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

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Finally, at the end of this struggle, they were wrecked on the coast
of the kingdom of Ouantu, at the head of Japon, in almost its extreme
east. That coast extends from the kingdom to the district of Ximo,
where the port of Nangasaqui is located. Thence many vessels sail to
Manila annually, which is farther west. [39]

Almost four hundred persons went ashore--that is, all except
some twenty-five or thirty, who were drowned in the course of the
voyage. After a time the sea washed ashore some pieces of gorgoran,
[40] satin, and velvet. Those who had gotten away with less clothing
wrapped these about their bodies, while they made sandals from bits
of silk, like those of leather worn by shepherds in Espana, because
of the sharp rocks upon which they were walking barefoot. They found
two Japanese in some fields, and were greatly comforted thereby;
for they imagined that land to be a desert islet without any food,
upon which fortune had cast them to die. However, they would have
had not a little mercy from God if they had been able to die after
confessing at leisure. The Japanese guided them to a town near by,
where they were given some rice for their support. There most of them
were kept carefully guarded for many days. The chief Japanese continued
to take charge of all the silk that could be saved, but did not give
it up until an edict therefor was granted to the Spaniards by the
king. Consequently some of it was given to them; but the Japanese
rebought it at what prices they wished, paying for it very impure
silver. Consequently the Spaniards were scarce able to get fifty
thousand pesos in current Castilian money for it; although it is
regarded as certain that if all that could have been saved had been
delivered to the Spaniards, and they had sold it at a just price,
they would have received five hundred thousand pesos beyond all
doubt. Although General Juan de Esguerra tried to negotiate with the
king for the return of some forty boxes which were held by one of the
Japanese lords, he failed to do so. On the contrary, the counselors
advised him to be content with what had been returned, unless he
wished to keep nothing. In short they are pagans, who believe in only
the law of might, and do not keep faith and friendship more than they
think advisable. Governor Don Rodrigo de Bivero visited the king in
his court at Suronga. The king received him and treated him with great
honor, and gave him one thousand taels as a concession. Each tael is
worth ten reals when made into money. The general gave this money to
the people to provide for their journey to Nangasaqui, whence many
have come to this city [_i.e._, Manila]. Don Rodrigo de Bivero and
Father Montes continued their voyage in the ship "Santa Ana," which
was in Bungo. The Japanese came very near attacking it, but they say
that they did not do so because such action was not expedient; for
they had injured their trade with Macao, by attacking the galleon en
route from that city to Japon with silk, until they had to burn it,
with the loss of eight hundred thousand taels; and they would curtail
their trade with this country and suffer great lack of silk.

I will end this relation with the affairs of, and voyage to,
Maluco, for whose relief, as I stated above, two galleys made an
expedition. The food and men were divided among various caracoas,
fragatas, and champans, in Oton. After setting sail, they proceeded
without disaster as far as Sarragan in Siao. There one of the boats was
wrecked by a fierce gale, although only one Spaniard and ten Indians
of its crew were drowned. The rest escaped without weapons or anything
else besides their shirts. Those who escaped were given shelter in
the other boats. One afternoon while continuing their voyage, they
discovered four Dutch vessels, in sight of the island of Maluco. They
put to sea in order to escape them, with the intention of making port
that night. In this way some of them reached a place of safety. But
one fragata, which carried one of the captains, went toward the enemy,
because our men had not reconnoitered the land well. Consequently,
in the morning, it found itself surrounded by four ships and one
patache, and accordingly had to remain with them. Those [Dutch]
ships also seized a large champan which had been left behind, and
which carried a cargo of food and goods, belonging both to the king
and to private persons.

These boats that were captured by the Dutch contained all that we were
sending to the fathers at Maluco--namely, one hundred and two baskets
of clean rice, thirty-one jars of wine, meat, and butter, which were
very necessary to them, in the condition of affairs there, for Father
Masonio having gone to visit the fort of Bachan, with nine slaves
who served him as a boat-crew, they were taken by the Dutch and their
Terrenatan allies. In the fight sixteen Spanish soldiers were killed,
besides some of the natives. Of the slaves whom the father was taking
with him, three were killed and six were captured by the Dutch. After
the father confessed the wounded and entered their fort, he escaped
and hid for a week in the woods; and, although many persons were paid
by the Dutch to look for him, they could not find him. In that place
the father lost a large supply of food, besides other things. It
was being sent to him there from Malaca, to whose province pertains
the port of Maluco. Not the least of his losses was to be deprived
of his companion, by the death of Father Gabriel de la Cruz, [41]
who was called Rengifo in Espana. The latter was his only associate
in that exile. A long illness preceded his death, although during it
he continued to work as if he were healthy and alone. He died after a
long life of glorious labor in the islands of the Moros, so devoid of
human consolations, but so full of the consolations of heaven--as our
blessed Father Francisco Javier certified, who was the first to sow
there the seed of the gospel. His death caused great sorrow, because
that field of Christendom remained without a shepherd. Although they
tried to send a companion to Father Masonio from Malaca, over three
hundred leguas away, sending by way of these islands Father Antonio
Pereira, they were not successful, for the latter died on the voyage,
in the manner that I stated at the beginning. [42] But we hope,
through our Father, that some day those seas will become free from
pirates, so that Maluco may be supplied from its own province with
men and other necessities.

Word is also received from Maluco that the Dutch commander, Pablo
Blancard, was ransomed this year. The Dutch gave eighty thousand pesos
for him last year; and now they have given fifty-two Spaniards held
captive among them, one hundred natives friendly to us, the fragata
and all its cargo, and six thousand pesos in money.

I have endeavored to make this relation very faithful for the greater
glory of God our Lord. May He preserve your Paternity [43] for the
welfare of all the Society. Manila, July 1, 1610.

_Gregorio Lopez_

LETTER FROM SILVA TO FELIPE III

Sire:

In the capitana "San Juan Bautista," which sailed from this port on
the twelfth of July last, I gave your Majesty an account of everything
that had occurred up to that time; I likewise did so by the Dutch
almiranta, which left four days later. But as it was not so good a
sailing ship as the capitana, and did not weather the storms so well,
it was delayed several days, without being able to get outside the
island of Fortun. I ordered it to return thence to this port, as it
appeared that it was not fit for a freight ship, and because it was
necessary for the service of your Majesty, owing to new developments,
which I shall here detail. A fortnight after the ships were despatched,
and when the almiranta was about to put out to sea, there arrived
here a fragata belonging to your Majesty, which came from Goa, and
had sailed from Terrenate for Yndia, loaded with cloves. It brought
me a despatch from the viceroy, Ruy Lorenco de Tabora, in which he
informed me of his arrival in that kingdom, and in what desolation he
found the affairs of Yndia, and particularly the trade, on account
of the Dutch. And he said that, in order to make safe the voyage
from Japon, he sent Don Diego de Vasconcelos de Meneses, with eight
galleons, well provided with men, artillery, and supplies of war,
with orders that if I should advise him that he might accomplish some
good for the service of your Majesty, he should attend to it with his
fleet. Likewise General Diego de Vasconcelos wrote to me from Malaca,
that he was crossing to Macan with six galleys and one urca; [44] and
that there he would await advices from me or from Maluco, so that,
if anything could be accomplished for the service of your Majesty,
he could be present with his fleet. The day after the arrival of this
fragata, there entered this port a Dutch patache, which had been taken
by Captain Pedro de Avellaneda, with the galley "San Christobal,"
close to the island of Tidore, after a fight of three hours; and in
it were General Pablos Brancaorden [_i.e._, van Caerden], twenty
others, and five Dutch. This general is the one who was taken in
another galleota by Captain Pedro de Heredia, and who was ransomed
by Master-of-camp Christobal de Axqueta for fifty of our soldiers
and sailors, thirty Indian pioneers and artisans, and six thousand
pesos in money. All the forces that the enemy has in Maluco and Banda
were in his command. The said master-of-camp advises me that only
a patache and one ship of the enemy's had remained in the islands;
and that although he sent a vessel with persons acquainted with the
language to Ambueno to learn whether a fleet had come, there was no
news of one, and the enemy were greatly cast down and discouraged to
see that no fleet was coming to them, as there is little hope that
it will be here this year, for none thus far has waited longer than
May or June to come. When the information was sent [to me] it was
the thirtieth of July, and there was no word of a fleet.

I have already informed your Majesty that the Dutch, our enemy, are
masters of all the Malucas Islands and Banda, and how important this
is. By a memorial and calculation which was found among other papers
in the possession of General Pablos Brancaerden, lately captured,
an account is given of the revenue, which amounts yearly to more than
four million pesos. Nothing has remained for your Majesty throughout
all these islands, except the fort of Terrenate. All the natives
are with the Dutch, and having chosen as their king the younger son
of the one who is a prisoner here, they help the Dutch to fight and
to fortify the islands, without one of them being on our side. The
king of Tidore is thus far in our favor, much to the disgust of his
vassals, and our fear lest they make an agreement with the enemy--in
which case he would be ruined, and there would be no remedy for it.

I have also informed your Majesty that the emperor of Japon has
assigned two ports and factories in his kingdom to the Dutch, and
the latter are making strenuous efforts to secure one in China. If
they succeed in this, and trade in silks, gold, quicksilver and other
riches from that great kingdom to Japon, and Europe, it will be worth
to them every year more than the spice trade, in which case (may God
avert it!) this country and Yndia would be ruined. For, as is known,
it is impossible to support them without the traffic and merchandise,
particularly the spices and silk; and as the Dutch heretics are such
mortal enemies of the crown of Espana, and so rich, we may well fear
that, in league with other European princes, envious, and even fearful
of the power of your Majesty, they may claim rights over some of the
territories in your Majesty's possession, and attempt something that
would give cause for anxiety. All these reasons have induced me to
use all care and diligence, without sparing labor or danger, to bring
about a junction of forces; and, although they cannot be such as are
demanded by this undertaking, at least they will be such as to allow an
attempt with the favor of God, toward driving the Dutch out of Maluco,
and taking from them the fortresses that they have built in those
islands. Accordingly, after having consulted with the Audiencia, the
archbishop, and the council of war, I ordered the master-of-camp, Juan
Xuarez Gallinato, to go to Macan and find Don Diego de Vasconcelos;
and to represent to him by word of mouth what I had already informed
him of by letters, namely, all that I am informing your Majesty of,
and how good the occasion is this year. May God further our efforts;
for if we lose this chance, and await the coming of the fleet,
although it might bring with it more strength, it is certain either
that the enemy would also have more, and that their forts would be
better fortified, whereby the difficulty would be increased--or, as
they say, your Majesty will by some peace or arrangement concede to
them their continuance in what they possess, both there and here. And,
in order that Don Diego may have no difficulty in the voyage here, the
master-of-camp was given money to provide that fleet with everything
necessary. And if perchance Don Diego should hesitate in regard to
the authority of the command and the government, I have ordered the
said master-of-camp to offer him on my behalf whatever he may ask. For
I desire so earnestly, with my heart and life, that so great a good
may be attained, and so great a service accomplished for your Majesty
and for Christendom, that, in order that it might be effected, I would
gladly go and serve as a soldier. I believe indeed that Don Diego will
not stop for this last; but I am providing against anything that can
hinder this expedition and the service of your Majesty.

In this port I have ordered the equipment of the capitana and the
almiranta which were taken from the enemy, the ship "Spiritu Santo,"
and the "San Andres," two pataches, and three galleys; and I am busy
providing everything necessary for food, artillery, and supplies. Thus
when the vessels of Don Diego de Vasconcelos arrive here, which I
think will be at the end of November, they may start on the voyage
toward Terrenate; and it seems to me that they might be there by the
beginning of January, so as to have a chance to accomplish as much as
possible before the beginning of May, when the arrival of the enemy
is to be feared. I trust in our Lord that, if no fleet has arrived
for them, some good results may be obtained from the expedition. If
a fleet should have come, I will try to ascertain their forces, in
such manner as not rashly to risk your Majesty's forces which I shall
take there. I shall try to send information as early as possible of
all that happens there, by way of Nueva Espana; and other advices via
the strait of Sunda, or that of Bali, and the Cape of Buena Esperanca.

Considering that all the Terrenatans are on the side of the enemy,
and not a single one of them for us, and that they all aid and
serve the Dutch with their persons and property; and that they even
consider as their king, and obey as such, the son of the king whom we
hold prisoner here--it has appeared to me best, after consultation,
to take with me on this expedition the chief king and the cachils who
are here. For he and they offer that, if I place them safely within the
fort of Terrenate, they will bind themselves, being in those islands
in person, to bring over to the service of your Majesty the son and
all his vassals; and that they will take up arms against the Dutch,
and would serve in this way, or any other that might present itself
during the expedition, with fidelity. If your Majesty were pleased
to leave him in that kingdom, he would be your vassal, would have
amity with none of our enemies, and would only barter the cloves
to the factors whom your Majesty might have in that island. If he
carries out his promise, it will facilitate the expedition greatly,
and diminish the forces of the enemy. I shall take him with me, and
if it turns out as I trust in our Lord it will, and the king holds to
his promises, so that all his vassals there remain quiet and peaceful,
I shall leave him and his son in the fortress at Terrenate, with the
greatest care and protection, until I have advised your Majesty of all,
and you have given such orders as shall please you.

For so costly an expedition, this royal treasury is in great need,
for of two hundred thousand pesos that the viceroy of Nueva Espana
sent here, there were taken to Macan fifty thousand pesos to buy
quicksilver; twenty-six thousand for provisions, powder, and other
munitions and supplies; thirty-five thousand paid to the fund of
probated estates, and to citizens who had lent money the year past
for the support of the fleet. So great were the arrears of debts to
private persons, since the taking of Terrenate, and an entire year's
pay that was owing to the troops, that it is greatly impoverished,
having, as is the case, so many necessary matters to attend to. The
most important of these is a fort in this port, so that I may not find
myself in such risk and danger as the enemy placed me in this year,
capturing the port from me, together with three unfinished galleons,
as I have informed your Majesty. In the preparation for the expedition
that I have resolved upon, it would not be possible to accomplish all,
or even a small part of it, if it were not for forty-five thousand
pesos that have been collected from the eight pesos that each Sangley
gives for his license to remain in these islands. With all this
there is such a lack of money that I must go with little enough on
the expedition. If there were any fund from which to get support, I
should make use of it; but I promise your Majesty that there is none
anywhere, nor even a citizen from whom I can borrow a real. We shall
have to get along as best we can, until the viceroy of Nueva Espana
provides for us. May our Lord protect the Catholic person of your
Majesty for many years, according to the needs of Christendom. Cavite,
September 9, 1610.

Your Majesty's humble vassal and servant

_Don Juan de Silva_

LETTER FROM FELIPE III TO SILVA

_To the governor and Audiencia of Manila, directing them to give
information concerning the controversy that the natives of the village
of Quiapo have with the fathers of the Society concerning certain
lands; and, in the meantime, that they provide what is expedient._

The King: To my governor and captain-general, president and auditors
of my royal Audiencia of the city of Manila, of the Philipinas
Islands. Don Miguel Banal has informed me--in a letter of the fifteenth
of July, six hundred and nine--that, at the instance of the natives
of the village of Aquiapo, the late archbishop of that city wrote to
me that the fathers of the Society of Jesus, under pretense that the
metropolitan dean of Manila sold them a piece of arable land [_verta_]
which lies back of the said village, have appropriated it for their
own lands, taking from them more than the dean granted--to such an
extent that there hardly remains room to plant their crops, or even
to build their houses. And the said Miguel Banal, who is the chief of
that village, having built a house, one of the Society, called Brother
"Nieto," came into his fields, together with many blacks and Indians,
with halberds and other weapons; and they demolished the house, to the
great scandal of all who saw them, and without paying any attention
[to the remonstrances of] the alcalde-mayor of the village. He
entreats me, for assurance of the truth, to command you to make an
investigation regarding it; and in the meantime not to disturb them
in their ancient possession, which they have inherited from their
fathers and grandfathers. Having examined it in my Council for the
Yndias, it has appeared best to order and command you, as I do,
to inform me of what has occurred in this matter, and is occurring,
and in the meantime to take such measures as are expedient. Madrid,
on the seventh of December of one thousand six hundred and ten.

_I The King_

Countersigned by Juan Ruiz de Contreras.
Signed by the Council.

DOCUMENTS OF 1611

Foundation of the college of Santo Tomas of Manila. Bernardo de
Santa Catalina, O.P., and others; April 28.
Hospital at Nueva Caceres. Pedro Arce, O.S.A.; July 20.
Letters to Juan de Silva. Felipe III; November-December.
Letters to the Dominican provincial. Felipe III; December 31.

_Sources_: All these documents save one are obtained from original
MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla. The first one is found
in a pamphlet entitled _Algunos documentos relativos a la Universidad
de Manila_ (Madrid, 1892), pp. 5-20.

_Translations_: The first document is translated by James A. Robertson;
the remainder, by Robert W. Haight.

FOUNDATION OF THE COLLEGE OF SANTO TOMAS OF MANILA

In the name of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and in
honor of Mary ever-virgin, who, under the advocacy [45] of her
most holy rosary, is proposed and accepted as patroness of the work
which will be declared below, inasmuch as she is also patroness of
the Order of Preachers of the patriarch St. Dominic, established in
these Filipinas Islands and the kingdom of China; and to his honor
and glory and that of the consecrated doctor [46] of the holy Church,
Saint Thomas Aquinas, by whose intercessions, protection, and aid the
work described in this writing will have a good beginning and means,
and proceed from good to better forever without end: by virtue of
which, I, father Fray Bernardo de Santa Catalina, [47] religious of
the said order, and commissary-general of the Holy Office in these
islands, as executor of the most illustrious and reverend archbishop
of this city of Manila in the islands, Don Fray Miguel de Benavides,
now defunct, and [as the one] to whom his Lordship communicated the
application of the remainder of his properties for the work and
foundation which will be hereunder declared--as appears from his
last will and testament, which he signed in this said city of Manila
before Francisco de Alanis, former notary-public in this city, on the
twenty-fourth day of the month of July of the former year one thousand
six hundred and five; and the clause treating of this matter, copied,
corrected and collated with the said will signed by the said notary,
is of the following tenor:

_Item_: His most reverend Lordship said and declared that he made--and
he did so make--while still in life, a complete and irrevocable gift
of all the remainder of his properties for a pious enterprise. He
has conferred and communicated in regard to the same with the said
fathers--namely, the prior of Santo Domingo, Fray Domingo de Nieva,
[48] and Fray Bernardo de Santa Catalina, commissary of the Holy
Office. In this charitable work all his properties remaining are
to be applied and distributed, in what manner and form they ordain
and consider advisable, in accordance with his communication and
resolution in regard to it. For this work he said that he gave--and
he did so give--all the remainder of his properties gratuitously;
and the institution was immediately and henceforth to be constituted
the holder and possessor of them. He transferred to them [_i.e._, the
above fathers] his rights and power of disposal [in the property]. This
is the work of which mention was made above.

And I, the said father commissary as executor of another bequest of
properties, which Pablo Rodriguez de Araujo and Andres de Hermosa,
defunct, left to my distribution and discretion, in accordance with
the terms of their wills--that of the said Pablo Rodriguez de Araujo
appears to have been signed in this city before Francisco de Valencia,
notary-public, on the sixteenth day of the month of February, of the
former year six hundred and six; and that of the said Hermosa before
Francisco de Alanis, notary-public, on the fourth day of the month of
May of the former year six hundred and four--[declare that] the tenor
of the said clauses, one after the other, according to their copies
corrected by the wills signed by the said notaries, is as follows:
"And in order to fulfil this my will and that herein contained,
I leave and appoint as my executors and administrators father Fray
Bernardo de Santa Catalina, commissary of the Holy Inquisition of
these islands, Captain Fructuoso de Araujo, and Francisco de Alanis,
notary-public. To all three of them, and to each one of them singly,
_in solidum_, I delegate power sufficient to adjust and inventory my
properties, and to sell and fulfil that herein contained. And for
its fulfilment, I give, lengthen, and concede to them all the time
and limit that they declare to be necessary. And no ecclesiastical
or secular judge shall meddle with them to make them give account
of the said executorship, because of the confidence that I have in
the above-named persons. For this is my wish, and if such judge
should undertake to demand from them the said account, in that
said event I constitute them my heirs. And when this my will is
fulfilled and observed, and that herein contained, to that part of
my properties remaining and its rights and disposal, inasmuch as I
have no obligatory heir, either forbears or descendants, I establish
and appoint my soul as heir of the said remainder of my properties,
its rights and disposal, so that what pertains to that inheritance,
shall be given into the power of the said father commissary, who
shall distribute it in doing good for my soul in pious works, alms,
and other works of charity, as shall seem best to him.

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