The Philippine Islands, 1493 1898: Volume XVII, 1609 1616 by Various

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[59] A truce of eight months, to begin with May, 1607, was arranged
between Spain and the United Provinces, in which for the first
time Spain gave up its claims to control the latter. This paved
the way to the long truce of twelve years signed at the meeting of
the States-General at Bergen-op-Zoom, in April, 1609, in which the
independence of the United Provinces was recognized (see _Vol_. XI,
p. 166, note 27). But that independence was completely recognized
and assured only by the treaty of Westphalia or Muenster (in October,
1648), which also opened to the Dutch the ports of the Eastern and
Western Indias.

[60] Thus in the text, according to the editor of _Docs. ineditos_;
apparently an error for Manila.

[61] That is, if the Philippine trade to Nueva Espana were suppressed
the commodities from Spain which are now shipped to Manila via
Acapulco, and are mainly articles of luxury, would not find any
greater sale in the Orient than before.

[62] In 1525 Esteban Gomez--who had been one of Magalhaes's pilots
(_Vol_. 1, pp. 263, 319) was sent by Charles V "to find a route to
Cathay" north of Florida. He had but one caravel with which to make
this voyage, but he went to the Bacalaos (New-foundland coast),
and thence as far south as Florida. His discoveries were noted on
the map of the cosmographer Diego Ribero (1529). Gomez's voyage is
described by Peter Martyr.

[63] Referring to the treaty of Zaragoza (_Vol_. II, pp. 222-240).

[64] Montesclaros has forgotten the capture of the "Santa Ana" by
Candish. See _Vol_. VI, p. 311, and _Vol_. XV, appendix A.

[65] The fictitious strait of Anian (for which name see Bancroft's
_History of Northwest Coast_, i, pp. 53-56), was the supposed
western terminus of the northwest passage, whose eastern terminus
Cortereal was thought to have found in Hudson Strait. A kingdom
marked Anian is shown On Ortelius's map (_Theatrum orbis terrarum_,
Antwerp, 1574), with the strait just north of it, above 60 deg.. Both the
kingdom and district are shown on a number of old maps. Du Val's map
(Paris, 1684) of North America, which shows California as an island,
portrays the strait of Anian directly north of it, between 45 deg. and
50 deg. of latitude. Vaugondy's map (that of 1750 corrected), Paris,
1783, shows the strait between 50 deg. and 55 deg.. Comparing the latter with
Russel's general map of North America, 1794, the Anian strait appears
to coincide with the strait between Queen Charlotte's Island and the
mainland, the modern Hecate Strait. Vizcaino had orders to look for
this strait on his voyage, and explore it.

[66] Puertobelo, now called Porto Bello, is situated on the isthmus
of Panama, almost directly north of Panama--in the old department of
Panama of the United States of Colombia; but now (as the other places
herein named) in the independent state of Panama--and but little west
of Aspinwall, the Atlantic terminus of the Panama Canal. Chagre is
the modern Chagres, and lies on the Atlantic side of the isthmus
southwest of Porto Bello; there empties the Chagres River, which
can be ascended to Cruces, which is twenty miles north of Panama,
the Pacific terminus of the canal, capital of the old department of
Panama, and of the present state of Panama.

[67] Diego de Soria entered the Dominican order at Ocana. He came to
the Philippines in the first mission of that order (1587), end held
various dignities and official positions in the province; he also
did missionary work in Cagayan and other regions of Luzon. About
1597 he went to Spain and Rome on business of his order; and later
was appointed bishop of Nueva Segovia, taking possession of that
see in 1604. He died in 1613, at Fernandina (now Vigan). See _Resena
biografica_, i, pp. 69-77.

[68] The reduction of silver ore by amalgamation with mercury was
discovered (although mercury had been used long before for obtaining
gold) by a Spanish miner in Mexico, Bartholome de Medina, in 1557. From
that time, enormous quantities of mercury have been continually
required for the mining operations in the silver-producing districts
of Spanish America. Efforts were occasionally made by the Mexican
viceroys to procure it in China; but "the Chinese mercury obtained
from Canton and Manilla was impure, and contained a great deal of
lead; and its price [1782] amounted to 80 piastres the quintal." See
Humboldt's account, descriptive and historical, of this use of mercury,
in his _New Spain_ (Black's trans.), iii, pp. 250-288.

In this connection, see the interesting statement by Santiago de Vera
(_Vol_. VI, p. 68) that as early as 1585 the Japanese (who then had but
little communication with the Spaniards) were using Chinese quicksilver
in the silver mines of Japan. Some of the Chinese mercury had been
brought to Manila in 1573 (_Vol_. III, p. 245), and Sande mentions
(_Vol_. IV. p. 54) the mines of silver and quicksilver in China.

[69] This document is simply an abridgment or summary made by Ventura
del Arco from the letter of Ledesma.

[70] Cf. this statement with the royal decree of May 26, 1609, which
is presented in this volume, p. 79, _ante_.

[71] Valerio de Ledesma was born at Alaejos. March 23, 1556, and
became a novitiate in the Jesuit order in 1571-1572. He was sent
to the Philippines, where he served as rector of Cebu, associate of
the provincial, rector of Manila, provincial, rector and master of
novitiates at San Pedro Macati, and again rector at Manila, where he
died, May 15, 1639. See Sommervogel, Barrantes (_Guerros piraticas_),
and Pardo de Tavera (_Biblioteca Filipina_, Washington, 1903) as
to his authorship. See also Murillo Velarde's _Historia_ (Manila,
1749), book ii, ch. vii, pp. 260-266, for a notice regarding him. In
the Ventura del Arco MSS., at the end of this summary of Ledesma's
letter appears a tracing of his autograph signature.

[72] According to Sommervogel, Juan de Ribera was born at Puebla
de los Angeles in 1565, and entered upon his novitiate at Rome in
1582. He was sent to the Philippines in 1595, and taught theology
and was rector at Manila, where he died June 5, 1622. Besides the
present letter, Father Ribera was the author of the _Lettera annua_
from the Philippines for 1602-1603, which was printed at Venice and
Paris, in Italian and French respectively, in 1605.

[73] In regard to the correction of Manila time, see _Vol_. I, p. 22,
note 2.

[74] That is, "the Great Mogul," meaning "the ruler of Mogor," a name
applied to Hindostan. The monarch here referred to is Jahangir (or
Jehanghir), the tenth of the Mogul emperors, who in 1605 succeeded to
the throne by the death of his father, Akbar the Great. See account
of his power and wealth, by Pyrard de Laval (publications of Hakluyt
Society, London, 1888-90) ii, pp. 250-253; also _The Hawkins' Voyages_
and _Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe_ (published by the same society in 1878
and 1899, respectively). Roe and William Hawkins successively resided
at Jahangir's court between 1610 and 1620. An interesting sketch of
Jahangir's life is given by Valentyn in his _Oud en Nieuw Oost-Indien_
(Dordrecht and Amsterdam, MDCCXXIV), part iv, sec. ii, pp. 218-230;
it is part of a series of the sketches, "Lives of the Great Moguls."

[75] According to Montero y Vidal (_Hist. Filipinas_, i, p. 161)
this expedition was under the orders of Alonso Vaez Coutino.

[76] A small piece of ordnance; or, a long musket or matchlock.

[77] The plan of Malaca in Bellin's _Atlas maritime_ (Paris, 1764),
iii, 46, indicates this church, stating that it was then a magazine
within the fort. Other public buildings are located--the Chinese
pagoda and bazar, the Mahometan mosque, etc. See Valentyn's account,
descriptive and historical, of "Malakka," in his _Oud en Nieuw
Oost-Indien_, part v, book vi, pp. 308-360; it contains a large
engraving, a view of the city of Malaca.

[78] A small city in the province of Badajoz, Spain.

[79] Cf. La Concepcion's account (_Hist. de Philipinas_,
iv. pp. 330-366) of the ravages committed by the Dutch; the despatch
of a fleet from India at Silva's request (made through the Jesuits
Gomez and Ribera), and its conflicts with Malays and Dutch at Malacca;
Silva's preparations for the joint expedition; his journey to Malacca,
and death there; and the return of his fleet to Manila, and failure of
all this costly enterprise. La Concepcion mentions Ribera's account
(p. 344), and says (p. 337); "We have a complete diary, written by
the rector of Manila [Ribera], from the twenty-first of November,
when they hoisted sail at Cavite"--that is, when he went on the
embassy to India in 1614. Apparently his account, as here presented,
has been synopsized and abridged by Ventura del Arco, who has also
borrowed somewhat from Ledesma's letter (_post_).

[80] This part of the document is the version of Ribera's letter
which appears in Colin's _Labor evangelica_, pp. 802-806. It is here
presented as containing some matter not in the other copy, and as
showing the methods of the respective editors.

[81] _i.e._, Kocchi. As in all foreign words ending with a vowel,
the Portuguese have nasalised the "i." In 1505 it was written
"Coxi." See A.C. Burnell's note in _Voyage of Linschoten_ (Hakluyt
Society's publications, London, 1885), i, p. 68. This city lies some
thirty miles north of Cape Comorin.

[82] Pedro de Francisco, S.J., was born at Mala, in the Zaragoza
diocese, in 1607. He was admitted to the Society in 1626, and went to
the Indias, where he taught grammar, and for seven years theology. He
labored at Cochin, and became rector of the Macao seminary, whence
he was driven by the Dutch. He was at Macassar in 1652, but his
name does not appear in the catalogue for 1655. See Sommervogel's
_Bibliographie_.

[83] Alberto Laercio or Laerzio, S.J., was born at Orte in 1557,
admitted to the Society in 1576, and set out for the Indies, where
he made his profession at Goa, July 9, 1590. For twelve years he was
master of the novitiates, rector of Salsette, and associate-visitor,
for three years vice-provincial, and for six years provincial. He
died at Cochin in 1630. See Sommervogel's _Bibliographie_.

[84] Francisco Roz, S.J., was born at Gerona in 1557, became a
novitiate in 1575, and went to the Indies in 1584, where he labored
in the Malabar mission. In 1601 he was appointed bishop of Angamala,
and in 1605, archbishop of Cranganore. He died at Parur, February 16,
1624. He wrote a number of treatises and letters. See Sommervogel's
_Bibliographie_.

[85] The two Latin phrases read in English, respectively: "He who
desires an episcopate, desires a good work;" and "He gets a hard and
fast slavery."

[86] Sommervogel mentions only that this Jesuit was a Portuguese
missionary at Goa in 1608, in which year (December 18) he wrote a
letter from Goa.

[87] The Assumption of the Virgin is August 15.

[88] That is, "Because we have sinned against thee, O Lord," etc.

[89] This is a letter by Valerio de Ledesma, S.J., according to Colin
(from whose _Labor evangelica_, pp. 806-810, we obtain it). Compare
with the first version of Ribera's letter, _ante_, in which the
account of Silva's death is similar to that by Ledesma. Colin has
evidently edited both letters more or less, and it is difficult to
ascertain what the exact original text was.

[90] Garcia Garces, S.J., was born in 1560 at Molina, in the diocese
of Segovia, and entered the Society October 23, 1574. Going to
the Indias in 1588, he labored for several years in the missions
of Japan. He was rector at Nagasaki, whence he was exiled with his
companions. He went to Manila and later to Macao, where he died in
1628. See Sommervogel's _Bibliographie_.

[91] Melchor de Vera, S.J., was born at Madrid in 1585, and after
being received into the Society in 1604, went to the Philippines
in 1606, where he labored in the missions of the Bisayas and in
Mindanao. He served as rector of Carigara, and superior at Bapitan
and Zamboanga. His death occurred at the residence at Cebu, April
13, 1646. He was a good civil and military architect, and planned
and directed the building of the fortifications at Zam boanga, and
constructed the church of his residence at Cebu. See Sommervogel's
_Bibliographie_ and Murillo Velarde's _Historia_, book ii, chap. xxi.

[92] An account of this expedition is given in the first chapter of
Murillo Velarde's _Historia_ (Manila, 1749), evidently taken in part
from the present account.

[93] Inasmuch as Bonifaz, although junior auditor, obtained the office
by trickery he was a true governor _ad interim_, and the Audiencia
did not have charge of political affairs.

[94] The following authorities were used in compiling the above list
of governors: Morga, _Sucesos de las Islas Filipinos_ (Mexico, 1609);
Argensola, _Conquistas de las Malucas_ (Madrid, 1609); Colin, _Labor
evangelica_ (Madrid, 1663)--who mentions as authorities the authors
Morga, Grijalva, and Chirino; San Antonio, _Chronicas_, parte primera
(Manila, 1738); Murillo Velarde, _Historia_, (Manila, 1749); Delgado,
_Historia general_ (Manila, 1892); La Concepcion, _Historia general_
(Sampaloc, 1788-1792); Zuniga, _Historia de las islas Filipinos_
(Sampaloc, 1803), and _Estadismo_ (Retana's ed., Madrid, 1893);
Mas, _Informe de las Islas Filipinos_ (Madrid, 1843); Buzeta and
Bravo, _Diccionario_ (Madrid, 1851); Montero y Vidal, _Historia
general_ (Madrid, 1887), and _Historia de la pirateria_ (Madrid,
1888); Combes, _Historia de Mindanao y Jolo_ (Retana's ed., Madrid,
1897); _Catologo de la exposition general de las Islas Filipinos_
(Madrid, 1887); Algue, _Archipielago Filipino_ (Washington, 1900);
Sawyer, _Inhabitants of the Philippines_ (New York, 1900); Calkins,
"Filipino Insurrection of 1896" in _Harper's Monthly_, vol. xcix,
pp. 469-483; and various documents already published in this series.

[95] Delgado's work was written during 1751-54.

[96] Referring to the dissensions and conflicts between the secular
and ecclesiastical authorities which culminated in the assassination
(October 11, 1719) of Governor Bustamente.

[97] See account of this expedition in Argensola's _Conquistas_
(_Vol_. XVI of this series), book x. The king seized by Acuna was Said
Berkatt, the twenty-sixth king of Ternate; he came to the throne in
1584 and reigned until made a captive by Acuna--who treated him well,
but later governors made Said the subject of shameful neglect and
even cruelty. He died at Manila in February or March, 1627. After
Said was carried away from Ternate, his son Modafar became king;
the ruler of Tidore at that time was Cachil (or Prince) Mole. See
Valentyn's history of the Moluccas, in his _Oud en Nieuw Oost-Indien_,
in the annals of Said's reign and life are recorded in pp. 208-255
therein (a separate pagination, after the introductory sketch of the
Netherlands dominion). On pp. 3, 4 are listed the islands subject
to Temate; they include Mindanao, the Talaut or Tulour group, Ceram,
Amboina, Solor, the Moluccas proper, and many others.

[98] In regard to this, see Sande's own letters and reports in
_Vol_. IV of this series.

[99] See account of the expeditions made in that year against the
Moro pirates, under the governor, Francisco de Ovando, in Montero y
Vidal's _Hist. de pirateria,_ pp. 290-299.

[100] Ali-Mudin, sultan of Jolo, claimed that he was dethroned by his
brother Bantilan, in 1748; and, with the Jesuit missionaries who had
just before arrived in Jolo, Ali-Mudin went to Manila. In 1750 he was
baptized in the Catholic faith, and was named Fernando I. A Spanish
expedition was sent to reinstate him on his throne; but it was found
that Ali-Mudin was an apostate and a traitor, and the Spanish governor
of Zamboanga seized him and all his family and retinue, sending them
to Manila, where they were held as prisoners. All except Ali-Mudin and
his heir Israel were sent home in 1755; but these remained captives
until 1763, when the English conquerors conveyed them back to Jolo,
and Ali-Mudin abdicated his throne in favor of Israel.

See Montero y Vidal's _Hist. de pirateria_, pp. 279-299, 307-309,
317-320, 322, 338.

[101] This writer was minister-plenipotentiary from Spain to Pekin;
and during that term of office made a voyage to Manila, of which this
book is a result.

[102] _i.e._, those who pay the tax called _polo_--a personal service
of forty days in the year; see Montero y Vidal's note, _post_.

[103] The services of these municipal officers, which--barring certain
abuses, to which their small remuneration and excessive official
obligations force them--are of undeniable worth in the Philippines,
and their functions, which carry importance and respectability,
demand much rather that there be substituted for the ridiculous
name of gobernadorcillo, by which they are officially designated,
another name more serious and more in harmony with their praiseworthy
ministry. This is now being done among themselves in the more
enlightened villages, where they are called _capitan_ ["captain"]
instead of gobernadorcillo.--_Montero y Vidal_.

Cf. Bourne's account of these officials, _Vol_. I, of this series,
pp. 55, 56.

[104] The Spanish is _paso doble_, a term used also as the name of
a dance, the equivalent of the "two-step."

[105] This tribute is the contribution that the Indians and mestizos
pay in order to aid in the maintenance of the burdens of the state. The
_polos_ means the obligation to work a certain number of days in
neighborhood works.--_Montero y Vidal_.

[106] The tobacco monopoly was arranged by Governor Basco y Vargas in
pursuance of a royal order of February 9, 1780. Although opposed by
certain classes, especially the friars, the monopoly was organized
by March 1, 1782, and approved by royal order May 15, 1784. Under
the monopoly, however, quantities of tobacco always escaped the
vigilance of the government, and could be bought at much cheaper
rates than the government tobacco. The monopoly was repealed in the
province of Union October 25, 1852; and in all the archipelago, by
a royal order in 1881. The order was applied in the islands in 1882,
and the suppression of the monopoly was completed in 1884.

Tobacco was introduced into the islands by missionaries in the
last quarter of the sixteenth century. The best brands come from the
provinces of Isabela and Cagayan. Its cultivation and export has been,
and is, of great importance, immense quantities both of cigars and
leaf tobacco being shipped chiefly to China, Japan, the East Indies,
the United Kingdom, Spain, and Australasia. About thirty thousand
people were employed in making cigars and cigarettes in the province
of Manila, most of them women. See Montero y Vidal, ii, pp. 295,
296, iii, p. 165; Bowring, pp. 309, 310; Sawyer, pp. 131-133, 158;
_Report_ of Philippine Commission (1901), iii, pp. 267-269; and
_U. S. Philippine Gazetteer_, pp. 75, 76.

[107] The royal assembly was the council whom the governor-general
had to assist him in his decisions, and they shared with him, to a
certain point, the authority. They counterbalanced his powers, and,
during the vacancy, took his place in the command.--_Montero y Vidal_.

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