The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 04 of 55: 1576-1582; 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 04 of 55: 1576-1582; 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
And because I have heard that one of the ships of Villalobos was lost
for want of a small boat, and in it two large anchors and one half
sacre (weighing fourteen quintals, and named "San Marcos"), twelve
culverins, and certain pieces of iron ordnance, you shall try to get
hold of them all, employing therein much diligence.
You shall try to ascertain where their artillery is, and to secure it,
for it is very material that they remain at peace.
And inasmuch as the chief of Mindanao has been deceived for some
time by preachers from Borney who preach the doctrine of Mahoma,
and it is said that there are preachers there endeavoring to convert
them all into Moros; and since our main intention is to convert
them to Christianity: you shall order them to admit no more such
preachers of the sect of Mahoma. And if you can ascertain who they
are, you shall try, to the best of your ability, to bring them here;
and shall burn the edifice wherein the accursed doctrine was read
and taught, and shall order that none other like it be built. You
shall tell the said natives that I will send Christian fathers there,
who will instruct them; that already the mosque at Borney is burned,
and that there are now no more Bornean preachers. You shall also tell
them what occurred in Borney last year.
You shall examine the entrance and port in the river and the ships
of the natives; for it will be allowable to take from them those used
for piracy, leaving them their fishing and trading vessels.
If the said natives pay tribute, it shall be disposed of in accordance
with the custom of that land--namely, one half shall be reserved for
his Majesty, and the other half shall be divided among the soldiers,
as an aid in their necessity.
And since all the importance of this expedition lies in patience and
comfort (because the Indians, having seen that they would soon have to
yield, refuse to come down from the mountains), you shall try to make
yourself as comfortable as possible, paying special attention to the
health and welfare of your troops. And you shall carefully study the
country in general, and its water and food-products, so that you may
inform yourself better, in order if possible, to preserve health,
which is the principal desideratum. In order to guard the health
of your men, I charge you specially that you take good care of your
sick. You shall put a soldier of good temper in charge of them who
shall minister to them. From whatever gold or other property of
his Majesty's you may have, the sick shall be provided with fowls
or whatever is necessary. You shall especially forbid the soldiers
to eat bananas or sugar-cane, or other harmful things, and see that
they live decently.
You shall find out from the Indians of that land whether they sail
or go to Maluco. You shall ask them whether there are any Christians
there; and if there is any Cafre or Christian in Bindanao, you shall
secure him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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