The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XXIV, 1630-34

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Espa?a sank here in port, and the almiranta put back. A copy of the despatch which they carried goes in the first mail, wit

art of May after a favorable trip. Therefore I trust that they will depart earlier tha

it is that the last six remittances which the viceroy has made to these islands have all been smaller than those made by the other viceroys. I confess that the times have become hard; but one can but ill sustain a number of men, or take care of the expenses of war, on less than what

been coined here, nor do the people multiply. I ask, Sire, for what is needed to fulfil my obligations. The viceroy does not send the orders which are given him from there; they can not be so illiberal. As this is a case of need, I give notice

the majority of votes shall rule. That has so many inconveniences that the service of your Majesty comes to suffer greatly from them. If the more important things are entrusted to your governor, why not the lesser? When the archbishop died here, as your Majesty was advised, the bishop of Zibu, who entered into his place, petitioned that he be given some gratuity from the salary enjoyed by the archbishop, because of the many expenses of living in this city-taking a precedent from the vacant see of the other archbishop, in which the treasury council assigned him one thousand two hundred pesos. On this occasion it seemed necessary, so that the bishop might be able to support himself, to assign him one thousand pesos annually; and it was ordered that your Majesty be advised thereof, as was done, so that you might consider it a proper expense. It was necessary and unavoidable, for in any other way the bishop could not live three years-the time during which we have to wait for a reply, if we first had to advise your Majesty. The visitor, Don Francisco de Rojas, has added this item, and formed an opinion unfavorable to the auditors who gave their votes to it, and has ordered that they make satisfaction for it. His commission does not announce this; accordingly, as a matter inferred from good government, he has no right to inspect this affair. He has also taken issue against the auditors of the last Audiencia, who were the

ed, the governor, Audiencia, and the royal officials should assemble and discuss it, and what should have the majority of votes should be executed, giving me advice thereof-on this account many expenses, salaries, and wages have been incurred

cials in Filipinas could be unanimous, even for their private interests, has deceived you; for experience shows the contrary. Neither should your Majesty believe that we are all so vile that we would be making unlawful expenditures of your revenues in order to pleasure one another. Well assured

paration, in order to revolt. All these are so cogent reasons, in my poor judgment, that I consider it beyond doubt that it will be for your Majesty's service to have a new order issued giving your governor and captain-general authority. In order that he may fill those offices effectively in your Majesty's service, it is necessary for him to have that authority in the royal treasury, for extraordinary expenses which result from government and war-as your captains-general have in Flandes, in Milan, in Napoles, and in Sicilia, where there is war, and state affairs arise which render that necessary. It is the same in the Filipinas, because of so many enemies who are within its gates, and so m

been issued, search was made for the decree in which your Majesty mentions the form which must be observed in this, and in which you order that they be seated in the places which they occupied while regidors; finally, the decree appeared among the others that the royal officials had in their office. The same Don Francisco de Rojas found it by chance, while looking for other decrees in the books which he had demanded from t

e. Consequently, I have the authentic replies also, so that at any time what he wrote and what I replied may be evident. I desire his friendship and am striving for it, since there will always result a greater service for your Majesty-an intercourse which I would swear that he ought not to remember in the visitation; for soldiers (and more, soldiers of my rank) do not profess to be witnesses, nor can we be. I do not believe t

there. That nation is very cautious, and there is little confidence to be put in them. If a person should come here whom they wished to go there to trade, I would not dare for the present to permit it, until matters are on a more firm basis; for it is certain that their hearts are not quiet, nor will they easily become so. They take vengeance at a fitting time. May they bring us bread and ammunition, as they are doing. I gave them good treatment here, so that it is now procured that the gains which they make on their merchandise and the lapse of time will accommodate all things. Their king died, leaving his son as heir. There are fears of war, that Christianity may not be so persecuted. I do not think that it would be a bad thing to have a bit of a revolution because of their contempt and selfishness. In these ships were sent one hundred and thirty poor lepers exiled to these islands, whom the heathen had tried to make renegades to the faith of Christ (as many others have become); but their entreaties had no effect on these people. I called a council of state to determine whether those lepers should be received, and in what manner they should be received. It was not because I hesitated to receive them; fo

it arrives before the sailing of this despatch, I shall advise you. We have friendly relations with that king, and he has maintained the same until now with

ere, while the products taken there from Japon are brought to us here. Shipbuilding cannot be effected in the said kin

ich they have pursued toward these islands, as well as the same so far as India is concerned, deserves that. I thoroughly believe that if those of India are able, they should make head against the Siamese from Malaca. In the year 30 they seized a patache that had been sent there on an embassy from Macan, and abo

from the ship that sank, this community has enough to make a shipment. It has a good return from the merchandise sent to Nueva Espa?a in the year of 30, with which I hope that the inhabitants wi

ession of the royal officials here. That is a very great burden, in addition to the many that they have, as the visitor, Don Francisco de Rojas, thought; and I assented to it. It is not advisable that the post of commander of the galleys be abolished, for there is no security here that they may not have to fight many times with the galleys. Consequently, it is proper for them to have a com

does not enjoy more pay than that for the post captain. This is the officer who goes out in the fleets against the Joloans, Camucones, and Mindanaos. He orders in detail what is here decided upon in general. He is on the watch in present emergencies, and if he did not have power and authority to command the chief men of all those provinces, a great part of the service of your Majesty would cease. Consequently, it is not advisable that this office be abolished, and it is eno

been done where there was so much apparatus for it) the ship was then repaired with a lining of knees. It has been tested in this bay, and it is very staunch, and carries all the sail that can be spread. Hence it was a lie to cast the blame on the lumber; but, as the common people and the friars (who desire that there should be a shipyard near here) urged it earnestly on account of this rumor, it was necessary to order that a shipyard be sought in another place. Consequently, the master-w

Portugal has ordered that thanks be extended to him because he assisted t

d so that they will last another four years. That is the best that can b

d were in their own boxes, and not in a collection of boxes or bales, for they were not allowed to embark them in that way. If any official embarked anything, it was secretly. The penalty which was impeded (which will be seen by the records) could have been executed in Nueva Espa?a. The viceroy knew that I made strenuous efforts so that everything might be declared. He found but a little quantity [of contraband goods], as I understand; and matters cannot be so well regulated, that with their risk there should not be some who venture to disobey the orders and edicts. What is certain, Sire, is that none of my goods were found, as certain persons tried to intimate in regard

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ed for the inspection or residencia of

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