History of the Philippine IslandsMorga, Antonio de
History
History of the Philippine Islands
Morga, Antonio de
Philippines -- History
Jesus, a Franciscan who has escaped crucifixion, to open negotiations
with his successor Daifusama. The latter, desiring trade for his
own northern province of Quanto, requests the governor of Manila,
through the religious, for commerce, and men to build ships for the
Nueva España trade which he wishes to open. He does not negotiate
concerning religion, for "the profit and benefit to be derived from
friendship and commerce with the Spaniards was more to the taste of
Daifusama than what he had heard concerning their religion." However,
the religious writes that freedom is given to evangelize throughout
Japan, although the only concession given is that the religious could
establish a house at their trading station. In October of 1600 news
reaches Manila of the coming and depredations of Oliver van Noordt's
two vessels. The description of the preparations, made by Morga,
the instructions given him by the governor, his instructions to
Juan de Alcega, and the fight and its consequences follow. In the
same year of 1600 the vessels "Santa Margarita" and "San Geronymo"
are both unable to reach Nueva España, and are wrecked--the latter
near Catanduanes, and the former in the Ladrones, where it is
rifled by the natives and the men surviving distributed through
the different villages. In 1600 the "Santo Tomas" on its way to the
islands puts in at the Ladrones, but the commander, fearing storms,
refuses to wait for the Spanish prisoners of the "Santa Margarita,"
although petitioned to do so by the religious and others. Accordingly
a Franciscan, Juan Pobre, full of pity for the unfortunate men, casts
in his lot with them and voluntarily remains behind. The "San Felipe"
is wrecked eighty leguas from Manila, and its cargo taken overland to
that city. Mindanao and Jolo affairs are meanwhile given into command
of Gallinato, and although he is partially successful, the rains,
hunger, and disease work for the natives, and finally in May of 1602,
Gallinato sends to Manila for instructions. Juan de Mendoza and Fray
Juan Maldonado, after leaving Camboja proceed on their journey to
Siam, but are received there coldly by the king, and their trading
is unsatisfactory. Fearing violence they depart one night without
notifying the Siamese, taking with them certain Portuguese held in
Siam as partial prisoners, but are pursued by the Siamese who molest
them until in the open sea. From wounds received during the week's
continual conflict both Mendoza and Maldonado die, the latter first
writing to his Order and advising them "on their consciences not to
again become instruments of a return to Camboja." Troubles in Maluco
between the Dutch and natives on the one side and the Portuguese and
Spanish on the other, render it necessary to send aid several times
from Manila. In March of 1601, a letter is written by the king of
Tidore to Morga requesting aid against Ternate and the Dutch, in
response to which supplies and reënforcements are sent in 1602.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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