pILIPKNl lisMifi |JI;BL^IR«|j li|33;ER;TS<3i| |||l^ip:l;l;l l I! : 6531 kB63 IliiitMi^WP E FFA3BR PS 1C ^65 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 1493-1898 The PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 1493-1898 Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and their Peoples, their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as related in contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, showing the Political, Eco- nomic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of those Islands from their earliest relations with European Nations to the close of the Nineteenth Century TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINALS Edited and annotated by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, with historical intro- duction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord Bourne. With maps, portraits and other illustrations Volume XIX—1620-1621 The Arthur H. Clark Company Cleveland, Ohio MCMIV COPYRIGHT I904 THE ARTHUR H. CLARK COMPANY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ; CONTENTS OF VOLUME XIX Preface. 9 Documents of 1620 Reforms needed in the Filipinas (con- cluded). Hernando de los Rios Coronel [Madrid, 1619-20] 25 Letter to Alonso de Escovar. Francisco de Otago, S.J.; Madrid, January 14. 35 Decree ordering reforms in the friars' treatment of the Indians. Felipe III; Madrid, May 29. .40 Relation of events in the Philipinas Islands, 1619-20. [Unsigned] ; Manila, June 14. 42 Compulsory service by the Indians. Pedro de Sant Pablo, O.S.F.; Dilao, August 7. 71 Letter from the Audiencia to Felipe III. Hieronimo Legaspi de Cheverria, and others; Manila, August 8. -77 Letter to Felipe III. Alonso Fajardo de Tenza; Manila, August 15. .90 Letter to Alonso Fajardo de Tenza. Felipe III; Madrid, December 13. 173 Memorial, y relacion para sv magestad, Her- nando de los Rios Coronel; Madrid, 1621. 183 Bibliographical Data 299 Appendix: Buying and selling prices of Orien- tal products. Martin Castanos(in part) ; [un- dated.] . 301 165248 ILLUSTRATIONS Autograph signature of Alonso Fajardo de Tenza; photographic facsimile from MS. in Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla. 165 Title-page of Memorial y relacion, by Her- los Rios Coronel nando de (Madrid, 1621) ; photographic facsimile from copy in Library of Congress. 185 / PREFACE The documents in the present volume cover a wide range. In greater or less detail are discussed affairs in the islands - civil, military, and religious, in which all the various ramifications of each estate are touched upon. Reforms, both civil and religious, are urged and ordered ; and trade and commerce, and general economic and social conditions pervade all the docu- ments. The efforts of Dutch, English, French, Portu- guese, and Spanish in eastern waters are a portent of coming struggles for supremacy in later times. Japan, meditating on the closed door to Europeans, though still permitting the Dutch to trade there, con- tinues to persecute the Christians, while that persecu- tion is, on the other hand, lessening in violence in China. The piracies of the Moros endanger the is- lands, and allow the Dutch to hope for alliance with them against the Spaniards; and the importance of the islands to Spain is urged forcibly. A letter addressed by Los Rios Coronel to the king (probably in 1620) urges that prompt aid be sent to Filipinas for its defense against the Dutch and Eng- lish who threaten its coasts. To it he adds an outline " treatise on the navigation of Filipinas," which sus- tains his demand by forcible arguments. The rich Oriental trade amounts to five millions of pesos a IO THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 19 year, which mainly goes to sustain the Dutch and their allies, the enemies of Spain, whose commerce they will utterly destroy unless some check is placed on their audacity; and the effectual method of doing this is to deprive them of that trade. An armed ex- pedition for the relief of the islands is being prepared by the king; it should be despatched via the Cape of Good Hope, and all possible efforts should be made to drive out the Dutch and English from the Eastern seas. Los Rios proposes that for this purpose loans be asked from wealthy persons in Nueva Espana and Peru ; and that the vessels needed be built in India. He makes recommendations for the routes and equip- ment of the vessels, both going and returning; and for the seasons best for sailing. A letter from Francisco de Otago, S.J. (January 14, 1620), mentions various arrangements fpr the despatch of more missionaries to the islands, and laments the recent loss of a fleet sent to the aid of the Philippine colony. A royal decree of May 29 in the same year orders the governor and Audiencia to correct the religious who have levied on the Indians exactions of forced service. The Jesuit chronicler of events in 1619 continues the record for the year ending July, 1620. Some account of the war waged by the Chinese and the Tartars is given. The persecution of the Christians in China has slackened, and the authorities of that country are more favorable to the Jesuit missionaries there. But in Japan the persecution continues, and the college at Macao is crowded with Jesuits who are disappointed in their efforts to enter Japan. Let- ters from Jesuits in that country enumerate many martyrdoms, of both missionaries and their converts, 1620-1621] PREFACE II and describe their holy zeal and faith in suffering death. The authorities and influential men of Japan consider it well to harbor the Dutch there, and even talk of conquering the Philippines, in order to get rid of the Spaniards ; but it is rumored that they also contemplate the expulsion of all Europeans from Japan. In the Malucas " there is constant strife be- tween the English and the Hollanders," and the French are obtaining a foothold. Portuguese India has but inadequate means of defense against the Dutch and other foes. An interesting and pictur- esque account is given of the religious fiestas held in Manila to celebrate the festival of the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary; the chief features are processions, dramatic representations, dances, fireworks, etc. - to say nothing of the bull-fights and masquerades of the laity. Fearful earthquakes, with considerable loss of life, have occurred in the islands, especially in Ilocos and Cagayan of Luzon ; they are ascribed to the influence of the comets seen in the pre- ceding year. The commerce of Manila is increas- ing; rich cargoes arrive there from all parts of the world; and Manila is a magnificent city, surpassed by few in Europe. A letter from the Franciscan, Pedro de Sant Pablo (August 7, 1620), calls upon the king to abolish the repartimientos of forced service and supplies levied upon the Indians for shipbuilding and other public works by the colonial authorities. He recounts the oppression, cruelty, and enslavement caused by this practice; and in the name of both the Spaniards and the Indians he asks that the repartimientos be com- muted for certain payments of money, in proportion to the means of each household. 12 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 19 The Audiencia of Manila send to the king (Au- gust 8, 1620) a roll of complaints against Governor Fajardo. They accuse him of abusive and violent language toward the auditors, and arbitrary conduct in both sentencing and releasing prisoners; and of granting certain illegal appointments and privileges to the friends and relatives of himself and the royal officials. His conduct of an expedition made ready to repel the Dutch from the islands is sharply criti- cised ; covert attack is made on him as defrauding the treasury by the sale of Indian orders, and allowing reckless expenditures of the public moneys ; and he is blamed for failing to enforce the regulations as to the sale of the Chinese goods. Fajardo sends a long report of affairs to the king (August 15, 1620). The coming of the ships this year was delayed; and by storms and an encounter with the Dutch both were wrecked - but on Philip- pine coasts, which enabled them to save the rich cargo. As the Dutch failed to secure this prize, they have lost in prestige, while the Spaniards have gained accordingly. A marginal note here, apparently the reply of the Council of the Indias to this clause of Fajardo's letter, censures him for allowing the ships to leave Manila so late, and warns him to send them hereafter promptly, and not overladen. He is also directed to remonstrate with the Japanese officials who are aiding the Dutch with arms and other sup- plies ; and to strive to break up their friendship with the Dutch. Fajardo proceeds to say that he is equip- ping the ships for both the outward and return voy- ages with various supplies, to avoid the greater expense of buying these in Nueva Espafia; and for the same object is asking the viceroy of that country 1620-1621] PREFACE 13 to make no unnecessary repairs on the ships. He complains of the reckless and arbitrary proceedings of the officials in charge of the ships at Acapulco. He is advised by the Council to send them a detailed statement of all matters in which unnecessary expense can be avoided. Fajardo recounts his difficulties with the viceroy of Nueva Espana over the appoint- ments to offices in the trading fleet, and with the pre- tensions of certain Philippine residents who claim rewards and appointments without meriting these. He complains that the troops just arrived from Nueva Espana are mostly " boys, mestizos, and mu- lattoes, with some Indians;" the viceroy is directed to send better and more effective soldiers to Filipinas hereafter. Fajardo is uncertain how far he can de- pend on aid from the viceroy; and he proposes that those troops and supplies be sent to him from Spain by way of Panama, enumerating the advantages and enconomy of that plan over the present one.