The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 02 of 55: 1521-1569; 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, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century
History
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 02 of 55: 1521-1569; 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, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century
Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources
because he knew that the Portuguese have no commercial relations as
yet within these islands, is weak and of no avail; for in what law,
either divine or human, does his grace find it written that, when the
kings and their vassals disregard for a time commercial relations with
lands belonging within their demarcations, others should consequently
take therefrom gold and drugs, which do not belong to them? As for
his saying that he entered here to look for Spaniards who remained in
these islands from the fleet of Ruilopez de Villalobos, and that he
has already ransomed one, and has information regarding two more--this
is a very poor reason for violating good faith, truth, oath, and so
solemn a compact between so Christian princes. This is especially true
in view of the knowledge and experience (to which Guido de Lavezaris
could testify) of the great affection and sheltering kindness with
which those of the company of Ruilopez de Villalobos were received
and transported to Spanha (at great expense to his highness and his
captains), through the favor of the viceroy, and were well looked
after in our merchant ships; while those who, with his approbation,
wished to remain here, were likewise granted many favors, and, having
become rich, now dwell in the fortresses and cities of India. Moreover,
he might have trusted us in this matter of the three Spaniards, who
remained here at all the less cost to his majesty, and without serving
his highness. As for trying to make me to believe that he was serving
the interests of the king our sovereign during his stay in this our
king's land, with his safeguards and defenses. I emphatically assert
that they were all erected very much against his interests; for one
who has the intention alleged by his grace gives evidences plain to
all, assuring the inhabitants of the land against those accompanying
him, but not by means of fortifications and a so great assumption
of authority in another's kingdom--usurping therein the vassalage
rights of his highness and transferring the same to his majesty,
who already has so many; obliging the natives to pay him tribute,
and laying down the law to them as if they were his own subjects; and
taking them prisoners on their coming to see the captains of their
real king and sovereign, as in the case of one who was captured as
he came to the pinnace of Antonio Ronbo da Costa, and prevented from
speaking with me. As for the chimerical charges which his grace makes
against me concerning the letter of Antonio Lopez de Segueira, and the
words of the soldiers of Antonio Rumbo, in what manner could he have
formed an opinion from a letter written by an individual captain who
had been separated for many days from my company, if the sincerity of
my intentions should be truly proved without further indications? For
I do not know the words of his letter; but the statement of Antonio
Lopez, after having had several shots fired against him, was not
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