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
governor took up the matter, by whom it is said Mohedano was persuaded
to challenge the jurisdiction [of the Audiencia], by promises to free
him; he did it, as was seen, thus deceiving him in order to avenge
himself, as it is said, as soon as he had the woman with him. Thus
the governor came to the session, and, with his usual heat, caused
the case to be remitted to him without greater justification, as he
was the captain-general. Licentiate Legaspi and Licentiate Alcazar
did it through compulsion, but I, Sire, for the reason above stated,
did not agree to it, and so voted in the meeting. Being then, Sire,
the leader in the cause against Mohedano and that wretched woman,
he proceeded therein, as well as in another that he began against
one Don Fernando Becerra for the same thing. This he did with an
alcalde-in-ordinary, or with Don Hieronimo de Silva, or with both,
going and coming to and from Santa Potenciana with soldiers and the
torture-rack, besides indulging in other demonstrations, as they
affirm, that scandalized the city--where, as this city is but small,
everything was instantly divulged. And as evil men are not wanting,
there was one who gave notice of a certain slander against General Don
Juan de la Vega, son of Doctor Juan Manuel de la Vega, ex-auditor of
this Audiencia. There was a certain report of meetings with the wife
of Lucas de Vergara, auditor of Terrenate. Since the governor was
also angered by her said purity and virtue, which truly are great,
it is said that he considered it a good opportunity for vengeance. He
himself, seeing the door opened by Licentiate Legaspi in the case of
the other woman, conducted the cause. In the case of Mohedano and Don
Fernando Bezerra, there was dispute; while that of Don Juan de la Vega
came on appeal to the Audiencia. Since this is so small a place, and
was so scandalized, and these households were ruined (for the matter
was all immediately made known publicly), the Audiencia thought,
since only the husband can take action in an adultery suit, and since
all that had been done was illegal, because the women were immediately
published, together with the investigations and intent [_yntencion_],
that also in consequence of that, and the lack of proof, and because
of other considerations, it would be advisable, besides doing justice
in what came to their hand, to repair the honor of those influential
men and women. Consequently the Audiencia acquitted Juan de la Vega,
whereat the whole city rejoiced, for all were persuaded that such
accusations were lies. However, as this matter is so serious, when the
husbands learned of it upon their arrival, they refused to live with
their wives or to enter an adultery suit, for the adultery could not
be proved. Consequently, even with such an effort by the Audiencia,
those families are ruined; although it is quite true that, if the
governor had executed the sentence, it is regarded as certain that
they would have killed their wives.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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