The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 20 of 55: 1621-1624; 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 20 of 55: 1621-1624; 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
1. First, after fifteen months of imprisonment and retreat, while I was
very heedless, and distrustful that the governor would take such action
(although very confident in the mercy of God), the governor sent an
order to me at St. Dominic to come out and assume my duties. Although
I hesitated considerably about going out on account of the great peril
in which I was placing myself, the force of your Majesty's service drew
me out, a fortnight or thereabout before the arrival of the ships from
Acapulco. I was encouraged considerably by the religious who assured
me that the whole town was clamoring for me to go out, except certain
persons who hate justice. Consequently I persuaded myself that I would
be doing your Majesty a service, and for that I did not think that
I was doing much in endangering myself, since I shall do my duty in
losing my life. It seems miraculous, and there are few who understand
how the governor came to do this, for, although it is true that he fell
out with Licentiate Legaspi, on finding that the latter while enjoying
so great friendship with him, had written against him; and because of
the great friendship between Licentiate Legaspi and Licentiate Juan
de Baiderrama the governor's displeasure was also extended toward the
said Licentiate Baiderrama: still they maintained friendly relations,
although the governor ceased to extend to him the accommodations and
profits of former times. Although it is reported that the governor
made numerous investigations, I have not heard from one who knew the
whole truth that he did it with violence, but with great mildness,
giving the witness liberty to make his deposition. On the contrary I
have always understood, Sire, that he made no further investigations,
nor has he wished to do so; and I even believe that it was done for
reasons of state, in order not to irritate Licentiate Legaspi too
much, in case that the latter should take part in his residencia,
for the governor must consider him as a revengeful and hot-headed
person. But Licentiate Legaspi, fearing that the governor intended to
arrest him, withdrew into the [convent of] the Society of Jesus. It
is said that on that account he allowed me to come out. All persons
of good judgment are not sorry for it, especially since they know the
inclination of the governor, who, it is feared, would not lose much
pleasure if all the world were destroyed--although in his falling out
with Licentiate Legaspi, a matter that began some four or five months
ago, it is understood that that has aided considerably in his having
repented of my imprisonment and the affronts that he put upon me; for
it is understood that his chief counselor and instigator was the said
Licentiate Legaspi under pretext of desiring, and advising him of,
his welfare, as to an associate in the matter of his duty. For that
reason he did not wish me to be present, as I would be a considerable
hindrance, as I write your Majesty in the duplicates. The same is said
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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