Chapter 20

Don Pedro de Acuña, [57] to whom your Majesty granted the favor of sending him to govern this land, arrived here with a very considerable reenforcement of troops. This and his arrival are so important and timely that I think there must follow many results beneficial to the service of God and of your Majesty, as also the correction of important matters--which have greatly needed it, as I have informed your Majesty at greater length in a report and letter that treats of this matter, and of the great and urgent necessity for your Majesty to command that the town and fort of Maluco be occupied as promptly as possible. From this will result the greatest advantages, and great danger to this land will be averted; and thus may be repaired the many losses and destructive raids which this country may suffer, which may result from the inroad of those demons of English and Dutch heretics, with their intentions and desires. We should have aid, and means of communication, and strongholds in these regions, and especially in this one of Maluco, which is the most important, dangerous, and near to these islands, and whose people are unfriendly. Our enemies, the Xoloan and Mindanaos, avail themselves of it, and are succored therefrom, and with this aid have inflicted many damages, which they will continue to do, if they are not checked. Great cost and expense must be incurred in these islands, merely to preserve and defend them; and there are great hindrances and difficulties in the way of their growth. By gaining this fort the door is closed to notable evils and troubles, and benefits of the utmost importance, both spiritual and temporal, through which God our Lord and your Majesty will be well served, the Christian faith and the extension of the gospel will be assured and increased in these regions; and the crown and royal possessions of your Majesty, and the reputation of España, well maintained and accredited, as is not the case now. Other important undertakings and expeditions which may hereafter be made will be facilitated; for that place is the capital, and has most reputation; and it rules as subjects and tributaries many surrounding peoples, who may be easily reduced after the conquest of this stronghold, and after those who so greatly fear and respect us have been vanquished and chastised. Moreover, expenses for supplies and garrisons which must be maintained, and which are necessary until this is accomplished, will be saved; and a large amount of property and income will be left for other expenses and affairs in the service of your Majesty. In short, until this is once for all assured and established, a certain amount of damage must be expected, and will inevitably result; and it is very evident that for the aforesaid reasons it is necessary sooner or later to undertake this expedition for the preservation and security of these regions. It is also better not to postpone it, and not to wait until that place has greater fortification, strength, and defense, thereby rendering its conquest more difficult and costly. I conclude, Sire, by saying that as God and your Majesty have sent Don Pedro de Acuña to this government, and he has inclination and desire for military service, and for the faithful fulfilling his performance of what pertains to his office and to the service of your Majesty, (as has been observed), and besides has experience and the qualifications suitable and necessary for this undertaking, may your Majesty not defer it, or wait for another governor to perform this most important service. The opportunity of having a person so well fitted for such a contingency (which is by no means unimportant) is not to be lost. To say this and what else pertains to this matter, Sire, I am constrained only by the duty which I owe to the service of God and His church, and to your Majesty and your crown, and to the general welfare of these most important regions. If this were not so, nothing in this matter would concern or could influence me; for it has cost me most dear and was so disastrous to me that I lost by it my father and a great amount of property, and met other losses to which I shall not refer. For this reason, I desired to prosecute this expedition after the death of my father; but I could not do so, on account of the great fear and dread of hostile Chinese and Japanese. As a man, Sire, I can but desire the accomplishment of that thing which my father and I had tried to achieve and had almost succeeded in doing. But may our Lord not permit that this or any other enterprise should be abandoned, for lack of desire and effort to secure a result so desirable for the said objects; and may it come through the hand and means which God shall choose, and by which He shall be served. May His Divine Majesty guard your Majesty as He can, and as we all desire and need. At Manila, June 8, in the year 1602.

_Luis Perez Dasmariñas_

[_Endorsed_: "April 27, 1604. To the Conde de Lemos. Suitable provision has already been made; at Valladolid, [58] May 14, 1605."]

Sire:

As I was in doubt whether the letter which I wrote last year regarding the matter in this was received by your Majesty, I give an account of the same matter in this letter.

Toward the close of the previous year, 1600, there entered into these islands, by way of the Strait of Magallanes, Oliver de Nort, a Hollander, with two ships of war belonging to Count Mauriçio. He took prizes and caused damage, until he established himself at the mouth of the bay of this city, intending to await the merchant ships from China, and the galleon "Santo Thomas" from Nueva España, with the silver for two years belonging to the business men of this kingdom.

As military affairs were at that time little cared for in these islands, and there was no sort of preparation, the royal Audiencia of your Majesty, at the petition of the president, Don Francisco Tello, was obliged to take measures to provide aid in so urgent a necessity, with all possible haste and efficiency. For this end I was commissioned to go immediately to the port of Cabite, and place and keep it in a state of defense; and to arm several ships, with which to meet the pirate and divert him from his intention. Accordingly, I did so to the best of my ability, and put two ships of moderate size in readiness in a short time, there being no others.

The president ordered me again in your Majesty's name, and in writing--as he considered that by no other authority, in view of the state of affairs, could the expedition be made--to go out with this fleet in my charge, against the enemy, and fight until I should destroy him. In compliance with this I sought him, and encountered him outside the bay of this city. We engaged the enemy in a long and obstinate battle, which occurred between the two fleets on December 14. The outcome is related in the certified account by the president and governor, which accompanies this, by which your Majesty will be informed of the punishment which was inflicted upon this enemy, and how our aim was attained as we had wished, and likewise of the dangers and hardships which I encountered and underwent on this occasion. In this I should be content if I had, for my only reward, succeeded in serving your Majesty; for this aim alone drew me from my home at so much danger to my honor, life, and children.

I humbly beg your Majesty to be pleased to pardon whatever fault there may have been, in consideration of my good intention and desire to obey, and to succeed in what I was commanded to do. God protect the Catholic person of your Majesty. At Manila, June 30, 1602.

_Doctor Antonio de Morga_

Sire:

Although the obligation to advise your Majesty of the state of this your province, of the Order of our father St. Augustine, is always binding, yet for many new reasons it is especially binding this year; for at the recent meeting cf the chapter here, by acclamation, and without voting, father Fray Pedro Arze (concerning whom your Majesty must already have a report), was elected provincial, with the consent of all. From this we hope that, with the favor of God and your Majesty, he will be successful in his government, since its commencement is so propitious. The letter and mandate which your Majesty sent last year serves him as a guide for the correction of what stands in need of remedy, and the severity necessary to prevent disobedience; accordingly, the province is enjoying the greatest peace and quiet that it has ever had. In the meantime there came this year Fray Pedro Sossa, with a commission as visitor, sent by Fray Christoval de la Cruz from Nueva España, in virtue of several messages which he bears from the father-general, Alejandro Genense. We did not receive him, not because we did not desire a visitation--which, on the contrary, we do desire, and humbly seek from your Majesty, for the justification of this province--but because he did not come by order of your Majesty, and for other reasons which the Audiencia of these islands examined; and because some other and further messages which he bore from the father vicar-general Fulvio relating to us appeared suspicious. In what concerns this matter, we refer your Majesty to the said Audiencia, which, we believe, will advise your Majesty with due fidelity. Your Majesty has therein two very faithful vassals and servants, namely, Doctor Antonio de Morga and the licentiate Tellez Almazan--both the fathers of children, excellent judges, poor, and deserving of whatever favor your Majesty may extend to them; and especially of being removed from this country, which is poor and of scant resources, and where they cannot provide for the fortunes of their children. In this way we consider that your Majesty would do a great service to God.

The bearer of this is the father definitor, Fray Diego Cerravi, [59] who came to these regions from Castilla about eight years ago, and has served your Majesty and the order here very advantageously. He is a learned and virtuous religious, who speaks the truth; accordingly your Majesty may credit what he says. He is a man of so many good qualities that, to tell your Majesty in a word, he leaves us at his departure lonely, sad, and disconsolate at losing him--although we are consoled by our confidence in the favor and grace which your Majesty will show this province and to him in its name, by ordering that aid be given to him in the business which he has in his charge; and especially that he may bring us friars from the province of Castilla, who are here much approved for their virtue and learning. And we are confident that your Majesty will favor us in all matters as our protector, patron, and only defender; we trust no less that our Lord will protect for us the royal person of your Majesty, according to the needs of your kingdoms and seigniories, and of us, your ministers and chaplains. We beseech, etc. From this your Majesty's convent of the Order of our father Saint Augustine. In the city of Manila, on the fourth of July in the year one thousand six hundred and two.

_Fray Pedro Arce_, provincial _Fray Agustin de Tapia_, definitor _Fray Bernave de Villalovos_, definitor _Fray Diego Cerrabe_, definitor _Fray Pedro de Salzedo_, definitor

[_Endorsed with the following order_: "Join this with the letter from the Audiencia, and bring them in on January 28, 1604."]

Sire:

Since the last year, 601, an account has been given to your Majesty of the expedition which I conducted at the close of the previous year, 1600, by order of the governor and president, Don Francisco de Tello, against Olibert de Norte, a corsair from Holland who entered among these islands, taking prizes with two ships of war; and of the outcome of the expedition, by which the said corsair was punished and harassed.

Francisco de las Missas, factor and overseer of your Majesty's exchequer in these islands, whom I inspected a short time ago ... [under a] [60] special commission from your Majesty, and passed sentence upon him ... penalties and restitutions as will appear by the report of the inspection which I have sent to your ... [Majesty] by three routes. He has been so hostile ... that he displays his jealousy of me in all matters [in so far as] he can. Accordingly, on account of this--as well as to cover his fault at the time of the despatch of the fleet which I took, by sending me unsupplied with sailors and other things necessary, which it was his duty to furnish--among other measures which he has taken since the past year, one has been under color and appearance of proceeding from the licentiate Salazar de Salzedo, fiscal of this Audiencia (whom, for private reasons, he holds quite in his power). The said factor induced the fiscal, in the affair of his investigation, to draw up a secret information with suborned witnesses--sailors and others, who are at his call--by which it is intimated that he furnished me well, and that the commander's ship was lost through my fault, imputing to me by the statements of these men other and illegal actions, in order to disparage my faithful service; by this may be seen the malice and passion of those concerned in this affair. That document was sent to your Majesty and the ministers before whom this matter is considered.

In like manner Captain Joan de Alcega (his intimate friend, and likewise a partisan of the said fiscal and factor), whom I took as admiral, in order to cover up his own guilt--for which he was arrested by the president and governor, and is being proceeded against officially because, at the beginning of the fight, he left the commander's ship unsustained, contrary to the order which he had from me in writing; and on account of other illegal acts, and because he took a part of the benefits of the success which resulted--he also, driven by the same heat of passion, has taken secret measures and procured documents with which to inform your Majesty in a sinister way to my prejudice.

Since it is just that in all matters your Majesty should be informed of the truth, I send certain documents which are not drawn in secret, nor cunningly, nor maliciously, whereby the truth will appear--especially the information which was drawn by the alcalde-mayor of the province of Valayan (on whose coast and in whose district the ship was lost), the very next day, and obtained from the men who were saved from the wreck. By this may be seen what passed in this region, and the guilt of the said factor, and that of the admiral, as has been pointed out.

Beside this, in the ships which leave here this year goes a religious of the Order of St. Augustine, Fray Francisco de Valdes by name, who was sent, in company with Fray Diego de Cerrabi, by his order to the court of your Majesty on the business of the order. This religious can inform your Majesty of all which occurred on the said expedition, as his order sent him on it to confess and administer the sacraments; and he was present during the fight on the commander's ship, and saved himself by swimming. As a trustworthy and disinterested person, he will tell the truth, without being influenced by personal considerations.

I humbly beg your Majesty that, with this understanding, your Majesty may be pleased to command that opportunity be not given for distortion of facts in such a way, by persons so jealous and so suspicious, who are moved alone by anger and passion to avenge themselves and procure satisfaction from the ministers who, for the service of your Majesty, have administered (as they still do) justice in your behalf; and that you will command that the illegality which appears to have been committed in this be punished, as is most fitting for the service of your Majesty. God protect the Catholic person of your Majesty. Manila, July 8, 1602.

_Doctor Antonio de Morga_

Sire:

I, the licentiate Gerónimo de Salazar y Salcedo, your fiscal in the royal Chancilleria of the Philipinas Islands, say that on the sixteenth of January of the year one thousand six hundred your Majesty was pleased to command that a royal commission be given to Don Pedro de Acuña, governor and captain-general of these islands, empowering him, when he should reach them, to cause the royal officials to give him a report of what they have collected from Don Francisco Tello, his predecessor, toward the sixteen millions [of maravedis?] which were still due from the balance which was incurred by him at the time when he was treasurer of the Sevilla House of Trade; and also to cause that whatever remained to be paid should be collected from the said Don Francisco Tello and from his property.

In the course of the execution of this commission by the said Don Pedro de Acuña, the royal officials certified that the said Don Francisco Tello had paid them twenty-seven thousand two hundred pesos of common gold, which should be twenty-eight thousand one hundred and eighty-four pesos, according to your command by a royal decree dated in San Lorenco, on the thirteenth of September in the year one thousand five hundred and ninety-five. The said officials decided that the eight thousand pesos which were lost in the year one thousand six hundred in the ship "Santa Margarita" should be for your Majesty's account--because, since the debt was contracted in the Sevilla House of Trade, the payment should be there; and the said Don Francisco Tello must run the risk as far as that. They also decided that what was ordered in the aforesaid royal decree of the thirteenth of September, ninety-five, was that each year three thousand ducados should be deducted from the salary of Don Francisco Tello, which were to be sent each year; and, as he failed to pay in the years ninety-six, ninety-seven, and ninety-eight, for the rest of the time it came about that eight thousand pesos were sent each year. It was thus that the aforesaid eight thousand pesos were lost which were going in the said ship "Santa Margarita;" whereas, if the aforesaid royal decree had been followed and three thousand ducados sent, no more than that sum would have been lost.

The governor gave me authority to follow up the matter, and I asked from him an order of execution for the whole sum, with the assurance that I would receive on account whatever seemed lawfully to have been paid; it was given to me on the person and goods of the aforesaid Don Francisco Tello, but property was not found to the value of four hundred pesos. He opposed the execution, saying that he had paid in Sevilla with the income of his family estate, together with what he had paid here, all the balance that was due. I replied to this that this did not appear, from the aforesaid royal decree of January, one thousand six hundred, and that a forced sale would have to be made for the amount that was therein ordered--not taking account of the payments that had been made here until they should arrive at Sevilla, as the official judges of these islands have decided--and that what was lost must be at the risk of the said Don Francisco Tello.

This was proper, since at the time when the said royal officials gave the said money to the masters of the ships to be delivered to the treasury of Mexico, the aforesaid Don Francisco Tello, by the authority of his position, gave orders that the said masters should give him the money; and he invested it in merchandise, which, if it had arrived in Mexico, would have gained a great deal. It was right that, since he was to have the profit, he should bear what risk there was--which was greater than if he had allowed the royal officials to send the money as it suited them. Since each year a great quantity of money is sent from the treasury of Mexico to the one here, they would have given orders that, instead of sending the money from here, it should be deducted from what was to be sent from Mexico, in order that that quantity might be sent to Sevilla. In this way the risk of going and coming would have been avoided; and, even if there had not been any opportunity for this, they might have sent the said money in gold--which is a less risk, because it is of less bulk and weight than reals--and thirty per cent would have been gained in Mexico.

Both sides brought evidence, but that for the opposition was of no importance; so the governor gave judgment according to the opinion of the licentiate Luis Ortis de Padilla, reporter of the aforesaid royal Chancilleria, ordering that his property be sold to the highest bidder, in order to recover the amount for which the execution had been granted--deducting from it all which the royal officials certify to have been paid here, and also, eight thousand pesos for what he says he has paid in Sevilla. I consented to the judgment as far as concerned what was favorable, and I appealed from what was in opposition, to what I had asked to have received as evidence. The opposing side has denied this, and made a declaration of nullity against the aforesaid royal decree of the year six hundred, saying that, according to it, it was ordered that the accountants of the royal Council of the Indias should make a record of this matter, which they did not do; so that everything that was done by its authority is void. Thus the suit remains in this position.

Seeing that I did not find any property of the said Don Francisco Tello with which to fulfil the aforesaid commission, and hearing that he had some property which he kept secret, I asked for and received letters of excommunication and censure against those who might know of property belonging to the said Don Francisco Tello, in order that they should make it known. They opposed this, and tried to delay it as much as possible; but nevertheless it was ordered that the three letters should be given. They appealed from this, and menaced me with the aid of fuerza [61]--with the result that until the sixth of this month the last letter could not be read, so that the examination of the depositions that were taken has been delayed. According to them, it appears that he has no property of any account in these islands, but that what he has is in Nueva España; and whatever I have been able to hear of I give notice to the viceroy of that country to attach, because the ships are about to sail, and the governor is in Cavite, and I cannot get a warrant for it. God keep the Catholic person of your Majesty, according to His power. From Manila, on the tenth of July of the year 1602.

The licentiate _Hieronimo de Salazar y Salzedo_

[_Endorsed_: "Examined on the second of July, 1604. Let it be put with another from the royal officials of Philipinas, of July 18, 1603."]

Bibliographical Data

All documents in this volume save two are obtained from the original MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla; and their pressmarks therein are indicated as follows:

1. _Ordinances of the Audiencia_ (concluded).--See _Vol_. X, No. 15.

2. _Hospital for Indians._--"Simancas-Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; cartas y expedientes de personas seculares, vistos en el Consejo; años 1595 á 1606; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 35."

3. _Letters from the fiscal, 1599._--"Simancas-Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; cartas y espedientes del presidente y oidores de dicha audiencia vistos en el Consejo; años de 1583 á 1600; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 18."

4. _Letter from king of Borneo._--The same as No. 3, save that the dates read, "1583 á 1599."

5. _Letters from Telia._--"Simancas-Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; cartas y expedientes del gobernador de Filipinas vistos en el Consejo; años de 1567 á 1599; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 6."

6. _Letters from Felipe III._--The first one: "Simancas-Filipinas; cartas y espedientes del presidente y oidores de dha Audiencia vistos en el Consejo; años de 1600 á [1606]; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 19." (The second: in "Cedulario Indico" of Archivo Historico Nacional, Madrid, "Tomo 38, fº. 131.6, nº. 101.")

7. _Pacification of Mindanao._--The same as No. 6, first part.