The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 07 of 55: 1588-1591; 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 Close of the Nineteenth Century
History
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 07 of 55: 1588-1591; 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 Close of the Nineteenth Century
Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources
35. In respect to the said captains, officers, and soldiers, you shall
observe, and cause to be observed, their privilege of exemption from
arrest for debt contracted while they were in the service; or the
seizure of their weapons, horses, or other things needful and proper
to military service, in satisfaction therefor.
36. Whenever you shall send any captain with men on any commission
or business that arises, you shall order him also to maintain his
privileges, in whatever pertains to the usual exercise of the power
and authority requisite to command, direct, and punish his inferiors;
as well as all the other things peculiar to the service, and which
are conceded to and exercised by officers.
37. It is my will that you have a body-guard of twelve halberdiers,
who shall be paid the same sum as the soldiers. The said halberdiers
shall have a leader or captain, who shall receive pay of fifteen
pesos monthly. Although their principal service shall be to act as a
body-guard, and this is determined and ordained by that which pertains
to the authority and dignity of your position, you shall take note
that they also must go to war upon any occasion that arises.
38. Inasmuch as I have been informed that many of the soldiers,
who are sent to the said islands from Nueva España, are mere lads,
mestizos, and a few Indians, and unarmed; and that a portion of them
are pages and servants of the captains or other persons, who under the
title and name of soldier draw their pay but neither they nor their
masters are soldiers: you shall allow none of them to be enrolled
as soldiers unless they are more than fifteen years old; and accept
no page or servant of any person, while he serves as such, as above
stated. You shall receive only those mestizos who are worthy, but
shall not open a gateway for this in general. I charge and recommend
you to pay especial attention to this.
39. Immediately upon your arrival at the said islands, you shall
give orders to enclose the city of Manila with stone, along that
portion where it is necessary and advisable, and on the other sides
by water. You shall construct a fort in the place assigned and deemed
best there. You shall erect a tower at the junction and point made
by the river and sea. All this shall be very thoroughly done, and
with most careful planning and consideration; and shall be done at
the least possible expense to my treasury--since, as you know, the
buildings can be constructed there with great ease and cheapness.
40. You shall assign what garrison you judge advisable to the said
fort and tower, so that the country may be defended, and that they
may check the designs and hopes of the enemy, and the fear of revolts
and risings.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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