The Philippine Islands, 1493 to 1898 by Various

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THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, 1493-1898

Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and
their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions,
as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the
political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those
islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the
close of the nineteenth century,

Volume XI, 1599-1602

Edited and annotated by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson
with historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord
Bourne.

Contents of Volume XI

Preface 9
Documents of 1599

Ordinances enacted by the Audiencia of Manila
(_concluded_). Francisco Tello, and others;
Manila, June, 1598-July, 1599 21
The hospital for Indians at Manila. Domingo
de Santiago and Antonio Valerio; Manila,
July 3 82
Letters from the royal fiscal to the
king. Hieronimo de Salazar y Salcedo; Manila,
July 21 86
Letter from the king of Borneo to Governor
Tello. Soltan Adil Sula; [June?] translated
July 27 120
Letters to the king. Francisco Tello; Manila,
July 14 and August 7 123
Letters to Tello. Felipe III; Denia, August
16 129

Documents of 1600

The pacification of Mindanao. [Unsigned and
undated; 1600?] 135
Oliver van Noordt's attack on Luzon. Francisco
Tello, and others; Manila, October-December
140

Documents of 1601

Report to the governor, on the battle
with the Dutch. Antonio de Morga; Manila,
January 5. 173
Annual letters from the Philippine
Islands. Francisco Vaez, S.J.; [Manila?],
June 10. 191
Letter to Felipe III. Diego Garcia, S.J.;
Manila, July 8. 223
Letter from the fiscal to Felipe III. Hieronimo
de Salazar y Salcedo; Manila, July 16. 228
Complaint of the cabildo of Manila against
Morga. Gonzalo Ronquillo de Vallesteros,
and others; Manila, July 20. 235
Letter to Felipe III. Antonio de Morga;
Manila, July 30. 251
Grant to Jesuit school in Cebu. Council of
Indias; Valladolid, December 11. 257

Documents of 1602

Instructions to Pedro de Acuna. Felipe III;
Zamora, February 16. 263
Two royal decrees. Felipe III; Zamora,
February 16. 289
Pintados menaced by Mindanao pirates. Juan
Juarez Gallinato, and others; off Mindanao,
May 29-June 4. 292
Letters to Felipe III. L. P. Dasmarinas,
and others; Manila, June 8-July 10. 302

Bibliographical Data. 317

Illustrations

Title-page of _De rebus Iaponicis_, compiled by John Hay,
S J. (Antverpiae, M. DC. V); photographic facsimile, from copy
in Library of Congress. 187
Title-page of _Relatione breve_, by Diego de Torres (Milano,
MDCIII); photographic facsimile, from copy in library of
Harvard University. 189

Preface

During the three years or more covered in this volume (1599-1602),
the most notable occurrence is the coming to the archipelago (in 1600)
of the fleet commanded by the Dutch adventurer Oliver van Noordt,
bent on plunder and the damage of the Spanish settlements there:
but he is defeated and driven away, although with heavy loss to the
Spaniards. This event, with the quarrels which it arouses in Manila,
and fears of like danger in the future, disturb the colony for several
years. The people, both Spaniards and Indians, are also in constant
dread of the Moro pirates, who ravage the coasts of the Pintados
(Visayas) Islands, encouraged to commit these depredations by the late
withdrawal of Spanish troops from Mindanao. In the face of all these
difficulties, the government is also embarrassed by the poverty of
the local treasury; its funds are wasted by unnecessary expenses and
salaries, and lessened by frauds in the customs duties, and by other
violations of the laws regarding trade. There are too many officials,
both secular and religious; and the former are often incompetent or
corrupt. The Indians are demoralized by having learned the use of
the white men's money; their native industries are neglected, which
causes scarcity and high prices of goods and supplies. New impulse
and wider scope are given to the missions conducted by the Jesuits,
who begin the task of gathering the scattered Indian converts into
mission villages, thus more easily to civilize and christianize the
natives. A new governor for the islands is appointed, Pedro de Acuna.

In this volume is completed the document begun in _Vol_. X, "Ordinances
of the Audiencia enacted in 1598-99;" here are presented those for the
first half of the year 1599. The alcaldes-mayor must, in collecting the
taxes, observe the royal tariffs. To remedy the exorbitant charges for
fees in the inferior courts, all suits appealed to the Audiencia must
be accompanied by a sworn statement of the fees thus paid. The bonds
accepted in law-suits must be more reliable. Auditors are given special
powers in expediting the cases of persons imprisoned. Interpreters
are not allowed to trade with the natives, except in the presence of
a magistrate. The accounts of guardians of minors shall be examined
by the probate judge. Attorneys are restricted in bringing new suits
between Indians. Goods sold at auction for the benefit of the royal
treasury must be knocked down to the highest bidder, and for cash
only. Lawyers are ordered to follow the customs of the natives,
where these are involved in lawsuits. Collection of tributes shall
not be made by the alcaldes-mayor; and appointments for the post of
collector must be approved by the Audiencia. Various acts prescribe
the duties of officials of the Audiencia, and its procedures in
certain cases; also limits of action by attorneys. The officials
of the Audiencia shall give bonds each year. Cases involving twenty
pesos or less shall not be brought to trial. Directions are given for
the trial of suits between Indians. The alguazils-mayor must make
the rounds of the city at night. All accounts due to or from the
royal treasury shall be closed up and balanced within the next four
months. Officials of the Audiencia shall not go outside of the city
without permission. Certain punishments are prescribed for the Chinese
inhabitants--for vicious practices, for making or clipping coin,
and for buying stolen goods from Indians. All natives residing in
Manila who have not some employment are ordered to leave the city at
three days' notice. The duties of the late Alvaro Cambrano, deceased,
are to be assumed by others of the auditors. Provision is made for due
inspection, appraisal, and sale of merchandise brought from China. All
Indians belonging to the royal encomiendas must pay their tributes,
even when they reside in Manila. The sum of three hundred pesos is
appropriated to furnish and adorn the chapel of the Audiencia. The
Chinese are forbidden to have godchildren, a practice which has led to
many evils; and the Christians are ordered to follow the occupations
which they had exercised before their conversion. Officials whose
terms of office expire must furnish residencia before receiving any
further appointment.

On July 3, 1599, one of the Franciscans in charge of the hospital for
the Indians at Manila writes to the king, asking further grants of
aid for its work. The governor and bishop are directed by the king
to advise him as to the needs of the hospital. A letter from the
royal fiscal to the king (July 21) displays the needs of the royal
exchequer in the islands, and suggests means for supplying these. He
complains of the burden imposed on the colony by the support of an
archbishop and three bishops. Much is wasted in salaries, for useless
or nominal services. Salazar y Salzedo advises that the offices and
their salaries be both reduced. Especial loss and injury to the royal
income arises from the frauds and violations of law which are practiced
in the Mexican trade. The payment of tributes by the Indians in money
is demoralizing them; they no longer pursue their former usual labors,
and their products are now scarce and high-priced. They ought to be
compelled to work, at agriculture, stock-raising, and mining. The
treasury needs more money, and more Indians should be assigned to the
crown. Encomiendas are fraudulently assigned by the governors. The
erection of wooden churches in the encomiendas is another source
of useless expense; these should be built of stone or brick. Certain
offices should be taken from their present incumbents, and conferred on
men of character and standing. The fiscal complains of lax management
of the treasury by its officials, and calls for an investigation;
and the same with the cabildo of Manila. Other charges where public
moneys are involved should be inspected by the crown, and the waste
of those funds should be checked. Even all these reforms will not
provide all the funds for necessary expenses; the fiscal therefore
proposes that the crown monopolize the trade in spices and raw silk,
which would bring immense profits to the royal treasury. Another letter
from the fiscal to the king, of the same date, makes recommendations
as to certain affairs of government. He urges that the auditors
should make regular official inspection of the administration of
justice throughout the islands. He complains that the profits of
trade are absorbed by the officials and their dependents, leaving
the citizens poor. Offices and other sources of profit must not be
bestowed on those dependents, but on the citizens; and the officers
of the ships that carry goods to Nueva Espana should not be appointed
there, but in the islands. The ships should be more strictly inspected.

The ruler of Borneo sends (June. 1599) to Governor Tello a gift,
accompanied by a letter in which he expresses firm friendship for the
Spaniards. In a letter dated July 14, Tello complains that Morga is
hostile to him, and even writes anonymous letters against the governor;
the latter defends himself against these attacks. On August 7 he
reports to the king the arrival of English ships at Maluco, and his
intention of sending reenforcements to the Spanish fort there, and
to that in Cebu. He is asking aid from the viceroy of Nueva Espana,
and is trying to manufacture more artillery at Manila. Two letters
from Felipe III to Tello are dated August 16, 1599. The king commends
his proceedings in certain matters, and orders the viceroy of Nueva
Espana to send hereafter only useful colonists to the Philippines. He
also desires Tello to advise him whether the duties on Chinese goods
can be increased.

A brief account of the pacification of Mindanao (1600?) furnishes
some additional information as to events there, up to 1600. The
troops have been withdrawn from this island, owing to an alarm
of danger from English pirates; but these prove to be peaceable
Dutch merchants. In October of that year, certain foreign vessels
(thought to be English) enter the bay of Albay, and Antonio de Morga
is ordered by the Audiencia to fortify the port of Cavite and pursue
the enemy. Instructions for this latter proceeding are furnished to
him by the governor (December 10). He in turn gives instructions
to his admiral, Joan de Alcega. Then follows an account not only
of the battle between the Spanish and the Dutch fleets, but also
of Van Noordt's entire voyage to the Philippines. The battle ends,
on the whole, disastrously for Van Noordt. Among the plunder found
on the Dutch ships is a commission granted to Esaias de Lende as a
privateer against the Spaniards in the Indias. Suit being brought
against the admiral Alcega for deserting the flagship in the battle
with Van Noordt, Morga presents therein his version of the affair
(January 5, 1601)--throwing the blame for the loss of the flagship
on Alcega's disobedience to the orders previously given him by Morga.

Francisco Vaez reports (June 10, 1601) to the general of the Jesuit
order the status of Jesuit missions in the islands. He relates
the deaths of certain priests and brethren while engaged in the
performance of their duties, and proceeds to a detailed report of
each mission station. The Jesuit church at Manila has been ruined by
earthquakes. The fathers of the college there are accomplishing much
good by their labors, especially among those in prison, the soldiers,
and the children. Several instances of the devotion and piety of
converts are related. The losses and calamities which have befallen
the people have made them more inclined to religion. The sodalities
introduced among the natives arouse their devotion and enthusiasm. At
Antipolo a hospital has been begun, as well as a school for boys. At
Cebu also a school has been opened; and the labors of the Jesuits are
highly acceptable to the people, and commended by the bishop. Many
Indians are being converted by them. Connected with the residence
at Cebu is that of Bohol. Here Father Valerio Ledesma has persuaded
the savages to leave the mountains and settle near the river, under
the care of the missionaries; they have built a church, and are fast
becoming converted. Other missionaries in Bohol report many hundreds
of baptisms. Various miraculous cures of illness are related. Good
news comes from Samar also; nearly four thousand have been baptized,
nearly all adults. In Dulac a boys' school has been established, and
many conversions have occurred. At Alangala there are three Indian
chapels. Vaez asks for more missionaries in this so promising field. A
few days later (July 8) the official visitor of the Jesuit missions,
Diego Garcia, writes to Felipe III. He recommends that seminaries
for the instruction of heathen boys be stablished as a means for
hastening the conversion of the natives; and that the Indians be
gathered into settlements. Garcia asks that the Jesuit college at
Manila be authorized to graduate students from its classes; and closes
by recommending to the king's favor Morga and other officials.

The fiscal, Salazar y Salcedo, declares (July 16, 1601) that Tello
is shielding Morga, and despatches to the king a full report of the
investigation which he has made of the conflict with the Dutch. A
memorial to the king is sent (July 20, 1601) by the cabildo of
Manila, making various complaints in regard to the conduct of Doctor
de Morga. The order given by him and Tello for the abandonment of
Mindanao has caused the natives of that region to commit piracies in
the islands under Spanish rule. Morga has obtained official positions
for his relatives and friends, contrary to the royal ordinances. One
of these men, being utterly incompetent, has failed to drive back the
Mindanao pirates, who have consequently inflicted much damage. Through
various machinations, Morga succeeded in depriving Ronquillo of
the command of the fleet, in the battle with Van Noordt; but in the
conflict he showed himself incompetent to command the troops, and a
coward at the approach of danger; and, in consequence, his flagship
was wrecked, with the loss of many Spaniards and of valuable military
supplies. Moreover, the enemy being allowed to escape, the islands are
more exposed to future attacks from them. The writers of this letter
are sending documents to prove their charges; they also accuse Morga of
writing anonymous letters. A letter from Morga to the king (July 30)
relates his services in the naval battle, and the unfaithfulness of
Joan de Alcega to his trust in that and other instances. Morga asks
to be relieved from his post in the Philippines, and sent to some
other country. On December 11, 1601, the Jesuit school at Cebu is
aided by a royal grant for the erection of buildings.

Governor Tello is superseded by Pedro de Acuna, and the latter is
provided with instructions (February 16, 1602) by the king. He must
consult with the viceroy of Nueva Espana regarding the measures
to be taken for the settlement of the islands; and the viceroy has
been ordered to aid the governor therein. Acuna is directed to look
after the defense of the coasts, and the maintenance of a garrison
in Mindanao. He must do what he can to dispense with offices and
salaries which are superfluous, for which the king makes various
recommendations. The frauds which have been committed in the shipment
of goods to Nueva Espana, and in the payment of duties thereon, must
be stopped. Irregularities and frauds in the assignment of encomiendas
must also cease. These and various other matters are discussed by the
king, in pursuance of the recommendations made by the royal fiscal
in July, 1599. Official inspection of affairs in the islands must
be made by the auditors; and the royal officials must put a stop to
the importation from America of money for investment in the China
trade. The cathedral at Manila must be completed, and the hospitals
aided; and nuns will be sent for Santa Potenciana. The Jesuit seminary
for Indian boys should be cared for; and Acuna is to ascertain its
condition and needs. He must investigate the question of abolishing
the Parian, and see that religious teachers are provided for the
natives of the Ladrones Islands. Agriculture must be encouraged in
the Philippines. Two royal decrees (dated February 16) command the
viceroy of Nueva Espana to send to the Philippines more colonists,
who shall be persons of good character; and two nuns, to take charge
of the seminary of Santa Potenciana at Manila. Captain Gallinato
sends to the governor at Manila (June 4, 1602) warning of a large
plundering expedition which is about to sail from Mindanao to ravage
the Pintados Islands. The Joloans are also hostile, and ready to attack
the Spaniards; and the natives of Terrenate are aiding the Mindanaos.

Luis de Dasmarinas writes to Felipe III (June 8, 1602), urging that the
Spaniards reconquer the fortress of Maluco, to protect the Philippines
from attack by "those demons of English and Dutch heretics." Doctor
de Morga again informs the king (June 30) of his services in the
conflict with Van Noordt, and in still another letter (July 8) of
the attacks which his enemies are making upon him in regard to that
affair. The Augustinian officials at Manila notify the king (July 4)
of the election of Pedro Arce as provincial of their order in the
islands; and explain their refusal to receive a visitor recently sent
to the islands from Nueva Espana. A letter from the fiscal details
(July 10) the measures taken to compel payment by Governor Tello of
the debts owed by him in Sevilla; he has property in Nueva Espana,
but none in the islands.

_The Editors_

December, 1903.

Documents of 1599

Ordinances enacted by the Audiencia of Manila
(_concluded_.) Francisco Tello, and others; January-July, 1599.
The hospital for Indians at Manila. Domingo de Santiago and
Antonio Valerio; July 3.
Letters from the royal fiscal to the king. Hieronimo de
Salazar y Salcedo; July 21.
Letter from the king of Borneo to Governor Tello. Soltan Adil
Sula; [June?] translated July 27.
Letters to the king. Francisco Tello; July 14 and August 7.
Letters to Tello. Felipe III; August 16.

_Sources_: All these documents save one are obtained from MSS. in the
Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla; the second of the king's letters
(August 16) is from the "Cedulario Indico" in the Archivo Historico
Nacional, Madrid.

_Translations_: The first of these documents is translated by Arthur
B. Myrick, of Harvard University; the second, by Emma Helen Blair;
the third, and part of the sixth, by Robert W. Haight; the fourth,
by James A. Robertson; the fifth, by Norman F. Hall, of Harvard
University, and Jose M. and Clara M. Asensio; the first letter in
the sixth, by Alfonso de Salvio, of Harvard University.

Ordinances Enacted by the Audiencia of Manila (_concluded_)

_An act ordering the alcaldes-mayor and their officials to observe
the royal tariff._

In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five
hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal
Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas, in the
collection of taxes by the alcaldes-mayor of the provinces of these
islands, and by their notaries and officials, there is great excess
and disorder, from failing to observe his Majesty's royal tariffs,
whence arise many difficulties and obstacles to the service of God
our Lord, and of his Majesty: therefore, to remedy these evils,
they ordered, and they did so order, that all the alcaldes-mayor,
both now and henceforth, in all of the provinces of these said
islands, shall observe and cause to be observed the royal tariff of
his Majesty and his royal Audiencia; and, in conformity with it,
shall levy and cause to be levied the taxes to them appertaining,
as also shall their notaries and officials--levying on the natives
a third less than on the Spaniards, according to the declaration
thereof in the said tariff; and that each one of them shall have a
copy of this tariff. They shall neither use nor levy the said taxes
by any other tariffs, under penalty of a fine of one hundred pesos
for the treasury of his Majesty and the expenses of justice. By this
act they so provided, ordered, and decreed.

_Don Francisco Tello_
_Doctor Antonio de Morga_
The licentiate _Tellez de Almazan_
The licentiate _Zambrano_

Before me:

_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_

_Proclamation_: In the city of Manila, on the twenty-second of January,
one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors
of the royal Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands, who signed their
names to the above act, declared and proclaimed it in public session.

_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_

_An act decreeing that there shall be no suits without the filing of
a sworn memorandum of the fees that the parties have paid._

In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five
hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal
Audiencia, Court, and Chancilleria of these Philipinas Islands
declared that, whereas it has come to their knowledge that certain
persons--not only Spaniards, but Indians and Sangleys--who bring
suits in this royal Audiencia and outside of it, in the provincial
and ordinary tribunals, complain of the large sums that are charged
by the courts, in great excess of what they are ordered to charge
by the royal tariffs; and that the notaries of the said tribunals,
contrary to orders, send the appealed suits to this royal Audiencia,
without placing at the end of them the fees they have paid; therefore,
in order to remedy the aforesaid evil, and to put an end to complaints
of similar acts of injustice, they ordered, and they did so order, both
the officials of this royal Audiencia and the others in the provincial
and the ordinary tribunals, and those outside of this city, now and
henceforth, not to bring or send any suit to be reviewed in the court
of this royal Audiencia, unaccompanied by a memorandum, signed and
sworn to by the parties to the suit, of what they have spent thereon,
and to what persons they have given the money; and not to bring any
suit for revision in any other manner, under penalty of a fine, for
each time when they shall disobey this order, of ten pesos for his
Majesty's treasury, to be equally divided between the treasury and the
court--to which, from that moment, they are considered as condemned. By
this act they so provided and ordered, and they signed the same.

_Don Francisco Tello_
_Doctor Antonio de Morga_
The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_
The licentiate _Alvaro Zambrano_

Before me:

_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_

_Proclamation_: In the city of Manila, on the twenty-second day of
the month of January, one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine,
the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria
of these Philipinas Islands, who signed their names to the above act,
declared and proclaimed it in public session.

_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_

_An act decreeing that the clerk of court who receives the bonds
of suitors shall accept only reliable bonds, and at his own risk;
and that his residencia in regard to the said office shall be taken._

In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five
hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal
Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas in the
suits that are brought and considered in this royal Audiencia it
is sometimes necessary to order the parties to give bonds, which
are accepted by the clerk of court of this royal Audiencia, without
his knowing whether they are good or not: therefore as some trouble
and annoyance might result from this, and it is expedient to avoid
this, and, where bonds are concerned, to require the residencia, they
ordered, and they did so order, that now and henceforth the said clerk,
in all suits in which bonds are ordered to be given, shall accept only
honest, reliable, and valuable bonds, under the penalty of having them
charged to his own account and risk if they are not so. He shall give
reliable bonds therefor, and shall likewise undergo the residencia of
his said office; and shall pay whatever is adjudged and decided against
him, and any public demands which shall be lodged against him, as he
is obliged to do by law. Thus it was provided, ordered, and decreed.

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