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The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 11 of 55: 1599-1602; 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 11 of 55: 1599-1602; 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

The ruler of Borneo sends (June. 1599) to Governor Tello a gift,
accompanied by a letter in which he expresses firm friendship for the
Spaniards. In a letter dated July 14, Tello complains that Morga is
hostile to him, and even writes anonymous letters against the governor;
the latter defends himself against these attacks. On August 7 he
reports to the king the arrival of English ships at Maluco, and his
intention of sending reenforcements to the Spanish fort there, and
to that in Cebu. He is asking aid from the viceroy of Nueva España,
and is trying to manufacture more artillery at Manila. Two letters
from Felipe III to Tello are dated August 16, 1599. The king commends
his proceedings in certain matters, and orders the viceroy of Nueva
España to send hereafter only useful colonists to the Philippines. He
also desires Tello to advise him whether the duties on Chinese goods
can be increased.

A brief account of the pacification of Mindanao (1600?) furnishes
some additional information as to events there, up to 1600. The
troops have been withdrawn from this island, owing to an alarm
of danger from English pirates; but these prove to be peaceable
Dutch merchants. In October of that year, certain foreign vessels
(thought to be English) enter the bay of Albay, and Antonio de Morga
is ordered by the Audiencia to fortify the port of Cavite and pursue
the enemy. Instructions for this latter proceeding are furnished to
him by the governor (December 10). He in turn gives instructions
to his admiral, Joan de Alcega. Then follows an account not only
of the battle between the Spanish and the Dutch fleets, but also
of Van Noordt's entire voyage to the Philippines. The battle ends,
on the whole, disastrously for Van Noordt. Among the plunder found
on the Dutch ships is a commission granted to Esaias de Lende as a
privateer against the Spaniards in the Indias. Suit being brought
against the admiral Alcega for deserting the flagship in the battle
with Van Noordt, Morga presents therein his version of the affair
(January 5, 1601)--throwing the blame for the loss of the flagship
on Alcega's disobedience to the orders previously given him by Morga.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

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