This trade of the Portuguese is most injurious, not only on account of their unfriendly attitude, but because they have raised the prices of goods, securing the profit thereon, and draining the wealth of the citizens here. Considering this, then, and what your Majesty has ordered regarding the pacification of the Hermosa Islands (which my predecessor so desired), after I had used all possible diligence, as in a matter of so great importance, and found that the security and rehabilitation of these islands depended upon having a port to windward from that of the enemy—as this city besought me to do, since that was its only refuge—I made ready in all secrecy, and at so little expense that, although I found the treasury embarrassed with a debt of three thousand pesos, it remained with less than twenty-five thousand of debt, which was borrowed from citizens. I despatched from here Sargento-mayor Antonio Carreño de Valdes, with all the necessary supplies and two galleys. He is a person remarkably fit for this purpose, and an excellent servant of your Majesty. He left Cagaian on the fifth of May and arrived on the eleventh at the place where his instructions directed, which is at the head of the island, at twenty-five degrees north. He explored the bottom and anchored with all his fleet in the best port imaginable, a remarkable favor from heaven, if those of Japon are closed to him [MS. holed]. It is distant from the mainland of China eighteen leguas, and has a depth at the entrance of eighteen brazas, and a capacity of five hundred ships. The site if the fortification is naturally very strong, all of which appears by his plan which accompanies this. He found a village of fifteen hundred houses built of fragrant woods, with a people like [MS. defective] somewhat lighter in color and differing in language[2] [MS. holed] thanks be to God. The fortification was under way and in the despatch[-boat] which he sent me with the information there were a hundred and twenty picos of iron pikes and two hundred and thirteen arrobas of sulphur, which is brought from Castilla for the powder. They have supplies for a year; and the enterprise is already proving advantageous. It is most expedient that this should be furthered, on account of the great advantages which will result from this post being in the vicinity of China; in that locality there are excellent water, Castilian fruits, and partridges, although these have not red beaks. Since some evil-intentioned person has tried to make the governor think, as he is new in the knowledge of this country, that this will commence a new war, I shall tell him what I think, leaving to time the results. Let it not appear that I am praising my own cares, because I seek no other reward for my services except that of rendering them to so great a king.
In the first place, the trade of the enemy is established and that from this country has stopped; but, as this is without the knowledge of the king of China, he will, as soon as his attention is called to it, take rigorous measures to prevent the Dutch trade. By the measures which I have set on foot, this object could be secured by the galley, which could patrol the coast. For fifty years they [i.e., the Chinese] have had proved the steadiness of our trade and the abundance of our silver, and they have desired nothing further than to see us with a post where they can seek us without danger, as they will do at present; for in so short a distance, and with so strong currents [in the sea] the enemy cannot disturb our post—from which will result the dismantling of his fort, for he will be outside the line of traffic and on the coast opposite. On the other hand the Japanese, who cannot dispense with silks, must come for them to our port, bringing us silver. We are the masters of all their traffic as far as Sian, Cochinchina, and Camboja, as they have to pass through this strait; and accordingly our friendship will be valued, and a door will be opened for the conversion [of the heathen], which is the principal aim of your Majesty. [In the margin: “Let this clause and the one which follows it be read word for word.”]
Although there have been persons who thought an armed fleet necessary to bring over the goods from the island to this city, this doubt is unfounded, because that route can be navigated during nine months in the year among the islands and currents, without any port on the eastern side. During the northern monsoons it is impossible for a vessel to hold its own in that locality while they blow, for they are following winds for us; it is therefore certain that the enemy will not be able to trouble us. Even in case the fleet were necessary, it remains in port rotting, and the men are causing the same expense; and it would be better for it to go for goods that are sure and bought at very low prices, the duties and freight charges on which would equal the expense of going out to drive the enemy from the coast after he has robbed it, without profit to your Majesty, or the citizens here, or those in Nueva España. It is not a bad port where ships from Castilla may put in, being as safe as is that of Santisima Trinidad.[3] The fleets which have gone out from here in my time have not dared, for lack of such a port, to follow the enemy or to leave the coast, for they could not make it again if they entered the vendavals; this was one of the excuses for the last retreat which Don Geronimo de Silva made. In his lawsuit and that of the commanders of the “San Yldefonso” and “San Rimundo,” the governor found for an abandonment of proceedings, pronouncing sentence, I assure your Majesty, without favor or prejudice. The master-of-camp died on the same day when my successor arrived here; and, a few days before, Factor Diego de Castro Lison, a good servant I appointed in his place in the interim Captain Christoval de Mercado—a person who is so fit for the position that I sought him out; and who has served almost all the offices of justice which exist in the islands, whereby he has gained knowledge of the commodities that the provinces can furnish. He has left these with a good, clean reputation, and personally appears to be well qualified. I shall appreciate it if your Majesty will confirm this. I will say the same of the warder, Pedro Sotelo de Morales, appointed to Fort Santiago without salary, as your Majesty has commanded, in place of Lucas de Bergara, deceased.
Considering the great importance of effective collection for the exchequer of your Majesty, and the auditing of the accounts that are in arrears, I have accomplished as much as I could this year, and they have been audited from the year 18 to that of 23.
For the unburdening of my conscience I will, now that my presidency is over, tell your Majesty incidentally what I think of the officers of this Audiencia, whose inspection is awaited; and if, as is desirable, your Majesty send it, that will tell you better. Don Alvaro de Lugo y Messa is an upright judge, and zealous in the service of your Majesty. Geronimo de Legaspi does what his two sons wish, whom, on account of their reckless lives, the governors cannot employ, and thus are unable to satisfy their father, who is not contented except with favors. Don Juan de Valderrama does as his wife says; and Don Matias Flores, although a young man, is less harmful; when he is so, it is owing to his passions or affections. He makes all the profit he can from the office, and on the whole is not acceptable to the community, which is always disturbed by him. I consider his office incompatible with that of protector; but, although your Majesty had issued a decree directing that this should not be, they annulled it. I do not wish to annoy your Majesty any further, for there are persons who will write this from a sense of duty; and I refer, for information regarding my earnest desires for the service of your Majesty, to what all classes of people will write. Since coming to serve you in these islands I have undergone so many expenses that I am poor and in debt as president. I beg your Majesty to remember me by giving me the favor of the presidency of Panama, or the future succession to it [MS. holed] realm or governorship of Guatemala, whichever may first be vacant; for I have not property enough remaining to go and claim it in your court.
I likewise requested your Majesty last year not to allow my wife, since she is such, and cannot remain here as a private citizen, to lose the encomiendas which she inherited from her father and grandfather, who served so long in these islands; and that you would command a decree to be despatched so that she might enjoy them wherever you might choose that she and her daughter should live, as the latter is the last heir; and this I beg, for the reasons which I have mentioned to your Majesty.
At the proper time, I despatched to Sian a private ship, in order to avoid the cost of carrying the troops, goods, and supplies which remain there by the death of Don Fernando de Silva.[4] Everything went well. I also sent a father of the Society, a man of great experience, to get under way the collection from all that comes from Yndia and other parts. Don Juan Niño will inform your Majesty of it. May our Lord protect your royal person according to the needs of Christendom. Manila, July 30, 626.
Don Fernando de Silva
[On the back of this letter: “The original descriptions of the island Hermosa and the relation concerning all those localities, are in the possession of Señor Don Andres de Rozas.”]