Encan and others Executed. On the 22d Encan, otherwise call’d Baptist, was executed, being hang’d and quarter’d, his Head set up in the Parian, and his Goods confiscated. The following Days the like Justice was executed on other guilty Chineses; and had the Laws of their own Country been observ’d, the same Punishment had been inflicted on their whole Families and Kindred.
End of the Chinese Rebellion. Thus was that Conflagration suppress’d, which threatned the utter Ruin of the Philippine Islands, and thus above 23000 Chineses perish’d, few above 500 being left for the Galleys, and all those Isles being restor’d to unexpected Peace. Some affirm, the Number of the Sangleyes slain was greater, but that the Magistrates conceal’d it, for fear Notice should be taken of their Fault in admitting so many to live in the Country, contrary to the King’s Prohibition; yet in vain does Subtilty contend with Truth.
Don Pedro had receiv’d some Intelligence of his Majesties approving of the Enterprize on the Moluccos; and whilst he expected to see the Effect of that Resolution, writ all the Ways he could; as also through India, to solicite those who were commission’d in that Affair. Being deliver’d of the Trouble of the Sangleyes, he bent his Mind to provide all Necessaries for the Fleet, against he should be commanded to set out; but the End of this Ill Effects of the Chinese Rebellion. War, was the Beginning of other Difficulties at Manila. All Handicrafts ceas’d, Works were lay’d aside, and Provisions grew scarce; which Scarcity made all Things dear; whereas before there was Abundance, all Things laborious being done by the Sangleyes, by Reason that the Native Indians are neither willing, nor industrious at such Affairs. They had quite laid aside tilling the Land; breeding of Fowl, and weaving of Blankets, all which they formerly us’d to do, in the Time of their Infidelity. The Parian or Chinese Quarter was particularly ruin’d with Fire and Sword. That Place us’d to be so plentiful and advantageous, that when Don Pedro came first to Manila, he writ concerning it to a Kinsman of his in Spain, as follows. Wealth of the Parian. This City is remarkeable for stately Buildings, which have astonish’d me. I shall only mention one Particular, which is the chiefest, That it has a Suburb, or Quarter, full of all Sorts of Silks, and Gold, and Mechanick Trades, and 400 Shops full of this Sort, with above 8000 Men generally dealing in them; and at the Time when Fleets come from China with Merchandize, which is at this Season there are always above 13 or 14000 Men. They bring extraordinary Things, such as are not in Europe. Don Pedro was also afraid that the Slaughter lately made would obstruct the Trade, and that the Ships would not come as usual, with Provisions, from China. But the greater and more general Apprehension was that instead of Merchants, Ships of War would come to revenge the Sangleyes. He therefore sent away F. James F. Guevara sent through India to Spain. de Guevara, Prior of Manila, into Spain, by the Way of India, with an Account of what had been done, and of his Fears. The many Accidents that befell him in India, Persia, Turkey, and Italy, made him spend three Years before he came to Court, where he then found other fresher Intelligence.
At the same Time Don Pedro sent Captain Mark de la Cueva, with F. Lewis Gandullo, a Dominican, to Macao, a City in China, where the Portugueses reside, with Letters for the Commander in Chief and Council of that City, giving them an Account of the Rebellion of the Sangleyes, and the Event of it, that they, upon any Rumour of a Fleet providing in China, might Message to China. send him Notice of it several Ways. They had also Letters for the Tutones, or Tsuntos, Abytaos, and Visitors of the Provinces of Canton, and Chincheo, acquainting them with the Guilt of the Chineses, which oblig’d the Spaniards to punish them so severely. The Messengers at their Arrival, found all the Country peaceably dispos’d, notwithstanding that some Sangleyes flying from Manila in Champanes, had given an Account of their Commotions. The Coming of these Spaniards to Macao was soon known at Chincheo, and presently some of the richest Captains, who us’d Manila most, came to visit them; their Names were Guansan, Sinu, and Guachuan. They being fully inform’d of the Truth of the Fact, took upon them to deliver the Letters Don Pedro sent to the Mandarines, who receiv’d them by their Means. The Merchants of Chincheo took Courage to trade in the Philippine Islands, and sail’d in their own Ships from Macao, with our Messengers, carrying Abundance of Powder, Saltpeter, and Lead, wherewith the Chineses trade again at Manila. publick Magazines were stor’d. In May following 13 Chinese Ships arriv’d at Manila, and many more after them, continuing that Trade.
Don Pedro sent the Ships that had brought Supplies from the Islands, to Spanish Ship lost. New Spain; the Commodore of them was cast away, and not a Man nor a Plank sav’d. He ceas’d not at the same Time to store the City with Provisions and Ammunition, that he might be at Leasure to undertake the Expedition against the Moluccos. Now arriv’d Colonel John de Esquivel, Esquivel with 600 Men at Manila from New Spain. from Mexico, with 600 Soldiers, and Intelligence that farther Provision was making in New Spain of Men, Stores, Ammunition, and Money, by the King’s Order. All came in due Season to Manila; and there at that Time dy’d the Arch-Bishop Don Miguel de Benavides, generally lamented by all the Country. The Chinese Ships that came again to trade, brought the Governour the Answers to his Letters, contain’d in three others, all to the same Effect, from the Tuton, or Tsunto, that is, the Viceroy, the Hayton, and the Visitor General of the Province of Chincheo. Being translated by the Interpreters, they were found to this Effect.
Chinese Letter to the Governour. To the Chief Commander of Luzon. Having understood that the Chineses that went to Trade and Trafick in the Kingdom of Luzon, have been kill’d by the Spaniards, I have inquir’d into the Cause of that Slaughter, and intreated the King to do Justice, on those who had been the Occasion of so much Mischief, that the like may be prevented for the future, and the Merchants enjoy Peace and Quietness. Some years since, before I came hither as Visitor, a Sangley, whose Name was Tioneg, went over to Cabit, in Luzon, with three Mandarines, and the King’s Leave, to seek for Gold and Silver, which was all a Cheat; for he found neither Gold nor Silver, and therefore I beseech’d the King to punish that Deceiver, Tioneg, that the Discovery of the Cheat of the three Mandarines above. World might see how impartially Justice is administer’d in China. It was in the Time of the late Viceroy, and Eunuch, that Tioneg and his Companion, whose Name was Yanlion, told the said Lye. Since then I intreated the King to cause all the Papers relating to Tioneg’s Case, to be copy’d, and the said Tioneg, and the Proceedings against him, to be lay’d before his Majesty, and I my self saw those Papers, and was sensible that all the said Tioneg had said was a Lie. I writ to acquaint the King that the Castillas suspected we intended Chineses punish’d for Falshood. to make War on them, on Account of the Lyes Tioneg had told, and therefore they had slain above 30000 Chineses at Luzon. The King did what I desir’d, and accordingly punish’d the aforesaid Yanlion, ordering him to be put to Death; and caus’d Tioneg’s Head to be cut off, and hung up in a Cage. The Chineses that Dy’d at Luzon were not to blame, and I, and some others have acquainted the King with so much; as also with the coming of two English Ships upon these Coasts of Chincheo, a Thing very dangerous for China, that the King may resolve what is to be done in two Affairs of such Consequence. We also Writ to the King, to order two Sangleyes to be punish’d, for having shown the Harbour to the English. And after having Writ as aforesaid to the King, he answer’d, What did the English Ships come into China for? Whether they came to Rob? That they should be order’d to depart thence immediately to Luzon; and to tell those of Luzon that they should not give Credit to the wicked and lying Persons among the Chineses; and that they should immediately kill the two Sangleyes. As for the rest we writ to him about, he answer’d that we should do our Wills. The Viceroy, the Eunuch and I, after receiving this Order, do now send these our letters to the Governour of Luzon, that his Lordship may be acquainted with the Grandeur of the King of China; for he is so Great that he governs all the Sun and Moon shine on; as also that the Governour of Luzon may know how well this so large Kingdom is govern’d, Japoneses expell’d Corea. whose King none has dar’d to offend this long Time. And tho’ the Japoneses have attempted to disturb Corea, which belongs to the Government of China, that have not succeeded; but have been expell’d thence, and Corea has remain’d very peaceable and quiet, as is well known by Fame to the People of Luzon.
The last Year, when we were inform’d, that so many Chineses were slain at Luzon, on the Account of Tioneg’s falshood, we met many Mandarines of us to agree to propose to the King, that he would revenge so great a Spaniards charg’d with the Slaughter of the Chineses. Slaughter. We said, that the Land of Luzon is poor, of no Value, and that formerly it was the Habitation of none but Devils and Snakes; and that so many Sangleyes having of late Years gone to Trade with the Castillas, they are now grown so great; the said Sangleyes having labour’d so much there, building Walls, and Houses, making Gardens, and other Things very Advantageous to the Castillas. And since this is so, why had not the Castillas consider’d these Things, nor been grateful for these good Turns, but on the contrary so cruelly destroy’d so many Men? And tho’ we, two or three Times, Writ to the King as above, he being Angry for the aforesaid Things, answer’d us, That it was not convenient to take Revenge, nor make War on the People of Luzon, for three Reasons. First, Because the Castillas have for many Years past, been Friends to the Chineses. Secondly, Because it could not be known, whether the Victory would fall to the Castillas, or the Chineses. Thirdly, and lastly, Because the People kill’d by the Castillas were base, and ungrateful to their Native Country of China, their Parents and Kindred, since they had not return’d to China in so many years; which People the King said he did not much value, for the aforesaid Reasons; and he only order’d the Viceroy, the Eunuch, and me to Write this Letter by the Embassador; that the People of Luzon may know the King of China has a great Soul is very Patient and Merciful, since he has not order’d War to be made on the Inhabitants of Luzon. And his Justice will appear, by his causing the Falshood of Tioneg to be punish’d. And since the Spaniards are a discreet People, how can they not be troubled for having kill’d so many Men; and repent of it, and be kind to the Chineses that are left. For if the Castillas bear the Chineses good Will, and restore the Sangleyes that have remain’d of the War, and pay the Money that is due, and restore the Goods taken from the Sangleyes, there will be Amity betwixt this Kingdom, and that, and Trading Ships shall go every Year; otherwise the King will not give Leave for any Ships to trade; but on the contrary will cause 1000 Ships of Mandarines Threats. War to be built, with Soldiers, and Kindred of the slain, and with other Nations, and Kingdoms that pay Homage to China, and will make war without sparing any Person, and then the Kingdom of Luzon shall be given to those People that pay Acknowledgement to China. The Visitor General’s Letter was writ on the 12th of the second Month, which, according to our Reckning, is March; the Eunuchs on the 16th, and the Viceroys on the 22d of the same Month and Year.
The Governours Answer, to the Mandarines. The Governour return’d an Answer to these Letters by the same Messengers, in Terms full of Civility, and Authority. He gave an Account of the Rebellion of the Sangleyes from its first Rise; justifying the Spaniards for their natural Defence, and the Punishment they had inflicted on the Criminals. He tells them, no State can subsist without punishing the Wicked, or rewarding the Good; and therefore he does not repent that Execution, because it was to suppress those that would have destroy’d us. That the Visitor ought to consider what he would do, in Case the like had happen’d to him in China. That the only Thing which troubled him was, that he could not save some Sangley Merchants Anhayes, who dy’d among the guilty; but that it was not possible to prevent it, because the severity of War will not allow the killing of some, and exempting of others; especially, they not being known by the Soldiers in the Heat of Action. That using Mercy towards those that were taken alive, he condemn’d them to row in the Galleys, the Punishment substituted among the Castillas for such as deserve Death. Yet if it should be thought in China that it ought to be moderated, they shall be set at Liberty. But let it be consider’d, said Don Pedro, that the not punishing of so heinous an Offence, may be the Occasion of their falling into it again, which would exclude all Mercy. The Goods of the Chineses that were kill’d are safe laid up, and to show I had no other Motive, but the Execution of Justice, I will order them to be immediately deliver’d to their Heirs, or to such Persons, as they of Right belong to. Nothing but Justice inclines me to any of these Things. Your saying, that unless I release the Prisoners, there will be Leave granted in China to the Kindred of the slain in the Rebellion, to come in Arms to Manila, does not move me in the least; because I take the Chineses to be so wise, that they will not go upon such Undertakings upon a slight Occasion; especially, when no Provocation has been given them on our Side. And in Case they should be of another Mind there, we Spaniards are Men that know how to defend our Right, our Religion, and our Territories. Let not the Chineses think they are Lords of the World, as they pretend; for we Castillas, who have measur’d every Foot of it, very well know the Lands of the Chineses; and therefore they ought to understand, that the King of Spain maintains Wars with Kings as powerful as theirs, and checks, and gives them much Trouble. Nor is it any Thing new with us, when our Enemies think they have brought us under, to be wasting and destroying their Lands, and never give over till we have cast them out of their Thrones, and wrested their Scepters out of their Hands. I should be very sorry the Commerce should be interrupted; but at the same Time, believe the Chineses are not willing to lose it, since it is so advantageous to them, for they carry Home our Silver, which never wastes, in Exchange for their Commodities, which are slight Things, soon spoil’d. It was discreetly done, not to admit the English Ships that appear’d upon the Coast, for they are not Spaniards, but their Enemies, and Pyrates; for which Reason they should have been punish’d, had they come to Manila. To conclude, for as much as we Spaniards always justify our Proceedings, and value our selves upon the Worlds not being able to say, we Usurp the Right of others, or make War on our Friends, what is here promis’d shall be perform’d. And the Chineses may take Notice, for the future, that we never do any Thing out of Fear, or on Account of our Enemies Threats. Don Pedro concludes, offering the Continuation of Friendship, upon new Assurances of Peace, with the Kingdom of China; saying, he would, at the proper Time, give Liberty to their Prisoners he had in the Galleys; Tho’ he design’d first to make Use of them, and did so in his Expedition to the Moluccos, which he was then preparing for; and all this was punctually perform’d.
The Emperour of Japan’s Letter. He receiv’d other Letters at the same Time, from the Emperor of Japan, wherein, after returning him Thanks for a Present of Wine of Grapes, which Don Pedro had sent him, with other Things of Value, he Encourag’d him to Trade, and desir’d he would not send him any Christian Preachers, without his Consent. For, says he, this Country is call’d Xincoco, which signifies, Dedicated to Idols; which have been honour’d with much Commendation by our Fore-Fathers, whose Actions I alone can not reverse, and therefore it is not convenient that your Law be spread abroad, or preach’d in Japan; and if your Lordship is willing to entertain Amity with me, and these Kingdoms, do as I would have you. So says the Japonese. Don Pedro answer’d and appeas’d him, so that the preaching was continu’d in his Dominions.
Dutch Squadron. This same Year 1604, the Provinces of Holland and Zealand, according to their Custom, fitted out a Squadron of twelve tall Ships, well equipp’d, with some smaller Vessels, and, as if they had been Lords of the Winds and of the Seas, set Sail for India, the known Way, arriving prosperously, in a short Time, at the Cape of Good Hope. All the Captains had been there before, and the Pilots valu’d themselves upon no less Experience. The Admiral was Stephen Drage. Beginning to visit their Forts, and Factories, in Order to take some Prizes, as well as Trade, they met with two small Ships, loaden with Ivory, at the Bar of Mozambique. They chas’d them, and tho’ Takes two Portugues Ships. they fled amain, being pursu’d with no less Swiftness, the Dutch Robbers overtook, and after a sharp Engagement enter’d them. They burnt the one, and mann’d the other, which was a Reinforcement to prosecute their Robberies. All those Kings, and the Commanders of our Forts, receiv’d them as Friends. In September, they came to the Bar of Goa; and lay 15 Days at Bardes, in as much Security as if they had been at Amsterdam, expecting the India Ships. Thence they sent away a Ship to Cambaya, to exchange the Ivory they had not long before robb’d our People of, acting not like Pyrates, but Merchants who dispose of the Wealth they pick up by Trade, and succeeded prosperously in all their Undertakings. They sent two more Ships to Bengula, with other Commodities; all which return’d in due Time considerably enrich’d. Perceiving that no Power oppos’d them, they sailed And a Foist. down the Coast of Malabar, trading wheresoever they thought fit, and took another Portuguese Vessel, called a Foist, which had 21 Oars; and after unlading the Booty, they lifted her up their Way, and took her along with them.