Chapter 19

The fiscal of the Audiencia of the said islands, to whom is entrusted the protection of the Indians, has informed me that, as their lawsuits are many and involve much work, with the Audiencia's permission he appointed a solicitor, with a salary of two hundred pesos, and an interpreter with a salary of eighty pesos, at the expense of the encomenderos. I charge you that, as soon as you reach the islands, you discuss this matter with the Audiencia; and, if it be necessary to retain the said solicitor and interpreter, to see that their salaries be paid, and that they be trustworthy men and competent to fill those offices. You will always take special care to see that the Indians be relieved from burdens, and protected and favored in all permissible ways, and that their affairs be promptly settled, endeavoring to avoid lawsuits whenever possible. At Zamora, on the sixteenth day of February in the year one thousand six hundred and two.

I, The King

Countersigned by Juan De Ybarra

Two Royal Decrees

Colonists for the Islands

The King: To the Conde de Monterrey, my kinsman, and viceroy, governor and captain-general of Nueva Spaña, or to the person or persons in whose charge the government thereof may be: The kingdoms of infidels and enemies of our holy Catholic faith, with which the Philipinas Islands are surrounded, being so numerous and so great, the most advisable thing for its safety and defense is to settle it with Spaniards. That colony, I am informed, is not only not being augmented, but is not even being preserved in its present state; for the people who are sent to those islands are few compared with the number of those who die from the unhealthful climate of the country, and those who are dispersed in expeditions, and because most of those who go to the said islands do not intend to abide there, and accordingly return with their wealth. It is considered expedient to give such persons permission to return, so that others may be willing to go to the islands; and it is necessary to give others such permission, either because they are married in España, or because they are Peruvians, a people who are injurious to the community. Consequently there is always a lack of people, and those who remain there are the poorest. As it is expedient to attend with great care to the settlement of the said Islands and their conservation, I charge and command you to provide for and send thither useful people, and to see to it that settlers of good character go thither. In order that this may be done, and that they may live and remain there, you will see to the careful and rigorous execution of the orders already given concerning the trade of the Philipinas with your country of Nueva España, and that the object be attained for which it is permitted--that is, that it be directed to the settlement and conservation of the said islands and applied to the benefit and advantage of the citizens--taking care that nothing be done which shall transgress any order which has been given in the matter, or which may be so given in the future, and with great care favoring the interests of the said islands. In this you will please me.

Given at Zamora, on the sixteenth of February, in the year one thousand six hundred and two.

_I, The King_

Countersigned by

_Joan de Ybarra_

Signed by the Council.

[_Endorsed:_ "To the Viceroy of Nueva Spaña, concerning the settlement of the Philipinas Islands, and directing him to send useful people there."]

Nuns for Santa Potenciana

The King: To the Conde de Monterrey, my kinsman, and viceroy, governor and captain-general of Nueva Spaña, or to the person or persons in whose charge the government thereof may be: Don Francisco Tello, my governor and captain-general of the Philipinas Islands, has informed me of the prosperous condition of the seminary of Sancta Potenciana at Manila, where girls are sheltered, and of the retirement and the exemplary lives which they lead, and that many of them intend to remain in the said seminary. I wrote to you to send them, from Nueva Spaña, two religious women for the said seminary, but you answered to the effect that none of them dared to go. As this is of great importance, and should be carried out, for the establishment of that seminary and the settlement there of professed nuns, and that its inmates may be thoroughly trained in piety, I charge and command that you that, in any event, you make arrangements to send there the said two religious women from one of the convents of your country, and that they shall be persons of approved character--and this on account of the great service which this will be for our Lord; and you shall advise me of what is done in the matter.

Given at Camora, on the sixteenth of February, in the year one thousand six hundred and two.

_I, The King_

Countersigned by

_Joan de Ybarra_

Signed by the Council.

[_Endorsed:_ "To the viceroy of Nueva Spaña, directing him to send thence to the Philipinas certain religious for the establishment of a seminary."]

Pintados Menaced by Mindanao Pirates

_Testimony which Captain Gallinato sent to the governor of the Filipinas concerning the help which the king of Terrenate is giving to the Mindanaos._

On the sea, off the tinguis ["hills"] of La Caldera, on the twenty-ninth day of the month of May in the year one thousand six hundred and two. The purveyor-general, Juan Juarez Gallinato. Whereas Ensign Antonio de Alarcon, commander of the patrona, [54] took with his galley from a vessel of Lutaos an Indian of San Buangan [_i.e._, Zamboanga,] who is supposed to be a spy, I command, in order to learn the truth and the design of the enemy, that his confession be taken; and so I order it and sign my name.

_Juan Juarez Gallinato_

By his order:

_Rafael de Sarria_, notary

_Deposition_. Then on the day, month, and year aforesaid, the purveyor-general caused to appear before him the said Lutao, who was questioned by the interpreter Pedro Navarro, encomendero of Canamucan and Baibay.

He was asked what his name was, of what place he was a native, and if he were a slave or a timagua; and he replied that his name was Saliot, that he was a native of Sanbuangan, which is near La Caldera, and that he was a timagua. This was his answer.

When asked for what purpose he was coming yesterday when he was taken, and who sent him, he said that he was sent by a chief named Bato, a native of the witness's village, who told the witness to take fowls and wax and fish, and go to the place where the fleet was, or was coming, and find out who was in it, what sort of ships there were, where it was going, what people it carried, and how many ships; and the witness came to do what the aforesaid chief had ordered, and was captured. This was his answer.

He was asked what ships there were in the river of Mindanao, armed to set out; and where they were going, who was going as commander of them, and what fighting men there were. He said that there were a hundred ships in the aforesaid river of Mindanao, large and small, intending to go out to plunder Pintados and Cebu, and Oton, and all the regions that they could; and that for commander there goes Silonga, with Raxamora and Buysan. He said that a large number of men were going on the war-vessels, because they take a hundred men from each village; and he said that within ten days they would set out from the river for Pintados. This was his answer.

When asked if the Mindanaos knew that the Spanish fleet was going to help Pintados, or what they understood about it, he said that a son of Liguana, called Ssapay, with Gumapas and Nasa, were sent from Mindanao as spies in order to know what the Spaniards were doing, and where they were; and that they told where the Spanish fleet was, and what it was doing. He said that the Lutaos who came with him yesterday had returned to give news of the coming of the fleet. This was his answer.

He was asked whether Liguana, chief of Taguima, had planned to go to Pintados with the enemy's fleet. He said that he had, and that likewise his sons were going with him, and all the chiefs of his country; and thirty-five vessels were going from Sanbuangan, Tragima, and Basilanban. This he said to be the truth, according to the obligation of his oath, which he had taken after his custom. He said that he was about twenty years old; and he did not sign this paper, but the interpreter signed it.

_Juan Juarez Gallinato Pedro Navarro_

Before me:

_Rafael de Sarria_, notary

_Official act_. On the sea, off the mainland of Dapitan, on the thirtieth day of the month of May in the year one thousand six hundred and two. The purveyor-general, Juan Juarez Gallinato. Whereas Ensign Pedro de Carrion, while scouting among the little islands opposite the kingdom of Xolo in the last few days, captured a Lutao in a [_MS. defective_] and was fleeing; it is proper, in order to know the design of the inhabitants of the aforesaid kingdom, that his deposition be taken; and thus I command it and sign my name.

_Juan Juarez Gallinato Pedro Navarro_

By his command:

_Rafael de Sarria_, notary

_Deposition_. On the aforesaid day, month, and year, the aforesaid purveyor-general ordered to appear before him the aforesaid Indian, in order to take his deposition, through the interpreter Pedro Navarro, encomendero of Baibay. The following questions were asked of him.

After he had taken the oath according to his custom, and after he had promised to tell the truth, he was asked what his name was, where he lived, what his occupation was, and if he was a slave or a timagua. He said that he was called Onarano; that he was a Lutao of the village of Lumian, which is near Xolo; that his occupation was always to fight; and that he was a timague. This was his answer.

When asked if it was true that the son of Diguana, called Sapaz, [55] was with the natives of Jolo on the morning on which they attacked the Spanish quarters, and if Diguana knew of the attack, he said that he did not know; nor had he heard it said, because the witness was not in that affray, for he had gone away to fight at that time. This was his answer.

He was asked if it was true that the king of Xolo sent to Mindanao to seek help against the Spaniards. He said that it was, and that a chief of the aforesaid kingdom, called Diaga, went in a ship to seek it on behalf of the king; but that it was not known what reply he brought back. This was his answer.

He was asked if it was true that the Mindanao enemy was preparing a great fleet to come against the provinces of Pintados and against the Spaniards. The witness said that he had heard from other natives of the kingdom of Xolo that, as long as the Spaniards remained in the aforesaid kingdom, all the natives of Mindanao would go with a large fleet to Pintados, to plunder it. This was his answer.

He was asked other questions in regard to the matter, but he said that he did not know anything more than what he had already declared; and this he affirmed. He did not sign this paper, but the aforesaid Pedro Navarro signed it. He declared that he was more than fifty years old.

_Juan Juarez Gallinato Pedro Navarro_

Before me:

_Rafael de Sarria_, notary

_Official act_. In the port of Biara, which is on the mainland of Dapitan and Mindanao, on the thirty-first day of the month of May in the year one thousand six hundred and two. The purveyor-general, Juan Juarez Gallinato. Whereas Captain Benito Gomez Descobara y Esquivel captured on a little island (or rather on the sea-coast) an Indian, a native of Sanbuangan, who is supposed to be a spy; I command, in order to learn if he is one, and to ascertain about the enemy's fleet, that his confession be taken; and thus I order it and sign my name.

_Juan Juarez Gallinato_

By his command:

_Rafael de Sarria_, notary

_Deposition_. Thereupon, immediately, on the day, month, and year aforesaid, the said purveyor-general caused to appear before him the aforesaid Indian, in order to receive his confession, through Agustin de Sepulbeda--who swore in due form to fulfil the office of interpreter well and faithfully, and administered an oath to the Indian according to the latter's custom. He promised to tell the truth, and the following questions were asked of him. He was asked his name, where he lived, his occupation, his age, and whether he was slave or free; and he replied that his name was Panran, that he was a native of the town of Linpapa (which is near Rabos), that he was a slave of Sumanpie, chief of the said village of Linpapa, and that he was about twenty years old. This was his answer.

He was asked what ships had gathered and from what nations, and also where they were and for what purpose. He said that from Maluco there had come fifty vessels--Terrenatans, Sangils, and Togolandans [56]--which were brought by Buisan, who is master-of-camp to the one whom they call Captain Lant. The rest which are going from Mindanao consisted of forty large caracoas and twenty carangailes and bireyes, with one caracoa and two bireyes from Sanbuangan and Tagima. All these had agreed that, if the Spaniards were in Jolo, they should fall upon them; and that, if they were not there, they should go to plunder in Pintados, Cebu and Oton. This was his answer.

He was asked where it was said that they were to go. He said that those who were returning from Oton had agreed to pass through some little islands which are opposite Quipit; and that those going to Cebu were to go from Similon, which is opposite Dapitan; and that they were to return that way. This was his answer.

When he was asked how he knew this that he had said, he replied that it was generally known and reported among the chiefs of Sanbuangan and among the Lutaos.

He was asked what agreement Liguana had made with the chiefs of Tagima and Sanbuangan, and what he said to them against the Spaniards. He replied that the aforesaid Liguana had ordered the chiefs and the Lutaos to be assembled together, and in readiness, along with the Mindanaos, against the Spaniards. This was his answer.

He was asked how many days it would be before the fleet would set out for Pintados; and he replied that the fleet was ready in Mindanao, and that he had heard that it was to start shortly, within ten days, and that five of these had passed. This was his answer.

He was asked other questions in regard to the matter, and he replied that what he had said was the truth; and he affirmed this and ratified it. He did not sign this, but Agustin de Sepulbeda signed it.

_Juan Juarez Gallinato_ _Agustin de Sepulbeda_

Before me:

_Rafael de Sarria_, notary

_Official act_. On the sea, near Dapitan, on the fourth day of the month of June in the year one thousand six hundred and two. The captain and sargento-mayor, Juan Juarez Gallinato, purveyor-general and head of the provinces of Pintados for his Majesty. Whereas it has come to his notice that yesterday, Monday, the third of this month, Captain Garcia Gutierres Guerrero and Ensign Domingo Martir and Diego Mendez went in a caracoa to the river of Sioco to get water; and that, while they were doing so, there came to them an Indian, the chief of the said river, who told them that it was he who had given notice to the captains about the enemy's fleet, in order to warn the Spaniards: now therefore, in order to ascertain whether this is so or not, I command that the depositions of the aforesaid men be taken; and I order it, and sign my name.

_Juan Juarez Gallinato_

By his command:

_Rafael de Sarria_, notary

_Deposition._ Thereupon, on the day, month, and year aforesaid, the said purveyor-general caused to appear before him the said Captain Garcia Gutierrez Guerrero, in order to receive his deposition. He took oath in due form of law, and promised to tell the truth; and, when questioned in accordance with the above order, the witness declared that he had gone to the bank of the river of Sioco, where some Indians who pay tribute to him live; and that when he had arrived there the witness caused an arquebus to be fired, at the noise of which there came up an Indian, the chief of that river, called Tumarahoc. The said chief came to where the witness was, and told him that he had told the Indians of Dapitan--those who took fowls to the Jolo army for the commander--that they should warn the Spaniards that in the river of Mindanao a great fleet was being prepared, with many men, which they said was to go to Jolo and Pintados; and the aforesaid Indian likewise told the witness that he would be on the watch, and that he would warn the Dapitans if the fleet should set out, and where it was going; and he said that he would also tell the witness. This he declared to be the truth, under the oath which he had taken; and he affirmed and ratified it, and signed it, and declared that he was about forty years old.

_Garcia Guerrero_ _Juan Juarez Gallinato_

Before me:

_Rafael de Sarria_, notary

_Deposition_. Then, on the day, month, and year aforesaid, the said purveyor-general caused to appear before him Ensign Domingo Martin, in order to take his testimony. He took oath in due form of law, and promised to tell the truth. When questioned in accordance with the above order, the witness said that he went in company with Captain Guerrero to the bank of the river of Sioco to get water; and that when they arrived there they fired an arquebus-shot from the witness's caracoa, and that, after they had fired it, there came to the aforesaid bank an Indian, the chief of the river, who was a friend of the Spaniards and paid tribute to the aforesaid Captain Guerrero. When he reached the caracoa, he told the witness and Captain Guerrero that he had told the Dapitan Indians (who had gone to Jolo with fowls for the commander), that they should warn the Spaniards that a large number of ships were being gathered in the river of Mindanao; and that a very great number of men was to depart in them to go against the Spaniards in Jolo and to plunder Pintados. The said chief also said that he had told the said Indians that if they did not warn the said Spaniards he would have them beaten with sticks; and that he would be on the watch, and that he would warn the Dapitan chiefs and Captain Guerrero of what happened. This he declared to be the truth, under the oath which he had already taken; and he affirmed and ratified it, and signed it; and he said that he was about twenty-eight years old.

_Domingo Martin_ _Juan Juarez Gallinato_

Before me:

_Rafael de Sarria_, notary

These agree with the originals, which are in the possession of the purveyor-general, who signed here with his name; and it is exact and accurate. And to the fact that it was accurately copied, corrected, and made to agree, were witnesses: Ensign Juan Rodriguez de Santa, and the royal ensign Pedro Mendez de Sotomayor, and Francisco Hernandez. Done in Dapitan, on the fourth day of the month of June in the year one thousand six hundred and two.

_Juan Juarez Gallinato_

In testimony of which, I have affixed my name and the customary rubrics.

_Rafael de Sarria_, notary

Letters to Felipe III

Sire: