Chapter 7

For the unburdening of my conscience I will, now that my presidency is over, tell your Majesty incidentally what I think of the officers of this Audiencia, whose inspection is awaited; and if, as is desirable, your Majesty send it, that will tell you better. Don Alvaro de Lugo y Messa is an upright judge, and zealous in the service of your Majesty. Geronimo de Legaspi does what his two sons wish, whom, on account of their reckless lives, the governors cannot employ, and thus are unable to satisfy their father, who is not contented except with favors. Don Juan de Valderrama does as his wife says; and Don Matias Flores, although a young man, is less harmful; when he is so, it is owing to his passions or affections. He makes all the profit he can from the office, and on the whole is not acceptable to the community, which is always disturbed by him. I consider his office incompatible with that of protector; but, although your Majesty had issued a decree directing that this should not be, they annulled it. I do not wish to annoy your Majesty any further, for there are persons who will write this from a sense of duty; and I refer, for information regarding my earnest desires for the service of your Majesty, to what all classes of people will write. Since coming to serve you in these islands I have undergone so many expenses that I am poor and in debt as president. I beg your Majesty to remember me by giving me the favor of the presidency of Panama, or the future succession to it [_MS. holed_] realm or governorship of Guatemala, whichever may first be vacant; for I have not property enough remaining to go and claim it in your court.

I likewise requested your Majesty last year not to allow my wife, since she is such, and cannot remain here as a private citizen, to lose the encomiendas which she inherited from her father and grandfather, who served so long in these islands; and that you would command a decree to be despatched so that she might enjoy them wherever you might choose that she and her daughter should live, as the latter is the last heir; and this I beg, for the reasons which I have mentioned to your Majesty.

At the proper time, I despatched to Sian a private ship, in order to avoid the cost of carrying the troops, goods, and supplies which remain there by the death of Don Fernando de Silva. [21] Everything went well. I also sent a father of the Society, a man of great experience, to get under way the collection from all that comes from Yndia and other parts. Don Juan Niño will inform your Majesty of it. May our Lord protect your royal person according to the needs of Christendom. Manila, July 30, 626.

_Don Fernando de Silva_

[_On the back of this letter_: "The original descriptions of the island Hermosa and the relation concerning all those localities, are in the possession of Señor Don Andres de Rozas."]

LETTER FROM THE SISTERS OF ST. CLARE TO FELIPE IV

_Jesus, Mary_

May all empires and kingdoms be made subject to your royal Majesty. We were sent here by the great king, Don Felipe, our sovereign (may he rest in peace), by his royal decree and favor he ordering the governor and royal Audiencia to receive us under his royal protection as nuns of the first rule of St. Clare, [22] so that the daughters of the conquistadors who do not have the means for marriage may be aided; and [it was ordered] that, when the provincial of our order should be present they should make regulations according to our rule and profession--his royal Majesty ordering the above with the earnestness that is made evident in his decree. We have found in this kingdom so friendly a disposition and so great abundance of what is necessary (with which we are supplied in the city), that although at present we number only thirty-three sisters, seventy could be supported on the alms that are bestowed upon us every week in small contributions--besides those given in quantity by private persons and bequeathed to us in wills; and those from women who are admitted to the order, who have wealth for this purpose.

Our rule declares that we may not solicit the property of those who enter to become nuns, and we are not to be careful of aught else than their virtues; but that if any one of these wishes to give some alms of her own freewill, we may receive it, as from any other person. Consequently, having observed faithfully this rule--I mean, in not desiring or striving for any more than the said benefit (and we exercise great care in this)--our Lord moves hearts, so that one woman alone has given us fourteen thousand pesos. With that the work on the convent is progressing. Other women who are about to make profession say that they will give the same amount that they would give their husbands if they married; and that, since God is their spouse, they wish to give it to Him so that a convent capable of sustaining many nuns may be built, so that they may serve his Majesty. Some have as their dowry only the spiritual wealth that the rule requires. Consequently, there are liable to be many orphan girls who serve God, daughters and granddaughters of conquistadors, who are calling aloud, and they refuse to allow them to enter. It is a pity to see so pious desires disappointed. I petition your Majesty to send me a royal decree that no limit shall be set to the number of nuns that the convent may contain. The rule does not limit the number, nor does any other convent throughout all these kingdoms. The city is very rich, and food so cheap that fourteen libras of beef cost one real; another real buys eight libras of fish; six libras of sugar, one real; and fowls, salt pork, and all other things in the same proportion; of salt alone, they have given us, on this last arrival of the ships, three hundred and seventy baras [i.e., bahars]; also a goodly supply of wine for the mass; and linen, which is very cheap.

Consequently we, these least important vassals of your Majesty, do not need human aid, but the divine. That aid we have entreated from the royal favor, so that no restriction be laid on the nuns that the convent shall contain. It is a great pity to see how they hinder the souls who serve God in so great perfection as those women who are here, the natives of these kingdoms. I consider beyond any doubt that they will be most devoted servants of God, who works marvels in all those whom He shrives, and all set themselves to observe the warnings of the gospel. An infinite number of little girls and older orphans come weeping, with their widowed mothers, begging us for the love of God to give them the habit. Since the king, our sovereign, sent them so great a spiritual and temporal consolation, and since their parents gained it for them by conquering this country at the cost of their own lives, we all are so bounden. Beseeching our Lord to prosper your royal Majesty, spiritually and temporally, with infinite increase; and may He subject to the royal power of your royal Majesty all empires and kingdoms that He has created for the greater honor, glory, and increase of the faithful, and the exaltation of the holy Catholic faith. Manila, July 31. Given in this convent of La Concepcion of the discalced nuns of St. Clare, in the year 1626.

The most humble vassals of your royal and sacred Majesty,

_Jeronima de la Asunsion_, [23]

abbess, and her sisters,

_Ana de Christo Bicaria_ _Leonor [de] San Francisco_ _Leonor de Sant Buena Bentura_ _Lüysa de Jesús_ _Magdalena de Christo_ _Juana de San Antonio_ _Maria de los Angeles_ _Maria Magdalena_ _Ana de Jesus_ _Ana de Christo Bicaria_

PETITION FOR AID TO THE SEMINARY OF SAN JUAN DE LETRAN

Sire:

Brother Juan Gerónimo Guerrero, [24] who has charge of the seminary of Sant Juan de Letran for orphan boys in the city of Manila, declares that in consideration of the general welfare of the said children, and their education and teaching, your Majesty was pleased to order Don Fernando de Silva, governor of those islands, by your royal decree of July 16, 623, to aid the said seminary with some taxes, so that the boys in it might be reared and supported. But, as no taxes were found, the said royal decree has had no effect; and to this day not more than the small sum of three hundred pesos has been assigned to the seminary--an amount so small that it does not suffice to provide shoes for the boys who are now there. The number there is daily increasing, and the expenses incurred are very considerable and the alms but little. With what they have they cannot be supported. In order that so pious a work may continue, and so that those orphan boys may be suitably assisted with the necessaries of life, and not be ruined:

He petitions your Majesty that, favoring by your sovereign mercy a work so greatly to the service of our Lord, you will be pleased to order that some encomienda of Indians, or a pension from those that shall be allotted, may be set aside for the said seminary--or in any other manner which your Majesty pleases, and for the period that your royal will deems best. [I ask this] because from it will follow considerable profit for your royal service; for the boys reared there incline to become soldiers, and up to the present time forty of them have gone out to serve your Majesty in that employ, while five have become friars, and twelve are studying. And, in order that they may learn the art of navigation, will your Majesty be pleased to command an examined pilot to come to the said seminary to teach it to them. Will your Majesty also be pleased to order that, inasmuch as there are many children of Spaniards among the Indian women of these islands, conceived by the latter, these children may be taken from them and brought to be reared in the said seminary, so that they may not become idolaters like the Indian women, when they are grown. Our Lord will be served by that, and will receive especial blessing and favor.

[_Endorsed:_ "The seminary of Sant Juan de Letran for orphan boys in the city of Manila."]

[_Instructions:_ "Señor Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras: Let a decree be issued for them that, in the same manner as the other three hundred pesos, I set aside for them, from the taxes that I shall possess there, the further sum of three hundred ducados. As for the other things that he requests, refer them to the governor, so that he may take what measures are advisable in everything, in order that the service of God our Lord and of his Majesty may be attended to. November 18."]

[_In the margin_: "In regard to what is asked in this section, his Majesty issued a decree, that the governor of Philipinas shall assign the said seminary three hundred ducados in taxes that do not belong to the treasury, as another three hundred pesos were assigned. All the other things requested are referred to the governor, so that he may provide everything advisable, in order that they may attend to the service of God and that of his Majesty."]

Sire:

Since the beginning of the so firm foundation of this seminary of San Juan de Letran, I have made known to your Majesty by faithful relations the great fruit obtained for God our Lord and for the service of your Majesty, in protecting and sheltering in the seminary so many orphan boys, the sons of old Spanish soldiers, who [without it] would evidently be ruined for lack of instruction and good morals. So good results have been achieved in this, as experience has shown by those who have left this seminary--forty for the service of your Majesty, to serve as soldiers, six others as religious, and six who serve in this cathedral church as acolytes. There are now in the seminary more than fifty boys. Your Majesty, having examined the despatches, was pleased to send me a royal decree, ordering the governors of these islands to protect and favor this seminary with incomes. In these islands revenues are so few, that Governor Don Fernando de Silva assigned three hundred pesos in chattels--namely, certain small shops, which are suppressed today and opened to-morrow. In order that this enterprise may go on increasing for the service of God and of your Majesty, will you order that an encomienda be given to us. With it and my feeble efforts we could support ourselves, and so great a work as this is would not fail.

I beseech your Majesty, for the love of God, that when my life is over, [the Confraternity of] La Misericordia may take charge of the seminary, with the brothers of the third order; and that a boy who has been very long in this college may remain to shelter them, so that this work, that is so acceptable to God our Lord, may continue to increase and not to diminish. May God preserve your Majesty for many years, as Christendom desires and as is necessary. Manila, August first, one thousand six hundred and twenty-six.

Your Majesty's humble vassal,

_Brother Juan Geronimo Guerrero_

[_Instructions:_ "Let the governor be again charged to observe what has been ordered him. May 11, 628."]

ROYAL DECREES

_Ordering the correction of abuses by the Augustinians_

The King. To Don Juan Niño de Tavora, member of my Council of War, my governor and captain-general of the Philipinas Islands, and president of the royal Audiencia therein: In a letter written to me by Don Fernando de Silva, in whose charge that government was _ad interim_, dated August four of the past year one thousand six hundred and twenty-five, he declares that there is not so great need anywhere else as in those islands for the governors to have authority to remove or promote religious teachers because of their unbridled or steady lives; and that the religious have come to lose respect, by their deeds, for the alcaldes-mayor, and pay no attention to the royal jurisdiction and patronage--especially the Augustinians who are more extravagant than the others. They are entirely masters of the wills of the Indians, and give out that in them consists the quietness or disobedience of the Indians. Inasmuch as the alcalde-mayor of Bayaban tried to moderate the excesses that were being committed, the religious entered his house, attacked him, and beat him. Another alcalde-mayor, who resides in Bulacan, having arrested two Indian seamen of my royal fleet so that they should go to serve in their places, the religious there took them from him; and every day more dangerous incidents are occurring, in which they need some intervention. It would therefore be advisable to send them the decree that was issued in the former year of six hundred and twenty-four for Nueva España, ordering that the heads of the religious, especially he of St. Augustine, order the religious to restrain themselves. Notwithstanding that the said decree has been sent already to those islands, and now goes in duplicate, I order you to summon the provincial of the Augustinians and tell him that it is greatly advisable to punish that religious; and that he shall accordingly do so. You are hereby advised that under no consideration shall a mission be granted to those religious who shall be guilty of such offenses, and you shall advise me of what you shall do. Madrid, June nineteen, one thousand six hundred and twenty-six.

_I The King_

Countersigned by Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras, and signed by the members of the Council.

[_Endorsed:_ "To the governor of Philipinas, ordering him to summon the provincial of the Augustinians, and command him to punish a certain religious, a missionary, for the excess of which he has been guilty; and that he see that those religious who should be guilty be not admitted to a mission."]

_Concerning the courts of the alcaldes-in-ordinary_

The King: To the president and auditors of my Audiencia of the city of Manila in the Filipinas Islands. Martin Castaño, procurator-general of the islands, has made me a report, stating that the auctions of what is sold and leased from my royal estate, at which one auditor and the fiscal of that Audiencia are present, are held by the royal officials in the cabildo houses of the said city, where the alcaldes-in-ordinary hold their court to administer justice; and that, although the hall where the aforesaid officials hold the said auctions is distinct and separate from that of the alcaldes, you have now lately ordered that, when the said auctions are to be held, if the said alcaldes should be present in the said hall, they suspend court, although it is necessary for them to conduct their hearings at the accustomed hours. He has petitioned me that, since the court of the said alcaldes does not disturb or hinder the auctions, but rather is the cause of more people resorting thither, I be pleased to order you not to make any innovation in the aforesaid practice. The matter having been examined in my royal Council of the Indias, I have considered it expedient, and accordingly I order you, to allow the said alcaldes-in-ordinary to call their courts in the said cabildo houses where they hold their court, at the usual hours, even though the said auctions happen to be held even at the same time. Madrid, June 19, 1626.

_I The King_ By order of the king our sovereign: _Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras_

_Regarding the hospitals_

The King. To Don Juan Niño de Tabora, knight of the habit of Calatrava, member of my Council of War, my governor and captain-general of the Philipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia therein: In a letter written to me by that city on August 13, of the former year 1624, it mentions that in the hospitals there the sick endure great hardships, and that the hospitals are not administered with the care that is advisable, which causes many to die (and those chiefly soldiers); and that it would be very advisable for the brothers of [St.] John of God to take charge of their administration and service. Having been examined by my Council of the Indias, I order you, as it is a pious matter and one suitable for your office, on your part to have all care so that the poor have the best accommodation possible, and be aided, as I expect from you; for besides fulfilling your obligations in this you will serve me. Madrid, October 16, 1626.

_I The King_ By order of the king our sovereign: _Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras_

MILITARY AFFAIRS OF THE ISLANDS

_Most authentic relation, in which is narrated the present condition of the wars against the Dutch in the Filipinas and the kingdoms of Japon; and the famous deeds of Don Fernando de Silva, sargento-mayor, together with the great victories of the Spaniards, who destroyed four hundred Dutchmen. The year 1626_.

I shall relate what things are new in these remote districts. I shall give a brief narrative both of the island of Mindanao, whose conquest is being made at present, and of Don Fernando de Silva, captain and commander of the soldiers, who went to China. The island of Mindanao is one of the largest that are seen in this archipelago. It has quantities of cinnamon, and is very rich, through the trade that they carry on with all the nations and with these islands. Its natives are given over to the vile worship of Mahoma to a degree not reached by the Moors [i.e., those of Spain] themselves. That worship holds them so tightly in its abominations that it rears them with extreme hatred toward Christians, both Spaniards and Indians. The disposition of the people is vile but bold, and they are given to insults and robbery. They make raids through the islands that are instructed by the Society of Jesus, plundering, robbing, and capturing many. But having recognized the valor of the Spaniards on various occasions when the latter have scattered and destroyed their fleets of small vessels, they recently made treaties of peace, and sent ambassadors to Manila to the governor with captives and presents--requesting an alliance, and soldiers, in order that these make a settlement in their lands, and aid them against others who are their enemies, inhabitants of the same island, with whom they wage civil war. They were well received by the governor, and given a valiant captain with five hundred soldiers; and the father provincial of the Society of Jesus gave two fathers from his residence, to instruct them. All assembled at the town of Arevalo, where the chief commandant of these provinces lives, one Juan Claudio de Verastigui, who was ordered to set out immediately for Mindanao with his fleet, whither he himself is going in person with his ships. The alcalde-mayor of this city [25] is going to aid with fifty other soldiers for the said purpose. A good result is hoped from it, and that either by friendship of by force they will get a piece of artillery and some ammunition from the Mindanaos that they took one year ago from the governor. The latter ordered Don Juan Claudio not to return without it.

The occasion for that piece belonging to his Majesty remaining in Mindanao was that Cachil Coralat, the natural lord of Mindanao, seeing himself pressed by a tyrant in his kingdom, and seeing himself conquered in a battle that they fought with him, hastened to this city of Zebu to ask the Spaniards for help, sending one of his captains for it. The latter was well entertained, and the piece was given to him among other presents, twelve Spaniards and some ammunition being also furnished with it. After the twelve Spaniards had been there for some time, they were withdrawn, some say through fault of the Mindanaos, and others that of the Spaniards. Consequently, as they left in haste, the piece of artillery remained in Coralat's possession. At this time, the Mindanaos from Manila having reached Octong, the piece was requested from them in his Majesty's name, or satisfaction for it. The Spaniards took from them some gold and equivalent articles in exchange, and tried to capture some of them by means of an alferez, adjutant, and soldiers. The Mindanaos, however, put themselves on the defensive so courageously, and with so great wrath (or rather barbarity), that their chief, one Salin--in the midst of the Spanish force and arms, and in front of a fort that his Majesty has there--drawing a dagger, plunged it into the adjutant through his groin and left him stretched out. The officer next to the alferez--who was a fine soldier, and, like the other, was on the inner guard in the Sangley ship on which they had come--defended himself as well as he could, but was finally killed by a stroke of a campilan (a Mindanao weapon); and they took away his sword and dagger. Seeing our soldiers, who were in their guardship unprepared, the Mindanaos threw them overboard, and, cutting the cable, made off with the ship. However, when that was seen by our men, they quickly prepared boats and pursued them with a goodly number of soldiers and killed them with arquebus-shots. Salin, wounded in the breast, fell into the water, but did not loose his hold on his campilan. There, while struggling with the waves, he saw a Spaniard who had fallen overboard in the fray, hanging on to a rope from a pirogue, who, as he could not swim, was being carried along, thus held fast. Salin made for him, and, wounded as he was, gave him in his fury so severe a blow with his campilan that he split the Spaniard's head, from which blow he died. Of the Spaniards, three men were killed; and, of the Mindanaos, three were wounded and six killed, besides two wounded who were taken prisoners.