Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, 1609, by Antonio de Morga

J.S. Cummins, J.S. Cummins

• Publisher: Hakluyt Society
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9781317048541
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Storia
• Subtopic: Storia mondiale

An account of the history of the Spanish colony in the Philippines during the 16th century. Antonio de Morga was an official of the colonial bureaucracy in Manila and could consequently draw upon much material that would otherwise have been inaccessible. His book, published in 1609, ranges more widely than its title suggests since the Spanish were also active in China, Japan, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, the Moluccas, Marianas and other Pacific islands. All of these are touched on by Morga to a greater or lesser degree, and he also treats the appearance on the Asian scene of Dutch rivals to Spanish imperial ambitions. In addition to the central chapters dealing with the history of the Spaniards in the colony, Morga devoted a long final chapter to the study of Philippino customs, manners and religions in the early years of the Spanish conquest. From the first edition, Mexico, 1609. A new edition of First Series 39.

Chapter One

Of the first discoveries of the Eastern Islands, and of the voyage which the Adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legazpi made thither; the conquest and pacification of the Philippines during his governorship, and that of Guido de Labazarris who held the office afterwards.¹

According to ancient and modern cosmographers, that part of the world called Asia, has adjacent to it a multitude of islands, both large and small, inhabited by diverse nations and peoples, and these are as rich in precious stones, gold, silver and other minerals as they are abundant in fruit, grain, flocks and animals; and in some of them all sorts of spices grow, which are distributed throughout the world. In geography books, charts, and sea-rutters, these islands are usually called the great archipelago of San Lazaro in the Eastern Ocean. Among the most famous of these are the islands of Maluco, Celebes, Tendaya, Luzon, Mindanao and Borneo which are now called the Philippines.²

Pope Alexander the Sixth divided the conquests of the New World between the kings of Castille and Portugal, who agreed upon the partition as laid down by a line drawn by the cosmographers across the map of the world, so that they might continue their discoveries and conquests, one King in the West and the other in the East, pacifying whatever regions each might gain for himself within his own allotted zone.³

After Portugal had won for itself the city of Malaca [Malacca], on the mainland of Asia, in the kingdom of Jor [Johore], called by the ancients Golden Khersonese, in the year 1511, a Portuguese fleet, upon hearing news of the neighbouring islands, especially those of Maluco and Banda where cloves and nutmeg are gathered, went to discover them. Having touched at Banda, they went on to Terrenate [Ternate], one of the Maluco islands, at the request of the King, to defend him against his neighbour, the King of Tidore, with whom he was at war. Thus began the Portuguese settlement in Maluco.¹

After this discovery Francisco Serrano returned to Malaca, and thence to India, intending to go back to Portugal to report, but he died before making his voyage. However he had written to Portugal to inform his friend Fernando de Magallanes [Magalhães] of what he had seen, for they had been together in the taking of Malaca.² From these letters Magallanes learnt what was necessary for the discovery of, and the navigation to those islands.

Magallanes, moved by certain reasons, had at this time gone over to the service of Spain,³ and he informed our lord the Emperor, Charles the Fifth, that the Maluco islands lay within the zone allocated to the crown of Castille, and that, in accordance with the concessions made by Pope Alexander those islands were his to subdue. Further, he offered to make the expedition and to sail to them in the Emperor's name, making his way through the zone that had been apportioned to Castille,¹ availing himself of a celebrated astrologer² and cosmographer called Ruyfarelo whom he had with him.³

On account of the importance of the business, the Emperor entrusted the expedition and discovery to Fernando de Magallanes, together with the ships and provisions necessary for it. Thus equipped he set sail and discovered those Straits to which he gave his name.⁴ Thence he continued to the South Sea, sailing to the islands of Tendaya and Sebu [Cebu], where he was killed by the natives of Matan [Mactan], which is one of those islands. His fleet continued to Maluco, where the crews fell into disputes and quarrels with the Portuguese in the island of Terrenate. Finally, unable to maintain themselves there, the Cas-dlians left Maluco in a vessel called the Victoria which alone remained of their fleet. As leader and captain they took Juan Sebastian del Caño [Cano] who made the journey to Castille by way of India. He arrived with only a few men, and informed his Majesty of his voyage and of the discovery of the islands of the great archipelago.⁵

The same expedition was attempted again on other occasions by Juan Sebastian del Cano, by the Commendador Loaisa, the Saoneses, and the Bishop of Plasencia, but without the expected success because of the difficulties and risks of so long a voyage and the conflicts between those who reached Maluco and the Portuguese already there.¹

As a result of all this it seemed that this expedition might be made quicker and better by way of New Spain, and so a fleet, under the command of Ruy Lopez de Villalobos, was despatched by that route in 1545 [sic; lege 1542]. They travelled by Sebu and reached Maluco where they quarrelled with the Portuguese, and suffered adversities and hardships which prevented their carrying out their purpose. Neither could the fleet return to New Spain, whence it had started, but it was disbanded and some of the Castilians left Maluco and, by way of Portuguese India, returned home where they gave an account of the voyage, reported on the condition and nature of the Maluco islands and of others which they had seen.

Later, our sovereign lord, Philip the Second, decided that it would not be proper to desist from that same enterprise, and having been informed by the Viceroy of New Spain, don Luis de Velasco, as well as by the Augustinian, fray Andres de Urdaneta (who when still a layman had been in Maluco with the fleet of the Cornendador Loaisa), that the voyage might be quicker and easier from New Spain, he entrusted the business to the Viceroy. Fray Andres de Urdaneta left the court for New Spain and, since he was experienced and so good a Cosmographer, he offered to go with the Armada and discover a return route. The Viceroy fitted out a fleet and crewwith everything necessary, in the port of Navidad, in the South Sea, and set it under the command of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, a citizen of Mexico City, a native of the province of Guipuzcoa, who was trustworthy and a man of parts.² Since the Viceroy had died in the interim, the audiencia, which ruled in his stead, completed arrangements for Legazpi's departure giving him instructions as to his destination, but ordering him not to open them until he was three hundred leagues out to sea. This was because there had been differences of opinion among the crew, for some thought it would be better to go to New Guinea, others to the Luzon Islands, and others again to Maluco. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi set sail in 1564 from the port of Navidad with five ships, and five hundred men, accompanied by fray Andres de Urdaneta and four other Augustinian friars. After sailing westwards for several days he opened his instructions and saw that he was ordered to proceed to the Luzon Islands, which he was to try to pacify and bring under obedience to his Majesty so that they might receive the holy Catholic faith. He continued his voyage until he reached the island of Sebu where he anchored because of the convenience of the port, which was good, and the nature of the land. At first he was peacefully received by the natives and their chief, Tupas, but later they took up arms and tried to kill him and his companions for seizing some provisions. But things turned out contrary to their expectations, because the Spaniards overcame and subjected them. The natives of the nearby islands, seeing what had taken place in Sebu, came in peace to the adelantado, rendering him homage and providing him with supplies. Thus was established die first Spanish settlement in that port which was called the city of the Most Holy Name of JESUS, because in taking one of the native houses at the conquest they found in it a carved image of Jesus, believed to have been left there by Magellan's fleet. This image which the natives held in great veneration worked miracles for them in times of need. It was placed in the Augustinian priory erected in that city.¹

That same year the adelantado despatched his capitana to New Spain with news and an account of his voyage and of the settlement in Sebu, and with a request for men and supplies in order to continue the pacification of the islands. Fray Andres de Urdaneta and his companion, fray Andres de Aguirre, embarked in the vessel.

Now one of the ships that had sailed from the port of Navidad in the convoy of the fleet was under the command of don Alonso de Arellano, and carried as pilot Lope Martin, a mulatto, and a good sailor, although of a restless disposition. When this ship neared the islands, it left the main body and went on ahead, and, having bartered for some provisions, turned back for New Spain by a northerly course without waiting for the adelantado. This they did either because the journey to the islands had not pleased them, or else because they wished to win the prize for finding the return route. They quickly arrived and gave out that they had seen the islands and discovered the return course, adding some suitable explanations for their coming without any message from the adelantado or news of what had happened to him. Don Alonso de Arellano was well-received by the audiencia then governing and the grant of a reward to him and his pilot was considered, and would have been given, had not the capitana of the adelantado arrived at this juncture, after having made the same return voyage, with the real story of what had happened and of the present situation in the settlement of Sebu. They also revealed how don Alonso de Arellano, without receiving any orders and without any need for it, had pushed on ahead of the fleet as far as the entrance of the islands, never to be seen again. They added that besides the islands in peaceful submission to his Majesty there were many others, large and rich, well-populated, and abounding in provisions and gold. These they hoped would be pacified and brought into submission with the aid of the reinforcements now requested. They added that the adelantado had named them all the 'Philippine Islands', in honour of his Majesty. The assistance asked for was immediately despatched, and has gone on being sent annually as necessity has dictated, so that the land has been conquered and held.

The adelantado, hearing that there were other islands round about Sebu with abundant provisions, sent some Spaniards there to pacify the natives and fetch rice for the settlement. Thus he managed to maintain himself as well as he could until, having gone over to the island of Panay, he sent his master-at-arms, Martin de Goiti, and other captains, to the island of Luzon, with such forces as seemed sufficient to bring about the pacification and submission of the island to his Majesty. These forces sailed under the guidance of a native chief of the island named Maomat. When they reached the bay of Manila, they found its township on the sea-shore near a large river, held and defended by a chief called Rajamora. Opposite, across the river, was another large settlement called Tondo which was likewise held by a chief named Rajamatanda.¹ These places were fortified with palm-trees and stout wooden stakes, tamped with earth, and with a great number of bronze cannon and other larger chamber-pieces. Martin de Goiti, after treating with the chiefs and their people concerning the peace and submission which he sought, found it necessary to come to blows with them. Thus the Spaniards entered the territory by force of arms, taking it, together with the forts and the artillery. This occurred on the feast of St Potenciana, May 19, in the year 1571.¹ As a result the natives and their chiefs gave in and made their submission as did many others on the same island of Luzon.²

When the commander, Legazpi, over in Panay, received news of the taking of Manila and of the settlement of the Spaniards there, he put in order the affairs of Sebu and the other islands that had been subdued, entrusted the natives to his most reliable soldiers, and ordered what seemed most fitting for the government of those provinces, which are usually called Bicayas de los Pintados because the natives there have their whole bodies marked by heated instruments. He then went to Manila with the rest of his forces where he was well received. He re-established peace and alliance with the natives and their chiefs and received again the submission which they had vowed earlier to his Majesty. Legazpi founded a township on the very site of Manila (which Rajamora gave them for the purpose), because it was in a strong position and stood in a well-provisioned area and in the middle of all those islands. He left it the native name of Manila. Taking sufficient land for the city, the Governor established there his seat and residence, fortifying it with great care. He was more concerned about this, because he wished to make the new settlement into the seat of government, than he was about the climate and convenience of the site. In fact it is hot and the area is narrow, since on one side of the city is the river and on the other is the bay, while behind it are wide swamps and marshes. But this puts it in a very strong defensive position.³

From this vantage point he continued the work of subduing the remaining provinces of this mighty island of Luzon and its surrounding districts; some were brought peaceably to obedience and others conquered by force of arms and with the aid of the friars who sowed among them the holy Gospel.¹ One and all worked valiantly at this task, not only during the governorship of the adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, but in that of successive governors. The land was shared out among those who subdued and settled it. The provincial capitals, the ports, and other cities and towns that have been founded were vested in the crown, as were certain other encomiendas, the income from which meets any needs that arise and also meets the expenses of the royal treasury.² The business of governing and converting the natives was undertaken in a fitting manner. Ships make the journey to New Spain every year and return with the usual supplies so that the state of the Philippine Islands at the present time, in both spiritual and temporal matters, is flourishing, as all know.³

The adelantado, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, as has been said, discovered the islands, settled in them and made a good beginning of their pacification and subjugation. He founded the city of the Most Holy Name of JESUS [Cebu] in the provinces of Pintados, and later the city of Manila in Luzon Island, where he also conquered the province of Ilocos, in whose settlement and port, called Vigan, he established a Spanish colony which he called Villa Fernandina.¹ Likewise he conquered the province of Pangasinam [Pangasinan] and the island of Mindoro, he fixed the tribute that the natives had to pay in all the islands,² and he also laid down many other ordinances concerning their government and conversion, down to the time of his death in the year 1574, in Manila, where he lies buried in the Augustinian priory.³

Upon his death, they found among his papers a sealed despatch from the audiencia which was governing Mexico at the time when Legazpi's fleet set sail from New Spain. This despatch named a new governor in case anything sh...