Report of Appointments Made by Governor Tavora
Sire:
Proceeding in conformity with what your Majesty orders me by royal decree, dated at Madrid on the twentieth of January, one thousand six hundred and twenty-five, and countersigned by Señor Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras, directing that I should send a relation of the places, offices, encomiendas, gratuities, incomes, allowances, additional pay, and whatsoever other advantages I might confer, making a special record for this; after having complied with this, and sent an account in the ships which left this island for Nueva España in the year six hundred and twenty-seven, I have thus far made appointments to the following encomiendas, places, and offices:
Captain Blas Lopez Baltadano was granted, in the name of your Majesty, the encomienda of natives at Agonoc and its dependencies in the province of Camarines, which was left vacant by the demise and death of Don Diego Arias Xiron; it contains four hundred and sixty tributary Indians, each one of them paying every year ten reals, two for the royal revenue, and the rest for the encomendero. Four reals of the latter are paid in kind—a hundred and ten gantas of rice in the husk, fit for sowing and cooking; and two fowls for one real; the rest being in money, of which two reals are paid to the minister who instructs them. This grant was extended to him in conformity with the law of succession, for services which he has rendered your Majesty during the twenty-eight years past while he has been in these islands, at first as a soldier in the company of Captain Juan de Laxara. He was in the expedition for the discovery of the province of Tuy, as an adventurer and head of the veteran soldiers. He was corregidor of Butuan, and afterward went to the coast of Caraga, against the natives of Mindanao, as commander of a caracoa which belonged to him; and likewise in other parts of Mindanao, where he burned six caracoas and protected and defended the natives of his jurisdiction. Later, while corregidor of Ybalon, he attended to furnishing provisions for the galleys which were sent there to await the ships from Nueva España, as the Dutch were there again. He spent therein a great deal of labor, as he was obliged to bring the supplies from another jurisdiction, since there were not sufficient in his own. Twice he was alcalde-mayor of Pangasinan, where he brought about the reduction of the rebellious Indians, through the wise counsels of war which he gave. A few of them were executed, and they surrendered and sued for peace. He was in the expedition which Governor Don Luis Perez das Marinas made to Camboxa, holding a captaincy and paying his own expenses. In the port of Pinal he performed great labors in seeking supplies and money for the troops of another fleet. At that time he was appointed royal alférez, and came out wounded in his left arm from an encounter which he had with the Portuguese of Macan, in attempting to capture their commander. After his arrival at this city, he was made captain of Spanish infantry in the said province of Pangasinan, and twice their commander-in-chief, beside being alcalde-mayor and corregidor of Butuan at two other times. During this time he performed other services, as appears from the documents which he presented before me. On the said encomienda there was levied and exacted from him fifty pesos of pension, each year, which are to be given and paid to Alférez Juan Gomez, these being a part of the hundred which he holds from the encomienda of Yguey and its dependencies, belonging to Captain Juan Bautista Perez de Helquera, in the said province of Camarines, by a grant which was made of that sum to the said Alferez Juan Gomez by the royal Audiencia of these islands, when their government was in its charge through the death of Governor Juan de Silva. The said fifty pesos are taken away from the said encomienda of Yguey that it may be free from them, as it has few tributarios; and I have imposed them upon this said encomienda so that the said Alférez Juan Gomez may enjoy them, comformably to the grant which was made him. The said Captain Baltadano must secure a confirmation of this grant from your Majesty inside of four years, reckoned from the day of sailing of the first ships which are despatched from these and the other islands for Nueva España—as is ordered by the royal decrees of the twelfth of October, six hundred and twelve, and the twelfth of July, six hundred and twenty-five, under the penalties therein provided. He must likewise send a special power of attorney to petition for the said confirmation, in the form which is provided by another decree dated at Madrid, the twenty-eighth of May, one thousand six hundred and twenty-five; and he must send and remit to that court Captain Francisco de la Haya was granted the encomienda of natives at Lobo and Galban, and their dependencies, in the province of Balayan, which was vacated by the demise and death of Don Joseph Arnalte. It has three hundred and eighty-three tributarios, each one paying every year ten reals, two for the royal revenue, and eight for the encomendero. Four reals of these are in kind—sixty gantas of rice in the husk, fit for sowing and cooking; and one fowl for one real; and the other three reals in money, two of which are given to the minister who instructs them. If they are paid in white cotton blankets, of the ordinary size of three baras and a half in length and three quarters of a bara in width, these are to be counted at two reals apiece; and if they are of soyol, which are fine, at four reals; and if hand-worked for altar cloths, at five reals. The grant was made him in conformity with the law of succession, on account of his meritorious acts and services which he has rendered to your Majesty during the twenty-five years past, having enlisted as a soldier in those kingdoms, in the company of Captain Don Fernando de Silva. In that company he came to these islands, where he continued to serve, being present in such occasions for service as occurred. In particular he was present at the battle which was fought by Governor Don Juan de Silva against the Dutch enemy in Playa Honda, in the year six hundred and ten, where he received a wound, a musket-ball traversing his right thigh. Afterward he accompanied the said governor in the fleet which he took to the ports of Terrenate. He was at the capture of Sabugo.[1] He was alférez in the company of Captain Antonio de Morga. He was present with Governor Don Juan de Silva in the fleet which the latter took to the strait of Sincapura; and afterward was likewise in that of General Don Juan Ronquillo, who fought against the said Dutch at the said Playa Honda, he being present on the admiral’s galley. He was a second time made alférez in this camp, and resigned from service in the infantry to embark in the fleet which Governor Don Alonso Fajardo prepared to oppose that of the Dutch, in the year six hundred and nineteen, where he served as a soldier in the company of Master-of-camp Don Geronimo de Silva. The next year he was in the fleet of General Don Luis Fajardo, for the protection of these coasts; and in the said position of soldier he served three years, one hundred and eighty-four days, until he was advanced to fill the place of adjutant sargento-mayor of this camp. Serving in this capacity, he went in the fleet which left in the year six hundred and twenty-five to oppose the Dutch who were upon this coast, having as commander the said Master-of-camp Don Hieronimo de Silva. Finally he was captain of infantry in this camp, and during this time has rendered other services, as appeared more at length by his papers which he presented before me. On the said encomienda there was levied and exacted from him fifty pesos of pension each year which were to be paid to Alférez Juan Gomez, which are a part of the hundred which he holds as a pension from the encomienda of Yguey and its dependencies, belonging to Captain Juan Baptista Perez de Helquerra, by a grant which was made to the said Alférez Juan Gomez by the royal Audiencia of these islands, while the government was in its charge through the death of the said Governor Don Juan de Silva. I have taken the said fifty pesos from the encomienda of Yguey, so that the said Captain Bautista Perez may be free therefrom, as the tributarios which he has are few; and I have imposed it upon this said encomienda so that the said Alférez Juan Gomez may enjoy it, comformably to the grant which was made him. The said Captain Francisco de la Haya is bound to secure a confirmation thereof from your Majesty inside of four years reckoned from the day of sailing of the first vessels which are despatched from the islands for Nueva España, as is ordered by the said two royal decrees cited, and under the penalties there provided; and likewise he must send special power of attorney to petition for and secure the said confirmation; and when he shall send for it he must remit to that court the amount of his monthly income, failing which the said confirmation will not be given him, as is provided in the said royal decrees cited. I sent him the commission on the twenty-ninth of October, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven, having previously posted edicts in public places in this city for a reasonable length of time, for the benefit of those who may have claims on the said encomienda, as is ordered by another said royal decree cited. I have ascertained by investigation that it does not come under the provisions for the appointment to encomiendas and offices in the form therein provided. Captain Pedro de Navarrete was granted the encomienda of natives in the villages of Tabuco and its subjects, in the province of La Laguna de Vay, which was vacated by the death of Captain Don Luis Enrriquez de Guzman. There are five hundred and two tributarios, each one of them paying every year ten reals, two for the royal treasury and eight for the encomendero. Four of these are paid in kind—fifty-five gantas of rice in the husk, half of which is cleaned for sowing and cooking; and one fowl at one real; and the other three in money. Of this the minister who teaches them is paid each year at the rate of a hundred pesos of eight reals, a hundred fanegas of rice in the husk, and one arroba of wine for the celebration of mass, for every five hundred tributarios to whom they minister. This grant was made to him for his merits, and the services which he has rendered your Majesty during more than twenty-five years since he came over to these islands with Governor Don Pedro de Acuña, in the capacity of a soldier in the company of Don Thomas Bravo de Acuña. He served in the said employment in this camp, and afterward went to the province of Zibu, in the Pintados, where he remained more than four years, connected with the company which was in Zibu, going out on all the armed expeditions which occurred—namely, six times, against the enemy from Mindanao, Caraga, and the Sanguiles, who were robbing and harrying those regions, causing much damage, death, and pillage. He was present at the taking of the fort of Sagao and the islands of Caraga, when the natives there rebelled, and refused obedience to the king. He was one of the soldiers who distinguished themselves, and climbed to the crest of the ridge, until it surrendered, and many Indians were captured, bringing the rebels back to the royal obedience. On this occasion he received a wound in the head, from the many stones which they threw. He served at his own expense and voluntarily, on the said occasions; and in the said garrison of Zibu he performed watch and sentinel duty with the other soldiers. He was present at the rebellion of the Japanese against this city outside of its walls, and was one of those who went out to fight against them in the year six hundred and eight, and in that of six hundred and sixteen. He was alférez of a Spanish company in this camp, and served in that capacity in the post at Cavite, for its protection and defense, when the Dutch had come with six ships to the harbor mouth of Mariveles, intending to enter the bay, at the time when Governor Don Juan de Silva had gone with his royal fleet to the strait of Sincapura. He was personally present on the rampart of the curtains of the said fort, which were breached at four points. He expended much of his property, maintaining therewith a number of soldiers of his company on account of the poverty of the royal treasury. In the year six hundred and eighteen, he was made captain of infantry of the company which was in garrison in the said fort of Cavite; and the next year he was made a second time captain of another company of this camp, where he served until it was disbanded. On many occasions when the royal treasury was embarrassed, he has lent it a great quantity of money. He is married to Doña Augustina de Morales, legitimate daughter of Captain Pedro Navarro and Doña Luisa de Morales, and granddaughter of Captain Gaspar Ruiz de Morales, one of the first conquerors and settlers of these islands, prominent people of rank. During this time he has rendered other services to your Majesty, all of which appears more at length from his papers which he has presented before me. Beside this, command is given by a royal decree dated at Madrid on the nineteenth of June, six hundred and twenty-six, countersigned by Señor Don Fernando Rruiz de Contreras, to the effect that in every possible way should be furthered the work for the protection and aid of orphan children and those lacking support, which was administered and managed by Brother Juan Geronimo Guerrero in this city, as that is so pious and charitable a cause, and it is so necessary to secure its perpetuity and the support of the said children, whose fathers have died in these islands in the royal service. As means were to be sought for this, since they could not come from the royal treasury, the said Captain Pedro de Navarrete, as one of the benefactors of the said work, offered and bound himself to give as alms five thousand pesos of eight reals at the coming of the ships which were expected from Nueva España this present year; that sum is to be distributed and expended in the said work, and to erect a building for the orphans, as that which they have is in danger of falling. He bound himself to deliver the said amount to the person who should be designated by myself. In consideration of all which has been recounted, I have extended to him this grant, charging him to secure a confirmation thereof from your Majesty within four years reckoned from the day of sailing of the first ships from these islands for Nueva España, and to send a special power of attorney to petition for the said confirmation in that court. Likewise he must remit there the amount of his monthly income when he sends for the said confirmation, as is ordered and commanded by the royal decrees cited, and under the penalties therein provided. I had previously posted notices in public places of this city for those who might have claims to the said encomienda, a reasonable time before, as is ordered by the said royal decree cited, which treats of this matter. I have found by investigation that this is not included in the provisions for the order of appointments to encomiendas and offices, as is therein provided. I sent him the commission on the fourth of December, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. Appointments to offices of justice and war I have appointed Sergeant Pedro Diaz Barroso as corregidor of the island of Mariveles and its jurisdiction, as he is a man with the qualifications which that office seems to require, and has served your Majesty in these islands for a long time. He has a yearly salary of one hundred and fifty pesos, which is the same as was enjoyed by his predecessor. I sent the commission on the sixth of August, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. I appointed Alférez Geronimo Banegas, a citizen of this island, as corregidor of the Negros Islands and their jurisdiction, and as military commander there; for he is a person of the qualifications which this position demands, and an old settler in this country who has served your Majesty here. He has a salary of a hundred and fifty pesos of common gold per year, and with that is to serve both offices, which is the same as his predecessors have had. I sent his commission on the third of August of one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. I have appointed Alférez Andres Martin as corregidor of the island of Mindoro and its jurisdiction, and as military commander there; for he is a person of the qualifications which the place demands. He has served your Majesty more than twenty years in these islands and those of Terrenate, and been present at the various battles which have occurred. He has a salary of a hundred pesos of common gold per year, for which he serves both offices. I sent him the commission on the fifth of August of one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. I have appointed Captain Juan de Mendoza as alcalde-mayor of the province of Pangasinan and its jurisdiction; and military commander there; for he is a person of the necessary abilities and qualifications, and has been more than twenty years in these islands in your Majesty’s service, when occasion offered. He has a salary of three hundred pesos of common gold per year, and with this serves both offices. I sent his commission on the ninth of August of one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. Admiral Don Christoval de Lugo y Montalvo, who is fulfilling the duties of my lieutenant-governor and commander-in-chief in the provinces of the Pintados, I have appointed alcalde-mayor of the province of Zibu and its jurisdiction, and captain of infantry of the company which is in garrison in that camp; for he is a person of many merits, and has served your Majesty in these islands and other regions sufficiently to deserve all the said offices of my lieutenant, alcalde-mayor, and captain of infantry. He has only the salary of a captain, amounting to about six hundred pesos per year, and no more. Thereby is saved to the royal treasury the eight hundred which he drew merely for the office of my lieutenant-governor and commander-in-chief. I sent him the commissions on the ninth of August, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. Captain Don Fernando Galindo I have appointed alcalde-mayor of the province of La Laguna de Vay and its jurisdiction, and military commander there; for he is a person of many excellent qualifications for this office, and has been occupied in the service of your Majesty in these islands whenever occasion has offered, where he has acquitted himself very well. He has a yearly salary of three hundred pesos of common gold, and for it serves both offices. I sent him the commission on the tenth of August, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. I have appointed Captain Diego Lorenso de Trexo alcalde-mayor of the province of Calilaya and its jurisdiction, and military commander there, as he is a person of the qualifications and parts required for this office. For thirty-two years he has been in these islands, and has served whenever occasion offered, and acquitted himself well. He has a yearly salary of three hundred pesos of common gold, for which he serves both offices. I sent his commission on the eighth of August, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. I have appointed Captain and Sargento-mayor Juan Garcia Pelaez chief justice of the port of Cavite, and military commander, and keeper of Fort San Philipe there, as he is a person of many excellent qualities, and has served your Majesty many years in these islands. For these three offices he has no appointed salary from the royal treasury, and accordingly serves without it. I sent him the commission as chief justice on the thirteenth of August of one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. Alférez Luis Triscomia I have appointed alcalde-mayor of the Calamianes Islands and their jurisdiction, and military commander there, as he has been more than seventeen years in these islands, serving your Majesty when occasion offered, and has the necessary qualifications. He has a salary of three hundred pesos per year, for which he serves both offices. I sent his commission on the third of August of one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. I have appointed Alférez Pedro Alvarez corregidor of the jurisdiction of Ybalon, and military commander there, as he is possessed of the qualifications required for this office, and has served your Majesty in these islands more than sixteen years when occasion offered. He has a salary of a hundred pesos of common gold per year, for which he serves both offices. I sent him the commission on the fifth of August, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. I have appointed Captain Silvestre de Aybar warden of the camp and fort San Gabriel, which overlooks the Parián of the Sangleys, with power to administer justice in all matters which may arise in the said Parián; for he is a person of proved capability, and of the qualifications and abilities which are necessary for this office. He has served your Majesty for thirty years past in those kingdoms, Nueva España and these islands. He has a salary of a thousand pesos per year, which is not paid from the royal treasury, but from that maintained by the community of Sangleys in the said Parián, where they contribute each year for matters necessary there, and for others pertaining to the royal service. I sent his commission on the seventeenth of September, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. I have appointed General Don Andres Perez Franco as warden of the fort San Philippe at the port of Cavite, and military commander there and chief justice; for he has many talents and qualifications, and is well acquainted with the said port, where he has been at other times and has occupied honorable offices. He has no salary appointed from the royal treasury, and accordingly serves without it, on account of the promotion of Sargento-mayor Juan Garcia Pelaez, who held the said offices, to be commander-in-chief of the provinces of Cagaian, Ylocos, and Pangásinan. I sent him the commission as such warden on the twenty-eighth of September of one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. General Don Juan de Alcarazo I have appointed chief commander of the two galleons “San Yldifonso” and “Nuestra Señora de Peña de Francia,” which I sent as a fleet against the Dutch enemy who was at the port of Macan awaiting the ships of the Portuguese, which were going back from here with the produce from the merchandise which they brought. The said galleons went to protect and guard them, and for other purposes pertaining to the service of your Majesty in the localities which the Dutch infested. I made this appointment on account of his many good qualities and because he has served your Majesty in the military habit and profession twenty-three years—both in the royal navy in those parts, and in these islands—whenever occasion offered, occupying posts and offices of the most honor, wherein he has acquitted himself very well. He performed the said office for six hundred Castilian ducados per month, which is the salary drawn by similar commanders. I sent him the commission on the ninth of October, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. Captain and Sargento-mayor Don Pedro Muñoz de Mendiola, who serves in this royal camp of Manila, I have appointed commander of the galleon “Nuestra Señora de Peña de Francia,” one of those which was sent in charge of the said Don Juan de Alcaraso, to the said port of the city of Macan, and other places, against the said Dutch enemy. For he is possessed of the suitable abilities and qualifications, and has served your Majesty in these islands, Flandez, and other parts of Europe, in the military profession; and had been serving in the said office, retaining the said position as sargento-mayor and with the same salary which he gained before, and no other. I sent him his commission on the fifth of October, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. I have appointed Captain Francisco Hernandez as captain of the company of Spanish infantry which served in the forts of Therrenate under Captain and Sargento-mayor Pedro Tufiño, and as commander of the royal galleys for the protection of those islands, because permission has been given to the said Tufiño to come to this city. I made this appointment of the said Captain Francisco Hernandez because he is possessed of the necessary qualifications and ability, and has served your Majesty in the military profession for twenty-two years in this region. He came to these islands as a soldier, and from them went to the said forts of Terrenate, where he served twenty years as a soldier and with extra pay as head of a squadron, sergeant, alférez, adjutant, and captain of infantry, being present whenever occasion for his service arose, and rendering especial services there. He has a salary of six hundred pesos per year, for which he has to serve both offices, as soon as the said company is delivered to him. I sent him the commission on the twenty-ninth of October, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. On the said day I appointed the said Captain Francisco Hernandez commander of the relief that is carried to the forts of Therrenate, as he is in every way satisfactory, and possessed of the necessary qualifications, as has been said in the previous clause. For his services in the said duty he received six hundred Castilian ducados per month, during the whole time that he served, which is the salary drawn by similar commanders. I have appointed Adjutant Alonso Serrano a captain of Spanish infantry, of the company which serves in the forts of Therrenate under Captain Lorenso Hernandez, as the latter had permission to come to this city. I made this appointment because he has the qualifications and abilities which are required. Twenty-four years ago he came to these islands in the capacity of a soldier, and during twenty of them has resided and served in the said fort—being a soldier, commander of a squadron with extra pay, sergeant, alférez, and adjutant, and being present on all occasions when his services were necessary. He has a salary of six hundred pesos per year, reckoning from the day when the company is given over to him. I sent him his commission on the eighteenth of November, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. Former Adjutant Alonso de Peraza, of this camp, I have appointed captain of infantry, of the company which served in the said forts of Therrenate under Captain Don Juan de Santiesteban Bracamonte, as the latter had permission to come to this city. I made this appointment because he has the necessary qualifications and abilities, and has served your Majesty twenty-four years in this region in the military profession, in these islands and those of Therrenate. He was present at the recovery of the latter, and during the two fights when the Dutch General Pablos Blancanden was taken, and in other encounters and battles which took place on land and sea, against the Dutch, and the natives of Therrenate. He became a sergeant, and was present at the battle between General Don Juan Rronquillo and the Dutch. He was a second time made sergeant, and again alférez, from which he was promoted to be an adjutant, and has rendered other distinguished services. He has a salary of six hundred pesos per year, which he is to enjoy, from the day when the said company is given over to him. I sent him his commission on the seventeenth of November, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. Captain Roderigo de Mesa I have appointed captain of a company which was brought to this city, and which he took to reinforce the forts of Therrenate. For he is a person of the necessary qualifications, and has served your Majesty twenty-four years in this region in the military profession, both in these islands and in those of Therrenate—where he served fifteen years with success as a private musketeer, a commander of a squadron with extra pay, sergeant, alférez, and adjutant, in the said camp—being present whenever there was occasion for his service, on land or sea, and rendering distinguished services, as appeared by his papers. He draws as salary six hundred pesos per year. I sent his commission on the twenty-seventh of November of one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. I have appointed Captain Alonso de Balle alcalde-mayor and military commander of the province of Ylocos, owing to the death of Captain Alvaro de Loazes, for there are found in him the necessary qualifications and abilities. He has served your Majesty for twenty-two years past in these islands, being present when occasion offered, and has acquitted himself well. From the offices with which he is entrusted he draws a salary of three hundred pesos of common gold per year, for which he serves both offices. I sent his commission on the sixth of December, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. Captain Don Fernando Bezerra I have appointed commander of the ship “Santisima Trinidad,” which I sent with reënforcements and supplies to join the two armed galleons which General Don Juan de Alcaraso took in his charge to Pulotimon, and other parts of Sian, to secure thereby good results for the service of your Majesty, because it was impossible to take with them a patache when they left for Macan. I gave him this appointment because he has the qualifications needed, and has served in the military profession in these islands and in Therrenate for a long time, rendering distinguished services. He drew a salary at the rate of six hundred Castilian ducados a month, which is the wages of similar commanders. I sent him the commission on the thirteenth of December of the year one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. Captain Don Lope de Sosa I have appointed alcalde-mayor of the jurisdiction of Tondo, and military commander there, as he is of the abilities and qualifications which are necessary. He came to these islands twenty years ago, and has here served when occasion arose, and held honorable offices and charges, wherein he has acquitted himself well. He has three hundred pesos of common gold per year as a salary, for which he serves both offices. I sent him the commission on the eleventh of January, one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. Alférez Pedro de Mora Salcedo I have appointed corregidor of the jurisdiction of Leyte, Zamare, and Babao, and captain and military commander there, as he has the qualifications and ability demanded by the office. He came to these islands ten years ago in the service of your Majesty, and has served here and in Therrenate, having been a sergeant, and alférez, and a substitute. In an encounter with the Dutch, at which he was present, the two lower bones of his right leg were both broken by a musket-ball, and he was present in other engagements. He has a yearly salary of two hundred pesos of common gold. I sent him his commission on the nineteenth of January of one thousand, six hundred and twenty-eight. I appointed Captain Fernando Lopez de Perona alcalde-mayor of the province of Bulacan and military commander there, as he is possessed of the necessary qualifications and abilities for this office, and has served your Majesty for sixteen years, both in the fleet of the Ocean Sea and in these islands, and acquitted himself well of what has been entrusted to him. He has a yearly salary of three hundred pesos of common gold, for which he serves both offices. I sent him his commission on the fifteenth of March, one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. Alférez Martin Larios, deputy warden of Fort Santiago of this city of Manila, I have promoted to be captain of Spanish infantry, of the company which served under Captain and Sargento-mayor Don Antonio de Vera in the garrison of San Salvador in Hermosa Island; for he has the necessary qualifications and abilities, and has served your Majesty thirteen years past in military habit and profession in the states of Flandez, having been a soldier, commander of a squadron, and a sergeant, being present on the occasions and at the places where his services were needed, where he performed distinguished services. He came over to these islands with the reënforcements which he brought here. He was alférez in Nueva España of a company which was raised in Zacatecas; and in that position he came to this city, where he was appointed lieutenant of the said Fort Santiago. He has a salary of six hundred pesos of common gold per year, as do the rest in this camp. I sent him his commission on the sixteenth of March, one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. Alférez Juan Moreno Criado I have appointed lieutenant warden of the said Fort Santiago of this city, as he is of the requisite qualifications and has served in military habit and profession more than twenty-four years past, since he came to these islands. He was present at the recovering of the forts at Therrenate, where he served, and was present at the actions which took place, as he likewise was in these islands, rendering especial service. He has four hundred and twenty pesos a year as salary. I sent him his commission on the twentieth of March of one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. Captain Juan de Herrera I appointed alcalde-mayor and military commander of the province of Camarines, as he was of the qualifications and ability necessary for that office. He came to these islands twenty-three years ago and has served your Majesty in military profession and in offices of justice, and other employments in which he has been occupied, wherein he has acquitted himself well. He has three hundred pesos a year as salary, for which he serves both offices. I sent him his commission on the fourteenth of April of one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. Captain Francisco Ramos, a soldier of the company of Captain Diego Lopez Lobo, I have appointed captain of the galley “Nuestra Señora de Loreto,” which was built in the province of Camarines, and is to be sent to the forts of Therrenate; for he possesses the required qualifications and ability, and for eighteen years has served your Majesty in these islands and in those of Therrenate. He has a salary of thirty-five Castilian ducados per month, which is the wage of galley-captains of the forts of Therrenate. I sent him his commission on the thirteenth of April of one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. Alférez Francisco de los Rios Coronel I have appointed corregidor and military commander of the Catanduanes Islands, as he has the required qualifications, and has served in the capacity of soldier in these islands since the year one thousand six hundred and nine, when he came out here, and has been present at the actions which have occurred. He has a salary of a hundred pesos per year. I sent him the commission on the twentieth of May of one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. Captain Francisco Gimenez I have appointed captain of Spanish infantry, of the company which served in the garrison of Hermosa Island under Captain Don Benito Flores, and as sargento-mayor of all the infantry of the said garrison; for he possesses the required qualifications and ability. During the twenty years while he has served your Majesty in military service in these islands he has been present when occasion offered, and likewise in the forts of Therrenate. He has always acquitted himself well, and performed distinguished services. He draws a salary of six hundred pesos per year, as do the rest of this camp, and with it serves both offices. I sent him the commission on the twenty-sixth of June of the year one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. Alférez Don Pedro de Axqueda Menchaca I have appointed alférez-royal of the ships which are despatched this present year to Nueva España, as he has the requisite qualifications and ability. He has served in military service in this camp in the capacity of soldier, and in that of alférez. He is the son of the master-of-camp Christoval de Axcueta Menchaca, who died in these islands in the service of your Majesty. He has eight hundred pesos per year of salary. 1 sent him his commission on the fourth of July of the year one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. Alférez-royal Augustin de Salduendo I have appointed captain of infantry, of the Spanish infantry company, which served in this camp under Captain Don Diego de Axqueta Menchaca—who was promoted to the position of admiral of the ships which this year go to Nueva España; and later to the command of them, on account of Sargento-mayor Don Gonzalo Rronquillo remaining in these islands, who had been appointed commander of them. I gave this appointment to the said Augustin de Salduendo because he was possessed of the requisite qualifications and abilities, and had served your Majesty in these islands in military habit and profession nineteen years in the capacity of soldier, commander of squadron with extra pay, sergeant, alférez, and other offices, and was present when occasion offered, and rendered especial services. He has a salary of six hundred pesos per year. I sent him his commission on the twenty-eighth of July of one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. I appointed Alférez Domingo Francisco de Portilla as corregidor of the island of Mindoro and its jurisdiction, and military commander there, as he has the requisite qualifications, and has served your Majesty in these islands for twenty years past in military service. He has a salary of a hundred pesos per year. I sent his commission on the thirteenth of July, one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. Sargento-mayor Don Philippe de Lezcano I appointed captain of infantry, of the company which is in garrison at the fort of Tanda, in the province of Caraga, and keeper of the fort there, and military commander, as he has the requisite qualifications and ability. He has served your Majesty thirteen years in military service in Flandez, and passed to these islands in the position of sargento-mayor of infantry which came as reinforcements last year, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven. He is assigned a salary of six hundred pesos per year, which is what the other captains of this camp have, and with this he will serve the two offices. I sent him the commission on the twentieth of July of one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. Admiral Don Diego de Axcueta Menchaca, who was appointed admiral of the ships which go to Nueva España this year, I have promoted to the office of commander of them on account of Sargento-mayor Don Gonzalo Rronquillo (who was appointed to this office) remaining in these islands. I have made this appointment because the said Don Diego de Axcueta has the requisite qualifications and ability. He has served your Majesty in military service in these islands for nineteen years past, having been a soldier, alférez, and several times a captain of infantry, and one of the guard of Governor Don Juan de Silva. He was present at the battle with the Dutch enemy under the said governor in the year six hundred and ten, at Playa Honda. He went with the governor to the forts of Therrenate, and was present at the taking of Xilolo and Sabugo. On his return to this city he went to the strait of Sincapura with the said governor, and was afterward in the battle with the Dutch enemy in the year sixteen at the said Plaia Honda where Master-of-camp Don Juan Rronquillo acted as general of the fleet. He afterward became captain of infantry in this camp; and while he held this position I appointed him commander of a ship which went with the fleet in my charge to Hermosa Island. He is the son of Master-of-camp Christoval de Axcueta Menchaca, who died in these islands in the service of your Majesty. He has a decree directing that he be occupied in offices of justice and war, conformably to his rank and ability. He has performed other distinguished services for your Majesty. He has a yearly salary of three thousand Castilian ducados, which is the same as has been enjoyed by the commanders of similar vessels. I sent him the commission on the twenty-fourth of July of one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. Captain Don Fernando Galindo I have appointed admiral of the ships which will go this present year to Nueva España, as he has the requisite qualifications and ability, and has served your Majesty in military service for twenty-two years past in the galleys of Ytalia and other parts of Europa, and in these islands. While here he was captain of infantry three times, once in this camp and twice in the garrison of Cagayan. He was alcalde-mayor and military commander in that province, and afterward was made alcalde-mayor and military commander in the province of La Laguna de Vay. He was present when occasion offered for his services, and acquitted himself well with what was entrusted to him, rendering other important services to your Majesty. He has a yearly salary of two thousand Castilian ducados. I sent him the commission on the twenty-eighth of July, one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. Concerning the other appointments that may be made, I will send a report during the coming year, in the same manner as your Majesty orders me. May God our Lord protect you many years, with the addition of greater kingdoms and seigniories, according to the needs of Christendom. At the port of Cavite, on the second day of the month of August of the year one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. In the ships which have just arrived from Nueva Spaña in these islands there came a royal decree by which your Majesty was pleased to confirm and approve the grant which Governor Don Alonso Faxardo made to these islands, while he was governor, to Don Luis Faxardo, his brother, on the first of April of the former year one thousand six hundred and twenty-one, giving him the encomienda of natives at Bombon and its dependencies, in the province of Balayan, which contains two thousand seven hundred and twenty-five tributarios. For this within four years he was to secure a confirmation from your Majesty, as appeared from the royal decree under date of the tenth of September of one thousand six hundred and twenty-six, countersigned by the secretary Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras—which decided me not to proceed to the execution of this without first informing your Majesty as to what has passed in this matter, and the state in which affairs are at present. I found, Sire, when I arrived in these islands and undertook the government thereof in the said year of one thousand six hundred and twenty-six, that the said encomienda was vacated, and declared so by Governor Don Fernando de Silva, because the said Don Luis Faxardo had not secured the said confirmation from your Majesty within the designated period. During the vacancy, the proceeds of the products and the profits were placed in the royal treasury. This encomienda had two thousand five hundred and seven tributarios, which, as they appeared to me to be a large number, I divided. I made a grant thereof in the name of your Majesty, according to law, as being vacant, to two persons of considerable rank, ability, merits, and services. One of these is general Don Antonio de Leoz, to whom I gave one thousand six hundred tributarios thereof, as I knew that he had served your Majesty for twenty-four years past, both in the kingdom of Napoles and in these islands—whither he came from that kingdom with Governor Don Juan de Silva, as alférez of the company. Afterward he was made captain, and served in this camp with other offices, being present when occasion arose. He has always acquitted himself well of what was entrusted to him, as will appear by his papers and commission—which I have despatched to him; and which I understand should already be in that court to petition for and secure the confirmation, according to the command. He is married to Doña Juana Gallinato, legitimate daughter and sole heir of Master-of-camp Juan Xuarez Gallinato, who died in these islands in your Majesty’s service, being a person of many services. I charged him with a pension, from the said tributarios, of one hundred and fifty pesos, which he each year gives and pays to Doña Beatriz Cornexo de Tapia—a widow, who had been the wife of Doctor Juan Manuel de La Vega, formerly auditor of the royal Audiencia and of these islands; for she was very poor and was suffering need. In consideration of making this grant Doña Juana Gallinato resigned one thousand two hundred tributarios, which she held as an encomienda for a second life, so that these might be assigned to other persons. The other nine hundred and seven tributarios remaining I assigned to General Don Juan de Arcarasso, likewise a person of great ability and merit, and many services. He has served your Majesty for thirty-four years past in those lands of Europa, in the royal fleet and elsewhere, as well as in these islands—where he came as captain of a company of Spanish infantry, which came with the reënforcements of the year six hundred and fourteen. He has held and served in other charges and honorable offices, being present when occasion arose. Thus far and ever he has acquitted himself very well, as will appear more at length by his paper and the commission which I sent him—which should already be in that court to secure the confirmation of the said encomienda. They are likewise recounted in a clause of a letter which I despatched to your Majesty in the past year of one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven, with the report concerning encomiendas and offices. I made these two grants on the eleventh of December one thousand six hundred and twenty-six, and issued decrees for them, having fulfilled all the requirements which are ordered by the royal decrees. I beseech your Majesty to have examined the matter referred to, and the said encomienda considered vacant and so declared, in conformity to the royal decrees which treat of this matter; and as such to have the appointment given to the said two worthy persons, who are in possession thereof by a just title. Above all, I beseech you to command that it be your pleasure that this be observed and complied with; and in the meantime I shall make no change, because it appears to me that I acted justly, and that it is expedient for the service of your Majesty. Dated ut supra. Sire, the humble vassal of your Majesty. Don Juan Niño de Tavora [Endorsed: “Examined; have it joined with the others on this matter.” “In the Council, October 9, 630.”] [1] A native town in the northern part of Gilolo (or Almahéra) Island; it was captured by Juan de Silva.