The Philippine Islands, 1493 to 1898 by Various

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_Don Gonzalo Ronquillo de Vallesteros_
_Francisco de las Missas_
_Francisco Mercado Dandrade_
_Hernando da_ [_illegible in MS._]
_Bernardino de Avila_
_Diego Melendez Florez_

By command of the city of Manila:

_Luys de Contreras_, clerk of the cabildo.

Letter from Morga to Felipe III

Sire:

During the month of March of the past year, 1600, there passed
through the Strait of Magallanes into the South Sea a squadron of
armed ships from Holland, belonging to Count Mauricio, having as
commander Oliver de el Nort, and as admiral Lamberto Biezman, with
a patent and instructions in Flemish and Castilian to make war with
fire and sword upon the Castilians and Portuguese whom they might
meet in these parts. After they had made a few captures of little
importance on the coast of Piru, the commander's ship and admiral's
ship, together with their long-boats, came to these islands, where they
came out of the channel on the sixteenth of November of the said year.

Governor Don Francisco Tello found himself unprovided with any kind of
fleet to resist them by sea; for he had no galleys and no other kind
of ship with which to carry on offensive warfare, because a galizabra
which had been commenced the year before in the shipyard of Cavite had
been abandoned, and its build changed to that of a merchant ship. As
he feared that the enemy would come down to the said port, and burn
the few ships which were on the voyage from Nueva Espana, in order
to secure himself from the seaside at all points he commanded Don
Juan Ronquillo de Castillo (who was drawing his salary as commander
of galleys when there were none) immediately to go to the said port,
and put it in a state of defense, and build a fleet with which to go
out against the pirate. He went to the port, which is two leagues
from this city, and on the third day returned to the city without
having undertaken to do anything, or shown any disposition to do
so. He interposed difficulties, and asked for so many things which
he said were necessary, and which were not at hand, that he made the
thing out impossible; and not only was the governor disgusted with him
for it, but Don Juan allowed himself to say things which obliged the
governor to arrest him, as he did. The pirate continued his voyage in
the direction of the bay of this city, and the president and governor,
seeing himself hard pressed, communicated with the Audiencia and sought
its aid. The latter, desiring to make the greatest effort possible,
decided that I should go to Cavite and put the port in a state of
defense and likewise secure a fleet. I opposed no difficulties or
excuses to this, nor did I seek any rewards or aids for the expense,
nor any impossible things. On the contrary, that same day I went to
the port and fortified it so adequately that it was in a good state
of defense--so that, although the enemy came into the mouth of the
bay, they dared not enter or carry out their designs, on account
of the knowledge that they had of my preparation. At the same time
I finished the galizabra and launched it; and I fitted out another
vessel, belonging to private persons, which lay there. I armed both of
them and set sail in thirty days with a number of volunteer troops,
men of quality, who were resolved to accompany me on the service of
your Majesty on such an occasion (all at their own cost), as the enemy
was well established at the mouth of the bay, waiting for the ships
of the Chinese and the vessels from Nueva Espana with the silver,
in order to capture them. When the governor saw the state in which
I had put things, and at so little cost to your Majesty's exchequer,
and that the troops with which the expedition must be made would not
do so, or even go in the fleet if I did not go as its leader, and
realized the great importance of promptness, he ordered me in the name
of your Majesty to make the expedition immediately. He told me that in
no other wise on this occasion could I serve your Majesty. I obeyed,
and made ready to go where I was ordered, without seeking any pay of
profit. I spent more than four thousand pesos of my scanty property
to procure the necessaries for the expedition, some reenforcements, an
outfit of arms, and other things. I risked my person, honor, property,
and the support of ten children whom God has given me, and a good wife,
solely for the service of God and your Majesty; for it is certain that
no other interest or profit could take me from my house, where I was
in quiet and safety, since I never sought or asked for this thing.

This resolution was distasteful to the said Don Juan Ronquillo de el
Castillo and his retainers--chief of whom are the factor, Francisco
de las Missas [49] and the licentiate Tellez Almacan, auditor of this
Audiencia. These men quite openly proposed to the governor to give
Don Juan the expedition, as he was the commander of the galleys;
and other things to this purpose, which satisfied the governor but
little. It seemed best to him not to change the design if I should
desire it, or at least should not be burdened by it.

I sailed with the two armed ships in quest of the pirate, from the port
of Cabite, on the twelfth of December. On Thursday, the fourteenth
of the same month, I came to close quarters with him, and the battle
resulted as your Majesty will learn more at length by the relation
which accompanies this.

I took as admiral, by the appointment of the governor, a certain
captain Juan de Alcega, a citizen of this city, and a partisan of
the said Don Juan Ronquillo; he is for this reason a great friend of
the said licentiate Tellez Almacan, the auditor, and likewise because
at the time when he came to this city the latter was hospitable and
kind to him, and has always continued so. He is a man skilful in war
with the Indians, as it is practiced here; but is of an irritable
temperament, and desirous of having his own way on occasion, without
obeying his superiors, of which there has been proof enough. When
I had fully recognized the enemy and knew that he was carrying
all his force on the flagship, I ordered the admiral in writing on
the day before the battle, what particularly must be done--namely,
that with both our ships we must engage the said flagship of the
pirates. Accordingly as soon as I discovered the enemy the next day,
I kept the almiranta near me, and grappled with the enemy and moored
to him. When the admiral arrived and should have done the same,
he shoved the tiller aside and, without my order, contrary to the
command which I had given him, went after the almiranta of the pirate,
which was sailing away; thus he left me unprotected and alone, for
which reason my commander's ship fared as recounted in the relation.

For this disobedience, and others of which he was guilty and of great
importance, immediately upon our entrance into the city the governor
arrested the said captain Juan de Alcega, and is proceeding against
him. Through the favor of the said auditor and his party, and various
measures which they have taken--especially with the licentiate Salazar,
fiscal of this Audiencia, who is openly of the said party--they
have shielded him in this case in such manner as might be expected
of a person who is so near losing his office, and to whom it is so
important not to make more enemies for his residencia. Accordingly
thus far there has been nothing done in the case, and I have no hope
that anything will be accomplished by the present proceedings.

This Captain Joan de Alcega was freighter of the ship "Santo Thomas"
[50] in the year 99, which left here for Nueva Espana in company with
two other vessels from this city. In the loading of this ship, so
great was the dishonesty and deceit on his part that it is understood
that your Majesty's exchequer was defrauded of more than a hundred
thousand pesos. The governor, in order to wash his hands of this
wrongdoing, began suit against them and condemned them to heavy
fines and penalties, as he must have informed your Majesty. The case
came on appeal to this Audiencia. On account of the said friendship
and partiality, the fiscal hushed up this case, as he has others,
without discussion upon it, and with no reparation to your Majesty
or to this commonwealth.

In this manner Juan de Alcega not only remained unpunished but, aided
by the said persons with several letters, informations and documents,
which they had secretly made and composed, they are attempting to
underrate my good service and seek for him the reward. I have not
wished to set down in a boastful way anything more than the naked
truth, which your Majesty now has before your eyes. I most humbly
beseech your Majesty to be pleased to look upon my good intentions
and labors with the clemency and benevolence which they deserve,
extending to me the favor which is due, in such wise that they shall
not remain without the recompense which the servants of your Majesty
receive on similar occasions. And the chief of these should be to
order me withdrawn from this exile, to a place where I can spend the
rest of my life in greater peace in the service of your Majesty, and
start my children upon the same path. God protect the royal Catholic
person of your Majesty for many long years. Manila, June 30, 1601.

_Don Antonio de Morga_

Grant to Jesuit School in Cebu

Sire:

Hernando de Espinosa, procurator of the Society of Jesus in the
Yndias, in the name of the residence [51] of this order in the
city of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus of the Philipinas Islands, has
represented that, because of the great need of persons to administer
the sacraments to Spaniards, Indians, and Sangleys residing in and
about that city, and to preach to them the holy gospel, the provincial
of the said Society, with the permission of the governor, founded the
said residence six years ago. It is productive of much good, for,
besides the preaching to the Spaniards, natives, and Sangleys, and
hearing their confessions, the other sacraments are administered to
them; and there is a school where reading and writing are taught and
Latin studied, which is of great gain and benefit to the community. The
religious who are there are in great poverty; for they have no income,
nor do they receive any alms from the people. The said procurator
entreats from you a very moderate consideration, on account of their
poverty. This being evident to the said governor, he ordered that
to them be given annually, for such period as should seem fitting to
him, two hundred pesos and two hundred fanegas of rice, as an alms,
from the treasury of the fourths from the encomiendas that are without
instruction. With this it is, however, impossible to support the said
residence. It has need of repairs on its house, and, on account of
its narrow quarters, of erecting new buildings; and because it has
no alms, in lands or chaplaincies, [52] for the mass or any other
of the purposes referred to, it is in great want, as is evident by
the investigations made in the royal Audiencia of the said islands,
which were examined in the Council. He entreats that your Majesty, in
consideration of the aforesaid, will order that the said two hundred
pesos and two hundred fanegas of rice--which were granted to it,
as stated, by the said governor from the treasury of the fourths--be
set aside for it from the royal treasury, as the other fund is not
a permanent one. He further asks that you will bestow upon it from
the royal treasury one thousand pesos of income for its support,
and three thousand, to be paid once, for repairs and buildings for
the said residence; since your Majesty is wont to favor the other
parts of the Yndias for this purpose, as there is no other recourse
for aid. After examining this matter in the Council, our opinion is
that, if your Majesty be so pleased, one thousand pesos of eight reals
each, might be given once to that residence from the royal treasury of
the Philipinas, as an aid in building its houses; and that, besides,
information concerning it should be obtained from the governor and
the archbishop. Valladolid, December 11, 1601.

[_Endorsed:_ "Council of the Indias; December 11, 1601. In regard
to the aid and alms that should be bestowed upon the residence
of the Society in the city of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, of the
Philippinas." "So let it be."]

Documents of 1602

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

_Source_: All these documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo
general de Indias, Sevilla.

_Translations_: The first document is translated by Alfonso de Salvio,
of Harvard University; the second, and part of the fourth, by Robert
W. Haight; the third, and part of the fourth, by Norman F. Hall, of
Harvard University; the first letter in the fourth, by Jose M. and
Clara M. Asensio.

Instructions to Pedro de Acuna

The King: To Don Pedro de Acuna, whom I have appointed my governor
and captain-general of the Philipinas Islands, and president of my
Audiencia therein. My royal Council of the Indias having examined
some letters from the said islands, I have resolved upon the following.

Since the Philipinas Islands are so far away and distant, surrounded
by so many great kingdoms of infidels, the entry and intercourse which
the Chinese and Japanese enjoy in Manila, and their friendly relation
with the natives, give us reason to fear that the former, allying
themselves with the natives, may attempt some disturbance, as they
are inclined to do. Considering the fact that the greatest security
and strength of the land lies in the Spanish settlement, and I have
heard that not only does it not increase but is not even maintained in
its previous condition--because, although the viceroys of Nueva Espana
are ordered to send reenforcements of men every year to the islands,
many people die from the bad climatic conditions of the land, others
are scattered in military expeditions, others must be permitted to
return (either because they have left families in their own country,
or because they cause injury to the commonwealth), and others go
there with no idea of remaining and have refused to become citizens:
considering all this, and seeing that it is a matter requiring much
attention, I charge and command you, in case this despatch shall
reach you in Nueva Espana, to consult the viceroy concerning all that
may pertain to the improvement of these conditions; or, in case you
receive it in the Philipinas, to do the same by writing, and to make
the arrangements and give the orders which you think best for the
settlement of the said islands, striving to draw the expenses from my
exchequer with the necessary moderation. I shall now write again to
the said viceroy, telling him to take care to provide the islands with
useful people, and permanent settlers; and, in order that such persons
may settle there, and remain in the islands, he shall favor them,
and see that the orders concerning the trade between the said islands
and Nueva Espana be carried out with exactness and rigor in order to
attain the end and purpose for which we allow this commerce--namely,
the preservation and prosperity of the islands, and the welfare of
their citizens and inhabitants. You yourself must attend to this with
much care, striving for the settlement of the said islands, and their
safety and tranquillity, and for the instruction and conversion of
the Indian natives.

Governor Don Francisco Tello wrote to me last year, ninety-nine,
about the precautions that he had taken in the punishment of some
Japanese pirates who had repaired to that coast and after whom he had
sent vessels by different routes; and about the inquiries that he had
likewise made among the crews of some merchant ships which had put
into Manila at that time, suspecting that they and the pirates were
all of the same sort. Since it is necessary to take notice and be
careful of this, I charge and command you to be always very vigilant
in foreseeing the troubles which may require your attention and which
may arise in the said islands, even if it be under pretext of trade
by foreigners. You will give a hospitable reception to friends,
and maintain amicable relations with them, keeping the ports and
frontiers of the said islands in the necessary security, and taking
special care that the expenses to be met by my royal exchequer in
the precautions to be taken, the manning of vessels for searching out
and punishing pirates, and the rest, be no more than are absolutely
necessary--since you see the many things which need attention; and,
above all, the limited resources of these islands.

When you informed me that in order to punish the pirates who resort to
the coast of the Philipinas Islands, it would be well to arm and man
some galleys, I granted you by my letter bearing the date of April 8
of this year, that if you saw that the galleys could be of service and
usefulness you might cause them to be built and manned. But through a
letter of July 12 in the said year, 1599, the said Don Francisco Tello
informs me that since the galleys are not suited for those seas--as
they had learned by experience, on account of the swift current
and their inability to enter a bay while pursuing the enemy--and
on account of the difficulties which the religious oppose to his
collecting rowers, and as those whom they get possess little skill,
he had decided to build four galizabras; these were already being
built, and when well armed and equipped would, with three galliots,
constitute a sufficient force for the clearing and pacification
of those seas. It is therefore desirable that you carefully note
all these matters, and after you have examined and considered them
thoroughly, you will see whether or not it will be advisable to keep
the said galizabras and galliots in case they are built and manned. You
will give the necessary care to the security of that coast and land,
keeping me informed of what is being done and of the coast which the
said galizabras or vessels appointed for that purpose will guard.

The said Don Francisco Tello says in the same letter that the province
of Mindanao was already pacified; but that some of the native chiefs
had given no pledge, and matters had not been thoroughly set in order,
and therefore it was necessary to keep there a garrison of two hundred
soldiers. He adds that, as the country is poor and has few sources of
wealth, he thought that the Indians would be unable to pay tribute;
but it was necessary to assure the safety and accessibility of that
post, because that was the landing-place where the Terrenatan landed
on his plundering expeditions against the Pintados, as he did in the
year 95. The said governor, as he had so few men and so little military
strength, decided to place a hundred soldiers in La Caldera, which is
near [the river of] Mindanao, in order to assure safety for that place
and to hold in check him of Terrenate. You will thoroughly inform
yourself of the state of affairs, and make the necessary provision
for them, taking special care to hold what is already pacified and to
have the gospel preached everywhere. As for the tribute to be imposed
upon the Indians you will do what may seem necessary, consulting the
prelates and observing my orders; you will see that those who have
been pacified and are subjected to me be safe, and receive no injury or
molestation from enemies. You will inform me of all that is being done.

The fiscal of the Audiencia of the said islands has written me
that since the Indians do not pay the eight reals tribute in kind,
as they were wont to do, but it has been left to their choice
instead, many difficulties have been and are being experienced,
detrimental to the newly-pacified Indians, to my exchequer, and to
the commonwealth; because, when they gave the produce of the land
in payment of the tribute, they cultivated and gathered it, and,
besides paying the tribute, there was left to them a large quantity
of produce, which they kept for their trade and crafts. The result
was that the community was well provided with abundance of supplies,
at little cost, and with cloth of various fabrics, with which they
clothed themselves. The encomenderos shipped these articles to Nueva
Espana, and the returns therefrom remained in the islands instead
of being taken away by the Chinese, as is done now; for the stuffs
are being bought from the Chinese, and the Indians of the islands no
longer manufacture them. Much gold was also taken to Nueva Espana,
from which the tenth was paid to me to the yearly amount of six or
eight thousand pesos, not to mention the larger amount which was paid
for the tributes of the encomiendas which are assigned to my crown;
but since the tribute is not paid in kind, hardly any gold is mined
now. Another trouble that results from this is, that the Indians,
who are naturally prone to idleness, easily earn enough with which to
pay the tribute and buy stuffs from the Chinese with which to clothe
themselves, and so do not manufacture these. In order to remove these
difficulties, it would be expedient to impose upon the said Indians
the occupations and work for which they and the provinces where they
live are fit and suitable, with the raising of cattle; they should
also be forced to extract gold from the mines and rivers, for, if
this were done, much gold could be obtained from the mines, rivers,
and placers. Thus the Chinese trade would cease in a large degree, and
the returns from the gold and cloths which might be carried to Nueva
Espana would remain in the land; and that, with the gain which would
thus result to the Indians, would make them well inclined to such work,
and cause them to do it willingly. The main point to be settled in
order that the Indians may be influenced to undertake it is, to make
them pay the tribute in kind. And since much attention and thoughtful
consideration should be given to what is here pointed out, not only
for the welfare of the Indians but for that of the commonwealth--since
if the land itself could provide and supply produce and merchandise,
that would be more advantageous than to procure them from outside;
and the gold and silver which is now taken away to foreign and pagan
kingdoms would remain in the land itself--I charge and command you
that, as soon as you reach the said islands, you call together my royal
Audiencia there; the honored prelates who shall be in Manila, and the
superiors of the religious orders--informing of this matter, by letter,
those who cannot easily go thither--and confer and deliberate with them
on all that is expedient and necessary to be done. In this conference
you shall keep in mind the welfare and preservation of the Indians and
of the country, and see that the said natives be neither molested nor
wronged--striving for this object, that there may be crops and other
products of the country; and that, for this purpose, the Indians shall
pay the tribute in kind. You will observe the necessary system in
taxing them, and will execute whatever decision is reached about the
matter; moreover you will inform me of what is being done, and will
always be careful to see that the Indians work in some occupation or
other and be not idle, since idleness is the chief cause of their ruin.

My governor of those islands was ordered to abolish many false musters
and extra expenses which were granted out of my treasury; but I have
heard that, although he reduced or abolished some of the said musters,
other stipends and extra expenses have since been given which had not
been usually paid--namely, to captains, alferezes, and other military
officers whom the said governor appointed over the people of the
towns. I have also heard that many alcaldes-mayor and other officials
have been added and their salary increased, so that where there was
only one alcalde-mayor, there are now three, each having a deputy, and
all drawing salaries from my treasury. I have learned that the said
officials could be reduced in the following way: In the province of
La Laguna, one alcalde-mayor, with a salary of three hundred pesos;
in the district of Mauban, [53] on the opposite coast [of Luzon],
one corregidor, with a salary of two hundred pesos; in the province
of Camarines, another alcalde-mayor, with a salary of three hundred
pesos, abolishing the office recently established; in the province
of Cagallan, one alcalde-mayor; in Pangasinan, one alcalde-mayor;
in the province of Ylocos, one alcalde-mayor with the same salary,
who could administer the jurisdiction of the district of Bulacan,
thus dispensing with the alcalde-mayor lately appointed for that
place; we can also dispense with the alcalde-mayor of the town of
Ytondo and of the coast of the city of Manila, all being districts
and suburbs of that city, leaving them under the jurisdiction of the
alcaldes-in-ordinary of the city of Manila, as in former times, so
that one alcalde might administer justice in the suburbs during six
months of the year, and the other serve in the city. It would also
be expedient to dispense with the alcalde-mayor lately appointed for
the islands of Leite, Zamar, and Babao, which may remain in charge
of the alcalde-mayor of Zubu, as they were before; for the natives
are troubled by both of these, and it is not desirable to have there
more than the alcalde-mayor of Zubu. Moreover, one corregidor with a
salary of two hundred pesos would suffice for the river of Butuan; in
the island of Calamianes, one corregidor is enough, drawing the same
salary; in the district of Oton one alcalde-mayor, with a salary of
three hundred pesos; in Panay, one corregidor, with two hundred pesos
salary. Let no alcalde-mayor or corregidor have a deputy except in his
absence, and then without a salary. I charge and command you that,
when you arrive at the said islands, you thoroughly investigate all
the aforesaid matters, and secure information thereon; and ascertain
what offices, salaries, and extra expenses have been added, and the
reason and justification for doing so. You will correct and reform
what there is to remedy and reform, so that, by taking the necessary
precaution in everything, whether it be in the administration of
justice or other matters, you will prevent as much as possible any
waste of my funds; for you see how necessary this is, on account of
the many expenses and works which must be supported by the treasury.

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