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
... The news having been learned in Manila, and no papers of the
governor being found, appointing his successor (although it was known
that he had a royal decree for this), and believing it had been lost
in the galley along with much of his own property, and that of the
king and private persons: the city appointed Licentiate Rojas as
governor, and he filled the post for forty days. But the secretary,
Juan de Cuellar, together with Fray Francisco de Montilla, returning
in a wretched plight to Manila, reported that Gomez Perez, before
leaving, had left the appointment drawn in favor of his son, Don Luis;
and that they would find it in a box in the convent of St. Augustine
with other papers, in care of Fray Diego Munoz. Rojas had already
sent an order to Cebu for all the men of the expedition to return,
which was obeyed. Thereupon Don Luis, having come, by virtue of the
authority delegated by his father, although with certain protests,
succeeded to that government, until the arrival of Don Francisco Tello.
Such was the end of that cavalier, whose achievements, judged
by themselves, have worth, and receive worth also by his zeal in
performing them. He did not lack political and military virtues,
or prudence in both. But he shut his eyes to examples, and, contrary
to their teaching, dared promise himself results, so that he became
rash and even confident. But Christian charity excuses all this.
Don Luis, his kindred, and friends, wished to continue the expedition
to Maluco, and Father Antonio Fernandez came for that purpose from
Tydore; but it was not carried out. The fleet was broken up, which was
a signal providence for the Filipinas Islands. For at the beginning
of the following year, one thousand five hundred and ninety-four,
a considerable number of Chinese vessels, laden with men and arms,
but no merchandise as was their wont, came to the islands. The vessels
brought seven mandarins, some of the greatest viceroys or governors of
their provinces. It was rumored and was proved that when they learned
that, as Gomez Perez had undertaken that expedition (on which he had
been accompanied by all the Spaniards), they would find the country
unarmed, they were of a mind to conquer it or sack it--which would
have been very easy for them, had they found it as they expected. The
mandarins left their ships twice to visit Don Luis, attended by
a great pomp and retinue. He received them kindly, and gave each
mandarin a gold necklace. They told him that they had come by order
of their king to get the Chinese who were wandering unsettled among
those islands without his leave. But this was considered a pretext
for the truth, for so many mandarins were unnecessary for it, or so
many armed ships and supplies. Those Chinese were the same as those
who killed Gomez Perez, men from Chincheo. Accordingly Don Luis,
as against a known offender, sent his own cousin, Don Fernando de
Castro, in a vessel to recount their treachery to the Chinese king;
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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