The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 16 of 55: 1609; 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 16 of 55: 1609; 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
Then the governor determined upon his departure, and tried to take
with him as many men as possible. They were enlisted, willingly or
by force--those who were requested and those who were compelled,
alike. The encomenderos and soldiers caused a prodigal expense in
ships, supplies and parades--which, because of the great opportunity
furnished for all that in Filipinas, exceeded the governor's power and
wishes. The governor sent Don Luys, his son, with all the regulars to
the island of Cebu, where all the fleet was to be assembled. There he
remained six months, awaiting new orders. Gomez Perez was detained
in Manila, planning matters of importance. Two days before leaving,
while a guest and dining at the house of Pedro de Roxas, his assistant,
where he was wont to amuse himself in heavy gaming and merriment,
he became so gay--beyond his custom, and contrary to the harshness
of his character--that many interpreted it as his last farewell,
and an omen of what happened. He recounted in conversation, amid
much laughter, that father Fray Vicente, of the Franciscan order,
had told him that that enterprise could not succeed; for the army
was composed of conscripted men, and especially because the married
men were going. The governor left Manila October seventeen, with six
royal galleys, one galleon, one fusta, one fragatin, and a number of
fragatas, caracoas, and vireys--different varieties of craft of the
natives of the country. All the vessels, those belonging to his Majesty
and those of his vassals who offered their persons for his service,
totaled one hundred. There were one thousand well-armed Spaniards
and more than four hundred arquebusiers from the vicinity of Manila;
and another thousand of those called Visaias, people who use lances,
shields, and bows and arrows. Besides these, there were more than four
hundred others, Chinese, of those living throughout that island; and
of those who come to trade, another goodly number, with pay--the great
majority of whom were conscripts rather than volunteers. There was in
the galleys a quantity of food for the fleet. The governor appointed
his son, Don Luys Perez, as lieutenant of the fleet, and ordered him,
as above stated, to assemble it at the island of Cebu. He himself
embarked in the flagship, a vessel of twenty-eight benches, manned
by two hundred and fifty Chinese; and eighty Spaniards also embarked
in it. They reached Cabite, whence they sailed on the nineteenth,
together with several vessels carrying private persons, who followed
the governor at their own expense. They coasted the island of Manila,
until they reached Balajan; then they separated, for the vessels did
not lose sight of shore, while the governor sailed in the open sea. On
the twenty-fifth, he came alone to pass the night at the promontory of
Azufre [285] ["Sulphur Point"] on the island of Manila, opposite that
of Caca, where the current runs strong and the sea is choppy. As it
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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