The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 09 of 55: 1593-1597; 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 09 of 55: 1593-1597; 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
Inasmuch as I have been informed that many of the soldiers sent
from Nueva España to the said islands are lads, mestizos, and some
Indians; that they have no weapons; and that a portion of them are
pages and servants to the captains and other persons, who, together
with their masters, under the pretext and name of soldiers draw their
pay--I charge and order you, now and henceforth, not to receive or
admit as soldiers any Indians from Nueva España. On the contrary,
the viceroy [of New Spain] must be informed that he is not to send
them; and the Indians, that they shall not be received or admitted;
and of the mestizos only those who merit it, and whom you think
very well fitted for it. None of the others shall be sent who has
not attained the age of sixteen years and over, and a soldier shall
not be the page or servant of any person; for while he acts in such
capacity, he shall not receive soldier's pay. In all of the above,
I charge you to take strict account, so that nothing may be done,
nor shall you permit it, to the contrary.
Gomez Perez Dasmarinas left the city of Manila walled with stone
wherever it was necessary, and constructed a fort and tower in those
parts where he was ordered. Because of the importance of keeping
that citadel well defended, you shall, as soon as you shall arrive,
inspect the said forts and wall, and shall see that they are kept in
order and well maintained. If they are incomplete, you shall finish
them, and advise me of everything.
The said Gomez Perez was likewise ordered to construct another fort
in Yllocos or Cagayan as a protection against the Indian, Japanese,
and Chinese robbers; another in Çebu, as a protection against the
Borneans and Malucos; and another in Panpanga, as a protection
against the Çambales. He was instructed to maintain the continual
care and vigilance required for the preservation of lands so new,
remote, and surrounded by enemies. He was ordered especially to
beware of the natives of the country, who are numerous, and have
but little endurance and permanence in the faith; of four or five
thousand Chinese who live there, and go to and fro upon their trading
voyages; of the Japanese who resort there regularly; of the Malucos
and Borneans, who are irritated, and have vaunted themselves boldly
and openly; and most especially of the English Lutherans, who go to
those coasts. Although I have been told that the said Gomez Perez
had constructed the said forts, whereby to check the incursions of
those nations, I charge you that, if they have been constructed, you
look carefully to their maintenance. If they need anything for their
completion, you shall complete them. You shall proceed cautiously,
and keep ever on the watch, since you see what happened to the said
Gomez Perez by trusting to the apparent good faith of the Sangleys.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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