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
Noble and honored king of Borneo: I, Don Sebastian, by the grace of God
King of Portugal and of the Argarves, on this side and on the other
side of the sea in Africa, seignior of Guinea, and of the conquest,
navigation, and commerce of Etiopil [Ethiopia], Arabia, Persia,
and India, inform you that Juao Guago de Andrado wrote me that,
while passing your kingdom on his way to Maluco, as captain of his
galleon, you sent to confer with him about certain things touching my
service. Upon his entering, you communicated to him what I am very
glad to know and for which I give you many thanks and express my
appreciation. I beg that you will do, in regard to the matters that
you discussed with the said Juao Guago, and in regard to other things,
whatever offers itself for my service, and that you send to petition
in my name my governor of Malaca and the southern district, whatever
you may be able to request; and he shall give it to you without delay
and protect your affairs, as is fitting. Given at Evora, March seven,
one thousand five hundred and seventy-three.
_The King_
(This copy was made and copied from the said letter of the said king,
which was found on the river of Borney on the twenty-fourth of the
month of April, one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight. Witnesses,
who saw it compared and collated, were Francisco Pacheco and Alonso
Falcon.
I certify thereto:
_Alonso Beltran_, his Majesty's notary)
That which you, Captain Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa shall observe
on the expedition which you are about to make, God our Lord helping,
is as follows:
From this city and island of Borney, God willing, you shall go to the
islands of Xolo, where you shall endeavor to reduce that chief and
his people to the obedience of his Majesty. You shall bargain with
them as to what tribute they shall pay, which shall be in pearls, as
they are wont to give to the king of Borney. You shall exercise great
care and, if possible, much mildness; for it is of importance that
those islands should not become depopulated; therefore, in case they
receive you peaceably, you shall treat them well. And, in addition to
the above, you must order that, besides the tribute that they are to
pay in pearls, they shall obtain as many of them as possible, so that
we, the Spaniards or Castilians, may buy them; that they must trade
with us from now on; that every year Castilians will go to their lands
with cloths and merchandise from China, of whatever they shall declare
that they may need. You shall inform yourself of their needs; and if
they wish to come to our settlements you shall give them permission
to go freely to Manila and to come to Borney, although not to steal.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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