributes, it appears best at present that the patrons should collect
and hold them only from the pacified Indians, and no others. If they
should wish to go or send, as has been said, to this pacification,
the said Captain Estevan Rrodriguez must assign and give to them
shares in the same pacified encomiendas, beside what they possess and
collect at present, and as many Indians as shall appear most just,
according to their rank and services, and the number which they have
on their encomiendas. This must be expedited and executed by the said
Captain Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa, who will keep this matter in
mind, and comply and follow it in this wise for the present until his
Majesty shall provide and command otherwise (when he will immediately
be informed), without prejudice to the service of the parties to the
said encomiendas; and, in case they should feel aggrieved, they shall
appeal to his Majesty in their own behalf, if they so desire.
2. Likewise he shall neither receive nor welcome any outlawed
delinquent, or any other person, who shall go without license from
the governor to the island of Mindanao; and those who shall so go,
he shall deliver over or send back, as this is necessary for the
safety and quiet of this commonwealth, and in order to avoid great
inconveniences, evils, and injuries which might occur, and would
work ill to the service of God and his Majesty, and injury to this
commonwealth.
3. _Item_. He shall allow no intercourse whatsoever with Nueva España,
nor send any boat or vessel thither, without communicating and
informing us in this city and commonwealth, in order that the trade
and intercourse shall be on the terms and in the manner which it is
most fitting that it should be, so that there may result therefrom
no injury, damage, or loss to this commonwealth; and no such thing
should be done without its consent, unless by the commission and
express order of his Majesty.
4. _Item_. In case this colony should be surrounded and beset with
any enemy, or should be in any need or conflict, so that aid should
be necessary, when the said Captain Estevan Rrodriguez learns and is
aware thereof, or is informed of it, he shall come with the greatest
haste and the largest force possible to its aid, without attempting
to exempt or excuse himself, or neglecting to do this in any way,
for any reason, nor in any manner. And likewise when there is any
necessity of the forces at Maluco and Anbueno being reënforced, he
shall aid them in the best manner possible. He shall be intent upon
the interests of his Majesty, and other just and pious causes and
interests pertaining to the service of God and of his Majesty which
should influence him; and because he is so near and accessible he
can render aid with the utmost convenience.
5. _Item_. He shall not engage in, commence, or carry out any other
expedition or entry into any realm or island, far or near, without the
special commission and order to be secured therefor from his Majesty.
6. _Item_. He shall keep and comply with the said ordinances and
commands, which his Majesty directs the said governor to impose upon
him and cause him to comply with, in this and other discoveries,
without exceeding, changing, or violating them, or neglecting to
comply with and keep each and every one of them. And if he shall
execute any sentence in any cause or suit to anyone's prejudice,
damage, or grievance, he shall pay, as damage for the party, the
losses which were undergone and suffered by the parties through him.
All this that has been said the said Captain Estevan Rrodriguez
must promise to keep and comply with, under the said obligation of
his person and goods. Having accepted, as above stated, the said
expedition, the said Captain Estevan Rrodriguez de Figueroa was
informed and made aware of the agreement contained herein concerning
the said expedition and pacification, by virtue of the empowering
instrument which he holds to that effect, and of the resolve and
determination that it should have and has entire and complete force,
as his Majesty permits and commands. He said that he was ready to
allow all necessary provision to be made for the said expedition,
that it might be immediately put in execution, as is necessary. And
if the parties interested wish to bring it to trial, they shall do so
before his Lordship, so that they may carry it on to his Majesty; and
the royal offices in this city should be notified if they have anything
to petition, which they seek for. Thereupon he protested to the said
Captain Estevan Rrodriguez what he had before said and protested to
this effect, and which is most practical and convenient. Accordingly
I decree, command, and petition, with testimony, jointly and in
accord with the opinion of Doctor Antonio de Morga, my counselor
and lietutenant-general.
_Luis Perez Dasmarinas_
_Don Antonio de Morga_
Before me:
_Gaspar de Acebo_
_Notifications_
The said act has been brought to the notice of the said Captain Estevan
Rrodriguez, and of the royal officials, and of the city government
of Manila, so that each may petition as they see fit.
_Acceptance of the expedition to Mindanao_
In the city of Manila, on the sixteenth day of the month of November
in the year one thousand five hundred and ninety-five, before me,
the undersigned notary, appeared in person Captain Estavan Rodriguez
de Figueroa, who, some three days more or less before, had been
notified by me, the present notary, of an act of the governor and
captain-general of these islands relating to the expedition and
pacification of the island of Mindanao. Having answered to this that
he would take it, he now responds that from the instant and hour when
he was notified of the said act he accepted it, and, in compliance
therewith, has paid the troops of war and incurred other expenses;
and now he again accepts it and agrees to the terms contained in the
said act, and obliges himself to it, and to be bound by everything
in it, and promises and binds himself accordingly to keep and comply
with it in every way and in every manner, and he will bind himself
formally. Accordingly he signed it, witnesses being Luis Bagado and
Geronimo Suares, and he signed it with his name.
_Estevan Rrodriguez de Figueroa_
Before me:
_Gaspar de Acebo_
In compliance with his answer, he has formally bound himself with
his person and goods, all of which is provided by the acts issued in
this matter.