Since we do not find a port of China in Macan it will be right for us to enter the interior, and we shall tell what is passing [there] in the spiritual and temporal. Christianity continues to increase. There are twenty-two members of the Society in all China, established at the court of Pequin and other chief cities. Ours go about there with more liberty and publicity than they have ever done. Happy times are expected if the uncle of the king who is now reigning enters into the kingdom, as is heard, and if the king is held in guardianship, as he is a boy. The latter succeeded his brother who died. [45] Immediately upon entering his kingdom, he exiled from his court a eunuch, a prime favorite of his brother, who had command of everything and even played the tyrant; he also exiled other favorites. The seas of that kingdom of China are infested with pirates from China itself, and they are so numerous that it is said that there are more than a thousand ships of them. They pillage everything and infest all places, and have sacked and burned many maritime places of that great kingdom. They have been the cause this year of very few ships coming to these islands to trade; for the mandarins have put an embargo on all ships, in order to build a large fleet to oppose the said pirates. A large stone was found in the interior of China with Chinese and some Chaldean characters, which tell how preachers of the gospel came to China a thousand years ago and preached the gospel. They had bishops, and many churches and Christians, and the mysteries of our faith were established there. As it is a long matter I shall not relate it here, but shall only say that after having examined the circumstances, it appears to be true, without ground for doubt of it. [46]

Father Juan Adan, of the Society of Jesus, wrote the following. He lives in Pequin.

"The affairs of this kingdom of China are in a condition of perfect peace. A rumor was current many days ago that the Tartar king, the fear of this empire, was dead. [47] As he had many sons, and had conquered many lands from his other neighbors, the sons will be kept quite busy for some few years in coming to terms with one another, and in dividing and maintaining what their aged father left them. A few days ago, a mandarin related to Father Nicolas Longobardo [48] that he had seen in the palace an image of a woman with two small boys and an old man. It must be David who was playing the harp for them. It is not an idol of the Chinese, for the image is about a thousand years old, and was a present from foreigners in the time of Tam-Chao, when our holy law entered China, as your Reverence will already know from the stone which was found, and the painting of the old man on linen, a figure which resembles us. This point needs investigation, in order that we may know what it is with greater certainty." The father continues, making mention of an earthquake that happened in China.

Let us return to the island of Hermosa, whence a boat came on March 13, with the news that a great mandarin had come from China to our fort, to ascertain what people they had recently received as neighbors. I will briefly state the reason for his coming. A Chinaman bribed by the Dutch took certain memoranda to the mandarins, in which a thousand evil things were said of the Spaniards (namely, that they were certain robbers), while the Dutch were praised—all with the object that trade be forbidden with Manila, and opened with the Dutch, which is the thing that they have always been trying to do, and to which the Chinese have always been opposed. Another Chinaman was not wanting who took up the matter on his own account, and said: "The Dutch who pillage those kingdoms, and are rebels to their king, are rather the robbers and pirates, and not the Spaniards, who are good men; with them we trade in Manila, and they do not constrain us except by many very good works." Upon seeing that, the viceroy of the maritime provinces sent the said mandarin to the new port which we had occupied in the island of Hermosa, to examine and investigate what kind of people we were, and what were our purposes in making a settlement so near China. The mandarin was very cordially received by the commandant of the island of Hermosa, Antonio Carreno de Valdes, who regaled him and made much of him, and gave him a fine present at his departure. He told the mandarin that our intentions were good, and that we did not intend to harm China, but rather to aid them by punishing the pirates who infested those seas. The mandarin was despatched, but put back once and twice to the fort. He was received well each time and well treated by the said commandant. He put back the third time, and for shame refused to return to our fort, but anchored not far from it; there the natives cut his moorings one night, and, drawing the ship to land, entered it and pillaged whatever they wished, and treated the mandarin with contumely. In the morning, when the commandant got wind of the affair, he sent a troop of soldiers. Attacking the natives with orders not to kill them (for the soldiers shot their bullets into the sky), they captured some chiefs. Thereupon, the chiefs restored to the Chinese mandarin what they had pillaged from him; and, in order to regain their liberty, handed over to us their sons as hostages, who are being reared in our fort. Thereupon the mandarin was sent away, very thankful. An account of all this affair was sent to Manila to the governor, who immediately despatched the father-provincial of St. Dominic—who knows the Chinese language, and has tried by various ways and means for many years to enter China, but never has been able to succeed. [49] This despatch seemed now to be a good means to him—I mean to the said father-provincial—so that in company with the said commandant of the island of Hermosa, they might go to the viceroy of the maritime provinces with a very rich present of silver, cloth, and other things. Those articles were sent for that purpose so that those provinces might make a treaty with our fort on the island of Hermosa, where the said father-provincial is preparing to go with the commandant on the embassy, the result of which I shall tell next year.

The aid of food and ammunition was sent to the forts which we have in the Malucas Islands this year, as usual. Three pataches went, under the command of a valiant soldier, Captain Francisco Hernandez. The Dutch had received a very large and well-equipped ship, with which they were waiting to capture our relief expedition. The two pataches easily escaped, and sought the protection of our forts. But the ship in which the said Captain Francisco Hernandez was, seeing that it could not escape, courageously went to attack the [Dutch] ship. When that was seen from our fort of Terrenate, the galley was despatched to the aid of our ship. The latter grappled with the hostile vessel and fought so courageously, that its men were about to enter the latter, when, the Dutch firing a piece, it struck in the powder which had been brought up on deck for the fight. Thereupon our vessel caught fire, and the men took to the water, and reached the shore, which was near, by swimming. The galley, which through fear of the powder of our ship which was blown up, had approached very near the enemy's ship, was capsized by all the men going to one side. Consequently, all its men took to the water in order to escape by swimming. Thus the enemy were victorious, although more of their men were killed than of ours. They tried to take the galley, notwithstanding its condition, but it sank in a few moments. That was a great misfortune. The enemy were triumphant, and made much ado about the outcome.

The Camucones are certain robbers who live on the sea, and constantly infest our seas of Filipinas; they came this year, as they have done in others. A small fleet of our caracoas—vessels that look like galleys, although they are smaller and weaker—went out to attack them from the island of Oton. Our vessels captured three of the enemy's caracoas, while four others grounded on the beach. The latter were burned by our Indians, and the Camucones who disembarked were killed. Therefore, we are free from that canaille for this year, and they nave done us but little harm. A large hostile caracoa was discovered on the coast of the city of Cebu. The Spaniards went out to it and, having overtaken it, its people instead of surrendering and delivering up themselves, received our men with a volley of stones which they cast from certain slings, and showers of spears. When our men saw that the enemy would not easily come to terms, they attacked and killed them. Only six of them were left alive, who with the prize and boat were taken to the said city of Cebu, where the attempt was made to ascertain their purpose and from what land they came. But it was impossible to ascertain anything, for they understood none of the languages spoken here, although there are so many. They were thought to be people who had been blown from some island. [50] They were naked, and had no firearms, nor even weapons of iron. Their ship had no nails, and a chisel that was found was made of bone. They ate lice with a good grace—by that propensity, being people of good taste. Some thought them to be from an island more distant than Borney; for the inhabitants of that island eat lice, and the fat ones with especial liking.

The governor established a shipyard this year in the province of Camarines—which is a part of this island of Manila—in order to build a couple of galleons, two or three galleys, and a like number of brigantines, for there was need of all. For that purpose he sent some Spaniards, and a number of Chinese and Indians, to build the ships; a considerable quantity of iron for nails, much rice for food, four pieces of artillery to garrison themselves, and, in short, all that was necessary. They settled at the said place and began their building. The king of Jolo left his island, which was subject and tributary for a long time, and it was years since he was rebellious. He went out with two thousand men, in more than thirty caracoas, which are called joangas when they are large. He came among our islands, and first captured from us a ship and a quantity of iron (which is an article that they esteem highly). They also captured balls, fuses, and all that the ship was carrying to the shipyard. Then they captured another ship from us with sixty Indians and two Spaniards, who were going to cut wood for the building of the ships. They had interpreters, and found out where the shipyard was located. They went there before dawn, landed seven hundred well-armed men, and commenced to kill and rob. The Spaniards were quite off their guard, and had not fortified themselves and mounted the artillery, as they ought to have done. They quickly seized their arms, and began to fire their arquebuses. The enemy first killed for us two of our Spaniards, whereupon only twelve Spaniards were left. Of the other men the enemy took no account, for many were already captured or killed. Some tried to flee, and some sought the shelter of our arquebuses in a storehouse where the provisions were kept, where the Spaniards had retired, and where they remained fighting, because of their few number, until shortly after midday. By that time five of them were wounded, and only seven were left who could fight. They ran short of ammunition and fuses, because the enemy had taken them, as I have said. Thereupon, they resolved to embark in a large boat which they had, back of the said storehouse on a river, his Majesty's silver, all the arms, the women and children, and the other Indians who had taken shelter there. Immediately the twelve Spaniards, both the wounded and the sound, embarked, and went up the river. Therefore, the camp was left to the king of Jolo and his men. They remained there for some days, eating and drinking as if in their own homes. They embarked the four pieces of artillery which our men could not take, and collected all the iron that they could load into their ships; and even then they did not take all that there was, for there was much of it. Consequently, they left a great part of it ashore. They robbed many things of value, and a great quantity of rice which they found—a matter of about one thousand fanegas—they scattered and threw into the sea, for they had no need of it. They killed and captured many, and among them a Spanish woman, and thereupon they retired triumphant. However they were surprised that so few Castilians, as they say, made front for so long against so many of their men. The king left a letter for the governor; and one of the seigniors of Europa could not apparently write more prudently or in more just manner. He said in the letter that he had made that demonstration because a chief of his named Achen, having been sent as ambassador to Manila, had been ill-treated here. He had been thrust into prison and his possessions taken away from him, among them three exceedingly beautiful pearls of extraordinary size, such as are obtained in that kingdom and island. It is a fact that all the above was done to his ambassador Achen; but the reason for it was because, after he had been honorably despatched from Manila in order that he might return to his country, he sailed out with his vessel, which resembled a beautiful small galley, pillaging all whom he met. Consequently, men were sent against him; and they captured him on his way and took him to Manila, where they took away his possessions and imprisoned him. Although they might have hanged him, they did not do so, but despatched him to his country once more. He returned thence for the second time as ambassador, with a very haughty and arrogant message. They sent him away, and he went to the limits of these Filipinas Islands; and as soon as he thought that he would be safe, began to pillage, and took refuge [with his allies]. Accordingly the king of Jolo was ill informed in what he wrote. The latter, on leaving the shipyard, attacked another of our islands, called Bantayan, where he was resisted by three Spaniards and one secular priest with arquebuses, until their powder was gone. That happened during the night; and then the Spaniards and the ecclesiastic retired, whereupon the Joloans landed. Inasmuch as the island abounds in certain large thorns, which form its greatest defense against a barefooted enemy, such as are the Joloans, they wore as a protection certain wooden shoes resembling coarse leather sandals [abarca] with which they landed. They captured many of the natives. Then they attacked Ogonuc, a village in charge of the fathers of the Society, and pillaged it, as well as what our house and church contained, even to the bells. The father was not there, and so they did not capture him. The enemy took heavy spoils in everything; but, what was a cause for greater pain, they captured more than three hundred Indians. They sell them as slaves to heathen kingdoms, and in the end the slaves become like the masters. While the above was happening, as report of it had already gone forth, the commandant of Cebu and lieutenant of the captain-general, Christobal de Lugo, prepared his fleet of caracoas, in order to go out to engage the enemy and take away their booty. He sailed out and sighted the enemy at two in the afternoon. The enemy, seeing him, began to flee; and in order to do so with greater freedom, abandoned astern some eight small boats boats—a matter of small importance. Our fleet continued to pursue them, but they put so much strength into their rowing that they distanced our men. Their craft are extremely swift, and have two prows, so that it is unnecessary to turn about in order to flee. The night descended, and the enemy escaped, to the great grief of our men. They, seeing the so great disaster that was happening to us, and that the enemy had gone away making a jest of us, sent Father Fabricio Sarsali of our Society from the city of Cebu with orders to go to Manila to inform the governor, and get permission from him to go to seek the enemy in their own country. For that purpose they needed food, some silver, and some soldiers, besides those that they had there. The father came, negotiated successfully, and all that he requested was given him; and they were ordered to go to punish the Joloan enemy. However they were not to approach a strong fort that the Joloans had on a hill on top of a steep rock, as that was a very dangerous undertaking, where twice in former years the Spaniards had been defeated. Accordingly, the capture of that fort required a greater force and a more favorable opportunity. The father returned with his despatch. The caracoas of the island of Oton and those of Cebu were prepared, which formed, as it were, two squadrons. Many other caracoas of volunteer Indian chiefs joined them, so that all together they numbered thirty or forty. About two hundred Spaniards and more than one thousand six hundred Indians embarked in them. On April 22, they reached the beach of the island of Jolo. At one o'clock of the day, the commander landed one hundred Spaniards and a number of Indians, leaving the other men behind for the defense of the fleet so that it might come to no hurt. They espied a flourishing settlement, of which they had hitherto had no information; for the king and his men live on top of the hill, for greater safety. But, being desirous of enjoying trade and commerce with other kingdoms, they had built that city. Between it and us was the river. Seeing that this matter was one of quickness and determination, they immediately crossed the river, part in boats, but the majority in water up to their waists. They attacked the settlement, and although the Joloans tried to resist, they were unable; accordingly, they retired, and our men entered the settlement and sacked it. It contained quantities of gold, cloth, and other things, especially in the palaces of the king, which were very rich and beautiful, and curiously carved, as was also the mosque. That island is inhabited by Moros. Our men captured three versos and two falcons, one hundred and fifty muskets and arquebuses, and a flag which the enemy had captured from us in the shipyard. They esteemed the flag very highly, as they had captured it from Spaniards. The Spaniards set fire to the settlement and to a village of Lutaos, who are fishermen, as well as to the alcaiceria which the Chinese had there. Everything was burned, including a very large supply of rice which they had gathered, and which will cause them great want. A quantity of powder and sulphur was also burned, besides more than sixty joangas. These were the ships of their fleet, in which they went out to pillage, using besides more than a hundred other small craft, which also were broken up and burned; so that not a single ship was left to them. Then the Spaniards looked for the tombs of the kings, in accordance with the order given from Manila by the governor. The tombs are highly esteemed by the Joloans. They found three wonderful and splendid ones, especially one of them, which was the one for the present king. They also burned these, although the Joloans tried to prevent them. All this was accomplished in the same afternoon when much of the fleet arrived; the men then retired to their ships. Next day, which was Easter Sunday, the Spaniards heard that at a certain point there was a large joanga belonging to the same king, and three versos. Again they disembarked and burned the said joanga and captured the versos. Upon all these occasions the captain-general was the first to disembark, the last to enter the vessel, and the first in all places where they went. With him went Father Fabricio Sarsali, with a banner on which was an image of our father St Francis Javier, who had been taken as patron of that expedition.

After all that had been accomplished, the commander, Don Cristobal de Lugo, sent a letter to the king which had been sent him from Manila by the governor, in reply to that which the king had written him. The governor had ordered that the letter should not be sent until after the punishment had been accomplished. The king replied, as the senate of Venecia might have done, with more courtesies and reasons of state. For writing it he employed as secretary the Spanish woman whom he had captured at the shipyard, who is named Dona Lucia, of whom he is very fond. Consequently, although the Spanish commander tried to ransom her and offered as much as six hundred pesos for her, the king would not surrender her—answering that it was not consistent with his greatness to give her up for money; but that he would send her freely, if they would give him in recompense the falcons and versos which they had captured from him, and one of the slave women who was in our power. The slave woman was sent him, but not the artillery, and a fine thing it would have been to arm the enemy to ransom one woman. Thus did she remain in their power, but made half a queen. Some of the enemy were killed, and others captured. Some of those whom the king had captured from us came to us, but not all, for most of them had been sold in other kingdoms. Great was the booty, and the Indians who went on that expedition were rich and eager for other expeditions. Not a single one of our men was killed or wounded. Thus all of them returned to embark, laden with spoils and happy. The enemy were left chastised and ruined for many years. Then our fleet went to another island near there, called Taguima, whose inhabitants went out to pillage with the Joloans. They had already been advised, and accordingly fled to the mountains. Our men landed, and burned a large village, in which there was nothing but common things. They laid waste all the palm-trees, and did them all the damage possible. Then the fleet went to the island of Mindanao. A letter was despatched from the port of La Caldera to the sultan of that island, notifying him to come to see our commander, but he refused to do so, and made excuses; but the truth was, that he was afraid. He sent an ambassador and wrote a letter to the governor of Manila, in which he begged for fathers of the Society and one hundred infantrymen to build a fort (which is the thing that we desire), from which to destroy the Joloans, who are also his enemy at present.

A great portion of the province of Cagayan, which is located in this island of Manila, has been in revolt for some years. An extensive raid was made this year by our Spaniards and two thousand friendly Indians. Some of the enemy were killed, and eight villages burned. The country was laid waste, with the fields that the enemy had there; and thus were they punished for the insolent acts that they had committed. Consequently, these islands have four wars on the tapis at present: in the island of Hermosa, with the natives and the Dutch; in Terrenate and the Malucas Islands, with the Dutch also; in Jolo and other near-by islands whose inhabitants infest our seas; and in Cagayan with the insurgents. For so much war we must have greater aid from Espana and Nueva Espana, so that the condition of these islands may not fall lower.

I will conclude this relation with the fires that we have experienced this year, which have been many and important.

The convent of St. Francis, the hospital, and other houses were burned in Maluco. The convent of St. Nicolas (which belongs to the Recollects) in Cebu was burned March 29; and that of St. Augustine and a great portion of the city on April 8. It was a miracle that our residence escaped, for the fire was near it.

Fire caught, at one o'clock at night on March 13, in the Parian or alcaiceria of the Chinese, where more than twelve thousand Chinese live, outside the walls of this city of Manila. Inside of five hours it was all leveled. It naturally seems impossible that so large a settlement, with wooden pillars which two men could not encircle, could have burned in so short a time. But that must have been the fire and punishment of heaven for the so horrible sins by which those heathen Chinese have provoked the wrath of God. The church and convent of St. Dominic, which is one of the most splendid wooden buildings that there can be, escaped from the midst of this fire of Sodom. A house owned there by the Society, which was even yet unfinished, was also unburnt. All the rest was burned to the very foundations. The inhabitants of Manila, who owned many of the houses, lost considerable in that fire. But in the space of four months, most of that alcaiceria has been rebuilt in squares and straight streets and uniform houses. It presents a very beautiful appearance, and is as large as the city of Manila itself. It is no wonder that a city should be built entire in so short a time, when more than three thousand men have worked on it. I do not know whether there can be any other part of the world than Manila where there are so many workmen and so abundant materials.

[Volume i of the Ventura del Arco MSS. (Ayer library) contains the following synopsis of another relation for the years 1627-1628.]



Events in the Filipinas Islands from August, 1627, until June, 1628.

In August, 1627, Governor Don Juan Nino de Tabora left the bay of Manila with the fleet, going toward the island of Hermosa in order to drive away the Dutch who had established themselves there two years before the Spaniards.

The fleet sailed out of season, for the relief ships from Nueva Espana arrived a month later than they ought. Accordingly, the fleet encountered northerly winds when they reached Cape Bojeador. They remained there for some days, beating to windward, until after several storms they had to put back to Manila.

The galleys joined the fleet at Bangui, which is located at the same cape. The smaller vessels, not being able to withstand the weather, became separated from the fleet; and one of them, with the heavy storm that overtook them, ended its voyage at a port of China, in the province of Fo-chiu, and another at the island of Hermosa. The galleys lost their moorings at Bangui, where the earth and even the sea trembled fourteen times in one day. Hills were toppled over; and one called Los Caraballos, which was on the road to Nueva Segovia, and was inaccessible, sank and became very level. Some of the convents of the Dominican religious (who instruct that province) fell. The hurricane wrecked immense numbers of trees, which covered the beaches of the sea. By the middle of September the weather moderated. The commander of the galleys, not knowing that the galleons had put back, continued his voyage, and reached the point on the island of Hermosa, and entered the Dutch port without knowing it. He went within cannon-shot, reconnoitered the port, and sounded the coast. He observed the fort, and the preparations made by the Dutch, who were fearful of some attack. Then he went to a small island inhabited by Chinese fishermen, who received him cordially; they expressed hatred for the Dutch, and their desire to aid the Spaniards to drive them from the island of Hermosa. They had some Dutch prisoners, who had been shipwrecked from a galleon that had been lost on their coasts, or on the reefs of the said island. The galleys sailed thence toward our port in the island of Hermosa, but so furious a north wind caught them, when near it, that they were carried to Cape Bojeador in five days; and they were able to make the port called Japones. There another storm struck them on the first of October, and the two galleys were smashed to pieces, although the artillery and men were saved.

The ship that put in at Fo-chiu returned to the port of the island of Hermosa with whose infantry and that of another small patache, which had arrived before, and with some silver and clothing which it carried, the fort was relieved; and its garrison were able to punish, as they did, the Chinese who had killed two captains, with twenty-five or thirty Spaniards.

The governor, having returned to the bay of Manila with his galleons, was notified from Macao, before he had disembarked, that four Dutch vessels had been sighted, whose intention was to make prizes and prevent the commerce. He sent two galleons as a convoy for the Portuguese galleys of that port; but when they reached Macao the Dutch vessels were no longer there, the battle having already occurred which was referred to in the preceding document.

The two galleons having been freed [from the convoy] went—after suffering a severe storm in which they were nearly wrecked, from the effects of which they had to be repaired—in accordance with the orders of the governor, to scour all the coast as far as Malaca in pursuit of the Dutch. For that purpose they equipped a patache before leaving Macao, while another patache was despatched from Manila to join them. During the eight months while the voyage lasted, those four boats scoured all the places where the Dutch are accustomed to go, without omitting any save to enter Jacatra [51] itself. They went first to the island of Aynao [i.e., Hainan], which has four cities, and is the pearl fishery of Great China. Then they skirted the coast of Cochinchina, where the king sent to request them, through a Spaniard who was there and the superior of the mission which the fathers of the Society have there, not to attack them, since he was our friend. They did not meddle with his possessions, but, before leaving the coast, captured a junk belonging to the king of Siam, which was coming from Canton laden with silks, earthenware, and tobacco, which was valued at more than fifty thousand ducados.

Between the islands of Pulo Condor and Puluibi, which are opposite the kingdom of Camboja, one of the two pataches met a very large Dutch ship, which it was thought was going to Siam, where the galleons were awaiting it. But it was not so, and it was believed to have gone to Japon.

The raid of the fleet, and especially of those galleons, was feared by all the kings of the coast and by those of Java and Borneo, and they desired peace with the Spaniards. Even the mandarin of Fo-chiu thought that the fleet was going to attack China, and ordered an agent to go to the island of Hermosa to find out about it.

The relief expedition sent to Maluco had the outcome mentioned in the preceding document.

During that year, the old king of Ternate died at Manila. He had been captured at the recovery of the Malucas. He was a Moro, of royal appearance and speech; and died in the Moro belief, of which he had always been most observant. He thoroughly understood the teachings of our holy faith, and said that the only reason that he did not embrace it was because it was not fitting for a king to change his religion because he had been captured.

This document refers to the invasion of the islands by the king of Jolo, in the same manner as the preceding document; and concludes by saying that after he had been punished, the Spaniards began to build three galleys, four brigantines, and forty large caracoas at the order of the governor; and that they must be preparing themselves to take vengeance on the Moros of Borneo, and the Camucones and Joloans, for the damages sustained from them during the preceding years.



REPORT OF APPOINTMENTS MADE BY GOVERNOR TAVORA

Sire:

Proceeding in conformity with what your Majesty orders me by royal decree, dated at Madrid on the twentieth of January, one thousand six hundred and twenty-five, and countersigned by Senor Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras, directing that I should send a relation of the places, offices, encomiendas, gratuities, incomes, allowances, additional pay, and whatsoever other advantages I might confer, making a special record for this; after having complied with this, and sent an account in the ships which left this island for Nueva Espana in the year six hundred and twenty-seven, I have thus far made appointments to the following encomiendas, places, and offices:

Captain Blas Lopez Baltadano was granted, in the name of your Majesty, the encomienda of natives at Agonoc and its dependencies in the province of Camarines, which was left vacant by the demise and death of Don Diego Arias Xiron; it contains four hundred and sixty tributary Indians, each one of them paying every year ten reals, two for the royal revenue, and the rest for the encomendero. Four reals of the latter are paid in kind—a hundred and ten gantas of rice in the husk, fit for sowing and cooking; and two fowls for one real; the rest being in money, of which two reals are paid to the minister who instructs them. This grant was extended to him in conformity with the law of succession, for services which he has rendered your Majesty during the twenty-eight years past while he has been in these islands, at first as a soldier in the company of Captain Juan de Laxara. He was in the expedition for the discovery of the province of Tuy, as an adventurer and head of the veteran soldiers. He was corregidor of Butuan, and afterward went to the coast of Caraga, against the natives of Mindanao, as commander of a caracoa which belonged to him; and likewise in other parts of Mindanao, where he burned six caracoas and protected and defended the natives of his jurisdiction. Later, while corregidor of Ybalon, he attended to furnishing provisions for the galleys which were sent there to await the ships from Nueva Espana, as the Dutch were there again. He spent therein a great deal of labor, as he was obliged to bring the supplies from another jurisdiction, since there were not sufficient in his own. Twice he was alcalde-mayor of Pangasinan, where he brought about the reduction of the rebellious Indians, through the wise counsels of war which he gave. A few of them were executed, and they surrendered and sued for peace. He was in the expedition which Governor Don Luis Perez das Marinas made to Camboxa, holding a captaincy and paying his own expenses. In the port of Pinal he performed great labors in seeking supplies and money for the troops of another fleet. At that time he was appointed royal alferez, and came out wounded in his left arm from an encounter which he had with the Portuguese of Macan, in attempting to capture their commander. After his arrival at this city, he was made captain of Spanish infantry in the said province of Pangasinan, and twice their commander-in-chief, beside being alcalde-mayor and corregidor of Butuan at two other times. During this time he performed other services, as appears from the documents which he presented before me. On the said encomienda there was levied and exacted from him fifty pesos of pension, each year, which are to be given and paid to Alferez Juan Gomez, these being a part of the hundred which he holds from the encomienda of Yguey and its dependencies, belonging to Captain Juan Bautista Perez de Helquera, in the said province of Camarines, by a grant which was made of that sum to the said Alferez Juan Gomez by the royal Audiencia of these islands, when their government was in its charge through the death of Governor Juan de Silva. The said fifty pesos are taken away from the said encomienda of Yguey that it may be free from them, as it has few tributarios; and I have imposed them upon this said encomienda so that the said Alferez Juan Gomez may enjoy them, comformably to the grant which was made him. The said Captain Baltadano must secure a confirmation of this grant from your Majesty inside of four years, reckoned from the day of sailing of the first ships which are despatched from these and the other islands for Nueva Espana—as is ordered by the royal decrees of the twelfth of October, six hundred and twelve, and the twelfth of July, six hundred and twenty-five, under the penalties therein provided. He must likewise send a special power of attorney to petition for the said confirmation, in the form which is provided by another decree dated at Madrid, the twenty-eighth of May, one thousand six hundred and twenty-five; and he must send and remit to that court [a statement of] the amount of his monthly income, when he sends for the said confirmation—in failure whereof the said confirmation will not be accorded him, as your Majesty commands by another decree of the eighth of June, one thousand six hundred and twenty-six. I sent him the commission on the twenty-ninth of October, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven, having previously posted notices in public places in the said city, for the benefit of those who might have claims on the said encomienda, as is ordered by another royal decree of the twenty-fifth of June, one thousand six hundred and twenty-six; and have found by investigation that it is not included in the royal decree which treats of the appointment to encomiendas and offices in the form which is therein provided.

Captain Francisco de la Haya was granted the encomienda of natives at Lobo and Galban, and their dependencies, in the province of Balayan, which was vacated by the demise and death of Don Joseph Arnalte. It has three hundred and eighty-three tributarios, each one paying every year ten reals, two for the royal revenue, and eight for the encomendero. Four reals of these are in kind—sixty gantas of rice in the husk, fit for sowing and cooking; and one fowl for one real; and the other three reals in money, two of which are given to the minister who instructs them. If they are paid in white cotton blankets, of the ordinary size of three baras and a half in length and three quarters of a bara in width, these are to be counted at two reals apiece; and if they are of soyol, which are fine, at four reals; and if hand-worked for altar cloths, at five reals. The grant was made him in conformity with the law of succession, on account of his meritorious acts and services which he has rendered to your Majesty during the twenty-five years past, having enlisted as a soldier in those kingdoms, in the company of Captain Don Fernando de Silva. In that company he came to these islands, where he continued to serve, being present in such occasions for service as occurred. In particular he was present at the battle which was fought by Governor Don Juan de Silva against the Dutch enemy in Playa Honda, in the year six hundred and ten, where he received a wound, a musket-ball traversing his right thigh. Afterward he accompanied the said governor in the fleet which he took to the ports of Terrenate. He was at the capture of Sabugo. [52] He was alferez in the company of Captain Antonio de Morga. He was present with Governor Don Juan de Silva in the fleet which the latter took to the strait of Sincapura; and afterward was likewise in that of General Don Juan Ronquillo, who fought against the said Dutch at the said Playa Honda, he being present on the admiral's galley. He was a second time made alferez in this camp, and resigned from service in the infantry to embark in the fleet which Governor Don Alonso Fajardo prepared to oppose that of the Dutch, in the year six hundred and nineteen, where he served as a soldier in the company of Master-of-camp Don Geronimo de Silva. The next year he was in the fleet of General Don Luis Fajardo, for the protection of these coasts; and in the said position of soldier he served three years, one hundred and eighty-four days, until he was advanced to fill the place of adjutant sargento-mayor of this camp. Serving in this capacity, he went in the fleet which left in the year six hundred and twenty-five to oppose the Dutch who were upon this coast, having as commander the said Master-of-camp Don Hieronimo de Silva. Finally he was captain of infantry in this camp, and during this time has rendered other services, as appeared more at length by his papers which he presented before me. On the said encomienda there was levied and exacted from him fifty pesos of pension each year which were to be paid to Alferez Juan Gomez, which are a part of the hundred which he holds as a pension from the encomienda of Yguey and its dependencies, belonging to Captain Juan Baptista Perez de Helquerra, by a grant which was made to the said Alferez Juan Gomez by the royal Audiencia of these islands, while the government was in its charge through the death of the said Governor Don Juan de Silva. I have taken the said fifty pesos from the encomienda of Yguey, so that the said Captain Bautista Perez may be free therefrom, as the tributarios which he has are few; and I have imposed it upon this said encomienda so that the said Alferez Juan Gomez may enjoy it, comformably to the grant which was made him. The said Captain Francisco de la Haya is bound to secure a confirmation thereof from your Majesty inside of four years reckoned from the day of sailing of the first vessels which are despatched from the islands for Nueva Espana, as is ordered by the said two royal decrees cited, and under the penalties there provided; and likewise he must send special power of attorney to petition for and secure the said confirmation; and when he shall send for it he must remit to that court the amount of his monthly income, failing which the said confirmation will not be given him, as is provided in the said royal decrees cited. I sent him the commission on the twenty-ninth of October, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven, having previously posted edicts in public places in this city for a reasonable length of time, for the benefit of those who may have claims on the said encomienda, as is ordered by another said royal decree cited. I have ascertained by investigation that it does not come under the provisions for the appointment to encomiendas and offices in the form therein provided.

Captain Pedro de Navarrete was granted the encomienda of natives in the villages of Tabuco and its subjects, in the province of La Laguna de Vay, which was vacated by the death of Captain Don Luis Enrriquez de Guzman. There are five hundred and two tributarios, each one of them paying every year ten reals, two for the royal treasury and eight for the encomendero. Four of these are paid in kind—fifty-five gantas of rice in the husk, half of which is cleaned for sowing and cooking; and one fowl at one real; and the other three in money. Of this the minister who teaches them is paid each year at the rate of a hundred pesos of eight reals, a hundred fanegas of rice in the husk, and one arroba of wine for the celebration of mass, for every five hundred tributarios to whom they minister. This grant was made to him for his merits, and the services which he has rendered your Majesty during more than twenty-five years since he came over to these islands with Governor Don Pedro de Acuna, in the capacity of a soldier in the company of Don Thomas Bravo de Acuna. He served in the said employment in this camp, and afterward went to the province of Zibu, in the Pintados, where he remained more than four years, connected with the company which was in Zibu, going out on all the armed expeditions which occurred—namely, six times, against the enemy from Mindanao, Caraga, and the Sanguiles, who were robbing and harrying those regions, causing much damage, death, and pillage. He was present at the taking of the fort of Sagao and the islands of Caraga, when the natives there rebelled, and refused obedience to the king. He was one of the soldiers who distinguished themselves, and climbed to the crest of the ridge, until it surrendered, and many Indians were captured, bringing the rebels back to the royal obedience. On this occasion he received a wound in the head, from the many stones which they threw. He served at his own expense and voluntarily, on the said occasions; and in the said garrison of Zibu he performed watch and sentinel duty with the other soldiers. He was present at the rebellion of the Japanese against this city outside of its walls, and was one of those who went out to fight against them in the year six hundred and eight, and in that of six hundred and sixteen. He was alferez of a Spanish company in this camp, and served in that capacity in the post at Cavite, for its protection and defense, when the Dutch had come with six ships to the harbor mouth of Mariveles, intending to enter the bay, at the time when Governor Don Juan de Silva had gone with his royal fleet to the strait of Sincapura. He was personally present on the rampart of the curtains of the said fort, which were breached at four points. He expended much of his property, maintaining therewith a number of soldiers of his company on account of the poverty of the royal treasury. In the year six hundred and eighteen, he was made captain of infantry of the company which was in garrison in the said fort of Cavite; and the next year he was made a second time captain of another company of this camp, where he served until it was disbanded. On many occasions when the royal treasury was embarrassed, he has lent it a great quantity of money. He is married to Dona Augustina de Morales, legitimate daughter of Captain Pedro Navarro and Dona Luisa de Morales, and granddaughter of Captain Gaspar Ruiz de Morales, one of the first conquerors and settlers of these islands, prominent people of rank. During this time he has rendered other services to your Majesty, all of which appears more at length from his papers which he has presented before me. Beside this, command is given by a royal decree dated at Madrid on the nineteenth of June, six hundred and twenty-six, countersigned by Senor Don Fernando Rruiz de Contreras, to the effect that in every possible way should be furthered the work for the protection and aid of orphan children and those lacking support, which was administered and managed by Brother Juan Geronimo Guerrero in this city, as that is so pious and charitable a cause, and it is so necessary to secure its perpetuity and the support of the said children, whose fathers have died in these islands in the royal service. As means were to be sought for this, since they could not come from the royal treasury, the said Captain Pedro de Navarrete, as one of the benefactors of the said work, offered and bound himself to give as alms five thousand pesos of eight reals at the coming of the ships which were expected from Nueva Espana this present year; that sum is to be distributed and expended in the said work, and to erect a building for the orphans, as that which they have is in danger of falling. He bound himself to deliver the said amount to the person who should be designated by myself. In consideration of all which has been recounted, I have extended to him this grant, charging him to secure a confirmation thereof from your Majesty within four years reckoned from the day of sailing of the first ships from these islands for Nueva Espana, and to send a special power of attorney to petition for the said confirmation in that court. Likewise he must remit there the amount of his monthly income when he sends for the said confirmation, as is ordered and commanded by the royal decrees cited, and under the penalties therein provided. I had previously posted notices in public places of this city for those who might have claims to the said encomienda, a reasonable time before, as is ordered by the said royal decree cited, which treats of this matter. I have found by investigation that this is not included in the provisions for the order of appointments to encomiendas and offices, as is therein provided. I sent him the commission on the fourth of December, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven.



Appointments to offices of justice and war

I have appointed Sergeant Pedro Diaz Barroso as corregidor of the island of Mariveles and its jurisdiction, as he is a man with the qualifications which that office seems to require, and has served your Majesty in these islands for a long time. He has a yearly salary of one hundred and fifty pesos, which is the same as was enjoyed by his predecessor. I sent the commission on the sixth of August, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven.

I appointed Alferez Geronimo Banegas, a citizen of this island, as corregidor of the Negros Islands and their jurisdiction, and as military commander there; for he is a person of the qualifications which this position demands, and an old settler in this country who has served your Majesty here. He has a salary of a hundred and fifty pesos of common gold per year, and with that is to serve both offices, which is the same as his predecessors have had. I sent his commission on the third of August of one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven.

I have appointed Alferez Andres Martin as corregidor of the island of Mindoro and its jurisdiction, and as military commander there; for he is a person of the qualifications which the place demands. He has served your Majesty more than twenty years in these islands and those of Terrenate, and been present at the various battles which have occurred. He has a salary of a hundred pesos of common gold per year, for which he serves both offices. I sent him the commission on the fifth of August of one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven.

I have appointed Captain Juan de Mendoza as alcalde-mayor of the province of Pangasinan and its jurisdiction; and military commander there; for he is a person of the necessary abilities and qualifications, and has been more than twenty years in these islands in your Majesty's service, when occasion offered. He has a salary of three hundred pesos of common gold per year, and with this serves both offices. I sent his commission on the ninth of August of one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven.

Admiral Don Christoval de Lugo y Montalvo, who is fulfilling the duties of my lieutenant-governor and commander-in-chief in the provinces of the Pintados, I have appointed alcalde-mayor of the province of Zibu and its jurisdiction, and captain of infantry of the company which is in garrison in that camp; for he is a person of many merits, and has served your Majesty in these islands and other regions sufficiently to deserve all the said offices of my lieutenant, alcalde-mayor, and captain of infantry. He has only the salary of a captain, amounting to about six hundred pesos per year, and no more. Thereby is saved to the royal treasury the eight hundred which he drew merely for the office of my lieutenant-governor and commander-in-chief. I sent him the commissions on the ninth of August, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven.

Captain Don Fernando Galindo I have appointed alcalde-mayor of the province of La Laguna de Vay and its jurisdiction, and military commander there; for he is a person of many excellent qualifications for this office, and has been occupied in the service of your Majesty in these islands whenever occasion has offered, where he has acquitted himself very well. He has a yearly salary of three hundred pesos of common gold, and for it serves both offices. I sent him the commission on the tenth of August, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven.

I have appointed Captain Diego Lorenso de Trexo alcalde-mayor of the province of Calilaya and its jurisdiction, and military commander there, as he is a person of the qualifications and parts required for this office. For thirty-two years he has been in these islands, and has served whenever occasion offered, and acquitted himself well. He has a yearly salary of three hundred pesos of common gold, for which he serves both offices. I sent his commission on the eighth of August, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven.

I have appointed Captain and Sargento-mayor Juan Garcia Pelaez chief justice of the port of Cavite, and military commander, and keeper of Fort San Philipe there, as he is a person of many excellent qualities, and has served your Majesty many years in these islands. For these three offices he has no appointed salary from the royal treasury, and accordingly serves without it. I sent him the commission as chief justice on the thirteenth of August of one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven.

Alferez Luis Triscomia I have appointed alcalde-mayor of the Calamianes Islands and their jurisdiction, and military commander there, as he has been more than seventeen years in these islands, serving your Majesty when occasion offered, and has the necessary qualifications. He has a salary of three hundred pesos per year, for which he serves both offices. I sent his commission on the third of August of one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven.

I have appointed Alferez Pedro Alvarez corregidor of the jurisdiction of Ybalon, and military commander there, as he is possessed of the qualifications required for this office, and has served your Majesty in these islands more than sixteen years when occasion offered. He has a salary of a hundred pesos of common gold per year, for which he serves both offices. I sent him the commission on the fifth of August, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven.

I have appointed Captain Silvestre de Aybar warden of the camp and fort San Gabriel, which overlooks the Parian of the Sangleys, with power to administer justice in all matters which may arise in the said Parian; for he is a person of proved capability, and of the qualifications and abilities which are necessary for this office. He has served your Majesty for thirty years past in those kingdoms, Nueva Espana and these islands. He has a salary of a thousand pesos per year, which is not paid from the royal treasury, but from that maintained by the community of Sangleys in the said Parian, where they contribute each year for matters necessary there, and for others pertaining to the royal service. I sent his commission on the seventeenth of September, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven.

I have appointed General Don Andres Perez Franco as warden of the fort San Philippe at the port of Cavite, and military commander there and chief justice; for he has many talents and qualifications, and is well acquainted with the said port, where he has been at other times and has occupied honorable offices. He has no salary appointed from the royal treasury, and accordingly serves without it, on account of the promotion of Sargento-mayor Juan Garcia Pelaez, who held the said offices, to be commander-in-chief of the provinces of Cagaian, Ylocos, and Pangasinan. I sent him the commission as such warden on the twenty-eighth of September of one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven.

General Don Juan de Alcarazo I have appointed chief commander of the two galleons "San Yldifonso" and "Nuestra Senora de Pena de Francia," which I sent as a fleet against the Dutch enemy who was at the port of Macan awaiting the ships of the Portuguese, which were going back from here with the produce from the merchandise which they brought. The said galleons went to protect and guard them, and for other purposes pertaining to the service of your Majesty in the localities which the Dutch infested. I made this appointment on account of his many good qualities and because he has served your Majesty in the military habit and profession twenty-three years—both in the royal navy in those parts, and in these islands—whenever occasion offered, occupying posts and offices of the most honor, wherein he has acquitted himself very well. He performed the said office for six hundred Castilian ducados per month, which is the salary drawn by similar commanders. I sent him the commission on the ninth of October, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven.

Captain and Sargento-mayor Don Pedro Munoz de Mendiola, who serves in this royal camp of Manila, I have appointed commander of the galleon "Nuestra Senora de Pena de Francia," one of those which was sent in charge of the said Don Juan de Alcaraso, to the said port of the city of Macan, and other places, against the said Dutch enemy. For he is possessed of the suitable abilities and qualifications, and has served your Majesty in these islands, Flandez, and other parts of Europe, in the military profession; and had been serving in the said office, retaining the said position as sargento-mayor and with the same salary which he gained before, and no other. I sent him his commission on the fifth of October, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven.

I have appointed Captain Francisco Hernandez as captain of the company of Spanish infantry which served in the forts of Therrenate under Captain and Sargento-mayor Pedro Tufino, and as commander of the royal galleys for the protection of those islands, because permission has been given to the said Tufino to come to this city. I made this appointment of the said Captain Francisco Hernandez because he is possessed of the necessary qualifications and ability, and has served your Majesty in the military profession for twenty-two years in this region. He came to these islands as a soldier, and from them went to the said forts of Terrenate, where he served twenty years as a soldier and with extra pay as head of a squadron, sergeant, alferez, adjutant, and captain of infantry, being present whenever occasion for his service arose, and rendering especial services there. He has a salary of six hundred pesos per year, for which he has to serve both offices, as soon as the said company is delivered to him. I sent him the commission on the twenty-ninth of October, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven.

On the said day I appointed the said Captain Francisco Hernandez commander of the relief that is carried to the forts of Therrenate, as he is in every way satisfactory, and possessed of the necessary qualifications, as has been said in the previous clause. For his services in the said duty he received six hundred Castilian ducados per month, during the whole time that he served, which is the salary drawn by similar commanders.

I have appointed Adjutant Alonso Serrano a captain of Spanish infantry, of the company which serves in the forts of Therrenate under Captain Lorenso Hernandez, as the latter had permission to come to this city. I made this appointment because he has the qualifications and abilities which are required. Twenty-four years ago he came to these islands in the capacity of a soldier, and during twenty of them has resided and served in the said fort—being a soldier, commander of a squadron with extra pay, sergeant, alferez, and adjutant, and being present on all occasions when his services were necessary. He has a salary of six hundred pesos per year, reckoning from the day when the company is given over to him. I sent him his commission on the eighteenth of November, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven.

Former Adjutant Alonso de Peraza, of this camp, I have appointed captain of infantry, of the company which served in the said forts of Therrenate under Captain Don Juan de Santiesteban Bracamonte, as the latter had permission to come to this city. I made this appointment because he has the necessary qualifications and abilities, and has served your Majesty twenty-four years in this region in the military profession, in these islands and those of Therrenate. He was present at the recovery of the latter, and during the two fights when the Dutch General Pablos Blancanden was taken, and in other encounters and battles which took place on land and sea, against the Dutch, and the natives of Therrenate. He became a sergeant, and was present at the battle between General Don Juan Rronquillo and the Dutch. He was a second time made sergeant, and again alferez, from which he was promoted to be an adjutant, and has rendered other distinguished services. He has a salary of six hundred pesos per year, which he is to enjoy, from the day when the said company is given over to him. I sent him his commission on the seventeenth of November, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven.

Captain Roderigo de Mesa I have appointed captain of a company which was brought to this city, and which he took to reinforce the forts of Therrenate. For he is a person of the necessary qualifications, and has served your Majesty twenty-four years in this region in the military profession, both in these islands and in those of Therrenate—where he served fifteen years with success as a private musketeer, a commander of a squadron with extra pay, sergeant, alferez, and adjutant, in the said camp—being present whenever there was occasion for his service, on land or sea, and rendering distinguished services, as appeared by his papers. He draws as salary six hundred pesos per year. I sent his commission on the twenty-seventh of November of one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven.

I have appointed Captain Alonso de Balle alcalde-mayor and military commander of the province of Ylocos, owing to the death of Captain Alvaro de Loazes, for there are found in him the necessary qualifications and abilities. He has served your Majesty for twenty-two years past in these islands, being present when occasion offered, and has acquitted himself well. From the offices with which he is entrusted he draws a salary of three hundred pesos of common gold per year, for which he serves both offices. I sent his commission on the sixth of December, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven.

Captain Don Fernando Bezerra I have appointed commander of the ship "Santisima Trinidad," which I sent with reenforcements and supplies to join the two armed galleons which General Don Juan de Alcaraso took in his charge to Pulotimon, and other parts of Sian, to secure thereby good results for the service of your Majesty, because it was impossible to take with them a patache when they left for Macan. I gave him this appointment because he has the qualifications needed, and has served in the military profession in these islands and in Therrenate for a long time, rendering distinguished services. He drew a salary at the rate of six hundred Castilian ducados a month, which is the wages of similar commanders. I sent him the commission on the thirteenth of December of the year one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven.

Captain Don Lope de Sosa I have appointed alcalde-mayor of the jurisdiction of Tondo, and military commander there, as he is of the abilities and qualifications which are necessary. He came to these islands twenty years ago, and has here served when occasion arose, and held honorable offices and charges, wherein he has acquitted himself well. He has three hundred pesos of common gold per year as a salary, for which he serves both offices. I sent him the commission on the eleventh of January, one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight.

Alferez Pedro de Mora Salcedo I have appointed corregidor of the jurisdiction of Leyte, Zamare, and Babao, and captain and military commander there, as he has the qualifications and ability demanded by the office. He came to these islands ten years ago in the service of your Majesty, and has served here and in Therrenate, having been a sergeant, and alferez, and a substitute. In an encounter with the Dutch, at which he was present, the two lower bones of his right leg were both broken by a musket-ball, and he was present in other engagements. He has a yearly salary of two hundred pesos of common gold. I sent him his commission on the nineteenth of January of one thousand, six hundred and twenty-eight.

I appointed Captain Fernando Lopez de Perona alcalde-mayor of the province of Bulacan and military commander there, as he is possessed of the necessary qualifications and abilities for this office, and has served your Majesty for sixteen years, both in the fleet of the Ocean Sea and in these islands, and acquitted himself well of what has been entrusted to him. He has a yearly salary of three hundred pesos of common gold, for which he serves both offices. I sent him his commission on the fifteenth of March, one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight.

Alferez Martin Larios, deputy warden of Fort Santiago of this city of Manila, I have promoted to be captain of Spanish infantry, of the company which served under Captain and Sargento-mayor Don Antonio de Vera in the garrison of San Salvador in Hermosa Island; for he has the necessary qualifications and abilities, and has served your Majesty thirteen years past in military habit and profession in the states of Flandez, having been a soldier, commander of a squadron, and a sergeant, being present on the occasions and at the places where his services were needed, where he performed distinguished services. He came over to these islands with the reenforcements which he brought here. He was alferez in Nueva Espana of a company which was raised in Zacatecas; and in that position he came to this city, where he was appointed lieutenant of the said Fort Santiago. He has a salary of six hundred pesos of common gold per year, as do the rest in this camp. I sent him his commission on the sixteenth of March, one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight.

Alferez Juan Moreno Criado I have appointed lieutenant warden of the said Fort Santiago of this city, as he is of the requisite qualifications and has served in military habit and profession more than twenty-four years past, since he came to these islands. He was present at the recovering of the forts at Therrenate, where he served, and was present at the actions which took place, as he likewise was in these islands, rendering especial service. He has four hundred and twenty pesos a year as salary. I sent him his commission on the twentieth of March of one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight.

Captain Juan de Herrera I appointed alcalde-mayor and military commander of the province of Camarines, as he was of the qualifications and ability necessary for that office. He came to these islands twenty-three years ago and has served your Majesty in military profession and in offices of justice, and other employments in which he has been occupied, wherein he has acquitted himself well. He has three hundred pesos a year as salary, for which he serves both offices. I sent him his commission on the fourteenth of April of one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight.

Captain Francisco Ramos, a soldier of the company of Captain Diego Lopez Lobo, I have appointed captain of the galley "Nuestra Senora de Loreto," which was built in the province of Camarines, and is to be sent to the forts of Therrenate; for he possesses the required qualifications and ability, and for eighteen years has served your Majesty in these islands and in those of Therrenate. He has a salary of thirty-five Castilian ducados per month, which is the wage of galley-captains of the forts of Therrenate. I sent him his commission on the thirteenth of April of one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight.

Alferez Francisco de los Rios Coronel I have appointed corregidor and military commander of the Catanduanes Islands, as he has the required qualifications, and has served in the capacity of soldier in these islands since the year one thousand six hundred and nine, when he came out here, and has been present at the actions which have occurred. He has a salary of a hundred pesos per year. I sent him the commission on the twentieth of May of one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight.

Captain Francisco Gimenez I have appointed captain of Spanish infantry, of the company which served in the garrison of Hermosa Island under Captain Don Benito Flores, and as sargento-mayor of all the infantry of the said garrison; for he possesses the required qualifications and ability. During the twenty years while he has served your Majesty in military service in these islands he has been present when occasion offered, and likewise in the forts of Therrenate. He has always acquitted himself well, and performed distinguished services. He draws a salary of six hundred pesos per year, as do the rest of this camp, and with it serves both offices. I sent him the commission on the twenty-sixth of June of the year one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight.

Alferez Don Pedro de Axqueda Menchaca I have appointed alferez-royal of the ships which are despatched this present year to Nueva Espana, as he has the requisite qualifications and ability. He has served in military service in this camp in the capacity of soldier, and in that of alferez. He is the son of the master-of-camp Christoval de Axcueta Menchaca, who died in these islands in the service of your Majesty. He has eight hundred pesos per year of salary. 1 sent him his commission on the fourth of July of the year one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight.

Alferez-royal Augustin de Salduendo I have appointed captain of infantry, of the Spanish infantry company, which served in this camp under Captain Don Diego de Axqueta Menchaca—who was promoted to the position of admiral of the ships which this year go to Nueva Espana; and later to the command of them, on account of Sargento-mayor Don Gonzalo Rronquillo remaining in these islands, who had been appointed commander of them. I gave this appointment to the said Augustin de Salduendo because he was possessed of the requisite qualifications and abilities, and had served your Majesty in these islands in military habit and profession nineteen years in the capacity of soldier, commander of squadron with extra pay, sergeant, alferez, and other offices, and was present when occasion offered, and rendered especial services. He has a salary of six hundred pesos per year. I sent him his commission on the twenty-eighth of July of one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight.

I appointed Alferez Domingo Francisco de Portilla as corregidor of the island of Mindoro and its jurisdiction, and military commander there, as he has the requisite qualifications, and has served your Majesty in these islands for twenty years past in military service. He has a salary of a hundred pesos per year. I sent his commission on the thirteenth of July, one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight.

Sargento-mayor Don Philippe de Lezcano I appointed captain of infantry, of the company which is in garrison at the fort of Tanda, in the province of Caraga, and keeper of the fort there, and military commander, as he has the requisite qualifications and ability. He has served your Majesty thirteen years in military service in Flandez, and passed to these islands in the position of sargento-mayor of infantry which came as reinforcements last year, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. He is assigned a salary of six hundred pesos per year, which is what the other captains of this camp have, and with this he will serve the two offices. I sent him the commission on the twentieth of July of one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight.

Admiral Don Diego de Axcueta Menchaca, who was appointed admiral of the ships which go to Nueva Espana this year, I have promoted to the office of commander of them on account of Sargento-mayor Don Gonzalo Rronquillo (who was appointed to this office) remaining in these islands. I have made this appointment because the said Don Diego de Axcueta has the requisite qualifications and ability. He has served your Majesty in military service in these islands for nineteen years past, having been a soldier, alferez, and several times a captain of infantry, and one of the guard of Governor Don Juan de Silva. He was present at the battle with the Dutch enemy under the said governor in the year six hundred and ten, at Playa Honda. He went with the governor to the forts of Therrenate, and was present at the taking of Xilolo and Sabugo. On his return to this city he went to the strait of Sincapura with the said governor, and was afterward in the battle with the Dutch enemy in the year sixteen at the said Plaia Honda where Master-of-camp Don Juan Rronquillo acted as general of the fleet. He afterward became captain of infantry in this camp; and while he held this position I appointed him commander of a ship which went with the fleet in my charge to Hermosa Island. He is the son of Master-of-camp Christoval de Axcueta Menchaca, who died in these islands in the service of your Majesty. He has a decree directing that he be occupied in offices of justice and war, conformably to his rank and ability. He has performed other distinguished services for your Majesty. He has a yearly salary of three thousand Castilian ducados, which is the same as has been enjoyed by the commanders of similar vessels. I sent him the commission on the twenty-fourth of July of one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight.

Captain Don Fernando Galindo I have appointed admiral of the ships which will go this present year to Nueva Espana, as he has the requisite qualifications and ability, and has served your Majesty in military service for twenty-two years past in the galleys of Ytalia and other parts of Europa, and in these islands. While here he was captain of infantry three times, once in this camp and twice in the garrison of Cagayan. He was alcalde-mayor and military commander in that province, and afterward was made alcalde-mayor and military commander in the province of La Laguna de Vay. He was present when occasion offered for his services, and acquitted himself well with what was entrusted to him, rendering other important services to your Majesty. He has a yearly salary of two thousand Castilian ducados. I sent him the commission on the twenty-eighth of July, one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight.

Concerning the other appointments that may be made, I will send a report during the coming year, in the same manner as your Majesty orders me. May God our Lord protect you many years, with the addition of greater kingdoms and seigniories, according to the needs of Christendom. At the port of Cavite, on the second day of the month of August of the year one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight.

In the ships which have just arrived from Nueva Spana in these islands there came a royal decree by which your Majesty was pleased to confirm and approve the grant which Governor Don Alonso Faxardo made to these islands, while he was governor, to Don Luis Faxardo, his brother, on the first of April of the former year one thousand six hundred and twenty-one, giving him the encomienda of natives at Bombon and its dependencies, in the province of Balayan, which contains two thousand seven hundred and twenty-five tributarios. For this within four years he was to secure a confirmation from your Majesty, as appeared from the royal decree under date of the tenth of September of one thousand six hundred and twenty-six, countersigned by the secretary Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras—which decided me not to proceed to the execution of this without first informing your Majesty as to what has passed in this matter, and the state in which affairs are at present. I found, Sire, when I arrived in these islands and undertook the government thereof in the said year of one thousand six hundred and twenty-six, that the said encomienda was vacated, and declared so by Governor Don Fernando de Silva, because the said Don Luis Faxardo had not secured the said confirmation from your Majesty within the designated period. During the vacancy, the proceeds of the products and the profits were placed in the royal treasury. This encomienda had two thousand five hundred and seven tributarios, which, as they appeared to me to be a large number, I divided. I made a grant thereof in the name of your Majesty, according to law, as being vacant, to two persons of considerable rank, ability, merits, and services. One of these is general Don Antonio de Leoz, to whom I gave one thousand six hundred tributarios thereof, as I knew that he had served your Majesty for twenty-four years past, both in the kingdom of Napoles and in these islands—whither he came from that kingdom with Governor Don Juan de Silva, as alferez of the company. Afterward he was made captain, and served in this camp with other offices, being present when occasion arose. He has always acquitted himself well of what was entrusted to him, as will appear by his papers and commission—which I have despatched to him; and which I understand should already be in that court to petition for and secure the confirmation, according to the command. He is married to Dona Juana Gallinato, legitimate daughter and sole heir of Master-of-camp Juan Xuarez Gallinato, who died in these islands in your Majesty's service, being a person of many services. I charged him with a pension, from the said tributarios, of one hundred and fifty pesos, which he each year gives and pays to Dona Beatriz Cornexo de Tapia—a widow, who had been the wife of Doctor Juan Manuel de La Vega, formerly auditor of the royal Audiencia and of these islands; for she was very poor and was suffering need. In consideration of making this grant Dona Juana Gallinato resigned one thousand two hundred tributarios, which she held as an encomienda for a second life, so that these might be assigned to other persons. The other nine hundred and seven tributarios remaining I assigned to General Don Juan de Arcarasso, likewise a person of great ability and merit, and many services. He has served your Majesty for thirty-four years past in those lands of Europa, in the royal fleet and elsewhere, as well as in these islands—where he came as captain of a company of Spanish infantry, which came with the reenforcements of the year six hundred and fourteen. He has held and served in other charges and honorable offices, being present when occasion arose. Thus far and ever he has acquitted himself very well, as will appear more at length by his paper and the commission which I sent him—which should already be in that court to secure the confirmation of the said encomienda. They are likewise recounted in a clause of a letter which I despatched to your Majesty in the past year of one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven, with the report concerning encomiendas and offices. I made these two grants on the eleventh of December one thousand six hundred and twenty-six, and issued decrees for them, having fulfilled all the requirements which are ordered by the royal decrees. I beseech your Majesty to have examined the matter referred to, and the said encomienda considered vacant and so declared, in conformity to the royal decrees which treat of this matter; and as such to have the appointment given to the said two worthy persons, who are in possession thereof by a just title. Above all, I beseech you to command that it be your pleasure that this be observed and complied with; and in the meantime I shall make no change, because it appears to me that I acted justly, and that it is expedient for the service of your Majesty. Dated ut supra. Sire, the humble vassal of your Majesty.

Don Juan Nino de Tavora

[Endorsed: "Examined; have it joined with the others on this matter." "In the Council, October 9, 630."]



LETTERS TO FELIPE IV FROM GOVERNOR TAVORA

Doubts in judicial matters



Sire:

1. Problems in regard to matters of justice are continually arising, of which to inform your Majesty, in order that you may have the advisable decision made therein, and so that the dissensions that are wont to arise here from such doubts may be avoided. In regard to the Spaniards and inhabitants of these islands, but one problem has arisen—namely, when an encomendero marries an encomendera, whether they may both retain encomiendas; or whether, after choosing the one that they may esteem better, the other should he vacated. The practice of these islands is that one of the two encomiendas is vacated. In virtue of that, your Majesty's fiscal is at present petitioning before the royal Audiencia for the revenues of a certain encomienda given to a citizen. The auditors cannot find any order or decree from your Majesty, by which this is ordered. Consequently, there is not sufficient justification to declare judgment in favor of the fiscal. It will be advisable for your Majesty to declare it; and to my mind, in considering the fact that the encomiendas are few in number, it would be advisable that there be no change in the practice—namely, that by the very fact of an encomendero marrying an encomendera, they choose that encomienda from the two which they consider better; and that they leave the other, so that it may be regarded as belonging to another citizen. [In the margin: "Observe the decree in regard to this matter."] [Note: "In this despatch arose the doubt that is written on a separate piece of paper enclosed with this letter. There it is decreed what must be executed."]

2. In regard to the native Indians of these islands, I last year represented to your Majesty that it would be advisable to have judgments in their suits not rendered in the Audiencia, but by the government, by having one or two advocates or salaried men for that purpose, as is done in Nueva Espana, inasmuch as the same reasons exist here. I trust that your Majesty will have it considered, and answer in accordance with your pleasure.

3. The most usual doubts have been in regard to the Chinese or Sangleys who reside in these islands. An edict was published, at the instance of the inhabitants, in regard to the measures, quality, and prices of lumber, tile, brick, and other materials, in order to avoid the frauds and illegalities which were being introduced into this region, to the great damage of this community. The edict was published under the auspices of the government, and its execution was charged upon the alcaldes-in-ordinary. A few days after that a denunciation was made; but, when the alcalde tried to enforce the penalty, the Sangleys appealed to the royal Audiencia. The matter seemed a knotty one to me, because the edict was notoriously a government measure, and it was not advisable for its proper execution that the Sangleys be allowed such delays. I considered it best to advise the auditors of this, quoting to them the royal decrees, which ruled that they should not mix in matters of government. They, desiring to extend their jurisdiction, claimed that the trial of that appeal belonged to them, as well as the decision whether the penalty of the edict was excessive or not. I ordered the lawyers to be consulted, and all those here gave their opinion in writing, namely, that the Audiencia had no right to try such causes. Consequently, after having seen your Majesty's decree of November 4, 1606, given to Don Pedro de Acuna, in which is stated the method that must be followed in such doubts, I resolved to order that the Audiencia should not try such appeal until your Majesty, after having been informed of the matter, should rule otherwise. [In the margin: "Have the fiscal examine it." "It was taken to him." "Answered on a separate paper."]

4. Almost similar was another question that arose a few days after, when some Chinese merchants had been condemned, by the judge who visits the Chinese ships, to pay the penalty which they had incurred because of not having brought the ammunition and stores for your Majesty's magazines which were ordered from them since the time of Don Juan de Silva. They appealed to the royal Audiencia, who ordered the judge to come to report on the matter. It seemed to me that the same argument ruled in that as in the preceding case, and even more closely, as it was a matter of war. However, I had the lawyers consulted again. They decided that it was a military matter, and that it did not belong to the royal Audiencia. Consequently, I ordered that they do nothing further in the matter until your Majesty should be informed. [In the margin: "Have the fiscal examine this also." "It was taken to him." "Answered on a separate paper."]

5. Another appeal has also come in these last few days to the royal Audiencia from the governor of the Sangleys themselves. He is a person appointed to govern them in their own manner, and to take charge of the suits that are brought before him, written in the Chinese characters, and according, to their custom. And although I did not think that such appeals should be listened to, and gave my reason therefor, still the auditors persisted in endeavoring to try this case. In order not to irritate them, I have overlooked the matter, as it seemed to me that they could act in this case with less evil consequences than in the others. I advise your Majesty of it, petitioning you that it may be to your royal service to have the Audiencia notified as to what regulations cover not only the governmental and military suits, but also those of justice, touching the Chinese or Sangleys. For this some arguments occur to me, which I shall represent to your Majesty, in order to say at one time what I believe in this matter. [In the margin: "Take this to the fiscal also." "It was taken." "Answered on a separate paper."]

6. The Chinese, Sire, who live in these islands are almost all infidels. Their god is silver, and their religion the various ways that they have of gaining it. Their nature is cowardly; and those who come to this country have so little character that, as they are not entitled to anything among their own countrymen, they come to get their livelihood among us, serving in the most menial trades. They engage in suits and disputes very readily, in which they threaten one another; and each day they arm themselves for their sinister ends. They have innumerable methods of hiding the truth. They furnish as many false witnesses as they choose, for, as they are infidels, they do not fear God; and as they are so greedy for money, they swear [falsely], and even sell their own parents. Their names and occupations are changed in every step, although for this there may be no better reason or argument than their own ideas. They are many strangers, coming and going. Every year some go and others come, and consequently, the uncertainty and confusion is unavoidable. They are as freehanded in their bribes as interested in their gains. As they have control of all the merchandise, trading, gains, and mechanical trades of the country, their extreme readiness to scatter bribes is remarkable. There is no Spaniard, secular or religious, who obtains his food, clothing, or shoes, except through them. Consequently, there is scarce a Sangley who does not have his protector. Among themselves they have great system and energy in all those of one trade acting together in all matters that affect them. They guard one another against the Spaniard to such an extent that, if I wish to change my shoemaker, I will not be able to find among all those engaged in that occupation another who will sell me a shoe. If anyone would dare to do so, the others upon his return to China would bring suit before their mandarins, and thus they would destroy him and all his relatives. [In the margin: "Take it to the fiscal." "It was taken." "Answered on a separate paper."]

7. Therefore, since those of this nation are infidels and of so mean a condition, one can easily infer that to attempt to govern them with the method, rigor, and terms of our laws and regulations is the highest injustice and a great abuse. The usual method of judging them in their country is by a summary and verbal investigation, and an immediate punishment with the bamboo. The latter is the strap or whip which the mandarins always carry with them, as any superior is allowed to flog his inferior, without other justification or authority than that of his own plain reason. By that method is attained greater respect and obedience than in any other nation. We do not have less need for them to fear us and to obey our edicts, since they are our feet and hands for all that arises for the service of the community and that of your Majesty. But we shall never obtain that obedience and respect, unless we conform (as far as the Christian religion allows) to the methods practiced by their mandarins in commanding them. This consists in having them punished instantly by the nearest justices whenever they are found in disobedience or fraud—namely, their governor and the alcaldes-in-ordinary—without giving them any opportunity to go from one tribunal to another, or to drag them from one prison to another. In that they are the greater losers, as their property is wasted among the constables, attorneys, and notaries, all of whom are doing their best to skin [pelar] them. At the end, and in the long run, the truth is not laid bare, nor is the service of your Majesty accomplished. The Sangleys have so many methods of placing private persons, both religious and laymen, under obligation, by services and by presents, that when anything is ordered for them which does not suit them—even though it be for your Majesty's service, or very necessary for the common welfare—they manage to prevent the execution of it by a thousand methods, of favors and negotiations. Therefore, if in addition to all the above, the door of appeal to the royal Audiencia be opened to them from what is ordered for them, well can one see that justice itself will become the obstacle of what it should be the support. [In the margin: "And this." "It was taken." "Reply in a separate section."]