There never appeared less confusion at an insurrection than on the present occasion, every individual seeming satisfied with his lot in being relieved from unjust oppression and violence. The archbishop, who had assumed the reins of government, was the only person whose mind was not at ease; but in a short time he was restored to tranquillity by the arrival of a royal order, enjoining him to suspend the Governor from his office, and imprison him; replace the Royal Audience on the same footing as before; set at liberty the Señor Velasco, and assume the reins of government himself, which was exactly what had been effected by the late disturbance.
The archbishop had neither forgotten the dead bodies of the Governor and his son, nor his orphan family; he buried the former with all the pomp and solemnity which Governors were accustomed to receive. Bustamente left six sons; the oldest was appointed guardian to the others, and they were allowed one thousand dollars per annum for their maintenance. They afterwards requested permission to proceed to New Spain; but his excellency would not grant it, until the elder brother paid into the royal treasury the expenses of the voyage, and agreed to conduct all his brothers to Mexico, where they had rich relations, who would receive them into their protection, and educate them.
The death of the marshal took place on the 11th of October, 1719, within a little more than two years after he assumed the government.
The public mind being at length tranquillized, the Oidor Velasco was commissioned to enquire into the circumstances relating to the death of the Governor and that of his son. He examined seventeen of the first characters in the city, who had taken no part in this disturbance, and their evidence tended to confirm what we have above related. He afterwards took the depositions of those in the service of Bustamente, who all declared against the conduct of their master. He even summoned before the judge some scholars, whom he accused of having published libels on the late Governor; but they justified themselves, and were acquitted.
He likewise proceeded to examine Señor Torralba, Doctor Correa, secretary to the government, and another counsellor, who served as fiscal ad interim; who threw the whole blame on the Governor Bustamente, representing him as a perfect devil, under whom they were in constant apprehension of their lives, and urging in their defence that the confusion was so great, they were ignorant of what was passing, and knew not who were or were not imprisoned. Lastly, the depositions of the Governor’s body guard was taken, of whom, however, no information could be procured, they declaring that they were so confounded at the multitude of people assembled on the occasion that they knew nothing of what passed. The utmost they heard was, that those inhabitants of Manila who had taken refuge in the church of St. Augustine had united with the friars, and were coming in a body to the palace, but who committed the murders they were totally ignorant of. The Oidor Velasco now gave orders, that all those who had taken refuge in the convent of St. Augustine should be imprisoned in their own houses: when, however, this was known throughout the city, such consternation prevailed, that Velasco revoked his decree, and delivered in his report with all diligence to the Royal Audience, who, without proceeding any further with the examinations into this business, ordered that a minute of it, as it then stood, should be forwarded to his Majesty. This wise proceeding tranquillized the minds of the inhabitants of Manila, who had felt exceedingly alarmed during the progress of the enquiry.
The archbishop governed these islands for the space of two years with much prudence, and gave great satisfaction to the public, preserving in Manila the utmost harmony among all the different classes of inhabitants, and making due preparations against the Moors, who shewed a disposition to attack the garrisons which had been established to keep them in check. That of Zamboanga was an object of much jealousy to the Moors of Mindanao; and Dulasi, King of Butuy, sent a powerful armament to attempt to get possession of it by assault; they were repulsed by the Spaniards, but although severely handled, they did not desist from the enterprize.
The Kings of Jolo and Mindanao sent out their fleets for the avowed purpose of relieving the Spanish force in Zamboanga, but the Governor of that fort, doubtful of their intentions, would not admit them into the place, nor make use of them in any shape. Their design upon this became evident, as they immediately joined Dulasi, and they lay with their three squadrons for some time in view of the fort, watching a fit opportunity to possess themselves of it. Finding, however, that the Spaniards were constantly on the watch, and despairing of compelling the fort to surrender, they dispersed their vessels through the islands, committing great excesses, and making many prisoners in every quarter. They, as usual, burnt many towns and villages, robbed many churches, and in Calamianes murdered a Franciscan friar. The archbishop called a council of war on this occasion, when it was resolved that the fort of Zamboanga should be abandoned, as likewise that of Labo, which the marshal had erected in the island of Parava, and that their garrisons should be sent to augment that of Taytay, which was deemed sufficient to protect the whole of Calamianes.