Book: The Philippine Islands, 1493 1898

E >> E. H. Blair >> The Philippine Islands, 1493 1898




Then the licentiate Pedro de Rojas, lieutenant-governor, said that
the substance of the reply to the king of Xapon's letter, as read,
was very prudent and discreet, and that its warmth and spirit were
proper in view of the arrogant words written by the emperor in his
letter; but that in his opinion, it would be well to follow the
reserved and dignified style generally used among such personages,
and to leave out some words, especially in that part referring
to the falsity of the prophecies, where other arguments could be
advanced. The master-of-camp and other captains present were of the
same opinion. The decision of the question was, therefore, postponed
until the next day, when an amended reply would be presented. This
resolution was signed, by the licentiate Pedro de Rojas, Diego
Ronquillo, Juan Xuarez Gallinato, Gomez de Machuca, Pedro de Chaves,
Don Juan Ronquillo, Diego de Castillo, Pedro de Arceo Cuevasruvias,
Juan Esquerra, Hernando Munoz de Poyatos, Don Francisco de Poca,
Francisco de Mercado Andrade, Christoval de Azqueta, Juan de Alcega,
Don Diego Jordano, Antonio Decanedo, Gaspar Perez.

Before me:

_Juan de Cuellar_

In the city of Manila, on the twenty-eighth day of April, one thousand
five hundred and ninety-four, the master-of-camp and captains who
attended the preceding council of war met a second time at the royal
house by order of and in the presence of Don Luis Perez Dasmarinas,
governor and captain-general, to decide concerning the reply to be sent
to the letter of Cuambaco, the emperor of Xapon, as had been agreed
upon the day before. It had then been decided to omit from the said
reply some of the arguments, and to substitute others, briefer and
less likely to provoke or annoy him, leaving in it only such things
as are required for the fulfilment of our duties as Christians,
and as subjects of our king, and for the sake of our good name. In
conformity with this decision, the letter having been so amended, the
governor ordered it to be read aloud, so that the said master-of-camp
and captains could give their opinion as to whether it was proper
and desirable to send it; and it was read as follows:

_The Letter_

The letter addressed by your Grandeur to my father was received by
me as the person left in charge of the government of this land at his
death, which occurred on the way to Maluco. He was treacherously killed
while sleeping one night, without apprehension or precaution, as one
who did not dream of having enemies or traitors with him. The traitors
were the Sangleys, whom he took with him to work his galley. Like
the ineffably low, vile, and cowardly people that they are, they
killed my father because he trusted them, and set them loose for
their own comfort. The news of this event reached me far from the
place of its occurrence, while I was awaiting him with the fleet and
troops, that we might depart. Although after his death I endeavored
to continue my journey, I was prevented because of several events
and considerations. I came back here, desirous of hearing news from
your Grandeur and of seeing your letter replying to those sent by my
father through father Fray Pedro. Although two vessels arrived here
from Xapon, they could not give me the desired news. The arrival of
Pedro Goncalez has given me great pleasure, especially in view of
the fact that I was unable to understand his delay, and of the rumor
here that your Grandeur was going to send your armies, a report very
different from the agreement made in your name with my father by your
ambassador and servant Faranda, which was for firm peace and full
amity. Through the letter brought by Pedro Goncalez, I have learned
that it is your royal desire that such relations be continued, and
this has greatly pleased me; for it is to be hoped that as the kings
are great, great will be the friendship, and greater still the fruits
of it. Equally great is my desire that hereafter we treat each other
in every way as friends, with less formality and more frankness than
in your royal letters hitherto received. Since your Grandeur speaks
of vassalage, I wish your Grandeur to understand that my king's power
is so great and so extensive, and the kingdoms and states ruled by
his Christian hand are so many, that they are beyond compare with
the greatness of many kings, though these be most powerful each by
himself. His dominions here are nothing but a corner, and my king's
possessions are not to be judged by his dominions here. The reason
that they are so small is, that our Christian and divine laws do not
permit us to do injury or damage to anyone by taking away that which
belongs to him. I say this to your Grandeur that you may know that,
although we are in a confined and narrow region, we do not recognize
other ruler, other power, other dominion, or other lord, than Jesus
Christ, the almighty and true God and Lord, and our most Christian king
Don Phelipe. Concerning the friendship that your Grandeur suggests we
ought to maintain forever, it will be kept by us; and I feel assured
that your Grandeur will keep it on your part, since it is so declared
in your royal letters. I will advise my lord and king at the earliest
opportunity of the peace and friendship established, so that he may
ratify it from there; and I trust in the Lord that everything will be
done as desired by your Grandeur, whom I wish to serve and please as
the friend of my king and our own. For such purpose I should have been
glad if I had some curious things from Castilla to send as presents
to your Grandeur; but I cannot do it now, and will send them later
when they come. Should your Grandeur wish that as friends we send
each other men of rank and of a high station, so that our intercourse
might be more friendly and informal--not that the religious who have
gone are not among us respected and highly esteemed as ministers
of God, or are not sufficiently high in station--but from now on a
layman could be sent of higher rank than that of those who have gone
heretofore. Should your Grandeur desire to send someone to visit the
court of my king and see its splendor, and the power and dominion of
his Majesty, he will be sent on from here, and will be well received
and highly favored by my king, because he is very fond of receiving
and entertaining foreigners--especially such as might come from your
Grandeur, who would receive especial favor. Your Grandeur can advise
me of your decision in regard to this as well as the other matters;
and may our Lord keep and enlighten you with His divine light.

After the letter thus amended was read, the above-mentioned persons
unanimously and of one accord stated that it was a good and proper
reply to the letter of the king of Xapon, and that the said reply
complied with what was required by the good service of the Lord and of
his Majesty, and with the good name and repute of the Spanish nation;
and it was, accordingly, signed by Licentiate Pedro de Rojas, Diego
Ronquillo, Gomez de Machuca, Juan Xuarez Gallinato, Pedro de Chaves,
Don Juan Ronquillo, Pedro de Arceo Cuevasrubias, Diego de Castillo,
Hernando Munoz de Poyatos, Francisco de Mercado Andrade, Don Francisco
de Poca, Juan Ezguerra, Christoval de Axqueta, Jhoan de Alcega, Antonio
de Canedo, Don Diego Jordano, Gaspar Perez, Agustin de Urdiales.

Before me:

_Juan de Cuellar_




Letters from Luis Perez Dasmarinas to Felipe II


Sire:

The seminary for girls of Sancta Potenciana which was commenced by
my father in pursuance of your Majesty's orders is now finished,
thanks be to God. It is one of the most splendid buildings of this
city, and for some days the cloister has been occupied by the mother
superior and by some good women of this town, who with holy zeal and
in the desire of serving God in retreat and solitude, have entered
there. Their sincerity and integrity of life was proved before their
entering the convent, which is thereby greatly benefited. By the good
example of these women, and the influence of their virtue, retirement,
and modesty, I have no doubt that the girls who are now there, and
those who shall enter hereafter, will be greatly benefited and improved
in the service of God. The advantage of such good surroundings must aid
in their improvement and help them in marriage, thus accomplishing the
end for which the holy zeal of your Majesty was striving in founding
this work so pleasing to God. In this connection it should be said,
that since this establishment is so meritorious and necessary in
this commonwealth, which is young and poor, and greatly in need of
a general fund for the public honor and welfare, its maintenance and
perpetuity should be assured. The establishment entails little expense,
and the work has been carried on according to your Majesty's orders,
without burdening the royal exchequer; and hence the gain has been
great. The opportunity is no less favorable which is now offered your
Majesty to employ your liberal and royal hand in favoring and aiding
this seminary with an income. Thus by its increase will God our Lord,
be glorified, by the exercise of charity. Daily prayers are held
there for your Majesty, that God may grant you many happy years of
this life, and life everlasting. There are now about thirty persons
in the seminary, and others are entering every day.

Another holy work has, by the favor of the Lord, been established
in this town in these days; and I hope that His Divine Majesty is no
less pleased by it, than by that which I have just described. It is
very similar to that and is a confraternity of mercy in which there
have entered as brethren the most illustrious and prominent persons
of this city. The object thereof, in conformity with its appellation
of mercy, is to exercise the latter in all the works and occasions
which may arise, of which there is no lack, as this land of yours is
so poor. As I say, this confraternity is occupied in feeding all the
worthy poor, of whom there are many; and in arranging marriages for
orphan girls, the daughters of the conquistadors and of persons who
have served your Majesty and died in the royal service, leaving their
children without inheritance, in poverty and bereavement. These are
persons to whom your Majesty owes a recompense; and any favor to this
confraternity is granted to them and to all this community. It also
persuades people to come willingly to settle here from other parts,
as they see that they may find here a refuge and relief for their
needs. The land has hitherto been discredited for the little comfort
which poor men, both married and single, find here in a country
new, unknown, and of scanty resources. Even these resources are
under obligation to be given to others who have settled the place
and served your Majesty; and for them alone there is not enough,
much less for those newly arrived. For their relief there should be
a lodging-house, so that poor married men may be sheltered there and
given what is necessary, until they find it convenient to go out and
support themselves. In addition to all the aforesaid institutions,
another no less important one must be mentioned. A hospital should
be established for the treatment of all the servants and slaves
of the Spaniards. This is a very necessary undertaking and a work
of exceeding charity; for there are many of these servants who die,
as they have nowhere to go for treatment. Even their souls suffer, as
there is some neglect in administering the sacrament to them. Although
there are two hospitals--the royal, and that for the natives--the
servants are received in neither, on account of the poverty of the
hospitals, and the many sick who are usually there, and the lack
of conveniences for so many. As I have written in a former letter,
your Majesty should also favor these hospitals, and in particular
this holy confraternity of mercy. Thus I beg your Majesty to do so,
in the name of our good God and Lord. His Divine Majesty will reward,
as is His wont, all that is done for His love and service. In the name
of this state, and the poor, and for my own sake, I humbly beg this of
your Majesty; and if there be anything of sufficient worth in me to be
presented before the royal presence of your Majesty as deserving reward
and recompense; I should but ask for favor for these two hospitals,
which are so needy, and particularly for this holy confraternity of
mercy. There should also be provided means according to the income,
to provide dowries for a certain number of the girls who are sheltered
every year in the Seminary of Sancta Potenciana. Thus it is evident
that the state will be totally healed of its evils; and these works
of charity will, I believe, be glorious in the eyes of God, especially
if your Majesty will look upon them with your royal and compassionate
eyes, and encourage them with your royal aid. May our Lord preserve
your Majesty for many long years, as Christendom has need. At Manila,
June 15, 1594.

_Luis Perez Dasmarinas_

Sire:

In the papers I send your Majesty by these vessels, I give an account
of Japanese affairs and suspicions. In this letter I shall content
myself with saying that when my father made answer to the second
Japanese embassy, he sent with father Fray Pedro Baptista, to accompany
and take care of the fathers, and with further orders to treat with
that king, one Pedro Goncalez, a man who, by trade and commerce, had
acquired some knowledge of that land, and acquaintance with some of its
inhabitants. He went and performed his mission well. The Japanese king,
either because he is a man of unusual good-will, or because he harbors
designs, tells me in his original letter that he wishes to have your
Majesty see it, and to have the same Pedro Goncalez, who brought it,
take it with him to Espana, together with an account of what he saw
in that kingdom. He indicates with some insistence that he wishes
this, and I am advised by letters from there that, if it be not sent,
as he knows everything that is done here, he will be vexed and take
it as a pretext for making an earlier declaration of war. Therefore
in my opinion his wishes ought to be observed since no harm will be
done. Pedro Goncalez carries the original letter and its translation,
together with the reply which was sent from here. Although, as I say,
the bearer goes ostensibly only to comply with the wishes of the king
of Japon (for I have already written to your Majesty respecting this
matter), yet your Majesty may, if such be his pleasure, hear from
Pedro Goncalez certain peculiarities of that kingdom which he has
observed. So, because he is an honorable man, prudent, straightforward,
of good reputation and abilities, and because he labored and incurred
heavy expenses on these voyages, kindly grant him some favor; for
he has deserved it, on account of the affection, good-will, and care
that he has displayed in everything which he has been ordered to do
in your Majesty's service. May our Lord preserve your Majesty for
many prosperous years. Manila, June 22, 1594.

_Luis Perez Dasmarinas_

Sire:

After despatching a letter to your Majesty in the vessel "Sant
Phelippe," which it was thought best to send first, as it was in
Cibu, I had other letters from Japon from father Fray Pedro Baptista,
the originals of which I send herewith. From these letters, and from
one from the emperor of Japon, a copy of which is enclosed, we can
easily infer how little security is assured us by his friendship and
promises, and be sure that any slight occasion would induce him to
break them. But I am continuing to treat with him, in order to gain
time to complete the fortifications of this city. I am showing kindness
to the Japanese ships that put in here. And, although I am sending
the emperor, as answer to his letter, the one which I transmitted
to your Majesty in the vessel "Sant Phelippe" (a duplicate of which
I enclose herewith), I am thinking of sending him a present because
of the treaty of amity he has made with us. In this way, as I say,
I shall dissimulate and keep him in good humor. For this purpose I am
striving to spread the rumor here that the peace is firm; but I am not
slackening work on the fortifications. On the contrary, I am speeding
them forward with added watchfulness. God be praised, the wall is now
completed, and the forts are in fair condition for defense. I hope,
God willing, that the enemy will find this quite different from what
they must be congratulating themselves that they will find. It is
decidedly important to have a large contingent of troops sent from
Mexico. This is the most pressing need, and the viceroy of Nueva
Espana should be urgently ordered to attend to it. For if the Japanese
come, they may be able, in case help does not arrive, to gain the
land after a long siege and with a large force, and thus put us to
great straits. But to whatever extremities we come, we here will not,
at least, be found to lack the necessary energy and determination,
and we will give your Majesty a good account of your land and our
obligations. We trust matters to the omnipotent hand of our God and
Lord. May He ordain what is most befitting His service and the glory
of His sacred name. May He preserve your Majesty for many long years,
as Christendom has need. Manila, June 23, 1594.

_Luis Perez Dasmarinas_

[_Addressed_: "To the king, our sovereign. In his royal Council of
the Yndias."]

[_Endorsed_: "Philippinas. To his Majesty. Luis Perez Dasmarinas,
1594, June 23."]




Documents of 1595



Letter to Felipe II. Pedro Gonzalez de Carbajal; [1595?]
Formation of new dioceses. Felipe II; June 17.
Letter to Felipe II. Antonio de Morga; June 25.
Expedition to Camboja. Gregorio da Cruz, and others; August 1--3.
Instructions to Figueroa. L. P. Dasmarinas; November 13--16.
The Audiencia of Manila reestablished. Felipe II; November 26.
Letter to Felipe II. L.P. Dasmarinas; December 6.




_Sources_: The second document is taken from _Doc. ined. Amer. y
Oceania_, xxxiv, pp. 86--94; all the others are obtained from MSS. in
the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla.

_Translations_: The first document is translated by Arthur B. Myrick,
of Harvard University; the second, by Frederic W. Morrison, of Harvard
University; the third and part of the seventh, by Jose M. and Clara
H. Asensio; the fourth and fifth, by Robert W. Haight; the sixth and
part of the seventh, by James A. Robertson.




Letter from Pedro de Carbajal to Felipe II


Sire:

It is well known that the emperor of Japon is powerful in men and arms,
and that his people are of great courage. He was making ready two
hundred ships, and casting quantities of artillery. Japon is distant
from the realm of the Philipinas four hundred leagues, which is a
voyage of fifteen or twenty days by sea. On his friendship depends
the preservation of the Philipinas, and of two hundred thousand
Christians in that same kingdom of Japon, as well as of the rest
of its people, who are being christianized from day to day. We have
great hopes that all of them will become Christians, because it is
known surely that many of the principal people of Japon would become
Christians, if they were not hindered by their fear of the said
emperor's indignation. He ordered me [21] to say to your Majesty,
on his part, that, if your Majesty would make friends with him,
he would always provide the governor of the Philipinas with what
assistance was necessary, even to ten thousand men. When the governor
of Meaco (who is the person who governs all that kingdom) delivered
me the letter which he brought for your Majesty, he told me to tell
your Majesty that the emperor was your friend, and that on his part
the friendship would not fail; and that your Majesty should not,
because he was so far away, consider it as of little account. Gomez
Perez de Las Marinas, governor of the Philipinas, sent me with
father Fray Pedro Baptista and three other fathers of St. Francis,
to take a letter to that emperor in response to the one which he had
written. We went with this arrangement, that the fathers would remain
in Japon (as they did) and that I should return with the answer that
the governor desired. Having delivered the letter to the emperor,
when he learned from the letter that the governor of the Philipinas
wished to notify your Majesty of this emperor's intentions, he said,
without giving me an answer, that since the governor wished to advise
you, he could not do it better than through me. That I might be the
better able to do so, he ordered that I should examine his fortresses,
cities, and rich palaces, and the indications of his great power, so
that I could give your Majesty a good account of it all, as well as of
the kind treatment that was always given to me, and to the Franciscan
fathers who remained there. These fathers asking him for a small piece
of ground on which to build a house and church, he told them that he
would give them a large piece in the place where they were, and also
furnish them food. Then he ordered that the site and house that they
might select should be given to them. And because the land was so cold,
he ordered the fathers (who are barefooted) to be shod and clothed;
and said that he would give them these things and would treat them
as his children if they would obey him as their father. He sent me
word to say that he would await your Majesty's answer. While we were
in Japon at that time, the fathers and myself knew for certain that
some of the Japanese chiefs asked the emperor's permission to go to
subjugate the Philipinas, and make him lord of them, without any cost
to him. The latter replied that he would have nothing to do with it,
until he saw your Majesty's response. It is quite necessary that your
Majesty should send an order to the bishop of Great China at Macan, and
the fathers of the Society of Jesus, to the effect that all the ships
should leave there and go to Japon. These should investigate, and look
to it that they carry no people who have not a good understanding of
Christianity and fidelity; because that emperor is desirous of meeting
people who will teach him to construct ships and artillery in our
manner. All this will be of considerable harm and inconvenience; for,
although he has artillery and ships, they are less effective than ours.

They tell me that on this coast is father Fray Miguel de Venavides,
[22] of the order of St. Dominic, by whom your Majesty can be very
well informed of all these matters, because he has dealt with some
Japanese, and has gone through Great China.

_Pedro Gonzalez de Carbajal_




Formation of New Dioceses


The King: To my cousin, the Duke. My zeal and desire have always
been, and are, to procure and provide throughout all the provinces,
divisions, and localities of the Western Indias, whether already
discovered or to be discovered hereafter, the propagation and
extension of our holy Catholic faith and Christian religion; and
for that purpose I endeavor to provide the necessary prelates and
ministers, through whose agency the natives of those parts, blinded
by their hideous idolatry, may come into knowledge of the true faith;
and, together with those already converted, may be enlightened and
instructed so that they may enjoy salvation, partaking of the copious
fruit of our redemption. Hence at my supplication, archbishoprics
have been established in those districts and places where it seemed
necessary. For, in spite of the fact that a bishopric was founded in
the city of Manila in the island of Luzon in the Philipinas, situated
in the great archipelago of China, very near the mainland of that
country--yet, inasmuch as that district is very large, and contains
numerous islands with a large native population--a single prelate
cannot easily and under ordinary circumstances visit his diocese as
he should, fulfil the pontifical decrees, and provide for spiritual
affairs with the necessary despatch. It has been shown by those who
have had experience that many inconveniences result; and after this
was investigated by the members of my royal Council of the Indias,
and counsel taken upon it, with the object of correcting these evils,
it has seemed to me both fitting and necessary for the fulfilment
of the obligation that I am under of procuring the salvation of the
souls of those my subjects--according as I am enjoined by the holy
apostolic see and bidden by my conscience--that the cathedral church
of the said city of Manila be elevated into a metropolitan see and
its territory into an archbishopric; and that three new bishoprics
be created and established suffragan to it, so that they may hold
their synods according to the orders of the holy Council of Trent, and
without coming to Nueva Espana, as the bishop of Manila, who was the
suffragan to the archbishop of Mexico, was compelled to do. From one
region to the other, the journey is more than three thousand leguas;
and, besides, it is evident that those islands could thus be better
and more fittingly governed in spiritual affairs.

Therefore I command you upon receipt of this despatch, to propose to
his Holiness, and supplicate him, in my name, that he may be pleased to
elevate into a metropolitan see the said cathedral church of Manila,
and to create the three bishoprics aforesaid--one in the church of
the city of Nueva-Segovia in the province of Cagayan in the island
of Luzon, under the protection of the Conception of Our Lady; one in
the city of Caceres in the territory of Camarines, in the same island,
under the protection of St. John the Evangelist; and the other in the
aforesaid city of Santisimo Nombre de Xesus, in the island of Cebu,
of that archipelago, under the protection of the guardian angel. In
this way each one may exercise in his diocese the pastoral office; and
the metropolitan archbishop, together with the bishops, may labor with
jurisdiction, authority, and power in the conversion and instruction
of the said natives; and he and they may provide for other spiritual
matters which may seem desirable for the maintenance of divine worship
and the salvation of souls. But for the present, and until affairs
be more settled in those regions and tithes established, no cathedral
churches shall be erected, or dignitaries or canonries provided for,
except that the bishops shall dwell privately in the monasteries of
their order which are situated in the aforesaid cities. Nevertheless,
in order that the said cathedral churches may be erected in due time,
and that for the present, definite territories may be assigned to the
aforesaid archbishopric, and to the bishops, you must thus entreat his
Holiness, in my name, to give me power to add to or to change the said
territories, when and in such wise as may seem most fitting to me. At
the same time, you will present and nominate to his Holiness, in my
name, Fray Ygnacio de Santibanez, [23] of the order of St. Francis,
as archbishop of the aforesaid church of Manila, in place of the late
Fray Domingo de Salazar, of the order of St. Dominic, the first and
last bishop of that city; for the bishopric of Nueva-Segovia, Fray
Miguel de Benavides, of the order of St. Dominic; for the bishopric
of the city of Santisimo Nombre de Xesus, in the island of Cebu,
Fray Pedro de Agurto, of the order of St. Augustine; and for the
bishopric of the city of Caceres, Fray Luis Maldonado, of the order
of St. Francis. By these presents I nominate them and offer them as
candidates to his Holiness, in order that by this nomination--which I
make as patron of all the churches of the Indias--he may bestow upon
them these churches and the aforesaid archbishopric and bishoprics;
for from the favorable accounts that I have of the goodness, learning,
virtue, and exemplary lives of the aforesaid religious, I trust that
our Lord will be well served by these provisions and the churches
well governed and administered. Moreover, in according me this, his
Holiness will confer upon me a special favor and kindness, which
you will therefore make known to him. You will also tell him that
in the absence of tithes, I have endowed the archbishopric with an
annuity of three thousand ducats, drawn from my royal exchequer,
and each of the bishops with five hundred thousand maravedis [24]
annually. You will see to it that the bulls [25] on the whole matter
be sent out with the utmost promptitude in order to reach the first
fleet that sails. From Madrid, on the seventeenth day of June, one
thousand five hundred and ninety-five.

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